JP4883531B2 - Resume information management by mobile remote control - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote controller for a playback device that stores resume information of the played content when the content of the playback device is played back or stopped.

Conventionally, in a playback device such as a hard disk recorder or a DVD recorder, resume information indicating the position where playback of the previous content was stopped is stored, and when the same content is played back, the position where playback was previously stopped according to this resume information. Can be played from. For example, in Patent Document 1, by storing resume information for each user, even if a plurality of users view the same content using the same playback device, playback is performed from an appropriate playback position for each user. There has been disclosed a data management device that makes it possible.
JP 2006-185468 A

  However, since the data management device described in Patent Document 1 manages resume information of a plurality of users on the playback device side, it is necessary to perform authentication processing for users who use the playback device. In addition, a processing mechanism for managing resume information is added to a conventional reproducing apparatus, and a cost for securing a storage area for storing resume information is required. Further, when the same content is played back by different playback devices, it cannot be played back from the position where playback was previously stopped.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following first to seventh inventions.

  That is, the first invention is a remote control device for a playback device having a remote control information acquisition unit, a resume information management unit that manages resume information, an information transmission / reception unit, and a control unit that controls each unit.

  A second invention relates to the first invention, wherein the control unit receives resume information returned from the playback apparatus in response to transmission of a playback stop command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit, and receives a resume information management unit The playback device remote control device further comprises first control means for managing the received resume information.

  A third invention relates to the first or second invention, wherein the control unit stores the resume information held in the resume information management unit in association with transmission of the reproduction command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit. This is a remote control device for a playback device having second control means for transmitting from the transceiver to the playback device.

  A fourth invention according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the control unit receives the resume at the information transmitting / receiving unit in association with the transmission of the reproduction command acquired by the remote control information acquiring unit. It is a playback device remote control device having third control means for managing information by the resume information management unit.

  A fifth invention according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein the control unit receives resume information from another playback device remote control device and manages it by the resume information management unit. A remote control device for a playback device having a control means.

  A sixth invention according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, comprising: a playback unit; and a resume information acquisition unit that acquires resume information in response to playback and playback stoppage in the playback unit. The control unit is a remote control device for a playback device having fifth control means for managing the resume information acquired by the resume information acquisition unit by the resume information management unit.

  A seventh invention is a mobile phone having the playback device remote control device according to any one of the first to sixth inventions.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to the present invention. The playback device remote control device (0101) has a function of transmitting a playback command for playing back content and a playback stop command (0104) for stopping content being played back to the playback device (0102). When a playback command is transmitted from the remote control device for the playback device (0101) to the playback device (0102), the content is played back by the playback device (0102). The user transmits a playback stop command while viewing the content, Assume that content playback is stopped. Then, the playback device (0102) transmits the playback content ID and information indicating the playback stop position (stop position information) in the content to the playback device remote control device (0101) as resume information (0105). . In addition, the playback device remote control device (0101) holds its own resume information (0103), and updates the resume information (0103) held by the resume information (0105) received from the playback device.

  In the present invention, since the resume information is held on the playback device remote control device side, it is not necessary to manage the resume information for each user in the playback device, and the conventional playback device can be used as it is. In addition, since mobile terminals such as mobile phones in recent years have communication functions such as infrared rays and Bluetooth (registered trademark), it is possible to use a conventional mobile terminal as a remote control device for a playback device. In this case, it is possible to transmit / receive resume information to / from the playback apparatus using these existing communication functions.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention. The first embodiment will mainly describe claims 1 and 5 . The second embodiment will mainly describe claim 3 and the like. The third embodiment will mainly describe claim 4 and the like. The fourth embodiment will mainly describe claim 5 and the like. The fifth embodiment will mainly describe claim 1 and the like. The sixth embodiment will mainly describe claim 6 and the like. The seventh embodiment will mainly describe claim 7 and the like.
(Embodiment 1)

  (Embodiment 1: Overview) This embodiment relates to a remote control device for a playback device having a remote control information acquisition unit, a resume information management unit that manages resume information, an information transmission / reception unit, and a control unit that controls each unit. explain.

  (Embodiment 1: Configuration) FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of a playback apparatus remote control apparatus according to this embodiment. The playback device remote control device (0200) includes a “remote control information acquisition unit” (0201), a “resume information management unit” (0202), an “information transmission / reception unit” (0203), and a “control unit” (0204). Have.

  Note that each unit, which is a component of the present invention described in detail below, is configured by either hardware, software, or both hardware and software. For example, as an example for realizing these, when a computer is used, there are hardware constituted by a CPU, a bus, a memory, an interface, a peripheral device, and the like, and software that can be executed on the hardware. As software, the functions of each unit are realized by sequentially executing a program developed on the memory, and processing, storing, and outputting data on the memory and data input via the interface. (The same applies throughout the entire specification.) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a more specific hardware configuration of the remote control device for a playback device. The hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a main control unit, a communication unit, a communication control unit, a display unit, a display processing unit, a voice output unit, a voice input unit, a voice processing unit, an operation unit, a program memory, a general-purpose memory, and Ir. It comprises an (infrared) transmitter, an Ir receiver, and a Bluetooth transmitter / receiver. The main control unit includes a remote control signal processing unit, a resume information processing unit, and a title comparison unit. The program memory holds software called a remote control application, and the general-purpose memory holds resume information. Most of these hardware resources and software resources can use hardware resources provided in a conventional mobile phone or the like.

  The “remote control information acquisition unit” (0201) has a function of acquiring remote control information. The “remote control information” is information acquired by an operation signal when the playback device remote control device is operated, and specifically corresponds to, for example, a playback command or a playback stop command for the playback device. That is, the remote control information acquisition unit generates a remote control code corresponding to a playback command, a playback stop command, or the like corresponding to the operation signal triggered by the user pressing a button or the like of the playback device remote control device, and Ir. It is transmitted by a transmission unit or the like (information transmission / reception unit (0203)). In FIG. 3, the operation unit (0301), the remote control signal processing unit (0302), the remote control application (0303), and the like correspond to the remote control information acquisition unit.

  The “resume information management unit” (0202) has a function of managing resume information. “Manage” includes holding resume information and executing processing such as update, deletion, and addition as necessary. “Resume information” is information in which content identification information for identifying content is associated with stop position information in the content identified by the content identification information. However, when the content whose resume information is to be managed is only the content currently recorded on the DVD medium currently inserted in the playback device, for example, the content identification information is unnecessary, and only the stop position information is stored. It may be. Here, the content identification information corresponds to, for example, a content ID. Further, since the content only needs to be uniquely identifiable information, for example, the content name or the like may be used, or information that combines the content name and the recording date and time may be used. The stop position information is information indicating a stop position in the content when the user stopped playing the content last time. Specifically, it is information such as a relative position (reproduction elapsed time, relative address) and an absolute position (recording time and absolute address at the stop position) from the head position of the content. Furthermore, if the content is composed of a plurality of chapters or the like, the stop position information may be represented by a combination of a chapter number and a relative position from the start position of the chapter. Note that “content” in the present specification includes video, audio, music, and the like, and further includes text information, application programs, or information expressed in a composite form thereof. Specifically, for example, television program information such as television programs and EPG, data broadcasting, moving image content and still image content distributed over a network, and the like are applicable.

  FIG. 4 is an example of resume information held in the playback device remote control device. In FIG. 4, information mainly required as resume information is “content ID” and “stop position information”. The “chapter” indicates the chapter number at the position where the playback is stopped if the content has a plurality of chapters, and “1” is set for a chapter composed of one chapter or a chapter that does not have the concept of a chapter. . As a resume information management method, for example, when the user stops playing the content being played back on the playback device, the resume information as shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted from the playback device to the playback device remote control device. The When receiving the resume information, the playback device remote control device determines whether or not the content ID “movie001” is held in the information of FIG. If it is already held, the stop position information of the content ID: “movie001” is changed to “0:45:17”, and if not held, the information is added to the information of FIG. When the user replays the content, the stop position information of the content is read from the information shown in FIG. 4 and transmitted together with the playback command to the playback device, so that the playback device can display the position indicated by the stop position information. The content can be played from. As a result, the user can view the continuation of the content from where the previous playback was stopped. In order to acquire the resume information of the content whose playback has been stopped from the playback device, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is acquired by transmitting a command requesting resume information independently of the playback stop command. It may be. That is, a request for resume information (content ID and stop position information) is transmitted to the playback device (0701) triggered by the resume information request button being pressed in the playback device remote control device (0701), and the playback device. Then, in response to receiving this request, resume information is transmitted to the remote control device for playback device (0703). Based on the received resume information, the playback device remote control device updates the resume information held by itself (0704). When the playback device remote control device is used by a plurality of users, information as shown in FIG. 4 may be held for each user.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of information temporarily stored in the playback apparatus. In order to keep the resume information up-to-date with the playback device remote control device, it is necessary to transmit / receive the resume information between the playback device and the playback device remote control device in response to content playback / playback stop (details Described in other embodiments). Further, when the playback device is operated with a remote controller that cannot transmit and receive resume information, the playback content may be played back using the information illustrated in FIG. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the content of information held in the playback device is similar to the content of resume information held in the playback device remote control device. Also in the information of FIG. 5, necessary information is “content ID” and “stop position information”. Resume information may be held for each remote control device for playback device (or for each user).

  That is, the resume information management unit holds information as shown in FIG. 4 as a database in a storage area such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and generates an SQL query for updating, deleting, adding, etc., as necessary. To manage resume information. In FIG. 3, the general-purpose memory (0304), the title comparison unit (0305), the resume information processing unit (0306), and the like correspond to the resume information management unit.

  The “information transmitting / receiving unit” (0203) has a function of transmitting and receiving information. “Information” refers to communicable data, but mainly corresponds to remote control information and resume information. That is, the information transmitting / receiving unit transmits a playback command, a playback stop command, and other operation commands to the playback device, and transmits and receives resume information. There may be various communication methods for transmitting and receiving information. For example, wireless communication or wired communication may be used. In the case of wireless communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth communication, or the like is assumed. Note that since many recent cellular phones are equipped with these wireless communication functions, these existing communication means may be used. Further, referring to FIG. 3, the Ir transmission unit (0307), the Ir reception unit (0308), the Bluetooth transmission / reception unit (0309), and the like correspond to the information transmission / reception unit.

  The “control unit” (0204) has a function of controlling each unit. “Each part” refers to a component in each invention, and refers to both a part and a means. Moreover, it plays the role which controls not only the structural requirements (remote control information acquisition part, resume information management part, information transmission / reception part) demonstrated in this embodiment but the other structural requirements mentioned later.

  Further, the playback device remote control device according to the present invention is not limited to a specific playback device. In other words, for example, after the content is reproduced halfway on the home DVD playback device and the resume information is held, the same content is played from the stop position indicated by the stop position information of the resume information on the DVD playback device in the private car. It is possible to do so.

  (Embodiment 1: playback device)

  Here, a playback apparatus that transmits / receives resume information to / from the playback apparatus remote control apparatus of the present invention will be described. The basic role of the playback device is to transmit resume information to the playback device remote control device in response to reception of a playback stop command from the playback device remote control device. Further, when the resume information request is received from the playback device remote control device, the resume information is transmitted to the playback device remote control device, or the playback command and the resume information are received from the playback device remote control device. Has a function of reproducing content from the stop position indicated by the stop position information included in the. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a playback device. The playback device (2900) shown in FIG. 29 includes a second information transmission / reception unit (2901) and a second resume information acquisition unit (2902). The second information transmitting / receiving unit (2901) transmits and receives remote control information and resume information. There can be various communication methods for transmitting and receiving these pieces of information. For example, wireless communication or wired communication may be used. In the case of wireless communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth communication, or the like is assumed. Furthermore, when transmitting / receiving information to / from the playback device remote control device, communication with the playback device remote control device may be performed directly, or communication may be performed indirectly via another device or the like. The second resume information acquisition unit (2902) has a function of acquiring resume information internally. For example, when a playback stop command is received from the second information transmission / reception unit (2901), the playback of the content being played back is stopped, and the stop position information and content ID at that time are acquired to transmit / receive the second information Resume information (content ID, etc. and stop position information) can be transmitted from the unit (2901) to the playback device remote control device. Further, the “resume information” acquired by the second resume information acquisition unit (2902) may be all or part of the resume information. This is because, for example, when the content ID of the content being played back is already known in the playback device remote control device, only stop position information needs to be acquired and transmitted.

  FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a content playback system including a playback device remote control device and a playback device. The content playback system (3000) includes a playback device remote control device (0200) and a playback device (2900). The configuration of the playback device remote control device (0200) is the same as the configuration described in FIG. 2, and the configuration of the playback device (2900) is the same as the configuration described in FIG. Further, the remote controller for the playback device that constitutes the content playback system (3000) may be a remote controller for a playback device that will be described later in another embodiment. Such a mobile phone may be used.

  (Embodiment 1: Processing on Hardware) FIG. 8 shows a specific example of processing on hardware of the remote control device for playback device according to this embodiment. Here, the operation when executing the processing illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described as an example. First, resume information (0803) illustrated in FIG. 4 is held in a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Also, a resume information request (0801) is acquired through a user interface such as an operation button by a user operation, and is transmitted to the playback device via a communication interface such as an infrared communication module. Resume information (0802) is acquired via the communication interface in response to the resume information request, and the already held resume information (0803) is updated in accordance with the acquired resume information (0802). The

  Note that the processing on the hardware described with reference to FIG. 8 is merely an overview of the processing. (The same applies throughout the specification.)

(Embodiment 1: Effect) According to the remote control device for a playback apparatus according to this embodiment, it is possible to manage resume information by itself, so there is no need to manage resume information for each user on the playback apparatus side. The conventional playback device can be used as it is.
(Embodiment 2)

  (Embodiment 2: Overview) In this embodiment, the control unit receives resume information returned from the playback device in response to transmission of a playback stop command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit, and sends it to the resume information management unit. A description will be given of a playback device remote control device that further includes first control means for managing received resume information.

  (Embodiment 2: Configuration) FIG. 9 illustrates a functional block diagram of a playback apparatus remote control apparatus according to this embodiment. The playback device remote control device (0900) includes a “remote control information acquisition unit” (0201), a “resume information management unit” (0202), an “information transmission / reception unit” (0203), and a “control unit” (0204). Have. The control unit (0204) includes a “first control unit” (0901). Since the configuration other than the “first control means” (0901) is as described above, the description thereof is omitted here. In the functional block diagrams in this specification, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The “first control means” (0901) receives the resume information returned from the playback device in response to the transmission of the playback stop command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit, and receives the resume information received by the resume information management unit. Has a function to manage. “Transmission of playback stop command” means that the playback stop command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit is transmitted to the playback device by the information transmitting / receiving unit (0203). When the playback stop command is transmitted to the playback device, it may be transmitted directly to the playback device, or may be transferred to the playback device via another device or the like. “Receiving resume information” means receiving resume information via the information transmitting / receiving unit (0203). That is, when the user operates a content playback stop button or the like, the remote control information acquisition unit acquires a playback stop command, and the information transmission / reception unit transmits the playback stop command to the playback device. In response to this, the playback device remote control device receives resume information returned from the playback device via the information transmission / reception unit. Based on the received resume information, the resume information managed by the resume information management unit (0202) is updated. That is, for example, when the content identification information included in the received resume information is already included in the resume information held in the resume information management unit (0202), the stop position of the content indicated by the content identification information The information is updated, and if it is not included, additional processing is executed.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the operation of the playback device remote control device. First, content is played back on the playback device (1001). If the playback stop button is pressed on the playback device remote control device (1002), a playback stop command is transmitted to the playback device (1003). In response to the received playback stop command, the playback device stops playback of the content (1004), and transmits resume information (content ID and stop position information) to the playback device remote control device (1005). If the content ID being played back is already known in the playback device remote control device, only the stop position information may be sent. For example, when a content is reproduced by transmitting a reproduction command from the reproduction device remote control device, it is already known which content is reproduced when the content to be reproduced is designated. When receiving the resume information, the playback device remote control device compares the information with the managed resume information, and performs update or addition processing as necessary (1006). Note that the operation of the playback device remote control device shown in FIG. 10 is an example, and other operations are possible.

  (Embodiment 2: Processing on Hardware) FIG. 11 shows a specific example of processing on hardware of the remote control device for a playback device according to this embodiment. Here, the operation when executing the processing illustrated in FIG. 10 will be described as an example. First, resume information (1103) as illustrated in FIG. 4 is held in a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Also, a playback stop command (1101) is acquired by a user operation through a user interface such as an operation button and transmitted to the playback device through a communication interface such as an infrared communication module. Resume information (1102) is acquired via the communication interface in response to the playback stop command, and updating of already held resume information (1103) is executed in accordance with the acquired resume information (1102). The

  (Embodiment 2: Process Flow) FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart showing a process flow in the remote controller for a playback apparatus according to this embodiment.

  First, a playback stop command is acquired (S1201). The acquired reproduction stop command is transmitted (S1202). Next, it is determined whether resume information has been received (S1203). If not received, step S1203 is repeated. If it is received, the resume information is updated (S1204).

  Note that the flowchart of FIG. 12 can also be regarded as a processing flowchart of a program executed by a computer. Further, such a program can be recorded on a medium such as a flexible disk. (The same applies throughout the specification.)

(Embodiment 2: Effect) According to the playback apparatus remote control device according to this embodiment, when the user stops the playback of the content, the held resume information is updated to the latest state.
(Embodiment 3)

  (Embodiment 3: Overview) In this embodiment, the control unit reproduces the resume information held in the resume information management unit in association with the transmission of the reproduction command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit from the information transmitting / receiving unit. A playback device remote control device having second control means for transmitting to the device will be described.

  (Embodiment 3: Configuration) FIG. 13 illustrates a functional block diagram of a playback apparatus remote control apparatus according to this embodiment. The playback device remote control device (1300) includes a “remote control information acquisition unit” (0201), a “resume information management unit” (0202), an “information transmission / reception unit” (0203), and a “control unit” (0204). Have. The control unit (0204) includes “second control means” (1301). Further, the control unit (0204) may have first control means. Since the configuration other than the “second control means” (1301) is as described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  The “second control means” (1301) is a function for transmitting the resume information held in the resume information management unit in association with transmission of the playback command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit from the information transmitting / receiving unit to the playback device. Have That is, by having such a function in the remote controller for the playback device, the playback device receives the resume information in association with the playback command, and plays back the content from the position indicated by the stop position information included in the received resume information. Can be executed. “Associating with transmission of playback command (transmitting resume information)” means that the playback command to be transmitted and the resume information are associated with each other, and the playback command and the resume information may be transmitted simultaneously or separately. May be. 14 and 15 show an example of the operation of the playback device remote control device. FIG. 14 shows an example when the playback command and the resume information are simultaneously transmitted to the playback device, and FIG. 15 shows an example when the playback command and the resume information are separately transmitted to the playback device.

  Hereinafter, FIG. 14 will be described. First, it is assumed that the content is stopped in the playback device. If the content to be played back is selected and the play button is pressed on the playback device remote control device (1401), resume information (content ID and stop position information) is transmitted to the playback device together with the play command. (1402). In the playback apparatus, by collating the received content ID (1403), the content to be played is extracted from the plurality of contents held by itself, and the position indicated by the stop position information included in the received resume information The content is reproduced from (1404).

  Next, FIG. 15 will be described. Also in FIG. 15, it is assumed that the content is being stopped in the playback device. If the playback button is pressed on the playback device remote control device (1501), only the playback command is transmitted to the playback device (1502). The playback device transmits the content ID (playback content ID) to be played back to the playback device remote control device (1503). The playback device remote control device collates with the resume information holding the received playback content ID (1504), and if the playback content ID is included in the resume information, transmits the stop position information (1505). If not included, for example, stop position information indicating the start position of the content, or information indicating that stop position information does not exist may be transmitted instead of the stop position information. The playback apparatus plays back the content from the position indicated by the received stop position information (1506). Note that the operation of the playback device remote control device shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is an example, and other operations are possible.

  (Third Embodiment: Processing on Hardware) FIG. 16 shows a specific example of processing on hardware of the remote control device for a playback device according to the present embodiment. Here, the operation when executing the processing illustrated in FIG. 15 will be described as an example. First, resume information (1603) illustrated in FIG. 4 is held in a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Also, a playback command (1601) is acquired through a user interface such as an operation button by a user operation, and is transmitted to the playback device via a communication interface such as an infrared communication module. In response to this playback command, the playback content ID (1602) is acquired via the communication interface, and it is searched whether the acquired content ID (1602) exists in the resume information (1603). If present, stop position information (1604) of the content is extracted and output to the playback device via the communication interface.

  (Third Embodiment: Process Flow) FIG. 17 exemplifies a flowchart showing a process flow in the remote controller for a playback apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  First, selection of content to be played back is accepted (S1701). Next, a reproduction command is acquired (S1702). The acquired reproduction command is transmitted (S1703). Next, resume information is transmitted in association with the reproduction command (S1704). However, the playback command and the resume information may be transmitted simultaneously.

(Embodiment 3: Effect) According to the remote control device for a playback apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to play back content from the stop position indicated by the stop position information when the playback apparatus plays back content. Therefore, the user can reproduce the content from the last viewed.
(Embodiment 4)

  (Embodiment 4: Overview) In this embodiment, the control unit causes the resume information management unit to manage the resume information received by the information transmission / reception unit in association with the transmission of the reproduction command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit. A playback device remote control device having three control means will be described.

  (Embodiment 4: Configuration) FIG. 18 illustrates a functional block diagram of a playback device remote control device according to this embodiment. The playback device remote control device (1800) includes a “remote control information acquisition unit” (0201), a “resume information management unit” (0202), an “information transmission / reception unit” (0203), and a “control unit” (0204). Have. The control unit (0204) includes “third control means” (1801). Further, the control unit (0204) may have first control means. Further, the control unit (0204) may have second control means. Since the configuration other than the “third control unit” (1801) is as described above, a description thereof is omitted here.

  The “third control means” (1801) has a function of causing the resume information management unit to manage the resume information received by the information transmitting / receiving unit in association with the transmission of the reproduction command acquired by the remote control information acquiring unit. “Associating with transmission of playback command (managing resume information to be received)” means that a playback stop command may not be transmitted after transmitting only a playback command from the playback device remote control device. Even in this case, it means that resume information about the content for which the playback command has been transmitted can be received. For example, when a plurality of users are viewing content, Mr. A performs a reproduction operation with his / her own remote control device for the playback device, but then Mr. B performs a playback stop operation with his own remote control device for the playback device. And so on. In addition, the playback operation is performed with the remote controller for the playback device, but the playback of content may be stopped by pressing a stop button provided in the playback device. Even in such a case, the remote control device for playback device can receive resume information about the played content and update the resume information held by itself. Further, the resume information may be received by broadcasting in addition to being transmitted by one-to-one communication from the playback device.

  FIG. 19 shows an example of the operation of the playback device remote control device. In FIG. 19, it is assumed that a plurality of users are viewing content, and there are a playback device remote control device A and a playback device remote control device B. Also, it is assumed that the content is being stopped in the playback device. If the playback button is pressed on the playback device remote control device A (1901), a playback command is transmitted to the playback device (1902). Alternatively, the resume information may be transmitted together with the reproduction command. At this time, the remote control device A for playback device also transmits a device ID for identifying itself. Here, the device ID corresponds to, for example, a telephone number of a mobile phone having a playback device remote control device. The playback device holds the received device ID and plays back the content according to the received playback command (1903). When the playback stop button is pressed on the playback device remote control device B (1904), a playback stop command is transmitted to the playback device (1905). In the playback device, the playback of the content is stopped in response to the received playback stop command (1906), and the resume information (content ID and stop position information) of the content being played back is identified by the held device ID. Is transmitted to the playback device remote control device A (1907). The resume information may also be transmitted to the playback device remote control device B (1908). The playback device remote control device A updates the held resume information in accordance with the received resume information (1909). Further, the resume information may be transmitted from the playback device to the playback device remote control device B, and further transmitted from the playback device remote control device B to the playback device remote control device A. The resume information may be broadcast from the playback device to all playback device remote control devices, or may be broadcast from the playback device remote control device B to other playback device remote control devices. Note that the operation of the playback device remote control device shown in FIG. 19 is merely an example, and other operations are possible.

  (Embodiment 4: Processing on Hardware) FIG. 20 shows a specific example of processing on hardware of the remote control device for a playback device according to this embodiment. First, resume information (2003) illustrated in FIG. 4 is held in a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Also, a playback command (2001) is acquired through a user interface such as an operation button by a user operation, and is transmitted to the playback device via a communication interface such as an infrared communication module. Resume information (2002) related to the reproduction command is acquired through the communication interface, and the already-stored resume information (2003) is updated by the acquired resume information (2002).

  (Embodiment 4: Process Flow) FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart showing a process flow in the remote controller for a playback apparatus according to this embodiment.

  First, a reproduction command is acquired (S2101). The acquired reproduction command is transmitted (S2102). Next, it is determined whether resume information has been received (S2103). If not received, step S2103 is repeated. If received, the resume information is updated (S2104).

(Embodiment 4: Effect) According to the remote controller for a playback device according to this embodiment, even when only the playback command is transmitted, if the playback of the played content is stopped for some reason, the stop position Information can be acquired and the resume information held by itself can be kept up-to-date.
(Embodiment 5)

  (Embodiment 5: Overview) In this embodiment, a control unit receives a resume information from another playback device remote control device, and has a fourth control unit that is managed by the resume information management unit. explain.

  (Embodiment 5: Configuration) FIG. 22 illustrates a functional block diagram of a playback apparatus remote control apparatus according to this embodiment. The playback device remote control device (2200) includes a “remote control information acquisition unit” (0201), a “resume information management unit” (0202), an “information transmission / reception unit” (0203), and a “control unit” (0204). Have. The control unit (0204) includes a “fourth control unit” (2201). Further, the control unit (0204) may have first control means. Further, the control unit (0204) may have second control means. Further, the control unit (0204) may have third control means. Since the configuration other than the “fourth control means” (2201) is as described above, a description thereof is omitted here.

  The “fourth control means” (2201) has a function of receiving resume information from another playback device remote control device and managing it by the resume information management unit. That is, even if the resume information is not directly received from the playback device, the resume information held by receiving the resume information from another playback device remote control device can be held in the latest state. For example, this is effective when a plurality of users are viewing the same content and the remote control device for the playback device does not perform a playback operation or a playback stop operation, or is in a state where communication with the playback device is not possible. “Receiving resume information from another playback device remote control device” may be the resume information itself received by the other playback device remote control device from the playback device, or processing the received resume information, etc. It may be what you did. Further, it may be a part of the resume information. For example, if the content ID of the content being played is already known, it is not necessary to receive the content ID, so only the stop position information may be received. In addition, the resume information may be received by broadcasting the resume information from another playback device remote control device, instead of the one-to-one communication.

  FIG. 23 shows an example of the operation of the remote control device for playback device. In FIG. 23, it is assumed that a plurality of users are viewing content, and there are a playback device remote control device A and a playback device remote control device B. First, it is assumed that the content is stopped in the playback device. If the playback button is pressed on the playback device remote control device A (2301), a playback command is transmitted to the playback device (2302). Alternatively, the resume information may be transmitted together with the reproduction command. Further, the playback device plays back the content in accordance with the received playback command (2303). When the playback stop button is pressed on the playback device remote control device B (2304), a playback stop command is transmitted to the playback device (2305). In the playback device, the playback of the content is stopped in response to the received playback stop command (2306), and the resume information (content ID and stop position information) of the content being played back is used for the playback device that has transmitted the playback stop command. Transmit to remote control device B (2307). The playback device remote control device B transmits the resume information (content ID and stop position information) received from the playback device to the playback device remote control device A (2308). The playback device remote control device A updates the held resume information according to the received resume information (content ID and stop position information) (2309). The resume information (content ID and stop position information) may be received by the playback device remote control device A by being broadcast from the playback device remote control device B. Note that the operation of the playback device remote control device shown in FIG. 23 is an example, and other operations are possible.

  (Embodiment 5: Process Flow) FIG. 24 exemplifies a flowchart showing a process flow in the remote controller for a playback apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  First, it is determined whether resume information has been received (S2401). If not received, step S2401 is repeated. If it is received, the resume information is updated (S2402).

(Embodiment 5: Effect) According to the remote controller for a playback device according to the present embodiment, even when the resume information cannot be directly received from the playback device, the resume information is acquired from the other remote controller for the playback device, The resume information held by itself can be kept up-to-date.
(Embodiment 6)

  (Embodiment 6: Overview) This embodiment includes a playback unit and a resume information acquisition unit that acquires resume information in accordance with playback / playback stop at the playback unit, and the control unit includes a resume information acquisition unit The playback device remote control device having the fifth control means for managing the resume information acquired in the above in the resume information management unit will be described.

  (Embodiment 6: Configuration) FIG. 25 illustrates a functional block diagram of a playback apparatus remote control apparatus according to this embodiment. The playback device remote control device (2500) includes a “remote control information acquisition unit” (0201), a “resume information management unit” (0202), an “information transmission / reception unit” (0203), and a “control unit” (0204). , “Reproduction unit” (2501) and “Resume information acquisition unit” (2502). The control unit (0204) includes a “fifth control unit” (2503). Further, the control unit (0204) may have first control means. Further, the control unit (0204) may have second control means. Further, the control unit (0204) may have third control means. Further, the control unit (0204) may have fourth control means. Since the configuration other than the “reproducing unit” (2501), the “resume information acquiring unit” (2502), and the “fifth control unit” (2503) is as described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  The “playback unit” (2501) has a function of playing back content. Specifically, “playing” corresponds to displaying video on a display or outputting sound from a speaker. That is, the remote control device for a playback device according to the present embodiment includes a display, and content can be played back on the display.

  The “resume information acquisition unit” (2502) has a function of acquiring resume information according to reproduction / reproduction stop in the reproduction unit. “Acquisition of resume information in response to playback / playback stop in playback unit” means that when playback of content played back in the playback unit is stopped, the stop position is acquired as resume information. To do. Further, the “resume information” to be acquired may be all or part of the resume information. This is because the content ID or the like of the content being played back by the playback unit is usually known by itself, and in that case, only stop position information may be acquired.

  The “fifth control means” (2503) has a function of managing the resume information acquired by the resume information acquisition unit using the resume information management unit. That is, by having such a function, for example, when the same content can be viewed on both the playback device remote control device and the playback device, the playback device continues to view the content played back on the playback device remote control device. Etc. are possible.

  (Embodiment 6: Processing on Hardware) FIG. 26 shows a specific example of processing on hardware of a remote control device for a playback device according to this embodiment. First, resume information (2604) as illustrated in FIG. 4 is held in a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Further, the same content (2602) as the content recorded on the playback device is played on the display. Here, when a playback stop command (2601) is acquired through a user interface such as an operation button by the user's operation and playback of the content being played back on the display is stopped, the resume information (2603) at this time is stored in the main memory. Stored in Based on the resume information (2603), updating of the resume information (2604) held in the storage device is executed.

  (Sixth Embodiment: Process Flow) FIG. 27 exemplifies a flow chart showing a process flow in the remote control device for playback apparatus according to this embodiment.

  First, the content is reproduced (S2701). Next, playback of the content is stopped (S2702). Next, resume information is acquired (S2703). Next, the resume information is updated (S2704).

(Embodiment 6: Effect) According to the remote control device for a playback device according to this embodiment, it is possible to acquire and manage resume information regarding the content played back by itself. It is possible to view the continuation with a playback device.
(Embodiment 7)

  (Embodiment 7: Overview) In this embodiment, a mobile phone having the above-described remote controller for a playback device will be described.

  (Embodiment 7: Configuration) FIG. 28 illustrates a functional block diagram of a mobile phone according to this embodiment. The mobile phone (2800) includes a playback device remote control device (0200). The configuration of the playback device remote control device shown in FIG. 28 is the configuration of the playback device remote control device described in FIG. 2, but may be a playback device remote control device having another configuration.

  Recent mobile phones have not only a telephone function, but also a sufficient storage device and processing capability, and many of them also have a data transmission / reception function for infrared communication and Bluetooth communication as standard. Some also have a remote control function using these functions. Therefore, if such hardware resources and software resources of an existing mobile phone are used, a remote control device for a playback device can be realized at low cost.

  (Embodiment 7: Effect) According to the mobile phone according to the present embodiment, the functions of the playback device remote control device as described above can be realized by using existing hardware resources and software resources.

Conceptual diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to the present invention Functional block diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to Embodiment 1 Example of hardware configuration of remote control device for playback device An example of resume information held in the playback device remote control device An example of information temporarily stored in the playback device An example of resume information Example of operation of remote control device for playback device Example of processing operation on hardware of remote controller for playback device Functional block diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to the second embodiment Example of operation of remote control device for playback device Example of processing operation on hardware of remote controller for playback device FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the remote control device for a playback device according to the second embodiment. Functional block diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to Embodiment 3 Example of operation of remote control device for playback device Example of operation of remote control device for playback device Example of processing operation on hardware of remote controller for playback device FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the remote control device for a playback device according to the third embodiment. Functional block diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to Embodiment 4 Example of operation of remote control device for playback device Example of processing operation on hardware of remote controller for playback device FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the remote control device for a playback device according to the fourth embodiment. Functional block diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to Embodiment 5 Example of operation of remote control device for playback device FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a playback device remote control device according to the fifth embodiment. Functional block diagram of a remote control device for a playback device according to Embodiment 5 Example of processing operation on hardware of remote controller for playback device FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a playback device remote control device according to the sixth embodiment. Functional block diagram of mobile phone according to Embodiment 6 Functional block diagram of playback device Functional block diagram of content playback system

Explanation of symbols

0101 Playback device remote control device 0102 Playback device 0103 Resume information 0104 Playback command / playback stop command 0105 Resume information 0201 Remote control information acquisition unit 0202 Resume information management unit 0203 Information transmission / reception unit 0204 Control unit 0301 Operation unit 0302 Remote control signal processing unit 0303 Remote control application 0304 General-purpose memory 0305 Title comparison unit 0306 Resume information processing unit 0307 Ir transmission unit 0308 Ir reception unit 0309 Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 0901 First control unit 1301 Second control unit 1801 Third control unit 2201 Fourth control unit 2501 Reproduction unit 2502 Resume information Acquisition unit 2503 fifth control means

Claims (8)

A remote control information acquisition unit;
A resume information management unit for managing resume information;
An information transmitting and receiving unit;
A control unit for controlling each unit;
I have a,
The control unit is a remote control device for playback device having fourth control means for receiving resume information from another remote control device for playback device and managing the resume information by the resume information management unit. The remote controller for a playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fourth control means receives resume information broadcast from another remote controller for a playback apparatus, and causes the resume information management unit to manage the resume information. The control unit receives a resume information returned from the playback device in response to the transmission of the playback stop command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit, and has a first control means for managing the received resume information in the resume information management unit. The remote control device for a playback device according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising: The control unit has second control means for causing the information transmission / reception unit to transmit the resume information held in the resume information management unit in association with transmission of the reproduction command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit from the information transmission / reception unit. The remote control device for a playback device according to any one of 1 to 3 . Control unit, one of claims 1 having a third control means for managing the resume information received by the information transmitting and receiving unit in association with the transmission of the reproduction command acquired by the remote control information acquisition unit to the resume information management unit 4 of the A remote control device for a playback device according to claim 1. A playback unit;
A resume information acquisition unit for acquiring resume information according to playback / playback stop in the playback unit;
Have
The remote control device for a playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit includes fifth control means for managing the resume information acquired by the resume information acquisition unit by the resume information management unit.   A mobile phone comprising the remote control device for a playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. An operation method of a remote control device for a playback device that holds resume information and communicates with the playback device,
An acquisition step of acquiring a playback stop command in the remote control information acquisition unit;
A transmission step for transmitting the acquired playback stop command;
A receiving step for receiving resume information returned from the playback device in response to transmission of the playback stop command;
An update step for updating the resume information held by the received resume information;
Communicating with other playback device remote control devices, and resume information returned from the playback device to the other playback device remote control device in response to the transmission of the playback stop command from the other playback device remote control device. Other remote control reception step for receiving from the device remote control device;
A method of operating a remote control device for a playback device having

Images