RECEIVER

• US 20120120204A1
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Maxell, Ltd.)
• Inventors: OHNO, Chiyo, Ishihara, Shuji, Sasamoto, Manabu, Koreeda, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,941,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video

Abstract

A receiver to receive 2D and 3D content from a content distributor, including a content list obtaining unit obtaining a list screen of content receivable from the content distributor, a content obtaining unit obtaining 2D or 3D content from the content distributor, a display unit displaying the list screen and reproduced screen of the content on an external or built-in monitor, and a function determining unit determining a function for viewing/listening to 3D and 2D content, wherein the content list obtaining unit determines if 3D content is visible/listenable and obtains a content list of only 2D content or both 2D and 3D content, in accordance with a result of determination, from the content distributor, and the display unit displays the content list obtained through the content list obtaining unit, thereby enabling the receiver of content to receive, memorize and/or output outside the content, being distributed from various networks.

Claims

1. A receiver, enabling to receive 2D content and 3D content from a content provider via a network, comprising:

a content list obtaining unit, which is configured to obtain a list screen of content receivable by said receiver from said content provider;

a content obtaining unit, which is configured to obtain said 2D content or said 3D content from said content provider;

a display unit, which is configured to display said list screen of the content and a reproduced screen of the content on an external or built-in monitor; and

a function determining unit, which is configured to determine a function for viewing/listening the 3D content and the 2D content, equipped in said receiver, wherein

said content list obtaining unit determines if the 3D content is visible/listenable or not, on said receiver itself, and obtains a content list of only the 2D content or both the 2D content and the 3D content, in accordance with a result of determination, from said content provider, and

said display unit display the content list, which is obtained through said content list obtaining unit, on said monitor.

2. The receiver, as described in the claim 1, wherein

said content list obtaining unit

obtains information including a first process, to be executed when said receiver is enabled to view/listen the 3D content, and a second process to be executed when said receiver is not enabled to view/listen the 3D content, from said content provider,

determines if the 3D content can be viewed/listened on the receiver itself with using said function determining unit, and

selects said first process or said second process in accordance with a result of said determination, and thereby executes it.

3. The receiver, as described in the claim 1, wherein

when receiving a reproduction start instruction of the 3D content on the list screen of the content displayed by said display unit,

said content obtaining unit

obtains the content, including a guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content at a top thereof, from said content provider, and

display a reproduction screen of said content on said display unit.

4. The receiver, as described in the claim 3, wherein

when interrupting to view/listen the 3D content, being received from said content provided by said content obtaining unit,

said content obtaining unit

informs an interrupted position or a first restarting position for restarting to view/listen of said content to said content distributor, and

when restarting to view/listen said content,

said content obtaining unit

obtains

the content inserting the guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content at the top of content starting from a second restarting position, which is determined by said content distributor, by referring to said interrupted position, or said first restarting position, or said interrupted position or said first restarting position, from said content distributor, and

displays the reproduced screen of said content on said display unit.

5. The receiver, as described in the claim 3, wherein

when interrupting to view/listen the 3D content, being received from said content provided by said content obtaining unit,

said content obtaining unit

informs an interrupted position or a first restarting position for restarting to view/listen of said content and information indicating if the content, being viewed/listened presently, is the 3D content or not, to said content distributor, and

when restarting to view/listen said content,

said content obtaining unit

obtains the content inserting the guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content at the top of content starting from a second restarting position, which is determined by said content distributor, by referring to said interrupted position, or said first restarting position, or said interrupted position or said first restarting position, from said content distributor, and

displays the reproduced screen of said content on said display unit.

6. The receiver, as described in the claim 3, wherein

when interrupting to view/listen the 3D content, being received from said content provided by said content obtaining unit,

said content obtaining unit

informs an interrupted position or a first restarting position for restarting to view/listen of said content and information indicating if the content, being viewed/listened presently, is the 3D content or not, to said content distributor, and

when restarting to view/listen said content,

said content obtaining unit

obtains the information indicating if said content is the 3D content or not from said content distributor, and produces the guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content only when said content is the 3D content, thereby displaying said guidance screen with using said displaying unit, and thereafter,

obtains the content starting from a second restarting position, which is determined by said content distributor, by referring to said interrupted position, or said first restarting position, or said interrupted position or said first restarting position, from said content distributor.

7. The receiver, as described in the claim 1, wherein

said content obtaining unit

obtains information including a first URL for accessing to a predetermined content distributor when said receiver is enabled to view/listen the 3D content and a second URL for accessing to a predetermined content distributor when said receiver is not enabled to view/listen the 3D content, from said content distributor,

determines if the 3D content can be viewed/listened on the receiver itself with using said function determining unit, and

accesses to said predetermined content distributor by selecting said first process or said second process in accordance with a result of said determination.

8. The receiver, as described in the claim 1, wherein

when receiving a reproduction start instruction of the 3D content on the list screen of the content displayed by said display unit,

said content obtaining unit

obtains a guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content from said content distributor before reproducing said content, thereby displaying said guidance screen with using said displaying unit, and thereafter

obtains said content from said content distributor.

9. The receiver, as described in the claim 1, further comprising a guidance producing unit, which is configured to produce a guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content, wherein

when receiving a reproduction start instruction of the 3D content on the list screen of the content displayed by said display unit,

said content obtaining unit

produces the guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content before issuing a content distributing request to said content distributor, and displays said guidance screen by said display unit.

10. The receiver, as described in the claim 9, wherein

when interrupting to view/listen the 3D content, being received from said content provided by said content obtaining unit,

said content obtaining unit

informs an interrupted position or a first restarting position for restarting to view/listen of said content, and to said content distributor, and information indicating if the content, being viewed/listened presently, is the 3D content or not, to said content distributor, and

when restarting to view/listen said content,

said content obtaining unit

obtains the information indicating if said content is the 3D content or not from said content distributor, and produces the guidance screen to prompt preparation necessary for viewing/listening said 3D content only when said content is the 3D content, thereby displaying said guidance screen with using said displaying unit, and thereafter,

obtains the content starting from a second restarting position, which is determined by said content distributor, by referring to said interrupted position, or said first restarting position, or said interrupted position or said first restarting position, from said content distributor.

11. The receiver, as described in the claim 9, wherein

when interrupting to view/listen the 3D content, being received from said content provided by said content obtaining unit,

said content obtaining unit

holds the interrupted position of said content and information indicating if the content, being viewed/listened presently, is the 3D content or not, and

informs said interrupted position or a first reproducing position for restarting to view/listen, to said content distributor, and when restarting to view/listen said content,

said content obtaining unit

determines if said content is the 3D content or not from said information held therein, and produces said guidance screen only when said content is the 3D content, thereby displaying said guidance screen with using said display unit, and thereafter,

obtains the content starting from a second restarting position, which is determined by said content distributor, by referring to said interrupted position, or said first restarting position, or said interrupted position or said first restarting position, from said content distributor.