Multimedia data presentation device and editing device

Abstract: The present invention discloses a user-friendly multimedia data presentation and editing device which displays visually the selection branch selected, on automatic discharge of a branch from an information block with a plurality of branch addresses. The device is also capable of editing a scene link composition consisting of a combination of a number of linked scenes of multimedia data, in such a way, that a user can comprehend the composition easily and change it as desired. The device manages editing information so that reproduction time is used as period information and so synchronization slips between data on different channels and loss of tracking of reproduction base time of data is avoided, on insertion of data with a different reproduction data during editing.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a presentation device and a similar kind of multimedia data editing device which are capable of aurally and visually reproducing information recorded on electronic storage media, such as CD ROMs or IC cards, or information received from a communications network and in particular to a presentation device and a similar kind of multimedia data editing device for which the data to be supplied is composed of multimedia data, with the user being able to interactively change the order in which the data is presented. Prior Art Developments in recent years have led to the production of computers which can handle multimedia data, including a great number of information presentation systems for supplying information such as electronic publications and electronic catalogues. As can been seen with the HyperCard system (US Apple Ltd. Trademark), there have been a great variety of developments in multimedia information reproduction techniques using cards, page-based hypertext, and hyper-media with information presentation systems being developed based on such methods. For such information presentation techniques for graphic user interfaces, such as hypertext or hyper-media, it has been possible for users to give a branch commands for referencing information, stored so as to be corresponded to buttons, by merely positioning a pointing device controlled by an input device, such as a mouse, on a desired button. Additionally, with information presentation systems such as US MacroMedia Ltd.'s "Director" or "Action", it has been possible to arrange a number of media in information blocks which have a specified information presentation time, so that when the reproduction of one information block is complete, following information blocks can be successively reproduced in a desired order. For hypertext systems such as HyperCard, since it is not possible to indicate the reproduction time period in the information block, the display of an information block will continue until a button is selected. As a result, the user will be asked to select a button when there is the possibility of branching to a different information block. Conversely, with information reproduction systems such as US MacroMedia Ltd.'s "Director" or "Action", the the reproduction period for each information block is set beforehand, so that once the period has elapsed, there will be an automatic transfer to another information block. However, for the case of electronic publications and electronic catalogs, it is the desire of some users to change the current display to another image by means of a button operation, while other users prefer to have the display change automatically from one image to the next. Also, the same user may sometimes wish to change the current display to another image by means of a button operation and other times, for example when tired, have the screen change automatically without them making any operation. As a result, there is demand for an information presentation device which can operate according to the wishes of a wide variety of users. Such a device can be said to be a presentation device which in addition to allowing the displayed image to be changed by means of a button operation, automatically proceeds to a following image when there is no button operation for a certain time period. However, whilst there are no special problems if the reproduction device is to handle information such as electronic publications and electronic catalogs made up of information blocks which are interrelated so as to form a sequence, there are the following difficulties if the device is of a multi-level construction with a number of branch destinations which can be accessed when the displayed image changes due to a button operation. If there is no button operation for a certain time, the device will branch to another destination and will retrieve and reproduce the information block at that address. However, since this branch address is decided without regard to a button operation, it can be difficult for the user to know what exactly is going on. Furthermore, even when the branch is selected out of the selection branch buttons by means of a button operation, there is no way for the user to confirm the selection branch which s/he selected. Additionally, when a number of information blocks which are joined together in a series are selected by a branch selection button, it is easy to lose track of the position of the information block which is currently being reproduced and of the information block which one wishes to view, so that the user can literally "lose their way" inside the data. The following is an explanation of the techniques used and the problems for multimedia data editing devices under the prior art. Conventional multimedia data editing devices generate scenes composed of a combination of video, graphics, audio, text as information blocks. In order to edit the reproduction order of these information blocks, editing devices generate compressed images for each scene which are then rearranged according to their reproduction order and displayed. The user operates an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse and, by changing the reproduction order of the compressed images, can change the reproduction order information. However for conventional devices, since a number of scene representation screens (previously referred to as compressed image of scenes) are listed according to one scene reproduction order which is used for editing, if the composition of the scene reproduction order becomes complex, such as when a number of scene reproduction orders are necessary, then it can be difficult to understand the relationship between scenes and the link composition, so that there are the problems of poor editing performance and incomprehensibility. There are the additional drawbacks that when editing a scene being reproduced on the display, the user cannot know the which other scenes have a link relationship with the scene being edited, and that there is the inconvenience that it is not possible for the user to know which scene is which when viewing the edited result. Also, for conventional editing devices, there is the following problem when editing separate scenes. When the multimedia data which constitutes the scene includes a number of media, such as audio and video, which change with elapsed time, then there is no established method for defining a synchronization relationship between media whose reproduction time is different. Methods which express the reproduction starting time and reproduction ending time for the separate media using a specialized language were used at the initial stage of development of multimedia, but for such techniques, there is the problem that it is difficult to understand the synchronization relationship between the different media during reproduction. As a result, in recent information reproduction systems such as US MacroMedia Ltd.'s "Director", the time axis is set as the horizontal axis of the screen, while a number of media are arranged in the vertical axis, with the reproduction period of each medium being displayed as a bar which corresponds to the time axis. In such a system, the user can directly manipulate these time bars and so set the reproduction starting time and reproduction ending time for the separate media with reference to the synchronization relationship between a number of media during reproduction. As an example of an editing operation for this kind of system, suppose during the initial 15 minute period the music data 1 and the static image 1 are reproduced. For the next 20 minutes, the music data 2, the text data 1 and the animated picture data 2 are reproduced. As a further editing operation, if the author wishes to add the video data 3 which has a reproduction time of 20 minutes to the initial music data 1 and static image 1, then the following processes become necessary. (1) The reproduction starting time of the music data 1 and the static image 1 are synchronized and the video data 3 is set. However, the reproduction of the final five minutes of the video data 3 will overlap with the reproduction of the following music data 2, text data 1 and video data 2. (2) The reproduction starting time of the music data 2, text data 1 and video data 2 are changed to the reproduction ending time of the video data 3. However, if it is desired to have the reproduction of the music data 1 and the static image 1 extended until the reproduction starting time of the music data 2, text data 1 and video data 2, then there will be a gap of five minutes in the sequence. (3) The reproduction ending time of the music data 1 and the static image 1 are changed so as coincide with the reproduction time of the video data 3 of twenty minutes. However, in doing so it is no longer possible to know the reproduction base time for the reproduction of the music data 1 (in this case, fifteen minutes). In this way, when performing consecutive synchronized reproduction of multimedia data on a number of channels there has been the problem with conventional editing devices that when extending the reproduction time period of data whose reproduction time period is different to the reproduction time period of data on other channels, there have been synchronization slips between the channels for data preceding and following the extending data. Furthermore, correcting the synchronization between the data on channels preceding and following the extending data has led to synchronization slips between the end of the data reproduced so as to be synchronized to the extended data and the start of the reproduction of the preceding and following data. Furthermore, by changing the reproduction time it is no longer possible to know the reproduction base time. A conventional multimedia storage and retrieval system that is capable of editing video images is described in International patent application WO-A-91/10321. Image information is stored as a plurality of clips and the system simply determines the media needed at the time a clip is to be played, viewed or information retrieved concerning the media associated with the clip. Each clip is dynamically connected to the specific media at the time that it needs access to the media associated with it. This system also suffers from the problems of the other prior art systems discussed previously and does not display any visual information about the relative editing position, the status of non-linear branching or of the changing relationships between the different media during editing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a multimedia data presentation device which, by visually displaying which selection branch was selected when a branch is automatically discharged from an information block with a plurality of branch addresses, is very user-friendly. In order to achieve the primary object described above, the present invention is a multimedia presentation device which is characterized by including command discharge condition management information in the information block reproduction means for managing buttons which are automatically discharged, such as at the end of a reproduction period, and by having a construction so that a branching process between information blocks is executed by means of discharge of the buttons. By means of this construction, then even if the user fails to specify a branch address before the expiration of a reproduction period, a branch address can be automatically selected and, by displaying the automatic selection of the button media element which stores the link to the selected branch address in the same way as if it were manually selected, can display the data in a format which is readily understandable by the user. More specifically, according to the present invention, there is provided a multimedia data presentation device that successively reproduces information blocks which are composed of multimedia data that is made up of a combination of at least image information, audio information, and at least two button media elements which are used to receive a user indication, wherein the multimedia data presentation device comprises: information storage means for storing the information blocks and sets of information block reproduction control information, wherein each set of information block reproduction control information corresponds to a different information block, and each set of information block reproduction control information includes next information block information showing a next information block to be reproduced corresponding to each of button media elements in a present information block, button media reproduction time period information showing a reproduction time period for all of the button media elements in the present information block during which a user indication can be received, and an automatic discharge condition for automatically selecting one of the button media elements in the present information block that is determined when the reproduction time period for the selected button media element has elapsed; information retrieval means for retrieving an information block to be reproduced and a corresponding set of information block reproduction control information from the information storage means; indication input means for receiving a user indication; operation time management means for determining whether the indication input means has received a user indication within the reproduction time period for a button media element corresponding to a next information block, in accordance with the button media reproduction time period information in the set of information block reproduction control information corresponding to the present information block; automatic button selection means for automatically selecting a button media element corresponding to an information block to be reproduced next in accordance with the automatic discharge condition in the set of information block reproduction control information corresponding to the present information block; information block reproduction means for determining, when the user indication has been given within the reproduction time period for the button media element, an information block corresponding to a button media element indicated by the user indication as a next information block to be reproduced, and determining, when no user indication has been given within the reproduction period for the button media element, an information block corresponding to the button media element automatically selected by the automatic button selection means as a next information block to be reproduced; and information output means for decoding a retrieved information block and outputting the decoded data visually via a screen and/or aurally via a speaker. Preferably, the multimedia presentation device further comprises selection displaying means for controlling the information output means so as to display the selection of a button media element by automatic selection via the automatic button selection means the selection displaying means being arranged to control, before presentation of the next selected information block the display of the button media element out of the group two media elements which corresponds to the selected next information block in a visually different format to the other displayed button media elements, and in a similar way to user selection of the button media element via the user input means. The information retrieval means may comprise: a read head unit for accessing the information storage means and retrieving a necessary information block and the necessary control information; a communication line for carrying a communication signal to the operation time management means and the automatic button selection means; and a communication control unit for transmitting the retrieved information block and the retrieved control information to the operation time management means and the automatic button selection means according to a fixed communication method. The information storage means preferably stores an automatic discharge condition for each information block which has next information block information relating to a next information block which can be automatically discharged, and the information block reproduction means includes: discharge condition storage unit for retrieving an automatic discharge condition from the information storage means and storing it; and set time rewriting unit for referring, when a new information block reproduced by the information output means has a next block which can be automatically discharged, to an automatic discharge condition stored by the storage unit and rewriting a set time of the operation time management means. The information blocks advantageously have a main route for tracing a course by means of automatic discharging between upper level information blocks and lower level information blocks. The information storage means may store automatic discharge order data, for each information block which has one or more next information blocks which can be automatically discharged, said automatic discharge order data showing which next information block should be retrieved next by means of automatic discharge, and the information block reproduction means includes: a discharge order storage unit for retrieving the automatic discharge order data from the information storage means and storing it; and a next information block indication unit for referencing, when during reproduction an information block is to be automatically discharged, the content of the discharge order storage unit and indicating to the information block reproduction means a next information block to be reproduced. The groups of information blocks preferably each include at least one route made up of a grouping of information blocks which are to be automatically reproduced in a decided order which does not depend on any operation by the user; the information retrieval means retrieves information relating to the route from the information storage means and stores it; the indication input means includes a presentation switching operation means for switching from an information block currently being presented to one of a preceding information block a following information block and a parent information block; and the information block reproduction means contains a determination unit for referencing, once the presentation switching means has been operated, the content of the information block reproduction means and determining, when the content of an operation indication is for a presentation switch to a parent information block if there is a parent information block to which transfer from the information block currently being presented is possible, and when a content of an operation indication is for a presentation switch to one of a preceding information block and following information block if the information block currently being presented is on the route, wherein when the determination result of the determination unit is affirmative, the information output means retrieves an appropriate information block from the information storage means and presents it. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data presentation device in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flowchart for the operation of the information block reproduction means in the first embodiment; Figures 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) are drawings showing example displays of an information block on a screen and the changes in the state of each of the media with regard to reproduction time; Figures 4 (a) and 4(b) are figures showing the movement between information blocks; Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data presentation device in the second embodiment of the present invention; Figures 6(a) and 6(b) are figures showing the movement between information blocks in the second embodiment; Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data presentation device in the third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the operation information block reproduction order control means third embodiment; Figure 9 is a figure showing the movement between information blocks in the third embodiment; Figure 10 is figure showing an alternative representation of the same arrangement of movement between information blocks in the third embodiment; Figure 11(a) is a figure showing the main processes in the operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11(b) is a figure showing an indication input means; and Figure 12 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data presentation device in the fifth embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data reproduction device in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a flowchart for the operation of the information block diagram reproduction means, Figure 3 is a drawing showing an information block, and Figure 4 is a figure showing movement between information blocks. In Figure 1, the information storage means 102 is composed of a storage medium, such as a CD-ROM. The information retrieval means 103 is composed of a read head for retrieving information from the storage medium. The information block reproduction means 101 is a function unit for reproducing the information retrieved by the information retrieval means 103. The information output means 104 is composed of an output unit for outputting the information to be reproduced visually via a screen and aurally via a speaker. The indication input means 105 is made up of a mouse, keypad, keyboard or suchlike, which is used for manually switching the image displayed on the screen. The indication analysis means 106 is a function unit which analyses the input indication from the indication input means 105 and passes it on to the information block reproduction means 101. The command decoding execution means 107 is the command analysis execution means which, when there has been an execution indication for the indication reception media reproduction unit 112 in the information block reproduction means 101 which controls the reproduction of indication reception media such as buttons and multiple selection lists, retrieves the command out of the selected indication reception media and has the command actually executed. The information storage means 102 stores groups of information blocks 113 made up of the information block reproduction control information 114 and groups of media reproduction information 115. Here an information block is a scene made up of a combination of any of video, audio, text, and button media images. Each information block has a set reproduction time. In Figure 3(c), the progression of the information block 1, which has a reproduction time of thirty seconds, with time is shown. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show examples of images displayed on the screen at a given point within information block 1. The groups of information blocks refer to numbers of information blocks which are interconnected at different levels. An example of the composition of such levels is shown in Figure 4. The information block reproduction control information 114 is the information which expresses the inter-level relations for each of the information blocks. The groups of media reproduction information 115 are the sets of data for each information block which show what will be reproduced on each medium at which position of the display for any point during the reproduction time. The information block reproduction means 101 includes a media reproduction period management table 110, a command discharge condition period management information 111, group of media reproduction units 109, a group of indication reception reproduction units 112 and an information block reproduction control unit 108. The media reproduction period management table 110 is a table showing the reproduction starting time and ending time for each medium, as shown in the example in Table 1. media reproduction period management table for information block 1 reproduction start time reproduction end time video 0 seconds 30 seconds button media A 0 seconds 30 seconds button media B 0 seconds 30 seconds button media C 0 seconds 30 seconds text media 0 seconds 20 seconds button media D 20 seconds 30 seconds This table is read from the information storage means 102 and is temporarily stored in the information block reproduction means 101 at the start of reproduction. The command discharge condition period management information 111 contains the conditions (discharge conditions) for transferring to a next information block, regarding the lack of a selection by the user of any of the button media displayed on the screen in the same way as a user operation. This condition is retrieved from the information storage means 102 in the same way as the media reproduction period management table 110. As can be seen in Figures 3(c) and Figures 3(a), 3(b), the discharge condition for information block 1 is activated, if there is no user operation selecting one of the button media within the 30 second reproduction period, with the selection condition display frame 307 showing that there will be an automatic transfer to a predetermined information block, in this case the information block displayed after the selection of button media C 306. The group of media reproduction units 109 execute the reproduction of media, such as video, static images, audio, or text, which are not media (unlike button media or selection lists) which can be operated by means of indication by the user, which are hereafter referred to as indication reception media. Separate reproduction units are necessary for the reproduction of video, the reproduction of sound and the reproduction of text but, since there are known techniques for constructing each of these functions, in this embodiment the means for performing these functions have been grouped together and are referred to as the group of media reproduction units 109. The group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 are the units which reproduce the indication reception media and provide the command decoding execution means 107 with the necessary information. The group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 store a table of information for the indication reception media corresponding to the commands they represent, with this table being retrieved from the information storage means 102. An example is shown in Table 2. Example of commands stored by each button medium Button media Stored command Button media A GOTO Information Block 2 Button media B GOTO Information Block 3 Button media C GOTO Information Block 4 Button media D GOTO Information Block 5 This table only shows the information relating to information block 1, but reality the group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 store information for every information block. The group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 store the information to be provided to the command decoding execution means 107 when there is a selection by the user of one of the indication reception media or when a lack of a selection by the user is regarded in the same way as a user operation. Having received this information, the command decoding execution means 107 refers to Table 2 contained in the group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 and interprets the command shown in the information, before notifying the information block reproduction control unit 108 of the result. The information block reproduction control unit 108 performs the control operation shown in Figure 2, with the following explanation describing each step in the drawing. In Figure 2, in step 201 the information block reproduction control unit 108 receives and confirms the indications from the indication analysis means 106 and command decoding execution means 107. In step 202 it judges whether there was an indication to terminate the reproduction of the information block presently being reproduced and to show a next information block. If there was an indication to show a next information block, then in step 213 the information block reproduction control unit 108 indicates an interruption of the current information block, in step 214 it loads the next information block from the information storage means 102 and in step 215 it gives an indication for the actual reproduction process of the next information block. If the received indication is not an indication to view a next information block, in step 203 the information block reproduction control unit 108 judges whether there is a change in the display state of the buttons or an indication for execution of an instruction for the buttons. When there is a button related indication in step 207 the information block reproduction control unit 108 judges whether there was a change process for the selected button or an execution process. If it judges that there was a change process, in step 208 the information block reproduction control unit 108 indicates to the group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 to change the selected button. Based on this change indication, the selection condition display frame 307 moves to the selected button media on the display screen. If there is an execution indication, then in step 209 the information block reproduction control unit 108 gives an execution indication to the group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 in the same way. As a result, the group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 retrieve the command held by the button and pass it on to the command decoding execution means 107. In all other cases, in step 204 the information block reproduction control unit 108 checks whether, after the reproduction period, the discharge condition specified in the command discharge condition period management information 111 is satisfied, if it is satisfied judging in step 210 whether the selection condition display frame 307 is the position of the button for which the discharge condition is satisfied, moving the selection condition display frame 307 to the said button if it is not already positioned there (step 211). Next, in step 212 the information block reproduction control unit 108 gives an indication to the group of indication reception media reproduction units 112 to discharge the button indicated by the selection condition display frame 307 and changes the indication for the command decoding execution means 107 to the reproduction process for the next information block, before returning to step 201. In any other case, the reproduction of all the media is continued at step 206 and the system returns to step 201. Figure 3(a) shows an example of the display shown by the information output means 104 in reproduction sector 1 inside information block 1, Figure 3(b) shows an example of the display in reproduction sector 2 and Figure 3(c) shows an example of the media reproduction status of reproduction sectors 1 and 2 in information block 1. In Figure 3(a) and Figure 3(b), 301 is an example display screen for the information output means 104, 302 is the video media display area and 303 is the text media display area. 304, 305, 306 and 308 are the reproduction areas for the different button media, with 307 being the selection condition display frame for showing which of the button media is currently being selected. In Figure 3(c), 311-316 show the reproduction periods for each of the media. As can be seen from Figure 3(c), the reproduction period for the video media and the button media A-C is thirty seconds, while since the reproduction period for the text media is only covers reproduction sector 1, its duration is twenty seconds. Similarly since the reproduction period for the button media D only covers reproduction sector 2, it only covers the ten second period between the twenty second and thirty second marks. In Figure 4(a) the information blocks 2, 3, 4 and 5 are set as the branch destinations of the button media A, B, C and D in information block 1, so that this drawing shows the flow between information blocks when there is a user operation and when there is a setting for automatic discharge of button media D. Figure 4(b) shows the flow between information blocks when there is no user operation and there is automatic selection. The following is a description of the operation of the multimedia data reproduction device constructed as described above. First, the information block 1 is retrieved from the information storage means 102. Since the reproduction period of information block 1 is specified, if during reproduction sector 1 there is no selection by the user of the button media 304-306, (as can be seen once 20 seconds have expired in Figure 3(c) or in Table 1), the system advances to reproduction sector 2. During reproduction sector 2, the block media D 308 for branching to an information block of help information is displayed in case the user does not understand how to operate the system. However, since a user who cannot operate the system may not know how to select a branch destination, there can be occasions when the user will not be able to use even a button media D labelled "Help" for branching to information block 5, so that ten seconds will expire, and in due course the automatic discharge condition will be satisfied. In such a case, in this embodiment, instead of merely branching to a predetermined information block, the information block reproduction control unit 108 will judge whether the selection condition display frame 307 is positioned on the automatic discharge button, if it is not, then moving the selection condition display frame 307 to that button and executing the branching stored by that button. Therefore, the user can visually confirm the result of the selection, and can therefore know which button was selected as well as what movement was caused as a result of that selection. By using the device of the present invention described above, when moving between information blocks, instead of merely moving to a branch destination, then if at least the branch destination is stored in the indication reception media, by using an automatic discharge function of the button which specifies a branch to a given branch destination, a button is automatically selected and automatically executed, so that the user can easily check to which branch destination the system has moved. Also, as is shown in Table 3, for the multimedia reproduction system of the present embodiment, commands other than branch commands can be stored in button media D, with automatic discharge of these commands also being possible. In such a case, instead of branching to the help information block, hidden help information can be displayed, thereby giving the same result as before. Alternative example of commands stored by each button medium Button media Stored command Button media A GOTO Information Block 2 Button media B GOTO Information Block 3 Button media C GOTO Information Block 4 Button media D SHOW hidden help information 1 Second Embodiment Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data presentation device in the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a figure showing movement between information blocks. In Figure 5, the groups of information blocks 513 stored by the information storage means 502 have different inter-level relationships to the first embodiment, which can be seen in Figure 6. The construction also differs in that the command discharge order management table 511 is included in place of the command discharge condition period management information 111 of Figure 1. Otherwise the construction is the same as the first embodiment. Accordingly, only the new construction elements will be explained. In the command discharge order management table 511, the information block which should be reproduced following the present information block and the condition for moving to the reproduction of the following reproduction block are shown. Using this information, when starting the reproduction of an information block, the condition by which the discharge condition is verified in 204 of the algorithm in Figure 2 is set during every execution. In Figure 6, both (a) and (b) show the movement patterns between information blocks, with 601, 602 and 603 showing the branches which automatically select the information block to be reproduced the first and (3*N + 1) th time, the second and (3*N + 2) th time, and the third and (3*N) th time, respectively. In these drawings, only information block 5 is restricted to being accessed by user operation only. Example of the command discharge order management table 511 a) Example of table of only discharge order Button media Automatic discharge order Button media A 1 Button media B 2 Button media C 3 Button media D not discharged b) Example of table with discharge time Button media Automatic discharge order Automatic discharge time Button media A 1 30 seconds Button media B 2 30 seconds Button media C 3 30 seconds Button media D not discharged - Table 4 is an example of a command discharge order management table 511 in the present embodiment. In this example table, in the same way is shown by the information block inter-level relationships in Figure 6, the button media A is automatically selected the first and (3*N + 1) th time, button media B is automatically selected the second and (3*N + 2) th time, button media A is automatically selected the third and (3*N) th time, and button media D is never automatically selected. The only difference between (a) and (b) is that (b) also stores the discharge condition. The following is a description of the operation of the multimedia data reproduction device constructed as described above, with reference to Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6, as well as to Table 2 and Table 4. This embodiment will also be explained using the information block 1 shown in Figure 3, supposing that the group of button media store the commands shown in Table 2. In the command discharge order management table 511, the information block which should be reproduced following the present information block and the condition for moving to the reproduction of the following reproduction block are shown, with each time the reproduction of information block 1 is started the information block to be discharged being selected as shown in the command discharge order management table 511, with the condition being set as the judging condition in the discharge condition verifying step 204 in Figure 2. Once this discharge condition has been set, the process is the same as that shown by the algorithm in Figure 2. Accordingly, when the discharge condition is satisfied in step 205, then instead of merely branching to a specified information block, it is determined in step 210 whether the selection condition display frame 307 is positioned on the automatic discharge button media, out of the button media which store a different branch destination every time, moving the selection condition display frame 307 to the automatic discharge button media in step 211 if it is not positioned there and, since the button media storing the branch destination is executed, the user can visually check the effect of the selection of that button media, as well as being able to set an automatic reproduction route with successive selection of the branch destinations. 1. Since automatic branching does not lead to the same branch destination every time, as shown in Figure 6, the information blocks can be automatically reproduced successively. 2. Automatic-selection reproduction and manual user-selection reproduction are simultaneously possible. 3. During automatic-selection reproduction, instead of merely moving to a branch destination, by using the automatic discharge function for the button which specifies a branch to the branch destination, the user can easily verify which branch destination has been automatically selected. In this embodiment, the explanation has focused on an algorithm whereby information block 2 is set as the first cycle and information block 3 is set as the second cycle, although the user may, after selecting information block 3 and coming next to information block 1, set the algorithm so as to reproduce information block 4 after information block 3, even if it is the second cycle. In this case it is not necessary to store how many times the information block has been reproduced, and the user can determine from which group of information blocks the system has returned. Furthermore, for the multimedia data reproduction device of the present embodiment, the button can store commands other than branch commands, in the same way as in the first embodiment, with the automatic discharge of these commands also being possible. Third Embodiment Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data presentation device in the third embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the algorithm by which the information block reproduction order control means decides which information block to reproduce next, as well as how it sets the discharge condition for doing so, Figure 9 is a drawing showing movement between the information blocks, and Figure 10 is a drawing showing an alternative arrangement for movement between information blocks. Table 5 is the information block reproduction order management table. Information block reproduction order management table a) Route and information block separation management method a1) Route level management table Parent RT Parent IB IB list RT1 - - IB1, IB2, IB14, IB15 RT2 RT1 IB2 IB3, IB4, IB5 RT3 RT1 IB2 IB6, IB7 RT4 RT1 IB2 IB8, IB9, IB13 RT5 RT2 IB4 IB20, IB21, IB22, IB23 RT6 RT2 IB4 IB24, IB25 RT7 RT4 IB9 IB10, IB11 RT8 RT5 IB21 IB27, IB28 a2) Link address in information block and automatic reproduction comparison management table Link Address Automatic Reproduction Node IB2 RT2, RT3, RT4 RT2, RT3, RT4 IB4 RT5, RT6 NONE IB9 RT7, IB12, IB26 RT7, IB12 IB21 RT8 RT8 b) Coexistent (cruise node) management method Cruise node management table Parent node Automatic reproduction node list Link Address RT1 IB1,IB2,IB14, IB15 NONE IB2 RT1 RT2,RT3,RT4 NONE RT2 RT1 IB3,IB4,IB5 NONE RT3 RT1 IB6,IB7 NONE RT4 RT1 IB8,IB8,IB13 NONE IB4 RT2 NONE RT5,RT6 RT5 IB4 IB20,IB21,IB22,IB23 NONE RT6 IB4 IB24,IB25 NONE IB9 RT4 RT7,IB12 IB26 RT7 IB9 IB10,IB11 NONE IB21 RT4 RT8 NONE RT8 IB21 IB27,IB28 NONE The construction elements in the multimedia data reproduction device shown in Figure 7 are fundamentally the same as those in Figures 1 and 5, but have been described briefly below. 701 is the information block reproduction means, equipped with the algorithm shown in Figure 2, which executes the automatic selection execution process for the indication reception media, such as buttons, and the reproduction control of the media information in each information block. 702 is the information storage means which stores the information blocks 713 and the information block reproduction order control information 717 for controlling the reproduction order of the groups of information blocks. The information blocks 713 are made up of information block reproduction control information (514) and media reproduction information (515) as was shown in Figure 1. The information block reproduction order control information 717 contains the reproduction order of every information block and routes made up of groupings of a number of information blocks. In Figure 9, the elliptical marks IB1, IB2.....IB28 are information blocks, with the arrows between one information block and another showing the reproduction order. Also the frames 910-917 which surround a number of information blocks IB1, IB2..... are the routes RT1....RT8. In each of the routes, the arrows from one information block to another show that the reproduction will proceed in this order without waiting for an indication from the user, with the arrows 901-909 showing transfers between routes due to an operation by the user or by automatic discharge. Among these, the thick arrows 901-905, 909 show the links which are made by means of automatic discharge, while 906-908 show the links which are not made by means of automatic discharge, but can only be made by means of a user operation. Here a route is one set of a number of information blocks grouped together so as to display a sequence, for example, a movement sequence on the screen. 703 is the information retrieval means. 704 is the information output means, composed of a display or speaker. 705 is the indication input means, made up of a mouse, keypad, keyboard or suchlike. 706 is the indication analysis means which analyses the input indication from the indication input means 705 and passes it on to the information block reproduction means 701. The command decoding execution means 707 is the command analysis execution means which, when there has been an execution indication for the indication reception media, such as buttons or a multiple selection list, in the information block reproduction means 701, has the command stored by the selected indication reception media executed. 716 is the information block reproduction order control means for retrieving the information block reproduction order control information stored in the information storage means 702 and for controlling the reproduction order of the information blocks by controlling the information block reproduction means 701 based on this information. Figure 8 is the flowchart showing the information block reproduction order control. The processes executed in Figure 8 can be classified into two sequences. The first sequence is the determination between steps 802 and 807 of the next information block to be reproduced, while the second sequence between steps 808 and 811 determines the discharge condition which indicates in what circumstances the selected information block will be reproduced. In Step 801, the indications from the indication analysis means 706 and command decoding execution means 707 and the notification of the completion of reproduction from the information block reproduction means 701 are received and confirmed by the information block reproduction order control means 716. In step 802 it determines whether there are any indication reception media to be automatically discharged in the information block currently being reproduced. If there are no indication reception media to be automatically discharged in the current information block, then the information block reproduction order control means 716 determines in step 803 whether there are any information blocks remaining in the same route as the information block currently being reproduced. If there are any such information blocks remaining, then in step 806 the next information block in the route is set as the next information block to be reproduced and the process advances to step 808. If there are no such information blocks, then in step 804 the next information block in the parent of the current route (the route from which the branch to the present route came) is set as the next information block to be reproduced and the process advances to step 808. When the information block reproduction order control means 716 determines in step 802 that there are indication reception media to be automatically discharged in the information block currently being reproduced, then it judges in step 806 whether there are any indication reception media yet to be automatically discharged, advancing to step 803 if there are no such indication reception media. If there are any indication reception media yet to be automatically discharged, then in step 807 the information block linked by the next link to be automatically discharged is set as the next information block to be reproduced and the process advances to step 808. In step 808, the information block reproduction order control means 716 determines whether there are any links to be automatically discharged in the next information block to be reproduced. If there are no such information blocks, the next information block to be reproduced is passed on to the information block reproduction means in step 811 with the branch address condition being set as "NONE", before the process advances to step 812. When it determines in step 808 that there is a link to be automatically discharged, the process advances to step 809 where the information block reproduction order control means 716 determines whether there are any unexecuted links, with when there is such a link, this link being set as the branch destination condition, before the process advances to step 812. When there are no such links in step 809, the process advance to step 811. In step 812, the set branch destination condition and the next information block to be reproduced are passed on to the information block reproduction means 701 and the information block reproduction order control means 716 controls the information block reproduction means 701. In step 807, the next indication reception media to be automatically discharged is selected out of all the indication reception media to be automatically discharged with the selection criterion being set beforehand, for example, as the link address information blocks being selected in order of the route identification number of the route to which they belong, starting with the lowest route identification number. Figure 10 is a drawing showing an alternative representation of the same arrangement as Figure 9 of the information blocks and routes. In this drawing, the elliptical nodes IB1....IB28 represent the information blocks. RT1 through RT8 are the nodes which represent the routes for managing the reproduction order of series of information blocks. 901 through 905 are the automatically discharged links which constitute the main route, while 909 is an automatically discharged link which is not on the main route, and 906 through 908 are links which are not automatically discharged. The other arrows are automatic reproduction links which are developed from the routes. Table 5 shows the information block reproduction order control management table constructed according to the example data composition in Figures 9 and 10. This management table is generated by the information block reproduction order control means 716 based on the information block reproduction order control information it retrieves from the information storage means 702 at the start of reproduction. The (a) part of Table 5 has a route level management table which shows the routes and their inter-level relations and a link management table which manages the link information such as the automatic discharge links. Table (b) is a rewritten form of Table (a) for managing the nodes. In this embodiment, some information blocks, such as IB2 shown in Figure 9, which have a link for transferring to another route have button media, such as information block IB1 in Figure 3, which display on the screen a button for activating the link. On the other hand, other information blocks, such as IB1 shown in Figure 9, which have no link for transferring to another route have no button media for storing branch commands. Furthermore, since in the present embodiment the discharge order for automatic discharge links can be set for information blocks which have a number of automatic discharge links, the reproduction order for such links can be set. By using these two functions, it is possible in the present embodiment to set the main reproduction route which is a default reproduction route. For the example given, the main route is composed of (RT1), IB1, IB2, (RT2), IB3, IB4, IB5, IB6 (RT3), IB6, IB7, IB2, (RT4), IB8, IB9, (RT7), IB10, IB11, IB9, IB12, IB9, IB13, IB2, IB14, IB15. Here, the names of the routes in parenthesis have been used to show the branching and not that these routes are reproduced in the actual process. The following is an explanation of the function for automatically reproducing this main route with reference to the algorithm in Figure 8. When the reproduction of block IB1 is terminated for any reason, since this information block has no links and there is a next information block on the route, step 805 is selected, and information block IB2 is set as the next information block to be reproduced. Following this, since information block IB2 has a number of automatic discharge links and none of these links have been discharged, in step 810 the first automatic discharge link 901 is selected. As a result the reproduction advances to information block IB3. After this, the reproduction advances to information block IB4 and, should the reproduction period expire during reproduction of this block, even though this information block has a number of links, these links are not automatic discharge links, so that the reproduction moves on to information block IB5. On the other hand, if the user should clearly give a selection indication for link 906 during the reproduction period of information block IB4, then the reproduction will obviously advance to information block IB20. Following this, once the reproduction of information block IB21 is completed, the automatic discharge link 909 will be selected and information block IB27 will be reproduced. The reproduction order following this will be IB28, IB21, IB22, IB23, IB4, IB5. Even if an information block not on the main route is selected during this automatic reproduction, automatic reproduction will still continue after the selected information block so that there will be an eventual return to the main route. Once the reproduction period for information block IB5 expires, since this information block has no automatic discharge links, and there is no following information block on the route, step 804 is selected and the reproduction returns to information block IB2. Since information block IB2 has a. number of automatic discharge links, and in this case link 901 has already been discharged, in step 810 the next automatic discharge link 902 is selected. As a result on the completion of the reproduction of information block IB2, the reproduction advances according to automatic link 902 to information block IB6. It should be noted here that the discharge conditions for the automatic discharge links are set for the information block reproduction order control means 716, although such conditions need not be set clearly, in which case the discharge condition in the information block reproduction means 701 can be set so as to discharge the link at the end of the reproduction period, or at the end of the reproduction period of the button which stores the automatic discharge link. For the present embodiment described above, when moving between information blocks, there are the following two functions which were not available for the prior art: 1. the main route for default can be specified, so that the user can have the system successively and automatically reproduce information blocks positioned on the main route; 2. a combination of automatic selection and manual user-selected reproduction can be used, which is to say, automatic reproduction can be terminated and the information blocks to be reproduced selected manually, with in this case the system automatically returning to the main route and recommencing automatic reproduction when there is no manual selection within the reproduction period of an information block. Fourth Embodiment The multimedia data reproduction device in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the functions of the device of the third embodiment, also has a "Return to previous information block" function which allows the user to terminate the reproduction of the present information block and have the previous information block reproduced, an "Advance to following information block" function which allows the user to terminate the reproduction of the present information block and have the following information block reproduced, and a "Move to parent information block" function for moving to an information block in the next upper level, with the user being able to activate these functions by means of manipulating the indication input means 705. Figure 11(a) shows the process which should be added to the operation of the information block reproduction order control means for making the above functions possible. This process is inserted after step 801, with the same processing flow in Figure 8 continuing from an address which is determined according to the processes in steps 813-817, with the respective addresses being shown in Figure 11(a) for the steps 813-817. The following is a simplified description of the operation in each step. In step 813 it is determined whether there is a "Move to parent information-black", with the process advancing to step 804 if "YES". If the result is "NO", then in step 814 it is determined whether there is a "Advance to following information block", with the process advancing to step 803 if "YES". If the result is "NO", then in step 815 it is determined whether there is a "Return to previous information block", with the process advancing to step 802 if "NO". If the result is "YES", then it is judged in step 816 whether there is a preceding information block in the same route, with the process advancing to step 817 only if there is a preceding information block. On the other hand, if there is no preceding block in the same route, the process advances to step 804. By adding the above process, then during the reproduction of the main route, the user can give an "Advance to following information block" indication when s/he has no interest in the information block being reproduced and thereby skip such information blocks. Also, the user can give an "Move to parent information block" indication when s/he has no interest in the information in the route being reproduced, so as to exit from the said group of information. For the example in Figure 9, if information block IB2 is an access block for group of interview articles, then route RT2 can be an interview with Mr A, route RT3 can be an interview with Ms B, and route RT4 can be an interview with Mr D, with each information block in the above routes representing one question and answer. Furthermore, there can also be a branch from information block IB4 to information related to the interviews. For this kind of arrangement, automatic reproduction following the main route will cover all of the questions and answers for the three interviews and will not reproduce the related information. However, if the user has no interest in the interview with Mr A, then by giving a "Move to parent information block" indication when information block IB3 is being reproduced, s/he can exit from this interview, so that the system returns to information block IB2 and then on to the interview with Ms B. Again, if the user has no interest in the particular question and answer during the reproduction of IB3, then by giving a "Advance to following information block" indication, s/he can move on to the next question and answer in information block IB4. Conversely, should the user have missed the reproduction of information block IB3, then by giving a "Return to previous information block" indication, s/he can have the system return to information block IB3 and so hear/read the information one more time. Also, if the user should have a great interest in the question and answer in information block IB4 and desire more detailed information, then by selecting the link button, s/he can obtain more detailed information. It should be noted here that a construction such as that shown in Figure 11(b) may be used as the indication input means 705. In this figure 1101 is indication input means made up of a keypad or suchlike, 1102 is a cursor key, and 1103-1106 are ordinary keys. In this case, an example setup would be 1103 as the "Execute button currently selected indication", 1104 as the "Advance to following information block indication", 1105 as the "Return to previous information block indication" and 1106 as the "Move to parent information block indication". For the present embodiment described above, in addition to the functions: 1. successive automatic reproduction following the main reproduction route; 2. Easy transfer between manual and automatic reproduction; of the third embodiment, there is the following third function: 3. Easy comprehension and manipulation of the relationships between different levels. That is to say, in addition to displaying the relationships between information blocks on different levels, since reproduction of the main route will be assumed naturally, it becomes easy for the user to understand the present reproduction position and to select branch destinations for other information blocks. Fifth Embodiment Figure 12 is a block diagram showing the construction of the multimedia data presentation device in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this drawing the construction elements 101-115 are all identical to those which were shown in Figure 1. The difference is that the information retrieval means 103 contains a communication control unit 1216, a communication route 1217 and an information retrieval unit 1218. The communication control unit 1216 is realized using a device common in the communications field for controlling transmission and reception of signals according to a communications protocol to and from a network to which the communication route 1217 is connected. Furthermore, the information retrieval unit 1218 is different to that used in the first embodiment in that, aside from the retrieval unit which retrieves information from the information storage means 102, it also includes a signal conversion circuit, such as a modem, for converting the retrieved information into a signal which can be transmitted on the network. By means of the embodiment constructed as described above, since the information retrieval means includes a communication control unit 1216, the same information presentation methods as the first embodiment can be used for information blocks which are stored by host computers and video servers on a network. By doing so, the device need not be regarded as an information presentation device which merely uses a large capacity storage medium, such as CD-ROMs or other such optical discs, with the present embodiment allowing for the direct manipulation of information blocks supplied using a network. Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be appreciated that various changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made without departure from the scope of the present invention as determined in the appended claims.

Claims: A multimedia data presentation device that successively reproduces information blocks (113) which are composed of multimedia data that is made up of a combination of at least image information, audio information, and at least two button media elements which are used to receive a user indication, wherein the multimedia data presentation device comprises: information storage means (102) for storing the information blocks (113) and sets of information block reproduction control information (114), wherein each set of information block reproduction control information (114) corresponds to a different information block (113), and each set of information block reproduction control information (114) includes next information block information showing a next information block (113) to be reproduced corresponding to each of button media elements in a present information block (113), button media reproduction time period information showing a reproduction time period (312, 313, 314, 316) for all of the button media elements in the present information block (113) during which a user indication can be received, and an automatic discharge condition for automatically selecting one of the button media elements in the present information block (113) that is determined when the reproduction time period for the selected button media element has elapsed; information retrieval means (103) for retrieving an information block (113) to be reproduced and a corresponding set of information block reproduction control information (114) from the information storage means (102); indication input means (105) for receiving a user indication; operation time management means (108, 110) for determining whether the indication input means (105) has received a user indication within the reproduction time period for a button media element corresponding to a next information block (113), in accordance with the button media reproduction time period information in the set of information block reproduction control information (114) corresponding to the present information block (113); automatic button selection means (108, 111) for automatically selecting a button media element corresponding to an information block (113) to be reproduced next in accordance with the automatic discharge condition in the set of information block reproduction control information (114) corresponding to the present information block (113); information block reproduction means (108) for determining, when the user indication has been given within the reproduction time period for the button media element, an information block (113) corresponding to a button media element indicated by the user indication as a next information block (113) to be reproduced, and determining, when no user indication has been given within the reproduction period for the button media element, an information block (113) corresponding to the button media element automatically selected by the automatic button selection means (108, 111) as a next information block (113) to be reproduced; and information output means (104, 107, 108) for decoding a retrieved information block (113) and outputting the decoded data visually via a screen and/or aurally via a speaker. A multimedia presentation device according to Claim 1, further comprising selection displaying means for controlling the information output means (104, 107, 108) so as to display the selection of a button media element by automatic selection via the automatic button selection means (108, 111), the selection displaying means being arranged to control, before presentation of the next selected information block (113), the display of the button media element out of the group two media elements which corresponds to the selected next information block (113) in a visually different format to the other displayed button media elements, and in a similar way to user selection of the button media element via the user input means (105). The multimedia presentation device of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the information retrieval means (103) comprises: a read head unit for accessing the information storage means (102) and retrieving a necessary information block (113) and the necessary control information (114); a communication line (1217) for carrying a communication signal to the operation time management means (108, 110) and the automatic button selection means (108, 111); and a communication control unit (1216) for transmitting the retrieved information block (113) and the retrieved control information (114) to the operation time management means (108, 110) and the automatic button selection means (108, 111), according to a fixed communication method. The multimedia presentation device of Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the information storage means (102) stores an automatic discharge condition for each information block (113) which has next information block information (114) relating to a next information block (113) which can be automatically discharged, and the information block reproduction means (108) includes: discharge condition storage unit (511) for retrieving an automatic discharge condition from the information storage means (102) and storing it; and set time rewriting unit (108) for referring, when a new information block (113) reproduced by the information output means (104, 107, 108) has a next block (113) which can be automatically discharged, to an automatic discharge condition stored by the storage unit (102) and rewriting a set time of the operation time management means (108, 110). The multimedia presentation device of Claim 4, wherein the information blocks (113) have a main route (402) for tracing a course by means of automatic discharging between upper level information blocks and lower level information blocks. The multimedia presentation device of Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the information storage means (102) stores automatic discharge order data, for each information block (113) which has one or more next information blocks (113) which can be automatically discharged, said automatic discharge order data showing which next information block (113) should be retrieved next by means of automatic discharge, and the information block reproduction means (108) includes: a discharge order storage unit (511) for retrieving the automatic discharge order data from the information storage means (102) and storing it; and a next information block indication unit (507, 512) for referencing, when during reproduction an information block (113) is to be automatically discharged, the content of the discharge order storage unit (511) and indicating to the information block reproduction means (108) a next information block (113) to be reproduced. The multimedia presentation device of Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the groups of information blocks (113) each include at least one route (601, 602, 603) made up of a grouping of information blocks (113) which are to be automatically reproduced in a decided order which does not depend on any operation by the user; the information retrieval means (103) retrieves information relating to the route (601, 602, 603) from the information storage means (102) and stores it; the indication input means (105) includes a presentation switching operation means for switching from an information block (113) currently being presented to one of a preceding information block (113), a following information block (113), and a parent information block (113); and the information block reproduction means (108) contains a determination unit for referencing, once the presentation switching means has been operated, the content of the information block reproduction means (108), and determining, when the content of an operation indication is for a presentation switch to a parent information block (113), if there is a parent information block (113) to which transfer from the information block (113) currently being presented is possible, and when a content of an operation indication is for a presentation switch to one of a preceding information block (113) and following information block (113), if the information block (113) currently being presented is on the route (601, 602, 603), wherein when the determination result of the determination unit is affirmative, the information output means (103, 107, 108) retrieves an appropriate information block (113) from the information storage means (102) and presents it.

Inventors: COOKE PHIL, ENDO KOICHIRO, FLETCHER PAUL, INOUE MITSUHIRO, KOZUKA MASAYUKI, MCGILL GARY, ROGERS MARK, YAMADA YASUTAKA, COOKE, PHIL, ENDO, KOICHIRO, FLETCHER, PAUL, INOUE, MITSUHIRO, KOZUKA, MASAYUKI, MCGILL, GARY, ROGERS, MARK, YAMADA, YASUTAKA
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: G06F17, G11B27