JP2008131195A - Device and method for displaying image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for displaying an image coping with the deviation of a reproduction time at a time when a client is moved. <P>SOLUTION: The device for displaying the image has a means acquiring the reproduction starting position information of image content from a server apparatus before acquiring the image content and a means acquiring the image content by adding and subtracting the quantity of an adjustment to and from the reproduction starting position information in a client apparatus acquiring the image content from the server apparatus and displaying the image content. In the method for displaying the image, the reproduction starting position information of the image content is obtained from the server apparatus before acquiring the image content and the image content is obtained by adding and subtracting the quantity of the adjustment to and from the reproduction starting position information in the client apparatus acquiring the image content from the server apparatus and displaying the image content. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device and an image display method, and more particularly, to an image display device and an image display method for dealing with a shift in reproduction time when a client moves.

  As is well known, in recent years, digitalization of home appliances has been progressing. For example, in Japan, a thin-film digital TV (television) such as a liquid crystal display or plasma having a function of receiving and reproducing satellite BS (broadcasting satellite) digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting, an analog broadcasting program, and a built-in HDD ( HDD-DVD (digital versatile disk) recorders for digital recording on hard disk drives are rapidly spreading in the home.

  Many of these digital home appliances have a network connection function including a PC (personal computer). For this reason, for example, a content display device such as a digital TV operates as a client device, and accesses content stored in a PC or HDD-DVD recorder having a server function in another room via a home network. Thus, the user can easily enjoy the content without moving to a place where the content physically exists.

Also, for example, you can use the convenient method of watching the content recorded on the PC (content server) in the study halfway on the TV in the living room (client A) and then watching the continuation on the TV in the bedroom (client B). Become.

  One way to use this is to record the viewing suspension position at client A in the semiconductor memory, insert the semiconductor memory into client B, read the viewing suspension position, and view the same content to the content server. There is a method of making a content request from the interruption position. However, in this case, the trouble of carrying the semiconductor memory occurs.

  As another method, the content server records the content transmission position when client A interrupts playback and disconnects, and provides the same transmission position as content information to client B. A method of resuming viewing from the viewing interruption position by making a content request from the sending position can be considered. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that it is possible to continuously view content even at different locations or at different viewing terminals, manage a personal viewing behavior history with a server, and view interrupted content on a viewing terminal. This is a method of conversion to match the terminal type, and when viewing is interrupted, the viewing suspension position is transmitted from the client to the server.

However, in this case, if the client A has played the contents once stored in the buffer, a deviation corresponding to the time of the contents stored in the buffer is the difference between the actual viewing interruption position and the content sending position. There was a problem that it occurred in the meantime.
JP 2002-328949 A (page 12, FIG. 1)

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image display apparatus and an image display method that can cope with a shift in reproduction time when a client moves.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image display apparatus according to the present invention is a client device that acquires and displays image content from a server device, and obtains the reproduction start position information of the image content before acquiring the image content. Means for acquiring from the device, and means for acquiring image content by adjusting an adjustment amount to the reproduction start position information.

  The image display method of the present invention is a client device that acquires and displays image content from a server device, acquires the reproduction start position information of the image content from the server device before acquisition of the image content, and The image content is acquired by adjusting the adjustment amount to the reproduction start position information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image display device and an image display method that can cope with a shift in reproduction time when a client moves.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a connection configuration diagram of a content server and a client showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a server device 1 that holds various recorded contents and a plurality of client devices 2 that are digital TVs are connected to a network via a router 3 using an interface such as a LAN.

  FIG. 2 shows a main signal processing system of the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111 which is the client apparatus 2 described above. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of an Example.

  That is, the satellite digital television broadcast signal received by the BS / CS digital broadcast receiving antenna 243 is supplied to the satellite digital broadcast tuner 245 a via the input terminal 244.

  The tuner 245a selects a broadcast signal of a desired channel based on a control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs the selected broadcast signal to a PSK (Phase Shift Keying) demodulator 245b.

  The PSK demodulator 245b demodulates the broadcast signal selected by the tuner 245a according to a control signal from the control unit 261, obtains a transport stream including a desired program, and outputs the transport stream to the TS decoder 245c.

  The TS decoder 245c performs TS decoding processing on the signal multiplexed by the transport stream (TS) according to the control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs a digital video signal and audio signal of a desired program to the signal processing unit 247. Then, various data (service information), electronic program guide (EPG) information, program attribute information (program genre, etc.), subtitle information, etc. for acquiring a program sent by digital broadcasting are output to the control unit 261.

  The terrestrial digital television broadcast signal received by the terrestrial broadcast receiving antenna 248 is supplied to the terrestrial digital broadcast tuner 250 a via the input terminal 249.

  The tuner 250a selects a broadcast signal of a desired channel based on a control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs the selected broadcast signal to an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) demodulator 250b.

  The OFDM demodulator 250b demodulates the broadcast signal selected by the tuner 250a based on the control signal from the control unit 261, obtains a transport stream including a desired program, and outputs the transport stream to the TS decoder 250c.

  The TS decoder 250c performs TS decoding processing on the signal multiplexed by the transport stream (TS) according to the control signal from the control unit 261, and outputs a digital video signal and audio signal of a desired program to the signal processing unit 247. Then, various data for acquiring a program transmitted by digital broadcasting, electronic program guide (EPG) information, program attribute information (program genre, etc.), and the like are output to the control unit 261.

  The terrestrial analog television broadcast signal received by the terrestrial broadcast reception antenna 248 is supplied to the terrestrial analog broadcast tuner 252a via the input terminal 249, so that the broadcast signal of the desired channel is selected. Bureau. The broadcast signal selected by the tuner 252a is supplied to the analog demodulator 252b, demodulated into an analog video signal and audio signal, and then output to the signal processing unit 247.

  Here, the signal processing unit 247 selectively performs predetermined digital signal processing on the digital video signal and audio signal respectively supplied from the PSK demodulator 245b and the OFDM demodulator 250b, and the graphic processing unit 254. And output to the audio processing unit 255.

  The signal processing unit 247 is connected to a plurality (four in the illustrated case) of input terminals 256a, 256b, 256c, and 256d. These input terminals 256a to 256d allow analog video signals and audio signals to be input from the outside of the digital television broadcast receiver 111, respectively.

  The signal processing unit 247 selectively digitizes the analog video signal and audio signal supplied from the analog demodulator 253 and the input terminals 256a to 256d, respectively, and performs the digitization on the digitized video signal and audio signal. After performing predetermined digital signal processing, the digital signal is output to the graphic processing unit 254 and the audio processing unit 255.

  The graphic processing unit 254 has a function of superimposing and outputting the OSD signal generated by the OSD (On Screen Display) signal generation unit 257 on the digital video signal supplied from the signal processing unit 247. The graphic processing unit 254 selectively outputs the output video signal of the signal processing unit 247 and the output OSD signal of the OSD signal generation unit 257, and combines both outputs so as to constitute a half of the screen. Can be output.

  Further, when displaying a caption by caption broadcasting, the graphic processing unit 254 performs a process of superimposing the caption information on the video signal based on the control signal and the caption information from the control unit 261.

  The digital video signal output from the graphic processing unit 254 is supplied to the video processing unit 258. The video processing unit 258 converts the input digital video signal into an analog video signal in a format that can be displayed on the video display 114, and then outputs the analog video signal to the video display 114 to display the video. 259 to the outside.

  The audio processing unit 255 converts the input digital audio signal into an analog audio signal in a format that can be reproduced by the speaker 115, and then outputs the analog audio signal to the speaker 115 for audio reproduction. Through the outside.

  Here, in the digital television broadcast receiving apparatus 111, all operations including the above-described various receiving operations are comprehensively controlled by the control unit 261. The control unit 261 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, receives operation information from the operation unit 116, or receives operation information sent from the remote controller 117 via the light receiving unit 118. Each part is received and controlled so that the operation content is reflected.

  In this case, the control unit 261 mainly includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 261a that stores a control program executed by the CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 261b that provides a work area for the CPU, and various setting information. And a non-volatile memory 261c in which control information and the like are stored. The adjustment amount storage function described later is implemented in the nonvolatile memory 261c.

  The control unit 261 is connected to a card holder 266 to which the first memory card 119 can be attached via a card I / F (Interface) 265. Thereby, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission via the card I / F 265 with the first memory card 119 mounted on the card holder 266.

  Further, the control unit 261 is connected via a card I / F 267 to a card holder 268 in which the second memory card 120 can be mounted. Thus, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission via the card I / F 267 with the second memory card 120 mounted on the card holder 268.

  The control unit 261 is connected to the first LAN terminal 121 via the communication I / F 269. Accordingly, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission via the communication I / F 269 with the LAN-compatible HDD 125 connected to the first LAN terminal 121. In this case, the control unit 261 has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function, and performs control by assigning an IP (Internet Protocol) address to the LAN-compatible HDD 125 connected to the first LAN terminal 121.

  Further, the control unit 261 is connected to the second LAN terminal 122 via the communication I / F 270. Accordingly, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission with each device (see FIG. 1) connected to the second LAN terminal 122 via the communication I / F 270.

  The control unit 261 is connected to the USB terminal 123 via the USB I / F 271. Accordingly, the control unit 261 can perform information transmission with each device (see FIG. 1) connected to the USB terminal 123 via the USB I / F 271.

  Further, the control unit 261 is configured to i. Through the LINK I / F272 i. The LINK terminal 124 is connected. As a result, the control unit 261 performs i. Each device (see FIG. 1) connected to the LINK terminal 124; i. Information transmission can be performed via the LINK I / F 272.

  In this embodiment, a registration file describing storage IDs (including IP addresses and device names) assigned to the HDD 125, HDD 127, PC 128, and DVD recorder 129 at the time of initial registration is stored and held in the HDD 125.

In addition, the storage IDs of the HDD 125, the HDD 127, the PC 128, and the DVD recorder 129 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 261c.
The control unit 261 includes (1) a server device discovery function 261d that uses UPnP, (2) a content information acquisition function 261e that uses UPnP, and (3) a content access control function 261f. And.

  (1) The control unit 261 uses the UPnP discovery function to discover UPnP compatible devices on the network by using the server device discovery function 261d. For example, the server device discovery function 261d discovers the PC 128 using the UPnP discovery function.

  (2) The control unit 261 controls the UPnP compatible device using the UPnP control function by the content information acquisition function 261e, and acquires URI information necessary for accessing the content in the UPnP compatible device. For example, the content information acquisition function 261e acquires the URI information necessary for controlling the PC 128 and accessing the content stored in the HDD or the like in the PC 128 from the PC 128.

  (3) The control unit 261 uses the content access control function 261f to obtain the IP address information of the server device acquired by the server device discovery function 261d, the IP address information acquired from the URI information acquired by the content information acquisition function 261e, and the digital Based on the IP address and netmask assigned to the LAN terminal 122 of the television broadcast receiver 111, it is determined whether or not the content can be accessed. If the control unit 261 determines that access is permitted, the control unit 261 allows the content access to be permitted.

The digital television broadcast receiver 111 has a clock 280 inside, and can perform time management.
The digital television broadcast receiver 111 normally records an MPEG transport stream of a program on the AV-HDD 141.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing of the embodiment. This corresponds to the entire reproduction restart position adjustment method. The following control is performed by the control program described above.
As shown in FIG. 3, the user discovers the content server by using the server device discovery function 261d as shown in FIG. 3, acquires the content information by using the content information acquisition function 261e using UPnP, and is included in the content information. After accessing the content using the URL information and the content access control function and playing it halfway, stop viewing and try to watch the rest on client B. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the client B discovers the content server using the server device discovery function 261d, acquires the content information using the content information acquisition function 261e using UPnP, and then includes it in the content information. The content is accessed using the content access control function at the position where the appropriate adjustment amount stored by the adjustment amount storage function 261g is added to the reproduction resume position information to be reproduced, and the reproduction is resumed. This makes it possible to resume playback from the position immediately after the viewing is interrupted by the client A.

  First, client A selects a content server (step C1). When the content information acquisition request is transmitted (step C2), the content server receives the content information acquisition request (step S1). Subsequently, when content information creation (step S2) and content information transmission (step S3) are performed, client A performs content information reception (step C3) and content request transmission (step C4). Then, the content server performs request reception (step S4) and content transmission (step S5). Then, the client A performs content reception & reproduction (step C5), and when the content reproduction is stopped (step C6), the connection is disconnected (step C7), and the content server stores the content transmission position (step S6).

  Next, client B selects a content server (step B1). When the content information acquisition request is transmitted (step B2), the content server receives the content information acquisition request (step S7). Subsequently, when content information creation (step S8) and content information transmission (step S9) are performed, client B takes the adjustment amount into consideration for the content information reception (step B3) and the playback resume position information included in the content information. Send request (step B4). Then, the content server performs request reception (step S10) and content transmission (step S11). Then, client B performs content reception & playback (step B5). Next, when the user returns to the client A or moves to another client, the same procedure is continued.

  As a method for obtaining an appropriate adjustment amount, as shown in FIG. 4, content having a constant bit rate is registered in the server, playback is interrupted at a specific position by the client A, and obtained from the content server by the client B. There is a method in which the difference between the reproduced playback position information and the position where the user interrupted the reproduction is saved using an adjustment amount saving function. The following control is performed by the control program described above.

  First, a specific adjustment amount measuring content is registered in advance in the content server (step T1). Later, client A selects a content server (step A1). When the adjustment amount measurement content information acquisition request is transmitted (step A2), the content server receives the adjustment amount measurement content information acquisition request (step T2). Subsequently, when the adjustment amount measurement content information creation (step T3) and the adjustment amount measurement content information transmission (step T4) are performed, the client A receives the adjustment amount measurement content information (step A3) and the adjustment amount measurement content request. Send (step A4). Then, the content server performs adjustment amount measurement content request reception (step T5) and adjustment amount measurement content transmission (step T6). Client A then receives and plays back the adjustment amount measurement content (step A5). When the adjustment amount measurement content playback stop at the specified position (step A6), the connection is disconnected (step A7), and the content server adjusts the adjustment amount. Save the measurement content transmission position (step T7).

  Next, client B selects a content server (step D1). When the adjustment amount measurement content information acquisition request is transmitted (step D2), the content server receives the adjustment amount measurement content information acquisition request (step T8). Subsequently, when the adjustment amount measurement content information is created (step T9) and the adjustment amount measurement content information is transmitted (step T10), the client B includes the reproduction restart position information and the stop designated position included in the adjustment amount measurement content information. Is calculated as an adjustment amount (step D3), the adjustment amount is stored (step D4), and the process ends.

  In the first embodiment, the method of automatically measuring and setting the adjustment amount has been mainly described. However, a method in which the user sets the adjustment amount via the GUI is also conceivable. In addition, since the buffer amount is different for each client, it is possible to record information on which client last played back on the server, and the user can set the adjustment amount for each client via the GUI.

  That is, when the client makes a playback restart request to the server, the adjustment amount is adjusted with respect to the playback restart position held by the server, and this adjustment amount is set automatically or by the user. Can be set according to the client. That is, by making adjustments on the client side with respect to the reproduction resume position held by the server when reproduction is resumed and requesting the content, it is possible to re-view from a location viewed by another client.

  In the present invention, in viewing across clients, a content request and reproduction are performed from a position obtained by adding an adjustment amount to reproduction resumption position information (= content transmission position) provided by the server when reproduction is resumed.

  In the present invention, when the content viewed by one client is resumed by another client, the reproduction is resumed from the position where the adjustment amount is added to the reproduction resume position obtained from the server, thereby different buffers. Even in a content viewing scene across a large number of clients, natural viewing is possible without causing a large shift in the playback restart position.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements according to different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

1 is a connection diagram between a content server and a client according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the Example. The flowchart of the process of the Example. The flowchart of the process which measures and sets the adjustment amount of the Example automatically.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 ... Digital television broadcast receiver, 114 ... Video display device, 115 ... Speaker, 116 ... Operation part, 117 ... Remote controller, 118 ... Light-receiving part, 119 ... 1st memory card, 120 ... 2nd memory card, 121 ... 1st LAN terminal, 122 ... 2nd LAN terminal, 123 ... USB terminal, 124 ... i. LINK terminal, 261 ... control unit, 261a ... ROM, 261b ... RAM, 261c ... nonvolatile memory, 261d ... server device discovery function, 261e ... content information acquisition function, 261f ... content access control function, 261g ... adjustment amount storage function.

Claims (8)

In client devices that acquire and display image content from server devices,
Means for acquiring reproduction start position information of the image content from the server device before acquisition of the image content;
An image display apparatus comprising: means for acquiring image content by adjusting an adjustment amount to the reproduction start position information.   The image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically measuring and setting the adjustment amount by receiving adjustment amount measurement content registered in advance on the server device side.   The image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for externally setting the adjustment amount by a user.   4. The image display apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for externally setting the adjustment amount in correspondence with each client by a user. In client devices that acquire and display image content from server devices,
Before acquiring the image content, obtain the playback start position information of this image content from the server device,
An image display method, wherein an image content is acquired by adjusting an adjustment amount to the reproduction start position information.   6. The image display method according to claim 5, wherein the adjustment amount is automatically measured and set by receiving adjustment amount measurement content registered in advance on the server device side.   The image display method according to claim 5, wherein the adjustment amount is set from the outside by a user.   The image display method according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment amount is set from the outside in correspondence with each client by a user.

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