JP2006005967A - Computer-readable recording medium with menu control data stored, and menu control method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow to create an expressive menu screen that appeals to viewers. <P>SOLUTION: When a menu button is selected on a menu screen created with video with audio, the menu button is in action-highlighted state and color of the menu button changes to highlighted color. Then, the video with a special short audio replays automatically for accentuating the action-highlighted state. After the video with audio has been play backed, the screen jumps to a chapter, in a title selected with the menu button and playback is started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention performs an operation corresponding to a menu button operation on a menu screen used when information is reproduced from a recording medium such as a digital video disc or a digital versatile disc (hereinafter referred to as DVD). The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which menu control data for control is recorded, and a menu control method and apparatus.

  In recent years, DVD, which is an optical disk capable of recording digitized video data and audio data, and a DVD player, which is an apparatus that performs at least reproduction of data reproduction from the DVD and data recording on the DVD, have been put into practical use. .

  The DVD format (standard) defines a still picture format called a sub-picture that can be displayed on top of a moving picture separately from a normal moving picture encoded by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 standard. ing. In a DVD, subtitles and menu screens for movies are realized by this sub-picture.

  In the DVD format, a unique programming language called a navigation command is prepared in order to control a playback method in a DVD player. A program based on this navigation command, for example, a specific cue point called “Chaptar” (in the case of a movie, the beginning of a scene to be seen or the point of a story break. A track on a CD (compact disc)) As shown in the figure, playback from a point representing the break of a song) and interactive work (software) are realized.

  In the case of an interactive work as described above, it is natural that an interactive question and response screen that can be operated by the viewer is required.

  In a DVD player, the viewer usually does not perform an interactive operation directly using the operation buttons of the DVD player main body or the operation buttons of the remote control device, and the operation buttons appearing on the menu screen are displayed on the remote control device. An interactive operation is realized by selecting indirectly with the cursor key or the like. Thereby, it is possible to provide various interactive software without being restricted by the function of the button unique to the hardware of the DVD player.

  Of the menu screens for performing such interactive operations, elements that are common to DVDs and that are basic are defined as DVD system menus. The DVD system menu is called by the viewer operating the menu button defined in the format that must be attached to the remote control device of the DVD player when the DVD player plays a DVD. It is a screen that is displayed. This DVD system menu includes an operation button displayed on the screen, and the viewer presses this operation button with a cursor key (a key specified in the format that must be attached to the remote control device of the DVD player). By selecting with, it is possible to specify various reproduction patterns.

  In the DVD format, various DVD system menus are defined. FIG. 20 shows an example of a chapter menu screen as one of them. The chapter menu is a menu in which operation buttons that enable direct jumping to each chapter are arranged on the screen.

  On the chapter menu screen shown in FIG. 20, there are arranged three types of operation buttons including six chapter designation buttons 301, two menu switching buttons 302 and two menu page switching buttons 303. Six chapter specifying buttons 301 are arranged vertically three at the left position in the screen and three vertically at the right position in the screen. The two menu switching buttons 302 are arranged horizontally at a position below the chapter specifying button 301.

  When creating (authoring) such a menu, it is possible to create pixel data according to the sub-picture format on the DVD corresponding to each operation button, as well as according to the navigation command to be associated with each operation button. Programming must be performed for each operation button.

  Now, for example, when a DVD is played using a menu screen as shown in FIG. 20, the viewer selects various buttons on the menu screen and designates operations by the remote control device. The remote control device includes, for example, an up cursor key, a down cursor key, a left cursor key, and a right cursor key for moving the selected operation button up, down, left, and right, and a menu determination key for completing the operation of the selected operation button. It has.

  In general, several operation buttons are arranged on the menu screen displayed on the monitor, and the user tentatively selects one of the operation buttons by pressing the cursor key of the remote control device, Further, the menu determination key is pressed to complete the operation of the selected operation button. At this time, as a means for indicating which button is selected on the screen, in the DVD format, the color of the selected button is changed or the border is expressed. The expression is hereinafter referred to as highlight. FIG. 21 shows an example of a menu screen in a state where a certain operation button is highlighted. In this figure, the upper left button 301a among the six chapter specifying buttons 301 is highlighted.

  The highlight includes a selection highlight state that only indicates that the operation button on the menu screen is tentatively selected, and, in fact, for about 1 second until the operation is performed immediately after the menu determination key is pressed. There are two types of action highlight states to indicate that the menu determination key has been pressed effectively. In the example shown in FIG. 21, when the menu determination key is pressed while the button 301a in the upper left is in the selection highlight state, the highlight color is changed to the action highlight state for about one second, and thereafter, “Scene 1: Beginning”. ”Jumps directly to the chapter“ ”and playback starts from there.

  However, it is easy to use an easy-to-use user interface that is difficult to tell the viewer that the button has been selected or executed only by changing the color of the button or framing it, such as the simple highlight expression described above. There is a problem that can not be said. Moreover, although there are 16 colors that can be expressed as highlight colors, only 4 colors can be expressed at the same time, and simple highlights have poor expressive power. Further, from the viewpoint of a work, there is a problem that it is difficult to create a menu that attracts the viewer's interest with only simple highlights.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is a computer-readable recording of menu control data that enables creation of a menu screen that is highly expressive and attractive to viewers. To provide a recording medium and a menu control method and apparatus.

  The computer-readable recording medium on which the menu control data of the present invention is recorded is a computer-readable recording medium on which the menu control data for realizing the input of instructions according to the operation on the menu screen is recorded. The menu control data displays menu screen display data for displaying a menu screen having one or more menu buttons for instructing execution of a predetermined function, and a predetermined menu button operation decision response screen. Response screen display data to display the menu button operation decision response screen using the response screen display data when determining the menu button operation on the menu screen displayed using the menu screen display data After displaying the response screen display instruction data for instructing and the menu button operation decision response screen And it has a data structure including a function execution instruction data for instructing the execution of the function assigned to the menu button.

  The menu control method of the present invention is a menu control method for realizing input of instructions according to operations on a menu screen, and includes a menu having one or more menu buttons for instructing execution of a predetermined function. When a menu button operation on the menu screen is determined, a predetermined menu button operation determination response screen is displayed. After the menu button operation determination response screen is displayed, the functions assigned to the menu buttons are displayed. It is something to execute.

  A menu control device according to the present invention is a menu control device for realizing input of an instruction according to an operation on a menu screen, and includes a menu having one or more menu buttons for instructing execution of a predetermined function. Menu screen display means for displaying a screen, and response screen display means for displaying a predetermined menu button operation determination response screen when the operation of the menu button on the menu screen displayed by the menu screen display means is determined And a function execution means for executing a function assigned to the menu button after the menu button operation determination response screen is displayed by the response screen display means.

  In the computer-readable recording medium on which the menu control data of the present invention is recorded, a menu screen having a menu button for instructing execution of a predetermined function is displayed by the menu screen display data in the menu control data. The When the menu button operation is determined on the menu screen, display of the menu button operation determination response screen is instructed by the response screen display instruction data, and the menu button operation determination response screen is displayed by the response screen display data. After the menu button operation decision response screen is displayed, the function assigned to the menu button is executed by the function execution instruction data.

  In the menu control method of the present invention, a menu screen having a menu button for instructing execution of a predetermined function is displayed, and when a menu button operation is determined on the menu screen, a predetermined menu button operation determination response screen is displayed. Then, after the menu button operation decision response screen is displayed, the function assigned to the menu button is executed.

  In the menu control device of the present invention, a menu screen having a menu button for instructing execution of a predetermined function is displayed by the menu screen display means, and when the operation of the menu button on the menu screen is determined, a response is made. A predetermined menu button operation determination response screen is displayed by the screen display means, and after the menu button operation determination response screen is displayed, the function assigned to the menu button is executed by the function execution means.

  A computer-readable recording medium in which the menu control data according to any one of claims 1 to 7 of the present invention is recorded, the menu control method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, or the method according to claims 11 to 13. According to any of the menu control devices, when the menu button operation is determined on the menu screen displayed using the menu screen display data, the menu button operation determination response screen using the response screen display data is displayed. Since the function assigned to the menu button is executed after the display, the operation when determining the operation of the menu button becomes dynamic, creating a menu screen that is highly expressive and attractive to the viewer There is an effect that becomes possible.

  Moreover, according to the computer-readable recording medium which recorded the data for menu control of Claim 2, the menu control method of Claim 9, or the menu control apparatus of Claim 12, as response screen display data, Since the menu button operation decision response screen is displayed using data including a moving image, it is possible to create a menu screen that is more attractive to the viewer.

  Moreover, according to the computer-readable recording medium which recorded the data for menu control of Claim 3, the menu control method of Claim 10, or the menu control apparatus of Claim 13, as response screen display data, Since the menu button operation decision response screen is displayed using data including images with sound, the menu screen is more attractive for viewers to be interested not only visually but also auditorily. It is possible to create the effect.

  Further, according to the computer-readable recording medium on which the menu control data is recorded, the menu screen is displayed using the data including the moving image with sound as the menu screen display data. As a result, it is possible to create a menu screen that is easy to use and more attractive to the viewer.

  Further, according to the computer-readable recording medium in which the menu control data according to claim 7 is recorded, the menu screen display data and the response screen display data are recorded together as a series of data. Further, the menu can be easily produced, and the frequency of reading data from the recording medium can be reduced, and the processing speed on the menu screen and the response screen can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, the computer-readable recording medium, the menu control method, and the menu control device in which the menu control data according to the present embodiment is recorded will be described with reference to examples applied to a DVD and a DVD player. Therefore, the DVD corresponds to the computer-readable recording medium on which the menu control data according to the present embodiment is recorded, and controls the menu screen used when reproducing information recorded on the DVD by the DVD player. The method corresponds to the menu control method according to the present embodiment, and the DVD player corresponds to the menu control device according to the present embodiment.

  First, sub-pictures necessary for displaying a menu screen on a DVD will be described. As already described, the DVD format defines a still image format called a sub-picture that can be displayed superimposed on a moving image, in addition to a normal moving image portion encoded according to the MPEG2 standard. Here, out of the sub-picture format in the DVD format, a portion related to the present embodiment will be extracted and briefly described.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the sub-picture in the DVD is a unique picture assigned to each of the pixels (pixels) 201 obtained by dividing one screen into vertical 478 × horizontal 720 (in the case of NTSC video system). It is defined as a collection of 2-bit pixel data 202. Each value of 2-bit pixel data is assigned a unique color, and a total of four colors can be expressed by the pixel data. Actually, an arbitrary combination of four colors is selected from the 16 color palettes and used as four types of colors attached to each pixel of the sub-picture.

  In the sub-picture, the ratio for overlapping with the moving image portion as the background can also be set. For example, if the ratio of the sub-picture is 0% and the video is 100%, the sub-picture is not transparent, and if it is 50%: 50%, it becomes a translucent sub-picture, and if it is 100%: 0%, the background video is The part is completely hidden.

  Which of the values of the 2 bits of pixel data the selected 4 colors correspond to and the ratio of the sub-picture and the moving image portion which is the background are overlapped for each pixel data to designate it. Determined by a table prepared separately.

  Here, as an example, with reference to FIG. 13, consider the case where “borders with borders” are represented by sub-pictures on a DVD. First, as shown in FIG. 13A, the number of colors required to represent this “ten character with a border” is a total of three colors of the background 211 color, the cross character 212 color, and the border 213 color. Color. Next, it is assumed that the size of the “bordered character” is 9 × 9 pixels here. If the pixel data “00” is assigned to the color of the background 211, the pixel data “11” is assigned to the color of the crossed character 212, and the pixel data “10” is assigned to the color of the border 213, FIG. An aggregate of 9 × 9 pixel data as shown in (b) is determined. By performing such an operation for all the pixels of 720 × 478, it is possible to obtain a sub-picture in one DVD.

  Using such a sub-picture, for example, the pixel data of a character is placed only in the area close to the lower side of the entire area of 720 × 478 pixels, and the portion above it is defined as the background 211, If the mixing ratio of the pixels of the background 211 to the moving image is set to 0%, characters can be seen only in the lower side portion, and a transparent sub-picture is created in the other portions. In DVD, such a mechanism is used to express subtitles for movies.

  Next, a menu screen in DVD will be described. As already described, in the DVD format, among the menus for interactive operation, the basic and basic elements are defined as the DVD system menu. This DVD system menu is called by the viewer operating the menu button defined in the format that the DVD player must be attached to the remote control device of the DVD player when the DVD player plays the DVD. This is a screen and allows the viewer to specify various playback patterns by selecting the menu button displayed on the screen with the cursor key that is always attached to the remote control device of the DVD player. . In the DVD format, the following items are defined as the DVD system menu.

1. Title menu (Title Menu)
The title menu designates which title the audio / video data is to be played back by the viewer when audio / video data of a plurality of titles (one movie or animation) is recorded on the DVD. It is a menu screen used for this purpose.

2. Chapter Menu (Chapter Menu)
The audio / video data of one title (one movie for movies, one album for music videos (video clips), etc., usually called a work) has its own delimiters (movies are scene changes) In the case of a video clip, there is a break that a record company producer wants to cue in the work, such as a break of a song), and this break is called a chapter. The chapter menu is a menu screen in which menu buttons for starting playback directly from each chapter are arranged on the screen.

3. Audio menu (Audio Menu)
The audio menu includes video data for each title recorded on a DVD and a plurality of audio channels (for example, movie video data, audio in the original language (original audio), and audio in multiple languages). It is a menu screen used for selecting which language to listen to when a dubbing voice is attached. In this audio menu, menu buttons with names of selectable languages and the like are arranged on the screen independently for each audio channel.

4). Subtitle menu (Sub Title Menu)
The subtitle is a term for movies and television broadcasting, and means a so-called “subtitle supermarket”. In the subtitle menu, when one or more types of subtitle super are attached to the title recorded on the DVD, which subtitle super is displayed or whether the subtitle super is displayed? It is a menu screen used for selecting. In this subtitle menu, a menu button with a name indicating a selectable subtitle super is arranged on the screen independently for each type of subtitle super.

5. Angle menu (Angle Menu)
The angle is a function specific to the DVD format. For example, when a soccer game is recorded, a plurality of cameras are usually used, and the cameras are simultaneously photographed in parallel from different camera angles by these cameras. In other words, for example, the video data of a soccer game can be obtained from a camera that is showing the entire game in a long time, from a camera that is chasing the attacking player up, or on the defensive side. And those obtained from cameras that are up-and-coming players. In this way, when a plurality of video data obtained by simultaneously photographing an object at a plurality of camera angles in parallel is recorded on a DVD and played back by a DVD player, the viewer can select any camera angle. It is a function called “angle” in the DVD that makes it possible to select whether to reproduce the video data obtained by shooting with the DVD. In the angle menu, menu buttons with names of selectable angles and the like are arranged on the screen independently for each angle.

6). Root Menu (Root Menu)
Up to this point, a total of five types of menus defined in the DVD format have been described. However, a remote control device of a DVD player is not always provided with five buttons for displaying each of the five types of menus. Absent. In the DVD format, the remote control device only requires two buttons, a button for calling a title menu and a button for calling other menus. Therefore, when the title to be reproduced requires any one or more of the chapter menu, the audio menu, the subtitle menu, and the angle menu, a special menu screen used to call these menus is necessary. The root menu is a menu screen on which one or more of a chapter menu, an audio menu, a subtitle menu, and an angle menu and operation buttons with names of the subtitle menu and the angle menu are arranged.

  When creating (authoring) each menu as described above, it is possible to create pixel data according to the sub-picture format on the DVD corresponding to each menu button, as well as depending on the navigation command to be attached to each menu button. Programming needs to be done for each menu button. The navigation command is a unique programming language prepared in the DVD format in order to control the playback method in the DVD player, as already described. The program described by the navigation command is recorded on the DVD together with the video data and the audio data, and the DVD player reproduces the video data and the audio data according to the program described by the navigation command.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a data structure for configuring the above-described menu and the like will be described. In a DVD, actually multiplexed data such as video and audio is called a video object (hereinafter referred to as VOB). A VOB is composed of a meaningful series of multiplexed video and audio data. For example, an audio menu or chapter menu corresponding to one movie title is accessed once and continuously played back. In particular, it is defined as multiplexed data that has great significance.

  Therefore, a single disk usually has a plurality of clusters called VOBs. As shown in FIG. 5, each VOB 62 has a VOB identification number (hereinafter referred to as a VOB ID number). A serial number (ID # 1 in FIG. 5) is given. Further, the VOB 62 is further divided into units of cells (hereinafter referred to as CELL) 63, and each CELL 63 has a CELL identification number (hereinafter referred to as a CELL ID number) in ascending order from 1. In FIG. 5, ID # 1 to ID # 6) are given. CELL 63 is not mechanically separated, but is defined as a meaningful mass, similar to the idea of VOB. For example, if it is a movie title, it corresponds to the division of each chapter, and if a certain menu is composed of a plurality of pages, it corresponds to each display page.

  Here, in the DVD format, the playback unit of menus and titles is represented by playback control data called a program chain (hereinafter referred to as PGC). As shown in FIG. 6, the PGC 70 includes a pre-command (hereinafter referred to as PRE CMD) 64, a VOB identification unit (hereinafter referred to as VOB ID) 65, and a post command (hereinafter referred to as POST CMD) 66. It is composed of Among these, the VOB ID 65 is composed of a combination of the above-mentioned VOB ID number and the top address on the disc in which the corresponding VOB is recorded. A plurality of VOB IDs 65 can be connected.

  The VOB ID 65 is further composed of a series of CELL information sections 67. Like the VOB ID 65, the CELL information section 67 is the CELL ID number in the VOB (in FIG. 6, CELL numbers CN # 1 to CN # 6) and the top address on the disc where the CELL is recorded. It is composed of a combination of a CELL identification unit (hereinafter referred to as CELL ID) 68 composed of a set and a cell command (hereinafter referred to as CELL CMD) 69 executed at the end of playback of the CELL. Yes. Note that the CELL CMD 69 can be omitted, is used only for special purposes such as the present invention, and often does not exist in a normal movie or still image menu.

  The DVD player knows the address where the entity of the multiplexed data to be reproduced is recorded by following the information of the VOB ID 65 and CELL ID 68 in order from the front, and actually reproduces it. For convenience, this operation is referred to as PGC playback. Note that PRE CMD64 is a navigation command (Navigation Command) executed before PGC reproduction, and POST CMD66 is a navigation command executed after PGC reproduction. The navigation command will be described later.

  From this viewpoint, the DVD playback mechanism is composed of a combination of a certain PGC 70, actual multiplexed data (VOB 62) corresponding to the PGC 70, and VOB ID 65 and CELL ID 68 attached thereto. It can be considered that playback is controlled by navigation commands CMD64, POST CMD66, and CELL CMD69. Actually, a larger amount of data is used for reproducing the DVD, but the description is omitted because it is not related to the present invention.

  Next, the navigation command will be described. In the DVD format, a program described by a navigation command is recorded on a DVD together with video data and audio data, and a DVD player reproduces video data and audio data according to the program described by the navigation command. For example, in a DVD, a plurality of audio channels can be multiplexed and recorded. For example, a program using a navigation command specifies which one of a plurality of audio channels to select, or directly to a chapter (Chapter). Used when jumping and starting playback. This example is the simplest program using a navigation command, but more complicated operations are possible.

  Also, for example, at the end of playback of a certain chapter, a still image (sub-picture) that asks the viewer a question appears. Depending on the viewer's answer to the question, the next jump is started to start playback. Interactive works that determine chapters are also possible with programs using navigation commands. This example is used in a work called multi-story / multi-ending (a work with high game elements in which there are choices such as A and B for each scene break and the next scene is determined by the selection result). It is a method that is called. Further, by using the navigation command, it is possible to realize a high degree of interactivity such as repeatedly reproducing a certain CELL or switching the reproduced CELL according to the viewer's own selection using the DVD menu.

  FIG. 7 shows a data structure in the CELL 63 in the multiplexed VOB 62 for realizing one menu. Note that the data structure for realizing the menu is determined for the entire PGC, but here, the description is limited to the description for configuring the menu button portion.

  First, for example, if a certain menu has a plurality of pages, each menu page is constituted by one CELL 63. These CELLs 63 are gathered by the number of pages and become a VOB 62 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the CELL 63 includes the following components.

1. Cell (CELL)
One CELL 63 includes all display data corresponding to one page of the menu and control data of the menu button. The CELL 63 includes a sub-picture (in the figure, SUB PICTURE) 71 as a display image of the menu button as display data, and highlight information data (in the figure, HLI (Highlight Information) as control data of the menu button). In the present embodiment, video data for the background of the menu screen (denoted as VIDEO in the figure) 73 is multiplexed, and the menu includes audio. In the case of an image (moving image or still image) menu, audio data (referred to as AUDIO in the figure) 74 is multiplexed. If the video data is a still image, a still image menu is displayed. If the video data is a moving image, a moving image menu is displayed.

2. Sub picture (SUB PICTURE)
The sub-picture 71 is an area in which pixel data and color information for displaying the menu screen are stored. The sub-picture pixel data (in the figure, referred to as “Sub Picture pixel data”) 75 and a button color, which will be described later. Data (denoted as BTN COLOR in the figure) 76.

3. Highlight information data (HLI)
The highlight information data 72 is an area for storing information related to selection of the menu button in the menu screen, and highlight color data (in the figure, indicated as High COLOR) 77 and button information data (in the figure, BTN). INFO.) 78. The highlight color data 77 is a color for changing (highlighting) the color of the selected menu button to indicate that it has been selected when a certain menu button in the menu screen is selected. Information and color information for changing the color of the menu button when the function assigned to the selected menu button is executed. The button information data 78 is an operation for moving the menu button to be selected in the menu screen up, down, left and right by the relative positional relationship of the menu buttons in the menu screen and the cursor key of the remote control device of the DVD player. Includes the adjacent information between the menu buttons necessary for instructing the menu button to be selected next, and the navigation command for determining the operation associated with the menu button.

4). Sub-picture pixel data The sub-picture pixel data 75 stores pixel data for displaying menu buttons. When the menu is composed of a plurality of pages, this pixel data also exists for the page.

5. Button color data (Button Color)
The button color data 76 includes color information when the pixel data of the sub picture for displaying the menu screen is not selected (when highlight processing is not performed) and color information when the menu button is highlighted. Data indicating a color palette that is a reference destination is stored.

6). Highlight color data (Highlight COLOR)
The highlight color data 77 stores color information for highlighting each menu button in the menu screen. This color information is selected color data (in the figure, the highlight color when the menu button is selected). 79, and action color data (in the figure, indicated as ACTION COLOR) 80 indicating the highlight color of the menu button when the function assigned to the selected menu button is executed. It is out. Each color data 79 and 80 is a pointer to data indicating a color palette in the button color data 76, and actual color data is not stored here.

7). Button information data (Button Information)
The button information data 78 includes button position data (indicated by BTN POSITION in the figure) 81 representing the relative positional relationship of each menu button in the menu screen and the cursor key of the remote control device of the DVD player. When an operation for moving the menu button to be selected is moved up, down, left, or right in, adjacent button data (adjacent button data) that is information necessary to specify the next menu button to be selected ADJ BTN)) 82 and a button command (in the figure, BTN CMD) 83 including navigation commands for executing the function assigned to the menu button. The button information data 78 plays a central role as a part describing the functional logic of each menu button on the menu screen.

8). Selected color data (SELECT COLOR)
The selection color data 79 stores a pointer to the highlight color palette when the menu button is selected.

9. Action color data (ACTION COLOR)
The action color data 80 stores a pointer to the highlight color palette of the menu button when the function assigned to the selected menu button is executed.

10. Button position data (Button Position)
The button position data 81 expresses the relative position of each menu button in the menu screen with pixel coordinates. Specifically, since the logical display area of each menu button is defined as a rectangle, the button position data 81 includes data of upper left and lower right coordinates of the area. The button position data 81 further includes a pointer to a color palette of color information when each menu button is not selected. In one menu screen, one type of color when not selected is determined regardless of the number of menu buttons. The button position data 81 further includes an automatic execution flag (AUTO ACTION FLAG) as automatic execution information indicating whether or not the function assigned to each menu button is automatically executed when each menu button is selected. Is included.

11. Adjacent button data (Adjacent Button)
The adjacent button data 82 includes a menu to be selected next when an operation for moving the menu button to be selected in the menu screen up, down, left, or right is performed by the cursor key of the remote control device of the DVD player. Neighboring information between menu buttons necessary for specifying a button is stored.

12 Button command (Button Command)
The button command 83 includes a navigation command for executing a function assigned to the menu button, and directly defines a function assigned to each menu button.

  FIG. 8 collectively shows the data structures of the VOB, PGC, and menu described above. As shown in this figure, the PGC 70 corresponding to the menu control data in the present invention includes a CELL information section 67 having CELL numbers CN # 1, # 2, # 3,. In FIG. 8, the CELL ID numbers of the CELL numbers CN # 1, CN # 2, CN # 3,... Are # 1, # 2, # 3,. In the CELL 63 of the VOB 62 indicated by the CELL information section 67, menu display data (video data, audio data, sub-picture data as a menu background) and highlight information data (HLI) as menu button control data It is included. FIG. 8 shows menu screen display data included in the CELL 63 having the CELL ID number # 1. In order to display one menu screen, such a complicated hierarchical data structure is necessary. However, when attention is paid to the navigation commands for controlling the mechanism for reproducing menus and titles, items related to display of the menu screen are PRE CMD64, CELL CMD69, POST CMD66, and BTN CMD83. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, the structure of the PGC 70 is simply represented by a CELL ID 68 indicating correspondence to the CELL 63 in addition to these navigation commands for convenience. Note that expressions such as BTN CMD # 1, # 2 in FIG. 9 mean that there are as many BTN CMDs as the number of menu buttons in the corresponding menu page. Strictly speaking, the BTN CMD 83 is included in the CELL 63, but in FIG. 9, it is included in the PGC 70 for convenience.

  Hereinafter, the outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the specific example shown in FIG. Here, an example of a chapter menu is given as the menu. FIG. 1 shows an example from the menu screen in this embodiment until a title is reproduced. The menu screen may be a normal still image, but is preferably created as a moving image with sound. This moving image with sound is programmed to be reproduced automatically and repeatedly. For example, on the menu screen 1 shown in FIG. 1, the appearance of the rabbit running toward the house is repeatedly reproduced with sound. At this time, the menu button is created as a still image based on a sub-picture, and is combined into a single image together with a moving image with background audio when reproduced by a DVD player. The moving image in the moving image with sound in the background is, for example, an image showing the rabbit running toward the house, and the sound is, for example, “Please choose the one you like. Is a message like this.

  On the menu screen 1 shown in FIG. 1, the user operates the cursor key of the remote control device, selects a menu button, and determines a chapter to be reproduced, as in the conventional menu. Similar to the conventional menu, when the operation of the menu button is determined, the menu button is in an action highlight state, and the highlight color of the menu button changes. In the conventional menu, the process proceeds to chapter playback. In this embodiment, after determining the operation of the menu button, in order to emphasize the action highlight state of the menu button, the menu button enters the action highlight state, and after the highlight color of the menu button changes, the action highlight state Is automatically played back, and then jumps to the chapter in the title selected by the menu button, and playback is started. This series of movements will be referred to as “dynamic highlight operation” for convenience. In addition, a moving image with sound indicating an action highlight state is referred to as a “dynamic highlight screen”. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, after the menu button “Scene 1: Beginning” 2 is selected and the action highlight state is set, the rabbit opens the door and enters the house, and the house is largely closed. The moving image is automatically displayed as a dynamic highlight screen 3 together with a special sound. Then, after the dynamic highlight screen 3 is displayed, on the title reproduction screen 4, the chapter moving image specified by the menu button “Scene 1: Beginning” 2 is reproduced. Special sounds include sound effects reminiscent of zoom-up, sound effects that open a house door, messages related to chapters to be played back, and the like.

  Next, the movement of the menu screen and the movement between pages due to the moving image with sound will be described. FIG. 2 shows a two-page menu screen created by a moving image with sound, a dynamic highlight screen reproduced according to a menu button (hereinafter referred to as BTN) selected on these menu screens, and It represents a chapter.

  The menu (P1) on the first page includes a BTN (# 1) 11 for instructing the reproduction of the chapter (1), a BTN (# 2) 12 for instructing the reproduction of the chapter (2), and a downward arrow. And a BTN (# 3) 14 for instructing switching to the next menu page. The menu (P2) on the second page includes a BTN (# 5) 17 for instructing the reproduction of the chapter (3), a BTN (# 6) 18 for instructing the reproduction of the chapter (4), and an upward direction. It has an arrow shape and includes a BTN (# 4) 20 for instructing switching to the previous menu page. First, the menu (P1) on the first page reproduces a moving image with sound as the menu screen 10, and repeats the reproduction (arrow 13) to automatically return to the beginning of the moving image after reproduction to the end. I do. Like the menu (P1), the menu (P2) on the second page also plays a movie with sound as the menu screen 16, repeats to the end and then automatically returns to the beginning of the movie Regeneration (arrow 19) is performed. The reproduction of the menu screen 10 of the first page is interrupted immediately after the BTN (# 3) 14 is selected and executed, and the reproduction is started from the first part of the menu screen 16 of the second page. Conversely, the reproduction of the menu screen 16 on the second page is interrupted immediately after the BTN (# 4) 20 is selected and executed, and the reproduction starts from the first part of the menu screen 10 on the first page.

  Next, the dynamic highlight operation will be described. Now, assume that the menu screen 10 of the first page is being played repeatedly. Therefore, when the BTN (# 1) 11 is selected and executed, immediately after that, the reproduction of the menu screen 10 of the first page is interrupted and the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 is automatically reproduced. When the reproduction ends, jump to the chapter (1) 22 in the title, which is the original function of the BTN (# 1) 11, and the reproduction starts. As in the case of executing the BTN (# 1) 11, when the BTN (# 2) 12 is selected and executed, the playback of the menu screen 10 of the first page is interrupted immediately after that and the dynamic highlight screen (1 ) 15 is automatically reproduced. When the reproduction is finished, jump to the chapter (2) 23 in the title, which is the original function of the BTN (# 2) 12, and the reproduction starts.

  When the menu screen 16 on the second page is being played repeatedly, if the BTN (# 5) 17 is selected and executed, the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21 jumps to the chapter (3) 24 after playback, and the BTN When (# 6) 18 is selected and executed, similarly to BTN (# 5) 17, jump to chapter (4) 25 after reproduction of dynamic highlight screen (2) 21, and reproduction is started. Such a dynamic highlight operation is realized by programming the navigation command and the structure of the PGC as menu control data.

  Here, in this embodiment, the structure of the PGC and the navigation command programming for performing the above-described operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, each menu includes sub-picture pixel data 75, button color data 76, selection color data 79, action color data 80, button position data 81, and adjacent button data 82. Although information is also required, detailed description is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention. Here, it is assumed that programming is performed so as not to contradict the description of the present invention. For example, a non-transparent color is designated for each button color data 76, the initial highlighted menu button is BTN (# 1) 11 or BTN (# 5) 17, and the adjacent button data 82 is It is assumed that only programming is described, such as a description of only the relationship.

  First, the VOB structure and the PGC structure, which are data structures, will be described in the case where the menu shown in FIG. 2 is realized as a chapter menu of the DVD system menu.

  As described above, in the DVD system menu, if any one of the chapter menu, the audio menu, the subtitle menu, and the angle menu exists, a root menu that is a special menu for calling these menus is essential. . Therefore, a PGC for the root menu which is a logical structure of the root menu is necessary. FIG. 3 shows the structure of the PGC (PGC # 1) 30 for the root menu. Since there is no menu page to be displayed as the root menu, the PGC 30 for the root menu does not have a VOB or CELL corresponding thereto, and is a special type of PGC consisting of only the PRE CMD31 among navigation commands. In the DVD format, such a PGC is called a dummy PGC.

  FIG. 4 shows the VOB structure and PGC structure of the menu as shown in FIG. The background video signal, audio signal, or sub-picture signal for the menu button that is actually played back as a chapter menu or dynamic highlight image is multiplexed as a series of data on the chapter menu VOB (VOB ID # 1) 61. It becomes. The VOB 61 includes four CELLs 41 to 44 having CELL numbers CN # 1 to CN # 4. In FIG. 4, the CELL ID numbers of the CELLs 41 to 44 of the CELL numbers CN # 1 to CN # 4 are set to # 1 to # 4, respectively. The data of the menu screen 10 of the first page in FIG. 2 as the menu screen display data is recorded in the CELL 41 whose CELL ID is # 1. Similar to the menu screen 10, the data of the menu screen 16 of the second page is recorded in the CELL 42 whose CELL ID is # 2, and the data of the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 as the response screen display data is CELL. The data is recorded in the CELL 43 whose ID is # 3, and the data of the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21 is recorded in the CELL 44 whose CELL ID is # 4.

  In this way, recording the menu screen display data and the dynamic highlight screen data in a series of order facilitates DVD authoring. That is, first, no special consideration is required when creating a master tape. Even when creating such a special menu, the user prepares a master tape with only the necessary video and audio connected, as well as creating a normal title. Production can be easily performed by simply specifying the position of the highlight part break on the master tape by the time code. Furthermore, since the data on the menu screen and the dynamic highlight screen is a series, it is completed in one operation even when encoding and multiplexing DVDs, so that it can be performed more efficiently than individual operations. it can.

  In contrast to the VOB 61 configured as described above, the PGC 40 has the following configuration. A series of VOBs 61 is assigned one chapter menu PGC (PGC # 2) 40. This PGC 40 includes information on four CELLs 41 to 44. These pieces of information are set as follows in order to correspond to the CELLs 41 to 44 in the VOB 61. The CELL ID number of CELL 41 of CELL number CN # 1 in VOB 61 is set to # 1, the CELL ID number of CELL 42 of CELL number CN # 2 is set to # 2, and the CELL ID number of CELL 43 of CELL number CN # 3 Is set to # 3, and the CELL ID number of CELL 44 of CELL number CN # 4 is set to # 4.

  CELLs 41 and 42 having CELL ID numbers # 1 and # 2 correspond to the menu screen 10 of the first page and the menu screen 16 of the second page shown in FIG. Since each of the menu screens 10 and 16 includes three menu buttons, three BTN CMDs (# 1 to # 3) are used as BTN CMD as response screen display instruction data and function execution instruction data in the CELL 41. 49 to 51 are provided, and three BTN CMDs (# 4 to # 6) 52 to 54 are provided as the BTN CMD in the CELL 42. CELLs 43 and 44 having CELL ID numbers # 3 and # 4 correspond to the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 and the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21. Since there are no menu buttons on the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 and the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21, no BTN CMD is set in the CELLs 43 and 44. Further, the PGC 40 includes CELL CMDs 55 to 58 for controlling the movement of reproduction corresponding to the four CELLs 41 to 44, and further includes PRE CMD59 and POST CMD60.

  In this embodiment, the fact that there is one chapter menu PGC 40 as described above is because there is a series of chapter menu VOBs 61, but this is largely due to the following advantages. First, various data described in the PGC 40 are collectively recorded on the disc as a PGC information table. However, when there are a plurality of PGCs, the PGC information table is also divided and recorded on the disc. Therefore, by recording the PGC information table together on the disk with one PGC 40, when the DVD player tries to reproduce the menu according to the present embodiment, all of the PGC 40 can be read in one access. Playback with good response. However, for example, when the PGC is divided into the menu portion and the dynamic highlight portion, the DVD player once accesses the PGC information table of the dynamic highlight portion when shifting from the reproduction of the menu portion to the reproduction of the dynamic highlight portion. Therefore, the playback response is degraded accordingly.

  Next, the contents of the navigation command in the case where the menu as shown in FIG. 2 is realized as a chapter menu of the DVD system menu will be described. The contents of navigation commands called PRE CMD, POST CMD, CELL CMD, and BTN CMD described in the PGC described above are the features of the present embodiment, so the contents of these navigation commands will be described. In the DVD format, when a navigation command is described, CELL CMD and BTN CMD must be described in one line. A collection of several CELLs is referred to as a program (PROGRAM; hereinafter referred to as PG), but it can be realized as one PG for one CELL without any problem, and there is essentially no influence. Therefore, in this embodiment, one PG is set for one CELL for simplification. Furthermore, some navigation commands must be described using PG numbers instead of CELL numbers (CN), and should be strictly distinguished. However, in this embodiment, 1 CELL is set to 1 PG. And what is described by the PG number represent the same thing.

  For CELL, it is necessary to write information such as seamless flag (SEAMLESS FLAG), cell type (CELL TYPE), block type (BLOCK TYPE), still time (STILL TIME) in the PGC information table. Since they are not directly related to the embodiment, their description is omitted. Here, it is assumed that the settings are consistent with the PGC and CELL structures in the present embodiment. The still time is an arbitrary value that is not infinite, and is 0 seconds here.

  First, in the PGC 30 for the root menu having no menu page to be displayed, only the PRE CMD 31 is described as shown in FIG. The contents of the PRE CMD 31 are commands to shift to the chapter menu.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the chapter menu PGC 40 includes PRE CMD59, BTN CMD49 to 54 for each menu button, CELL CMD55 to 58 for each CELL, and POST CMD60.

  There is no instruction corresponding to PRE CMD59. Therefore, after shifting to the chapter menu, it shifts to CELL 41 of CELL ID number # 1.

The contents of BTN CMD (# 1 to # 3) 49 to 51 in the CELL 41 with the CELL ID number # 1 are as follows.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 1) 49 is an instruction to set “1”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, to the parameter 1 and shift to the CELL 43 of the CELL number CN # 3. The parameter 1 is set with data for specifying the function assigned to the menu button, that is, data for specifying the final migration destination in this embodiment, and is set in the function specifying data in the present invention. Correspond.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 2) 50 is an instruction to set “2”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, to the parameter 1 and shift to the CELL 43 of the CELL number CN # 3.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 3) 51 is a command to shift to the CELL 42 of the CELL number CN # 2 corresponding to the menu screen 16 of the next menu page, that is, the second page.

  The content of the CELL CMD 55 corresponding to the CELL 41 is an instruction to shift to the beginning of the own CELL.

The contents of BTN CMD (# 4 to # 6) 52 to 54 in the CELL 42 having the CELL ID number # 2 are as follows.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 4) 52 is a command to shift to the previous menu page, that is, the CELL 41 of the CELL number CN # 1 corresponding to the menu screen 10 of the first page.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 5) 53 is an instruction to set “3”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, to the parameter 1 and shift to the CELL 44 of the CELL number CN # 4.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 6) 54 is an instruction to set “4”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, to the parameter 1 and shift to the CELL 44 having the CELL number CN # 4.

  The content of the CELL CMD 56 corresponding to the CELL 42 is an instruction to shift to the beginning of its own CELL.

  The contents of CELL CMD57 corresponding to CELL 43 of CELL ID number # 3 and CELL CMD58 corresponding to CELL 44 of CELL ID number # 4 are commands to move to the end of this PGC 40 and execute POST CMD60.

  The content of the POST CMD 60 is an instruction to shift to the numeric chapter written in the parameter 1. That is, when “1” is set in parameter 1, the process proceeds to chapter (1). When “2” is set in parameter 1, the process proceeds to chapter (2), and “3” is set in parameter 1. When “1” is set, the process proceeds to chapter (3). When “4” is set in parameter 1, the process proceeds to chapter (4).

  Such a navigation command makes it possible to control the reproduction operation described with reference to FIG.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10, for example, an operation using the menu screen in the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a DVD player and its peripheral devices. FIG. 10 shows a DVD player 91, a monitor 90 for displaying an image reproduced by the DVD player 91, and a remote control device 92 for operating the DVD player 91. The remote control device 92 completes the operation of the selected operation button and the upper cursor key 93, the lower cursor key 94, the left cursor key 95 and the right cursor key 96 for moving the selected operation button up, down, left and right. And a menu determination key 97.

  When a DVD having the above-described PGC 40 is played back by the DVD player 91, the viewer first operates an operation button or the like (not shown) provided on the remote control device 92 of the DVD player 91 to perform a desired operation. A menu screen is displayed on the monitor 90. For example, when the menu screen 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the monitor 90, the top menu button 2 is initially highlighted. From this state, the viewer can select the menu button 2 by pressing the up cursor key 93 or the down cursor key 94 of the remote control device 92. When the viewer presses the menu determination key 97 in a state where a button for specifying a chapter among the menu buttons 2 is selected (highlighted state), the dynamic highlight screen 3 is displayed, and then a predetermined chapter is displayed. Playback from is started.

  When the viewer presses the menu determination key 97 while the menu page switching button of the menu buttons 2 is selected, the menu page is switched.

  Next, an example of the configuration of a DVD player as a menu control device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The DVD player shown in this figure includes a motor 102 for rotating the DVD 101, a pickup 103 that is disposed so as to face the DVD 101 rotated by the motor 102 and detects information recorded on the DVD 101, and this pickup A demodulator 104 that demodulates and outputs the output signal 103, a switch 105 having two fixed contacts 105 a and 105 b and a movable contact 105 c, and the movable contact 105 c connected to the output end of the demodulator 104. ing. The pickup 103 irradiates the DVD 101 with light and detects return light to optically read information recorded on the DVD 101. The pickup 103 also includes a drive device for controlling the information reading position on the DVD 101 by moving the light irradiation position on the DVD 101 in the radial direction of the DVD 101.

  The DVD player further has an input terminal connected to the fixed contact 105a of the switch 105, and the output signal of the demodulator 104 input via the switch 105 is used as a navigation pack (Navigation Pack) for controlling the playback method of the DVD player. (Denoted as NAVI in the figure.) Demultiplexer (1) 108 that separates into 106 and presentation data (Presentation Data) 107 that is information to be provided to the viewer, a signal from the fixed contact 105b of the switch 105, and the demultiplexer (1) The navigation pack 106 from the CPU 108 is input, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 109 as a computer in the present invention for controlling the motor 102, the pickup 103, and the switch 105 is provided. The CPU 109 includes a ROM (read only memory) storing a program and a RAM (random access memory) serving as a work area, and by executing the program stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area. The operation described later is performed.

  The DVD player further describes the presentation data 107 from the demultiplexer (1) 108 as an encoded sub-picture signal (denoted as SP in the figure) 110 and an encoded video signal (denoted as V in the figure). .) 111 and the encoded audio data (denoted as A in the figure) 112 are demultiplexed (2) 113, and the sub-picture signal 110 from the demultiplexer (2) 113 is decoded (decoded). The sub-picture decoder 114, the video decoder 115 that decodes the video signal 111 from the demultiplexer (2) 113, and the audio signal 112 from the demultiplexer (2) 113 that is decoded and output as an audio output signal 117. Decoder 116 and sub-picture decoder 114 A display memory 118 that temporarily stores the decoded sub-picture signal to form a sub-picture, a display memory 119 that temporarily stores the decoded video signal from the video decoder 115 to form a moving image portion, and a display memory 118 , 119 are added to each other, and an adder 121 that outputs a video output signal 120 is provided.

  The CPU 109 has an information data storage area 122 for storing information data (Information Data) and a navigation control data storage area 123 for storing navigation control data (Navigation Control Data) included in the navigation pack 106 in the RAM. Have. The information data storage area 122 includes a general control data storage area 124 that stores general control data (General Control Data), and an entry search information storage area 125 that stores entry search information (Entry Search Information). Information data is input via the switch 105. Further, the CPU 109 sends a highlight display control (126) signal 126 for controlling highlights in the sub-picture stored in the navigation control data storage area 123 to the display memory 118.

  The DVD player further includes a receiving device 129 that receives a signal from the remote control device 92, performs signal processing, converts the signal into a signal corresponding to a key operation of the remote control device 92, and provides the signal to the CPU 109.

  Next, the operation of the DVD player shown in FIG. 11 will be described. First, the operation of reading information data by the DVD player will be described. In this case, the CPU 109 switches the switch 105 to the fixed contact 105b side, moves the pickup 103 and the motor 102 by servo control, reads the general control data and the entry search information from the DVD 101, and respectively controls the general control. The data is stored in the data storage area 124 and the entry search information storage area 125. The general control data includes static information necessary for reproduction such as video aspect ratio, audio coding type and number. The entry search information is a table in which address information indicating where the multiplexed data of each page of the menu and the multiplexed data of each title is written on the DVD 101 is collected in a table. Using this entry search information, the DVD player can start playback by moving the pickup 103 to an address where an arbitrary menu or title is designated.

  Next, the operation of reproducing the menu by the DVD player will be described. In this case, the CPU 109 switches the switch 105 to the fixed contact 105a side, knows the top address of the menu from the entry search information, and moves the pickup 103 and the motor 102 so that the menu information can be read. A reproduction signal is obtained. The reproduction signal is returned to a normal digital signal by the demodulator 104 and becomes a reproduction stream 127. When the playback stream 127 is schematically enlarged, the navigation pack (NAVI), the video signal (V), the audio signal (A), and the sub-picture signal (SP) appear to be multiplexed and arranged in order.

  Next, the reproduction stream 127 output from the demodulator 104 is separated into the navigation pack 106 and the presentation data 107 by the demultiplexer (1) 108. The navigation pack 106 which is one piece of separated data is stored in the navigation control data storage area 123 of the CPU 109. Since the navigation pack 106 includes the highlight information data 72 shown in FIG. 7, an instruction for reproducing the menu (adjacent button data 82, button command 83, etc. in FIG. 7) is also sent to the CPU 109 at this stage. Will be remembered.

  The presentation data 107, which is the other data separated by the demultiplexer (1) 108, is further separated by the demultiplexer (2) 113 into a sub-picture signal 110, a video signal 111 and an audio signal 112, and decoders corresponding to each of them. 114 to 116 return the decoded sub-picture signal, video signal, and audio signal. Note that the sub-picture signal output from the sub-picture decoder 114 and the video signal output from the video decoder 115 are temporarily stored in the display memories 118 and 119, respectively, and then added by the adder 121 to be added to the video output signal 120. Is output as The display memory 118 is supplied with a highlight display control signal 126 from the CPU 109. For example, when the highlight is moved in response to the operation of the cursor key of the remote control device on the menu screen, the CPU 109 directly uses the highlight display control signal 126 to directly highlight the display memory 118. By rewriting the corresponding location data, the visual effect of highlight color movement is obtained.

  As described above, the PGC of each menu is recorded on the disc as a part of an area called general control data as a PGC information table. The general control data on the disk is captured by the CPU 109 and stored in the general control data storage area 124. More specifically, in the PGC information table stored in the general control data storage area 124, the correspondence relationship between the PGC, the VOB ID number, and the CELL ID number is shown. In the entry search information storage area 125, The VOB information table indicating the physical address on the disk corresponding to each PGC, VOB ID number, and CELL ID number in the PGC information table is stored. Therefore, when reproducing the menu in the present embodiment, the CPU 109 reads the PGC information table from the general control data storage area 124, and as a result, knows the VOB ID number and CELL ID number of the PGC, and the entry search information storage area. From the 125 VOB information tables, the physical address on the disk corresponding to the VOB ID number and the CELL ID number can be known.

  Next, with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the operation of reproducing the menu by the DVD player in the present embodiment will be described. The following operation is mainly the operation of the CPU 109 in the example shown in FIG.

  This operation starts when the viewer instructs the DVD player to reproduce a predetermined menu using the remote control device (step S100). The CPU 109 of the DVD player executes the PGC for the root menu (step S101), shifts to the chapter menu according to the PRE CMD, and starts the reproduction of the chapter menu (step S102). Since there is no command corresponding to PRE CMD in the chapter menu PGC, the CPU 109 reproduces the CELL of CELL number CN # 1, that is, the menu screen 10 of the first page in FIG. 2 (step S103), and BTN. # 1 is selected and highlighted (step S104). Here, the CPU 109 determines whether or not a key of the remote control device has been pressed (step S105). If no key has been pressed (step S105; N), the CELL having the CELL number CN # 1 is finally displayed. And CELL CMD corresponding to the CELL number CN # 1 is executed (step S106). Since this CELL CMD is an instruction to shift to the beginning of its own CELL, the CPU 109 shifts to the beginning of the CELL of CELL number CN # 1, starts reproduction (step S107), and then proceeds to step S105. The menu screen 10 of the first page is repeatedly reproduced until the key input is performed from the remote control device. When a key of the remote control device is pressed (step S105; Y), the CPU 109 determines which key is pressed (step S108). When the left / right cursor key is pressed, the CPU 109 proceeds to step S106, continues to reproduce the menu screen 10 of the first page, and waits for a key input from the remote control device. When the up / down cursor key is pressed, the CPU 109 moves the selected highlight state to the adjacent button (step S109), returns to step S105, and waits for a key input from the remote control device.

  When the menu determination key is pressed, the CPU 109 determines which menu button is in the selected highlight state (step S110). When the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 1, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 1 to the action highlighted state (step S111), and executes BTN CMD # 1 in the CELL with the CELL number CN # 1 ( Step S112), “1”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, is set in the parameter (hereinafter referred to as GP) 1, and the process moves to CELL of CELL number CN # 3 (step S113). The highlight screen (1) 15 is reproduced (step S114). When the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 2, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 2 to the action highlighted state (step S115), and executes BTN CMD # 2 in the CELL with the CELL number CN # 1 ( Step S116), “2”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, is set in GP1, the process shifts to CELL of CELL number CN # 3 (step S117), and the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 in FIG. 2 is reproduced. (Step S114). After the BTN # 1 and # 2 are determined to be operated and the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 is reproduced, the CPU 109 executes the CELL CMD corresponding to the CELL of the CELL number CN # 3 (step S121). The process proceeds to the last POST CMD of the PGC (step S122).

  On the other hand, when the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 3, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 3 to the action highlighted state (step S118), and executes BTN CMD # 3 in the CELL with the CELL number CN # 1. (Step S119), the process moves to the CELL of the CELL number CN # 2, and the menu screen 16 of the second page is reproduced (Step S120), and BTN # 5 on the menu screen is set in the selected highlight state (Step S125). .

  The CPU 109 performs the same process as the process in the menu of the first page after setting BTN # 5 to the selected highlight state. That is, the CPU 109 first determines whether or not a key of the remote control device has been pressed (step S126). If no key has been pressed (step S126; N), the CELL of the CELL number CN # 2 is set. Playback is performed to the end, and the CELL CMD corresponding to the CELL number CN # 2 is executed (step S127). The CPU 109 shifts to the beginning of the CELL with the CELL number CN # 2, starts reproduction (step S128), returns to step S126, and waits for key input from the remote control device. When the key of the remote control device is pressed (step S126; Y), the CPU 109 determines the pressed key (step S129), and when the left / right cursor key is pressed, the process proceeds to step S127. When the up / down cursor key is pressed, the CPU 109 moves the selected highlight state to the adjacent button (step S130), and returns to step S126.

  When the menu determination key is pressed, the CPU 109 determines the menu button in the selected highlight state (step S131). When the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 5, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 5 to the action highlighted state (step S132), and executes BTN CMD # 5 in the CELL with the CELL number CN # 2 ( In step S133), “3”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, is set in GP1, the process shifts to CELL of CELL number CN # 4 (step S134), and the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21 in FIG. 2 is reproduced. (Step S135). When the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 6, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 6 to the action highlighted state (step S136), and executes BTN CMD # 6 in the CELL with the CELL number CN # 2 ( In step S137), “4”, which is the chapter number of the final transition destination, is set in GP1, the process proceeds to CELL of CELL number CN # 4 (step S138), and the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21 in FIG. 2 is reproduced. (Step S135).

  On the other hand, if the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 4, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 4 to the action highlighted state (step S139), and executes BTN CMD # 4 in the CELL of CELL number CN # 2. (Step S140), the process proceeds to CELL of CELL number CN # 1, and the menu screen 10 of the first page is reproduced (Step S141), and the process returns to Step S104.

  After the BTN # 1, # 2, # 5, and # 6 are determined to be operated and the dynamic highlight screens (1) and (2) are reproduced, the CPU 109 executes the PGC POST CMD for the chapter menu ( In step S123, the process proceeds to each chapter according to the value of GP1 (step S124). That is, when GP1 = 1, chapter (1) is played back, when GP1 = 2, chapter (2) is played back, when GP1 = 3, chapter (3) is played back, and when GP1 = 4 The chapter (4) is reproduced and the operation related to the chapter menu is ended.

  As described above, according to the computer-readable recording medium, the menu control method, and the menu control device that record the menu control data according to the present embodiment, the menu screen is a moving image with sound and the menu button. The dynamic highlight screens (1) and (2) created with moving images with sound are automatically played after the operation is determined, and then playback of the chapters in the actual title is started. Therefore, it is possible to create a menu that emphasizes the action highlight state of the selected menu button, has high expressive power, and attracts the viewer's interest.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the VOB and PGC for the menu screen and the dynamic highlight screen are combined into one and recorded in a series of orders, so that DVD authoring is easy and Various types of data to be described can be recorded together as a PGC information table on the disk and read in a single access, so that a DVD player can perform playback with good response.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, in a menu composed of a plurality of pages, the dynamic highlight screen can be reproduced even when the menu page is switched. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this example, the contents of BTN CMD (# 3) 51 of BTN # 3, BTN CMD (# 4) 52 of BTN # 4, and POST CMD 60 in FIG. 4 are as follows.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 3) 51 is an instruction to set “10” to PG1 and shift to CELL43 of CELL number CN # 3.
The content of the BTN CMD (# 4) 52 is an instruction to set “20” to PG1 and shift to the CELL 44 of the CELL number CN # 4.
The contents of the POST CMD60 are transferred to chapters (1) to (4) according to the values when “1” to “4” are set in PG1, respectively. When the value of PG1 is “10”, The instruction is to shift to CELL 42 with CELL number CN # 2, and when the value of PG1 is “20”, shift to CELL 41 with CELL number CN # 1.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the operation of reproducing the menu by the DVD player in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, CPU 109 executes BTN CMD # 3 when BTN # 3 is determined to be operated on the menu screen of the first page and BTN # 3 is brought into an action highlight state (step S118) (step S118). S119), “10” is set in GP1, the process proceeds to CELL of CELL number CN # 3 (step S120A), and dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 in FIG. 2 is reproduced (step S114). After the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 is reproduced, the CPU 109 executes the CELL CMD corresponding to the CELL number CN # 3 (step S121), and shifts to the last POST CMD of the PGC (step S122).

  Further, when the operation of BTN # 4 is determined on the menu screen of the second page and BTN # 4 is set in the action highlight state (step S139), CPU 109 executes BTN CMD # 4 (step S140), and GP1 Is set to “20”, the process proceeds to CELL of CELL number CN # 4 (step S141A), and the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21 in FIG. 2 is reproduced (step S135).

  After the dynamic highlight screens (1) and (2) are reproduced, the CPU 109 executes POST CMD (step S123), determines the value of GP1 (step S124A), and the following depending on the value of GP1: Perform the process. When the value of GP1 is “10”, that is, when the operation of BTN # 3 on the menu screen of the first page is determined, the process proceeds to CELL of CELL number CN # 2, and the menu screen of the second page is reproduced ( Step S143A), the process proceeds to step S125. When the value of GP1 is “20”, that is, when the operation of BTN # 4 on the menu screen of the second page is determined, the process proceeds to CELL of CELL number CN # 1, and the menu screen of the first page is reproduced ( Step S144A), the process proceeds to Step S104. If the value of GP1 is “1”, “2”, “3”, or “4”, that is, if any of BTN # 1, # 2, # 5, and # 6 is determined to be operated, According to the value, the process proceeds to each chapter and starts reproduction (step S142A).

  Other parts of the operation shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are the same as those in the first embodiment (FIGS. 14 and 15).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the BTN (# 3) 14 on the menu screen 10 of the first page in FIG. 2 is determined to be operated, the process proceeds to the beginning of the moving image playback on the menu screen 16 of the second page. Then, before the reproduction of the menu screen 16 of the second page is started, the moving image of the dynamic highlight screen (1) 15 is automatically reproduced once. When the operation of BTN (# 4) 20 on the second page menu screen 16 is determined, the process proceeds to the beginning of the moving image reproduction on the first page menu screen 10 and the reproduction of the first page menu screen 10 is performed. Before starting, the dynamic highlight screen (2) 21 is automatically played back. That is, the dynamic highlight operation can be sandwiched when switching the menu page, and a more attractive menu can be created.

  In addition, CELL for dynamic highlight screen to be reproduced when switching the menu page is added, and BTN CMD51 of BTN (# 3) 14 in FIG. 2 is used as an instruction to shift to the added CELL, and the CELL CMD of this added CELL Is an instruction to shift to CELL with CELL number CN # 2, and similarly, BTN CMD52 of BTN (# 4) 20 is to be transferred to the added CELL, and the CELL CMD of this added CELL is assigned to CELL number CN. It is also possible to insert a dynamic highlight operation when the menu page is switched by using an instruction to shift to # 1 CELL.

  Other configurations, operations, and effects in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an example in which the VOB and PGC for the menu screen and the dynamic highlight screen are divided into a plurality. Note that the same components as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In this example, for simplification, the case of a menu consisting of one page will be described, and description of the dummy PGC of the root menu will be omitted.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the VOB structure and PGC structure of the menu in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the menu screen data and the dynamic highlight screen data are recorded separately in separate VOBs 130 and 131. PGCs corresponding to the respective VOBs 130 and 131 are also divided into PGC 132 and PGC 133. Here, the VOBs 130 and 131 are VOB # 1 and VOB # 2, respectively, and the VOB ID numbers are # 1 and # 2, respectively. Also, PGCs 132 and 133 are referred to as PGC # 1 and PGC # 2, respectively.

  The VOB 130 in which the data for the menu screen is recorded is composed of one CELL 134 because it is a menu consisting of one page. The CELL number of this CELL 134 is CN # 1, and the CELL ID number is # 1. The PGC 132 corresponding to the VOB 130 includes a PRE CMD 135, information on the CELL 134, and a POST CMD 137. The information regarding CELL 134 includes a CELL ID number, two BTN CMDs # 1 and # 2, and a CELL CMD 142.

  On the other hand, the VOB 131 is also composed of one CELL 138 because it has one dynamic highlight screen. The CELL number of this CELL 138 is CN # 1, and the CELL ID number is # 1. The PGC 133 corresponding to the VOB 131 includes a PRE CMD 139, information on the CELL 138, and a POST CMD 141. The information regarding CELL 138 includes a CELL ID number and CELL CMD 143. Since there is no menu button on the dynamic highlight screen, there is no BTN CMD corresponding to CELL138.

  The contents of the navigation commands in the PGCs 132 and 133 are as follows. The chapter menu PGC 132 includes PRE CMD 135, BTN CMD # 1 and # 2 for each menu button, CELL CMD 142, and POST CMD 137.

  There is no instruction corresponding to PRE CMD135. Therefore, after shifting to the chapter menu, the process shifts to CELL 134 with CELL ID number # 1.

The contents of BTN CMD # 1 and # 2 in CELL 134 with CELL ID number # 1 are as follows.
The content of BTN CMD # 1 is an instruction to set “1”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, to PG1 and shift to PGC133 for the dynamic highlight screen.
The content of BTN CMD # 2 is an instruction to set “2”, which is the last transfer destination chapter number, to PG1 and shift to PGC133 for the dynamic highlight screen.

  The content of the CELL CMD 142 corresponding to the CELL 134 is an instruction to shift to the beginning of its own CELL.

  There is no instruction corresponding to POST CMD137.

  The PGC 133 for the dynamic highlight screen includes a PRE CMD 139, a CELL CMD 143, and a POST CMD 141. There are no instructions corresponding to PRE CMD139 and CELL CMD143.

  The content of the POST CMD 141 is an instruction to shift to the numeric chapter written in PG1. That is, when “1” is set in PG1, the process proceeds to chapter (1), and when “2” is set in PG1, the process proceeds to chapter (2).

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 19, the operation of reproducing the menu by the DVD player in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the process starts when the viewer instructs the DVD player to reproduce a predetermined menu using the remote control device (step S200). The CPU 109 of the DVD player executes the PGC for the root menu (step S201), shifts to the chapter menu according to the PRE CMD, and starts the reproduction of the chapter menu (step S202). Since there is no command corresponding to PRE CMD135 in the PGC (# 1) 132 for chapter menu, the CPU 109 reproduces the CELL 134 of CELL number CN # 1, that is, the menu screen as it is (step S203), and BTN # 1 is changed. The selected highlight state is set (step S204). Here, the CPU 109 determines whether or not a key of the remote control device has been pressed (step S205). If no key has been pressed (step S205; N), the CELL 134 with the CELL number CN # 1 is the last. And the CELL CMD 142 corresponding to the CELL number CN # 1 is executed (step S206). Since the CELL CMD 142 is instructed to shift to the beginning of its own CELL, the CPU 109 shifts to the beginning of the CELL 134 with the CELL number CN # 1, starts reproduction (step S207), and step S205. The menu screen is repeatedly reproduced until a key is input from the remote control device. When a key of the remote control device is pressed (step S205; Y), the CPU 109 determines which key is pressed (step S208). When the left / right cursor key is pressed, the CPU 109 proceeds to step S206, continues to reproduce the menu screen, and waits for a key input from the remote control device. When the up / down cursor key is pressed, the CPU 109 moves the selected highlight state to the adjacent button (step S209), returns to step S205, and waits for a key input from the remote control device.

  When the menu determination key is pressed, the CPU 109 determines which menu button is in the selected highlight state (step S210). When the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 1, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 1 to the action highlighted state (step S211), and executes BTN CMD # 1 in the CELL 134 having the CELL number CN # 1 ( In step S212, “1”, which is the chapter number of the final transition destination, is set in GP1, the process proceeds to PGC (# 2) 133 (step S213), and the dynamic highlight screen is reproduced (step S214).

  When the menu button in the selected highlight state is BTN # 2, the CPU 109 sets BTN # 2 to the action highlight state (step S215), and executes BTN CMD # 2 in the CELL 134 having the CELL number CN # 1 ( In step S216), “2”, which is the chapter number of the final transition destination, is set in GP1, the process proceeds to PGC (# 2) 133 (step S217), and the dynamic highlight screen is reproduced (step S214). After the BTN # 1 and # 2 are determined to be operated and the dynamic highlight screen is reproduced, the CPU 109 executes the last POST CMD 141 of the PGC (# 2) 133 (step S218), and executes each of the values according to the value of GP1. The process proceeds to a chapter (step S219). That is, when GP1 = 1, the chapter (1) is reproduced, and when GP1 = 2, the chapter (2) is reproduced, and the operation relating to the chapter menu is ended.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the data for the menu screen and the data for the dynamic highlight screen are recorded separately in separate VOBs and PGCs, and therefore should be linked to a set of VOBs and PGCs, respectively. By changing the PGC number, the number of menu pages can be increased and the configuration can be changed. From the viewpoint of navigation command programming, programming is facilitated and the versatility of the created program can be enhanced.

  When a menu is composed of a plurality of pages, the above-described VOB configuration and PGC configuration are set as one set for each page. For example, VOB and PGC corresponding to a new page are VOB # 3 and VOB # 4. , PGC # 3 and PGC # 4, the menu page switching BTN CMD may be described with an instruction to shift to the PGC corresponding to the destination page.

  Other configurations, operations, and effects in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the menu button operation determination response screen is a moving image with sound. However, this may be a still image or an image without sound. good. Similarly, the menu screen may be a still image or an image without sound. In addition, the computer-readable recording medium on which the menu control data according to the present invention is recorded is not limited to the DVD as described in the above embodiment, but may be another type of recording medium. Similarly, the menu control method and apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to displaying a menu screen used when reproducing information recorded on a DVD by a DVD player, and is recorded on other types of recording media. It can also be applied to the case of displaying a menu screen that is used when reproducing the recorded information. Furthermore, it does not use menu control data recorded on a removable recording medium such as a DVD. The present invention can also be applied to a case where a menu screen is displayed using menu control data stored in a storage device.

It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the outline of operation | movement from the menu screen in 1st Embodiment of this invention to reproduction | regeneration of the moving image of a chapter. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement from the menu screen which consists of several pages in 1st Embodiment of this invention to reproduction | regeneration of the moving image of a chapter. It is explanatory drawing which shows the PGC structure of the root menu in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure for comprising the menu shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of VOB in DVD. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of PGC in DVD. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of CELL in DVD. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the structure of PGC in DVD, and the structure of VOB. It is explanatory drawing which simplifies and shows the structure of PGC in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a DVD player and its peripheral device. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the DVD player in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the sub picture in DVD. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the sub picture in DVD. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of reproduction of a PGC by a DVD player when performing the reproduction operation shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a reproduction operation following FIG. 14. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the reproduction | regeneration operation | movement in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a reproduction operation following FIG. 16. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the data structure in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the reproduction | regeneration operation | movement in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen of the chapter menu in a DVD player. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the menu screen in DVD in the state where the menu button was highlighted.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 16 ... Menu screen, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20 ... Menu button, 15 ... Dynamic highlight screen (1), 21 ... Dynamic highlight screen (2), 22, 23, 24, 25 ... Chapters: 40 ... PGC, 41, 42, 43, 44 ... CELL, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 ... BTN CMD, 55, 56, 57, 58 ... CELL CMD, 59 ... PRE CMD, 60 ... POST CMD, 61 ... VOB

Claims (13)

A computer-readable recording medium on which menu control data for realizing input of instructions according to operations on a menu screen is recorded,
The menu control data is
Menu screen display data for displaying a menu screen having one or more menu buttons for instructing execution of a predetermined function;
Response screen display data for displaying a predetermined menu button operation decision response screen,
Response screen display instruction for instructing display of the menu button operation determination response screen using the response screen display data when determining the operation of the menu button on the menu screen displayed using the menu screen display data Data and
After displaying the menu button operation decision response screen, a computer-readable recording of menu control data having a data structure including function execution instruction data for instructing execution of a function assigned to the menu button Recording medium.   2. The computer-readable recording medium on which menu control data is recorded according to claim 1, wherein the response screen display data is data for displaying a menu button operation determination response screen including a moving image.   2. The computer-readable record recording the menu control data according to claim 1, wherein the response screen display data is data for displaying a menu button operation determination response screen including an image with sound. Medium.   The response screen display instruction data includes function specifying data for specifying a function assigned to the menu button, and the function execution instruction data is for instructing execution of a function specified based on the function specifying data. The computer-readable recording medium on which the menu control data is recorded according to claim 1, wherein   2. The menu according to claim 1, wherein the menu screen display data includes data for changing a display form of the menu button when the menu button is not selected, when provisionally selected, and when the operation is determined. A computer-readable recording medium on which control data is recorded.   2. The computer-readable recording medium storing menu control data according to claim 1, wherein the menu screen display data is data for displaying a menu screen including a moving image with sound.   2. The computer-readable recording medium on which menu control data is recorded according to claim 1, wherein the menu screen display data and the response screen display data are recorded as a series of data. A menu control method for realizing input of instructions according to operations on a menu screen,
Displaying a menu screen having one or more menu buttons for instructing execution of a predetermined function;
When the operation of the menu button on the menu screen is determined, a predetermined menu button operation determination response screen is displayed,
A menu control method comprising: executing a function assigned to a menu button after displaying a menu button operation decision response screen.   The menu control method according to claim 8, wherein the menu button operation determination response screen includes a moving image.   The menu control method according to claim 8, wherein the menu button operation determination response screen includes an image with sound. A menu control device for realizing input of instructions according to operations on a menu screen,
Menu screen display means for displaying a menu screen having one or more menu buttons for instructing execution of a predetermined function;
Response screen display means for displaying a predetermined menu button operation determination response screen when the operation of the menu button on the menu screen displayed by the menu screen display means is determined;
A menu control apparatus comprising: function execution means for executing a function assigned to the menu button after the response screen display means displays the menu button operation determination response screen.   12. The menu control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the response screen display means displays a menu button operation determination response screen including a moving image. 12. The menu control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the response screen display means displays a menu button operation determination response screen including an image with sound.

Images