HK1021663A - Image processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Image processing apparatus and method

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method capable of processing graphic data at high speed.

Fig. 9 shows a configuration example of a computer game device as a known image processing device. Program data, graphic data, sound data, and the like are written on the CD-ROM 1. The pickup device 3 of the disc reproducing apparatus 2 irradiates the CD-ROM1 with a laser beam and reproduces the data written in the CD-ROM1, outputting the data to the amplifying circuit 4. The amplifying circuit 4 amplifies the reproduction signal output from the pickup 3 and outputs it to the signal processing circuit 5. The signal processing circuit 5 demodulates, decodes, corrects errors, and the like of the reproduction signal supplied from the amplifying circuit 4, and then outputs the signal from the host bus 9 to the CPU10 through the host interface 6.

Also, the microcomputer 7 of the disc reproducing apparatus 2 monitors the output of the signal processing circuit 5 and controls the operation thereof. The microcomputer 7 controls the servo circuit 8 to cause the servo circuit 8 to execute tracking servo, focus servo, and spindle servo.

The main memory 11 stores data supplied from the disc reproducing device 2 through the host bus 9. The graphic processor 12 receives graphic data written in the data of the main memory 11, supplies it to the graphic memory 13 and stores it, and processes the graphic data and outputs it to a CRT or the like, not shown, as a video output. The sound processor 14 receives sound data written in the data of the main memory 11, sends it to the sound memory 15 and stores it, and at the same time processes the sound data and outputs it to a speaker or the like, not shown, as audio output.

The user operates an operation unit, not shown, so that a signal corresponding to the operation is input to the CPU 10. The CPU10 then controls the disc reproducing apparatus 2 to read the data stored in the CD-ROM1 and store the data in the main memory 11. Among the data stored in the main memory 11, program data is supplied to the CPU10, graphic data is stored in the graphic memory 13 by the graphic processor 12, and sound data is stored in the sound memory 15 by the sound processor 14.

The CPU10 controls each unit according to input program data. The graphic processor 12 processes graphic data stored in the graphic memory 13, and generates and outputs video data. The sound processor 14 processes sound data stored in the sound memory 15, and generates and outputs audio data.

Now, for such a computer game, it is necessary to move the pickup 3 to a desired position on the CD-ROM1 as the status demands. However, there is a problem in that the time (seek time) required to move the pickup 3 to a desired position is considerably long, resulting in poor random access. Also, another problem is that the transfer speed of the CD-ROM1 is low as compared with a hard disk or the like, so that the time (access time) for the CPU10 to complete reading data is long. Therefore, it is difficult to provide a moving image that changes at high speed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide moving image data that changes at a high speed.

To this end, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus for reproducing and processing data recorded on a disc includes: a first reproducing unit for reproducing data recorded on the disc; a second reproduction unit for reproducing data recorded on the disc independently of the first reproduction unit; a graphic processing unit for processing graphic data of the data reproduced by the first or second reproduction unit; and a control unit for controlling the reproduction operations of the first reproduction unit and the second reproduction unit.

Also, according to another aspect of the present invention, an image processing method for reproducing and processing data recorded on a disc includes: reproducing data recorded on the disc using the first reproduction unit; reproducing data recorded on the disc using the second reproduction unit independently of the first reproduction unit; and processing the graphic data of the data reproduced by the first or second reproduction unit.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a computer game apparatus to which an image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied;

fig. 2A and 2B illustrate positioning of the pickup device 3A and the pickup device 3B shown in fig. 1;

fig. 3A to 3D show reproduction positions of the pickup device 3A and the pickup device 3B shown in fig. 1;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an action of the pickup devices 3A and 3B in fig. 3A;

fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating other actions of the pickup devices 3A and 3B in fig. 3A;

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an action of the pickup devices 3A and 3B in fig. 3B;

fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating other actions of the pickup devices 3A and 3B in fig. 3B;

fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an action of the pickup devices 3A and 3B in fig. 3C;

fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of a known computer game apparatus.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer game apparatus to which an image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied, and components corresponding to those in fig. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the embodiment, two disc reproduction apparatuses 2 shown in fig. 9 are used as the disc reproduction apparatus 2A and the disc reproduction apparatus 2B. The disc reproducing apparatus 2A has a pickup 3A, an amplifying circuit 4A, a signal processing circuit 5A, a host interface 6A, a microcomputer 7A, and a servo circuit 8A, which correspond to the pickup 3, the amplifying circuit 4, the signal processing circuit 5, the host interface 6, the microcomputer 7, and the servo circuit 8 of the disc reproducing apparatus 2 shown in fig. 9. Also, the disc reproducing apparatus 2B has a pickup 3B, an amplifying circuit 4B, a signal processing circuit 5B, a host interface 6B, a microcomputer 7B, and a servo circuit 8B, which correspond to the pickup 3, the amplifying circuit 4, the signal processing circuit 5, the host interface 6, the microcomputer 7, and the servo circuit 8 of the disc reproducing apparatus 2 shown in fig. 9.

As shown in fig. 2, the pickup devices 3A and 3B are positioned at 180 deg.c from each other across the rotational center of the CD-ROM 1. This avoids the operations of the pickup device 3A and the pickup device 3B interfering with each other.

The other configuration of the computer game device is the same as that of fig. 9.

The operation is explained below. The user operates an operation unit, not shown, to instruct the start of the game, causing the CPU10 to instruct the disc reproducing apparatus 2A via the host bus 9 to start reproducing the CD-ROM 1. The microcomputer 7A of the disc reproducing apparatus 2A receives the instruction through the host interface 6A, and controls the servo circuit 8A to perform spindle servo, focus servo, and tracking servo. As a result, the CD-ROM1 rotates at a certain speed, the pickup 3A moves to a certain position, and data recorded at a certain position on the CD-ROM1 is reproduced.

The reproduction signal output from the pickup 3A is supplied to the amplifying circuit 4A and amplified, and the input to the signal processing circuit 5A is demodulated and then decoded, and subjected to error correction processing. The data output from the signal processing circuit 5A is supplied from the host interface 6A to the main memory 11 via the host bus 9 and stored.

The CPU10 reads program data of data stored in the main memory 11 and controls each unit according to the program. Among the data stored in the main memory 11, graphics data is transferred from the graphics processor 12 to the graphics memory via the host bus 9 and stored. The graphic processor 12 processes graphic data stored in the graphic memory 13, generates a video signal, and outputs the video signal to a CRT or the like, not shown.

Among the data stored in the main memory 11, the sound data is transferred to the sound memory 15 by the sound processor 14 and stored. The sound processor 14 processes sound data stored in the sound memory 15, generates an audio signal, and outputs the audio signal to a speaker or the like, not shown.

The CPU10 controls the disk reproducing apparatus 2B according to the status requirement and is provided with a pickup device 3B to read a certain data recorded at a certain position on the CD-ROM1 in a similar manner.

While the disc reproducing apparatus 2A is performing a reproducing operation, the servo circuit 8B of the disc reproducing apparatus 2B continuously performs the tracking servo and the focus servo, but does not perform the spindle servo. That is, even when both the disc reproducing apparatus 2A and the disc reproducing apparatus 2B perform reproducing operations, the spindle servo is controlled by the servo circuit 8A of the disc reproducing apparatus 2A. When the disc reproducing apparatus 2A does not perform a reproducing operation, the servo circuit 8B of the disc reproducing apparatus 2B controls to perform a spindle servo in addition to the tracking servo and the focus servo.

Fig. 3 shows an example of the operation of the pickup 3A and the pickup 3B. In the example shown in fig. 3A, while the pickup 3A reproduces the trajectory T1, the pickup 3B reproduces the trajectory T2.

Now, the operation is explained with specific examples. The process is described for the case where the first character (hereinafter "character 1") has been slide and is to be replaced by the next component (hereinafter "character 2") in which the image is continuously reproduced and the program is switched to character 2. First, in step S1, the CPU10 designates the position P1 of the header data of the image data on the trajectory T1 to the microcomputer 7A, designates the position P2 of the header data of the image data on the trajectory T2 to the microcomputer 7B, and instructs reading thereof, respectively.

In step S2, the microcomputer 7A controls the servo circuit 8A according to an instruction from the CPU10, and moves the pickup 3A to the position P1 so as to reproduce the sector image data recorded in the CD-ROM 1. The reproduced image data is read into the signal processing circuit 5A through the amplifying circuit 4A. In the same manner, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU10, the microcomputer 7B controls the servo circuit 8B, and moves the pickup device 3B to the position P2 so as to reproduce the sector image data recorded in the CD-ROM 1. The reproduced image data is read into the signal processing circuit 5B through the amplifying circuit 4B.

In step S3, after the signal processing circuit 5A finishes reading the image data of a certain sector, the microcomputer 7A notifies the CPU 10. Similarly, when the signal processing circuit 5B finishes reading the image data of a certain sector, the microcomputer 7B notifies the CPU 10.

In step S4, the CPU10 determines whether it is the microcomputer 7A that notifies that reading has been completed (an interrupt to complete reading is generated). When the CPU10 determines that it is an interrupt from the microcomputer 7A, the flow advances to step S5. In step S5, the CPU10 transfers the image data of the sector from the signal processing circuit 5A to the main memory 11.

In step S6, the CPU10 sends the image data transferred to the main memory 11 to the graphics memory 13 via the graphics processor 12. The transferred image data is read by the graphic processor 12 and output to a CRT or the like, not shown, with a certain processing.

After the process in step S6 is completed, the flow advances to step S7, and the CPU10 determines whether or not to instruct the microcomputer 7A to read the next sector. When it is determined that the reading is instructed, that is, when it is determined that the desired image data is not yet read into the graphic memory 13, the CPU10 instructs the sector to be read next time. Then, the flow returns to step S2, where the microcomputer 7A reads the image data in the sector instructed by the CPU10 into the signal processing circuit 5A. On the other hand, when it is determined that the reading is not instructed, that is, when it is determined that the necessary image data has been read into the graphic memory 13, the processing is terminated.

On the other hand, when the CPU10 determines in step S4 that there is no interrupt from the microcomputer 7A, that is, when it determines that the interrupt is from the microcomputer 7B, the flow proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the CPU10 causes the program data of the sector to be supplied from the signal processing circuit 5B to the main memory 11. The transferred program data is read and processed as required by the CPU 10.

After the process in step S8 is finished, the flow advances to step S7, and the CPU10 determines whether or not to instruct the microcomputer 7B to read again. When it is determined that reading is necessary, that is, when it is determined that the program data necessary for operating the character 2 is not transferred to the main memory 11, reading of the next sector is instructed. Subsequently, the flow returns to step S2, where the microcomputer 7B reads the program data in the instructed sector into the signal processing circuit 5B. On the other hand, when it is determined that reading is not instructed, that is, when it is determined that the program data necessary for the operation character 2 has been read, the reading operation is ended.

As described above, the disc reproduction apparatus 2A reproduces data necessary for reproducing moving images from the CD-ROM1, while the disc reproduction apparatus 2B reproduces data necessary for exchanging characters from the CD-ROM1, and thus can replace programs while continuously reproducing moving images.

Moreover, the bus cycle of the host bus 9 is considerably shorter than the read cycle of reading the CD-ROM1, and the transfer operation can be periodically performed through the host bus even while the CD-ROM1 is continuously reproduced. Therefore, even when the two pickup devices shown in fig. 3A reproduce simultaneously, the reproduction data from the disc reproduction apparatus 2A and the reproduction data from the disc reproduction apparatus 2B are alternately transferred on the host bus 9 in a time-division manner according to a close observation.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another detailed example. Here, such processing and an example will be explained in which, while a desired program is exchanged at a scene where the program needs to be exchanged is changed, a sound such as a voice is continuously reproduced.

In step S11, the CPU10 designates the position P1 of the header data of the image data on the trajectory T1 to the microcomputer 7A, designates the position P2 of the header data of the image data on the trajectory T2 to the microcomputer 7B, and instructs to read it, respectively.

In step S12, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU10, the microcomputer 7A controls the servo circuit 8A, and moves the pickup 3A to the position P1 so as to reproduce the audio data of the sector recorded in the CD-ROM 1. The reproduced audio data is read into the signal processing circuit 5A through the amplifying circuit 4A. In the same manner, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU10, the microcomputer 7B controls the servo circuit 8B and moves the pickup 3B to the position P2 so as to reproduce the audio data of the sector recorded in the CD-ROM 1. The reproduced audio data is read into the signal processing circuit 5B through the amplifying circuit 4B.

In step S13, after the signal processing circuit 5A finishes reading the audio data of a certain sector, the microcomputer 7A notifies the CPU 10. Similarly, after the signal processing circuit 5B finishes reading the audio data of a certain sector, the microcomputer 7B notifies the CPU 10.

In step S14, the CPU10 determines whether the microcomputer 7A notified that the reading has been completed. When the CPU10 determines that it is an interrupt from the microcomputer 7A, the flow advances to step S15. In step S15, the CPU10 transfers the audio data of the sector from the signal processing circuit 5A to the main memory 11.

In step S16, the CPU10 sends the audio data transferred to the main memory 11 to the sound memory 15 through the sound processor 14. The transmitted sound data is read by the sound processor 14 and output to a speaker or the like, not shown, with a certain process.

After the process in step S16 is completed, the flow advances to step S17, and the CPU10 determines whether or not to instruct the microcomputer 7A to read the next sector. When it is determined that reading is instructed, that is, when it is determined that the necessary audio data has not been read into the sound memory 15, the CPU10 instructs the sector to be read next time. Then, the flow returns to step S12, where the microcomputer 7A reads the audio data in the sector instructed by the CPU10 into the signal processing circuit 5A. On the other hand, when it is determined that the reading is not instructed, that is, when it is determined that the necessary audio data has been read into the audio memory 15, the processing is terminated.

On the other hand, when the CPU10 determines in step S14 that there is no interrupt from the microcomputer 7A, that is, when it determines that the interrupt is from the microcomputer 7B, the flow proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the CPU10 causes the program data of the sector to be supplied from the signal processing circuit 5B to the main memory 11. The transferred program data is read and processed as required by the CPU 10.

After the process in step S18 is finished, the flow advances to step S7, and the CPU10 determines whether or not to instruct the microcomputer 7B to read again. When it is determined that reading is necessary, that is, when it is determined that the program data necessary for the new scene is not transferred to the main memory 11, reading of the next sector is instructed. Subsequently, the flow returns to step S12, where the microcomputer 7B reads the program data in the instructed sector into the signal processing circuit 5B. On the other hand, when it is determined that reading is not instructed, that is, when it is determined that program data necessary for a new scene has been read, the reading operation is ended.

As described above, the disc reproduction apparatus 2A reproduces data necessary for reproducing sound from the CD-ROM1, while the disc reproduction apparatus 2B reproduces data necessary for changing scenes from the CD-ROM1, and thus can replace the program without interrupting the sound.

Although fig. 4 shows reproduction of image data and program data by the disk reproduction apparatuses 2A and 2B, and also shows reproduction of audio data and program data, audio data may be reproduced by both the disk reproduction apparatuses 2A and 2B. For example, an arrangement may be made such that sound data for game background music is reproduced with the disk reproducing apparatus 2A, while audio data for game sound effects is reproduced with the disk reproducing apparatus 2B, and two sets of audio data are synthesized by the sound processor 14 and output to a speaker, not shown.

Also, image data can be reproduced by both the disk reproduction apparatuses 2A and 2B, for example, it is set such that image data of character 1 is reproduced by the disk reproduction apparatus 2A and image data of character 2 is reproduced by the disk reproduction apparatus 2B, so that image data of character 1 and character 2 can be reproduced simultaneously even when recorded at a distant position on the CD-ROM 1.

Fig. 3B shows another operation example of the pickup device 3A and the pickup device 3B. For example, image data and audio data are recorded at remote locations on the CD-ROM1, and the continuous reproduction process is described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

In step S21, the CPU10 designates the header data position P3 of the image data on the trajectory T3 to the microcomputer 7A and the header data position P4 of the audio data on the trajectory T4 to the microcomputer 7B, respectively.

In step S22, the microcomputer 7A controls the servo circuit 8A according to the instruction from the CPU10 and sets the pickup 3A at the position P3, and the microcomputer 7B controls the servo circuit 8B and sets the pickup 3B at the position P4.

In step S23, after the signal processing circuit 5A finishes reading the image data in a certain sector, the microcomputer 7A notifies the CPU 10. In step S24, the CPU10 transfers the sector image data from the signal processing circuit 5A to the main memory 11. The CPU10 also sends image data to the graphics memory 13 via the graphics processor 12. The transferred image data is read by the graphic processor 12 and, with a certain processing, output to a CRT or the like, not shown.

After the process in step S24 is completed, the flow advances to step S25, and the CPU10 determines whether or not to instruct the microcomputer 7A to read the next sector. When the CPU10 has not read the position P5 (the last sector of the desired image data) of the track T3, the CPU10 instructs to read the sector next time. Then, when the reading has been instructed, the flow returns to step S23, where the microcomputer 7A reads the image data of the instructed sector. On the other hand, upon determining that the position P5 of the trajectory T3 has been read, the flow advances to step S26.

In step S26, after the signal processing circuit 5B finishes reading the audio data of the position P4 of the trajectory T4, the microcomputer 7B notifies the CPU 10. The pickup device 3B has been set in advance at the position P4 of the trajectory T4 at the time of reading from the position P4 of the trajectory T4, so that switching between the image data and the audio data at the separated position can be performed immediately.

In step S27, the CPU10 transfers the sector of audio data from the signal processing circuit 5B to the main memory 11. The CPU10 then sends the audio data to the sound memory 15 via the sound processor 14. Subsequently in step S28, the CPU10 determines whether or not the microcomputer 7B is instructed to read the next sector. Upon determining that the reading of the required audio data has not been completed, the CPU10 instructs the reading again, and the steps are repeated from step S26. When it is determined that the reading of the required audio data has been completed, the processing is ended.

Thus, by reproducing the image data by the disk reproducing device 2A, the disk reproducing device 2B reproduces the audio data located far from the image data, and once the disk reproducing device 2A finishes the reproduction of the image data, the reproduction of the audio data by the disk reproducing device 2B can be started immediately.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating another specific example of FIG. 3B. The process shown in fig. 7 is explained by way of example, in which instantaneous switching is performed to reproduce first image data and second image data, both of which are recorded on the CD-ROM1 or located in separate and removed portions of the CD-ROM 1.

In step S31, the microcomputer 7A controls the servo circuit 8A according to the instruction from the CPU10 and sets the pickup 3A at the position P3, and the microcomputer 7B controls the servo circuit 8B and sets the pickup 3B at the position P4. In step S32, the microcomputers 7A and 7B control the servo circuits 8A and 8B, respectively, and move the pickup devices 3A and 3B to the position P3 of the trajectory T3 and the position P4 of the trajectory T4, respectively.

In step S33, after the signal processing circuit 5A finishes reading the first image data in a certain sector, the microcomputer 7A notifies the CPU 10. In step S34, the CPU10 transfers the sector image data from the signal processing circuit 5A to the main memory 11. The CPU10 then also sends the image data to the graphics memory 13 via the graphics processor 12. The transferred first image data is read by the graphic processor 12 and, with a certain processing, output to a CRT or the like, not shown.

After the process in step S34 is completed, the flow advances to step S35, and the CPU10 determines whether or not to instruct the microcomputer 7A to read the next sector. When the CPU10 has not read the position P5 of the track T3, the CPU10 instructs to read the sector next time. Then, when the reading has been instructed, the flow returns to step S33, where the microcomputer 7A reads the image data of the instructed sector. On the other hand, upon determining that the position P5 of the trajectory T3 has been read, the flow advances to step S36.

In step S36, after the signal processing circuit 5B finishes reading the second image data of the sector, the microcomputer 7B notifies the CPU 10. At the start of reading the second image data, the pickup device 3B has been set in advance at the position P4 of the locus T4, so that switching between the first image data and the second image data can be performed immediately.

In step S37, the CPU10 transfers the second image data read from the signal processing circuit 5B to the main memory 11, and then to the graphics memory 14 via the graphics processor 12. The transferred data is read by the graphic processor as necessary, and is output to a CRT, not shown, after a certain processing.

In step S38, the CPU10 determines whether or not the microcomputer 7B is instructed to read the next sector. Upon determining that the second image data necessary for reading has not been completed, the CPU10 instructs reading again, and the steps are repeated from step S46. On the other hand, when it is determined that the reading of the necessary second image data is completed, the process is terminated without instructing to read again.

An example of repeatedly reproducing short sound data used as game background music with respect to the operation shown in fig. 3C is explained below.

In step S41, the CPU10 designates the header data position P6 of the same audio data to the microcomputers 7A and 7B. In step S42, the microcomputers 7A and 7B control the servo circuits 5A and 5B, respectively, and move the pickup devices 3A and 3B to the header data position P6 of the audio data.

In step S43, the microcomputer 7A controls the servo circuit 8A to read the sector into the image processor 5A. The microcomputer 7A notifies the CPU10 after completion of reading.

In step S44, the CPU10 transfers the audio image data read by the signal processing circuit 5A to the main memory 11 and to the sound memory 15 via the sound processor 14. The transmitted audio data is read by the sound processor 14 and, with some processing, output to a speaker or the like, not shown.

In step S45, the CPU10 determines whether the microcomputer 7A is instructed to read the next sector. When the audio data has not been read to the position P7 of the last sector, the CPU10 instructs to read the sector next time, and the steps are repeated from S43. On the other hand, when the audio data has been read to the position P7 of the last sector, the flow advances to step S46. At this time, the CPU10 again designates the header data sector position P6 designated in step S41 to the microcomputer 7A. The microcomputer 7A controls the servo circuit 8A and sets the pickup device 3A at the position P6 of the instructed header data sector.

In step S46, the microcomputer 7B controls the servo circuit 8B to read the sector from the CD-ROM1 to the image processing circuit 5B. At this time, in step S42, the pickup 3B has been set in advance at the position P6 of the header data sector, so the background music does not jump when the audio data read from the disc reproducing apparatus 2A is switched to the disc reproducing apparatus 2B.

After the signal processing circuit 5B finishes reading the sector, the microcomputer 7B notifies the CPU 10. Then, at step S47, the CPU10 transfers the audio image data read by the signal processing circuit 5B to the main memory 11 and to the sound memory 15 through the sound processor 14. The transmitted audio data is read by the sound processor 14 and, with some processing, output to a pickup device or the like, not shown.

In step S48, the CPU10 determines whether the microcomputer 7A is instructed to read the next sector. When the audio data has not been read to the position P7 of the last sector, the CPU10 instructs to read the sector next time, and the steps are repeated from S46. On the other hand, when the audio data has been read to the position P7 of the last sector, the flow returns to step S43. At this time, the CPU10 again designates the header data sector position P6 designated in step S41 to the microcomputer 7B. The microcomputer 7B controls the servo circuit 8B and sets the pickup device 3B at the position P6 of the instructed header data sector. Likewise, the pickup 3A has been set at the position P6 of the instructed header data sector and is in an immediately readable state.

Therefore, since the disc reproducing apparatus 2A and the disc reproducing apparatus 2B alternately reproduce the same audio data, the background music is free from jumping.

In the example shown in fig. 3D, the pickup 3A reproduces the data recorded in the track T6 from the position P8, and the pickup 3B reproduces from the position P9. Thus, the data recorded from the position P8 to the position P10 on the track T6 can be completely read in half the time as compared with the case where only one pickup device is used for reading.

For example, when starting a game, a large number of files have to be read in many cases, and this setting is effective at this time.

Although the above embodiments are described in connection with the use of a CD-ROM, the present invention is not limited thereto, but may be implemented in various disk apparatuses. Also, at least one of the first reproduction unit and the second reproduction unit may be a disc reproduction unit having upward compatibility.

As described above, according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus and the image processing method are provided such that the first reproduction unit and the second reproduction unit reproduce data independently of each other, thereby making it possible to process moving image data which changes at a high speed and quickly complete a background change.

The invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, but it is not intended to be limited thereto but rather it is obvious that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims (30)

1. An image processing apparatus for reproducing and processing data recorded on a disc, said image processing apparatus comprising:

a first reproducing unit for reproducing data recorded on the disc;

a second reproduction unit for reproducing data recorded on the disc independently of the first reproduction unit;

a graphics processing unit for processing graphics data of the data reproduced by the first or second reproduction unit; and

a control unit for controlling the reproduction operations of the first reproduction unit and the second reproduction unit.

2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio processing unit for processing audio data of the data reproduced by said first or second reproduction unit.

3. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first reproduction unit has first pickup means for reproducing data from said disc, and said second reproduction unit has second pickup means for reproducing data from said disc;

and the first pickup is located at a first position on the disc and the second pickup is located at a second position on the disc, such that the second pickup reproduces a second track on the disc at the same time as the first pickup reproduces a first track on the disc.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said data reproduced by said first pickup means includes image data, and said data reproduced by said second pickup means includes program data.

5. The image processing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said program data includes a program for swapping a first object with a second object.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data reproduced by said first pickup means is audio data, and the data reproduced by said second pickup means is audio data.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data reproduced by both said first pickup means and said second pickup means is audio data.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data reproduced by both said first pickup means and said second pickup means is image data.

9. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first reproduction unit has first pickup means for reproducing data from said disc, and said second reproduction unit has second pickup means for reproducing data from said disc;

and the first pickup is located at a first position on the disc and the second pickup is located at a second position on the disc, such that the second pickup reproduces a second track on the disc after the first pickup reproduces the first track on the disc.

10. The image processing apparatus of claim 9 wherein the data reproduced by both said first pickup means and said second pickup means is image data.

11. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first reproduction unit has first pickup means for reproducing data from said disc, and said second reproduction unit has second pickup means for reproducing data from said disc;

and the first pickup is located at a first position on the disc and the second pickup is located at a second position on the disc, such that the second pickup reproduces a second track on the disc after the first pickup reproduces a first track on the disc;

and the first pickup is again located at the first position on the disc so that the first pickup reproduces the first track on the disc after the second pickup reproduces the second track on the disc.

12. The image processing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the data reproduced by both said first pickup means and said second pickup means is audio data.

13. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first reproduction unit has first pickup means for reproducing data from said disc, and said second reproduction unit has second pickup means for reproducing data from said disc;

and the first pickup is located at a first position on the disc and the second pickup is located at a second position on the disc, such that the second pickup reproduces a second portion of the first track on the disc at the same time as the first pickup reproduces a first portion of the first track on the disc.

14. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein said reproduction operation is performed at a time of starting said apparatus.

15. An image processing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a video game is played.

16. An image processing method for reproducing and processing data recorded on a disc, said image processing method comprising:

reproducing data recorded on the disc with the first reproduction unit;

reproducing data recorded on the disc with a second reproduction unit independently of the first reproduction unit;

and

processing graphics data of the data reproduced by the first or second reproduction unit.

17. The image processing method of claim 16, characterized in that audio data of the data reproduced by said first or second reproduction unit is further processed.

18. An image processing method as claimed in either of claim 16 or claim 17, characterized in that the first pick-up means of the first reproduction unit are located at a first position on the disc and the second pick-up means of the second reproduction unit are located at a second position on the disc, so that the second pick-up means reproduce a second track on the disc at the same time as the first pick-up means reproduce the first track on the disc.

19. The image processing method of claim 18, wherein said data reproduced by said first pickup means includes image data, and said data reproduced by said second pickup means includes program data.

20. The image processing method of claim 19 wherein said program data includes a program for swapping a first object with a second object.

21. The image processing method of claim 18, wherein the data reproduced by said first pickup means is audio data, and the data reproduced by said second pickup means is audio data.

22. The image processing method of claim 18, wherein the data reproduced by both of said first pickup means and said second pickup means is audio data.

23. The image processing method of claim 18, wherein the data reproduced by both of said first pickup means and said second pickup means is image data.

24. The image processing method according to any of claim 16 or claim 17, characterized in that said first pickup means of said first reproduction unit is located at a first position on said disc and said second pickup means of said second reproduction unit is located at a second position on said disc, so that said second pickup means reproduces a second track on said disc after said first pickup means reproduces a first track on said disc.

25. The image processing method of claim 24, wherein the data reproduced by both of said first pickup means and said second pickup means is image data.

26. The image processing method according to any of claim 16 or claim 17, wherein said first pickup means of said first reproduction unit is located at a first position on said disc and said second pickup means of said second reproduction unit is located at a second position on said disc, so that said second pickup means reproduces a second track on said disc after said first pickup means reproduces a first track on said disc;

and the first pickup is again located at the first position on the disc so that the first pickup reproduces the first track on the disc after the second pickup reproduces the second track on the disc.

27. The image processing method of claim 26, wherein the data reproduced by both of said first pickup means and said second pickup means is audio data.

28. The image processing method according to any of claim 16 or claim 17, wherein said first pickup means of said first reproduction unit is located at a first position on said disc and said second pickup means of said second reproduction unit is located at a second position on said disc, such that said second pickup means reproduces a second portion of the first track on said disc at the same time as said first pickup means reproduces a first portion of the first track on said disc.

29. The image processing method of claim 28, wherein said reproducing operation is performed when said apparatus is started.

30. An image processing method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 29, characterized in that a video game is played.