# US 8,463,106 B2 · Contents reproducing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,463,106 B2 - Document ID: US8463106B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/298,637 - Filed: 2007-04-05 - Published: 2009-09-03 - Granted: 2013-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-28 - Assignees: Panasonic Corporation - Applicants: Takayuki Ejima; Yoichi Nishida; Akihiro Miyazaki; Yasunori Sato; Masaru Ohba - Inventors: Takayuki Ejima; Yoichi Nishida; Akihiro Miyazaki; Yasunori Sato; Masaru Ohba - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8463106B2 ## CPC - G11B 20/10527: {Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements (G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence)} - G11B 7/005: Reproducing (G11B7/0065 takes precedence) - G11B 2020/10537: {Audio or video recording} - G11B 2020/10546: {specifically adapted for audio data} - G11B 2020/10685: {input interface, i.e. the way data enter the buffer, e.g. by informing the sender that the buffer is busy} - G11B 2020/10703: {processing rate of the buffer, e.g. by accelerating the data output} - G11B 2020/10731: {wherein the buffer I/O can be temporarily suspended, e.g. by refusing to accept further data to be buffered} - G11B 2020/1074: {involving a specific threshold value} - G11B 2020/10759: {content data} - G11B 2020/10944: {Real-time recording or reproducing, e.g. for ensuring seamless playback of AV data} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract It is an object of the present invention to provide a contents reproducing device which can perform an intermittent operation with improved responsiveness to user request. The contents reproducing device according to the present invention includes: an input operation unit (1100), a system state managing unit (1210), a system information storing unit (1220), a contents reproduction control unit (A) (1230), a state after next candidate extracting unit (1240), a contents reproduction control determining unit (1250), and a contents reproducing unit (1300). The contents reproduction control determining unit (1250) determines whether or not a candidate related to the contents reproduction control is in the state after next candidates extracted by the state after next candidate extracting unit (1240). Therefore, the contents reproducing device according to the present invention can improve responsiveness to the user request by shortening the cycle of the intermittent operation of the contents reproducing unit (1300) when it is determined that there is a possibility that a user request related to the contents reproduction control is inputted, and by lengthening the cycle of the intermittent operation of the contents reproducing unit (1300) when it is determined that there is no possibility that a user request related to the contents reproduction control is inputted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A contents reproducing device comprising: a reproduction data generating unit operable to generate reproduction data to be reproduced as contents; a reproduction data storing unit in which said reproduction data generated by said reproduction data generating unit is stored; and a reproduction data processing unit operable to read said reproduction data from said reproduction data storing unit in real time, and to reproduce said reproduction data read from said reproduction data storing unit, wherein said contents reproducing device further comprises: a reproduction data generation control unit operable to control said reproduction data generating unit to have said reproduction data generating unit perform an intermittent operation having a cycle time and a cycle start time by generating said reproduction data at a rate faster than a rate at which said reproduction data is read from said reproduction data storing unit; an input operation unit to be operated to have said contents reproducing device transit from one state to another state; and a system state determining unit operable to determine whether or not a state of said contents reproducing device resulting from the transition by the operation of said input operation unit has a possibility that a reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit would be changed, said reproduction data generation control unit changes the cycle time or the cycle start time of said intermittent operation, when a state of said contents reproducing device has a possibility that a reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit would be changed, before a reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed, while said reproduction data processing unit is reproducing said reproduction data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A contents reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction data generation control unit reduces the cycle time of said intermittent operation when said system state determining unit determines that there is a possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed, and the reduced cycle time of said intermittent operation to be performed under the condition that said system state determining unit determines that there is a possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed is smaller than the cycle time of said intermittent operation to be performed under the condition that said system state determining unit determines that there is no possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A contents reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction data generation control unit increases the cycle time of said intermittent operation when said system state determining unit determines that there is no possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed, and the increased cycle time of said intermittent operation to be performed under the condition that said system state determining unit determines that there is no possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed is larger than the cycle time of said intermittent operation to be performed under the condition that said system state determining unit determines that there is a possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A contents reproducing device of according to claim 3, wherein said reproduction data generation control unit increases the cycle time of said intermittent operation when said system state determining unit does not determine, in a predetermined period of time, that there is a possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed, after determining that there is no possibility that said reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed when said input operation unit is operated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A contents reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction data generation control unit changes said cycle of said intermittent operation by adjusting the amount of reproduction data to be generated by said reproduction data generating unit over an active stage of said intermittent operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A contents reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction data generation control unit has a timer, and changes said cycle of said intermittent operation by adjusting a period of an active stage of said intermittent operation by using said timer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A contents reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction data generation control unit changes said cycle of said intermittent operation by adjusting a threshold with which the amount of reproduction data in said reproduction data storing unit is limited. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A contents reproducing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a clock/power source control unit operable to control a clock signal and/or a power source to be provided to said reproduction data processing unit when said reproduction data generating unit is in an inactive stage of said intermittent operation. ### Claim 9 A contents reproducing device comprising: a reproduction data generating unit operable to generate reproduction data to be reproduced as contents; a reproduction data storing unit in which said reproduction data generated by said reproduction data generating unit is stored; and a reproduction data processing unit operable to read said reproduction data from said reproduction data storing unit in real time, and to reproduce said reproduction data read from said reproduction data storing unit, wherein said contents reproducing device further comprises: a reproduction data generation control unit operable to control said reproduction data generating unit to have said reproduction data generating unit perform an intermittent operation having a cycle start time by generating said reproduction data at a rate faster than a rate at which said reproduction data is read from said reproduction data storing unit; an input operation unit to be operated to have said contents reproducing device transit from one state to another state; and a system state determining unit operable to determine whether or not a state of said contents reproducing device resulting from the transition by the operation of said input operation unit has a possibility that a reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit would be changed, said reproduction data generation control unit changes the cycle start time of said intermittent operation, when a state of said contents reproducing device has a possibility that a reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit would be changed, before a reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed, while said reproduction data processing unit is reproducing said reproduction data. ### Claim 10 A contents reproducing device comprising: a reproduction data generating unit that generates reproduction data to be reproduced as contents; a reproduction data storing unit in which said reproduction data generated by said reproduction data generating unit is stored; and a reproduction data processing unit that reads said reproduction data from said reproduction data storing unit in real time, and to reproduce said reproduction data read from said reproduction data storing unit, wherein said contents reproducing device further comprises: a reproduction data generation control unit that controls said reproduction data generating unit to perform an intermittent operation having a cycle time and a cycle start time by generating said reproduction data at a rate faster than a rate at which said reproduction data is read from said reproduction data storing unit; an input operation unit that receives a user operation, upon receiving the user operation, said contents reproducing device takes either a stable state in which changing a reproducing state of the reproduction data processing unit is not possible, or a predictive state in which changing a reproducing state of the reproduction data processing unit is possible; and a system state determining unit that determines whether the contents reproducing device is in the stable state or in the predictive state, said reproduction data generation control unit changes the cycle time or the cycle start time of said intermittent operation, when a state of said contents reproducing device is in the predictive state, before a reproducing state of said reproduction data processing unit is changed, while said reproduction data processing unit is reproducing said reproduction data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A contents reproducing device according to claim 10, wherein the cycle time of said intermittent operation in the stable state is longer than that of in the predictive state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A contents reproducing device according to claim 10, wherein the cycle time of said intermittent operation is changed after the stable state is maintained for a predetermined period of time.