JP2000341646A - Device and method for reproducing image and medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speedily reproduce contents after a desired scene by detecting the selecting operation of a user to a reduced still picture on a generated image for mark selection and reproducing video contents after the scene corresponding to the selected reduced image. SOLUTION: During the reproduction of video contents stored on a storage medium, the scene on the video contents is stored in a storage means by setting a prescribed bookmark. At least one reduced still picture, which is generated by a first generating means, corresponding to the bookmark stored in the storage means is displayed while being stuck onto a window 42 of a bookmark selection picture 41 by a second generating means. When the user selects the reduced still picture while using a cursor or the like, the video contents after the scene corresponding to that reduced still picture are reproduced by a reproducing means. Thus, even when the user forgets the number of the bookmark, the contents after the desired scene can be speedily reproduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus, a method, and a medium, and more particularly to an image reproducing apparatus, a method, and a medium suitable for use in confirming a scene on a content in which a bookmark is set.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) and LD (Las
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) -VIDE with video content recorded as an alternative to the player
DVD players that play O are available. Characteristics of a DVD player with respect to a VCR or an LD player include that a DVD as a recording medium is smaller and lighter than a video cassette or an LD, and has a larger storage capacity.

[0003] In particular, for DVD-VIDEO, the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 system is used as an image encoding system, high image quality, multi-story, multi-language, multi-angle, etc. It is mentioned.

[0004] By the way, while a user of a DVD player is watching video content, it may be necessary to interrupt the viewing for some reason. In such a case, it is convenient to attach a mark (hereinafter referred to as a bookmark) to the scene on which the viewing of the content has been interrupted, so that viewing can be resumed from the bookmarked scene thereafter. Also, while watching video content,
It is convenient if a bookmark is set for a favorite scene, and after that, viewing can be started from a desired scene by designating the bookmark.

[0005] In response to such a demand, there is a conventional DVD player in which a plurality of bookmarks can be set on contents. For example, a DV player capable of setting a bookmark stores an arbitrary scene of the content designated by the user in association with the bookmark assigned a serial number, and thereafter stores the scene corresponding to the bookmark number designated by the user. The reproduction of the content is started from.

[0006]

By the way, in a conventional DV player in which a bookmark can be set, the correspondence between the bookmark number and the scene on the content (that is, what kind of bookmark was set to what scene) is as follows. ,
The user must memorize it. Therefore, if the user forgets the number of the bookmark set for a certain scene, in order to start reproduction from a desired scene, reproduction from a plurality of set bookmarks must be sequentially tried. There is a problem that it is not possible to quickly reproduce the content from a scene in which the content is reproduced.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and displays a plurality of scenes in which bookmarks are set on one screen and allows the user to select the scenes, thereby promptly selecting contents after the desired scene. That can be played back.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image reproducing apparatus determines whether a mark for specifying a scene on a video content can be set based on a predetermined algorithm during reproduction of the video content. A determining unit, a receiving unit for receiving a command from the user, and, when the determining unit determines that the setting of the mark is permitted, specifying a scene on the video content being reproduced according to the command received by the receiving unit. Storage means for storing mark information, first generation means for generating a reduced still image of a scene corresponding to the mark information stored by the storage means, and pasting at least one or more reduced still images generated by the generation means A second generation unit for generating a mark selection image by using the second generation unit, and a user for a reduced still image on the mark selection image generated by the second generation unit. Detecting means for detecting the user's selecting operation, and reproducing means for reproducing video content subsequent to the scene corresponding to the selected reduced image in response to the user's selecting operation detected by the detecting means. I do.

[0009] The storage means may store information of a plurality of marks corresponding to one storage medium.

[0010] The storage means may store a set of information of a plurality of marks corresponding to a plurality of storage media.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reproducing method, during the reproduction of the video content, it is determined whether or not a mark for specifying a scene on the video content can be set based on a predetermined algorithm. When the mark is determined to be acceptable in the accepting step of accepting the command and the determining step, the information of the mark that specifies the scene on the video content being reproduced is stored in accordance with the command accepted in the accepting step. A storage step, a first generation step of generating a reduced still image of a scene corresponding to the mark information stored in the storage step, and attaching a mark selection image by attaching at least one or more reduced still images generated in the generation step A second generation step to generate, and a mark selection image generated in the second generation step A detecting step of detecting a user's selecting operation on the reduced still image, and a reproducing step of reproducing video content subsequent to a scene corresponding to the selected reduced image in response to the user's selecting operation detected in the detecting step It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for a medium for determining whether or not to set a mark for specifying a scene on a video content based on a predetermined algorithm during reproduction of the video content. When the mark is determined to be acceptable in the accepting step of accepting the command and the determining step, the information of the mark that specifies the scene on the video content being reproduced is stored in accordance with the command accepted in the accepting step. A storage step, a first generation step of generating a reduced still image of a scene corresponding to the mark information stored in the storage step, and attaching a mark selection image by attaching at least one or more reduced still images generated in the generation step A second generation step for generating, and a mark selection image generated in the second generation step A detecting step of detecting a user's selecting operation on the reduced still image, and a playing step of playing video content subsequent to a scene corresponding to the selected reduced image in response to the user's selecting operation detected in the detecting step; It is characterized by including.

[0013] The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, and claim 4.
In the image reproduction method described in the item (1) and the program of the medium described in the item (5), during the reproduction of the video content, it is determined based on a predetermined algorithm whether or not a mark for specifying a scene on the video content can be set. When a command from the user is received and it is determined that the setting of the mark is permitted, the information of the mark for specifying the scene on the video content being reproduced is stored corresponding to the received command. Further, a reduced still image of a scene corresponding to the stored mark information is generated, and at least one or more of the generated reduced still images is pasted, a mark selection image is generated, and the generated mark selection image is generated. The user's selection operation on the above reduced still image is detected, and video content subsequent to the scene corresponding to the selected reduced image is reproduced in response to the detected user's selection operation.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A configuration example of a DVD player to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In this DVD player 1, the controller 2 has an interface
(I / F) The entire DVD player 1 is controlled based on operation commands from the user input to the controller 3 and control signals (described later) supplied from the AV decoder 18. The interface controller 2 detects a user operation on a remote controller, an operation button provided on the main body, or the like, and outputs a corresponding signal to the controller 2. The flash ROM (NAND Flash ROM) 4 stores information for specifying a scene on the video content in which a bookmark is set, and the like. The servo circuit 5 adjusts the operation of the pickup 7 based on the control from the controller 2. The servo circuit 5 also detects a linear velocity error (CLV (Consta
nt Linear Velocity)) The rotation speed of the built-in spindle motor is controlled so that the linear velocity error input from the circuit 17 becomes zero. The DVD-VIDEO 6 records video contents.

The pickup 7 irradiates the DVD-VIDEO 6 with a laser beam and receives the reflected light, thereby forming a DVD-VI.
The information recorded in the DEO 6 is read out as an RF signal and output to the RF amplifier 9 of the preprocessing unit 8. The RF amplifier 9 digitizes and amplifies the RF signal input from the pickup 7, and outputs it to a PLL (Phase Lock Loop) circuit 10. PLL
The circuit 10 adjusts the frequency of the digital signal input from the RF amplifier 9 and performs 8/16 modulation (EFM (Eight-Fourteen Mod
ulation)) to the circuit 11. 8/16 modulation circuit 11
Converts the signal input from the PLL circuit 10 into 8/16 and outputs it to the microcomputer (MMU) 12 and the linear velocity error detection circuit 17.

Code error detection (EDC (Error Detection Cod
e)) The circuit 14 detects a code error of the signal input from the 8/16 modulation circuit 11 under the control of the microcomputer 12. Code error correction (ECC (Error Corr
section 15) The circuit 15 is a microcomputer 12
According to the control from, the error of the code of the signal input from the 8/16 modulation circuit 11 is corrected and output to the DMX (Demultiplex) circuit 18 of the AV decoder 18. CD-ROM
When the CD-Video is reproduced instead of the DVD-Video 6, the decoder 16 performs a predetermined process on the signal input from the 8/16 modulation circuit 11 under the control of the microcomputer 12.

The demultiplexing circuit 18 converts the code signal input from the preprocessor 8 into audio data, video data,
It is separated into sub-picture data or navigation data, and each of them is
c) 20, video decoder (Videodec) 22, closed caption data decoder 25, sub-picture decoder
(Sub-pic dec) 24 or output to NAVI pack 21.

The audio decoder 20 decodes the compression-encoded audio data input from the demultiplexing circuit 18 under the control of the microcomputer (MMU) 26 and outputs it to the DAC 28. The DAC 28 converts the input audio signal into an analog audio signal and outputs it to, for example, a speaker (not shown) at the subsequent stage.

The NAVI pack 21 appropriately processes the navigation data input from the demultiplexing circuit 18 under the control of the microcomputer 26, generates a control signal, and outputs the control signal to the controller 2.

The video decoder 22 decodes the compression-encoded video data input from the demultiplexing circuit 18 and outputs the decoded video data to a letter box (L-BOX) conversion circuit 23 under the control of the microcomputer 26. The letterbox conversion circuit 23 appropriately performs letterbox conversion on the video of the video data input from the video decoder 22 under the control of the microcomputer 26 and outputs the video data to the NTSC encoder 30.

Sub picture decoder (Sub-pic dec) 24
Is based on the control by the microcomputer 26,
The sub video data input from the demultiplexing circuit 18 is decoded as appropriate and output to the NTSC encoder 30. The closed caption data decoder 25 appropriately controls the demultiplexing circuit 18 based on the control of the microcomputer 26.
, Decodes the closed caption data included in the video data input from the terminal, and outputs the decoded data to the NTSC encoder 30.

The OSD (On Screen Display) generation circuit 29
An OSD image is generated and output to the NTSC encoder 30. NTS
The C encoder 30 appropriately superimposes the video input from the letter box conversion circuit 23, the sub-picture decoder 24, the closed caption decoder 25, or the video input from the OSD generation circuit 29, and converts the video into an NTSC signal. (Not shown).

DRAM (Dynamic Ramdom Access Memory) 1
3 and 27 are microcomputers 12 and 2 respectively.
6 is used as an area for temporarily storing data to be processed.

Next, the operation will be described. User DVD
If you instruct Player 1 to play DVD-Video 6,
The command is received by the interface controller 3 and supplied to the controller 2. The controller 2 controls the entire DVD player 1 in response to the command. That is, the pickup 7 reads the RF signal from the DVD-VIDEO 6, the pre-processing unit 8 converts the RF signal into a digital signal and performs error correction, and the AV decoder 18 inputs the RF signal from the pre-processing unit 8. Video data, audio data, and the like are decoded from the obtained signal and output to a display or a speaker.

When the user who is watching the video instructs to set a bookmark at an arbitrary timing, information specifying a scene on the video content being reproduced at that time contains a serial number assigned to the bookmark. And recorded in the flash ROM 4.

The information on the bookmark recorded in the flash ROM 4 is retained even when the power of the DVD player 1 is turned off. In addition, since information about the bookmark is recorded together with an ID unique to the DVD-VIDEO 6,
Take out the DVD-Video 6 from the DVD player 1 and place it on another DV
After playing D-VIDEO and setting a bookmark,
When the VD-VIDEO 6 is inserted into the DVD player 1 and played back, the previously set bookmark functions effectively. The flash ROM 4 has a plurality of Ds as long as its storage capacity allows.
It is possible to record a set of bookmarks set for VD-VIDEO or VCD (Video Compact Disc).

Next, information for specifying a scene on the video content will be described.
The standardized data structure of the video content recorded in the. Will be described with reference to FIGS.

The contents recorded on the DVD-VIDEO 6 are:
As shown in FIG. 2, it is composed of one video manager (VMG), which is a logical unit, and a plurality (99 or less) of video title sets (VTS). Video Manager D
This is a logical unit for constructing a table of contents that specifies all titles existing on the VD. Video Manager includes
A system menu for selecting a title using a video, an opening message, and the like can be recorded. The video title set is a logical unit for configuring one title or a plurality of titles sharing a part of video data for the purpose of corresponding to a plurality of parental levels. The video title set includes audio language /
It is also possible to record a system menu using an image related to a title, such as selecting a sub-image language or selecting a chapter.

The video manager includes control data (video manager information (VMGI)) including navigation data, and a video object set (V) for menus.
MGM_VOBS) and control data for backup (VMGI)
Consists of The video title set consists of control data including navigation data (video title set information (VTSI)), a video object set for menus (VTSM_VOBS), a video object set for titles (VTSTT_VOBS), and control data for backup (VTSI). Is done.

The video object set is made up of one or more video objects (VOBs), and the video object is made up of one or more cells. A cell is a scene in a title determined by a content creator, and is a basic unit for reproducing the title. By defining the playback order of these cells, the playback route of the title is determined.

The order of reproducing cells is defined in a program chain (PGC) which is a logical unit. The program chain, as shown in FIG.
-Program chain information (PGCI) (pre-command and post-command) including a navigation command (NV_CMD) in which commands for internal parameter reference, comparison, rewriting, etc. from VIDEO 6 and commands for controlling the operation of the VD player 1 are described. And one or more programs. The reproduction order of the cells is described in the program. The pre-command of the program chain information is executed before the cell described in the program is reproduced. The post command is executed after the cell described in the program is reproduced.

For details of the standardized data structure of the video content recorded on the DVD-VIDEO 6, see "DVD Specifications for Read-Only Disc'Part3.
VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS '”.

As information for specifying a scene on video content having a data structure standardized as described above,
The information recorded in the flash ROM 4 in association with the bookmark includes the DVD-VIDEO 6 ID, title number (TTN), video title set number (VTSN), video title set title number (VTS_TTN), program chain number (PGCN), Program number (PGN), cell number (CN),
An angle number (AGLN), a video object unit start address (VOBU_SA), a time code (Timecode), and the like. Further, the flash ROM 4 records a system parameter (SPRM), a general parameter (GPRM), a navigation timer, and the like of the DVD player 1 at a timing when a bookmark is set.

Next, the process of setting a bookmark will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the bookmark setting process, in the state where the video content is being reproduced from the DVD-VIDEO 6, a user who is watching the video commands the bookmark setting, and the command is received by the interface controller 3 and supplied to the controller 2. Started when

In step S1, the controller 2
Determines whether the number A of bookmarks already set for the video content being reproduced, which is recorded in the flash ROM 4, has reached a predetermined maximum value,
When it is determined that the predetermined maximum value has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the controller 2
Determines whether or not the title domain (TT_DOM) is being played, and if it is determined that the title domain is being played, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the controller 2 uses a flag stored by itself to indicate whether a bookmark can be set for the scene being reproduced.
It is determined whether or not bookmark_enable (details will be described later) is 1, and if it is determined that bookmark_enable is 1, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the controller 2
Indicates that a user operation (UO
It is determined whether or not Stop () of P) is permitted. If it is determined that Stop () is permitted, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the controller 2
Assigns a serial number to the bookmark, and records the information for specifying the scene described above in the flash ROM 4 in association with the bookmark.

In step S6, the controller 2
Increments the number A of bookmarks by one and records the number in the flash ROM 4. In step S7, the controller 2 causes the OSD generation circuit 29 to generate an image indicating that a bookmark has been set.

If it is determined in step S1 that the number A of bookmarks already set for the video content being reproduced has reached a predetermined maximum value, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the controller 2 causes the OSD generation circuit 29 to generate an image indicating that the number of set bookmarks is the maximum value.

If it is determined in step S2 that the title domain is not being reproduced, the process proceeds to step S3.
If it is determined that mark_enable is not 1, or
If it is determined in step S4 that Stop () is not permitted, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the controller 2
Causes the OSD generation circuit 29 to generate an image indicating that the scene is prohibited from bookmark setting.

The bookmark set as described above is
It is used as follows. That is, in the DVD player 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, reduced still images of a plurality of scenes in which bookmarks are set are simultaneously displayed as a bookmark selection screen 41, and a plurality of windows on the screen are displayed. By selecting an arbitrary reduced still image from among the reduced still images displayed at 42 with a cursor or the like, playback of video content is started from a scene corresponding to the selected reduced still image.

Next, the process of generating the bookmark selection screen 41 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the bookmark selection screen generation processing, the user instructs the display of the bookmark selection screen in a state where the bookmark is already set for the contents of the DVD-VIDEO 6 mounted on the DVD player 1, and the instruction is transmitted to the interface. It is started when it is received by the controller 3 and supplied to the controller 2.

In step S11, the controller 2
Obtains the number B of bookmarks corresponding to the mounted DVD-Video 6 recorded in the flash ROM 4. In step S12, the controller 2 initializes a window ID indicating a position at which the reduced still image is displayed on the bookmark selection screen 41 to 0. Step S
In 13, the controller 2 determines the number B of bookmarks.
Is determined to be 0, and when it is determined that the number B of bookmarks is not 0, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the controller 2
Reads information that specifies a scene on the content corresponding to one bookmark. In step S15, the controller 2 appropriately controls each circuit to generate a reduced still image of the scene corresponding to the information read in step S14. In step S16, based on the control of the controller 2, the OSD generation circuit 29 pastes the reduced still image generated in step S15 at a position corresponding to the window ID on the bookmark selection screen.
In step S17, the controller 2 decrements the number B of bookmarks by one and sets the window ID to one.
And the process returns to step S13.

Thereafter, until it is determined in step S13 that the number B of bookmarks is 0, the process proceeds to step S13.
Steps S13 to S17 are repeated, and if it is determined in step S13 that the number B of bookmarks is 0, the bookmark selection screen generation processing ends.

In the above-described bookmark selection screen generation processing, video data of a scene in which a bookmark is set is sequentially read and reproduced as a still image. This operation, that is, reproduction of a scene corresponding to a certain bookmark is performed. Therefore, the operation to transition to the playback of the scene corresponding to the next bookmark is performed by a combination of user operations (Stop (),
Must be executed by Title_Play (), Forward_Scan ()).

Therefore, in the bookmark setting process, a bookmark cannot be set for a scene on content that cannot be reached only by executing a combination of user operations (Stop (), Title_Play (), Forward_Scan ()). You need to control. For this reason, bookmark_enable, which is a flag indicating a scene in which a bookmark can be set, is always maintained by the controller 2.

Next, a process for turning on / off a bookmark_enable flag indicating whether a bookmark can be set for a scene being reproduced will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. This bookmark_enable flag maintenance process is always repeatedly executed while the video content is being reproduced. Specifically, when the user operation Title_Play () is executed, the navigation command Jump_TT or Jump_TT
Started when p_VTS_TT is detected.

Note that bookmark_check used in the following
_flag is a flag indicating whether to pre-read the PGCI Pre-Command, and bookmark_link_check is a pre-read Pre-Command.
A flag indicating whether a Link Command or a Jump Command exists in the mand. A bookmark_hl_check is a flag indicating whether to update Bookmark_enable in the highlight period check processing. All of these flags are managed by the controller 2. Have been.

In step S21, the controller 2
Sets bookmark_check_flag to 1. In step S22, the controller 2 acquires PGCI. Step S2
In 3, the controller 2 determines whether or not bookmark_check_flag is 1, and if it determines that bookmark_check_flag is 1, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the controller 2 sets the title domain
It is determined whether or not (TT_DOM) is being played back. If it is determined that the title domain is being played back, the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S25, the controller 2
Executes Pre-Command prefetch processing. In particular,
The Pre-Command is analyzed in a state where the system parameters are held and the general parameters are all set to 0 (the same state as when Title_Play () is executed from Stop_State).

In step S26, the controller 2
Is Jump_SS to the Pre-Command read ahead in step S25.
Alternatively, it is determined whether or not Call_SS exists, and if it is determined that Jump_SS and Call_SS do not exist, step S2
Go to 7. In step S27, the controller 2
Determines whether there is a Jump or Link command in the Pre-Command read ahead in step S25,
If it is determined that there is a Link command and a Link command, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S28, the controller 2
Sets bookmark_link_check to 1. In step S30, the controller 2 sets bookmark_check_flag to 0. In step S31, the controller 2
Execute Command Phase. That is, PGCI's Pre-Comma
Execute the navigation commands described in the nd area.

In step S32, the controller 2
Determines if bookmark_link_check is 1 and
If it is determined that kmark_link_check is 1, the process proceeds to step S33. In step S33, the controller 2 determines whether or not Link PGCN is present in the Pre-Command. If it is determined that Link PGCN is not present, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35, the controller 2
Is the scene of the jump destination read ahead in step S25 or
It is determined whether or not the scene of the link destination matches the scene of the jump destination or the scene of the link destination. If it is determined that the scene matches, a Title Search is executed in Stop_State, so that it is guaranteed that the scene can be included in the PCG. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the controller 2 sets bookmark_enable to 1. In step S37, the controller 2 sets bookmark_link_check to 0.

In step S38 (FIG. 8), the controller 2 executes the Cell Presentation Phase. In step S39, the controller 2 determines whether Forward_Scan () is prohibited at the head of the PGC. If it is determined that Forward_Scan () is prohibited, the process proceeds to step S40. In step S40,
The controller 2 determines whether or not the beginning of the PGC is a highlight valid period. If the controller 2 determines that the PGC is the highlight valid period, the other PGCs and P
Since there is a possibility of jumping to G or Cell, the process proceeds to step S41 to execute a highlight period tech process described later. In step S41, the controller 2 sets bookmark_hl_check to 1. Step S43
, The controller 2 controls the DVD player 1 to perform PLAY_READ
Let it be Y.

Note that in step S23, the bookmark
If it is determined that _check_flag is not 1, steps S24 to S29 are skipped. Step S
If it is determined in step 24 that the title domain is not being reproduced, steps S25 to S29 are skipped. Further, if it is determined in step S26 that Jump_SS and Call_SS exist, step S2
7 to S29 are skipped.

If it is determined in step S27 that there is no Jump or Link command, the process proceeds to step S29, and the controller 2 proceeds to step S2.
In step 9, book_enable is set to 1.

At step S32, bookmark_link_
If it is determined that check is not 1, steps S33 to S37 are skipped.

If it is determined in step S33 that there is no Link PGCN, the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, bookmark_check_flag is set to 1, the process returns to step S22, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

In step S35, the pre-read Ju
If it is determined that the mp destination scene or the link destination scene does not match the jump destination scene or the link destination scene, steps S36 and S37 are skipped.

In step S39, Forward_Scan ()
If it is determined that is not prohibited, step S40
To S42 are skipped. If it is determined in step S40 that the period is not the highlight valid period, the process proceeds to step S42, and in step S42, the controller 2 sets bookmark_enable to 0.

By executing the bookmark_enable flag maintenance processing as described above, the DVD player 1
Is set to the PLAY_READY state, a highlight period check process is further executed. The highlight period check processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In step S51, the controller 2
Determines whether the highlight period has ended, waits for processing until it determines that the highlight period has ended, and if it determines that the highlight period has ended, determines in step S52
Proceed to. In step S52, the controller 2 sets bo
Determine whether okmark_hl_check is 1 or not, bookmark_
If it is determined that hl_check is 1, the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, in step S41, the controller 2 sets bookmark_enable to 0.

Note that in step S52, the bookmark
If it is determined that _hl_check is not 1, step S
53 is skipped.

Next, other than the above-described bookmark enable flag maintenance processing and highlight period check processing, the timing at which the bookmark_anable flag is turned on / off will be described.

For example, in Stop_State, the user
When the Title Serach is instructed, it is clear that the PGC reached as a result of executing the Title Serach can be reached by a combination of user operations (Stop (), Title_Play ()), so that bookmark_enable is set to 1.

For example, when Menu_Call (Title) or Menu_Call (Root) is instructed by the user in Stop_State, bookmark_enable is set to 1 in consideration of the fact that the user performs a selection operation.

Further, for example, when Stop () is instructed during reproduction, bookmark_enable is set to 0 in order to reset bookmark_enable at the next reproduction. If an Access Restricted Cell is detected during playback, the Ce
Since it becomes impossible to directly jump into a cell other than ll by Forward_Scan (), bookmark_enable is set to 0.

In the above description, the setting of a bookmark for a DVD-VIDEO has been described. However, the DVD player 1 of the present embodiment reproduces a VCD (Video Compact Disc) in the same manner as the processing for a DVD-VIDEO. To set a bookmark and display a bookmark selection scene.

In the PBC_ON state, the information specifying the scene of the video content of the VCD recorded in association with the bookmark number is a list ID (List I
D), list offset (List Offset), play item number (Play Item Number), time code (Timecode), etc., and in the PBC_OFF state, the track number (Tr
ack Number), index number (Index Number), time code (Timecode), and the like. In addition, the picture configuration (Pic
Configuration Header), a sequence header start address (Sequence Header SA), and the like are recorded. However, for VCD video content, SegmentPlay Ite
When m or CDDA Track is being played, and the List
When the Rejected BiT is 1, a bookmark cannot be set.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is a DVD player 1 as dedicated hardware.
It is installed in, for example, a general-purpose personal computer or the like, which can execute various functions by installing a computer incorporated in the PC or various programs.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a description will be given of a medium used to install a program for executing the above-described series of processes in a computer and make the computer executable.

The program is, as shown in FIG.
It can be provided to the user in a state where it is installed in a hard disk 102 or a semiconductor memory 103 as a recording medium built in the computer 101 in advance.

Alternatively, the program is executed as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the floppy disk 111, CD-ROM (Com
pact Disc-Read Only Memory) 112, MO (Magneto Op
tical) Disc 113, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)
It can be temporarily or permanently stored in a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 114, the magnetic disk 115, and the semiconductor memory 116, and can be provided as package software.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10C, the program is transmitted from the download site 121 to the satellite 1 by radio.
The data can be transferred to the computer 123 via the network 22 or can be transferred to the computer 123 via a network 131 such as a local area network or the Internet by wire or wirelessly, and stored in a built-in hard disk or the like.

The medium in the present specification means a broad concept including all these media.

In this specification, the step of describing a program provided by a medium may be performed in a chronological order according to the described order. This also includes processes executed individually.

In this specification, the system is
It represents the entire device composed of a plurality of devices.

[0082]

As described above, according to the image reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image reproducing method according to the fourth aspect, and the program for a medium according to the fifth aspect, the generated mark selection image is generated. The user's selection operation on the reduced still image above is detected, and the video content subsequent to the scene corresponding to the selected reduced image is reproduced in response to the detected user's selection operation. Subsequent contents can be promptly reproduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a DVD player 1 to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a DVD-VIDEO.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of a DVD-VIDEO.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a bookmark setting process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a bookmark selection screen generation process.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a bookmark selection screen.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a Bookmark_enable flag maintenance process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a Bookmark_enable flag maintenance process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a highlight period check process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a medium used to install a program in a computer and make the program executable.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 DVD player, 2 controller, 3 interface controller, 4 flash ROM, 6D
VD-VIDEO, 8 preprocessing circuits, 18 AV decoders,
41 Bookmark selection screen

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuguhiro Mukai 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F-term (reference) 5C052 AA02 AB04 AC08 BC01 CC06 CC11 DD04 EE01 5C053 FA14 FA24 GA11 GB06 GB37 HA30 JA24 KA05 KA21 KA25 LA06 5D077 AA28 BA08 BA14 CA02 DC15 DF02 EA34 HC27

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing video content stored in a storage medium, comprising: determining whether a mark for specifying a scene on the video content can be set during the reproduction of the video content.
Determining means for determining based on a predetermined algorithm; receiving means for receiving a command from a user; and when the determining means determines that the setting of the mark is acceptable, corresponding to the command received by the receiving means, Storage means for storing information of the mark specifying a scene on the video content being reproduced; first generation means for generating a reduced still image of the scene corresponding to the information of the mark stored in the storage means; A second generation unit that generates a mark selection image by attaching at least one or more reduced still images generated by the generation unit; and the reduced still image on the mark selection image generated by the second generation unit. Detecting means for detecting the user's selection operation with respect to the user, and detecting the user's selection operation in response to the user's selection operation Image reproducing apparatus which comprises a reproducing device for reproducing the video content of the subsequent scene corresponding to the reduced image. 2. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores information of a plurality of the marks corresponding to one storage medium. 3. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storage means stores a set of information of a plurality of marks corresponding to a plurality of said storage media. 4. An image reproducing method of an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing video content stored in a storage medium, comprising: determining whether a mark for specifying a scene on the video content can be set during the reproduction of the video content.
A determining step of determining based on a predetermined algorithm, a receiving step of receiving a command from a user, and, when determining that the setting of the mark is permitted in the determining step, corresponding to the command received in the receiving step A storage step of storing information of the mark specifying a scene on the video content being reproduced; and a first generation step of generating a reduced still image of the scene corresponding to the mark information stored in the storage step. A second method for generating a mark selection image by pasting at least one or more reduced still images generated in the generation step;
A generation step; a detection step of detecting a user's selection operation on the reduced still image on the mark selection image generated in the second generation step; and a user's selection operation detected in the detection step. And reproducing the video content subsequent to the scene corresponding to the selected reduced image. 5. An image reproducing program for reproducing video content stored in a storage medium, wherein a mark for specifying a scene on the video content can be set during reproduction of the video content. To
A determining step of determining based on a predetermined algorithm, a receiving step of receiving a command from a user, and, when determining that the setting of the mark is permitted in the determining step, corresponding to the command received in the receiving step A storage step of storing information of the mark specifying a scene on the video content being reproduced; and a first generation step of generating a reduced still image of the scene corresponding to the mark information stored in the storage step. A second method for generating a mark selection image by pasting at least one or more reduced still images generated in the generation step;
A generation step; a detection step of detecting a user's selection operation on the reduced still image on the mark selection image generated in the second generation step; and a user's selection operation detected in the detection step. A reproducing step of reproducing the video content after the scene corresponding to the selected reduced image.