JP2009130638A - Information processor and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select content such as a static image or the like by using an arbitrary instrument and simultaneously enjoy a slide show of the selected content by using other instrument on a network. <P>SOLUTION: Sequential reproduction control is effected through a reproduction procedure set for a plurality of pieces of content included in the proposed content for reproduction while managing a plurality of pieces of content selected by a user as the proposed content for reproduction. The content, for which reproduction control is effected, is transmitted sequentially to instrument on the network through a communication unit according to the reproduction procedure set for the content. This invention can be applied to a digital camera, personal computer or the like which is capable of handling the static picture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method suitable for a slide show of contents such as photographs, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an application that creates a so-called slide show that is automatically displayed in order every predetermined time, such as every 5 seconds, using an image file (still image) captured by an imaging device such as a digital camera has become widespread.

  In this slide show, the transition effect when switching from the previous still image to the next still image is devised, and the still image to be displayed is moved, and background music (BGM: Back Ground Music) For example, a function is provided that allows a user to confirm a captured still image by playing a music file during a slide show.

  In addition, there are some which have a slide show function that sequentially displays still images with various effects, instead of displaying still images (captured still images) captured by the device as they are (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). See).

  In this case, the user selects the still image to be played back, the type of effect, and the BGM song, thereby creating content with BGM that can automatically display the still image with the effect applied in sequence. be able to.

Furthermore, an information processing apparatus that can improve the technique described in Non-Patent Document 1 and can create content with BGM that can easily and quickly display still images with effects, It has been proposed by the present applicant (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
“Docomo Mova P506iC Photo Cocktail”, Internet <URL: http://panasonic.jp/mobile/p506ic/photo/index.html> JP 2006-86620 A

  In recent years, with the advent of personal computers, home appliances, portable terminals, digital cameras, and mobile phones that can be connected to a network, a plurality of devices are connected via the network and information can be exchanged between the devices. One of the technical specifications for connecting devices to each other using a network and using them in cooperation is the DLNA Guidelines (Digital Living Network Alliance guideline).

  In the DLNA guidelines, for example, UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is used to search for available devices (digital media servers) and acquire content lists, and content stored on one device on the network can be played on another device. It is possible to do. For example, you can select one photo (still image) taken with a digital camera and play it on a large-screen television receiver (Reference: DLNA Guidelines Guideline_Oct_r5.pdf 5.7.2 2-Box Push) System Usage, 5.7.3 3-Box System Usage).

  However, in the case of a digital camera equipped with a large-capacity storage device, photos that you do not want to be seen by others, photos that have failed to be taken, and similar photos of the same angle are included, and you can show them to others as they are. There are many things I don't want to do. Therefore, in order to enjoy a slide show with the conventional technology, first select all the images you want to show from a large amount of content, that is, create a playlist, and then send the created playlist to devices on the network. Then, it is necessary to follow the procedure of starting a slide show using the selected image (playlist).

  FIG. 18 shows a conventional slide show sequence. First, a content to be reproduced on the digital camera side is selected to create a playlist, and the created playlist is transmitted to the television receiver (step S101). The television receiver side analyzes the received playlist and starts playing the content in the designated playback procedure. First, the television receiver requests the digital camera to acquire the first content at the head of the playlist (step S102), and the digital camera receives the first content acquisition request and sends the first content to the television receiver. Is transmitted (step S103). Then, the television receiver reproduces the first content and displays it on the screen (step S104).

  When the reproduction of the first content is completed, the television receiver requests the digital camera to acquire the second content described in the playlist (Step S105). The digital camera that has received the request transmits the second content to the television receiver (step S106). Then, the television receiver reproduces the second content and displays it on the screen (step S107). The television receiver and the digital camera repeat the above processing until there is no content to be reproduced in the playlist.

  Thus, in the conventional slide show, it is necessary to first create a playlist and send the created playlist to the television receiver in advance. For this reason, it has been difficult to enjoy a slide show by displaying images sequentially on a television receiver with a large number of people while selecting content immediately after shooting.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. While using any device to select content such as a still image, a slide show of the selected content can be enjoyed simultaneously on another device on the network. Is to be able to.

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention manages a communication unit capable of communicating with devices on a network, a content selection unit that selects content specified by a user, and a plurality of contents selected by the content selection unit as playback candidates. Then, a playback control unit that sequentially controls playback according to a playback procedure set for a plurality of contents included in playback candidates, and the content that is controlled by the playback control unit are sequentially transmitted to devices on the network through the communication unit. And a reproduction instruction unit for performing the above operation.

  An information processing method of the present invention is an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that transmits content to devices on a network, manages a plurality of contents selected by a user as reproduction candidates, and includes a plurality of contents included in the reproduction candidates. Including a step of sequentially performing playback control in accordance with a playback procedure set for the content, and a step of sequentially transmitting the playback-controlled content to a device on the network through a communication unit.

  The program of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute control processing of an information processing apparatus that transmits content to devices on a network, manages a plurality of contents selected by a user as playback candidates, and sets the playback candidates as the playback candidates. It includes a process of sequentially performing playback control according to a playback procedure set for a plurality of contained contents, and a process of sequentially transmitting the playback-controlled content to a device on a network through a communication unit.

  In the information processing apparatus, method, and program of the present invention, a plurality of contents selected by the user are managed as reproduction candidates, and sequential reproduction control is performed according to reproduction procedures set for the plurality of contents included in the reproduction candidates. Then, the playback-controlled content is sequentially transmitted to the devices on the network through the communication unit. Thereby, in parallel with the content selection operation, the selected content is sequentially output to devices on the network in a predetermined reproduction procedure.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to enjoy a slide show of the selected content on another device on the network while selecting a content such as a still image using an arbitrary device.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but the embodiments described below are specific examples of preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. . However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified in the following description of the embodiments. Therefore, for example, the materials used in the following description, the amount used, the processing time, the processing order, the numerical conditions of each parameter, etc. are only suitable examples, and the dimensions, shapes, arrangement relationships, etc. in each drawing used for the description Is a schematic diagram showing an example.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, examples in which the present invention is applied to a home network including a television receiver, a digital camera, and a personal computer will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a home network to which the present invention is applied.

  The home network shown in FIG. 1 includes a television receiver 1, a personal computer 2, an access point 3, and wireless communication that can communicate with the television receiver 1 and the personal computer 2 via the access point 3 and the cable 5. And a digital camera 4 having a function. The television receiver 1 is provided with speakers 1R and 1L.

  As an example, the television receiver 1, the personal computer 2, and the digital camera 4 that are components of the home network can communicate with each other by a protocol defined by UPnP.

  The television receiver 1 has a media renderer function that is a content playback function, the personal computer 2 has a media server function that is a content provision function, and the digital camera 4 has a controller function that operates and controls the media renderer and the media server.

  In the present embodiment, the home network has been described as an example of a network to which the present invention is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this example.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the digital camera 4 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a camera unit 14, an input unit 15, an output unit 16, a storage unit 17, and a wireless communication unit 18 are connected to the bus 10. Each unit transmits various information via the bus 10.

  The CPU 11 is a control unit that controls the entire digital camera 4 and controls hardware and software.

  The ROM 12 is a non-volatile storage unit, and stores a program executed by the CPU 11 and various types of information in advance.

  The RAM 13 is a volatile storage area and appropriately stores programs and data read from the ROM 12 and the storage unit 17 by the CPU 11 and other data necessary for executing various processes.

  The camera unit 14 captures an image of a subject, supplies the captured image data to the storage unit 17 through the bus 10, and stores the image data. The camera unit 14 includes an optical system 19, a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) 20, an A / D conversion unit 21, and a signal processing unit 22.

  The optical system 19 includes an optical lens, a focus mechanism, a shutter mechanism, an iris mechanism, and the like, collects light reflected on the subject as an image, and forms an image on a light receiving unit of the image sensor 20.

  The imaging device 20 converts the formed optical image into an image signal that is an analog signal by photoelectric conversion, and supplies the image signal to the A / D conversion unit 21.

  The A / D conversion unit 21 converts the image signal into image data that is a digital signal, and supplies the image data to the signal processing unit 22.

  The signal processing unit 22 appropriately processes and corrects the image data, and creates image data that has been converted into a predetermined format such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group). The image data is stored in the storage unit 17 via the bus 10.

  The input unit 15 includes an input device such as a button that accepts a user operation or a touch panel, an external input terminal, and the like.

  The output unit 16 includes a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a speaker, an external output terminal, and the like, and performs image and audio output processing.

  The storage unit 17 is configured by a nonvolatile storage medium such as an installed hard disk, flash memory, detachable flash memory, or optical disk, and information such as image data obtained by the camera unit 14 and programs and data executed by the CPU 11. Is stored.

  The wireless communication unit 18 is controlled by the CPU 11 and performs wireless communication with other communication devices. For example, wireless communication is performed with the access point 3 based on wireless LAN communication standards such as IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, and IEEE802.11n, and the home point is connected. Thereby, the television receiver 1 and the personal computer 2 on the network communicate with each other, and for example, an image photographed by the digital camera 4 is supplied to the television receiver 1 or music stored in the personal computer 2 is stored. Can be supplied to the television receiver 1. In the present invention, any wireless communication standard may be used.

  The wireless communication unit 18 includes a MAC (Media Access Control) unit 23, a baseband processing unit 24, a high frequency processing unit 25, and an antenna 26.

  The antenna 26 receives a radio wave transmitted from another device, for example, the access point 3, and supplies the modulated wave to the high frequency processing unit 25. Conversely, the modulated wave supplied from the high frequency processing unit 25 is transmitted as a radio wave and received by the access point 3, for example.

  The high frequency processing unit 25 demodulates the modulated wave supplied from the antenna 26 by a predetermined method, and supplies the obtained signal to the baseband processing unit 24. Conversely, the signal (baseband signal) supplied from the baseband processing unit 24 is modulated by a predetermined method, and the obtained modulated wave is supplied to the antenna 26.

  The baseband processing unit 24 converts the signal supplied from the high frequency processing unit 25 into digital signal (paceband signal) data, and supplies the obtained data to the MAC unit 23. Conversely, the data supplied from the MAC unit 23 is converted into an analog signal and supplied to the high frequency processing unit 25.

  The MAC unit 23 converts the data supplied from the baseband processing unit 24 into data having a predetermined communication format through processing such as error correction using an error correction code, and supplies the data to the CPU 11 and the RAM 13 via the bus 10. Conversely, a packet having a predetermined communication format supplied from the CPU 11 or the RAM 13 via the bus 10 is converted into data with an error correction code added, and supplied to the baseband processing unit 24.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a part of a functional configuration of a program executed by the CPU 11 of the digital camera 4.

  The program functions include a connection control unit 31, a device detection unit 32, a device selection unit 33, a content selection unit 34, a playlist management unit 35, a playback control unit 36, a playback setting unit 37, and a playback instruction unit 38.

  The connection control unit 31 controls the wireless communication unit 18 to perform access point 3 search processing, authentication and encryption processing, establish a connection with the access point 3, acquire an IP (Internet Protocol) address, etc. Processing for enabling communication with devices on the home network is executed. When the connection to the network is correctly made, this is notified to the device detection unit 32.

  For example, the device detection unit 32 performs a process of detecting a device (UPnP device) on the home network to be controlled by the digital camera 4 according to the SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) protocol. When a communicable device is detected on the home network, the device selection unit 33 is notified accordingly.

  The device selection unit 33 displays a device selection screen showing information on the detected device on the output unit 16 and allows the user to select a desired device by operating the input unit 15. At this time, the user may select the device for which the content is to be reproduced, that is, the television receiver 1 in the case of the present embodiment. Information regarding the selected device is notified to the playback instruction unit 37.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the device selection screen. The device selection screen 40 shown in FIG. 4 shows an example when the device detection unit 32 detects the television receiver 1 and the personal computer 2 on the network. As the selectable device candidates, icons of “television receiver” and “personal computer” are displayed.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 3, the content selection unit 34 enables the user to select a desired device, in the present embodiment, the content to be reproduced on the television receiver 1 using the input unit 15. For example, as in the content selection screen 50 shown in FIG. 5, an option “select new content” and information on a playlist created in the past are acquired from the playlist management unit 35 and added as options. In the present embodiment, playlist 1 and playlist 2 have been created as examples of playlists.

  When the user selects “select new content”, the content selection unit 34 selects a photograph (still image) taken or a photograph (still image) acquired from an arbitrary storage unit as shown in FIGS. A photo selection screen 60 and a music selection screen 70 as shown in FIG. The user can select a still image to be reproduced from an index display of still images arranged in a predetermined area (content display area 61) on the photo selection screen. The content selection unit 34 adds the selected still image to the end of the list of content (reproduction candidates) displayed (arranged) in the selected area (transmission list display area 62) in the selected area of the photo selection screen, and also performs reproduction control. Notification to the unit 36. The photo selection screen will be described in detail later.

  On the other hand, when the user selects a playlist created in the past on the content selection screen, the playlist information is notified to the reproduction control unit 36.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 3, the playlist management unit 35 stores the playlist information requested to be stored by the reproduction control unit 36 in the storage unit 17, and responds to the playlist acquisition request from the content selection unit 34. Then, the playlist information stored in the storage unit 17 is supplied.

  The playlist stored by the playlist management unit 35 has a structure such as playlist information 80 shown in FIG. The name represents the name of the playlist, and can be presented to the user on the content selection screen 50 by the content selection unit 34. The creation date and time represents the date and time when the playlist was created, and may be presented to the user together with the name. Further, the contents constituting the playlist can be identified by the file name of the contents and the extension indicating the file format. The playlist information 80 includes a unique identifier from which content data can be read from the storage unit 17. For example, a path in a file system on the storage unit 17 can be used as this identifier. Furthermore, it may be a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) representing a resource (information resource) of a device on the network.

  The contents of the created playlist information 80 can be appropriately edited by the user using the input unit 15 such as changing or deleting the contents. Such a playlist is managed as a digital media collection using a so-called meta language such as XML (Extensible Markup Language).

  The reproduction control unit 36 manages a list of reproduction candidates for content for performing reproduction control as a slide show. The reproduction candidates are made up of a series of content information, and are controlled to be sequentially reproduced from the top of the reproduction candidate list displayed in the transmission list display area 62 of the photo selection screen 60. When the content information selected by the user is notified from the content selection unit 34, the content information is added to the end of the reproduction candidate list. When the playlist information 80 selected by the user is notified from the content selection unit 34, a series of content information included in the playlist is read out from the playlist management unit 35, and is displayed in the reproduction candidate list in the transmission list display area 62. Set. The reproduction control unit 36 issues a reproduction instruction to the reproduction instruction unit 38 according to the reproduction setting information notified from the reproduction setting unit 37.

  The reproduction setting unit 37 allows the user to set various setting information including time control information for slide show reproduction, and notifies the reproduction control unit 36 of the setting information. The reproduction control unit 36 appropriately executes a reproduction instruction according to the setting information.

  FIG. 11 is an example of setting information displaying items that can be set by the user.

  For example, in the playback setting screen 90 shown in FIG. 11, at the time of displaying a still image and an effect item for specifying an effect in transition between still images, an item for setting an interval for specifying a still image playback interval, and an end of a playlist. It is possible to provide a playback mode item that specifies the behavior when it is reached. In the example of the present embodiment, when the start button icon is clicked, the setting information is notified to the reproduction control unit 36.

  Note that at least some of the functional units illustrated in FIG. 3 may be configured to be realized by hardware.

  The reproduction instruction unit 38 instructs the device designated by the device selection unit 33 to reproduce the content information supplied from the reproduction control unit 36. The instruction is transmitted to, for example, the television receiver 1 on the home network via the wireless communication unit 18 (see FIG. 2). This instruction may be constituted by transmission / reception of a plurality of messages. For example, transmission of information such as meta information on content and URL (Uniform Resource Locator) capable of acquiring content, control instruction such as reproduction instruction and pause instruction These requests and responses may be used.

  With the configuration as described above, in the example of the present embodiment, the connection control unit 31 establishes wireless communication with the access point 3, and the device detection unit 32 uses the television receiver 1 and the personal computer 2 on the home network. And the user can select the television receiver 1 by the device selection unit 33.

  In addition, the content selection unit 34 can select a plurality of arbitrary contents that the user wants to reproduce, and a playlist created in the past managed by the playlist management unit 35 can be read and selected. The selected contents are sequentially supplied to the reproduction control unit 36 and can be reproduced according to the parameters set by the reproduction setting unit 37.

  Finally, the reproduction instruction unit 38 issues a content reproduction instruction to the television receiver 1 selected by the device selection unit 33 and displays the content stored in the digital camera 4 on the television receiver 1. can do.

  Since the content selection unit 34, the playback control unit 36, and the playback instruction unit 38 can be executed in parallel at the same time, the user can select content in parallel with the actual slide show. Therefore, a user can easily enjoy a slide show with a large number of people without creating a playlist by selecting content for the slide show in advance.

  Here, with reference to the photo selection screen shown in FIG. 6, selection of playback candidates at the time of a slide show by the user will be described.

  The photo selection screen 60 shown in FIG. 6 includes a content display area 61 at the top of the screen, a transmission list display area 62 at the bottom of the screen, and a command display area 63 at the bottom of the screen.

  In the content display area 61, icons of content such as still images are arranged. A scroll bar 61a is provided at a predetermined position in the content display area, for example, the right end, and the display contents in the content display area can be moved up and down to display all the contents in the content display area. In the example of FIG. 6, “DSC00001.JPG”, “DSC00002.JPG”, “DSC00003.JPG”, “DSC00004.JPG”, “DSC00005.JPG”, “DSC00006.JPG” are examples of contents that can be selected by the user. ”Is displayed, but the content selected as a slide show reproduction candidate is displayed with a thick frame or the like so that it can be distinguished from the others.

  In the transmission list display area 62, the content selected by the user among the contents displayed in the content display area 61 is displayed as the content of the playback candidate at the time of the slide show. The selected content is arranged from the left of the transmission list display area 62 in the selection order (= reproduction order), and the newly selected content is added to the end as needed. As a content selection method, for example, a drop-down menu including a “select” command may be displayed by right-clicking on an icon of a desired content, and the “select” command may be selected.

  In the transmission list display area 62, a playback position display line 64 is displayed as if it crosses the contents arranged in one direction (horizontal direction) in the order of selection. The playback position display line 64 and the position of the content are displayed. From the relationship, it can be easily confirmed which content is currently being played.

  Furthermore, by clicking the icon of the fast forward button 62a provided in the transmission list display area 62, the display content of the transmission list display area 62 can be moved to the left. Further, by clicking the icon of the rewind button 62b, the display contents of the transmission list display area 62 can be moved to the right. In this way, the positional relationship between the playback position display line 64 and the icon display of the content of the playback candidate can be changed, and the slide show can be fast forwarded or rewound by a simple operation. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, when the rewind button 62 b is operated so that the playback position display line 64 is put on “DSC0001.JPG”, the content played back by the television receiver 1 is moved forward by one. You can rewind to “DSC0001.JPG”.

  In the command display area 63, icons indicating various commands are displayed. In the example of FIG. 6, icons indicating commands of “music”, “setting”, “end”, and “pause” are prepared. In the present embodiment, by selecting the “music” command, it is possible to select a user's desired music as BGM at the time of still image content playback in a slide show.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a music selection screen displayed when the “music” command is selected. The music selection screen 70 includes a music display area 71, a transmission list display area 62, and a command display area 63. On the music selection screen 70, a “photo” command for transitioning to the photo selection screen 60 is displayed. The scroll bar 71a has the same function as the scroll bar 61a.

  Similar to the content display area, the music display area 71 displays music that can be selected by the user. In the example of FIG. 7, “Song 3.mp3” is selected from “Song 1.mp3”, “Song 2.mp3”, “Song 3.mp3”, and “Song 4.mp3” included in “Album A”. Selected example. A thick frame is displayed on the selected “Song 3.mp3” icon, and an “Song 3.mp3” icon is displayed at the end of the reproduction candidate list in the transmission list display area 62.

  The music selected on the music selection screen 70 is transmitted to the television receiver 1 at the playback time, and as BGM until the playback time of the content ends or the playback of another selected music starts. It is output from the speakers 1R and 1L of the television receiver 1. Or you may make it reproduce | regenerate as BGM until a series of slide shows are complete | finished.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the photo selection screen.

  The photo selection screen 60A shown in FIG. 8 is obtained when a predetermined time has passed since the photo selection screen 70 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed and “DSC00006.JPG” is selected as the content of the reproduction candidate. An example is shown. Each content arranged in the transmission list display area 62 as a slide show reproduction candidate flows (moves) from right to left as time passes. For example, in the example of FIG. 7, “DSC0001.JPG”, “DSC0005.JPG”, and “Song 3.mp3” are selected as playback candidates. In the example of FIG. ”,“ DSC0005.JPG ”, and“ Song 3.mp3 ”icons pass through the reproduction position display line 64, and the newly selected“ DSC0006.JPG ”is the content currently being reproduced.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing still another example of the photo selection screen.

  A photo selection screen 60B shown in FIG. 9 shows an example in which a content selection operation or the like is performed using a mouse cursor 61b, which is an example of the input unit 15. For example, the content selected by dragging one of the icons of the content arranged in the content display area 61 with the mouse cursor 61b and dropping it in the transmission list display area 62 is included in the reproduction candidate list. Conversely, by dragging an icon of an arbitrary content in the transmission list display area 62 and dropping it in the content display area 61, the selected content may be deleted from the reproduction candidate list.

  In addition, by dragging the mouse cursor 61b to the left or right while dragging in the transmission list display area 62, the same effect as clicking the fast forward button 62a icon or the rewind button 62b icon can be obtained. May be.

  Using such a mouse cursor 62b, operations such as selection / deletion of contents, fast-forwarding and rewinding of a slide show can be easily performed.

  Next, a processing example of the reproduction control unit 36 (see FIG. 2) will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  First, in step S1, it is confirmed whether or not the user has instructed the end of the slide show. For example, the user can instruct the playback control unit 36 to end by clicking the icon of the end button at the bottom of the photo selection screen 60 or the like. If no termination instruction has been given, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, it is confirmed whether there is unreproduced content in the reproduction candidate list in the transmission list display area 62 currently reproduced. This can be detected, for example, by checking the content overlapping the playback position display line 64 at every set time.

  This reproduction candidate list is created based on the content supplied from the content selection unit 34 or a playlist created in the past. Content can be supplied or deleted from the content selection unit 34 at any time by a user's operation. If content is added from the content selection unit 34, the content is added to the end of the reproduction candidate list. If there is a content deletion instruction, the content included in the list may be deleted. If all the contents included in the reproduction candidate list have been reproduced, the process returns to step S1. The processes of Step S1 and Step S2 are continued until the user gives an instruction to end the slide show or whether new content is added to the reproduction candidate list. If there is unreproduced content in the list, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, it is confirmed whether or not the next reproduction instruction time has been reached. The next playback instruction time is determined by the parameters set by the playback setting unit 37. For example, when 3 seconds is set as the interval setting, 3 seconds after the previous reproduction instruction time becomes the next reproduction instruction time. If the current time has not reached the next playback instruction time, the process returns to step S1. Eventually, unless the user gives an instruction to end the slide show or deletes the unreproduced content, the process waits until the next reproduction instruction time is reached. If the next reproduction instruction time has been reached, the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, unreproduced content information j that first appears in the reproduction candidate list is acquired. In the present embodiment, content is sequentially extracted from the beginning of the list of playback candidates and playback is instructed. For example, the first half of the playback candidate list is played content, and the second half is unplayed content. It has become. That is, there are contents that have passed through the reproduction position information line 64 and contents that have not passed. If unreproduced content information is acquired, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, based on the content information acquired in step S4, a content reproduction instruction is notified to the reproduction instruction unit 38. Upon receiving this instruction, the reproduction instruction unit 38 issues a reproduction instruction to the selected device on the home network, that is, the television receiver 1 in the present embodiment. Here, if an error occurs in the playback instruction and the playback instruction is not successful, a retry may be performed, or this procedure may be terminated. Alternatively, the user may be notified that the reproduction instruction has failed, and the process may proceed to the next step.

  In the subsequent step S6, the content for which the reproduction instruction has been issued is set as reproduced. As a result, the top of the unreproduced content in the latter half of the list is reproduced on the reproduction candidate list.

  In the following step S7, the next reproduction instruction time is set based on the time when the reproduction of the content is completed in step S5. This can be determined by the set time of the interval setting made by the reproduction setting unit 37.

  Through the above operation, one content is reproduced.

  Then, the process returns to step S1, and the content is sequentially played back until the user gives an instruction to end the slide show or there is no unplayed content in the playback candidate list. Further, even if there is no unreproduced content in the reproduction candidate list, the user selects and adds new content with the content selection unit 34, so that the reproduction instruction is continuously started. In parallel with the sequential playback, the content can be freely selected. If an instruction to end the slide show is given in step S1, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, for example, a dialog can be displayed to the user to inquire whether to save the reproduction candidate list. When not saving, this flowchart is complete | finished. In the case of saving, the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S9, based on the content information currently in the reproduction candidate list, the playlist management unit 35 is controlled to save the reproduction candidate list as a playlist.

  At this time, the user may freely set the name of the playlist, or a predetermined name may be automatically set. For example, like the playlist information 80, the name, creation date and time, and content information included in the list can be included. The saved playlist is managed by the playlist management unit 35 and is appropriately supplied to the content selection unit 34 so that the user can select it. Accordingly, a series of contents selected by the user in the past can be stored as a playlist, and the same series of contents can be easily reproduced later by using the playlist.

  Next, an example of content processing by the device selection unit 33, the content selection unit 34, and the playback setting unit 37 (see FIG. 3) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S11, the device selection unit 33 displays a device selection screen 40 (see FIG. 4) on the output unit 16, and allows the user to select a desired device. When the user selects a device, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the selected device (the television receiver 1 in this embodiment) is inquired about its performance and specifications, and information is acquired. This includes information such as what media format is supported. This media format also includes information such as whether the playlist is supported.

  In step S13, the content selection unit 34 displays the content selection screen 50 (see FIG. 5) on the output unit 16, and allows the user to select a new reproduction content or to select a playlist created in the past. Prompt. The playlist created in the past is acquired from the playlist management unit 35 and presented.

  In subsequent step 14, the reproduction setting unit 37 displays a reproduction setting screen 90 (see FIG. 11) on the output unit 16, and prompts the user to specify an effect, interval setting, and reproduction mode.

  In subsequent step S15, when a playlist is selected in step S13 and it is determined from the information of the playback device acquired in step S12 that the playback device has the capability of playback of the playlist, the process proceeds to step S17. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, if the playback device does not support playback of a playlist, or if the user has selected to create a new playback candidate list, the playback control unit 36 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In this way, it is instructed to sequentially reproduce the contents included in the reproduction candidate list.

  In step S17, since the playback device supports playback of the playlist, the playback control unit 36 instructs the playback instruction unit 37 to play back the playlist information 80 directly.

  At this time, by providing reproduction setting information such as effects made by the reproduction setting unit 37, the reproduction apparatus can perform reproduction as desired by the user. In addition, in the case of a program in which still images and music are included in the content and music flows in the background of the still image slide show playback, the music content information to be played in the background is added as the still image content playback setting information. It may be.

  Next, an example of content selection processing by the content selection unit 34 (see FIG. 3) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the user selects to newly select content to be reproduced on the content selection screen 50 (see FIG. 5), the content selection unit 34 displays a photo selection screen 60 as shown in FIG.

  For example, the upper part of the photo selection screen 60 is a content display area 61, in which content stored in the digital camera 4, in this case, a photo (still image) is displayed as an index.

  First, in step S21, when the user selects an arbitrary content displayed in the content display area 61, in step S22, the content selection unit 34 determines whether the content is newly selected or deselected. judge. If it is selected, the process proceeds to step S23. When the already selected content is selected again, the selection is canceled. In this case, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S23, processing for adding the selected content to the end of the reproduction candidate list managed by the reproduction control unit 36 is performed. For example, the lower part of the content display area 61 of the photo selection screen 60 is a transmission list display area 62, and a part of a list of reproduction candidates managed by the reproduction control unit 36 is displayed.

  When the content addition processing in step S23 is performed, the content is added to the end of the transmission list display area 62, in this case, the right end. In the transmission list display area 62, as time elapses, icons representing the contents, thumbnail images, etc. flow to the left, and it is possible to know which content is currently being played back by looking at the positional relationship with the playback position display line 64. ing.

  In step S24, a process for deleting the deselected content from the list of reproduction candidates managed by the reproduction control unit 36 is performed.

  By repeating the above operation, the content selection unit 34 can supply the content to be played back by the playback device to the playback control unit 36. Since the processing in this flowchart is performed in parallel with the playback processing in the playback control unit 36 and the playback instruction unit 38, the user operating the digital camera 4 is selecting a content to be displayed from among a large amount of content. The other viewers watching the television receiver 1 can enjoy the content that is sequentially played back in parallel.

  A button group (a plurality of icons) for reproduction control is arranged at the bottom of the photo selection screen 60. When the “music” button is clicked, the music content may be displayed in the content display area 71 as in the music selection screen 70 so that the user can select it. Even when music content is selected, the icon of the selected music content is added to the transmission list display area 62 as described above. In the case of music content, if it is made to flow in the background of photo content, a slideshow with music can be enjoyed.

  When the “Setting” button is clicked, the playback setting can be changed on the playback setting screen 90 (see FIG. 11), or when the “End” button is clicked, the playback control unit 36 can be instructed to end. Alternatively, when the “pause” button is clicked, the playback control unit 36 may be instructed to pause playback.

  Next, a processing example of the television receiver 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S31, it is determined whether a content playback instruction from the digital camera 4 has been received. If a content reproduction instruction has not been received, monitoring is continued until it is received.

  If a content playback instruction is received, in the subsequent step S32, it is monitored whether or not the content instructed to play is a playlist. If it is not a playlist, the process proceeds to step S33, whereas if it is a playlist, the process proceeds to S34.

  In step S33, preparation for reproducing the content instructed to be reproduced is made. For example, data acquisition of the content from the digital camera 4 may be started.

  In step S34, preparation for reproduction of the content included in the playlist instructed to reproduce is made. For example, data acquisition of the content from the digital camera 4 may be started.

  In the subsequent step S35, it is monitored whether or not a reproduction start instruction from the digital camera 4 has been received after the processes of step S33 and step S34 are completed. If a playback start instruction has not been received, monitoring is continued until it is received.

  When the reproduction start instruction is received, the reproduction of the content is started in the subsequent step S36. At this time, in the case of reproduction of a playlist, the contents included in the playlist may be reproduced sequentially.

  In the television receiver 1, when the content instructed to reproduce is a photograph (still image) and music, control may be performed so that the music flows in the background displaying the photograph (still image). . This makes it possible to enjoy a slide show with music.

  In the present embodiment, description has been given of playing back still image content and music content stored in the digital camera 4 on the television receiver 1, but slide show content may be stored in the personal computer 2. Absent.

  For example, still image content may be stored in the digital camera 4, and music content may be stored in the personal computer 2. At this time, the music content displayed in the content display area 71 on the music selection screen 70 can be viewed and acquired from the content stored in the personal computer 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, while confirming the display screen 4 a of the digital camera 4, the still image content is sent from the digital camera 4 to the television receiver 1 through the access point 3 and stored in the stereo component 100. It is also possible to operate the digital camera 4 to send the music content being sent to the television receiver 1 and cause the television receiver 1 to play a slide show with music.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 17, a media player 101 storing music content may be used instead of the digital camera 4. Music content stored in the media player 101 is used, and still image content stored in the personal computer 2 or the disk recording device 102 is used. The user may cause the television receiver 1 to play the slide show with music by operating while viewing the display screen 101 of the media player 101.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a content stored in a device on the network is viewed by a large number of people on another playback device, an appropriate timing is set in parallel with the content selection by the operator. Since it is possible to instruct the reproduction apparatus to sequentially reproduce the contents, the contents can be easily and easily enjoyed in parallel with the selection operation without organizing the contents in advance.

  In addition, a series of contents selected in the past can be separately stored as playlists, and these playlists can be selected later as slideshow contents. You can enjoy slideshows easily.

  In addition, when a still image and music are used as contents, it can be enjoyed as a slide show with music. Furthermore, for example, still image content can be instructed to be played back using a digital camera and music content on a personal computer or a stereo component. It is possible to realize a slide show with music desired by the user.

  The information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a digital camera, but can be applied to a personal computer, a portable information terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a cellular phone, a media player, and the like. Moreover, although the home network in this Embodiment was constructed | assembled using the radio | wireless, you may use a wire communication.

  In the above-described embodiment, the still image content (photograph) is taken as an example of the content that can be selected in the content display area 61 of the photo selection screen 60 (FIG. 6 and the like). It may be video content. In this case, moving images are mixed in the content to be reproduced in the slide show, and the slide show can be made more enjoyable than just still images.

It is a figure which shows an example of the home network structure to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of an internal structure of the digital camera which is an example of information processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a digital camera. It is a figure which shows the example of an apparatus selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a content selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a photograph selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a music selection screen. It is a figure which shows the other example of a photograph selection screen. It is a figure which shows the further another example of a photograph selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of play list information. It is a figure which shows the example of a reproduction | regeneration setting screen. It is a sequence which shows the example of a process of a reproduction | regeneration control part. It is a sequence which shows the example of a content reproduction process. It is a sequence which shows the example of a content selection process. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of a television receiver. It is explanatory drawing in the case of reproducing | regenerating a music content according to a still image content. It is explanatory drawing in the case of reproducing a still image content according to a music content. It is a sequence which shows the reproduction | regeneration processing of the conventional slide show.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Television receiver, 2 ... Personal computer, 3 ... Access point, 4 ... Digital camera, 31 ... Connection control part, 32 ... Equipment detection part, 33 ... Equipment selection part, 34 ... Content selection part, 35 ... Playlist Management unit 36 ... Playback control unit 37 ... Playback setting unit 38 ... Playback instruction unit 60 ... Photo selection screen 61 ... Content display area 62 ... Transmission list display area 63 ... Command display area 64 ... Playback position Display line 70 ... Music selection screen 71 71 Music display area 80 ... Playlist information 90 ... Playback setting screen

Claims (9)

A communication unit that can communicate with devices on the network;
A content selection unit for selecting content specified by the user;
A reproduction control unit that manages a plurality of contents selected by the content selection unit as reproduction candidates, and sequentially performs reproduction control according to a reproduction procedure set for the plurality of contents included in the reproduction candidates;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a reproduction instruction unit that sequentially transmits the content controlled to be reproduced by the reproduction control unit to devices on the network through the communication unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction control unit sequentially performs reproduction control on a plurality of contents included in the reproduction candidates at a predetermined time interval. The information processing unit according to claim 2, wherein the content selection unit displays a content display area for selecting a content in which a plurality of contents are arranged and a transmission list display area for arranging the plurality of reproduction candidate contents in a selection order. apparatus. The display control unit displays a reproduction position display line in the transmission list display area, and displays a currently reproduced content among a plurality of contents arranged in the selection order in the transmission list display area as the reproduction position display line. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is used. 5. The information according to claim 4, wherein the content selection unit arranges content specified from among a plurality of contents arranged in the content display area at the end of the contents arranged in the transmission list display area. Processing equipment. The content arranged in the content display area includes still images and music, and the playback control unit controls to play back the selected still images sequentially while playing back the music selected by the content selection unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5. A playlist management unit that manages the playback candidates managed by the playback control unit as a playlist;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction control unit transmits the playlist managed by the playlist management unit to a device on the network in response to an instruction from the content selection unit. In an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that transmits content to devices on a network,
Managing a plurality of contents selected by a user as reproduction candidates, and sequentially performing reproduction control according to a reproduction procedure set for the plurality of contents included in the reproduction candidates;
Sequentially transmitting the playback-controlled content to a device on the network through a communication unit. In a program for causing a computer to execute control processing of an information processing apparatus that transmits content to devices on a network,
A process of managing a plurality of contents selected by a user as playback candidates and sequentially performing playback control according to a playback procedure set for the plurality of contents included in the playback candidates;
Processing for sequentially transmitting the playback-controlled content to a device on the network through a communication unit.

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