Reproduction apparatus, reproduction method, and program

Abstract

To provide a reproduction device and the like capable of causing an external device to start reproduction of a moving image from an appropriate reproduction start position.SOLUTION: Reproducing device 100 reproduces a moving image, and includes storage unit 101 that stores a plurality of stop positions corresponding to a plurality of users, acquisition unit 102 that acquires a stop position for each of the plurality of users, update unit 103 that updates a specific stop position associated with a specific user corresponding to the acquired stop position among the plurality of stop positions stored in storage unit 101 to the stop position, and transmitter 104 that transmits the stop position most recently updated in storage unit 101 among the plurality of stop positions to an external device in response to a moving image reproduction request from the external device communicably connected to reproducing device 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a playback device, a playback method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which, when content from a home server is played back on a client device, content data is transmitted to the client device from the playback start position where playback was stopped the previous time a playback stop request was received. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-323068 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides a playback device or the like that can cause an external device serving as a client device to start playback of a video from an appropriate playback start position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A playback device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a playback device that plays videos, and includes: a memory unit that stores a plurality of stop positions, each of which indicates a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user of a plurality of users was stopped; an acquisition unit that acquires the stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of the plurality of users; an update unit that updates a specific stop position, among the plurality of stop positions stored in the memory unit, that is associated with a specific user to which the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit corresponds, to the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit; and a transmission unit that transmits, in response to a playback request for the video from an external device that is communicatively connected to the playback device, the stop position most recently updated in the memory unit from among the plurality of stop positions stored in the memory unit to the external device.

[0006] In addition, a playback device according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a playback device that plays videos, and includes: a memory unit that stores a plurality of stop positions, each indicating a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user among a plurality of users was stopped, and a stop position of the video played by an external device that is communicatively connected to the playback device; an acquisition unit that acquires the stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of the plurality of users and acquires a playback instruction for the video from a first user among the plurality of users; a presentation unit that, when the acquisition unit acquires the playback instruction, presents a UI (User Interface) for accepting selection of one of the stop positions of the video associated with the first user and stored in the memory unit, and the stop position of the video associated with the external device and stored in the memory unit, if the video is being played by the external device; and a playback unit that, when the one stop position selected in the UI is acquired, plays the video from the one stop position.

[0007] These general or specific aspects may be realized as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or as any combination of a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The playback device and the like according to the present disclosure can cause an external device acting as a client device to start playing a video from an appropriate playback start position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a playback system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the playback device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of profile information according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of program information according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of resume information according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process for updating resume information according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile selection UI according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content selection UI according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for selecting a resume position according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process in which a display device serving as an external device takes over a resume position from a playback device and plays back a video, according to an embodiment. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in which the playback device takes over the resume position from the display device as an external device and plays back a video according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (Findings that form the basis of the present invention) The present inventors have found that the technology described in Patent Document 1, which is described in the "Background Art" section, has the following problems.

[0011] In recent years, there has been a demand for managing video stop positions for each of multiple users. However, between a player and a server, as defined by, for example, DLNA (registered trademark) (Digital Living Network Alliance), the player cannot play a video by specifying a user ID (profile ID) that identifies a user. For this reason, even if a user attempts to continue playing a video that was being played on a server, the player is unable to determine which user's stop position, among the stop positions of the video managed for each user, the player should start playing from.

[0012] Therefore, the present inventors have come up with a playback device or the like that can cause an external device acting as a client device to start playing a video from an appropriate playback start position.

[0013] A playback device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is a playback device that plays videos, and includes: a memory unit that stores a plurality of stop positions, each of which indicates a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user among a plurality of users was stopped; an acquisition unit that acquires the stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of the plurality of users; an update unit that updates a specific stop position, among the plurality of stop positions stored in the memory unit, that is associated with a specific user to which the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit corresponds, to the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit; and a transmission unit that transmits, in response to a playback request for the video from an external device that is communicatively connected to the playback device, the stop position most recently updated in the memory unit among the plurality of stop positions stored in the memory unit to the external device.

[0014] Therefore, the external device can play the video from the most recently updated stop position among the multiple stop positions stored in the storage unit. Generally, when playback of a video is resumed on an external device, it is highly likely that the user who was most recently watching the video is now watching it on the external device. Therefore, by transmitting the most recently updated stop position to the external device so that playback of the video can be resumed from the most recently updated stop position, the external device can play the video whose playback was stopped on the playback device from the point where the stop position was left. In this way, the external device can start playing the video from an appropriate playback start position.

[0015] A playback device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the playback device according to the first aspect, wherein the storage unit further stores the most recently stored stop position.

[0016] Therefore, the most recently stored stop position can be identified without identifying the most recently stored stop position based on the update history of a plurality of stop positions.

[0017] Furthermore, a playback device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is the playback device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the storage unit further stores a stop position of the video played by the external device, and the acquisition unit further acquires a playback instruction for the video from a first user of the plurality of users, and the playback device further comprises: a presentation unit that, when the acquisition unit acquires the playback instruction, presents a UI (User Interface) for accepting selection of one stop position of the video associated with the first user and stored in the storage unit, and one stop position of the video associated with the external device and stored in the storage unit, if the video is being played by the external device; and a playback unit that, when the one stop position selected in the UI is acquired, plays the video from the one stop position.

[0018] Therefore, the user can play the video on the playback device from the stop position selected by the user from the stop position of the video associated with the user and the stop position of the video associated with the external device.

[0019] Furthermore, a playback device according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a playback device according to the third aspect, wherein when the video is not being played by the external device, the playback unit plays the video from the stop position of the video that is associated with the first user and stored in the memory unit.

[0020] This allows the playback device to identify the position at which playback of the video should start without presenting a UI.

[0021] Furthermore, a playback device according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the playback device according to the fourth aspect, further comprising a judgment unit that judges whether the stop position of the video played by the external device, which is stored in the memory unit, indicates an initial position, and the playback unit (i) judges that the video was being played by the external device if the stop position of the video played by the external device indicates a position other than the initial position, and (ii) judges that the video was not being played by the external device if the stop position of the video played by the external device indicates the initial position.

[0022] Therefore, by storing the stop position of the video played by the external device in the storage unit, it is possible to determine whether the video has been played by the external device.

[0023] Furthermore, a playback device according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is a playback device according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the update unit initializes the stop position of the video associated with the external device and stored in the memory unit when the one stop position selected in the UI is the stop position of the video associated with the external device and stored in the memory unit.

[0024] This makes it possible to prevent the UI for selecting two resume positions from being displayed each time the same user continues playing the same video on the playback device.

[0025] Furthermore, a playback device according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is a playback device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the external device is a player in DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), and the playback device is a server in DLNA.

[0026] Therefore, when watching a video from a server on a DLNA player that does not allow the user to select a corresponding stop position, the external device acting as the player can be made to start playing the video from an appropriate playback start position.

[0027] In addition, a playback device according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is a playback device that plays a video, and includes: a memory unit that stores a plurality of stop positions, each indicating a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user among a plurality of users was stopped, and a stop position of the video played by an external device that is communicatively connected to the playback device; an acquisition unit that acquires the stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of the plurality of users and acquires a playback instruction for the video from a first user among the plurality of users; a presentation unit that, when the acquisition unit acquires the playback instruction, presents a UI (User Interface) for accepting selection of one of the stop positions of the video associated with the first user and stored in the memory unit, and the stop position of the video associated with the external device and stored in the memory unit, if the video is being played by the external device; and a playback unit that, when the one stop position selected in the UI is acquired, plays the video from the one stop position.

[0028] Therefore, the user can play the video on the playback device from the stop position selected by the user from the stop position of the video associated with the user and the stop position of the video associated with the external device.

[0029] Furthermore, a playback method according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is a playback method executed by a playback device that plays a video, which acquires a stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of a plurality of users, updates a specific stop position associated with a specific user to which the acquired stop position corresponds, from a plurality of stop positions stored in a memory unit provided in the playback device, each of which indicates a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user among the plurality of users was stopped, to the acquired stop position, and in response to a playback request for the video from an external device that is communicatively connected to the playback device, transmits the stop position most recently updated in the memory unit from among the plurality of stop positions stored in the memory unit to the external device.

[0030] Therefore, the external device can play the video from the most recently updated stop position among the multiple stop positions stored in the storage unit. Generally, when playback of a video is resumed on an external device, it is highly likely that the user who was most recently watching the video is now watching it on the external device. Therefore, by transmitting the most recently updated stop position to the external device so that playback of the video can be resumed from the most recently updated stop position, the external device can play the video whose playback was stopped on the playback device from the point where the stop position was left. In this way, the external device can start playing the video from an appropriate playback start position.

[0031] Furthermore, a playback method according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is a playback method executed by a playback device that plays a video, which acquires a stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of a plurality of users, acquires a playback instruction for the video from a first user of the plurality of users, and when the playback instruction is acquired, if the video is being played by an external device that is communicatively connected to the playback device, presents a UI (User Interface) for accepting selection of one of a plurality of stop positions stored in a memory unit provided in the playback device, each of which indicates a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user of the plurality of users was stopped, from among a stop position of the video associated with the first user and stored in the memory unit, and a stop position of the video associated with the external device and stored in the memory unit, and when the one stop position selected in the UI is acquired, plays the video from the one stop position.

[0032] Therefore, the user can play the video on the playback device from the stop position selected by the user from the stop position of the video associated with the user and the stop position of the video associated with the external device.

[0033] A program according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute the playback method according to the ninth or tenth aspect.

[0034] These general or specific aspects may be realized by an apparatus, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or may be realized by any combination of an apparatus, a method, a system, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a non-transitory recording medium.

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following explanation and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0036] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0037] (Embodiment) Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0038] [composition] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a playback system according to an embodiment.

[0039] Specifically, Fig. 1 shows a playback device 100, display devices 200 and 300, and a router 400. For example, a playback system 1 includes, among these components, the playback device 100 and the display devices 200 and 300. In Fig. 1, the playback device 100 and the display device 300 are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other via the router 400, which functions as an access point. Note that the display device 200 may also be connected to the playback device 100 and the display device 300 so that they can communicate with each other via the router 400.

[0040] 1 shows an example in which the playback device 100 and the display device 300 are connected to the router 400 wirelessly, but the present invention is not limited to this. The playback device 100 may be connected to the router 400 via a wired connection. The display device 300 may be connected to the router 400 via a wired connection. The display device 200 may be connected to the router 400 via a wired connection or wireless connection.

[0041] The playback device 100 and the display devices 200 and 300 are communicatively connected to a router 400, thereby constituting, for example, the same LAN (Local Area Network). As a result, the playback device 100 and the display devices 200 and 300 are mutually connected to a predetermined communication network.

[0042] When the playback device 100 and the display devices 200 and 300 are connected to a predetermined communication network, they exchange control information with each other using protocols such as DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) / UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

[0043] The playback device 100 is a server in DLNA. For example, the playback device 100 is a recorder that has a function of recording television broadcast programs. The playback device 100 stores video obtained by recording as content. In addition to video obtained by recording, the playback device 100 may store video obtained via the Internet as content, or video obtained by shooting with a camera as content.

[0044] The display device 200 is connected to the playback device 100 via an HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable 10, and displays moving images played by the playback device 100. The display device 200 may be connected to the playback device 100 via a transmission cable other than the HDMI cable 10 that transmits video signals and audio signals. The transmission cable may be a cable that transmits only video signals out of video and audio signals. The display device 200 may be a television with a tuner that receives broadcast waves, or may be a display without a tuner.

[0045] The display device 300 is a player in DLNA. The display device 300 may be, for example, an information processing terminal with a wireless communication function, such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, or may be a television. The display device 300 is a device that is not connected to the playback device 100 by wire.

[0046] Next, the functional configuration of the playback device 100 will be described.

[0047] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the playback device according to the embodiment.

[0048] The playback device 100 includes a storage unit 101, an acquisition unit 102, an update unit 103, and a transmission unit 104. The playback device 100 may further include a presentation unit 105 and a playback unit 106. The playback device 100 manages a viewing history of a video by each of a plurality of users and for each of a plurality of videos. The viewing history indicates how far the user has viewed a video, for example, the position at which the user stopped playing the video. In other words, the viewing history is a resume position indicating the position at which the user stopped playing the video after watching it partway through. By managing the resume position for each user and for each video, the playback device 100 can start playback from the managed resume position the next time the user resumes playback of the video. This allows the user to resume playback of a video that they have once watched partway through without having to specify the continuation position.

[0049] The viewing history may include the initial position. That is, the playback device 100 may manage the initial position of a video as the viewing history even if the video has not been viewed by the user. Furthermore, the playback device 100 may manage the initial position of a video as the viewing history if the user has viewed the video until it ends. That is, if the user has viewed a video until it ends, playback will start from the beginning of the video when the user views the video again.

[0050] The storage unit 101 stores profile information for managing users. The storage unit 101 stores video information (for example, program information) for managing videos. The storage unit 101 stores resume information for managing resume positions for each user and each video. Each of the multiple resume positions indicates the position at which playback of a video by a user corresponding to the resume position among the multiple users was stopped.

[0051] Here, various types of information managed by the storage unit 101 of the playback device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of profile information according to the embodiment.

[0053] As described above, the profile information is information for managing users. The profile information includes a profile ID, a profile name, a gender, a year of birth, and an icon color. The profile ID indicates a user ID for identifying the user. The profile name indicates a display name for identifying the user on the UI (User Interface) of the playback device 100. The gender indicates the gender of the user. The year of birth indicates the year the user was born. The icon color indicates the display color of the icon for identifying the user on the UI (User Interface) of the playback device 100.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of program information according to the embodiment.

[0055] As described above, program information is information for managing videos. In this embodiment, video obtained by recording a broadcast program will be described as an example of video, and therefore the term "program" will be used to refer to such video. However, the term "program" is an expression indicating an example of video and is not limited to this. "Video" may be used instead of "program." Program information includes a program ID, a channel, a recording start time, a recording end time, a genre, a program title, and a program content. The program ID is information for identifying a program. The channel indicates the channel corresponding to the broadcast wave on which the program was broadcast. The recording start time indicates the time when recording started. The recording start time may indicate the time when the broadcast of the program started. The recording end time may indicate the time when recording ended. The recording end time may indicate the time when the broadcast of the program ended. The genre indicates the genre of the program. The program title indicates the title of the program. The program content indicates the content of the program. The program information may further include a total video time. The total video time is the time from the recording start time to the recording end time.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of resume information according to the embodiment.

[0057] As described above, resume information is information for managing resume positions. The resume information indicates the resume positions associated with each of a plurality of video IDs and a plurality of profile IDs. In other words, the resume information indicates the resume positions corresponding to each of a plurality of combinations made by combining a plurality of video IDs and a plurality of profile IDs one by one. The resume positions are indicated, for example, by relative time (e.g., seconds) from the start of the video, where the start of the video is set to 0 seconds.

[0058] The profile ID includes the profile ID included in the profile information as well as shared and external device IDs. The resume position corresponding to the external device indicates the stop position of each video played by the display device 300. The resume position corresponding to shared indicates the most recently updated resume position of each video among multiple resume positions associated with multiple profile IDs including external devices.

[0059] Note that the resume information may be generated for each video or for each user, as long as it is possible to manage the resume position for each user and each video.

[0060] The acquisition unit 102 acquires, for each of a plurality of users, the stop position of the video played by the playback device 100. For example, when a video of program B is played and stopped by the playback device 100 in response to an operation by user A, the acquisition unit 102 acquires the stop position as the resume position for the combination of user A and program B. When a video of program A is played and stopped by the playback device 100 in response to an operation by user C, the acquisition unit 102 acquires the stop position as the resume position for the combination of user C and program A.

[0061] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 102 may acquire not only the stop position but also an instruction to play back program B (video) from user A (first user) among the multiple users.

[0062] The update unit 103 updates a specific resume position associated with a specific user and a specific video corresponding to the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit 102, among the multiple resume positions stored in the storage unit 101, to the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit 102. Every time the acquisition unit 102 acquires a stop position, the update unit 103 updates the resume position corresponding to the acquired stop position, among the multiple resume positions stored in the storage unit 101, to the acquired stop position. At this time, the update unit 103 updates the resume position indicated by "shared" that corresponds to the video ID of the acquired stop position, to the acquired stop position. This makes it possible to set the resume position indicated by "shared" to the most recently updated resume position among the multiple resume positions corresponding to the multiple profile IDs managed for each video.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process for updating resume information according to the embodiment.

[0064] The resume information is initially set to the initial position (0 seconds) as shown in FIG. 6(a), for example.

[0065] Assume that the playback device 100 receives an input from the user selecting a profile ID of "11" and then receives an instruction to play a video with a video ID of "22." The playback device 100 then receives an instruction to stop the video at 100 seconds from the initial position. The acquisition unit 102 then detects that the user with profile ID 11 has stopped the video with video ID 22 at 100 seconds, and acquires the detected stop position (100 seconds). The update unit 103 then updates the resume position of the video with profile ID 11 and video ID 22 to the acquired stop position (100 seconds), as shown in FIG. 6(b), and also updates the resume position of the video with the shared profile ID and video ID 22 to the same stop position (100 seconds).

[0066] Furthermore, when the video with a video ID of 23 stored in the playback device 100 is played by the display device 300 up to the stop position (200 seconds), the acquisition unit 102 detects that the video with a video ID of 23 has been stopped at the 200-second position on the external device with a profile ID, and acquires the detected stop position (200 seconds). Then, as shown in (c) of Fig. 6, the update unit 103 updates the resume position of the video with a profile ID of 23 on the external device to the acquired stop position (200 seconds), and also updates the resume position of the video with a shared profile ID and 23 to the same stop position (200 seconds).

[0067] In response to a video playback request from display device 300, which is an external device communicatively connected to playback device 100, transmission unit 104 transmits to display device 300 the stop position that has been most recently updated in storage unit 101, from among multiple resume positions associated with the video and stored in storage unit 101. Furthermore, transmission unit 104 transmits streaming data of the video from display device 300 onwards to display device 300 from the specified stop position. Transmission unit 104 may identify the resume position associated with a shared profile ID in the resume information as the stop position that has been most recently updated in storage unit 101.

[0068] The presentation unit 105 presents a UI to the user. Specifically, when the acquisition unit 102 acquires a playback instruction from the user and a video is being played back by the display device 300 serving as an external device, the presentation unit 105 presents a UI for accepting selection of one resume position from among the resume positions of the video stored in the storage unit 101 in association with the user who issued the playback instruction and the resume positions of the video stored in the storage unit 101 in association with the profile ID of the external device. For example, the presentation unit 105 presents the UI by outputting the UI to the display device 200 via the HDMI cable 10 and causing the display device 200 to display the UI.

[0069] When the playback unit 106 acquires one resume position selected by the user on the UI presented by the presentation unit 105, the playback unit 106 plays back the video from the one resume position. For example, the playback device 100 receives an input from the user on the UI to select either a resume position stored in association with the user or a resume position associated with the profile ID of the external device, and plays back the video from the resume position specified based on the received input. For example, the playback device 100 may receive an input based on an operation received by a remote control when the user operates an input IF (Interface) of the remote control or the like.

[0070] The determination unit 107 determines whether or not the stop position of the video, which is stored in the storage unit 101 and is played back by the display device 300 as an external device, indicates the initial position.

[0071] When determination unit 107 determines that the stop position of the video played by display device 300 as an external device indicates a position other than the initial position, playback unit 106 determines that the video was played by the external device, and causes presentation unit 105 to present a UI for selecting either a resume position stored in association with the user or a resume position associated with the profile ID of the external device. On the other hand, when the stop position of the video played by the external device indicates the initial position, playback unit 106 determines that the video was not played by the external device, and plays the video from the resume position of the video stored in storage unit 101 in association with the user.

[0072] Note that, when one resume position selected by the user on the UI presented by presentation unit 105 is a resume position stored in association with the profile ID of the external device, update unit 103 may initialize (reset) the resume position stored in association with the profile ID of the external device, which is stored in storage unit 101. That is, in this case, update unit 103 may update the resume position stored in association with the profile ID of the external device, which is stored in storage unit 101, to the initial position. This makes it possible to prevent a UI for selecting two resume positions from being displayed each time the user subsequently plays back the same video from its continuation on the playback device.

[0073] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile selection UI according to the embodiment.

[0074] The UI 500 is a UI for selecting icons 501 to 504 of users A to D. By accepting a selection of one of the icons 501 to 504 of users A to D in the UI 500, the playback device 100 can identify that the user corresponding to the accepted icon is performing the operation. For example, it is assumed here that icon 502 of user B is selected.

[0075] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content selection UI according to the embodiment.

[0076] The UI 510 is a UI for selecting icons 511 to 514 for videos A to D. The UI 510 may indicate that it is being operated by user B, for example. The playback device 100 may accept the selection of one of the icons 511 to 514 for videos A to D on the UI 510, thereby accepting playback of the video corresponding to the accepted icon. Each of the icons 511 to 514 may have a seek bar 521 indicating a resume position associated with user B. The seek bar 521 indicates the relative position of the resume position with respect to the total time of each video.

[0077] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI for selecting a resume position according to the embodiment.

[0078] UI 520 is a UI for accepting selection of one resume position from the resume position of a video stored in storage unit 101 in association with the user who issued the playback instruction and the resume position of a video stored in storage unit 101 in association with the profile ID of an external device. When "Yes" is selected in UI 520, the resume position of the video stored in storage unit 101 in association with the profile ID of the external device is selected. When "No" is selected in UI 520, the resume position of the video stored in storage unit 101 in association with the user who issued the playback instruction is selected.

[0079] [Operation] The operation of the playback system 1 according to the embodiment configured as above will be described below.

[0080] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process in which a display device serving as an external device takes over a resume position from a playback device and plays back a video, according to an embodiment.

[0081] The display device 300 receives an instruction from the user to play a specified video (S101). When viewing a video from the playback device 100 using DLNA, the display device 300 cannot receive a profile ID for identifying the user. Therefore, the instruction to the display device 300 includes a video ID for specifying the video, but does not include a user ID for identifying the user.

[0082] The display device 300 transmits a request to acquire the resume position associated with the video ID included in the playback instruction to the playback device 100 (S102). The request to acquire the resume position is a request for information related to the playback of the video associated with the video ID, and therefore can also be considered a request to play the video.

[0083] When the playback device 100 receives a request to obtain a resume position from the display device 300, it reads out from the storage unit 101 the shared resume position corresponding to the video ID included in the request, and transmits resume position information including the read shared resume position to the display device 300 (S103).

[0084] Upon receiving the resume position information, the display device 300 transmits a playback request including the video ID included in the playback instruction and the resume position information included in the resume position information to the playback device 100 (S104).

[0085] The playback device 100 transmits, to the display device 300, streaming data from the resume position specified by the playback request onwards, out of the streaming data of the video indicated by the video ID specified by the playback request (S105).

[0086] The display device 300 plays back the video based on the streaming data received from the playback device 100 (S106). Because the received streaming data is data from the resume position onwards, the display device 300 can play back the video from the specified resume position onwards.

[0087] Thereafter, the display device 300 receives a stop instruction from the user (S107).

[0088] The display device 300 transmits the received stop instruction to the playback device 100 (S108).

[0089] Upon receiving the stop instruction, the playback device 100 stops transmitting the streaming data and updates the resume positions corresponding to the shared and external devices to the stop positions (S109).

[0090] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in which the playback device takes over the resume position from the display device as an external device and plays back a video according to the embodiment.

[0091] This process is performed after the user has specified the profile ID and the video ID to be played.

[0092] The playback device 100 reads the resume position of the external device for the video to be played back from the storage unit 101 (S111). That is, the playback device 100 reads from the storage unit 101 the resume position stored in association with the specified video ID and external device.

[0093] Next, the playback device 100 determines whether the external device has played back the specified video before (S112). Specifically, the playback device 100 determines whether the resume position of the video associated with the external device, which is stored in the storage unit 101, indicates the initial value.

[0094] If playback device 100 determines that the external device has played back the specified video before (Yes in S112), it proceeds to step S113, and if it determines that the external device has not played back the specified video before (No in S112), it proceeds to step S116. Specifically, in step S112, playback device 100 determines that the external device has not played back the specified video before if the resume position of the video associated with the external device that is stored in storage unit 101 indicates the initial value, and determines that the external device has played back the specified video before if the resume position of the video associated with the external device indicates a position other than the initial value.

[0095] In step S113, the playback device 100 presents a UI for selecting whether to use the resume position of the profile ID of the selected user or the resume position of the external device (S113).

[0096] The playback device 100 determines whether or not a resume position of an external device has been selected (S114). If a resume position of an external device has been selected (Yes in S114), the playback device 100 proceeds to step S115, and if a resume position of the profile ID of the selected user has been selected (No in S114), the playback device 100 proceeds to step S116.

[0097] In step S115, the playback device 100 plays back the video from the resume position of the external device (S115).

[0098] In step S116, the playback device 100 plays back the video from the resume position of the profile ID of the selected user (S116).

[0099] [Effects, etc.] The playback device 100 according to this embodiment is a playback device that plays back videos. The playback device 100 includes a storage unit 101, an acquisition unit 102, an update unit 103, and a transmission unit 104. The storage unit 101 stores a plurality of resume positions (a plurality of stop positions). Each of the plurality of resume positions indicates a position at which playback of a video by a corresponding user among a plurality of users was stopped. The acquisition unit 102 acquires the stop position of the video played by the playback device 100 for each of the plurality of users. The update unit 103 updates a specific stop position, among the plurality of resume positions stored in the storage unit 101, that is associated with a specific user to which the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit 102 corresponds, to the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit 102. In response to a video playback request from a display device 300 (external device) that is communicatively connected to the playback device 100, the transmission unit 104 transmits the most recently updated resume position in the memory unit 101, out of multiple resume positions stored in the memory unit 101, and streaming data of the video to the display device 300.

[0100] Therefore, display device 300 can play back video from the resume position that is most recently updated in storage unit 101, among multiple resume positions stored in storage unit 101. Generally, when video playback is resumed on an external device, it is highly likely that the user who was most recently watching that video is now trying to watch it on the external device. Therefore, by transmitting the resume position most recently updated in storage unit 101 and streaming data of the video to the external device so that video playback can be resumed from the most recently updated resume position, the user can watch the video, whose playback was stopped on playback device 100, on the external device from where it was stopped. In this way, it is possible to cause the external device to start playing back video from an appropriate playback start position.

[0101] Furthermore, in the playback device 100 according to this embodiment, the storage section 101 further stores the most recently stored stop position.

[0102] Therefore, the most recently stored stop position can be identified without identifying the most recently stored stop position based on the update history of a plurality of stop positions.

[0103] Furthermore, in playback device 100 according to the present embodiment, storage unit 101 further stores a resume position of a video played by display device 300 serving as an external device. Acquisition unit 102 further acquires a playback instruction for a video from a first user of the multiple users. Playback device 100 further includes presentation unit 105 and playback unit 106. When acquisition unit 102 acquires the playback instruction, presentation unit 105 presents a UI (User Interface) for accepting selection of one resume position from the resume positions of the video associated with the first user and stored in storage unit 101 and the resume positions of the video associated with the external device and stored in storage unit 101, if the video is being played by display device 300 serving as an external device. When playback unit 106 acquires the one resume position selected in the UI, it plays the video from the one resume position.

[0104] Therefore, the user can play the video on the playback device 100 from a resume position selected by the user from the resume position of the video associated with the user and the resume position of the video associated with the external device.

[0105] Furthermore, in the playback device 100 according to this embodiment, when a video is not being played by the display device 300 as an external device, the playback unit 106 plays the video from the resume position of the video, which is associated with the first user and stored in the memory unit 101.

[0106] Therefore, the playback device can specify the position at which to start playback of the video without presenting a UI for selecting the resume position.

[0107] Moreover, playback device 100 according to this embodiment further includes determination unit 107. Determination unit 107 determines whether the resume position of the video played by display device 300 as an external device, which is stored in storage unit 101, indicates the initial position. If the resume position of the video played by the external device indicates a position other than the initial position, playback unit 106 determines that the video has been played by the external device. On the other hand, if the resume position of the video played by the external device indicates the initial position, playback unit 106 determines that the video has not been played by the external device.

[0108] Therefore, by storing the stop position of the video played by the external device in the storage unit 101, it is possible to determine whether the video has been played by the external device.

[0109] Furthermore, in the playback device 100 according to this embodiment, if one stop position selected in the UI is the stop position of a video associated with an external device and stored in the storage unit 101, the update unit 103 initializes the stop position of the video associated with the external device and stored in the storage unit 101.

[0110] This makes it possible to prevent the UI for selecting two resume positions from being displayed each time the same user continues playing the same video on the playback device.

[0111] Furthermore, in the playback device 100 according to the present embodiment, the display device 300 serving as an external device is a player in the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) The playback device 100 is a server in the DLNA.

[0112] Therefore, when watching a video from a server on a DLNA player that does not allow the user to select a corresponding stop position, the external device acting as the player can be made to start playing the video from an appropriate playback start position.

[0113] The playback device 100 according to this embodiment is a playback device that plays back moving images. The playback device 100 may include a storage unit 101, an acquisition unit 102, a presentation unit 105, and a playback unit 106.

[0114] Therefore, the user can play the video on the playback device 100 from a resume position selected by the user from the resume position of the video associated with the user and the resume position of the video associated with the external device.

[0115] [Variations] (1) In the above embodiment, the most recently updated resume position is managed at the resume position corresponding to the shared profile ID included in the resume information, but this is not limited to this. For example, instead of managing a shared profile ID, the resume information may include the time at which the resume position managed for each video and each user was updated. This makes it possible to identify the most recently updated resume position among multiple resume positions without managing resume positions using a shared profile ID.

[0116] (2) In the above embodiment, storage unit 101 stores a resume position corresponding to one external device for each video. However, this is not limiting and storage unit 101 may store resume positions corresponding to multiple external devices. In this case, multiple external devices may be associated with multiple users. When playback device 100 takes over playback from the resume position of an external device, the video may be played from the resume position updated by the external device corresponding to the user specified by playback device 100. For example, if external device A corresponds to user A and external device B corresponds to user B, the resume position associated with external device A may be stored as the resume position of user A. The resume position associated with external device B may be stored as the resume position of user B.

[0117] (3) In the above embodiment, the playback device 100 and the display device 200 that displays the video played by the playback device 100 are realized as separate devices, but this is not limited to this, and the playback device 100 and the display device 200 may also be realized as an integrated device.

[0118] [others] The following cases are also included in this disclosure:

[0119] (1) Each of the above devices is specifically a computer system consisting of a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, hard disk unit, display unit, keyboard, mouse, etc. A computer program is stored in the RAM or hard disk unit. Each device achieves its function when the microprocessor operates in accordance with the computer program. Here, a computer program is composed of a combination of multiple instruction codes that indicate commands to a computer to achieve a predetermined function.

[0120] (2) Some or all of the components constituting each of the above devices may be configured as a single system LSI (Large Scale Integration). A system LSI is an ultra-multifunctional LSI manufactured by integrating multiple components on a single chip, and specifically, is a computer system configured to include a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, etc. A computer program is stored in the RAM. The system LSI achieves its functions when the microprocessor operates in accordance with the computer program.

[0121] (3) Some or all of the components constituting each of the above devices may be configured as an IC card or a standalone module that can be attached to each device. The IC card or module is a computer system composed of a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, etc. The IC card or module may include the above-mentioned ultra-multifunctional LSI. The IC card or module achieves its functions when the microprocessor operates according to a computer program. The IC card or module may be tamper-resistant.

[0122] (4) The present disclosure may be embodied as the methods described above, a computer program for implementing these methods on a computer, or a digital signal comprising the computer program.

[0123] The present disclosure may also be the computer program or the digital signal recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, such as a flexible disk, hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc), semiconductor memory, etc. Alternatively, the present disclosure may be the digital signal recorded on such a recording medium.

[0124] Furthermore, the present disclosure may also be applied to transmitting the computer program or the digital signal via a telecommunications line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network such as the Internet, data broadcasting, or the like.

[0125] The present disclosure may also be a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, the memory storing the computer program, and the microprocessor operating in accordance with the computer program.

[0126] The program or the digital signal may also be implemented by another independent computer system by recording it on the recording medium and transferring it, or by transferring it via the network or the like.

[0127] (5) The above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined with each other. [Industrial Applicability]

[0128] The present disclosure is useful as a playback device or the like that can cause an external device serving as a client device to start playback of a video from an appropriate playback start position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0129] 1 Playback System 10 HDMI cable 100 playback equipment 101 Storage section 102 Acquisition Department 103 Update Department 104 Transmitter 105 Presentation section 106 Playback Department 107 Judgment section 200, 300 display device 400 Router 500, 510, 520 UI 501~504, 511~514 Icons 521 Seek Bar

Claims

1. A playback device for playing back moving images, a storage unit that stores a plurality of stop positions, each of which indicates a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user among a plurality of users was stopped; an acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the plurality of users, a stop position of the video played by the playback device; an update unit that updates a specific stop position associated with a specific user to which the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit corresponds, among the plurality of stop positions stored in the storage unit, to the stop position acquired by the acquisition unit; a transmission unit that transmits, to the external device, a stop position that has been most recently updated in the storage unit, among the plurality of stop positions stored in the storage unit, in response to a playback request for the video from the external device that is communicably connected to the playback device. playback device.

2. The storage unit further stores the most recently stored stop position. The playback device according to claim 1 .

3. the storage unit further stores a stop position of the video played by the external device; The acquisition unit further acquires an instruction to play the video from a first user of the plurality of users; The playback device further comprises: a presentation unit that, when the acquisition unit acquires the playback instruction and, if the video is being played by the external device, presents a UI (User Interface) for accepting selection of one of a stop position of the video that is associated with the first user and stored in the storage unit and a stop position of the video that is associated with the external device and stored in the storage unit; and a playback unit that plays the video from the one stop position selected on the UI when the one stop position is acquired.

3. The playback device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When the video is not being played by the external device, the playback unit plays the video from a stop position of the video that is associated with the first user and stored in the storage unit. The playback device according to claim 3 .

5. The playback device further comprises: a determination unit that determines whether a stop position of the video that is stored in the storage unit and played by the external device indicates an initial position; The playback unit (i) determines that the video has been played by the external device when the stop position of the video played by the external device indicates a position other than the initial position, and (ii) determines that the video has not been played by the external device when the stop position of the video played by the external device indicates the initial position. The playback device according to claim 4.

6. When the one stop position selected on the UI is a stop position of the video stored in the storage unit in association with the external device, the update unit initializes the stop position of the video stored in the storage unit in association with the external device. The playback device according to claim 3 .

7. the external device is a player in the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), The playback device is a server in DLNA.

3. The playback device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. A playback device for playing back moving images, a storage unit that stores a plurality of stop positions, each of which indicates a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user among a plurality of users was stopped, and a stop position of the video played by an external device communicably connected to the playback device; an acquisition unit that acquires a stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of the plurality of users and acquires an instruction to play the video from a first user of the plurality of users; a presentation unit that, when the acquisition unit acquires the playback instruction and, if the video is being played by the external device, presents a UI (User Interface) for accepting selection of one of a stop position of the video that is associated with the first user and stored in the storage unit and a stop position of the video that is associated with the external device and stored in the storage unit; and a playback unit that plays the video from the one stop position selected on the UI when the one stop position is acquired. playback device.

9. A playback method executed by a playback device that plays back a video, comprising: acquiring a stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of a plurality of users; updating a specific stop position associated with a specific user to which the acquired stop position corresponds, among a plurality of stop positions stored in a storage unit included in the playback device, each of which indicates a position at which playback of the video by a corresponding user of a plurality of users was stopped, to the acquired stop position; In response to a request to play the video from an external device communicably connected to the playback device, the most recently updated stop position in the storage unit is transmitted to the external device from among the plurality of stop positions stored in the storage unit. How to play.

10. A playback method executed by a playback device that plays back a video, comprising: acquiring a stop position of the video played by the playback device for each of a plurality of users; acquiring a playback instruction for the video from a first user of the plurality of users; When the playback instruction is acquired, if the video is being played back by an external device communicably connected to the playback device, a UI (User Interface) is presented for accepting selection of one of a plurality of stop positions stored in a storage unit of the playback device, the plurality of stop positions indicating positions at which playback of the video by a corresponding user of a plurality of users has been stopped, the stop position of the video stored in the storage unit in association with the first user, and the stop position of the video stored in the storage unit in association with the external device; When the one stop position selected on the UI is acquired, the video is played back from the one stop position. How to play.

11. A program for causing a computer to execute the reproducing method according to claim 9 or 10.

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