JP2001045439A - Recorder and method, reproducing device and method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record a plurality of programs whose broadcast times overlap with each other. SOLUTION: This recorder multiplexes a partial TS21 on which a program B is multiplexed and a partial TS11 on which a program D whose broadcast time overlaps that of the program B is multiplexed to generate and record a partial TS31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and method, a reproducing apparatus and method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a recording apparatus and method capable of recording a plurality of programs having overlapping broadcast times, and reproducing. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method, and a recording medium.

[0002]

[Prior Art] In recent years, SKY PerfecTV! (Trademark) and Di
It receives digital AV signals from so-called multi-channel broadcasts such as digital CS (communication satellite) broadcasts such as recTV (trademark) and digital BS (broadcast satellite) broadcasts scheduled to be broadcast from the year 2001, and converts them into digital signals. A technique of recording as a signal (transparent recording technique) has been developed. FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a system on a receiving side (viewer side) in multi-channel broadcasting.

[0003] An IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder) (digital broadcast receiver) 1 is an IEEE1394 cable (hereinafter referred to as IE).
DVR (Digital Video Disc R) via EE1394
ecorder) 2 and to the television 3 with an analog signal cable. The IRD 1 receives a plurality of transport streams received via the antenna 11 and transmitted from a plurality of transponders. The IRD 1 extracts one transport stream transmitted from a predetermined one transponder from among the plurality of received transport streams, and then extracts a program (program) designated (selected) by a predetermined operation by a user. A transport stream packet (hereinafter, referred to as a transport stream packet) in which the constituent elementary streams (audio signals or video signals) are stored.
TS packet), and the PSI (Pr
gram Specific Information) (Program specification information)
And EIT (Event Information Table). IRD
1 further generates a transport stream in which only the selected program is multiplexed based on the extracted TS packet, PSI, and EIT, and outputs the transport stream to the DVR 2.
In the following, a transport stream transmitted from a transponder (a transport stream in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed by a broadcaster) is referred to as a full transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as full TS). A transport stream generated from the full TS and in which only a predetermined program is multiplexed is described as a partial transport stream (hereinafter, abbreviated as a partial TS).

[0004] The IRD 1 decodes the extracted elementary stream and outputs it to the television 3.

[0005] The DVR 2 has an IRD 1
Is recorded in the form of a digital signal as it is.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the IRD 1. IRD
1 includes an antenna 11, a receiving unit 12, a recording processing unit 13, and an output processing unit 14. Receiver 12
Comprises a tuner 21 and a demodulation / decoding unit 22. The tuner 21 multiplexes a program selected by a predetermined operation by a user from a plurality of transport streams received via the antenna 11.
The transport stream of the book is read and output to the demodulation / decoding unit 22. The demodulation / decoding unit 22 includes a tuner 21
Transport stream (for example, 8
A transport stream modulated by a PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation method is demodulated and decoded. The demodulation / decoding unit 22 converts the demodulated and decoded signal into a signal
When the signal is recorded on the DVR 2, the signal is output to the demultiplexer 31 of the recording processing unit 13. When the signal is output (displayed) via the television 3, the signal is output to the demultiplexer 41 of the output processing unit 14.

The demultiplexer 31 of the recording processing unit 13
Is a PES that separates the transport stream input from the demodulation / decoding unit 22 of the receiving unit 12 and includes, from the separated transport stream, an elementary stream that constitutes one program selected by a predetermined operation by the user. A (Packetized Elementary Stream) packet is generated (extracted) and output to the multiplexing unit 32. The demultiplexer 31 also outputs a PSI indicating program specification information of the program from the separated transport stream.
And generating (extracting) a packet (hereinafter referred to as a section packet) in which an EIT indicating information such as a program name of each program and its performer name is stored in a data structure called a section, Output to SI / PSI reordering unit 33.

[0008] The SI / PSI reordering unit 33 includes a PSI included in the section packet input from the demultiplexer 31.
PSI and SI (Servic) corresponding to a partial TS in which only one selected program is multiplexed from EIT and EIT
e Information) (program sequence information) is generated, set (replaced) in the section packet in place of the set PSI and EIT, and output to the multiplexing unit 32.

The multiplexing unit 32 multiplexes the PES packet input from the demultiplexer 31 and the section packet input from the SI / PSI switching unit 33, and multiplexes only one selected program. The partial TS of the book is generated and output to the IEEE1394 interface (I / F) 34. In this example, only one partial TS is generated, so that PIDs do not overlap. Therefore, the contents of the PES packets extracted in the demultiplexer 31 are multiplexed without any change.

The IEEE1394 I / F 34 is connected to the IEEE1394 and converts the partial TS input from the multiplexing unit 32 into an IE.
It supplies to DVR2 via EE1394.

The demultiplexer 41 of the output processing unit 14
Is used to separate the transport stream input from the demodulation / decoding unit 22 of the receiving unit 12 and to execute the PES of one program selected by a predetermined operation by the user.
Extract packets and section packets. The demultiplexer 41 outputs an audio signal to the extracted PES packet to the audio decoder 42 when the audio signal is stored, and outputs a video signal to the video decoder 43 when the video signal is stored. If the extracted packet is a section packet, the demultiplexer 41 outputs it to the EPG / OSD generation unit 44. The audio decoder 42 decodes the audio signal stored in the PES packet input from the demultiplexer 41 and outputs the signal to the television 3.
The video decoder 43 decodes the video signal stored in the PES packet input from the demultiplexer 41 and is generated based on PSI and EIT included in the section packet supplied from the EPG / OSD generation unit 44. EPG (Eelectronic Program Guide) and
OSD (On Screen Display) is superimposed and output to the television 3.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the DVR 2. IEE
The E1394I / F 51 is connected to the IEEE1394, and the IEEE1394
(For example, a partial TS transmitted from the IRD 1) and outputs the signal to the recording processing unit 52. The recording processing unit 52 performs a process for recording the signal input from the IEEE1394 I / F 51 on the disk 4 in the form of a digital signal, and outputs the signal to the driving unit 53. The drive unit 53 includes a pickup or the like, and records a signal input from the recording processing unit 52 in a predetermined file on the disk 4.

Next, a predetermined partial TS is generated from the received full TS, and IRD1 and DVR2 for storing the partial TS are stored.
Will be described. From a plurality of transport streams received by the antenna 11 of the IRD 1, a program A as shown in FIG.
TS that stores the elementary streams that make up the
Along with the packet A, the TS packet B in which the elementary streams constituting the program B are stored, and the TS packet C in which the elementary streams constituting the program C are stored, a section packet in which the PSIF and the EITF are set is included. Multiplexed full TS1
1 is selected and supplied to the recording processing unit 13 via the demodulation / decoding unit 22. The PID of the section packet of the full TS 11 indicates the PID of the TS packet A.
Indicates PID of PMT (Program Map Table) A, TS packet B
PMTB, and PMTC indicating the PID of TS packet C, and P
PAT (Program Association Ta) indicating PID of MTA, B, C
ble) F is included.

Therefore, the demultiplexer 31 of the recording processing unit 13 separates the full TS 11 from the separated full TS 11 and selects one program (program B in this example) selected by a predetermined operation by the user. Is extracted, and a PES packet is generated based on the extracted TS packet (TS packet B) and output to the multiplexing unit 32.

The demultiplexer 31 extracts a section packet from the separated transport stream and outputs it to the SI / PSI reordering unit 33. SI / PSI replacement part 3
3 is a partial TS21 in which only the program B is multiplexed as shown in FIG. 4B based on the PSIF and the EITF set in the section packet of the full TS11.
PSIB and SIB corresponding to (FIG. 4C) are generated. The PSIB includes a PMTB indicating the PID of the TS packet B and a PATB indicating the PID of the PMTB. And S
IB includes SIT (Selection Information Table) B and D
IT (DiscontinuityInformation Table) B is included. The SI / PSI reordering unit 33 sets the generated PSIB and SIB in the section packet, and outputs the section packet to the multiplexing unit 32.

The multiplexing unit 32 multiplexes the PES packet generated from the TS packet B supplied from the demultiplexer 31 and the section packet supplied from the SI / PSI reordering unit 33, as shown in FIG. A partial TS 21 as shown in FIG.
Output on 394. Note that FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the full TS 11 and the partial TS 21. Actually, although details will be described later, for example, there are a plurality of TS packets, which are arranged on the time axis.

Next, the IEEE1394 I / F 51 of the DVR 2 is
The partial TS 21 output on 94 is received and output to the recording processing unit 52. The recording processing unit 52 performs the partial TS2
1 is subjected to a predetermined process, and the partial TS 21 is stored in a predetermined file of the disk 4 via the drive unit 53.

As described above, in the system shown in FIG. 1, the IRD 1 generates the partial TS from the full TS and
The partial TS is supplied to the VR 2, and the DVR 2 records the partial TS on the disk 4 in the form of a digital signal. As a result, the program (program) that the viewer (user) wants to record is transparently recorded.

[0019]

However, in the transparent recording in the system described above, the DVR is used.
2 is designed to record a partial TS in which only one program is multiplexed, so that one full TS is recorded.
It is not possible to record other programs stored in the TS and having overlapping broadcast times, so-called counter-programs. For example, in the case of FIG. 4A, program A, program B,
If the broadcast time of the program C and the broadcast time of the program C overlap, they are mutually opposite programs. It should be noted that three programs are stored in a full TS in a digital BS broadcast starting to be broadcast in the year 2001, so it is assumed that a counter program exists.

Therefore, the IRD 1 supplies the full TS (eg, the full TS 11 in FIG. 4A) to the DVR 2 without generating a partial TS, and the DVR 2 has a random access to the disk 4 and a relatively large By utilizing the feature that data can be recorded at a bit rate, the back program (programs A, B, and C) stored in one full TS (full TS11) can also be transparently recorded in a time-division manner. .

At this time, the DVR 2 separates the full TS for each program, generates respective partial TSs, and records them in different files of the loaded disk 4 in a time-division manner. For example, in the case of a full TS11, in addition to the partial TS21 in which only the program B is multiplexed, the partial TS1 and TS in which the programs A and B are multiplexed respectively.
22 are generated and recorded in three files F1 to F3 of the disk 4 in a time-division manner as shown in FIG.

However, in this case, when the partial TS to be recorded is switched (for example, the partial TS
When switching from 1 to the partial TS 21), the drive unit 53 moves to another file F of the disk 4 (for example, from the file F1 to the file F2), so that an overhead T (about 1 second) such as a seek occurs. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the bit rate of the data actually recorded on the disk 4 (in the figure, a dotted straight line in the horizontal direction)
Is smaller than the recording bit rate allowed by the disk 4 (solid straight line in the horizontal direction in the figure), and the signal is not efficiently recorded.

[0023] Also, the back program is a different full TS (for example,
Full transmitted from different transponders
TS), even if they are multiplexed in
All of them cannot be recorded at the same time in the system. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, N IRDs 61-1 to 61-N that generate and output one partial TS from one full TS as shown in IRD1 in FIG. If there is no need to do so, it is simply described as IRD 61. The same applies to other devices), together with DVR 2, is connected to IEEE1394, and DVR 2 is generated by each of IRD 61 and output partial TS (user It is also possible to receive, via IEEE1394, a partial TS in which one program to be recorded is multiplexed and record it. However, even in this case, as described with reference to FIG. 6, the signal is not efficiently recorded.

As a result, the conventional system has a problem that a plurality of programs having overlapping broadcast times cannot be efficiently transparently recorded.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and is to enable transparent recording of a plurality of programs having overlapping broadcast times in a multi-channel broadcast.

[0026]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus in which at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed to form a third transport stream. It is characterized by comprising a first generating means for generating, and a recording means for recording the third transport stream generated by the first generating means.

The first generating means includes an estimating means for estimating the maximum bit rate of the third transport stream, and the first transport stream and the second transport stream in accordance with the maximum bit rate estimated by the estimating means. And a removing unit for removing null information from the multiplexed first and second transport streams.

[0028] A second generating means for generating a first transport stream or a second transport stream from a fourth transport stream in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed can be further provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording method according to the first aspect, wherein at least one of the first transport stream and the second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed to generate a third transport stream. And a recording step of recording the third transport stream generated in the processing of the first generation step.

The first generation step includes an estimation step of estimating the maximum bit rate of the third transport stream, and the first transport stream and the first transport stream in accordance with the maximum bit rate estimated in the processing of the estimation step. An insertion step of inserting null information into the second transport stream and a removal step of removing null information from the multiplexed first and second transport streams can be included.

The method may further include a second generation step of generating a first transport stream or a second transport stream from a fourth transport stream in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed.

[0032] A recording medium according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first transport stream and the second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed to generate a third transport stream;
Recording a third transport stream generated in the processing of the generating step.

In the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the recording method according to the fourth aspect, and the recording medium according to the seventh aspect, at least one of the first transport stream and the second transport stream has a variable rate. The port stream is multiplexed, a third transport stream is generated, and the generated third transport stream is recorded.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus wherein a third transport stream in which at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed is recorded. Reading means for reading the third transport stream from the medium, and a third transport stream read by the reading means.
Separating means for separating the first transport stream and the second transport stream from the first transport stream, and outputting means for outputting the first transport stream and the second transport stream separated by the separating means And characterized in that:

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording method in which a third transport stream in which at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed is recorded. A reading step of reading the third transport stream from the medium; a separating step of separating the first transport stream and the second transport stream from the third transport stream read in the processing of the reading step; , An output step of outputting the first transport stream and the second transport stream separated by the processing of the separation step.

[0036] The recording medium according to claim 10 is an input step of inputting a third transport stream in which at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed. Separating the first transport stream and the second transport stream from the third transport stream input in the processing of the input step, and the first transport separated in the processing of the separating step. And an output step of outputting the second transport stream.

In the reproducing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the reproducing method according to the ninth aspect, and the recording medium according to the tenth aspect, at least one of the first transport stream and the second transport stream has a variable rate. A third transport stream in which a port stream is multiplexed is input, and a first transport stream and a second transport stream are separated from the input third transport stream. The first transport stream and the second transport stream are output.

[0038]

FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of a system on the receiving side (viewer side) in multi-channel broadcasting to which the present invention is applied. M IRDs 71-1 to 71-M
And the DVR 72 are connected to the IEEE1394. IRD71
Since -1 to 71-M have basically the same configuration as the IRD 1 shown in FIG. 1, the illustration and detailed description of the configuration are omitted, but the IRD 71 has one full TS (for example,
One partial TS in which one program is multiplexed (for example, the partial TS 21 in FIG. 4C) is generated and output from the full TS 11 in FIG.
The TS (full TS11) itself is output on IEEE1394 according to the request.

The DVR 72 receives the partial TS and the full TS transmitted on the IEEE1394, and also multiplexes a partial program in which a plurality of programs having overlapping broadcast times are multiplexed.
A TS is generated and recorded on the disk 81 to be mounted. That is, a plurality of programs that the user wants to record and whose broadcast times overlap are recorded transparently on the disc 81. The DVR 72 is also recorded on the disc 81,
A partial TS in which a necessary program is multiplexed is generated from a partial TS in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed, and is output on IEEE1394.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the DVR 72. I
EEE1394I / F91 is connected to IEEE1394, and IEEE13
The signal transmitted on 94 (eg, full TS from IRD 71)
Or, a partial TS) is received and output to the TS combining unit 92. The IEEE1394 I / F 91 also outputs a signal supplied from the TS separation unit 96 on IEEE1394.

The TS synthesizing unit 92 generates a partial TS 21 from, for example, a full TS 11 input from the IEEE1394 I / F 91, and generates a partial TS 21 or the like, similarly to the recording processing unit 13 of the IRD 1 in FIG. IEEE1394I / F9
The other partial TS input from 1 is combined to generate one partial TS and output to the recording processing unit 93. In the following, this processing in the TS synthesis unit 92 is
This is referred to as partial TS synthesis processing.

The recording processing unit 93 receives the
The partial TS generated by the partial TS synthesizing process is subjected to predetermined processing so that the partial TS is recorded on the disk 81, and is output to the drive unit 94. The drive unit 94 is configured by a pickup or the like, and records the signal processed by the recording processing unit 93 in a predetermined file on the disk 81. The drive unit 94 also reads a signal (for example, a partial TS in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed) recorded on the disk 81 and outputs the signal to the reproduction processing unit 95.

The reproduction processing section 95 performs predetermined processing on the partial TS input from the driving section 94 so that the TS separation section 96 can process the partial TS, and outputs the processed partial TS to the TS separation section 96. The TS separation unit 96 generates (separates) a partial TS in which a necessary program is multiplexed from the signal processed by the reproduction processing unit 95, and outputs the partial TS to the IEEE1394 I / F 91.

Next, the partial TS combining process of the TS combining section 92 will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG.
The case where the full TS 11 shown in FIG. 4A and the partial TS 11 shown in FIG. 11 are supplied from the IRD 61 to the DVR 72 will be described as an example. The programs A, B, and C provided by the full TS 11 and the program D provided by the partial TS 11 have broadcasting times overlapping each other. That is, the full TS 11 and the partial TS 11 are input to the DVR 72 at the same timing.

As described with reference to FIG. 4A, TS packets A, B, and C are multiplexed in the full TS 11, and these TS packets A, B, and C are actually 12
As shown in (A), they are arranged in a predetermined order and continuously in time (densely on the time axis). That is, PC
R-containing transport stream packets (hereinafter, PCR
Amount of data (byte number)
Is reduced by the interval (time) of the PCR packet, the transport rate obtained is constant, and the bit rate of the full TS 11 is a predetermined value (bit rate A) as shown in FIG. Fixed to

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, in the partial TS 11, a TS packet D storing an elementary stream constituting the program D, a PSID and an SI
The section packet in which D is set is multiplexed, and the TS packet D is, as shown in FIG.
Unlike the case of the full TS 11, they are arranged at intervals in time. That is, data (TS packet D) does not exist in a portion where a frame is not shown in FIG. 12C, and no data is transmitted during that time. That is, the transport rate of the partial TS 11 is not fixed to a predetermined value (variable), and its bit rate is
It fluctuates as shown in FIG.

Next, the partial TS combining process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 10, a partial TS 31 in which the program B of the full TS 11 and the program D of the partial TS 11 are finally generated is generated.

Full TS11 and partial TS11 are DVR
72, and input to the TS combining unit 92 (FIG. 10), the TS combining unit 92
The storage of the arrival time of the TS packet in the DVR 72 is started.

Next, in step S12, the TS synthesizing section 92 generates, from the full TS 11, a partial TS 21 in which only the program B is multiplexed. At this time, the TS synthesizing unit 92 performs the same processing as in the demultiplexer 31 to the SI / PSI reordering unit 33 of the recording processing unit 13 of the IRD 1 shown in FIG. That is, the TS combining unit 92 separates the input full TS11, extracts the TS packet B from the separated full TS11, and generates a PES packet.

The TS synthesizing unit 92 also performs the separated full TS 11
From the section packet, the PSIF and EITF (FIG. 4) set in the section packet are extracted.
Based on (A)), PSIB and SIB corresponding to the partial TS 21 in which only the program B is multiplexed (FIG. 4)
(B)) is generated and set (replaced) in the section packet.

Here, the PSI and S of the section packet
I will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 shows the data structure of the PSI PAT. PAT tra
In nsport_stream_id, a predetermined id of the transport stream is set. For example, a predetermined id of the partial TS 21 is set in that of the PATB (FIG. 4B). In the network_PID, the PID of the SI SIT is set, and the
The PID of the SITB of the SIB is set in it. vers
The ion_number is set to a value that is incremented by 1 when the PMT of the PSI is changed.
When B is changed, a value incremented by 1 is set. In the current_next_indicator, information indicating a change point of the PMT is set, and in the PATB, information indicating a change point of the PMTB is set. section_number and
In last_section_number, predetermined information indicating the length of the section packet is set. In those of the PATB, information indicating the length of the section packet of the partial TS 21 is set. The number of the assigned program is set in program_number, and the number of program B is set in that of PATB.

FIG. 16 shows the data structure of the PMT of the PSI. PMT program_number is the PAT program_number
Is set, for example, PMT of PSIB (FIG. 4)
In (B)), a value corresponding to the program_number of the PATB is set. PCR_PID and elementary_PID contain the PID of the packet in which the PCR is stored and the PI of the TS packet.
D is set, and the PID of the PMTB is set with the PID of the PCR packet and the PID of the TS packet B.

FIG. 17 shows the data structure of the SI SIT. A unique value is set for service_id, and SIB
In the SITB (Fig. 4 (B)), the partial TS21
A unique value assigned to the section packet is set. FIG. 18 shows the data structure of the SI DIT. The details of SIT and DIT can be found in, for example, ARIB STD-B
1, "CS digital broadcasting receiver standard (desired specification)".

The TS synthesizing section 92 determines whether the PIB and S
When the IB is generated and set in the section packet, the IB is multiplexed with the extracted PES packet, and the partial TS 21 is
Generate

In the partial TS 21 generated in this manner, the TS packet B contains the full TS as shown in FIG.
They are arranged at the same interval as when multiplexed in TS11. That is, the partial TS21 is the partial TS1
1 (FIG. 12C) is a variable rate, and its bit rate varies as shown in FIG. 13B.

Next, in step S13, the TS synthesizing section 92 detects the maximum bit rate B of the partial TS 21. In this case, the partial TS shown in FIG.
The maximum value of the bit rate 21 may be the maximum bit rate B, or the minimum interval (time T × 3 in the example of FIG. 12) of the TS packet B is detected, and at least one Assuming that the TS packet B exists (it is assumed that the TS packet B also exists in the portion shown by the dotted frame in the figure), the bit rate can be calculated and set as the maximum bit rate B. TS synthesis unit 92
When the maximum bit rate B of the partial TS 21 is detected by any method,
This is described in a predetermined field “peak_rate” of the TS descriptor.

In step S14, the TS synthesizing section 92
Estimates the maximum bit rate BD of the partial TS 31 finally generated in the case of this example. Specifically, the TS combining unit 92 first refers to the partial TS descriptor field “peak_rate” of the partial TS 21 and the partial TS 11 and acquires the maximum bit rate of each. Note that the maximum bit rate D of the partial TS 11 is also the same as that of the partial TS 21 in FIG.
The maximum value of the bit rate shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), the minimum interval (time T
× 4), the bit rate calculated assuming that one TS packet D exists is the maximum bit rate, and is described in the field “peak_rate” of the partial TS descriptor.

The TS synthesizing section 92 adds the obtained maximum bit rate B and maximum bit rate D according to equation (1) to calculate (estimate) the maximum bit rate BD of the partial TS 31. Maximum bit rate BD = maximum bit rate B + maximum bit rate D (1)

In step S15, the TS synthesizing section 92
Determines whether the maximum bit rate BD of the partial TS 31 estimated in step S14 is higher than the upper limit of the recording bit rate of the disk 81, and if it is not higher (lower), the process proceeds to step S16. The maximum bit rate BD is determined to be the maximum bit rate of the partial TS 31.

Next, in step S17, the TS synthesizing section 92 sets the bit rate of the partial TS 21 to the maximum bit rate B obtained in step S14 (determined in step S13), and sets the bit rate of the partial TS 11 to The maximum bit rate D acquired at S14 is fixed. Specifically, the TS synthesizing section 92 performs the processing shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, in the partial TS21, in FIG.
A null transport packet (hereinafter abbreviated as a null packet) is inserted at a position indicated by a dotted frame. As shown in FIG. 19B, the TS combining unit 92
1, a null packet is inserted at a position indicated by a dotted frame in FIG. By inserting null packets in this manner, packets are arranged at equal intervals, and the bit rate of the partial TS 21 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 20, the bit rate is fixed at B, and the bit rate of the partial TS 11 is fixed at D, as shown in FIG.

Note that the maximum bit rate is the partial TS
Indicates the maximum bandwidth required to transmit the partial TS. For example, the IEEE1394 I / F 91 indicates that the partial TS
When outputting to EEE1394, it is necessary to secure the bandwidth. Therefore, steps S15 to S16
The maximum bit rate BD of the partial TS31
However, in this example, the partial TS to be synthesized is
By fixing the bit rates of the bit stream 21 and the partial TS 11 (step S17), the bit rates (fixed bit rate B and bit rate D) are added to obtain the maximum bit rate BD. Originally, a partial with a variable rate synthesized
Determining the maximum bit rate of a TS is not easy.

Next, in step S18, the TS synthesizing unit 92 sequentially reads the packets in the order of arrival at the DVR 72 (from the earliest time stored in step S11), and thereafter, in steps S19, S20, and Proceed to S21. In this flowchart, for simplicity, step S20 is performed after step S19, and step S2 is performed after step S20.
1 are arranged and their processing is shown to be performed in chronological order, but in reality, these processings are performed in step S
At 18, a corresponding is performed depending on whether a TS packet or a section packet has been read.

In step S19, the TS synthesizing section 92
Are the partial TS 21 and the partial TS in which the null packet has been inserted (fixed rate) in step S17.
11 are synthesized as shown in FIG. At this time, the TS synthesizing unit 92 also determines that the TS packet B and the TS packet D correspond to the arrival times stored in step S11,
Change (replace) the PCR. That is, it is assumed that the data is multiplexed at the arrival time.

In the synthesis of a fixed-rate stream, packet arrangement is performed with a simpler algorithm than in the synthesis of a variable-rate stream. Multiplexing of such fixed-rate partial TSs simplifies the multiplexing algorithm as compared with, for example, statistical multiplexing. Note that, in this case, a stream with an increased bit rate is generated by the inserted null packet, but unlike broadcast, when non-real-time access is possible such as in a storage medium as in this example. As described later, no problem occurs because the null packet is removed and recorded. In this example, when the TS packet B and the TS packet D exist at the same time, the TS packet D is preferentially arranged at that time, and the TS packet B is arranged after that.

In step S20, the TS synthesizing section 92
Are the SIB and PSIB of the partial TS21 shown in the upper part (FIG. 4C) of FIG. 21A, and the SID and PSI of the partial TS11 shown in the lower part (FIG. 11) of FIG.
Based on D, the SIP and the PSIP to be stored in the partial TS 31 shown in FIG. 21B are generated and set in the section packet. Specifically, the TS combining unit 92 first stores the SIB and PSIB of the partial TS 21 and the SID and PSID of the partial TS 11 (for example, P
Transport_stream_i of SIB's PATB and PSID's PATD
d, PATB and PATD, and PMTB and PMTD programs
_number).

Next, the TS synthesizing section 92 generates an SIP and a PSIP based on the rules described below. Psip PAT
The transport_stream_id of P (FIG. 15) has a partial T
Either the transport_stream_id of the PATB of S21 or the transport_stream_id of the PATD of the partial TS 11 is set, or another transport_stream_id is set. In the network_PID of the PATP, the PID of the SIPP is set.

The version_number of the PATP includes a partial T
The updated (incremented) information is set when the version_number of either the PATB of S21 or the PATD of the partial TS 11 changes. Section_n of PATP
In umber and last_section_number, information corresponding to the length of the section packet of the partial TS 31 is set. Unique values are assigned and set to the program_number and PID of the PATP.

PMTB and PM of PSIP of partial TS31
The program_number of the TD (FIG. 16) contains the program_number of the PATP.
The value corresponding to number is set. PCR_PID and el of PMTB
ementary_PID contains the PID of the PCR of the partial TS21 and the TS
The PID of the packet B is set. Similarly, PMTD PC
R_PID and elementary_PID contain the PCR of the partial TS11.
The PID and the PID of the TS packet D are set.

The service_id of the SIP SIP (FIG. 17) includes the SITB of the partial TS 21 and the partial TS 11
A value different from the service_id of the SITD is set. SIT
In the partial_transport_stream_descriptor of P, values corresponding to the programs B and D multiplexed on the partial TS 31 are respectively set. Sip
When one or both of the DITB of the partial TS 21 and the DITD of the partial TS 11 change, information corresponding to the change is set in DITP (FIG. 18).

The TS synthesizing unit 92 complies with such a rule.
When the PSIP and the SIP are generated, the generated PSIP and the SI are generated.
Set P to the section packet. In the following, the SIP and PSIP to be stored in the partial TS 31 will be described.
Are collectively referred to as TS combined information when it is not necessary to distinguish them individually.

Next, in step S21, the TS synthesizing unit 92 outputs the TS packet B synthesized in step S19 and
The TS packet D and the section packet storing the SIP and PSIP set in step S20 are multiplexed to generate a partial TS31. At this time, the TS synthesizing unit 92 also stores the maximum bit rate BD in the field “peak_rate” of the partial TS descriptor of the partial TS 31.
Describe.

In step S22, the TS synthesizing section 92
Replaces the null packet contained in the partial TS31 with
It is removed as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the process ends.

In this way, a partial TS 31 in which the program B and the program D are combined is generated.
Thereafter, the generated partial TS31 (FIG. 19D)
Is output to the recording processing unit 93, and after a predetermined process is performed, is recorded by the driving unit 94 in one file F31 of the disk 81 as shown in FIG.

In step S15, step S14
If it is determined that the maximum bit rate BD estimated in the step is larger than the upper limit of the recording bit rate of the disk 81, the process ends. In this case, for example, the full TS 11 and the partial TS 11 input to the TS combining unit 92 are decoded and re-encoded at a higher compression ratio. As a result, each of the maximum bit rate B and the maximum bit rate D becomes smaller, and the maximum bit rate BD
Is set to be equal to or less than the upper limit of the recording bit rate of the disk 81. Also, the TS packet B synthesized in step S19
The TS packet D and the TS packet D are rearranged within a predetermined scheduling range so that the bit rate of the partial TS 31 does not exceed the maximum bit rate BD, or the entire time axis is shifted. You can also. As described above, the maximum bit rate BD of the finally generated partial TS 31 is set to be equal to or less than the upper limit of the recording bit rate of the disk 81, so that the recording of the partial TS 31 does not fail.

As described above, since a plurality of programs to be recorded by the user are multiplexed and recorded on one partial TS 31, the recording bit rate is reduced due to the overhead shown in FIG. FIG. 23
As shown in the figure, partial TS at a fixed recording bit rate
31 is recorded on the disk 81.

As described above, null packets are inserted into the partial TS 21 and the partial TS 11 to fix their bit rates.
Combining (multiplexing) of the TS 21 and the partial TS 11 becomes easy. In addition, the partial TS21 and the partial TS1
For example, decoding and encoding may be repeated, and their bit rates may be adjusted, and multiplexing may be performed so that the buffer model does not break down. However, in this case, degradation of the video signal and the audio signal is expected.

As described above, the null packet inserted before or during multiplexing is removed after multiplexing the partial TS 21 and the partial TS 11, so that the partial TS 31 is recorded at a variable rate. ,
The capacity of the disk 81 can be used efficiently.

The partial TS 21 and the partial TS 21
If the arrival times of the TS 11 to the DVR 72 are different and the partial TS combining process is not started at the same time, the first input 1
The partial TS can be subjected to partial TS synthesis processing. In this case, the TS packet of the partial TS that has arrived first is multiplexed so as to secure a certain free space. As a result, when one of the partial TS arriving later is input, the partial TS
Will be multiplexed into the empty part.

Further, as described above, since the PCR is replaced according to the arrival time at the DVR 72, synchronization at the time of reproduction is ensured. That is, the TS separation unit 96
By simply separating the program to be reproduced from the partial TS input from the reproduction processing unit 95, it is possible to generate a partial TS in which synchronization is established during reproduction.

Further, the TS synthesis information is added to the partial
Since TS 31 is recorded on the disc 81,
The separation unit 96 converts the partial TS31 into the IEEE1394I /
It can be sent to F91, but a partial containing only the program instructed to send to IEEE1394I / F91
TS (in this example, partial TS11 or partial TS11
TS 21) and output to the IEEE1394 I / F 91.

In the above description, the DVR 72 transmits the full TS or the partial TS from the IRD 71 transmitted over IEEE1394.
Was explained as an example, but the user himself
It has a function and can directly receive a full TS from a transponder and execute a partial TS combining process. Further, as shown in FIG. 24, an encoder 100 and a multiplexing unit 101 are provided in a stage preceding the TS combining unit 92, and a transport stream is generated from an input analog signal.
The partial TS combining process can also be performed by using this. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG.
For example, it is assumed that the television 3 is connected, and an analog signal from the television 3 is transmitted to the DVR 7.
2 encoder 100 encodes and multiplexes 101
Output to The multiplexing unit 101 multiplexes the signal from the encoder 100 to generate a transport stream, and outputs the transport stream to the TS combining unit 92. The TS combining unit 92 performs a partial TS combining process on the transport stream input from the multiplexing unit 101.

Further, as shown in FIG.
And a decoder 103, so that a program multiplexed on the partial TS recorded on the disk 81 can be output to the display unit of the television 3. That is, the separating unit 102 separates the partial TS recorded on the disk 81, extracts a program output to the display unit of the television 3, and outputs the program to the decoder 103. The decoder 103 decodes the signal of the program extracted by the separation unit 102, and
Output to The television 3 is a decoder 1 of the DVR 72.
The signal of the program input from 03 is output to the display unit.

The above-described series of processing 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 executes various functions by installing a computer built in dedicated hardware or installing various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium to a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

As shown in FIG. 26, the recording medium is a magnetic disk 251 (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded, which is distributed separately from the computer to provide the program to the user, and the optical disk 2
52 (CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), DVD
(Including a Digital Versatile Disk), a magneto-optical disk 253 (including an MD (Mini-Disk)), or a packaged medium including a semiconductor memory 254, etc. The program is recorded to be provided to
It is configured by a hard disk included in the ROM 202 and the storage unit 208 and the like.

In this specification, steps for describing a program provided by a medium are not limited to processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but are not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually or individually.

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

[0087]

According to the recording apparatus of the first aspect, the recording method of the fourth aspect, and the recording medium of the seventh aspect, at least one of the first transport stream having a variable rate and the first transport stream has a variable rate. Since the third transport stream is generated by multiplexing the two transport streams, the first transport stream and the second transport stream can be efficiently recorded.

According to the reproducing apparatus of the eighth aspect, the reproducing method of the ninth aspect, and the recording medium of the tenth aspect, at least one of the first transport stream and the second transport stream having a variable rate. Since the third transport stream in which the transport streams are multiplexed is separated, the first transport stream or the second transport stream can be reproduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional reception-side system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an IRD 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a DVR 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a partial TS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a file F on a disk 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a bit rate of a signal recorded on a disk 4.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of another conventional system on the receiving side.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiving-side system to which the present invention has been applied.

9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a DVR 72 in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a partial TS combining process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a partial TS11.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of TS packets.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a transition of a bit rate.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a partial TS combining process.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a PAT.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a PMT.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a SIT.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the data configuration of a DIT.

FIG. 19 is another diagram illustrating the arrangement of TS packets.

FIG. 20 is another diagram showing a bit rate.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the synthesis of PSI and SI.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a file F on a disk 81.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a bit rate of a partial TS recorded on a disk 81.

24 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the DVR 72 in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system using the DVR 72 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a DVR 200.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 IRD, 2 DVR, 3 television, 11 antenna, 12 receiving unit, 13 recording processing unit, 14
Output processing unit, 21 tuner, 22 demodulation / decoding unit, 31 demultiplexer, 32 multiplexing unit,
33 SI / PSI replacement part, 34 IEEE1394 I / F, 41
Demultiplexer, 42 audio decoder, 4
3 Video decoder, 44 EPG / OSD generator, 51
IEEE1394 I / F, 52 record processing unit, 53 drive unit,
61 IRD, 71 IRD, 72 DVR, 81 disk, 91 IEEE1394 I / F, 92 TS synthesizer, 9
3 recording processing unit, 94 driving unit, 95 reproduction processing unit,
96 TS separation unit, 100 encoder, 101
Multiplexer, 102 demultiplexer, 103 decoder

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C053 FA20 FA22 FA24 GA20 GB17 LA14 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC01 BC04 CC04 DE14 GK08 GK10 GK11

Claims (10)

[Claims] A first generation unit configured to multiplex a first transport stream and a second transport stream, at least one of which has a variable rate, to generate a third transport stream; Recording means for recording the third transport stream generated by the means. 2. The first generating means, comprising: estimating means for estimating a maximum bit rate of the third transport stream; and the first generating means according to the maximum bit rate estimated by the estimating means. Inserting means for inserting null information into the transport stream and the second transport stream; removing means for removing the null information from the multiplexed first transport stream and the multiplexed transport stream; The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second generation unit configured to generate the first transport stream or the second transport stream from a fourth transport stream in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein 4. A first generating step of multiplexing at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate to generate a third transport stream; and the first generating step. A recording step of recording the third transport stream generated in the processing of the step. 5. The first generating step includes: an estimating step of estimating a maximum bit rate of the third transport stream; and the estimating step includes the step of estimating the maximum bit rate according to the maximum bit rate estimated in the processing of the estimating step. Inserting null information into the first transport stream and the second transport stream; and removing the null information from the multiplexed first transport stream and the second transport stream. 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:
Recording method described in 1. 6. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a second generation step of generating the first transport stream or the second transport stream from a fourth transport stream in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed. The recording method according to claim 4, wherein the recording method is performed. 7. A generating step of multiplexing a first transport stream and a second transport stream, at least one of which has a variable rate, to generate a third transport stream; and generating the third transport stream by the processing of the generating step. And a recording step of recording the third transport stream. A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded. 8. A third transport stream from a recording medium on which a third transport stream in which at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed is recorded. Reading means for reading a stream; separating means for separating the first transport stream and the second transport stream from the third transport stream read by the reading means; A reproducing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting the separated first transport stream and the second transport stream. 9. The third transport from a recording medium on which a third transport stream in which at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed is recorded. A reading step of reading a stream; a separating step of separating the first transport stream and the second transport stream from the third transport stream read in the processing of the reading step; A reproduction method, comprising: an output step of outputting the first transport stream and the second transport stream separated by the step processing. 10. An inputting step of inputting a third transport stream in which at least one of a first transport stream and a second transport stream having a variable rate is multiplexed, and inputting in a process of the inputting step. A separating step of separating the first transport stream and the second transport stream from the separated third transport stream; and a first transport stream separated by the processing of the separating step. An output step of outputting the second transport stream. A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded.