Display device, display method, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide a method for selecting recommended content through intuitive operation.SOLUTION: A reproducer includes: reproducing means which reproduces content to be reproduced, in accordance with a playlist; display control means which displays the playlist in a first region of a display unit and displays objects of content which can be reproduced, in a second region different from the first region; receiving means which receives user operation on the display unit; and display control means which adds, in accordance with user operation on an object displayed in the second region, content corresponding to the object in the playlist.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for recommending content to a user. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known methods for recommending content according to user preferences. Patent Document 1 describes a system that selects and provides content according to preference data for each user. Patent Document 2 describes a display device that presents recommended programs to a user and allows the user to select one. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-236953 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-167038 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2, in order for a user to actually select and play recommended content or add it to a playlist, they must repeatedly select from multiple hierarchical menus or move the cursor or focus frame to the position of the recommended content, which is cumbersome.

[0005] The above is one example of a problem to be solved by the present invention. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for selecting recommended content through an intuitive operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in the claims is a display device comprising a display control means for displaying an object indicating recommended content on a display unit, an acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined user operation on the object, and a change means for changing the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object in accordance with the predetermined operation, wherein the display control means controls the display of the object corresponding to the recommended content based on the recommendation level.

[0007] The invention described in the claims is a display method executed by a display device, comprising a display control step of displaying an object indicating recommended content on a display unit, an acquisition step of acquiring a predetermined user operation on the object, and a change step of changing the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object in accordance with the predetermined operation, wherein the display control step controls the display of the object corresponding to the recommended content based on the recommendation level.

[0008] The invention described in the claims is a program executed by a display device equipped with a computer, which causes the computer to function as a display control means for displaying an object indicating recommended content on a display unit, an acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined user operation on the object, and a change means for changing the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object in accordance with the predetermined operation, and is characterized in that the display control means controls the display of the object corresponding to the recommended content based on the recommendation level. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 shows an external view of a content playback device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the content playback device. [Figure 3] 10 shows examples of the main display and the touch display. [Figure 4] An example of resizing the recommendation area is shown below. [Figure 5] An example of stock area resizing is shown below. [Figure 6] 10 shows examples of displaying various objects. [Figure 7] 10 shows an example of a display during a preview operation. [Figure 8] Other examples of preview operations are shown below. [Figure 9] Shows how to select an object. [Figure 10] Shows how to delete an object. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of sound field control. [Figure 12] This section shows basic operations using the stock area. [Figure 13] This shows the operation of creating a playlist in the stock area. [Figure 14] This shows the operation of obtaining related content. [Figure 15] 10 shows an example of object display control according to the vehicle speed. [Figure 16] 10 shows an example of controlling the display of objects according to the recommendation level. [Figure 17] An example of changing the operability of an object depending on the recommendation level will be shown below. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart of a recommendation level change process. [Figure 19] 10 shows an example of a display of a recommendation area according to a modified example. [Figure 20] An example of the display for a left-hand drive vehicle is shown below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a playback device includes a playback means for playing back content to be played back in accordance with a playback list, a display control means for displaying the playback list in a first area of ​​a display unit and displaying playable content objects in a second area different from the first area, and a reception means for receiving user operations on the display unit, and the display control means adds content corresponding to the object to the playback list in response to the user's operation on the object displayed in the second area.

[0011] In the playback device, the playback means plays content to be played back according to a playlist. The display control means displays the playlist in a first area of ​​the display unit, and displays playable content objects in a second area different from the first area. The reception means receives a user's operation on the display unit, and the display control means adds content corresponding to the object to the playlist in response to the user's operation on the object displayed in the second area. In this way, the user can add content to the playlist with a simple operation on the display unit.

[0012] In one aspect of the playback device, when an object displayed in the second area is moved to the first area by the user's operation, the display control means adds content corresponding to the object to the playlist. In this aspect, the content can be added to the playlist by moving the object.

[0013] In another aspect of the playback device, the display control means adds content corresponding to the object to the playlist displayed in the first area according to the position where the object is inserted in the playlist. In this aspect, the content is added to the playlist according to the position where the object is inserted.

[0014] In another aspect of the playback device, the display control means displays the object in the second area while automatically updating it. In this aspect, new content can be constantly recommended to the user. In a preferred example, the display control means updates the object by displaying it in a predetermined display range within the second area, moving it within the display range, and then hiding it. In a further preferred example, the display control means displays the object so that it falls from top to bottom within the display range, and then displays the object so that it falls instantly across an upper area within the display range.

[0015] In another aspect of the above playback device, the display control means changes the sizes of the first area and the second area in response to the user's operation. In this aspect, the user can arbitrarily change the size of each area. In a preferred example, when the second area is enlarged by the user's operation, the display control means increases the number of objects displayed in the second area compared to when the second area is not enlarged. In this example, a larger number of objects can be displayed by the amount of enlargement. In another preferred example, when the second area is enlarged, the display control means slows the movement speed of the objects compared to when the second area is not enlarged. This makes it easier for the user to see the objects.

[0016] In another aspect of the above playback device, the display control means displays a third area on the display unit, which is different from the first area and the second area and displays objects temporarily saved by the user. In this aspect, the user can temporarily save objects that interest them in the third area. In a preferred example, the display control means displays, in the third area, an object that has been moved from the second area to the third area by the user's operation. In another preferred example, when an object displayed in the third area is moved to the first area by the user's operation, the display control means adds content corresponding to the object to the playback list. This makes it possible to play the content temporarily saved in the third area.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a playback method includes a playback step of playing content to be played according to a playlist, a display control step of displaying the playlist in a first area of ​​a display unit and displaying playable content objects in a second area different from the first area, and a receiving step of receiving a user's operation on the display unit, wherein the display control step adds content corresponding to the object to the playlist in response to the user's operation on the object displayed in the second area. This method also allows the user to add content to the playlist with a simple operation on the display unit.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a program executed by a playback device including a computer causes the computer to function as: playback means for playing content to be played according to a playlist; display control means for displaying the playlist in a first area of ​​a display unit and displaying playable content objects in a second area different from the first area; and reception means for receiving a user's operation on the display unit, wherein the display control means adds content corresponding to the object to the playlist in response to the user's operation on the object displayed in the second area. The playback device described above can be realized by executing this program on a computer. This program can be stored and accessed on a storage medium. [Example]

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. [Device configuration] 1 shows the interior of a vehicle 1 equipped with a content playback device 20 according to an embodiment. As shown in the figure, the content playback device 20 is installed in the vehicle 1. In this embodiment, the content to be played back is music. The vehicle 1 includes a dashboard 11, a steering wheel 12, a meter panel 13, and a center console 14.

[0020] The content playback device 20 includes a main display 24 and a touch display 25. The main display 24 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is provided near the center of the dashboard 11. The main display 24 displays map information and information related to content according to user settings. In the map information display mode, the main display 24 displays a map of the area around the vehicle 1, the vehicle's position, a guide route, etc. On the other hand, in the song information display mode, the main display 24 displays information related to the song being played. The main display 24 may be a display equipped with a touch panel that can receive operations from the user.

[0021] The touch display 25 is a liquid crystal display or the like on which a touch panel is laminated, and is provided near the center console 14. The user uses the touch display 25 as an input device to perform operations such as selecting a song to play.

[0022] 2 shows the internal configuration of the content playback device 20. The content playback device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a control unit 22, a storage unit 23, a main display 24, a touch display 25, and a speaker .

[0023] The communication unit 21 communicates with an external server or the like via wireless communication. For example, the communication unit 21 communicates with an external music server to download song data and song information of songs to be played. The control unit 22 includes a computer such as a CPU, and controls the entire content playback device 20. Specifically, the control unit 22 displays a list of songs to be played, recommended song objects, and the like on the touch display 25, and controls the playback of songs in response to user operations on the touch display 25. Furthermore, the communication unit 21 communicates with a control unit or the like of the vehicle 1 as necessary to obtain information about the vehicle, such as the speed of the vehicle 1.

[0024] The storage unit 23 stores data and related information about songs to be played. The storage unit 23 also stores image data about songs to be displayed on the main display 24. Here, the image data about songs is usually an image of the jacket of the album that includes the song, and is called album artwork or the like. Hereinafter, this will be simply referred to as "artwork." The storage unit 23 also stores image data of various objects to be displayed on the touch display 25.

[0025] The speakers 26 output the sound of the song being played into the vehicle cabin under the control of the control unit 22. The speakers 26 are usually provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle (the passenger seat side and the driver seat side). Alternatively, left and right speakers may be provided in the front and rear seats of the vehicle.

[0026] In the above configuration, the control unit 22 and the speaker 26 are an example of a playback unit in the present invention. The touch display 25 is an example of a display unit and an acquisition unit in the present invention, and the control unit 22 is an example of a display control unit in the present invention.

[0027] [Playback Control] Next, a description will be given of playback control by the content playback device 20. Playback control of music by the content playback device 20 is mainly performed by the user operating the touch display 25.

[0028] (Basic display) Fig. 3(A) shows a basic display example of the main display 24, and Fig. 3(B) shows a basic display example of the touch display 25. In the song information display mode, as shown in Fig. 3(A), information about the song currently being played is displayed on the main display 24. Specifically, artwork 31 of the album that includes the song currently being played is displayed, and song information 32 about the song currently being played is also displayed. The song information 32 includes the song title, artist name, and album name.

[0029] 3(B), three areas are displayed on the touch display 25: a timeline area 30, a recommendation area 40, and a stock area 50. The timeline area 30 and the recommendation area 40 are arranged side by side on the left and right so as to be in contact with each other. On the other hand, the stock area 50 is arranged below the timeline area 30 and the recommendation area 40 so as to be in contact with both of them.

[0030] The timeline area 30 displays a list of songs to be played (hereinafter also referred to as a "playlist"). Specifically, the timeline area 30 chronologically displays the song currently being played, the song to be played, and the songs that have already been played. In FIG. 3(B), the lower side of the timeline area 30 corresponds to the past, and the upper side corresponds to the future. Alternatively, the lower side of the timeline area 30 may correspond to the future, and the upper side may correspond to the past. The timeline area 30 displays artwork 31 and song information 32 for each song. The artwork 31 and song information 32 are paired for each song, and move together from the top to the bottom of the timeline area 30. Furthermore, a playing mark 31x indicating that the song is currently being played is displayed superimposed on the artwork 31 of the song currently being played. The position of the song currently being played within the timeline area 30 is fixed near the bottom end of the timeline area 30. In the timeline area 30, songs positioned above the currently playing song marked with a playing mark 31x are songs that are scheduled to be played in the future, and songs positioned below the currently playing song are songs that have already been played.

[0031] In the example of FIG. 3(B), song A is currently being played, and songs B, C, and D are scheduled to be played in that order. When playback of a song finishes, the artwork 31 and song information 32 for that song move downward and disappear from the timeline area 30. At the same time, the artwork 31 and song information 32 for the next song move near the bottom of the timeline area 30, and as that song begins to play, a playing mark 31x is added to the artwork 31 for that song. In addition, the artwork 31 and song information 32 for each song scheduled to be played after that shift downward by one song. In this way, each time playback of a song finishes, the artwork 31 and song information 32 for each song in the playlist move from top to bottom in the timeline area 30. In the example of Figure 3(B), only a portion of the artwork 31 and song information 32 of the song that has just finished playing is visible, but instead, the entire artwork 31 and song information 32 of the song that has just finished playing may be displayed so that they are visible, or conversely, the artwork 31 and song information 32 of the song that has just finished playing may be completely invisible.

[0032] The recommendation area 40 displays songs recommended to the user (hereinafter referred to as "recommended songs"). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3(B), an object 41 of the recommended song is displayed in the recommendation area 40. The object 41 appears from above the recommendation area 40 and moves downward. That is, the object 41 is dynamically displayed as if falling from above the recommendation area 40. In an area 42 above the recommendation area 40, the object 41 is displayed as if falling instantly. That is, the object 41 is displayed as if falling faster in the area 42 than in other areas. Also, instead of displaying the object 41 as if falling instantly, the object 41 may be displayed as if falling relatively faster in the area 42 than in other areas. This gives the user the visual impression that the object 41 is falling from above. The object 41 displayed in the recommendation area 40 flows downward over time and disappears below the recommendation area 40. By repeating this process, the objects 41 in the recommendation area 40 are updated. As will be described in detail later, the user can add the object 41 of the recommended song they want to play to the playlist by moving it to the timeline area 30.

[0033] The stock area 50 is an area for temporarily storing objects 41 of recommended songs displayed in the recommendation area 40. The user can temporarily move songs that the user will not listen to immediately but may listen to later, songs that interest the user, etc. to the stock area 50. When the user moves an object 41 to the stock area 50, the object 41 is displayed in the stock area 50. Multiple objects 41 can be stored in the stock area 50. The user can also save multiple objects 41 in the stock area 50 by dragging and dropping them all at once.

[0034] (Area resizing) Next, we will explain how to change the size of each area. In this embodiment, the user can arbitrarily change the sizes of the timeline area 30, recommendation area 40, and stock area 50 within the display area of ​​the touch display 25. In other words, the user can enlarge or reduce each area.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3B, a standard state is when the timeline area 30 and the recommendation area 40 are approximately the same size. The user can enlarge the recommendation area 40 by performing a pinch-out operation within the recommendation area 40. A "pinch-out operation" refers to an operation of moving two fingers in contact with the touch display 25 apart. Alternatively, the user can perform a pinch-in operation within the timeline area 30 to reduce the timeline area 30 and, as a result, enlarge the recommendation area 40. A "pinch-in operation" refers to an operation of moving two fingers in contact with the touch display 25 closer together. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the recommendation area 40 is enlarged by performing a pinch-out operation within the recommendation area 40. When the recommendation area 40 is enlarged, the timeline area 30 is reduced accordingly, but the size of the stock area 50 remains unchanged. In addition, instead of pinching out or in, the user may enlarge or reduce the timeline area 30 and the recommendation area 40 by dragging left or right based on the boundary line between the timeline area 30 and the recommendation area 40.

[0036] When the recommendation area 40 is enlarged, the number of objects 41 displayed in the recommendation area 40 basically increases. However, instead of increasing the number of objects 41, the size of the objects 41 displayed may be increased in accordance with the enlargement of the recommendation area 40. Furthermore, the number of objects 41 may be increased slightly, and the size of each object 41 may be increased slightly. Note that when the number of displayed objects 41 is increased, the speed at which the objects 41 move from top to bottom may be slowed down so that the user can easily see each object 41.

[0037] When the timeline area 30 is reduced in size as the recommendation area 40 is expanded, the artwork 31 and song information 32 are basically reduced and displayed in the timeline area 30. However, depending on the size of the timeline area 30 after reduction, the number of artworks 31 and song information 32 to be displayed may be reduced, or as in the example of FIG. 4(A), the song information 32 may be omitted and only the artwork 31 may be displayed.

[0038] On the other hand, the user can enlarge the timeline area 30 by performing a pinch out operation within the timeline area 30. Alternatively, the user can shrink the recommendation area 40 by performing a pinch in operation within the recommendation area 40, thereby enlarging the timeline area 30. FIG. 4(B) shows the state in which the timeline area 30 has been enlarged by performing a pinch in operation within the recommendation area 40. When the timeline area 30 is enlarged, the recommendation area 40 is reduced accordingly, but the size of the stock area 50 remains unchanged.

[0039] When the timeline area 30 is enlarged, the artwork 31 and song information 32 displayed within the timeline area 30 are generally enlarged. At this time, the number of pieces of artwork 31 and song information 32 displayed may be reduced. Enlarging the artwork 31 and song information 32 makes it easier for the user to see the image of the artwork 31 and the content of the song information 32. Depending on the size of the enlarged timeline area 30, the amount of information displayed as song information 32 may be increased. For example, in the standard state, the song title, artist name, and album name are displayed as song information 32. However, when the timeline area 30 is enlarged, the song information 32 may display genre, release date, lyricist, composer, and the like in addition to the song title, artist name, and album name. In the example of FIG. 4(B), genre and release date are added to the song information 32 as the timeline area 30 is enlarged.

[0040] When the recommendation area 40 is reduced in size as the timeline area 30 is expanded, the objects 41 are basically reduced and displayed in the recommendation area 40. However, depending on the size of the timeline area 30 after reduction, the number of objects 41 displayed may be reduced.

[0041] Furthermore, the user can enlarge or reduce the stock area 50 by moving the top edge of the stock area 50 up or down. Fig. 5 shows the state in which the stock area 50 is enlarged by moving the top edge of the stock area 50 up. When the stock area 50 is enlarged, the enlarged portion is displayed overlapping the recommendation area 40 and the timeline area 30, but the display in the recommendation area 40 and the timeline area 30 does not change.

[0042] When the stock area 50 is enlarged, the number of objects 41 displayed in the stock area 50 basically increases. Therefore, when the user has a large number of objects 41 stored in the stock area 50, the user can make the objects 41 in stock more visible by enlarging the stock area 50. Note that depending on the size of the stock area 50 after enlargement and the number of objects 41, the size of each object 41 may be increased for display.

[0043] (Object type) Next, the types of objects displayed in the recommendation area 40 will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of displaying various objects. In the recommendation area 40, an object of a song recommended to the user (hereinafter also referred to as a "recommended song object") 41a is basically displayed. However, in addition to the recommended song object 41a, a playlist object (hereinafter also referred to as a "playlist object") 41b and an audio control object (hereinafter also referred to as an "audio control object") 41c are also displayed, as shown in FIG. 6. In this specification, when the type of object is not specified, it will simply be referred to as an "object 41".

[0044] A playlist object 41b is an object of a playlist made up of multiple songs. In Fig. 6, a playlist object 41b made up of four songs E to H includes a four-divided area representing songs E to H on the display. Also, a playlist object 41b made up of two songs P to Q includes a two-divided area representing songs P to Q on the display. By selecting a playlist object 41b, the user can add the playlist itself to the playback list in the timeline area 30.

[0045] The sound control object 41c is an object that indicates sound control to be applied to a song being played. In the example of Fig. 6, the sound control object 41c is an object for applying sound control that reproduces the sound field of a live music venue. The user can apply sound control to a specific song by operating the sound control object 41c. The sound control object 41c will be described in detail later.

[0046] Although the objects 41 flow from top to bottom in the recommendation area 40, the speed at which they flow may be varied depending on the type of object 41. For example, the speed of the sound control object 41c may be slower than that of the recommended song object 41a and the playlist object 41b, or the speed of the sound control object 41c may be faster than that of the recommended song object 41a and the playlist object 41b.

[0047] (Preview operation) Next, the preview operation will be described. A recommended song object 41a is displayed in the recommendation area 40, and the user can temporarily preview a recommended song by touching the recommended song object 41a. Fig. 7(A) shows an example of the display on the main display 24 during the preview operation, and Fig. 7(B) shows an example of the display on the touch display 25 during the preview operation.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 7(B), when the user touches the object 41c of song M in the recommendation area 40, the song M is temporarily played back while the user is touching (hereinafter, this is also referred to as "preview playback"). During preview playback, as shown in Fig. 7(A), the main display 24 temporarily displays the artwork 31 and song information 32 of the song M that is the subject of preview playback. Note that during the preview operation, the recommended song object 41a that the user is touching remains in the same position in the recommendation area 40, but the other objects 41 move downward as usual.

[0049] Next, a method for playing songs using preview playback will be described in detail. Preview playback can be performed using any of the following first to third preview playback methods. Assume that another song (let's say "song X") was being played before the user performed a preview operation, i.e., before touching the recommended song object 41a for song M. In the first preview playback method, when the user touches the recommended song object 41a for song M, playback of song X temporarily stops and a portion of song M is played. Then, when the user releases their touch on the recommended song object 41a for song M, playback of song M ends and playback of the original song X resumes. In this case, playback of the original song X resumes from the playback position at the time the user touched the recommended song object 41a for song M. Note that switching between songs X and M may be performed using a crossfade.

[0050] In the second preview playback method, as described above, playback of the original song X continues without being stopped during preview playback, and the sound being played from the speaker 26 is muted (the playback volume is reduced to zero). Specifically, when the user touches the recommended song object 41a for song M, the playback volume of song X is temporarily muted and song M is played. While song M is being played, playback of the original song X continues, although no playback sound is output. Then, when the user releases their touch on the recommended song object 41a for song M, playback of song M ends, the muting of the original song X is unmuted, and the playback volume is restored to the original volume.

[0051] In the third preview playback method, song M is played only on a specific speaker 26, preferably only on the speaker closest to the user who performed the preview operation, while the original song X continues to be played on the other speakers 26. For example, assume that vehicle 1 is provided with left and right speakers 26 in the front and rear seats. Here, if a user sitting in the passenger seat performs a preview operation, song M is played only on the left front speaker 26 closest to the passenger seat, while the original song X continues to be played on the other three speakers. With this method, only the user who performed the preview operation can listen to the preview playback of song M, and the preview playback does not prevent other passengers from continuing to listen to the original song X.

[0052] As another example of a preview operation, instead of continuing to touch the recommended song object 41a, as shown in Fig. 8(B), the recommended song object 41a may be moved upward with a finger and thrown out of the recommendation area 40. As shown in Fig. 1, since the main display 24 is usually positioned above the touch display 25 inside the vehicle, this operation is equivalent to throwing the recommended song object 41a onto the main display 24.

[0053] When the user performs this operation, the recommended song object 41a for song M temporarily moves out of the recommendation area 40 and disappears. Then, song M is temporarily preview-played, and the artwork and song information for song M are displayed on the main display 24. In the case of this preview operation, the preview playback of recommended song M and the display of the artwork and song information may be automatically ended after a predetermined time has elapsed, or a separate operation button for preview playback may be provided so that the preview playback can be ended at the user's discretion. Then, when the preview playback ends, the recommended song object 41a for song M is displayed again in its original position within the recommendation area 40. This allows the user to select this song M after the preview playback.

[0054] (Object Selection) Next, a method for selecting an object 41 flowing through the recommendation area 40 will be described. If the recommended song object 41a and playlist object 41b flowing through the recommendation area 40 include a preferred object, the user can add the object 41 to a playlist by moving (drag and drop) the object 41 to the timeline area 30. The selection of the sound control object 41c will be described later.

[0055] FIG. 9 shows a method for selecting an object 41. When the user moves the object 41a of the recommended song M from the recommendation area 40 to the timeline area 30 as shown in FIG. 9(A), the recommended song M is added to the playlist displayed in the timeline area 30 as shown in FIG. 9(B). More specifically, the recommended song M is inserted at a playback position corresponding to the dropped position in the timeline area 30. In the example of FIG. 9(A), the user dropped the object 41a of the recommended song M between albums B and C in the timeline area 30, so that the recommended song M is inserted between song B corresponding to album B and song C corresponding to album C as shown in FIG. 9(B). Alternatively, when the user moves the object 41 to the timeline area 30, the recommended song may be added to the end of the current playlist.

[0056] If the position where the user drops the object 41a overlaps with the position of an album in the timeline area 30, the recommended song may be inserted before or after the album.

[0057] Similarly to the recommended song object 41a, the user can add a playlist object 41b to a playlist by dragging and dropping it into the timeline area 30. The playlist object 41b is also inserted at a playback position corresponding to the dropped position in the timeline area 30. In this way, the user can add recommended songs and playlists to a playlist by simply dragging and dropping the recommended song object 41a and playlist object 41b.

[0058] (Deleting Objects) Next, a method for deleting an object 41 moving through the recommendation area 40 will be described. The user can delete an object 41 that the user is not interested in from among the objects 41 moving through the recommendation area 40 by swiping (sweeping) it out of the recommendation area 40. This operation is applied not only to the recommended song object 41a, but also to the playlist object 41b and sound control object 41c described above.

[0059] FIG. 10 shows a method for deleting an object 41. In the example of FIG. 10, the user swipes the objects 41 of recommended songs M and L that are displayed within the recommendation area 40 to move them out of the recommendation area 40. As a result, the objects 41 of recommended songs M and L are deleted from the recommendation area 40. Many objects 41 flow from top to bottom within the recommendation area 40. If the user is not interested and does not perform any operation, the objects 41 disappear toward the bottom of the recommendation area 40. However, the user can actively delete objects 41 that do not interest them, allowing other objects 41 to appear in that space. By providing such a deletion operation, it is possible to recommend a larger number of songs and sound controls to the user.

[0060] (acoustic control) Next, we will explain how the sound control object controls the sound of a song being played. As described above, the objects 41 flowing through the recommendation area 40 include a sound control object 41c. The sound control object 41c indicates the sound control to be applied to the song being played. Here, "sound control" includes sound field control, which controls the sound field of the sound being played, and playback control, which controls the characteristics and playback method of the sound itself. Sound field control controls the characteristics of the sound being played according to the characteristics of the sound field in which the song is being played, such as a live music venue, concert hall, church, or karaoke venue. "Playback control" controls the characteristics and playback method of the sound being played according to user settings, such as bass boost, loudness, user-specified equalizer settings, playback speed, and playback volume. Note that the sound control object 41c can basically be applied to any song, so its speed within the recommendation area 40 may be slowed down. By setting the speed of the sound control object 41c to be slower than the speed of the recommended song objects 41a and playlist objects 41b, the user can easily apply sound control to a large number of songs.

[0061] Specifically, the user can apply sound field control to a song being played by dragging and dropping the sound control object 41c displayed in the recommendation area 40 into the timeline area 30. FIG. 11 shows an example of sound field control. Assume that a live music venue sound control object 41c is displayed in the recommendation area 40, as shown in FIG. 11(B). The user drags the sound control object 41c into the timeline area 30 and drops it onto the artwork 31 of the album A corresponding to the currently playing song A. This applies the live music venue sound field control to the currently playing song A, and the song A is played from the speakers 26 in live music venue mode. In this way, by dragging and dropping the sound control object 41c to the desired position of the song being played in the timeline area 30, sound field control can be easily applied to the song being played. Note that the sound control object 41c can be applied to more than just the currently playing song. The sound control object 41c can also be applied by dragging and dropping it onto the artwork 31 of a song in the playlist in the timeline area 30, that is, a song that is scheduled to be played in the future.

[0062] 11(A), when sound field control is applied, a mode display 24a indicating that song A is being played in live house mode is added to the main display 24, and further, the background 24b of the artwork 31 and song information 32 is changed to a color, pattern, image, etc. corresponding to the sound field control of a live house. This allows the user to recognize by looking at the display on the main display 24 that live house sound control is being applied to the song currently being played.

[0063] In the above example, the user drags and drops the sound control object 41c onto the artwork 31 of a specific song in the timeline area 30, but if the user drags and drops the sound control object 41c onto a space other than the specific artwork 31 in the timeline area 30, the sound control may be applied to all songs in the current playlist.

[0064] Furthermore, multiple sound control objects 41c may be applied to one song. For example, a sound field control object for reproducing a specific sound field and a playback control object for changing the playback speed may be applied to the same song being played.

[0065] Also, preview playback may be performed using the sound control object 41c. Specifically, while the user is touching the sound control object 41c, the sound control is applied to the currently playing song and playback is performed. When the user releases their touch on the sound control object 41c, the application of sound control is also canceled. In the example of FIG. 11(B), while the user is touching the sound control object for a live house in the recommendation area 40, the currently playing song A is played in live house mode, and the display on the main display 24 also indicates the live house mode as shown in FIG. 11(A). This allows the user to perform preview playback and temporarily listen to a sample before actually applying the sound control object 41c.

[0066] (Stock area) Next, the stock area 50 will be described in detail. As mentioned above, the stock area 50 is an area for temporarily storing objects 41 that the user is interested in but that are not immediately applied to the playlist in the timeline area 30. Note that the user can also store multiple objects 41 in the stock area 50 by dragging and dropping them at the same time.

[0067] FIG. 12 shows basic operations using the stock area 50. If the user is interested in the object 41a for recommended song K in the recommendation area 40 and wants to listen to it later, the user drags and drops the object 41a into the stock area 50, as shown by arrow 71. This moves the object 41a for song K into the stock area 50 and saves it. Later, when the user wants to listen to song M, the user drags and drops the object 41a for song K saved in the stock area 50 into the timeline area 30, as shown by arrow 72. In the example of FIG. 12, the object 41a for song K has been dropped between the currently playing song A and the next song B, so song K will be added to the playlist after song A.

[0068] Note that the objects 41 that can be saved in the stock area 50 are not limited to recommended song objects 41a; playlist objects 41b and sound control objects 41c can also be saved in the stock area 50. The user can temporarily save the playlist object 41b in the stock area 50 and, when desired, drag and drop it into the timeline area 30 to listen to it. The user can also temporarily save the sound control object 41c in the stock area 50 and drag and drop it onto the artwork 31 of the song to which the sound control should be applied in the timeline area 30 before playback of the song begins, thereby applying the sound control to the song and playing it.

[0069] The user can also combine multiple objects 41 stored in the stock area 50. For example, the user can create a playlist by combining multiple recommended song objects 41a temporarily stored in the stock area 50. FIG. 13 shows an example of the operation for creating a playlist in the stock area. As shown in FIG. 13(A), recommended song objects 41a for songs P and Q are stored in the stock area 50. When the user combines the recommended song object 41a for song P and the recommended song object 41a for song Q with their finger, a playlist object 41b including songs P and Q is generated, as shown in FIG. 13(B).

[0070] Similarly, the user can combine a recommended song object 41a with a playlist object 41b to generate a new playlist object 41. For example, by combining a recommended song object 41a for song M with playlist objects for songs P and Q, a new playlist object 41b including songs M, P, and Q is generated. The user can also combine playlist objects 41b together to generate a new playlist object 41b. For example, by combining a playlist object 41b including songs M and P with a playlist object 41b including songs Q and R, a new playlist object 41b including songs M, P, Q, and R is generated.

[0071] Furthermore, the user can generate a recommended song object 41a with sound control by combining a recommended song object 41a and a sound control object 41c in the stock area 50. For example, by combining a recommended song object 41a for song M with a sound control object 41c for a live house, a recommended song object 41a for song M in live house mode is generated.

[0072] The user can delete any unnecessary objects 41 stored in the stock area 50 by swiping them out of the stock area 50. This allows the user to organize the stock area 50 by deleting objects 41 that were stored in the stock area 50 with the intention of reproducing them later but that no longer need to be reproduced. In this case, the user can simply sweep the objects 41 to the left, right, or bottom of the stock area 50. It is also possible to delete multiple objects 41 by sweeping them out all at once.

[0073] (Add related objects) It may also be possible to add related objects to the objects 41 displayed in the recommendation area 40 through a user operation. For example, as shown in Fig. 14, when an object 41a for a song M of a certain genre is playing, and the user shakes the object 41a, objects 41a for songs related to the song M may also fall down. In the example of Fig. 14, when the user shakes the object 41a for the song M, objects 41a for songs Ma and Mb related to the song M are added.

[0074] In this case, the related songs may be, for example, songs of the same genre, songs by the same artist, songs from the same era, etc., and may be set in advance. The type of related songs may also be changed depending on the direction in which the object 41a is shaken. For example, a vertical shake may add songs of the same genre, and a horizontal shake may add songs from the same era. Note that the operation for adding related objects is not limited to the above-described shake, and other operations may be used, such as a continuous tap operation or touching with two fingers simultaneously.

[0075] (Object display control according to vehicle speed) Next, the display control of objects according to vehicle speed will be described. The size and speed of the object 41 moving through the recommendation area 40 can be changed according to the speed of the vehicle 1 on which the content reproduction device 20 is mounted.

[0076] First, the speed at which the object 41 flows within the recommendation area 40 can be changed according to the speed of the vehicle 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15(A), when the vehicle 1 is moving at a high speed, the falling speed of the object 41a is slowed down, and when the vehicle 1 is moving at a low speed, the falling speed of the object 41 is increased. This makes it easier for the user to see the object 41 according to the speed of the vehicle 1.

[0077] The size of the object 41 may also be changed depending on the speed of the vehicle 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15(B), the size of the object is increased when the vehicle 1 is moving at a high speed, and decreased when the vehicle 1 is moving at a low speed. This makes it easier for the user to see the object 41 depending on the speed of the vehicle 1. Note that this control of the size of the object 41 may be performed in combination with the control of the falling speed of the object.

[0078] Instead, the size of the objects 41 may not be changed, but the display interval of the objects 41 in the recommendation area 40 may be changed depending on the speed of the vehicle 1. Specifically, the display interval of the objects 41 may be increased when the vehicle 1 is traveling at a high speed, and the display interval of the objects 41 may be decreased when the vehicle 1 is traveling at a low speed. This makes it easier for the user to see the objects 41 even when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed.

[0079] Furthermore, the number of objects 41 simultaneously moving within the recommendation area 40 may be changed according to the speed of the vehicle 1. Specifically, the number of objects 41 is reduced when the vehicle 1 is moving at a high speed, and the number of objects 41 is increased when the vehicle 1 is moving at a low speed. This makes it easier for the user to see the objects 41 according to the speed of the vehicle 1.

[0080] When the vehicle 1 is stopped, the falling speed of the object 41 may basically be increased or the size may be reduced, but when the vehicle 1 is temporarily stopped, such as waiting at a traffic light, the falling speed of the object 41 may be decreased or the size of the object 41 may be increased, as in the case when the vehicle 1 is moving. Whether or not the vehicle 1 is waiting at a traffic light can be determined based on, for example, blinker information acquired from the vehicle 1, information on right or left turns on the route being guided, etc.

[0081] Furthermore, when the vehicle 1 is moving, the speed of the object 41 is generally slowed down and the size is increased, but if the vehicle 1 is an autonomous vehicle, the speed of the object 41 may be increased and the size may be decreased during autonomous driving mode.

[0082] (Display control of objects according to recommendation level) Next, the display control of objects according to the recommendation level will be described. The size and speed of the objects 41a moving in the recommendation area 40 can be changed according to the recommendation level of the content (song) corresponding to each object 41a.

[0083] First, the falling speed of the object 41a can be changed according to the recommendation level of the content corresponding to that object 41a. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 16(A), if the recommendation level of the content is high, the falling speed of the object 41a is slowed down, and if the recommendation level of the content is low, the falling speed of the object 41a is increased. This makes it easier for the user to select the object 41a of the content with a high recommendation level.

[0084] Furthermore, the size of the object 41a may be changed depending on the recommendation level of the content corresponding to that object 41a. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 16(B), if the recommendation level of the content is high, the size of the object 41a is increased, and if the recommendation level of the content is low, the size of the object 41a is decreased. This makes it easier for the user to select the object 41a of the content with a higher recommendation level. This control of the size of the object 41a may be performed in combination with the above-mentioned control of the object speed.

[0085] As described above, when the falling speed of the objects 41a is changed depending on the recommendation level of the content, multiple objects 41a may temporarily overlap each other when an object 41a falling faster overtakes an object 41a falling slower within the recommendation area 40. In this case, of the overlapping objects 41a, the object 41a with the higher recommendation level can be displayed on top. In other words, the object 41a with the lower recommendation level will fall by passing behind the object with the higher recommendation level.

[0086] Furthermore, the operability of the object 41a on the touch display 25 may be changed according to the recommendation level of the content. Here, "operability" refers to the ease (weight) of moving the object 41a by a user's operation. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, when a user moves an object 41a displayed in the recommendation area 40 to the timeline area 30 or the stock area 50, the object 41a corresponding to the content with a high recommendation level is made easier to select (lighter) and the object 41a corresponding to the content with a low recommendation level is made harder to select (heavier). This makes it easier for the user to select content with a high recommendation level.

[0087] Furthermore, when a user deletes an object 41a displayed in the recommendation area 40 by sweeping it out of the recommendation area 40, the objects 41a corresponding to content with a high recommendation level are made difficult to delete by making them less operable (heavy), while the objects 41a corresponding to content with a low recommendation level are made easy to delete (light) by making them more operable. This makes it difficult for the user to delete content with a high recommendation level. Furthermore, this means that when a user attempts to delete multiple objects 41a by sweeping them out of the recommendation area 40, the objects 41a corresponding to content with a high recommendation level remain without being deleted, preventing the user from accidentally deleting content with a high recommendation level. Note that, as shown in FIG. 17, it is preferable that objects 41a with poor operability (heavy) are displayed so that the afterimage appears longer when they are moved.

[0088] (Content recommendation level) Next, the recommendation level of content will be described. The recommendation level is an index that indicates the degree to which content is recommended to a user, and is set for each piece of content and stored in the storage unit 23 of the content playback device 20. In this embodiment, songs are played as content, so recommendation levels are determined and stored for a large number of songs. Note that the recommendation level information is basically managed in a server, and may be downloaded to the content playback device 20 in each user's vehicle for use as needed.

[0089] The recommendation level of each song is determined based on a large amount of information. Typically, the recommendation level is first determined based on the popularity of each song in society. For example, the basic recommendation level of each song is determined based on its ranking on domestic or international music charts, the number of times the song has been selected at karaoke bars, and the like. The recommendation level is then modified for each user. Specifically, the basic recommendation level is weighted according to the user's attribute information, such as age and gender, the user's musical preferences (favorite music genres, etc.), the user's past song selection history, and the like, to modify the recommendation level of each song for each user. In this way, the recommendation levels of many songs are stored for each user in the storage unit 23. Note that the above method is merely an example, and recommendation levels can be determined using various known methods for recommending content to users.

[0090] Next, a method for recommending content will be described. When recommending content, the control unit 22 refers to the recommendation level of each song stored in the storage unit 23 and extracts songs with a recommendation level equal to or higher than a predetermined value as recommended songs. The control unit 22 then selects these recommended songs in a predetermined order or randomly and displays them in the recommendation area 40 as recommended song objects 41a. Generally, songs with higher recommendation levels are recommended more frequently, but it is preferable to provide a certain amount of time interval between recommendations so that the same song is not recommended consecutively. In this way, recommended songs are recommended based on the recommendation level. Note that the above method is merely one example of a method for recommending songs based on the recommendation level, and other known methods may also be used.

[0091] Next, a method for changing the recommendation level based on a user operation on the object 41 will be described. The recommendation level of each song is determined as described above, and an object 41a corresponding to that song is displayed in the recommendation area 40. Here, the operation performed by the user on the object 41a reflects the user's preference for the corresponding recommended song. Therefore, in this embodiment, the recommendation level of each song is corrected as follows, depending on the operation performed by the user on the object 41a displayed in the recommendation area 40.

[0092] First, if the user moves the object 41a displayed in the recommendation area 40 to the timeline area 30 and adds it to a playlist, it can be inferred that the user is interested in that song and that it is a song that the user likes. Therefore, the control unit 22 increases the recommendation level of that song. On the other hand, if the user deletes the object 41a displayed in the recommendation area 40, it can be inferred that the user is not very interested in that song and does not like it very much. Therefore, the control unit 22 decreases the recommendation level of that song.

[0093] If the user does not perform any operation on the object 41 displayed in the recommendation area 40 and the object disappears from the recommendation area 40 over time, it cannot be determined whether the preference for that song is good or bad, and therefore the recommendation level is not changed. However, if the user does not perform any operation on the object 41 displayed in the recommendation area 40 multiple times and the object disappears from the recommendation area 40 over time, it may be determined that the preference for that song is bad.

[0094] If a user adds a certain object 41a to a playlist after preview playback, it can be inferred that the user has a high interest in that song and likes it very much. Therefore, the control unit 22 increases the recommendation level of that song. In this case, the degree to which the recommendation level is increased may be greater than when the song is added to a playlist without preview playback. On the other hand, if a user deletes a certain object 41a after preview playback, it can be inferred that the user has no interest in that song and does not like it. Therefore, the control unit 22 decreases the recommendation level of that song. In this case, the degree to which the recommendation level is decreased may be greater than when the song is deleted without preview playback.

[0095] Furthermore, a user may predetermine a predetermined operation that expresses the user's preference for the object 41 displayed in the recommendation area 40, and the recommendation level may be increased or decreased depending on whether or not the operation is performed. For example, if tracing the periphery of the object 41a with a finger or enlarging the object 41a by a pinch-out operation is determined to be an operation indicating that the object 41 is a favorite object 41, the recommendation level of the song corresponding to the object 41a on which such an operation is performed is increased. Conversely, if shrinking the object 41 by a pinch-in operation is determined to be an operation indicating that the object 41a is not a favorite object, the recommendation level of the song corresponding to the object 41a on which such an operation is performed is decreased. Note that the above-mentioned operations indicating that the object is a favorite object and operations indicating that the object is not a favorite object may be performed simultaneously on multiple objects 41a.

[0096] The object 41 of a song whose recommendation level has increased as described above will be displayed more frequently or in a larger size the next time it is displayed in the recommendation area 40. On the other hand, the object 41 of a song whose recommendation level has decreased will be displayed less frequently or in a smaller size the next time it is displayed in the recommendation area 40.

[0097] 18 is a flowchart of the recommendation level change process. This process is executed by the control unit 22 of the content playback device 20. First, the control unit 22 displays an object 41a corresponding to a recommended song in the recommendation area 40 (step S11). Next, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the user has performed an operation to increase the recommendation level for the displayed object 41a (step S12). Here, the "operation to increase the recommendation level" refers to a predetermined operation such as adding the object 41 to the timeline area 30 or enlarging the object 41, as described above.

[0098] If an operation to increase the recommendation level has not been performed (step S12: No), the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, if an operation to increase the recommendation level has been performed (step S12: Yes), the control unit 22 increases the recommendation level of the song corresponding to the object 41 (step S13), and the process proceeds to step S14.

[0099] In step S14, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the user has performed a recommendation level decrease operation on the displayed object 41. Here, the "recommendation level decrease operation" refers to a predetermined operation such as an operation to delete the object 41 from the recommendation area 40 or a reduction in the size of the object 41, as described above.

[0100] If a recommendation level decrease operation has not been performed (step S14: No), the process ends. On the other hand, if a recommendation level decrease operation has been performed (step S14: Yes), the control unit 22 decreases the recommendation level of the song corresponding to the object 41a (step S15) and ends the process. In this way, by changing the recommendation level of each song in response to the user's operation on the displayed object 41a, it becomes possible to always recommend content that matches the user's preferences.

[0101] [Variations] Next, various modifications of the above embodiment will be described. The modifications described below can be applied in any combination. (Variation 1) In the above embodiment, each object 41 flows from top to bottom within the recommendation area 40 and disappears downward from the bottom end of the recommendation area 40, but the display method of the objects 41 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Fig. 19, a tray 45 may be displayed below the recommendation area 40, and each object 41 may be displayed so that after being caught by the tray 45, it gradually becomes smaller on the tray 45 and eventually disappears.

[0102] Furthermore, when the receptacle 45 is displayed, the objects 41 caught in the receptacle 45 may be automatically moved to the timeline area 30 after a predetermined time. In this case, the user does not have to operate each object 41 to move it to the timeline area 30. Instead, the user needs to delete the objects 41 that the user does not like by moving them out of the recommendation area 40.

[0103] The movement direction of the object 41 within the recommendation area 40 is not limited to top to bottom, and it may be displayed as moving from bottom to top. In this case, the object 41 may be displayed as moving in a floating shape reminiscent of a balloon or soap bubble. In this case, the object 41 may be displayed as disappearing from the top edge upward, or, when the object 41 reaches near the top edge, an effect reminiscent of a balloon or soap bubble popping may be added to erase the object 41. Alternatively, when the object 41 reaches near the top edge, it may be displayed as gradually becoming smaller, like a balloon or soap bubble deflating, and eventually disappearing.

[0104] (Variation 2) In the above embodiment, the content playback device 20 is installed in a right-hand drive vehicle, but it can also be installed in a left-hand drive vehicle. In that case, the timeline area 30 and the recommendation area 40 displayed on the touch display 25 may be swapped, as shown in FIG.

[0105] (Variation 3) In the above embodiment, the touch operation by the user on the touch display 25 is detected, but instead, a distance sensor or the like may be used to detect a non-contact operation such as an air gesture by the user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1 vehicle 20 Content playback device 22 Control Unit 23 Memory section 24 Main Display 25 Touch Display 26 Speaker 30 Timeline Area 31 artwork 32 Song information 40 Recommendation Area 41 objects 50 Stock Area

Claims

1. a display control means for displaying an object indicating the recommended content on a display unit; an acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined operation of a user on the object; a change means for changing a recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object in response to the predetermined operation; Equipped with The display device is characterized in that the display control means controls the display of an object corresponding to the recommended content based on the recommendation level.

2. the predetermined operation includes a first operation of deleting the object from the display unit; 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the change unit decreases the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object that is the target of the first operation.

3. the predetermined operation includes a second operation of deleting the recommended content corresponding to the object after previewing the recommended content; 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the change unit decreases the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object that is the target of the second operation.

4. the predetermined operation includes a third operation of selecting recommended content corresponding to the object after preview playback; 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the change unit increases the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object that is the target of the third operation.

5. the predetermined operation includes a fourth operation of enlarging the object on the display unit; 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the change unit increases the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object that is the target of the fourth operation.

6. the predetermined operation includes a fifth operation of reducing the object on the display unit; 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the change unit decreases the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object that is the target of the fifth operation.

7. A display device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the change means increases the recommendation level of recommended content corresponding to an object that has been the subject of an operation to increase a predetermined recommendation level, and decreases the recommendation level of recommended content corresponding to an object that has been the subject of an operation to decrease a predetermined recommendation level.

8. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the display control means increases the display frequency of objects indicating recommended content with a high degree of recommendation and decreases the display frequency of objects indicating recommended content with a low degree of recommendation.

9. 8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means increases the display size of an object indicating the recommended content with a high recommendation level and decreases the display size of an object indicating the recommended content with a low recommendation level.

10. A display method executed by a display device, comprising: a display control step of displaying an object indicating the recommended content on a display unit; an acquisition step of acquiring a predetermined operation of the user on the object; a change step of changing the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object in response to the predetermined operation; Equipped with The display method is characterized in that the display control step controls display of an object corresponding to the recommended content based on the recommendation level.

11. A program executed by a display device equipped with a computer, a display control means for displaying an object indicating the recommended content on a display unit; an acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined operation of the user on the object; a change means for changing the recommendation level of the recommended content corresponding to the object in response to the predetermined operation; causing the computer to function as The display control means controls the display of an object corresponding to the recommended content based on the recommendation level.

12. A storage medium storing the program according to claim 11.

Images