Content combination reproducer, content combination reproduction method, program executing the method, and recording medium recording therein the program

• US 20030195021A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Fujii, Hiroshi, Nakamura, Takao, Yamashita, Hiroyuki, Sakamoto, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44012 involving rendering scenes according to scene graphs, e.g. MPEG-4 scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Content data and metadata are obtained and reproduced, and combination interface information defining information necessary for executing combination operation on the contents is generated. The combination operation on the contents is controlled by following combination data definition based on the combination interface information and, as necessary, by using external input information entered from an external unit. The combination feedback information for controlling the reproduction operation of the contents and metadata is generated, and the reproduction operation on the contents is controlled based on the combination feedback information.

Claims

1. A content combination reproducer capable of providing content related information and services as a combination operation while reproducing contents and, in relation to the contents, metadata which is information representing the contents, said content combination reproducer comprising:

content reproducing means for obtaining the contents and the metadata attached to the contents to reproduce the contents and the metadata; and

combination interface information generating means for generating combination interface information that includes content reproduction times, content data, and metadata and that defines information necessary for executing the combination operation on the contents.

2. The content combination reproducer according to claim 1, further comprising:

combination data storing means for storing therein combination data that corresponds to the combination interface information and that defines an operation related to the contents; and

combination operation controlling means for obtaining the combination data stored in said combination data storing means to control an execution of the combination operation on the contents by following a definition of the combination data based on the combination interface information and by using external input information entered from an external unit as necessary.

3. The content combination reproducer according to claim 2, further comprising:

combination feedback information generating means for generating combination feedback information used for controlling a reproduction operation of the contents and the metadata based on the combination data and, as necessary, external input information; and

feedback controlling means for controlling the reproduction operation of the contents by said content reproducing means based on the generated combination feedback information.

4. The content combination reproducer according to claim 2, wherein said combination data storing means has means for storing at least one of advertisement contents, content related service information, content related information contents, content related quiz information, and content related game information as the combination data or for storing obtaining information for obtaining said at least one;

and

wherein said combination operation controlling means has means for controlling an execution of the combination operation related to said at least one according to said at least one stored in said combination data storing means or according to said at least one obtained based on the obtaining information stored in said combination data storing means and for requesting a provider of said at least one to pay a charge for the combination operation or a part of the charge thereof based on said at least one and the combination operation or an operation result thereof.

5. The content combination reproducer according to claim 2, wherein said combination data storing means is connected to said combination operation controlling means via a network, and

wherein said combination operation controlling means has means for accessing said combination data storing means via said network to obtain the combination data stored in said combination data storing means.

6. The content combination reproducer according to claim 1, wherein said content reproducing means has means for obtaining the contents and the metadata attached to the contents via a network.

7. The content combination reproducer according to claim 3, wherein said content reproducing means, said combination interface information generating means, and said feedback controlling means are integrated into a content reproducer, said combination operation controlling means and said combination feedback information generating means are integrated into a combination processor, and said content reproducer and said combination processor are connected via a network.

8. A content combination reproducer capable of providing content related information and services as a combination operation while reproducing contents and, in relation to the contents, metadata which is information representing the contents, said content combination reproducer comprising:

combination data storing means for storing therein combination data that corresponds to combination interface information, which includes content reproduction times, content data, and metadata and which defines information necessary for executing a combination operation on the contents, and that defines an operation related to the contents; and

combination operation controlling means for obtaining the combination data stored in said combination data storing means to control an execution of the combination operation on the contents by following a definition of the combination data based on the combination interface information and by using external input information entered from an external unit as necessary.

9. A content combination reproduction method capable of providing content related information and services as a combination operation while reproducing contents and, in relation to the contents, metadata which is information representing the contents, said content combination reproduction method comprising the steps of:

a first step for obtaining the contents and the metadata attached to the contents to reproduce the contents and the metadata; and

a second step for generating combination interface information that includes content reproduction times, content data, and metadata and that defines information necessary for executing the combination operation on the contents.

10. The content combination reproduction method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

a third step for creating combination data, which corresponds to the combination interface information and which defines an operation related to the contents, in advance and for storing the combination data in combination data storing means; and

a fourth step for obtaining the combination data stored in said combination data storing means to control an execution of the combination operation on the contents by following a definition of the combination data based on the combination interface information and by using external input information entered from an external unit as necessary.

11. The content combination reproduction method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

a fifth step for generating combination feedback information used for controlling a reproduction operation of the contents and the metadata based on the combination data and, as necessary, external input information; and

a sixth step for controlling the reproduction operation of the contents by said first step based on the generated combination feedback information.

12. The content combination reproduction method according to claim 10, wherein said third step comprises a seventh step for storing at least one of advertisement contents, content related service information, content related information contents, content related quiz information, and content related game information as the combination data or for storing obtaining information for obtaining said at least one in said combination data storing means and

wherein said fourth step comprises an eighth step for controlling an execution of the combination operation related to said at least one according to said at least one stored in said combination data storing means or according to said at least one obtained based on the obtaining information stored in said combination data storing means and for requesting a provider of said at least one to pay a charge for the combination operation or a part of the charge thereof based on said at least one and the combination operation or an operation result thereof.

14. A program executing the content combination reproduction method according to claim 9.

16. A computer readable recording medium recording therein the program according to claim 14.

13. A content combination reproduction method capable of providing content related information and services as a combination operation while reproducing contents and, in relation to the contents, metadata which is information representing the contents, said content combination reproduction method comprising the steps of:

a first step for creating combination data that corresponds to combination interface information, which includes content reproduction times, content data, and metadata and which defines information necessary for executing a combination operation on the contents, and that defines an operation related to the contents and for storing the created combination data in combination date storing means; and

a second step for obtaining the combination data stored in said combination data storing means to control an execution of the combination operation on the contents by following a definition of the combination data based on the combination interface information and by using external input information entered from an external unit as necessary.

15. A program executing the content combination reproduction method according to claim 13.

17. A computer readable recording medium recording therein the program according to claim 15.