WO2009063665A1

WO2009063665A1 - Multi-channel recording and reproducing server and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2009063665A1
Application number: PCT/JP2008/064557
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shinichi Ooi
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 2007-11-14
Filing date: 2008-08-07
Publication date: 2009-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-14
Also published as: JP2009124445A

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention includes a tuner device (100) that receives a plurality of channels simultaneously, a recording device (210), a recording and reproducing control module (200) that outputs the received program signal from the tuner device or a reproduced program signal reproduced by the recording device, a network connection module (213) that outputs a program signal to a display module, a client management module (513) that manages client/resume-related information that associates resume information of the plurality of clients with respect to each program, a distribution processing module (404) that distributes the client/resume-related information in a manner multiplexed on program guide information when a certain client of the plurality of clients requests resume information, and a resume information processing module (403) that processes takeover and delivery of the resume information in accordance with input of an operation.

Description

D E S C R I P T I O N

MULTI-CHANNEL RECORDING AND REPRODUCING SERVER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Technical Field

One embodiment of the invention relates to a multi-channel recording and reproducing server and a control method thereof. In particular, contrivance is made to a managing means and a managing method of information on resuming.

Background Art

Conventionally, there is a system that connects a plurality of AV source devices and a plurality of output devices by a digital network. In this system, a plurality of users can use an output device of each of the users to watch an AV source different from AV sources that are watched by other users. Also, the users can also watch the same AV source as AV sources that are watched by other users. In such a case, a phenomenon in which positions where play back is paused are different depending on the users is generated. For this reason, there has been developed a device that manages resume information for individual users (for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2000-109329) . However, a managing method of resume information according to this device fixes an association between resume information and an output device to manage resume information. Thus, if a first user sets a first resume in a first output device, the first user cannot watch from a position of the first resume by using a separate second output device. There is also a technique described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2007-180818 as a system that manages resume information. However, in this resume information management system, the association between resume information and an output device is not fixed. Further, all the resume information is managed by a personal computer, and cannot be modified externally.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a multi-channel recording and reproducing server and a control method thereof that make management of resume information flexible so as to attempt convenience for the user when the multi-channel recording and reproducing server is controlled by a plurality of clients. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising: a tuner device configured to receive a plurality of channels simultaneously; a recording device configured to record and reproduces a received program signal of a channel that is received by the tuner device; a recording and reproducing control module configured to output the received program signal from the tuner device or a reproduced program signal reproduced by the recording device; a network connection module; a signal output module configured to output a selected output program signal from the recording and reproducing control module to a display module via the network control module; a client management module configured to manage client/resume-related information that associates each program recorded by the recoding device, each client information of a plurality of clients connected to the network connection module, and resume information of the plurality of clients with respect to the each program; an operation input receiving module; a distribution processing module configured to distribute the client/resume-related information in a manner multiplexed on program guide information when a certain client of the plurality of clients requests resume information via the operation input receiving module; and a resume information processing module configured to process takeover and delivery of the resume information with respect to a client in accordance with input of an operation.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing one example of a use environment of a multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration example of the multi-channel recording and reproducing server to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration example of a tuner module; FIG. 4 is a view showing another configuration example of a tuner device;

FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing an example of program guide information stored in an EPG memory 302 in a device of the present invention and a display mode thereof;

FIG. 5B is an explanatory view showing another example of program guide information stored in the EPG memory 302 in a device of the present invention and a display mode thereof; FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another example of program guide information stored in the EPG memory 302 in a device of the present invention and a display mode thereof;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing another example of program guide information stored in the EPG memory 302 in a device of the present invention and a display mode thereof;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing another example of program guide information stored in the EPG memory 302 in a device of the present invention and a display mode thereof;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operational example of a device of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another operational example of a device of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another operational example of a device of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another operational example of a device of the present invention;

FIG. 13A is a view showing an example of a remote controller that is shown for explanation of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13B is an explanatory view showing a display example of part of program guide information that is shown for explanation of another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13C is an explanatory view showing a display example of part of program guide information that is shown for explanation of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13D is an explanatory view showing an allocation example of program guide information and an individual name that is shown for explanation of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14A is a view showing an example of a remote controller in another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14B is an explanatory view showing a display example of part of program guide information that is shown for explanation of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14C is an explanatory view showing another display example of part of program guide information that is shown for explanation of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operational example of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13A-13D and 14A-14C; FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing part of the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 in further detail; and

FIG. 17 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a use environment of a multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 to which the present invention is applied. The multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 is connected to, for example, a large number of clients 12a, 12b and 12c via a home network 11. The clients 12a, 12b, and 12c are, for example, television receivers that can be connected to the home network 11. In addition, a certain client may be a personal computer that can be connected to the home network 11. Each of the clients 12a, 12b, and 12c is allocated, for example, in a living room, a bedroom 1, and bedroom 2, and is in a state of being able to be connected to the home network 11 in each of the rooms. Further, remote controllers 13a, 13b, and 13c exist in a manner corresponding to the clients 12a, 12b, and 12c, respectively. The remote controllers 13a, 13b, and 13c are in a wireless system, and can directly access the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10. However, the present invention is not limited to the above type, and may be of a type in which instructions are passed via a network, in a manner from a remote controller, a client, the network, and the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 in this order. There is no specific limitation on the home network 11, and such network may be, for example, a network using an IP or a network using IEEE1394.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10. This device includes a plurality of tuner modules, for example, four tuner modules; 101, 102, 103, and 104, as a tuner device 100, and can receive a plurality of channels simultaneously. This number of tuner modules is one example, and a larger number of tuner modules may be used. A receiving channel output from the tuner modules 101, 102, 103, and 104, for example, a transport stream TS of CHl to CH4, is sent to a recording and reproducing control module 200 and an electronic program guide information (EPG) processing module 301.

The recording and reproducing control module 200 carries out signal processing relating to a program signal, and executes recording and reproducing processing with respect to a recording device 210.

Recording processing can manage all transport streams of the tuner modules. In addition, reproducing processing can be carried out even when all clients send an instruction for reproducing. This enables the recording device 210 to be configured with, for example, a plurality of hard disks, instead of one hard disk, which may be combined and used. In this case, processing is dispersed in such a manner that, for example, a hard disk 1 records and reproduces transport streams of CHl and CH2, and a hard disk 2 records and reproduces transport streams of CH3 and CH4. In addition, a program signal of a received channel or a reproducing signal from the recording device 210 is selected and processed, and output to an MPEG decoder 211. In this case, the recording and reproducing control module 200 determines a program signal to be output based on a control signal from an output program signal selection module 401. As described above, a program signal output from the recording and reproducing control module 200 may be a program signal of real time broadcasting from the tuner device 100, or a reproducing program signal reproduced in the recording device 210.

A display signal decoded in the MPEG decoder 211 is sent out to the network 11 via an onscreen display processing module 212, a network connection module 213, and a signal output module 214.

An electronic program guide information (EPG) processing module 301 is connected to an EPG memory 302. The EPG memory 302 accumulates electronic program guide information of each channel, for example, for one week. An example shown in FIG. 1 shows a case in which EPG information of each channel is extracted from each transport stream of CHl to CH4, such as digital terrestrial broadcasting in Japan. There may be a case in which EPG information of all BS channels are multiplexed, as in BS digital broadcasting. In any case, the electronic program guide information (EPG) processing module 301 and the EPG memory 302 receive, extract, and store EPG information for the number of channels (four channels in the example shown in FIG. 1) which can be received by a multi-channel receiving device.

The EPG processing module 301 reads out EPG information of the EPG memory 302 in accordance with an operation input, and supplies such EPG information to an onscreen display processing module 212. In this case, a screen of a display module of a client that requests display can display, for example, a program guide for one week. As a matter of course, the EPG processing module 301 includes a function to extract EPG information from transport streams of CHl to CH4 and update such EPG information of the EPG memory 302, in order to constantly update the electronic program guide information content.

A system control module 511 receives an operation input from, for example, a remote controller receiving module 512 as an operation input receiving module to control processing of channel selection, program selection, play back of a recorded program, resume information, and the like. Remote controllers 13a, 13b, and 13c are included. The system control module 511 includes an output program signal selection module 401, a program state determination module 402, a resume information processing module 403, a distribution processing module 404, and the like. The output program signal selection module 401, the program state determination module 402, the resume information processing module 403, the distribution processing module 404, and the like may be provided in a manner independent from the system control module 511. Further, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 includes a client management module 513. The client management module 513 may be provided in the system control module 511. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 described above can record all programs in an output of each of the tuner modules 101 to 104 in the recording device 210. As a storing period, the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 can store all programs, for example, for 1 week, and can sequentially update the programs to new programs. The number of tuners and the storing period used above are one example, and the number of tuner modules may be larger and the storing period may be longer. A program guide table corresponding to the stored programs is configured in the EPG memory 302. The program guide table will be described later.

The client management module 513 manages a client/resume-related information that associates each program recorded by the recording device 210, the client information of a plurality of the clients 12a, 12b, and 12c connected to the network connection module 213, and resume information of each of the clients with respect to each program. The client/resume-related information will be described later.

The resume information processing module 403 carries out takeover and delivery processing of resume information between clients. For example, when a second client receives a takeover play back operation input that allows the second client to take over resume information of a first client, the resume information processing module 403 can associate resume information of the first client in client/resume-related information in the client management module 513, also, with the second client. In addition, when the first client receives a takeover (may be called delivery) play back operation input that allows the second client to take over resume information of the first client, the resume information processing module 403 can associate resume information of the first client in client/resume-related information in the client management module 513 with the second client. More specifically, the client management module 513 has a table that associates a plurality of pieces of client information and resume information of each client for each program. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Description with respect to FIGS. 5A and 5B will be given later.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of any one of the tuner modules 101 to 104, such as the tuner module 101. With respect to antenna input, a station selection module 121 selects a station, and a stream signal of a channel of the selected station is input to a separation module 122 and a descrambler 123. The separation module 122 separates a control signal (ECM) and a control signal (EMM) from the descrambler 123. The control signal (ECM) separated by the separation module 122 is input to an IC card 130. In addition, with respect to the control signal (EMM) , a separation module 124 uses a card ID to separate only an EMM of the card ID, and inputs the EMM in an IC card. Details of the control signal (ECM) and the control signal (EMM) are, for example, described with respect to subsystems for related information under Chapter 3,

Part 1 of Conditional Access System Specifications for Digital Broadcasting Standard (STD-B25) specified by Association of Radio Industries and Business (ARIB) . In the IC card 130, the control signals ECM and EMM are used to obtain a scramble key. The descrambler 123 uses the scramble key to descramble a transport stream packet obtained by scrambling video, audio, and data in a transport stream, and outputs the descrambled transport stream packet. In the above example, a type in which the IC card 130 is used in each tuner module is shown. Alternatively, a type in which a plurality of tuner modules share one IC card may be used.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which a plurality of tuner modules share one IC card. Outputs of the tuner modules 101 and 102 are input to a time sharing processing module 131. Here, an ECM multiplexed on a transport stream output by each tuner is taken out in a time-sharing manner, and such ECM is input to the IC card 130 and used. In addition, an EMM multiplexed on a transport stream output by each tuner is also taken out, and the separation module 124 uses a card ID to separate only an EMM of the card ID from the EMM, and inputs the separated EMM to the IC card 130 in a timesharing manner for use.

FIGS. 5A and 5B shows an example of program guide information stored in the EPG memory 302. In addition, FIG. 5 shows an image of program guide information displayed on a display screen when a client requests display of the program guide information. In the program guide information, as shown in FIG. 5, client/resume-related information output from the client management module 513 can be output in a multiplexed manner. For this reason, a client and resume information are displayed in an associated manner. For example, a module of Program 12 displays: Client 1 - None; Client 2 - 1:00; and Client 3 - None.

This information is the client/resume-related information, and this information is added to a module of each program. With respect to the module of Program 12, only Client 2 watches Program 12 for 1 hour, and the module shows a state where resume information is stored as a result thereof. In FIG. 5, ^Nλl:00" indicates that a resumed point is 1 hour, "10" indicates a resumed point is 10 minutes, "1:50" indicates that a resumed point is 1 hour and 50 minutes, and "40" indicates that a resumed point is 40 minutes. Hatched modules of programs which are programs broadcast in the future, are shown, for example, by a different color, in order to notify the user in advance that such programs cannot presently be watched and reproduced by operating an OK key or a Play key, i.e., that such operations are invalid.

In the above description, as a location to store display information like that shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the EPG memory 302 may be used mainly for storage, or the client management module 513 may be used mainly for storage. In addition, the client management module 513 can update management of clients even when a client is added or removed. Update of management of clients when a client is added or removed may be carried out in a manner in which establishment of connection by a client to the home network 11 is automatically detected and managed, or one in which a user carries out a registering operation after connecting a client to the home network 11.

By looking at a display state of FIG. 5A, the user can judge a resume state of each client. In each client, the user is not necessarily aware of a resume state in particular, a resume state may be not displayed in default as shown in FIG. 5B. The resume state may be displayed as shown in FIG. 5A on a request from the user.

In order that the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 can identify and manage a client, information that allows unique identification is necessary for the client. For example, if the home network 11 is a network that uses an IP, such information is a Media Access Control Address (MAC Address) or the like. The present invention is not limited to the above, and any information may be used as long as such information is information that allows unique identification of a client.

FIG. 6 shows a state of a display screen of Client 1, in which a cursor (a frame of a bold line) is moved by using a remote controller of Client 1, and the cursor is moved to a position of Program 21. When the user of Client 1 presses a Play key in this state, a program signal of Program 21 distributed to Client 1 is distributed from a resumed point where 10 minutes has elapsed. In this case as well, a resume state may be set to be not displayed in default as shown in FIG. 5B and the resume state may be displayed as shown in FIG. 6 upon a request from the user. However, there is a case where the user desires to watch Program 21 in Client 2 in a resume state of Client 1. For example, in case in which Client 1 is in a living room and Client 2 is in a bedroom on a second floor, and after watching for 10 minutes in Client 1 in the living room, the user moves to the bedroom on the second floor and desires to continue to watch the program in Client 2. In such a case, an operation which will be described below is carried out.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen of Client 2 when the user moves from the living room to the bedroom on the second floor. That is, a case in which Client 2 is turned on, and the user requests display of program guide information. FIG. 7 also shows a case in which the user moves the cursor to a position of Program 21.

Here, if the user desires to use the resume information of Client 1, the user operates a client selection key (or a key set in advance) of a remote controller. Alternatively, the user may select "client selected item" from a menu display and press OK. When the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 detects a client selection request in which the user desires to use resume information of other clients, a client selection cursor (a frame of a dotted line) is displayed as shown in FIG. 7. Since operation is carried out from Client 2 in FIG. 7, a module displaying Client 2 in client/resume-related information is enclosed by a dotted line frame (client selection frame) as default (or colored as default) . Next, for example, an arrow key, a direction key, or the like is operated, and a client selection frame is moved to a module that displays Client 1, as shown in a bottom-right module of FIG. 7.

Next, when the direction key is operated, information of a resumed point "10" of Client 1 is copied to the client/resume-related information of Client 2. Therefore, when the user operates the Play key after the above, Program 21 is reproduced so that the user can watch the program from the resumed point "10", that is, after 10 minutes have elapsed, in Client 2. In the case of FIG. 7 as well, a resume state may be set to be not displayed in default as shown in FIG. 5B, and the resume state may be displayed as shown in FIG. 7 in the case there is a request that the user desires to use resume information of other clients of client/resume-related information .

In the example of FIG. 7, after moving from the living room to the bedroom on the second floor, the user carries out takeover of the resume information of Client 1 on a screen of Client 2. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and the user can also carry out takeover similar to the above by looking at a display screen of Client 1 while staying in the living room. A state of this operation is shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 shows a case in which the user requests display of program guide information on a Client 1 side. FIG. 8 also shows a case in which the user moves the cursor to a position of Program 21. FIG. 8 further shows a screen of a case in which the user operates a client selection key (or a key set in advance) or selects "client selection item" from menu display and presses OK.

In this case, a module that displays Client 1 of client/resume-related information is enclosed by a dotted frame (client selection frame) as default (colored as default) . Next, for example, an arrow key, a direction key, or the like is operated, and a client selection frame is moved to a module that displays Client 2. When the user operates the OK key, the resume information of Client 1 is copied to a module that displays Client 2 and displayed. As shown in the bottom-right module of FIG. 8, "1:50" previously displayed at a module that displays Client 2 can be seen as changed to "10" (refer to change of a display state shown by arrows A and B) . After the above, when the user moves to where

Client 2 is located in the bedroom on the second floor, turns on power of Client 2, selects Program 21, and operates the Play key, Program 21 is reproduced from the resumed point "10". FIG. 9 is a flowchart explaining an operational example of the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 of the present invention. When there is an instruction, such as a request for program guide information, from a remote controller (step SEl) , the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 determines a client number (step SE2). In this determination, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 determines, for example, a remote controller ID sent from the remote controller, and thereby determines Client 1, 2, or 3 associated with the remote controller ID. When a client is identified, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 executes processing for each client (steps SE3-1, SE3-2, and SE3-3) .

FIG. 10 shows one processing step of the steps SE3-1, SE3-2, and SE3-3 in which processing of each client is executed as a representative, and shows a series of processes related to reproducing instruction of a program an one example of processing of each client. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 determines whether a program is selected (step SFl) , and if a program is selected, the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 determines whether play back is instructed (step SF2) . If play back is instructed, play back is executed from a resumed point of the client (step SF3) . When the ending of the play back is instructed, the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 manages an end point as resume information (steps SF4 and SF5) . When processing in step SF3 is started, if a program is reproduced for the first time in the client, there is no resume information and the program is reproduced from the beginning. From the second time, the program is reproduced from the end point of a previous time of play back based on resume information of the client.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for executing the operation described above with reference to FIG. 7. If a program is selected in step SFl, whether there is instruction to copy of resume information of other clients or not is determined (step SGl) . If there is a takeover operation, whether a client as a source of takeover is input (that is, a client is designated) or not is determined (step SG2) . In the example of FIG. 7, this determination is the determination that an instruction for using the resume information of Client 1 is made on the Client 2 side. If there is an input from the client as a source of takeover (input of Client 1 in the example of FIG. 7), resume information of an instructed client is copied to resume information of the program for the concerned client. In this manner, for example, the resume information of Client 1 in the example of FIG. 7 is also associated with Client 2. With respect to the processing after the above, the processing moves to step SF2 and is similar to the description of FIG. 10 above.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for executing the operation described above with reference to FIG. 8. Processing from steps SFl to SF5 is same as the description of FIG. 10 above. After step SF5, whether there is a takeover operation of resume information or not is determined (step SFlI) . This determination is the same as the case described above, in which the user operates a client selection key (or a key set in advance) or selects "client selection item" from menu display and presses OK. In this case, a module that displays Client 1 of related information is enclosed by a dotted frame (client selection frame) as default (or colored as default) . Next is a case in which, for example, the user operates an arrow key or a direction key, moves the client selection frame to a module that displays Client 2, and then operates an OK key.

This means that there is input of a client as a takeover destination (step SF12) . Next, in step SF13, whether the client as a takeover destination of resume information is in the middle of reproducing the program or not is determined. If the client as a takeover destination of resume information is reproducing the program, a warning screen or the like is used to display that the resume information cannot be delivered. However, if the client as a takeover destination is reproducing the program, the resume information of the program is copied in association with the instructed client. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The embodiment described above manages a client as a television receiver in association with a remote controller. That is, a client is a television receiver, and the television receiver and a remote controller used for operating the television receiver are set to be in a relationship of one-to-one. However, the remote controller and the user using this may further be associated with each other and managed.

FIGS. 13A-13D shows another embodiment. FIGS. 13A-13D shows an example of a case in which the user using the remote controller 610 is associated with resume information. In the present embodiment, the client management module 513 manages user/resume- related information to be used, in which a plurality of pieces of resume information of one program are associated with the user using a plurality of remote controllers, for each program. In addition, the client management module 513 also manages information of each program recorded by the recording device 210 and the client information of a plurality of clients connected to the network connection module. In addition, when the distribution processing module 404 receives a resume information request signal from a certain client based on a certain operation of a remote controller, the distribution processing module 404 distributes to the certain client the user/resume-related information, the user/resume-related information is transfer in a manner multiplexed on the program guide information. At this stage, the distribution processing module 404 distributes user/resume-related information to be used in association with other remote controllers to a certain client. In this manner, a client that receives distribution of information can obtain the program guide information as shown in FIG. 6 or 7. The remote controller 610 can access the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 via a remote controller, a client, and a network in this order. The remote controller 10 has a plurality of power buttons; 611, 612, 613, and 614. The power buttons can be used for users 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. That is, when the remote controller 610 is operated to turn on the power of a client (television receiver) , client identification information and client power button identification information are sent to the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 via the remote controller, the client, and a network in this order. In this manner, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 is notified of which user is using the client. That is, the distribution processing module 404 can recognize which remote controller is used by which user, and which client (television receiver) is accessed. In this manner, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 can manage resume information in association with each user.

Therefore, for example, if user 1 requests a reproduced program (for example, Program 11) by using the remote controller 610 in a location where Client 1 exists, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 can distribute a program signal of Program 11 based on resume information of the user to Client 1. In addition, if Client 1 is in a state of displaying program guide information, the distribution processing module 404 distributes remote controller/resume-related information relating to other remote controllers to Client 1, so that user 1 can know the resume information of other users. Alternatively, resume information may be set to be not displayed in default as shown in FIG. 5B, and the resume information may be displayed if the user requests display of user/resume-related information to be used. If user management as described above is carried out, for example, as shown in an example 621 in FIG. 13B, resume information of Users 1 to 3 can be displayed with respect to, for example, Program 11 in program guide information displayed on a screen of a client. The example 621 in FIG. 13B indicates that nobody has watched Program 11. The example of FIG. 13A includes the power buttons 611, 612, 613, and 614 and the power buttons are used for Users 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13C, the power buttons may be managed by allocating individual names, such as "Father", "Mother", and "Taro". In order for a way of use as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 13D, individual names are allocated to the power buttons 611 to 614 in advance, and also individual name information is input to the client management module 513 as user/resume-related information to be used in advance. Input of information is carried out, for example, by using the remote controller 610, or via an input interface such as a software keyboard connected to the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10. The present embodiment is effective in the following cases. For example, in a living room on a first floor, the father is assumed to use a remote controller to operate the power button 611 to turn on Client 1. Then, the father and Taro are assumed to watch Drama A (Program 11) on Client 1. At this point, the father is assumed to switch the program to another one. Taro is assumed to desire to continue to watch Drama A on Client 2 in a bedroom on a second floor. In this case, Taro uses another remote controller to operate the power button 613 to turn on Client 2 in the bedroom on the second floor, selects Drama A (Program 11) on program guide information, and further requests user/resume-related information to be used. Then, Taro obtains display, for example, as shown in FIG. 13B or 13C. At this point, when Taro operates a user selection key (or a key set in advance) , or selects "user selection item" from menu display, Taro can optionally select any of Users 1, 2, 3, and 4, or any of "Father", "Mother", and "Taro", as described with reference to FIG. 8. Here, when Taro selects resume information of "Father" and presses an OK key, Taro can continue to watch, in the bedroom on the second floor, the drama Taro was watching in the living room. That is, takeover of resume information is carried out. In the present embodiment as well, takeover processing of resume information as described with reference to FIG. 8 can be carried out. Such takeover or delivery processing of resume information can be realized in a manner that the resume information processing module 403 modifies user/resume-related information to be used in the client management module 513. In the above description, the remote controller

610 accesses the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 via the remote controller, a client, and a network in this order. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller 610 may directly access the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 in a wireless system. In this case, each remote controller corresponds to each client, respectively.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. A remote controller 630 as shown in FIG. 14 may be used. The remote controller 630 is a personal remote controller, and the user can use the remote controller 630 by carrying it between rooms. The remote controller 630 can access the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 via the remote controller, a client, and a network in this order. In this manner, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 is notified of which remote controller is using the client. That is, the distribution processing module 404 can recognize which client (television receiver) is accessed by which personal remote controller based on information for uniquely identifying a client and a remote controller ID. In addition, information can be transferred interactively between the remote controller 630 and the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10. The remote controller 630 can operate both the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 and a client, and the user can use an operation switching key 631 to select either a state of operating the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 or a state of operating a client (television receiver) . While the operation state of the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 is selected, a display module 632 indicating that a server is in operation is lit. In addition, the user can check whether power of the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 is turned on or not by looking at a display module 633. While the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 is turned on, the display module 633 is lit. This is achieved by the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 transmitting information of power to the remote controller 630 to display such information on the remote controller 630.

If the user uses the remote controller 630 to operate the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 can recognize which remote controller operates which client. This is because the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 is accessed via a remote controller, a client, and a network in this order, and the client adds information (for example, an MAC address) used for uniquely identifying the client to an operation signal of the remote controller and transmits the operation signal. Since the information of the client is added, the multichannel recording and reproducing server 10 can determine which remote controller is used by which client. Therefore, if the user requests a reproduced program (for example, Program 11) by using the remote controller 630 in a location where Client 1 exists, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 distributes a program signal of Program 11 to Client 1.

In addition, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 can manage resume information of each program in association with each remote controller. Then, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 determines a client operated by a remote controller as a distribution destination when the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 determines the distribution destination of program information and a reproduced program signal.

In addition, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 can display resume information of Remote Controllers 1 to 3 with respect to, for example, Program 11 of program guide information displayed on a screen of a client. An example 631 in FIG. 14B indicates that no remote controller has watched Program 11. Individual names or the like may be associated with each of Remote Controllers 1 to 3. This example is shown as an example 632 in FIG. 14C.

In the above, the description is made with respect to a case in which a remote controller accesses the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 via the remote controller, a client, and a network in this order. Alternatively, there may be a case in which, as shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller may directly access the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 in a wireless system. In this case, the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 cannot recognize an operation location of the remote controller. Therefore, a distribution destination of program information and a reproduced program signal needs to be determined by associating the remote controller and a client. For this reason, after the user turns on the power of a client by using a remote controller, the remote controller and the client are associated with each other, for example, in the following method.

The multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 is assumed to be equipped with a menu display and a client selection function for associating a remote controller and a client. For example, the menu display displays a list of clients which can be connected to the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10. Then, the user operates a remote controller to select one client from the clients displayed in the list. This is achieved in a manner that the user operates an arrow key or a direction key of the remote controller to select one client, and presses an OK button. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10, upon detecting that the OK button is pressed, recognizes that the remote controller is used in the selected client .

FIG. 15 shows an example of a flowchart executed in the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 when there is the operation by a remote controller in FIGS. 13A-13D and FIGS. 14A-14C described above. If there is an instruction from a remote controller (step SHl) , the number of the remote controller is confirmed (step SH2), and processing corresponding to each remote controller is executed (steps SH3-1, SH3-2, and SH3-3) . FIG. 16 shows one of processing steps SH3-1, SH3-2, and SH3-3 of each remote control as a representative. First, a client (a television receiver) to which distribution is made is selected (step SIl) . In this step, the client (television receiver) as a distribution destination is determined based on information that associates a remote controller and a client that is detected by the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10. Next, whether there is reproducing instruction or not in response to program selection is determined (steps SI2 and SI3) . Then, resume information relating to the remote controller of the program is referred to, and resume play back is executed (step SI4) . When the play back is finished, resume information of an end point is generated and stored in the client management module 513.

As described above, according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, the user can check resume information with respect to programs of other remote controllers on a display screen of a certain client. Then, the other resume information can be used.

In the description up to FIG. 16 described above, a program signal distributed from the multi-channel recording and reproducing server 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is a signal that is obtained after decoding at the MPEG decoder 211. Alternatively, a similar advantageous effect can be obtained even if a transport stream before decoding at the MPEG decoder 211 is distributed. This is shown in FIG. 17. In this case, the EPG processing module 301 does not generate a display screen, unlike the description up to FIG. 16. Instead, the EPG processing module 301 functions to pass data to a client through a network I/F module so that program guide information can be displayed on a client side.

Along with the above, the resume information processing module 403 and the client management module 513 pass data to the client through the network I/F module so that client/resume-related information can be displayed on the client side.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can check resume information with respect to programs of other clients on a display screen of a certain client. In this manner, the user can use the resume information.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments as they are, and can be embodied after constituents are modified in a range not deviating from a gist thereof in an implementing stage. In addition, a variety of inventions can be formed by properly combining a plurality of constituents disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, several constituents may be omitted from all constituents shown in the embodiments. Further, constituents extending to different embodiments may be properly combined.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A multi-channel recording and reproducing server, comprising: a tuner device configured to receive a plurality of channels simultaneously; a recording device configured to record and reproduce a received program signal of a channel that is received by the tuner device; a recording and reproducing control module configured to output the received program signal from the tuner device or a reproduced program signal reproduced by the recording device; a network connection module configured to output a selected output program signal from the recording and reproducing control module to a display module; a client management module configured to manage client/resume-related information that associates each program recorded by the recoding device, the client information of a plurality of clients connected to the network connection module, and resume information of the plurality of clients with respect to the each program; an operation input receiving module; a distribution processing module configured to distribute the client/resume-related information in a manner multiplexed on program guide information when a certain client of the plurality of clients requests resume information via the operation input receiving module; and a resume information processing module configured to process takeover and delivery of the resume information with respect to a client in accordance with input of an operation.

2. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to claim 1, wherein, when a takeover play back operation that allows a second client to take over resume information of a first client is input on the second client side of the plurality of clients, the resume information processing module associates resume information of the first client in the client management module with the second client.

3. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to claim 1, wherein, when a takeover play back operation that allows a second client to take over resume information of a first client is input on the first client side of the plurality of clients, the resume information processing module associates resume information of the first client in the client management module with the second client .

4. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of clients is a television receiver, and means for the operation input is a remote controller of each television receiver.

5. A multi-channel recording and reproducing server, comprising: a tuner device configured to receive a plurality of channels simultaneously; a recording device configured to record and reproduces a received program signal of a channel that is received by the tuner device; a recording and reproducing control module configured to output the received program signal from the tuner device or a reproduced program signal reproduced by the recording device; a network connection module configured to output a selected output program signal from the recording and reproducing control module to a display module; a client management module configured to manage for each program remote controller/resume-related information that associates each program recorded by the recoding device, the client information of a plurality of clients connected to the network connection module, and resume information of a plurality of remote controllers and a program; an operation input receiving module; and a distribution processing module configured to distribute to a certain client the remote controller/resume-related information related to a certain remote controller in a manner multiplexed on program guide information when the certain client sends a resume information requesting signal based on operation of the certain remote controller via the operation input receiving module.

6. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to claim 5, wherein the distribution processing module also distributes remote controller/resume-related information relating to another remote controller to the certain client.

7. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to claim 5, wherein the distribution processing module refers to client identification information sent from the certain client, and remote controller identification information and user identification information to determine a client to which distribution should be made and the remote controller/resume-related information.

8. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to claim 5_r wherein the distribution processing module refers to remote controller identification information sent from the certain remote controller, and client identification information included in the resume information requesting signal sent from the certain client, and determines a client to which distribution should be made, and the remote controller/resume- related information.

9. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to claim 5, further comprising a resume information processing module that processes takeover and delivery of the resume-related information, wherein when a second remote controller is operated on the remote controller/resume-related information displayed on a screen of a certain client to input takeover operation that allows the second remote controller to take over resume information related to a first remote controller, the resume information processing module makes association resume information of the first remote controller in the client management module with the second remote controller.

10. The multi-channel recording and reproducing server according to claim 5, further comprising a resume information processing module that processes takeover and delivery of the resume-related information, wherein when a second remote controller is operated on the remote controller/resume-related information displayed on a screen of a certain client to input takeover operation that passes resume information related to the second remote controller to a first remote controller, the resume information processing module associates resume information of the second remote controller in the client management module with the first remote controller.

11. A control method of a multi-channel recording and reproducing server that includes a tuner device that receives a plurality of channels simultaneously, a recording device that records and reproduces a received program signal of a channel that is received by the tuner device, a recording and reproducing control module that outputs the received program signal from the tuner device or a reproduced program signal reproduced by the recording device, a network connection module, a signal output module that outputs a selected output program signal from the recording and reproducing control module to a display module via the network control module, a client management module that manages client/resume-related information that associates each program recorded by the recoding device, the client information of a plurality of clients connected to the network connection module, and resume information of the plurality of clients with respect to the each program, and an operation input receiving module, the method comprising: distributing the client/resume-related information in a manner multiplexed on program guide information when a certain client of the plurality of clients requests resume information via the operation input receiving module; and controlling the multi-channel recording and reproducing server to execute takeover and delivery of relationship of the resume information with respect to a client in accordance with an operation input with respect to the client/resume-related information.