JP2003346459A - Data management method for information recording medium, and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data management structure capable of recording contents data such as a video or a voice on a randomly accessed information recording medium, discriminating a scene contained in the recorded contents data at a glance when reproduction is carried out, and facilitating reproduction, editing and the like by a single scene. <P>SOLUTION: Contents data a, b, c, d are recorded on a randomly accessed disk recording medium 1 by setting one scene from the start of recording to its end, and setting one scene as one file. Regarding bits of management information A, B, C, ... necessary for reproducing the contents data of one scene, only bits of management information of the places necessary for reproduction are recorded together as one recording order management file 2 in the sequence of scenes recorded on a disk recording medium, or as one program reproduction management information file 3 in the desired sequence of reproduction. Thus, even when any device is used, the scene is discriminated at a glance, and a user easily carries out reproduction, editing or the like by a single scene. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data management method and an information recording medium for an information recording medium,
Recording multimedia content data such as video, still images, music, and text as digital information, and recording on a randomly accessible information recording medium from which multimedia content data can be extracted by reproducing the digital information. Improvement of data structure and data storage method at the time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of digital technology, systems for recording and reproducing content data such as video, still images, and audio with a video camera, digital camera, video recorder, or the like have been developed. It is becoming possible to reproduce or record such content data by another recording / reproducing device.
In order to record such content data, it is becoming common to use an information recording medium that can be accessed randomly.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-328929 discloses a device that performs recording and reproduction using a DVD-RAM as an optical disk as a randomly accessible information recording medium. Recording and reproduction to and from this DVD-RAM is performed using a UDF (Universa
1 Disk Format), and collectively records management information including video data and reproduction order information of the video data in one file. In addition, information recording media such as DVD-RAMs are not only used for playback only on the device on which the information was recorded, but are also used for playback using another device such as a personal computer, or for newly recording and editing video data. Is possible.

Therefore, in the invention described in the above-mentioned publication, the risk of erroneous erasure of a file by a user is avoided by combining video data and management information including reproduction order information of the video data into one file. . As a method of reproducing the recorded video data in the recording order or reproducing in the order of the user's preference, the reproduction is performed in a desired reproduction order using a PGC (program chain) on a DVD video disc. When recording the video data, the minimum unit of the video data is managed in units called cells, and the reproduction order can be changed and the section of the video data to be reproduced can be specified in the cell unit using the PGC.

[0005] The above-mentioned PGC can designate a continuous playback section. When all video data recorded on an information recording medium is reproduced, all cells corresponding to the order of recording on the PGC are registered. It becomes possible. Also, PG
C can have not only one but also a plurality of PGCs. In the case of reproducing in a reproduction order desired by the user, a new PGC is defined and the video data to be reproduced is arranged in the order in which the video data to be reproduced is to be reproduced. , By specifying a cell. In this way, it is possible to define a plurality of different PGCs and indicate different display orders for the same cell.

[0006]

At present, a device capable of recording and reproducing content data corresponding to multimedia such as video, still image, music, and text on an information recording medium that can be randomly accessed as digital information. There are various devices such as consumer devices such as video cameras and video recording / playback devices, and personal computers, portable terminals, and mobile phones.

There is no problem in the case where recording and reproduction are performed by only such a device alone, but one device is used between devices having different main uses, such as a video camera and a personal computer. In the case where content data is recorded on an information recording medium that can be randomly accessed, and the other device reproduces the information from the recorded information recording medium, it is assumed that the recording and reproducing method is consistent in each device. Since the content data recorded on the information recording medium is divided into different materials and scenes, what file structure is recorded and classified using a directory structure, There is a problem in that the usability of the user is deteriorated if it cannot be recognized at a glance whether or not the scene includes a sufficient number of scenes.

According to the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-328929, for example, management information including video data and reproduction order information of the video data is combined into one file to prevent the user from erroneously deleting the file. Avoid danger. However, when performing recording and reproduction using the same random accessible information recording medium between various devices, it is optimal to collectively record all video contents in one file depending on the use of the device. Not necessarily.

This is not a problem when video contents are recorded in one file only in a video camera or a video recording / reproducing apparatus, for example, but an information recording medium on which information is recorded is used for various purposes such as a personal computer. In the case of playback on a device, even if the content recorded in the information recording medium is divided into a plurality of scenes, the content is not collected because it is collected in one file. There is a problem.

When recording or reproducing all content data in one file, the amount of management information required to reproduce the content data needs to be equal to the total recording or reproduction time of the content data. Becomes To perform recording / reproduction, this management information is generally stored in a memory in the recording / reproduction device. However, to perform recording or reproduction, as much memory as necessary is secured or a certain amount of memory is used. It is necessary to provide some means for recording or reproducing in quantity. In particular, in the case where the memory required for recording or reproduction is secured, a large amount of memory is required for performing recording or reproduction for a long time, which causes a problem of increasing the cost of the recording / reproducing device. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and has been described in connection with one scene or one scene from recording start to end.
Improve the usability of the user by providing a data management structure that allows content data in units such as programs to be distinguished at a glance and facilitate operations such as playback, editing, and copying only in that unit. , Content data and its management information are recorded in a distributed manner.
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the use efficiency of the memory by having only the management information of the necessary reproduction part in the memory.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, content data to be recorded or reproduced on a randomly accessible information recording medium and its management information are collectively recorded in one file. Alternatively, instead of performing reproduction, the content data is recorded as one file from the start to the end of recording, and one file is recorded for each scene. Further, the management information necessary for reproducing the content data of one scene includes only the management information of a portion required for reproduction in the order of scenes recorded in the information recording medium or in the order of reproduction. The management information is recorded together as a reproduction order management information file, or the management information is simultaneously recorded in the content data file of each scene.

The technical means for achieving the above object is to record unit data in units of one scene or one program from the start to the end of recording in association with management information relating to the unit data and to record them on an information recording medium, And a data management method in an information recording medium for reproducing the recorded unit data, wherein management information corresponding to the unit data is stored in accordance with the order in which the unit data is recorded on the information recording medium. Another file for recording management information according to each unit data according to the connection order of the unit data to be changed when the connection order of the unit data is changed when the connection order of the unit data is changed and recorded in one file. Is created.

According to the above technical means, scenes can be distinguished at a glance even when any device is used, and a user can easily perform reproduction, editing, copy operation, etc. of a single scene, so that usability is improved. Is improved and 1
It is easy to play back only the part desired by the user or change the playback order by recording the management information of only the part necessary for the playback selected by the user in the scene collectively in one file in the order in which it is to be played. Can be done.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Description of Management Information> FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration in a case where a plurality of image data are managed as content data in one file. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration when content data divided into a plurality of files is managed by one management information file. For example, when recording various content data such as video and still images, audio and text on an information recording medium, and performing transfer and distribution over a network, the data itself and the type of the data or In order to access the data, management information for managing the data is required to indicate where and in what form all the data exist. As shown in FIG. 1, consider a case where a plurality of image data are managed in one file. In this example, since the management information required to reproduce each file is recorded in each file, the data can be reproduced by each file alone.

FIG. 1 shows, as content data,
This shows a case where image data is stored. When image data is compressed using a variable-length coding algorithm for this image data, the data size of each image data is different. Therefore, in order to access each image data, management information indicating the data size of each data is required. In this example, since the number of image data and the image data size are variable length, the start position of the image data is known from the management information including the number and size of data stored at an arbitrary position in the file. Therefore, it is possible to know the head positions of all the subsequent image data.

In FIG. 2, the image data stored in one file shown in FIG. 1 is individually recorded in a plurality of files on a randomly accessible information recording medium. An example of a data management method is shown in which all pieces of management information for performing reproduction are collectively recorded in one file.

<Description of QuickTime Format Access Method> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the QuickTime format. Here, an example of a data structure access method to which a QuickTime format, which is one of the file formats of AV data, is applied will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, one block of data is represented by a unit of atom. This atom
Stores the size of the atom in bytes in the first 4 bytes, stores the type of the atom in the subsequent 4 bytes, and uses the total 8 bytes as a header.
It has a structure that is added to the head of the data block. Therefore, the size and type of the first atom can be known from the top 8 bytes of the QuickTime file, and the seek is performed by the size of the first atom from the beginning of the file (this seek means that the start address of the atom is atom).
(moving to the address to which the size of m is added), thereby making it possible to access the subsequent atom.

Atom can be recorded not only continuously in a file but also several atoms can be included in an atom, as in the case of a trak atom in a moov atom shown in FIG. Can be Here, moov atom is mdata in which some AV data is recorded.
The atom in which the management information of the data in the tom is registered. Also, trakatom is moov atom
Is an atom that exists in the server and holds management information necessary for reproducing audio and images.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the flow of processing for searching for an arbitrary atom in a file. To search for any atom in the file,
This is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the file is moved to the beginning of the file (step S1), and at
om header is read (step S3). Acquired a
From the header information of "tom", the type of "atom"
om is checked (step S4). First at
Check that the type of om is the desired atom,
If the type of the atom is not the target atom (NO), the data is skipped from the beginning of the file by the data size of the first atom (step S5), and it is checked whether the end position of the file has been reached (step S2). ). If it is not the end position of the file (in the case of NO), the header information of the succeeding atom is acquired in step S3. Then, in step S4 again, it is confirmed from the header information of the acquired atom whether the type of the atom is the target atom. This is referred to as step S2
By repeating the process up to the end position of the file in the process (1), the target atom can be searched. With the above access method, it is possible to search for an arbitrary atom in the QuickTime file.

The content data management method shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is described in the QuickTi
When applied to the “me” format, the management information area shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to “moov atom”, and the content data area corresponds to “mdat atom”. A trak atom is provided for each type of content data such as video and image data, music and text, and this trak atom is provided.
Sample information such as the size of the content data for accessing the content data in the mdat atom and the offset from the beginning of the file are stored in the? Sample1 to Sample in FIG.
leN is Sam in VIDEO's trak atom.
ple, which makes it possible to access image data within mdat atom.

Further, the data structure shown in FIG.
When applied to the ckTime format, the management information file is a QuickTime file composed of moov atoms, and the content data files 1 to N correspond to QuickTime files composed of mdat atom. Sample information such as a file name and a size for accessing image data as content data and an offset from the beginning of the file are stored in a VIDEO track in a moov atom in the management information file, and the content data file is externally referenced. To access.

<Description of Access Method for Other Data Structures Not in QuickTime Format> This is to add the data size, data type, and the like of a single data block (hereinafter referred to as a data block) to the beginning of the data. The same access method is used for a data structure that is a form. When a plurality of data blocks are continuously recorded, the subsequent data blocks can be accessed by skipping the data size from the beginning of the file storing the data. By repeating this in the file, data in the file can be searched.

<Description of Data Management Method for Reproducing Data According to Recorded Order> If the data management method described so far is applied to an information recording medium that can be randomly accessed as it is, for example, it is convenient when used in a camcorder. Is not good. A conventional camcorder using a tape medium has a function of reproducing images in the order in which they were photographed. However, in the case of using an information recording medium that can be randomly accessed, a scene from the start to the end of photographing is defined as one scene. Since it is common to record in one file, it is impossible to reproduce each scene in the order of recording on this information recording medium if management information is provided in each content data file. Therefore, in order to play back each scene in the order in which it was recorded, use information such as the order of the date recorded in the file, the name of the file name to indicate the shooting order, or the playback order in file units A special function, such as reproducing each scene in the order recorded on the information recording medium by interpreting the contents of this reproduction order management file, is provided separately on the reproduction device side. Must be provided.

Therefore, in the present invention, the management information of the content data file of each scene is collectively recorded in one file in the recording order. At the time of reproduction, the player (operator) opens the file in which the management information is compiled, and the function of interpreting the special reproduction order by reading the data to be reproduced by externally referencing each content data file. Even if it is not mounted, it is possible to reproduce in the recording order. The same applies to not only camcorders but also conventional VTRs and the like.

An example in which content data is managed by applying the data management method of the present invention to a randomly accessible information recording medium will be described below. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure when a disk recording medium is used as a randomly accessible information recording medium according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a disk recording medium, and the disk recording medium 1 Recording order management information file 2, program reproduction management information file 3, content data file 4
Having. Recording on the disk recording medium 1 in this example
When performing playback, the FAT (File Allocati)
On File), a file system such as UDF can be used to create and delete files, and the data recording format is the QuickTi
Recording is performed using the “me” format.

As shown in FIG. 5, when data is recorded on a concentric disk recording medium 1 which can be randomly accessed, a content data file 4 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the content data corresponding to the image data shown in FIG. a, b,
This is a file composed of mdattom storing c and d. In the figure, the recording order management information file 2 includes content data a, b,
.., Z in the QuickTime format corresponding to c and d, and shows a state in which these pieces of management information are collectively recorded in one file, and is shown in FIG. Equivalent to a file. For example, management information corresponding to content data a is management information A, and management information corresponding to content data b is management information B.

<Description of Data Recording Method that Enables Reproduction in the Order of Recording on Information Recording Medium> FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a data recording method that enables reproduction in the order of recording on the disk recording medium 1. This data recording method is a method of recording data on the disk recording medium 1 on which nothing is recorded by using the data management method described in <Description of a data management method for performing reproduction in the recording order>. It is.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the disk recording medium 1 in a state where no data file is recorded. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the first content data input to the recording / reproducing apparatus is recorded in a content data file on the disk recording medium 1, where 5 is the first content data file; Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording order management information file. First, suppose that the first content is recorded on the disk recording medium 1 on which no data file is recorded as shown in FIG. Here, video data is used as a representative example as content data. As shown in FIG. 7, the 1
The first video data a is sequentially recorded in the content data file 5 on the disk recording medium 1. At the same time, management information A such as header information and sample information necessary for reproducing the video data a is recorded in a moov atom in the recording order management information file 6 on the disk recording medium 1. Before starting recording, these two files are opened, and video data or management information is recorded according to a recording start command according to each recording timing. The sequentially input video data is recorded in the content data file 5, and when a recording end command is added, the video data a
Is closed, and the recording order management information file 6 including the management information A recorded at an arbitrary recording timing is closed. Therefore, the file size of the content data file 5 and the recording order management information file 6 including the management information A becomes variable depending on the time for recording the video data a.

FIG. 8 shows the first video data shown in FIG.
Is a diagram showing a state in which the second video data has been recorded after the recording has been completed, in which 7 is a second content data file. As shown in FIG. 7, the second video data b is stored in a recordable portion on the disk recording medium 1 in a content data file 7 which is a file different from the content data file 5 on the disk recording medium 1. Recording is performed in the same manner as in the first recording. At the same time, by adding the sample after the management information A in the moov atom in the recording order management information file 6 in the recording order management information file 6 on the disc recording medium 1,
Record as one file. By recording end command, 1
As in the case of the first recording, the content data file 7 including the video data b and the recording order management information file 6 are closed. By repeating the above, video data is recorded one after another.

FIG. 9 shows a case where the second video data shown in FIG.
Is a diagram showing a state in which the third video data has been recorded after the recording has been completed. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a third content data file. This example shows a case where a content data file 8 including the third video data c and a recording order management information file 6 including the management information C thereof are recorded. The method of recording this content is, for example, when a video camera is assumed, one time from the start of recording to the end of recording.
This means that a scene is registered in one file. When a stationary video is assumed, it is conceivable to store one program from the start of recording to the end of recording in one file. These indicate that one file is recorded from the start of recording to the end of recording, and the target recording / reproducing apparatus may be of any format (form). The description has been made using video data as content data to be recorded. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described video data, and the same applies to other content data such as still images, music, and text.

Although the case of registering in the QuickTime format has been described above, the management of content data and data composed of management information for reproducing the content data is also performed in the same manner as the content data file,
It is applicable by providing a recording order management information file for registering the management information in the recording order.

<Description of Data Reproducing Method for Reproducing Data in the Order of Recording on Information Recording Medium> In the order of recording on the information recording medium, the management information in the recording order management information file in which the data management information is recorded is read out from the management information in sample units. And reads data from the content data file corresponding to the management information. By sending the read data to the decoder, the content data can be reproduced in the order of recording. All the content data on the information recording medium can be reproduced in the recording order only by the existing QuickTime file reproducing means. The present invention
As in the case of recording data using the data recording method in <Description of data recording method enabling reproduction in order of recording on information recording medium>, content data and management information for reproducing the content data are used. The present invention is also applicable to management of configured data.

In the above description, a disk recording medium has been described as a representative example. However, the present invention is applicable to a random-accessible recording medium, for example, all semiconductor memories including a flash memory.

<Description of Program Reproducing Method Using Management Information File Recorded in Arbitrary Order of Reproduction><Description of Data Recording Method Reproducible in Order Recorded on Information Recording Medium> and <Information Description of Data Reproducing Method for Reproducing Data in Order of Recording on Recording Medium> Each method in the above is a method of recording and reproducing data according to the order of recording on the information recording medium.
By using these methods, it is possible to reproduce only the necessary portion of the content data according to the user's preference in the required order and to repeat the same scene.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which reproduction of the content data recorded in FIG. 9 is represented on a time axis. Here, the data A1, A2, B of the shaded portion in the original data of the content data shown in FIG.
1 and C1 are to be reproduced. When the reproduction is performed in the order according to the reproduction data, the recording order management information of a file different from the recording order management information file serving as the original data so that the content data is reproduced as shown in FIG. A file (hereinafter, referred to as a program reproduction management information file) is created, and in the program reproduction management information file, the sample management information corresponding to the data A1 in the content data A is copied from the recording order management information file. Then, the sample management information corresponding to the data C1 in the content data C to be reproduced next is copied from the recording order management information file, and is recorded following the sample management information A1 in the program reproduction management information file. Next, a sample corresponding to the data B1
e is recorded in the last data A
Sample information is repeatedly recorded in the program reproduction management information file according to the order of data to be reproduced, until the management information of Sample 2 is recorded. Here, the same content can be repeatedly reproduced by registering a plurality of pieces of management information of the same Sample in a place where reproduction is desired, such as data C1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the reproduction data shown in FIG. 10 is recorded on the disk recording medium 1. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 9 denotes a program reproduction management information file. By reproducing the program reproduction management information file 9 created here using the data reproduction method of reproducing data in the order recorded on the information recording medium, data reproduction can be performed in the order desired by the user. . It is possible to have a plurality of program reproduction management information files 9 according to the user's preference, and it is possible to provide reproduction in various reproduction orders from the same original data. When a program playback management information file is created by this data playback method, it is possible to change the playback order of content data in Sample units.

<Description of Program Reproducing Method Using Management Information that Can Specify Playback Location in Reproduction Time Unit><Description of Program Reproducing Method Using Management Information File Recorded in Arbitrary Order of Reproduction> In the method described in &gt;, it is possible to change the playback order in Sample units. However, if it is necessary to change the playback order in finer units, for example, in QuickTime, the content played at an arbitrary time can be managed by the playback time. Therefore, Edit List atom is provided as management information for managing the order of playback and the playback section by the playback time. In this case, a table having a playback time from the beginning of the content and a playback time length from the playback time is created in the recorded content and a playback order in the recorded content, and the table is played back in the order of the table. This E
By providing the “Digit List atom” in the program reproduction management information file, the management information copied to the program reproduction management information file from the recording order management information file can be managed in units of time. The scenes can be played back and the order of playback can be changed.

In contrast to the data management method described in <Description of Data Management Method for Performing Playback in Recording Order>, when creating a program playback management information file, the recording order management information file itself and its copy data In the case where the Edit list is added to manage the reproduction and the reproduction order of a specific section, Sample management information that is not required for reproduction is left in the file, and useless management information remains in the file. It will be. On the other hand, when the program reproduction method described in <Description of Program Reproduction Method Using Management Information File Recorded in Arbitrary Order of Reproduction> is applied, only necessary management information of Sample is copied. No management information exists, which leads to saving of storage capacity of the information recording medium.

Further, in the program reproducing method described in <Description of Program Reproducing Method Using Management Information File Recorded in Arbitrary Order of Reproduction>, the program reproduction method is performed in accordance with the reproduction order of Sample management information required for reproduction.
Although the method of registration is performed in units of samples, when the same scene is repeatedly reproduced, management information of the same Sample is registered in duplicate. This degrades the use efficiency of the file size of the recording order management information file, and leads to an unnecessary large file size. Therefore, for example, in QuickTime, a free playback order can be changed by the method using Edit List atom described in <Description of Program Reproduction Method Using Management Information that Can Specify Reproduction Location in Reproduction Time Unit>. Since it is possible to manage, the management information of the Sample to be copied only copies necessary information, and the reproduction order such as repeated reproduction is
By managing with Edit List atom, registration of management information of duplicate Samples can be avoided.

As described above, in the recording / reproducing apparatus, when securing all the memory required for recording or reproduction, a large amount of memory is required for performing recording or reproduction for a long time. By reducing the surplus management information, the memory required for the recording / reproducing device can be reduced. The above description is for the case of using the data management method of the QuickTime format.
A time unit such as it List atom or Sam
It is applicable to a data structure based on a data management method for managing an arbitrary reproduction position and reproduction order in a minimum unit for reproduction such as ple.

As described above, in the data management method for an information recording medium according to the present invention, when recording or reproducing content such as video and audio on a randomly accessible information recording medium, the content data is recorded. One scene is defined from the start to the end, and the content data is recorded as one file for each scene. Furthermore, if the management information required to reproduce the recorded content data of one scene is to reproduce the content data of a plurality of scenes in the recording order, the management information of each scene is recorded in the recording order. , As a recording order management information file.

If the purpose is to reproduce only the portion desired by the user or to change the reproduction order, only the management information of the portion necessary for reproduction is reproduced in the order in which the reproduction information is to be reproduced. Record in one file.

According to the data management method described above, these management information files can be reproduced on the recording / reproducing device side without providing special functions, such as specifying a portion to be reproduced and defining special management information for describing the reproduction order. By doing so, data can be reproduced in an arbitrary order. This is the same even when the data is reproduced by a device different from the recording / reproducing device that recorded the data, and it means that the devices have reproduction compatibility.

Further, since management information data of only management information necessary for reproduction is recorded in the management information file, it is possible to minimize the amount of management information to be loaded into a memory required on the recording / reproducing device side during recording / reproduction. Because it becomes possible,
Memory consumption for recording and reproduction can be reduced. By reproducing the recording order management information file that collectively records the management information in the order of recording on the information recording medium, various scenes recorded on the information recording medium can be recorded in the same manner as the conventional tape media. The content data can be handled as one continuous content.

Further, by dividing the content data recorded on the information recording medium into files for each of several scenes and recording the divided files, the device that has recorded the data includes:
When referring to the file configuration of the information recording medium using another device (for example, a personal computer or the like), the user can easily grasp the file configuration (data configuration) in the recording medium, and The user can freely perform operations such as reproduction and editing, and backup and copy of a specific file (scene) to another information recording medium, and the usability such as data management and organization is dramatically improved. .

<Explanation Regarding Form of Simultaneously Recording Management Information in Each Content Data File> In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the recording order on the information recording medium is determined by the recording order management information file storing the recording order. In addition, since it is possible to play back a program in which the playback order and playback location are changed according to the user's preference, it is necessary to simultaneously record management information for playing back the content in each content data file. There is no.
However, management information which is information for reproducing each content may be simultaneously recorded in each content data file 4 shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a state in which management information is simultaneously recorded in each content data file.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a content data file including management information and content data. The management information A corresponding to the content data a is registered in the recording order management information file 2, and at the same time, the management information A is recorded at the beginning of the file in the content data file 10 of the content data a. Next, when registering the content data b, the management information B is registered after the management information A in the recording order management information file 2, and at the same time, the management information B is registered at the head of the file in the content data file 10. I do. As described above, the management information necessary for reproducing the content data may be registered in the original content data file 10 separately from the management information registered in the recording order management information file 2. Further, in this example, the management information to be recorded in the original content data file 10 is registered at the beginning of the file, but may be at an arbitrary position in the file such as the end of the file.

<Description of Management Information Backup Function> By using the registration mode in the above <Description of Mode for Simultaneously Recording Management Information in Each Content Data File>, for example, a function as a backup of management information, It is possible to play back a single content data file registered for each scene. If the management information in the recording order management information file is damaged, playback from the recording order management information file becomes impossible. However, when the user selects an arbitrary content data file, playback of the content data file alone or user The reproduction by the program reproduction management information file selected by is possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the original content data from being completely unreproducible.

In FIG. 12, the program reproduction management information file 3 is created by making a copy of the management information necessary for the part to be reproduced from the recording order management information file 2. If the information file 2 is damaged, the program reproduction management information file 3 cannot be created. Therefore, by copying and combining the management information registered in each content data file 10, a program reproduction management information file can be newly created.

Further, when it is possible to know the recording order by another means, or by the user's designation,
Regeneration of the recording order management information file also involves copying the management information registered in each content data file 10,
This is made possible by using a combination method. Similarly, even when the program reproduction management information file is damaged, it can be newly created by using the management information registered in the recording order management information file 2 or each content data file 10. In the embodiment of the present invention, the description has mainly been given of the QuickTime format as a representative example. However, this is not only applied to the QuickTime format, but also includes management information for managing content data in minimum units such as Sample and time. The present invention can be similarly applied to a data management method that can manage an arbitrary reproduction order in the minimum unit.

As described above, the content data of one scene from the start of recording to the end of recording is recorded in one file, as described above. By simultaneously recording the management information data in the content data file, even if another recording / reproducing device is used, the user can distinguish each scene at a glance, and the file structure in the recording medium can be distinguished. Since it is easy to grasp the scene file, it is possible to reproduce and edit each scene file alone.

Further, when performing operations such as backup or copying of the above-described content data, copying of a reproducible content data file can be easily performed by simply performing file copying. Also, in this case, since each scene is divided by a file, when playing back a scene alone, as in the case described above, only management information necessary for recording or playback on the recording / playback device side is loaded into the memory. As a result, the efficiency of memory usage can be improved. Recently, special measures have been taken to prevent users from accidentally erasing files due to the widespread use of randomly accessible recording media and the fact that files on information recording media cannot be deleted in a file system. The need to take it is decreasing.

[0054]

According to the present invention, content data in units of one scene or one program from the start to the end of recording can be distinguished at a glance, and operations such as reproduction, editing, copying, etc. can be easily performed only in that unit. By providing a data management structure that can be used for the user, the usability of the user can be improved. Further, the content data and its management information are recorded in a distributed manner, and at the time of reproduction, only the management information of a necessary reproduction point is stored in the memory, so that the memory use efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, by simultaneously recording the management information data in the content data file, even if another recording / reproducing device is used, it is possible to reproduce or edit each scene file alone. In addition, when performing operations such as backup or copying of content data, it is possible to easily make a copy (backup) of a reproducible content data file simply by performing file copying.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of image data as one content data.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration in the case of management with one file.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration when content data divided into a plurality of files is managed by one management information file.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure in QuickTime format.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of searching for an arbitrary atom in a file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure when a disk recording medium is used as a randomly accessible information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a disk recording medium in which no data file is recorded.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the first content data input to the recording / reproducing apparatus is recorded in a content data file on a disk recording medium.

8 is a diagram showing a state where the second video data is recorded after the recording of the first video data shown in FIG. 7 in the content data file on the disk recording medium is completed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where the third video data is recorded after the recording of the second video data shown in FIG. 8 in the content data file on the disk recording medium is completed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the content data recorded in FIG. 9 is represented on a time axis.

11 is a diagram showing an example of a state where the reproduction data shown in FIG. 10 is recorded on a disk recording medium.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which management information is simultaneously recorded in each content data file.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Disc recording medium, 2, 6 ... Recording order management information file, 3,9 ... Program reproduction management information file, 4 ... Content data file, 5 ... First content data file, 7 ... Second content data File,
8: Third content data file, 10: Content data file containing management information and content data.

Continuation of front page    F term (reference) 5C052 AA01 AB02 AB03 AB05 AC01                       CC01 CC06 DD04                 5C053 FA14 GB01 GB06 GB09 HA21                       JA21 JA24                 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC04 CC06 DE48                       DE54 EF05 FG18 GK12                 5D110 AA17 AA27 AA29 BB01 DA12                       DA18 DB03 DC05 DC16 DE02                       EA02 EA06

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A data management method in an information recording medium for recording unit data and management information relating to the unit data in an information recording medium in association with each other and reproducing the recorded unit data, According to the order in which the unit data is recorded on the information recording medium, the management information according to the unit data is ordered and recorded in one file, and when the connection order of the unit data is changed,
A data management method for an information recording medium, wherein another file for recording management information corresponding to each unit data is created in accordance with a connection order of the unit data to be changed. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the unit data and management information corresponding to the unit data are collectively recorded in one file. Data management method for media. 3. The data management method for an information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein one unit of one scene and / or one program from the start to the end of recording is set as the unit data.
A data management method for an information recording medium, wherein the unit data is recorded as one file. 4. The data management method for an information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the management information is recorded in a file different from a file in which the unit data is recorded. Data management method in the information recording medium. 5. The data management method for an information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of the unit data can be reproduced in accordance with an order of the management information recorded in the file. A data management method for an information recording medium characterized by the following. 6. An information recording medium for recording unit data and management information relating to the unit data in association with each other and reproducing the recorded unit data, in accordance with the order in which the unit data is recorded. The management information according to each unit data is recorded in one file in order, and when changing the connection order of each unit data, when the connection order of the unit data to be changed is changed, the management information is added to each unit data. An information recording medium characterized in that corresponding management information is recorded in another file.