Playback apparatus and playback control method
First Claim
1. A playback apparatus configured to receive stream data transmitted from a server connected to the playback apparatus via a network and play back the stream data, the playback apparatus comprising:
- attribute information request means for requesting the server to transmit attribute information associated with the stream data and receiving the attribute information in an order in which to play back the stream data;
an attribute information buffer configured to temporarily store the attribute information sequentially received from the server and retain at least first attribute information associated with second stream data of a second content item to be played back next after first stream data of a first content item being currently played back;
a stream data buffer of a first-in-first-out type configured to sequentially store the stream data received from the server and to sequentially output the stream data to playback processing means; and
stream data request means for;
requesting, on the basis of the attribute information stored in the attribute information buffer, the server to transmit selected stream data corresponding to the attribute information,reading the first attribute information from the attribute information buffer when an end part of the first stream data of the first content item being currently played back has been stored in the stream data buffer, the first attribute information being associated with the second stream data of the second content item,requesting, on the basis of the first attribute information, the server to transmit the second stream data of the second content item to be played back next, andcausing the stream data buffer to store the requested second stream data of the second content item and the first stream data of the first content item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a playback apparatus adapted to receive stream data transmitted from a server and play back the received stream data, attribute information is sequentially received from the server and stored in an attribute information buffer, and, on the basis of the attribute information stored in the attribute information buffer, a request is issued to the server to transmit stream data corresponding to the attribute information. The stream data received from the server is sequentially stored in a first-in-first-out stream data buffer. When an end part of the stream data being currently played back has been stored in the stream data buffer, attribute information corresponding to stream data to be played next is read from the attribute information buffer, and on the basis of this attribute information, a request is issued to the server to transmit the stream data to be played next.
31 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A playback apparatus configured to receive stream data transmitted from a server connected to the playback apparatus via a network and play back the stream data, the playback apparatus comprising:
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attribute information request means for requesting the server to transmit attribute information associated with the stream data and receiving the attribute information in an order in which to play back the stream data; an attribute information buffer configured to temporarily store the attribute information sequentially received from the server and retain at least first attribute information associated with second stream data of a second content item to be played back next after first stream data of a first content item being currently played back; a stream data buffer of a first-in-first-out type configured to sequentially store the stream data received from the server and to sequentially output the stream data to playback processing means; and stream data request means for; requesting, on the basis of the attribute information stored in the attribute information buffer, the server to transmit selected stream data corresponding to the attribute information, reading the first attribute information from the attribute information buffer when an end part of the first stream data of the first content item being currently played back has been stored in the stream data buffer, the first attribute information being associated with the second stream data of the second content item, requesting, on the basis of the first attribute information, the server to transmit the second stream data of the second content item to be played back next, and causing the stream data buffer to store the requested second stream data of the second content item and the first stream data of the first content item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling a playback process including receiving stream data transmitted from a server via a network and playing back the received stream data, comprising:
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by attribute information request means, requesting the server to transmit attribute information associated with the stream data and receiving the attribute information in the order in which to play back the stream data; by an attribute information buffer, temporarily storing the attribute information sequentially received from the server and retaining at least first attribute information associated with second stream data of a second content item to be played back next after first stream data of a first content item being currently played back; by stream data storage control means, sequentially storing the stream data received from the server in the stream data buffer in a first-in-first-out manner, and outputting the stream data stored in the stream data buffer to playback processing means; by stream data request means; specifying selected stream data in accordance with the attribute information stored in the attribute information buffer and requesting the server to transmit the selected stream data; reading the first attribute information from the attribute information buffer when an end part of the first stream data of the first content item being currently played back has been stored in the stream data buffer, the first attribute information being associated with second stream data of the second content item to be played next; requesting, on the basis of the first attribute information, the server to transmit the second stream data of the second content item to be played back next; and causing the stream data buffer to store the requested second stream data of the second content item and the first stream data of the first content item.
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11. A playback apparatus configured to receive stream data transmitted from a server connected to the playback apparatus via a network and play back the received stream data, comprising:
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an attribute information requesting unit configured to request the server to transmit attribute information associated with the stream data and receiving the attribute information in the order in which to play back the stream data; an attribute information buffer configured to temporarily store attribute information sequentially received from the server and retain at least first attribute information associated with second stream data of a second content item to be played back next after first stream data of a first content item being currently played back; a stream data requesting unit configured to request, on the basis of the attribute information stored in the attribute information buffer, the server to transmit selected stream data corresponding to the attribute information; and a stream data buffer of a first-in-first-out type configured to sequentially store the stream data received from the server and sequentially output the stream data to a playback unit; wherein the stream data requesting unit reads the first attribute information from the attribute information buffer when an end part of the first stream data of the first content item being currently played back has been stored in the stream data buffer, the first attribute information being associated with the second stream data of the second content item to be played next from the attribute information buffer, and requests, on the basis of the first attribute information, the server to transmit the second stream data of the second content item to be played back next.
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Specification