JP5028013B2 - Content output apparatus and content output method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content transmission apparatus and a content transmission method for transmitting content such as video and audio via a network.

  With the development of processing capability such as the calculation speed and storage capacity of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs), the capacity of hard disk drives (hereinafter referred to as HDDs) incorporated in PCs is also increasing. Under these circumstances, recently, it has become possible to use a PC that is used in a general home, such as recording a TV broadcast program using an HDD and viewing it on a PC display. .

On the other hand, due to the low price of large-capacity HDDs, HDD recorders with built-in HDDs and digitally recording video and audio information have appeared as home recorders, allowing users to view the program being recorded from the beginning. It is spreading rapidly due to its ease of use.
In addition, content transmission devices and content reception devices that allow users to view content recorded on an HDD that is attached to a recording device from another PC or reception device via a network have started to appear. Such a content transmission device and content reception device are required to have connectivity independent of the manufacturer in order to improve the convenience of the network, and a framework for that purpose is described in “Non-Patent Document 1”.

On the other hand, the capacity of the HDD is further increased, and a very large amount of content is recorded on the HDD. For this reason, many techniques have been proposed in order to efficiently view many contents.
For example, in “Patent Document 1”, a content receiving apparatus efficiently obtains digest information including a part of a plurality of contents recorded in a remote content transmitting apparatus via a network and address information of each content. Describes that a predetermined content can be selected from a plurality of contents.

JP-A-2005-63171 Digital Living Network Alliance Guidelines (Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) 禰 ome Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines v1.0

However, the above-mentioned “Patent Document 1” does not consider the manufacturer-independent connectivity, and it is not possible to enjoy the convenience of efficient content viewing unless the device conforms to “Patent Document 1”. It was.
An object of the present invention is to provide a content transmission apparatus and a content transmission method capable of efficiently viewing content in a short time while ensuring connectivity independent of a manufacturer.

The object can be achieved by the configuration described in the claims as an example.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a content transmission apparatus and a content transmission method capable of efficiently viewing content in a short time while ensuring connectivity independent of the manufacturer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the content transmitting apparatus 100 and the content receiving apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment. The content transmission device 100 and the content reception device 200 are connected to each other via the IP network 300.
The content transmission apparatus 100 includes a content storage unit 101, a digest content generation unit 102, a content information provision unit 103, a content management unit 104, a distribution processing unit 105, and a network communication unit 106.

The content storage unit 101 stores, for example, digital TV broadcast program content or digitalized content of an analog TV broadcast program.
The digest content generation unit 102 generates at least one digest content obtained by editing the content stored in the content storage unit so as to have a predetermined reproduction time, and stores the digest content in the content storage unit 101.

Digest content generation methods include, for example, a method that uses metadata included in a broadcast program, a method that evaluates importance by dividing a program by time, a method that evaluates the excitement level using sound information, and the like. Although there is no particular limitation here, a known method is used.
The content information providing unit 103 provides content information including access destination information for acquiring desired content via a network and content related information in a format that allows the user to understand the correspondence between the source content and the digest content. .

  FIG. 2 shows an example of content information generated by the content information providing unit 103. In the figure, 211 is a management number for identifying content, and 212 is a file name of the content. These are information generated by the content management means and used for managing the content. The title 213 is text information indicating the name of the content, 214 is information indicating the recording date and time, 215 is content playback time information, 216 is content size information, and 217 is a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) indicating the location of the content (hereinafter referred to as “content information”). The content receiving apparatus 200 can acquire and reproduce the content by accessing the URI using an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) protocol or the like.

213, 214, 215, and 216 are information for displaying the details of the content to the user who uses the content receiving apparatus 200, and are information to be displayed on the monitor screen. It does not matter even if it is information. As shown in the figure, the title 213 has the source content title “soccer”, the digest content title “soccer 30 minutes version”, “soccer 5 minutes version”, etc., so that the content receiving apparatus interprets the content information. Even if it is not, information is displayed so that the user can know the correspondence between the source content and the digest content simply by displaying the title information.
The content management means 104 generates and stores a management number and title that associate the source content with the digest content.

The processing flow of the content management unit 104 is shown in FIG.
When new content is stored in the content storage unit 101 (S101), the content management unit 104 acquires information on the content itself or a digital broadcast receiver that receives content not described here, or via a network. Information such as the file name 212, title 213, recording date 214, program recording time 215, and size 216 of the stored content is acquired or generated using the program information of the content. Further, the content management means generates a management number 211 for managing the content and a content URI for providing the content via the network, and stores and manages it (S102).

  When the digest content is saved (S103), the management number of the source content, the digest content file name, recording time, size, and the like are acquired from the digest content generation means 102 (S104). Further, the content management means generates a digest content management number, title information, and content URI (S105).

Based on the management number of the source content, the management number of the digest content is generated according to a predetermined rule. In this embodiment, as an example, the upper digit is the identification number of the source content, the lowest digit is the identification number of the digest content, 0 indicates the source content, and other values indicate the digest content. .
In this embodiment, the title is given the playback time of the digest content after the title name of the source content so that the user can understand the relationship between the source content and the digest content simply by looking at the title. Note that the method for generating the title is not limited as long as the user can see the relationship between the source content and the digest content simply by looking at the title. Further, the method for generating the content URI is not particularly defined.

The distribution processing unit 105 acquires the file name of the specified content from the content management unit 104 using the specified content URI, reads it from the content storage unit 101, and distributes it over the network via the network communication unit 206. The network communication means 106 transmits content information and content in accordance with a request from another network device.
The content receiving apparatus 200 includes content information requesting means 201, content requesting means 202, content reproduction means 203, display means 204, input means 205, and network communication means 206. The content information requesting unit 201 acquires and holds the content information (title 213, recording date 214, playback time 215, size 216, content URI 217 in FIG. 2) provided by the content transmitting apparatus 100. Further, information for the user to select content, for example, a title 213, a recording date 214, and a time 215 are displayed via the display unit 204.

  When the user selects playback content, the content request unit 202 acquires the reference content URI 217 held by the content information request unit 201, and uses the information to transmit the content from the content transmission unit 100 via the network communication unit 206. The acquired content is encoded by the content reproduction means 203 such as MPEG2, and is displayed on the screen via the display means 204.

At this time, the content information provided by the content transmitting apparatus 100 of the present invention is named so that the user can associate the source content with the digest content by the title name of the content, and the digest playback time is also included in the title. It is included.
Accordingly, a general content information format that realizes content sharing by specifying a content name and a content access destination, for example, a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) guideline (hereinafter referred to as a DLNA guideline) should be followed. For example, the content receiving device 200 does not need to incorporate a new process in order to view the digest content via the network.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between typical properties in CDS (Content Directory Services) adopted in the DLNA guidelines and content information (FIG. 2) managed by the content management means 104.
As shown here, if the digest content information is provided by mapping to the property defined by the CDS, the content receiving apparatus acquires the content information according to a corresponding protocol, for example, DLNA guidelines, and displays the content information. It is possible to know from the content list that the content and its digest version can be used, and to select the digest version and the source content without distinction.

In addition, since the digest content is generated by the content transmitting side, the content receiving side can access the content URI and acquire and reproduce the content in the same way as normal content.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the content receiving side only needs to follow a general content sharing mechanism, and digest content can be transmitted via the network without adding new hardware and software implementations to the device. It is possible to provide a content transmission apparatus that enables reproduction.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configurations of the content transmitting apparatus 100 and the content receiving apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment are the same as those in FIG. 1, and the generated content information is different. FIG. 5 is an example of content information according to the embodiment.
The same information as the content information in FIG. 2 is denoted by the same number, and description thereof is omitted. Reference numeral 218 denotes a play speed list, which represents the playback time of content that can be provided by the content transmitting apparatus 100. Here, the value “1” indicates that the source content is played back as it is. “3” indicates that playback is possible in 1/3 time.
That is, the management number 10 in FIG. 5 indicates that it is possible to provide a 30-minute version in which the source content is reduced to 1/3 time and a 5-minute version of the digest content reduced to 1/18.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow of the content management means 104 according to the second embodiment which is the second embodiment. Processing different from the processing flow described above with reference to FIG. 3 is indicated by bold lines and bold characters.
First, in step S106 for generating and saving content information of the source content, play speed list information is added, and the play speed “1” of the source content is saved.
Next, the processing when the digest content is saved. For the digest content, the content management means generates only the management number and saves it together with the file name, recording time, and size information.

  Next, the play speed information of the digest content is generated and added to the play speed list of the source content (S107). The content information providing means for which content information is requested provides only the content information of the source content, and the content receiving apparatus 200 designates the content to be acquired by the content URI of the source content and the play speed. In the second embodiment, only the content information of the source content is presented to the content receiving apparatus 200, and the information of the digest content that can be provided is included in the information of the source content. Therefore, it is possible to provide a user I / F that is easier to select.

Also, by mapping the play speed list to [ps_param] in the fourth field of <res @ protocolInfo>, which is one of the property information of DLNA guidelines, digest content can be provided within the framework of server-side trick play. I can do it.
That is, according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the content receiving side only needs to follow a general content sharing mechanism, and without adding new hardware and software implementations to the device, It is possible to provide a content transmission apparatus that can realize digest content reproduction via a network.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the configuration of the content transmission device 100 and the content reception device 200 according to the third embodiment. In the figure, means having the same functions as those in FIG. Reference numeral 108 denotes digest information generation means.
The digest information generation means edits the content stored in the content storage means so as to have a predetermined playback time, generates read position information of the source content file as shown in FIG. 8, and reads the read position list (219). Save as. When the requested content is a large just content, the distribution processing unit 109 reads the content management unit of the corresponding content, reads the digest content from the content storage unit 101 according to the position list, and distributes it via the network communication unit 106.
The method of generating content information may be the method of the first embodiment or the method of the second embodiment.

  According to the present embodiment, according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the content receiving side only needs to follow a general content sharing mechanism, and a new hardware and software implementation can be implemented in the apparatus. It is possible to provide a content transmitting apparatus that can realize digest content reproduction via the network without adding, and since the digest content is not stored, the memory of the content storage unit 101 can be used efficiently.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is effective in a network system including a content transmission device and a content reception device having a function of storing content, and a network in which a content reception device conforming to existing content sharing such as UPnP AV and DLNA guidelines exists. .
The above-described embodiments disclose at least the following.
(1)
Content storage means for storing content;
Digest content generation means for partially extracting the content, generating digest content edited to have a predetermined playback time at one or more different playback times, and storing the digest content in the content storage means;
For each content stored in the content storage means, content information including at least access destination information for acquiring desired content via a network and content-related information for identifying correspondence between source content and digest content is provided. Content information providing means;
Distribution processing means for reading out and distributing the content specified by the access destination information from the storage means;
A content transmission apparatus comprising: at least the content information or network communication means for transmitting content in accordance with a request from another network apparatus.
(2)
Content storage means for storing content;
Digest content generation means for partially extracting the content, generating digest content edited to have a predetermined playback time at one or more different playback times, and storing the digest content in the content storage means;
For each content stored in the content storage means, at least access destination information for acquiring desired content via the network, a digest flag indicating whether the digest content of the content can be provided, and a digest content are designated. Content information providing means for providing content information including digest identification information;
Content management means for storing a correspondence between the source content and the digest content, and updating the digest identification information included in the content information of the source content every time the digest content is generated or deleted;
Distribution processing means for reading out and distributing the content specified by the access destination information and the digest identification information from the storage means;
A content transmission apparatus comprising: at least the content information or network communication means for transmitting the content in accordance with a request from another network apparatus.
(3)
Content storage means for storing content;
Digest information generating means for extracting at least a part of the content and generating digest information including extraction position information for reproduction at one or a plurality of predetermined reproduction times;
For each content stored in the content storage means, content information including at least access destination information for acquiring desired content via a network and content-related information for identifying correspondence between source content and digest content is provided. Content information providing means;
A content management unit that stores a correspondence between source content and digest information, and further generates content information of the digest content corresponding to the digest information and registers the content information in the content information providing unit;
Distribution processing means for reading and distributing the content designated by the access destination information from the storage means while extracting a predetermined portion according to the digest information;
A content transmission apparatus comprising: at least the content information or network communication means for transmitting content in accordance with a request from another network apparatus.
(4)
Content storage means for storing content;
Digest information generating means for extracting at least a part of the content and generating digest information including extraction position information for reproduction at one or a plurality of predetermined reproduction times;
For each content stored in the content storage means, at least access destination information for acquiring desired content via the network, a digest flag indicating whether the digest content of the content can be provided, and a digest content are designated. Content information providing means for providing content information including digest identification information;
Content management means for storing a correspondence between the source content and the digest information and updating the digest identification information included in the content information of the source content every time the digest information is generated or deleted;
Distribution processing means for reading and distributing the content designated by the access destination information from the storage means while extracting a predetermined portion according to the digest information;
A content transmission apparatus comprising: at least the content information or network communication means for transmitting content in accordance with a request from another network apparatus.
(5)
In the content transmission device according to (1),
A content transmission apparatus comprising: content management means for storing a correspondence between source content and digest content and deleting the corresponding digest content and content information when the source content is deleted.
(6)
In the content transmission device according to (2),
The content transmission device, wherein the content management means deletes the corresponding digest content and content information when the source content is deleted.
(7)
In the content transmission device according to (3),
The content transmission device, wherein the content management means deletes the corresponding digest information and content information when the source content is deleted.
(8)
In the content transmission device according to (4),
The content transmission device, wherein the content management means deletes the corresponding digest information when the source content is deleted.
(9)
In the content transmission device according to any one of (1) to (4),
Content transmitting apparatus characterized in that content information is in the same format as Digital Living Network Alliance Guidelines.
(10)
In the content transmission device according to either (2) or (4),
Digest content distribution follows the server-side trick play mechanism of the Digital Living Network Alliance Guidelines.
(11)
In a content transmission method of a content transmission apparatus having content storage means for storing content,
A digest content generation step of partially extracting the content, generating digest content edited to have a predetermined playback time at one or a plurality of different playback times, and storing the digest content in the content storage means;
For each content stored in the content storage means, content information including at least access destination information for acquiring desired content via a network and content-related information for identifying correspondence between source content and digest content is provided. Steps,
Reading the content specified by the access destination information from the storage means and distributing the content;
A content transmission method for a content transmission device, comprising: at least a step of transmitting the content information or content according to a request of another network device.

1 is an example of a configuration of a content transmission device and a content reception device according to Embodiment 1. 4 is an example of content information according to the first embodiment. 4 is a processing flow of content management means according to the first embodiment. The relationship between the CDS property which concerns on Example 1, and content information. 10 is another example of content information according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an example of a processing flow of content management means according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is an example of a configuration of a content transmission device and a content reception device according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Content transmission apparatus 101 ... Content storage means 102 ... Digest content generation means 103 ... Content information provision means 104 ... Content management means 105 ... Distribution processing means 106 ... Network communication means 200 ... Content reception apparatus 300 ... IP network

Claims (2)

In a content output device that outputs content to a receiving device via a network,
Storage means for storing a plurality of the contents;
Network communication means;
And generating content information relating to each of the plurality of contents stored in the storage unit, via the network communication means, the content information providing means for outputting a list of the respective content information,
Content output means for outputting the content stored in the storage means to the receiving device via the network communication means when the receiving device selects the content based on the content information output as a list When,
With
Content information related to each of the plurality of contents output via the network communication means includes access destination information of the content output via the network communication means and second information related to the content selection control. Including
The second information is information in which a plurality of types of information of the content are written together in a predetermined field,
The content output means is stored in the storage means when selected by any of a plurality of types of information written together in the predetermined field of the second information output via the network communication means. The content output device, wherein the content is output to the receiving device via the network communication means. In a content output method for outputting content to a receiving device via a network,
Generating content information related to each of the plurality of contents , outputting the contents information as a list via the network,
When the content is selected based on the content information output as a list, the content is output to the receiving device via the network,
Content information relating to each of the plurality of contents to be output via the network, and a second information relating to the selected control of the access destination information and the contents of the content to be output through the network,
The second information output via the network is information in which a plurality of types of information of the content are written together in a predetermined field,
The content is output to the receiving device via the network when selected according to any of a plurality of types of information written in the predetermined field of the second information to be output via the network. A content output method characterized by the above.

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