Content providing device and content providing system

Abstract

To view contents distributed by various distribution services on a display at low cost.SOLUTION: A content providing device is a content providing device that is connected to an interface for an external recording medium in a display, and comprises a processing unit that generates management information that causes the display to recognize that a content that can be acquired through a home network is stored in the content providing device, the management information used for processing on the content.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a content providing device and a content providing system. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art External recording devices have been developed that are connected to a display device and provide recorded content to the display device.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2013-135335 A) discloses the following external recording device: That is, the external recording device is connected to a television broadcast receiving device that outputs video and audio based on a received broadcast signal, and the external recording device includes a housing, a compression control unit for compressing the video stored in the housing, and a recording unit for recording the video, the television broadcast receiving device holds a TV receiver program for controlling the television broadcast receiving device itself and an external recording device control program for controlling the external recording device, and the television broadcast receiving device further includes a control unit for executing the TV receiver program and the external recording device control program, and the control unit of the television broadcast receiving device executes the external recording device control program, so that the compression control unit of the external recording device decrypts the encrypted broadcast signal sent from the television broadcast receiving device, separates and compresses the video signal included in the broadcast signal, re-encrypts the video signal based on the compressed video signal, and transmits the encrypted video signal to the television broadcast receiving device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-135335 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In order to view content distributed by various distribution services on a television receiver, which is an example of a display device, it is necessary to install an STB (Set Top Box) as an external device. In order to view content on television receivers installed in multiple rooms, it is necessary to install multiple STBs, and multiple contracts may be required even in situations where viewing is not performed in each room at the same time.

[0006] Furthermore, in order to view content on a television receiver, the content decoded in the STB must be sent to the television receiver via, for example, an HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable, which requires the STB to be equipped with a decoder IC (Integrated Circuit).

[0007] There is a demand for a technology that goes beyond conventional technology and enables content distributed by various distribution services to be viewed on a display device at low cost.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a content providing device and a content providing system that enable content distributed by various distribution services to be viewed on a display device at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The content providing device of the present disclosure is a content providing device that is connected to an interface for an external recording medium in a display device, and is equipped with a processing unit that creates management information that causes the display device to recognize that content that can be obtained via a home network is stored in the content providing device and is used to process the content.

[0010] The content provision system of the present disclosure comprises a display device and a content provision device connected to an interface for an external recording medium in the display device, wherein the display device requests information indicating a list of content that can be acquired by the display device from the content provision device, and in response to the request from the display device, the content provision device transmits content list information indicating a list of content that can be acquired via a home network to the display device, and the display device performs a process of displaying the list of content indicated by the content list information received from the content provision device.

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure may be realized not only as a content providing device including such a characteristic processing unit, but also as a content providing method having such characteristic processing steps, as a program for causing a computer to execute such steps, or as a semiconductor integrated circuit that realizes part or all of the content providing device. Furthermore, one aspect of the present disclosure may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute processing steps in a content providing system, or as a semiconductor integrated circuit that realizes part or all of a content providing system including a content providing device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present disclosure, content distributed by various distribution services can be viewed on a display device at low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content providing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of the display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content providing sequence in the content providing system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0015] (1) A content providing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a content providing device connected to an interface for an external recording medium in a display device, and includes a processing unit that creates management information that causes the display device to recognize that content obtainable via a home network is stored in the content providing device and is used to process the content.

[0016] In this way, by creating management information that causes a display device to recognize that content obtainable via a home network is stored in a content providing device connected to an external recording medium interface, the display device can perform processes such as playback and recording of a larger amount of content obtainable via the home network by the content providing device, in the same manner as if the content were actually stored in a storage device or the like connected to the external recording medium interface. Furthermore, since various types of content obtainable via the home network can be viewed on a single display device, user convenience can be improved. Furthermore, since undecoded content can be provided to the display device using the recording medium interface and decoded using a decoder on the display device, for example, components and processing for decoding content are not required in the content providing device, thereby reducing the cost of the content providing device. Therefore, content distributed via various distribution services can be viewed on the display device at low cost.

[0017] (2) Preferably, the processing unit transmits to the display device content list information indicating a list of the contents that are recognized by the display device as being stored in the content providing device based on the management information.

[0018] With this configuration, a list of content that can be acquired via the home network can be displayed on the display device, making it easier for the user to select content.

[0019] (3) Preferably, the processing unit transmits the content acquired via the home network to the display device without decoding it.

[0020] With this configuration, the content providing device does not need components and processing for decoding the content, and the cost of the content providing device can be reduced.

[0021] (4) More preferably, the processing unit transcodes the content acquired via the home network to convert at least one of the resolution, frame rate, and compression method of the content, and transmits the converted content to the display device.

[0022] With this configuration, it is possible to absorb differences in resolution, frame rate, and compression method of various contents, and easily realize the playback process of various contents on the display device.

[0023] (5) Preferably, the processing unit acquires the encrypted content via the home network, decrypts the acquired content, encrypts the decrypted content using a predetermined encryption key, and transmits the encrypted content to the display device.

[0024] With this configuration, for example, content protected by encryption can be distributed to a display device in a state in which it can be decrypted on the display device.

[0025] (6) More preferably, the processing unit transmits the content encrypted using a common key conforming to CPRM (Content Protection for Recordable Media) or SeeQVault, which is used in the content providing device and the display device, as the encryption key to the display device.

[0026] With this configuration, it is possible to distribute content that can be decrypted using a common key on a display device that supports CPRM or SeeQVault to the display device.

[0027] (7) More preferably, the processing unit creates a unique key based on the unique information of the display device as the encryption key, and transmits the content encrypted using the created unique key to the display device.

[0028] With this configuration, it is possible to distribute content that can be decrypted using a unique key on an inexpensive display device that does not support SeeQVault or the like to the display device.

[0029] (8) Preferably, the processing unit creates the management information that allows the display device to recognize that the content being broadcast is also stored in the content providing device.

[0030] With this configuration, the display device can perform processes such as playing and recording the content being broadcast in the same way as if the content were actually stored in the content providing device.

[0031] (9) Preferably, the processing unit receives a recording request and content from the display device, and, in accordance with the recording request, stores the received content in a memory unit in the content providing device or in a storage device via the home network.

[0032] With this configuration, it is possible to store content on a variety of recording media, for example, according to the user's selection.

[0033] (10) A content providing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a display device and a content providing device connected to an interface for an external recording medium in the display device, wherein the display device requests information indicating a list of content that can be acquired by the display device from the content providing device, and the content providing device transmits content list information indicating a list of content that can be acquired via a home network to the display device in response to the request from the display device, and the display device performs processing to display the list of content indicated by the content list information received from the content providing device.

[0034] In this way, by configuring the content providing device to display a list of content obtainable via the home network on the display device, the user can easily select content. Furthermore, since various content obtainable via the home network can be viewed on a single display device, user convenience can be improved. Furthermore, by using a recording medium interface, undecoded content selected by the user can be provided to the display device and decoded using a decoder on the display device. For example, components and processing for decoding content are not required in the content providing device, and the content providing device can be realized at low cost. Therefore, content distributed via various distribution services can be viewed on the display device at low cost.

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated. Furthermore, at least some of the embodiments described below may be combined in any manner.

[0036] [Configuration and basic operation] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, a content providing system 301 includes a display device 201 and a content providing device 101.

[0037] The display device 201 includes an interface for an external recording medium, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 21, as an interface for an external recording medium.

[0038] The content providing device 101 is connected to an interface for an external recording medium in the display device 201. More specifically, the content providing device 101 has a USB port 11. The USB port 11 in the content providing device 101 is connected to a USB port 21 in the display device 201 via a USB cable 1.

[0039] For example, the content providing device 101 functions as an external recording device. More specifically, the content providing device 101 includes a storage unit capable of storing TS packets containing content, as will be described later.

[0040] The display device 201 and the content providing device 101 can communicate in accordance with the SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) standard. For example, the display device 201 transmits SCSI commands conforming to the SCSI standard to the content providing device 101. A conventional general recording device is connected to the USB port 21 and is controlled by the display device 201 using SCSI commands. A user can control the content providing device 101 by the display device 201 using SCSI commands, just like a conventional general recording device.

[0041] The content providing device 101 receives SCSI commands from the display device 201 and operates in accordance with the received SCSI commands. Specifically, for example, when the content providing device 101 receives a SCSI command to read a file, it transmits TS packets containing content that are stored in a storage unit of the content providing device 101 to the display device 201. Also, for example, when the content providing device 101 receives a SCSI command to write a file, it stores the TS packets containing content in the storage unit. Also, for example, the content providing device 101 returns a list of content that can be viewed on the display device 201 in accordance with the SCSI command from the display device 201, as will be described later.

[0042] The content providing device 101 is capable of wireless communication with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) recorder 261, a network HDD 262, and an STB 263 in accordance with communication standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark). The content providing device 101 may be connected to the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263 via a wired connection, for example, a LAN cable. In this case, the content providing device 101 communicates with the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263 via a wired connection.

[0043] The HDD recorder 261 and the network HDD 262 record content and distribute the recorded content. More specifically, the HDD recorder 261 and the network HDD 262 are equipped with HDDs and store TS packets including content on their own HDDs. The HDD recorder 261 and the network HDD 262 transmit the TS packets stored on their own HDDs to the content providing device 101 via the home network 251.

[0044] The HDD recorder 261, network HDD 262, and STB 263 also acquire broadcast content and distribute the acquired content. More specifically, the HDD recorder 261 and network HDD 262 acquire TS packets containing content via the Internet or from received terrestrial or satellite waves. The STB 263, for example, also acquires TS packets containing content via the Internet. Alternatively, the STB 263 is equipped with a tuner and acquires TS packets containing content from broadcast waves received via an antenna. When the HDD recorder 261, network HDD 262, and STB 263 receive a request to transmit TS packets from the content providing device 101, they transmit the acquired TS packets to the content providing device 101 via the home network 251.

[0045] The HDD recorder 261 and the network HDD 262 are an example of a storage device and an example of a broadcast receiving device. The STB 263 is an example of a broadcast receiving device.

[0046] <Contents providing device> 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content providing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, content providing device 101 includes USB port 11, processing unit 12, communication unit 13, power supply unit 14, and storage unit 15.

[0047] The processing unit 12 is realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The communication unit 13 is realized by a communication IC. The storage unit 15 includes a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and a non-volatile memory such as a NAND flash memory.

[0048] The power supply unit 14 receives power from the display device 201 via the USB cable 1 and the USB port 11. The power supply unit 14 supplies the power received from the display device 201 to the processing unit 12, the communication unit 13, and the storage unit 15.

[0049] The communication unit 13 is capable of wireless communication with the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263 in accordance with communication standards such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Note that the communication unit 13 may be configured to be capable of wired communication with the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263.

[0050] The processing unit 12 creates mapping information to be used in processing content that can be acquired via the home network 251 and that causes the display device 201 to recognize that the content is stored in the content providing device 101. For example, the processing unit 12 creates mapping information to cause the display device 201 to recognize that the content being broadcast is also stored in the content providing device 101.

[0051] More specifically, the processing unit 12 outputs to the communication unit 13 a search instruction indicating that content that can be acquired via the home network 251 should be searched for.

[0052] Upon receiving a search instruction from the processing unit 12, the communication unit 13 performs a search process to search for storage devices and broadcast receiving devices accessible via the home network 251 in accordance with the DLNA (registered trademark) (Digital Living Network Alliance) protocol. For example, by performing the search process, the communication unit 13 detects the HDD recorder 261, network HDD 262, and STB 263 as storage devices and broadcast receiving devices accessible via the home network 251. The communication unit 13 outputs the detection results of the accessible storage devices and broadcast receiving devices to the processing unit 12.

[0053] Then, the communication unit 13 transmits a distribution information request requesting information on distributable content according to the DLNA protocol to the HDD recorder 261, network HDD 262, and STB 263 detected by the search process.

[0054] The HDD recorder 261, network HDD 262, and STB 263 receive the distribution information request from the communication unit 13 in the content providing device 101, create distribution information indicating the content that they can distribute in accordance with the DLNA protocol, and send the created distribution information to the communication unit 13, including their own ID.

[0055] The communication unit 13 receives distribution information from the HDD recorder 261 , the network HDD 262 and the STB 263 , and outputs each received distribution information to the processing unit 12 .

[0056] The processing unit 12 receives each piece of distribution information from the communication unit 13, and creates a state in which the content indicated by each piece of received distribution information is stored in a virtual HDD (hereinafter also referred to as a virtual HDD) in the content providing device 101. Specifically, the processing unit 12, like a normal HDD, assigns a physical address, such as an LBA (Logical Block Addressing), on the virtual HDD to each piece of content, thereby creating virtual address information indicating the correspondence between the content and the LBA on the virtual HDD.

[0057] Furthermore, the processing unit 12 creates hierarchical information indicating that the content indicated by each piece of distribution information received from the communication unit 13 is hierarchically stored in the virtual HDD. For example, the hierarchical information indicates that there is a directory for each device, such as "network HDD," immediately below the root directory, and that the content is stored in the directory at the lowest level.

[0058] The processing unit 12 stores the mapping information including the created virtual address information and hierarchical information in the storage unit 15. The mapping information is an example of management information. When the physical address of the HDD is required in the response to the SCSI command received from the display device 201, the processing unit 12 refers to the mapping information and uses the LBA, i.e., the virtual address, in the virtual HDD.

[0059] Furthermore, the processing unit 12 creates a response to a SCSI command received from the display device 201 based on the mapping information in the storage unit 15, and returns the response to the SCSI command to the display device 201. That is, when the processing unit 12 receives a SCSI command, mainly for reading a file or for writing a file, it transmits a response to the SCSI command to the display device 201 via the USB port 11. The mapping information is used by the display device 201 in command response creation processing for playing back and recording content, etc.

[0060] Furthermore, the processing unit 12 creates a correspondence table indicating the correspondence between the device ID and the content that the device can deliver, based on the delivery information. The processing unit 12 stores the created correspondence table in the storage unit 15.

[0061] By accessing the content providing device 101 using a file system driver, the display device 201 can perform processes such as playing and recording content that the content providing device 101 can obtain via the home network 251, just as if the content providing device 101 actually had an HDD.

[0062] For example, the processing unit 12 periodically or irregularly outputs a search instruction to the communication unit 13, receives detection results and distribution information corresponding to the search instruction from the communication unit 13, and updates the mapping information in the memory unit 15 based on the received detection results and distribution information.

[0063] (Send content list information) The processing unit 12 transmits to the display device 201 content list information indicating a list of contents that are recognized by the display device 201 as being stored in the content providing device 101 based on the mapping information.

[0064] More specifically, when the processing unit 12 receives a directory selection Dsel, which is a SCSI command, from the display device 201 via the USB port 11, the processing unit 12 creates directory information indicating a list of directories within the directory indicated by the received directory selection Dsel, based on the hierarchical information in the storage unit 15. The processing unit 12 transmits the created directory information to the display device 201 via the USB port 11. The directory information is an example of content list information. Of the list of directories indicated by the directory information transmitted to the display device 201 by the processing unit 12, the directory information indicating a list of directories within the lowest directory in the hierarchical information corresponds to the content list information.

[0065] (Playing content) When the processing unit 12 receives a "playback request," which is a SCSI command for reading a file, from the display device 201 via the USB port 11, the processing unit 12 identifies the target content, which is the content indicated by the received playback request, based on the mapping information in the storage unit 15. Then, the processing unit 12 identifies a target device, which is a device to which the target content can be distributed, based on the correspondence table in the storage unit 15. The processing unit 12 creates a distribution request addressed to the target device, indicating that the target content should be distributed, and outputs the created distribution request to the communication unit 13.

[0066] The communication unit 13 receives a distribution request from the processing unit 12 and transmits the received distribution request to the target device in accordance with the DLNA protocol.

[0067] A device that receives a distribution request from the communication unit 13 in the content providing device 101 transmits TS packets including the content indicated by the distribution request to the content providing device 101 via the home network 251. For example, the device transmits TS packets encrypted using a common key Kc1 conforming to DTCP-IP (Digital Transmission Content Protection over Internet Protocol) to the content providing device 101 via the home network 251.

[0068] When the communication unit 13 receives TS packets including content from the device via the home network 251 , it outputs the received TS packets to the processing unit 12 .

[0069] For example, the processing unit 12 acquires encrypted content via the home network 251, decrypts the acquired content, encrypts the decrypted content using a predetermined encryption key, and transmits the encrypted content to the display device 201.

[0070] More specifically, the processing unit 12 receives TS packets from the communication unit 13 and decrypts the received TS packets using a common key Kc1 conforming to DTCP-IP. Then, the processing unit 12 encrypts the decrypted TS packets using a predetermined encryption key and stores the encrypted TS packets in the storage unit 15.

[0071] The processing unit 12 sequentially acquires the TS packets stored in the storage unit 15 and transmits them to the display device 201 via the USB port 11. For example, a ring buffer is configured in the storage unit 15. As a prefetch process, the communication unit 13 acquires TS packets containing content expected to be distributed to the display device 201 in advance via the home network 251 and outputs them to the processing unit 12. The processing unit 12 stores the encrypted TS packets received from the communication unit 13 in the ring buffer in the storage unit 15, and acquires the TS packets stored in the ring buffer starting from the oldest one and transmits them to the display device 201.

[0072] For example, the processing unit 12 obtains a common key Kc2 used in the content providing device 101 and the display device 201 as an encryption key. The processing unit 12 then encrypts the content using the obtained common key Kc2. More specifically, the storage unit 15 stores a common key Kc2 that complies with CPRM or SeeQVault and is used in the content providing device 101 and the display device 201. The processing unit 12 obtains the common key Kc2 from the storage unit 15 and encrypts the decrypted TS packets using the common key Kc2 obtained from the storage unit 15.

[0073] Alternatively, the processing unit 12 generates a unique key Uk1 as an encryption key based on unique information of the display device 201. The processing unit 12 then encrypts the content using the generated unique key Uk1. More specifically, the storage unit 15 stores the unique key Uk1 generated based on unique information of the display device 201, such as a serial number. The processing unit 12 obtains the unique key Uk1 from the storage unit 15 and encrypts the decrypted TS packets using the unique key Uk1 obtained from the storage unit 15.

[0074] For example, the processing unit 12 transmits content acquired via the home network 251 to the display device 201 without decoding it. More specifically, the processing unit 12 encrypts a TS packet received from the communication unit 13 using the common key Kc2 or the unique key Uk1 without decoding it.

[0075] The processing unit 12 may be configured to transcode content acquired via the home network 251 to convert at least one of the resolution, frame rate, and compression method of the content, and transmit the converted content to the display device 201. More specifically, if the TS packets received from the communication unit 13 are in a compression method or video method that the display device 202 does not support, the processing unit 12 transcodes the TS packets.

[0076] (Recording of content) The processing unit 12 receives a "recording request" which is a SCSI command for writing a file and the content from the display device 201, and stores the received content in the storage unit 15 or in a storage device via the home network 251 in accordance with the recording request.

[0077] More specifically, the processing unit 12 receives from the communication unit 13 the detection result of the recording devices and broadcast receiving devices that the communication unit 13 can access, and creates recording device information that indicates a list of recording devices in the content providing system 301. The processing unit 12 transmits the created recording device information to the display device 201 via the USB port 11.

[0078] As an example, the display device 201 acquires TS packets containing content from received terrestrial or satellite waves, and displays a program on a display screen using the acquired TS packets. Then, when the display device 201 receives a remote control operation from a user requesting that the currently displayed program be recorded on a recording device, the display device 201 transmits a recording request indicating the designated recording device to the content providing device 101. The display device 201 also transmits the TS packets acquired from, for example, terrestrial or satellite waves to the content providing device 101.

[0079] The processing unit 12 receives the recording request from the display device 201 via the USB port 11. If the recording device indicated in the received recording request is its own content providing device 101, the processing unit 12 stores the TS packets received from the display device 201 in the storage unit 15. On the other hand, if the recording device indicated in the recording request from the display device 201 is, for example, the HDD recorder 261, the processing unit 12 transmits the TS packets received from the display device 201 to the HDD recorder 261 via the communication unit 13 and the home network 251.

[0080] As another example, when the display device 201 receives a remote control operation from the user to record content on a recording device, the display device 201 transmits a recording request indicating the specified content and the specified recording device to the content providing device 101.

[0081] When the processing unit 12 receives the recording request from the display device 201 via the USB port 11, it identifies the target content, which is the content indicated by the received recording request, based on the mapping information in the storage unit 15. Then, the processing unit 12 identifies the target device, which is a device to which the target content can be distributed, based on the correspondence table in the storage unit 15. The processing unit 12 creates a distribution request addressed to the target device, indicating that the target content should be distributed, and outputs the created distribution request to the communication unit 13.

[0082] The communication unit 13 receives a distribution request from the processing unit 12 and transmits the received distribution request to the target device in accordance with the DLNA protocol.

[0083] A device that receives a distribution request from the communication unit 13 in the content providing device 101 transmits TS packets including the content indicated by the distribution request to the content providing device 101 via the home network 251. For example, the device transmits TS packets encrypted using a common key Kc1 conforming to DTCP-IP to the content providing device 101 via the home network 251.

[0084] When the communication unit 13 receives TS packets including content from the device via the home network 251 , it outputs the received TS packets to the processing unit 12 .

[0085] When the recording device indicated in the recording request from the display device 201 is its own content providing device 101, the processing unit 12 stores the TS packets received from the communication unit 13 in the storage unit 15. On the other hand, when the recording device indicated in the recording request from the display device 201 is, for example, an HDD recorder 261, the processing unit 12 transmits the TS packets received from the communication unit 13 to the HDD recorder 261 via the communication unit 13 and the home network 251 in accordance with the DLNA protocol.

[0086] The HDD recorder 261 stores the TS packets received from the content provider 101 in its own HDD.

[0087] <Display device> 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 3, display device 201 includes USB port 21, processing unit 22, receiving unit 23, decoder IC 24, and storage unit 25.

[0088] The processing unit 22 and the receiving unit 23 are realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), etc. The storage unit 25 is, for example, a non-volatile memory.

[0089] When the processing unit 22 receives the recording device information from the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21 , the processing unit 22 stores the received recording device information in the storage unit 25 .

[0090] (Playing content) The reception unit 23 receives an operation performed by the user on the display device 201, and outputs operation information indicating the details of the received operation to the processing unit 22. For example, the reception unit 23 receives an operation to display a content list that is a list of viewable contents, and outputs operation information Cc1 to the processing unit 22 to display the content list.

[0091] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cc1 from the reception unit 23, creates a directory selection command Dsel_1 which is a SCSI command, and transmits it to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0092] 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 4, after transmitting the directory selection Dsel_1, the processing unit 22 receives directory information from the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21, and performs processing to display "HDD recorder," "network HDD," "STB," and "content providing device" as a list of directories in the directory indicated by the received directory information on the viewing selection screen Ds1.

[0093] For example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation by the user to select "HDD recorder" displayed on the viewing selection screen Ds1, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cc2 indicating the content of the accepted operation.

[0094] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cc2 from the reception unit 23, creates a directory selection Dsel_2, which is a SCSI command indicating that "HDD recorder" is to be selected, and transmits the directory selection Dsel_2 to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0095] 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 5, after transmitting the directory selection Dsel_2, the processing unit 22 receives directory information from the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21, and performs processing to display "recorded content" and "real-time content" on the viewing selection screen Ds1 as a list of directories within the directory indicated by the received directory information.

[0096] As an example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation by the user to select “recorded content” displayed on the viewing selection screen Ds1, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cc3 indicating the content of the accepted operation.

[0097] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cc3 from the reception unit 23 and requests information indicating a list of content that can be acquired by the display device 201 from the content providing device 101. More specifically, the processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cc3 from the reception unit 23 and creates a directory selection Dsel_3, which is a SCSI command indicating that "recorded content" is to be selected, and transmits the directory selection Dsel_3 to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0098] 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a display screen of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 6, after transmitting the directory selection Dsel_3, the processing unit 22 receives directory information from the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21. The directory information is an example of content list information. The processing unit 22 performs processing to display "Content A," "Content B," and "Content C" on the viewing selection screen Ds1 as a list of files in the directory indicated by the received directory information.

[0099] For example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation by the user to select “content A” displayed on the viewing selection screen Ds1, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cc4 indicating the content of the accepted operation.

[0100] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cc4 from the reception unit 23 and transmits a playback request, which is a SCSI command indicating the selected "content A," to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0101] As another example, the reception unit 23 receives an operation by the user to select “real-time content” displayed on the viewing selection screen Ds1 shown in FIG. 5, and outputs operation information Cc5 indicating the received operation content to the processing unit 22.

[0102] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cc5 from the reception unit 23, creates a directory selection Dsel_4, which is a SCSI command indicating that "real-time content" is to be selected, and transmits the directory selection Dsel_4 to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0103] 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of a display screen of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 7, after transmitting a directory selection Dsel_4, the processing unit 22 receives directory information from the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21, and performs processing to display "NHK," "TV Asahi," and "TV Osaka" on a viewing selection screen Ds1 as a list of directories in the directory indicated by the received directory information.

[0104] For example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation by the user to select "NHK" displayed on the viewing selection screen Ds1, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cc6 indicating the content of the accepted operation.

[0105] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cc6 from the reception unit 23 and transmits a playback request indicating the selected "NHK" to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0106] After transmitting the playback request, the processing unit 22 receives encrypted TS packets from the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21. For example, the processing unit 22 decrypts the received TS packets using a common key Kc2 conforming to CPRM or SeeQVault. Alternatively, the processing unit 22 decrypts the received TS packets using a unique key Uk1 created based on unique information of the display device 201.

[0107] The processing unit 22 decodes the content contained in the decoded TS packets using the decoder IC 24, and performs processing to play back the decoded content.

[0108] (Example 1 of content recording) For example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation to record the currently displayed program, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cr1 to the effect that the content should be recorded.

[0109] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cr1 from the receiving unit 23 and acquires a list of recording devices from the recording device information in the storage unit 25.

[0110] 8 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Fig. 8, when the processing unit 22 acquires a list of recording devices from the recording device information, it performs processing to display on the display device 201 a recording device setting screen Dr1 including "HDD recorder," "network HDD," "STB," and "content providing device" as the list of recording devices.

[0111] For example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation by the user to select "HDD recorder" displayed on the recording device setting screen Dr1, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cr2 indicating the content of the accepted operation.

[0112] The processing unit 22 receives operation information Cr2 from the reception unit 23, creates a recording request, which is a SCSI command, and transmits the created recording request to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21. The processing unit 22 also acquires TS packets containing content from the terrestrial or satellite waves received by the display device 201, and transmits the acquired TS packets to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0113] (Content recording example 2) For example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation to record the content, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cr11 to the effect that the content should be recorded.

[0114] 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of a display screen of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 9, processing unit 22 receives operation information Cr11 from reception unit 23 and performs processing to display, on display device 201, a recording content setting screen Dr2 including "content A," "content B," "content C," and "content D" as currently recordable content. For example, "content A," "content B," "content C," and "content D" are broadcasted content that can be acquired by HDD recorder 261, network HDD 262, and STB 263.

[0115] For example, the accepting unit 23 accepts an operation by the user to select "content D" displayed on the recording content setting screen Dr2, and outputs to the processing unit 22 operation information Cr12 indicating the accepted operation content.

[0116] The processing unit 22 receives the operation information Cr12 from the reception unit 23, acquires a list of recording devices from the recording device information in the storage unit 25, and performs processing to display the recording device setting screen Dr1 shown in FIG.

[0117] The processing unit 22 receives operation information Cr13 from the reception unit 23, which indicates the operation content of selecting "Network HDD," creates a recording request, which is a SCSI command indicating the selected "Content D" and the selected recording device, and transmits the created recording request to the content providing device 101 via the USB port 21.

[0118] [Operation flow] Each device in the content providing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a computer including a memory, and a processing unit such as a CPU in the computer reads from the memory and executes a program including some or all of the steps in the following flowcharts and sequences. The programs for each of these devices can be installed externally. The programs for each of these devices are distributed in a state stored on a recording medium or via a communication line.

[0119] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content providing sequence in the content providing system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0120] 10, first, the content providing device 101 performs a search process to search for storage devices and broadcast receiving devices accessible via the home network 251. For example, by performing the search process, the content providing device 101 detects the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263 as storage devices and broadcast receiving devices (step S102).

[0121] Next, the content providing device 101 creates virtual address information and hierarchical information indicating the correspondence between each content that can be distributed by the HDD recorder 261, network HDD 262, and STB 263 and the LBA in the virtual HDD. The content providing device 101 saves mapping information including the created virtual address information and hierarchical information in the storage unit 15. The content providing device 101 periodically performs a search process, for example, and updates the mapping information in the storage unit 15 (step S104).

[0122] Next, the display device 201 transmits the directory selection Dsel_1 to the content providing device 101 (step S106).

[0123] Next, the content providing device 101 receives the directory selection Dsel_1 from the display device 201 and transmits directory information indicating a list of directories in the root directory to the display device 201 (step S108).

[0124] Next, the display device 201 transmits a directory selection Dsel_2 indicating that the directory "Network HDD" is to be selected to the content providing device 101 (step S110).

[0125] Next, the content providing device 101 receives the directory selection Dsel_2 from the display device 201, and transmits directory information indicating a list of directories in the "HDD recorder" directory indicated by the directory selection Dsel_2 to the display device 201 (step S112).

[0126] Next, the display device 201 transmits a playback request indicating, for example, "content A" selected by the user to the content providing device 101 (step S114).

[0127] Next, the content providing device 101 transmits a distribution request to the HDD recorder 261, which is the target device, to request distribution of the target content indicated in the playback request received from the display device 201 (step S116).

[0128] Next, in accordance with the distribution request received from the content providing device 101, the HDD recorder 261 transmits TS packets including content A to the content providing device 101 (step S118).

[0129] Next, the content providing device 101 decrypts the TS packets received from the HDD recorder 261 using a common key Kc1 according to DTCP-IP, and encrypts the decrypted TS packets using a common key Kc2 according to SeeQVault, for example (step S120).

[0130] Next, the content providing device 101 transmits the TS packets encrypted using the common key Kc2 to the display device 201 (step S122).

[0131] Note that, although the content providing system 301 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described as including the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263 as storage devices and broadcast receiving devices accessible by the content providing device 101 via the home network 251, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The content providing system 301 may also be configured to include devices other than the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263 as storage devices and broadcast receiving devices accessible by the content providing device 101 via the home network 251. Furthermore, in the content providing system 301, the content providing device 101 may be configured to be able to acquire broadcast content, similar to the HDD recorder 261, the network HDD 262, and the STB 263.

[0132] Furthermore, in the content providing device 101 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 12 is configured to create virtual address information, but this is not limited to this. For example, the processing unit 12 may be configured not to create virtual address information. That is, the processing unit 12 does not create virtual address information but creates hierarchical information, and stores the created hierarchical information in the storage unit 15 as mapping information.

[0133] Furthermore, in the content providing device 101 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 12 is configured to receive a directory selection Dsel from the display device 201 and transmit directory information to the display device 201, but this is not limiting. The processing unit 12 may be configured not to transmit directory information to the display device 201. For example, the processing unit 12 may be configured to transmit hierarchical information to the display device 201. In this case, the processing unit 22 in the display device 201 performs processing to display the viewing selection screen Ds1 using the hierarchical information received from the content providing device 101.

[0134] Furthermore, in the content providing device 101 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 12 is configured to transmit content acquired via the home network 251 to the display device 201 without decoding the content, but this is not limited to this. The processing unit 12 may also be configured to decode content acquired via the home network 251 and transmit the content to the display device 201.

[0135] Furthermore, in the content providing device 101 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 12 is configured to acquire encrypted content via the home network 251, decrypt the acquired content, encrypt the decrypted content using a predetermined encryption key, and transmit the encrypted content to the display device 201, but this is not limited to this. The processing unit 12 may also be configured to transmit the content acquired via the home network 251 to the display device 201 without decrypting or encrypting it.

[0136] Furthermore, in the content providing device 101 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 12 is configured to create mapping information that causes the display device 201 to recognize that the content being broadcast is also stored in the content providing device 101, but this is not limited to this. For example, the processing unit 12 may be configured to create mapping information that causes the display device 201 to recognize that only the content recorded in a recording device is stored in the content providing device 101.

[0137] Furthermore, in the content providing device 101 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processing unit 12 is configured to receive a recording request from the display device 201 and, in accordance with the received recording request, store the content in the storage unit 15 or store the content in a storage device via the home network 251, but this is not limited to this. The processing unit 12 may also be configured to receive a playback request from the display device 201 and transmit the content indicated by the playback request to the display device 201, but not to record the content.

[0138] The above-described embodiments should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0139] The above description includes the following additional features. [Appendix 1] A content providing device connected to an external recording medium interface in a display device, a processing unit that creates management information that causes the display device to recognize that content obtainable via a home network is stored in the content providing device and that is used to process the content; the processing unit creates the management information indicating a correspondence between the content obtainable via the home network and an LBA in a virtual HDD; The content providing device, wherein the processing unit further creates hierarchical information indicating a state in which the content is hierarchically stored in the virtual HDD. [Explanation of symbols]

[0140] 1 USB cable 11 USB ports 12 Processing section 13 Communications Department 14 Power supply section 15 Storage section 21 USB ports 22 Processing section 23 Reception 24 Decoder IC 25 Memory section 101 Content providing device 201 Display device 251 Home Network 261 HDD Recorder 262 Network HDD 263 STB 301 Content Provision System

Claims

1. A content providing device that is connected to an interface for an external recording medium in a display device and causes the display device to recognize the external recording medium, a processing unit that creates management information to be used in processing the content, the management information causing the display device to recognize that content that is not stored in the content providing device and that can be acquired via a home network is stored in the content providing device; A content providing device, wherein the management information is information indicating a correspondence relationship between the content and a physical address in a virtual storage of the content providing device.

2. The content providing device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit transmits to the display device content list information indicating a list of the content that is recognized by the display device as being stored in the content providing device based on the management information.

3. 3. The content providing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit converts at least one of the resolution, frame rate, and compression method of the content acquired via the home network by transcoding the content, and transmits the converted content to the display device.

4. 4. The content providing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit acquires the encrypted content via the home network, decrypts the acquired content, encrypts the decrypted content using a predetermined encryption key, and transmits the encrypted content to the display device.

5. 5. The content providing device according to claim 4, wherein the processing unit transmits the content encrypted using a common key conforming to CPRM (Content Protection for Recordable Media) or SeeQVault, which is used in the content providing device and the display device, as the encryption key, to the display device.

6. The content providing device according to claim 4 , wherein the processing unit generates a unique key based on unique information of the display device as the encryption key, and transmits the content encrypted using the generated unique key to the display device.

7. The content providing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit creates the management information that causes the display device to recognize that the content stored in a storage device accessible to the content providing device via the home network is stored in the content providing device.

8. The content providing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit creates the management information that causes the display device to recognize that the content being broadcast and available on a broadcast receiving device accessible by the content providing device via the home network is stored in the content providing device.

9. the processing unit is capable of storing the recording target content in a storage unit in the content providing device, and storing the recording target content in the storage device via the home network; The content providing device according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit receives a recording request and the content to be recorded from the display device, and stores the content to be recorded in the recording medium selected by the user from among a plurality of recording media including the memory unit and the storage device in accordance with the recording request.

10. A display device; a content providing device connected to an external recording medium interface in the display device, causing the display device to recognize the external recording medium as an external recording medium; the display device requests information indicating a list of content that can be acquired by the display device from the content providing device; In response to a request from the display device, the content providing device transmits to the display device content list information indicating a list of content that is not stored in the content providing device, is obtainable by the content providing device via a home network, and is recognized by the display device as being stored in the content providing device; The display device performs processing to display a list of the contents indicated by the content list information received from the content providing device.

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