Content reproducing apparatus for reproducing content that is stream data divided into a plurality of reply segments, and content transmitting/receiving system

Abstract

A content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is such that the content reproducing apparatus judges whether or not reproducing data of a replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is skippable when a skip instruction from a user is accepted while a content is being reproduced. When a result of judgment is negative to the skip instruction, an alternative data is reproduced in place of data of the replay segment hat has been instructed to be skipped. When the reproducing of the alternative data is completed, so that data of the replay segment successive to the replay segment pointed out by the skip instruction is executed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] (1) Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a technique of controlling reproduction of a content which is stream data divided into a plurality of replay segments, and more specifically, it relates to the skip function thereof. [0003] (2) Description of the Prior Art [0004] In recent years, services for distributing users with multimedia contents (hereinafter referred to as contents) that include commercial messages (CM) of sponsors of the contents at no extra charge have been offered. A user can listen and watch a distributed content using a content reproducing apparatus, such as a personal computer and a mobile device. The distributed content is divided into a plurality of replay segments, and each of the plurality of replay segment includes a part of the content with a certain degree of cohesiveness, such as each scene from the main content. [0005] A content reproducing apparatus is provided with a skip function as one of f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide content reproducing apparatuses, content transmitting / receiving systems, and various technologies relating to the same. More specifically, the present invention provides such apparatuses, systems, and technologies that can be applied without putting heavy load on content distributing servers, and that can reproduce the data intended by content providers while tolerating skipping the data as much as possible when an instruction from a user to skip reproducing of data of a certain replay segment such as CMs is received.

[0011] By the above apparatus, it is possible to reproduce the data intended by content providers without fail while tolerating skipping the data as much as possible when a user instruction to skip reproducing the data of a certain replay segment such as the CMs is accepted.

[0015] By the above apparatus, at least of the alternative data is reproduced. By setting CM data as the alternative data, for example, it is possible to reproduce the CM data without fail.

[0017] The above apparatus prevents a total length of time for reproducing the content from extending because the alternative data is reproduced repeatedly due to the skip instruction by the user.

[0046] By the above apparatus, when there is more than one unskippable replay segment between the replay segment that is being reproduced and the target replay segment, data of at least one of the replay segment is reproduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reproduce the alternative data which the content provider intends without fail.

[0055] By the above apparatus, when the skip instruction to skip the first alternative data is given, the second alternative data corresponds to the first alternative data is transmitted. Accordingly, it is possible to reproduce the data which the content provider intends in the content receiving / reproducing apparatus.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, the skip function can be disadvantageous for content providers, because it is possible that, by utilizing the skip function, users listen and watch contents without reproducing replay segments for CMs of sponsors.

If a CM is skipped without being reproduced too often, it becomes highly probable that the sponsor considers the advertising effectiveness of the CM is low and thus stops sponsoring.

Because the encrypting process is required to be executed in real time, such a method increases the load to the content distributing server.

Images