JP2005100200A - Content reproducing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to continuously appreciate contents while moving. <P>SOLUTION: A content server 10 and a reproducing device 20 are set in a living room, a reproducing device 30 is set in a study, and a reproducing device 40 is set in a bed room. The reproducing devices 20, 30 and 40 are respectively provided with detectors 29, 39 and 49 for detecting whether a user is present in a fixed area. When it is detected that the user has moved from the living room to the study, the contents server 10 switches a status that music data are transmitted to the reproducing device 20 for music reproduction to a status that the music data are transmitted to the reproducing device 30 for music reproduction. When the user goes out, the content server 10 is connected through the Internet 9 to a portable apparatus 50, and the music data are transmitted to the portable apparatus 50 for music reproduction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for reproducing content such as music and video using content data such as music data and video data.

  Note that the content is content information that a person can recognize audibly or visually, and includes audio information such as music, image information such as moving images, still images, and graphics.

  As a method of appreciating music and video, for example, in the case of appreciating music, a method of reproducing music with a reproduction device such as a CD (Compact Disc) player installed in a room or portable is used.

  Recently, as shown in many documents such as Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-355346), a system for distributing music data from a distribution server to a user terminal via a network has been considered. Yes.

  Furthermore, with the widespread use and lower prices of audio equipment and video equipment, playback devices are installed in a plurality of places such as each room in a home, and music and video can be viewed at a plurality of places.

  For example, a user who has set a music CD in a playback device installed in the living room and listened to music in the living room may bring the CD into another room and set it in a playback device installed in another room. Can listen to music in another room.

The prior art documents listed above are as follows.
JP-A-11-355346

  However, in the conventional reproduction method described above, for example, when a user records music recorded on a CD and the user moves from the living room to another room, the reproducing apparatus installed in the living room This is not only annoying for the user, but also the music is interrupted during that time, and the music cannot be listened to continuously.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when the user moves to another place, the user can view the content with the optimum playback device according to the scene without requiring the user's operation. It is designed to allow continuous viewing.

The content reproduction system of this invention
A server that transmits content data recorded on media or received from the outside to a playback device;
A plurality of playback devices each receiving content data transmitted from the server and playing back the content;
Each comprising a plurality of detection devices for detecting whether or not the user is in a certain area with respect to the corresponding playback device;
When a detection device among the plurality of detection devices detects that a user is within a certain area with respect to the corresponding playback device, the content is played back on the corresponding playback device.

  In the content reproduction system of the present invention configured as described above, for example, when a user who has been listening to music recorded on a CD in the living room moves to another room, the user needs to bring the CD into another room. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the CD from the playback device installed in the living room and set it in the playback device installed in another room, and while the user is moving in the living room, the detection device installed in the living room When it is detected that the user is in the living room, the music is played on the playback device installed in the living room, and the user moves from one room to another through the boundary between the living room and another room. By detecting that the user is in a different room by the detection device installed in the music, the music is played back by the playback device installed in the other room, so that the music is not interrupted. The user can listen to continuous music during the movement.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the user moves to another place, the user can appreciate the content by using the optimum playback device according to the scene without requiring the user's operation. You can watch content continuously while moving.

[Embodiment for Music Playback System: FIGS. 1 to 4]
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement configuration of an example of a music reproduction system as an embodiment of the content reproduction system of the present invention.

  This example is a case where the user 1 mainly listens to music in a residence, and the residence includes a living room 2, a study 3, and a bedroom 4.

  In the living room 2, the content server 10 and the playback device 20 are installed. In the study 3, the playback device 30 is installed. In the bedroom 4, the playback device 40 is installed. The content server 10 and the playback devices 20, 30 and 40 are connected by a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) 5.

  Each of the playback devices 20, 30 and 40 includes a decoder for decoding the encoded music data from the content server 10 and converting it into an analog signal, and left and right speakers 27L, 27R, 37L, 37R and 47L, 47R. . Therefore, the user 1 can appreciate music in each of the living room 2, the study room 3, and the bedroom 4.

  In the vicinity of the reproduction devices 20, 30 and 40, there are provided detection devices 29, 39 and 49 as will be described later.

  In this example, when the user 1 is not in any of the living room 2, the study room 3 or the bedroom 4 by carrying or holding a portable device 50 as will be described later, for example, the user 1 goes out to the garden. It is possible to listen to music with the portable device 50 when the user is out or when going out.

  FIG. 2 shows the connection configuration of the music playback system of this example. The content server 10 includes, for example, a CPU 11, a memory 13 in which programs and data are expanded, an HDD (hard disk drive) 15 having a built-in hard disk 14, a drive 17 of a medium (recording medium) such as a CD 16, etc. The detection results of the detection devices 29, 39, 49 are received from the playback devices 20, 30, 40 via the LAN 5, and are connected to the communication unit 18 that transmits music data to the playback devices 20, 30, 40, and the Internet 9. An external network connection unit 19 is connected.

  The playback device 20 installed in the living room 2 includes, for example, a CPU 21, and a detection result of the detection device 29 is sent to the content server 10 via the memory 23 in which the program is written and the data is expanded on the bus 22, and the LAN 5. Are connected to a communication unit 24 that receives music data from the content server 10 and a decoder 25 that decodes the received music data and converts it into an analog signal.

  The left and right audio signals (music signals) from the decoder 25 are amplified by the audio amplifying circuits 26L and 26R and supplied to the speakers 27L and 27R.

  The playback device 30 installed in the study 3 and the playback device 40 installed in the bedroom 4 are configured in the same manner as the playback device 20.

  The detection devices 29, 39, and 49 will be described in detail later. In this example, the user 1 is in a certain area with respect to the playback devices 20, 30, and 40 by wireless communication with the portable device 50. It detects whether or not there is.

  In this example, the portable device 50 receives music data from the content server 10 via the Internet 9 and reproduces music.

  Specifically, the portable device 50 includes a CPU 51, a memory 53 in which a program is written and data is expanded in the bus 52, an external network connection unit 54 connected to the Internet 9 by wireless communication, and this external network connection A decoder 55 that decodes music data received from the content server 10 via the Internet 9 by the unit 54 and converts it into an analog signal, and a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication for detection with the detection devices 29, 39, and 49 59 is connected.

  The left and right audio signals (music signals) from the decoder 55 are amplified by the audio amplifying circuits 56L and 56R, and supplied to the external terminals 57L and 57R to which headphones and earphones are connected.

  As wireless communication for detection between the detection devices 29, 39, 49 and the wireless communication unit 59 of the portable device 50, a method using radio waves in a certain frequency band or a method using infrared rays can be used. . The method of using radio waves is shown below.

  In this case, for example, a confirmation signal is transmitted from the detection devices 29, 39, 49 to the portable device 50 periodically, for example, once per second. When the portable device 50 receives the signal, the portable device 50 returns the signal to the detection devices 29, 39, and 49. At this time, identification information such as a device identification code indicating transmission from the detection devices 29, 39, and 49 is added to transmission from the detection devices 29, 39, and 49 to the portable device 50, respectively. The identification information indicating that the reply is to the detection devices 29, 39, and 49, respectively, is also added to the reply to the detection devices 29, 39, and 49.

  As a result, when the detection devices 29, 39, 49 receive a reply addressed to themselves, the detection device 29, 39, 49 indicates that the portable device 50 exists in a certain area with respect to itself, that is, the user 1 plays the playback devices 20, 30. , 40 can be detected within a certain area.

  However, in practice, depending on the structure of each room in the house and the electric field strength of the transmitted / received signal, a plurality of detection devices may receive a reply addressed to the device at the same time. . Even in this case, appropriate reproduction can be performed by the following control.

  FIG. 3 shows the positions where the user 1 is present (portable device 50 exists) and the detection levels L2, L3, L4 at the detection devices 29, 39, 49 in the case of the residential structure and system configuration as shown in FIG. An example of the relationship is shown. The detection levels L2, L3, and L4 are received electric field strengths of replies addressed to themselves in the detection devices 29, 39, and 49, respectively.

  The detection level L2 at the detection device 29 is maximum when the user 1 is at a certain position P2 in the living room 2, and decreases as the user 1 moves away from the position P2 toward the study 3 side or the bedroom 4 side. Similarly, the detection level L3 at the detection device 39 is maximum when the user 1 is at a certain position P3 in the study 3, and decreases as the user 1 moves away from the position P3 toward the living room 2, and the detection level L4 at the detection device 49 is detected. Is maximum when the user 1 is at a certain position P4 in the bedroom 4 and decreases as the user 1 moves away from the position P4 toward the living room 2 side.

  The area Ea is in the vicinity of the door 6 between the living room 2 and the study 3 shown in FIG. 1, and when the user 1 is in the area Ea, the detection levels L2 and L3 in the detection devices 29 and 39 are level. Lth2 or less. The area Ed is in the vicinity of the door 7 between the living room 2 and the bedroom 4 shown in FIG. 1, and when the user 1 is in the area Ed, the detection levels L2 and L4 in the detection devices 29 and 49 are detected. Is below level Lth3.

  In the music playback system of this example, the CPU 11 of the content server 10 receives the detection results of such detection devices 29, 39, 49 via the playback devices 20, 30, 40 and the LAN 5, as follows. It controls music playback on the playback devices 20, 30, and 40.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a reproduction control process executed by the CPU 11 of the content server 10.

  In the reproduction control processing 60 of this example, the processing is performed in a state in which the music data transmitted from the content server 10 is received and reproduced by the reproduction device in a room A, for example, the reproduction device 20 in the living room 2. First, in step 61, it is determined whether or not the level detected by the detection device for the room A being reproduced is equal to or lower than a threshold value Lth1 as shown in FIG.

  When it is determined that the detection level at the detection device for the room A being reproduced is equal to or less than the threshold value Lth1, the process proceeds from step 61 to step 62, where the detection level at the detection device for the other room B or C is the threshold value Lth1. It is judged whether or not.

  When it is determined that the detection level in the detection device of the other room B or C exceeds the threshold value Lth1, it is determined that the user 1 has moved to another room, and the process proceeds from step 62 to step 63 to detect the detection. The music data is transmitted to the playback device in the room B or C whose level exceeds the threshold value Lth1 to play the music, and the transmission of the music data to the playback device in the room A being played back is stopped.

  For example, when the user 1 who has been listening to music in the living room 2 moves to the study 3, it is determined in step 61 that the detection level L2 in the detection device 29 is equal to or lower than the threshold Lth1, and in step 62 the detection device 39 If it is determined that the detection level L3 exceeds the threshold value Lth1, it is determined that the user 1 has moved from the living room 2 to the study room 3, and in step 63, the music data is transmitted to the playback device 30 to play the music. .

  Therefore, for example, when the user 1 moves from the living room 2 to the study 3, the user 1 can listen to music continuously.

  In step 63, after the music is played back by the playback device in the room B or C in which the detection level exceeds the threshold value Lth1 in this way, the CPU 11 proceeds to step 64 and sets the room B or C as the room A being played back. Return to step 61.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step 62 that the detection level in the detection devices of the other rooms B and C is equal to or less than the threshold value Lth1, the process proceeds to step 65, where the portable device 50 is connected via the Internet 9 to the portable device 50. The music data is transmitted to the device 50 to reproduce the music, and the transmission of the music data to the reproducing device in the room A being reproduced is stopped.

  For example, when the user 1 who has been listening to music in the living room 2 does not move to the study 3 or the bedroom 4 and goes out of the living room 2 to the garden or goes out, the detection level in the detection device 29 in step 61 It is determined that L2 has become equal to or lower than the threshold value Lth1, and further in step 62, it is determined that the detection level L3 in the detection device 39 and the detection level L4 in the detection device 49 are equal to or lower than the threshold value Lth1, thereby The music data is transmitted to 50 and the music is played back.

  Therefore, the user 1 can continuously listen to music with the portable device 50 at hand even when going out to the garden or going out.

  In step 65, after the portable device 50 reproduces music in this way, the CPU 11 proceeds to step 66, and the detection level in the detection device in any room (living room 2, study 3 or bedroom 4) is a threshold value. It is determined whether or not Lth1 is exceeded.

  When it is determined that the detection level in the detection device in any room exceeds the threshold value Lth1, the process proceeds from step 66 to step 67, and the music data is transmitted to the playback device in the room whose detection level exceeds the threshold value Lth1. Then, the music is played back, the connection to the portable device 50 is released, and the transmission of the music data to the portable device 50 is stopped.

  Thereby, for example, when the user 1 returns from the garden to the living room 2 or when returning from the outside to the home and enters the living room 2, the music is played on the playback device 20 in the living room 2, and the user 1 Can be listened to continuously.

  In step 67, after the music is played back by the playback device in the room where the detection level exceeds the threshold value Lth1 in this way, the CPU 11 proceeds to step 68 and returns to step 61 as the room A being played back.

  In the above example, when the user 1 moves to another room, the player plays the music at the position Pa or Pd shown in FIG. In the case of switching to the state of playing music, when the user 1 is in the area Ea or Ed shown in FIG. 3, the music is played by both the playback device in the room before the movement and the playback device in the room after the movement. It can also be configured.

  The above is a case where radio waves are used, but when using infrared rays, the wireless communication unit 59 of the portable device 50 is used as an infrared light emitting unit, and from now on, for example, once a second for confirmation infrared rays. A signal is transmitted (emitted), and the detection devices 29, 39, and 49 may be infrared receivers that receive (receive) the infrared signals.

  However, the wireless communication unit 59 as the infrared light emitting unit is configured to transmit infrared signals having different code contents as signals addressed to the detection devices 29, 39, and 49, respectively.

  Further, instead of such radio communication using radio waves or light, the detection devices 29, 39, and 49 include a camera such as a video camera and an image analysis unit that analyzes an image captured by the camera. It can also be detected whether the user 1 is in a certain area with respect to the playback devices 20, 30, and 40.

  In this case, the camera is directed in the direction in which the user 1 is normally listening to music in the room, and the image analysis unit determines whether the user 1 is the playback device 20 depending on whether or not a person is present in the captured image. , 30 and 40, it is determined whether or not they are in a certain area.

[Other Embodiments]
The above-described embodiment is a case where music is played back. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where music is played back, and is widely applied to the case where content is played back using content data, such as playing video using video data. Can do.

  Specifically, when playing back video, the content server transmits encoded video data recorded on a medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or received from the outside to the playback device. Each playback device decodes the encoded video data and displays the video on the display.

It is a figure which shows the arrangement configuration of an example of the content reproduction system of this invention. It is a figure which shows the connection structure of an example of the content reproduction system of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the relationship between a user's position and the detection level in each detection apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a reproduction | regeneration control process.

Explanation of symbols

  Since all the main parts are described in the figure, they are omitted here.

Claims (6)

A server that transmits content data recorded on media or received from the outside to a playback device;
A plurality of playback devices each receiving content data transmitted from the server and playing back the content;
Each comprising a plurality of detection devices for detecting whether or not the user is in a certain area with respect to the corresponding playback device;
A content reproduction system in which, when a detection device among the plurality of detection devices detects that a user is in a certain area with respect to a corresponding reproduction device, the content is reproduced on the corresponding reproduction device. The content reproduction system according to claim 1,
A portable device that receives content data transmitted from the server and reproduces the content;
A content playback system in which content is played back on the portable device when none of the plurality of detection devices detects that a user is in a certain area with respect to the corresponding playback device. In the content reproduction system of Claim 2,
The portable device is a content reproduction system for receiving content data from the server via an external network. The content reproduction system according to claim 2 or 3,
Each of the plurality of detection devices is a content reproduction system that detects whether or not a user is in a certain area with respect to a corresponding reproduction device by wireless communication with the portable device. The content reproduction system according to claim 2 or 3,
Each of the plurality of detection devices detects whether or not there is a user in a certain area with respect to the corresponding playback device, depending on whether or not an optical signal periodically transmitted from the portable device can be received. Content playback system. In the content reproduction system in any one of Claims 1-3,
Each of the plurality of detection devices is a content reproduction system that detects whether a user is in a certain area with respect to a corresponding reproduction device by analyzing an image captured by a camera.

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