Content reproducing apparatus, audio reproducing apparatus and content reproducing method

Abstract

A content reproducing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a sensor; a discrimination circuit configured to discriminate whether a movement of a user is a first movement or a second movement based on a detection output from the sensor; a storage configured to store contents; a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce the contents; and a control circuit configured to supply the reproduction circuit with contents retrieved from the storage in accordance with a discrimination output from the discrimination circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A content reproducing apparatus comprising:
 a sensor; 
 a discrimination circuit configured to identify, based on a detection output from said sensor, an estimated movement type of a user's movement from a plurality of movement types movements having different degrees of intensity; 
 a storage configured to store contents; 
 a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce said contents; 
 an analysis circuit configured to use the estimated user's movement type identified by the discrimination circuit to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor to determine a tempo of the user's movement; and 
 a control circuit configured to supply said reproduction circuit with contents retrieved from said storage in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement. 
 
     
     
       2. The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with said tempo determined by said analysis circuit, said control circuit selects a predetermined play list from a plurality of play lists derived from said contents classified by a predetermined tempo, and retrieves applicable contents from said storage in accordance with the selected play list. 
     
     
       3. The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with the estimated user's movement type identified by said discrimination circuit, said control circuit selects a predetermined play list from a plurality of play lists derived from said contents classified by a predetermined tempo, and retrieves applicable contents from said storage in accordance with the selected play list. 
     
     
       4. The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of movement types movements comprises at least one movement type of walking and at least one movement type of running. 
     
     
       5. The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said discrimination circuit includes at least a period detection circuit configured to discriminate whether said movement of said user is walking or running based on periodicity of peaks in a waveform derived from said detection output from said sensor. 
     
     
       6. The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said discrimination circuit includes at least an amplitude detection circuit configured to discriminate whether said movement of said user is walking or running based on amplitude of peaks in a waveform derived from said detection output from said sensor. 
     
     
       7. The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said discrimination circuit includes at least an autocorrelation circuit configured to discriminate whether said movement of said user is walking or running based on autocorrelation calculations of said detection output from said sensor. 
     
     
       8. The content reproducing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said discrimination circuit includes:
 a plurality of detection circuits each configured to detect whether said movement of said user is walking or running by use of one of algorithms different from one another on the basis of said detection output from said sensor; and 
 a determination circuit configured to determine whether said movement of said user is walking or running by evaluating detection outputs from said plurality of detection circuits and output the result of the determination as said discrimination output. 
 
     
     
       9. A content reproducing method comprising acts of:
 identifying, based on a detection output from a sensor, an estimated movement type of a user's movement from a plurality of movement types movements having different degrees of intensity; 
 using the estimated movement type of the user's movement to analyze a tempo of the user's movement, comprising changing analysis algorithms for analyzing the tempo of said movement of said user based on said estimated user's movement type; and 
 supplying a reproduction circuit with contents retrieved from a storage storing said contents in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement. 
 
     
     
       10. The content reproducing method according to  claim 9 , wherein the act of supplying comprises selecting, in accordance with results from said act of using the estimated movement type of the user's movement to analyze the tempo of the user's movement, a predetermined play list from a plurality of play lists derived from said contents classified by a predetermined tempo, and retrieving applicable contents from said storage in accordance with the selected play list. 
     
     
       11. The content reproducing method according to  claim 9 , wherein the act of supplying comprises selecting, in accordance with said estimated movement type of the user's movement a predetermined play list from a plurality of play lists derived from said contents, and retrieving applicable contents from said storage in accordance with the selected play list. 
     
     
       12. The content reproducing method according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of movement types movements comprises at least one movement type of walking and at least one movement type of running. 
     
     
       13. The content reproducing method according to  claim 9 , wherein said act of identifying includes at least discriminating whether said movement of said user is walking or running based on periodicity of peaks in a waveform derived from said detection output from said sensor. 
     
     
       14. The content reproducing method according to  claim 9 , wherein said act of identifying includes at least discriminating whether said movement of said user is walking or running based on amplitude of peaks in a waveform derived from said detection output from said sensor. 
     
     
       15. The content reproducing method according to  claim 9 , wherein said act of identifying includes at least discriminating whether said movement of said user is walking or running based on autocorrelation calculations of said detection output from said sensor. 
     
     
       16. The content reproducing method according to  claim 9 , wherein said act of identifying includes acts of:
 using a plurality of algorithms to detect whether said movement of said user is walking or running based at least in part on said detection output from said sensor; 
 determining whether said movement of said user is walking or running by evaluating detection outputs from said plurality of algorithms; and 
 outputting a result of the act of determining as said estimated movement type of the user's movement. 
 
     
     
       17. At least one storage medium which stores computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to execute a method comprising acts of:
 identifying, based on a detection output from a sensor, an estimated movement type of a user's movement from a plurality of movement types movements having different degrees of intensity; 
 using the estimated movement type of the user's movement to change analysis algorithms for analyzing a tempo of the user's movement; and 
 supplying a reproduction circuit with contents retrieved from a storage storing said contents in accordance with the estimated movement type of the user's movement. 
 
     
     
       18. The at least one storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of movement types movements comprises at least one movement type of walking and at least one movement type of running. 
     
     
       19. A content reproducing apparatus comprising:
 a sensor;   a discrimination circuit configured to identify, based on a detection output from said sensor, an estimated user's movement from a plurality of movements having different degrees of intensity;   a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce contents;   an analysis circuit configured to use the estimated user's movement identified by the discrimination circuit to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor to determine a tempo of the user's movement; and   a control circuit configured to supply said reproduction circuit with contents in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.    
     
     
       20. An information processing apparatus comprising circuitry including at least one processor and at least one memory configured to:
 identify, based on a detection output from a sensor, an estimated user's movement from a plurality of movements having different degrees of intensity;   use the estimated user's movement to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor to determine a tempo of the user's movement; and   supply content in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.    
     
     
       21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuitry is further configured to reproduce the content.  
     
     
       22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a storage, wherein the circuitry is configured to supply the content at least in part by retrieving the content from the storage in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.  
     
     
       23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising the sensor, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor.  
     
     
       24. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
 the information processing apparatus comprises a first device comprising the circuitry;   the sensor is separate from the first device; and   the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor via wireless communication.    
     
     
       25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a second device comprising the sensor, wherein the second device is a wearable device attached to the user.  
     
     
       26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second device is a headphone.  
     
     
       27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of movements comprises at least one movement of walking and at least one movement of running.  
     
     
       28. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on periodicity of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       29. The information processing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       30. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on amplitude of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       31. The information processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       32. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 select, based on the tempo of the user's movement, a playlist from a plurality of playlists, and   select the content from the playlist.    
     
     
       33. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuitry is configured to use an algorithm based on a manner in which the sensor is attached to the user's body.  
     
     
       34. The information processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the sensor is hung from the user's neck by a neck strap.  
     
     
       35. The information processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the sensor is attached to a piece of clothing worn by the user.  
     
     
       36. The information processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the sensor is held in a bag carried by the user.  
     
     
       37. An information processing apparatus comprising circuitry including at least one processor and at least one memory configured to:
 identify, based on a detection output from a sensor, an estimated user's movement from a plurality of movements having different signals; and   use the estimated user's movement to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor to determine a tempo of the user's movement.    
     
     
       38. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the circuitry is configured to reproduce content in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.  
     
     
       39. The information processing apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a storage, wherein the circuitry is configured to reproduce the content at least in part by retrieving the content from the storage in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.  
     
     
       40. The information processing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 select, based on the tempo of the user's movement, a playlist from a plurality of playlists, and   select the content from the playlist.    
     
     
       41. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising the sensor, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor.  
     
     
       42. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:
 the information processing apparatus comprises a first device comprising the circuitry;   the sensor is separate from the first device; and   the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor via wireless communication.    
     
     
       43. The information processing apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising a second device comprising the sensor, wherein the second device is a wearable device attached to the user.  
     
     
       44. The information processing apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the second device is a headphone.  
     
     
       45. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of movements comprises at least one movement of walking and at least one movement of running.  
     
     
       46. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on periodicity of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       47. The information processing apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       48. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on amplitude of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       49. The information processing apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       50. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the circuitry is configured to use an algorithm based on a manner in which the sensor is attached to the user's body.  
     
     
       51. The information processing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the sensor is hung from the user's neck by a neck strap.  
     
     
       52. The information processing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the sensor is attached to a piece of clothing worn by the user.  
     
     
       53. The information processing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the sensor is held in a bag carried by the user.  
     
     
       54. An information processing apparatus comprising circuitry including at least one processor and at least one memory configured to:
 identify, based on a detection output from a sensor, an estimated user's movement from a plurality of movements having different signals; and   determine a tempo of the user's movement by using the detection output and an algorithm corresponding to the estimated user's movement; and   determine the tempo of the user's movement at least in part by using the estimated user's movement to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor.    
     
     
       55. The information processing apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the circuitry is configured to reproduce content in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.  
     
     
       56. The information processing apparatus according to claim 55, further comprising a storage, wherein the circuitry is configured to reproduce the content at least in part by retrieving the content from the storage in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.  
     
     
       57. The information processing apparatus according to claim 56, further comprising the sensor, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor.  
     
     
       58. The information processing apparatus according to claim 56, wherein:
 the information processing apparatus comprises a first device comprising the circuitry;   the sensor is separate from the first device; and   the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor via wireless communication.    
     
     
       59. The information processing apparatus according to claim 58, further comprising a second device comprising the sensor, wherein the second device is a wearable device attached to the user.  
     
     
       60. The information processing apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the second device is a headphone.  
     
     
       61. The information processing apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 select, based on the tempo of the user's movement, a playlist from a plurality of playlists, and   select the content from the playlist.    
     
     
       62. The information processing apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the plurality of movements comprises at least one movement of walking and at least one movement of running.  
     
     
       63. The information processing apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on periodicity of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       64. The information processing apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       65. The information processing apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on amplitude of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       66. The information processing apparatus according to claim 65, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       67. The information processing apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the circuitry is configured to use an algorithm based on a manner in which the sensor is attached to the user's body.  
     
     
       68. The information processing apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the sensor is hung from the user's neck by a neck strap.  
     
     
       69. The information processing apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the sensor is attached to a piece of clothing worn by the user.  
     
     
       70. The information processing apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the sensor is held in a bag carried by the user.  
     
     
       71. An information processing method comprising acts of:
 identifying, based on a detection output from a sensor, an estimated user's movement from a plurality of movements having different degrees of intensity;   using the estimated user's movement to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor to determine a tempo of the user's movement; and   supplying content in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.    
     
     
       72. An information processing method comprising acts of:
 identifying, based on a detection output from a sensor, an estimated user's movement from a plurality of different movements; and   using the estimated user's movement to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor to determine a tempo of the user's movement.    
     
     
       73. An information processing apparatus comprising circuitry including at least one processor and at least one memory configured to:
 determine an algorithm corresponding to a manner in which a sensor is attached to a user's body;   use the algorithm to determine information relating to the user's movement, wherein the information relating to the user's movement comprises a tempo of the user's movement;   identify, based on a detection output from the sensor, an estimated user's movement from a plurality of movements having different signals;   determine the tempo of the user's movement at least in part by using the estimated user's movement to change analysis algorithms for analyzing the detection output from the sensor; and   provide an output based on the information relating to the user's movement.    
     
     
       74. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the output comprises content reproduced at the information processing apparatus, and wherein the circuitry is configured to reproduce the content in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.  
     
     
       75. The information processing apparatus according to claim 74, further comprising a storage, wherein the circuitry is configured to reproduce the content at least in part by retrieving the content from the storage in accordance with the tempo of the user's movement.  
     
     
       76. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, further comprising the sensor, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor.  
     
     
       77. The information processing apparatus according to claim 76, wherein:
 the information processing apparatus comprises a first device comprising the circuitry;   the sensor is separate from the first device; and   the circuitry is further configured to receive the detection output from the sensor via wireless communication.    
     
     
       78. The information processing apparatus according to claim 77, further comprising a second device comprising the sensor, wherein the second device is a wearable device attached to the user.  
     
     
       79. The information processing apparatus according to claim 78, wherein the second device is a headphone.  
     
     
       80. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the plurality of movements comprises at least one movement of walking and at least one movement of running.  
     
     
       81. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on periodicity of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       82. The information processing apparatus according to claim 81, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       83. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the user's movement is walking or running based on amplitude of peaks in the signal derived from the detection output.  
     
     
       84. The information processing apparatus according to claim 83, wherein the signal is a waveform.  
     
     
       85. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 select, based on the tempo of the user's movement, a playlist from a plurality of playlists; and   select content from the playlist.    
     
     
       86. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the sensor is hung from the user's neck by a neck strap.  
     
     
       87. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the sensor is attached to a piece of clothing worn by the user.  
     
     
       88. The information processing apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the sensor is held in a bag carried by the user.