Patent Application
20070300253
Other objects of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many other advantages of the present invention possible by embodying the present invention.
An audio-visual content selecting apparatus according to the respective embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter by referring to the accompanying drawings.
A first embodiment of the present invention is a technique which captures, prior to the actual broadcast of an original program, a program preview content (program preview video data/program preview audio data) which is being broadcasted in a timely manner as content checking support data, and relating it to the information of the original program that corresponds to the program preview mentioned above. A digest containing the related data is used as a guide for searching or checking original programs that are planned to be broadcasted in the future.
The program preview extracting device 12 comprises a reference time generator 14, a start/end monitoring device 15, and a checking support data extraction control device 16. The reference time generator 14 generates the reference time which is used within the audio-visual selecting apparatus. The start/end monitoring device 15 notifies the reference time that is generated by the reference time generator 14, and notifies that it has reached a set time. The set time includes the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time, and the broadcast end time is calculated from information specifying program end. The checking support data extraction control device 16 transfers the content checking support data to a content checking support data transfer device 21. The content checking support data includes the video data and the audio data of the program preview. The content checking support data transfer device 21 executes control on the processing of extracting the content checking support data from the video data and the audio data being separated from the broadcast wave by the data separating device 10, and transferring it to a recording medium 22.
Processing for notifying the broadcast start time and the information specifying program end to the start/end monitoring device 15 is performed by a program preview property information managing device 17 provided in the digest saving/managing device 13 that is described later. Control executed by the checking support data extraction control device 16 include checking support data recording/editing control.
The digest saving/managing device 13 comprises the program preview property information managing device 17, an original program property information managing device 18, a program preview related program searching device 19, and a digest property information managing device 20.
The program preview property information managing device 17 saves and manages the metadata (for example, a content managing number, a related program content managing number, a broadcast channel, a program preview broadcast start time, a program preview broadcast end time, and the like: see
The digest property information managing device 20 brings the recording position of the content checking support data in the recording medium 22 in correspondence with the program preview related program information and saves and manages the result as a digest. This saving processing is performed upon receiving a notification from the program preview related program searching device 19 that the managing numbers are consistent. The recording position of the content checking support data is an address, for example, which is extracted by the program preview extracting device 12 and determined by the content checking support data transfer device 21. The program preview related program information includes a content managing number, a related program content managing number, a broadcast channel, an original program broadcast start time, an original program broadcast end time, and the recording position of the content checking support data, for example. Those are managed by the program preview property information managing device 17 and the original program property information managing device 18. The program preview related program information can be referred in
The media for supplying the multiplexed signals to be inputted to the data separating device 10 are all types of broadcasting, but the main type thereof is digital broadcasting. Further, although the main communication media are terrestrial broadcasting and satellite broadcasting, cable broadcasting (CATV) and broadcasting using telephone circuits may also be considered.
Furthermore, the broadcasting signals may be the kinds to which viewing restriction such as scrambling is applied. In such cases, separation of the video data, the audio data, and the metadata is performed in the data separation processing of the data separating device 10, for example, after the processing for lifting the viewing restriction of the broadcasting signal. As another example, the broadcasting signals to which the viewing restriction is still applied are accumulated, and the viewing restriction is lifted at the time or reproduction on a decoder side.
Further, the information specifying program end is the information that can specify the end of the program, typically represented by the program end time information, the information indicating the length of the broadcast time of the program, change point information of an ID that specifies the program, which is contained in the broadcast wave, etc.
Furthermore, although the main recording medium is a hard disk, other recording media such as a memory card and an optical disk may also be considered.
Moreover, the recording position of the above-described content checking support data may be of any sorts as long as the recording region on the recording medium can be identified uniquely. For example, it may be the information such as a track number or a sector number.
The broadcast channel information may be of any sorts as long as it makes it possible to identify station selection uniquely, and the information used therefor may be constituted with a plurality of pieces. An example thereof may be a method which specifies a broadcast channel by referring to a plurality of pieces of information contained in the broadcast wave such as network information, frequency information, and the like and combining the results of reference.
Now, the operation of the audio-visual content selecting apparatus of the present embodiment constituted in the above-described manner will be described. Video data, audio data, and metadata showing the program content are superimposed on the broadcasting signal that is received by a receiving antenna. The data separating device 10 separates the video data, the audio data and metadata showing the program content from the multiplexed broadcasting signal, then sends out the video data and the audio data to the checking support data extracting device 16 of the program preview extracting device 12, while sending out the metadata to the metadata extracting device 11. The metadata extracting device 11 extracts, from the metadata, the program preview property information and the original program property information as the property information necessary for editing the contents. Then, the metadata extracting device 11 sends out the program preview property information to the program preview property information managing device 17, and sends out the original program property information to the original program property information managing device 18.
When judged in the step S10 that the content is the program preview, the metadata extracting device 11 reads the related program presence/absence information from the metadata, and judges whether or not the content holds the information regarding the related program in step S11.
When judged in the step S11 that there exists a related program, it means that the metadata is the program preview and there exists the related program. In this case, the content managing number, the related program content managing number, the broadcast channel, the broadcast start time, and the broadcast end time are read from the metadata in step S12. When judged in the step S11 that there is no related program, the processing is ended without saving the metadata.
When judged in the step S10 that the content is not the program preview, the metadata extracting device 11 judges that the content shown by the metadata is an original program. Thus, it reads the content managing number, the broadcast channel, the broadcast start time, and the broadcast end time from the metadata in step S13.
In the flowchart of
The program preview property information managing device 17 that has received the program preview property information from the metadata extracting device 11 manages the content managing number that specifies the program preview content, the broadcast channel that is required for obtaining the video and audio information of the program preview, the broadcast start time, the broadcast end time, and the related program content managing number that is related to the program preview.
The program preview property information managing device 17 gives the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time of the program preview to the start/end monitoring device 15 of the program preview extracting device in a timely manner, while giving the content managing number to the checking support data extraction control device 16.
The original program property information managing device 18 that has received the original program property information from the metadata extracting device 11 puts into a single record the content managing number, the broadcast channel, the broadcast start time, and the broadcast end time of the metadata that is judged as having the information of the original program, and manages each record by giving an index thereto so that each record can be specified uniquely.
The start/end monitoring device 15 in the program preview extracting device 12 sets the broadcast start time received from the program preview property information managing device 17 as a comparison criterion, and monitors whether or not the current time has reached the broadcast start time that is set in the reference time supplied from the reference time generator 14. When the current time has reached the broadcast start time in the reference time, the start/end monitoring device 15 informs so to the checking support data extraction control device 16. Upon receiving the notification, the checking support data extraction control device 16 starts the processing for recording, on the recording medium 22, the video data and the audio data from the data separating device 10 as the content checking support data, regarding the broadcasting signal that corresponds to the content managing number received from the program preview property information managing device 17. For the calculation of the recording position (for example, address) of the content checking support data in the recording medium 22, it is determined in advance in the content checking support data transfer device 21. After the start/end monitoring device 15 informs the checking support data extraction control device 16 that the current time has reached the broadcast start time, the information specifying program end is set by the program preview property information managing device 17. When it fills the condition calculated from the information specifying program end, the checking support data extraction control device 16 ends the extraction and recording of the content checking support data. The content checking support data transfer device 21 informs the content managing number and the recording position of the content checking support data recorded in the recording medium 22 to the digest property information managing device 20. Accumulation of the above-described content checking support data on the recording medium 22 is performed prior to the broadcast of the original program.
The checking support data extraction control device 16 performs extraction and recording of the content checking support data only when the property information extracted by the metadata extracting device 11 is the program preview property information. Therefore, compared to the conventional technique where recording is continued without discriminating between the original program and the program preview, the load of the processing under a steady state and the required capacity of the recording medium can be decreased in the present embodiment where the recording of the program is limited to the program preview. In addition, extraction and recording of the content checking support data is not performed at the time of broadcasting the original program, so that deterioration of the processing efficiency can be reduced.
Meanwhile, the program preview related program searching device 19 in the digest saving/managing device 13 reads the related program content managing number in a record saved in the program preview property information managing device 17, and searches the record that matches with the content managing number saved on the original program property information managing device 18. When detecting a matching record, the program preview related program searching device 19 informs it to the digest property information managing device 20. Search of the related program content managing number is performed, for example, according to the order of the indexes given to each record of the original program property information managing device 18. However, it may be executed in any other ways.
The digest property information managing device 20 performs the following processing, upon receiving a notification from the program preview related program searching device 19 that the related program content managing number of the program review is consistent with the original program content managing number. In this case, the digest property information managing device 20 reads the content managing number of the program preview from the program preview property information managing device 17, and reads the related program content managing number of the program preview, broadcast channel of the related original program, the broadcast start time of the related original program, and the broadcast end time of the related original program from the original program property information managing device 18. Further, the digest property information managing device 20 reads the recording position and recording size information of each data from the content checking support data transfer device 21. Each data herein means the content managing number, the digest video data, and the digest audio data.
In
As a result of the above, the video/audio data of the program preview including the property information of the related program is accumulated in advance on the recording medium 22 as the content checking support data. At the same time, the digest that is linked to the recording position of the content checking support data in that accumulation can be saved and managed.
Regarding the styles for managing the metadata in this embodiment, the program preview property information managing device 17, the original program property information managing device 18, and the digest property information managing device 20 all employ the table style. However, any other styles may be employed.
Further, although the digest property information managing device 20 obtains the content managing number from the content checking support data transfer device 21, it is also possible to record the content managing number in the recording medium 22, and then obtain the content managing number through the digest property information managing device 20 via the recording medium 22.
The above-described explanations are provided assuming the case of the digital broadcasting. Instead, there is also considered a method which generates a digest from the analog broadcasting, and transfers it to the digest saving/managing device 13. For example, the border at which the broadcast of the original program and that of the program preview are switched is monitored by the program preview extracting device 12 at a previous stage of the checking support data extracting device 16 through detecting whether or not stereo and monaural modes of the audio are switched. Then, the program preview video/audio data is recorded on the recording medium 22 as the content checking support data at intervals of fifteen seconds (CM broadcast time) right after the occurrence of the switching. Alternatively, textual information is extracted from the program preview video data to create metadata.
It is also possible to obtain the metadata in the following manner. That is, it is quite likely that the textual information and the like indicating the details of the content such as a title is displayed in a period where there is less move between the frames in the program preview video data. Thus, image data of one frame is cut out from the program preview video data within that period, and the textual information included in the cutout image data is extracted as the metadata through the image analysis.
Further, the extracted textual information is collated with an original database or information on the Internet via a communication medium, and the information relevant to the textual information is extracted as the metadata.
With each of the methods described above, it is possible to relate the program preview to the original program information without using the metadata that is multiplexed on the digital broadcasting wave. For the method of extracting the program preview video data, program preview audio data, and the metadata from the analog broadcasting, other methods may also be used.
Furthermore, the constitution is such that double management is avoided when a digest that is the same as the already-recorded digest is detected. A method of detecting whether a digest is the same as the already-recorded digest is performed as follows, for example. The overlapping of digests is checked by finding out whether or not the content managing number of the program preview that is contained in the program preview property information extracted by the metadata extracting device 11 is consistent with the content managing number of the digest property information that is saved/managed in the digest saving/managing device 13. Alternatively, the above-described judgment on the overlapping of digests may be performed by using information other than the content managing number. Further, a method of avoiding double management is performed as follows, for example. That is, double management is avoided by discarding the newly extracted program preview video/audio data and the digest property information that is newly generated from the metadata.
The judgment on the overlapping of digests can be performed either at the point before recording the program preview video/audio data on the recording medium 22 or at the point after the recording. When it is performed before recording the program preview video/audio data on the recording medium 22 in particular, the video/audio data of the same program preview that is repeatedly broadcasted is not recorded on the recording medium 22. Thus, the required capacity of the recording medium 22 can be reduced.
As described above, with the present embodiment, the content checking support data that is useful for checking the original program contents is extracted from the program preview video/audio data. Thus, it requires no mechanism for detecting a highlight scene from the original program or a mechanism for collecting only the extracted highlight scenes and putting those into a single content. Therefore, it is possible to create a program content checking system through moving pictures with a still smaller number of components. Further, by utilizing the program preview provided by broadcasting business providers as it is, it becomes possible to secure more chances to present the program preview to the viewers.
A second embodiment of the present invention is a technique for presenting the content checking support data regarding the original program contents to the viewers in a form of moving pictures before the broadcast time.
Now, the operation of the audio-visual content selecting apparatus of the embodiment constituted as described above will be described. The digest program editing device 23 reads the digest property information that is saved in the digest property information managing device 20, and determines the order in which the content checking support data is presented to the viewer when reproducing the digest program. As the criterion for selecting the digests to be included in the digest program, used are the viewing history record of the viewer, preference information of the viewer, a keyword supplied by the viewer from outside, information on the viewing tendency of the viewer, and the like. Further, time information may be used as the selecting criterion, and the selection probability may be increased for the original program whose broadcast start time is closer to the current time. Alternatively, the digest of the original program whose broadcast end time has already passed before the current time may be excluded from the digest program.
The information on the presenting order of the content checking support data determined in the digest program editing device 23 is saved in a form of a digest presenting list.
The number of the digests included in the digest presenting list may be determined by referring to the upper limit value of the the number of digests, or may be determined on the basis of information such as the entire viewing time when all the digests are put into a program. The digest reproduction order information is managed in a table style. However, other styles may be employed.
The digest program reproduction control device 24 judges the recording positions and the recorded sizes of the content checking support data from the digest presenting list generated by the digest program editing device 23. Then, the digest program reproduction control device 24 performs control on the processing of reading out the corresponding content checking support data from the recording medium 22, and transferring it to the decoder 26.
An example of the procedures of the digest program reproduction processing performed by the digest program reproduction control device 24 will be described by referring to
With this embodiment, the viewer can check the program contents intuitively before the broadcast of the original program through the moving-picture display of the content checking support data. Further, the content checking support data is automatically presented in order, so that it becomes unnecessary for the viewer to do searching operation manually even if there are a large number of channels and a large number of program previews. Therefore, the burden of operating the equipment imposed on the viewer can be lightened.
Further, the digest presenting order list generated by the digest program editing device 23 can be used as it is as the viewing history information of the program preview, showing which program previews the viewer has viewed. By transferring the viewing history information of the program previews to an external tabulation device by using communication devices such as the Internet, or a telephone circuit, it is possible for sponsors to create a program rating tabulation system for checking the effects such as the reputation of the program preview for each of the program previews, or to create a data tabulation system for collecting and totalizing the preference information of the individual viewers.
A third embodiment of the present invention is a technique which allows the viewer to intuitively check the program contents through the digest program, and then to perform recording or viewing reservation according to a request of the viewer from the digest program.
The structure of the original program recording device 31 is the same as an existing recording system using the recording medium such as an HDD (hard disk) or a DVD, thus an explanation thereof is omitted. Further, the digest designating device 29 may be provided with separate reservation-only buttons so that it becomes possible to judge whether the reservation is a recording reservation or a viewing reservation. It is also possible to provide a button for transmitting recording/viewing reservation request to the digest program reproduction request device 25.
Next, the operation of the audio-visual content selecting apparatus according to the present embodiment constituted as described above will be described.
In step S30, designation of the digest program from the digest designating device 29 is transmitted to the digest program reproduction control device 24. In step S31, a digest which is being produced when a request is made in the step S30 is specified. In step S32, the property information of the digest specified in the step S31 is read out, and transmitted to the reservation managing device 30. In step S33, information on the broadcast channel, the broadcast start time, and the broadcast end time are extracted from the digest property information that has been transmitted in the step S32, and the extracted information is registered in the reservation managing device 30. Between the steps shown in
With the embodiment, it is possible to perform a reservation operation by utilizing the content checking support data through relating the content checking support data (program preview video data/audio data) to the property information of the related program in advance. Further, reservation can be completed by a single step of selecting a moving picture the viewer is watching. Therefore, compared to a reservation system using EPG or the like, it is possible to complete the reservation operation with a smaller number of steps while checking the program information. Thus, the burden of executing operations imposed upon the viewer can be lightened.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is a technique for transferring an extracted digest to a recording medium that is selected from a plurality of recording media.
In
The recording media 22a-22y may be physically isolated recording media or a single recording medium that is divided into a plurality of logic partitions. For the connection form of the content checking support data transfer device 21 and the recording media within an area indicated by “A” in
Next, the data structure for managing the recording media will be described. The recording media are connected to the content checking support data transfer device 21.
Further, the “access permission flag” may be used for exclusively controlling an access to a recording medium, when there is a possibility that accesses to the recording media may be made from a plurality of apparatuses.
The “access permission flag” may be used not only for writing control but also for reading control. Further, in the case of
The digest managing table manages the following.
As shown in
Next, the operation of the audio-visual content selecting apparatus according to the embodiment constituted as described above will be described.
In step S40, the program preview recording size is read from the digest managing table of the recording target program preview whose program preview video data/the program preview audio data is measured at the time of extraction. In step S41, the point with the index of n=1 in the recording medium managing table is designated as the reading start position of the record of the recording medium managing table. In step S42, the information on the transfer destination recording medium ID, the access permission flag, and the available free capacity are read out from the record of the recording medium managing table, which corresponds to the index=n of the recording medium managing table. In the case where the recording medium corresponding to the transfer destination recording medium ID is selected as the transfer destination candidate of the program preview video data/the program preview audio data, it is judged in step S43 whether or not the recording medium is in an access permitted state based on the value of the flag indicating the access state. In the case where the recording medium corresponding to the transfer destination recording medium ID is selected as the transfer candidate of the program preview video data/the program preview audio data, it is judged in step S44 whether or not the total data amount of the program preview video data and the program preview audio data can be recorded on the recording medium by comparing it to the available free capacity of the recording medium.
When judged as a result of judgments in the step S43 and the step S44 that the recording medium corresponding to the transfer destination recording medium ID is capable of recording, the program preview and original program information is added to the digest managing table that corresponds to the recording medium ID=n in step S45. In step S46, the program preview video data/the program preview audio data corresponding to the program preview that has been added to the digest managing table in the step S45 is transferred to and recorded on the designated recording medium. In step S47, the free capacity of the recording medium after recording the program preview in the step S46 is updated.
In the meantime, when judged as a result of judgments in the step S43 and the step S44 that the recording medium corresponding to index=n is not capable of recording the program preview, it is judged whether or not there exists the managing information of other recording media in the recording medium managing table. When it is judged in the step S48 that there exists an unreferred record of the recording medium managing table, the reading position of the recording medium managing information which becomes the next transfer destination candidate is designated in step S49. When it is judged in the step S48 that there is no unreferred record of the recording medium managing table, and the program preview can be recorded on none of the recording media that are registered in the recording medium managing table, error display processing is performed in step S50.
In
Further,
With the present embodiment, even in the case where there is a limit in the recording capacity that can be secured in a single recording medium, it is possible to provide a still larger amount of recording capacity through preparing a plurality of recording media within the same equipment and dispersedly recording the program previews. Further, there may be cases where a plurality of recording media cannot be loaded in the same equipment depending on the device layout within the equipment, since there is a physical restriction in the space. However, by connecting the recording medium as an external device, it is possible to ease the physical restriction in the space regarding the recording medium. Furthermore, it becomes possible to extend the recording capacity while using the structure of the existing apparatus. Particularly, it is possible to add the functions of the present invention to the existing apparatus by adding a recording medium as the external device, and replacing the software by downloading software, for example, from the network or the broadcasting wave. Moreover, when there is a free capacity in the recording medium of another apparatus owned by the user, it becomes possible to more effectively share the recording medium between the apparatuses by the use of that recording medium as a recording medium that can be connected externally.
In the fourth embodiment, described is the method which transfers and records the extracted program preview video data and the program preview audio data when the recording medium is judged as recordable. However, as an another method, it is also possible for the content checking support data transfer device 21 to determine transfer destinations to which the program preview video data and the program preview audio data are distributed by using the program preview property information. This method will be described hereinafter.
First, described is the data structure of a transfer destination selection table that is referred to for distributing the program previews by the content checking support data transfer device 21.
The content checking support data transfer device 21 classifies the transfer destination recording media by paying attention to the specific category of the original program property information, transfers the program preview video data and the program preview audio data to the classified recording media, and performs processing for updating the information on the free capacity of the recording media.
In step S51, information of the large classified group is read from the original program property information. In step S52, the reading start position of the transfer destination selection table is set. In this embodiment, the point where the index of the transfer destination selection table is m=1 is designated as the reading start position of the record of the transfer destination selection table. In step S53, the transfer destination selecting criterion at the index=m of the transfer destination selection table is read. In step S54, the large classified group of the original program is compared with the selecting criterion that is read in the step S53. For the comparison between the large classified group and the selecting criterion, judgment is made based on the consistency between the character strings. When judged in the step S54 that the large classified group of the original program is consistent with the selecting criterion, the transfer destination recording medium ID is read in step S55. Meanwhile, when judged in the step S54 that the large classified group of the original program is not consistent with the selecting criterion, it is judged in step S56 whether or not there exists managing information of another recording media in the transfer destination selection table. When judged in the step S56 that there is an unreferred record in the transfer destination selection table, the reading position of the record in the recording managing table which becomes the next selecting criterion candidate is designated in step S57.
In the meantime, after reading the transfer destination recording medium ID in the step S55, the program preview recording size measured at the time of extracting the program preview video data/the program preview audio data is read from the digest managing table of the recording target program preview in step S58. In step S59, the point where the index of the transfer destination selection table is n=1 is designated as the reading start position of the record of the transfer destination selection table. In step S60, the transfer destination recording medium ID, the access permission flag, and the information on the available free capacity are read from the record of the recording medium managing table, which corresponds to the index=n of the recording medium managing table.
In step S61, it is judged whether or not the transfer destination recording medium ID read out in the step S60 is consistent with the transfer destination recording medium ID read out in the step S55. When the recording medium corresponding to the transfer destination recording medium ID is selected as the transfer destination candidate for the program preview video data and the program preview audio data (Yes in step S61), it is judged in step S62 whether or not the recording medium is in an access-permitted state based on the value of the access permission flag. When the recording medium corresponding to the transfer destination recording medium ID is selected as the transfer destination candidate for the program preview video data and the program preview audio data (Yes in step S62), it is judged in step S63 whether or not the total data amount of the program preview video data and the program preview audio data can be recorded on the recording medium by comparing it with the available free capacity of the recording medium. When judged as a result of judgments in the step S62 and the step S63 that the recording medium corresponding to the transfer destination recording medium ID is capable of recording (Yes in both of the steps S62 and S63), the program preview and the original program information is added to the digest managing table that corresponds to the recording medium ID=n in step S64. In step S65, the program preview video data and the program preview audio data corresponding to the program preview that is added to the digest managing table in the step S64 is transferred to and recorded on the designated recording medium. In step S66, the free capacity of the recording medium after recording the program preview in the step S65 is updated.
In the meantime, when judged in the step S62 or the step S63 that the program preview can not be recorded on the recording medium corresponding to the index=n (No in the step S62 or the step S63), it is checked in step S67 whether or not there exists the managing information of another recording medium in the recording medium managing table. When it is judged in the step S67 that there exists an unreferred record in the recording medium managing table (Yes in step S67), the reading position of the recording medium managing information which becomes the next transfer destination candidate is designated in step S68. In step S69, error display processing is performed for the case where the program preview cannot be recorded on the recording medium.
Through executing the transfer destination determination processing shown in
Further, the program previews are recorded while being classified into groups at the time of accumulation. Thus, for creating the digest program used for performing the viewing/recording reservation of the original program, it becomes easier to create the digest program where the program previews of the same genre are collected.
Furthermore, regarding the procedure for selecting the recording medium to which the extracted program preview video data/the program preview audio data is transferred, it is also possible for the content checking support data transfer device 21 to transfer the program preview video data/the program preview audio data directly to the recording medium that is designated by the user, and to update the information on the free capacity of the recording medium.
As a method for the user to designate the recording medium, there is considered a method where the user selects a single recording medium to be a transfer destination candidate from the menu showing a list of the recording media, for example. However, the transfer destination recording medium may be designated by other methods as well.
In step S70, the transfer destination recording medium ID that corresponds to the transfer destination recording medium designated by the user is read. In step S71, the recording sizes of the program preview video data and the program preview audio data are read. In step S72, the connection state information of the transfer destination recording medium ID designated in the step S70 is searched in the recording medium managing table, and the access permission flag and the information on the available free capacity are read therefrom. In step S73, it is checked whether or not the access permission flag obtained in the step S72 indicates an accessible state. When the access permission flag is “1” in the step S72, it is judged as accessible and the procedure is advanced to step S74. When the flag is “0”, it is judged as inaccessible, i.e. the designated recording medium is under the state where recording of the program preview cannot be performed due to other restrictions. Thus, the procedure is advanced to the error processing in step S78.
In step S74, the available free capacity that is obtained in the step S72 is checked. That is, the recording size of the program preview obtained in the step S71 is compared with the available free capacity. When judged in the step S74 that the available free capacity is larger or equal to the recording size, the procedure is shifted to the recording processing of the program preview that is carried out in step S75 and thereafter. Meanwhile, when judged in the step S74 that the available free capacity is smaller than the recording size of the program review, the procedure is shifted to the error processing in the step S78.
The step S75 is the processing performed when it is judged in the step S73 and the step S74 that the program preview can be recorded on the designated recording medium (Yes in both of the steps S73 and S74). In the step S75, the program preview information is added to the digest managing table that corresponds to the designated recording medium ID. In step S76, the program preview video data/the program preview audio data corresponding to the program preview that is added to the digest managing table in the step S75 is transferred to and recorded on the designated recording medium. In step S77, the free capacity of the recording medium after recording the program preview in the step S76 is updated.
When the program preview cannot be recorded on the designated recording medium (No in the step S73 or the step S74), error processing is performed in the step S78. For the error processing, there may be considered a method which displays that the program preview cannot be recorded and performs no saving processing of the program preview, and a method which defines a recordable recording medium in advance as a default recording medium and records the program preview on that recording medium. However, the error processing may be executed by other methods as well.
If the currently viewing user can be specified, by transferring the program preview to the recording medium that is designated by the user through the procedure shown in
Furthermore, when extracted program preview video data and program preview audio data is consistent with or similar to reference information designated by the user in the content checking support data transfer device, as a method for selecting the recording medium to which the extracted program preview video data and the program preview audio data is transferred, it is possible to perform the following procedure. That is, the recording medium is selected by transferring the program preview video data and the program preview audio data to a specific recording medium, and updating the information on the free capacity of that recording medium.
In step S80, the keyword designated by the user is read. In step S81, the recording size of the program preview video data and the program preview audio data is read. In step S82, the original program property information that corresponds to the program preview is read. In the flows of
In step S83, the keyword designated by the user in the step S80 is compared with the title of the program preview to judge whether or not a part of or the entire title is consistent with the keyword. When judged in the step S83 that there is a consistency, it is considered as the program preview that corresponds to the keyword. Then, the procedure is advanced to step S87. When judged that there is no consistency, it is advanced to step S84.
In the step S84, the keyword designated by the user in the step S80 is compared with the character string that is registered in the “large classified group” of the program preview to judge whether or not the keyword is consistent with a part of or the entire “large classified group. When judged in the step S84 that there is a consistency, it is considered as the program preview that corresponds to the keyword. Then, the procedure is advanced to step S87. When judged that there is no consistency, it is advanced to step S85.
In the step S85, the keyword designated by the user in the step S80 is compared with the character string that is registered in the “small classified group” of the program preview to judge whether or not the keyword is consistent with a part of or the entire “the small classified group. When judged in the step S85 that there is a consistency, it is considered as the program preview that corresponds to the keyword. Then, the procedure is advanced to step S87. When judged that there is no consistency, it is advanced to step S86.
In step S86, the keyword designated by the user in the step S80 is compared with the character string registered to the “cast” of the program preview to judge whether or not the keyword is consistent with the “cast. When judged in the step S86 that there is a consistency, it is considered as the program preview that corresponds to the keyword. Then, the procedure is advanced to step S87. When judged that there is no consistency, it is advanced to step S88.
In step S87, the transfer destination recording medium ID of the program preview that corresponds to the keyword is searched. When judged in the step S87 that there exists the designated keyword in the category of the selecting criterion of the transfer destination selection table, it is advanced to step S89. When judged that there is no designated keyword in the category of the selecting criterion, it is advanced to the step S88.
When judged in the step S87 that there is no recording medium that is related to the keyword, a default recording medium ID that is set in advance is designated as the transfer destination recording medium ID in the step S88. Meanwhile, when judged in the step S87 that there exists the designated keyword in the category of the selecting criterion of the transfer destination selection table, the corresponding recording medium ID is obtained as the transfer destination recording medium ID in step S89.
In step S90, the connection state information of the transfer destination recording medium ID that is designated in the step S88 or the step S89 is searched from the recording medium managing table, and the access permission flag and the available free capacity are obtained.
In step S91, the access permission flag obtained in the step S90 is checked. When judged that the access permission flag is “1”, the procedure is advanced to step S92. When judged as “0”, it is considered that the designated recording medium is under the state where recording of the program preview cannot be performed due to other restrictions. Thus, the procedure is advanced to the error processing in step S96.
In step S92, the available free capacity that is obtained in the step S90 is checked. That is, the recording size of the program preview obtained in the step S90 is compared with the available free capacity. When judged in the step S92 that the available free capacity is larger or equal to the recording size, the procedure is shifted to the recording processing of the program preview that is executed in step S93 and thereafter. Meanwhile, when judged in the step S92 that the available free capacity is smaller, the procedure is shifted to the error processing in the step S96.
The step S93 is the processing performed when it is judged in the step S91 and the step S92 that the program preview can be recorded on the designated recording medium (Yes in both of the steps S91 and S92). In the step S93, the program preview information is added to the digest managing table that corresponds to the designated recording medium ID. In step S94, the program preview video data/the program preview audio data corresponding to the program preview that is added in the step S93 is transferred to and recorded on the designated recording medium. In step S95, the free capacity of the recording medium after recording the program preview in the step S94 is updated.
When the program preview cannot be recorded on the designated recording medium (No in the step S91 or the step S92), error processing is performed in the step S96. For the error processing, there may be considered a method which displays that the program preview cannot be recorded and performs no saving processing of the program preview, and a method which defines a recordable recording medium in advance as a default recording medium and records the program preview on that recording medium. The error processing may be executed by any of the methods.
The following effects can be obtained by determining the transfer destination of the program preview by having the keyword that is designated by the user through the procedure shown in
The present invention has been described in detail by referring to the most preferred embodiments. However, various combinations and modifications of the components are possible without departing from the spirit and the broad scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-172322 | Jun 2006 | JP | national |
| 2007-052763 | Mar 2007 | JP | national |
