Information playback apparatus and information playback method

• US 20030202005A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Sadahiro, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US10/421,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20030202005A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4318 by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

An information playback apparatus includes an information playback unit for playing back information, a video display unit for displaying images associated with the played back information, and a sound output unit for outputting sound associated with the played back information. It also includes a put-on detector for detecting that a user puts on the sound output unit such as headphones or earphones. In response to the detection, it automatically opens the screen of the video display unit, and starts reproduction of the information to display images and output sound.

Claims

1. An information playback apparatus comprising:

information playback means for playing back information;

video display means for displaying images in response to information played back by said information playback means;

sound output means for outputting sound in response to the information played back by said information playback means; and

put-on detection means for detecting wearing of said sound output means by a user, and for outputting a put-on detection signal, wherein

said information playback means starts playback of the information in response to the put-on detection signal.

2. The information playback apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

open/close means for opening and closing the screen of said video display means; and

control means for controlling said open/close means in response to the put-on detection signal.

3. The information playback apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

voice input means for inputting voice of the user;

voice recognition means for recognizing the voice supplied from said voice input means; and

control means for providing instructions for said information playback means to carry out specified operation in response to a control signal from said voice recognition means.

4. The information playback apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising external communication means for communicating with outside.

5. The information playback apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said external communication means consists of one of a mobile phone, car phone and other radio equipment.

6. The information playback apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for displaying contents of an incoming call via said external communication means on said video display means.

7. The information playback apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

means for detecting arrival of an E-mail at said external communication means;

means for switching sound of said sound output means to a ringer tone of the E-mail; and

means for displaying an incoming message of the E-mail on said video display means.

8. The information playback apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

seat occupied detection means for detecting taking a seat of the user, and for outputting a seat occupied detection signal;

open/close means for opening and closing the screen of said video display means; and

control means for controlling said open/close means in response to the seat occupied detection signal.

9. The information playback apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

driving means for rotating and moving the screen of said video display means, wherein

said seat occupied detection means comprises means for detecting a sitting position of a user, and for outputting a sitting position detection signal, and

said control means controls said driving means in response to the sitting position detection signal to adjust an angle and position of the screen.

10. The information playback apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a viewpoint detector for detecting a point of view of the user, and for outputting a viewpoint detection signal;

driving means for rotating and moving the screen of said video display means; and

control means for controlling said driving means in response to the viewpoint detection signal to automatically adjust at least one of an angle and position of the screen, and brightness and contrast of images on the screen.

11. The information playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sound output means comprises:

a set of operation switches for carrying out as least one of selecting type of information to be reproduced by said information playback means, making channel switching, adjusting brightness and contrast of images on the screen of said video display means, and controlling volume of said sound output means.

12. The information playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information playback apparatus is mounted on a mobile unit, and wherein said sound output means consists of headphones or earphones.

13. An information playback method comprising the steps of:

playing back information;

displaying image associated with played back information on a screen;

outputting sound associated with played back information from sound output means;

detecting putting on of said sound output means by a user and outputting a detection signal; and

starting playback of the information in response to the detection signal.