JP2002230891A - Information reproducing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information reproducing unit in which operability and convenience are improved. SOLUTION: When a user or the like operates an operation part 18 to input desired automatic issuance setting conditions in advance, inputted information is stored into a storage part 20 as reference data Dref. Then, when a disk 2 is played back, an operation item which the user or the like probably desires is automatically estimated by comparing item information, menu information, and information on such as operating buttons, relevant to a menu display which a system controller 17 read from the disk 2 with the reference data Dref, even if the user or the like does not respond corresponding to a menu display. A playback operation is automatically performed on the basis of the estimated result. Thereby, the inconvenience that the user or the like has to always reply to the menu display based on the information recorded on the disk 2 is eliminated. Even when the user or the like cannot reply to the menu display, a playback operation desired by the user or the like is automatically performed in place of the user or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention
The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium such as D, and more particularly, to an information reproducing apparatus for improving operability and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an information recording medium is loaded, a conventional information reproducing apparatus reads various menu information and operation item information recorded on the information recording medium and displays them on a monitor screen. The user or the like is urged to perform a desired selection operation.

For example, in an information recording medium on which content such as a foreign movie (so-called Western picture) is recorded, not only the original language voice but also information such as a dubbed voice and a subtitle language is recorded. Menu information and operation item information for allowing the user to select a desired dubbing language or subtitle language.

In a conventional information reproducing apparatus, when reproducing such an information recording medium, the above-mentioned menu information and operation item information are read, and a menu is displayed on a monitor screen as shown in FIG. When a desired operation selection item in the menu display is selected by the user or the like in the standby state, the reproduction of the foreign movie or the like in the selected and designated dubbing language or subtitle language is started.

That is, for example, menu information such as “title menu” and operation item information such as “1. main program playback”, “2. subtitle language setting”, “3. audio language setting”, and “4. As shown in FIG. 7, the information reproducing apparatus reads the menu information and the operation item information, and displays “1. main program reproduction” in a menu display frame “title menu”.
Operation selection items such as “2. subtitle language setting”, “3. audio language setting”, and “4. cast” are superimposed and displayed on the monitor.

When the user selects an operation selection item such as “2. Subtitle language setting”, the next menu display for selecting the subtitle language “Subtitle language selection”
1. Japanese 2. When the user selects an operation selection item (for example, “2. English”) during menu display, the foreign movie or the like is reproduced with English subtitles.

When the operation selection item of “3. Voice language setting” in the “title menu” is selected by the user or the like, the next menu display for selecting the dubbing language is “dubbing language selection 1. Japanese 2”. ．English ”
When an operation selection item (for example, “1. Japanese”) in the menu display is selected by the user or the like, the above foreign movie or the like is reproduced in Japanese as a dubbing language.

According to the DVD-Video standard, for example, when a menu is displayed, it waits until an operation selection item is selected (that is, a so-called semi-permanent operation is performed until an operation selection item is selected). Command information that instructs the information reproducing apparatus to continue to wait for a predetermined time, and command information that causes the information reproducing apparatus to start a reproducing operation according to a predetermined reproducing method if a selection operation is not performed even after waiting for a predetermined time. Has been standardized, and a content creator of an information recording medium or the like can arbitrarily record such command information in advance.

[0009]

A conventional information reproducing apparatus reads menu information and operation item information recorded on an information recording medium and selects an operation selection corresponding to the operation item information as shown in FIG. By displaying items in a menu, it is possible to improve the operability for the user and the like and to expand the range of selection of a reproduction method.

However, if a new operation selection item is selected each time the information storage medium is replaced, there is a problem that the operation may be complicated for a user or the like.

For example, when reproducing an information recording medium in which command information for continuing to wait for a selection operation from a user or the like is recorded, the user or the like must always select an operation selection item. However, there is a problem that the operation is troublesome. Further, even if the information recording medium stores command information for automatically starting a reproducing operation when a selection operation is not performed by a user or the like even after waiting for a predetermined time, the reproducing procedure set by the operation item information However, there is a case where a problem arises that is different from a user's request.

Further, for example, some information reproducing apparatuses mounted on automobiles have a function of prohibiting video reproduction during driving in order to ensure safety during driving of the automobile. There were cases where the following problems occurred.

That is, in an information reproducing apparatus having a video reproduction prohibiting function, a user or the like can use voice information such as dialogue and sound information and music information such as background music recorded on an information recording medium while driving a car. Even if you want to play and listen to only certain movie music information, video playback will be prohibited, so you will not be able to select operation selection items during menu display, which will lead to reduced convenience. There was a problem.

In particular, when the information reproducing apparatus enters a mode in which the information reproducing apparatus keeps waiting until a selection operation is performed by the user or the like, the reproduction of the movie music information is stopped, and the function of prohibiting the reproduction of the moving image is performed. The menu is not displayed. That is, the operation selection item is not displayed.
For this reason, the user or the like cannot select the operation selection item, and the information reproducing apparatus is in a so-called semi-permanent standby state. Therefore, there is a problem that some users or the like fall into a so-called inoperable state.

If the user or the like strongly desires to play and listen to the movie music information described above, the user stops the car and releases the above-mentioned image reproduction prohibition function. While the function is released, the information recording medium is reproduced to display a menu, the operation selection item during the menu display is selected and operated, and when the reproduction of the movie music information is started, the automobile is driven again, so that the image is displayed. There has been a problem in that it is necessary to take troublesome measures such as making it possible to reproduce only movie music information even if reproduction is not performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus which can overcome the above-mentioned conventional problems and can improve, for example, convenience and operability.

[0017]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information recording medium based on setting of operation item information related to menu display. A storage unit for storing information on setting conditions of operation item information to be specified, and operation item information obtained by reproducing the information recording medium, and information on setting conditions of operation item information in the storage unit are compared. And estimating means for estimating the setting method of the operation item information, whereby the information recording medium is automatically reproduced according to the estimation result.

The storage means stores history information relating to a selection operation of the operation item information performed by the user or the like when the menu is displayed based on the operation item information related to the menu display, The estimating means includes:
The method is characterized by estimating a setting method of the operation item information, using the history information as information of a setting condition of the operation item information.

[0019] The information processing apparatus may further comprise a setting means for allowing the user or the like to set in advance whether or not the history information is to be set information of the operation item information. Further, the estimating means compares the operation item information with information on setting conditions of the operation item information in the storage means,
The method is characterized by estimating a setting method of operation item information having a high story.

According to the information reproducing apparatus having such a configuration, the operation item information reproduced from the information recording medium is presented to the user or the like, for example, by displaying the operation item information as a visible operation selection item, and the presented operation item information is displayed. When reproducing an information recording medium in which a user or the like selects an operation method (operation procedure) desired by a user or the like from operation selection items corresponding to the operation selection item, the information reproduction apparatus performs the above operation method from a user or the like. Even if the instruction is not given, by comparing the operation item information obtained from the information recording medium with the information of the setting conditions of the reproduction operation preset by the user or the like, the reproduction operation corresponding to the operation procedure desired by the user or the like is performed. Is performed on behalf of automatically.

When an operation selection item is displayed on a menu based on operation item information related to the menu display recorded on the information recording medium, a user or the like may select an operation selection item corresponding to the operation item information actually displayed on the menu. Information on an operation method when an item is selected is stored as history information. Then, when the information recording medium is reproduced next time, the estimating means estimates the operation procedure desired by the user or the like using the history information, and automatically performs the reproducing operation.

Further, from the operation item information obtained from the information recording medium, an operation selection item having a high storytability is estimated in light of information on a setting condition of a reproduction operation set in advance by a user or the like. The reproduction operation is automatically performed in accordance with the operation item information corresponding to the operation method of the selected item.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As an embodiment, an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded information from an information recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a “DVD disk”) compliant with the DVD-Video standard will be described.

First, the logical data structure of a DVD disk conforming to the DVD-Video standard will be outlined with reference to FIG.

The volume space of a DVD disk is UD
Volume and file structure (Volume and File structure) in which control information of a logical format conforming to both F (Universal Disc Format) and ISO9660 standards is recorded.
estructure) and DVD-Video zone (DVD-Video zon)
e) and other zones (DVD other zones), of which the DVD video zone is a data storage area for recording DVD video data.

Also, all information necessary for reproducing DVD video data is stored (recorded) in this DVD video zone.

Furthermore, the DVD video zone includes one video manager (Video Manager) VMG and one or more
Video Title Set of 9 or less
VTS # 1 to VTS # i.

The video manager VMG is a video object set for a VMG menu VMMG_VOBS, which is a substance of a playback stream.
And a video object set VMG for the VMG menu
Program chain information on the playback method of M_VOBS (P
video manager information (Vis), which is control information indicating program chain information (PGCI) and playback stream attributes, etc.
deo Manager Information) VMGI and backup data VMGI_BUP of video manager information VMGI
Consists of

Each video title set VTS # 1-VTS
TS # i is a VTS menu video object set (Video Object Set for V
TS Menu) VTSM_VOBS and Video Object Set for Video Title VT
STT_VOBS, and program chain information (Program Chain Information: PGCI) related to a method of reproducing the video object set for menu VTSM_VOBS and the video object set for title VTSTT_VOBS.
Title set information (Video Title Set Information), which is control information indicating the playback and playback stream attributes, etc.
VTSI and backup data VTSI_BUP of video title set information VTSI.

The above information VMGM_VOBS, VTSM_VOB
S and VTSTT_VOBS are one or more video objects (Video Objects: VOBs) VOB # 1 to VOB # j,
VOB # 1 to VOB # k, VOB # 1 to VOB # t, and each video object is composed of a plurality of cells.
It is composed of

That is, a cell is a unit of reproduction of real-time data. A plurality of cells can be provided in the video manager VMG or the video title set VTS, and the reproduction order is specified by the program chain information PGCI. It has become.

More specifically, program chain information PGC
The function of the program chain information PGCI
Can be included in the video manager VMG or each video title set VTS, and is information indicating a processing unit for specifying a reproduction order of each cell. In addition, after playing a cell (Cell), information for performing still image playback in a paused state (referred to as “cell still”), or after playing a video object unit (VOBU), pause a still image Information for performing reproduction (referred to as “VOBU still”) can be recorded in advance by being included in the program chain information PGCI.

For convenience of description, FIG. 1 shows, as a representative example, cells Cell # 1 to Ce in the video manager VMG.
11 # m.

Further, the above information VMGM_VOBS, VT
SM_VOBS and VTSTT_VOBS can be recorded including menu screen image data for presenting operation selection items and the like to the user and the like.

However, the above information VMGM_VOBS, V
Since TSM_VOBS and VTSTT_VOBS do not necessarily have to record image data for a menu screen, etc., when a DVD disc on which image data for a menu screen or the like is not recorded in advance is reproduced by an information reproducing apparatus, the menu is naturally displayed. The menu display based on the screen image data or the like is not performed. However, DVD-Vid
In the eo standard, the information playback device is a video title set V
In correspondence with each video object VOB in TS # 1 to VTS # i, image data for a menu screen is created in a pseudo manner, and a pseudo menu display can be performed based on the image data. I have.

Strictly speaking, the menu display for prompting the user or the like to make a selection operation based on the menu screen image data or the like recorded in advance on the DVD disk is strictly called "menu display". However, even when a simulated menu is displayed at the time of reproducing a DVD disc on which no menu screen image data or the like is recorded in advance so as to prompt the user or the like to perform a selection operation, the user or the like is allowed to operate except for a special case. This pseudo menu display is also called "menu display" because it is not meaningful for the user to distinguish it from strict "menu display".

Therefore, in the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, pseudo menu display is also treated as "menu display" in the same manner as strict "menu display".
The pseudo menu display generated in the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is realized by OSD display described later.

Referring again to FIG. 1, each of the above cells (Cel)
l # 1 is representatively shown) includes a plurality of video object units (VOBUs) VOBU # 1 to VOBU
BU # n, and each video object unit (representing VOBU # 1) is a navigation pack always provided at the head.
NV_PCK, a video pack (Video Pack) V_PCK and an audio pack (Audio
Pack) A-PCK and Sub-picture Pa
ck) SP_PCK.

The navigation pack NV_PCK is a presentation control information packet (PCI) that follows a pack header or the like.
PKT and Data Search Information Packet
tion Packet) DSI_PKT.

The sub-picture pack SP_PCK includes a pack header and reproduction data (compressed reproduction data) recorded after being compressed.

The content creator or the like previously stores the operation item information in the presentation management information packet PCI_PKT and the data search information packet DSI_PKT in the navigation pack NV_PCK and the sub-picture pack SP.
_ If the information is recorded as compressed playback data in the PCK, the information playback device reads and plays back this operation item information, and displays an operation selection item that can be visually recognized corresponding to the operation item information on the monitor screen. Buttons can be obtained.

Here, the "operation button" is used when an operation selection item corresponding to the operation item information is displayed on the monitor screen.
This is information for setting in advance the display method of the operation selection item corresponding to the operation item information. Further, the operation buttons are provided with button number information for identifying the operation item information (that is, a number selection button described later). That is, if the information reproducing apparatus displays the operation selection item corresponding to the operation item information of “main part reproduction” in the display frame of “title menu” as shown in FIG. 4, the display of “main part reproduction” The area and the position are determined based on the “operation button”, and if the button number information attached to the operation item information of “main part reproduction” is “1”, the operation item information of “main part reproduction” is It is possible to recognize that the number “1” is assigned.
Also, when the information reproducing apparatus displays operation selection items corresponding to other operation item information such as “subtitle language setting”, “audio language setting”, “cast”, etc., each of the “operation buttons”
Thus, the display area and position of each operation selection item can be determined, and the button number information assigned to each can be obtained.

Since the contents of the "operation buttons" are diversified, the description thereof is omitted, but the highlight information H recorded in the presentation management information packet PCI_PKT in the navigation pack NV_PCK is included.
LI is a typical example.

The highlight information HLI includes data HLI_SS indicating the state of highlight, data HLI_S_PTM indicating the start time of highlight, data HLI_E_PTM indicating the end time of highlight, and data HLI_SL_E_PTM indicating the end time of selecting the operation button. , Data BTN_MD indicating the operation button mode, data BTN_OFS indicating the offset of the operation button, data BTN_N indicating the number of the operation buttons
s, data NSL_BTN_Ns indicating the number of number selection buttons, data FOSL_BTNN indicating a forced selection button number, and data FOAC_BTNN indicating a forced determination button number are provided.

The information reproducing apparatus of the present invention determines the presence or absence of operation item information based on the data HLI_SS indicating the state of the highlight, and the data HL indicating the end time of the selection of the operation button.
The grace time (standby time) until the operation button is selected is determined based on the I_SL_E_PTM and the time of the cell still, and the operation button for which the operation is permitted for the user or the like is determined by the data NSL_BTN_Ns indicating the number of the number selection buttons. Processing such as determination is performed.

Further, the above-mentioned video manager information VM
The GI and the video title set information VTSI store information indicating the attribute (Attribute) of the playback stream included in each of the video objects VOB.

The attribute information V recorded in a predetermined management table in the video manager information VMGI is recorded.
MGM_PGCI_UT, VMGM_LU, VMGM_PGCI_SRP, V
MGM_PGC_CAT or video title set information V
Attribute information VTSM_PGCI_UT, VTSM_LU, VTSM_PG recorded in a predetermined management table in the TSI
The attributes of the menu display are specified by CI_SRP and VTSM_PGC_CAT, and the attributes of the menu display are defined as a display image including the operation buttons described above.

Although the details will be described later in the description of the "automatic issuance" function provided in the present information reproducing apparatus, the present information reproducing apparatus obtains the information of the "menu ID" to obtain the current "menu ID". The display menu or the relationship between the current display menu and the display menu at the transition destination (hereinafter,
("Story").

A rare transition operation that is generally performed, for example, when the user switches the menu from the display of the “sub picture menu” to the display of the “audio menu” and then to the display of the “angle menu” In other words, the menu switching order in which the relevance between the menus is extremely low is determined to have a low "story". Also, when the user etc. switches from displaying the "Top Menu" to displaying the "Route Menu",
Next, a transition operation generally performed by a user or the like, such as switching a menu to the display of a “PTT menu”, that is, a menu switching order having a high relevance between menus is determined to have a high “story”. It has become.

Next, the configuration of the information reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

The information reproducing apparatus 1 includes a spindle motor 3 for rotating a DVD disk 2 loaded at a predetermined clamp position at a constant linear velocity (or angular velocity);
An optical pickup 4 for optically reading information recorded on the disc 2 and photoelectrically converting the information into an electric signal Si; a feed motor 5 for moving the optical pickup 4 in a radial direction of the DVD disc 2; an RF amplifier 6; Control unit 7,
A system controller 17 for centrally managing the operation of the information reproducing apparatus 1 is provided.

The RF amplifier 6 generates an RF signal SRF from the electric signal Si output from the optical pickup 4 and outputs the RF signal SRF to the digital signal processing unit 8, and various error signals such as a tracking error and a focus error from the electric signal Si. Se is generated and output to the servo control unit 7.

The servo control unit 7 controls the spindle motor 3 based on the various error signals Se from the RF amplifier 6 and the synchronization error signal De detected by the digital signal processing unit 8 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 17. Servo control (focus servo, tracking servo, rotation servo, tilt servo, etc.) is performed on the optical pickup 4 and the feed motor 5.

The digital signal processing unit 8 converts the RF signal SRF from the RF amplifier 6 into a digital signal,
The signal demodulation processing and error correction processing conforming to the ideo standard are performed and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 9. Further, the stored demodulated data Di is output to the stream separation unit 10 and the system controller 17 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 17, and the synchronization error signal De obtained by the demodulation and error correction processing is output to the servo control unit 7.
Supply to

The video manager information V shown in FIG.
The MGI and the video title set information VTSI are also supplied from the digital signal processing unit 8 to the system controller 17 together with the demodulated data Di, whereby the system controller 17 acquires the “menu ID” related to the menu display.

From the demodulated data Di supplied from the digital signal processing unit 8, the stream separation unit 10 converts the navigation packs NV_PCK and the video packs V_PCK included in the video object unit VOBU,
Audio pack A-PCK and sub-picture pack SP_P
CK is separated and extracted.

Then, the separated and extracted navigation pack NV_PCK is sent to the system controller 17, the video pack V_PCK is sent to the video decoder 11, and the audio pack A is sent.
-It supplies the PCK to the audio decoder 12 and the sub-picture pack SP_PCK to the sub-picture decoder 13.

Therefore, the system controller 17
When the navigation pack NV_PCK is supplied, when the video stream or the audio stream is reproduced, the highlight information HLI included in the presentation management information packet PCT_PKT described above is acquired and corresponds to the operation item information. Acquires information on "operation buttons" for displaying operation selection items.

The video decoder 11 has a video pack V_P
A predetermined decoding process is performed on CK, and the decoded video data Dv is output to the video processor 14.

The audio decoder 12 performs a predetermined decoding process on the audio pack A_PCK to generate digital audio data Da, and the D / A converter 15 converts the digital audio data Da into an analog audio signal Sa in the audio frequency band. Convert and output.

The sub-picture decoder 13 performs a predetermined decoding process on the sub-picture pack SP_PCK, thereby generating the above-described sub-picture data Ds and outputting it to the video processor 14. Further, when the sub-picture data Ds is generated, the sub-picture position data Dsub indicating the position of the sub-picture is also decoded and supplied to the system controller 17.

The video processor 14 generates image data Dvd based on the video data Dv supplied from the video decoder 11 according to an instruction from the system controller 17 and outputs the image data Dvd to the video encoder 16. Further, the video data Dv and the sub-picture data Ds supplied from the video decoder 11 and the sub-picture decoder 13 are combined to generate image data Dvd, and output the video data Dvd to the video encoder 16. Also, the system controller 1
When the OSD display image data Dosd described later is supplied from 7, the image data Dvd is generated from the OSD display image data Dosd and output to the video encoder 16.

That is, the video processor 14 converts a video stream such as a movie recorded on the DVD disk 2 into image data Dvd and outputs it to the video encoder 16 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 17, And other sub-picture data Dv
Is converted to image data Dvd and output to the video encoder 16 or OSD display image data Dosd
Is converted into image data Dvd and output to the video encoder 16.

The video encoder 16 outputs the image data Dvd
Is converted into digital video data Ddsp or a composite signal Sdsp that can be displayed on a monitor and output. Then, the digital video data Ddsp and the composite signal Sdsp
Is supplied to a monitor (not shown) to display a menu on the monitor screen for prompting the user to select an operation selection item corresponding to the operation item information, for example, a movie or a user, OSD display or the like is displayed.

The system controller 17 has a microprocessor (M) that executes a preset program.
PU), the information reproduction apparatus 1 is centrally managed.

The system controller 17 further includes an operation unit 18 for a user or the like to perform a desired input operation.
OSD image memory 1 formed of read-only memory
9 and reference data Dre, which is formed of a non-volatile memory and is described later.
The storage unit 20 for storing f is connected.

Here, the OSD image memory 19 has the OS
D display image data Dosd is stored. The OSD display image data Dosd is display data such as pictures, characters, and symbols provided in advance to request an operation of a user or the like or to notify the operation state of the information reproducing apparatus 1. The data is separate from the menu information and the operation item information recorded on the disc 2. That is, data for performing the above-described pseudo menu display is also stored in the OSD display image data Dosd.

For example, "play", "stop", "pause", "fast forward", "rewind", "frame drop playback"
In addition to the OSD display image data Dosd for displaying a typical icon such as the above, a menu display for prompting a user or the like to perform a desired operation as shown in FIG. OSD for performing
Display image data Dosd is stored.

Note that OSD is an abbreviation for On Screen Display. The “automatic issuance setting menu display” indicates that the OSD display image data D
Strictly speaking, it is a pseudo "menu display" because it is an OSD display based on osd. However, it is possible for a user or the like to treat “automatic issue setting menu display” in the same manner as “menu display” in a strict sense.

Further, as described above, the system controller 17 outputs the demodulated data D from the digital signal processing unit 8.
i, and the navigation pack NV_PCK from the stream separation unit 10, and inputs video manager information VMGI, video title set information VTSI, program chain information PGCI, and data search information packet DSI_PK.
T, by acquiring and analyzing highlight information HLI and the like in the presentation management information packet PCI_PKT, detects menu information such as menu ID, operation item information, operation buttons, and the like recorded on the DVD disc 2. Then, by controlling the sub-picture decoder 13 and the video processor 14 based on the detection result, the above-described image data Dvd is generated, and control for “automatic issuance” is performed.

Here, "automatic issuance" corresponds to a so-called agent function for automatically selecting operation item information on behalf of a user or the like, instead of having the user or the like select an operation selection item. is there. When the user or the like selects and specifies a desired item by operating the operation unit 18 in the “automatic issuance setting menu display” shown in FIG. 3, the system controller 17 uses the selected data as reference data. Dref is stored in the storage unit 20, and the navigation pack NV_PCK and the video manager information VMGI or the video title set information VTS are stored.
By comparing the menu information, the operation item information, and the operation buttons detected from I with the reference data Dref, the operation method of the operation selection item desired by the user or the like (in other words, the setting procedure of the operation selection item) is automatically set. And automatically performs a reproducing operation in accordance with the operation item information corresponding to the operation method of the estimated operation selection item.

Next, the operation of the information reproducing apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the operation when the user or the like sets the condition of “automatic issuance” for the information reproducing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

When a user or the like operates predetermined operation keys provided on the operation unit 18, the system controller 1
7 reads out predetermined OSD display image data Dosd from the OSD image memory 19 and supplies it to the video processor 14, thereby causing an "automatic issue setting menu display" shown in FIG. 3 to be displayed on a monitor (not shown).

The "automatic issue setting menu display" includes:
A plurality of items of "specify priority button number", "previous operation priority", "button number calculation method", and "waiting time until automatic issuance start" are displayed.

The above “designation of priority button number” means that
The user or the like selects and specifies in advance the button number information associated with the operation item information from the maximum of 36 items of operation item information specified by the D-Video standard, thereby allowing the user or the like to perform the desired operation. This is an item for enabling item information to be preferentially selected and designated in advance.

For example, when a user or the like operates predetermined operation keys of the operation unit 18 and inputs “1” as shown in the figure, data of the operation button number “1” is stored in the storage unit 20. When the user or the like designates a desired operation button number “1” in advance in this way, by playing the DVD disc 2, the system controller 17 sets the button number having the same number “1” as the operation button number “1”. When the information is acquired, the process of "automatic issuance" is performed by regarding the operation item information corresponding to the operation selection item corresponding to the button number information "1" as being selected by the user or the like.

The "previous operation priority" is provided to specify in advance whether or not to perform the "automatic issuance" process based on the history information of the previous operation by the user or the like. I have.

That is, when the user or the like operates a predetermined operation key of the operation unit 18 to specify the check item “high”, the system controller 17 determines that the user or the like selects an operation selection item in the menu display. Button number information, menu ID, and the like related to the operation item information corresponding to the operation selection item are stored in the storage unit 20 as history information, and when the DVD disc 2 is reproduced next time, the operation item is stored based on the history information. Automatically select information.

For example, if the user or the like designates the above check item "high" and plays the DVD disc 2 and the system controller 17 displays a menu as shown in FIG. Button number information related to the operation item information corresponding to the selected item and a menu ID, a VTS number, a title number, a cell ID, and a VOBU address for specifying the operation place are stored in the storage unit 20 as history information. When the DVD disk 2 is reproduced next time, an "automatic issue" process of automatically selecting operation item information according to the button number information and the menu ID of the history information is performed.

When the check item “low” is specified in advance, the system controller 17 does not select the operation item information based on the history information the next time the DVD disc 2 is reproduced.

The above “button number calculation method” refers to the DV number
When the menu is displayed by playing the D disk 2, the same number as the priority operation button number (operation button number “1” in the above example) set in advance in “priority button number designation” This is provided to specify a calculation method for automatically calculating the operation button number information in place of the priority operation button number when the button number information cannot be obtained.

That is, although the user or the like has designated the operation button number “1” in the item of “priority button number designation”, when the DVD disk 2 is actually reproduced, the system controller 17 If the button number information having the same number as the operation button number “1” cannot be obtained from the disk 2, appropriate operation button number information is automatically calculated according to a calculation method specified in advance by a user or the like.

Here, as calculation methods, for example, three calculation methods of “increment”, “decrement”, and “random” are prepared.

When the user or the like designates the check item "increment" in FIG. 3, the operation button number larger than the operation button number designated by priority in the item "designation of priority button number" is changed to the appropriate operation button number. Is calculated as For example, when the operation button number is “1”, the numbers “2, 3, 4” larger than the number “1”
.. ", Etc., to find the same number as the button number information recorded on the DVD disk 2. Then, the operation item information corresponding to the same button number information as the found number is automatically selected.

When the user or the like designates the check item "decrement", the system controller 17 calculates a number smaller than the operation button number designated with priority. If the operation button number is “3”, the number “2” smaller than the number “3”
Alternatively, “1” is calculated to find the same number as the button number information recorded on the DVD disk 2. And
The operation item information corresponding to the same button number information as the found number is automatically selected.

When the user or the like specifies the check item “random”, the system controller 17
A number different from the preferentially designated operation button number is calculated at random. For example, when the operation button number designated with priority is “1”, numbers 1 to 36 excluding the number “1” are randomly calculated and recorded on the DVD disk 2. The same number as the button number information is found, and the operation item information corresponding to the same button number information as the found number is automatically selected.

The "waiting time until activation of automatic issuance" is provided for setting a waiting time until the processing of "automatic issuance" is started. For example, when a user or the like operates a predetermined operation key of the operation unit 18 and inputs “30 seconds”, the system controller 17 displays a menu at the time of reproducing the DVD disc 2 and then displays “30 seconds”.
It is in a standby state for seconds. Then, if the user or the like does not select and operate the operation item information displayed in the menu during the 30 seconds, the process of “automatic issuance” is started. In other words, the item of “waiting time until automatic issuance activation” is provided to set the waiting time until the user or the like selects a desired operation selection item from the menu display as shown in FIG. Have been.

When the user or the like designates each item of the "automatic issue setting menu display", the system does not require a response corresponding to the menu display when the DVD disc 2 is actually reproduced. When the controller 17 performs the "automatic issuance" process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the reproducing operation is automatically performed according to the user's preference.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of "automatic issuance" will be described in detail.

After the user or the like has set the contents of each item of the "automatic issue setting menu display", the DVD disc 2
Is loaded, the loading is determined in step S100, and the process proceeds to step S102.

In step S102, the loaded DVD
It is determined whether a predetermined area of the disk 2 has been reproduced and an automatic reproduction command has been acquired thereby, or whether an instruction to start automatic reproduction has been given in advance by a user or the like. When the above-mentioned automatic reproduction command is acquired or when the user has instructed to start reproduction, the original reproduction is started in step S104.

Next, during the reproduction of the DVD disk 2, it is determined in step S106 whether or not an operation button has been obtained. If no operation button has been obtained, the reproduction is continued as it is.

On the other hand, when the operation button is acquired, a menu is displayed based on the acquired menu information and operation item information in addition to the operation button, and further, a standby time until it is determined in step S108 that the predetermined time has elapsed. In step S110, it is determined whether or not the user has performed a key operation on the menu display.

That is, based on the menu information, the operation item information, the operation buttons, and the like obtained by reproducing the DVD disk 2, for example, a menu display as shown in FIG. 4 is performed. , Etc., waits until an operation selection item in the menu display is selected. This waiting time is set by the item of “waiting time until automatic issuance activation” shown in FIG.

Then, when the user or the like performs an operation of selecting an operation selection item, in step S112, operation contents are set so as to perform a reproducing operation according to the selected operation selection item. In other words, in order to perform a playback operation according to the operation content requested by the user or the like for the menu display,
The system controller 17 controls the entire information reproducing apparatus 1.

In step S114, the information (for example, menu ID) of the operation issuing point is stored in the storage unit 20 as history information, and in step S116, the operation content (for example, button number information) is stored in the storage unit 20.
After the operation content is issued in step S118, the reproduction operation from step S104 is continued.

Therefore, steps S104 to S118
Is performed when a menu is displayed during playback of the DVD disc 2 and a selection operation is performed on the menu display by a user or the like.

Next, in the above step S108,
If the user does not perform a selection operation on the menu display within a predetermined standby time, step S120
Move to

In step S120, it is checked whether the information on menu display is based on the VMG menu video object set VMGM or the VTS menu video object set VTSM.
Move to 124. In addition, the information on menu display is a video object set VMGM for a VMG menu or a video object set VTSM for a VTS menu.
In other words, even if the menu display is a pseudo-created menu, in step S122, the reproduction is temporarily stopped (cell still state or VOBU still state) and semi-permanently in the standby state. Shifts to step S124.

Then, the above steps S120 and S1
If the determination condition in step 22 is not satisfied, the reproduction of the stream does not stop even if there is no operation from the user or the like. Therefore, the flow shifts to step S104 to continue the reproduction.

In step S124, it is checked whether history information is stored in the storage unit 20. That is, the user or the like plays the DVD disk before and checks whether or not the history information on the operation method performed at that time is stored in the storage unit 20. If the history information is stored, the process proceeds to step S126, and if not, the process proceeds to step S130.

In step S126, it is checked whether the check item of "last operation priority" shown in FIG. 3 is set to "high", and if it is set to "high", step S128 is performed.
, The operation item information is automatically set based on the history information to continue the reproduction operation,
Continue with the process of No. 16.

If the check item of "last operation priority" is set to "low" in step S126, the process proceeds to step S126 without using the history information.
Move to 130.

In step S130, it is determined whether or not the same button number information as the operation button number, for example, "1" designated preferentially in the "priority button number designation" item shown in FIG. 3 has been acquired. If the same button number information has not been obtained, in step S136,
The operation button number information is automatically calculated according to the calculation method specified by the check item of “button number calculation method” shown in FIG. 3, and the calculated operation button number is the same as the button number obtained from the DVD disk 2. After performing another check in step S130, the process proceeds to step S132.

In step S132, a button command having a high "story" is selected from the button commands assigned to the operation buttons. For example, the above-mentioned “menu ID”
Is "Audio menu""Sub picture menu"
Buttons that transition to a menu that is an “angle menu,” “audio stream,” “angle,”
In the case of a button that changes the “sub-picture stream”, it is determined that the “story” is low, and the process from step S136 is repeated to calculate a new operation button number.

If the "story" is high, the flow shifts to step S134. Here, it is determined whether the button number information having the same number as the calculated operation button number is once stored in the storage unit 20 as the history information. If the button number information of the same number as the operation button number is stored,
The process proceeds to step S136 to calculate the operation button number again. Otherwise, the process moves to step S138.

At step S138, the DVD disc 2
(TTN, PGC
N, PGN, VOBU address) and button number information of the same number as the calculated latest operation button number.
0, and a new operation content is determined based on the operation item information corresponding to the operation button number.

Then, the button number information is automatically issued by the processing of steps S116 and S118. That is, if the user or the like does not respond to the menu display within the predetermined standby time in step S108,
By the processing of steps S120 to S138, the setting method of the operation item information is automatically determined and the reproducing operation is performed.

As described above, since the information reproducing apparatus 1 performs the reproducing operation by automatically setting the operation item information on behalf of the user or the like, the convenience of the user or the like can be improved. In addition, the user and the like can set desired setting conditions in advance by the “automatic issue setting menu display” which is an OSD display, so that the agency can be performed according to the preference of the user and the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, the menu display by the video object set VOBS of the video title set VTS includes selection items for a multi-story, and the operation buttons of each item have story characteristics. Therefore, it was difficult to weight the operation buttons according to the transition destination. However, the user or the like sets the "Last operation priority" check item of "Automatic issue setting menu display" to "High".
, Users can select the story they are always watching, and if the "Last operation priority" check item is set to "Low", a different story can be selected. Therefore, convenience and operability of the user can be improved.

Further, in the information reproducing apparatus mounted on an automobile described as the prior art, even if the video reproduction prohibition function is activated while the automobile is running, the "automatic issuance" function for acting on behalf of the user or the like of the present embodiment. Is provided, the user can perform audio reproduction of music or the like desired by the user or the like even if the user cannot view the video. Therefore, effects such as ensuring the safety of driving a car and satisfying the tastes of the user and the like can be obtained.

Although the present embodiment has described the case where the OSD display is performed according to the operation item information of the DVD disk conforming to the DVD-Video, the present invention relates to the operation item of the DVD disk belonging to another DVD family. OS according to information
It is also possible to perform D display. CD (Compact
The present invention can be applied to the case of reproducing other types of information recording media such as Disc).

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the "automatic issuance setting menu display" is displayed on the monitor by the OSD display. However, the present invention is not limited to the monitor display. The “automatic issuance setting menu display” may be performed by other display means such as a means or a display means other than the monitor (for example, a dedicated display means for displaying an automatic issuance setting menu).

[0115]

As described above, according to the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the operation item information related to the menu display obtained from the information recording medium is compared with the information of the reproducing operation condition preset by the user or the like. As a result, the playback operation corresponding to the setting procedure of the operation item information desired by the user or the like is automatically performed on behalf of the user. Therefore, even if the user or the like does not respond to the menu display, the The desired reproduction operation can be performed automatically. As a result, it is possible to realize information on operability of the user or the like, improvement in convenience, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a logical data structure of a DVD-Video.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the information reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one display mode of an automatic issue setting menu display.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between operation item information, operation buttons, and operation button numbers in association with operation selection items displayed on a monitor as menus;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of “automatic issuance” in the information reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a menu display example using a VTS video object set.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a menu display shown to explain a problem of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information reproduction apparatus 2 ... DVD disk 4 ... Pickup 6 ... RF amplifier 8 ... Digital signal processing part 10 ... Stream separation part 11 ... Video decoder 13 ... Sub picture decoder 14 ... Video processor 16 ... Video encoder 17 ... System controller 18 ... Operation unit 19: OSD image memory 20: Storage unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B069 AA20 BA01 BA04 BB16 CA19 FA09 JA02 5D044 AB06 AB09 BC03 CC06 DE03 DE18 DE27 DE42 FG21 5D077 AA23 BA08 CA02 CB03 DC01 DC12 DC18 EA08 HA07 HB01 HC02 HC03 HC17 HC26 HC32

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information reproducing apparatus for performing an operation of reproducing an information recording medium based on a setting of operation item information related to a menu display, wherein information for setting conditions of operation item information specified in advance by a user or the like is stored. Means for estimating the setting method of the operation item information by comparing operation item information obtained by performing a reproducing operation of the information recording medium with information of setting conditions of the operation item information in the storage means. An information reproducing apparatus comprising: estimating means; and automatically reproducing the information recording medium according to the estimation result. 2. The storage means stores history information relating to a selection operation of operation item information performed by the user or the like when a menu is displayed based on operation item information related to the menu display. 2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the estimating unit estimates the setting method of the operation item information by using the history information as information of a setting condition of the operation item information. 3. The information according to claim 2, further comprising a setting unit for allowing the user or the like to set in advance whether or not the history information is to be information on setting conditions of the operation item information. Playback device. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the estimating unit compares the operation item information with information on a setting condition of the operation item information in the storage unit, and estimates a setting method of the operation item information having a high story. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein