JP3213225B2 - Multimedia playback device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multimedia reproducing apparatus for reproducing multimedia information such as moving images, still images, texts, sounds, etc. by using a computer in accordance with a predetermined scenario. The reading of the multimedia information to be performed from the file is performed so as not to hinder the reproduction of other information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Multimedia information is displayed by combining various objects such as moving images, still images, and texts. Many multimedia titles take the form of displaying a still image or text object in a window on the screen in order, while displaying a moving image object as a base axis on the screen. A playback device that plays back the multimedia title reads a moving image (hereinafter, referred to as a base object) and additional information such as a still image / text (hereinafter, referred to as an additional object) from a file or the like, and plays back according to a scenario.

[0005] The reading of the additional object in the multimedia title reproducing apparatus is performed at a necessary timing according to the progress of the scenario.
Either a "sequential reading method" for reading a file at the time of displaying the additional object, or a "batch reading method at startup" for reading all necessary additional objects at the time of startup is adopted.

[0004]

However, in the conventional multimedia title reproducing apparatus that adopts the sequential reading method, each time an additional object is displayed, the corresponding data is read from a file or the like, and the additional object for display is read. Since the generation process is performed, there is a problem that the reproduction of the title is hindered, for example, the progress of the title, especially the reproduction of a key object such as a moving image is temporarily interrupted.

[0005] This point will be described with reference to FIG. 2 taking a personal computer (title reproducing terminal) operating in a single task as an example. As shown in FIG. 2A, this personal computer has a moving image reproducing system for reproducing moving images and a still image display system for reproducing still images. The personal computer stores moving image and still image data from a network system. Retrieve the necessary data via.

[0006] Reproduction of a moving image is performed by a moving image reproducing system acquiring data from a server through a network system. For this processing, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 2B, data is acquired through the network system at the moving image retrieval time, and this data acquisition is repeated at a certain interval (moving image retrieval waiting time). Done. If the acquisition interval of the moving image data is disturbed, the reproduction of the moving image may be interrupted.

On the other hand, a still image display system displays a still image.
Data is acquired through a network system. While the still image data is being extracted, even if the moving image reproducing system requests the extraction of the moving image data, it cannot be processed. For this reason, the time required to extract the still image data affects the reproduction of the moving image. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B- (1), if the reading time of the still image data is long, the reading process of the still image is not completed until the time indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2B- (11). In this case, the retrieval of moving image data is hindered, and the retrieval interval of the moving image data is disturbed, which affects the reproduction of the moving image. Further, even when the reading time of one still image is shorter than the waiting time for taking out a moving image as shown in FIG. 2B- (2) (FIG. 2B- (21)), the next still image reading request is not issued. Immediately (prior to the moving image retrieval request), the still image reading process is not completed until the time indicated by the arrow in FIG. It will affect playback.

However, as shown in FIGS. 2 (b)-(3), by shortening the reading time of a still image and by providing an interval that does not disturb the request for taking out a moving image, the reproduction of the moving image is affected. Still images that are not given can be read. That is, the still image may be read during the waiting time for taking out the moving image. Since the reading time of a still image is proportional to the file size of a still image, in other words, the file size of one still image is set to a size that does not affect the reproduction of a moving image (hereinafter, referred to as a lead division size). In addition, it can be said that reading should be performed at a certain interval (hereinafter, referred to as a read interval).

If the block size of the still image to be read is larger than the block size that does not affect the reproduction of the moving image, the still image is not read at once as shown in FIG. -(1)), the still image is divided by the read division size (FIG. 3- (2)), the file of the divided size is read at each read interval (FIG. 3- (3)), and all the read blocks are read. The images are synthesized (FIG. 3- (4)) and displayed. As described above, by dividing a large still image and reading it in a small size, the influence on the reproduction of the moving image can be avoided.

[0010] Also, in the case of the startup batch reading method, the reading of the additional object does not affect the reproduction of the moving image. However, in this case, there is a problem that the startup time is delayed in proportion to the number of display additional objects and in proportion to the file size of the additional objects, thereby increasing the user's startup waiting time. Furthermore, in order to read all the additional objects at the time of activation, a large capacity memory is required in the device.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem. It is possible to read an additional object in parallel while reproducing a base object without affecting reproduction of the base object. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multimedia playback device that can perform the playback.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multimedia reproducing apparatus capable of further shortening the system start-up time when reading an additional object in such a manner.

[0013]

Therefore, in the present invention, the file size of the additional object to be read at one time and the time interval of the file to be read at one time are calculated so as not to hinder the reading of the base object, and the data of the data is calculated. Information storage means for accumulating the information, the additional object acquisition time calculating means for calculating the time required for divided reading of one additional object based on the file size and the time interval of the file, and the time required for divided reading of each additional object Serial schedule management means for scheduling the entire reading so that reading of a plurality of additional objects does not overlap at the same time from the timing of the reproduction of the additional object and the serial schedule.
Read before starting playback of the axis object by the
Attached object scheduled to start
Batch loading means for batch loading of objects
And a main axis object by the serial schedule management means.
To start reading after the project has started playing.
A means for reading the additional object according to the scheduled read timing for the additional object which has been made into a schedule is provided in the multimedia reproducing apparatus.

Therefore, during reproduction of the base object,
The divisional reading of the additional object is performed without causing the interruption of the reproduction, and the reproduced video according to the scenario is displayed. Further, since the additional object is read in parallel with the reproduction of the base object, the system startup time can be reduced. In addition,
Start reading before starting playback of the object.
Batch loading of additional objects scheduled
To reduce system startup time
be able to.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a multimedia reproducing apparatus which reads a base object and an additional object and reproduces them in accordance with a scenario, a file size to be read at one time of an additional object and a file size at one time. Division information accumulation means for accumulating data with the time interval of the file to be read, additional object acquisition time calculation means for calculating the time required for dividing and reading one additional object based on the file size and the time interval of the file, from the time required for division reading the additional object and the timing of reproduction of the additional object, the tandem schedule management means for reading the plurality of additional objects performs scheduling reading a whole so as not to overlap the same time, the series-type scale
Before the start of playback of the core object by the module management means
Additions scheduled to start loading into
Batch loading for loading objects all at once
Means and the serial type schedule management means.
Start reading after starting playback of the object.
Divided reading control means for instructing the start of reading the additional object in accordance with the scheduled reading timing for the scheduled additional object, and additional object reading means for performing divided reading of the additional object file in accordance with the instruction of the divided reading control means During playback of the base object, the additional object can be read without affecting the playback (interruption), and can be read before the start of the playback of the base object.
Attached object scheduled to start
By loading all the data at once,
Startup time can be shortened.

[0016]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base object.
Read the objects and additional objects and follow the scenario
In a multimedia playback device that plays back,
File size to be read at one time and read at one time
Information storage for storing data with time intervals of files
Means, file size and file time interval
Divides and reads one additional object based on
Additional object acquisition time calculation means for calculating time;
Time and load required to read each additional object separately
Depending on the timing of object playback, multiple additional
The entire loading of objects is not duplicated at the same time
Serial scheduling that schedules the reading of data
Of the additional objects scheduled to be read before the reproduction of the base object is started by the serial schedule management means and the serial type schedule management means, are divided into a part for batch reading and a part for division reading. Read distribution control means and read distribution control means
The base object is the one that is distributed and loaded in batches
A batch loading means for loading the content in batches before playback starts,
Divided read by read distribution control means
By using the serial schedule management means,
Schedule to start loading after the project starts playing
Schedules for additional objects that are
Additional objects according to the read timing
Read control means for instructing to start reading
And the additional object according to the instruction of the divided reading control means.
Object that reads the object file separately
The reading means is provided, and the start-up time of the system can be further reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a divided data instructing means for dynamically changing a file size and a file time interval used as a basis for calculation by the additional object acquisition time calculating means in accordance with a transfer rate of a base object. The multimedia video can be reproduced without any trouble even when the type of the base object is changed.

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

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, a multimedia reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment reads scenario data representing a title, and a scenario analysis means analyzes the read scenario. 101, a division information storage unit 102 for storing a file size of the additional object read at one time and a time interval of the file to be read at one time, and a file size of the additional object obtained from the division information storage unit 102 to be read at one time. Additional object lead division size storage means 103 to be stored
And one of the additional objects obtained from the division information storage unit 102
Additional object read interval storage means 104 for storing a time interval of a file to be read at a time, additional object acquisition time calculation means 105 for calculating a time required for divided reading of one additional object, and each calculated additional object acquisition time. From the display timing of the additional object, a serial schedule management means for sequentially performing the entire read scheduling so that a plurality of additional objects are not read simultaneously.
106, a divided read control unit 107 for instructing a read start according to a scheduled read timing
Additional object reading means 108 for dividing and reading the additional object file, and additional object storing means 109 for storing the read file data.
Display control means 110 for controlling the display timing of the object according to the analyzed scenario; timer event generating means 111 for performing time monitoring; base object reading means 112 for reading the base object; And a display means 113 for displaying a key object.

This reproducing apparatus operates according to the procedures shown in FIGS.

Step 401: The scenario reading means 100 reads scenario data. Step 402: The read scenario data is transferred to the scenario analyzing means 101. Step 403: The scenario analysis means 101 analyzes the scenario and generates a display table representing the display timing of the base object and the additional object.

FIG. 4 shows an example of scenario data used in the title reproducing apparatus. A process of generating a display table from a specific example of this scenario will be described.

The unit of the numerical value of the described scenario is, for example, that the width, height, coordinates X, and coordinate Y are dots, the file size is bytes, and the processing time is seconds. The display timing is described in the synchronization trigger data of the scenario, and items to be described in the display table are required by linking other descriptor data based on the synchronization trigger data.

The synchronization trigger data (1) describes the processing content <display> of the processing target window <0> in the processing time <0.0> seconds. Window I to be processed
Since D matches the window ID in the window descriptor, the display window size width 320 is obtained from (2).
In the window represented by the dot, the height of 240 dots, the display X coordinate of 0 dot, and the Y coordinate of 0 dot, the displayed material is 0 described in the material ID. The material to be displayed matches the material ID described above and the material ID described in the material descriptor. mpg, and the file size is 5 megabytes. Also, since the base object ID is 0 in the title descriptor, the material ID is 0, that is, this moving image material is the base object, and other than this material is an additional object.

In the next synchronization trigger data (4), the processing content <display> of the processing target window <1> is described in the processing time <2.0> seconds. Since the processing target window ID matches the window ID in the window descriptor, the display window size width 1
In the window represented by 00 dots, height 100 dots, display X coordinate 350 dots, and Y coordinate 350 dots, the material displayed is 1 described in the material ID. Since the material to be displayed matches the material ID described above and the material ID described in the material descriptor, the still image A. bmp, the file size is 200 kilobytes.

By repeating the same analysis, as shown in FIG. 7, the time displayed for each object, the window to be displayed (FIG. 7A), its size and position (FIG. 7B) The data analysis result of ()) is constructed on the memory.

Step 404: The scenario analysis means 101 delivers the analysis result to the display control means 110.

Step 405: The scenario analyzing means 101
For the additional object acquisition time calculation means 105,
Notifies that the scenario analysis has been completed.

Step 406: The additional object acquisition time calculation means 105 acquires one file size for dividing and reading the additional object from the additional object read division size storage means 103, and repeats one file reading. The interval time is obtained from the additional object read interval storage unit 104. The additional object read division size storage unit 103 and the additional object read interval storage unit 104
Is stored in advance.

Here, a method of obtaining a value to be stored in the division information storage unit 102 will be described. In FIG. 23A, the still image display system in FIG. 2 is renamed as a division processing system in order to focus on division reading. The division processing system reads the additional object based on the lead division size and the read interval, and performs processing for combining and displaying. Here, as shown in FIG. 23B, the read division size when reading the additional object is S, and the time (data acquisition time) required to read the read division size is TSt. The lead division size is equal to the data request of the additional object. Further, an interval for performing reading with the read division size, that is, a read interval is set to TS. On the other hand, the data request size of the base object is represented by M, the data acquisition time TMt of the base object, and the data acquisition interval TM.

Acquisition interval TS of data of additional object
Is set to TS = TM so as not to hinder the data acquisition interval TM of the base object. In addition, the data acquisition speed from the network of the network system is set to v (bps). From this, the read division size and the read interval are obtained. TM (sec) −TMt (sec)> TSt (sec) (1) for the division processing system to acquire data without affecting data acquisition of the base object. TMt and Tst can be obtained from the data request size and the network transfer rate.

TMt (sec) = M (bit) / v (bps) (2) TSt (sec) = S (bit) / v (bps) (3) Substitute (2) and (3) for (1) Then, v * TM-M> S (4). Here, in the reproduction of the base object, the temporary storage area (buffer) of the acquired data is set to B (bi).
t), and if a data acquisition request is issued when a% of the B (bit) is consumed for reproducing a moving image, M (bit) = a * B (bit) (0 <a <1) It becomes (5). In addition, when the transfer rate of the base object is R (bps), the required interval TM of the base object is TM (sec) = a * B (bit) / R (bps) (6), and (5) (6) By substituting into (4), (v * a * B / R)-(a * B)> S (7) Since a, B, R, and v are known values, they can be treated as constants. The lead interval TM and the lead division size S to be obtained can be obtained from equations (6) and (7).

The meaning of these values is again shown in FIG.
FIG. 8B shows an example of the stored data.
As shown in FIG. 8A, the read division size is a file size read at one time. The read interval indicates an interval for instructing the start of reading in the read division size. The read division size and the read interval can be positioned as the read size and the interval of the additional object which do not hinder the read request of the base object and the processing content thereof. In the present embodiment,
For convenience of explanation, the lead division size is set to 100 kilobytes.
e, The read interval is 500 milliseconds. In other words, one reading is performed at a size of 100 kilobytes, reading at a size of 100 kilobytes is repeated at intervals of 500 milliseconds. For example, if the file size is 200 kilobytes
In the case of e, reading is performed twice.

Step 407: Next, the additional object acquisition time calculation means 105 calculates the time required for reading the additional object (file size / read division size * read interval), and notifies the serial schedule management means 106. In the present embodiment, the file size of the still image A is 200 kilobytes. Therefore, if reading is performed at a division size of 100 kilobytes and at intervals of 500 milliseconds, the reading time is 1 second (200 kilobytes).
e / 100 kilobytes * 500 milliseconds). Similarly, for still image B, 5 seconds (1 megabyte / 100 kilob
(yet * 500 milliseconds), and still image C takes 10 seconds (2 megabytes / 100 kilobytes * 500 milliseconds) to read.

FIG. 9A shows the display table obtained earlier, and FIG. 9B shows the time required to read each still image using the read division size and the read interval. .

Step 408: The serial schedule management means 106 determines the time required to read each additional object obtained by the additional object acquisition time calculation means 105 (according to FIG. The image B is 5 seconds, the still image C is 10 seconds, and the individual display times (still image A is 2 seconds, still image B is 6 seconds according to FIG. 9A).
(Second and still image C is 15 seconds), the reading start time is determined according to the following two procedures.

(1) The reading of each additional object must be completed before the display start time. As shown in FIG. 10, the still image A is the base object 2
Since the display starts from the second, the reading needs to be completed at the second time. Since the divided reading time of the still image A takes one second as previously obtained, the reading of the still image A is performed at the first second (second second to one second) of the base object.
Start with. Similarly, the still image B starts reading from the first second (sixth to five seconds) of the base object, and the still image C starts reading from the fifth second (the fifteenth to ten seconds) of the base object. The reading start time is calculated as described above.

(2) The read start time obtained in (1) is a read start time considered for each additional object. The value stored in the division information storage unit 102 is a value determined based on the reading of one additional object, and affects the reproduction of the base object when a plurality of additional objects are read at the same time. It will be. Therefore, the reading start time is changed so that reading of a plurality of additional objects is not performed simultaneously.

The change is based on the additional object displayed last, in this embodiment, the still image C. Here, the reading start time of the still image C is referred to as a reference reading time. The reading start time of each object arranged at the reference reading time is the time at which reading should actually start. The reading start time of the still image C (that is, the reference reading start time) is the fifth second from the start of the reproduction of the base object. From the fifth second to the fifteenth second after the reading is completed, the presence of the additional object being read is confirmed. In the present embodiment, since the reading of the still image B is performed from the first second to the sixth second of the base object, the reading of one second from the last fifth to the sixth second occurs simultaneously. become. Therefore, the reading start time of the still image B is shifted one second before, and the start time is changed so that the reading of the still image A and the still image B is not performed simultaneously. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the still image B is shifted by one second and arranged at the reference reading time.
Therefore, the reading of the still image B is performed using the 0
This is performed at the second time, that is, at the same time when the display of the base object is started. If still picture B is not included,
When there is an additional object to be read in the second, the display start time is arranged at the reference reading time from the later display start time.

Next, a still image A to be read after the reference reading time of 0 seconds is arranged. Since the reference reading time is 0 to 15 seconds, the reading start time of the still image A is arranged before 0 seconds, and the time required for reading is 1 second. (FIG. 12). If two or more additional objects are read at the same time, the additional objects are arranged at the reference reading time from the later display start time.

Step 409: The serial schedule management means 106 notifies the divided reading control means 107 of the calculated result. The notified contents are as shown in FIG. 13 in the present embodiment. The divided reading control means 107 determines whether or not there is an additional object whose reading start time is negative, and if so, step 410: resets the internal counter by a trigger generated from the timer event generating means 111, An instruction for divisional reading is issued to the additional object reading means 108.

Step 411: The additional object reading means 108 starts reading the file according to the additional object file name, the read division size value, and the read interval value. Step 412: Sends the read result to the additional object storage means 109, It is stored in the window ID area corresponding to the material ID read by the storage means.

Step 413: Timer event generating means 111
Notifies the read time to the divided reading control means 107 at regular intervals, and the divided reading control means 107 increments the internal counter.

For example, if the timer event generating means 111 is 1
When the notification is made every 0 milliseconds, the lapse of 20 milliseconds can be calculated with two notifications.

Step 414: If there is another additional object whose reading start time is negative, when the time obtained from the internal counter has been reached,
Repeat reading in the same way (from step 411 to step 4
12). For example, when the reading start time is indicated by -3 and -1, first, the additional object corresponding to -3 is read, and since there is 2 seconds between -3 and -1, the internal counter indicates 2 seconds. If you calculate the passage of seconds,
The reading of the additional object corresponding to -1 is started.

Referring to FIG. 6, step 415: When reading of all the additional objects whose reading start time is negative is completed, the divided reading control means 107 requests the display control means 110 to start reproduction of the base object. The display control unit 110 instructs the display unit 113 to reproduce the base object. The display unit 113 reads the base object in real time from the base object reading unit 112 and displays the base object. The display means 113 is controlled by the display control means 110,
The main axis object is read periodically, and the reproduction of the main axis object is repeated.

Step 416: The display control means 110 and the divided reading control means 107 reset the internal counter in parallel with the start of the reproduction of the base object. Step 417: Timer event periodically generated from the timer event generation means 111 Step 418: The reproduction time is calculated from the internal counter as described above.

Step 419: As soon as the additional object reading start period is reached, the divided reading control unit 107 instructs the additional object reading unit 108 to read in the same manner as described above, and sequentially stores them in the additional object storage unit 108.

Step 421: On the other hand, the display control means 110 also calculates the time from the timer event that occurs periodically, and as soon as the display timing comes, Step 422: the window ID to be displayed and the size of the window (width, height) , Coordinates (X, Y) to the display means 113. The display means 113 is a means for storing the additional object 1
Retrieves the additional object stored in 09 and displays the specified window.

Step 423: The display control means 110 notifies the display means 113 of the window ID to be deleted as soon as the deletion timing comes. The display unit 113 deletes the corresponding window. This erasing may be performed either when the data is deleted from the memory or when the display is not performed while the data is retained.

In the scheduling by the serial type schedule management means 106, simultaneous divisional reading of a plurality of additional objects can be avoided, and the divisional reading of the corresponding additional object ends before the display of each object starts. If so, the division reading start time may be set in any manner.

As described above, in this multimedia reproducing apparatus, one file is divided and read, whereby
The additional object can be read without hindering the real-time reading interval of the base object and without affecting the reproduction of the base object.

Further, for the additional objects for which the serial schedule management means 106 has designated the start of negative reading, all the reading is performed before the reproduction of the base object, and the reproduction of the base object is completed. Later. However, other additional objects are read in parallel with the reading of the base object, so that the startup time can be reduced as compared to the startup batch loading method.

In particular, in this apparatus, a serial type schedule management means 106 is provided to calculate a reading start time suitable for a reproducing apparatus when executing a scenario, and perform divisional reading of an additional object. Multimedia reproduction can be realized without affecting the reproduction of the base object and in a form in which the startup time is reduced. The division information storage unit 102 stores a file size to be read at one time and a value of a file reading time interval. These values correspond to the processing speed of the CPU of the reproducing apparatus, the memory capacity and the processing speed, and the moving image reproducing decoder. It depends on various factors such as the buffer size and the network transfer rate. Therefore, if the playback device changes, the time required to read one additional object also changes.
Therefore, when creating a scenario (authoring), it is impossible to determine the display time of the additional object in consideration of the read time of the additional object. However, in this apparatus, as described above, the serial schedule management means 106 sets a reading start time suitable for each reproduction apparatus, so that reproduction according to a scenario becomes possible.

It should be noted that even when the time of the base axis object is represented by frame information instead of the absolute time,
Since the number of frames per second is constant, by converting the frame information into an absolute time, the timing of divided reading, display, and the like can be similarly grasped.

Further, the present invention can be implemented by changing the base object to a sound having a time axis.

(Second Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 14, the multimedia reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment includes a batch reading means 1101 for reading additional objects in a batch. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

In this title reproducing apparatus, the reading of the additional object in which the reading start time of the additional object is negative is changed from the divisional reading to the batch reading. In this point, the operation of the title reproducing apparatus differs from that of the apparatus of the first embodiment. Is different.

In the apparatus according to the first embodiment, when reading an additional object performed before the start of reproduction of the base object, the file is divided and read based on the values indicated by the lead division size and the read interval. (Refer to the reading time of the still image A in FIG. 12). However, if the base object is playing, splitting the loading of the additional object has the meaning of not interfering with the reading of the base object. No meaning. For this reason, in the apparatus according to the first embodiment, in reading the additional object before the reproduction of the base object, the pause time while reading the lead division size wastes time.

For this reason, the apparatus according to the second embodiment is provided with a batch reading means 1101 for batch reading of additional objects. In this apparatus, the processing (from step 401 to step 408 in FIG. 5) from the reading of the scenario to the determination of the reading start time of the additional object by the serial-type schedule management means 106 is the same as in the first embodiment. The values of the specific examples to be used are the same as those in the first embodiment (FIGS. 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12), and the values obtained by the serial schedule management unit 106 are obtained. It is assumed that the reading start time includes a time indicating a negative reading start.

At this time, the serial schedule management means 10
FIG. 15 shows the file name, window ID, and file size of the additional object whose reading start time is negative to the batch reading unit 1101.
The information shown in (a) is notified.

Upon receiving the notification, the batch reading means 1101 reads the corresponding files in a batch for the file size and stores them in the additional object storage means 109. Batch reading means 1
101 collectively reads all the additional objects whose reading start time is negative, which is notified from the serial schedule management unit 106. The order of the additional objects to be read at this time is not particularly defined. In addition, batch reading of a plurality of additional objects may be performed simultaneously.

When the reading of all the additional objects whose reading start time is negative is completed, the batch reading means 1101 notifies the serial schedule management means 106 of the completion. In response, the serial schedule management unit 106 notifies the divided reading control unit 107 of the calculation result excluding the additional object minus the reading start time. The contents of this notification are shown in FIG. Subsequent processing is the same as in the case of the first embodiment (processing after step 415 in FIGS. 5 and 6).

As described above, in the multimedia reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment, since the additional objects which need to be read before the reproduction of the base object are read in a lump, it is shorter than in the case of reading by division. Reading can be completed in time, and playback of the key object can be started. Therefore, the starting time can be further reduced without affecting the reproduction of the base object.

(Third Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 16, the multimedia reproducing apparatus of the third embodiment instructs reading of an additional object having a negative reading start time into divided reading and batch reading. And a read distribution control unit 1301 that performs the read operation. Other configurations are the same as the device of the second embodiment (FIG. 14).

In this title reproducing apparatus, the reading of the additional object having a negative additional object reading start time is not always performed in a batch by the additional object, but the reading of the additional object is divided into a batch and a division. For this purpose, a read distribution control means 1301 is provided.

In this apparatus, the processing (from step 401 to step 408 in FIG. 5) from the reading of the scenario to the start of the reading of the additional object by the serial schedule management means 106 is the same as that of the first embodiment. It is. Here, as a specific example, a case in which a moving image and still images A, B, and C are displayed in the state shown in FIG. In this state, the file size of the still image B is 1 megab.
The only difference from the first embodiment (FIG. 12) is that the number of bytes has been changed from 2 bytes to 2 megabytes.

The time required to read each still image data is obtained as shown in FIG. 17B. Based on the result, the serial schedule management means 106 determines the read start time of the additional object as shown in FIG. It is calculated as follows.
That is, the data of the still image C starts to be read from 5 seconds after the start of the reproduction of the base object, the data of the still image B from -5 seconds, and the data of the still image A from -6 seconds. The serial-type schedule management means 106 calculates the calculation result in FIG.
8 and notifies the read distribution control means 1301.

By the way, when the reading start time of each additional object is determined in this way, the time until the reproduction of the base object starts is negative in the case of the method of the first embodiment. After all of the additional objects are read by division reading, the reproduction of the base object is started. Therefore, the division reading time of still image A and still image B is 11 seconds (still image A is 1 second). Second, and still image B takes 10 seconds). Further, in the method of the second embodiment,
It does not take up to 11 seconds, but it takes time to read the entire file of still image A and still image B at once.

On the other hand, in the device of the third embodiment, the read distribution control means 1301 performs the following processing.

(1) When the read start time is negative and the read time is smaller than the absolute value of the read start time (still image A corresponds to this. That is, [read time (1) <read start time ( | -6 |)])
You need to finish loading at a negative time,
Processing is performed by the method of the second embodiment. For this purpose, an instruction having the contents shown in FIG. 19A is issued to the batch reading means 1101. This is performed for all the additional objects that satisfy the condition (1).

(2) When the read start time is negative and the read time is larger than the absolute value of the read start time (still image B corresponds to this. That is, [read time (10)> read start time ( | -5 |)]), it is possible to instruct the reproduction of the base object while the additional object is being read. for that reason,
The reading of the still image B is divided into batch and division, and the batch reading is performed by the batch reading means 1101 before the reproduction of the base object is started. After the reproduction of the base object is started, the division reading is performed by the division reading control means 107. Control. The amount read by dividing the still image B is shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), it is the amount of data read in the last 5 seconds, and it can be seen from the read division size and the read interval that one megabyte of the entire still image B file can be divided and read. Also, since the entire size of the still image B is 2 megabytes, the remaining 1 megabyte
e minutes can be used for batch reading.

The read distribution control means 1301 issues an instruction of the contents shown in FIG. 19 (b) to the collective reading means 1101 and causes the collective reading for one megabyte to be performed. The batch reading unit 1101 performs the same batch reading process as in the second embodiment, and notifies the reading distribution control unit 1301 of the end. In response to this, the read distribution control unit 1301
The contents shown in FIG. 19C are notified.

This notification indicates a reading start position of the additional object file, which is not present in the second embodiment. This read start position is valid for an additional object whose read start time is 0. Since there is a possibility that a part of the entire file has already been read in a batch for an additional object whose read start time is 0, the divided read control unit 107 sets the value of this read start position to 0 when the read start time is 0. Use to get the file reading start position and start split reading from there. Subsequent processing is the same as in the case of the first embodiment (processing after step 415 in FIGS. 5 and 6).

As described above, in the multimedia title reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment, the reading of the additional objects that need to be read before the reproduction of the base object is distributed and processed in a divided and collective manner. The starting time can be further reduced without affecting the reproduction of the object.

(Embodiment 4) As shown in FIG. 20, a multimedia reproducing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment uses divided data for changing a lead interval and a lead division size of an additional object according to a transfer rate of a base object. An instruction unit 1701 is provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

In this title reproducing apparatus, the transfer rate of the base object is registered in the scenario itself, and the divided data instructing means 1701 transmits the additional object according to the transfer rate of the base object obtained from the analysis result of the scenario. The read interval and the read division size are changed.

The transfer rate of the base object differs depending on the type of the base object (it may be different depending on the same type). The divided read size and the read interval depend on the transfer rate as shown in the above equations (6) and (7). Therefore, it is not possible to cope with various transfer rates with one kind of divided read size and read interval.

FIG. 21 shows a specific example of a scenario used in this device. In this scenario, a transfer rate of the base object, which is not included in the scenario used in the apparatus of the first embodiment, is added. This description is a movie of the material descriptor. mpg has been added.

At the time of reproducing a title, the scenario reading means 100 reads scenario data, and transfers the read scenario data to the scenario analyzing means 101. The scenario analysis unit 101 analyzes the scenario, generates a display table indicating the display timing of the base object and the additional object, and transfers the display table to the display control unit 110 (steps 401 to 404 in FIG. 5).

On the other hand, the scenario analysis means 101 outputs a moving image. The transfer rate of mpg is notified to the divided data instructing means 1701. The divided data instruction means 1701
The information corresponding to the specified transfer rate is stored in the division information storage unit.
102, and stores the respective values in the additional object read division size storage means 103 and the additional object read interval storage means 104. The data shown in FIG. 22 is stored in the division information storage unit 102.

Next, the scenario analysis means 101 notifies the additional object acquisition time calculation means 105 that the analysis of the scenario has been completed (step 405 in FIG. 5).
Subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in the reproducing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, even when the transfer rate of the base object is changed, the reproduction of the base object is selected by selecting the corresponding divided read size and read interval. Can be reproduced without affecting.

This embodiment can be applied to the devices of the second and third embodiments.

[0086]

As is apparent from the above description, the multimedia reproducing apparatus of the present invention can read the additional object during the reproduction of the base object object without affecting the reproduction (interruption). High quality multimedia video can be played in a short startup time. Ma
Before the start of playback of the key object.
Read loaded attached object
Batch-loading on a per-task basis, reducing startup time
Can be reduced.

[0087]

Further, in an apparatus in which the reading of the additional object scheduled before the start of the reproduction of the base object object is divided into batch reading and division reading, the startup time can be further reduced.

Further, in an apparatus that dynamically changes the lead division size and the read interval in accordance with the transfer rate of the base object, multimedia images of scenarios using various base objects can be reproduced without any trouble.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multimedia playback device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram and a time chart for explaining the operation principle of capturing a moving image and reading a still image.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation principle of reading a still image.

FIG. 4 is an example of scenario data used in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an operation flow in the playback device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a continuation of the operation flow in the playback device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an example of a display table according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a read division size and a read interval according to the first embodiment, and an example of the value.

FIG. 9 is an example of divided read time calculation according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows an example of calculating a divided reading start time according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a first stage of scheduling according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a second stage of scheduling in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an example in which calculation results in the first embodiment are summarized

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multimedia playback device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an example in which calculation results in the second embodiment are summarized

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multimedia playback device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows an example of scheduling in the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an example in which calculation results according to the third embodiment are summarized.

FIG. 19 is an example summarizing calculation results after reading is distributed in the third embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multimedia playback device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an example of scenario data according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an example in which calculation results in the fourth embodiment are summarized

FIG. 23 is a principle diagram for calculating a lead division size and a read interval in the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Scenario reading unit 101 Scenario analysis unit 102 Division information storage unit 103 Additional object read division size storage unit 104 Additional object read interval storage unit 105 Additional object acquisition time calculation unit 106 Serial schedule management unit 107 Division reading control unit 108 Additional object reading Means 109 Additional object storage means 110 Display control means 111 Timer event generation means 112 Main axis object reading means 113 Display means 1101 Batch reading means 1301 Read distribution control means 1701 Distribution data instructing means

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Jun Minemura 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-7-264573 (JP, A) JP-A-7- 234795 (JP, A) JP-A-7-114627 (JP, A) International publication 95/25313 (WO, A1) IPSJ 51st (late 1995) National Convention Lecture Papers (1995-9-22) ) Pp. 3-317, 318 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 19/00 G06F 17/30 G11B 20/10 H04N 5/93 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A multimedia reproducing apparatus which reads a base object and an additional object and reproduces the file according to a scenario.
Division information accumulating means for accumulating data with a time interval of a file to be read at a time; additional object acquisition time calculating means for calculating a time required for dividing and reading one additional object based on the file size and the file time interval; , and a timing of the reproduction time and the additional objects required for splitting loading each additional object, a tandem schedule management means for reading the plurality of additional objects performs scheduling reading a whole so as not to overlap the same time, the Main axis objects by serial schedule management
Schedule to start reading before the
Batch loading of additional objects
A batch object reading means and a serial object management means,
So that reading starts after the
Divided read control means for instructing the start of reading of the additional object in accordance with the scheduled read timing with respect to the converted additional object, and additional object reading for performing divided read of the additional object file in accordance with the instruction of the divided read control means Means for reproducing multimedia data. 2. A base object and an additional object.
Multimedia that reads and plays according to the scenario
In the playback device, the file size and one file read at one time of the additional object
Accumulate data with time interval of file to be read at a time
Division information storage means, one based on the file size and file time interval
Calculate the time it takes to read additional objects separately
Means for calculating additional object acquisition time, and the time required for divided reading of each additional object.
Depending on the playback timing of the additional object,
Strangely reading of the pressurized object is a duplicate at the same time
A serial scheduler that schedules the entire read
Module management means, and a core object by the serial type schedule management means.
Schedule to start reading before the
Reads additional objects that have been
The read portion distributed to the portion to be inserted and the portion to be read
Distribution control means, and collectively read by the read distribution control means.
Read all the data before starting playback of the key object.
Batch reading means, and the divided read data distributed by the read distribution control means.
And the serial schedule management means
Start loading after object starts playing
For scheduled additional objects
According to the scheduled loading timing
Split reading to instruct the start of reading of additional objects
And the additional object according to the instruction of the divided reading control means.
Object that reads the object file separately
A multimedia reproducing apparatus, comprising: a reading unit . 3. The additional object acquisition time calculating means.
The file size and file used by
Time interval according to the transfer rate of the axis object
It is characterized by the provision of a dynamically changing divided data indicating means.
The multimedia playback device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein