JP2002304349A - Information regenerator, information recorder, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem with a conventional information generator that a regenerative operation is not interlocked with the regenerative operation of recording signals in a recording medium, and images obtained from URL address information cannot be reproduced and the user cannot re-record the latest information address by oneself, and thus the value of use cannot be said to be sufficient. SOLUTION: A CPU 12 acquires a program number, a frame number from a regenerative image frame number controller 21, or a cursor position from a cursor position controller 22. Based on this acquisition information, the CPU 12 acquires URL address information in generative side information from a side information analyzer 14. Based on the inputted URL address, the CPU 12 is connected to an external information site 16 through the Internet. In an image layout processor 18, image data obtained by processing HTML information transmitted from the external information site 16 is inserted into image data from an MPEG decoder 20, laid out, and outputted to a display 19 to display the image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus, an information recording apparatus and a recording medium, and more particularly to an information reproducing apparatus and an information recording apparatus for recording and reproducing content information together with address information such as a URL associated therewith. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been conventionally known an apparatus which associates normal television program viewing and Internet information with each other so as to operate in conjunction with each other (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-174007). In this conventional apparatus, in order to perform a related process between an object transmitted by television broadcasting and an object obtained from an accessible means other than television broadcasting, a receiving unit of a tuner and a VBI decoder receives a television signal. UR containing Internet content multiplexed during vertical blanking interval (VBI)
An object data including an automatic access command for automatically accessing an L (Universal Resource Locater) address is fetched, and the central processing unit (CP)
U), automatically dialing to the Internet service provider set and registered in advance by modem communication means, connect to the Internet, access the Internet server, and fetch Internet information (different object data); Execute the interlocking operation that correlates the object data.

[0003] DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)
An information reproducing apparatus is known in which a user accesses a Web site in a certain scene during the reproduction of the video information to obtain information related to the scene (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-224548).

In this conventional information reproducing apparatus, information reproducing means for reproducing video information, obtaining means for obtaining a keyword associated with each scene of video information from a predetermined storage medium, and video information by the information reproducing means. It is composed of extraction means for reading out a keyword associated with each scene from the storage medium during reproduction, and search means for searching a website using a keyword arbitrarily designated by the user from the extracted keywords. By searching for a website using a keyword, the website created after the media production can be accessed.

[0005]

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 10-174007 and 2000-2245.
In the conventional apparatus described in each of the 48 publications, after a user records program data on a recording medium, a U.S.M.
RL address information can be used to perform playback without interlocking with the playback operation, the user can re-record the latest information address, or the user can use a specific scene, object, or part of the screen to perform playback. The information address cannot be recorded, and the utility value is not sufficient for the user and the content information creation provider.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information reproducing apparatus, an information recording apparatus, and a recording medium that can improve the use value for a user and a content information creation provider.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is provided by linking a specific program unit of image information of a content or dividing the image information by a predetermined time section. The additional information for obtaining an image to be reproduced linked to a unit or linked to a predetermined portion of the image of the image information is obtained from a recording medium recorded in a predetermined format together with the image information of the content. Reading means for reading the image information and the additional information, and designating means for designating an arbitrary unit or part among a specific program unit of the content image information, a unit divided for each predetermined time interval, and a predetermined part of the image The link is reproduced based on the additional information of the unit or the part specified by the specifying unit among the additional information read by the reading unit. Link image obtaining means for obtaining an image to be obtained, and an image to be reproduced by linking obtained by the link image obtaining means, laid out in the image of the image information of the content read by the reading means, together with the image information of the content. And a display means for displaying.

According to the present invention, the image information of the content recorded on the recording medium (reproduction information of the main part) is linked to the image obtained by the additional information obtained from accessible means other than the recording medium information. The image of the additional information can be reproduced not only by displaying it on the display means and providing it to the user but also in conjunction with the reproduction operation of the image information of the content recorded on the recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording apparatus for reading at least information recorded on a recording medium on which image information of a content is recorded, and an image of the content read by the reading means. Display means for decoding and displaying an image of information; input means for inputting additional information for obtaining an image to be reproduced by linking to an image of image information of the content displayed by the display means; The additional information input by the input means is linked to a specific program unit of the information or to a unit divided for each predetermined time section of the image information or to a predetermined portion of the image of the image information. Recording means for recording on a recording medium in a predetermined format.

According to the present invention, the additional information is linked to a specific program unit of the image information of the content recorded on the recording medium, a unit divided for each predetermined time section, or a predetermined portion of the image to convert the additional information into a predetermined format. In order to record the additional information for obtaining the image to be reproduced by linking to the image of the image information of the content, or a specific program of the content reproduced from the recording medium by the user. By specifying a unit or a predetermined portion of an image divided for each predetermined time section, additional information for obtaining an image of the explanatory information can be recorded.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the recording medium of the present invention links the image information of the content to a specific program unit or the image information by linking to a unit divided for each predetermined time section. Or a recording medium in which additional information for obtaining an image to be reproduced by linking to a predetermined part of the image of the image information is recorded together with the image information of the content in a predetermined format, Is an image portion displayed on each divided screen when one screen on which image information is displayed is divided into a plurality of screens, or a meaningful object of an image displayed on one screen,
The additional information is a URL address information of the external information site or a name of an information body in which content information is described.

According to the present invention, the name of an information body in which content information is described in a specific program unit, a unit divided into predetermined time intervals, or a predetermined portion of an image with respect to image information of content, Or, since the URL address information is linked to form a recording medium recorded in a predetermined format structure, the name of the information body such as a file name or the URL address information is accessed when displaying the image information of the content. The resulting image can be displayed.

[0013]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a recording medium 10 has an MPE
It is assumed that the data is compressed and coded according to the G (Moving Picture Experts Group) method and recorded in the form of a digital signal. Further, side information (additional information) in which the attribute and description of the content are structured and recorded on the recording medium 10
Is recorded.

The side information is, as shown in FIG.
DE. It is described in a structure as shown in FIG. 3 by a file name ifo (the details of this structure will be described later). The side information describes information on a program basis, information on a unit (index) obtained by dividing the program into predetermined time sections, and information on a predetermined part (for example, an object) of an image. . In each of them, at least a URL address in which information of content description corresponding to the information is described is recorded. For example,
The recording digital signal of the writable recording medium 10 is
The data is read by the data reader 11. Further, a central processing unit (CPU) 12 controls the information reproducing apparatus as a whole.

Next, the format of information to be recorded on a recording medium will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 and Tables 1 to 4. Information to be recorded includes information data on audio and video programs and side information (additional information) data. The information data is, as shown in FIG.
A folder named "PROGRAM" is created under "OT", and recorded under the file names "PR0" to "PRn" under that folder. PR indicates a program and can describe n programs. PR file is MPEG
The stream itself. The program is a unit recorded by the user at one time (for example, a movie program of two hours).
It is.

[0016] Similarly, side information (additional information) is recorded under a file name "SIDE.ifo".
SIDE. The format of ifo is as shown in FIG.
It has a hierarchical structure. TOTAL_MAN at the top
AGER_IFO is defined, in which GENERA
There are L_IFO and CNTNT_IFO. GENERA
L_IFO describes parameters relating to the entire information group, and details thereof are expressed by a syntax (S
YNTAX) structure.

[0017]

[Table 1] In Table 1, “System ID” is an ID indicating an information body described in this format. "V
"version" describes the version number. "C
"character set" describes a text code describing text information of a program described later. "Num of CNTNT_
"IFO" is the number of PR_IFOs described later. "Sta
rtAdrs of CNTNT_IFO is PR_I
This describes the start address of FO_0.

Next, the CNTNT_IFO shown in FIG.
Is P_IFO_0 to P as information for each program.
Up to R_IFO_n are described. PR_IFO
As shown in FIG. 4, PROG_IFO and IDX_I
FO. Details of PROG_IFO are as shown in Table 2.

[0019]

[Table 2] In Table 2, "End Adrs of PR_IFO"
Is the end address of PR_IFO. "PR nu
“mber” is its own program number.
“Playback Time” is the playback time of the program. “Num of INDEX” is the number of indexes (INDEX) that further divide the program into some scenes.

"Rec Date" is the date when the program was recorded, and "Rec Time" is the time.
"PR text information siz
"e" is the number of bytes of text information when a brief description is given to the following program. "P
"R text information" is text information information. "Link info
“rmation size” is the number of bytes of information describing the URL address of the site describing the content information related to this program of the present invention, “Link inf
"operation" is the URL address information.

Also, “Content nibble”
Is genre information of the program. “V_ATR” is information related to the pixel size, bit rate, and compression parameter of video. “A_ATR” is information such as a bit rate and a number of channels related to audio.

The side information has a format in which one piece of URL address information is described in a program. However, another layer of a format is created so that one piece of URL address information is described in the index. Is also good. Further, another layer may be created so as to describe a URL address corresponding to a screen portion. In that case, for example, as shown in FIG.
It divides into six and assigns one URL address to each divided area so that 16 types of URL addresses can be described for one screen. When the cursor is moved to an arbitrary divided area, the cursor It is possible to specify a URL address assigned to the divided area of the position.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the outline of the object is extracted for a meaningful object in the image, the area of the object is set, and a number is linked to each object, and the object number is assigned to the object number. Alternatively, URL address information may be described. For example, an object number is linked to an object such as "1" for the background 41, "2" for the dome 42, "3" for the car 43, and "4" for the person 44 in FIG. And the URL for the object number
Describe address information.

FIG. 4 shows an example of such a hierarchical structure of a format in which URL address information is described in an index and an object. PR of FIG.
_IFO, as shown in FIG. 4, PROG_IFO and I
DX_IFO, and IDX_IFO has a hierarchical structure including INDEX_IFO and OBJECT_IFO. Table 3 for INDEX_IFO
Has a syntax structure as shown in FIG.

[0025]

[Table 3] In Table 3, “End Adrs of INDEX_IF”
"O" is the end address of this INDEX_IFO. "INDEX number" is a serial number (index number) of INDEX in PR_IFO.
It is. “Playback Time” is the playback time of the index. "Start frame o
“f INDEX” is the start frame number of the index. "End frame of IND
“EX” is the end frame number of the index. "Link information size"
Is the number of bytes of information describing the URL address of the site describing the content information relating to this program of the present invention, and "Link information" is the URL address information.

OBJECT_IFO has a syntax structure shown in Table 4.

[Table 4] In Table 4, “End Adrs of OBJECT_I”
“FO” is the end address of OBJECT_IFO. “OBJECT number” is the number of the object. "Frame number of
"OBJECT" is the frame number where the image of the object exists. "Link information
“ion size” is the number of bytes of information describing the URL address of the site describing the content information related to this program of the present invention, “Linkinformat”.
“ion” is the URL address information.

Since the object information set here is set at the position of the image in one frame, the object information specified in FIG. 5 starting from that frame in time to the last frame of the index where the frame exists is specified. 16 or an object as shown in FIG. 6 is effective as an area targeted for Link information.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, CPU
When a reproduction program number is instructed to 12 (step 101 in FIG. 7), reproduction of the recording medium 10 is started by the data reader 11, and side information is read and supplied to the side information analyzer 14, and specified by the user. The audio / video information data corresponding to the program of the program number thus read is read from the recording medium 10 by the data reader 11, and is read by the MPEG decoder 20.
And decoded.

The audio and video information data decoded by the MPEG decoder 20 is input to an image layout processor 18, converted into a predetermined display format, and supplied to a display 19. The display 19 displays and reproduces the audio and video of the program (FIG. 7).
Step 102). The data output from the MPEG decoder 20 is also supplied to a reproduced image frame number manager 21, where the number of frames of the currently reproduced image from the start of the program is managed.

When the user looks at the reproduced image displayed on the display unit 19 and reproduces the WWW information, the user can reproduce the WWW information specific to the program, the WWW information specific to the index, or the specific information to the object. WW
It is determined whether the W information is to be reproduced and designated to the CPU 12 (steps 103, 104, 105, 106 in FIG. 7).
When WWW information is not reproduced, normal reproduction is performed as it is (step 107 in FIG. 7).

When reproducing the WWW information unique to the program, the CPU 12 obtains the program number of the program being reproduced (Step 108 in FIG. 7), and further obtains the program number of the program being reproduced analyzed by the side information analyzer 14. The WWW information (URL address information) of the PROG_IFO table shown in Table 2 in the side information is obtained (Step 109 in FIG. 7).

Then, the CPU 12 supplies the input URL address information to the network processor 15. The network processor 15 connects to the external information site 16 indicated by the input URL address information via the Internet. Thus, when the content description information described in, for example, the language of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is transferred from the external information site 16 to the network processor 15, the network processor 15 converts the content description information to the HTML processor. Transfer to 17.

The HTML processor 17 performs HTML grammar analysis on the input content description information, converts the obtained data into image data, and supplies the image data to the image layout processor 18. The image layout processor 18 inserts the content description information image data obtained by processing the transmitted HTML information into a predetermined program information display format that is easy for the user to understand, lays out the image data, and sends the image data to the display 19. Is output and displayed (step 110 in FIG. 7).

When reproducing the WWW information unique to the index (step 105 in FIG. 7), the CPU 12
Acquires the frame number from the reproduced image frame number manager 21 (step 111 in FIG. 7), and acquires the index number in the INDEX_IFO table shown in Table 3 from the side information analyzer 14 (step in FIG. 7). 112), INDEX_IF obtained based on these
The WWW address information (URL address information) in the O table is obtained (step 113 in FIG. 7).

Then, based on the input URL address information, the CPU 12 connects to the external information site 16 indicated by the URL address information via the network processor 15 via the Internet, as described above. 16 from HTML
The image data is converted by the processor 17 and supplied to the image layout processor 18. The image layout processor 18 fits image data obtained by processing the HTML information transmitted from the external information site 16 into the image data of the program reproduced by the MPEG decoder 20, lays out the image data, and displays the image on the display 19. The data is output and displayed (step 110 in FIG. 7).

When neither the program nor the index WWW information is reproduced, the mode for acquiring the WWW information specific to the object is entered (step 106 in FIG. 7). (Step 114 in FIG. 7). Here, the cursor position manager 22 in FIG.
A cursor movable by the user is displayed on the image laid out by the image layout processor 18 and displayed on the display 19. The cursor position information is supplied to the cursor position manager 22 via the image layout processor 18.

Then, the CPU 12 obtains the cursor position designated by the user in the current image from the cursor position manager 22 (step 115 in FIG. 7), and obtains the cursor position, frame number and reproduction side information. The object number in the OBJECT_IFO table shown in Table 4 is obtained (Step 116 in FIG. 7), and the WWW address information (URL address information) in the OBJECT_IFO table is obtained (Step 117 in FIG. 7).

Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the image of the information provided from the external information site 16 based on the URL address information is inserted into the image data of the program reproduced by the MPEG decoder 20, laid out and displayed. (Step 110 in FIG. 7).

Next, the information recording apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the information recording apparatus according to the present invention. The information recording apparatus according to this embodiment allows a user to add information to a program or a specific program unit during reproduction by the information reproducing apparatus,
This is a recording device for recording and updating information of each unit obtained by dividing the program into predetermined time intervals and information of each predetermined portion of an image.

In FIG. 8, audio and video information data corresponding to a program designated by the user by the CPU 32 is read from the recording medium 30 by the data reading / writing device 31 and input to the MPEG decoder 33. The recording medium 30 is a writable recording medium. The recording medium 30 records content data and side information in the format described with the playback device.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a reproduction program number is designated from the user interface 38 to the CPU 32, reproduction is started (step 20 in FIG. 9).
1, 202). At the time of this reproduction, the side information reproduced from the recording medium 10 by the data read / write device 31 is supplied to the side information formatter 39,
Audio and video information data corresponding to the program of the program number designated by the user is supplied to the MPEG decoder 33 and decoded.

The audio and video information data decoded by the MPEG decoder 33 is supplied to an image layout processor 34, where it is converted into a predetermined display format, and then input to a display 35 for display. The display 35 sounds an audio sound corresponding to the program specified by the user, and displays a video image.

On the other hand, the data output from the MPEG decoder 33 is also supplied to a reproduced image frame number manager 36, which manages the number of frames of the currently reproduced image from the start of the program. Also, a cursor position manager 3
Reference numeral 7 displays a cursor that can be moved by the user on the image laid out by the image layout processor 34 and displayed on the display 35. The cursor position information is supplied to the cursor position manager 37 via the image layout processor 34.

The user determines whether or not to record WWW information while watching the reproduced image displayed on the display 35 (step 203 in FIG. 9). If the WWW information is not recorded, normal reproduction of the program is directly performed (step 203). In step 204 in FIG. 9, when recording, the URL address information of the site describing the content description information desired by the user is sent from the user interface (U / I) 38 to the CPU 32.
(Step 205 in FIG. 9). The address information is supplied to the side information formatter 39.

Subsequently, whether the WWW information (URL address information) specific to the program is recorded, the WWW information (URL address information) specific to the index is recorded, or the WWW information (URL address information) specific to the object is stored. It is determined whether or not to record, and designated to the CPU 32 (steps 206, 207, 208 in FIG. 9).

When recording WWW information (URL address information) unique to a program, the CPU 32 inputs the program number specified by the user at the time of reproduction. It is specified (Step 209 in FIG. 9).

In the side information formatter 39, the CPU
32, based on the information of the program unit from P.32, the PR shown in Table 2 in the aforementioned side information of the specified program.
Create a side information format in which input WWW information (URL address information) is written in the OG_IFO table, and use the side information as additional information data on the recording medium 3.
0 is recorded through the data read / write unit 31 (step 210 in FIG. 9).

Also, a WWW unique to an index, which is information for each unit obtained by dividing a program into predetermined time sections, is provided.
When recording information (URL address information) (step 207 in FIG. 9), the CPU 32 obtains the frame number input from the reproduced image frame number manager 36 (step 211 in FIG. 9), and returns the in-point to the user. , Have the user input a point instruction signal on the screen corresponding to the out point,
A scene (index) is specified based on the information to obtain an index number (step 212 in FIG. 9).

The side information formatter 39 has a CPU
Based on the above frame number and index number from No. 32, I shown in Table 3 in the side information described above.
A side information format in which input WWW information (URL address information) is written in the NDEX_IFO table is created, and the side information is recorded as additional information data on the recording medium 30 through the data read / write unit 31 (step 213 in FIG. 9).

When WWW information (URL address information) unique to an index, which is information for each predetermined portion of an image, is recorded (step 208 in FIG. 9), the CPU 32
Acquires the frame number input from the reproduced image frame number manager 36 (step 214 in FIG. 9), pauses the screen being reproduced, and has the user position the cursor on the stopped image. Then, the position information is obtained from the cursor position manager 37 (step 215 in FIG. 9), the position on the screen is specified, and the object number is obtained from the specified cursor position (FIG. 9).
Step 216).

The side information formatter 39 has a CPU
Based on the in-point and out-point information specified by the number of image frames from 32 and the screen position information specified by the cursor position, the OBJEC shown in Table 4 in the side information described above.
Create a side information format in which input WWW information (URL address information) is written in the T_IFO table,
The side information is recorded as additional information data on the recording medium 30 through the data read / write unit 31 (FIG. 9).
Step 217).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the reproduction information of the main program recorded on the recording media 10 and 30 and the content information obtained from accessible means other than the recording medium information are linked to the display unit. The URL address information of a home page on which information relating to explanation information and the like on the program is described after the user records the program data (program) on the recording medium, as well as providing the information to the user by displaying it on the recording medium 19, 35. For example, the image of the explanation information can be reproduced in a non-interlocked manner with the reproduction operation (that is, at an arbitrary timing of the user during program reproduction regardless of program reproduction). That is, for example, when the user clicks on any image in an arbitrary scene during reproduction of the image and audio information of the movie program from the recording medium, information on the image is connected via the Internet separately from the movie program. URL address information can be obtained from an external information site and reproduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the user himself / herself re-records the latest information address, a specific scene or object in the program reproduced from the recording medium 30 by the user, or a part of the screen. Is specified, and URL address information (WW
W information).

In the information recording apparatus, the information of the program unit, the information of a specific program unit, the information of each unit obtained by dividing the program into predetermined time intervals, and the in-point specified by the number of image frames. ,
Out-point information, screen position information specified by the cursor position, and other information serving as a basis for additional information, and URLs corresponding thereto.
In some cases, address information and, for example, information data from a broadcast over radio waves or from a communication network are simultaneously input.

In this case, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 10, the information serving as the base of the additional information and the URL address information are supplied to the side information formatter 39, where the side information format is created. The information is recorded on the recording medium 52 through the data read / write unit 51 together with the information data obtained from the received radio wave or from the communication network, while taking into account the predetermined recording time information and the like.

In the above embodiment, an example in which address information such as a URL is linked from side information recorded on a recording medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be transmitted directly from broadcast or communication. In this case, the side information is transmitted from the transmitting side according to the flowchart in FIG. 11, and the information reproducing apparatus performs reproduction according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 13, the same reference numerals are given to the same processing steps as those in FIG. 7, and the description thereof will be omitted.

That is, on the transmitting side, the side information is packetized (step 301 in FIG. 11), a header is added to the packet (step 302 in FIG. 11), and then the packet and the header are transmitted to the network (FIG. 1).
1 step 301).

In the information reproducing apparatus, the side information transmitted to the network is received, the header is first removed (step 401 in FIG. 12), and the data, that is, the side information is restored (FIG. 12). Step 402),
Finally, the restored side information is stored in the memory (FIG. 12).
Step 403). Then, at the time of reproduction by the information reproducing apparatus, the side information read from the memory is deformatted (step 501 in FIG. 13), and thereafter, reproduction is performed in the same manner as the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

Although the link information has been described as a URL address of an external site, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the name of an information body in which content information is described, for example, an internal memory, an HDD, or another recording medium Anything can be used as long as it can be specified, such as the identification name and address of the medium, the file name of the recording target, and the data register address.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The image of the additional information can be reproduced without being linked with the reproduction operation of the image information of the content recorded on the recording medium. The additional information is recorded in a predetermined format on a recording medium in a predetermined format by linking to a unit or a predetermined portion of the image divided for each time section, so that the image to be reproduced in link with the image of the image information of the content is linked. Recording additional information to obtain it,
The user can specify a specific program unit of the content reproduced from the recording medium, a unit divided for each predetermined time interval, or a predetermined portion of the image, and record the additional information from which the image of the description information can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to construct a system that improves the use value and convenience for the user and the content information creation provider.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration on a recording medium.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a program format in side information.

[FIG. 4] INDEX and OBJECT in side information
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format including the following.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of screen division.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an in-screen object.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an information recording table according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a main part of another embodiment of the information recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory flowchart in the case of transmitting side information to a network.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example when restoring side information.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in the case of reproducing using side information input via a network.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30, 52 Recording medium 11 Data reader 12, 32 Central processing unit (CPU) 13, 38 User interface 14 Side information analyzer 15 Network processor 16 External information site 17 HTML processor 18, 34 Image layout processor 19 , 35 Display 20, 33 MPEG decoder 21, 36 Reproduction image frame number manager 22, 37 Cursor position manager 31, 51 Data reader / writer 39 Side information formatter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/44 H04N 5/44 Z 5D044 5/76 5/76 B 5E501 5/91 7/173 640Z 7 / 173 640 5/91 ZF term (reference) 5B082 AA13 HA05 5C025 BA14 BA30 CA02 CA06 CA09 CA10 CB08 CB09 DA05 5C052 AB03 AB04 CC06 CC20 DD04 5C053 FA24 FA30 GA11 GA20 GB06 GB37 HA29 HA40 JA24 KA04 KA08 KA19 KA19 KA19 BB BB10 BC06 BC18 BC20 BC23 BC25 5D044 AB05 AB07 CC04 DE02 DE03 DE17 DE38 HL04 5E501 AA19 AB06 AC15 AC16 AC37 BA03 FA14 FA15 FA47

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Linking to a specific program unit of image information of a content, linking to a unit divided for each predetermined time section of the image information, or linking to a predetermined portion of an image of the image information Reading means for reading image information of the content and the additional information from a recording medium in which additional information for obtaining an image to be reproduced is recorded in a predetermined format together with image information of the content; Specifying means for specifying an arbitrary unit or part among a specific program unit of image information, a unit divided for each predetermined time interval, and a predetermined part of an image; A link image for acquiring an image to be linked and reproduced based on additional information of a unit or a portion designated by the designation means; Acquiring means for laying out an image to be reproduced by linking acquired by the link image acquiring means in an image of the image information of the content read by the reading means and displaying the image together with the image information of the content And an information reproducing apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion of the image is an image portion displayed on each divided screen when one screen displayed by the display means is divided into a plurality of screens, or an image portion displayed on the one screen. 2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is a predetermined object, and the additional information is a URL address information of an external information site or a name of an information body in which content information is described. 3. A reading unit for reading at least recording information of a recording medium on which image information of a content is recorded; a display unit for decoding and displaying an image of the image information of the content read by the reading unit; An input unit for inputting additional information for obtaining an image to be reproduced by linking to an image of the content image information displayed by the display unit; and a link to a specific program unit of the content image information. Alternatively, the additional information input by the input unit is linked in a predetermined format to a recording medium by linking to a unit of the image information divided into predetermined time intervals or to a predetermined portion of the image of the image information. An information recording apparatus, comprising: recording means for recording information in a recording medium. 4. A predetermined portion of the image is an image portion displayed on each divided screen when one screen displayed by the display means is divided into a plurality of screens, or an image portion displayed on the one screen. 4. The information recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information recording device is a predetermined object, and the additional information is a URL address information of an external information site or a name of an information body in which content information is described. 5. Linking to a specific program unit of image information of a content, linking to a unit divided for each predetermined time section of the image information, or linking to a predetermined portion of an image of the image information A recording medium in which additional information for obtaining an image to be reproduced is recorded in a predetermined format together with image information of the content, wherein a predetermined portion of the image is a screen on which the image information is displayed. Is an image portion displayed on each divided screen when the image is divided into a plurality of parts, or a predetermined object in an image displayed on the one screen, and the additional information is URL address information or content information of an external information site. A recording medium characterized by the name of the information body described.