JP4529067B2 - Management unit information acquisition apparatus, management unit information acquisition method, management unit information acquisition program, content management system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a management unit information acquisition device , a management unit information acquisition method, a management unit information acquisition program, and a content management system . For example, in a home network system, content data managed by a content management server is searched by a content playback terminal. It is suitable for application to.

  When a conventional notebook personal computer searches for a desired content from a large number of contents such as moving images and still images managed by an image server on the Internet, a directory indicating the location of the content from the image server is used. When a list is acquired and displayed, and any directory is selected in that state, a content list indicating the content in the selected directory from the image server in one frame of the moving image is acquired and displayed as a list. To confirm the contents in the selected directory.

In this way, the notebook personal computer is stored in the image server, and is already stored in the notebook personal computer as if it had already been acquired for content that has not yet been acquired. The content in the image server can be handled by the same operation as in the case of handling the content (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-118806 (6th page, 7th page, FIG. 5, FIG. 7)

  By the way, since the notebook personal computer having such a configuration handles the contents in the image server in the same manner as when handling the contents stored in the notebook personal computer, the contents are managed by a plurality of hierarchical directories in the image server. If this is the case, the image server first requests a list of the highest hierarchy directory, and as a result, obtains and displays the highest hierarchy directory list from the image server.

  Then, when any directory is selected in a state where the top-level directory list is displayed, the notebook personal computer displays a directory list one level lower than the selected directory to the image server. It is requested and acquired, and finally, the selection of the directory for each hierarchy from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy and the request and acquisition of the directory list one hierarchy lower than the selected directory are sequentially repeated. When the directory at the lowest level is reached, the content in the reached directory is confirmed by displaying a list of content lists.

  However, in a notebook personal computer, when content is managed in a hierarchical structure in the image server as described above, each time a search for content is requested, each level from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy is communicated with the image server. In addition, the retrieval of a desired content is performed by sequentially obtaining a directory list and selecting a desired directory, so that the retrieval process is complicated and it is difficult to quickly retrieve the desired content.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and intends to propose a management unit information acquisition apparatus , a management unit information acquisition method, a management unit information acquisition program, and a content management system that can quickly search for desired content data. To do.

In order to solve this problem, in the management unit information acquisition apparatus of the present invention, for a content management apparatus that manages content data in a plurality of management units having a hierarchical structure, a management unit for at least a part of the hierarchy in the hierarchical structure Transmitting the management unit information request data for requesting the management unit information data indicating the management unit information data, and receiving the management unit information data transmitted from the content management apparatus in response to the transmission of the management unit information request data by the transmission unit Receiving unit, and management unit holding unit that records and holds the management unit information data received by the receiving unit in a recording medium, and reconfigures the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure; Presents the management unit indicated by the management unit information data held by the management unit holding means in a reconstructed hierarchical structure. And presenting means, and selection means for arbitrarily selecting the management unit presented in reconstructed hierarchical structure by the presentation means is provided that, transmission means, selected as the selection management unit any management unit via a selection means Then, the management unit information request data for requesting the management unit information data for storing the identifier of the selected management unit and requesting the management unit information indicating the management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit is transmitted to the content management apparatus, When the management unit information data is received by the receiving unit, the holding unit selects the selected management unit if the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data does not exist in the reconstructed hierarchical structure. While the reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by adding the management unit indicated by the management unit information data one layer below the management unit, the management unit received by the receiving means When the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit indicated by the report data is different from the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure, it is 1 from the selected management unit in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure. The reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by changing the lower management unit to the management unit indicated by the management unit information data, and the transmission means is transmitted from the content management apparatus in response to the transmission of the management unit information request data. When management unit erasure data indicating that the selected management unit has already been erased is received by the receiving means, the management unit information data indicating the management unit for all the hierarchies in the hierarchical structure is requested. The management unit information request data is transmitted to the content management apparatus, and the management unit holding means receives the management unit information data for every hierarchy of the hierarchical structure by the receiving means. Then, based on the management unit information data, the entire reconstruction hierarchical structure is reconfigured and updated .

  Therefore, when searching for desired content data from the content data managed by the content management device, it communicates with the content management device for each layer from the highest layer to the lowest layer of the hierarchical structure for the management unit. Without acquiring and presenting the management units sequentially, it is possible to present the management units held in advance in a reconstructed hierarchical structure.

  According to the present invention, each of management unit information data indicating a management unit for each hierarchy of at least a part of the hierarchical structure is requested to a content management apparatus that manages content data in a plurality of management units of a hierarchical structure, As a result, the management unit information data acquired from the content management device is recorded and held in a recording medium, and the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data is reconfigured as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure. When searching for desired content data from the content data managed in the above, the management unit for each layer from the highest layer to the lowest layer for the hierarchical structure is sequentially acquired while communicating with the content management device. It is possible to present management units held in advance in a reconstructed hierarchical structure without presenting them, thus Nozomu content data can be quickly searched for.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a home network system to which the present invention is applied as a whole, and a large number of content data such as photographic images, movies and music managed in a hierarchical structure by a content management server 2 having a personal computer configuration, The content can be read and provided to the user by the content reproduction terminal 3 having a computer configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the content management server 2 includes a basic program such as an OS (Operating System) stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 by the internal control unit 10 in advance, a management information generation program, a content management Various application programs such as a program and a management unit information providing program are developed on a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, and the entire process is comprehensively controlled according to the developed basic program and various application programs to execute various processes.

  Thus, when a content reproduction command is input from the operation input unit 13 via the input processing unit 14 in response to an operation on the operation input unit 13, the control unit 10 is loaded into the content management server 2 by the media drive 15. By reproducing content data such as photographic images, movies and music from a recording medium (not shown) such as a disk-shaped recording medium or a semiconductor memory and loading it into the hard disk drive 16, the reproduced content data is converted into a file on the hard disk. Record.

  Further, when a content acquisition command is input from the operation input unit 13 via the input processing unit 14 in response to an operation on the operation input unit 13, the control unit 10 sequentially passes through the communication processing unit 17 and the network interface unit 18. By communicating with a content providing server (not shown) on the Internet (not shown), content data such as a photographic image, a movie, or music provided by the content providing server is taken into the hard disk drive 16 and stored in the hard disk. Record the provided content data as a file.

  Further, when content data such as a photographic image, a movie, or music is transmitted from the content reproduction terminal 3, the control unit 10 takes the content data into the hard disk drive 16 via the external device interface unit 19 and supplies it to the hard disk. The recorded content data is recorded as a file.

  In addition to this, after the content data is recorded in this way, the control unit 10 is requested to generate management information (that is, a directory and a folder) for the content data via the operation input unit 13 and the input processing unit 14 in order. Then, the management information generation process is executed according to the management information generation program.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 10 selects a large number of content data stored in the hard disk according to the classification instruction command sequentially input through the operation input unit 13 and the input processing unit 14. And a plurality of management units having a hierarchical structure according to related information for content data such as recording date and time.

  The control unit 10 sets a management unit for collecting a large number of content data as a management unit of the highest hierarchy in a hierarchical structure for the management unit (hereinafter referred to as a management unit hierarchical structure). One or a plurality of management units obtained by sequentially subdividing the management unit of the highest hierarchy and completing the subdivision are set as the management units of the lowest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchical structure.

  Further, the control unit 10 stores, for each management unit having a hierarchical structure with respect to a large number of pieces of content data, various kinds of information such as an arbitrarily assigned name capable of recalling the management unit and a logical recording location of the corresponding content data. Management information is generated, and a management information identifier unique to each management information issued according to the management information generation program is stored in the generated management information.

  Further, the control unit 10 stores management information corresponding to the management unit of the lowest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchical structure (that is, management information used for managing content data of the management unit of the lowest hierarchy) of the corresponding management unit. Address information indicating the recording location on the hard disk for the content data file is stored, and the management information corresponding to the management unit higher than the lowest hierarchy excluding the management unit of the lowest hierarchy is associated with the corresponding management information. Stores management information identifiers of management information corresponding to all management units lower by one layer obtained by directly subdividing the units (hereinafter, this is particularly referred to as lower management information identifiers).

  The control unit 10 records all the management information generated in this way on the hard disk of the hard disk drive 16, and after recording the management information, uses the management information for a large number of content data according to the content management program. Thus, it can be managed by a plurality of management units having a hierarchical structure.

  By the way, after generating the management information in this way, the control unit 10 is requested to visually present the management mode of the content data in the management unit hierarchical structure via the operation input unit 13. Then, all management information is read from the hard disk, and a management unit hierarchical structure presentation screen 25 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 21 via the display processing unit 20 based on the read management information.

  In this management unit hierarchical structure presentation screen 25, a plurality of management unit indicators FO1 to FO13 indicating management units are arranged according to the management unit hierarchical structure from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy (for example, the leftmost is the highest hierarchy). And the management unit indicators FO1 to FO13 that are in the upper and lower relations among the displayed management unit indicators FO1 to FO13. They are connected by the displayed connection line LI1.

  In the management unit hierarchical structure presentation screen 25, one or more actually managed in the management unit of the lowest hierarchy, to the right of the management unit indicators FO3, FO6 to FO8, FO10, FO12, FO13 of the lowest hierarchy. Are displayed, and the management unit indicators FO3, FO6 to FO8, FO10, FO12, FO13 and the corresponding file indicators CF1 to CF7 in the lowest hierarchy are displayed. The management unit hierarchy for a plurality of management units is connected by the connection line LI2 displayed between them, and the arrangement and connection of these management unit indicators FO1 to FO13, file indicators CF1 to CF7, and the connection lines LI1 and LI2. The structure is represented by a schematic tree structure.

  Thereby, the control unit 10 indirectly manages the content data in the management unit that is sequentially subdivided from the highest hierarchy to the hierarchy one hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy by the management unit hierarchy structure presentation screen 25, In the management unit of the lowest hierarchy, it is possible to easily recognize the management unit hierarchical structure that directly manages the content data indicated by the file indicators CF1 to CF7.

  Further, the control unit 10 forms only the management unit indicator FO1 indicating the highest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchy structure presentation screen 25 in a shape that represents the appearance of the content management server 2, for example, so that the highest hierarchy is displayed. It can be recalled that this management unit is a management unit for collectively managing all the content data recorded in the content management server 2.

  In addition to this, the control unit 10 displays a name that recalls the corresponding management unit in the management unit indicators FO2 to FO13 of each hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy on the management unit hierarchical structure presentation screen 25. As a result, the name displayed in each of the management unit indicators FO2 to FO3 makes it easy to recognize in what management unit a large number of content data is managed in each layer. Yes.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the content playback terminal 3 has an internal central processing unit (CPU) 30 such as a basic program such as an OS or a management unit information acquisition program stored in the ROM 31 in advance. Various application programs are transferred to the RAM 33 via the bus 32 and expanded, and the entire process is comprehensively controlled according to the expanded basic program and various application programs to execute various processes.

  Thus, when a content playback command is input from the operation input unit 34 via the input processing unit 35 in response to an operation on the operation input unit 34, the central processing unit 30 is loaded into the content playback terminal 3 by the media drive 36. Content data such as photographic images, movies, music, etc. is reproduced from a recording medium (not shown) such as a disc-shaped recording medium or a semiconductor memory.

  When the content data of the photographic image is reproduced from the recording medium, the central processing unit 30 directly attaches the content data to the housing surface of the content reproduction terminal 3, for example, via the display processing unit 37 or is attached externally. By sending the image to the display 38, a photographic image can be displayed on the display 38 in a slideshow format, for example.

  Further, when reproducing the content data of the movie from the recording medium, the central processing unit 30 sends the video data obtained based on the content data to the display 38 via the display processing unit 37 and based on the content data. By sending the obtained audio data to the speaker 40 via the audio data processing unit 39, the movie can be auditioned via the display 38 and the speaker 40.

  Further, when reproducing music content data from the recording medium, the central processing unit 30 can transmit the content data to the speaker 40 via the audio data processing unit 39 so that the music can be heard via the speaker 40. it can.

  By the way, the central processing unit 30 can capture the content data such as photographic images, movies and music reproduced from the recording medium into the hard disk drive 41 and record the reproduced content data in the hard disk as a file.

  Further, when a content acquisition command is input from the operation input unit 34 via the input processing unit 35 in response to an operation on the operation input unit 34, the central processing unit 30 sequentially passes through the communication processing unit 42 and the network interface unit 43. Then, by communicating with a content providing server (not shown) on the Internet (not shown), content data such as photographic images, movies, and music provided by the content providing server is taken into the hard disk drive 41, and thus the hard disk The provided content data is recorded as a file.

  Further, when a radio broadcast output command is input from the operation input unit 34 via the input processing unit 35 in response to an operation on the operation input unit 34, the central processing unit 30 receives the broadcast signal of the radio broadcast received by the antenna 44. Can be demodulated by the tuner 45, and broadcast data obtained as a result can be transmitted to the speaker 40 via the audio data processing unit 39, so that a radio broadcast program can be heard via the speaker 40.

  By the way, when the central processing unit 30 is listening to a radio broadcast program, if a recording command is input sequentially through the operation input unit 34 and the input processing unit 35 in accordance with the broadcast of desired music or the like, When the broadcast data obtained by the tuner 45 is taken into the hard disk drive 41 as content data, the content data obtained by the radio broadcast can be recorded as a file on the hard disk.

  The central processing unit 30 transmits content data reproduced from the recording medium, content data acquired from a content providing server on the Internet, and content data acquired by radio broadcasting from the external device interface unit 46 to the content management server 2. Thus, the content management server 2 can record and manage the content data.

  In addition to such a configuration, the central processing unit 30 receives a search request for content data managed by the content management server 2 via the operation input unit 34 and the input processing unit 35 in sequence, and then receives a management unit information acquisition program. The management unit information acquisition processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG.

  When the central processing unit 30 starts the management unit information acquisition processing procedure RT1, the management unit hierarchical structure (reorganized management unit of content data by the content management server 2 is displayed on the display 38 via the display processing unit 37 in step SP1). In the following, this is referred to as a reconstructed hierarchical structure), and a reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screen for presentation is displayed, and awaiting that any management unit for content data is selected on the reconstructed hierarchical structure presenting screen .

  When the central processing unit 30 is requested to search for the desired content data, the central processing unit 30 basically sets the management unit of the highest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchical structure on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen as the content data search starting point. Then, the desired content data managed in the management unit of the lowest hierarchy is finally selected by sequentially selecting the management units one hierarchy lower than the management unit of the highest hierarchy. I try to find it.

  For this reason, the central processing unit 30 determines the management unit name and its management information of the highest hierarchy based on the management information corresponding to the management unit of the highest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchy from the control unit 10 of the content management server 2. The management unit information data indicating the management unit of the highest hierarchy generated in association with the management information identifier and the lower management information identifier is acquired in advance, and this is recorded and held on the hard disk.

  Incidentally, when the control unit 10 of the content management server 2 changes the management information corresponding to the management unit of the highest hierarchy together with the management unit one hierarchy lower than the management unit of the highest hierarchy, the control unit 10 responds accordingly. However, the management information identifier itself of the management information corresponding to the management unit of the highest hierarchy is not changed.

  Therefore, if the central processing unit 30 is requested for the first time to search for desired content data from the content data managed by the content management server 2, the management unit 30 obtained in advance from the content management server 2 Based on the information data, a reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50A in an initial state as shown in FIG.

  Regarding the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50A in the initial state, the management unit indicator FO1A indicating the management unit of the highest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchical structure and associated with the management information identifier of the management information corresponding to the management unit. Only is displayed.

  Thus, when the central processing unit 30 is requested to search for content data for the first time, the central processing unit 30 inevitably becomes the search start point of content data on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50A in the initial state via the operation input unit 34. The management unit indicator FO1A is selected from the management unit of the higher hierarchy.

  When the central processing unit 30 is selected in the management unit indicator FO1A corresponding to the management unit of the highest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchical structure in the state where the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50A is displayed as shown in FIG. In this way, on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50B displayed on the display 38, the selection item 51A displayed as “connect to server” for inputting a communication connection command to the content management server 2 and the content management server 2 A pop-up menu 51 having various selection items 51A and 51N such as a selection item 51N displayed as “connection end” for inputting the communication end command is displayed.

  In this state, when the selection item 51A for communication connection command input is selected on the pop-up menu 51 of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 51 via the operation input unit 34, the central processing unit 30 responds accordingly to the external device. Communication connection is established with the content management server 2 via the interface unit 46, and the process proceeds to the next step SP2.

  In step SP2, the central processing unit 30 stores a management information identifier corresponding to a management unit selected on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50A (hereinafter referred to as a selected management unit), and from the selected management unit. Also, management unit information request data for requesting management unit information data indicating all management units lower by one layer is generated, and this is transmitted from the external device interface unit 46 to the content management server 2 for the next step SP3. Move on.

  At this time, the control unit 10 of the content management server 2 starts the management unit information provision processing procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 6B according to the management unit information provision program at the time of communication connection with the content reproduction terminal 3.

  When the management unit information provision processing procedure RT2 is started, the control unit 10 waits for reception of management unit information request data transmitted from the content reproduction terminal 3 in step SP21, and when receiving the management unit information request data, the next step Move on to SP22.

  In step SP22, the control unit 10 searches each management information in the hard disk based on the management information identifier corresponding to the selected management unit obtained based on the management unit information request data, and based on the search result. It is determined whether the selected management unit exists in the management unit hierarchy.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP22, this means that the management information corresponding to the selected management unit is recorded on the hard disk of the hard disk drive 16, so that the selected management unit exists in the management unit hierarchical structure. In this case, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step SP23.

  In step SP23, the control unit 10 detects whether or not the lower management information identifier is stored in the management information corresponding to the selected management unit read from the hard disk, and selects and manages the management information in the management unit hierarchical structure based on the detection result. It is determined whether there is a management unit that is one level lower than the unit.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP23, this means that the lower management information identifier is stored in the management information corresponding to the selected management unit, so that the content data is stored in a management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit. In this case, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step SP24.

  In step SP24, based on the lower management information identifier in the management information corresponding to the selected management unit, the control unit 10 reads management information corresponding to all management units one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit from the hard disk.

  Then, based on the management information read from the hard disk, the control unit 10 determines the names of all management units that are one layer lower than the selected management unit, and the management information identifiers and lower management information identifiers in the management information. In association with each other, management unit information data indicating all management units one layer lower than the selected management unit is generated, and this is transmitted from the external device interface unit 19 to the content reproduction terminal 3 for the next step SP25. Move on.

  At this time, in step SP3, the central processing unit 30 determines whether or not the management unit information data transmitted from the content management server 2 has been received.

  In this step SP3, the central processing unit 30 determines that the management unit information data transmitted from the content providing server 2 is transmitted to the external device interface unit when there is a management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit in the content management server 2. In this case, the central processing unit 30 proceeds to the next step SP4.

  When the central processing unit 30 receives the management unit information data transmitted from the content management server 2, the central processing unit 30 acquires the received management unit information data and the content management server 2 from the content management server 2. By associating the management unit information data indicating the current selected management unit with the hard disk so as to restore the hierarchical relationship, the management unit hierarchical structure for the management unit on the hard disk is reconstructed as a reconstructed hierarchical structure. It is made to compose.

  Therefore, in step SP4, the central processing unit 30 first manages the management unit information data acquired from the content management server 2 as the first comparison process (that is, the management unit information data indicating all management units one layer lower than the selected management unit). ) (That is, a management information identifier corresponding to a management unit one level lower than the selected management unit) and management unit information data already recorded and held in the hard disk (that is, the selected management unit) Are compared with the lower-level management information identifiers.

  Further, the central processing unit 30 continues to manage unit information data (that is, the management unit information data acquired from the content management server 2 as the first comparison process only when the management information identifier and the lower management information identifier match in the first comparison process) A management information identifier (that is, a management information identifier corresponding to a management unit one level lower than the selected management unit) in the management unit information data indicating all management units one level lower than the selected management unit, and a hard disk already The management information identifiers in all the management unit information data recorded and held in are compared, and the hierarchical structure is changed to one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit based on the comparison result of the first or second comparison process. Judge whether there is.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in this step SP4, this means that the management unit information data indicating the selected management unit has previously been obtained because the management information identifier and the lower management information identifier did not match in the first comparison process. From the time of acquisition to the time of acquiring management unit information data indicating all management units one level lower than the selected management unit this time, the management unit one level lower than the selected management unit (that is, the level (Configuration) has been changed.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP4, this means that the management information identifier and the lower management information identifier match in the first comparison process, but the management information identifier does not match in the second comparison result. This also indicates that management unit information data indicating a management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit is acquired for the first time.

  If the central processing unit 30 obtains a positive result in this way at step SP4, it proceeds to the next step SP5.

  In step SP5, when the central processing unit 3 first acquires management unit information data indicating a management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit for the first time, the central processing unit 3 already acquires the management unit information data acquired this time from the content management server 2. The management unit for the management unit on the hard disk is recorded and held on the hard disk in association with the management unit information data indicating the currently selected management unit and the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy so as to restore. As the hierarchical structure, for example, the highest hierarchy and the hierarchy one hierarchy lower than this are reconfigured as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure.

  Then, the central processing unit 30 manages the highest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchy structure display screen 25 shown in FIG. 9, for example, based on the management unit information data indicating the selected management unit and each management unit one hierarchy lower than this. A unit (that is, the currently selected management unit) and management unit indicators FO1, FO2, FO4, and FO9 (all parts surrounded by a broken-line frame W1 in the figure) indicating all management units one level lower than this unit Reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50C (FIG. 10) additionally displaying management unit indicators FO2A, FP4A, and FO9A (FIG. 10) indicating management units one hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy so as to have a similar configuration. Is displayed on the display 38, and the management hierarchy presentation screen 50C presents all the management units in the highest hierarchy and one hierarchy lower than this in the reconstruction hierarchy structure. Te, and proceeds to the next step SP6.

  By the way, if a negative result is obtained in step SP4, this means that the management information identifier and the lower management information identifier match in the first comparison process, and therefore the management unit indicated by the management unit information data acquired this time in step SP3 The management unit indicated by the management unit information data previously acquired and stored in the hard disk is the same as the management unit (that is, the management unit one level lower than the selected management unit), and one level lower than the selected management unit. The central processing unit 30 moves on to step SP6.

  In step SP6, the central processing unit 30 determines whether or not the management unit hierarchical structure has been reconfigured.

  If a negative result is obtained in this step SP6, this indicates that the desired content data is still being searched because the communication end command with the content management server 2 has not been input. At this time, the central processing unit 30 returns to step SP1, and thereafter repeats the processing of steps SP1 to SP6 in a cyclic manner until a positive result is obtained in step SP6.

  In step SP25, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the communication with the content reproduction terminal 3 is terminated. If the communication with the content reproduction terminal 3 is continued and a negative result is obtained at this time, the control unit 10 continues to manage. Since there is a possibility of requesting the unit information data, the process returns to step SP21, and thereafter, the processing of step SP21 to step SP25 is cyclically repeated until a positive result is obtained in step SP25.

  As a result, the central processing unit 30 uses the operation input unit 34 to display, for example, the contents of the photographic image among the three management units one hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy on the reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screen 50C displayed on the display 38. The management unit indicator “FO4A”, which is the largest management unit for data, is selected by the corresponding management unit indicator FO4A. When a selection item 51A “Connect to Server” that also serves as an input of a request for management unit information data is selected on the pop-up menu 51 in 50D, a management that stores a management information identifier corresponding to the selected management unit The unit information request data is transmitted to the content management server 2.

  As a result, when the control unit 10 receives the management unit information request data transmitted from the content reproduction terminal 3, the selected management unit exists in the management unit hierarchical structure and is also one layer lower than the selected management unit. If there is a management unit, management unit information data indicating all management units lower by one layer is generated and transmitted to the content reproduction terminal 3.

  As a result, when the central processing unit 30 receives the management unit information data transmitted from the content management server 2, it determines whether or not the hierarchical structure one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit has been changed as described above.

  As a result, if the central processing unit 30 determines that the hierarchical structure one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit has been changed, the management unit information data acquired this time is already recorded and held in the hard disk. The management unit information data indicating all management units one level lower than the management unit and the management unit acquired this time in the reconstructed hierarchical structure on the hard disk by associating the data so as to restore the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy and storing it in the hard disk The management unit indicated by the unit information data is added to update the contents of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure.

  Then, the central processing unit 30 is based on the selected management unit and the management unit information data indicating each management unit one level lower than the selected management unit, for example, the uppermost layer in the management unit hierarchy structure display screen 25 shown in FIG. A management unit one level lower (that is, the currently selected management unit) and management unit indicators FO5 and FO6 (a portion surrounded by a broken-line frame W2 in the figure) indicating a management unit one level lower than this A reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screen 50E (FIG. 12) on which management unit indicators FO5A and FO6A (FIG. 12) indicating management units one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit are additionally displayed so as to have a similar configuration is displayed on the display 38. Are displayed on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50E, including the added management units, in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure.

  In this way, if the central processing unit 30 executes the reconfiguration of the management unit hierarchical structure for the management unit for the first time this time, the processing of step SP1 to step SP6 is repeated cyclically, and the content management server 2 accordingly. When the management unit information data is acquired from the content management server 2, the acquired management unit information data is already recorded and held in the hard disk by the processing of step SP21 to step SP25 being cyclically repeated by the control unit 10 The management unit information data indicating all management units one level lower than the selected management unit and the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy are restored so that they are sequentially recorded on the hard disk and acquired each time in the reconstructed hierarchical structure. Contents of the reconfiguration hierarchy by adding the management unit indicated by the management unit information data Update.

  As a result, the central processing unit 30 searches the management unit hierarchical structure in order so that the management units sequentially selected one hierarchy lower in order from the management unit of the highest hierarchy for searching for desired content data. Only the part including the hierarchy and the hierarchy of the selected management unit is reconfigured as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure.

  When the central processing unit 30 reconstructs at least a part of the management unit hierarchical structure in this manner, the central processing unit 30 searches for desired content data on the reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screen 50F shown in FIG. Therefore, the management unit indicators FO1A, FO2A, FO4A to FO8A, FO9A respectively indicating all management units existing in the management unit hierarchy sequentially followed, and the management unit of the lowest hierarchy reached by the search for the desired content data The file indicators CF2A to CF4A indicating the file of the content data directly managed in the above are presented in a tree structure.

  In this way, the central processing unit 30 acquires, as a management unit information data, records and holds the management units sequentially followed for searching for desired content data among the plurality of management units of the management unit hierarchical structure. By reconfiguring the management unit hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data recorded and held as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure, the management unit indicated by the management unit information data recorded and held on the hard disk by the reconfiguration hierarchy structure presentation screen 50F Can be presented in a reconstructed hierarchical structure.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP6, this means that the desired content data has been found, and the management unit information data acquired in response to the search is recorded and held, and the management unit hierarchy structure for the management unit is reconfigured. As a result, it indicates that the selection item 51N for connection termination command input in the pop-up menu 51 is selected on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen displayed on the display 38. At this time, the central processing unit 30 moves to the next step SP7 and ends the management unit information acquisition processing procedure RT1.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP25, this indicates that the communication with the content management server 2 is terminated by the completion of the reconfiguration of the management unit hierarchical structure at the content reproduction terminal 3, and at this time, the control unit 10 Moves to the next step SP26 and ends the management unit information provision processing procedure RT2.

  Incidentally, when the central processing unit 30 of the content reproduction terminal 3 finally selects the management unit of the lowest hierarchy in step SP1 as a result of searching for the desired content data, the central processing unit 30 replaces the management unit information request data in step SP2. Storing the management information identifier corresponding to the management unit of the lowest hierarchy (ie, the selected management unit) and generating content request data for requesting the content data managed in the selected management unit, Is transmitted from the external device interface unit 46 to the content management server 2.

  Therefore, if a negative result is obtained in step SP23, this means that the content request data transmitted from the content reproduction terminal 3 in place of the management unit information request data is received in step SP21, and then stored in the content request data in step SP22. Although it has been confirmed that there is a management unit of the lowest hierarchy based on the management information identifier being read, the corresponding management information is continuously read from the hard disk based on the management information identifier, and the lower management information identifier for the read management information is As a result of detecting the presence / absence of storage, the content reproduction file 3 stores the address information of the content data file instead of the lower management information identifier, thereby indicating that the desired content data is requested for reproduction from the content reproduction terminal 3. Yes.

  For this reason, if the control unit 10 obtains a negative result in step SP23, it reads out the requested content data from the hard disk based on the management information corresponding to the selected management unit of the lowest hierarchy at this time, and reads the read content data. The data is transmitted from the external device interface unit 19 to the content reproduction terminal 3, and the process proceeds to step SP25.

  Further, when the content data managed by the selection management unit in the lowest hierarchy is transmitted from the content management server 2 for playback, the central processing unit 3 receives the content data by the external device interface unit 46 and performs playback processing. Thus, the desired content can be provided via the display 38 or the speaker 40.

  By the way, the central processing unit 30 responds to a search request for desired content data in a state where the management unit hierarchical structure is reconfigured from the management unit of the highest hierarchy to the management unit of the predetermined hierarchy lower than the management unit hierarchy. When the management unit information acquisition processing procedure RT1 is started again, for example, a reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen 50G shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the display 38 in accordance with the state of reconstruction of the management unit hierarchical structure up to that point in step SP1. .

  In this case, as long as the central processing unit 30 is a management unit included in the reconstruction hierarchical structure, not only the management unit of the highest hierarchy on the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen 50G via the operation input unit 34, but any of the management units. The management unit of the hierarchy can also be selected. For example, when the largest management unit for the content data of the photographic image is selected by the corresponding management unit indicator FO4A among the three management units one hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy. Subsequently, a reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50H to which a pop-up menu 51 as shown in FIG.

  In this state, when the selection item 51A for communication connection command input in the pop-up menu 51 is selected via the operation input unit 34, the central processing unit 30 establishes communication connection with the content management server 2 and performs the next connection. The process proceeds to step SP2, and management unit information request data storing a management information identifier corresponding to a management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit is generated and transmitted to the content management server 2, and then the process proceeds to the next step SP3.

  As a result, when the central processing unit 30 receives the management unit information data transmitted from the content management server 2 in accordance with the execution of the management unit information provision processing procedure RT2 by the control unit 10, the central processing unit 30 proceeds from step SP3 to step SP4 and selects the selected management unit. It is determined whether or not there is a change in the hierarchical structure one hierarchy lower than the above.

  Here, as described above with reference to FIG. 14, the central processing unit 30 has two types of shooting year management units of “2002” and “2003” for the content data of the photographic image from the management unit of the highest hierarchy as the reconstruction hierarchical structure. Although the content is reconfigured up to the hierarchy, the content management server 2 displays “Photo” as represented by the management unit indicators FO15 to FO17 and the file indicators CF10 and CF11 on the management unit hierarchy structure presentation screen 52 shown in FIG. If the management unit one hierarchy lower than the management unit and the management unit of the lowest hierarchy one hierarchy lower than the management unit are changed, an affirmative result is obtained in step SP4, and the next step SP5 is obtained. Move.

  At this time, in step SP5, the central processing unit 30 overwrites the management unit information data acquired this time on the management unit information data indicating the management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit already recorded and held in the hard disk. (I.e., the management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit is changed to the management unit indicated by the management unit information data acquired this time) and recorded and held in the hard disk, the reconfiguration hierarchical structure on the hard disk The hierarchical structure one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit is corrected, and thus the contents of the reconstructed hierarchical structure are updated.

  When the central processing unit 30 corrects and updates the reconstructed hierarchical structure, the central processing unit 30 displays the selected management unit and management unit information data indicating a new management unit one level lower than the selected management unit in accordance with this, for example, on the display 38 as shown in FIG. By displaying the reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screen 50I in which the original management unit indicator FO5A (FIG. 14) shown in FIG. 14 is changed to a new management unit indicator FO15A, the management unit information data recorded and held on the hard disk is shown. The management unit is presented in a reconstructed hierarchical structure including the changes.

  By the way, the central processing unit 30 displays the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50F shown in FIG. 13, for example, in step SP1, and then manages the management unit “2002” as the management “1999” on the upper side of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure with respect to the management unit. When the unit is changed to a unit, there is a high possibility that the lower-level management unit is also changed together with the changed management unit, so that “1999” is displayed as in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50I shown in FIG. By deleting all the management unit indicators FO7A and FO8A (FIG. 13) and all the file indicators CF2A and CF3A (FIG. 13) connected to the management unit indicator FO7A and FO8A lower than the management unit It is possible to recall that there is a possibility that the hierarchical structure of the lower hierarchy is also changed.

  In this way, even if the central processing unit 30 reconfigures the management unit hierarchical structure, if the management unit hierarchical structure is subsequently changed, the central processing unit 30 requests the management unit information data from the content management server 2 and As a result, when the management unit information data indicating the management unit of the hierarchy whose hierarchy configuration has been changed is acquired, the management unit of the corresponding hierarchy of the reconstructed hierarchical structure can be corrected based on the management unit information data Has been made.

  Further, the central processing unit 30 has already deleted the management unit of the photographing year “2002” in the management unit hierarchical structure in the content management server 2 as described above with reference to FIG. 16, for example, and instead manages the management unit of the photographing year “1999”. Although the content data is managed in FIG. 14, when the management unit information acquisition processing procedure RT1 is started, in step SP1, the reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screen 50G shown in FIG. After the management unit of the shooting year is selected by the corresponding management unit indicator FO5A, a selection item for inputting a communication connection command in the pop-up menu 51 on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50H displayed on the display 38 in response thereto When 51A is selected, communication connection is established with the content management server 2, The procedure proceeds to step SP2, and transmits the management unit information request data storing management information identifier corresponding to the selected management unit to the content management server 2 proceeds to step SP3.

  At this time, the control unit 10 of the content management server 2 starts the management unit information provision processing procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 6B in accordance with the management unit information provision program at the time of communication connection with the content reproduction terminal 3, thereby performing step SP21. When the management unit information request data is received and the management unit information request data is received, the process proceeds to the next step SP22, and the selected management unit notified based on the management unit information request data is included in the management unit hierarchical structure. Determine if it exists.

  Here, the control unit 10 obtains a negative result because the selected management unit is changed in the management unit hierarchical structure as described above with reference to FIG. 16, and proceeds to step SP27.

  In step SP27, the control unit 10 generates management unit deletion notification data for notifying the deletion of the selected management unit, and transmits the management unit deletion notification data to the content reproduction terminal 3 via the external device interface unit 19, and then proceeds to the next step SP28. Move.

  At this time, in step SP3, the central processing unit 30 obtains a negative result by receiving the management unit deletion notification data transmitted from the content management server 2 without receiving the management unit information data, and moves to step SP8. .

  In step SP8, the central processing unit 30 displays a reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50J as shown in FIG. 18 on the display 38 based on the management unit deletion notification data.

  In this case, the central processing unit 30 displays the reconfiguration execution query screen 53 on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50J, and is selected and managed in the management unit hierarchy by the message in the reconfiguration execution query screen 53. Notifying that the hierarchical structure of the hierarchy including the unit has been changed by erasing the selected management unit, and the selected management unit has already been erased. Since the management unit information data indicating the management unit of the lower hierarchy cannot be obtained at all, the reconfiguration is performed by inquiring whether the entire management unit hierarchy is automatically reconfigured as the entire reconfiguration hierarchy. It is determined whether or not the entire hierarchical structure is automatically reconfigured.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in this step SP8, this means that the automatic reconfiguration in which the word “Yes” is displayed in the reconfiguration execution query screen 53 on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50J via the operation input unit 34. The selection of the execution button 54 indicates that the entire reconfiguration hierarchical structure is requested to be reconfigured automatically. At this time, the central processing unit 30 proceeds to the next step SP9.

  In step SP9, the central processing unit 30 generates management unit information request data storing the management information identifier corresponding to the selected management unit, using the management unit of the highest hierarchy as the selected management unit, and sends it from the external device interface unit 46. The content is transmitted to the content management server 2, and the process proceeds to the next step SP10.

  At this time, in step SP28, the control unit 10 receives the management unit information request data transmitted from the content reproduction terminal 3, and uses the management information identifier obtained based on the received management unit information request data from the hard disk. Management information corresponding to the management unit (that is, the selected management unit) is read out.

  Further, the control unit 10 continues management information corresponding to all management units one layer lower than the management unit of the highest hierarchy from the hard disk (that is, the selected management unit) by the lower management information identifier in the management information read from the hard disk. Is read.

  And the control part 10 produces | generates the management unit information data which shows all the management units one hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy like the above, and transmits this to the content reproduction | regeneration terminal 3 from the external apparatus interface part 19, The process moves to the next step SP29.

  As a result, in step SP10, the central processing unit 30 receives the management unit information data transmitted from the content management server 2, and proceeds to the next step SP11.

  Then, in step SP11, the central processing unit 30 manages the management unit information data acquired from the content management server 2 and indicates the management unit information indicating the highest level management unit (that is, the selected management unit) that is already recorded on the hard disk. By associating the data and hierarchy so as to restore the hierarchical relationship, and recording and holding it on the hard disk, the highest hierarchy of the management unit hierarchy for the management unit on the hard disk and one hierarchy lower than that are reconstructed as a reconfiguration hierarchy. Then, the process proceeds to the next step SP12.

  In step SP12, the central processing unit 30 performs the management unit information data indicating the lowest management unit of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure reconstructed at that time among the management unit information data recorded and held in the hard disk. Whether or not the lower-level management information identifier is stored is detected, and based on the detection result, it is determined whether or not the reconstruction for the entire reconstruction hierarchical structure has been completed.

  If a negative result is obtained in this step SP12, this means that the lower management information identifier is stored in the management unit information data indicating the lowest management unit of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure that is being reconfigured at this time. This indicates that there is management unit information data that has not yet been acquired from the content management server 2 for reconfiguration of the entire reconfiguration hierarchical structure. At this time, the central processing unit 30 returns to step SP9.

  In step SP29, every time the control unit 10 transmits management unit information data to the content reproduction terminal 3 in step SP28, the control unit 10 leaves a transmission history indicating a hierarchy corresponding to the transmitted management unit information data. Based on the transmission history, it is determined whether or not management unit information data indicating management units of all hierarchies in the management unit hierarchical structure has been transmitted to the content reproduction terminal 3.

  If a negative result is obtained in this step SP29, this indicates that the management unit information data of all the hierarchies in the management unit hierarchical structure has not yet been transmitted to the content reproduction terminal 3, and at this time, the control unit 10 returns to step SP28.

  Accordingly, again in step SP9, the central processing unit 30 detects the presence or absence of the lower management information identifier for the management unit information data recorded and held in the hard disk, and reconfigures at this point in time according to the detection result. One management unit (that is, a management unit indicated by management unit information data in which a lower management information identifier is not stored) is selected and managed from any one of the lowest hierarchies in the reconstructed hierarchical structure. Select as a unit.

  Then, the central processing unit 30 generates management unit information request data that stores the management information identifier corresponding to the selected management unit, and transmits this data to the content management server 2 from the external device interface unit 46, and the next step SP10. Move on.

  At this time, in step SP28, the control unit 10 receives the management unit information request data transmitted from the content reproduction terminal 3, and uses the management information identifier obtained based on the received management unit information request data from the hard disk. The management information in which the identifier is stored is read out.

  Further, the control unit 10 continues all the management information stored in the management information identifier from the hard disk as the management information identifier (that is, the management information read out first from the hard disk) by the lower management information identifier in the management information read from the hard disk. All management information used for management one level lower than the information), management unit information data indicating the read management information is generated, and the content playback terminal 3 is changed from the external device interface unit 19 to the next step. Move on to SP29.

  As a result, in step SP10, the central processing unit 30 receives the management unit information data transmitted from the content management server 2, and proceeds to the next step SP11.

  Thereby, in step SP11, the central processing unit 30 has already acquired the management unit information data acquired from the content management server 2 from the content management server 2 when step SP10 has been executed, and is recorded and held in the hard disk. The management unit information data indicating the management unit one hierarchy lower than the unit and the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy so as to be restored are recorded on the hard disk so that a new hierarchy is added to the reconstructed hierarchical structure on the hard disk. The contents of the reconstruction hierarchical structure are updated again, and the process proceeds to the next step SP12.

  In step SP12, the central processing unit 30 determines again whether or not the reconstruction for the entire reconstruction hierarchical structure has been completed. If a negative result is obtained, the process returns to step SP9, and then a positive result is obtained in step SP12. Until then, the processing from step SP9 to step SP12 is repeated cyclically.

  In step SP29, the control unit 10 also determines whether or not the management unit information data indicating the management units of all hierarchies in the management unit hierarchical structure has been transmitted to the content reproduction terminal 3, and if a negative result is obtained thereby, Returning to SP28, the processing of step SP28 and step SP29 is cyclically repeated until a positive result is obtained in step SP29.

  As a result, the central processing unit 30 cooperates with the control unit 10 of the content management server 2 to sequentially record and hold the management unit information data on the hard disk to automatically reconfigure the entire reconstruction hierarchical structure. When the entire contents have been updated, the management units of all hierarchies in the management unit hierarchical structure are displayed on the display 38 based on the management unit information data recorded and held in the hard disk by such a series of processes as shown in FIG. Display the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen 50K in which the management unit indicators FO1A to FO4A, FO6A, FO9A to FO13A, FO15A to FO17A, and the file indicator CF1A, CF4A to CF7A, CF10A, and CF11A are arranged in a tree structure. The management unit information data newly acquired and retained by Presented in the reconstruction hierarchical structure again to reconfigure the management unit indicated by the data.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP12, this means that any management unit information data indicating the management unit of the lowest hierarchy of the reconstructed hierarchical structure that has been reconfigured at this point is assigned to the lower management information identifier. Is not stored, the management unit information data indicating the management units of all the hierarchies in the management unit hierarchical structure is obtained from the content management server 2 and the reconfiguration of the entire reconfiguration hierarchical structure has been completed. At this time, the central processing unit 30 proceeds to step SP7.

  If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP29, this indicates that the management unit information data indicating the management units of all the hierarchies in the management unit hierarchical structure has been transmitted to the content reproduction terminal 3, and the control is performed at this time. The unit 10 moves to step SP26.

  By the way, if a negative result is obtained in the above-described step SP8, this means that the message “No” is displayed on the reconstruction execution query screen 53 on the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen 50J via the operation input unit 34. The selection arbitrary configuration execution button 55 is selected, indicating that an intention display is made to arbitrarily reconfigure the entire reconfiguration hierarchical structure. At this time, the central processing unit 30 moves to step SP6 and re-executes. After confirming whether or not the reconfiguration for the configuration hierarchical structure is to be terminated, the process returns to step SP1 or proceeds to step SP7.

  In this way, when the central processing unit 30 is requested to automatically reconfigure the entire reconstruction hierarchical structure in response to the deletion of the management unit of any hierarchy in the management unit hierarchical structure, Without any complicated operations, the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure can be automatically reconfigured up to the lowest hierarchy by descending from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy.

  When the central processing unit 30 is instructed to arbitrarily reconfigure the reconfiguration hierarchical structure in accordance with the deletion of the management unit, the central processing unit 30 displays the reconfiguration hierarchical structure on the reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screens 50A to 50I. Since the reconfiguration start part can be arbitrarily selected, for example, a management unit that is at least one layer higher than the deleted management unit is arbitrarily selected, and the reconfiguration hierarchical structure is started from the selected management unit. It is possible to reduce as much as possible that the operation for reconfiguration becomes complicated so as to reconfigure.

  In the above configuration, the content reproduction terminal 3 of the home network system 1 requests the content management server 2 to search for desired content data from the content data managed in a plurality of management units in the management unit hierarchical structure. Then, the reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screen 50A is displayed on the display 38, and when the highest hierarchy management unit is selected in this state, the highest hierarchy management unit (ie, the selected hierarchy management unit 2) is selected. Management unit information data indicating all management units one layer lower than (management unit) is requested.

  As a result, the content playback terminal 3 restores the hierarchical relationship between the management unit information data indicating the selected management unit and the hierarchy already stored in the hard disk, with the management unit information data acquired from the content management server 2 being stored. By associating and storing in the hard disk, the highest hierarchy of the management unit hierarchical structure of the management unit and one lower hierarchy are reconfigured as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure on the hard disk, and further based on the acquired management unit information data By updating the contents of the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screens 50A to 50J, the management unit indicated by the acquired management unit information data is presented in the reconstruction hierarchical structure.

  When the content playback terminal 3 arbitrarily selects a management unit one hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy in order to search for content data again on the reconstructed hierarchical structure presentation screens 50A to 50K displayed on the display 38. The management unit information data indicating all management units one layer lower than the selected management unit is requested to the content management server 2.

  As a result, when the content playback terminal 3 acquires the management unit information data from the content management server 2 again, the management unit information data indicating the selected management unit that has already been recorded and held in the hard disk. The contents of the reconstructed hierarchical structure are added and updated on the hard disk by associating them so as to restore the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchies and reconstructing hierarchies based on the management unit information data acquired at that time The contents of the structure presentation screens 50A to 50K are also updated to present management units in a reconstructed hierarchical structure.

  In this way, each time the content playback terminal 3 selects a management unit that is sequentially one layer lower in the reconstruction hierarchical structure on the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screens 50A to 50K, the content reproduction terminal 3 Acquire management unit information data indicating all management units one layer lower than the selected management unit, and restore the hierarchical relationship of the management unit information data indicating the selected management unit and the hierarchy already recorded and stored in the hard disk In this way, the contents of the reconstructed hierarchical structure are updated by associating and storing them on the hard disk, so that the desired content data is selected from the highest hierarchy to any lowest hierarchy in order for searching for the desired content data. Management unit information data indicating all management units of the hierarchy including the management unit is recorded and retained on the hard disk, and the management unit hierarchy structure is selected. And reconstructing a reconstructed hierarchical structure to follow a management unit.

  According to the above configuration, when the content playback terminal 3 is requested by the content management server 2 to search for desired content data from content data managed in a plurality of management units having a management unit hierarchical structure. Every time a management unit one hierarchy lower than the management unit of the highest hierarchy in the management unit hierarchical structure is arbitrarily selected, all the management units one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit are selected from the content management server 2. The management unit information data to be acquired is acquired, and the acquired management unit information data is related to the management unit information data indicating the selected management unit already stored in the hard disk so as to restore the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy. Record management and reorganizing the management unit hierarchy for the management unit as a reconfiguration hierarchy Thus, when a search for content data is requested after reconfiguring the management unit hierarchy, management indicating the management units for each hierarchy from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy of the management unit hierarchy while communicating with the content management server 2 Without sequentially acquiring unit information data and presenting the management units, the management units indicated by the management unit information data held in advance can be presented collectively in a reconfiguration hierarchical structure, and thus desired content data Can be realized.

  Further, in the home network system 1, when the management unit indicated by the management unit information data held in advance is presented in a reconstructed hierarchical structure in response to a search request for content data, which of the presented management units for each hierarchy is displayed. In addition, the management unit of the lowest hierarchy can be selected without any complicated operation that allows the user to sequentially select the management unit for each hierarchy from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy. Can be directly selected, and thus the home network system 1 capable of quickly acquiring desired content data can be realized.

  Furthermore, in the home network system 1, when the content reproduction terminal 3 executes a search for content data, all management units that are one hierarchy lower than the management unit selected for each hierarchy of the management unit hierarchy structure accordingly. The management unit information data indicating the management unit is retained and reconfigured for the user by recording and holding the management unit information data indicating the management unit on the hard disk and reconfiguring the management unit hierarchical structure as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure. A management unit that diverts search processing for content data without making any special attention to the reconstruction of the hierarchical structure, and without any special operations for holding the management unit information data and reconfiguring the hierarchical structure. It is possible to reconstruct a reconstructed hierarchical structure that holds information data.

  Furthermore, in the home network system 1, a management unit is arbitrarily selected at least one hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy of the reconstruction hierarchical structure in the content reproduction terminal 3, and the content management server 2 accordingly selects the management unit from the selected management unit. When the management unit information data indicating all management units lower by one hierarchy is requested, if the hierarchy configuration one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit is changed, it is acquired from the content management server 2 by the request. By changing the management unit information data after the change to the management unit information data indicating the management unit before the change that has already been recorded and held on the hard disk, and recording and holding it on the hard disk, the management unit hierarchy structure Even if the configuration is changed, it is not aware of any changes in the hierarchical configuration, and responds to changes in the hierarchical configuration. The management unit information data indicating the management unit after the change is indicated without the management unit information data indicating the management unit after the change and the management unit information data indicating the management unit after the change without any special operation in the modification of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure. The reconfiguration hierarchical structure can be corrected by re-storing instead of the management unit information data.

  In addition to this, in the home network system 1, a management unit of any hierarchy of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure is arbitrarily selected in the content reproduction terminal 3, and in response to this, the content management server 2 has one hierarchy higher than the selected management unit. Reconfiguration that automatically reconfigures the entire reconfiguration hierarchy if the selected management unit is deleted and changed to another management unit when management unit information indicating all lower management units is requested Any one of an automatic execution method and a reconfiguration arbitrary execution method for arbitrarily correcting the entire reconfiguration hierarchical structure is selected.

  In the home network system 1, when the reconfiguration automatic execution method is selected in the content reproduction terminal 3, management unit information data indicating management units for all the hierarchies of the management unit hierarchical structure is sequentially acquired from the content management server 2. Record the data on the hard disk and automatically reconfigure the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy, so that the user can change the management unit from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy. All the management unit information data can be recorded and retained on the hard disk without any complicated operation, so that the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure can be reconstructed easily and accurately. When the search for the desired content data is resumed after the reconstruction of the entire data is completed, all the management unit information data is displayed. Desired content data easily by grasping at reconstructed hierarchical structure again to reconfigure the management unit can be retrieved accurately.

  Further, in the home network system 1, when the reconfiguration arbitrary execution method is selected in the content reproduction terminal 3, the management unit can be changed from an arbitrary hierarchy with respect to the reconfiguration hierarchical structure at an arbitrary time, and the desired content data can be changed. Compared with the case where the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure is automatically reconstructed when it is found that the selected management unit is erased during the retrieval, it is possible to return to the retrieval of the desired content data with the minimum necessary correction.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the content reproduction terminal 3 is requested to search for content data, the content reproduction terminal 3 and the content management server 2 perform the management unit information provision acquisition process described above with reference to FIG. Although the case where it was made to perform was described, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the content reproduction terminal 3 is requested to reconfigure the management unit hierarchical structure at a different time from the retrieval of the content data, The management unit information provision acquisition process described above with reference to FIG. 6 may be executed by the content reproduction terminal 3 and the content management server 2, and in this way, the management unit information is requested when a search for content data is requested. Management units when there is time to spare, without having to acquire and retain data and restructure the management unit hierarchy The management unit hierarchy can be reconstructed by acquiring and holding information data, so that the management unit indicated by the management unit information data can be reconstructed even when the search for content data is requested for the first time. It is possible to quickly search for desired content data by presenting.

  As described above, in the content reproduction terminal 3, when the management unit information data is acquired and held at a different time from when the content data is searched and the management unit hierarchical structure is reconfigured, or when the content data is searched When the management unit information data is acquired and stored in the management unit hierarchy, the management unit hierarchy is reconfigured without selecting the management units one hierarchy lower in order from the highest hierarchy. Management unit information data indicating units may be automatically acquired and held sequentially, or management unit information data indicating management units of all layers may be automatically acquired and held collectively. The operation performed by the user can be further omitted.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the content reproduction terminal 3, when the selection management unit is erased in the content management server 2, a reconfiguration automatic execution method for automatically reconfiguring the entire reconfiguration hierarchical structure; The case where any one of the reconfiguration arbitrary execution methods for arbitrarily correcting the reconfiguration hierarchical structure has been described has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the content reproduction server 3 uses the content management server. When the selected management unit is deleted in step 2, the management unit information data indicating the management unit of each layer of the part that has been reconfigured at that time is automatically acquired and retained, and the reconfiguration is performed. Only the part that has been performed may be reconstructed.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the content reproduction terminal 3 acquires and holds management unit information data indicating the management unit of the highest hierarchy from the content management server 2 in advance. The present invention is not limited to this. When a search request for content data is first input at the content reproduction terminal 3, first, management unit information data indicating the management unit of the highest hierarchy is acquired and stored from the content management server 2. Then, management unit information data indicating all management units that are one level lower than the lowest level may be obtained and held.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the management unit information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the content reproduction terminal 3 having the personal computer configuration constituting the home network system 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and external devices such as computers, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance), information processing devices such as game machines, and playback devices such as CD players and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) players are used. If it is possible to acquire and / or play back the content data managed by this, it can be widely applied to various other management unit information acquisition devices.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the content management apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the content management server 2 having the personal computer configuration that constitutes the home network system 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and content such as a computer, a mobile phone, a PDA, a game machine, an information processing device such as a content providing server having a personal computer configuration on the Internet, and a playback device such as a CD player or a DVD player If data can be managed in a hierarchical structure and provided to the outside, it can be widely applied to various other content management apparatuses.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, management unit information data indicating a management unit for at least a part of each hierarchy in the hierarchical structure is stored for each content management apparatus that manages content data in a plurality of management units having a hierarchical structure. The case where the central processing unit 30 and the external device interface unit 46 of the content reproduction terminal 3 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 are applied as transmission means for transmitting management unit information request data for requesting has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and requests management unit information data indicating a management unit for each of at least a part of the hierarchical structure to a content management apparatus that manages content data in a plurality of management units of the hierarchical structure If the management unit information request data to be transmitted can be transmitted, The transmission means of the other various configurations can be widely applied to depending on the mode of communication with the Ntsu management device.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the content reproduction described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 is used as a reception unit that receives management unit information data transmitted from the content management apparatus in response to transmission of management unit information request data by the transmission unit. Although the case where the central processing unit 30 and the external device interface unit 46 of the terminal 3 are applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and is transmitted from the content management apparatus in response to the transmission of the management unit information request data by the transmission unit. If the received management unit information data can be received, receiving means of various other configurations can be widely applied depending on the communication method between the management unit information acquisition device and the content management device.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the management unit information data received by the receiving unit is recorded and held in the recording medium, and the management unit indicated by the management unit information data is reconfigured as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure. Although the case where the central processing unit 30 and the hard disk drive 41 of the content reproduction terminal 3 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 are applied as the holding means has been described, the present invention is not limited to this and is received by the receiving means. If the management unit information data recorded and held in the recording medium can be reconfigured as a reconstructed hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data, other various management unit holding means can be widely used. Can be applied.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the hard disk of the hard disk drive 41 in the content reproduction terminal 3 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 is applied as the recording medium for recording the management unit information data received by the receiving means. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other recording media such as a semiconductor memory and a magneto-optical disk can be widely used as long as the management unit information data received by the receiving means can be recorded. Can be applied.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the contents described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 are used as presentation means for presenting the management unit indicated by the management unit information data held by the management unit holding means in a reconstructed hierarchical structure. Although the case where the central processing unit 30, the display processing unit 37, and the display 38 of the reproduction terminal 3 are applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the management unit information data held by the management unit holding means is shown. If the management unit can be presented in a reconstructed hierarchical structure, a variety of other presentation means can be widely applied.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as the selection unit for arbitrarily selecting the management unit presented in the reconstruction hierarchical structure by the presentation unit, the content reproduction terminal 3 described above with reference to FIGS. Although the case where the central processing unit 30, the operation input unit 34, the input processing unit 35, the display processing unit 37, and the display 38 for selecting a management unit on the structure presentation screens 50A to 50K is applied has been described, the present invention Not limited to this, various other selection means such as a remote controller and a keyboard can be widely applied.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the control unit 10 of the content management server 2 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19 is applied as content management means for managing content data in a plurality of management units having a hierarchical structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other content management means such as a microprocessor can be widely applied as long as the content data can be managed in a plurality of management units having a hierarchical structure. it can.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, management unit information data indicating a management unit for each hierarchy of at least a part of the hierarchical structure is acquired, and the acquired management unit information data is recorded and held in a recording medium. The selected management sent from the management unit information acquisition device that reconfigures the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the data as a reconstructed hierarchical structure when the management unit of the reconstructed hierarchical structure is arbitrarily selected as the selected management unit. As a receiving means for receiving management unit information request data for requesting management unit information data indicating a management unit one layer lower than the unit, the control unit 10 of the content management server 2 described above with reference to FIGS. Although the case where the device interface unit 19 is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least a part of the hierarchical structure is used. Acquire management unit information data indicating a management unit for each hierarchy, record and hold the acquired management unit information data in a recording medium, and reconfigure the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure Management unit information data indicating a management unit that is one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit, which is transmitted from the management unit information acquisition apparatus that is selected when the management unit of the reconfiguration hierarchical structure is arbitrarily selected as the selected management unit. If the management unit information request data for requesting can be received, various other receiving means can be widely applied depending on the communication method between the management unit information acquisition device and the content management device.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 19 are used as judgment means for judging whether or not the selected management unit exists in the hierarchical structure according to the management unit information request data received by the receiving means. Although the case where the control unit 10 of the content management server 2 described above is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the selected management unit is hierarchical according to the management unit information request data received by the receiving unit. If it can be determined whether or not it exists in the structure, various other determination means such as a microprocessor can be widely applied.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the determining unit determines that the selected management unit exists in the hierarchical structure, the management unit information data indicating the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit is acquired. As a transmission means for transmitting management unit erasure notification data to the management unit information acquisition device when the determination unit determines that the selected management unit does not exist in the hierarchical structure. 1 to 19, the case where the control unit 10 and the external device interface unit 19 of the content management server 2 described above are applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the selection management unit is determined by the determination unit. If it is determined that the management unit exists in the hierarchical structure, the management unit information data indicating the management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit is managed. When the determination unit determines that the selected management unit does not exist in the hierarchical structure, the management unit deletion notification data for notifying deletion of the selected management unit is transmitted to the management unit information acquisition device. If possible, various other transmission means can be widely applied according to the communication method between the management unit information acquisition apparatus and the content management apparatus.

  The present invention can be used for a management unit information acquisition apparatus such as a personal computer or a music playback apparatus.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the overall configuration of a home network system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a content management server. It is an approximate line figure used for explanation of the hierarchical structure of a management unit. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a management unit hierarchy structure presentation screen. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a content reproduction terminal. It is a sequence chart which shows the management unit information provision acquisition process which consists of a management unit information acquisition processing procedure and a management unit information provision processing procedure. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the initial state of a reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen when the management unit of the highest hierarchy is selected. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of reconstruction of a management unit hierarchical structure. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen when reconfiguring a part of management unit hierarchical structure, communicating with a content management server. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the request | requirement of the management unit information data when the management unit of one hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy is selected. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchy structure presentation screen when the reconstruction hierarchy structure is added and updated. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchy structure presentation screen at the time of reorganizing the management unit hierarchy from the highest hierarchy to arbitrary lowest hierarchy according to the search of content data. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen when the management unit information acquisition processing procedure is started in a state where a part of the management unit hierarchical structure is reconstructed. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconfiguration | reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen when the management unit of 2 hierarchy lower than the highest hierarchy is selected. It is an approximate line figure used for explanation of change of a management unit hierarchical structure. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchy structure presentation screen when the reconstruction hierarchy structure is corrected and updated. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen when the selection management unit is erase | eliminated in the content management server. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the reconstruction hierarchical structure presentation screen when reconstructing the whole reconstruction hierarchical structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Home network system, 2 ... Content management server 2 ... Content reproduction terminal, 10 ... Control part, 16, 41 ... Hard disk drive, 19, 46 ... External apparatus interface part, 30 ... Central processing unit , 34... Operation input unit, 35... Input processing unit, 37... Display processing unit, 38... Display, 50A to 50K .. reconfiguration hierarchical structure presentation screen, FO1 to FO13, FO15 to FO17, FO1A to FO13A , FO15A to FO17A ... management unit indicator, RT1 ... management unit information acquisition processing procedure, RT2 ... management unit information provision processing procedure.

Claims (5)

Management unit information request for requesting management unit information data indicating the management unit for at least a part of the hierarchy of the content management apparatus that manages the content data in a plurality of management units of the hierarchical structure A transmission means for transmitting data;
Receiving means for receiving the management unit information data transmitted from the content management device in response to transmission of the management unit information request data by the transmitting means;
Management unit holding means for recording and holding the management unit information data received by the receiving means in a recording medium and reconfiguring the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data as a reconstructed hierarchical structure;
Presenting means for presenting the management unit indicated by the management unit information data held by the management unit holding means in the reconstructed hierarchical structure reconstructed;
Selecting means for arbitrarily selecting the management unit presented in the reconstructed hierarchical structure by the presenting means ,
The transmission means is
When an arbitrary management unit is selected as a selected management unit via the selection means, the identifier of the selected management unit is stored, and management unit information data indicating a management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit is requested Management unit information request data is sent to the content management device,
The management unit holding means is
When the management unit information data is received by the receiving means, if there is no management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure, the selected management information The reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by adding a management unit indicated by the management unit information data one level lower than the unit, while one more than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data received by the receiving means. When the management unit lower in the hierarchy is different from the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit in the reconstruction hierarchical structure, the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit in the reconstruction hierarchical structure is selected. , Updating the reconstruction hierarchical structure by changing to the management unit indicated by the management unit information data,
The transmission means includes
When management unit deletion data transmitted from the content management device in response to transmission of the management unit information request data and indicating that the selected management unit has already been deleted is received by the receiving means, the hierarchical structure Transmitting management unit information request data for requesting the management unit information data indicating the management unit for all the layers to the content management apparatus;
The management unit holding means is
When the receiving unit receives the management unit information data for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure, the management unit reconstructs and updates the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure based on the management unit information data Information acquisition device. The transmission means is
When through the selection means the management unit of the lowest layer to said hierarchical structure is selected as the selection management unit, a content request data for requesting the content data managed in the election 択管 management unit Sent to the content management device,
The receiving means is
The management unit information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content data transmitted from the content management apparatus is received in response to transmission of the content request data by the transmission unit. It received from the content management device for managing content data in a plurality of management units of the hierarchical structure, at least a part of the management unit information data indicating the each layer of the management unit records held in record medium such of the hierarchy A management unit holding step for reconfiguring the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure;
A presenting step of presenting the management unit indicated by the held management unit information data in the reconstructed hierarchical structure reconstructed;
A selection step for arbitrarily selecting the management unit presented in the reconstruction hierarchical structure;
When an arbitrary management unit is selected as the selected management unit in the selection step, the management for storing the identifier of the selected management unit and requesting management unit information data indicating the management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit A transmission step of transmitting unit information request data to the content management device;
A receiving step of receiving the management unit information data transmitted from the content management device in response to transmission of the management unit information request data in the transmission step;
When the management unit information data is received in the reception step, if a management unit that is one layer lower than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data does not exist in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure, The reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by adding a management unit indicated by the management unit information data one layer lower, and one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data received in the reception step. When the management unit is different from the management unit that is one layer lower than the selected management unit in the reconstruction hierarchical structure, the management unit that is one layer lower than the selected management unit in the reconstruction hierarchical structure is The reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by changing to the management unit indicated by the unit information data, and the selected management unit is already deleted in the receiving step. When the management unit erasure data indicating that the management unit is deleted, the management unit information request data for requesting the management unit information data indicating the management units for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure is transmitted to the content management apparatus. An update step of receiving the management unit information data for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure and reconstructing and updating the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure based on the management unit information data;
Management unit information acquisition method comprising For information processing equipment
It received from the content management device for managing content data in a plurality of management units of the hierarchical structure, at least a part of the management unit information data indicating the each layer of the management unit records held in record medium such of the hierarchy A management unit holding step for reconfiguring the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data as a reconfiguration hierarchical structure;
A presenting step of presenting the management unit indicated by the held management unit information data in the reconstructed hierarchical structure reconstructed;
A selection step for arbitrarily selecting the management unit presented in the reconstruction hierarchical structure;
When an arbitrary management unit is selected as the selected management unit in the selection step, the management for storing the identifier of the selected management unit and requesting management unit information data indicating the management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit A transmission step of transmitting unit information request data to the content management device;
A receiving step of receiving the management unit information data transmitted from the content management device in response to transmission of the management unit information request data in the transmission step;
When the management unit information data is received in the reception step, if a management unit that is one layer lower than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data does not exist in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure, The reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by adding a management unit indicated by the management unit information data one layer lower, and one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data received in the reception step. When the management unit is different from the management unit that is one layer lower than the selected management unit in the reconstruction hierarchical structure, the management unit that is one layer lower than the selected management unit in the reconstruction hierarchical structure is The reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by changing to the management unit indicated by the unit information data, and the selected management unit is already deleted in the receiving step. When the management unit erasure data indicating that the management unit is deleted, the management unit information request data for requesting the management unit information data indicating the management units for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure is transmitted to the content management apparatus. And receiving the management unit information data for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure, and executing an updating step for reconstructing and updating the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure based on the management unit information data Management unit information acquisition program. Management unit information request for requesting management unit information data indicating the management unit for at least a part of the hierarchy of the content management apparatus that manages the content data in a plurality of management units of the hierarchical structure An information acquisition side transmission means for transmitting data;
Information acquisition side receiving means for receiving the management unit information data transmitted from the content management device in response to transmission of the management unit information request data by the information acquisition side transmission means;
Management unit holding means for recording and holding the management unit information data received by the information acquisition side receiving means on a recording medium and reconfiguring the hierarchical structure of the management unit indicated by the management unit information data as a reconstructed hierarchical structure When,
Presenting means for presenting the management unit indicated by the management unit information data held by the management unit holding means in the reconstructed hierarchical structure reconstructed;
Selecting means for arbitrarily selecting the management unit presented in the reconstructed hierarchical structure by the presenting means;
Have
The information acquisition side transmission means includes:
When an arbitrary management unit is selected as a selected management unit via the selection means, the identifier of the selected management unit is stored, and management unit information data indicating a management unit one layer lower than the selected management unit is requested Management unit information request data is sent to the content management device,
The management unit holding means is
When the management unit information data is received by the information acquisition side receiving means, when a management unit that is one layer lower than the selected management unit indicated by the management unit information data does not exist in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure, The reconfiguration hierarchical structure is updated by adding a management unit indicated by the management unit information data one layer below the selected management unit, while the management unit information data received by the information acquisition side receiving unit indicates When the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit is different from the management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure, it is 1 from the selected management unit in the reconfiguration hierarchical structure. Update the reconfiguration hierarchical structure by changing the management unit in the lower hierarchy to the management unit indicated by the management unit information data,
The information acquisition side transmission means
When management unit deletion data transmitted from the content management apparatus in response to transmission of the management unit information request data and indicating that the selected management unit has already been deleted is received by the information acquisition side receiving means, Transmitting management unit information request data for requesting the management unit information data indicating the management units for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure to the content management device;
The management unit holding means is
When the management unit information data for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure is received by the information acquisition side receiving means, the entire reconstructed hierarchical structure is reconfigured and updated based on the management unit information data Do
A management unit information acquisition device;
Content management means for managing content data in a plurality of management units in a hierarchical structure;
Information management side receiving means for receiving the management unit information request data transmitted from the management unit information acquisition device in response to selection of an arbitrary management unit as a selected management unit via the selection means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the selected management unit exists in the hierarchical structure in accordance with the management unit information request data received by the information management side receiving means;
When the determination unit determines that the selected management unit exists in the hierarchical structure, the management unit information data indicating a management unit one hierarchy lower than the selected management unit is transmitted to the management unit information acquisition apparatus. On the other hand, when the determination unit determines that the selected management unit does not exist in the hierarchical structure, the management unit deletion data indicating that the selected management unit has already been deleted is transmitted to the management unit information acquisition apparatus. Information management side transmission means to
Have
The information management side transmission means includes:
The management unit information for requesting the management unit information data indicating the management units for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure, transmitted from the management unit information acquisition apparatus in response to the transmission of the management unit erasure data When the request data is received by the information management side receiving means, the management unit information data indicating the management units for all the hierarchies of the hierarchical structure is changed to the management unit information according to the management unit information request data. Send to acquisition device
With content management device
Content management system.

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