Reproducing arrangement having an overview reproducing mode

[0001] [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention is a playback device that reproduces a stored film scene in the overview playback mode of the playback device, and is a playback device for audio / video data of a film that can be played back at a normal playback speed during the film playback time. Having random access memory means for the storage, at least two scenes of the stored film are continuously played by the playback device at the normal or high speed playback speed in the overview playback mode. A skip scene that is recorded between two scenes and is playable at the normal playback speed during the skip playback time interval is not played back in the overview playback mode, said over of the playback device. It has a mode means for activating the view playback mode, and in the overview playback mode of the playback device, the scene from the scene start position during the scene playback time of the stored audio / video data of the film. The present invention relates to a reproduction device having a reproduction means configured to reproduce at the normal reproduction speed up to the end position. [0002] The present invention relates to an overview reproduction method for reproducing a stored film scene in an overview reproduction mode of a reproduction device that executes the overview reproduction method. -The step of playing the stored audio / video data of the film at normal playback speed during the film playback time, and -In the step of continuously playing back at least two scenes of the stored film during the film playback time interval while the playback device is in the overview playback mode at the normal or high speed playback speed. Therefore, each of the reproduced scenes is reproduced from the scene start position to the scene end position during the scene reproduction time, and is recorded between the two scenes, and during the skip reproduction time interval, the normal The skip scene that can be reproduced at the reproduction speed has a step that is not reproduced in the overview reproduction mode. [0003] [Conventional technology] Such a playback device and such an overview playback method are described in Publication EP 0 724 211. Known from A2. This known reproduction device is formed by a computer that executes software for reproducing a stored film scene according to an overview reproduction method. A large-capacity storage device formed by a computer server stores audio / video data of a large number of films. [0004] This known overview playback method allows a user (eg, a journalist) to get a quick overview of the contents of a film stored on a computer server. For this purpose, the user can specify a start time point, a scene playback time interval, and a skip playback time interval. As a result, the reproduction means of the reproduction device stores the scene selected by the user of the stored film between the scenes to be reproduced.<u style="single">Has been</u>Play with the skip scene omitted. [0005] If the user specifies that the scene playback time interval is 5 seconds and the skip playback time interval is 9 minutes 55 seconds, in the overview playback mode, a scene with a length of 5 seconds every 10 minutes of film playback time is displayed on the computer. Played by. Thus, for a film with a film playback time of 3 hours (eg Casablanca), the user will see 18 scenes, each 5 seconds long, in overview playback mode. However, for a film with a film playback time of 30 minutes (for example, a 10-part screen documentary), the viewer sees only 3 scenes, each 5 seconds long, in overview playback mode. Will. Therefore, the sum of the scene playback time intervals that match the film overview time is 1 minute and 30 seconds for the film "Casablanca", but only 15 seconds for the 10-part screen documentary. [0006] Therefore, with known playback devices and known overview playback methods, for long films the user sees a relatively large number of film scenes, but for short films the user sees relatively few film scenes. It is clear that there is a problem that it cannot be seen and a sufficient overview cannot be obtained for the contents of a short film. Furthermore, in the case of the manual overview playback mode, it is also clear that there is a problem that the user must specify the scene to be played back. [0007] [Means for solving problems] An object of the present invention is to provide a reproduction device of the type specified in the first paragraph and an overview reproduction method of the type specified in the second paragraph, which solves the above-mentioned problems. In the case of such a playback device, this object is intended even when the sum of the scene playback times defined by the scene defining means 14 for the stored film is different from the playback time of the stored film. A scene specification configured to independently define the stored film scene to be played by the playback means in the overview playback mode so that it always basically matches the same film overview playback time. Achieved by providing means. [0008] In such an overview reproduction method, the object is a method step of independently defining a stored film scene to be reproduced in the overview reproduction mode, and the film reproduction time of the stored film is defined. Even in different cases, this is achieved by providing a method step in which the sum of the scene playback times defined for the stored film always consistently essentially matches the same film overview playback time interval. [0009] This has the advantage that the user of the playback device can overview the contents of the stored film with substantially the same film overview playback time. This provides the playback device with a "1 minute movie" feature that gives the user of the playback device, for example, an impression of the contents of the stored long and short films at the 1 minute film overview playback time interval. [0010] The measures of claim 2 and claim 10 indicate that the user simply wants to superficially or more comprehensively view each stored film with a single input of the film overview playback time interval. It has the advantage that the user can specify whether he / she wants to have an overview. [0011] The measure of claim 3 has the advantage that the scene defining means does not specify any scene playback time interval that is too short (eg, 1 second) to give the impression of the associated scene. [0012] The measures according to claims 4 and 11 indicate to the user of the playback device that a television receiver in which a list of all films stored by random access memory means is connected to the playback device. Has the advantage of being displayed. Now, as the user marks the displayed titles one after the other, a short summary associated with it on the film will automatically be displayed as reference information for the displayed titles. This will be described below with reference to the embodiments in which specific examples are shown. [0013] The measure according to claim 5 allows the user to directly recognize from the start, middle or end of the film when the scene played in the overview playback mode starts by displaying the scene playback position information. It has the advantage of being able to. [0014] The measures described in claims 6 and 12 do not specify any scene in the case of a commercial break by the scene defining means. have the advantage that and reproduce these scenes in the overview playback mode. .. In fact, such a scene would not make an impression on the contents of the stored film. [0015] The measures according to claims 7 and 13 are such that the scene defining means, with respect to the overview playback mode, is immediately before the change of the scene in the film, immediately after the change of the scene in the film, or the scene in the film. It has the advantage that it is possible to define the scene that appears in the film after a predetermined reproduction time interval from the change of. [0016] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, the present invention will be described with reference to Examples, which are illustrated by specific examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. [0017] FIG. 1 shows a hard disk recorder 1 that forms a recording / playback device that records or stores film information FI for a film or television program and reproduces or reads it out. The film information FI includes picture information and audio information of a film or television program. [0018] The film information FI can also include additional information (eg, the title of the film, the broadcast date of this film, the start and end times of the film) as well as a summary of the film. Such additional information can be included in the analog film information FI as teletext information on the hidden lines of the television signal or, for example, as an "Electronic Program Guide" according to the ETS 300 707 standard. However, such additional information can also be received via a digital television channel and included, for example, in digital film information according to the MPEG standard. [0019] The antenna signal from the antenna 2 can be given to the hard disk recorder 1 as the received information EI. In multiple frequency bands or receiving channels, the antenna signal includes an analog television signal from a television station that includes the film information FI of the film. In the first receiving channel, the hard disk recorder 1 receives the television program of the television station ORF1. [0020] The hard disk recorder 1 includes a tuner 3, a mode means 4, and a keypad 5. Using the keypad 5, the user of the hard disk recorder 1 can activate and deactivate the operation mode of the hard disk recorder 1. Regarding the operation mode, the hard disk recorder 1 can be set to the recording mode, the playback mode, the overview playback mode, and the selection mode. The keypad 5 can supply the corresponding input information II to the mode means 4. [0021] [0021] The mode means 4 is configured to supply the mode information BI corresponding to the input information II to additional means provided in the hard disk recorder 1 for this purpose. The mode means 4 also enables the overview playback means of the hard disk recorder 1 to be activated. As a result, in the overview playback mode of the hard disk recorder 1, at least two scenes S of the film stored in the hard disk recorder 1 are played at the normal playback speed during the film overview playback time interval TU. It becomes possible to play continuously. In this case, the skip scene US, which is recorded between two scenes S during the skip playback time interval TZ and can be played at normal playback speed, is not played during the overview playback mode. The hard disk recorder 1 then performs an overview playback method for the playback of the stored film scene. The overview playback mode is described in more detail below. [0022] The user also uses the keypad 5 to input input information II in which the television signal of this reception channel is selected from the reception information EI by the tuner 3 and identifies the reception channel to be supplied as the film information FI. Can be done. The channel information CI that identifies the receiving channel can be given to the tuner 3 from the mode means 4. [0023] Further, the hard disk recorder 1 includes a recording means 6 capable of providing the film information FI supplied by the tuner 3. The recording means 6 includes a signal processing stage, an analog / digital converter, and an additional stage required to provide an audio / video data AVD capable of processing the analog television signal and recording it on the hard disk. The recording means 6 is further configured to read the additional information contained in the film information FI and supply the read additional information related to the recorded audio / video data AVD as the archive information AI. Includes the read stage that has been done. Since such a recording means 6 having a teletext IC as a reading stage is generally known, it will not be described in more detail. [0024] The hard disk recorder 1 further includes an archive means 7 capable of giving the archive information AI read by the read stage of the recording means 6. The archive means 7 is configured to include EEPROM and store the archive information AI supplied by the read stage. [0025] The hard disk recorder 1 also forms a random access memory means and is capable of playing at normal playback speed during the film playback time interval TW in the recording mode of the hard disk recorder 1. It has a hard disk 8 that is configured to store video data AVD. The method of storing the audio / video data AVD in the sector on the hard disk 8 is also generally known and will not be described in more detail. [0026] Further, the hard disk recorder 1 has a reproduction means 9. The reproduction means 9 is configured to reproduce the audio / video data AVD stored in the hard disk 8 in the reproduction mode of the hard disk recorder 1, and the film to be reproduced has a film reproduction time interval of TW. During that time, it is played back at normal playback speed. In the overview playback mode of the hard disk recorder 1, the playback means 9 plays the audio / video data AVD in which the film is stored from the scene start position SBI to the scene end position SEI during the scene playback time interval TS. It is configured to play at normal playback speed. This is described in more detail by a concrete example of the use of hard disk recorder 1. [0027] In the playback mode and overview playback mode of the hard disk recorder 1, the playback means 9 supplies the film information FI included in the audio / video data AVD to be played back to the output terminal 11 via the adder stage 10. Can be done. The film information FI supplied to the output terminal 11 can be given to the television receiver 12 connected to the output terminal 11 as playback information WI. Further, the hard disk recorder 1 has an OSD means 13 configured to supply the OSD information OSD to the adder stage 10. The adder stage 10 is configured to superimpose the text information TI included in the OSD information OSD on the film information FI supplied by the reproduction means 9. [0028] By operating the archive key on the keyboard 5, the user can activate the selection mode of the hard disk recorder 1. In this mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the television receiver 12 displays the title, recording start time, recording end time, and recording date of the film stored by the hard disk recorder 1. Can be done. In response to the reception of such input information II, the mode means 4 supplies the title read information TAI to the OSD means 13. Correspondingly, the OSD means 13 reads the corresponding archive information AI from the archive means 7 and supplies the OSD information OSD to the adder means 10. [0029] Further, the hard disk recorder always has the same film overview playback time even when the sum of the scene playback time intervals TS defined by the scene defining means 14 for the stored film is different from the film playback time TW. In the overview reproduction mode, the scene defining means 14 for independently defining the scene of the stored film to be reproduced by the reproducing means 9 is provided so as to basically match the TU. [0030] In the overview playback mode, the information BI that characterizes this mode can be given to the scene defining means 14. The scene defining means 14 is configured to read the archive information AI from the archive means 7 accordingly. By subtracting the recording end time included in the archive information AI from the recording start time, the scene defining means 14 determines the film reproduction time TW of the selected film for the overview reproduction mode. Further steps of independently defining the scene S to be played back in the overview playback mode using the scene defining means 14 will be clarified by the following specific examples of using a hard disk recorder. [0031] In the first specific example of using the hard disk recorder 1, the user activates the recording mode of the hard disk recorder 1 at 10:30 on May 28 by operating the recording key on the keypad 5. It is assumed that the first film information FI1 of the television program "SPORTS" of the television station ORF1 whose information is supplied by the tuner 3 is recorded on the hard disk 8. During the recording of the television program "SPORTS", the teletext information transmitted by the hidden line of the television signal is read by the reading stage, and the title information TI = "SPORTS" is recorded in the television program. It is determined as a title and is stored as archive information AI by the archiving means 7 together with the recording start time and recording data. [0032] The television program "SPORTS" ends at 11 o'clock, and accordingly, the second film information FI2 of the television program "CAROLINE" is transmitted to the television signal of the television station ORF1. Since the recording means 6 detects the change in the VPS code received by the hidden line of the television signal, it detects the start of a new television program. Subsequently, the reading stage reads the title "CAROLINE" of the TV program from the teletext information as the title information TI, and supplies this as the archive information AI to the archive means 7. The archiving means 7 further stores the time 11:00 as the recording end time of the TV program "SPORTS" and the recording start time of the TV program "CAROLINE". At 14:30, the user stops recording mode by operating the stop key on keypad 5. Accordingly, this time is stored by the archiving means 7 as the recording end time of the second film information FI2 of the television program "CAROLINE". [0033] Finally, the user again activates recording mode from 18:30 to 19:00 on May 28, and records the third film information FI3 of the television program named "SHOWBIZ" on hard disk 8. To do. The archive information AI of this TV program is also stored in the archive means 7. FIG. 2a graphically shows the film information FI recorded by the hard disk recorder 1. The first film information FI1 has a first film reproduction time TW1, and the second film information FI2 has a second film reproduction time TW2. [0034] In the case of the first embodiment of use, it is further assumed that the film overview playback time interval TU is defined by the scene defining means 7 as 1 minute, resulting in a "1 minute movie" function. To do. In this overview playback mode, each scene S of one stored film is played back in 1 minute by the "1 minute movie" function. [0035] Further, it is defined in the scene defining means 7 that each scene S reproduced in the overview reproduction mode has a scene reproduction time TS of 10 seconds. As a result, six scenes, each having a scene reproduction time TS of 10 seconds, are reproduced within the film overview reproduction time TU of 1 minute in the overview reproduction mode of each film. [0036] In the case of the first embodiment of use, then on May 30th, the user wants to watch one of the films that he has time to watch TV and was recorded by the hard disk recorder 1. Suppose that. The user operates the archive key on keypad 5 to select one of the stored films. Subsequently, the mode means 4 activates the selection mode, and the title read information TAI is supplied to the OSD means 13. The OSD means then reads the information (title information TI, recording date, recording start time, recording end time) stored in the archiving means 7 regarding the film stored on the hard disk 8 and reads this information into the OSD. It is supplied to the television receiver 12 as an information OSD. As shown in FIG. 3, the television receiver 12 displays this OSD information as the first text information TI1. [0037] The user of the hard disk recorder 1 then browses the list of stored film titles by operating the UP and DOWN keys on the keypad 5. Each time, one of the titles is marked with the mark M. During browsing, the title thus marked is defined as the title selected by mode means 4, and mode means 4 activates the overview playback mode for the film information FI of the selected title. In the case of the first specific example of use shown in FIG. 3, the title "CAROLINE" of the second film information FI2 is marked. The mode means 4 then activates the overview playback mode for the second film information FI2. In response to this, the scene defining means 14 starts independent regulation for the scenes S7 to S12 to be reproduced. FIG. 2B shows the scene information SI reproduced for the film information FI in the overview reproduction mode. [0038] In the first step, the scene defining means 14 is the second film information FI2 of the film "CAROLINE", but the film playback time TW at the normal playback speed. = Detects that it can be played in 210 minutes. The scene defining means 14 then defines the scene start position SBI (S7) of the scene S7 to be reproduced with respect to the second film information FI2 at the recording start position of the second film information FI2. The scene defining means 14 further defines the scene ending position SEI (S12) of the sixth scene S12 with respect to the second film information FI2 at the recording ending position of the second film information FI2. The scene start position SBI and scene end position SII of the second scene S8, the third scene S9, the fourth scene S10 and the fifth scene S11 to be played with respect to the second film information FI2 are the scenes S7 to S12. It is defined by the scene defining means 14 so that the same skip playback time interval TZ1 of 41 minutes and 48 seconds is always obtained in between. [0039] The scene defining means 14 subsequently comprises S7 to S12 independently defined by the scene defining means 14 by the method described above. The scene start position SBI and the scene end position SEI of the six scenes are supplied to the reproduction means 9. Subsequently, the reproduction means 9 starts reproduction of the six scenes S7 to S12 identified by the scene start position SBI and the scene end position SEI. The "1 minute movie" feature allows users of Hard Disk Recorder 1 to view a list of stored film titles and at the same time see 6 scenes of marked titles. Has advantages. In this way, the user can use the title of the film and the scene S to determine if the film is of interest to him and if he wants to watch the entire film. [0040] For the first example of the use of the hard disk recorder 1, the user sees the first three scenes S7, S8 and S9 of the film "CAROLINE" in overview playback mode and he is interested in this film. It is decided that there is no. By operating the DOWN key, this user subsequently marks the title "SPORTS" of the first film information FI1. Subsequently, as described above, the scene defining means 14 sets the scene start position SBI and the scene end position of the six scenes S1 to S6 to be reproduced in this overview reproduction mode with respect to the first film information FI1. Define SEI. Next, the scene defining means 14 defines 5 minutes and 48 seconds for this skip playback time interval TZ2. [0041] This is so that the impression of the film content can be obtained for both the film "CAROLINE" which has a length of 3 hours and 30 minutes and the film "SPORTS" which has a length of only 30 minutes. Overview of the same film scene Playback time TU = It has the advantage of being regenerated in one minute. Especially short films, such as sports reports, news and other reports, have a wide range of content, so a long overview playback time TU relative to the film length is very good for short films. Brings a great overview. [0042] The OSD means 13 of the hard disk recorder 1 then forms an output means for outputting the scene playback position information SPI that identifies the position in the film of the scene to be played back in the overview playback mode. OSD means 13 then generates the bar shown in FIG. The frame of this bar represents the film playback time TW of the marked film "CAROLINE", and this white part W is the first scene S7 of the second film information FI2 currently being played in overview playback mode. Mark the position. [0043] This has the advantage that the user also knows additional information about the position of the scene S being played. In this way, the user can thereby clearly recognize the position of the item of interest in the film and subsequently more easily reach the position of this item in the film. [0044] The user of the hard disk recorder 1 can also specify a film overview playback time TU different from the original specification by the scene specifying means 14. To this end, the user inputs the desired new film overview playback time TU with the keys on the keypad 5 and operates the keypad's retract keys. [0045] This has the advantage that a user who wants to spend very little time selecting one of the stored films can, for example, set the film overview playback time TU to 30 seconds. .. Similarly, for example, the user may set the film overview playback time TU to 3 minutes if he wants to get more information about the stored film before deciding to watch all the films. You can. [0046] It should be noted that the scene defining means can instead define the scene to be reproduced in the overview reproduction mode by a completely different method not described above. In this case, when defining the scenes, the number of scenes per film can always be the same, and the scene playback time TS can be set to, for example, 1.5 seconds or 30 seconds. Similarly, film scenes can be specified so that the scene playback time TS is different for each film and the film overview playback time TU is always substantially equal. [0047] However, setting the scene playback time TS to one minimum scene playback time TM, for example, always longer than 1 second, allows the user to understand the contents of these scenes for scenes with a scene playback time TS shorter than 1 second. It is especially advantageous because it is difficult to do. [0048] Similarly, if the scene is defined by scene defining means, the skip playback time interval TZ should be substantially equal for each film, and the number of scenes S to be played in overview playback mode and their scene playback. The time TS can also be configured to correspond to this. Moreover, it is not always necessary to specify a skip playback time interval TZ that is always equal between film scenes. [0049] When the picture information BI1 shown in FIG. 3 is supplied as the playback information WI by the hard disk recorder 1 in the selection mode, the user operates the information key on the keypad 5 to display a film summary of the marked title. It can be displayed on the television receiver 12. This summary is read from archiving means 7 and displayed as text information by the television receiver 12. [0050] In the second specific example of using the hard disk recorder 1, the user operates the information key to "AKTE X" (X). Display a summary of the film named FILE). In response to this, the OSD means 13 reads the text information TI2 from the memory of the archiving means 7 and supplies it to the television receiver 12 as the reproduction information WI. The television receiver 12 subsequently displays the picture information BI2 shown in FIG. [0051] The picture information BI2 shown in FIG. 4 further has four scene reproduction areas SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4. In these scene reproduction areas, the scenes S defined by the scene defining means 14 are reproduced in parallel, that is, at the same time. Therefore, the scene defining means 14 has four defined scenes S of the film AKTE X which are continuously repeated in the scene reproduction area after the end of the scene reproduction time TS with respect to the overview reproduction mode. Can be done. Similarly, five or more scenes S that are alternately reproduced in the scene reproduction area can be defined by the scene defining means 14 in parallel for every four scenes, that is, at the same time. [0052] This has the advantage that the user can get an impression of the stored film content in a very short time. So, for example, 20 scenes with a scene playback time TS of 3 seconds each could be played in just 15 seconds with a 1 minute film overtime TU. [0053] It should be noted that the playback device of the present invention may also include commercial interruption detection means for detecting commercial interruptions in the stored audio / video data AVD. Such commercial interruption detection means have long been known, for example, taking advantage of the fact that many broadcasters do not display the logo during commercial interruptions. [0054] In such a playback device having commercial interruption detection means, the scene defining means defines the scene S to be reproduced by the playback means in the overview playback mode so that the commercial interruption appears in the skip scene US. This is especially advantageous when configured as such. [0055] Thus, it has been achieved that the scenes played in the overview playback mode include only the scenes of the film that are actually emphasized and do not include the scenes of any commercial interruption inserted between the parts of the film. It is advantageous to be done. [0056] It should be noted that the reproduction device of the present invention can also include a scene change detecting means for detecting a scene change in the stored film. Such changes in the scene can be detected, for example, by the occasional fade-out at the end of the scene and the fade-in at the beginning of the next scene. Changes in many scenes in the film can also be detected by detecting black frames inserted between the scenes in the film. [0057] When a film contains a lot of actions, short scenes are often included continuously in a very short time, so the scene defining means should be played by the playback means in the overview playback mode in response to the detected changes in the scene. This is especially advantageous when defining the stored film scene. It should also be noted that the random access memory means can include, for example, the audio / video data AVD of the film, and optionally a DVD that stores additional information about the film. Similarly, random access memory means can be configured with flash RAM. [0058] [0058] It should be noted that the film overview playback time intervals for each film do not have to be exactly the same length. Therefore, deviations of, for example, up to 20%, of film overview playback time intervals of film are still considered to be substantially equal. [0059] The scene defining means of the present invention may be configured to independently define the scene start position and the scene end position of a scene played at a playback speed of 2 times, 4 times, or 20 times in the overview playback mode. It should be noted that it can be done. Based on the method described above to determine the scene start position and scene end position of a scene relative to the overview playback mode at 1x playback speed, those skilled in the art will, for example, 2x, 4x or 20x in the overview playback mode. It would also be possible to determine such a scene start position and a scene end position for the scene to be reproduced at the reproduction speed of. This has the advantage that longer scenes can be played in the same film overview playback mode, and the user gets a better impression of the stored film content. [Simple explanation of drawings] FIG. 1 shows a hard disk recorder configured to play some scenes of film stored by a hard disk recorder in overview playback mode. [Figure 2] The film information of the two films stored by the hard disk recorder and the scene played by the hard disk recorder in the overview playback mode are shown graphically. FIG. 3 shows a list of film titles stored by a hard disk recorder, displayed by a television receiver connected to the hard disk recorder, and, in the background of this list, played in overview playback mode. Indicates playback information, including the title of the film scene marked by the user. FIG. 4 Plays in Overview Playback Mode with the title of the film stored by the hard disk recorder, a summary of this film, and the background of this list, displayed by the television receiver connected to the hard disk recorder. Shows playback information, including the four scenes of the film being played. [Explanation of symbols] 1 Hard disk recorder 5 keypad FI film information TW1 film playback time US skip scene SI scene information TI1 film title information SPI Scene playback position information BI2 picture information SW1 scene playback area