U.S. patent application number 11/475867 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for content reproducing apparatus for reproducing content that is stream data divided into a plurality of reply segments, and content transmitting/receiving system.
Invention is credited to Yoshiaki Iwata, Toshihiko Munetsugu, Kazuhiro Nishitani, Kentaro Tanikawa.
Application Number | 20060251387 11/475867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29715917 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060251387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanikawa; Kentaro ; et
al. |
November 9, 2006 |
Content reproducing apparatus for reproducing content that is
stream data divided into a plurality of reply segments, and content
transmitting/receiving system
Abstract
A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention is such that the content reproducing apparatus judges
whether or not reproducing data of a replay segment pointed out by
the skip instruction is skippable when a skip instruction from a
user is accepted while a content is being reproduced. When a result
of judgment is negative to the skip instruction, an alternative
data is reproduced in place of data of the replay segment hat has
been instructed to be skipped. When the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed, so that data of the replay segment
successive to the replay segment pointed out by the skip
instruction is executed.
Inventors: |
Tanikawa; Kentaro; (Kadoma,
JP) ; Munetsugu; Toshihiko; (Katano, JP) ;
Iwata; Yoshiaki; (Moriguchi, JP) ; Nishitani;
Kazuhiro; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
29715917 |
Appl. No.: |
11/475867 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10408229 |
Apr 8, 2003 |
7092615 |
|
|
11475867 |
Jun 28, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
386/344 ;
386/E5.001 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/458 20130101;
H04N 21/8355 20130101; H04N 5/76 20130101; H04N 21/4334 20130101;
H04N 21/4627 20130101; H04N 21/812 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/068 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/91 20060101
H04N005/91 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 5, 2002 |
JP |
2002-164853 |
Jun 5, 2002 |
JP |
2002-164854 |
Jun 5, 2002 |
JP |
2002-164855 |
Claims
1-24. (canceled)
25. A content transmitting/receiving system comprising: a content
receiving/reproducing apparatus; and a content transmitting
apparatus, the content receiving/reproducing apparatus including: a
reproducing unit operable to reproduce a content while sequentially
receiving the content by a packet, the content being stream data
divided into a plurality of replay segments; an accepting unit
operable to accept an instruction from a user while the content is
being reproduced; and a notifying unit operable to, if the
instruction is a skip instruction that instructs skipping
reproduction of data of a first replay segment, notify the content
transmitting apparatus of specifying information to specify the
first replay segment, the first replay segment being one of the
plurality of replay segments in the content, the content
transmitting apparatus including: a transmitting unit operable to
break the content into a plurality of packets and transmit the
content sequentially by the packet; an alternative data storing
unit operable to store a plurality of alternative data which is
reproducible by the content receiving/reproducing apparatus; and a
controlling unit operable to control so that, when notified of the
specifying information, an alternative data is transmitted in place
of data that is being transmitted, and data of a second replay
segment is transmitted when transmitting the alternative data is
completed, the second replay segment being located after the first
replay segment on a reproducing time-line of the content.
26. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 25,
wherein the content transmitting apparatus further comprises: an
additional information storing unit operable to store additional
information indicating whether or not reproducing data of each of
one of the plurality of replay segments in the content is
skippable; and a judging unit operable to judge, when the
specifying information is notified by the notifying unit, whether
or not reproducing data of the first replay segment specified by
the specifying information is skippable by referring to the
additional information, and wherein the control unit controls so
that, only when a judgement result in the judging unit is negative,
the alternative data stored in the alternative data storing unit is
transmitted in place of the data that is being transmitted, and the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the alternative data is completed.
27. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 26,
wherein the additional information further indicates correspondence
between each of the plurality of replay segments that is
unskippable and the alternative data, and the control unit controls
so that, only when the judgement result in the judging unit is
negative, the alternative data which corresponds to the first
replay segment based on the additional information is transmitted
in place of data that is being transmitted, and the data of the
second replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed.
28. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 26,
wherein the additional information further indicates correspondence
between a first alternative data with a second alternative data,
and the control unit controls so that, when the specifying
information notified by the notifying unit indicates the first
alternative data, the second alternative data that corresponds to
the first alternative data by referring to the additional
information is transmitted in place of the data that is being
transmitted.
29. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 25,
wherein the content transmitting apparatus further comprises: a
specifying unit operable to specify a replay segment that contains
time indicated by time information when the time information is
notified by the notifying unit, the time information indicating the
time on the reproducing time-line of the content, and wherein the
specifying information is the time information.
30. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 25,
wherein the content transmitting apparatus further comprises: a
selecting unit operable to select the alternative data stored in
the alternative data storing unit based on a predetermined priority
when specifying information is notified by the notifying unit, and
wherein the control unit controls so that, when the specifying
information is notified by the notifying unit, the alternative data
selected by the selecting unit is transmitted in place of data that
is being transmitted, and the data of the second replay segment is
reproduced when the reproducing of the alternative data is
completed.
31. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 30,
wherein the predetermined priority is based on a reverse order of
date in which the alternative data is stored.
32. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 30,
wherein at least one of the plurality of alternative data stored in
the alternative storing unit is a corresponding alternative data,
the corresponding alternative data having a subject corresponds to
a subject of a main part of the content and being given higher
priority than the alternative data.
33. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 25,
wherein the content receiving/reproducing apparatus further
comprises: a category designation accepting unit operable to accept
a category designation from the user, wherein the alternative data
storing unit stores the alternative data categorized into a
plurality of categories, the notifying unit further notifies the
content transmitting unit of a designated category, and the
controlling unit controls so that, when the designated category and
the specifying information are notified by the notifying unit, the
alternative data of a designated category is transmitted, and the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the alternative data is completed, the second replay
segment being located after the first replay segment on a
reproducing time-line of the content.
34. A content transmitting/receiving system according to claim 25,
wherein the controlling unit controls so that, when specifying
information is notified by the notifying unit, a primary
alternative data set for the first replay segment in advance is
transmitted in place of the data that is being transmitted, and the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the primary alternative data is completed.
35. A content transmitting/receiving system comprising: a content
transmitting apparatus; and a content receiving/reproducing
apparatus, the content transmitting apparatus comprising: a
transmitting unit operable to transmit a content and an alternative
data to the content receiving/reproducing apparatus, the content
being stream data divided into a plurality of replay segments, the
content receiving/reproducing apparatus comprising: a receiving
unit operable to receive the content and the alternative data; an
accepting unit operable to accept an instruction from a user while
the content is being reproduced; and a controlling unit operable to
control so that, if the instruction is a skip instruction that
instructs skipping reproduction of data of a first replay segment,
the alternative data is reproduced in place of the data of the
first replay segment, and data of a second replay segment is
reproduced when the reproducing of the alternative data is
completed, the first replay segment being one of replay segments in
the content, the second replay segment being located after the
first replay segment on a reproducing time-line of the content.
36. A content transmitting/receiving system comprising: a content
transmitting apparatus; and a content receiving/reproducing
apparatus, the content transmitting apparatus comprising: a
transmitting unit operable to transmit a content and attribute
information to the content receiving/reproducing apparatus, the
content being stream data divided into a plurality of replay
segments, the attribute information indicating an attribute of each
of the plurality of replay segments, the content
receiving/reproducing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit
operable to receive the content and the attribute information; a
designation accepting unit operable to accept a designation of one
of the plurality of replay segments; a detecting unit operable to
detect, when the designation of a second replay segment from a user
is accepted by the designation accepting unit while a first replay
segment is being reproduced, whether or not one of the plurality of
replay segments having a certain attribute exists between the first
replay segment and the second replay segment by referring to the
attribute information, the first replay segment being one of the
plurality of replay segments in the content, the second replay
segment being located after the first replay segment; and a
controlling unit operable to control so that, only when at least
one replay segment having the certain attribute exists between the
first replay segment and the second replay segment, data of the
replay segment having the certain attribute is reproduced, and then
data of the second replay segment is reproduced.
37. A content transmitting apparatus comprising: a transmitting
unit operable to transmit a content to a terminal apparatus, the
content being stream data divided into a plurality of replay
segments; an alternative data storing unit operable to store an
alternative data which is reproducible by the terminal apparatus;
an accepting unit operable to accept specifying information to
specify the replay segment notified by the terminal apparatus; and
a controlling unit operable to control so that, when the specifying
information is accepted, the alternative data is transmitted in
place of data that is being transmitted, and data of a second
replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed, the second replay segment being
located after a first replay segment on a reproducing time-line of
the content.
38-39. (canceled)
40. A method for transmitting content comprising: a transmitting
step for transmitting a content to a terminal apparatus, the
content being stream data divided into a plurality of replay
segments; an accepting step for accepting specifying information to
specify the replay segment notified by the terminal apparatus; and
a controlling step for controlling so that, when the specifying
information is accepted, the alternative data is transmitted in
place of data that is being transmitted, and data of a second
replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed, the second replay segment being
located after a first replay segment on a reproducing time-line of
the content.
41-42. (canceled)
43. A computer program for controlling content transmission used in
a content transmitting apparatus having a CPU comprising: a
transmitting step for transmitting a content to a terminal
apparatus, the content being stream data divided into a plurality
of replay segments; an accepting step for accepting specifying
information to specify the replay segment notified by the terminal
apparatus; and a controlling step for controlling so that, when the
specifying information is accepted, the alternative data is
transmitted in place of data that is being transmitted, and data of
a second replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed, the second replay segment being
located after a first replay segment on a reproducing time-line of
the content.
44-45. (canceled)
46. Storage medium in which a computer program for controlling
content transmission used in a content transmitting apparatus
having a CPU is recorded, the computer program comprising: a
transmitting step for transmitting a content to a terminal
apparatus, the content being stream data divided into a plurality
of replay segments; an accepting step for accepting specifying
information to specify the replay segment notified by the terminal
apparatus; and a controlling step for controlling so that, when the
specifying information is accepted, the alternative data is
transmitted in place of data that is being transmitted, and data of
a second replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed, the second replay segment being
located after a first replay segment on a reproducing time-line of
the content.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (1) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a technique of controlling
reproduction of a content which is stream data divided into a
plurality of replay segments, and more specifically, it relates to
the skip function thereof.
[0003] (2) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In recent years, services for distributing users with
multimedia contents (hereinafter referred to as contents) that
include commercial messages (CM) of sponsors of the contents at no
extra charge have been offered. A user can listen and watch a
distributed content using a content reproducing apparatus, such as
a personal computer and a mobile device. The distributed content is
divided into a plurality of replay segments, and each of the
plurality of replay segment includes a part of the content with a
certain degree of cohesiveness, such as each scene from the main
content.
[0005] A content reproducing apparatus is provided with a skip
function as one of functions related to content reproduction. When
the content reproducing apparatus receives a skip instruction from
a user during a content is being reproduced, the content
reproducing apparatus stops reproducing data of a replay segment
that is being reproduced and starts reproducing data of a
succeeding replay segment. Further, when the content reproducing
apparatus receives an instruction from the user that specifies the
replay segment to be reproduced after skipping, the content
reproducing apparatus starts reproducing data of the specified
replay segment. Utilizing the skip function enables a user to
listen and watch the contents effectively in a short period of
time, without reproducing content that the user does not wish to
listen nor watch.
[0006] On the other hand, the skip function can be disadvantageous
for content providers, because it is possible that, by utilizing
the skip function, users listen and watch contents without
reproducing replay segments for CMs of sponsors. If a CM is skipped
without being reproduced too often, it becomes highly probable that
the sponsor considers the advertising effectiveness of the CM is
low and thus stops sponsoring. A method disclosed in Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Application No. H10-164550 provides one solution
to the above problem. H10-164550 teaches a mechanism in which a key
for decoding an encrypted main content is embedded in data of a CM
and the key can be obtained only by reproducing the entire data of
the CM.
[0007] However, the method disclosed in H10-164550 forces a user to
reproduce the CM in order to listen and watch the main content,
even if the user is not interested in the CM included in the
content at all. Users will not be amused by such forced CMs, and
sponsors also try to avoid a sense of discomfort being caused in
the users while listening and watching their CMs as much as
possible.
[0008] Moreover, in a case in which the method taught in H10-164550
is applied to a content distribution service that distributes
dynamically arranged content, a content distributing server
executes an encrypting process to the arranged content. Because the
encrypting process is required to be executed in real time, such a
method increases the load to the content distributing server.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide content
reproducing apparatuses, content transmitting/receiving systems,
and various technologies relating to the same. More specifically,
the present invention provides such apparatuses, systems, and
technologies that can be applied without putting heavy load on
content distributing servers, and that can reproduce the data
intended by content providers while tolerating skipping the data as
much as possible when an instruction from a user to skip
reproducing of data of a certain replay segment such as CMs is
received.
[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a content reproducing
apparatus according to the present invention is a content
reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing unit operable to
reproduce a content, the content being stream data divided into a
plurality of replay segments; an obtaining unit operable to obtain
an alternative data; an accepting unit operable to accept an
instruction from a user while the content is being reproduced; and
a controlling unit operable to control so that, if the instruction
is a skip instruction that instructs skipping reproduction of data
of a first replay segment, the alternative data is reproduced in
place of the data of the first replay segment with or without a
condition, and data of a second replay segment is reproduced when
the reproducing of the alternative data is completed, the first
replay segment being one of the plurality of replay segments in the
content, the second replay segment being located after the first
replay segment on a reproducing time-line of the content.
[0011] By the above apparatus, it is possible to reproduce the data
intended by content providers without fail while tolerating
skipping the data as much as possible when a user instruction to
skip reproducing the data of a certain replay segment such as the
CMs is accepted.
[0012] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus further
comprising: a judging unit operable to judge whether or not
reproduction of the data of the first replay segment is skippable
by referring to additional information, if the instruction from the
user accepted by the accepting unit is the skip instruction, the
additional information indicating if reproduction of data of each
of the plurality of replay segments in the content is skippable,
wherein the obtaining unit obtains the additional information, and
the controlling unit controls so that, only when a judgment result
in the judging unit is negative, the alternative data is reproduced
in place of the data of the first replay segment, and the data of
the second replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed.
[0013] By the above apparatus, it is possible to judge based on
additional information of the content whether reproduction of the
data of the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is
skippable.
[0014] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
obtaining unit obtains a plurality of alternative data, and the
controlling unit controls so that, if the instruction from the user
accepted by the accepting unit is the skip instruction, an entire
part of at least one of the plurality of alternative data is
reproduced in place of the data of the first replay segment, and
the data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the alternative data is completed.
[0015] By the above apparatus, at least of the alternative data is
reproduced. By setting CM data as the alternative data, for
example, it is possible to reproduce the CM data without fail.
[0016] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
controlling unit controls so that, if the instruction from the user
accepted by the accepting unit is the skip instruction, the
alternative data is reproduced in place of the data of the first
replay segment for a period of time that the data of the first
replay segment is not yet reproduced, and then the data of the
second replay segment is reproduced.
[0017] The above apparatus prevents a total length of time for
reproducing the content from extending because the alternative data
is reproduced repeatedly due to the skip instruction by the
user.
[0018] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
controlling unit controls so that, if the instruction from the user
accepted by the accepting unit is the skip instruction, the
alternative data is reproduced in place of the data of the first
replay segment, and if a new skip instruction from the user is
accepted by the accepting unit while the alternative data is being
reproduced, the new skip instruction is made ineffective, and the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the alternative data is completed.
[0019] By the above apparatus, the alternative data is reproduced
without being skipped.
[0020] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
obtaining unit obtains a plurality of alternative data, and the
controlling unit controls so that, if the instruction from the user
accepted by the accepting unit is the skip instruction, a first
alternative data is reproduced in place of the data of the first
replay segment, and a second alternative data is reproduced if a
new skip instruction from the user is accepted by the accepting
unit while the first alternative data is being reproduced, and the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of one of the plurality of alternative data is
completed, the first alternative data being one of the plurality of
alternative data, the second alternative data being one of the
plurality of alternative data different from the first alternative
data.
[0021] By the above apparatus, even when reproduction of the
alternative data is skipped, another alternative data is
reproduced, and reproduction of the main part of the content does
not resume until reproduction of one of the alternative data is
completed. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce the data which
the content provider intends.
[0022] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
obtaining unit obtains alternating order information and a
plurality of alternative data, the alternating order information
indicating an order in which the plurality of alternative data are
selected, and the controlling unit controls so that, if the
instruction from the user accepted by the accepting unit is the
skip instruction, a selected alternative data selected based on the
alternating order information is reproduced in place of the data of
the first replay segment, and the data of the second replay segment
is reproduced when the reproducing of the selected alternative data
is completed.
[0023] By the above apparatus, it is possible to reproduce the
alternative data in an order which the content provider
intends.
[0024] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
controlling unit controls so that, if the instruction from the user
accepted by the accepting unit is the skip instruction, a primary
alternative data set for the first replay segment in advance is
reproduced in place of the data of the first replay segment, and
the data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the alternative data is completed.
[0025] By the above apparatus, it is possible to reproduce the
alternative data which the content provider intends.
[0026] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus further
comprising: a designation accepting unit operable to accept a
designation of the alternative data from the user, wherein the
obtaining unit obtains a plurality of alternative data, and the
controlling unit controls so that, if the instruction from the user
accepted by the accepting unit is the skip instruction, a
designated alternative data that is designated by the user is
reproduced in place of the data of the first replay segment, and
the data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the designated alternative data is completed.
[0027] By the above apparatus, the user can select the alternative
data of the user's preference.
[0028] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
additional information further indicates correspondence between
each replay segment that is unskippable and the alternative data,
and the control unit controls so that, only when the judgment
result in the judging unit is negative, the alternative data which
corresponds to the first replay segment based on the additional
information is reproduced in place of data of the first replay
segment, and the data of the second replay segment is reproduced
when the reproducing of the alternative data is completed.
[0029] By the above apparatus, when the skip instruction instructs
to skip an unskippable replay segment, the alternative data
corresponds to the replay segment according to the additional
information is reproduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reproduce
the alternative data which the content provider intends.
[0030] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
additional information further indicates correspondence between
each replay segment that is unskippable and a plurality of
alternative data, and the controlling unit controls so that, only
when the judgment result in the judging unit is negative, a first
alternative data that corresponds to the first replay segment based
on the additional information is reproduced in place of the data of
the first replay segment, and if a new skip instruction from the
user is accepted by the accepting unit while the first alternative
data is being reproduced, a second plurality of alternative data
that corresponds to the first replay segment is reproduced, and the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of any of the plurality of alternative data that
corresponds to the first replay segment is completed, the first
alternative data being one of the plurality of alternative data,
the second alternative data being one of the plurality of
alternative data and different from the first alternative data.
[0031] By the above apparatus, when the skip instruction instructs
to skip the unskippable replay segment, the entire data of one of
the plurality of alternative data corresponds to the replay segment
according to the additional information is reproduced. Accordingly,
it is possible to reproduce the alternative data which the content
provider intends.
[0032] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
additional information further indicates an order in which a
plurality of alternative data are selected, and the controlling
unit controls so that, only when the judgment result in the judging
unit is negative, a selected alternative data selected based on the
order indicated in the additional information is reproduced in
place of the data of the first replay segment, and the data of the
second replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
selected alternative data is completed.
[0033] By the above apparatus, when the skip instruction instructs
to skip the unskippable replay segment, one of the plurality of
alternative data corresponds to the replay segment according to the
additional information is selected and reproduced based on the
alternating order. Accordingly, it is possible to reproduce the
alternative data which the content provider intends.
[0034] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus further
comprising: a determining unit operable to determine, only when the
judgment result in the judging unit is negative and the alternative
data does not correspond to the first replay segment in additional
information, whether or not to make the skip instruction
ineffective depending on if at least a part of data of a third
replay segment is skipped, the third replay segment being located
before the first replay segment on a reproducing time-line of the
content.
[0035] By the above apparatus, skipping of unskippable replay
segment is suppressed when the skip instruction is given to the
unskippable replay segment.
[0036] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
additional information further indicates an attribute of each
replay segment, and the determining unit determines, only when the
judgment result in the judging unit is negative and the alternative
data does not correspond to the first replay segment in additional
information, whether or not to make the skip instruction
ineffective depending on if at least a part of data of a fourth
replay segment is skipped, the fourth replay segment having a same
attribute as the first replay segment being located before the
first replay segment on a reproducing time-line of the content.
[0037] By the above apparatus, it is possible to determine whether
or not to make the skip instruction ineffective based on the group
of the alternative date categorized by the attributes. Accordingly,
it is possible to avoid that only CMs of a specific sponsor is
skipped.
[0038] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus further
comprising: an accept number storing unit operable to count and
store an accept number, the accept number indicating how many times
the skip instruction from the user is accepted, wherein the
determining unit determines to make the skip instruction
ineffective if the accept number is larger than a predetermined
threshold value.
[0039] By the above apparatus, the skip instruction is made
ineffective when the accept number of the skip instructions becomes
larger than the threshold value, and it is possible to suppress
skipping the unskippable replay segment.
[0040] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus further
comprising: a user information obtaining unit operable to obtain
user information which is information about the user; and a user
threshold value setting unit operable to set the threshold value
based on the obtained user information, wherein the determining
unit determines to make the skip instruction accepted from the user
by the accepting unit ineffective, if the accept number is larger
than the threshold value set by the user threshold value setting
unit.
[0041] By the above apparatus, the threshold is set based on the
user information such as the amount of payment the user made for
the content; the more the user pays, the higher the threshold
becomes. Examples of the user information include gender and
age.
[0042] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus further
comprising: a time corresponding threshold value setting unit
operable to set the threshold value corresponding to a length of
time that is required to reproduce an entire part of the content,
wherein the determining unit determines to make the skip
instruction accepted from the user by the accepting unit
ineffective, if the accept number is larger than the threshold
value set by the time corresponding threshold value setting
unit.
[0043] By the above apparatus, the threshold is set based on the
total length of time for reproducing the content.
[0044] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a reproducing apparatus comprising: a
reproducing unit operable to reproduce a content, the content being
stream data divided into a plurality of replay segments; an
attribute information obtaining unit operable to obtain attribute
information indicating an attribute of each of the plurality of
replay segments; a designation accepting unit operable to accept a
designation of one of the plurality of replay segments; a detecting
unit operable to detect, when the designation accepting unit
accepts the designation of a second replay segment from a user
while data of a first replay segment is being reproduced, whether
or not a replay segment having a certain attribute exists between
the first replay segment and the second replay segment by referring
to the attribute information, the first replay segment being one of
replay segments in the content, the second replay segment being
located after the first replay segment on a reproducing time-line
of the content; and a controlling unit operable to control so that,
only when at least one replay segment having the certain attribute
exists between the first replay segment and the second replay
segment, the replay segment having the certain attribute is
selected and reproduced, and then data of the second replay segment
is reproduced.
[0045] A content reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention can also be a content reproducing apparatus, wherein the
controlling unit controls so that, when a plurality of replay
segments having the certain attribute exist between the first
replay segment and the second replay segment, the replay segment
having the certain attribute and to be reproduced first according
to an order of reproduction is selected from the plurality of
replay segments and reproduced, and then the data of the second
replay segment is reproduced, a content reproducing apparatus,
wherein the controlling unit controls so that, when a plurality of
replay segments having the certain attribute exist between the
first replay segment and the second replay segment, the replay
segment having the certain attribute and to be reproduced last
according to an order of reproduction is selected from the
plurality of replay segments and reproduced, and then the data of
the second replay segment is reproduced, and a content reproducing
apparatus, wherein the controlling unit controls so that, when a
plurality of replay segments having the certain attribute exist
between the first replay segment and the second replay segment, the
replay segment having the certain attribute is selected randomly
from the plurality of replay segments and reproduced, and then the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced.
[0046] By the above apparatus, when there is more than one
unskippable replay segment between the replay segment that is being
reproduced and the target replay segment, data of at least one of
the replay segment is reproduced. Accordingly, it is possible to
reproduce the alternative data which the content provider intends
without fail.
[0047] A system that transmit and receive content according to the
present invention is a content transmitting/receiving system
comprising: a content receiving/reproducing apparatus; and a
content transmitting apparatus, the content receiving/reproducing
apparatus including: a reproducing unit operable to reproduce a
content while sequentially receiving the content by a packet, the
content being stream data divided into a plurality of replay
segments; an accepting unit operable to accept an instruction from
a user while the content is being reproduced; and a notifying unit
operable to, if the instruction is a skip instruction that
instructs skipping reproduction of data of a first replay segment,
notify the content transmitting apparatus of specifying information
to specify the first replay segment, the first replay segment being
one of the plurality of replay segments in the content, the content
transmitting apparatus including: a transmitting unit operable to
break the content into a plurality of packets and transmit the
content sequentially by the packet; an alternative data storing
unit operable to store a plurality of alternative data which is
reproducible by the content receiving/reproducing apparatus; and a
controlling unit operable to control so that, when notified of the
specifying information, an alternative data is transmitted in place
of data that is being transmitted, and data of a second replay
segment is transmitted when transmitting the alternative data is
completed, the second replay segment being located after the first
replay segment on a reproducing time-line of the content.
[0048] By the above apparatus, it is possible to reproduce the
alternative data which the content provider intends while
tolerating skipping of the reproduction of the data of the specific
replay segment as much as possible in a case the skip instruction
to the replay-segment from the user is accepted.
[0049] A system that transmit and receive content according to the
present invention can also be a content transmitting/receiving
system, wherein the content transmitting apparatus further
comprises: an additional information storing unit operable to store
additional information indicating whether or not reproducing data
of each of one of the plurality of replay segments in the content
is skippable; and a judging unit operable to judge, when the
specifying information is notified by the notifying unit, whether
or not reproducing data of the first replay segment specified by
the specifying information is skippable by referring to the
additional information, and wherein the control unit controls so
that, only when a judgment result in the judging unit is negative,
the alternative data stored in the alternative data storing unit is
transmitted in place of the data that is being transmitted, and the
data of the second replay segment is reproduced when the
reproducing of the alternative data is completed.
[0050] By the above apparatus, it is possible to judge whether or
not the reproduction of the replay segment pointed out by the skip
instruction is skippable, based on the additional information of
the content.
[0051] A system that transmit and receive content according to the
present invention can also be a content transmitting/receiving
system, wherein
the additional information further indicates correspondence between
each of the plurality of replay segments that is unskippable and
the alternative data, and
[0052] the control unit controls so that, only when the judgment
result in the judging unit is negative, the alternative data which
corresponds to the first replay segment based on the additional
information is transmitted in place of data that is being
transmitted, and the data of the second replay segment is
reproduced when the reproducing of the alternative data is
completed.
[0053] By the above apparatus, it is possible to reproduce the
alternative data which the content provider intends, because the
alternative data primarily corresponds to the replay segment in the
additional information for the unskippable replay segment pointed
out by the skip instruction.
[0054] A system that transmit and receive content according to the
present invention can also be a content transmitting/receiving
system, wherein the additional information further indicates
correspondence between a first alternative data with a second
alternative data, and the control unit controls so that, when the
specifying information notified by the notifying unit indicates the
first alternative data, the second alternative data that
corresponds to the first alternative data by referring to the
additional information is transmitted in place of the data that is
being transmitted.
[0055] By the above apparatus, when the skip instruction to skip
the first alternative data is given, the second alternative data
corresponds to the first alternative data is transmitted.
Accordingly, it is possible to reproduce the data which the content
provider intends in the content receiving/reproducing
apparatus.
[0056] A system that transmit and receive content according to the
present invention can also be a content transmitting/receiving
system, wherein the content transmitting apparatus further
comprises: a selecting unit operable to select the alternative data
stored in the alternative data storing unit based on a
predetermined priority when specifying information is notified by
the notifying unit, and wherein the control unit controls so that,
when the specifying information is notified by the notifying unit,
the alternative data selected by the selecting unit is transmitted
in place of data that is being transmitted, and the data of the
second replay segment is reproduced when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed, a content transmitting/receiving
system, wherein the predetermined priority is based on a reverse
order of date in which the alternative data is stored, and a
content transmitting/receiving system, wherein at least one of the
plurality of alternative data stored in the alternative storing
unit is a corresponding alternative data, the corresponding
alternative data having a subject corresponds to a subject of a
main part of the content and being given higher priority than the
alternative data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0057] These and the other objects, advantages and features of the
invention will become apparent from the following description
thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which
illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention.
[0058] In the drawings:
[0059] FIG. 1 is a structural functional diagram of a content
reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment;
[0060] FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of content according
to the present invention;
[0061] FIG. 3 is a table of additional information of content shown
in FIG. 2;
[0062] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing apart of content reproduction
control of the content reproducing apparatus according to the first
embodiment;
[0063] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a part of content
reproduction control of the content reproducing apparatus according
to the first embodiment and a fifth embodiment;
[0064] FIG. 6 schematically shows another example of content
according to the present invention;
[0065] FIG. 7 is a table of additional information of content shown
in FIG. 6;
[0066] FIG. 8 is a structural functional diagram of a content
reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment;
[0067] FIG. 9 is a table of an example for alternative data
additional information;
[0068] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing content reproduction control
of the content reproducing apparatus according to the third
embodiment;
[0069] FIG. 11 is a table of another example for alternative data
additional information;
[0070] FIG. 12 schematically shows an example of content according
to the present invention;
[0071] FIG. 13 is a table of additional information of content
shown in FIG. 12;
[0072] FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing content reproduction control
of the content reproducing apparatus according to a fourth
embodiment;
[0073] FIG. 15 is a structural functional diagram of a content
transmitting/receiving system according to the present
invention;
[0074] FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing content
reception/reproduction control of a content receiving/reproducing
apparatus according to the fourth embodiment;
[0075] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing content transmission control
of a content transmitting apparatus according to the fourth
embodiment;
[0076] FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing content transmission control
of a content transmitting apparatus according to a sixth
embodiment;
[0077] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system
that includes the content reproducing apparatus according to the
present invention; and
[0078] FIG. 20 is a structural functional diagram of a content
reproducing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0079] The following describes a content reproducing apparatus for
reproducing content that is stream data divided into a plurality of
reply segments, and a content transmitting/receiving system
according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
[0080] FIG. 19 is an overview diagram illustrating an example of a
system that includes the content reproducing apparatus according to
the present invention. The system illustrated here is a content
distributing system in which a content is arranged dynamically by
including a plurality of multimedia data according to a user
request and the content is transmitted to the content reproducing
apparatus that has notified of the request from the user. The
content referred to in this context is stream data such as video
and music, and contains a CM, which is an advertisement of a
sponsor, in addition to a main content arranged according to the
user request.
[0081] A content transmitting apparatus 1901 arranges a content
according to the user request that has been notified from either a
content reproducing apparatus 1903 or a content reproducing
apparatus 1904. The content transmitting apparatus 1901 then
transmits the content, additional information, and an alternative
data to the content reproducing apparatus that has sent the user
request, via a network 1902. The additional information indicates
whether reproduction of each replay segment of the content is
skippable. The alternative data is stream data to be reproduced in
place of data of a replay segment that is unskippable.
[0082] When the content, the additional information, and the
alternative data are received, the content reproducing apparatus
reproduces the content upon accepting a reproducing instruction
from the user. When a skip instruction from the user is accepted
while the content is being reproduced, the content reproducing
apparatus refers to the additional information to judge whether or
not data of the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction
is skippable. When a result of the judgment is negative, the
alternative data is reproduced in place of the data of the replay
segment pointed out by the skip instruction. When reproducing the
alternative data is completed, the content reproducing apparatus
reproduces data of a replay segment successive to the replay
segment pointed out by the skip instruction.
[0083] Examples of content reproducing apparatuses include mobile
devices, set-top boxes, and personal computers.
[0084] Explanations of each embodiment regarding content
reproducing apparatuses and content transmitting/receiving systems
according to the present invention are given below.
First Embodiment
[Construction 1]
[0085] A detailed explanation about a construction of a content
reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is given
below. FIG. 1 is a structural functional diagram of the content
reproducing apparatus.
[0086] As hardware, a content reproducing apparatus 100 comprises a
CPU, an input/output unit, a memory, a hard disk and the like.
Functionally, the content reproducing apparatus 100 comprises a
skip instruction accepting unit 101, a reproducing position setting
unit 102, a reproducing position controlling unit 103, a data
reproducing unit 104, an additional information storing unit 105, a
data storing unit 106, a communicating unit 107, and an alternative
data storing unit 108. Each functional operation of the content
reproducing apparatus 100 is performed by the CPU executing a
control program stored in the memory. Note that an explanation
about functions that are not essential to the present invention is
not given.
[0087] The communicating unit 107 has a two-way communication
function. For example, the communicating unit 107 transmits a piece
of content request information, which indicates the request for the
content, to a content transmitting apparatus, and receives the
content, the additional information, the alternative data, and the
like, transmitted from the content transmitting apparatus.
[0088] The data storing unit 106 is a storage medium such as a hard
disk for storing received content.
[0089] The alternative data storing unit 108 is a storage medium
such as a hard disk for storing received alternative data. The
alternative data storing unit 108 stores a plurality of alternative
data, and each alternative data is identified by an alternative
data ID.
[0090] The additional information storing unit 105 is a storage
medium such as a hard disk for storing received additional
information.
[0091] The reproducing position controlling unit 103 has a function
for controlling the position of data to be read by the data
reproducing unit 104, i.e., the reproducing position, when the
reproducing of the content that is stored in the data storing unit
106. In a case in which an instruction is given by the reproducing
position setting unit 102, the reproducing position controlling
unit 103 follows the instruction.
[0092] The data reproducing unit 104 has a function for reading the
data at the reproducing position indicated by the control of the
reproducing position controlling unit 103, and reproducing the
data. The reproduced data is output by a display apparatus 20 as an
image or sound.
[0093] The skip instruction accepting unit 101 has a function for
accepting a skip instruction from a user. The skip instruction is
transmitted as an electrical signal when the user presses a skip
button that is provided to a main body of the content reproducing
apparatus 100 or a remote control thereof. The accepted skip
instruction is transmitted to the reproducing position setting unit
102.
[0094] The reproducing position setting unit 102 has a function for
referring to additional information stored in the additional
information storing unit 105 when the skip instruction is
transmitted from the skip instruction accepting unit 101, and
judging whether or not the data of a replay segment including a
current reproducing position indicated by the reproducing position
controlling unit 103 is skippable. Then, when a result of the
judgment is affirmative on the replay segment that includes the
current reproducing position, the reproducing position setting unit
102 sets a beginning of a replay segment which is successive to the
current replay segment as a reproducing position, and instructs the
reproducing position controlling unit 103 to change the reproducing
position.
[0095] In addition, when the result of the judgment is negative and
if the alternative data to be reproduced in place of the skipped
data is indicated in the additional information, the reproducing
position setting unit 102 instructs the reproducing position
controlling unit 103 to reproduce the alternative data stored in
the alternative data storing unit 108. Then, when the reproducing
of the alternative data is completed, the reproducing position
setting unit 102 sets the beginning of the successive replay
segment to the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction
as the reproducing position, and instructs the reproducing position
controlling unit 103 to change the reproducing position.
[0096] Moreover, when the result of the judgment is negative and if
the alternative data to be reproduced in place of the skipped data
is not indicated in the additional information, the reproducing
position setting unit 102 judges whether or not to make the skip
instruction ineffective. The judgment is done based on a accept
number indicating how many times the skip instruction is accepted
from the user, and a threshold value in the additional information.
When the accept number is larger than the threshold value, the
reproducing position setting unit 102 judges to make the skip
instruction ineffective. When the skip instruction is made
ineffective, the reproducing position setting unit 102 does not
give any instruction to the reproducing position controlling unit
103, and the data of the replay segment including the current
reproducing position continues to be reproduced. When the accept
number is smaller than the threshold value, as with the case in
which the result of the judgment is affirmative, the reproducing
position setting unit 102 sets the beginning of the replay segment
which is successive to the current replay segment as the
reproducing position, and instructs the reproducing position
controlling unit 103 to change the reproducing position.
[Data 1]
[0097] Next, an explanation about the content, the alternative
data, and the additional information according to the present
embodiment is given below.
[0098] FIG. 2 schematically shows a content that includes CM data
and alternative data to be reproduced in place of the CM data in a
case where the CM data is skipped. The content reproducing
apparatus 100 reproduces the content 201 in an order of a scene A,
a CM1, a scene B, a scene C, a CM2, and a scene D . . . , unless
the instruction from the user, such as skipping and rewinding, is
accepted. The additional information indicates correspondence
between the CM1 and the alternative data CM4, and between the CM2
and the alternative data CM5. When the skip instruction from the
user is accepted while the CM1 is being reproduced, the CM4, the
alternative data of the CM1, is reproduced, and reproducing the
scene B starts when the reproducing the CM4 is completed. Likewise,
when the skip instruction from the user is accepted while the CM2
is reproduced, the CM5, the alternative data of the CM2, is
reproduced, and reproducing the scene D starts when the reproducing
of the CM5 is completed.
[0099] FIG. 3 is an additional information table of the content
201. In a table of additional information 301, a vertical direction
shows a time-line of the replay segments to be reproduced, and
fields in a horizontal direction show various information about
each replay segment.
[0100] The information shown in the additional information table
301 includes an ID, a reproducing position information that shows
the reproducing position for the replay segment corresponding to
the ID, a skip attribute, an alternative data ID, a threshold value
information, and such.
[0101] The ID is an identifier to identify data of each replay
segment stored in the data storing unit 106.
[0102] The reproducing position information comprises a reproducing
starting position and a reproducing ending position. The
reproducing position information is the information to identify to
which time-block on the reproducing time-line of the content 201
each replay segment corresponds.
[0103] The skip attribute is information to indicate whether or not
reproduction of data of each replay segment is skippable. In FIG.
3, ".largecircle." indicates that the replay segment is skippable,
and "X" indicates that the replay segment is unskippable.
[0104] The alternative data ID is an identifier to identify each
alternative data stored in the alternative data storing unit
108.
[0105] Although not shown in the figure, the threshold value
information is the information that is used in judging whether or
not the skip instruction is made ineffective.
[Operation 1]
[0106] Next, an explanation about an operation of the content
reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is
given.
[0107] FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts showing content reproduction
control of the content reproducing apparatus according to the
present embodiment.
[0108] First, the data reproducing unit 104 reads data of the
reproducing position, which is controlled by the reproducing
position controlling unit 103, from the data storing unit 106 and
reproduces the data (S01).
[0109] The reproducing position setting unit 102 judges whether or
not the reproducing position obtained from the reproducing position
controlling unit 103 is the reproducing ending position of the
content by referring to the additional information stored in the
additional information storing unit 105 (S02). If the content is
reproduced to the reproducing ending position (S02:YES), the
reproduction ends. If the content is not reproduced to the
reproducing ending position (S02:NO), the operation moves to
S03.
[0110] In S03, if the skip instruction accepting unit 101 accepts
the skip instruction from the user (S03:YES), the operation moves
to S04. If the skip instruction accepting unit 101 does not accepts
the skip instruction, the operation returns to S01.
[0111] In S04, the reproducing position setting unit 102 refers to
the additional information and judges whether or not reproduction
of the replay segment that includes the current reproducing
position obtained from the reproducing position controlling unit
103 is skippable. If skippable (S04:YES), the operation moves to
S05. If unskippable (S04:NO), the operation moves to S06.
[0112] In S05, the reproducing position setting unit 102 executes a
skipping operation. In the skipping operation, the reproducing
position setting unit 102 sets the starting position of the replay
segment, which is successive to the replay segment that includes
the current reproducing position, as a reproducing position. The
reproducing position setting unit 102 then instructs the
reproducing position controlling unit 103 to change the reproducing
position. Then the operation returns to S01.
[0113] In S06, the reproducing position setting unit 102 refers to
the additional information, and confirms if there is the
alternative data corresponding to the replay segment that includes
the current reproducing position. More specifically, the
reproducing position setting unit 102 refers to the additional
information table 301 in FIG. 3, and confirms if an alternative
data ID is indicated in the alternative data ID field of the replay
segment that includes the current reproducing position. If the
alternative data is not specified (S06:NO), the operation moves to
S08, and if the alternative data is specified (S06:YES), the
operation moves to S07.
[0114] In S07, the reproducing position setting unit 102 notifies
the reproducing position controlling unit 103 of the alternative
data ID indicated in the additional information, and the
reproducing position controlling unit 103 have the data reproducing
unit 104 read the alternative data corresponding to the alternative
data ID from the alternative data storing unit 108 and reproduce
the alternative data. When the reproducing of the alternative data
is completed, the operation moves to S05, and the skip operation is
executed.
[0115] In S08, the reproducing position setting unit 102 counts the
accept number of the skip instructions. Then in S09, the
reproducing position setting unit 102 compares the accept number of
the skip instructions and a maximum threshold value indicated in
the additional information. If the accept number is larger than the
maximum threshold value (S09:YES), the reproducing position setting
unit 102 judges to make the skip instruction ineffective (S10). If
the accept number is smaller than the maximum threshold value
(S09:NO), the operation returns to S01.
[0116] The operation is explained more specifically below. When the
skip instruction from the user is accepted while the scene A of the
content 201 in FIG. 2 is being reproduced, for example, the content
reproducing apparatus 100 judges whether or not reproducing the
replay segment that includes the current reproducing position is
skippable, based on the current reproducing position obtained from
the reproducing position controlling unit 103 and the additional
information. According to the additional information table 301 in
FIG. 3, the skip attribute for the scene A is ".largecircle.", and
therefore reproducing the data in the replay segment for the scene
A is skippable. Accordingly, reproducing the data of the scene A is
skipped and reproducing the data of the CM1 which is successive to
the scene A starts.
[0117] Further, when the skip instruction from the user is accepted
while the CM1 is being reproduced, the content reproducing
apparatus 100 judges whether or not reproducing the replay segment
that includes the current reproducing position is skippable, based
on the current reproducing position obtained from the reproducing
position controlling unit 103 and the additional information.
According to the additional information table 301 in FIG. 3, the
skip attribute for the CM1 is "x", and therefore reproducing the
data in the replay segment for the CM1 is unskippable. In addition,
because an identifier for the CM4 is indicated in the alternative
data ID field in the additional information, reproducing the data
of the CM4 in place of the CM1 starts. When the reproducing of the
data of the CM4 is completed, reproducing the data of the scene B
which is successive to the CM1 starts.
[0118] Further, when the skip instruction from the user is accepted
while the CM3 is being reproduced, the content reproducing
apparatus 100 judges whether or not reproducing the replay segment
that includes the current reproducing position is skippable, based
on the current reproducing position obtained from the reproducing
position controlling unit 103 and the additional information.
According to the additional information table 301 in FIG. 3, the
skip attribute for the CM3 is "x", and therefore reproducing the
data in the replay segment for the CM3 is unskippable. Moreover, in
the alternative data ID field in the additional information, no
information is indicated. Accordingly, the content reproducing
apparatus 100 counts the accept number of the skip instructions,
and compares the accept number and the threshold value. When the
accept number is larger than the threshold value, the content
reproducing apparatus 100 makes the skip instruction from the user
ineffective and continues reproducing the CM3.
[0119] On the other hand, when the accept number of the skip
instructions is smaller than the threshold value, the content
reproducing apparatus 100 skips reproducing the CM3, and starts
reproducing the scene E which is successive to the CM3.
[0120] Note that while the alternative data is being reproduced,
the content reproducing apparatus according to the present
embodiment makes skip instructions ineffective and lifts the
ineffectiveness of skip instructions when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed.
Second Embodiment
[0121] An explanation about a content reproducing apparatus
according to a second embodiment is given below.
[0122] The content reproducing apparatus according to the present
embodiment is such that the functional structure of a first
embodiment further includes a new function. The new function is for
providing users with options of categories for the alternative data
to be reproduced in place of the data of the skippable replay
segment, and accepting a user's selection. A plurality of
alternative data are categorized according to the additional
information. Examples of the categories include automobile, cell
phone, finance, and such. The content reproducing apparatus
displays a list of the categories on a display apparatus before
starting reproduction of the content, and accepts the user's
selection.
[0123] FIG. 6 schematically shows a content that includes CM data,
and the plurality of alternative data to be reproduced when
skipping reproducing the CM data. The plurality of alternative data
are classified into three categories: a category 602, a category
603, and a category 604.
[0124] FIG. 7 is an additional information table of the content
601. A CM1 corresponds to the alternative data, a CM4, a CM5, and a
CM6, and a CM2 corresponds to a CM7, a CM8, and a CM9.
[0125] The user selects one of the categories 602, 603, and 604
before starting reproduction of the content. When the user
instructs to skip the data of the unskippable replay segment, the
alternative data in the category selected by the user is reproduced
in place of the data that the user has instructed to skip.
Third Embodiment
[0126] An explanation about a content reproducing apparatus
according to a third embodiment is given below.
[0127] In the first embodiment, when the skip instruction from the
user is accepted while the alternative data is being reproduced,
the skip instruction is made ineffective. In the third embodiment,
the skip instruction is not made ineffective, and reproduces
another alternative data instead. When the reproducing of one of
the plurality of alternative data is completed, reproduction of the
main content resumes.
[Construction 3]
[0128] Next, an explanation about a construction of the content
reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is
given.
[0129] FIG. 8 is a structural functional diagram of the content
reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment. A
content reproducing apparatus 800 is such that the functional
structure in the first embodiment further includes a new function.
The new function is an alternative data determining process
function for determining the alternative data to be reproduced in
place of the data of the unskippable replay segment. The
alternative data determination processing function is included in
the reproducing position setting unit 802.
[0130] Further, the content reproducing apparatus 800 includes an
alternative data additional information storing unit 809, which
stores alternative data additional information used for determining
the alternative data to be reproduced in place of the alternative
data that is being reproduced. The reproducing position setting
unit 802 determines the alternative data by referring to the
alternative data additional information.
[0131] A skip instruction accepting unit 801, a reproducing
position controlling unit 803, a data reproducing unit 804, an
additional information storing unit 805, an alternative data
storing unit 808, a data storing unit 806, and a communicating unit
807 each have the same function as the skip instruction accepting
unit 101, the reproducing position controlling unit 103, the data
reproducing unit 104, the additional information storing unit 105,
the alternative data storing unit 108, the data storing unit 106,
and the communicating unit 107, respectively, in FIG. 1 explained
in the first embodiment.
[Data 3]
[0132] Next, an explanation about the alternative data
determination processing function according to the present
embodiment is given.
[0133] FIG. 9 is an alternative data additional information table.
The alternative data additional information table 901 shows a
skipped alternative data ID and a target alternative data ID
associated with each other.
[0134] In additional information stored in the additional
information storing unit 805, alternative data ID is indicated with
correspondence to each unskippable replay segment.
[Operation 3]
[0135] Next, an explanation about an operation of the content
reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is
given.
[0136] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing content reproduction control
of the content reproducing apparatus according to the third
embodiment. Steps from S21 through S25 are the same as the steps
S01 through S05 illustrated in the flow chart in FIG. 4 explained
in the first embodiment. Therefore, the explanation given here is
about steps from S26 through S29 that are different from the first
embodiment.
[0137] First, in S24, when the reproducing position setting unit
802 judges a replay segment that includes the current reproducing
position is unskippable based on additional information (S24:NO),
the reproducing position setting unit 802 executes an alternative
data determination process (S26).
[0138] In the alternative data determination process in S26, the
reproducing position setting unit 802 instructs the reproducing
position controlling unit 803 to reproduce the alternative data
that corresponds to the replay segment that includes the current
reproducing position and is indicated in the additional
information. In a case in which the skip instruction is accepted in
S29 while the alternative data is being reproduced, the reproducing
position setting unit 802 instructs the reproducing position
controlling unit 803 to reproduce a target alternative data
corresponds to a skipped alternative data by referring to the
alternative data additional information.
[0139] In S27, the reproducing position controlling unit 803 has
the data reproducing unit 804 read the alternative data
corresponding to the alternative data ID from the alternative data
storing unit 808 and reproduce the same.
[0140] In S28, when the reproducing of the alternative data is
completed (S28:YES), the operation moves to S25 and the skip
operation is performed.
[0141] When, while the alternative data is being reproduced
(S28:NO), a new skip instruction from the user is accepted
(S29:YES), the operation returns to S26. When no skip instruction
from the user is accepted (S29:NO) while the alternative data is
being reproduced, the operation returns to S27 and continues to
reproduce the alternative data.
[0142] Note that the content reproducing apparatus 800 can store an
alternative data additional information table 1001 shown in FIG.
11, which is different from the alternative data additional
information table 901 shown in FIG. 9. The alternative data
additional information table 1001 is a table showing an order of
alternative data to be reproduced when the content reproducing
apparatus 800 accepts the skip instruction from the user.
[0143] When a skip instruction from the user is accepted while the
alternative data is being reproduced, the content reproducing
apparatus 800 determines the alternative data to be reproduced
based on the order shown in the alternative data additional
information table 1001 stored in the alternative data additional
information storing unit 809. After a sixth alternative data is
selected, the CM4 at the beginning of the list is selected
again.
Fourth Embodiment
[0144] An explanation about a content reproducing apparatus
according to a fourth embodiment is given below.
[0145] The content reproducing apparatus according to the fourth
embodiment includes a function for accepting a designation for a
target replay segment from the user while content is being
reproduced, a function for detecting whether or not the replay
segment of the CM exists between the current replay segment and the
designated target replay segment, and a function for, when at least
one replay segment of the CM is detected, selecting and reproducing
one of replay segments of CMs, and reproducing the designated
target replay segment when the reproducing of the data of the
replay segment is completed.
[Construction 4]
[0146] An explanation of a functional structure of the content
reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is given
in accordance with FIG. 20. Functional units other than a target
designation accepting unit 111 and a reproducing position setting
unit 112 are the same as the units of the content reproducing
apparatus according to the first embodiment, and explanations are
made only for the target designation accepting unit 111 and the
reproducing position setting unit 112.
[0147] The target designation accepting unit 111 has a function for
accepting the designation for the target replay segment from the
user while the content is being reproduced. The target replay
segment is indicated by the ID. Information of each of number
buttons on a numeric keypad of a remote control attached to the
content reproducing apparatus 2000 corresponds to the ID for each
replay segment. By pressing one of the number buttons on the
numeric keypad of the remote control, the user can designate the
target replay segment. The ID for the designated replay segment is
transmitted to the reproducing position setting unit 112.
[0148] The reproducing position setting unit 112 has a function for
detecting whether or not the replay segment of the CM exists
between the current replay segment that is indicated by the
reproducing position controlling unit 113 and the designated target
replay segment by referring to the additional information stored in
the additional information storing unit 115, when the ID is
transmitted from the target designation accepting unit 111. When no
replay segment of the CM is detected as a result of the detection,
the reproducing position setting unit 112 sets the starting
position of the target replay segment as the reproducing position,
and instructs the reproducing position controlling unit 113 to
change the reproducing position.
[0149] When at least one replay segment of the CM is detected as a
result of the detection, the reproducing position setting unit 112
selects one of the replay segments of CMs and sets the starting
position of the selected replay segment for the CM as the
reproducing position, and instructs the reproducing position
controlling unit 113 to change the reproducing position. When the
reproducing of the data of the replay segment of the CM is
completed, the reproducing position setting unit 112 sets the
starting position of the target replay segment, and instructs the
reproducing position controlling unit 113 to change the reproducing
position.
[Data 4]
[0150] Next, an explanation about content and additional
information according to the present embodiment is given.
[0151] FIG. 12 schematically shows a content that includes the data
of the CMs. The content reproducing apparatus reproduces the
content in an order of a scene A, a CM1, a CM2, a CM3, a scene B, a
CM4, a CM5, a CM6, and a scene C . . . , unless the instruction
from the user, such as skipping and rewinding, is accepted.
[0152] FIG. 13 is a table showing additional information of a
content 1201, and an additional information table 1301 shows an ID,
a reproducing position information, and a CM attribute. The CM
attribute is information to identify if a certain replay segment is
data of the CM.
[Operation 4]
[0153] Next, an explanation about an operation of the content
reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment is
given.
[0154] FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing content reproduction control
of the content reproducing apparatus according to the present
embodiment.
[0155] First, the data reproducing unit 114 reads the data of the
reproducing position, which is controlled by the reproducing
position controlling unit 113, from the data storing unit 116 and
reproduces the data (S31).
[0156] The reproducing position setting unit 112 judges whether or
not the reproducing position obtained from the reproducing position
controlling unit 113 is the reproducing ending position of the
content by referring to the additional information stored in the
additional information storing unit 115 (S32). If the content is
reproduced to the reproducing ending position (S32:YES), the
reproduction ends. If the content is not reproduced to the
reproducing ending position (S32:NO), the operation moves to
S33.
[0157] Then, in S33, if the skip instruction accepting unit 111
accepts the skip instruction from the user (S33:YES), the
reproducing position setting unit 112 detects whether or not the
replay segment of the CM exists between the current replay segment
that is indicated by the reproducing position controlling unit 113
and the designated target replay segment by referring to additional
information stored in the additional information. When no replay
segment of the CM is detected as a result of the detection
(S34:NO), the operation moves to S37. When the replay segment of
the CM is detected as a result of the detection (S34:YES), the
operation moves to S35.
[0158] In S35, the reproducing position setting unit 112 executes a
CM selecting process. If one replay segment of the CM is detected
as a result of the detection, the reproducing position setting unit
112 sets the starting position of the replay segment of the CM as
the reproducing position, and instructs the reproducing position
controlling unit 113 to change the reproducing position (S36).
[0159] If more than one replay segment of the CM is detected, the
reproducing position setting unit 112 selects one of the detected
replay segments of the CMs. Examples of selection methods include
following;
[0160] (1) selecting the replay segment of the CM that is to be
reproduced first among a plurality of detected replay segments of
the CMs;
[0161] (2) selecting the replay segment of the CM that is to be
reproduced last among the plurality of detected replay segments of
the CMs; and
[0162] (3) selecting the replay segment of the CM randomly among
the plurality of detected replay segments of the CMs.
[0163] Using one of three methods listed above, the reproducing
position setting unit 112 selects the replay segment of the CM,
sets the starting position of the selected replay segment of the CM
as the reproducing position, and instructs the reproducing position
controlling unit 113 to change the reproducing position (S36).
Then, after the reproducing position of the selected replay segment
of the CM reaches the reproducing ending position, the reproducing
position setting unit 112 sets the starting position of the replay
segment designated by the user as the reproducing position, and
instructs the reproducing position controlling unit 113 to change
the reproducing position (S37).
Fifth Embodiment
[0164] The content reproducing apparatuses according to the present
invention have been explained in the first to fourth embodiments.
In a fifth embodiment, explanations are given about a content
transmitting/receiving system comprising a content transmitting
apparatus for sequentially transmitting content that is divided
into packets, and a content receiving/reproducing apparatus for
sequentially receiving the content by the packet and reproducing
the same.
[0165] Note that the content, the additional information, and the
alternative data are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0166] In the content transmitting/receiving system according to
the present embodiment, the content is transmitted and received via
the Internet using a streaming technology. The content
receiving/reproducing apparatus reproduces the content as
sequentially receiving the content which is also sequentially
transmitted from the content transmitting apparatus. Further, the
content receiving/reproducing apparatus has a function for
accepting instructions relating to reproduction of the content from
the user while the content is being reproduced. The content
receiving/reproducing apparatus transmits the instruction accepted
to the content transmitting apparatus. The instructions relating to
reproduction of the content include reproducing, stopping
reproducing, skipping, and such.
[0167] The content transmitting apparatus stores the additional
information of the content to be transmitted, and when the skip
instruction is accepted from the content receiving/reproducing
apparatus while transmitting the content, the content transmitting
apparatus judges if the replay segment pointed out by the skip
instruction is skippable by referring to the additional
information. If the replay segment is unskippable as a result of
the judgment and if the alternative data corresponds to the replay
segment, the content transmitting apparatus transmits the
alternative data and then the data of the replay segment successive
to the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction.
[Construction 5]
[0168] FIG. 15 is a structural functional diagram of a content
receiving/reproducing apparatus 1501 and a content transmitting
apparatus 1508 in a content transmitting/receiving system. The
content receiving/reproducing apparatus 1501 and the content
transmitting apparatus 1508 transmit and receive data via a network
10. The network 10 is the Internet.
[0169] As hardware, the content receiving/reproducing apparatus
1501 comprises a CPU, an input/output unit, a memory, a hard disk
and the like. Functionally, the content receiving/reproducing
apparatus 1501 comprises a communicating unit 1502, a data storing
unit 1503, a data reproducing unit 1504, a reproducing position
controlling unit 1505, a stream controlling information issuing
unit 1506, and a user interface unit 1507. Each functional
operation of the content receiving/reproducing apparatus 1501 is
performed by the CPU executing a control program stored in the
memory. Note that an explanation about functions that are not
essential to the present invention is not given.
[0170] The user interface unit 1507 has a function for accepting
instructions relating to reproduction of the content, such as
reproducing, stopping reproducing, and skipping the content, from
the user. Specifically, the instructions relating to reproduction
of the content are accepted as electrical signals when the user
presses a button designating each instruction that is provided to
the main body of the content receiving/reproducing apparatus 1501
or a remote control thereof. The accepted instruction is
transmitted to the reproducing position controlling unit 1505.
[0171] The communicating unit 1502 has a two-way communication
function between the content transmitting apparatus 1508 via the
network 10. For example, the communicating unit 1502 transmits
content request information and stream control information such as
reproducing, stopping reproducing, and skipping which is issued at
the stream controlling information issuing unit 1506 to an IP
address that is assigned to the content transmitting apparatus
1508. The communicating unit 1502 also receives data such as
content transmitted from the content transmitting apparatus 1508.
The data such as the stream control information and the content is
transmitted based on RTSP/RTP (Real-Time Streaming
Protocol/Real-Time Transport Protocol).
[0172] The data storing unit 1503 is a storage medium such as a
memory and a hard disk, and temporarily stores partial data of the
content that is sequentially received at the communicating unit
1502. The partial data of the content is packetized as an RTP
packet, and content data and alternative data are stored in a
payload of the RTP packet. Information showing content of the
payload is described in a header of the RTP packet. For example,
information such as a data ID, an alternative data ID, a content
identifier, and time reference information for performing a
real-time content reproduction process and synchronizing visual and
sound are indicated.
[0173] The reproducing position controlling unit 1505 has a
function for executing various operations relating to reproducing
the content according to a control program stored in the memory,
and instructs the data reproducing unit 1504 by referring to the
header of the RTP packet when the RTP packet is stored in the data
storing unit 1503. Further, when the user interface unit 1507
accepts the skip instruction from the user, the reproducing
position controlling unit 1505 detects the data ID to identify the
replay segment that is being reproduced when the skip instruction
is accepted from the header of the RTP packet, and then transmits
the data ID along with information to indicate the skip instruction
to the stream controlling information issuing unit 1506.
[0174] The data reproducing unit 1504 has a function to read
partial data stored in the data storing unit 1503 according to the
instruction from the reproducing position controlling unit 1505,
and reproduce the partial data. The reproduced partial data is
output by a display apparatus 20 as an image or sound. The partial
data reproduced by the data reproducing unit 1504 is discarded from
the data storing unit 1503 upon the completion of the reproduction
of the partial data.
[0175] The stream controlling information issuing unit 1506 has a
function for issuing stream control information based on
information indicating instructions, such as reproducing, skipping,
or stopping reproducing content, transmitted from the reproducing
position controlling unit 1505. Skip instruction information that
designates skipping among stream control information includes the
data ID transmitted from the reproducing position controlling unit
1505. The issued stream control information is transmitted to the
communicating unit 1502.
[0176] Next, an explanation about the content transmitting
apparatus 1508 is given. As hardware, the content transmitting
apparatus 1508 comprises a CPU, an input/output unit, a memory, a
high-capacity storage medium. Functionally, the content
transmitting apparatus 1508 comprises a communicating unit 1509, a
transmission controlling unit 1510, an additional information
storing unit 1511, a data transmitting unit 1512, a data storing
unit 1513, and an additional information storing unit 1514. Each
functional operation of the content transmitting apparatus 1508 is
performed by the CPU executing a control program stored in the
memory. Note that an explanation about functions that are not
essential to the present invention is not given.
[0177] The communicating unit 1509 has a two-way communication
function between the content receiving/reproducing apparatus 1501
via the network 10. For example, the communicating unit 1509
receives the content request information and the stream control
information, and sequentially transmits the RTP packet transmitted
from the data transmitting unit 1512 to an IP address that is
assigned to the content receiving/reproducing apparatus.
[0178] The additional information storing unit 1511 is a storage
medium such as a hard disk, and stores the additional information
of the content.
[0179] The data storing unit 1513 is a storage medium such as a
hard disk, and stores the content.
[0180] The alternative data storing unit 1514 is a storage medium
such as a hard disk, and stores the plurality of alternative
data.
[0181] Note that the additional information, the content, and the
alternative data are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0182] The transmission controlling unit 1510 has a function for
performing various controls relating to transmitting the data, and
instructs the data transmitting unit 1512 to read and transmit the
data stored either in the data storing unit 1513 or the alternative
data storing unit 1514. Further, when the skip instruction
information is transmitted from the communicating unit 1509, the
transmission controlling unit 1510 judges whether or not the replay
segment designated by the data ID included in the skip instruction
information is skippable, and then instructs the data transmitting
unit to transmit the data based on a result of the judgment.
[0183] The data transmitting unit 1512 has functions for reading
out the data to be transmitted according to the instruction from
the transmission controlling unit 1510 from the data storing unit
1513 or the alternative data storing unit 1514, for packetizing the
data that is read out as an RTP packet, and for sequentially
transmitting to the communicating unit 1509. The data transmitting
unit 1512 describes information showing content of the payload in
the header of the RTP packet.
[Operation 5]
[0184] Next, an explanation about each operation of the content
receiving/reproducing apparatus and a content transmitting
apparatus that are included in a content transmitting/receiving
system according to the present embodiment is given.
[0185] FIG. 16 is a flow chart of content reception/reproduction
control of the content receiving/reproducing apparatus according to
present embodiment.
[0186] First, the communicating unit 1502 receives the RTP packet
sequentially transmitted from the content transmitting unit 1508
and stores the RTP packet in the data storing unit 1503 (S41). The
reproducing position controlling unit 1505 refers to the header of
the RTP packet stored in the data storing unit 1503 and instructs
the data reproducing unit to reproduce. The data reproducing unit,
according to the instruction from the reproducing position
controlling unit 1505, reads the data stored in a payload of the
RTP packet from the data storing unit 1503 and reproduces the data
(S42).
[0187] If transmitting the data from the content transmitting
apparatus 1508 is completed and all of the data in the payload of
the RTP packet stored in the data storing unit 1503 is read out
(S43:YES), reproduction of the content ends. If the data is still
being read out (S43:NO), the operation moves to S44.
[0188] In S44, if the user interface unit 1507 accepts the skip
instruction from the user (S44:YES), the operation moves to S45. If
the user interface unit 1507 does not receive the skip instruction
from the user (S44:NO), the operation returns to S41.
[0189] In S45, the content receiving/reproducing apparatus 1501
transmits the skip instruction information that includes the data
ID detected by the reproducing position controlling unit 1505 to
the content transmission apparatus 1508 (S45).
[0190] FIGS. 17 and 5 are flow charts showing content transmission
control of the content transmitting apparatus according to the
present embodiment.
[0191] First, the data transmitting unit 1512 sequentially reads
out the data from the data storing unit 1513 according to the
instruction from the transmission controlling unit 1510, packetizes
the read out data as the RTP packet, and transmits the data to the
communicating unit 1509. The communicating unit 1509 sequentially
transmits the RTP packet to an IP address assigned to the content
receiving/reproducing apparatus (S51).
[0192] Then, the transmission controlling unit 1510 refers to the
additional information stored in the additional information storing
unit 1511. If the transmission controlling unit 1510 confirms that
all the content is transmitted (S52:YES), the transmission
controlling unit 1510 stops instructing the data transmitting unit
1512 to transmit the content. If the transmission controlling unit
1510 does not confirm that all the content are transmitted
(S52:NO), the operation moves to S53.
[0193] In S53, if the communication 1509 receives the skip
instruction information from the content receiving/reproducing
apparatus 1501 (S53:YES), the transmission controlling unit 1510
refers to the additional information, and detects which replay
segment the data ID included in the skip instruction information
designates, and judges whether or not reproducing the data of the
designated replay segment is skippable. If the communication 1509
does not receive the skip instruction information (S53:NO), the
operation returns to S51.
[0194] If the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is
turned out to be the replay segment is skippable as a result of the
judgment (S54:YES), the operation moves to S55. If the result of
the judgment shows that the replay segment is unskippable (S54:NO),
the operation moves to S56.
[0195] In S55, the transmission controlling unit 1510 executes a
skipping process. Specifically, the transmission controlling unit
1510 sets the beginning of the successive replay segment to the
replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction as the
transmission starting position, and instructs the data transmitting
unit 1512 to change the data to be read out. Then, the operation
returns to S51.
[0196] In S56, the transmission controlling unit 1510 refers to the
additional information, and confirms if the alternative data is
assigned to the replay segment designated by the data ID included
in the skip instruction information. If the alternative data is not
assigned (S56:NO), the operation moves to S08. If the alternative
data is assigned (S56:YES), the operation moves to S57.
[0197] In S57, the transmission controlling unit 1510 has the data
transmitting unit 1512 read out the alternative data from the
alternative data storing unit 1514, and transmit the alternative
data. When transmitting the alternative data is completed, the
operation moves to S55, and the transmission controlling unit 1510
executes the skipping process.
[0198] In S08, the transmission controlling unit 1510 counts the
accept number of the skip instructions. Then in S09, the
transmission controlling unit 1510 compares the number of
acceptance of the skip instructions and the maximum threshold value
indicated in the additional information. If the accept number of
the skip instructions is larger than the maximum threshold value
(S09:YES), the transmission controlling unit 1510 judges to make
the skip instruction ineffective (S10). If the accept number of the
skip instructions is smaller than the maximum threshold value
(S09:NO), the operation returns to S51.
[0199] Note that while the alternative data is being reproduced,
the content receiving/reproducing apparatus in the content
transmitting/receiving system according to the present embodiment
makes the skip instruction ineffective and makes the ineffective
skip instruction effective again when the reproducing of the
alternative data is completed.
Sixth Embodiment
[0200] In the content transmitting/receiving system according to
the fifth embodiment, the skip instruction from the user is made
ineffective while the alternative data is being reproduced. In the
content transmitting/receiving system according to the present
embodiment, when the content receiving/reproducing apparatus
accepts the skip instruction from the user while an alternative
data 1 is being reproduced, the content receiving/reproducing
apparatus transmits skip instruction information to the content
transmitting apparatus. The content transmitting apparatus refers
to the alternative data additional information stored in the
additional information storing unit, and transmits an alternative
data 2 in place of the alternative data 1.
[0201] The content transmitting/receiving system has substantially
the same functional structure as in FIG. 15. However, the
additional information storing unit 1511 in FIG. 15 stores the
alternative data additional information. The alternative data
additional information is the same as in the third embodiment.
[Operation 6]
[0202] Next, an explanation about an operation of the content
transmitting apparatus according to the present embodiment is
given. The operation of the content receiving/reproducing apparatus
is the same as what has been explained in the fifth embodiment, and
not explained below.
[0203] FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing content transmission control
of the content transmitting apparatus according to the present
embodiment.
[0204] Steps from S61 through S63 are the same as the steps from
S51 through S53 illustrated in the flow chart in FIG. 17, and
therefore, the explanation is not given here.
[0205] In S64, the skip instruction information that the
communicating unit 1509 in FIG. 15 receives from the content
receiving/reproducing apparatus 1501 is transmitted to the
transmission controlling unit 1510. The transmission controlling
unit 1510 refers to the additional information stored in the
additional information storing unit 1511, and judges whether or not
the data ID included in the skip instruction information is the
alternative data ID. If the data ID is the alternative data ID
(S64:YES), the operation moves to S67. If the data ID is not the
alternative ID (S64:NO), the operation moves to S66.
[0206] In S67, the transmission controlling unit 1510 refers to the
alternative data additional information stored in the additional
information storing unit 1511, and determines the alternative data
to be reproduced in place of the alternative data that is being
reproduced (S67). Then, the operation returns to S61.
Modified Examples
[0207] The present invention is not restricted to the above
explained embodiments, and modified examples explained below are
also possible.
[0208] (1) In each embodiment, explanations are given assuming that
the content is provided via the network by the content distributing
system. However, it is also possible to apply the present invention
to the content that is recorded in a storage medium such as CDs and
DVDs.
[0209] (2) In the first embodiment, the explanation is given to a
case in which the alternative data has a primary correspondence to
a certain replay segment such as the CM. However, the alternative
data does not need to have the primary correspondence. For example,
it is possible that the alternative data is selected from the
plurality of alternative data stored in the alternative data
storing unit 108 based on a certain priority. Specifically, when
the alternative data is the CM, the priority changes according to
sales data of a product that the CM advertises. An example for
setting of a priority order can be such that if sales of this month
is less than the last month, the priority increases, and if the
sales of this month is more than the last month, the priority
decreases.
[0210] (3) The first embodiment explained that the content
reproducing apparatus reproduces the alternative data in place of
the data of the unskippable replay segment, and the content
reproducing apparatus starts reproducing the data of the succeeding
replay segment when the reproducing of the alternative data is
completed. In this case, however, a total period of time for
reproducing could become long. For example, the user instructs
skipping while the data of the unskippable replay segment, and if a
length of time for reproducing the alternative data is as long as
the length of time for reproducing the skipped replay segment, the
total reproducing time becomes longer by the period of time that
the skipped replay segment is already reproduced. In the content
reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, it is
possible to make the speed of reproducing the alternative data
faster than the normal reproducing speed, and reproducing the
alternative data can be completed within the period of time of a
part of the skipped replay segment that is not yet reproduced.
[0211] (4) The content reproducing apparatus according to the third
embodiment and the content transmitting/receiving system according
to the fifth embodiment execute a control to reproduce another
alternative data when a skip instruction to skip the alternative
data is accepted. To select another alternative data, a method
based on freshness of alternative data can be employed. As
information to indicate the freshness, data information such as
information about the date when the alternative data is generated
and the date when the alternative data is stored in the content
reproducing apparatus or the content transmitting apparatus in the
content transmitting/receiving system.
[0212] Further, it is also possible to select the alternative data
related to the main content. For example, if an actor A appears in
the main content, the CM in which the actor A advertises the
product is selected by priority. If the main content is a cookery
program, the CM about foodstuff is selected by priority as the
alternative data.
[0213] (5) In the explanation about the content reproducing
apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, three methods for
selecting the replay segment of the CM to be reproduced, when more
than one replay segment of the CM is detected between the replay
segment that is being reproduced when information designating the
target replay segment is accepted and the target replay segment
that is designated by the user, are listed. However, the method for
selecting the replay segment is not restricted to the above three
methods, and it is also possible to grade the replay segments of
the CMs and select the replay segment that is higher in rank.
Further, the number of replay segments to be selected can be more
than one.
[0214] (6) The content transmitting/receiving system according to
the fifth embodiment transmits and receives the data based on
RTSP/RTP. However, the protocol is not restricted to RTSP/RTP, and
any protocol that is appropriate to streaming transmission can be
used.
[0215] (7) The content transmitting/receiving system according to
the fifth embodiment uses the data ID, which is described in the
header of the RTP packet, as information identifying the replay
segment to be skipped. However, the present invention is not
restricted to this embodiment, and it is also possible to identify
the replay segment using time information related to reproducing
that is indicated in the header of the RTP packet, for example.
[0216] (8) In the content transmitting/receiving system according
to the present invention, it is also possible that the content
transmitting apparatus adds information about ineffectiveness of
skip instruction from a user in the header of the RTP packet that
conveys data of the replay segment when the data of the replay
segment that is unskippable, and that the content
receiving/reproducing apparatus, which receives and reproduce the
RTP packet that is added the information about ineffectiveness of
skip instruction, does not issue the skip instruction information
to the content transmitting apparatus when the skip instruction is
accepted from the user, if the information about ineffectiveness of
skip instruction is added to the header of the RTP packet.
[0217] (9) The content transmitting/receiving system according to
the present invention also can be a content transmitting/receiving
system that transmits all or a part of the alternative data
corresponding to the replay segment at the same time when the
content transmitting apparatus transmits the data of the
unskippable replay segment. In the content transmitting/receiving
system explained in the fifth embodiment, a problem could occur
that the reproduction is temporarily suspended due to time-lag in
the network, because the alternative data is transmitted to the
content receiving/reproducing apparatus after the skip instruction
from the user is accepted.
[0218] However, by transmitting all or the part of an alternative
data at the same time when the data of the unskippable replay
segment, the content receiving/reproducing apparatus can buffer all
or the part of the alternative data, and reproduce the buffered
alternative data seamlessly when the skip instruction from the user
is accepted.
[0219] Further, preparing for a case in which the skip instruction,
is newly accepted while the alternative data is being reproduced,
the content receiving/reproducing apparatus according to the
present invention can also be such that a content
receiving/reproducing apparatus requests the content transmission
apparatus requesting for another alternative data which is
different from the alternative data buffered in advance when
accepting the skip instruction at the unskippable replay
segment.
[0220] (10) The operations of the content reproducing apparatus and
the content transmitting/receiving system explained in each
embodiment (such as the operations explained in FIGS. 4, 5, 10, 14,
16, and 18) can also be an invention about methods for content
reproduction and content transmission. Further, the methods for
content reproduction and content transmission can also be computer
programs realized by a computer, and can also be digital signals
made from the computer programs.
[0221] (11) The present invention can be an invention of the
computer programs or the digital signals that are recorded in a
computer readable storage medium such as a flexible disk, a hard
disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blue-ray Disc), and a
semiconductor memory.
[0222] (12) The present invention can also be an invention of the
computer programs or the digital signals that are transmitted via a
telecommunication line, a wireless connection, a cable
communication line, and the network represented by the Internet,
and the like.
[0223] Although the present invention has been fully described by
way of examples by referring to the accompanying drawings, it is to
be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes
and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention,
they should be construed as being included therein.
* * * * *