Patent ID: 8346049
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: H04M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A captioned video playback apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores a caption signal defining a plurality of caption lines and a video signal defining a plurality of video images in association with a playback timing; a caption select unit that selects one of the plurality of caption lines defined by the caption signal stored in the storage unit; a caption playback unit that plays back the caption line selected by the caption select unit; a video playback unit that plays back the video signal stored in the storage unit; a mode changeover unit that changes between a caption view mode for playing back a caption line selected by the caption select unit and a video image corresponding to the caption line using the caption playback unit and the video playback unit, and a normal view mode for playing back a video image using the video playback unit; a display unit having a display area for displaying data; and an area securing unit which secures each caption area for displaying each caption line on the display area and a video area for displaying each video image corresponding to a playback timing of each caption line displayed on the display area; wherein the caption select unit selects at least two caption lines from a plurality of caption lines defined by the caption signal stored in the storage unit, the caption playback unit plays back a plurality of caption lines selected by the caption select unit, the video playback unit plays back a video image, from the video images defined by the video signal stored in the storage unit, which is provided with a playback timing corresponding to a playback timing given to one of the caption lines played back by the caption playback unit; and wherein the caption video storage unit stores a direction in which each caption line is displayed in the display area, and a number of caption areas to be secured and positions thereof in association with one another, the area securing unit includes: a caption direction determining unit which determines a direction in which each caption line is displayed on the display area; a caption area number position reading unit which reads the number of caption areas and the positions thereof to be secured, corresponding to the direction determined by the caption direction determining unit, from the caption video storage unit; and a video direction determining unit which determines a direction in which each video image is displayed on the display area, whereby each caption area is secured according to the number and positions read by the caption area number position reading unit, each video area is secured such that the video areas are equal in number to the secured caption areas and a direction in which each caption line determined by the caption direction determining unit matches with a direction in which a video image corresponding to each caption line is displayed.