Content playback method and device for vehicle

Abstract

This content playback device for a vehicle includes a vehicle-side video playback device (1) and a content server (2) external to the vehicle. Content to be preferentially played back during free time when a user is not driving the vehicle is registered in advance in the content server (2) as registered content. If a battery charging period at a charging station is ten minutes, a playback start point is set to a point ten minutes before the end of the registered content so that the end of the charging period and the end of the registered content will coincide. The content server (2): creates playback-use content data obtained by extracting frames (F) from a playback start-point from ten minutes prior, to an end (Fn) point; and relays such content data to the vehicle side. The vehicle-side video playback device (1) plays back the playback-use content data.

Description

Vehicle content playback method and device

[0001] The present invention relates to a content playback method for a vehicle that plays back video or music content in a vehicle cabin.

[0002] In recent automobiles, a relatively large display known as an IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) is often placed in the center of the dash panel in front of the driver's seat, allowing the user (driver) to enjoy content such as videos and music provided through video distribution services during their spare time when they are not driving the vehicle.

[0003] Many users want to enjoy video and music content even in their relatively short free time, but when they start watching content under time constraints, they are forced to stop watching at an awkward time, which can result in frustration.

[0004] Patent Literature 1 discloses a content distribution method that enables a user to view content while charging a vehicle at a charging station. In this method, the charging station calculates the charging time required to fully charge the battery, and a content distribution server receives this charging time information and extracts content of a length corresponding to the charging time and distributes it to the vehicle, where a playback device on the vehicle plays back the distributed content.

[0005] However, this method does not necessarily deliver the content that the user wants to view (for example, a video that the user wants to watch). If content that matches the user's preferences were to be provided, since charging times vary, it would be necessary to prepare a large number of pieces of content of different lengths that match the user's preferences on the content delivery server, which is not realistic. Conversely, content that matches the user's preferences, for example, 15 minutes in length, would only be played when the charging time is 15 minutes, limiting the opportunities for playback.

[0006] WO2019 / 244403 A1

[0007] This invention is a content playback method for a vehicle that plays video or music content inside the vehicle cabin, which includes: registering in advance for each user at least one piece of content that should be preferentially played back during gap time when the user is not driving the vehicle as registered content; obtaining information on the length of the gap time before the start of the gap time; if the length of the gap time is shorter than the length of the registered content, determining a playback start point for the registered content in accordance with the length of the gap time so that the end of the gap time coincides with the end of the content; and playing back the registered content from the playback start point at the start of the gap time.

[0008] According to this method, the content desired by the user can be played even in a short gap in time, and the user can enjoy this content. In particular, since the end of the gap time coincides with the end of the content, the user will feel less frustrated.

[0009] 1 is a functional block diagram showing a content playback device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a content playback device according to a second embodiment; FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow according to the first embodiment; FIG.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following example, a moving image will be described as an example of content to be played in a vehicle, but the same applies to music.

[0011] 1 is a functional block diagram showing a content playback device according to a first embodiment. The content playback device includes a video playback device 1 installed in a vehicle and a content server 2 located outside the vehicle and distributing videos. The vehicle-side video playback device 1 and the content server 2 are connected via an appropriate communication means. For example, the vehicle may be a so-called connected car that is always connected to the Internet via 5G communication or the like, and the vehicle-side video playback device 1 and the content server 2 are connected via the Internet.

[0012] The vehicle-side video playback device 1 includes a content playback function unit 3 that plays back content, i.e., video data consisting of digital data, sent from a content server 2. The video playback device 1 also includes output units (not shown), such as an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) located in the center of the dash panel in front of the driver's seat and multiple speakers. The IVI has a touch-enabled screen such as a capacitive touch panel and also serves as an input device for various input operations, such as setting a destination in a car navigation system and selecting content. The content playback function unit 3 is configured as part of the functions of the vehicle-mounted computer system that constitutes the video playback device 1.

[0013] The content server 2 is a server that stores a large number of contents for providing video distribution services. The content server 2 includes a content registration function unit 4, a spare time registration function unit 5, a content extraction function unit 6, and a video data transfer function unit 7. Each of these function units is configured as part of the function of the computer system that constitutes the content server 2.

[0014] The content registration function unit 4 is a function for registering, for each user, at least one piece of content to be preferentially played back during spare time when the user is not driving the vehicle. The user registers desired content in advance via the input screen of the IVI in the vehicle-side video playback device 1. When registering multiple pieces of content, the priority order of the content may also be registered. Without determining the priority order, content to be played back during spare time may be selected, for example, randomly or according to other conditions. It is also possible to configure the system so that the user can input the content via a mobile device such as a smartphone, rather than via the IVI. Note that while the term "user" generally refers to the driver of the vehicle, it could also refer to a passenger sitting in the passenger seat. Furthermore, "spare time" refers to a relatively short period of time (e.g., less than 60 minutes) during which the user is waiting in the vehicle without driving. Examples of spare time include charging an electric vehicle (BEV) at a charging station, waiting while a passenger is shopping in a store parking lot, or resting at a highway service area.

[0015] The gap time registration function unit 5 is a function that acquires information about the length of the gap time before the start of the gap time and registers it for content extraction. For example, if the information about the length of the gap time is the charging time of an electric vehicle, it is acquired from information about the charging time of the vehicle battery (e.g., the estimated charging time calculated from the battery SOC, a charging time specified by the user, etc.). For example, if it is a break time, the length of the break time specified by the user becomes the length of the gap time. In other words, the information about the length of the gap time includes both information that is automatically acquired based on certain conditions without requiring user operation, and a time specified by the user.

[0016] When the length of the gap time is shorter than the length of the registered content to be played back, the content clipping function unit 6 determines a playback start point of the registered content corresponding to the length of the gap time so that the end of the gap time coincides with the end of the registered content, and clips the registered content. In one embodiment, content data for playback is created by clipping the section of the registered content from the playback start point to the end in accordance with the determined playback start point. Note that the "end of content" basically means the location or time when a series of content ends, but the "end" may also be a point in the registered content that the user specifies arbitrarily (for example, a scene in a drama). In this case, when registering the registered content, the end point is registered together with the content registration.

[0017] The video data transfer function unit 7 transfers the playback content data thus created on the content server 2 side to a length corresponding to the length of the spare time, to the video playback device 1 of the target vehicle.

[0018] The vehicle-side video playback device 1 plays the playback content data transferred from the content server 2 in this way during the spare time. Specifically, at the start of the spare time, playback of the playback content data having a length corresponding to the length of the spare time begins. Therefore, playback of the playback content data is completed substantially simultaneously with the end of the spare time. This allows the user to view a portion of the registered content that suits their preferences, including the end, even in a short spare time.

[0019] 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the content playback device of the first embodiment. First, as shown in step 1, the user registers at least one piece of content that should be preferentially played back in spare time in the content server 2 as registered content. For example, the IVI screen and an appropriate search function are used to display a list of content stored in the content server 2, and the user can select from the list to register the registered content in advance.

[0020] Then, when the gap time actually arrives, the length of the gap time is registered in the content server 2 from information regarding the length of the gap time, as shown in step 2. Based on the length of this gap time, the playback start point of the registered content is determined so that the end of the gap time coincides with the end of the registered content, as shown in step 3. The content server 2 creates playback content data by extracting the section from the playback start point to the end of the registered content in accordance with this playback start point, and transfers this data to the vehicle-side video playback device 1 (steps 4 and 5).

[0021] Finally, as shown in step 6, the video playback device 1 on the vehicle side starts playing the playback content data at the start of the spare time.

[0022] 2 is a functional block diagram showing a content playback device of the second embodiment. In the content playback device of the second embodiment, the video playback device 1 provided on the vehicle side includes the content registration function unit 4, the spare time registration function unit 5, and the content clipping function unit 6 described above in addition to the content playback function unit 3. A content server 2 external to the vehicle receives a request for downloading content data from the video playback device 1 on the vehicle side and provides the requested content data to the video playback device 1 on the vehicle side. The registration of registered content for each user, the registration of spare time, and the clipping of content according to the spare time, i.e., the creation of content data for playback, described in the first embodiment, are processed by the video playback device 1 on the vehicle side.

[0023] For example, when a user selects content to be registered via the vehicle's IVI, the video playback device 1 requests content data (video data) from the content server 2 and downloads the content data from the content server 2. When a gap time actually arrives, the video playback device 1 obtains information regarding the length of the gap time, cuts out the content to a length corresponding to the gap time, and creates content data for playback. The content playback function unit 3 then plays back the content data for playback.

[0024] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the playback of registered content in accordance with, for example, the charging time of an electric vehicle as a spare time. This diagram is a kind of time chart, with the horizontal axis representing time. Registered content 11, shown schematically in a strip shape resembling a moving image film, is a moving image composed of n frames F from F0 to Fn, and has a total length of, for example, 40 minutes. "0:00," "0:10," "0:20," "0:30," and "0:40" at the bottom of the diagram represent the elapsed time when registered content 11 is played from the first point. The "0:40" point corresponds to the end of the registered content.

[0025] The arrow A at the top of the figure schematically indicates the range of content data to be played when the charging time is 10 minutes. That is, when the charging time is 10 minutes, the playback start point is set to 10 minutes before the end of the registered content, and frames F from the playback start point 10 minutes before the end are extracted to create content data to be played. This allows the user to enjoy the final part of a video, which typically marks the climax, during the short charging time. Furthermore, since video playback ends substantially simultaneously with the end of charging, there is no sense of dissatisfaction.

[0026] Similarly, arrow B schematically indicates the range of content data for playback when the charging time is 20 minutes. When the charging time is 20 minutes, the playback start point is set to 20 minutes before the end of the registered content, and frames F from the playback start point 20 minutes before the end are extracted to create content data for playback.

[0027] Furthermore, arrow C schematically indicates the range of the content data for playback when the charging time is 30 minutes. When the charging time is 30 minutes, the playback start point is set to 30 minutes before the end of the registered content, and frames F from the playback start point 30 minutes before the end are extracted to create the content data for playback.

[0028] In the above examples A, B, and C, the charging time is set in 10-minute increments, but if it is set more precisely, for example, in 1-minute increments, the playback start point is set according to the charging time. In other words, it can be used for any length of gap time.

[0029] As mentioned above, the user can specify the end point of the registered content as desired, and in this case, playback will start from, for example, 10 minutes before the specified end point. For example, if the registered content is a video of a music concert, you can listen to the song you want to listen to until the end in your spare time.

[0030] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, content data for playback is created by extracting a section from a playback start point to the end in accordance with the playback start point, and this content is then played back. However, it is also possible to play back registered content from the middle, i.e., from the playback start point, without separately creating such content data for playback.

Claims

1. A content playback method for a vehicle that plays video or music content inside the vehicle, comprising: registering, for each user in advance as registered content, at least one piece of content that should be preferentially played during gap times when the user is not driving the vehicle; obtaining information on the length of the gap time before the start of the gap time; if the length of the gap time is shorter than the length of the registered content, determining a playback start point for the registered content in accordance with the length of the gap time so that the end of the gap time coincides with the end of the content; and playing back the registered content from the playback start point at the start of the gap time.

2. A content playback method for a vehicle as described in claim 1, further comprising: creating playback content data by extracting a section of the registered content from the playback start point to the end in accordance with the playback start point; and playing back the registered content using this playback content data during spare time.

3. The content playback method for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the end of the registered content is a point arbitrarily designated by the user.

4. A content playback method for a vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the registration of the registered content and the creation of the playback content data are carried out in a server external to the vehicle, and the playback content data is transferred from the server to a playback device in the vehicle for playback.

5. A content playback method for a vehicle as described in claim 2, wherein the registered content is transferred from a server outside the vehicle to a playback device on the vehicle in response to a content registration operation by a user on the vehicle side, and the playback content data is created on the playback device on the vehicle side.

6. The content playback method for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein information on the length of the gap time is acquired from information on a time arbitrarily designated by the user.

7. The content playback method for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein information on the length of the gap time is acquired from information on the charging time of the vehicle's battery.

8. A content playback device for a vehicle that plays video or music content inside the vehicle cabin, comprising: a content registration function unit that registers at least one piece of content that should be preferentially played during gap time when the user is not driving the vehicle as registered content for each user at the user's designation; a gap time registration function unit that acquires and registers information about the length of the gap time before the start of the gap time; a content extraction function unit that determines the playback start point of the registered content in accordance with the length of the gap time so that the end of the gap time coincides with the end of the content when the length of the gap time is shorter than the length of the registered content; and a content playback function unit that plays the registered content from the playback start point at the start of the gap time.

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