JP2000050210A - Buffer memory, method for managing buffer memory and image reproduction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a reaction time required for a switching instruction by avoiding an image not reproduced, when switching the reproduced image. SOLUTION: In this image reproduction device that is disclosed, when plural image information sets are respectively stored in the buffer memory and read to reproduce an image and switching of an image takes place, the buffer memory consists of plural buffer memories 81, 82, 83, etc., with parallel configuration corresponding to the plural image information sets to read and reproduce the image information to be read next from a corresponding memory. The device is provided with a selector 9 that stores interleaved image information from the plural image information sets from a disk 1 to same addresses of each buffer memory, a selector 10 that connects a buffer memory corresponding to the selected image information to an output, and a selector 11 that reads the interleaved image information corresponding to the plural image information sets from the same address of each buffer memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a buffer memory, a buffer memory management method, and an image reproducing apparatus.
In particular, the present invention relates to a buffer memory, a buffer memory management method, and an image reproducing apparatus suitable for reproducing data from an optical disk in which a plurality of time-series data proceeding simultaneously are interleaved and recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A DVD (Digital Video Disc) is a kind of optical disk which encodes video, audio, and the like and digitally records it at a high density. However, because of its large recording capacity, it records video images and the like. For this reason, conventional CDs (Co
mpact Disc) and other optical discs. In the DVD, a recording method such as a multi-angle or multi-story, which records a plurality of pieces of information proceeding in parallel in parallel can be used by utilizing the large recording capacity and the fact that high-speed reading is possible.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views for explaining the concept of the multi-angle system, in which FIG. 8A shows a plurality of imaging angles for an image, and FIG. 8B shows a method of reproducing an image at each angle. . Now, when there is a scene as shown in FIG. 8A, this scene is imaged from, for example, three directions of an angle A, an angle B, and an angle C, and the image data of each angle is recorded in an interleave recording method ( A method of sequentially recording a plurality of time-series data proceeding simultaneously as a data block of a fixed size on the disc in a fixed order and serially) is recorded on the disc in a format shown in FIG. When such image data is reproduced, the data at each angle is read out in the order in which they are recorded. However, since the reading speed at this time is higher than the speed at which the recorded data is decoded and reproduced, the reproduction device In this example, any angle data can be arbitrarily selected and reproduced. Then, the user selects a desired angle on the playback device by using, for example, an operation button or the like, and is read out in the playback device in a simultaneous manner as shown in FIG. 8B. By selecting, for example, in the order of angle A → angle B → angle C →
The image data is sequentially switched and output in the selected order. Therefore, on the screen of a display (not shown), the user can arbitrarily switch the images of the same scene shown in FIG. 8A viewed from the respective directions of angle A, angle B, and angle C at the same time. You can see.

The same applies to the case of the multi-story system, and images of, for example, three different stories proceeding simultaneously can be reproduced in the same manner as in the case of FIG. 8 (b). When playing back such image data, the user selects, for example, the first story, the second story, and the third story on the playback apparatus by using operation buttons or the like, thereby obtaining image data. Are sequentially switched and output in the order of a first story → a second story → a third story. Therefore, the user
1st story, 2nd story, 3rd
Can be arbitrarily switched and viewed at any time on the screen of a display (not shown).

FIG. 9 illustrates the format of multi-angle image data recorded on a disk. For example, in the case of multi-angle image data including three images of angle A, angle B, and angle C, each image data is divided into data blocks of a predetermined size, and as illustrated, (A0-
B0-C0-A1-B1-C1 -...- An-Bn-C
n-...) are sequentially interleaved. Here, 0, 1,..., N,.
Is an interleave number indicating the order of appearance of images, and data of the same interleave number corresponds to images at the same time in three types of images. In the header portion of each data block, destination information (jump destination address and data size) to the next data block is recorded for the number of angles as shown in the figure, and the disk is thereby driven. On the disk drive device side that is not performed, arbitrary angle data can be selected and read according to a user's instruction.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional disk reproducing apparatus, and shows only a portion related to reading of image data. The disk 100 rotates with its rotation speed controlled by a motor 101. In this state, the pickup 102 reads recorded data from the surface of the disk 100. The read data is subjected to amplification, waveform shaping, and binarization in the waveform shaping / amplifying unit 103. The error correction unit 104 detects and corrects a code error in the read data and outputs the result. Selector 1
In step 05, based on an instruction from the system controller 106, only data at an angle specified by the user on an operation unit (not shown) is selected and sequentially written to the buffer memory 107. On the other hand, the selector 108 sequentially reads the data written in the buffer memory 107 and outputs the data to the video data processing unit 109. Disk 10
Since the data read from 0 is compression-encoded, the video data processing unit 109 decodes the input data and performs a predetermined decompression process to generate a video output and an audio output. In the display unit not shown,
The video output and the audio output perform image display and audio output. At this time, the data read speed (bit rate) from the disk 100 is, for example, 26M.
bps, but the video data processing unit 10
Speed of decoding and data processing at 9 (bit rate)
Is usually about 10 Mbps, low speed, and variable speed (bit rate). Buffer memory 107
Are used to absorb such a difference between the data write speed and the data read speed. As described above, since the bit rate for reading data from the disc is higher than the bit rate for video playback, the disc reproducing apparatus can select and read arbitrary angle data from a plurality of interleaved recorded data. Is possible, and according to the standard, it is possible to have up to nine angles.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of switching multi-angle images in a conventional disk reproducing apparatus, and illustrates a conventional DVD reproducing standard (DVD Specifications f).
or Read-Only Disc Part 3 VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS). Now, (A0-B0-C0-
(A1-B1-C1-A2-B2-C2-...), Data of the angle A indicated by hatching is selected from data interleaved and recorded on the disk and is being read. . In FIG. 11, the image data being read from the disk is A2. On the other hand, the data is read from a buffer memory (not shown) that stores the read data, decoded by the video decoder, and displayed on the television screen. Assume that the projected image is A0. At this time, if the person watching the television gives an instruction to switch angles while watching the A0 screen, the instruction is transmitted to the system controller,
The system controller controls the selector to store the image data B2 indicated by hatching, which is read from the disk and sent next through the error correction unit, in the buffer memory. After that, the system controller
Angle B until the next angle switch is instructed
Continues to be stored in the buffer memory.

[0008]

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional disk reproducing apparatus, the time required from the user's instruction to switch the reproduced image to the display of the actually switched image is displayed. For a long time, there is a problem that the user is dissatisfied with the responsiveness to the switching operation. That is, since the bit rate on the video reproduction side is a variable bit rate according to the standard of the video data compression processing method, the address on the buffer memory for reading out the video output and the writing of the disk reproduction data are performed. There may be a case where the distance from the address on the buffer memory is large. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the buffer memory pointer that is currently sending image data to the video data processing unit 109 is A0, while the image data sent from the error correction unit and stored in the buffer memory is A0. The data is assumed to be An. Here, when the person watching the television gives a screen switching instruction, the system controller operates the input selector 105 to store the image data of Bn + 1, Bn + 2,... Next to An. On the other hand, the output side selector 108 sequentially advances the pointer to A1, A2,..., An to output an image, and then outputs image data of Bn + 1, Bn + 2,. Therefore, even if the screen is switched at the time of the screen of A0,
The screen is actually switched from the screen of Bn + 1, and the image data B read from the disk corresponding to A1 to An is discarded and not output. Therefore, the user watching the television screen feels that the responsiveness of the screen switching such as the angle is poor. Such a phenomenon,
In the future, it is expected that this will become more prominent as the read bit rate on the disk side increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. And the like, in an image reproducing apparatus (disc reproducing apparatus) having a function of selecting arbitrary image information and reproducing data according to a user's selection, to improve responsiveness to an image information switching instruction from the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a buffer memory, a buffer memory management method, and an image reproducing device that can perform the following.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buffer memory for storing image information read from an image information storage medium for reproduction. It is characterized by having individual areas for storing image information individually.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the buffer memory according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of pieces of image information are interleaved image information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the buffer memory according to the second aspect, wherein buffer memory areas for storing the plurality of pieces of image information are configured in parallel, and the same address in each buffer memory area is provided. And a storage section for reading and storing corresponding interleaved image information in the plurality of pieces of image information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the buffer memory according to the second aspect, wherein the area for storing the plurality of pieces of image information comprises a main buffer area and a sub-buffer area. Is stored and read out in the main buffer area, and unselected image information is stored in the sub-buffer area, and when the selection of image information is changed, the selected image information is stored in the sub-buffer area. It is characterized by being configured to read.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the buffer memory according to the second aspect, wherein the buffer memory area has a single buffer memory area for storing the plurality of pieces of image information. It is characterized in that it is configured to store a plurality of pieces of image information read from an information storage medium and to read out selected image information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buffer memory management method, wherein a plurality of buffer memory areas configured in parallel corresponding to a plurality of image information are read from an image information storage medium. The corresponding interleaved image information in the image information is stored at the same address of each buffer memory area, and the buffer memory area corresponding to the selected image information is connected to the output, and the same address of each buffer memory area is output. It is characterized in that corresponding interleaved image information in a plurality of image information is sequentially read.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buffer memory management method, wherein a buffer memory comprising a main buffer area and a sub-buffer area is selected from a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium. The selected image information is stored in the sub-buffer area, the selected image information is read from the main buffer area, and the selection of the image information is changed. when,
The selected image information in the sub-buffer area is read.

The invention according to claim 8 relates to a buffer memory management method, wherein a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium are stored in a buffer memory consisting of a single area, and are selected. It is characterized by reading out the image information.

[0018] The invention according to claim 9 is based on claim 6,
According to the buffer memory management method described in 7 or 8, the plurality of pieces of image information are interleaved image information.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image read from an image information storage medium, wherein a plurality of read image information are stored in corresponding buffer memory areas, respectively. When reading the image information stored in the buffer memory area and reproducing the screen,
When screen switching occurs, the image information to be read next is read from the corresponding buffer memory area and reproduced.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reproducing apparatus according to the tenth aspect, wherein the plurality of pieces of image information are interleaved image information.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reproducing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the buffer memory comprises a plurality of buffer memory areas configured in parallel corresponding to a plurality of pieces of image information. First means for storing a plurality of pieces of image information read from the image information storage medium in each corresponding buffer memory area, and second means for connecting the buffer memory area corresponding to the selected image information to an output And third means for sequentially reading out interleaved image information corresponding to a plurality of pieces of image information from each buffer memory area.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reproducing apparatus as set forth in the twelfth aspect, wherein the first means comprises the same time-series interleaved image information in a plurality of pieces of image information read from the image information storage medium. At the same address in the corresponding buffer memory area, and the second means connects the information read from the buffer memory area storing the selected image information to the output. The third selecting means comprises a third selecting means for sequentially reading out corresponding interleaved image information in a plurality of pieces of image information from the same address of each buffer memory area, and the third selecting means. The address and data size of the next output time-series image information in each buffer memory area for each read address supply by the selection means Another memory means for storing provided,
When the selection of the reproduction image information is changed, the connection to the buffer memory area corresponding to the new image information is changed by the second selection means, and the connection is stored in the another memory means by the third selection means. It is characterized in that the next output time-series image information is read out by the address of the new image information calculated based on the address and the data size.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reproducing apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the read address in the third selecting means is not overtaken by the write address supplied from the first selecting means. The system is configured to perform overtaking control for performing

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reproducing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the buffer memory comprises a main buffer area and a sub-buffer area, and the image read from the image information storage medium. First means for storing selected image information in the information in the main buffer area and storing unselected image information in the sub-buffer area; and reading selected image information from the main buffer area And a second means.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reproducing apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, the first means stores the selected image information in a plurality of pieces of image information read from the image information storage medium. It comprises first selection means for classifying unselected image information and storing them in the main buffer area and sub-buffer area, respectively, wherein the second means sets an address of the selected image information Supply means for sequentially reading out the selected image information from the main buffer area, and for each supply of a read address in the second selection means, a next output in the sub-buffer area. Another memory means for storing the address and data size of the time-series image information is provided. In the selecting means, the address of the new image information calculated based on the address and the data size stored in the other memory means is used to select the next output time series selected image information in the sub-buffer area. It is characterized in that it is configured to perform reading.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reproducing apparatus according to the sixteenth aspect, wherein the second selecting means includes:
It is characterized by performing overtaking control so that the read address is not overtaken by the write address supplied from the first selecting means.

[0027] The invention according to claim 18 relates to the image reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the buffer memory stores a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium in time series. And a reading means for reading image information selected from the buffer memory area.

The invention according to claim 19 is the first invention.
8. The image reproducing apparatus according to 8, wherein the reading means comprises a selecting means for sequentially reading the selected image information by supplying an address of the selected image information to the buffer memory. For each supply of the read address in the selection means, another memory means for storing the address and data size of each image information of the next output time series in the buffer memory is provided. And reading out the next output time-series selected image information in the buffer memory by using the address of the new image information calculated based on the address and the data size stored in the another memory means. It is characterized by being constituted.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reproducing apparatus according to the nineteenth aspect, wherein the selecting means includes an overtaking control for preventing the read address from being overtaken by the write address of the buffer memory. Is performed.

[0030]

According to the structure of the present invention, a plurality of image information read from an image information storage medium (such as a disk) is stored in a buffer memory area, and the image information stored in the buffer memory area is read to reproduce a screen. When a screen change occurs, the buffer memory area is configured in parallel with a plurality of pieces of image information so that the next image information to be read is read from the corresponding area of the buffer memory and reproduced. The corresponding interleaved image information in the plurality of image information read from the image information storage medium is stored at the same address of each buffer memory area, and the buffer memory area corresponding to the selected image information is connected to the output. Then, the corresponding interleaved image information in the plurality of image information is sequentially read from the same address in each buffer memory area. As a result, there is no video data that is not reproduced due to the difference between the input transfer rate of the error correction unit and the output transfer rate of the video data processing unit, and the responsiveness to the screen switching instruction from the user can be improved. it can.

In another configuration of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium (such as a disk) are stored in a buffer memory area, and the image information stored in the buffer memory area is read out. When the screen is switched when the screen is reproduced, the buffer memory is divided into a main buffer area and a sub-buffer area so that the next image information to be read is read from the corresponding area of the buffer memory and reproduced. , The selected image information among the plurality of image information read from the image information storage medium is stored in the main buffer area, the unselected image information is stored in the sub-buffer area,
The selected image information is read from the main buffer area, and when the selection of the image information is changed, the changed and selected image information in the sub-buffer area is read. In addition, there is no video data that is not reproduced due to the difference in the output transfer rate of the video data processing unit, and the responsiveness to a screen switching instruction from the user can be improved.

In still another configuration of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium (such as a disk) are stored in a buffer memory area, and the image information stored in the buffer memory area is read. When the screen is switched when the screen is played back, the buffer memory is composed of a single area so that the image information to be read next is read out from the corresponding area of the buffer memory and played back. In the buffer memory area, a plurality of pieces of image information read from the image information storage medium are stored,
Since the selected image information is configured to be read, there is no video data that is not reproduced due to the difference between the input transfer rate of the error correction unit and the output transfer rate of the video data processing unit, and the responsiveness to the screen switching instruction from the user. Can be improved.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The description will be made specifically using an embodiment. In each of the following examples,
The case of the multi-angle system will be described, but the same applies to the case of the multi-story system. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a disc reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart (1) for explaining the operation of the disc reproducing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart (2) for explaining the operation of the disc reproducing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the disc reproducing apparatus of this example is configured such that a motor 2
A pickup 3, a current amplification unit 4, a pickup control unit 5, a waveform shaping amplification unit 6, an error correction unit 7,
.. _{, A} buffer memory 8 _1, 8 _2, 8 ₃ ,.
, A selector 10, a selector 11, a video data processing unit 12, a system controller 13, and a system controller memory 14.

The disc 1 is composed of, for example, an optical disc such as a DVD, and records a plurality of pieces of information which proceed simultaneously in an interleaved manner. The motor 2 rotates the disk 1 at a predetermined variable speed. The pickup 3 reads data recorded in pits on the surface of the disk 1. Current amplifier 4
Supplies a driving current for rotating the motor 2, a reading light source driving current for the pickup 3, and a positioning control driving current. The pickup control unit 5 controls the current output of the current amplification unit 4 and controls the positioning drive of the pickup 3. The waveform shaping / amplifying unit 6 amplifies the data signal read from the pickup 3, shapes the waveform, and binarizes the data signal. The error correction unit 7 detects and corrects a code error in the output data from the waveform shaping amplification unit. The buffer memories 8 _1, 8 _2, 8 _3, ... Are composed of a plurality of cells, and store the respective angle data from the error correction unit 7 for each cell. When the address of the cell reaches the end, each buffer memory returns to the beginning and is used cyclically. The buffer memory 8
_, 8 _, 8 _3, ... May be configured as separate memories, or one memory may be divided in parallel,
A plurality of locations may be accessible with the same address. The selector 9 selects a buffer memory in which data is to be stored according to the angle of the data output from the error correction unit 7. Also, the selector 10
Selectively output data from the buffer memory in which the selected angle data is stored. The selector 11 selects a cell in the buffer memory where the read data is stored. The video data processing unit 12 decodes output data from the buffer memory to generate a video output and an audio output. The system controller 13
In addition to controlling the pickup control unit 5 according to the data read information from the error correction unit 7, the selector 9 selects a data write buffer memory, the selector 10 selects a data read buffer memory,
The selection of the data read cell in the selector 11 is controlled. The system controller memory 14 includes selectors 10 and 1 necessary for switching image information when an angle change instruction is issued from the system controller 13.
1 to store the control information, etc.
Supply 3

Hereinafter, the operation of the disk reproducing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, the buffer memories 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ ,.
Are composed of m cells, and each buffer memory has n cells corresponding to the number of time-series data, and constitutes a matrix memory composed of m × n cells as a whole. The buffer memory _{8 1,} 8 _{2, 8} 3,
In order to select an element cell in the matrix and input data from the error correction block 7 and output data to the video data processing unit 12,
10 and 11 are provided. Here, it is assumed that m is the maximum value of the number of angles and nine are prepared, and n is designed to be a value considering the maximum capacity of each buffer.

The selector 9 selectively stores the multi-angle data, as shown in FIG. 9, sequentially read from the error correction unit 7 in a buffer memory corresponding to each angle. Further, the selector 10 selects a buffer memory in which the angle data currently selected by the user is stored, and outputs the read data. The selector 11 selects a cell in each buffer memory in which a data block to be read is stored, and designates the same pointer on each buffer memory, which is updated with a change in time series. . For example, the selector 10, the buffer memory ₈₁ which corresponds to the angle A is selected, the pointer indicated by the selector 11,
The data A0, A1,... Are sequentially output to the video data processing unit 12 as they are sequentially updated in accordance with the interleave numbers 0, 1, 2,. The data output to the video data processing unit 12 is discarded from the buffer memory, and the next new data is sequentially stored. By doing so, it is possible to reproduce multi-angle data by only selecting the selector 10 and updating the selector 11 for data for each angle.

First, the operation of writing data to the buffer memory will be described with reference to FIG. the first,
When a disc is set in the disc reproducing apparatus (DVD player), the pickup control unit 5 and the like operate in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 13 to read data recorded on the disc 1 via the pickup 3 and obtain a waveform. After being binarized in the shaping / amplifying unit 6 and subjected to error correction processing in the error correcting unit 7 (step S1), the data is input to the system controller 13. The system controller 13 checks the contents of the input serial data and detects that multi-angle data is being read from the disk (step S2), and determines what kind of angle data is on the disk. Is displayed on a display unit (not shown) on the disk reproducing device (step S3). At this time, by selecting an angle of the image to be viewed by the user using an operation button (not shown) of the disc reproducing apparatus main body, an operation button of the remote control device, or the like, information indicating the selected angle is displayed. , To the system controller 13. Upon receiving this instruction, the system controller 13 performs an operation of controlling each selector so as to reproduce the image data of the selected angle recorded on the disk 1. For the data write operation, the system controller 13 controls the selector 9 to store the data at the specified angle (step S4). As a result, the selector 9 sequentially stores the interleaved image data input serially via the error correction unit 7 in the buffer memory corresponding to each designated angle (step S5). Such a data write operation is performed for each designated angle until the storage of data for one interleave block is completed (step S6). At this time, in the data read from the disk 1, information related to all angles (information of a jump destination address to next interleaved data and data size) is recorded in the header portion thereof. Controls the switching of the selector 9 with reference to this data, whereby the buffer memory 8 _i of the selected angle is controlled.
(I = 1, 2, 3,...) Store the deguter of each angle.

Next, the operation of reading data from the buffer memory having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. If angle A is selected by the above-mentioned angle selection operation,
System controller 13, the selector 10 of the output side of the buffer memory is controlled to select the output from the buffer memory ₈₁ corresponding to the selected angle A (step P1). Further, the system controller 13 controls the selector 11 so that the selector 11 selects the buffer pointer of the oldest cell in time (step P2). The video signal and the audio signal are transferred to the unit 12 (Step P5), decoded, and reproduced and output. At this time, it is necessary to perform overtaking control so that the cell pointed to by the buffer pointer by the selector 11 is not overwritten by the error correction data input from the selector 9. Video data processing unit 1
Since the data output to 2 becomes unnecessary, the buffer pointer indicated by the selector 11 is updated (+1).
(Step P6). By the above-mentioned overtaking control, new data is written up to the cell immediately before the cell from which reading has been completed, so that the next error correction data can be input by updating the buffer pointer.

When the user watching the playback screen instructs angle switching by a remote controller or the like (step P3), when this instruction is transmitted to the system controller 13, the system controller 13 responds to the selected angle. Then, control is performed to switch the selector 10 (step P4). For example, when the user is on the playback screen,
Pictures have state that viewed by the data from the buffer memory A ₁ corresponding to the angle A, when an instruction to switch the angle B, the system controller 1
The control of the 3, the selector 10 is switched so as to select and output the data read from the buffer memory ₈₂ which corresponds to the angle B. On the other hand, the addresses output from the selector 11 are stored in all the buffer memories 8.
_{Since i} (i = 1, 2, 3,...) is common, there is no need to recalculate the address of the buffer memory or switch the address according to the angle switching. Thus, a user who was watching images A _i is, when switching to the image of the angle B, the system controller 13 that has received the instruction may be performed only switching of the selector 10. Therefore, assuming that the angle switching instruction by the user's remote control operation is transmitted to the system controller 13 and the time lag until the selector 10 is switched can be ignored, the user can view the Bi + 1 image on the playback screen. it can.

As described above, according to the configuration of the disk reproducing apparatus of this example, the buffer memory is configured in a matrix corresponding to the number of angles and the number of time-series data, and is provided on the input side and the output side of the buffer memory. Selectors are provided for each angle to select and store data and output, and a selector is provided for each buffer memory to indicate the pointer of a read cell in common. Even in the case where data is recorded in the memory, there is no need to be aware of the address of the cell of the interleaved data for each buffer memory and to perform write / read processing. In addition to simplifying the configuration, the input transfer rate of the error correction unit and the output of the video data Video data that has not been output by the difference between the transfer rate even with allowing reproduction, thereby improving the response speed at the time of angle change by the user.

Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a disk reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the disk reproducing apparatus. is there. As shown in FIG. 4, the disc reproducing apparatus of this example has a motor 1, a pickup 3, a current amplifier 4,
Pickup control unit 5, waveform shaping / amplification unit 6, error correction unit 7, video data processing unit 12, buffer memory 15, selector 16, selector 17, system controller 18, and memory for system controller 19 is provided.

Disc 1, motor 2, pickup 3,
The current amplification unit 4, the pickup control unit 5, the waveform shaping amplification unit 6, the error correction unit 7, and the video data processing unit 12
Is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The buffer memory 15 includes a main buffer 15A and a sub buffer 15
The main buffer 15A stores image data of a currently selected angle, and the sub-buffer 15B stores image data of an unselected angle. The main buffer 15A and the sub-buffer 15B each have a plurality of cells, and store input angle data for each cell. When the address of the cell reaches the end, the main buffer and the sub-buffer return to the beginning and are used cyclically. Note that the buffer memory 15 may have a main buffer and a sub-buffer separately, or one memory may be divided into regions and used as the main buffer and the sub-buffer. The selector 16 stores the selected angle data in the main buffer 15A, and stores the unselected angle data in the sub-buffer 15B. The selector 17 specifies an address on the buffer memory to be output to the video data processing unit 12. The system controller 18 controls the pickup control unit 5 according to the data read information from the error correction unit 7, and controls the selection of the data write buffer memory in the selector 16 and the selection of the data read cell in the selector 17. . The system controller memory 19 stores control information and the like of the selector 16 necessary for switching image information at the time of an angle change instruction from the system controller 18, and supplies the information to the system controller 18.

Hereinafter, the operation of the disk reproducing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a write operation to the buffer memory will be described. In the same manner as described in the first embodiment, the data recorded on the disk 1 is read out,
The data is input to the system controller 18 via the error correction unit 7. When the system controller 18 checks the contents of the input serial data and detects that multi-angle data is being read from the disk, the system controller 18 determines what kind of angle data is on the disk. The information is displayed on a display unit (not shown) on the disc reproducing apparatus. At this time, information indicating the selected angle is transmitted to the system controller 18 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Upon receiving this instruction, the system controller 18 performs an operation of controlling each selector so as to reproduce the image data of the selected angle recorded on the disk 1. When writing the image data read from the disk to the buffer memory, the system controller controls the selector 16 to store the image data of the currently selected screen in the main buffer 15A, and to store the unselected B, C Are sequentially stored in the sub-buffer 15B. At this time, the data read from the disk 1 contains information related to all angles (jump destination address to next interleaved data and information on data size).
8 controls the switching of the selector 16 with reference to this data, whereby each angle data is stored in the main buffer 15A and the sub-buffer 15B.

Next, the reading operation from the buffer memory will be described. In the same angle selection operation as in the first embodiment, for example, when the angle A is selected, the system controller 18 sets the selector 17 on the output side of the buffer memory to the main buffer 15.
Control is performed so that the data of the angle A stored in A is sequentially selected from the buffer pointer of the oldest cell in time. As a result, the buffer data of these cells is sequentially transferred to the video data processing unit 12, and the video signal and the audio signal are reproduced and output. At this time, it is necessary to perform overtaking control so that the cell of the buffer pointer indicated by the selector 17 is not overwritten by the error correction data input from the selector 16.

When outputting the interleaved data to the video data controller 12, the system controller 18 refers to the management information recorded in the header of the interleaved data for updating the buffer address indicated by the selector 17. Then, the start address and data size of the next interleaved data at each angle are stored in the system controller memory 19. For example, when transferring the interleaved block of the angle An, the start address and the data size of the interleaved block An + 1 / Bn + 1 / Cn + 1 are stored.

One image data is transferred to the video data processing unit 1
When the data is output to the selector 2, the system controller 18 updates the buffer pointer for the next read of the selector 17 in order to output the next image data. By the above-mentioned overtaking control, new data is written up to the cell immediately before the cell from which reading has been completed, so that the next error correction data can be input by updating the buffer pointer. Also, the system controller 18
Updates the address pointer corresponding to the same interleave number on the side of the sub-buffer 15B to be read when the angle is changed. The system controller 18 sequentially stores the update positions of the main buffer 15A and the sub-buffer 15B in the system controller memory 19. The updating method of the buffer pointer in this case is as follows.

(A) Main Buffer The system controller 18 stores the data in the system controller memory 19 at the time when the angle data An was transferred from the selector 17 and the last time when the angle data An-1 was transferred, for example. Put, angle data A
n, and by adding this data size to the address of An, the next selector 17
Is obtained and stored in the system controller memory 19. The system controller 18 instructs the selector 17 of this address stored in the system controller memory 19 at the time of the next read. In FIG. 5, at the time of transfer of A1 from the buffer memory this time, the system controller determines the start address of A1 and the address of A1 which was previously stored in the system controller memory at the time of transfer of A0 from the buffer memory. By adding the data size, the start address of A2 is calculated and stored in the memory for the system controller. At the next transfer, the start address of A2 stored in the memory for the system controller is selected. By instructing A17, A2
Is illustrated as an example.

(B) Sub-buffer The system controller 18 stores the data in the system controller memory 19 at the time when the angle data An was transferred from the selector 17 and the previous time when the angle data An-1 was transferred last time. Set angle data B
By referring to the data size of n / Cn and adding this data size to the address of Bn / Cn, the read buffer pointer Bn + 1 / C of the next selector 17 is obtained.
Finding n + 1, the system controller memory 19
Remember. When changing the angle at the next reading, the system controller 18 sets the system
This address stored in the controller memory 19 is instructed to the selector 17. In FIG. 5, when transferring A2 from the buffer memory, the system controller sets the start address of B2 having the same interleave number,
During the previous transfer of A1 from the buffer memory, the system
The start address of B3 is calculated by adding the data size of B2 and C2 stored in the memory for the controller, and stored in the memory for the system controller. It is exemplified that the transfer of B3 is performed by instructing the selector 17 of the start address of B3 stored in the controller memory.

When the user watching the playback screen instructs angle switching by a remote controller or the like, when this instruction is transmitted to the system controller 18, the system controller 18 selects the angle to be indicated by the selector 17. The address of the cell in which the data of the angle is stored is calculated. For example, the calculation of the read address when changing from the reproduction screen of the data An of the angle A to another angle is performed in the following manner according to the selected angle. (A) When Angle Data B is Selected The system controller 18 designates the address of the angle B data Bn in the sub-buffer 15B stored in the system controller memory 19 to the selector 17 as it is. I do. Then, the data read from the sub-buffer 15B in accordance with the address is transferred to the video data processing unit 12. (B) When Angle Data C is Selected The system controller 18 has stored the address of the data Bn in the sub-buffer 15B stored in the system controller memory 19 at the time of the previous interleaved data transfer. , The address Cn is calculated by adding the data size of the angle data Cn, and this address is designated to the selector 17. Then, the data read from the sub-buffer 15B in accordance with the address is transferred to the video data processing unit 12.

When the angle is switched, the system controller 18 instructs the selector 16 to switch between the main buffer and the sub buffer. That is, for example, in the above-described example, when the angle B is selected, the selector 16 stores the data of the angle B after the data B / C previously stored in the buffer 15B, and stores the data of the angle B so far in the buffer 15A. After the data A, the data of the angle A / C is stored. As a result, when the reading of the data stored so far is completed, the buffer 15B becomes the main buffer, and the buffer 15A becomes the sub-buffer, and the operation is continued.

As described above, according to the disk reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, the buffer memory is divided into the main buffer and the sub-buffer, and the selectors are provided on the input side and the output side of the buffer memory, respectively. The data is stored in the main buffer, the data of the unselected angle is stored in the sub-buffer, the data of the selected angle is read from the main buffer, and the data is read from the sub-buffer when the angle is switched. In the related art, angle data that has not been reproduced due to the difference between the input transfer rate of the error correction unit and the output transfer rate of the video data processing unit is also reproduced, and the reaction speed when the user switches angles is improved. Will be.

Third Embodiment FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a disk reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the disk reproducing apparatus. is there. As shown in FIG. 6, the disc reproducing apparatus of this example has a motor 1, a pickup 3, a current amplifier 4,
A pickup control unit 5, a waveform shaping / amplifying unit 6, an error correcting unit 7, a buffer memory 20, a selector 21,
It has a schematic configuration including a system controller 22 and a system controller memory 23.

Disc 1, motor 2, pickup 3,
The current amplification unit 4, the pickup control unit 5, the waveform shaping amplification unit 6, the error correction unit 7, and the video data processing unit 12
Is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The buffer memory 20 has a plurality of cells, and sequentially stores all angle data input from the error correction unit 7 for each cell. When the cell address reaches the end, the buffer memory 20 returns to the beginning and is used cyclically. The selector 21 specifies an address on the buffer memory 20 to output to the video data processing unit 12. The system controller 22 controls the pickup control unit 5 according to the data read information from the error correction unit 7.
And the selection of the data read cell in the selector 21 is controlled. The system controller memory 23 stores control information and the like of the selector 21 necessary for switching image information when an angle change instruction is issued from the system controller 22, and supplies the information to the system controller 22.

Hereinafter, the operation of the disk reproducing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a write operation to the buffer memory will be described. In this example, the data read from the disk 1 is binarized in the waveform shaping / amplifying unit 6, subjected to error correction processing in the error correcting unit 7, and then read in the reading order regardless of the angle. , Are all stored in the buffer memory 20.

Next, the read operation from the buffer memory will be described. As described in the first embodiment, data read from the disk 1 is input to the system controller 22 via the waveform shaping / amplifying unit 6 and the error correcting unit 7. The system controller 22
Checking the contents of the input serial data and detecting that multi-angle data is being read from the disc, the type of angle data on the disc is shown on the disc playback device. Display on the display unit that is not performed. At this time, information indicating the selected angle is transmitted to the system controller 22 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Upon receiving the instruction, the system controller 22 performs an operation of controlling the selector 21 so as to reproduce the image data of the selected angle recorded on the disk 1. If the angle A has been selected, the selector 21
In accordance with the control of No. 2, since the data of the angle A indicates the buffer pointer of the cell with the oldest write time, the data of the cell is read and transferred to the video data processing unit 12. At this time, it is necessary to perform overtaking control so that the buffer pointer specified by the selector 21 is not overwritten by data input from the error correction unit 7. The video data processing unit 12 performs a decoding process on the transferred data to generate a video output and an audio output.

When outputting interleaved data to the video data control unit 12, the system controller 2
2 refers to the management information recorded in the header part of the interleaved data for updating the buffer address indicated by the selector 21 and determines the start address and data size of the next interleaved data at each angle in the system. It is stored in the controller memory 23. For example, when transferring the data block An of the angle A, the interleaved block An + 1 / Bn + 1
The start address and data size of / Cn + 1 are stored.

Since the data whose output has been completed to the video data processing unit 12 becomes unnecessary (Bn / Cn becomes unnecessary when the data An has been output), the system controller 22 reads out the next data from the selector 21. Update the buffer pointer for the operation. By the above-mentioned overtaking control, new data is written up to the cell immediately before the cell from which reading has been completed, so that the next error correction data can be input by updating the buffer pointer. To update the buffer pointer in this case,
Proceed as follows. (A) When Angle Data A is Selected The system controller 22 transfers the angle data An-1 at the time when the angle data An of the address indicated by the selector 21 is transferred, and then transfers the angle data An-1 to the system controller memory 23. Angle data B stored in
By referring to the data size of n / Cn and adding this data size to the address of An, the read buffer pointer An + 1 of the next selector 21 is obtained,
It is stored in the system controller memory 23.
The system controller 22 instructs this address stored in the system controller memory 23 to the selector 21 at the next reading. In FIG. 6, when the current data A1 is transferred from the buffer memory,
The system controller refers to the data size of the data B1 and the data size of the data C1 stored in the memory for the system controller during the previous transfer of the data A0, and adds the data size to the start address of A1. The start address of the data A2 is calculated and stored in the memory for the system controller, and at the next transfer, the address stored in the memory for the system controller is instructed to the selector 21 so that A2 Is illustrated as an example. (B) When Angle Data B is Selected The system controller 22 transfers the angle data Bn-1 at the address indicated by the selector 21 and transfers the angle data Bn-1 to the system controller memory 23. Angle data C stored in
n and the data size of the angle data An + 1 referred to when transferring the angle data Bn, and adding these data sizes to the address of Bn, the read buffer pointer of the next selector 21 is read. Bn + 1 is obtained and stored in the system controller memory 23. The system controller 22 instructs this address stored in the system controller memory 23 to the selector 21 at the next reading. (C) When Angle Data C is Selected When the system controller 22 transfers the angle data Cn, the system controller memory 23
Is added to the address of Cn by adding the data size of the angle data An + 1 / Bn + 1 referred to from
Read buffer pointer Cn + 1 of next selector 21
Is stored in the system controller memory 23. The system controller 22 instructs this address stored in the system controller memory 23 to the selector 21 at the next reading.

When the user watching the playback screen instructs angle switching by a remote controller or the like, when this instruction is transmitted to the system controller 22, the system controller 22 operates the buffer memory to which the selector 21 should instruct. The address at which the data of the selected angle in 20 is stored is calculated. For example, as a method of calculating the address when the angle A is selected and the angle is switched to the angle B or C, the address is calculated as follows based on the current address of An indicated by the selector 21. (A) When Angle Data B is Selected The system controller 22 refers to the data size of the data An in the management information of the header part of the angle data An, adds the data size to the address of the data An, and adds the data size. The address of the data Bn is calculated. (B) When Angle Data C is Selected The system controller 22 refers to the data size of the angle data An and the data size of the angle data Bn in the management information of the header portion of the angle data An, and refers to the address of the data An. Data An and data B
Then, the address of the data Cn is calculated by adding the respective data sizes of n.

As described above, according to the configuration of the disc reproducing apparatus of this example, the interleaved data is serially stored in the buffer memory, and a selector is provided on the output side of the buffer memory to select data for each angle and output the data. In the prior art, angle data that was not reproduced due to a difference between the input transfer rate of the error correction unit and the output transfer rate of the video data processing unit is also reproduced. Will also improve the reaction rate.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Even this is included in the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to DVD playback, and is a medium in which the reading speed is sufficiently higher than the output speed of the playback data, and the data from a recording medium on which a plurality of simultaneously proceeding information are recorded. The present invention can be applied to a reproducing apparatus for performing reproduction.

[0061]

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of image information can be read from an image information recording medium (such as a disc) on which a plurality of pieces of image information proceeding simultaneously are interleaved and recorded by a user's instruction. In an image reproducing apparatus (disc reproducing apparatus) having a function of arbitrarily selecting and reproducing the image information, the data of the image information not to be reproduced is also stored in the buffer. Is to enable video playback of data in an area that has not been played back due to the difference between the input transfer rate of the error correction unit and the output transfer rate of the video data processing unit, and to reduce the response time to a switching instruction from the user. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a disk reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (1) for explaining the operation of the disc reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (2) for explaining the operation of the disc reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a disc reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the disc reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a disc reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the disc reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of the multi-angle system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a format of multi-angle image data recorded on a disc.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional disk reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a multi-angle image switching method in a conventional disk reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Disc (image information storage medium) 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 _3, ... Buffer memory 9 Selector (first selecting means) 10 Selector (second selecting means) 11 Selector (third selecting means) 15 Buffer memory 15A Main buffer area 15B Sub-buffer area 16 Selector (first selecting means) 17 Selector (second selecting means) 20 Buffer memory 21 Selector (selecting means)

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A buffer memory for storing image information read from an image information storage medium for reproduction, wherein the buffer memory has individual areas for individually storing a plurality of pieces of image information. Buffer memory to be used. 2. The buffer memory according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of pieces of image information are interleaved image information. 3. A buffer memory area for storing the plurality of pieces of image information is configured in parallel, and storing and reading out corresponding interleaved image information in the plurality of pieces of image information at the same address in each buffer memory area. 3. The buffer memory according to claim 2, wherein the buffer memory is configured to perform the following. 4. An area for storing the plurality of pieces of image information includes a main buffer area and a sub-buffer area. The selected image information is stored and read in the main buffer area, and is selected. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image information is stored in the sub-buffer area, and when the selection of the image information is changed, the selected image information is read from the sub-buffer area. Buffer media. 5. A single buffer memory area for storing the plurality of pieces of image information, wherein the plurality of pieces of image information read from the image information storage medium are stored in the buffer memory area. 3. The buffer memory according to claim 2, wherein the buffer memory is configured to read the obtained image information. 6. A plurality of buffer memory areas configured in parallel corresponding to a plurality of pieces of image information, the corresponding interleaved image information in the plurality of pieces of image information read from the image information storage medium being stored in each buffer memory. A buffer memory area corresponding to the selected image information is connected to an output while being stored at the same address of the area, and corresponding interleaved image information in a plurality of pieces of image information is sequentially read from the same address of each buffer memory area. A buffer memory management method, comprising: 7. In a buffer memory including a main buffer area and a sub-buffer area, selected image information among a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium is stored in the main buffer area. When image information that is not selected is stored in the sub-buffer area, and the selected image information is read from the main buffer area, and when the selection of the image information is changed,
Reading out the selected image information from the sub-buffer area. 8. A buffer memory management characterized by storing a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium in a buffer memory consisting of a single area and reading out the selected image information. Method. 9. The buffer memory management method according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of pieces of image information are interleaved image information. 10. An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image read from an image information storage medium, wherein a plurality of pieces of read image information are stored in corresponding buffer memory areas, respectively. An image reproducing apparatus configured to read out image information to be read next from a corresponding buffer memory area and reproduce the read image information when a screen change occurs when reading the image information and reproducing the screen. 11. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of pieces of image information are interleaved image information. 12. The buffer memory includes a plurality of buffer memory areas configured in parallel corresponding to a plurality of image information, and a plurality of image information read from the image information storage medium. A first means for storing the buffer memory area in the buffer memory area, a second means for connecting the buffer memory area corresponding to the selected image information to the output, and a corresponding interleaved image information of the plurality of image information from each buffer memory area. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising third means for sequentially reading. 13. A first selection means for storing the same time-series interleaved image information in a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium at the same address in a corresponding buffer memory area. Means for connecting the information read from the buffer memory area for storing the selected image information to an output, and the third means for each of the buffers A third selecting means for sequentially reading out the corresponding interleaved image information in the plurality of image information from the same address in the memory area, and each time a read address is supplied by the third selecting means, Separate memory means for storing the address and data size of output time-series image information is provided to change the selection of reproduced image information. Changing the connection to the buffer memory area corresponding to the new image information in the second selecting means, and changing the connection in the third selecting means based on the address and the data size stored in the other memory means. 13. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein reading of the next output time-series image information is performed based on the calculated address of the new image information. 14. An overtaking control for preventing a read address in said third selecting means from being overtaken by a write address supplied from said first selecting means. 14. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the buffer memory includes a main buffer area and a sub-buffer area, and stores selected image information in image information read from the image information storage medium in the main buffer area. ,
12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: first means for storing unselected image information in the sub-buffer area; and second means for reading selected image information from the main buffer area. Image playback device. 16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first unit classifies selected image information and unselected image information in a plurality of pieces of image information read from the image information storage medium,
A first selection unit for storing the selected image information in the main buffer area and a sub-buffer area, wherein the second unit supplies an address of the selected image information, and A second selecting means for sequentially reading the image information which has been input, and each time a read address is supplied by the second selecting means, an address and a data size of the next output time-series image information in the sub-buffer area are determined. Another memory means for storing is provided, and when the selection of the reproduced image information is changed, the second selection means stores the new image information calculated based on the address and the data size stored in the other memory means. According to the address, the selected image information of the next output time series in the sub-buffer area is read. Image reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein it is configured to. 17. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second selection means is configured to perform overtaking control so that a read address is not overtaken by a write address supplied from the first selection means. 17. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein 18. The buffer memory comprises a single area for sequentially storing a plurality of pieces of image information read from an image information storage medium in a time-series manner, and stores the image information selected from the buffer memory area. 12. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a reading unit for reading. 19. The reading means comprises a selecting means for sequentially reading out the selected image information by supplying an address of the selected image information to the buffer memory, and reading by the selecting means. For each address supply, another memory means for storing the address and data size of each image information of the next output time series in the buffer memory is provided. According to the address of the new image information calculated based on the address stored in the memory means and the data size, the selected image information of the next output time series in the buffer memory is read out. 19. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: 20. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said selection means is configured to perform overtaking control for preventing a read address from being overtaken by a write address of said buffer memory. apparatus.