Abstract:
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a playback control program that causes a computer to perform a process, the process including specifying a plurality of partial videos extracted from a sport video, each of the plurality of partial videos being associated with information indicating a playback start positions and information on a content of sports play indicated by each of the plurality of partial videos, determining a plurality of playback times from the playback start position for each of the plurality of partial videos based on the information on the content corresponding to each of the plurality of partial videos and based on relation information that associates each of a plurality of contents of sports play with playback times, and playing back the plurality of partial videos based on the plurality of determined playback times.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-037788, filed on Feb. 29, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The embodiments discussed herein are related to a playback control program, a playback control method, and an information processing device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    To date, a proposal has been made of an apparatus that extracts an event end point of a sport video that is subjected to digest viewing. In this apparatus, cut points on and after the event start point are detected from the sport video whose event start point has been determined, and the type of the cut length between the detected cut points is classified in accordance with the length of the cut length. Also, an appearance pattern of the type of the cut length is stored in an appearance pattern storage unit in association with the event end point. The appearance pattern storage unit is then referred to, and an event end point corresponding to the appearance pattern of the classified type is extracted, and the extracted event end point is output. 
       RELATED ART TECHNICAL DOCUMENT 
       [0004]    [Patent Literature] 
         [0005]    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-335984. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to an aspect of the invention, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a playback control program that causes a computer to perform a process, the process including specifying a plurality of partial videos extracted from a sport video, each of the plurality of partial videos being associated with information indicating a playback start positions and information on a content of sports play indicated by each of the plurality of partial videos, determining a plurality of playback times from the playback start position for each of the plurality of partial videos based on the information on the content corresponding to each of the plurality of partial videos and based on relation information that associates each of a plurality of contents of sports play with playback times, and playing back the plurality of partial videos based on the plurality of determined playback times. 
         [0007]    The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
         [0008]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a playback control device according to the present embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of metadata. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a search and playback screen. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a full screen display. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of an association table. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer that functions as the playback control device according to the present embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of playback control processing in the present embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a diagram for explaining a case of extracting a plurality of desired scenes to generate a digest video. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a diagram for explaining digest playback in the present embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating another example of metadata. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating another example of the association table. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, when a plurality of videos of different sports play are subjected to digest playback, it is desirable to play back each video in a suitable playback time. 
         [0021]    In the following, a detailed description will be given of an example of embodiments according to the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of the case of playing back a digest of a baseball game video. 
         [0022]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a playback control device  10  according to the present embodiment is coupled to a distribution server  20  that distributes a baseball game video via a network, or the like, and performs playback control of the video at the time of playing back the video obtained from the distribution server  20  on a display device  54 . 
         [0023]    The distribution server  20  stores a video file  21  of a video in which a baseball game is captured. In the present embodiment, the video file  21  is created for each game, and each video file  21  is given a file name using a game day of the game and an opposing team name that correspond to the game, or the like so that the video file  21  of each game is uniquely managed in an identifiable state. For example, the video file  21  of a game of team X vs. team Y, which was held on Apr. 10, 2016 is given a file name of “20160410XY”. 
         [0024]    Also, each video file  21  is a video that is captured at a frame rate of 30 fps, 60 fps, or the like, for example, and includes a plurality of frames. Each frame is associated with a frame time indicated by an elapsed time from the start of capturing video, and this frame time is used as identification information of each frame. 
         [0025]    Also, in the video file  21 , a point indicating a breakpoint of the play is given the information indicating that the point is a breakpoint of the play. In the present embodiment, a pitching of each one ball by a pitcher is determined to be a breakpoint of a play, and a “pitching tag” is given to a point indicating a start of the pitching by the pitcher. More specifically, a pitching tag is given to a frame corresponding to a time frame before a predetermined time period (for example, before three seconds) from the start place of a pitching action by a pitcher, for example, among the frames included in the video file  21 . 
         [0026]    Also, the distribution server  20  stores metadata  22 . The metadata  22  according to the present embodiment is the information associated with the information regarding a pitching scene indicated by frames between a frame given a pitching tag and a frame to which the next pitching tag is given for each “pitching tag” that is given to the video file  21 . In this regard, each pitching scene is an example of a partial video according to the present disclosure. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the metadata  22 . In the example in  FIG. 2 , a “file name” for identifying the video file  21 , a frame time given a “pitching tag”, and information regarding a pitching scene that starts from the frame given the pitching tag are stored in association with one another. The information regarding a pitching scene includes information, such as a “game day”, a “pitcher”, a “batter”, a “result”, a “pitching course”, a “type of pitch”, a “batted ball direction”, a “count”, a “runner”, or the like. The “game day” is a date on which the game including the pitching scene was held. The “pitcher” is information, such as a player ID for identifying a pitcher who performed pitching indicated by the pitching scene, and the information of a player name, or the like. The “batter” is a player ID for identifying a batter at the pitching time indicated by the pitching scene, and the information of the player name, or the like. 
         [0028]    The “result” is a result of the batter in the pitching scene, and is, for example, a swing and miss, a caught looking (strike), a caught looking (ball), a foul, a ground out, a fly out, a single hit, a two-base hit, a three-base hit, a home run, or the like. Also, the “pitching course” is a course through which the pitching illustrated in the pitching scene passed. For example, if a strike zone and its peripheral zone are divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block is given a number, it is possible to express the “pitching course” by the block numbers through which the pitching has passed. Also, the “batted ball direction” is a batted ball direction when a batter batted against the pitching illustrated in the pitching scene. For example, if a ground is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block is given a number, it is possible to express the “batted ball direction” by the block number that the batted ball reached. 
         [0029]    Also, the “count” is a combination of numbers of a ball count, a strike count, and an out count, which is expressed in a format of “(ball count, strike count, and out count)” at the time of starting the pitching scene. For example, if the counts are three balls, one strike, and two outs, they are expressed by “(3, 1, 2)”. Also, the “runner” is a combination of numbers of the state of runners at the time of starting the pitching scene in a format of “(the presence of a runner on the first base, the presence of a runner on the second base, and the presence of a runner on the third base)”. For example, if it is assumed that the presence of a runner is expressed by “1”, and absence of a runner is expressed by “0”, the case where there is a runner only on the first base is expressed by “(1, 0, 0)”. 
         [0030]    The playback control device  10  functionally includes an acquisition unit  11  and a playback control unit  12 . Also, an association table  16  is stored in a predetermined storage area in the playback control device  10 . 
         [0031]    The acquisition unit  11  accepts a search condition of a video to be viewed and transmits the accepted search condition to the distribution server  20  so as to request distribution of the video. The acquisition unit  11  then obtains a video file  21  that matches the search condition and the metadata  22  of the video file  21 . 
         [0032]    Specifically, the acquisition unit  11  displays a search and playback screen  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  on the display device  54 . In the example in  FIG. 3 , the search and playback screen  30  includes a search condition specification area  31 , a search button  32 , a search result list display area  33 , a video playback area  34 , a playback control button group  35 , and a full-screen change button  36 . 
         [0033]    The search condition specification area  31  includes text boxes for accepting conditions regarding individual items that are allowed to be specified as search conditions, and pull down menus. It is possible to determine each of the items that are allowed to be specified as search conditions as being a corresponding item of the information regarding the pitching scene included in the metadata  22 . 
         [0034]    When a user selects the search button  32 , the acquisition unit  11  transmits the search conditions specified in the search condition specification area  31  to the distribution server  20  so as to request distribution of a video. Thereby, the distribution server  20  identifies a pitching scene that matches the search condition from the metadata  22  using the received search condition as a key. The distribution server  20  then distributes the video file  21  including the identified pitching scene and the metadata  22  of the pitching scene to the playback control device  10 . 
         [0035]    The acquisition unit  11  acquires the video file  21  and the metadata  22  that are distributed from the distribution server  20 . Also, the acquisition unit  11  displays a list of the search results in the search result list display area  33  in a selectable state of each search result based on the acquired metadata  22 . In the example in  FIG. 3 , each search result is displayed in one frame, and information regarding the pitching scene illustrated by the search result is displayed as the search result. Also, the acquisition unit  11  displays the selected search result in a display mode different from those of the other search results. In the example in  FIG. 3 , the frame line of the selected search result is illustrated by a bold line. 
         [0036]    The playback control unit  12  identifies the selected pitching scene from the video file  21  acquired by the acquisition unit  11  based on the metadata  22  corresponding to the selected search result in the search result list display area  33 , and plays back the selected pitching scene in the video playback area  34 . Specifically, the playback control unit  12  identifies the video file  21  by the “file name” of the metadata  22  corresponding to the selected search result, and plays back the identified video file  21  from the frame indicated by the frame time specified by the “pitching tag” in the metadata  22 . 
         [0037]    Also, when any one of the buttons is selected from the playback control button group  35 , the playback control unit  12  performs playback control on the video being played back in the video playback area  34  in accordance with the selected button. It is possible for the playback control button group  35  to include, for example, a playback/pause button, a fast return button, a fast forward button, a frame advance button, and a frame return button, and the like. If the playback/pause button is selected, the playback control unit  12  pauses the video being played back or performs playback control on the video being paused. Also, if the fast return button is selected, the playback control unit  12  performs fast return control on the video being played back, and if the fast forward button is selected, the playback control unit  12  performs fast forward control on the video being played back. Also, if the frame return button is selected, the playback control unit  12  performs frame return control on the video being played back, and if the frame advance button is selected, the playback control unit  12  performs frame advance control on the video being played back. 
         [0038]    Also, if the full-screen change button  36  is selected, the playback control unit  12  changes the screen displayed on the display device  54  from the search and playback screen  30  to, for example the full screen display  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In the example in  FIG. 4 , the full screen display  40  includes a video playback area  41 , a playback control button group  42 , a previous video button  43 , a next video button  44 , a digest playback button  45 , a playback gauge  46 , and a search and playback screen change button  47 . 
         [0039]    The playback control unit  12  plays back the video of the pitching scene illustrating the search result that is selected in the search result list display area  33  in the search and playback screen  30  in the video playback area  41 . The playback method is the same as the playback method of the video in the video playback area  34  in the search and playback screen  30 . 
         [0040]    Also, if any one of the buttons is selected from the playback control button group  42 , the playback control unit  12  performs playback control in accordance with the selected button on the video being played back in the video playback area  41 . The details of the playback control button group  42  are the same as those of the playback control button group  35  in the search and playback screen  30 . 
         [0041]    Also, when the previous video button  43  is selected, the playback control unit  12  changes the video being played back in the video playback area  41  to the video of the pitching scene illustrating the search result that is one before the search result currently selected in the search result list display area  33 . In this regard, if the currently selected search result is the beginning search result of the search result list, the previous video button  43  may be hidden, or selection thereof may be disabled. Also, when the next video button  44  is selected, the playback control unit  12  changes the video being played back in the video playback area  41  to the video of the pitching scene illustrating the search result that is one after the search result list currently selected in the search result list display area  33 . In this regard, if the currently selected search result is at the end of the search result list, the next video button  44  may be hidden, or selection thereof may be disabled. 
         [0042]    Also, when the digest playback button  45  is selected, the playback control unit  12  performs digest playback control in which the videos of the pitching scenes that are individually illustrated by the search results included in the search result list that are displayed in the search result list display area  33  in the search and playback screen  30  are continuously played back. At this time, the playback control unit  12  adjusts the playback time of the video of each pitching scene to the time period in accordance with the information regarding the pitching scene. In the present embodiment, the “result” information is used for the information regarding the pitching scene. 
         [0043]    Specifically, the playback control unit  12  obtains the “result” information included in the metadata  22  corresponding to the search result, refers to the association table  16 , and obtains the playback time in accordance with the “result”. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the association table  16  illustrates an association relationship between the pitching scene result and the playback time of the pitching scene video, for example. When the association table  16  in  FIG. 5  is used, for example, if it is assumed that the playback control unit  12  obtains “single hit” as a result from the metadata  22  corresponding to a certain search result, the playback control unit  12  obtains “10 seconds” as the playback time of the pitching scene video illustrated by the search result. 
         [0044]    Here, it is possible to set the playback time corresponding to each result in the association table  16  on the assumption of the time taken as a result of each play. For example, the pitching scene becomes longer in the case where the result is a two-base hit than in the case of a single hit, and the pitching scene becomes longer in the case where the result is a three-base hit than in the case of a two-base hit. The playback time may be set in consideration of such a situation. It is possible to obtain a specific playback time statistically from a large number of pitching scenes. 
         [0045]    When the playback control unit  12  has played back the pitching scene video indicated by the beginning search result included in the search result list displayed in the search result list display area  33  for the period of the obtained playback time, the playback control unit  12  changes to play back the pitching scene video indicated by the next search result in the search result list. In the same manner for the next video, when the playback control unit  12  has played back the video for the period of the obtained playback time, the playback control unit  12  changes to play back the pitching scene video indicated by the next search result. By repeating this, digest playback of the pitching scene videos for each of the search results included in the search result list is realized. In this regard, the playback of each pitching scene video is performed by identifying a pitching scene corresponding to each search result among the video file  21  transferred from the acquisition unit  11  based on the metadata  22  in the same manner as the above-described playback method, and each pitching scene video is played back in the video playback area  41 . 
         [0046]    The playback control unit  12  displays the playback gauge  46  that illustrates the playback time of each pitching scene video and the progress of the playback at the time of performing digest playback. In the digest playback, as described above, the playback time of each pitching scene video differs depending on the result of the pitching scene. Thus, this playback gauge  46  enables the user to know the time until the video of the next pitching scene commences. In this regard, in place of the playback gauge  46 , the number of seconds until the next video starts may be displayed by being counted down. 
         [0047]    Also, if the search and playback screen change button  47  is selected, the playback control unit  12  changes the screen displayed on the display device  54  from the full screen display  40  to the search and playback screen  30 . 
         [0048]    It is possible to realize the playback control device  10  by a computer  50  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , for example. The computer  50  includes a CPU  51 , and a memory  52  that serves as a temporary storage area, and a nonvolatile storage unit  53 . Also, the computer  50  includes a read/write (R/W) unit  55  that controls reading data from and writing data to a display device  54 , and a recording medium  59 , and a network interface (I/F)  56  that is coupled to a network, such as the Internet, or the like. The CPU  51 , the memory  52 , the storage unit  53 , the display device  54 , the R/W unit  55 , and the network I/F  56  are mutually coupled via a bus  57 . 
         [0049]    It is possible to realize the storage unit  53  by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (solid state drive), a flash memory, or the like. The storage unit  53  as the storage medium stores a playback control program  60  that causes the computer  50  to function as the playback control device  10 . The playback control program  60  includes an acquisition process  61 , and a playback control process  62 . Also, the storage unit  53  includes an association table information storage area  66  in which the information that constitutes the association table  16  is stored. 
         [0050]    The CPU  51  reads the playback control program  60  from the storage unit  53 , loads the program into the memory  52 , and executes the processes possessed by the playback control program  60  in sequence. The CPU  51  executes the acquisition process  61  so as to operate as the acquisition unit  11  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Also, the CPU  51  executes the playback control process  62  so as to operate as the playback control unit  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Also, the CPU  51  reads information from the association table information storage area  66  so as to load the information into the memory  52  as the association table  16 . Thereby, the computer  50  that executes the playback control program  60  functions as the playback control device  10 . 
         [0051]    In this regard, it is possible to realize the functions that are realized by the playback control program  60 , for example by a semiconductor integrated circuit, more specifically an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or the like. 
         [0052]    Next, a description will be given of operation of the playback control device  10  according to the present disclosure. When an application provided by the playback control device  10  is started, the playback control processing illustrated in  FIG. 7  is performed in the playback control device  10 . 
         [0053]    In step S 11 , the acquisition unit  11  displays, for example, a search and playback screen  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  on the display device  54 . A user sets a search condition of the pitching scene to be viewed in the search condition specification area  31  of the search and playback screen  30 , and selects the search button  32 . 
         [0054]    In step S 12 , when the acquisition unit  11  detects that the user has selected the search button  32 , the acquisition unit  11  transmits the search condition specified in the search condition specification area  31  to the distribution server  20  so as to request distribution of a video. The acquisition unit  11  then acquires the video file  21  and the metadata  22  that are distributed from the distribution server  20 . 
         [0055]    Next, in step S 13 , the acquisition unit  11  displays a list of the search results in the search result list display area  33  in a selectable state of each search result based on the acquired metadata  22 . The acquisition unit  11  then displays the search result selected by the user in a display mode different from that of the other search results. Also, the playback control unit  12  identifies a pitching scene indicated by the selected search result out of the video file  21  acquired by the acquisition unit  11  based on the metadata  22  corresponding to the search results selected in the search result list display area  33 . The playback control unit  12  then starts playing back the video of the identified pitching scene in the video playback area  34 . In this regard, the playback control unit  12  plays back the video of the pitching scene indicated by the predetermined search result (for example, the beginning search result in the search result list) until the user selects any one of the search results. 
         [0056]    Also, while the video that has started playing back in this step is being played back, if any one of the buttons is selected from the playback control button group  35 , the playback control unit  12  performs playback control on the video being played back in accordance with the selected button. Also, if another search result is selected from the search result list during the playback of the video that has been started playing back in this step, the playback control unit  12  changes the video being played back to a video of the pitching scene indicated by a newly selected search result, and starts playing back the video. 
         [0057]    In step S 13  described above, when the video starts to play back in the video playback area  34 , the processing proceeds to the next step S 14 , and the playback control unit  12  determines whether or not the full-screen change button  36  is selected by the user in the search and playback screen  30 . If the full-screen change button  36  has been selected, the processing proceeds to step S 15 , else if the full-screen change button  36  has not been selected, the processing proceeds to step S 16 . 
         [0058]    In step S 15 , the playback control unit  12  changes the screen to be displayed on the display device  54  from the search and playback screen  30  to the full screen display  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , for example. The playback control unit  12  then starts playing back the video file  21  including the pitching scene indicated by the search result selected in the search result list display area  33  of the search and playback screen  30  in the video playback area  41 . 
         [0059]    On the other hand, in step S 16 , the playback control unit  12  determines whether or not a command to instruct to terminate the application has been input so as to determine whether or not to terminate the application. If the application is not to be terminated, the processing returns to step S 14 , whereas if the application is to be terminated, the playback control processing is terminated. 
         [0060]    While the video that has been started in the video playback area  41  in step S 15  described above is being played back, the processing proceeds to the next step S 17 , and the playback control unit  12  determines whether or not the digest playback button  45  has been selected. If the digest playback button  45  has been selected, the processing proceeds to step S 18 , whereas if the digest playback button  45  has not been selected, the processing proceeds to step S 20 . 
         [0061]    In step S 18 , the playback control unit  12  obtains information of the “result” included in the metadata  22  corresponding to each of the search results included in the search result list displayed in the search result list display area  33  of the search and playback screen  30 . The playback control unit  12  then refers to the association table  16 , and obtains the playback time of the video of each pitching scene in accordance with the “result” of the pitching scene indicated by each search result. 
         [0062]    Next, in step S 19 , the playback control unit  12  plays back each video in sequence in accordance with the obtained playback time from the video of the pitching scene illustrated by the beginning search result included in the search result list that is displayed in the search result list display area  33 . Also, the playback control unit  12  displays the playback gauge  46  with the digest playback. 
         [0063]    In this regard, the processing in steps S 18  and S 19  described above may be performed for each video corresponding to the search results included in the search result list, or may be performed once for all the search results included in the search result list. That is to say, in the former case, each time one playback time of the video corresponding to the search result is obtained in step S 18 , the processing proceeds to step S 19 , and playback of the video is started. In the latter case, the playback times of the videos corresponding to all the search results included in the search result list are obtained in step S 18 , and then the processing proceeds to step S 19  to start playing back each of the videos. 
         [0064]    On the other hand, in step S 20 , the playback control unit  12  terminates the digest playback, and continues playing back the video file  21  including the pitching scene currently being played back in the video playback area  41 . In this regard, if the digest playback has not been performed when the processing proceeds to this step, the video file  21  that has started playing back in step S 15  continues to be played back, and thus this step is skipped. 
         [0065]    In this regard, if any one of the buttons from the playback control button group  42  is selected while the video that has started or that continues to be played back in step S 15 , S 19 , and S 20 , the playback control unit  12  performs playback control on the video being played back in accordance with the selected button. Also, it is assumed that the previous video button  43  or the next video button  44  is selected when the video is started or continues to play back in step S 15 , S 19 , and S 20 . In this case, the playback control unit  12  changes the video being played back to the video of the pitching scene indicated by the previous search result or the next search result and starts the playback. When the previous video button  43  or the next video button  44  is selected at the time of digest playback, if the playback time of the video of the pitching scene indicated by the previous search result or the next search result has not been obtained, the playback time is obtained and then the video is changed. If any one of the buttons of the playback control button group  42 , the previous video button  43 , or the next video button  44  is operated during the digest playback, the playback control unit  12  continues to perform digest playback control after the end of the button operation. 
         [0066]    While the video that has started or that continues to be played back in step S 19 , step S 15 , or step S 20  in the video playback area  41  is being played back, the processing proceeds to next step S 21 , and the playback control unit  12  determines whether or not the search and playback screen change button  47  has been selected. If the search and playback screen change button  47  has been selected, the processing returns to step S 13 . In this regard, if the user returns to the search and playback screen  30 , and specifies a new search condition, the processing returns to step S 12 . On the other hand, if the search and playback screen change button  47  has not been selected, the processing proceeds to step S 22 . 
         [0067]    In step S 22 , the playback control unit  12  determines whether or not to terminate the application. If the application is not to be terminated, the processing returns to step S 17 . If the determination result in step S 17  is the same as that of the previous time, steps S 18  and S 19 , or step S 19  is skipped, and the processing proceeds to step S 21 . If the application is to be terminated, the playback control processing is terminated. 
         [0068]    As described above, with the playback control device according to the present embodiment, when digest playback is performed on the videos of a plurality of pitching scenes that match the search condition, the playback time of the video of the pitching scene is determined in accordance with the time depending on the result of the pitching scene. Thereby, it is possible to perform digest playback in a suitable playback time for each video. For example, if the result is strike out, it is possible to change the video to the next video in a relatively shorter time, and if the result is a three-base hit, the video is played back for a relatively longer time, and the video is changed to the next video, or the like. 
         [0069]    Also, if the videos of a plurality of desired scenes are to be viewed in a digest version, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , it is thought that there is a method of creating another digest video by extracting a plurality of desired scenes from the individual video files and connecting the desired scenes. 
         [0070]    However, with the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a video file is provided with a pitching tag (in  FIG. 9 , denoted by an inverted triangle mark) for each pitching scene, and thus a desired pitching scene is searched using this pitching tag as a starting point. In the example in  FIG. 9 , a pitching tag denoted by a shaded inverted triangle mark represents a pitching tag (hereinafter referred to as a “target pitching tag”) that indicates the start position of the searched pitching scene. If digest playback is performed then, playback ought to be started using the frame provided with this target pitching tag as the starting point. When the playback has reached the playback time obtained from the association table, the video ought to be changed to a video having a pitching scene that starts from the frame given the next target pitching tag. That is to say, another video does not have to be created separately. Also, if a search condition is changed, only the target pitching tag is changed, and thus it is possible to carry out various digest playback flexibly and easily. 
         [0071]    In this regard, in the above-described embodiment, a description has been given of the case of setting the playback time of the video of each pitching scene subjected to be digest playback to the time in accordance with the result of the pitching scene. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , information that indicates the running ability of a player to be identified in the “batter” field is also included in the metadata  22 A. In the case where the time taken for the play as a result is influenced by the running ability of the batter, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the playback time corresponding to the results ought to be determined for each running ability of the batter in the association table  16 A. Also, it is thought that even if a plurality of plays brings the same result, the play time differs depending on the runner and the count state in the pitching scene. Accordingly, the playback time may be determined differently for each “result” and a combination of “count” and “runner”. 
         [0072]    Also, in the above-described embodiment, a description has been given of the case where if digest playback is not performed, the video file  21  including the pitching scene indicated by the search result selected from the search result list is continued to be played back in the video playback area  41  of the full screen display  40 . However, the present disclosure is not limited to this playback method. If the playback of a section separated by a pitching tag of the video of the pitching scene indicated by a certain search result is terminated, the video may be changed to that of the pitching scene indicated by the next search result. In this case, when the video file  21  and the metadata  22  that match the search condition is obtained from the distribution server  20 , the playback time of the section separated by the pitching tags ought to be included in the metadata  22  and then obtained. Alternatively, information of all the pitching tags regarding the video file may be obtained in advance, and at the time of reaching the frame given the next pitching tag while the video is being played back, the video may be changed to that of the pitching scene indicated by the next search result. 
         [0073]    Also, in the above-described embodiment, a description has been given of the case of performing digest playback of the pitching scene of a baseball game video as a sport video. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, a time-at-bat tag may be given to a breakpoint for each one time at bat, and digest playback for each time at-bat may be performed. Also, it is also possible for the present disclosure to apply to the video of a sport other than baseball. For example, in a soccer game video, tags may be given to the places of the play that indicate a throw-in, a corner kick, a play restart time after a foul, at the inversion time of offense and defense, or the like as a place that indicates breakpoints of a play. Next, information regarding the play, for example, a shot, a dribble, a pass, a goal, or the like may be given to each section separated by the tags. Also, if such information regarding a play is associated with suitable playback time and stored in an association table, it is possible to perform digest playback in the same manner as the above-described embodiment. 
         [0074]    Also, in the above, a description has been given of the mode in which the playback control program  60  is stored (installed) in the storage unit  53  in advance. However, it is possible to provide the playback control program  60  that is stored in a storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like. 
         [0075]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.