Playback apparatus and playback control means
First Claim
1. A playback apparatus, comprising:
- first content input means via which to input first content from a first apparatus, the first content representing first content to be played back;
requesting means for requesting the first apparatus to input the first content to be played back;
second content input means via which to input second content;
clock means for measuring time;
specified playback start time storage means for storing data indicating a specified playback start time at which to start playback of the first content to be played back; and
control means for controlling a playback operation such that if it is determined that a first amount of data of the first content to be played back which is received from the first apparatus is less than a threshold value prior to the specified playback start time, the threshold value being less than an entire amount of the data of the first content, the control means controls the playback operation to start playing back the second content at the specified playback start time.
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Abstract
A playback apparatus adapted to play back a content includes a first input unit via which to input a first content to be played back from a first apparatus, a second input unit via which to input a second content to be played back, and a storage unit adapted to store a specified playback start time. If time measured by a clock unit indicates that a predetermined time before the specified playback start time has been reached, a control unit controls a requesting unit to request the first apparatus to input the first content to be played back. If it is determined that the inputting of the first content from the first apparatus is not successfully completed by the specified playback start time, the control unit controls the playback operation so as to play back the second content input via the second content input unit.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A playback apparatus, comprising:
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first content input means via which to input first content from a first apparatus, the first content representing first content to be played back; requesting means for requesting the first apparatus to input the first content to be played back; second content input means via which to input second content; clock means for measuring time; specified playback start time storage means for storing data indicating a specified playback start time at which to start playback of the first content to be played back; and control means for controlling a playback operation such that if it is determined that a first amount of data of the first content to be played back which is received from the first apparatus is less than a threshold value prior to the specified playback start time, the threshold value being less than an entire amount of the data of the first content, the control means controls the playback operation to start playing back the second content at the specified playback start time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A playback apparatus, comprising:
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first content accepting means for accepting input of primary content to be played back; second content accepting means for accepting input of an auxiliary content; clock means for measuring time to detect arrival of a specified playback start time at which to start playback of the primary content to be played back in a timer-controlled playback mode; and playback control means for controlling a playback operation such that when the time measured by the clock means indicates arrival of a playback preparation start time a predetermined time before the specified playback start time, a playback preparation process is started for making preparation for playback, in the timer-controlled playback mode, of the primary content to be played back, and, if a first amount of data of the primary content to be played back is less than a first threshold value prior to the specified playback start time, the first threshold value being less than an entire amount of the data of the primary content, the playback control means starts playback of the auxiliary content at the specified playback start time, wherein the first content accepting means is adapted to receive the primary content to be played back from a first server on a network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method, comprising the steps of:
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by clock means, measuring time to detect arrival of a specified playback start time at which to start playback of a primary content, by playback control means, when the time measured by the clock means indicates arrival of a playback preparation start time a predetermined time before the specified playback start time, starting a playback preparation process for making preparation for playback, in a timer-controlled playback mode, of the primary content accepted via first content accepting means, and if a first amount of data of the primary content to be played back which is received prior to the specified playback start time is less than a threshold, the threshold being less than an entire amount of the data of the primary content, starting playback of an auxiliary content at the specified playback start time, wherein the auxiliary content is accepted via second content accepting means, wherein the first content accepting means is adapted to accept the primary content from a first server on a network.
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25. A playback apparatus, comprising:
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a first content input interface via which to input first content from a first apparatus, the first content representing first content to be played back; a requesting controller adapted to request the first apparatus to input the first content to be played back; a second content input interface via which to input a second content; a clock adapted to measure time; a specified playback start time storage adapted to store data indicating a specified playback start time at which to start playback of the first content to be played back; and a playback controller adapted to control a playback operation such that if the time measured by the clock indicates that a predetermined time before the specified playback start time has been reached, the playback controller controls the requesting controller to request the first apparatus to input the first content to be played back, and, if a transmission of the first content to be played back from the first apparatus is at a transmission rate lower than a threshold value prior to the specified playback start time, the playback controller controls the playback operation to start playing back the second content at the specified playback start time.
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26. A playback apparatus, comprising:
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a first content accepting interface adapted to accept input of primary content, the primary content representing primary content to be played back; a second content accepting interface adapted to accept input of an auxiliary content; a clock adapted to measure time to detect arrival of a specified playback start time at which to start playback of the primary content to be played back in a timer-controlled playback mode; and a playback controller adapted to control a playback operation such that when the time measured by the clock indicates arrival of a playback preparation start time a predetermined time before the specified playback start time, a playback preparation process is started for making preparation for playback, in the timer-controlled playback mode, of the primary content to be played back, and, if the playback preparation process is not successfully completed prior to the specified playback start time, playback of the auxiliary content is started at the specified playback start time, wherein the playback preparation start time is set based on a data size of the primary content to be played back.
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Specification