Abstract:
A content data recording and reproducing apparatus including a content data output device, enabling the content to be reproduced to be determined while displaying a content list on an eternal output device, communicates with the output device, and controls the output device to output data. The apparatus has a data line configured to transfer data among connected parts, a recording part on which content data is recorded, a reproduction and output part configured to reproduce and outputting the content data transferred from the recording part, an interface for communicating with the output device, an operation part connected to the data line, a display configured to display operation screen data including attribute information of the content data, and a control part configured to transmit the content data read out from the recording part to the output device via the interface baaed on an instruction input from the operation part and suspend the display of the operation screen when communication with the output device is established.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention contains subject scatter related to Japanese Patent application No. 2005-141249 filed in the Japan Patent Office on May 13, 2005, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus, a data processing method, and a reproduction system communicating with an external output device and able to make the external output device reproduce and output the content data. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In recent years, a mobile recording and reproducing apparatus mounting a large capacity recording apparatus has been developed. Such an apparatus compresses and records audio, movies, still images, and other content data and decodes the compressed data to reproduce the content data. The content data to be reproduced is output from a small sized liquid crystal monitor, headphone terminal, small sized speakers, and other output devices mounted an the mobile recording and reproducing apparatus. 
         [0006]    However, the small sized output devices mounted on the mobile recording and reproducing apparatus as described above had disadvantages such as difficult viewing, poor sound quality, and troublesome headphones. In order to overcome the above disadvantages, output using an external output device such as speakers is considered, but even in that case, it is necessary to view the output of a small sized output device in order to determine which content is to be reproduced, therefore the disadvantage such as difficult viewing of the small sized output device remains. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore desirable to provide a reproducing apparatus, a data processing method, and a reproduction system able to utilize the reproduction output function of an external output device. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus having a data line configured to transfer data among connected parts, a recording part on which content data is recorded, a reproduction and output part configured to reproduce the content data transferred from the recording part via the data line and output the same, an interface for communicating with an external output device, an operation part connected to the data line, a display configured to display operation screen data including attribute information of the content data, and a control part configured to transmit the content data read out from the recording part to the external output defies via the interface based on an instruction input from the operation part and suspend the display of the operation screen onto the display, when communication with the external output device is established via the interface. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the control part may suspend the reproduction and output part may reproduce and output the content data read out from the recording part based on an instruction input from the operation part when judging that communication with the external output device has not been established. 
         [0010]    Alternatively, the control part may suspend the display of the selection screen on the display and may make the external output device transmit the operation screen data through the interface when judging that communication with the external output device has been established. 
         [0011]    More preferably the control part may update data relating to the operation screen based on the instruction from the operation part. 
         [0012]    Alternatively, more preferably, the operation display data may include list data indicating a plurality of content data. 
         [0013]    Still more preferably, the control part may read out selected content data and make the external output device transmit the read selected content data through the interface when recalling an operation command for selecting predetermined content data from the list data from the operation part. 
         [0014]    Alternatively still more preferably, the recording part may record bookmark data indicating whether each of the content data has been bookmarked, and the control part may generate a list of bookmarked data as operation screen data based on the bookmark data read out from the recording part and may make the external output device transmit the operation screen data through the interface, when establishing communication with the external output device. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, the recording part may record image data, and the control part may transmit the image data read out from the recording part to the external output device through the interface linked with the operation screen data and may make the external output device display an operation screen in accordance with the operation screen data having an image according to the image data as a background. 
         [0016]    According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a data processing method executed by a content reproducing apparatus including a display, the method including: establishing communication with an external output device, suspending the display of attribute information of content data onto the display, reading the content data designated by an operation instruction from a recording part when receiving the operation instruction and transmitting the same to the external output device by the communication established at the establishing, and controlling the reproduction output by the external output device of the content data transmitted at the reading. 
         [0017]    According to other embodiment of the invention there is provided a content reproduction system configured by a content reproducing apparatus and an external output device communicating with the content reproducing apparatus, wherein the reproducing apparatus is configured by a data line configured to transfer data among connected parts, a recording part on which content data is recorded, a reproduction and output part configured to reproduce the content data transferred from the recording part via the data line and output the same, an interface for communicating with an outside, an operation part connected to the data line, a display configured to display operation screen data including attribute information of the content data, and a control part configured to transmit the content data read out from the recording part to the external output device via the interface based on an instruction input from the operation part and suspend the display of the operation screen onto the display, when communication with the external output device is established via the interface, and the external output device is configured by an input part receiving as input the data from the reproducing apparatus via the interface, and an output part configured to output the content data transmitted from the reproducing apparatus via the interface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of the preferred embodiments given with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a diagram for explaining attributes assigned to track data stored by the mobile audio player of the first embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of a playlist of the track data stored in a hard disk drive; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart for explaining an example of operation in a case where the mobile audio player is not connected with a television set; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a conceptual view of a case where the mobile audio player of the present embodiment is connected with a television set; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in the case where the mobile audio player is connected with a television set; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of display of a display of a television set according to the present embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player according to the present embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a conceptual diagram in the ease where the mobile audio player of the present embodiment is connected with a television set; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in the case where the mobile audio player is connected with a television set. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Below, an explanation will be given of mobile audio players according to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0030]    First, the correspondence between components of the present embodiment and components of the present invention will be explained. The track data of the present embodiment is an example of the content data of the present invention. Further, a hard disk drive (HDD)  13  of the present embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is an example of the recording means of the present invention, an audio output device  18  is an example of the reproducing and outputting means of the present invention, a data transmission circuit  20  is an example of the interface of the present invention, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel  14  is an example of the display of the present invention, a television set (TV)  4  is an example of the external output device of the present invention, and a remote controller  5  is an example of the operating means of the present invention. Further, a program PRG shown in  FIG. 1  is an example of the program of the present invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mobile audio player  1  has, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) interface  11 , synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM)  12 , HDD  13 , LCD panel  14 , input device  15 , flash memory  16 , central processing part (CPU)  17 , audio output circuit  18 , remote control reception part  19 , data transmission circuit  20 , and headphone terminal  21 . The USB interface  11 , SDRAM  12 , HDD  13 , flash memory  18 , CPU  17 , audio output device  18 , remote control reception part  19 , and data transmission circuit  20  are connected via for example a data line  10 . 
         [0032]    The USB interface  11  is connected to for example a personal computer  3  and inputs/outputs data with the personal computer  3 . The SDRSM  12  temporarily stores data etc. relating to the processing of the CPU  17 . 
         [0033]    The HDD  13  stores compressed track data (music data) etc. This track data etc, are written from the personal computer  3  into the HDD  13  via the USB interface  11 . The HDD  13  has a storage capacity of for example 20 GB and can store the track data of about 10,000 tracks (700 compact disks&#39; worth of data) compressed by adaptive transform acoustic coding (ATRAC)  3  or the like.  FIG. 2  is a diagram for explaining the attributes assigned to the track data stored by the mobile audio player  1  of the present embodiment. Each of the track data stored in the HDD  13  (hereinafter also simply referred to as “track data”) is linked, as shown in  FIG. 2 , with identification data M 13  ID, artist name data AR_N, album name data AL_N, and track name data T_N by management data TABLE_ 1 . The management data TABLE_ 1  is stored in the HDD  13  and read out at the time of for example startup of the mobile audio player  1 . 
         [0034]    The LCD panel  14  is provided an for example a front surface of the mobile audio player  1 . Various screens are displayed by the CPU  17 . As the main screen displayed on the LCD panel  14 , for example, there are a menu screen, a track selection screen, a setup screen, and a reproduction screen. These screens are switched in response to a key operation of the user, a touch panel is mounted on the LCD panel  14 . It detects the position on the screen touched by the user by his finger etc. and outputs a detection position signal S 14  indicating the position to the CPU  17 . 
         [0035]    The input device  15  is including various keys provided in cases of the mobile audio player  1  and operated by the user. The user can input data from the touch panel counted on the LCD panel  14  or the input device  15  and store it in the HDD  13 . 
         [0036]    The flash memory  16  stores for example the program PRG defining the operation of the CPU  17 . 
         [0037]    The audio output circuit  18  outputs an audio signal in accordance with the track data detected by the CPU  17  to the headphone terminal  21 . 
         [0038]    The remote control reception part  19  receives the signal from an external output device, for example, the remote controller  5  of the TV  4 . 
         [0039]    The data transmission circuit.  20  transmits the management data TABLE_ 1  stored in the HDD  13 , the control data, the track data, etc. to the TV  4 . 
         [0040]    The CPU  17  centrally controls the operation of the mobile audio player  1  in the present embodiment based on the program PRG read out from the flash memory  16 . Further, the CPU  17  reads out the selected track data from the HDD  13  and decodes and outputs this to the audio output circuit  18 . 
         [0041]    Next, an explanation will be given of the playlist of the mobile audio player  1  of the present embodiment with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of the playlist of the track data stored in the HDD  13 . 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the playlist records the artist name, the track name, the album name, a start time “Start”, an end time “End”, and bookmark information “Bookmark” for a certain track A. 
         [0043]    As this playlist, one automatically generated by the CPU  17  baaed on the management data TABLE_ 1  or one generated on application software of a PC and transferred to the mobile audio player is stored in the HDD  13 . A sequence of tracks described in the playlist can be set by the user. Various playlists can be prepared from a variety of viewpoints. 
         [0044]    The start time “Start” represents the start time of a track on that playlist, while the end time “End” represents the end time of the track on the playlist. 
         [0045]    The bookmark information “Bookmark” is information expressing whether or not a track is preferred by the user. By adding bookmark information to a track preferred by the uses, the information of the preferred tracks of the user can be judged from the playlist. The user can add the bookmark information from time to time by using the LCD panel  14  or input device  15 . 
         [0046]    In the present embodiment, the mobile audio player  1  has two operation formats according to whether or not it is connected with the TV  4 . In the following description, these two operation formats will be explained. Note that, the mobile audio player  1  is connected with the TV  4  by for example an AV cable. 
         [0047]    A first operation format is a casa where the mobile audio player  1  is not connected with the TV, in which the mobile audio player  1  reproduces the track data, and outputs audio by using the audio output circuit  18 .  FIG. 4  is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in a case where the mobile audio player  1  is not connected with the TV. 
       Step ST 1   
       [0048]    The CPU  17  performs for example a check of an AV output cable terminal and confirms that the mobile audio player  1  is not connected with the TV. 
       Step ST 2   
       [0049]    The CPU  17  decides if the mobile audio player  1  is in a bookmark mode, proceeds to step ST 3  in the case of the bookmark mode, while proceeds to step ST 4  not in the case of the bookmark mode. The bookmark mode is the mode in which only tracks given the above bookmark information ere reproduced. 
       Step ST 3   
       [0050]    The CPU  17  prepares the list data of only the tracks given the bookmark information among tracks stored in the HDD  13 . The list data is data including the above playlist. 
       Step ST 4   
       [0051]    The CPU  17  prepares a list of all tracks stored in the HDD  13 . 
       Step ST 5   
       [0052]    The CPU  17  displays the list prepared at step ST 3  or step ST 4  on the LCD panel  14 . 
       Step ST 6   
       [0053]    The user refers to the list displayed on the LCD panel  14 , determines the track to be reproduced, then inputs a reproduction command from the input device  15  or the touch panel of the LCD panel  14 . 
       Step ST 7   
       [0054]    The CPU  17  selects and reproduces the track data to be reproduced from the HDD  13  in response to the reproduction command of step ST 3 . 
       Step ST 8   
       [0055]    The audio output circuit  18  outputs the track reproduced at step ST 1  through the headphone terminal  21 . 
         [0056]    The second operation format is the case where the mobile audio player  1  is connected with the TV  4 , and the mobile audio player  1  controls the TV  4  to reproduce and output the track data. 
         [0057]      FIG. 5  is a conceptual diagram of the case where the mobile audio player  1  of the present embodiment is connected with the TV. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the mobile audio player  1  transmits the list data, the control data, and the track data to the TV  4 . The list data is data including the above playlist. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in the case where the mobile audio player  1  is connected with the TV. 
       Step ST 11   
       [0059]    The CPU  17  performs for example a check of the AV output cable terminal and confirms that the mobile audio player  1  is connected with the TV  4 . 
       Step ST 12   
       [0060]    When the connection is confirmed at step ST 11 , the CPU  17  turns off the power supply of the display part (LCD panel  14 ) of the mobile audio player  1 . 
       Step ST 13   
       [0061]    The CFG  17  decides if the mobile audio player  1  has entered the bookmark mode, proceeds to step ST 14  in the ease of the bookmark mode, while proceeds to step ST 15  not in the case of the bookmark mode. 
       Step ST 14   
       [0062]    The CPU  17  prepares list data of only the tracks given the bookmark information among tracks stored in the HDD  13 . The data transmission circuit  20  transmits this as the list data to the TV  4 . 
       Step ST 15   
       [0063]    The CFG  17  prepares a list of all tracks stored in the HDD  13 . The data transmission circuit  20  transmits this as the list data to the TV  4 . 
       Step ST 16   
       [0064]    The TV  4  receiving the list data at step ST 14  and step ST 15  displays the list and the image on the display part (display).  FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of display of the display of the TV  4  according to the present embodiment. The user refers to the list displayed on the display of the TV  4 , determines the track to be reproduced, and transmits the instruction of reproduction via the remote controller  5 . 
       Step ST 17   
       [0065]    The remote control reception part  19  receives the control signal from the remote controller  5  transmitted at step ST 16 . The control signal from the remote controller  5  will be explained later. 
       Step ST 18   
       [0066]    The CPU  17  selects the track data to be reproduced based on the control signal from the remote controller  5 . 
       Step ST 19   
       [0067]    The data transmission circuit  20  transmits the track data selected at step ST 18  and the control data to the TV  4 . The TV  4  receiving the track data and the control data reproduces the track and outputs it from the audio output part (speaker). 
         [0068]    Next, an explanation will be given of the control signal issued by the remote controller  5 . The remote controller  5  is a remote controller for operating the TV  4 , therefore many of the buttons are for operating the TV  4 . However, the TV  4  has entered into the external input mode when displaying the list data etc. from the mobile audio player  1 . In this case, unused buttons exist or the remote controller  5 . If signals corresponding to these buttons are previously stored in the SDRAM  12  etc. as a remote controller correspondence table TABLE_ 2 , when the mobile audio player utilizes the TV  4  as an external output device, it becomes possible to operate the mobile audio player  1  by using the remote controller  5  without operating the TV  4 . 
         [0069]    As explained above, the mobile audio player  1  of the present embodiment is connected with the TV  4  and therefore can make the TV  4  display information such as the track list and can make it output the audio from the speaker of the TV according to the remote controller S operated by the user. Namely, the remote operation of both of the TV  4  and the mobile audio player  1  can be carried out by one remote controller  5  of the TV  4 , therefore trouble in operation can be omitted. Further, track selection can be carried out on the display of the TV  4  larger than the LCD panel  14  of the mobile audio player  1 , and the selected track can be output from the speaker of the TV  4 , therefore a favorite track can be easily listened to by a home theater system including a TV. Further, when the mobile audio player  1  and the TV  4  are connected, the LCD panel  14  of the mobile audio player  1  is turned off and the list is displayed on the display of the TV in place of this, therefore the power consumption of the mobile audio player  1  due to the track selection operation of the user can be suppressed. Further, by the bookmark mode, the user can display a list of only the preferred tracks on the TV  4 , so the trouble of retrieving the track data to be reproduced can be eliminated. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0070]    In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given of an example where the remote controller  5  of the TV  4  is not used, but the mobile audio player  1   a  itself is used as the remote controller when connecting the mobile audio player  1   a  according to the present embodiment and the TV  4  and reproducing a track. Note that, in the present embodiment, the mobile audio player la and the TV  4  are connected by for example infrared ray communication etc. 
         [0071]    The correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be explained. The mobile audio player  1   a  of the present embodiment is an example of the operating means of the present invention. 
         [0072]      FIG. 8  is a view of the configuration of a mobile audio player  1   a  according to the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the mobile audio player  1   a  has for example a USB interface  11 , SDRAM  12 , HDD  13 , LCD panel  14 , input device  15 , flash memory  18 , CPU  17   a,  audio output device  18 , data transmission circuit  20 , and headphone terminal  21 . The USB interface  11 , SDRAM  12 , HDD  13 , LCD panel  14 , input device  15 , flash memory  16 , CPU  17   a,  audio output device  18 , data transmission circuit  20 , and headphone terminal  21  of the present second embodiment are the same as the USB interface  11 , SDRAM  12 , HDD  13 , LCD panel  14 , input device  15 , flash memory  16 , audio output device  18 , and headphone terminal  21  of the first embodiment. 
         [0073]    Next, an explanation will be given of the AV output function of the mobile audio player  1   a  according to the present embodiment with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a conceptual diagram of the case where the mobile audio player  1   a  of the present embodiment is connected with the TV. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the mobile audio player  1   a  transmits list data, control data, and track data to the TV  4 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart for explaining an example of the operation in the case where the mobile audio player  1   a  is connected with the TV. Note that the example of operation in the case where the mobile audio player  1   a  is not connected with the TV is the same as the example of operation of the mobile audio player  1  explained with references to  FIG. 4  in the first embodiment. 
         [0075]    Step ST 21  to step ST 26  in  FIG. 10  correspond to step ST 11  to step ST 16  in the first embodiment, therefore an explanation will be given of step  27  and the following steps here. 
       Step ST 27   
       [0076]    The user operates the input device  15  or the touch panel of the LCD panel  14 , selects the track to he reproduced, from the list displayed in the display, and inputs it as the control signal. 
       Step ST 28   
       [0077]    The CPU  17   a  selects the track data to be reproduced based on the control signal input at step ST 27 . 
       Step ST 29   
       [0078]    The data transmission circuit  20  transmits the track data and the control data toward the TV  4  based on the input of the input device  15  operated at step ST 27 . The TV  4  receiving the track data and the control data reproduces the track and outputs it from the audio output part (speaker). 
         [0079]    As explained above, the mobile audio player  1   a  of the present embodiment can make the TV  4  reproduce a track by just operating the mobile audio player  1   a  without using the remote controller  5  of the TV  4 . Further, in addition to the above description, it is possible to also operate the TV  4  from the mobile audio player  1   a  to for example change the mode to the external input mode and adjust the volume and sound quality on the TV side. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0080]    In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given of a slide show function of the mobile audio player  1   b . Note that, it is assumed that the mobile audio player  1   b  of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the audio player  1  of the first embodiment except for a CPU  17   b.    
         [0081]    The image data of the present embodiment is an example of the image data of the present invention. 
         [0082]    In the audio player  1   b  of the present embodiment, when the CPU  17   b  prepares a list of tracks, the data transmission circuit  20  transmits it to the TV  4  as the list data. The image data stored in the HDD  13  can be simultaneously transmitted and can be displayed in the display of the TV  4  simultaneously with the track list. Further, for example, it is also possible to switch and display a plurality of images any time or switch them by the operation of the user (slide show). 
         [0083]    The processing of the mobile audio player  1   b  is for example as follows. First, when the CPU  17   b  prepares a list to be sent to the TV  4 , the HDD  13  is simultaneously retrieved to detect the image data. This detection is carried out by retrieving for example the format of the file in the HDD  13  (for example jpeg). 
         [0084]    Next, when the data transmission circuit  20  transmits the list data, it simultaneously also transmits the detected image data. The TV  4  receiving the list data and the image data displays the list on the display and simultaneously displays the image as background of the list. 
         [0085]    As the image displayed at this time, the image data stored in the HDD  13  may be displayed at random, or an image previously linked with the track to be reproduced may be displayed. 
         [0086]    As explained above, the mobile audio player  1   b  of the present embodiment can make the TV  4  display an image simultaneously with the list and can selectively display an image linked with the track. Due to this, the user can watch an image with a larger screen than that of the mobile audio player  1   b  and can enjoy music with speakers larger than those of the mobile audio player  1   b . Note that the audio player  1   b  according to the present embodiment was made the same configuration as that of the audio player  1  of the first embodiment, but may have the same configuration as that of the audio player  1   a  of the second embodiment. 
         [0087]    It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 
         [0088]    In the above first embodiment, the mobile audio player  1  and the TV  4  are connected by an AV cable or the like, while in the second embodiment, the mobile audio player  1   a  and the TV  4  are connected by infrared ray communication etc., but the present invention is not limited to these formats. Namely, they may be connected by any of an AV cable, infrared ray communication, and a wireless LAN. Further, in the above embodiments, the remote controller  5  is provided in the TV  4 , but may be a general purpose remote controller for home AV systems. Further, in the above embodiments, track data was given as an example of the contest data, but still image data, movie image data, etc. may be set as the content data. Further, in the above embodiments, the mobile audio players  1 ,  1   a , and  1   b  were given as examples of the electronic apparatuses of the present invention, but for example a mobile phone may be used as the electronic apparatus of the present invention. Also, the above functions may be satisfied by linking accessories.