JP4403357B2 - CONTENT REPRODUCTION DEVICE, CONTENT PROVIDING SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus that reproduces content such as music and video, and more particularly to a content reproduction apparatus that reproduces preferable content from a large amount of content.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the capacity of various types of memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and a semiconductor memory has been rapidly increasing. In addition, with the development of compression technologies such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), which is a video compression technology, and MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-III), which is an audio compression technology, more music and video Etc. can be recorded in various memories.
[0003]
As described above, when a large amount of content can be recorded in the memory, it is important to efficiently search and reproduce the desired content from the content. Therefore, as a conventional technique, a moving image that displays a scene of a scene based on an input instruction from a user is recorded in association with music suitable for the moving image, and the searched music is output in association with the scene. Exists (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, a technique has been proposed in which a printed character of a book is read, and a sound effect data detection unit detects the sound effect data and outputs a sound effect that matches the scene described in the book (for example, Patent Document 2). reference.).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-249865 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-333891 (page 3-4, FIG. 2)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in Patent Document 1 described above, the output content is determined based on an instruction from the user, and thus the content to be output is naturally limited. As a result, it is not possible to deal with a large amount of newly generated content that has been a problem in recent years. Even if this technology is applied, for example, it is difficult for the user to output content according to a completely new viewing environment. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2 described above, the usage mode is limited to the generation of sound effects for printed characters, and the scope of application to content search and selection is limited. On the other hand, there is a random playback function as a function that automatically plays back when viewing in BGM (Back Ground Music) or BGV (Back Ground Video), but this function is only for random playback. It was difficult to select content according to the user's situation (viewing position, situation).
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the technical problems as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a user with content corresponding to a situation.
Another object is to customize a search engine for searching for content from a large amount of content in consideration of user preference.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Based on this object, the present invention makes it possible to search and play back content recorded in a database such as a medium that can be accessed randomly based on the position information of the user (user). That is, the present invention is a content playback device that plays back specific content from content stored in a content database, and the position information input unit is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning Systems) that grasps its own longitude and latitude. Input location information from the receiver. On the other hand, the map information input unit inputs map information from a map information database in which map information is stored. Based on the position information input by the position information input unit and the map information input by the map information input unit, the point information extraction unit extracts the point information. The search unit searches the content to be reproduced from the content stored in the content database based on the point information extracted by the point information extraction unit.
[0008]
Here, the search unit compares the degree of match between the characteristic information of the content and the point information for each content, and extracts a high match as the content to be played. It is preferable in that the selected content can be selected. In addition, if the search unit is characterized in that the degree of matching is calculated by weighting the extracted content for each search target, a more practical search can be realized. Furthermore, with regard to this weighting, if it is characterized by having a variable weighting function for extracting preferences and calculating the degree of match based on additional information input by the user, the search engine will have higher performance through customization. Can be achieved.
[0009]
Further, the apparatus further comprises a non-volatile memory for storing the user profile and a user authentication unit for authenticating the user, and the search unit reads the user profile of the user authenticated by the user authentication unit from the non-volatile memory and is read out. If the content search is performed based on the user profile, it is excellent in that an appropriate content can be searched according to the user.
[0010]
From another point of view, a content providing system to which the present invention is applied includes a content database for storing content, a map information database for storing map information, and a receiver for grasping the current position of the search / playback device, And a search / playback device for playing back the content stored in the content database. The search / playback device searches for and searches the content stored in the content database based on the situation when the content is played back. The reproduced content can be reproduced. Here, the “situation” can be paraphrased as the position, situation, environment, etc., where the user views the content. The search / playback device extracts point information based on position information grasped by a receiver and map information stored in a map information database, and searches for content based on the extracted point information. It can be.
[0011]
On the other hand, the present invention is a content search method for searching for specific content from content stored in a content database, and acquires position information of a playback device that reproduces the content, and acquires map information from the map information database Then, based on the acquired map information and position information, the meaningful point information is extracted for the search, and the specific content is selected from the contents stored in the content database based on the extracted point information. It can be characterized by searching.
[0012]
Here, the characteristic information of the content stored in the content database is acquired, the degree of coincidence between the acquired characteristic information and the extracted point information is calculated, and the content having the high degree of coincidence is reproduced as the content to be reproduced. It can be characterized by searching.
[0013]
Furthermore, the present invention can be understood as a program to be executed by a computer. This program has a function of acquiring position information of a playback device that plays back content in a computer that reads and plays back the content stored in the content database, and a function of extracting point information from the acquired position information and map information And a function of searching for specific content from the content stored in the content database based on the extracted point information. Here, the function of searching for this specific content acquires the characteristic information of the content stored in the content database, calculates the degree of matching between this characteristic information and the extracted point information, and calculates the degree of matching from the calculated degree of matching. It can be characterized by searching for specific content.
[0014]
Note that these programs are provided by being stored in advance in a ROM or the like of a search / playback device, which is a computer that reads and plays back content, for example, via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. May be installed. Further, a form in which a program is transmitted from a program transmission apparatus via a network such as the Internet and downloaded to a computer is also conceivable.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the content providing system. A content providing system 10 to which this exemplary embodiment is applied includes a search / playback device 20 that executes search and playback of content, and a medium 30 that stores various data. This content providing system 10 refers to a logical collection of a plurality of devices, and it does not matter whether the devices of each configuration are in the same housing. For example, in the case of an in-vehicle device such as a car navigation system or an in-vehicle audio system, the media 30 may be included in the housing of the search / playback device 20 to form the content providing system 10 as a content playback device. For example, when the search / playback device 20 is a portable device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a portable audio device, a PHS, or a portable navigation system, the media 30 can be used as a content playback device. In some cases, the apparatus 20 is not provided in the housing of the apparatus 20 but is provided as a media server via a network (not shown) such as the Internet, and the search / playback apparatus 20 and the medium 30 are communicated via this network. is there. In such a case, the content providing system 10 is configured including the configuration provided in these remote locations.
[0016]
A search / playback device 20, which is one of the computer devices, includes a search engine 21 that searches and sorts content from information included in content, and a playback device 22 that plays back the content searched by the search engine 21. A GPS receiver 23 that receives radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning Systems) satellite and measures the two-dimensional (latitude / longitude) position of the search / playback device 20; a ROM 24 that stores a program executed by the search engine 21; The search engine 21 includes a RAM 25 that is a buffer used for performing a search operation, and a non-volatile memory 26 such as an NVRAM (Nonvolatile RAM) that records user-specific profiles as customized data. In addition, when a plurality of humans use the same device, the user authentication unit 27 that authenticates the user can be customized by calling a profile according to the user. The search / playback device 20 itself may not be provided with the GPS receiver 23 but may be configured to use, for example, a receiver provided in a car navigation system and input from this receiver.
[0017]
The medium 30 is composed of a large capacity disk such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a semiconductor memory, for example, and includes a content database (content DB) 31 for storing contents such as music, video, and games, and a map information database for storing map information. (Map information DB) 32. For example, the map information may be a semiconductor memory, the content may be an HDD, etc., and the content DB 31 and the map information DB 32 may be configured by separate media 30.
[0018]
In the content providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, a user (user) situation (content use situation, environment, position) from content (content such as music and video) recorded in the content database 31 of the medium 30. Etc.) is retrieved and output. When the search engine 21 performs a search, the location information (latitude / longitude) of the user obtained from the GPS receiver 23 and the map information (location name) stored in the map information database 32 are used. The position of the user is confirmed by the obtained point of interface (POI), road information obtained from VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) which is a road traffic information communication system, and the like. The search engine 21 can search for content based on the degree of match between the information and the content by using time information obtained from the GPS receiver 23 or a predetermined keyword, for example. The content search result is output from the search engine 21 to the playback device 22. As a result, the playback device 22 preferentially plays back the content from the one having a high degree of matching between the position information (which may include other information) and the content characteristic information.
[0019]
For example, highway-related music (highway XX, XX freeway, etc.) while driving on an expressway, and sea-related music or video (XX Shonan, XX sea, movies) A video related to Izu (movie “Izu no OO”) or the like is searched by the search engine 21 as a BGM generator and output by the playback device 22 while traveling in Izu.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram detailing the configuration of the search engine 21. The search engine 21 to which the present embodiment is applied inputs map information from a position information input unit 41 that inputs position information such as latitude and longitude received from the GPS receiver 23, time information, and the map information database 32. Based on the position information input by the map information input unit 42 and the position information input unit 41, the map information input by the map information input unit 42, etc., keywords such as point information as meaningful information for the search The point information extraction unit 43 for extracting the information, the link file 44 for recording the information group added to the content stored in the content database 31 in association with the content, the keyword extracted by the point information extraction unit 43 and the link file 44 A search unit 45 for searching and hitting a preferable content based on the recorded information group is provided. . Moreover, the user designation input part 46 which receives designation | designated from a user is provided, The search part 45 can also search a content based on the user designation input by this user designation input part 46. FIG.
[0021]
The search engine 21 includes a weighting filter unit 47 that weights the content searched by the search unit 45, and a playlist 48 that arranges a list of contents in the order of output (performance / video). In 48, the information on the content to be output obtained via the weighting filter unit 47 is input, the order of the content list is rearranged, and the information on the content to be output to the playback device 22 is output. The playback device 22 that has received the content information requests the content database 31 to output the content, and receives the actual content from the content database 31. Further, the play list 48 can receive a change / designation of the order in which performance / video should be performed based on the user designation input from the user designation input unit 46. Further, the search engine 21 includes a weighting correction unit 49 that corrects the weighting in the weighting filter unit 47, and can be customized for each user. Note that the playlist 48 can be configured to include the function of the link file 44.
[0022]
The content stored in the content database 31 can be, for example, content embedded in an MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-III) file. The ID3 tag, which is a standard format of MP3, includes information such as the song title, author, and music genre as content characteristic information. For example, in the text information frame of the ID3 tag, category information indicating which category the music belongs to, title / song title / content description, subtitle / explanation additional information, album / movie / show title, main title, etc. Information such as major artists / major performers / soloists / performance groups, conductors, translators, songwriters, composers, etc. In addition, for example, an “mood” frame that describes the audio atmosphere such as “romantic” and “sadness” with some keywords is also prepared. The search unit 45 searches for preferable content by using information of the content itself.
[0023]
Next, processing of the search engine 21 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the search engine 21. Here, first, latitude / longitude is acquired from the GPS receiver 23 via the position information input unit 41 as position information where the search / playback device 20 exists (step 101). In addition to position information from the GPS receiver 23, position information can also be obtained from POI, VICS, or the like. Further, the search engine 21 acquires map information from the map information database 32 via the map information input unit 42 (step 102). Based on these pieces of information, the point information extraction unit 43 extracts keywords related to the point information as meaningful information for the search (step 103). As keywords extracted as meaningful information, for example, the location is “Izu”, the road is “High Speed Up”, the surrounding information is “Sea”, the related information is “Hot Spring”, “Fish”, and the date and time is “Heisei” October 2014, Saturday, 20:00 ".
[0024]
Next, the search unit 45 extracts content based on the degree of matching based on the content link file 44 and the keyword extracted by the point information extraction unit 43 (step 104). At this time, in the search unit 45, in addition to the characteristic information included in the content stored in the content database 31, search and selection are performed from information (keywords and the like) intentionally added from the user designation input unit 46. An example of a search target is a search from a title character string of content. For example, highway, sea, Tsugaru, Boso, Tokyo, Hakone, Izu, summer vacation, etc. Moreover, it may be searched from the lyrics information of the content. For example, Yuigahama, Kamakura, Hoshi, oranges, apples, Asakusa, Enoshima, etc. Further, it is possible to search from the information of the categorized artist. For example, if you are from a singer from Hokkaido, the image of the song is summer, a singer that imagines summer, a singer that images it if it is a love song. Furthermore, it is possible to search from the information added by the user to the content itself. For example, a song that you want to hear at night, a song that you want to hear at sea, or a movie that you want to watch in a traffic jam.
[0025]
These can be arranged on a matrix, for example, and the content can be selected from the degree of matching between the map information obtained from the position information and the characteristic information included in the content. At this time, content is selected by weighting via the weighting filter unit 47 (step 105). At this time, as will be described later, content characteristics information and additional information from the user are weighted and counted, so that content selection more suited to the situation can be performed. Thereafter, the selected content is added to the playlist 48 (step 106), and the list is rearranged in the content usage order (for example, performance order) and output to the playback device 22 (step 107). The playback device 22 sends a content output request to the content database 31 based on the obtained list, acquires the content from the content database 31, and performs screen display or audio display such as a speaker or an earphone.
[0026]
If the user profile is stored in the nonvolatile memory 26, for example, in step 105 described above, the corresponding user profile is called from the nonvolatile memory 26 based on the user recognition from the user authentication unit 27. Thus, content according to the user's preference is selected. This user profile can be called at any time, and can be made when the device is activated (at the time of authentication), when logging on when using a PC, or when the search function is called. In addition to the case where the user profile is recorded in the non-volatile memory 26, for example, a user profile such as a mobile phone or a user memory card may be used.
[0027]
For example, a portable semiconductor memory such as a memory card can be used as the nonvolatile memory 26 that can store a user profile and customized data. At this time, it is preferable to secure the user area on the content database 31 and store the user profile and customization data there. For example, when there is content in the HDD as the medium 30, a partial area thereof can be used for customized data. Further, if there is content on the network, it is also possible to configure to call customized data and profile via the network.
[0028]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the weighting performed by the weighting filter unit 47. Here, a mechanism is shown in which the content extracted from the characteristic information is weighted for each search target, and the usage order is determined based on the total matching degree. The matrix shown in FIG. 4 shows five contents from content A to content E, and each is weighted for each search target. Here, title (genre) coincidence, lyrics information (keyword) coincidence, artist information coincidence, and user additional information coincidence are shown as search targets, and weights are respectively set for these. You may consider after matching for other information.
[0029]
In addition, a weighting factor is determined for each degree of matching, and the weighting factor is multiplied with each weight. For example, in the content A, the title match degree is weight 50, weight coefficient 3, lyrics information match degree weight 20, weight coefficient 4, etc., and the total match degree is “weight × weight coefficient” for each match degree. Calculated by adding together. Therefore, in this content A,
50 × 3 + 20 × 4 + 10 × 1 + 10 × 5 = 290
Becomes the total match. Similarly, the total matching degree is 365 for content B, 280 for content C, 470 for content D, and 265 for content E. Thereby, in the selection of the content by the weighting filter unit 47, the content D, the content B, the content A, the content C, and the content E are selected in descending order of the total matching degree.
[0030]
Next, the weight correction work performed by the weight correction unit 49 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the weight correction operation. When the content is reproduced (step 201), the weight correction unit 49 determines whether or not the content has been reproduced for a predetermined time or more (step 202). If it has not been played for a predetermined time or more, that is, if content such as a song is skipped, it is highly likely that the content is not desired by the user, and the negative count X is incremented, that is, X is X + 1. Substituted (step 203). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not X is larger than a predetermined number (for example, 4 times) (step 204). If it is greater than the predetermined number, the playback order is dropped (step 205), and if it is not greater than the predetermined number, the playback order is maintained as it is (step 206).
[0031]
On the other hand, if it is reproduced in step 202 for a predetermined time or more, content information is extracted based on the link file 44 obtained from the content database 31 (step 207). At this time, for example, the title (genre) J is counted (step 208), and it is determined whether or not the title J is larger than a predetermined number (N1) (step 209). If it is larger, it is understood that the title J is frequently played, so the weight is increased (step 210). On the other hand, if the title J is smaller than the predetermined number (N1), the weight is maintained (step 211).
[0032]
Similarly, the keywords K1 to Km are counted (step 212), and it is determined whether or not the total Kt of these keywords is larger than a predetermined number (N2) (step 213). If so, the weight is increased (step 214), and if not, the weight is maintained (step 215). Also, artist A is counted (step 216), and it is determined whether or not the frequency of artist A is greater than a predetermined number (N3) (step 217). If so, the weight is increased (step 218), and if not, the weight is maintained (step 219). Further, the user additional information U is counted (step 220), and it is determined whether the frequency at which the user additional information U is input is greater than a predetermined number (N4) (step 221). If it is larger, the weight is increased (step 222). If it is not larger, the weight is maintained (step 223). Similarly, other information O is counted (step 224), and it is determined whether or not it is greater than a predetermined number (N5) (step 225). If it is larger, the weight is increased (step 226). If it is not larger, the weight is maintained (step 227).
[0033]
As described above, in the present embodiment, a weight is assigned to each search target, and the weight can be corrected by the weight correction unit 49 according to the usage status of the content. In particular, by storing the additional information of the content viewed by the user in, for example, the non-volatile memory 26, it is possible to assume the user's preference, and by changing the weight accordingly, You can search for content that suits your preferences.
[0034]
Further, as the weighting, for example, it is possible to weight the map data items which are extracted by the point information extraction unit 43 and are meaningful information for the search. For example, weight 5 for pinpoint place names such as Bay Bridge and Tokyo Tower, weight 3 for peripheral information such as the sea and roads, weight 2 for area information such as place names, special information such as special product information and hometown singer information Weight 3 is added to the information, and weight 4 is added to time information such as season information and time. In the search unit 45, it is possible to perform a search that matches the situation more by searching for the content in consideration of the weighting for the assigned point information.
[0035]
As described above, according to this embodiment, when using a media playback device having a large amount of content, the content corresponding to the situation can be selected from a large amount of content without bothering the user (user). Will be able to search. In addition, the position information and the map data can be used not only as a navigation function but also in combination with a content search to realize a more practical automatic random playback function. Furthermore, by using a weighting matrix function and a preference variable customizing function for preference extraction in the search engine, it is possible to improve the performance of the search engine.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a user with content corresponding to a situation from a large amount of content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overall configuration of a content providing system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram detailing a configuration of a search engine.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing executed by a search engine.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining weighting performed by a weighting filter unit;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of weighting correction work.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Content provision system, 20 ... Search / reproduction apparatus, 21 ... Search engine, 22 ... Playback apparatus, 23 ... GPS receiver, 24 ... ROM, 25 ... RAM, 26 ... Non-volatile memory, 30 ... Media, 31 ... Content Database (content DB) 32 ... Map information database (map information DB) 41 ... Position information input unit 42 ... Map information input unit 43 ... Point information extraction unit 44 ... Link file 45 ... Search unit 46 ... User designation input unit, 47 ... weighting filter unit, 48 ... play list, 49 ... weighting correction unit

Claims (7)

A content playback device for playing back specific content from content stored in a content database,
A position information input unit for inputting position information indicating latitude and longitude;
A map information input unit for inputting map information from a map information database in which map information indicating a place name is stored;
A location information extraction unit that identifies a place name indicated by the map information input by the map information input unit based on the position information input by the position information input unit, and extracts a keyword related to the place name;
The degree of coincidence between the keyword extracted by the point information extraction unit and the characteristic information of the content that is the information group added to the content stored in the content database is compared for each content, and the content with the high degree of coincidence is determined. A search unit for searching from the content database;
A weighting factor is set for each item of the characteristic information , and for each of the contents searched by the search unit , for each of the items of the characteristic information, the degree of match with the characteristic information and the item of the characteristic information A weighting filter unit that calculates a total matching degree between the keyword and the content by taking the sum of products of the set weighting factors, and selects a content to be reproduced based on the total matching degree;
For each item of the characteristic information, counts the frequency at which content having the characteristic information is reproduced, if the value of the count is greater than a predetermined value, the in items of the keyword and the characteristic information A content reproduction apparatus comprising: a weight correction unit that increases the degree of coincidence with characteristic information. It further includes a GPS (Global Positioning Systems) receiver that knows its longitude and latitude,
The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position information input unit inputs longitude and latitude information received from the GPS receiver as the position information.   The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search unit calculates the degree of match based on additional information input from a user. Non-volatile memory for storing user profiles;
A user authentication unit for authenticating the user,
The content playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search unit reads a user profile of a user authenticated by the user authentication unit from the nonvolatile memory and searches for content based on the user profile. A content database for storing content;
A search / playback device for playing back content stored in the content database;
The search / playback device compares, for each content, the degree of match between the situation at the time of playing the content and the characteristic information of the content that is the information group added to the content stored in the content database. the high content retrieved from among the content database, and sets the weighting coefficient for each item of the characteristic information, for each of the searched content, the with the characteristic information for each item of the characteristic information The total degree of matching between the situation and the content is calculated by taking the sum of the product of the degree of matching and the weighting factor set in the item of the characteristic information , and selected based on the total degree of matching. playing the content for each item of the characteristic information, having a corresponding characteristic information Counting how often the content is reproduced, the content, characterized in that to increase the degree of coincidence with the characteristic information in the item of the count values the situation and the characteristic information is larger than a predetermined value Offer system. A map information database for storing map information indicating place names;
A receiver for grasping a current position of the search / playback device;
The search / playback device identifies a place name indicated by map information stored in the map information database based on position information indicating latitude and longitude ascertained by the receiver, extracts a keyword related to the place name, and extracts 6. The content providing system according to claim 5, wherein the content is searched based on the keyword. To the computer that reads and plays the content stored in the content database,
A function for acquiring position information indicating the latitude and longitude of a playback device that plays back content,
A function of identifying a place name indicated by map information based on the acquired position information and extracting a keyword related to the place name;
The degree of coincidence between the extracted keyword and the characteristic information of the content that is the information group added to the content stored in the content database is compared for each content, and the specific content with the high degree of coincidence is stored in the content database. The ability to search from within,
A weighting factor is set for each item of the characteristic information , and for each of the specific contents, the degree of coincidence with the characteristic information for each item of the characteristic information and the item of the characteristic information A function of calculating a total matching degree between the keyword and the specific content by taking a sum of products with weighting factors, and selecting a content to be reproduced based on the total matching degree;
For each item of the characteristic information, counts the frequency at which content having the characteristic information is reproduced, if the value of the count is greater than the value given in advance, the in items of the keyword and the characteristic information A program for realizing a function of increasing the degree of coincidence with characteristic information.

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