JP2004104714A - Contents management apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speedily and reliably start carrying out processing having contents as a target. <P>SOLUTION: Video objects 107A to 107I composed of patterns corresponding to video of a television program are shown on a display part 6, and viewing objects 102A and 102B, a recording object 103, a still picture capture object 104 and a program information display object 105 corresponding respectively to a video display program, a recording program, a still picture capture program and a program information display program are shown on the display part 6. A user has only to relate a video object corresponding to a desired television program and an object (e.g., the viewing object 102A) corresponding to a program for carrying out desired processing to reliably start carrying out desired processing having the desired television program as the target. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content management device, and is suitably applied to, for example, a notebook personal computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, personal computers (notebook personal computers and desktop personal computers) that can receive various television programs by having a television tuner have begun to spread.
[0003]
As such a personal computer, for example, a video display process for displaying a video of a television program on a display unit in real time to allow a user to view the television program, a recording process for recording a television program, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide: Electric Program) (Guide) is displayed on a display unit. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002 135700 (Pages 4, 6, and 11, FIGS. 1 and 16)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a personal computer having such a configuration, for example, when a user watches a television program, the user is caused to perform a selection operation of selecting a video display process from a variety of processes via an operation input unit, and to select a television program to be viewed. (For example, the name of a television program, a channel number, etc.) for specifying the
[0006]
As a result, there is a problem that a considerable time is required from when the user desires to view the television program to when the video display processing for the television program is started.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has as its object to realize a content management apparatus capable of starting execution of processing for content quickly and reliably.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, a display means for displaying a video object having a pattern corresponding to a video of a content and displaying a program activation object associated with the content processing program, Detecting means for detecting that the starting object has been associated, and processing the content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detecting means with a content processing program corresponding to the program starting object whose association has been detected by the detecting means And processing means for performing the processing.
[0009]
The user simply performs the operation of associating the video object corresponding to the desired content with the program activation object associated with the program for executing the desired process, and performs the desired process targeting the desired content. Execution can be reliably started.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
(1) Configuration of notebook personal computer
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook personal computer) as a whole, and a memory 3 as a work area is provided to a control unit 2 for controlling the notebook personal computer 1 overall. It is connected.
[0012]
Actually, the control unit 2 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2A and a North Bridge 2B for controlling the CPU 2A, the memory 3, and the like.
[0013]
The control unit 2 includes a moving picture experts group (MPEG) encoder 5 via a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus 4, a display control unit 7 for controlling a display unit 6 including a liquid crystal display, and an IEEE (Institute of Institute). In accordance with the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (1394) specification, an IEEE 1394 interface 8 for connecting to an external device (not shown), a PC card interface 9 for inserting a PC card having a wireless communication function, and a south bridge (South Bridge) 10 are provided. Is connected.
[0014]
A hard disk drive (Hard Disk Drive) 11, a Bluetooth module 12 for providing a wireless communication function conforming to Bluetooth, and a memory stick (trademark of Sony Corporation) are inserted into the south bridge 10. Memory interface 13 for connection to an external device (not shown) based on the USB (Universal Serial Bus) specification, an operation input control unit 16 for controlling the operation input unit 15, an Internet or LAN ( A network interface 17 for connecting to an external network such as a local area network is connected.
[0015]
The operation input unit 15 includes a keyboard 15A, a touch pad 15B functioning as a pointing device, a left button 15C, and a right button 15D (these correspond to a left click button and a right click button of a general mouse). . The user can perform a moving operation of a pointer (to be described later) displayed on the display unit 6 by moving the finger while the finger is in contact with the touch pad 15B.
[0016]
The notebook computer 1 is connected to a terrestrial broadcast receiving antenna (not shown). For example, the notebook personal computer 1 receives a television broadcast wave transmitted from a terrestrial broadcast station (not shown) via the terrestrial broadcast receiving antenna. When fetched into the inside, the fetched television broadcast wave is input to each of the first television tuner 18A, the second television tuner 18B, and the third television tuner 18C.
[0017]
Each of the first television tuner 18A, the second television tuner 18B, and the third television tuner 18C individually performs predetermined channel selection processing and demodulation processing on the television broadcast wave based on an instruction individually given from the control unit 2. To generate the television signals S1A, S1B, S1C corresponding to the channel numbers based on the instruction, and convert the generated television signals S1A, S1B, S1C into the first video decoder 19A and the second video decoder 19B, respectively. And the third video decoder 19C.
[0018]
Each of the first video decoder 19A, the second video decoder 19B, and the third video decoder 19C performs a predetermined decoding process on the television signals S1A, S1B, S1C based on an instruction individually given from the control unit 2. By executing, the video signals S2A, S2B, and S2C are respectively generated.
[0019]
The control unit 2 controls the first video decoder 19A, the second video decoder 19B, and the third video decoder 19C by individually controlling the first video decoder 19A, the second video decoder 19B, and the third video decoder 19C. The video signals S2A, S2B, S2C generated in each case are input to the MPEG encoder 5 or the display control unit 7.
[0020]
For example, the control unit 2 inputs the three types of video signals S2A, S2B, and S2C to the display control unit 7 to display the images of the three types of television programs based on the video signals S2A, S2B, and S2C. 6 can be displayed simultaneously.
[0021]
When the three types of video signals S2A, S2B, and S2C are input to the MPEG encoder 5, the control unit 2 controls the MPEG encoder 5 to control the three types of video signals S2A, S2B, and S2C. By executing a compression coding process or the like based on the MPEG system, compressed video data D1A, D1B, D1C are generated, and the generated video data D1A, D1B, D1C are recorded on the hard disk drive 11, for example. Has been done.
[0022]
On the other hand, the hard disk drive 11 includes a basic program, a video display program for displaying a television program on the display unit 6 in real time to allow the user to view the television program, a recording program for recording the television program, and a television program. Still image capture program for extracting a scene at a given point in time from a video as a still image, and program information of a television program broadcasted or to be broadcasted up to now (for example, information on the contents of a television program and performers) Various programs such as a program information display program for displaying a TV program and a TV program management program described later are stored in advance.
[0023]
The control unit 2 appropriately reads out these various programs stored in the hard disk drive 11 via the south bridge 10 and the PCI bus 4, and develops these in the memory 3 to control each circuit unit in the notebook personal computer 1 to perform various The processing is performed.
[0024]
For example, when the control unit 2 recognizes through the operation input unit 15 that a recording operation for recording a television program of a user-desired channel number has been performed, the control unit 2 executes a recording process of recording the television program according to the recording program. .
[0025]
In practice, at this time, the control unit 2 sequentially generates, for example, the television signal S1A and the video signal S2A corresponding to the channel number desired by the user by controlling the first television tuner 18A and the first video decoder 19A. After input to the MPEG encoder 5, the video data D 1 A is generated by controlling the MPEG encoder 5 and recorded on the hard disk drive 11.
[0026]
When the control unit 2 recognizes that a still image capture operation for obtaining one scene as a still image from the video of the television program of the user's desired channel number has been performed via the operation input unit 15, the still image capture program , A still image capture process of recording the still image of one scene on the hard disk drive 11 is executed.
[0027]
In practice, at this time, the control unit 2 controls the second TV tuner 18B and the second video decoder 19B, for example, only at the time of recognizing that the still image capture operation has been performed. The television signal S1B and the video signal S2B are sequentially generated for only one still image.
[0028]
The control unit 2 controls the MPEG encoder 5 while inputting the video signal S2B for one still image to the MPEG encoder 5 to generate video data D1B for one still image, and outputs the video data D1B for one still image. 11 is recorded.
[0029]
When the control unit 2 recognizes that the program information display operation for displaying the program information of the television program desired by the user has been performed via the operation input unit 15, the control unit 2 executes the program information of the television program according to the program information display program. Is displayed on the display unit 6.
[0030]
Actually, at this time, the control unit 2 controls, for example, the network interface 17 to connect to the Internet (not shown), and then sends the EPG data to an EPG distribution server (not shown) for distributing EPG data via the Internet. By accessing, the user acquires EPG data corresponding to the television program desired by the user, and displays the program information of the television program on the display unit 6 based on the acquired EPG data.
[0031]
(2) TV program management processing
The control unit 2 executes a television program management process when a television program management program is started by performing a predetermined operation via the operation input unit 15. That is, the control unit 2 enters from the step SP1 of the television program management processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 2 and moves to the next step SP2.
[0032]
In step SP2, the control unit 2 displays, for example, a television program management screen 100 as shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 6, and proceeds to the next step SP3.
[0033]
On the television program management screen 100, a grid-like thumbnail display frame 101 is displayed at the upper center, and a reduced image for displaying the image of the television program in a reduced size is displayed inside the thumbnail display frame 101. Display areas 101A to 101I are set.
[0034]
On both sides of the thumbnail display frame 101, viewing objects 102A and 102B for starting the video display program are displayed as icons. On the lower side of the TV program management screen 100, a recording object 103 for starting a recording program, a still image capture object 104 for starting a still image capture program, and a program information display for starting a program information display program are displayed. Each of the objects 105 is displayed as an icon.
[0035]
In addition, on the television program management screen 100, there is a pointer 106 that is moved and displayed in accordance with the moving operation when the moving operation is performed via the touch pad 15B of the operation input unit 15, and the viewing object is displayed by the pointer 106. Various objects such as 102A and 102B, a recording object 103, a still image capture object 104, and a program information display object 105 are selected.
[0036]
In step SP3, the control unit 2 starts execution of a drag-and-drop operation detection process, which will be described later, and starts execution of a thumbnail generation process, so that, for example, as shown in FIG. For each of 101I, video objects 107A￣107I having one scene as a picture in each video of a plurality of types of television programs currently being broadcast are displayed as icons, and the flow proceeds to next step SP4.
[0037]
In step SP4, the control unit 2 waits for an end operation for ending the television program management process. If a positive result is obtained here, this means that the end operation is performed via the operation input unit 15. Has been performed, and the routine goes to the next step SP5.
[0038]
In step SP5, the control unit 2 ends the thumbnail generation processing and the drag-and-drop operation detection processing, moves to the next step SP6, and ends the television program management processing.
[0039]
(2-1) Drag and drop operation detection processing
Here, first, the drag-and-drop operation detection process started to be executed in step SP3 of the television program management process procedure RT1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0040]
The control unit 2 enters from step SP10 of the drag-and-drop operation detection processing procedure RT2, and in the next step SP11, determines whether or not the left button 15C of the operation input unit 15 has been pressed. If a positive result is obtained, this means that the left button 15C has been pressed, and the routine goes to the next step SP12.
[0041]
In step SP12, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the pointer 106 on the television program management screen 100 is positioned over any of the video objects 107A to 107I when the left button 15C is pressed in step SP11. If a negative result is obtained, the process returns to step SP11 and waits for the left button 15C to be pressed again.
[0042]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP12, this means that the pointer 106 on the television program management screen 100 is positioned over any of the video objects 107A to 107I. When the control unit 2 recognizes that the place where the pointer 106 was located was on the video object 107A corresponding to the television program “Good morning news” of the channel number “1”, the control unit 2 proceeds to the next step SP13.
[0043]
In step SP13, the control unit 2 temporarily stores the channel number “1” corresponding to the video object 107A in the memory 3 as the first attribute information, and returns to step SP11.
[0044]
In the second step SP11, the control unit 2 determines again whether or not the left button 15C has been pressed, and if a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that the left button 15C has been continuously pressed or not. This means that the pressing operation of the button 15C has been completed or that the pressing operation of the left button 15C has not been performed yet, and the process proceeds to step SP14.
[0045]
In step SP14, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the left button 15C is continuously pressed. If a positive result is obtained, this indicates that the left button 15C is continuously pressed. Means that the video object 107A is being dragged by the pointer 106, and the routine goes to the next step SP15.
[0046]
At this time, the control unit 2 displays the situation where the video object 107A is held by the pointer 106 as shown in FIG. Is made to be recognized.
[0047]
In step SP15, the control unit 2 continues to store the first attribute information in the memory 3 without deleting it, and returns to step SP11 again.
[0048]
In the third step SP11, the control unit 2 again determines whether or not the left button 15C has been pressed, and if a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that the left button 15C has been continuously pressed or not. This means that the pressing operation of the button 15C has been completed or that the pressing operation of the left button 15C has not been performed yet, and the process proceeds to step SP14.
[0049]
In the second step SP14, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the left button 15C is continuously depressed. If a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that the left button 15C has been depressed. Has been completed, or the left button 15C has not been pressed yet, and the routine goes to the next step SP16.
[0050]
In step SP16, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the pressing operation of the left button 15C has been completed. If a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that the pressing operation of the left button 15C is still performed. This means that there is no operation, and the flow returns to step SP11 to wait for the pressing operation of the left button 15C.
[0051]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP16, this indicates that the pressing operation of the left button 15C has ended, that is, the video object 107A has been dropped by the pointer 106 at an arbitrary position on the TV program management screen 100 by the user. This means that the procedure goes to the next step SP17.
[0052]
In step SP17, when the pressing operation of the left button 15C is completed, the control unit 2 determines that the pointer 106 is positioned above any one of the viewing objects 102A and 102B, the recording object 103, the still image capture object 104, and the program information display object 105. It is determined whether or not the video object 107A is located on the program information display object 105, for example, as shown in FIG. If it is determined that the video object 107A has been dropped on the program information display object 105 (the video object 107A and the program information display object 105 overlap), the process proceeds to the next step SP18.
[0053]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step SP17 that the pointer 106 is not positioned on any of the viewing objects 102A and 102B, the recording object 103, the still image capture object 104, and the program information display object 105, the control unit 2 moves to step SP19.
[0054]
In step SP18, the control unit 2 temporarily stores the program name “program information display program” of the program corresponding to the program information display object 105 (that is, the program information display program) in the memory 3 as the second attribute information. The processing shifts to subroutine SRT1 to start execution of the startup processing.
[0055]
As described above, the control unit 2 performs the drag operation and the drop operation (that is, the drag and drop operation) via the operation input unit 15 to thereby display the video object 107A corresponding to the channel number “1” and the program information display. Upon recognizing the association with the object 105, the attribute information of the video object 107A (that is, the channel number “1”) is temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the first attribute information, and the attribute information of the program information display object 105 is stored. (That is, the program name “program information display program”) is temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information.
[0056]
Here, the control unit 2 enters from the step SP20 of the start-up procedure SRT1 shown in FIG. 6 and moves to the next step SP21.
[0057]
In step SP21, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the program name temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information is "video display program". Is not a "video display program" but a "program information display program", the process moves to the next step SP22.
[0058]
In step SP21, for example, if the program name temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information is "video display program", the control unit 2 proceeds to the next step SP23. Then, in step SP23, the control unit 2 performs video display processing on the television program “Good morning news” corresponding to the channel number “1” temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the first attribute information in accordance with the video display program. As shown in FIG. 9, an image of the television program "Good morning news" is displayed on the viewing object 102A in real time.
[0059]
In step SP22, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the program name temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information is “recording program”. If it is not the “recording program” but the “program information display program”, the process moves to the next step SP24.
[0060]
In step SP22, for example, if the program name temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information is “recording program”, the control unit 2 proceeds to the next step SP25. Then, in step SP25, the control unit 2 records the television program "Good morning news" corresponding to the channel number "1" temporarily stored in the memory as the first attribute information according to the recording program.
[0061]
In step SP24, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the program name temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information is a "still image capture program". If the program name is not the "still image capture program" but the "program information display program", the process moves to the next step SP26.
[0062]
In step SP24, for example, if the program name temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information is “still image capture program”, the control unit 2 proceeds to the next step SP27. Then, in step SP27, the control unit 2 performs a still image capturing process on the television program “Good morning news” corresponding to the channel number “1” temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the first attribute information in accordance with the still image capturing program. One scene of the television program "Good morning news" is recorded on the hard disk drive 11 as a still image.
[0063]
In step SP26, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the program name temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the second attribute information is a "program information display program". If the program name is "program information display program", the process moves to the next step SP28.
[0064]
In step SP28, the control unit 2 performs a program information display process on the television program “Good morning news” corresponding to the channel number “1” temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the first attribute information according to the program information display program. For example, a program information sub-screen 120 describing the program information of the television program “Good morning news” as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 6, and thereafter, the process proceeds to the next step SP 29, where the start-up processing is completed, and The procedure returns to step SP19 of the drop operation detection processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 5).
[0065]
Then, in step SP19, the control unit 2 erases the first and second attribute information temporarily stored in the memory 3, and proceeds to step SP11 to wait for a new press operation of the left button 15C. It has been made.
[0066]
As described above, when the channel number “1” and the program name “program information display program” are temporarily stored in the memory 3 as the first attribute information and the second attribute information, the control unit 2 sets the channel number “1”. The TV program "Good morning news" corresponding to "" is processed according to a program information display program.
[0067]
(2-2) Thumbnail generation processing
Next, in step SP3 of the television program management processing procedure RT1, the thumbnail generation processing started to be executed together with the above-described drag-and-drop operation detection processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13.
[0068]
That is, the control unit 2 enters from the step SP30 of the thumbnail generation processing procedure RT3 shown in FIG. 11 and moves to the next subroutine SRT2 to execute the channel initialization processing. That is, the control unit 2 enters from the step SP40 of the channel initialization processing procedure SRT2 shown in FIG. 12, and proceeds to the next step SP41.
[0069]
In step SP41, the control unit 2 increments the channel number counter I (here, I is a variable) in which “0” is set in advance as an initial setting value, thereby giving “1” to the channel number counter I. Is set, and the routine goes to the next step SP42.
[0070]
In step SP42, the control unit 2 controls any one of the first television tuner 18A, the second television tuner 18B, and the third television tuner 18C to set the channel number “1” corresponding to the set value “1” of the channel number counter I. Is performed to determine whether a television signal can be detected at the channel number "1". If a negative result is obtained, this means that the channel number counter This means that the television program is not being broadcast on the channel number “1” corresponding to the set value “1” of I, and the routine goes to step SP44.
[0071]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP42, this means that, for example, the television program “Good morning news” is being broadcast on the channel number “1” corresponding to the set value “1” of the channel number counter I. At this time, the control unit 2 moves to the next step SP43.
[0072]
In step SP43, the control unit 2 determines, for example, the reduced video display area 101A of the reduced video display areas 101A to 101I on the television program management screen 100 (FIG. 3) and the channel number “TV broadcast“ Ohayo News ”. Information that associates "1" is generated, the generated information is written in the thumbnail generation definition file, and the routine goes to the next step SP44.
[0073]
Here, the thumbnail generation definition file is, for example, a text file stored and saved in the hard disk drive 11 in advance, and each of the channel numbers of a plurality of channels for which the broadcast of the television program has been confirmed and the reduced image display area 101A. The information for associating each of the # 101Is with each other is described.
[0074]
In step SP44, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the set value of the channel number counter I is “62”, and if a negative result is obtained here, this means that all the 62 channel numbers have been set. Means that the user has not finished checking whether or not the television program is being broadcasted. At this time, the processing proceeds to step SP41 and the above-described processing is repeated. Check if is broadcast.
[0075]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP44, it is confirmed whether or not the television program is being broadcast for all of the 62 channel numbers. As a result, the broadcast of the television program is confirmed. Means that the information that associates each of the plurality of channel numbers with each of the reduced video display areas 101A to 101I in a one-to-one manner has been written in the thumbnail generation definition file. At this time, the control unit 2 Then, the procedure goes to step SP45, and the channel initialization processing procedure SRT2 ends, and the processing returns to step SP31 of the thumbnail generation processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 11).
[0076]
In step SP31, the control unit 2 refers to the thumbnail generation definition file, selects, for example, arbitrarily one channel number “1” from among the plurality of channel numbers described in the thumbnail generation definition file, and displays the selected channel number as an image. It recognizes the object as an object to be displayed, and moves to the next subroutine SRT3 to execute a video object display process. That is, the control unit 2 enters from the step SP50 of the video object display processing procedure SRT3 shown in FIG. 13 and moves to the next step SP51.
[0077]
In step SP51, the control unit 2 controls the first television tuner 18A, the first video decoder 19A, and the MPEG encoder 5, for example, to correspond to the channel number “1” recognized as the video object display target in step SP31. One scene at the present time is obtained as a still image from the video of the television program “Good Morning News”, and the flow advances to the next step SP52.
[0078]
In step SP52, the control unit 2 performs a predetermined image processing process on the still image of the television program “Good morning news” corresponding to the channel number “1” so that the user can recognize the channel number “1”. Is synthesized with the still image, and a predetermined object generation process is performed on the synthesized still image, thereby generating a video object 107A having the still image as a pattern as shown in FIG. 14, for example. Then, the procedure goes to the next step SP53.
[0079]
In step SP53, the control unit 2 recognizes the reduced video display area 101A associated with the channel number “1” by referring to the thumbnail generation definition file, and then displays the television program “Good morning” on the reduced video display area 101A. The video object 107A of "news" is displayed, and the process moves to the next step SP54, ends the video object display processing procedure SRT3, and returns to step SP32 of the thumbnail generation processing procedure RT3.
[0080]
In step SP32, the control unit 2 determines whether or not all the channel numbers described in the thumbnail generation definition file have been recognized as the video object display targets. If a negative result is obtained here, this control is performed. This means that not all channel numbers described in the thumbnail generation definition file are recognized as video object display targets, and at this time, the process returns to step SP31 and repeats the above-described processing.
[0081]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP32, this means that, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a plurality of types of video objects 107A サ ム ネ イ ル 107I corresponding to all channel numbers described in the thumbnail generation definition file are set. This indicates that the display has been completed on the television program management screen 100, and at this time, the routine goes to Step SP33.
[0082]
In this way, the control unit 2 displays a plurality of types of video objects 107A to 107I each having a picture corresponding to each video of a plurality of types of television programs currently being broadcast on the display unit 6, thereby providing the user with Thus, the contents of a plurality of types of television programs can be easily examined.
[0083]
In step SP33, the control unit 2 determines via the operation input unit 15 whether or not a thumbnail batch update operation for batch updating all the video objects 107A to 107I in the thumbnail display frame 101 has been performed. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the thumbnail batch update operation has been performed, and the routine goes to step SP31 described above. Then, the control unit 2 repeats the processing of step SP31-subroutine SRT3-step SP32 again based on the information described in the thumbnail generation definition file, so that all the video objects 107A￣107I in the thumbnail display frame 101 are processed. The design is adapted to correspond to the latest video of a plurality of types of television programs.
[0084]
On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP33, this means that the thumbnail batch update operation has not been performed, and at this time, the control unit 2 moves to the next step SP34.
[0085]
In step SP34, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the image display process is being executed according to the image display program. If a negative result is obtained here, the process returns to step SP33.
[0086]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP34, this means that some television program (for example, the television program “Good morning news” corresponding to channel number “1”) is viewed by the viewing object 102A or 102B (for example, the viewing object 102A). ) Means that the display is being performed, and at this time, the control unit 2 proceeds to the next step SP35.
[0087]
In step SP35, the control unit 2 determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed after starting to display the video object 107A of the television program "Good morning news" on the thumbnail display frame 101. When the result is obtained, the process moves to step SP33 described above.
[0088]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP35, this means that a predetermined period has elapsed, and the current scene of the television program “Good morning news” displayed in real time on the viewing object 102A and the video object 107A Means that there is a high possibility that the pattern does not significantly correspond to the contents. At this time, the control unit 2 proceeds to the subroutine SRT4, and performs the video object display processing (FIG. 13) in the above-described subroutine SRT3. The same processing is performed.
[0089]
That is, in the subroutine SRT4, the control unit 2 executes a video object display process to generate a new video object 107 having a pattern of a still image of the latest scene of the television program “Good morning news” corresponding to the channel number “1”. After that, the generated new video object 107 is replaced with the previous video object 107 and displayed, and the process returns to step SP33.
[0090]
In this way, the control unit 2 can always allow the user to recognize that the television program “Good morning news” displayed on the viewing object 102A in real time corresponds to the video object 107. I have.
[0091]
(3) Operation and effect
In the above configuration, when the TV program management program is started by performing a predetermined operation via the operation input unit 15, the control unit 2 displays a pattern corresponding to the video of a plurality of types of TV programs currently being broadcast. Are displayed on the display unit 6 and the viewing objects 102A and 102B associated with the video display program, the recording program, the still image capture program, and the program information display program, and the recording object 103, the still image capture object 104 and the program information display object 105 are displayed on the display unit 6.
[0092]
Thus, by visually recognizing the picture of the video object 107A @ 107I, the user can easily specify the video object 107A of the television program to be viewed (for example, the television program "Good morning news" corresponding to the channel number "1"). Can be.
[0093]
When the control unit 2 recognizes that the video object 107A and the viewing object 102A are associated with each other by performing a drag-and-drop operation via the operation input unit 15, for example, the TV program “ By performing video display processing of “Good Morning News” according to a video display program associated with the viewing object 102, the video of the TV program “Good Morning News” is displayed on the display unit 6 in real time.
[0094]
In this way, the user can reliably perform the video display processing of the television program “Good morning news” that he / she wants to view only by performing the operation of associating the video object 107A with the viewing object 102A.
[0095]
According to the above configuration, the user can easily specify the video object corresponding to the desired television program by visually recognizing the picture of each of the plurality of types of video objects 107A to 107I, and can specify the specified video image. By simply performing an operation of associating an object with an object (in this case, the viewing object 102A) associated with a program (in this case, a video display program) for executing a desired process (for example, a video display process), Execution of the desired processing for such a desired television program can be reliably started. As a result, it is possible to promptly start execution of a desired process for a desired television program.
[0096]
(4) Other embodiments
In the above-described embodiment, for example, by performing a drag-and-drop operation, the video object 107A of the television program “Good morning news” is dragged, and then the video object 107A is dropped on the viewing object 102A. Although the case where the video display processing of the television program “Good morning news” is described as an opportunity has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. After the viewing object 102A is dragged, the viewing object 102A is displayed on the television program “Good morning news”. When the video program 107A is dropped on the video object 107A, the TV program "Good morning news" may be processed for video display. As described above, after any one of the viewing objects 102A and 102B, the recording object 103, the still image capture object 104, and the program information display object 105 is dragged and dropped on any of the video objects 107A to 107I, A television program corresponding to the video object at the drop destination may be processed by a program corresponding to the dragged object.
[0097]
In the above-described embodiment, when the thumbnail batch update operation is performed (step SP33 (FIG. 11)), all the video objects 107A to 107I in the thumbnail display frame 101 are updated collectively (step SP31-subroutine SRT3- Although the case where step SP32 is repeated) has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and after a predetermined period has elapsed, all the video objects 107A to 107I in the thumbnail display frame 101 are automatically updated collectively (step SP31-subroutine SRT3). -Repeat of step SP32). If the video objects 107A to 107I are sequentially updated in this way, the user can appropriately view the latest video of a plurality of types of television programs currently being broadcast. thing It can be.
[0098]
At this time, even if the control unit 2 occupies the first TV tuner 18A and the first video decoder in order to automatically update the video objects 107A to 107I in the thumbnail display frame 101, the remaining second TV tuner 18B and Since the second video decoder, the third TV tuner 18C, and the third video decoder can be used, it is possible to simultaneously execute various other processes using the TV tuner, such as video display processing and recording processing.
[0099]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, after the video object 107A of the television program “Good morning news” is dragged by, for example, a drag-and-drop operation, the control unit 2 places the video object 107A on the viewing object 102A. Has been described, the video object 107A and the viewing object 102A are associated and recognized. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the video object 107A of the television program "Good morning news" is clicked (that is, the video object 107A is clicked). When the viewing object 102A is clicked after the (designation), the video object 107A and the viewing object 102A may be associated and recognized.
[0100]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a video object having a picture of a currently broadcast television program as a picture is displayed on the display unit 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Displays video objects having images of various other contents, such as recorded television programs, contents such as movies recorded on a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or video tape, contents distributed via the Internet, and the like. The content may be displayed on the section 6 and a video display process, a still image capture process, or the like may be performed on these various contents corresponding to the video object.
[0101]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, for example, the operation of associating the video object 107A with the viewing object 102A (ie, drag and drop) via the operation input unit 15 including the keyboard 15A, the touch pad 15B, the left button 15C, and the right button 15D. Although the case where the drop operation is performed has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the video object 107A and the viewing object 102A are associated with each other via various other devices such as a touch screen (Touch Screen). The operation may be performed.
[0102]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to the notebook personal computer 1 as a content management apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a desktop personal computer, a video tape recorder, The present invention may be applied to various content management devices other than those that execute processing related to content, such as a satellite (Satelite) tuner device or a television.
[0103]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the viewing objects 102A and 102B, the recording object 103, and the still image capture object associated with the content processing programs such as the video display program, the recording program, the still image capture program, and the program information display program. Although a case has been described in which the display unit 6 including a liquid crystal display is applied as a display unit that displays a program activation object such as the program information display object 104 and the program information display object 105, the present invention is not limited to this. Tube) display or the like may be applied as the display means.
[0104]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the control unit 2 or the like executing the television program management program is applied as a detection unit for detecting that the video object and the program activation object are associated with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) or the like may be applied as the detection means.
[0105]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the processing means for processing the content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection means with the content processing program corresponding to the program activation object whose association has been detected by the detection means, The case where the control unit 2 or the like that executes the program management program is applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an MPU or the like may be applied as a processing unit.
[0106]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the control unit 2 or the like that executes a television program management program is applied as a picture updating unit that sequentially updates the picture of a video object based on a video of a content. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an MPU or the like may be applied as the picture updating means.
[0107]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the display control unit 7 is applied as the display control unit that displays the video object and the program activation object on the display unit in a superimposed state has been described. Not limited to this, a video card or the like may be applied as the display control means.
[0108]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the display unit 6 is applied as the video display unit for displaying the video of the content and the accompanying information display unit for displaying the accompanying information of the content (that is, the program information). The present invention is not limited to this, and a television or the like may be applied as the image display means and the accompanying information display means.
[0109]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the hard disk drive 11 is applied as a storage unit that stores a video of a content. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a semiconductor memory, a video tape, or the like is applied as a storage unit. You may do it.
[0110]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the TV program management program as the content management program is installed in advance on the hard disk drive 11 of the notebook computer 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the TV program management program is not limited to this. The TV program management program is installed by reproducing a program storage medium, such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), or a DVD-ROM (Digital Video Disc Read Only Memory), in which a DVD is stored. The TV program management program may be temporarily or permanently stored by reproducing a program storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a magneto-optical disk. It may be installed the management program.
[0111]
As a means for storing the television program management program in these program storage media as the content management program storage medium, a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network or digital satellite broadcast may be used. The data may be stored via various communication interfaces.
[0112]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the user only needs to perform an operation of associating a video object corresponding to a desired content with a program activation object associated with a program for executing a desired process. Thus, it is possible to reliably start executing a desired process for the content. Thus, it is possible to promptly start execution of a desired process for a desired content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a notebook personal computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a television program management processing procedure.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program management screen (1).
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program management screen (2).
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a drag-and-drop operation detection process.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a startup processing procedure.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program management screen (3).
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program management screen (4).
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a television program management screen (5).
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a television program management screen (6).
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a thumbnail generation processing procedure.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a channel initial setting processing procedure;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a video object display processing procedure.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a video object.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 notebook computer, 2 control unit, 6 display unit, RT1 TV program management processing procedure, RT2 drag-and-drop operation detection processing procedure, RT3 thumbnail generation processing procedure.

Claims (10)

Display means for displaying a video object having a picture corresponding to the video of the content, and displaying a program activation object associated with the content processing program;
Detecting means for detecting that the video object and the program activation object are associated with each other;
Processing means for processing the content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection means with the content processing program corresponding to the program starting object whose association has been detected by the detection means. Characteristic content management device. 2. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a picture updating unit that sequentially updates the picture of the video object based on the video of the content. When the detecting means detects that the video object and the program starting object are associated with each other, a display control means is provided for displaying the video object and the program starting object on the display means in a superimposed state. The content management device according to claim 1, wherein: The processing means includes:
The content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection means is processed by the content processing program corresponding to the program activation object whose association has been detected by the detection means, whereby the video of the content is processed. 2. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content management apparatus displays the content on a predetermined video display unit. The processing means includes:
The content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection means is processed by the content processing program corresponding to the program activation object whose association has been detected by the detection means, whereby the video of the content is processed. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein any one scene is extracted from the content management apparatus. The processing means includes:
The content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection means is processed by the content processing program corresponding to the program activation object whose association has been detected by the detection means, whereby the video of the content is processed. The content management device according to claim 1, wherein the content management device stores the content in a predetermined storage unit. The processing means includes:
By processing the content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection means with the content processing program corresponding to the program starting object whose association has been detected by the detection means, the accompanying information of the content is obtained. The content management device according to claim 1, wherein the content management device displays the information on a predetermined accompanying information display means. A display step of displaying, on a predetermined display means, a video object having a pattern corresponding to the video of the content, and displaying a program activation object associated with the content processing program;
A detecting step of detecting that the video object and the program activation object are associated with each other;
Processing the content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection step with the content processing program corresponding to the program activation object whose association has been detected by the detection step. Characteristic content management method. In the content management device,
A display step of displaying, on a predetermined display means, a video object having a pattern corresponding to the video of the content, and displaying a program activation object associated with the content processing program;
A detecting step of detecting that the video object and the program activation object are associated with each other;
Processing the content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection step with the content processing program corresponding to the program activation object whose association has been detected by the detection step. Content management program. In the content management device,
A display step of displaying, on a predetermined display means, a video object having a pattern corresponding to the video of the content, and displaying a program activation object associated with the content processing program;
A detecting step of detecting that the video object and the program activation object are associated with each other;
Processing the content corresponding to the video object whose association has been detected by the detection step with the content processing program corresponding to the program activation object whose association has been detected by the detection step. A storage medium for storing a content management program for executing a content management program as a feature.

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