JP2004362766A - Information reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information reproducing device in which a plurality of users can utilize a restart function of reproduction by which after play back of a disk is interrupted, play back can be started again from an interrupted point. <P>SOLUTION: When an indication of interrupting reproduction is inputted by an input part 11a during the play-back of a storage part M1 as an information storing medium such as an optical disk, a recording position in the storage part M1 of data already reproduced at the point of time is held as resume information for each title. When information specifying a title and an indication of starting reproduction are inputted by the input part 11a, further, resume information about the title is held, the control part 30a controls a reproducing means so that reproduction is started conforming to the resume information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information on and from an information storage medium, and in particular, when reproduction is stopped halfway during information reproduction, and when reproduction is started again later, the position where reproduction was stopped halfway The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus that reproduces information from a device.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an optical disk reproducing apparatus that supports moving images for reproducing an optical disk on which data such as video and audio data is recorded has been developed. This device is generally used for the purpose of enjoying movie software, enjoying karaoke, and the like, such as an LD and a video CD playback device.

  Among them, a DVD standard that uses the internationally standardized Moving Image Coding Expert Group (MPEG2) system and adopts the AC3 audio compression system has been proposed.

  According to the MPEG2 system layer, this standard supports the MPEG2 system for the moving image compression system, and supports the AC3 audio compression system and the MPEG audio compression system for the audio compression system. Further, it is possible to handle sub-picture data in which bitmap data is run-length-compressed for subtitles such as movies and karaoke. Further, in this standard, control data (navi pack) for special reproduction such as fast forward and reverse is added in relation to a reproducing apparatus.

  Further, this standard supports IS09660 and micro-UDF standards so that data on a disk can be read by a computer.

  As a standard of the medium itself, a DVD-RAM standard (4.7 GB) has been completed following a DVD-ROM standard which is a DVD-video medium, and a DVD-RAM drive has been widely used as a computer peripheral device. Has begun.

  Further, at present, a DVD video standard for realizing a system capable of recording and reproducing information in real time using a DVD-RAM, that is, an RTR (Real Time Recording) -DVD standard has been developed, and products conforming to this standard have been developed. On the market.

  This standard is considered based on the DVD-Video standard currently on the market. Further, a file system corresponding to the RTR-DVD is currently standardized.

  Normally, a playback-only DVD video player has a continuous playback function that can temporarily stop playback during playback and then continue playback from the point where the playback was interrupted. More specifically, the continuous playback function stores interrupt information of a portion that has been played back in the RAM in the player when the playback of the inserted disc is interrupted halfway, By accessing the interruption information and, for example, pressing the continue playback key, the data at the previously played back location is read from the memory, and then the playback is resumed from the continuation of the playback.

  Further, in the case of a playback apparatus capable of recording and playing back a disc, when the playback is interrupted, playback interruption information for resuming the next playback is recorded on the disc, and at the next playback, the playback interruption information is recorded. A playback device having a continuous playback function capable of playing back a video from a point interrupted by reference has been developed.

  In the case where a plurality of persons individually perform scheduled recording on one disc, interrupt playback while viewing the recorded program (program), and watch the continuation later, the continuous playback function as described above is used. Only one user can be used.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus in which a plurality of users can use the reproduction restart function as described above.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus capable of resuming reproduction for each program (hereinafter referred to as a title) recorded on a disk.

An information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reproducing unit that reproduces an exchangeable information storage medium on which a plurality of titles are recorded, an instruction to start and stop reproduction of the reproducing unit, and information for specifying a title to be reproduced. Input means for inputting data, and when an instruction to stop the reproduction is input by the input means during reproduction of the information storage medium, recording of the data reproduced at that time on the information storage medium Resume information recording means for recording a position as resume information in a storage unit provided in the playback device for each title;
Control means for controlling the reproduction means to start reproduction in accordance with the resume information, when information for specifying the title and an instruction to start reproduction are input by the input means, and when the resume information is held for the title; And

  For reproduction data including a plurality of audio streams, an audio stream number is also held. In a playback system that handles a playback data format that supports dual mono, the main / sub status is also maintained.

  The holding of the resume information may be performed only when the title is specified and the reproduction is performed. In this case, it is not held during the reproduction of the program set (Program Set: PG_SET). Alternatively, when the reproduction is interrupted other than the reproduction by the designation of the title, the resume information of the title may be updated.

  The resume information is stored on the same medium as the video data, or held in a storage unit in the playback system together with the ID of the exchangeable medium. As a result, the resume information is retained even after the disk is removed or the power is turned off.

  Also, by preparing a plurality of playback start procedures, playback based on resume information and playback from the title or the head of the disc can be selected. Further, this resume function can be selected prior to reproduction. Alternatively, valid / invalid may be designated as the initial setting of the device.

  At the time of reproduction using the resume function, the user is notified of the fact. If the medium is write-protected and resume information is recorded on the medium, the resume information is not used. In normal reproduction after Skip / FF / Rew / Slow, the resume information is updated only when the reproduction is stopped for a certain period of time or more. Further, the resume can be erased. This erasure is explicitly performed on a Graphic User Interface (GUI) or the like. This resume information may be deleted by stopping twice (different key operations), or may be deleted when reproduced to the end.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of users can use the playback restart function of interrupting playback of a disc and restarting playback from a point where the playback was interrupted later. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to restart the reproduction for each program recorded on the disk.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The information recording / reproducing apparatus includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 20, a disk drive 35 that rotationally drives an optical disk 10, which is an information storage medium on which a video file can be constructed, and reads and writes information on the optical disk 10. The encoder 50, which constitutes the recording side, the decoder 60, which constitutes the reproduction side, and the microcomputer block 30 which controls the operation of the apparatus main unit, are the main components.

  The encoder unit 50 includes an ADC (analog-digital converter) 52, a V (video) encoder, an A (audio) encoder, an encoder group 53 including an SP (sub-picture) encoder, and an output of each encoder in a predetermined format. And a buffer memory 57.

  The ADC 52 receives an external analog video signal and an external analog audio signal from the AV input unit 42 or an analog TV signal and an analog audio signal from a TV (television) tuner 44.

  Under the control of the microcomputer block 30, the data processor 36 supplies the DVD recording data output from the encoder unit 50 to the disk drive 35, fetches the DVD reproduction signal reproduced from the optical disk 10 from the disk drive 35, The management information recorded on the optical disk 10 is rewritten, or the data recorded on the optical disk 10 is deleted.

  The microcomputer block 30 includes an MPU (micro processing unit) or CPU (central processing unit), a ROM in which a control program and the like are written, and a RAM for providing a work area necessary for executing the program. .

  According to the control program stored in the ROM, the MPU of the microcomputer block 30 uses the RAM as a work area to perform defect location detection, unrecorded area detection, recording information recording position setting, UDF recording, AV address setting, and the like. Execute.

  The decoder unit 60 separates each pack from the video information having a pack structure and extracts the pack, a memory 63 used when performing pack separation or other signal processing, and decodes main video data separated by the separator 62. A V decoder, an SP decoder for decoding the sub-video data separated by the separator 62, a decoder group 64 of A decoders for decoding the audio data separated by the separator 62, and an SP decoder for the main video data obtained from the V decoder And a video processor 66 for appropriately synthesizing the sub-picture data obtained from the sub-pictures and superimposing a menu, subtitles and other sub-pictures on the main picture and outputting it.

  When the output of the A-decoder is digitally output, the output is output to the outside via an interface (I / F) 75. When the output is analog, the analog-converted signal is converted by a DAC 77 via a selector 76 and output to the outside. The selector 76 selects and outputs one of a signal input from the TV tuner 44 and the A / V input unit 42 via the ADC 52 and a signal input from the decoder group 64 according to a select signal from the microcomputer block 30. . The analog audio signal is supplied to an external component (not shown) (a multi-channel stereo device having two to six channels).

  The key input unit 11 has buttons for reproduction (PLAY), stop (STOP), recording (REC), skip (Skip), fast-forward (FF), reverse-forward (Rew), and slow (Slow). By pressing the button, the user can operate the recording / reproducing apparatus.

  FIG. 2 shows a directory structure of video and audio files of a real-time recording (RTR) DVD as an example of a DVD disk applied to the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

  In DVD, directories exist for each standard, and these directory names are "DVD_RTR" for RTR-DVD, "AUDIO_TS" for DVD-Audio, and "VIDEO_TS" for DVD-Video. FIG. 2 shows “DVD_RTR” and “AUDIO_TS”. Recorded data exists in each directory.

  In a DVD, data is stored in a normal file format. The title corresponds to, for example, one movie, and a plurality of titles can be recorded on one disc. A collection of titles is called a title set (VTS), and the title set is composed of a plurality of files.

  In the directory "DVD_RTR", a VR_MANEGER. IFO, VR_MOVIE. VRO, VR_STILL. VR_AUDIO.VRO as a still picture audio file. VRO, VR_MANAGR. Each file of BUP exists.

  VR_MANEGER. In the IFO file, navigation data is recorded. The navigation data is data for advancing a program set, a program, an entry point, a playlist, and the like.

  VR_MOVIE. The VRO file is a so-called movie AV file for recording a movie video object (movie VOB).

  VR_STILL. VRO is a still picture AV file for recording a still picture VOB. This VR_STILL. VRO is used to record an original VOB composed of a video part including an arbitrary sub-picture unit. At this time, the audio part related to the video part is also included in the original VOB.

  VR_AUDIO. VRO is a still picture additional audio file for recording an additional audio stream for a still picture. This additional audio part indicates an audio stream recorded by after recording. VR_AUDIO. The audio part recorded in VRO is VR_STILL. Used in combination with several video parts recorded in VRO.

  FIG. 3 shows the VR_MOVIE. VR_STILL. As VRO and still picture video file 2 shows a file structure of VRO.

  A video file has a hierarchical structure, one file is composed of a plurality of VOBs (video objects), one VOB is composed of a plurality of VOBUs (video object units), and one VOBU is composed of a plurality of packs. The plurality of packs include an RDI pack, a V pack, an A pack, and the like.

  The V pack is obtained by compressing video data according to the MPEG2 system and includes a pack header, a packet header, and a video data part. The A-pack is obtained by processing audio data by, for example, a system such as linear PCM, MPEG, or AC3, and includes a pack header, a packet header, and an audio data part.

  In the pack, time stamps such as a PTS (presentation time stamp) indicating a reproduction time and a DTS (decoding time stamp) indicating a decoding time are appropriately described. Regarding the PTS of the sub-picture, a time arbitrarily delayed from the PTS of the main picture data or the audio data in the same reproduction time zone can be described.

  The data reproduction order recorded in the video file is defined by a program chain (PGC). A cell is defined in the program chain (PGC), and a VOB to be reproduced is defined in the cell. The part where the specific information of the PGC is recorded is the program chain information (PGCI) part in the VMG file. There are two types of PGCI, one is an original PGCI (ORG_PGCI) and the other is a user-defined PGC table (UD_PGCIT).

  Here, the configuration of the video manager file (VMG) in which the program chain information is described will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows the information described in the VMG file in a hierarchical manner, and particularly shows the program chain information (PGCI) in a hierarchical detail.

  In the VMG file, RTR_VMGI (RTR video manager information), M_AVFIT (movie AV file information table), S_AVFIT (still picture AV file information table), ORG_PGCI (original program chain information), UD_PGCIT (user-defined program chain information), There are TXTDT_MG (text data manager) and MNFIT (manufacture information table).

  RTR_VMGI (RTR video manager information) includes a video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT) and a playlist search pointer table (PL_SRPT).

  The playlist search pointer table indicates information necessary for searching and accessing a playlist in the RTR disc. PL_SRPT starts with PL_SRPT information (PL_SRPTI), and is followed by a playlist search pointer (PL_SRPs). Each playlist consists of a user-defined PGC. Therefore, PL_SRP has a PGC number corresponding to the play list. Playlists are distinguished by a unique number related to the playlist, that is, a playlist number (PLN). This PLN is allocated to all playlists in the order from PL_SRP “1” to “99” in PL_SRPT. The user can distinguish one playlist from its PLN. The playlist number is the same as the user-defined PGC number.

  ORG_PGCI (original program chain information) is a special PGC for reproducing data in the recording order. That is, the original PGC is information for designating the data reproduction order, and indicates a program set (PG_SET) which is a connection of the programs (PG). Here, the program is a logical unit of the recorded contents defined by the user, and one program in the program set includes one or more original cells. This program set is data stored in the VRO file. The number assigned to each program in the original program chain is called a program number (PGN), and these numbers range from "1" to "99". A serial number called a program number (PGCN) is assigned to a program chain (PGC) defined by the user. “0” is added to the original program chain as a special PGCN.

  UD_PGCIT (user-defined program chain information) also specifies the order of data reproduction, and the user specifies a part of the program specified by ORG_PGCI by editing the program or the like, and connects the parts. Therefore, UD_PGCIT indicates a connection of cells, not a connection of a set program. The cell is information indicating each part of the program. Serial numbers are assigned to cells in the program chain, and this number is called a cell number (CN).

  ORG_PGCI (original program chain information) and UD_PGCIT (user-defined program chain information) have similar data structures in content.

  The PGCI includes PGC general information (PGC_GI), a PGC information table (PGCIT), a cell information search pointer (CI_SRPT), and a cell information table (CIT).

  The PGC general information (PGC_GI) describes the number of programs and the number of cell search pointers in the PGC.

  The PGC information table (PGCIT) describes program information (PGI). The PGC information table includes a program type (PG_TY) indicating whether or not the program is in an erase protected state, and the number of cells in the program (C_Ns). ), Primary text information (PRM_TEXTI) indicating a character set, an item text search pointer number (IT_TXT_SRPN) corresponding to this program, cell number, and representative image information (REP_PICTI) indicating a picture point.

  The start address of the cell information (CI) is described in the cell information search pointer (CI_SRPT). The cell information table CIT describes cell information (CI # 1 to CI # j) designated by the search pointer. The cell information (CI) describes cell general information (C_GI) and cell entry point information (C_EPI # 1 to C_EPI # k).

  Next, a reproducing method and a reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

  In the recording method in the RTR, a plurality of programs (PG) and playlists (PL) can be recorded on one disk. When a user makes a scheduled recording of a plurality of programs, each user can record each recorded content as a separate program.

  In the case where a plurality of people individually perform scheduled recording on one disc for viewing, the playback may be interrupted during viewing and the continuation may be watched later. If, for example, the reproduction of the program is designated and the reproduction can be automatically resumed (resume) from the position where the reproduction was stopped, the convenience for the user can be improved. Hereinafter, the program and the playlist are referred to as titles.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the playback system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which portions related to the present invention are extracted and simplified from the recording / playback system shown in FIG. The playback system according to this embodiment holds resume information on the same storage medium as the storage medium M1 on which video and audio data are recorded.

  The playback system includes an input unit 11a that detects a playback instruction from a user and a key input of a title number to be played, a storage unit M1 that holds recorded data and resume information, and a recording data held in the storage unit M1. The playback unit 60a performs playback, and the control unit 30a controls the playback system. Data can be recorded and reproduced using the HDD 20 or DVD-RAM 10 of FIG. 1 as the storage medium M1. The reproduction unit 60a includes a decoder unit 60, a disk drive 35, a data processor 36, and the like. The storage unit M1 has an area for storing the resume information for each title, in addition to an area for holding the recording data. FIG. 6 shows an example of a table in which resume information is stored.

  As the resume information, for example, the above-described program chain number (PGCN), program number (PGN), and cell number (CN) can be held. In this case, a presentation time stamp (PTM) indicating a reproduction timing or a picture point (PICT_PT) is also held. In addition, a method of adding an audio stream number at the time of stopping reproduction or a reproduction channel in dual mono can be considered. The dual mono indicates a mode in which voice such as narration is recorded in two languages as main / sub sound, and at the time of reproduction, either main / sub is selected and reproduced. Furthermore, by describing a special code, for example, a large value that is impossible as a value in the PGCN part, in the resume information part, it is possible to detect that the resume information corresponding to the title is not held. .

  Next, the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When instructing the system to reproduce, the user selects one title by referring to a title list indicating a plurality of recorded programs displayed on the screen, or directly presses a numeric key provided on the input unit 11a. By doing so, the title can be selected.

  First, in step S101, the control unit 30a checks the user's key input using the input unit 11a, and if there is, the process proceeds to S102. In step S102, it is checked whether or not an instruction to start reproduction has been made from the input information. If reproduction has not been instructed, it is determined whether a title has been selected (step S103). If a title has been selected, the title number is reproduced next. The number of the title to be held is stored (step S105).

  In step S102, if reproduction is instructed, it is determined whether the title is already stored (step S106). If not, preparation for starting reproduction from the beginning of the first title of the recorded data is made. I do. That is, if the storage unit M1 is an optical disk, preparation is made to start reproduction from the head of the disk.

  When the title is held in step S106 (in the case of Y), the process proceeds to step S107, and resume information is acquired. In step S107, data of a portion corresponding to the selected title to be reproduced in the resume information storage area of the storage unit M1 is obtained.

  In step S108, the data acquired in step S107 is inspected. If the resume information has been written, the process proceeds to S110, and if the resume information is invalid, the process proceeds to S109. In step S109, the playback unit 60a is operated so that the next playback starts from the beginning of the title corresponding to the title number input from the input unit 11a. After that, it moves to step S111. In step S110, the reproducing unit 60a is operated so that the next reproduction starts from a location corresponding to the position information in the obtained resume information, and the process proceeds to step S111. If the title being played at this time is selected by the user using the list of titles displayed on the screen, the resume information is valid. If the title is selected by the direct key, the resume is performed. The information may be invalidated. Further, when a stop instruction is input during the reproduction of the write-protected medium and there is resume information on the medium, the resume information cannot be changed, so that the resume information is not used.

  In step S111, the reproducing unit 60a calculates a position on the recorded data corresponding to the designated position of the title set in steps S109 and S110 based on the recorded data stored in the storage unit M1, and Start playback from data. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S121 in FIG. When the reproduction is started from the resume position, the fact may be notified to the user.

  The reproduction unit 60a continues reproduction to the end of the title based on the recorded data in the storage unit M1 unless there is a stop instruction from the control unit 30a. In step S121, the reproduction unit 60a is inspected. If the reproduction has already been completed up to the end of the title, the process proceeds to step S128, and if not, the process proceeds to step S122. In step S128, the resume information of the portion corresponding to the reproduced title in the resume information storage area of the storage unit M1 is invalidated, and the operation ends.

  In step S122, the key input state of the user is acquired from the input unit 11a, and the process proceeds to step S124. In step S124, the key input state is checked, and if a stop is instructed, the process proceeds to step S126; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S125 to perform a process corresponding to the input.

  In step S126, the reproducing unit 60a is operated to stop the reproducing operation, and the process proceeds to step S116. In step S127, the stop position is acquired from the playback unit 60a, and the stop position information is held in the resume information corresponding to the title being played in the resume information storage area of the storage unit M1, and the operation is performed. Stop. At this time, an audio stream number is also held for reproduction data including a plurality of audio streams. Furthermore, in a playback system that handles a playback data format that supports dual mono, the main / sub status is also maintained.

  Further, the resume may be held only when the title is designated and the reproduction is started. In this case, the program set (PG_SET), that is, the original program chain, is not stored. Alternatively, when a stop is instructed other than the reproduction by title designation, the resume state may be updated for the title being reproduced. In addition, for a stop instruction during playback after Skip / FF / Rew / Slow operation, the resume update is not performed, and the resume update is made valid only when the stop instruction has been made for a certain period of time or longer. Further, whether to enable the resume function for starting playback from the resume position may be set at the time of starting playback or as an initial setting of the apparatus.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reproduction system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This playback system holds resume information in a storage medium (resume storage unit M3) different from a storage medium (recording storage unit M2) in which recorded data is stored. With this configuration, the resume information for each title is retained even when the format of the recording storage unit supports only recording of recording data or when writing is not possible (write-protected, ROM medium). It is possible to keep. FIG. 10 shows an example of a table in which the resume information is stored.

  The function of each component in FIG. 9 is almost the same as that in FIG. 5, but if the storage medium corresponding to the recording storage unit M2 is an exchangeable medium such as a DVD-ROM or DVD-RAM, the resume storage unit The resume information stored in M3 is held for each ID and title number of the exchangeable storage medium M2.

  The operation in the configuration of FIG. 9 is substantially the same as that described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8 based on the configuration of FIG. 5, and therefore only the differences will be described. That is, in the acquisition of the resume information in step S107, the ID of the storage medium loaded as the recording storage unit M2 is obtained via the playback unit 60b, and the corresponding resume from the resume storage unit M3 based on the ID and the title number. Get information. In step S128, the resume information at the position corresponding to the ID and title number of the storage medium is invalidated. In step S127, the stopped position information is stored at a position corresponding to the ID and the title number of the storage medium.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 3 shows a directory structure of video and audio files of a real-time recording DVD. VR_MOVIE. VR_STILL. As VRO and still picture video file 2 shows a file structure of VRO. Information described in the VMG file, in particular, program chain information (PGCI) is hierarchically shown. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a playback system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 4 shows an example of a table in which resume information is stored. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an exemplary block diagram showing the configuration of a playback system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 13 shows another example of a table in which resume information is stored.

Claims (2)

Reproducing means for reproducing an exchangeable information storage medium on which a plurality of titles are recorded;
Input means for inputting information for specifying reproduction start and reproduction stop instructions to the reproduction means, and a title to be reproduced,
When an instruction to stop the reproduction is input by the input means during reproduction of the information storage medium, the recording position of the data reproduced at that time on the information storage medium is set as resume information, and the reproduction apparatus Resume information recording means for recording each title in a storage unit provided in the
Control means for controlling the reproduction means to start reproduction in accordance with the resume information, when information for specifying the title and an instruction to start reproduction are input by the input means, and when the resume information is held for the title; When,
An information reproducing apparatus, comprising: 2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resume information recording means records the resume information together with ID information of the exchangeable information storage medium in a storage unit provided in the reproducing apparatus.

Images