JP2005311518A - Music reproducer for mobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid interrupting the streaming reproduction of a music on the way during guiding a route. <P>SOLUTION: An audio control circuit of an audio apparatus controls to execute the music streaming reproduction when it receives a music to be stream-reproduced to the end and enables its reproduction. From traveling route information of a mobile, running information such as average speed, portable telephone's service area information and the melodious data quantity of a music to be received, it decides whether the receiving is enabled until the reception of melodious data of the music is completed. This avoids interrupting the music being reproduced, so that no uncomfortable feeling is given to a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a music reproducing apparatus for a mobile unit that is mounted on a mobile unit and has a function of receiving and reproducing music data by wireless communication.

2. Description of the Related Art A music playback apparatus having a function of playing music data while receiving it by performing wireless communication with an external music distribution server or the like on a mobile body such as an automobile is considered. The so-called music streaming playback is already being put to practical use in personal computers at facilities where the receiving side is fixed, but is also being put into practical use in mobiles.
In this case, if the amount of data required for reproduction is relatively large, such as music data or video data, the condition is that the data necessary for reproduction can be reliably received. Since the route is not necessarily an area where radio wave reception is good, it is necessary to consider that communication is interrupted.

  Conventionally, there have been solutions as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, as a coping method when a mobile object enters an area where communication is interrupted when performing wireless communication. In the method shown in Patent Document 1, as a measure for preventing communication interruption, the communication service area of the mobile phone is stored in advance, and the navigation device searches for a route that can follow the service of the mobile phone and leaves the communication service area. It is intended to avoid.

On the other hand, in the case shown in Patent Document 2, similarly, a mobile phone service area is stored in advance, and this is used when the navigation device is expected to deviate from the mobile phone service area. In this way, the user is prevented from suddenly interrupting communication during a call by providing a warning.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-89984 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-199167

  However, the above-described patent documents 1 and 2 have the following problems when applied to music streaming playback. That is, in the measures for avoiding communication interruption shown in Patent Document 1, when the route is originally routed to the destination, if the user leaves the mobile phone service area, the user should not leave the area to avoid this. Although a route is selected, this causes a problem that the distance to travel to the destination and the travel time increase.

  Further, the one shown in Patent Document 2 is not suitable for music reproduction. In other words, a music piece to be played back requires a certain amount of playback time until the end of playback. Therefore, for the user, even if the warning that the communication is interrupted is notified as a warning guide, the story cannot be raised like a call. There is a problem of receiving.

Furthermore, even in cases other than the above, for example, when moving according to route guidance, the destination may be reached during playback of music streaming, and at that point, the music being played is stopped halfway, or Even if the destination is reached, the user is forced to select whether to continue listening to the music being played back, and this situation may be bothersome for some users.
In other words, when playing music streaming, it is not necessarily comfortable for the user that there is a playback interruption factor that occurs during route guidance, so it is desirable to prevent such a situation from occurring. is there.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances. For example, a situation in which playback is interrupted during music streaming playback, for example, a destination is reached during playback, or data is received during playback. Movement that can prevent the situation that the reproduction is interrupted because it becomes impossible, and to prevent giving the user an unpleasant impression due to the interruption of the song being played is minimized. The object is to provide a physical music playback device.

  According to the invention of claim 1, when reproduction of music data is instructed by a user who is on the moving body, the determination means is the time required for reproduction of the music data and the movement route obtained by the route information providing means. It is determined whether or not the reproduction of music data can be completed without interruption from the information, and if it is determined that the reproduction is possible, the music data is reproduced by the music reproduction control means. The music data can be reproduced without interruption during movement along the route.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in the above invention, area information providing means for providing area information capable of receiving music data by wireless communication means is provided, and the moving body has acquired from the route information acquiring means by the determining means. Determine whether or not playback of music data can be completed without interruption by determining whether or not the communication area provided by the area information providing means is removed when moving along the route information. When moving according to route guidance, music playback is performed without interruption by performing playback under conditions that allow music data to be received while moving along the route. Will be able to.

  Thus, when music data is received by wireless communication and played as music by the playback means, music playback is not performed when it is predicted that the vehicle will be out of the area where wireless communication is possible during traveling. It is possible to prevent playback interruptions due to music data being interrupted in the middle, and to play music only when playback can be surely continued until the end of playback, so as not to cause discomfort to the user be able to.

  According to the invention of claim 3, reproduction of music data of a mobile object is obtained from the travel information acquisition means for acquiring the travel information of the mobile object, the time required to end the reproduction of the music data and the travel information acquired by the travel information acquisition means. Calculating means for calculating the travel distance required for the end, and when the moving body moves along the route information acquired from the route information acquisition means by the determination means, the travel distance calculated by the calculation means is Since it is determined whether or not playback can be performed without interruption, music playback can be performed accurately according to individual differences in driving skills, road conditions, etc., and comfortable music Playback control can be performed.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 3, the calculation means estimates the average traveling speed on the moving route based on the traveling information of the moving body provided by the traveling information providing means. Since the distance is calculated, it can be quickly calculated using the average travel speed data estimated in advance according to the type and situation of the route on the moving route.
According to the invention of claim 5, in each of the above inventions, when the playback means has a function capable of playing back other music media, the music playback control means cannot play back the music data. In this case, since the playback unit performs music playback using another music medium, even when the communication unit is out of the area, the music playback of another alternative music medium can be performed.

  According to the invention of claim 6, in the case of providing the navigation device in the invention of claims 3 to 5, it can be used as a wireless communication means, a travel information providing means, an area information providing means and a route information providing means. Therefore, it can be realized with a simple configuration.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automobile will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of the entire system, which includes an audio device 1 and a car navigation device 9. The audio apparatus 1 is mainly configured by an audio control circuit 2 that performs reproduction control and various controls.
The audio control circuit 2 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and various interface circuits. The audio control circuit 2 includes a control function for audio reproduction and a music streaming reproduction processing program to be described later. However, it functions as music reproduction control means, reproduction means, calculation means, and determination means.

  The audio control circuit 2 is connected to a CD player 3, an MD player 4, a radio / TV tuner 5, an external memory 6, and a power amplifier 7, and a speaker 8 is connected to an output terminal of the power amplifier. When the user sets a music medium to be reproduced, for example, a CD or MD, or selects a broadcast that provides various programs including music, the audio control circuit 2 responds to the CD player 3 and the MD. The player 4 and the radio / TV tuner 5 are selected and the reproduction output of the medium is output to the speaker 8 via the power amplifier 7.

  The car navigation device 9 functions as a wireless communication unit, a travel information providing unit, an area information providing unit, and a route information providing unit in the present invention, and is configured with a navigation control circuit 10 as a center. The navigation control circuit 10 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and various interface circuits. The navigation control circuit 10 includes a car navigation route search program, a route guidance program, and other programs, and performs route guidance according to user input. It is configured as follows.

  A GPS receiver 12, a vehicle speed sensor 13, a gyro 14 and the like are connected to the navigation control circuit 10 as a position detector 11. The GPS receiver 12 receives a GPS signal corresponding to the current position from a GPS satellite, and can calculate the current position based on the GPS signal. The vehicle speed sensor 13 detects the vehicle speed as travel information, and the gyro 14 detects the traveling direction such as the steering angle and outputs detection signals to the navigation control circuit 10.

  The map data / compressed audio file input device 15 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) 16 and a DVD player 17, reads data from a DVD medium on which music data is recorded and stores the data in the HDD 16, or music imported from the outside. It is configured to be able to store data, and is read out through the navigation control circuit 10 as necessary and output to the audio apparatus 1 side.

  The navigation control circuit 10 has an external memory 18 composed of an EEPROM for storing setting information and the like, and an external information input device 19 for inputting various information from outside the vehicle and information from other devices in the vehicle. A remote control sensor 21 that receives an operation signal of the wireless remote controller 20, a communication device 22 for receiving music data, an operation switch group 23, and a display device 24 are connected.

  The communication device 22 can access a music distribution server connected to the same network as the mobile phone, for example, and is configured to download a music file from the music distribution server, and music including music data in a communication area described later. Can receive files. The display device 24 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and a touch panel that enables operation input by touching the screen and various switches provided on the front surface of the display device 24 provide operation input to the navigation control circuit 10 as an operation switch group 23. It is configured to accept.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, control when downloading and streaming playback of a music file including music data will be mainly described, and operations of other units will be described briefly.
When the user mounts a medium such as a CD or MD on the CD player 3 or the MD player 4, the audio apparatus 1 uses the audio control circuit 2 to convert the music data output from each of the speakers 8 as music via the power amplifier 7. To output. Similarly, when the radio / TV tuner 5 is selected, the reception signal of the selected broadcast is output as an audio signal to the speaker 8.

On the other hand, in the car navigation device 9, when an input setting such as a destination is performed by a user operating the screen of the remote controller 20 or the display device 24, current position information is acquired from the position detector 11 and a map is displayed. Information is read from the map data / compressed audio file input device 15 and a route search operation is performed to set a recommended route.
At this time, the route to the destination is displayed on the display device 24 as index data combining the required time and facility name, and the destination can be selected from the index. The time required for this index is calculated by the navigation control circuit 10 based on data available from the map data / compressed audio file input device 15, the external memory 18, and the external information input / output device 19. .

  FIG. 4 shows an example when the movement route is set as described above. The roads on the map where the vehicle can travel are indicated by links A to Q (link K corresponds to a tunnel). For example, the vehicle travels from the current position S to the destination G (indicated by G in the figure). The route is indicated by a thick dashed line with an arrow. Here, a travel route from the current vehicle position S to the destination G via links N → O → M → L → K → I → H is set. In addition, the mobile phone service area is shown on the map (the inside of the service area is displayed in a white background, the boundary line is indicated by a broken line, and the outside of the service area is indicated by a hatched pattern).

  When the travel route calculated according to the destination setting as described above is selected and the user inputs guidance to execute guidance, the navigation control circuit 10 moves according to the program. The route guidance process is executed. At this time, in the voice guidance process, voice data is output to the audio device 1 and output from the speaker 8.

When the user instructs music streaming playback by operating the audio device 1 during route guidance as described above, the audio control circuit 2 first executes the music streaming playback processing program shown in FIG. It becomes like this. Here, it is first determined whether or not the designated music streaming playback is to be performed.
The audio control circuit 2 first determines whether or not a route guidance operation is being performed by the car navigation device 9 (step S1). If it is during route guidance, it is possible to execute the above-described determination process, so that the determination is “YES” and the process proceeds to step S2, and if the route guidance operation is not performed, this determination process is terminated. In this case, the music streaming reproduction is not cancelled, but a reproduction process without the function of the present invention is executed as will be described later.

  When it is determined “YES” in step S1, the audio control circuit 2 first receives the data capacity of the music file set and input by the user (step S2). From the received data capacity P [bit], the reproduction required time T [sec] of the music is calculated. This is obtained by dividing the received music data capacity P by the average communication rate Rave [bps]. The average communication rate Rave may be set according to the reception state at that time, or a preset average communication rate may be applied.

Next, since the obtained reproduction required time T is a time required for receiving the music data, a distance L [m] that the vehicle travels before the time T elapses is calculated. This is obtained by multiplying the average speed Vave [m / s] of the vehicle at that time by time T. Such a calculation process is shown as an arithmetic expression shown in the following expression (1), and the travel distance L can be obtained by substituting each data described above into the expression (1).
L = Vave × T
= Vave × (P / Rave) (1)

  Next, the audio control circuit 2 determines the travel distance L required by the above equation until the end of reproduction based on the movement route information and the mobile phone service area information received from the navigation control circuit 10. When the vehicle moves from the current vehicle position S along the movement route, it is determined whether or not an existing position until the vehicle position arrives is within the mobile phone service area (step S4). That is, it is determined whether the music file can be received without interruption by the communication device 22.

  For example, when a travel route as shown in FIG. 4 is set and the above-described determination process is performed, the distance D [m from the current vehicle position S to the outside of the mobile phone service area on the travel route of the vehicle. ] Can be calculated, and the distance D within the service area is compared with the travel distance L described above. When the travel distance L is shorter than the distance D, the vehicle is present in the service area until the music file is completely received. Further, when the travel distance L is longer than the distance D, the vehicle travels outside the service area without being able to receive until the end.

  As a result, when there is no point where communication is impossible, that is, when the music file can be received to the end without any trouble, the audio control circuit 2 determines “NO” in step S4 and reproduces the music data for reception and reproduction. Processing is started (step S5). As a result, the music of the music data that has been started to be played can be played to the end without interruption.

  Thereafter, the audio control circuit 2 repeatedly executes the above-described steps S3 to S6 at regular time intervals (for example, every second) until the reproduction is finished. This is because, for example, when the user changes the movement of the own vehicle to a route that deviates from the movement along the movement route, or when the route guidance operation is canceled, further, the vehicle travels according to the route guidance. Even in such a case, it is performed in preparation for a change in the average communication rate Rave due to a change in traveling speed or a change in communication state. Further, in such a case, when the reproduction becomes impossible in the middle, it is possible to notify the user that the reproduction is interrupted by a method such as announcing or displaying the fact.

  Now, if “YES” in step S4 described above, that is, if it is determined that the music data of the target music cannot be received to the end, the music cannot be played back without interruption. The audio control circuit 2 notifies the user by voice or display that music reproduction is impossible (step S7). After that, the audio control circuit 2 prompts the user to switch to the other audio source (music source) when the other music medium can be reproduced by switching to the audio source or the music source (music source). (Step S8), and then the program ends.

As a result, the music streaming playback processing of the specified music can be played back to the end without interruption, and if it is known in advance that the interruption will occur, the user can be prevented from playing it. On the other hand, it is possible to suppress the manner of reproduction accompanied by discomfort such as interruption during reproduction.
In the above case, when the audio control circuit 2 determines “NO” in step S1, that is, when route guidance is not performed, music streaming playback is not performed, but a conventional method is used. Music data is downloaded and played back. In this case, it is implemented as a normal music streaming playback process. However, when the vehicle moves outside the mobile phone service area while traveling, the playback is interrupted because the music data to be played cannot be received. Become.

  Even in the above case, it is possible to predict whether or not the current position S of the vehicle will deviate from the mobile phone service area by adopting the routine compliant with the processing flowchart of FIG. It is possible to notify the user by estimating that the situation cannot be reproduced until the end of the music.

  Next, music playback processing executed in parallel by the audio control circuit 2 when performing music playback such as music streaming as described above will be described with reference to FIG. The audio control circuit 2 performs the above-described music streaming playback process and the music playback process alternately at predetermined time intervals. In this music playback process, music playback other than music streaming playback is performed. Is also being implemented.

  The audio control circuit 2 first determines whether or not route guidance is being implemented (step T1). If “NO”, the process ends, and if “YES”, the music requested to be played back. Is obtained (step T2). Subsequently, the travel distance L necessary until the end of the reproduction is calculated in the same manner as described above (step T3), and then the reproduction is performed from the calculated travel distance L and the distance information to the destination obtained from the travel route information. It is then determined whether or not the destination is reached (step T4).

  Here, when the destination is not reached in the middle of reproduction, that is, when it is determined “NO”, the audio control circuit 2 executes a process of reproducing the music requested to be reproduced (step T5). Here, for example, in the case of the above-described music streaming reproduction, the audio control circuit 2 acquires music data by communication and reproduces the obtained music data. In the case of another medium, music data is acquired from the loaded medium and reproduced.

  Thereafter, the audio control circuit 2 calculates again the travel distance L necessary until the end of reproduction (step T6). This is because the travel distance L obtained in the above-described step T3 may fluctuate, and in order to cope with this, it is intended to respond to changes in the situation at an appropriate frequency during music playback. For example, this is the case when the running state changes and the average running speed Vave changes.

Next, the audio control circuit 2 determines whether or not the above calculation result has reached the destination during the reproduction of the music and the warning is not issued (step T7). The reproduction is continued (step T8), and the above steps T6 to T8 are repeated until the reproduction is completed. When the reproduction is completed, “YES” is determined in the step T9 and the process is terminated.
If “YES” is determined in the step T7, the audio control circuit 2 performs a process of notifying the user that a music reproduction cannot be performed to the end (step T10), and then proceeds to a step T8. The playback process is continued. In this case, the destination song is reached before the music being played ends, but this is caused by a change in the driving situation, so the music playback process is completed until the end. However, if the user takes a measure to stop the playback, the playback ends there.

  In the above case, if “YES” is determined in step T4, that is, if the destination is reached during the reproduction of the requested music, the audio control circuit 2 prompts the user. On the other hand, it is notified that the music cannot be played back (step T11), and a search is made as to whether or not there is a song that can be played to the end within the same audio source before reaching the destination (step T12). For example, in music streaming reproduction, only a reproducible piece of a plurality of set music pieces is selectively downloaded. In the case of reproduction of a CD or the like, the CD is reproduced. The music that matches the conditions is retrieved from the music included in the list.

  As a result of the search, if the corresponding music exists (in the case of “YES” in step T13), the audio control circuit 2 switches to the music and performs a reproduction process (step T14), and then proceeds to step T6. The above-described processing is repeatedly executed in response to a change in the running condition during jumping and reproduction. If “NO” in step T13, that is, if there is no music as a result of the search, the audio source is switched to a medium that does not have a break as a music, for example, a medium such as a television or radio, or a corresponding one exists. If not, a stop process is performed and the process ends.

  According to the present embodiment, in cooperation with the car navigation device 9, the travel route information, the traveling information of the own vehicle, the map information, the mobile phone service area information, and the music data of the music to be received from now on. Since the audio control circuit 2 determines from the capacity P whether or not it can be reproduced to the end without interruption in the middle, and the reproduction process is performed, the music being reproduced for the user is interrupted. It is possible to perform comfortable music streaming playback by preventing the unpleasant playback method as much as possible.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The travel information providing means may calculate the moving amount per time from the current position information of the own vehicle and obtain the average speed.
The area information providing means may use information recorded in advance on a DVD or the like, or can be acquired from outside through communication means.

The car navigation device 9 may be configured to have the function of the audio control circuit 2 described above.
When playing a CD as an alternative means in a situation where music streaming playback is not possible, even if the music data can be received again by entering the communication area, the song being played ends. It is also possible not to execute the music streaming playback until the time is reached.

  For the average speed Vave of the vehicle, instead of calculating from the actual travel speed and position data, an estimated speed that is considered to be averaged by each road in advance is set in advance, and the estimated speed is used as a substitute. It is possible to calculate various data, or use the estimated speed when the actual speed is obtained by using both together or when driving normally, and in situations where traffic congestion is estimated Various methods are possible, such as calculating data on the basis of the traveling speed of the car.

Electrical block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention Flow chart of music streaming playback processing program Flow chart of music playback processing program Action diagram showing the relationship between vehicle route information and communication area

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is an audio device, 2 is an audio control circuit (music reproduction control means, reproduction means, calculation means, determination means), 7 is a power amplifier, 8 is a speaker, and 9 is a car navigation device (navigation device, wireless communication means). , Travel information providing means, area information providing means, route information providing means), 10 is a navigation control circuit, 11 is a position detector, and 22 is a communication device.

Claims (6)

A wireless communication means mounted on a mobile body for receiving music data;
Playback means for playing music data as music;
Route information acquisition means for acquiring information related to the movement route of the mobile body;
Determining means for determining whether or not reproduction of the music data can be completed without interruption from the time required for completion of reproduction of the music data and the path information acquired from the path information acquisition means;
The mobile music comprising: a music playback control means for playing back the music data by the playback means when the judgment means determines that the playback of the music data can be finished without interruption. Playback device. The mobile music playback device according to claim 1,
Area information providing means for providing area information capable of receiving the music data by the wireless communication means;
The determining means determines whether or not the mobile body moves out of the communicable area provided by the area information providing means when moving along the route information acquired from the route information acquiring means. A mobile music reproducing apparatus, wherein it is determined whether or not reproduction of the music data can be completed without interruption. The mobile music playback device according to claim 1 or 2,
Travel information acquisition means for acquiring travel information of the mobile body;
Calculating means for calculating a travel distance required for ending reproduction of the music data of the mobile body from time required for completion of reproduction of the music data and travel information acquired by the travel information acquisition means;
Whether the determination means can reproduce the travel distance calculated by the calculation means without interrupting the reproduction of the music data when the moving body moves along the route information acquired from the route information acquisition means A mobile music playback apparatus, characterized by determining whether or not. The mobile music playback device according to claim 3,
The calculation means calculates the travel distance by estimating an average travel speed on the travel route based on travel information of the mobile body provided by the travel information providing means. Music playback device. The mobile music playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The reproduction means has a function capable of reproducing other music media,
The mobile music playback apparatus, wherein the music playback control means is configured to cause the playback means to play music using another music medium when the music data cannot be played back. The mobile music player according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
In the case where the navigation device is provided in the mobile body, the function provided in the navigation device is used as the wireless communication means, the travel information providing means, the area information providing means, and the route information providing means. Music player.

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