JP4372049B2 - Content playback device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content playback apparatus that plays back content based on stored content data, and more particularly to a portable content playback apparatus that can select content by a simple operation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a widespread use of content playback devices that include storage means such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory, store digital content data such as music data in the storage means, and play back content based on the stored content data. Yes. An example of such a content playback apparatus is a portable music player that plays music. In addition, content playback apparatuses that can play back content such as images other than music are also widespread. Since the storage means such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory can be increased in capacity, it is possible to develop a content reproduction apparatus capable of storing a larger amount of content data.

  As a method for managing a large amount of content data stored in the storage unit with an increase in capacity of the storage unit, the content reproduction apparatus stores meta information indicating the attribute of the content data in association with the content data. Some use a method of managing content data by using. For example, in a music player, music data is stored in a format such as an MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) file, and the album name including the music, the artist name of the music, and the genre of the music are associated with the music data. A plurality of types of meta information indicating names and the like are stored. Usually, the content playback device includes a small display such as a liquid crystal display and an operation unit, displays meta information on the display, and the user operates the operation unit while checking the meta information displayed on the display, Specify meta information and select the content to be played.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display of the conventional content reproduction apparatus when selecting the content to be reproduced. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the content playback apparatus is a music player. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, the content reproduction apparatus displays the type of meta information such as album or artist on the display. The user moves the cursor displayed on the display by operating the cursor key or the like of the content reproduction apparatus, and designates the type of meta information. Next, the content reproduction apparatus displays a list of the specified types of meta information on the display. For example, when album meta information is designated, a list of album meta information stored in the content reproduction apparatus is displayed as shown in FIG. 9B. The user designates one piece of meta information from the list of meta information, and the content reproduction apparatus selects the content corresponding to the content data associated with the designated meta information from the stored content data. Display the list on the display. For example, when meta information with the content of album A is designated, a list of contents included in album A is displayed as shown in FIG. The user selects content to be played back, and the content playback device plays back the selected content based on the stored content data. For example, when the song A1 is selected, the content playback apparatus plays the song A1 and displays on the display that the song A1 is being played, as shown in FIG.

  Further, at the stage of accepting the designation of meta information on the screen as shown in FIG. 9B, the screen as shown in FIG. 9D is immediately displayed on the display, and the content of the content associated with the designated meta information is displayed. Some content playback devices can start playback. For example, when the user designates album A in FIG. 9B and inputs a reproduction instruction, the content reproduction apparatus displays FIG. 9D on the display, and the contents included in album A are sequentially or randomly displayed. Reproduce.

When the content associated with other meta information is to be played back in a state where the meta information has already been specified, the content playback device needs to display the display screen for accepting the specification of the meta information again on the display. is there. For example, in a state where the song A1 included in the album A is being played back and the song included in the album B is to be played next, the content playback apparatus displays the screen display on the display from FIG. 9 (d) to FIG. Returning to (b), the designation of the meta information of the album B is accepted as shown in FIG. 9 (e), and the screen as shown in FIG. 9 (f) is displayed on the display to reproduce the song B1 included in the album B. . When attempting to play a song associated with an artist X with a different type of meta information, the content playback apparatus returns the display on the display to FIG. 9A, and the meta information as shown in FIG. 9G. An artist designation is accepted as the type of information, a list of artist meta information is displayed as shown in FIG. 9 (h), an artist X designation is accepted, and a screen as shown in FIG. 9 (i) is displayed on the display. A song X1 associated with X is reproduced.
JP 2004-145388 A

  As described above, when listening to a song included in one album and then trying to listen to a song included in another album, other meta information is stored in a state where the one meta information is specified in the content playback device. In order to select a content by using it, it is necessary to display a screen for designating the type or content of other meta information on the display and then perform an operation of designating the other meta information. As described above, when the content to be played is selected by changing the meta information in a state in which the type and content of the meta information is specified, the user has a large amount of work to operate the content playback device, and the content There is a problem that it is necessary to operate while confirming information displayed on the display of the playback apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is less than in the case of changing the type or content of meta information to select content to be reproduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content playback apparatus that can select content more easily.

The content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores content data associated with a plurality of types of meta information, a unit that receives designation of the type and content of meta information, and meta information that the unit has received designation. In a content reproduction apparatus comprising means for reproducing content based on associated content data, when a plurality of switches corresponding to each type of a plurality of types of meta information and any of the plurality of switches are operated Means for determining whether or not the type of meta information corresponding to the operated switch is the same as the type of meta information being used, and the type of meta information corresponding to the operated switch is If it is the same as the type of meta information, select a content different from the content of the meta information in use from the content of the meta information of the type in use If the type of meta information corresponding to one selection means and the operated switch is different from the type of meta information being used, means for selecting the type of meta information corresponding to the operated switch; The second selection means for selecting the content of the type of meta information selected by the user from one or more contents of the type of meta information associated with the content data stored in the storage means, and the first selection means Or a means for reproducing the content based on the content data associated with the meta information of the content selected by the second selection means .

  In the present invention, a content playback apparatus that stores content data associated with a plurality of types of meta information such as music album names or artist names accepts the specification of the type and content of the meta information, and the specified meta information is A process of playing back content based on the associated content data, and in accordance with a predetermined change order every time the user receives a change instruction of the type and / or content of meta information by pressing a predetermined button or the like. The type and / or content of the meta information is selected according to a predetermined method, and the content is reproduced based on the content data associated with the selected type and / or meta information of the content.

  In the present invention, the content reproduction apparatus includes a plurality of switches corresponding to each of a plurality of types of meta information such as music album names or artist names, and each time one of the switches is operated, the operated switch Select the type of meta information corresponding to the item, and then follow the predetermined change order to change the content of the selected type of meta information into one or more contents of the type of meta information associated with the content data. The content is reproduced based on the content data associated with the selected meta information.

  In the present invention, the content is changed by changing the meta information in a state where the type and content of the meta information to be used for selecting the content data is specified among the plurality of types of meta information associated with the content data. Since the content playback apparatus automatically selects the type or content of the meta information only by the user inputting a change instruction of the type and / or content of the meta information when the user wants to select, the type or content of the meta information An operation for displaying the display screen for designating the content on the content reproduction apparatus and designating the meta information becomes unnecessary, and the number of steps required for switching the content to be viewed by the user is greatly reduced.

  In the present invention, the user can reselect the meta information and select the content by simply operating one of a plurality of switches corresponding to each of a plurality of types of meta information such as a music album name or artist name. Therefore, it is possible to change the content to be viewed by changing the meta information by a simple operation, such as operating by searching with the content playback device in the bag.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. In the following embodiments, the present invention will be described mainly using an example in which the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention is a music player.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a music player 1 which is an example of a content reproduction apparatus of the present invention. The music player 1 includes a control unit 11 including a processor that performs calculation, a ROM that stores a control program, and a RAM. The control unit 11 is configured to control the operation of the music player 1 as a whole. A storage unit (storage unit) 14 made of a hard disk or a semiconductor memory is connected to the control unit 11. The storage unit 14 is configured to store a plurality of content data that is digital music data such as MP3 files. Each content data is associated with a plurality of types of meta information indicating attributes of the content data such as an album name including music, an artist name, or a music genre name in a format such as an ID3 tag. Furthermore, the storage unit 14 stores a content DB in which information indicating which content data each meta-information is associated with is recorded. In the content DB, for example, the titles of the content data associated with the meta information of album A are recorded in a predetermined order such as alphabetical order corresponding to the meta information whose type is album and the content is album A.

  The control unit 11 is connected to a data processing unit 15 that performs processing for decoding content data, and an output unit 16 that DA converts the content data decoded by the data processing unit 15 and outputs the data to the outside. Headphones 17 can be connected to the output unit 16, and music is reproduced using the headphones 17. In this way, the data processing unit 15 and the output unit 16 function as reproducing means according to the present invention. In addition, the control unit 11 includes a display unit 12 that displays various types of information such as information indicating the content being played back, and an operation unit 13 through which various instructions such as designation of meta information are input by user operation. It is connected. The music player 1 includes a battery (not shown), and power is supplied from the battery to drive each part.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The music player 1 is configured to have a size that can be carried by the user, and on the surface thereof, a display unit 12 such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display, and various switches that can be operated by the user. An operation unit 13 is provided. A headphone 17 can be connected to the music player 1, and a user can view content using the headphone 17.

  The operation unit 13 includes push buttons (switches) 21, 22, and 23 that can be pressed by the user. Each push button is associated with each type of meta information associated with the content data stored in the storage unit 14. For example, among the types of meta information, an album is associated with the push button 21, an artist is associated with the push button 22, and a genre is associated with the push button 23. The push buttons 21, 22, and 23 are changed by the user so as to change the type of meta information used for selecting content to be played back to the type of meta information associated with each push button. And functions as change instruction receiving means according to the present invention. Note that the switch according to the present invention may be provided with other switches such as a contact switch or a slide-type switch instead of the push button.

  Next, processing performed by the music player 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment. The user carries the music player 1 in a bag or pocket. The music player 1 waits for reception of an instruction to start processing when the user operates the operation unit 13 (S101). The music player 1 may be configured to include a switch for accepting a start instruction in the operation unit 13 and accept a start instruction by operating the switch by the user, or in a stopped state. The start instruction may be received by the user operating any one of the switches.

  If no start instruction is accepted in step S101 (S101: NO), the control unit 11 of the music player 1 continues to wait for a start instruction. When a start instruction is received by the operation unit 13 in step S101 (S101: YES), the control unit 11 displays a list of types of meta information such as album, artist, or genre as shown in FIG. 9A. 12 is displayed (S102). Next, the control unit 11 receives the designation of the type of meta information by designating one type from the list of types of meta information displayed on the display unit 12 by operating the operation unit 13 by the user. (S103). If there is no reception of designation of the type of meta information (S103: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait for designation reception. When designation of the type of meta information is accepted by the operation unit 13 (S103: YES), the control unit 11 displays a list of the contents of the designated type of meta information as shown in FIG. 9B. (S104). Next, the control unit 11 specifies the meta information contents by designating one meta information from the list of meta information contents displayed on the display unit 12 by operating the operation unit 13 by the user. Waiting for reception (S105).

If there is no reception of designation of the contents of the meta information in step S105 (S105: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait for designation reception. When designation of the content of the meta information is accepted by the operation unit 13 (S105: YES), the control unit 11 selects one content data among the content data associated with the meta information of the designated content. The selected content data is read from the storage unit 14, the content title is displayed on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. 9D, and the read content data is processed by the data processing unit 15 and output from the output unit. Thus, the content is reproduced (S106). At this time, the control unit 11 may perform processing for selecting content data in accordance with the order of titles recorded in the content DB corresponding to the specified meta information, and corresponding to the meta information of the specified content. You may perform the process which selects content data at random from the content data which has recorded the title in content DB. In addition, when the reproduction of one content is completed, the control unit 11 may perform processing for selecting the next content data associated with the designated meta information and continuing the reproduction of the content. When the reproduction of the content is finished, a process of waiting for the next operation from the user may be performed.

  The control unit 11 waits for any of the push buttons 21, 22, and 23 to be pressed by the user while reproducing the content (S107). When none of the press buttons 21, 22, and 23 is pressed (S107: NO), the control unit 11 finishes reproducing the content and the operation unit 13 is set in advance without accepting an operation from the user. It is determined whether or not the process should be terminated based on whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, or whether or not a processing end instruction has been received by the operation unit 13 by a user's operation (S108). When it is determined that the process should be ended by receiving an end instruction using the operation unit 13 (S108: YES), the control unit 11 ends the process. If it is determined that the process should not be terminated (S108: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S107.

  In step S107, when any of the push buttons 21, 22, and 23 is pressed by the user (S107: YES), the control unit 11 determines that the type of meta information associated with the pressed button is It is determined whether or not it is the same as the type of the meta information being used (S109. When the type of the meta information associated with the pressed button is the same as the type of the meta information being used ( (S109: YES), the content of the meta information of the type being used is selected from the content of the other meta information (S110), and the control unit 11 then selects the content of the meta information according to a predetermined order such as alphabetical order. The content of the meta information may be randomly selected from the types of meta information being used, and the control unit 11 functions as a selection unit according to the present invention. Control unit 11, then, returns the process to step S106, reproduces the content associated with the selected meta information.

  In step S109, when the type of meta information associated with the pressed push button is different from the type of meta information being used (S109: NO), the control unit 11 has been pressed. The type of meta information corresponding to the pressed button is selected (S111). Next, the control unit 11 selects the content of the meta information from the content of the selected type of meta information (S112), returns the processing to step S106, and selects the content associated with the selected meta information. Reproduce.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 12 of the music player 1 according to the first embodiment. When the album type is first designated by the above processing, for example, the song A1, which is the content associated with the meta information of the album A, is reproduced, and the music player 1 displays as shown in FIG. The screen is displayed on the display unit 12. Here, if the push button 21 associated with the album type among the meta information types is pressed in step S107, the music player 1 displays a display screen for designating the album meta information. Without selecting meta information of other albums. For example, when album B is selected, the music player 1 reproduces one song B1 of the content associated with album B, which is the selected meta information, and the display screen of the display unit 12 is as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, the display screen is switched to a display screen indicating that the song B1 is being reproduced.

  If the push button 22 associated with the artist type is pressed in step S107, the music player 1 displays the artist information as the meta information type without displaying a display screen for designating the meta information type. Further, without displaying a display screen for designating the meta information of the artist, one meta information from among the artist X, artist Y, artist Z,... Select. For example, when the artist X is selected, the music player 1 plays one song X1 of the content associated with the artist X that is the selected meta information, and the display screen of the display unit 12 displays the screen shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4C, the display screen is switched to a display screen indicating that the song X1 is being reproduced.

  Similarly, when the push button 23 associated with the genre type is pressed in step S107, the music player 1 selects a genre as the type of meta information, and further, the genre that is the content of the meta information of the genre. One meta information is selected from D, Genre E, Genre F,. For example, when the genre D is selected, the music player 1 plays one song D1 of the content associated with the genre D that is the selected meta information, and the display screen of the display unit 12 displays the screen shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4D, the display screen is switched to a display screen indicating that the song X1 is being reproduced.

  As described above in detail, in the present invention, the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention corresponds to the pressed button each time the user presses one of the press buttons 21, 22, and 23. The type of the meta information is selected, the content of the selected type of meta information is selected, and the content is reproduced based on the content data stored in association with the selected meta information. Thus, when the user tries to select the content by changing the meta information in a state where the type and content of the meta information is specified, the user can play the music on the display screen for specifying the type or content of the meta information. There is no need to specify the meta information displayed on the player 1, and the number of steps required to switch the content to be viewed is greatly reduced. Further, since the user can change the meta information of the album or the like by simply pressing one of the push buttons 21, 22, and 23, the user can easily operate the music player 1 while putting it in the bag. It is possible to change the content to be viewed by changing the meta information by operation.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which an album, artist, and genre related to music are used as the type of meta information, but other types of meta information such as the length of playback time or the file format of content data are shown. Information may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention shows a mode of performing processing for selecting meta information and content data using the content DB stored in the storage unit 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a form in which meta information associated with content data is directly searched and meta information and content data are selected without using the content DB may be used.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the music player 1 which is the content playback apparatus of the present invention receives the instruction to change the type and content of the meta information and selects the meta information. A type is set, and processing for accepting an instruction to change the content of meta information for which the type is set is performed. The internal configuration of the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention according to Embodiment 2. The appearance of the music player is also almost the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The operation unit 13 is configured to be pressed by the user, and includes change instruction buttons 31 and 32 that function as change instruction receiving means according to the present invention. The change instruction button 31 is configured to instruct to change the content of the meta information according to an order such as alphabetical order in which the content of the meta information is recorded in the content DB when pressed by the user. The change instruction button 32 is configured to instruct the user to change the content of the meta information in the reverse order to the order in which the content of the meta information is recorded in the content DB. Yes.

  Next, processing performed by the music player 1 according to Embodiment 2 will be described. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing a procedure of processing executed by the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The music player 1 waits for reception of an instruction to start processing when the user operates the operation unit 13 (S201). When the start instruction is not received (S201: NO), the control unit 11 of the music player 1 continues to wait for the start instruction. When the start instruction is received by the operation unit 13 (S201: YES), the control unit 11 causes the display unit 12 to display a list of types of meta information (S202). Next, the control unit 11 receives the designation of the type of meta information by designating one type from the list of types of meta information displayed on the display unit 12 by operating the operation unit 13 by the user. (S203). When there is no reception of designation of the type of meta information (S203: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait for designation reception.

  When designation of the type of meta information is accepted by the operation unit 13 in step S203 (S203: YES), the control unit 11 sets the type of designated meta information (S204). Next, the control unit 11 notifies the user of the type of the set meta information (S205). At this time, the music player 1 notifies the type of meta information by displaying on the display unit 12 which type of meta information is set, for example. As another method for informing the type of meta information, the music player 1 changes the color of the screen of the display unit 12 according to the set type of meta information, or a light emitting component such as a light emitting diode (not shown). And a method of changing the position, the number, or the color of the light emitting components that emit light according to the set type of meta information may be used. Further, the music player 1 may be configured to notify the type of meta information by outputting a sound corresponding to the set type of meta information from the output unit 16.

  Next, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 12 to display a list of contents of the set types of meta information (S206). Next, the control unit 11 specifies the meta information contents by designating one meta information from the list of meta information contents displayed on the display unit 12 by operating the operation unit 13 by the user. Waiting for reception (S207). When there is no reception of designation of the contents of the meta information (S207: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait for designation reception. When the operation unit 13 receives designation of the content of the meta information (S207: YES), the control unit 11 selects one content data among the content data associated with the meta information of the designated content. Then, the selected content data is read from the storage unit 14, the title of the content is displayed on the display unit 12, the read content data is processed by the data processing unit 15 and output from the output unit (S 208). ).

  The control unit 11 waits for reception of an instruction to change the content of the meta information when the user presses one of the change instruction buttons 31 and 32 while reproducing the content (S209). When the operation unit 13 receives an instruction to change the content of meta information (S209: YES), the control unit 11 selects the content of other meta information from the set types of meta information. (S210). Next, the control unit 11 returns the process to step S208 to reproduce the content associated with the selected meta information.

  In step S210, when the change instruction button 31 is pressed by the user in step S209, the control unit 11 sets the contents of the meta information used so far in the order in which the contents of the meta information are recorded in the content DB. Select the next meta information. If the change instruction button 32 is pressed by the user in step S209, the control unit 11 selects the meta information in an order opposite to the order in which the contents of the meta information are recorded in the content DB. When the user presses the change instruction button 31 in step S209, the music player 1 randomly selects the content of the meta information from the set types of meta information, and in step S209 When the user presses the change instruction button 32, the process of selecting the content of the meta information in the reverse order of the order in which the user selected the content of the meta information by pressing the change instruction button 31 It may be.

  If no instruction to change the contents of the meta information is received in step S209 (S209: NO), the control unit 11 receives an instruction to reset the meta information type by the user operating the operation unit 13. Wait (S211). When the meta-information type reset instruction is not received (S211: NO), the control unit 11 finishes reproduction of the content, and the operation unit 13 does not receive an operation from the user. It is determined whether or not the process should be terminated (S212) based on whether or not the time has elapsed, or whether or not the operation unit 13 has accepted a process termination instruction by the user's operation (S212). When it is determined that the process should be ended by receiving an end instruction using the operation unit 13 (S212: YES), the control unit 11 ends the process. If it is determined that the process should not be terminated (S212: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S209.

  When an instruction to reset the type of meta information is received by the operation unit 13 in step S211 (S211: YES), the control unit 11 causes the display unit 12 to display a list of types of meta information (S213), and the user Waits for reception of designation of the type of meta information by operating the operation unit 13 (S214). If there is no reception of designation of the type of meta information (S214: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait for designation reception. When the designation of the type of meta information is accepted by the operation unit 13 (S214: YES), the control unit 11 resets the type of the designated meta information (S215), and returns the process to step S205.

  In the above processing, the processing for setting the type of meta information is performed after specifying the type of meta information after the processing is started. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which the type setting is always stored may be employed. The music player 1 in this form executes the processes in and after step S205 according to the stored settings without executing the processes in steps S202 to S204 after the process is started.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 12 of the music player 1 according to the second embodiment. When an album is set as the type of meta information, for example, a song A1, which is content associated with the meta information of album A, is played, and the music player 1 displays a display screen as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. Here, the display unit 12 informs that the album is set as the type of meta information by displaying the letters “album” at the top of the screen. In this state, when an instruction to change the content of meta information is received in step S209, the music player 1 selects meta information of another album. For example, when album B is selected, the music player 1 plays one song B1 of the content associated with album B, which is the selected meta information, and the display screen of the display unit 12 displays the screen shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8B, the display screen is switched to a display screen indicating that the song B1 is being reproduced.

  When the music player 1 receives an instruction to reset the type of meta information, the music player 1 resets the type of meta information and plays back the content associated with the reset type of meta information. For example, when the artist is reset as the type of meta information, the music player 1 displays the word “artist” at the top of the screen of the display unit 12 and sets the album as the type of meta information, as shown in FIG. The content data is selected using the meta information of the artist type, and the content is reproduced. When the genre is reset as the type of meta information, the music player 1 sets the genre as the type of meta information by displaying the word “genre” at the top of the screen of the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. The content data is selected using the meta information of the genre type and the content is reproduced.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention sets the type of meta information used for selecting content data, and the user changes the change instruction button. Each time 31 or 32 is pressed, the content of the set type of meta information is selected, and the content is reproduced based on the content data stored in association with the selected meta information. Also in the present embodiment, when the user changes the meta information and selects the content in a state where the type and content of the meta information are specified, the user can specify the type or content of the meta information. An operation for displaying the display screen on the music player 1 and designating the meta information becomes unnecessary, and the number of steps required for switching the content to be viewed is greatly reduced. Further, since the user can change the contents of the meta information by simply pressing one of the change instruction buttons 31 and 32, it is possible to change the content to be viewed by changing the meta information with a simple operation. Become. In particular, the music player 1 that can change the content of the meta information at random when an instruction to change the content of the meta information is received provides the user with the pleasure of playing unexpected content that the user does not intend. It becomes possible to do.

  In the present embodiment, the music player 1 which is the content playback apparatus of the present invention is set to be used for selecting content data by displaying the set type of meta information on the display unit 12 or the like. Since the type of the meta information is notified, the user changes the content of the meta information after confirming the type of the meta information that can be changed by the user pressing the change instruction buttons 31 and 32. To select content. In particular, in the present invention, the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention can reset the type of meta information set to be used for selection of content data. It is possible to select and use a type of meta information that is easy to use for content selection.

  In the present embodiment, the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention has been described as having the dedicated change instruction buttons 31 and 32 as the change instruction receiving means according to the present invention. A switch that realizes the above function may be used as the change instruction receiving means according to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the change instruction buttons 31 and 32 are provided only on the main body of the music player 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the music player 1 which is the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention is A remote controller having a switch corresponding to the change instruction buttons 31 and 32 can be connected, and a form in which the meta information content change instruction is received by the user operating the remote controller may be employed. The music player 1 of this embodiment further includes a small display on the remote controller to display the type of meta information on the display, or a light emitting component in the remote controller to change the emission color of the light emitting component, etc. A form in which the type of meta information that has been set is notified by a remote controller may also be used.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention is a music player that reproduces music content has been described. However, the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this. An image player that reproduces content including a still image or a moving image may be used, and a mobile phone that has a function of reproducing content including audio and images may be used. Even in these forms, the present invention can be realized by associating meta data such as a genre with content data including a still image or a moving image.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the music player which is an example of the content reproduction apparatus of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a music player that is a content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by a music player that is a content reproduction apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit of the music player according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a music player that is a content reproduction apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by a music player which is a content reproduction apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by a music player which is a content reproduction apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on a display unit of a music player according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display screen displayed on the display of the conventional content reproduction apparatus, when selecting the content which should be reproduced | regenerated.

Explanation of symbols

1 Music player (content playback device)
12 display unit 13 operation unit 14 storage unit (storage means)
15 Data processing unit 16 Output unit 21, 22, 23 Press button (switch)
31, 32 Change instruction button (change instruction receiving means)

Claims (1)

Content based on content data associated with storage means for storing content data associated with a plurality of types of meta information, means for accepting designation of the type and content of the meta information, and meta information associated with designation by the means A content playback apparatus comprising: means for playing back
Multiple switches corresponding to each type of multiple types of meta information,
Means for determining whether the type of meta information corresponding to the operated switch is the same as the type of meta information in use when any of the plurality of switches is operated;
If the type of meta information corresponding to the operated switch is the same as the type of meta information being used, the content of the meta information being used is different from the content of the meta information being used. First selection means for selecting the contents of
If the type of meta information corresponding to the operated switch is different from the type of meta information being used, means for selecting the type of meta information corresponding to the operated switch;
Second selection means for selecting the content of the type of meta information selected by the means from one or more contents of the type of meta information associated with the content data stored in the storage means;
A content playback apparatus comprising: means for playing back content based on content data associated with meta information of content selected by the first selection unit or the second selection unit .

Images