JP2003304485A - Information recording medium, apparatus and method for recording information, apparatus and method for reproducing information, computer program for recording or reproducing control, and data structure including control signal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide multiplex recording for still images of a large amount of data on an information recording medium such as optical discs, etc., together with moving pictures and sounds, and efficiently reproduce the still images with a reduced processing load. <P>SOLUTION: The information recording medium is for multiplex recording a whose stream comprising a plurality of sub-streams having contents information including still image information packet by packet. The recording medium comprises a file for storing object data composed of a plurality of packets for storing segments of the contents information, and a file for storing relation defining information for defining the corresponding relation of a plurality of multiplexed packets to the plurality of sub-streams for controlling the reproduction of the object data. The relation defining information includes a flag for indicating whether the still image information exist between two adjacent packets in a sequence of only packets whose positions are specified by address information in every sub-stream, and a flag for indicating whether still image control information exists. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording medium such as a high-density optical disc capable of recording various information such as main video, audio, sub-video, and reproduction control information with high density, and recording information on the information recording medium. Information recording apparatus and method, information reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing information from the information recording medium, information recording and reproducing apparatus and method capable of both recording and reproducing, and recording or reproducing control It belongs to the technical field of a data structure including a computer program and a control signal for controlling reproduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A DVD has been generalized as an optical disc on which various information such as main video, audio, sub-video and reproduction control information is recorded. According to the DVD standard, main video information (video data), audio information (audio data), and sub-video information (sub-picture data) are packetized together with reproduction control information (navigation data), thereby achieving a high-efficiency coding technique. MPEG2 (Moving Pic)
pure Experts Group phase
2) Multiple recording is performed on the disc in the standard program stream format. Of these, the main video information is MPE
The data compressed according to the G video format (ISO13818-2) exists for one stream in one program stream. On the other hand, audio information is transmitted in a plurality of formats (ie linear PCM, AC-3 and MPEG).
Audio, etc.), and a total of 8 streams can exist in one program stream. The sub-picture information is defined by a bit map and is compressed and recorded by a run length method, and up to 32 streams can exist in one program stream. Thus, in the case of DVD, by adopting the program stream format, for example, for one movie, a plurality of streams of selectable audio information (for example, stereo audio or surround audio, Original English voice, Japanese voice over voice, etc.)
Or multiple streams of selectable sub-picture information (for example,
Multiple streams of Japanese subtitles, English subtitles, etc.) are recorded.

On the other hand, a transport stream format of the MPEG2 standard has been standardized, which is suitable for data transmission.
According to this transport stream format, a plurality of elementary streams are simultaneously transmitted. For example, a plurality of programs or programs such as television channels of many satellite digital broadcasts are time-division multiplexed and simultaneously transmitted in one satellite radio wave.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned DVD, the main video of one stream can be multiple-recorded together with the audio information and the sub-video information of multiple streams, and the main video of multiple streams cannot be multiple-recorded. That is, there is a problem that a DVD that records in conformity with the MPEG2 program stream format cannot essentially multiple-record multiple programs or programs simultaneously transmitted in the MPEG2 transport stream format.

Further, even if there is a disk having a high transfer rate and a large recording capacity or a high density recording that can simultaneously record a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs transmitted in the transport stream format of MPEG2, Frequently recording and reproducing a large amount of still image information such as the above-mentioned bitmap data with respect to the reproduction time axis is not appropriate in terms of data efficiency. In particular, if only receiving a broadcast in real time and displaying and outputting it via the tuner, such still image information display processing is relatively simple, but still image information is used as one of the elementary streams. After being recorded on the disc, it is targeted for special reproduction such as time search, chapter search, or interactive reproduction by the user due to its nature. For this reason, the load of reproduction and display processing of still image information or the like made up of bit map data having an enormous amount of data sometimes becomes very large. Then, in order to deal with this, it is necessary to significantly improve the performance of the hardware or the like only for the processing of the still image information, or the image quality of the still image information is deteriorated or special. There is a technical problem that playback and interactive playback are restricted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and still image information having a relatively large data amount can be multiplex-recorded together with moving image information, audio information, etc., and an increase in load in reproduction display processing can be suppressed. Information recording medium, information recording device and method, information reproducing device and method, information recording and reproducing device and method, computer program for recording or reproduction control, and control signal for reproduction control while enabling reproduction of the still image information It is an object to provide a data structure including.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information recording medium of the present invention has an entire physical stream including a plurality of partial streams each of which is composed of content information forming a series of contents. Is an information recording medium that is multiplex-recorded in units of packets that are units accessible to each other, and is object data that is a unit that is logically accessible and that includes a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store fragments of the content information. An object data file for storing the object data file, a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data, and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data. Correspondence between each packet and the plurality of partial streams Object information file that stores correspondence definition information that defines the relationship between the still image information and the still image information that is one of the content information. The correspondence definition information is configured to include a plurality of packets each storing a piece of still image control information for controlling display, and the correspondence definition information satisfies a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets for each of the plurality of partial streams. The address information related to the packet is further included.For the at least one partial stream, (i) among the plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream, only the packet whose position is specified by the address information is aligned. The still image information is recorded in the entry section specified by two adjacent packets. A still image information identification flag indicating whether or not the first packet of the group of packets exists and (ii) indicating whether or not the first packet of the group of packets including the still image control information exists in the entry section. It includes a control information identification flag.

According to the information recording medium of the present invention, for example, M
The entire stream such as at least a part of the PEG2 transport stream includes a plurality of partial streams such as an elementary stream. The partial stream is video information or sub-picture information (for example, video data or sub-picture data) or audio information (for example, a series of contents that can be reproduced by the information reproducing apparatus).
Audio data) and other content information. That is, in the present application, one "partial stream" refers to one data array or information array such as a video stream, an audio stream, and a sub-picture stream that form a series of contents, which is an elementary stream. On the other hand, in the present application, one "whole stream" refers to a data array or information array in which a plurality of partial streams are bundled. The entire stream may be a transport stream itself formed by bundling m (where m is a natural number of 2 or more) elementary streams in MPEG2,
Of these, a data array or information array in which n (n is a natural number of 2 or more and less than m) elementary streams are bundled may be used. In the present invention, the entire stream includes at least one partial stream (for example, sub-picture stream) composed of still image information and still image control information.

The entire stream constructed in this way is
Multiple recording is performed on the information recording medium in units of packets (for example, TS packets described later) that are physically accessible by the information reproducing apparatus. Here, the object data file is a unit that can be logically accessed by the information reproducing apparatus and stores object data composed of a plurality of packets that respectively store fragments of content information. The reproduction sequence information file stores reproduction sequence information (eg, playlist information) that defines the reproduction sequence of the object data stored in this object data file. The object information file includes correspondence definition information that defines a correspondence relationship between a plurality of packets to be multiplexed and a plurality of partial streams (for example, an ES map table described later and ES_PID (ES packet ID) and ES addresses included therein). Information, or an AU table, etc.) is stored.

Therefore, at the time of reproduction, it becomes possible to selectively reproduce one or more desired partial streams of the entire stream based on the correspondence definition information. At this time, the reproduction is scheduled based on the reproduction sequence information. It can be executed according to the playback sequence.

Various kinds of information stored in the object information file and the reproduction sequence information file are different from those in the object data file.
It is not multiplexed in the unit of the packet on the information recording medium. Therefore, the reproduction of the object data in the information reproducing apparatus can be relatively easily executed based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information.

In the present invention, in particular, the correspondence definition information includes, for each of a plurality of partial streams, address information regarding a packet satisfying a predetermined condition (for example, a head packet of only an I picture in the MPEG2 standard) among a plurality of packets. Therefore, the data amount of the address information to be included in the correspondence definition information can be reduced as compared with the case where the address information is unconditionally included in the correspondence definition information.

Moreover, in the present invention, in particular, the correspondence definition information is
A partial stream (for example, a sub-picture stream) related to still image information and still image control information includes a still image information identification flag and a control information identification flag. Here, the "still image information identification flag" means that in the entry section,
This is a flag indicating whether or not there is a top packet (for example, SPD described later) of the group of packets storing the still image information, and the “control information identification flag” stores the still image control information in the entry section. It is a flag that indicates whether or not there is a head packet (for example, SCP described later) of the group of packets.

Therefore, at the time of reproduction, for the still picture information or the still picture control information, by referring to the correspondence definition information, the address information is not directly specified, but instead the entry section in which they exist is specified. To be done. Then, after the entry section in which the still picture information or the still picture control information exists is specified, a packet actually multiplexed in the object file and within the specified entry section is set as a search target. Thus, the still image information or the still image control information can be easily and quickly found (for example, by finding its header or identifier).

More specifically, if the existence of the still picture control information in the entry section including the display start time at the time of reproduction can be confirmed by the control information identification flag, the still picture control information whose existence has been confirmed is displayed. It is nothing but the still image control information corresponding to the time. On the other hand, if the presence of the still image control information in the entry section including the display start time cannot be confirmed by the control information identification flag, it is, for example, ahead of this entry section (on the side where the address or the packet serial number is smaller). The control information identification flag in the entry section is sequentially checked. In any case, by referring to the control information identification flag, it is possible to specify the rough position of the still image control information to be acquired, that is, the entry section including this. Then, the still picture information is searched for in the specified entry section, and the corresponding still picture information or the like is searched for in the entry section or another preceding entry section, so that it should be reproduced at the display start time. Still images can be efficiently reproduced.

As described above, for the purpose of executing still image reproduction at an arbitrary display start time, for example, address information of still image information composed of bitmap data or JPEG data is included in the correspondence definition information in frame units. By comparison, the data amount of the address information to be included in the correspondence definition information can be further reduced. Incidentally, if it is assumed that such address information is registered in the correspondence definition information for all the frames of a still image, the amount of data required for the address information is about five times as large as that of the main video or moving picture (main picture). It becomes. On the contrary, by adopting the configuration of the present invention, for the main video information, the data amount necessary for the address information for one entry point in the correspondence definition information is about 32 bits, while
By adopting the configuration in which the two kinds of flags in the present invention are sufficient, the data amount can be reduced to a maximum of about 2 bits.

In the present invention, the "entry point" refers to a packet whose position is specified by ES address information. The "entry section" is a TS specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only the packets whose recording positions are specified by the ES address information.
It refers to each section on the object, and preferably such an entry section is not described as between two consecutive numbers of two packets, but during the display start time of the still image information of the two packets. As. By describing in this way, even if some packets are removed due to editing work, etc., and the packet serial number deviates from the beginning, there will be no deviation between the display times, so the entry section cannot be changed. Because it does not occur. However, in an environment in which such editing work can be ignored, the entry section may be described as between two consecutive numbers relating to the two packets.

Further, in the present invention, the "identification of entry section" in the object data file executed at the time of reproduction is recorded first, for example, in which the serial number is "0" or "1" in each object data file. The address of the packet that defines each end of the entry section may be specified according to the number of the packet from the reference packet (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “reference packet”) such as the packet that is input. Then, according to the specified address, it becomes possible to access a packet having an arbitrary serial number in the object data file, that is, to access an arbitrary entry section. For example, such a serial number starts from the serial number “0” of the reference packet in the object data file at the time of multiplex recording, and continues in ascending order according to the recording order. Therefore, it is not necessary to add information indicating the packet serial number to each packet itself. The address of the packet referred to here may be a physical address, but more generally it is a logical address, and the actual physical address is one that is uniquely specified from the logical address by the management of the file system. .

Furthermore, in the present invention, the information such as still picture information and still picture control information is "included in the entry section or located in the entry section" when all packets storing the information are the entry. In addition to the meaning included in the section, the head packet storing the information is included in the entry section. That is, in the present application, the position of the still image information, the still image control information, or the like is usually the top packet (SPD to be described later) unless otherwise specified.
And SCP). However, the end packet, the central packet, or the packet located at a predetermined position from the head may be used as a substitute for the head packet.

As a result of the above, the still picture information included as at least one partial stream (for example, a sub-picture stream) in the entire stream is combined with other main video information and audio information or alone, and the at least one partial stream. It is possible to properly play back based on the still image control information included in the stream. At this time, still image reproduction can be executed even when special reproduction such as time search, chapter search, fast forward, rewind, etc. is performed, that is, even when reproduction is started from an arbitrary time. At this time, in particular, still image information such as bitmap and JPEG having a relatively large amount of data can be efficiently reproduced in any case together with moving image information, audio information, etc. It is effectively suppressed.

The entire stream in the present invention may include two or more partial streams (that is, video streams) including main video information as content information. Alternatively, the entire stream includes a partial stream including main video information as content information, a partial stream including corresponding sub video information (that is, sub picture stream), and a partial stream including audio information (that is,
Audio stream).

According to one aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the address of the first packet of the group of packets storing the still image control information for controlling the i-th still image information is i +
The still image information and the packet storing the still image control information are arranged so as to be smaller than the address of the first packet of the group of packets storing the still image control information for controlling the first still image information. There is.

According to this aspect, since the packet arrangement is performed according to the specific rule, at the time of reproduction, the entry section including the reproduction disclosure time in the correspondence definition information is moved from the entry section to the reproduction time axis. Going back one by one, refer to the still image information identification flag or the control information identification flag, (ii) identify the still image information and still image control information whose existence is indicated by them, and (iii) further identify them in the object data file. If it is searched for and read in the corresponding entry section, the still image information and still image control information necessary for still image reproduction after the display start time are almost read. For example, at some point after the start of reproduction, still image information or still image control information that has been recorded ahead of the reproduction time axis and has not been read is almost always needed for still image reproduction. Does not occur.

In addition, in this aspect, the still image control information includes
For example, it is preferable to add position information (for example, address information indicating an entry section) indicating the recording position of the still image information that is the control target, such as structure information described later. With this configuration, at the time of reproduction, it is located in front of the still image control information corresponding to the display start time and behind the still image information that is its control target, and its presence is indicated by the still image identification information flag. If all the still image information to be read is read, it means that the still image information and the still image control information required for still image reproduction after the display start time have been read without any shortage. For example, at some point after the start of playback, there is a situation in which still image information or still image control information that has been recorded ahead of the playback time axis and has not been read is required for still image playback. do not do.

Alternatively, in the information recording medium of the present invention, the address information may include a packet serial number of a packet satisfying the predetermined condition and a display start time corresponding thereto. According to this structure, at the time of reproduction, the position of the packet in the object data file can be specified based on the packet serial number and its display start time, and the desired partial stream can be appropriately reproduced.
Further, in particular, the entry section associated with the still image identification flag or the control information identification flag in the correspondence definition information can be defined in a form corresponding to the display start time.

Further, in this case, the address information includes a packet serial number relating only to the packet satisfying the predetermined condition and a display start time corresponding thereto, and controls the i-th still image information. The consecutive number of the first packet of the group of packets for storing the still image control information is higher than the consecutive number of the first packet of the group of packets for storing the still image control information for controlling the (i + 1) th still image information. The packets storing the still image information and the still image control information may be arranged to be small. With this configuration, since the packet placement is performed according to the specific rule, (i) one entry section is included in the correspondence definition information from the entry section including the playback disclosure time at the playback time axis with respect to the playback time axis. Each time, the still image information identification flag or the control information identification flag is referred to, (ii) the still image information and the still image control information which are indicated by them are specified, and (iii) these are associated in the object data file. If it is searched for and read in the entry section, the still image information and still image control information required for still image reproduction after the display start time are almost read.

In addition, in this aspect, the still image control information includes
For example, position information indicating the recording position of the still image information to be controlled, such as structure information described later (for example, the packet serial number indicating the entry section) may be added. With this configuration, at the time of reproduction, it is located in front of the still image control information corresponding to the display start time and behind the still image information that is its control target, and its presence is indicated by the still image identification information flag. If all the still image information to be read is read, it means that the still image information and the still image control information required for still image reproduction after the display start time have been read without any shortage.

In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, when the content information includes video information based on the MPEG2 standard, the address information corresponds to a serial number of a packet related to an I picture and this. And display start time.

According to this aspect, at the time of reproduction, the address of the packet can be specified based on the serial number of the packet related to the I picture, and the I picture can be reproduced based on the display start time corresponding thereto. Furthermore, based on this I picture, B picture and P picture can be reproduced, and, if audio information corresponding to such video information exists, the audio information can be reproduced. That is, it is possible to access a packet related to an I picture, and it is also possible to access a packet related to video information and audio information related to the accessed I picture, so that a series of contents can be appropriately reproduced. Become. At this time, in particular, since it is not necessary to describe the address information of the packets related to the B picture and the P picture and the address information of the packets related to the corresponding audio information, it is possible to reduce the amount of information recorded on the information recording medium as a whole.

In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the still image control information includes information indicating a display start time of a still image displayed based on the still image information and a display time of the still image.

According to this aspect, based on the information indicating the display start time and the display time of the still image included in the still image control information, the still image reproduction by the corresponding still image information is performed according to the intention of the manufacturer. It can be executed only for a desired time.

In the information recording medium of the present invention, the correspondence definition information has table information indicating a packet identification number uniquely given among a plurality of packets multiplexed at the same time for each partial stream. You may With this configuration, by referring to table information (for example, an ES map table or ES address information described later) indicating a packet identification number for each partial stream, a desired partial stream is assigned to which packet at any reproduction time. It is possible to quickly identify whether it corresponds. As a result, the desired partial stream can be reproduced.

In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream are a still image information set including at least one of the still image information and the still image control information. Packets for storing the respective fragments of the still image information set, each of which further includes structure information indicating the structure.

According to this aspect, the still image information and the still image control information have a structure that is gathered together with the structure information as a still image information set, and the structure is indicated by the structure information. For this reason, in the object data file, if the top packet in an arbitrary still image information set is accessed to obtain the structure information, all the packets forming the still image information set are individually based on the structure information (for example, Can be identified (by counting within the structure). In other words, the data amount of the address information in the correspondence definition information necessary for specifying the address of the still image information or the still image control information or the entry section to be stored in the object information file can be reduced.

In the aspect relating to this still image information set, the still image information set is (i) a first still image information set including the three members of the still image information, the still image control information and the structure information, (ii) a second still image information set that includes the still image control information and the structure information and does not include the still image information; and (iii) includes the still image information and the structure information. In addition, at least one of the first and third still image information sets out of the third still image information set not including the still image control information and the second still image information set may be included.

According to this structure, there are a maximum of three types of still image information sets, and in each case, by specifying the leading packet,
All the packets forming each still image information set can be specified based on the structure information. Moreover, by using three types of still image information sets in this way, the same still image information can be displayed and controlled in different formats by a plurality of still image control information, and different still image information can be controlled by the same still image control. Display control based on information can also be suitably executed.

Further, in a simple case, still image reproduction can be executed by a combination of still image information and still image control information included in the same still image information set, and the address specification at this time is
This can be easily executed by specifying the same head packet. In this case, it is possible to further reduce the data amount of the address information in the correspondence definition information required to specify the still image information or the address of the still image information or the entry section to be stored in the object information file.

In this aspect relating to the still image information set, the packet storing the structure information may be arranged at the head among a plurality of packets relating to the still image information set.

According to this structure, at the time of reproduction, the structure of the still image information set can be specified by searching for and reading the first packet of the still image information set in the object data file. This makes it possible to easily specify the packets that store the still image information and the still image control information that make up the still image information set.

If the amount of information in the structure information is smaller than that of the packet, all the structure information and part of the still image information or still image control information are stored in the same head packet. Alternatively, only the structure information may be stored in one head packet. Alternatively, if the amount of information in the structure information is larger than that of the packet, the structure information may be stored in a plurality of packets.

In this aspect of the still image information set, the structure information includes an identifier of the still image information, a data length of the still image control information, a data length of the still image information and a recording position of the still image information. At least the identifier may be included in the position information indicated.

According to this structure, in the object data file, the "identifier" of the still image information set is searched for in the specified entry section,
Each still image information set can be found relatively quickly and easily. Then, in particular, for the first still image information set, based on the data length of the still image control information and the data length of the still image information, it is possible to determine to what extent the packets storing these information are arranged. Can be specified. With respect to the second still image information set, it is possible to specify, based on the data length of the still image control information, how many packets storing this information are arranged. For the third still image information set, it is possible to specify, based on the data length of the still image information, how many packets storing this information are arranged. Thus, according to the data length of the still image information and the data length of the still image control information, which are the structure information, even if one still image information set is divided into a plurality of or a large number of packets, the address specification of the first packet is specified. This makes it possible to identify the addresses of all the packets of the still image information set.
In other words, it is possible to reduce the amount of data in the correspondence definition information, particularly the packet address information, which should be stored in the object information file.

"Position information indicating the recording position of still image information"
In the case of the second still image information set, this may be position information (for example, an entry section) indicating the recording position of the still image information that is the subject of display control. On the other hand, in the case of the first or third still image information set, since the still image information is included by itself, the position information of the still image information is unnecessary. In this case, for example, information indicating that the position information is invalid is described.

In addition, the data length of the still image information may be set to "0" or a predetermined value indicating invalidity to indicate that the still image information set is the second still image information set. Alternatively, the data length of the still image control information may be set to “0” or a predetermined value indicating invalidity to indicate that the still image information set is the third still image information set.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information recording apparatus of the present invention physically creates, on an information recording medium, an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents. Is an information recording device that multiplex-records in a packet unit that is a unit that is accessible to a plurality of packets, and that stores object data that is a logically accessible unit and that includes a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store fragments of the content information First recording means for recording an object data file to be stored, second recording means for recording a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information defining a reproduction sequence of the object data, and reproduction of the object data As the reproduction control information for Third recording means for recording an object information file storing correspondence definition information defining correspondence between a packet and the plurality of partial streams, wherein at least one partial stream of the plurality of partial streams is The correspondence definition information is configured to include a plurality of packets each storing still image information that is one of the content information and a fragment of still image control information for controlling display of the still image information. For each of the plurality of partial streams, address information relating to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets is included, and further, for at least one partial stream, (i)
A group of storing the still image information in an entry section specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only the packets whose position is specified by the address information among the plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream. Still image information identification flag indicating whether or not the first packet of the packet is present, and (ii) control information indicating whether or not the first packet of the group of packets including the still image control information is present in the entry section. Includes identification flag.

According to the information recording apparatus of the present invention, for example, the first recording means such as the system controller, the encoder, the TS object generator described later, and the optical pickup can be used.
An object data file that stores object data is recorded, and a reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information is recorded by, for example, a second recording unit such as a system controller, an encoder, a TS object generator described later, and an optical pickup. Correspondence definition information that defines a correspondence relationship between a plurality of packets to be multiplexed and a plurality of partial streams is reproduced as reproduction control information by a third recording unit such as a system controller, an encoder, a TS object generator described later, and an optical pickup. Record the object information file to be stored. And
At least one partial stream is configured to include a plurality of packets that respectively store still image information and a fragment of still image control information. The correspondence definition information includes, for each partial stream, address information related to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition, and further includes a still image information identification flag and a control information identification flag for the at least one partial stream. Therefore, various content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG such as at least a part of the transport stream of MPEG2 can be multiplexed and recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording apparatus of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information recording method of the present invention physically creates, on an information recording medium, an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents. Is an information recording method for performing multiple recording in units of packets that are units accessible to each other, wherein object data composed of a plurality of packets including packets each of which is a logically accessible unit and stores a fragment of the content information. A first recording step of recording an object data file to be stored, a second recording step of recording a reproduction sequence information file storing reproduction sequence information defining a reproduction sequence of the object data, and a reproduction of the object data As the reproduction control information for A third recording step of recording an object information file that stores correspondence definition information that defines a correspondence relationship between a packet and the plurality of partial streams, and at least one partial stream of the plurality of partial streams, The correspondence definition information is configured to include a plurality of packets each storing still image information that is one of the content information and a fragment of still image control information for controlling display of the still image information. For each of the plurality of partial streams, address information relating to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets is included, and further, regarding the at least one partial stream, (i)
A group of storing the still image information in an entry section specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only the packets whose position is specified by the address information among the plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream. Still image information identification flag indicating whether or not the first packet of the packet is present, and (ii) control information indicating whether or not the first packet of the group of packets including the still image control information is present in the entry section. Includes identification flag.

According to the information recording method of the present invention, the object data file storing the object data is recorded in the first recording step, and the reproduction sequence information file storing the reproduction sequence information is recorded in the second recording step. , By the third recording step, as the reproduction control information,
An object information file that stores correspondence definition information that defines correspondence between multiple packets to be multiplexed and multiple partial streams is recorded. Then, at least one partial stream is configured to include a plurality of packets which respectively store still image information and still image control information fragments. The correspondence definition information includes, for each partial stream, address information related to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition, and further includes a still image information identification flag and a control information identification flag for the at least one partial stream. Therefore,
On the information recording medium of the present invention described above, various kinds of content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG data, such as at least a part of a transport stream of MPEG2, can be recorded in multiplex.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording method of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above problems, the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded content information from the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof), A reading unit that physically reads information from the information recording medium, and is included in the information read by the reading unit based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading unit. And a reproducing means for reproducing the object data.

According to the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the reading means such as the optical pickup and the demodulator physically reads the information from the information recording medium in packet units. Then, the reproduction means such as the system controller, the demultiplexer, and the decoder reproduces the object data included in the read information based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. Therefore, the content information multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention can be appropriately reproduced as a series of content information. At this time, in particular, still image information such as a bitmap or JPEG having a relatively large data amount can be efficiently reproduced, and an increase in load in the reproduction processing is effectively suppressed.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In one aspect of the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, when the display start time is given, the reproducing means refers to the control information identification flag to set the display start time at the display start time of the still image control information. The reading means accesses the one still image control information within the specified entry section in the object data, the reading section accessing the one section corresponding to the still picture control information. , Means for reading this.

According to this aspect, first, by referring to the control information identification flag in the correspondence definition information, the rough position of the still image control information to be acquired, that is, the entry section including this is specified. Therefore, the still image control information can be quickly acquired by subsequently searching for the specified entry section in the object file.

In this mode, if the presence of the still image control information in the entry section including the display start time can be confirmed by the control information identification flag, the still image control information whose existence is confirmed corresponds to the display start time. It is nothing but one piece of still image control information. On the other hand, if the presence of the still image control information in the entry section including the display start time cannot be confirmed by the control information identification flag, the entry in front of this entry section (the side with the smaller address or packet serial number) The control information identification flags in the section are sequentially checked. Then, the still image control information confirmed to be closest to the front from the entry section including the display start time is set as one still image control information corresponding to the display start time. In any case, by referring to the control information identification flag in the correspondence definition information, it is possible to specify the rough position of the still image control information to be acquired, that is, the entry section including this.

In this aspect, the reading means forms a pair or a set with the one still image control information in the still image information, and the one still image information to which the one still image control information should act. It is possible to further include means for accessing the one still image information to be actuated on the basis of the position information indicating the recording position of and reading the still image information.

According to this structure, even if the address information of the still picture information which may be displayed at each time is not described in the correspondence definition information successively, the still picture information in the object data, for example, as described above, can be displayed. Based on the position information (for example, entry section) indicating the recording position of the still image information on which one still image control information corresponding to the display start time, such as structure information in the set, acts You can quickly access the still image information of.

In this case, further, the reproducing means refers to the still picture identification flag to thereby make an entry section containing the still picture information to be operated and an entry section containing the still picture control information. And a section for specifying an entry section in which other still picture information exists among the still picture information, and the reading section, in the specified entry section in the object data, Means may be provided for accessing and reading the still image information.

According to this structure, first, by referring to the still picture information identification flag in the correspondence definition information, the rough position of the still picture information to be acquired, that is, the entry section including this is specified. Therefore, the still image information can be quickly acquired by subsequently searching for the specified entry section in the object file. In particular, if other still image information is read at this point, other display control information reproduced after or after the display control information corresponding to the display start time acts on the other still image information. Even in this case, since the other still image information has already been read, it can be displayed promptly without any problem.

In order to solve the above problems, the information reproducing method of the present invention is an information reproducing method of reproducing the recorded content information from the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof), It is included in the information read by the reading step based on the reading step of physically reading the information from the information recording medium, and the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading step. A reproduction step of reproducing the object data.

According to the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, in the reading step, the information is physically read from the information recording medium in packet units or the like. Then, in the reproducing step, the object data included in the read information is reproduced based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. Therefore, the content information multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention can be appropriately reproduced as a series of content information. Especially in this case,
Still image information such as bitmap and JPEG having a relatively large data amount can be efficiently reproduced, and an increase in load in the reproduction process is effectively suppressed.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information reproducing method of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above problems, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention records the content information on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) and reproduces the recorded content information. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the object data file, a second recording means for recording the reproduction sequence information file, a third recording means for recording the object information file, and A reading unit for physically reading information from the information recording medium; and a reading unit included in the information read by the reading unit based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading unit. And a reproducing means for reproducing the object data.

According to the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, similarly to the above-mentioned information recording apparatus of the present invention, the object data file is recorded by the first recording means, and the reproduction sequence information file is recorded by the second recording means. Record and third
The recording means records the object information file. After that, like the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention described above,
The reading means physically reads the information from the information recording medium, and the reproducing means reproduces the object data included in the read information based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. To do. Therefore, various kinds of content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG, such as at least a part of a transport stream of MPEG2, can be multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention. It is possible to appropriately reproduce the content information including the still image reproduction.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above problems, an information recording / reproducing method of the present invention records the content information on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) and reproduces the recorded content information. An information recording / reproducing method for recording the object data file, a second recording step of recording the reproduction sequence information file, a third recording step of recording the object information file, and A reading step of physically reading information from the information recording medium; and a reading step included in the information read by the reading step based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading step. And a reproducing step of reproducing the object data.

According to the information recording / reproducing method of the present invention, similarly to the above-described information recording method of the present invention, the object data file is recorded in the first recording step and the reproduction sequence information file is recorded in the second recording step. Record and third
The object information file is recorded in the recording step. After that, similarly to the above-described information reproducing method of the present invention,
The reading step physically reads the information from the information recording medium, and the reproducing step reproduces the object data included in the read information based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. To do. Therefore, various kinds of content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG, such as at least a part of a transport stream of MPEG2, can be multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention. It is possible to appropriately reproduce the content information including the still image reproduction.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording / reproducing method of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a computer program for recording control of the present invention is for recording control for controlling a computer provided in the above-mentioned information recording apparatus of the present invention (however, including its various aspects). A computer program that causes the computer to function as at least a part of the first recording unit, the second recording unit, and the third recording unit.

According to the recording control computer program of the present invention, the computer program can be read and executed by a computer from a recording medium such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk storing the computer program. Alternatively, or alternatively, if the computer program is downloaded via a communication means and then executed, the information recording apparatus according to the present invention described above can be realized relatively easily.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a computer program for reproduction control of the present invention is for reproduction control for controlling a computer provided in the above-mentioned information reproducing apparatus of the present invention (however, including various aspects thereof). A computer program that causes the computer to function as at least a part of the reproducing means.

According to the computer program for reproduction control of the present invention, the computer program can be read and executed by a computer from a recording medium such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk storing the computer program. Alternatively, or alternatively, if the computer program is downloaded via a communication means and then executed, the information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention described above can be realized relatively easily.

In order to solve the above problems, a computer program for recording / reproducing control according to the present invention controls recording / reproducing for controlling a computer provided in the above-described information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention (however, including various aspects thereof). A computer program for control, which causes the computer to function as at least a part of the first recording unit, the second recording unit, the third recording unit, and the reproducing unit.

According to the recording / reproducing control computer program of the present invention, the computer program is read from a recording medium such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk or the like, which stores the computer program, to be executed by the computer. Alternatively, or alternatively, if the computer program is downloaded via the communication means to the computer and then executed, the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention described above can be realized relatively easily.

In order to solve the above problems, the data structure including the control signal of the present invention is physically accessible to an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents. An object data file that is multiplex-recorded in units of packets, which is a logically accessible unit, and that stores object data composed of a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store the fragments of the content information, A reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data, the multiple packets and the partial streams that are multiplexed as the reproduction control information for controlling the reproduction of the object data. Correspondence definition that defines the correspondence relationship with An object information file for storing information, wherein at least one partial stream of the plurality of partial streams controls still image information which is one of the content information and display of the still image information. The correspondence definition information includes, for each of the plurality of partial streams, address information relating to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets, the plurality of packets each storing a fragment of the still image control information. In addition, regarding the at least one partial stream, (i) by two packets adjacent to each other in a sequence of only the packet whose position is specified by the address information among the plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream. A group of packets storing the still image information in the specified entry section A still image information identification flag indicating whether a leading packet exists and (ii) a control information identification flag indicating whether a leading packet of a group of packets including the still image control information exists in the entry section. Including.

According to the data structure including the control signal of the present invention, as in the case of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, still image information such as a bitmap or JPEG is based on the transport stream of MPEG2, for example. It becomes possible to perform multiple recording of complicated content information including, and to reproduce including still image reproduction.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the information recording medium of the present invention described above, the data structure including the control signal of the present invention can also take various aspects.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments described below.

[0080]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Information Recording Medium) An embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the information recording medium of the present invention is applied to an optical disc of a type capable of recording (writing) and reproducing (reading).

First, the basic structure of the optical disc of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the structure of an optical disc having a plurality of areas on the upper side, and shows a schematic diagram of the area structure in the radial direction on the lower side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disc 100 is
For example, it is possible to record by various recording methods such as a magneto-optical method and a phase change method that can record (write) a plurality of times or only once, and can be recorded on a recording surface on a disk body having a diameter of about 12 cm like a DVD. , The lead-in area 10 from the inner circumference to the outer circumference centering on the center hole 102
4, data area 106 and lead-out area 108
Is provided. Further, in each area, for example, a groove track and a land track are alternately provided in a spiral shape or a concentric shape around the center hole 102, and the groove track may be wobbled, or one of them may be wobbled. Alternatively, prepits may be formed on both tracks. The present invention is not particularly limited to an optical disc having such three areas.

Next, the structure of the transport stream (TS) recorded on the optical disc of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For comparison, FIG. 2A schematically shows the structure of the MPEG2 program stream in the conventional DVD, and FIG.
[Fig. 2] schematically shows the structure of a transport stream (TS) of MPEG2.

In FIG. 2A, one program stream includes only one video stream for video data as main video information along the time axis t, and further, an audio stream for audio data as audio information. Is included at a maximum of 8 and a maximum of 32 sub-picture streams for sub-picture data that is sub-picture information is included. That is, the video data multiplexed at an arbitrary time tx relates to only one video stream. For example, a plurality of video streams corresponding to a plurality of TV programs or a plurality of movies are simultaneously converted into a program stream. It cannot be included. In order to multiplex and transmit or record a television program accompanied by an image, at least one video stream is required for each television program, so a program for a DVD in which only one video stream exists In the stream format, it is not possible to multiplex and transmit or record a plurality of television programs or the like.

In FIG. 2B, one transport stream (TS) includes a plurality of video streams as an elementary stream (ES) for video data which is main video information, and audio data which is audio information. A plurality of audio streams are included as an elementary stream (ES) for video and a plurality of subpicture streams are included as an elementary stream (ES) for subpicture data that is sub-picture information. That is, the video data multiplexed at an arbitrary time tx relates to a plurality of video streams, and for example, a plurality of video streams corresponding to a plurality of TV programs or a plurality of movies are simultaneously included in the transport stream. It is possible to As described above, in the transport stream format in which a plurality of video streams exist, it is possible to multiplex and transmit or record a plurality of television programs and the like. However, sub-picture streams are not transmitted in digital broadcasting that uses the current transport stream.

2A and 2B, the video stream, the audio stream, and the sub-picture stream are arranged in this order from the top for convenience of explanation. It does not correspond to the order in which they are multiplexed in units. In the transport stream, conceptually, for example, one program corresponds to a group of one video stream, two audio streams, and two sub-picture streams.

The optical disc 100 of this embodiment described above.
Is configured so that a transport stream (TS) including a plurality of elementary streams (ES) can be multiplex-recorded within a limit of a recording rate, that is, a plurality of programs or programs can be simultaneously recorded. ing.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the structure of data recorded on the optical disc 100 will be described.
FIG. 3 schematically shows the data structure recorded on the optical disc 100, and FIG. 4 schematically shows the details of the data structure in each object shown in FIG. .

In the following description, "title" means
It is a unit of reproduction in which a plurality of "playlists" are continuously executed, and is, for example, a unit having a logically large unit such as one movie and one TV program. A "playlist" is a file that stores information necessary for playing an "object", and is composed of a plurality of "items" that each store information related to the playing range of the object for accessing the object. . More specifically, each item has “IN point information” indicating the start address of the object and “OU” indicating the end address.
"T point information" is described. In addition, these "I
“N point information” and “OUT point information” are respectively
The address may be directly indicated, or the address may be indirectly indicated such as time or time on the reproduction time axis.
The “object” is the entity information of the content that constitutes the above-described MPEG2 transport stream.

In FIG. 3, the optical disc 100 has four types of files as a logical structure, a disc information file 110, a play (P) list information file 120, an object information file 130 and an object data file 140. It further comprises a file system 105 for managing the above files. Although FIG. 3 does not directly show the physical data arrangement on the optical disc 100, recording the arrangement order shown in FIG. 3 so as to correspond to the arrangement order shown in FIG. It is also possible to record the file system 105 and the like in the data recording area 106 after the lead-in area 104 and further record the object data file 140 and the like in the data recording area 106. Figure 1
The file structure shown in FIG. 3 can be constructed without the lead-in area 104 and the lead-out area 108 shown in FIG.

The disc information file 110 is a file that stores comprehensive information about the entire optical disc 100, and stores disc comprehensive information 112, a title information table 114, and other information 118. The disc total information 112 stores, for example, the total number of titles in the optical disc 100. Title information table 114
Stores the type of each title (eg, sequential playback type, branch type, etc.) and the play (P) list number constituting each title as logical information for each title.

The play list information file 120 stores a play (P) list information table 121 showing the logical structure of each play list, which includes play (P) list comprehensive information 122 and play (P) list pointers. 124
And a plurality of play (P) lists 126 (P list # 1 to
#N) and other information 128. This playlist information table 121 stores logical information of each playlist 126 in the order of playlist numbers. In other words, the storage order of each playlist 126 is the playlist number. Further, it is possible to refer to the same playlist 126 from a plurality of titles in the above-mentioned title information table 114. Ie title #
Even when n and the title #m use the same playlist #p, the playlist #p in the playlist information table 121 may be pointed to in the title information table 114.

The object information file 130 is stored in the object data file 140 for each item formed in each playlist 126 (ie, the storage position (ie,
The logical address of the reproduction target) and various attribute information regarding the reproduction of the item are stored. Particularly in this embodiment,
The object information file 130 includes a plurality of AU (Associate Unit) information 132I (AU #), which will be described in detail later.
1 to AU # q), and an AU table 131, E
S (elementary stream) map table 134
And other information 138 are stored.

The object data file 140 stores the TS objects 142 (TS # 1 objects to TS # s objects) for each transport stream (TS), that is, the actual data of the content to be actually reproduced.
Store multiple.

The four types of files described with reference to FIG. 3 can be further divided into a plurality of files and stored, and all of them may be managed by the file system 105. For example, it is possible to divide the object data file 140 into a plurality of object data files # 1, object data files # 2 ,.

As shown in FIG. 4, the TS object 142 shown in FIG. 3, which is a logically reproducible unit, is divided into a plurality of aligned units 143 each having a data amount of 6 kB, for example. Aligning unit 14
The head of 3 is matched (aligned) with the head of the TS object 142. Each aligned unit 143 is further subdivided into a plurality of source packets 144 each having a data amount of 192B. Source packet 14
Reference numeral 4 denotes a physically reproducible unit, and at least video data, audio data, and sub-picture data of the data on the optical disc 100 are multiplexed in this unit, that is, a packet unit, and the same applies to other information. May be multiplexed into. Each source packet 144 is
TS with 4B data volume on the playback time axis
(Transport Stream) This includes control information 145 for controlling reproduction such as a packet arrival time stamp indicating a packet reproduction processing start time, and a TS packet 146 having a data amount of 188B. The TS packet 146 has a packet header 146a at its head, and video data is packetized into “video packets”, audio data is packetized into “audio packets”, or Picture data is packetized into "sub-picture packets"
Or other data is packetized.

Next, referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, FIG.
Video data, audio data, sub-picture data, etc. in the transport stream format as shown in FIG. 4 are recorded by the TS packet 146 shown in FIG.
The point of multiple recording on 0 will be described. Here, FIG. 5 shows an elementary stream (ES) for the upper program # 1 (PG1) and a middle program # 2 (PG).
2) The elementary stream (ES) for 2) is multiplexed to form a transport stream (TS) for these two programs (PG1 & 2).
FIG. 6 conceptually shows the horizontal axis as a time axis.
FIG. 3 conceptually shows an image of TS packets multiplexed in one transport stream (TS) as a packet array along time.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the elementary stream for program # 1 (upper stage), for example, TS packet 146 in which video data for program # 1 is packetized is plotted on the time axis (horizontal axis). It is arranged discretely. The elementary stream for program # 2 (middle stage) is, for example, a TS packet 146 in which video data for program # 2 is packetized and is discretely arranged with respect to the time axis (horizontal axis). Then, these TS packets 146 are multiplexed to construct a transport stream (lower stage) for these two programs. Although omitted in FIG. 5 for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 2B, actually, audio data is composed of packetized TS packets as an elementary stream for program # 1. Similarly, a sub-picture stream composed of TS packets in which elementary streams and sub-picture data are packetized may be similarly multiplexed. In addition to these, audio data is packetized as an elementary stream for program # 2. Similarly, an elementary stream including TS packets and a sub-picture stream including TS packets in which sub-picture data is packetized may be multiplexed.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, one TS stream is constructed from a large number of TS packets 146 thus multiplexed. And many TS
The packet 146 is multiplexed and recorded on the optical disc 100 by adding information such as a packet arrival time stamp 145 in the multiplexed form. In addition, in FIG. 6, j (j = 1, 1) is set for the TS packet 146 composed of the data forming the program #i (i = 1, 2, 3).
2, ...) is shown as "Element (i0j)" as a number indicating the order of each stream constituting the program, and this (i0j) is a packet ID that is the identification number of the TS packet 146 for each elementary stream. Has been done. This packet ID is used for multiple TS packets 14 that are multiplexed at the same time so that they can be distinguished from each other even if multiple TS packets 146 are multiplexed at the same time.
A unique value is given between 6 and 6.

Further, in FIG. 6, PAT (program association table) and PMT (program map table) are also packetized and multiplexed in units of TS packets 146. Of these, the PAT stores a table indicating packet IDs of a plurality of PMTs.
Particularly, in the PAT, the MPEG2 standard defines that (000) is added as a predetermined packet ID as shown in FIG. That is, the PAT packetized TS packet 146 is detected as the TS packet 146 having a packet ID of (000) among a large number of packets multiplexed at the same time. Then, the PMT stores a table indicating a packet ID for each elementary stream constituting each program for one or a plurality of programs. Although any packet ID can be added to the PMT, those packet IDs are indicated by the PAT whose packet ID can be detected as (000) as described above. Therefore, of the multiple packets multiplexed at the same time, the TS packet 146 in which the PMT is packetized (that is, the TS packet 146 to which the packet IDs (100), (200), and (300) are added in FIG. 6). ) Is configured to be detected by PAT.

When the transport stream as shown in FIG. 6 is digitally transmitted, the tuner refers to the PAT and PMT configured as described above, and thereby the desired packet is selected from the multiplexed packets. It is possible to extract the one corresponding to the mental stream and demodulate it.

Then, in this embodiment, the TS packet 1 stored in the TS object 142 shown in FIG.
46 includes such a PAT or PMT packet. That is, when the transport stream as shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted, there is a great advantage that it can be recorded on the optical disc 100 as it is.

Further, in the present embodiment, the PAT and PMT recorded in this way are not referred to during reproduction of the optical disc 100, and instead, the AU table 131 and the ES map table 13 which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.
By referring to 4, it is possible to perform more efficient reproduction and to cope with complicated multi-vision reproduction and the like.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, at the time of demodulation or recording, P
Since the correspondence between the elementary stream and the packet obtained by referring to the AT and the PMT is stored in the object information file 130 in the form of the AU table 131 and the ES map table 134 without being packetized or multiplexed. is there.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a logical configuration of data on the optical disc 100 will be described. Here, FIG.
4 schematically shows the logical configuration of data on the optical disc 100, focusing on the development from a logical hierarchy to an object hierarchy or an entity hierarchy.

In FIG. 7, on the optical disc 100, one or a plurality of titles 200, which are a logically large unit such as one movie and one TV program, are recorded. Each title 200 is logically composed of one or a plurality of playlists 126. Each title 200
In the above, the plurality of playlists may have a sequential structure or a branch structure.

In the case of a simple logical structure, one title 200 is composed of one play list 126. Further, it is possible to refer to one play list 126 from a plurality of titles 200.

Each play list 126 is logically composed of a plurality of items (play items) 204. Within each playlist 126, multiple items 204
May have a sequential structure or a branched structure. It is also possible to refer to one item 204 from a plurality of playlists 126. The above-mentioned IN point information and O described in the item 204
The reproduction range of the TS object 142 is logically designated by the UT point information. Then, the reproduction range of the TS object 142 is finally physically specified through the file system by referring to the object information 130d for the logically specified reproduction range. Here, the object information 130d is attribute information of the TS object 142 and the TS object 142.
ES address information 13 required for data search within
It includes various information for reproducing the TS object 142 such as 4d (note that the ES map table 13 shown in FIG.
4 includes a plurality of such ES address information 134d).

Then, T by the information recording / reproducing apparatus described later is used.
At the time of reproducing the S object 142, a physical address to be reproduced in the TS object 142 is acquired from the item 204 and the object information 130d, and reproduction of a desired elementary stream is executed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the item 20
4, the IN point information and the OUT point information described in No. 4 and the ES address information 134d described in the ES map table 134 (see FIG. 3) of the object information 130d perform association from the logical hierarchy to the object hierarchy in the reproduction sequence. Thus, it is possible to reproduce the elementary stream.

As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, multiple recording is carried out on the optical disc 100 in units of TS packets 146, and as a result, a large number of elementary streams as shown in FIG. 2B are included. It is possible to multiplex-record the transport stream on the optical disc 100. According to this embodiment, when a digital broadcast is recorded on the optical disc 100, a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs can be simultaneously recorded within the limit of the recording rate, but here, one TS object 142 is used.
A method of multiplexing and recording a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs is adopted. Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of executing such recording processing will be described.

(Information Recording / Reproducing Apparatus) Next, FIG. 8 to FIG.
An embodiment of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the information recording / reproducing apparatus, and FIGS. 9 to 13 are flowcharts showing the operation thereof.

In FIG. 8, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500.
Is roughly divided into a reproducing system and a recording system, and is configured to be capable of recording information on the optical disc 100 described above and reproducing the information recorded therein. In this embodiment, although the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 is for recording / reproducing as described above, the embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention can basically be configured from the recording system portion thereof, while basically, An embodiment of the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention can be constructed from the reproducing system portion.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 includes an optical pickup 502, a servo unit 503, and a spindle motor 5.
04, demodulator 506, demultiplexer 508, video decoder 511, audio decoder 512, sub-picture decoder 513, adder 514, system controller 520, memory 530, memory 540, modulator 60.
6, formatter 608, TS object generator 61
0, video encoder 611, audio encoder 6
12 and a sub-picture encoder 613. The system controller 520 includes a file system / logical structure data generator 521 and a file system / logical structure data reader 522. Further system controller 52
A memory 530 and a user interface 720 for user input such as title information are connected to 0.

Of these components, the demodulator 506,
The demultiplexer 508, the video decoder 511, the audio decoder 512, the sub-picture decoder 513 and the adder 514, and the memory 540 constitute a reproduction system. On the other hand, among these components, the modulator 606, the formatter 608, the TS object generator 610, the video encoder 611, the audio encoder 612, and the sub-picture encoder 613 form a recording system. And the optical pickup 50
2, servo unit 503, spindle motor 504,
The system controller 520, the memory 530, and the user interface 720 for user input of title information and the like are generally shared by both the reproduction system and the recording system. As for the recording system, a TS object data source 700, a video data source 711, an audio data source 712, and a sub-picture data source 713 are prepared. Further, the file system / logical structure data generator 521 provided in the system controller 520 is
It is mainly used in the recording system, and the file system / logical structure reader 522 is mainly used in the reproducing system.

The optical pickup 502 is used for the optical disc 10.
0 is irradiated with a light beam LB such as a laser beam as the reading light at the first power during reproduction, and as the writing light at the second power during recording while being modulated. The servo unit 503 receives control by the control signal Sc1 output from the system controller 520 during reproduction and recording, and performs focus servo, tracking servo, and the like in the optical pickup 502 and spindle servo in the spindle motor 504. The spindle motor 504 is configured to rotate the optical disc 100 at a predetermined speed while receiving a spindle servo by the servo unit 503.

(I) Structure and operation of recording system: Next, FIG.
With reference to FIGS. 12 to 12, specific configurations and operations of the respective components constituting the recording system of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described for different cases.

(I-1) When using a created TS object: This case will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

In FIG. 8, the TS object data source 700 comprises a recording storage such as a video tape or a memory and stores the TS object data D1.

In FIG. 9, first, the TS object data D
Information of each title logically configured on the optical disc 100 by using 1 (for example, playlist content)
From the user interface 720, as the user input I2 such as title information, the system controller 520
Entered in. Then, the system controller 520
Captures the user input I2 such as title information from the user interface 720 (step S21: Yes).
And step S22). At this time, in the user interface 720, under the control of the control signal Sc4 from the system controller 520, it is possible to perform input processing according to the content to be recorded, such as selection via the title menu screen. If the user input has already been executed (step S21: No), these processes are omitted.

Next, the TS object data source 700
Outputs TS object data D1 under the control of the control signal Sc8 instructing the data read from the system controller 520. The system controller 520 then sends the TS object source 700 to the T
Import S object data D1 (step S2
3), the file system / logical structure data generator 5
By the TS analysis function in 21, for example, the data array (for example, recording data length) in the TS object data D1 and the configuration of each elementary stream based on the PAT, PMT, etc. packetized together with the video data etc. as described above. Analysis (for example, ES_PID described later)
(Understanding of elementary stream / packet identification number) is performed (step S24).

Subsequently, the system controller 520
User input I2 such as captured title information and T
From the data array of the S object data D1 and the analysis result of each elementary stream, the file system / logical structure data generator 521 outputs the disk information file 11 as the logical information file data D4.
0, the playlist information file 120, the object information file 130, and the file system 105 (see FIG. 3) are created (step S25). The memory 530 is
It is used when creating such logical information file data D4.

Naturally, various variations such as the data array of the TS object data D1 and the data about the configuration information of each elementary stream are prepared in advance, but they are also within the scope of this embodiment. is there.

In FIG. 8, the formatter 608 has a T
S object data D1 and logical information file data D
4 is a device for performing a data array format for storing on the optical disc 100. More specifically, the formatter 608 includes a switch Sw1 and a switch Sw2, and is switching-controlled by a switch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520. When the TS object data D1 is formatted, the switch Sw1 is connected to the side. And switch Sw
2 side to side, TS object data source 700
From the TS object data D1. Incidentally, T
The transmission control of the S object data D1 is performed by the control signal Sc8 from the system controller 520. On the other hand, the formatter 608 is switching-controlled by the switch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520 when the logical information file data D4 is formatted, and connects the switch Sw2 to the side.
It is configured to output the logical information file data D4.

In step S26 of FIG. 9, by the switching control by the formatter 608 thus configured, (i) the logical information file data D4 or (ii) TS from the file system / logical structure data generator 521 in step S25. T from object data source 700
The S object data D1 is output via the formatter 608 (step S26).

The selected output from the formatter 608 is sent to the modulator 606 as the disk image data D5, modulated by the modulator 606, and then the optical pickup 5 outputs.
It is recorded on the optical disc 100 via 02 (step S27). The disc recording control at this time is also executed by the system controller 520.

If both the logical information file data D4 generated in step S25 and the corresponding TS object data D1 have not been recorded, the process returns to step S26 and the recording is continued (step S28). : No). The logical information file data D4 and the TS object data D1 corresponding to the logical information file data D4 may be recorded in either order.

On the other hand, if both of these have been recorded,
Whether or not recording on the optical disc 100 should be terminated is determined based on the presence or absence of an end command and the like (step S2
9) If not to end (step S29: N
o) Return to step S21 to continue the recording process. On the other hand,
When it should be ended (step S29: Yes), a series of recording processing is ended.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when using the created TS object.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, step S25
After the logical information file data D4 is created in step S26, the data output of the logical information file data D4 and the corresponding TS object data D1 is executed in step S26. However, before the step S25, the TS object data D1 is output. Alternatively, it is also possible to perform recording on the optical disc 100 and to generate or record the logical information file data D4 after this recording or in parallel with this recording.

(I-2) In the case of receiving and recording the transport stream being broadcast: In this case, FIG.
And FIG. 10 will be described. In addition, in FIG.
Steps similar to those in FIG. 9 are designated by similar step numbers,
The description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

In this case as well, almost the same processing as the above-mentioned "when using the already prepared TS object" is performed. Therefore, the different points will be mainly described below.

When the transport stream being broadcast is received and recorded, the TS object data source 70
0 is, for example, a receiver (set-top box) that receives a digital broadcast currently being broadcast, receives the TS object data D1, and outputs the formatter 6 in real time.
08 (step S41). At the same time, the program configuration information decrypted at the time of reception and ES_PID described later
The reception information D3 including information (that is, information corresponding to data sent through the receiver and the interface of the system controller 520) is the system controller 52.
0 is stored in the memory 530 (step S44).

On the other hand, the TS object data D1 output to the formatter 608 is output to the modulator 606 by the switching control of the formatter 608 (step S42) and recorded in the optical disc 100 (step S43).

In parallel with these, the file system / logical structure generator 521 uses the logical information file data by using the program configuration information and the ES_PID information included in the received information D3 which is fetched at the time of reception and stored in the memory 530. D4 is created (step S24 and step S25). Then, after the recording of the series of TS object data D1 is completed, this logical information file data D4 is additionally recorded on the optical disc 100 (steps S46 and S4).
7). The processes of steps S24 and S25 may also be performed after the end of step S43.

Further, if necessary (for example, when a part of the title is edited), the user interface 720
User input I2 such as title information from the memory 53
The logical information file data D4 may be created by the system controller 520 by adding it to the program configuration information and ES_PID information stored in 0, and this may be additionally recorded on the optical disc 100.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when the transport stream being broadcast is received and recorded in real time.

It should be noted that after all the received data at the time of broadcasting is stored in the archive device, it is stored in the TS object source 70.
If it is used as 0, the same processing as in the case of using the already created TS object is sufficient.

(I-3) When recording video, audio and sub-picture data: In this case, FIG.
And FIG. 11 will be described. In addition, in FIG.
Steps similar to those in FIG. 9 are designated by similar step numbers,
The description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

When recording separately prepared video data, audio data and sub-picture data, a video data source 711 and an audio data source 712 are recorded.
The sub picture data source 713 is a recording storage such as a video tape or a memory, and stores the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub picture data DS, respectively.

These data sources are control signals S from the system controller 520 for instructing data reading.
Under the control of c8, the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub-picture data DS are sent to the video encoder 611, the audio encoder 612, and the sub-picture encoder 613, respectively (step S).
61). Then, these video encoder 611, audio encoder 612, and sub-picture encoder 613 execute a predetermined type of encoding processing (step S62).

Under control of the control signal Sc6 from the system controller 520, the TS object generator 610 converts the data thus encoded into TS object data forming a transport stream (step S63). At this time, data array information of each TS object data (for example, recording data length)
And the configuration information of each elementary stream (for example, ES_PID described later) is stored in the TS object generator 61.
The information 0 is sent from 0 to the system controller 520 and stored in the memory 530 (step S6).
6).

On the other hand, the TS object data generated by the TS object generator 610 is sent to the switch Sw1 side of the formatter 608. That is, the formatter 608 controls the switch control signal Sc from the system controller 520 when formatting the TS object data from the TS object generator 610.
The TS object data is output by switching control by 5 and connecting the switch Sw1 to the side and the switch Sw2 to the side (step S6).
4). Subsequently, this TS object data is recorded on the optical disc 100 via the modulator 606 (step S65).

In parallel with these, using the data array information of each TS object data and the configuration information of each elementary stream taken in the memory 530 as the information I6, the logical information file is generated by the file system / logical structure generator 521. Create data D4 (step S
24 and step S25). Then, after the recording of the series of TS object data D2 is completed, this is recorded on the optical disc 10
0 is additionally recorded (steps S67 and S68). still,
The processes of steps S24 and S25 may also be performed after the end of step S65.

Furthermore, if necessary (for example, when a part of the title is edited), the user interface 720
By adding the user input I2 such as title information from the above to the information stored in these memories 530, the file system / logical structure generator 521 creates the logical information file data D4 and adds it to the optical disc 100. May be recorded.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when recording separately prepared video data, audio data and sub-picture data.

Note that this recording process can also be applied when recording an arbitrary content owned by the user.

(I-4) When data is recorded by authoring: This case will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12. Note that, in FIG. 12, the same steps as those in FIG.

In this case, by combining the recording processes in the above-mentioned three cases, the authoring system performs the generation of the TS object, the generation of the logical information file data, etc. in advance (step S81), and then the formatter 608. The process up to the switching control is ended (step S82). After that, the information obtained by this work is sent to the modulators 606 provided before and after the disc master cutting machine as the disc image data D5 (step S83), and the master is produced by this cutting machine (step S84).

Especially in the present embodiment, (i) described above is used.
In either case (i-
In 1) to (i-4), data relating to still picture information and its control information (for example, SP data, SP control information, their structural information or header, etc., which will be described later) are also included in the sub-picture data. Are multiplex-recorded on the optical disc 100. Further, data relating to the control information of the still image (SP data identification flag, SCP identification flag, etc.) is generated in the generation of the logical information file data in step S25, and the object information file 130 (see FIG. 3) is generated via the formatter 608. ) Or the like in a form associated with the still image information (for example, in a tabular form associated with an “entry section” described later).

(Ii) Structure and operation of reproduction system: Next, with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 13, the concrete structure and operation of each component constituting the reproduction system of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described. explain.

In FIG. 8, the user interface 72
0 indicates that the title to be reproduced from the optical disc 100, its reproduction condition, and the like are user input I2 such as title information.
Is input to the system controller. At this time, in the user interface 720, under the control of the control signal Sc4 from the system controller 520, it is possible to perform an input process according to the content to be reproduced, such as selection via the title menu screen.

In response to this, the system controller 52
0 controls the disc reproduction of the optical disc 100, and the optical pickup 502 sends the read signal S7 to the demodulator 506.

The demodulator 506 demodulates the recording signal recorded on the optical disc 100 from the read signal S7 and outputs it as demodulated data D8. Logical information file data included in the demodulated data D8 as a non-multiplexed information portion (that is, the file system 105, the disk information file 110, the P list information file 120, and the object information file 130 shown in FIG. 3).
Are supplied to the system controller 520. Based on this logical information file data, the system controller 520 executes various reproduction controls such as reproduction address determination processing and control of the optical pickup 502.

On the other hand, the demultiplexer 508 demultiplexes the TS object data as the multiplexed information portion contained in the demodulated data D8 under the control of the control signal Sc2 from the system controller 520. Here, the system controller 5
When the access to the reproduction position address is completed by the reproduction control of 20, the control signal Sc2 is transmitted to start the demultiplexing.

A video packet, an audio packet and a sub-picture packet are sent from the demultiplexer 508 and supplied to the video decoder 511, the audio decoder 512 and the sub-picture decoder 513. Then, the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub-picture data DS are decoded respectively.

Incidentally, the packetized PAT or PMT included in the transport stream shown in FIG. 6 is included as part of the demodulated data D8, but is discarded by the demultiplexer 508. .

The adder 514 is the system controller 5
Under the control of the control signal Sc3 for instructing the mixing from 20, the video data DV and the sub-picture data DS decoded by the video decoder 511 and the sub-picture decoder 513 are mixed or superposed at a predetermined timing. The result is output as video output from the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 to, for example, a television monitor.

On the other hand, the audio data DA decoded by the audio decoder 512 is output as an audio output from the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 to, for example, an external speaker.

A specific example of the reproduction processing routine by the system controller 520 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 13, as an initial state, the reproduction system recognizes the optical disc 100 and the file system 10 is recognized.
It is assumed that the recognition of the volume structure and the file structure by 5 (see FIG. 3) has already been completed by the system controller 520 and the file system / logical structure reader 522 therein. Here, the disk information file 110
The process flow after obtaining the total number of titles from the disc comprehensive information 112 and selecting one of the titles will be described.

First, a title is selected by the user interface 720 (step S11), and from the reading result of the file system / logical structure reader 522,
The system controller 520 acquires information about the reproduction sequence. Specifically, processing of a logical hierarchy (that is, acquisition of information indicating a playlist structure and information of each item configuring the playlist structure (see FIG. 7), etc.) is performed (step S12). As a result, the reproduction target is determined (step S13).

Then, the object information file 130 relating to the TS object to be reproduced is acquired. Particularly in the present embodiment, AU (Associate Unit) information 132I and PU (Presentation Unit) information 302I described later (see FIG. 34 described in detail later).
Is also acquired as the information stored in the object information file 130 (step S14). Based on the obtained information, the above-described logical hierarchy is associated with the object hierarchy (see FIG. 7).

Then, after determining the object to be reproduced and the reproduction address based on the information obtained in step S14 (step S15), the processing of the object hierarchy is started, that is, the reproduction is actually started ( Step S16).

During playback, the PU in the AU 132 based on the AU information 132I and the PU information 302I will be described later.
It is monitored whether or not a "scene switching" command input corresponding to the switching of 302 is performed (step S17).
If there is a "scene switch" command input (step S17: Yes), the process returns to step S15, and the processes in steps S15 to S17 are repeated. On the other hand, if there is no "scene switching" command input (step S17: No), it is determined whether or not a command input to end the reproduction process has been input (step S18).
If there is no command input to end the process (step S18: No), the process returns to step S11 and the processes in steps S11 to S18 are repeated. On the other hand, if there is a command input for ending (step S18: Yes), a series of reproduction processing is ended.

Particularly in this embodiment, the sub-picture data decoded by the sub-picture decoder 513 in step S16 of FIGS. 8 and 13 is temporarily stored in the memory 540 functioning as a buffer. Thereafter, as described below, at least one of SP data (still image data) and SP control information (still image control data) included in the temporarily stored sub-picture data is the system controller 52.
It is read under the control of the control signal Sc5 from 0. Then, by applying SP control information to the SP data, a still image is displayed as a part or all of the video output.

The SP control information is stored in the memory 53.
To be temporarily stored in the dedicated area of 0 (that is, SP
Only the data may be temporarily stored in the memory 540). Alternatively, such a memory 540
Can also be constructed using a part of the memory 530.

(Method for Obtaining SP Data and SP Control Information) Next, the SP data and S in this embodiment will be described.
A method of acquiring P control information will be described. This acquisition method is executed by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 (see FIG. 8) described above mainly based on the ES address information in the object information and the SP data and SP control information in the sub-picture structure. .

With reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, a method of acquiring SP data and SP control information and a reproduction control of a still image associated therewith will be described. Here, in FIG.
An example of the data structure in the ES address information related to the video stream constructed in the ES map table in the object information is shown in the table, and FIG. 15 is a TS packet registered in the ES address information of the video stream on the TS object. Is a diagram schematically showing an example of the position of with respect to the time axis (horizontal direction in the figure). Figure 1
6 is a table showing the contents of SP data, SP control information, and structure information related to this acquisition method, and FIG.
3 schematically shows three types of sub-picture structures composed of these three data or information. Figure 1
8 is an I picture, SP data, which is used in this acquisition method,
The arrangement condition of each top packet of SP control information is
FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the TS object on the time axis.
2 schematically shows an acquisition procedure in this acquisition method.
0 is a table showing the data structure of the ES address information related to the sub-picture stream in the TS object shown in FIG. 19, which is constructed in the ES map table.

ES of video stream shown in FIG.
The (elementary stream) address information is described as a part of the ES address information 134d (see FIG. 7) in the ES map table 134 shown in FIG. In addition,
The video stream here is E in FIG. 34 which will be described in detail later.
It is the elementary stream of index # 14 shown in the S map table.

As shown in FIG. 14, the contents of the ES address information are the packet numbers q, r, s, only for the packets satisfying a predetermined condition on the video stream.
t, u, ... (For example, the serial number of the packet in the TS object, hereinafter appropriately referred to as “packet number”)
And the display start times T14_0 and T14_ corresponding thereto
, T14_2, T14_3, ... Are described.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the present embodiment, a packet satisfying a predetermined condition is set to I based on the MPEG2 standard.
The head packet of the picture is defined, and the packet numbers and the display start times corresponding to these are shown in E in FIG.
It is described as S address information. This is because MPEG decoding can be started if the recording position of the I picture can be specified by the address information.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, each section on the TS object specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only the packets whose recording position is specified by the ES address information is set. It is defined as "entry section". For example, the section specified by the packet q and the packet r having adjacent ES address information is set as the entry section # 0, and the section specified by the packet r and the packet s is set as the entry section # 1. In addition, SP data and SP control information corresponding to the video stream (that is, displayed at the same time or in parallel with the video stream) and on the sub-picture stream relating to the still image are in the range of the entry section defined in this way. It describes their existence depending on whether or not they exist. Note that the sub-picture stream here is the elementary stream of index # 16 shown in the ES map table of FIG. 25, which will be described later in detail. Therefore, the index number information 134 of the elementary stream used as the entry section is included in the index # 16 of the ES map table.
e (according to this embodiment, “index number = 14”)
Is described.

As shown in FIG. 16, in this embodiment, the data or information relating to the still picture recorded on the sub-picture stream is (i) SP data 713 constituting an example of still picture information, (ii) SP control information 712 and (iii) which form an example of still picture control information for controlling the display of the SP data 713, and one or both of them, form one sub-picture structure, and structure information (header) about the sub-picture structure. ) 711 and three data or information.

Then, as the combination of these three data or information, the structure information 711, S shown in FIG.
A sub-picture structure 701 including all components of P control information 712 and SP data 713, FIG.
There is a sub-picture structure 702 having structural information 711 and SP control information 712 shown in FIG. 17B as constituent elements, and a sub-picture structure 703 having structural information 711 and SP data 713 shown in FIG. 17C as constituent elements. . By the way, in the case of DVD, only the types shown in FIG. 17A are defined.

Note that, in this embodiment, various examples of the "still image information set" according to the present invention are shown in FIGS.
Each is composed of the sub-picture structure shown in (c).

As shown in FIGS. 17 (a) to 17 (c),
In this embodiment, normally, the SP control information 712 and the SP data 713 are divided into a plurality of TS packets 146. Then, the structure information 711 is stored in the first packet in the sub-picture structures 701 to 703, and the SP control information 712 (FIG. 17A) following this is stored.
Also, the head portion of (b)) or the head portion of the SP data 713 is also stored in the head packet in which the structure information 711 is stored.

In this embodiment, the TS packet 146 in which the head portion of the SP control information 712 in the sub-picture structure 702 is stored is called "SCP". SP data 71 in the sub-picture structure 703
The TS packet 146 in which the first part of 3 is stored is "S
PD ". Further, a sub-picture structure 70 including both of them.
The first packet of No. 1 is "SCP
+ SPD ". In the present application," the subpicture structure is arranged or belongs in the entry section "as shown in FIG. 15 means that FIG. 17 (a) and FIG.
Of the sub-picture structures 701 and 702 of
This means that a header including SCP (that is, a packet storing structure information) is recorded in the entry section, and in the sub-picture structure 703 of FIG. 17C, the header including SPD is , It means that it is recorded in the entry section.

As shown in FIG. 16, the structure information 711 is
It has an "SP data identifier". The SP data identifier is
The sub-picture structures 701 and 703 identify the SP data 713 included in the sub-picture structure. On the other hand, in the sub-picture structure 702, the SP data identifier identifies SP data 713 included in another sub-picture structure on which the SP control information 712 included in the sub-picture structure acts.

The structure information 711 further has information indicating "data length of SP control information" and "data length of SP data". Based on these, at the time of reproduction, it is specified which packet the sub-picture structure 701 continues from the head of the structure information 711. Further, based on the data length of the SP control information, at the time of reproduction, it is specified to which packet from the head of the structure information 711 the packet continues. Furthermore, based on the data length of the SP data, at the time of reproduction, it is specified which packet the sub-picture structure 703 continues from the head of the structure information 711.

In the sub-picture structure 702 that does not have the SP data 713, "SP" in the structure information 711.
By setting "data length of data" to "0", the S
It may indicate that the P data 713 is not included. Similarly,
In the sub-picture structure 703 that does not have the SP control information 712, even if it indicates that it does not have the SP control information 712 by setting the “data length of the SP control information” in the structure information 711 to “0”. Good.

The structure information 711 further has "SP data position information". At the time of reproduction, based on this, the SP data 713 on which the SP control information 712 acts is specified. As the position information of such SP data, its rough position is described using the entry section shown in FIG. As a result, the SP data 713 can be specified by searching for the SPD in the entry section. Therefore, even if the SP data 713 does not have the SP data 713 like the sub-picture structure 702, the SP control information 71 included in the SP
It is possible to operate 2 on the scheduled SP data. However, the SPD packet number may be directly described as the position information of the SP data.

Therefore, in the case of the sub-picture structure 701 or 703 including the SP data 713, the structure information 7
“SP data position information” included in 11 may be set to an invalid value. However, in these cases, since its own sub-picture structure has SP data, it is not necessary to specify the recording position of SP data (specification of the entry section). All the constituent packets are specified based on the data length of SP data as described above).

The SP control information 712 has information indicating the display start time of the acting SP data and the display time of the SP data. During playback, the S
The SP data on which the P control information 712 acts is reproduced for a predetermined time on the reproduction time axis, and the still image is displayed.

The SP data 713 has, for example, run-length encoded bitmap data format or JPEG format image data. Then, for each pixel, for example, 8-bit color information data and
It has bit transparency information data. Further, SP data indicating one still image is packetized and multiplexed in a plurality of TS packets 146 (see FIG. 4).

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the entry section is represented by using the display start time of the packet number of the head packet constituting this entry section.
For example, the entry section # 0 of the elementary stream of index # 14 is “T14_0”.
It is represented by. In this way, if the display start time is used, the display start time does not have to be shifted even if there is a shift in the packet serial number due to a packet loss due to editing or the like after recording, as shown in FIG. It is not necessary to update the ES address information as described above.

In this embodiment, in particular, in order to easily and quickly acquire the SCP and SPD, the following conditions (hereinafter, referred to as “first placement”) are set for the packet placement for the entry section thus defined. We call "condition".

That is, the sub-picture structure 701 including the SP control information 712 (which holds the display start time "TT") is compared with the "display start time" and the "packet number" of the entry point #i. ~ 70
The header in 3 is physically arranged as follows. The entry point refers to a packet whose position is specified by address information.

When "display start time of entry point #i"<= TT <"display start time of entry point # i + 1", "packet number of entry point #i"<"of sub-picture structure including SP control information""Packet number of header"<"packet number of entry point # i + 1" With such a first arrangement condition, the SP required for the SP data 713 to be displayed during the reproduction of the entry section
Sub-picture structure 702 containing control information 712
Can be found by searching in the entry section.

For example, in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, when the display start time is T14_1 or more and less than T14_2, the packet number of the header of the sub-picture structure 702 including the SP control information 712 in the entry section # 1 is recorded. . On the other hand, the SP data can be found from the "SP data recording position" (see FIG. 16) included in the structure information 711 forming the header as described above.

In addition to the first arrangement condition as described above, as shown in FIG. 18, in this acquisition method, the SCP (as described above, S
The following condition (hereinafter referred to as “second arrangement condition”) is also attached to the first packet of the P control information 712.

"SCP packet number which acts on i-th SP data"<"SCP packet number which acts on i + 1-th SP data" That is, as shown in FIG. 18, it exceeds the SCP of other SP control information. Therefore, the packet arrangement that controls the SP data is not allowed.

Incidentally, in FIG. 18, the dotted arrow coming out of the SCP indicates that the SP control information having the SCP at the head is
The relationship which acts on the SP data which is the control target is shown.

In the acquisition method according to the present embodiment, the acquisition of SP data and SP control information as shown in FIG. 19 under such first and second arrangement conditions as shown in FIG. 20 is performed. Execute using address information.

In FIG. 19, at the time of reproduction, the display start PTS is first given as the (0) th process, then the SCP is searched for and read as the (1) th process, and then the SP is performed as the (2) th process.
Each process of reading data, next reading SP data as the third (3) process, further reading SP data as the fourth (4) process, and finally starting reproduction as the fifth process, The corresponding points on the time axis (the axis extending from the left to the right in the figure) are graphically marked.

In order to perform such a series of acquisition of SP data and SP control information and accompanying reproduction control of a still image, this acquisition method particularly corresponds to the entry section defined by the video stream shown in FIG. In this form, ES address information about the sub-picture stream as shown in FIG. 20 is described in the ES map table.

As shown in FIG. 20, the ES address information for the sub-picture stream indicates whether SPD exists for each entry section of the elementary stream indicated by the index number information 134e (FIG. 25). Bit SP data identification flag and SC
It includes 2-bit information consisting of a 1-bit SCP identification flag indicating whether P is recorded. Note that FIG.
In the inside, when it exists, it is set to "1", and when it does not exist, it is set to "0". Then, in the present acquisition method, as described below, when the SCP does not exist at the display start time by the SCP identification flag, it is checked whether or not the SCP exists ahead (on the left side in FIG. 19) on the reproduction time axis. .

In FIG. 19, when the display start PTS in the entry section # 3 is first obtained at the time of reproduction (process (0)), E included in the object information file is reproduced.
The SCP identification flag (see FIG. 20) of the S address information is referred to, and it is checked whether or not the SCP exists in this entry section # 3. Then, in this example, since it is found that the SCP does not exist, the SCP identification flag is further referred to, and the one in which the SCP exists in another entry section located ahead on the reproduction time axis is searched for. As a result, in this example, it is found that the SCP to be read first is in the entry section # 1.

Therefore, in FIG. 19, this time in the object data file, in this entry section # 1,
The SCP data is searched (process (1) in FIG. 19).
More specifically, first, the ES address information of FIG. 14 is referenced to acquire the head packet (“r” in this example) of entry section # 1, and then the head packet for this head packet is stored in the object data file. Access is executed. After that, the header (structure information 7) of the packet on the same sub-picture stream following this head packet
11) are sequentially checked, and the sub-picture structure 702 including SCP is searched for in the entry section # 1.

After that, "S" recorded in the SP control information in the sub-picture structure including the acquired SCP
P data position "(see FIG. 16) is referred to, and the position (entry section) of the SP data that is the control target of this SP control information is specified. Then, access to the SP data whose position is specified is executed (FIG. 1).
Process (2) in FIG. 9). For example, if the display start time T14_0 is described as the position (entry section) of the SP data, first, the ES address information shown in FIG. 14 is referenced in the object information file, and the packet number "q" is referred to. Is obtained. That is, in this example, it is found that the SPD to be read exists in the entry section # 0. After that, the access to the first packet (packet number “q”) is executed in the object data file. Subsequently, the headers (structure information 711) of the packets on the same sub-picture stream following this head packet are sequentially checked, and the sub-picture structure 70 including the SPD in the entry section # 0.
1 or 703 (subpicture structure 701 indicated by “SCP + SPD # 1” in FIG. 19) will be searched for.

Then, the acquired SPD (SCP + SP
SP data in the sub-picture structure including D) is read (process (3) in FIG. 19).

After that, the SP data identification flag shown in FIG. 20 is referred to again, and the SPD acquired in the third process (3).
Including the entry section (here, the entry section #
0) to the entry section including the display start time (here, entry section # 3), the SP data identification flag is "1", and the existence of the section including the SPD is checked. If such an SPD exists, it means that there is SP data that may be displayed after the display start time. In this example, since such an SPD exists in the entry section # 2, the sub-picture structure including the SPD is accessed and acquired ((4) in FIG. 19).
processing).

In the present application, even if SP data that does not need to be displayed at the arbitrary display start time with respect to the arbitrary display start time as described above, after the arbitrary display time on the reproduction time axis. The SP data recorded before the arbitrary display start time, which needs to be read in advance in order to perform the still image display accurately and without interruption, is referred to as “prefetch SP data”. That is, prefetch S
P data must be read before starting playback,
There is a possibility that the still image display may be interrupted after the display is started. However, after the prefetching SP data is prefetched, it may not be actually used for displaying a still image. That is, here, if there is a possibility that it will be used for subsequent display according to the reproduction condition, it is treated as pre-read SP data and pre-read processing is performed.

After that, the S obtained by the above processing is
Display control based on P control information is performed, and SP
Playback of a still image corresponding to the data is started (process (5) in FIG. 19). Here, for example, based on the display start time and the display time (see FIG. 16) indicated by the SP control information, the still picture display by the sub-picture corresponding to the SP data is performed for a certain period.

By the series of processing shown in FIG. 19 above, even when the display is started from an arbitrary display start time in special reproduction such as time search, chapter search, fast forward, rewind, etc. The still image to be displayed is displayed faithfully, and there is no possibility that the still image that should be originally displayed cannot be displayed or the still image is interrupted.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, according to the method of acquiring SP data and SP control information, the ES having a very small data amount of 2 bits in total (see FIG. 20) is used by two flags. By using the address information, the recording position of the SP data and SP control information can be efficiently specified. For example, the ES address information related to the video stream as shown in FIG.
If there are 32 bits for each entry section, the ES address information relating to the sub-picture stream as shown in FIG. 20 requires a small data amount of 1/16.

According to the acquisition method of this embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, by adopting the three types of sub-picture structures 701 to 703 as shown in FIG. , It is not necessary to read the sub-picture structure including the SP data 713 that is the control target every time the display control is performed by the SP control information 712. On the contrary, it is possible to control the display of one SP data 711 by the SP control information recorded separately from this, and in particular, it is possible to apply a plurality of SP control information to the same SP data. Alternatively,
It is also possible to display-control a plurality of SP data 711 by the same SP control information recorded separately from these.

The sub-picture structure 701 or 703 including the SP data 711 and the S acting on the sub-picture structure 701 or 703.
Subpicture structure 70 containing P control information 712
2 may be recorded on the same sub-picture stream, but may be recorded separately on a plurality of sub-picture streams.

(Access Flow During Playback) Next, referring to FIG. 21, one of the features of this embodiment, AU
A flow of access at the time of reproduction in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 using the (associate unit) information 132 and the PU (presentation unit) information 302 will be described together with the logical structure of the optical disc 100. FIG. 21 shows the relationship with the logical structure of the optical disc 100.
It conceptually shows the entire access flow at the time of reproduction.

In FIG. 21, the logical structure of the optical disc 100 is roughly divided into three layers, that is, a logical layer 401, an object layer 403, and a logic-object association layer 402 that correlates these layers.

Of these, the logical layer 401 is a layer that logically specifies various logical information for reproducing a desired title at the time of reproduction, a playlist (P list) to be reproduced, and its constituent contents. In the logical hierarchy 401, disc information 110d indicating all titles 200 and the like on the optical disc 100 is described in the disc information file 110 (see FIG. 3), and further, reproduction sequence information 120d of all contents on the optical disc 100. Is described in the playlist information file 120 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, as the reproduction sequence information 120d, one or a plurality of playlists 1 are assigned to each title 200.
26, the structure of one or a plurality of items 204 (see FIG. 7) is described in each play list 126. Then, at the time of access during reproduction, the title 200 to be reproduced is specified by such a logical hierarchy 401, and the playlist 1 corresponding to this is specified.
26, and the corresponding item 204 is specified.

Subsequently, the logic-object association hierarchy 402 identifies the combination and configuration of the TS object data 140d, which is the actual data, based on the information specified by the logic hierarchy 401 in this way, and from the logic hierarchy 401. TS object data 14 to be reproduced so as to perform address conversion to the object hierarchy 403.
It is a layer that specifies the attribute of 0d and its physical storage address. More specifically, in the logic-object association hierarchy 402, a group of contents forming each item 204 is classified into a unit of AU 132 and each A
Object information data 130d that subclassifies U132 into units of PU302 is described in the object information file 130 (see FIG. 3).

[0212] Here, "PU (presentation unit) 302" is a unit in which a plurality of elementary streams are associated and grouped for each reproduction switching unit. If there are three audio streams in this PU 302, the user can freely switch between the three audios (for example, audio by language) during reproduction of this vision.

On the other hand, "AU (Associate Unit) 1
"32" is a unit in which a plurality of elementary streams such as video streams in the TS object used in one title are collected, and one or a plurality of PUs 30
It consists of two sets. More specifically, the elementary stream packet ID is indirectly sent via the PU 302.
It is a unit in which (ES_PID) is collected for each TS object. The AU 132 corresponds to a set of a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs having a specific relationship with each other in terms of content, such as a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs that can be switched to each other in multiple broadcasting. Then, the PU 302 that belongs to the same AU 132
Corresponds to a set of one or a plurality of elementary streams that respectively constitute a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs that can be switched by a user operation during reproduction.

Therefore, if the AU 132 to be reproduced is specified and the PU 302 belonging to it is specified, the elementary stream to be reproduced is specified. That is,
Even if the PAT or PMT shown in FIG. 6 is not used, a desired elementary stream can be reproduced from the multiplex recorded from the optical disc 100.

Incidentally, such AU132 and PU302
AU information 132I and PU information 302 that respectively define
A more specific data structure of I will be described later with reference to FIG.

The elementary stream actually reproduced here is ES_PID which is the packet ID (see FIG. 6) of the elementary stream from the PU information 302.
Specified or specified by. At the same time, the information indicating the start time and the end time of the reproduction is converted into the address information of the elementary stream, so that the specific area (or the specific time range) of the specific elementary stream is converted.
Content will be reproduced.

In this way, in the logical-object association hierarchy 402, the address conversion from the logical address of each item 204 to the physical address of each PU 302 is executed.

Next, the object layer 403 is a physical layer for reproducing the actual TS object data 140d. In the object hierarchy 403, TS
The object data 140d is described in the object data file 140 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, TS packets 146 that form a plurality of elementary streams (ES) are multiplexed at each time, and these are arranged along the time axis to form a plurality of elementary streams. (Fig. 5
reference). Then, the plurality of TS packets multiplexed at each time are associated with the PU 302 specified in the logical-object association hierarchy 402 for each elementary stream. In addition, associating a plurality of PUs 302 with one elementary stream (for example,
It is also possible to commonly use the elementary streams related to the same audio data or the same elementary streams related to the same sub-picture data between a plurality of programs or programs that can be switched. is there.

Thus, in the object hierarchy 403,
The reproduction of the actual object data is executed using the physical address obtained by the conversion in the logic-object association hierarchy 402.

As described above, the access to the optical disc 100 at the time of reproduction is executed by the three layers shown in FIG.

(Structure of each information file) Next, with reference to FIGS. 22 to 25, various information files constructed on the optical disc 100 of the present embodiment, that is, (1) Disc described with reference to FIG. The data structures of the information file 110, (2) playlist information file 120, and (3) object information file 130 will be described with specific examples.

(1) Disk information file: First, FIG.
2 and FIG. 23, the disc information file 110
This will be described in detail with reference to one specific example. Figure 2 here
2 schematically shows one specific example of the data structure of the disc information file 110, and FIG. 23 schematically shows one specific example of the data structure of the title information table (table) 114 included therein. It is a thing.

As shown in FIG. 22, in this specific example, the disc information file 110 contains disc comprehensive information 112,
A title information table 114 and other information 118 are stored.

Of these, the disc total information 112 is total disc information such as disc volume information indicating a serial number of a series composed of a plurality of optical discs 100 and total title number information.

The title information table 114 stores all playlists constituting each title, chapter information in the title as other information for each title, title pointer information, title # 1 information,
Title # 2 information, ... Here, the "title pointer information" is the storage address information of the title #n information, that is, as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
This is storage address information indicating the storage position of the title #n information in the title information table 114, and is described by a relative logical address. The titles in the optical disc 100 are arranged in the order of titles as relative logical addresses. The data amount of each piece of such stored address information may be fixed bytes or variable bytes.

The other information 118 is information relating to each title such as the type of title such as sequential type or branch type and the total number of playlists.

For example, when the title is simply composed of one playlist, the title information table 114 (see FIG. 3) stored in the disc information file 110 shown in FIG. 22 is shown in FIG. It is described as having relatively simple content as shown.

(2) Playlist Information File: Next, with reference to FIG. 24, the playlist information file 120 will be described in detail with reference to a specific example. Figure 24 here
[Fig. 6] is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of a data structure in a playlist information table (table) 121 constructed in the playlist information file 120.

As shown in FIG. 24, in this specific example, a field (Field) is included in the playlist information file 120.
1d), a playlist comprehensive information 122, a playlist pointer table 124, a playlist # 1 information table, and a playlist # 2 information table 126 are stored as a playlist information table 121 (see FIG. 3).

Each field may have a structure capable of adding the required number of tables. For example, if there are four playlists, it may have a structure in which the corresponding fold increases to four.
The same applies to 9.

Of these, the playlist comprehensive information (P
The list total information) 122 describes the size of the play list table, the total number of play lists, and the like.

The playlist pointer table (P list pointer table) 124 has relative logical addresses in the playlist information table 121, as shown by the arrows in FIG. Is stored as

The playlist # 1 information table (P list # 1 information table) 126 includes general information about the playlist # 1, an item information table of the playlist # 1 (P list Item information table) 129, and other information. It is stored. The playlist # 2 information table 126 also describes the same type of information related to the playlist # 2.

[Item information table (Item information t
The item) 129 ”stores item information for all the items constituting one program list. Here, A described in “item # 1 (Item # 1 information)” or “item # 2 (Item # 2 information)”
The AU number in the U (Associate Unit) table is the address of the TS object used for playing the item or each elementary stream (that is, video stream, audio stream, or sub-picture stream) in the TS object used for playing the item. ) Is the number of the AU that stores the information for specifying.

(3) Object Information File: Next, with reference to FIG. 25, the object information file 130 will be described in detail with a specific example. Figure 25 here
Is constructed in the object information file 130
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data structure in a U (associate unit) table 131 (see FIG. 3) and an ES (elementary stream) map table 134 (see FIG. 3) associated therewith.

As shown in FIG. 25, in this specific example, the object information file 130 stores an object information table (object information table). The object information table is composed of an AU table 131 shown in the upper part of the figure and an ES map table 134 shown in the lower part of the figure.

In the upper part of FIG. 25, the AU table 13
1 may have a structure capable of adding as many tables as necessary for each field. For example, AU
If there are four, the corresponding fold may have a structure that increases to four.

In the AU table 131, "AU table general information" in which the number of AUs, a pointer to each AU, and the like are described in another field (Field) and "other information" are stored.

Then, in the AU table 131, each A
ES table index #m (ES_table Index #m) in each PU #m corresponding to U #n
As the AU information 132I indicating the index number (Index number =
...) is described. Here, "AU" means, for example, a unit corresponding to a "program" in television broadcasting (especially in the case of "multivision type" broadcasting, a plurality of switchable "visions"). Units that are summarized), and one or more PUs that are playback units are included in this. The “PU” is a set of mutually switchable elementary streams included in each AU as described above, and the ES table index # corresponding to each PU is specified by the PU information 302I.
For example, when configuring multi-view content with AUs, a plurality of PUs are stored in each AU, and each PU has a plurality of elementary stream packet IDs indicating packets that compose the content of each view. Stores a pointer to. This indicates an index number in the ES map table 134 described later.

In the present embodiment, the AU table 131 has a non-indicative state indicating the discontinuous state of the packet numbers in the case where the packet consecutive numbers (serial numbers) in the TS object 142 described above are lost due to the editing process. The continuous information may be added. If such discontinuity information is used, when a packet loss occurs, the discontinuity state indicated by the discontinuity information is taken into consideration (a designated elementary stream is specified) without adding a new packet number. By counting the number of packets (starting from the packet), the address of the packet to be accessed can be specified. The discontinuity information includes, for example, information indicating the start point of discontinuity and the number of missing packets. As described above, only one piece of discontinuous information is described in common for a plurality of AUs, which is very excellent from the viewpoint of saving the recording capacity. It is possible to describe such discontinuity information inside and outside the object information file other than the AU table 131.

In the lower part of FIG. 25, in the ES map table 134, ES map table comprehensive information (ES_map table comprehensive information) and a plurality of indexes #m (m = 1, 2, ...) Are arranged for each field (Field).
And "other information" are stored.

The "ES map table general information" describes the size of the ES map table, the total number of indexes, and the like.

The "index #m" is configured to include the elementary stream packet IDs (ES_PID) of all elementary streams used for reproduction, the corresponding index numbers and the address information of the elementary streams. There is.

Especially in this embodiment, this address information,
That is, as the ES address information 134d, when the elementary stream is a video stream of MPEG2 as described above, only the TS packet number of the head of the I picture and the display time corresponding thereto are described in the ES map table 134. The amount of data is reduced (see FIG. 14). On the other hand, regarding the ES address information 134d of the sub-picture stream, the index number information 134e of the elementary stream used as the entry section is described, so that the SCP
The identification flag and the SP data identification flag are described for each entry section to further reduce the data amount (see FIG. 2).
0).

With this configuration, the elementary stream packet ID (ES_PID) of the actual elementary stream can be acquired from the index number of the ES map 134 designated by the AU table 131. Also, since the address information of the elementary stream corresponding to the elementary stream packet ID can be acquired at the same time, the object data can be reproduced based on these information.

According to the data structure of the optical disc 100 described above, even when a new title is added to the optical disc 100, necessary information can be easily added, which is useful. On the other hand, even if some information is no longer needed as a result of editing, for example, it is not necessary to simply refer to that information, and it is not necessary to actually delete that information from the table. Is useful because

In FIG. 25, the upper AU table 13
For ES_PID not referred to from 1 as well, ES in the lower row
Although the description is made for each index of the map table 134, it is not necessary to describe the ES_PID not referred to in this way. However, this is not referred to as E
By describing S_PID as well, more versatile ES
If the map table 134 is created, there is an advantage that the ES map table does not need to be rebuilt when the content is reedited, for example, when authoring is performed again.

As described above in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 25, according to this embodiment, still image data composed of bitmap data or the like having a relatively large data amount is used as sub-picture data and video data. Multiple recording can be performed efficiently with audio data.

Further, by utilizing the 1-bit flag information such as the SCP identification flag and the SP data identification flag, the S
The acquisition processing of P control information and SP data and the reproduction control processing of a still image can be efficiently performed. In particular, the amount of data required for this can be small, so that the recording capacity on the optical disc 100 can be saved.

In the above embodiment, the optical disc 100 as an example of the information recording medium and the recorder or player relating to the optical disc 100 as an example of the information reproducing / recording apparatus have been described. However, the present invention can be applied to the optical disc and the recorder or the player. The present invention is not limited to the above, and can be applied to other various information recording media compatible with high-density recording or high transfer rate, and recorders or players thereof.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be appropriately modified within the scope of the gist or concept of the invention which can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and such modifications are accompanied. An information recording medium, an information recording apparatus and method, an information reproducing apparatus and method, an information recording and reproducing apparatus and method, a computer program for recording or reproduction control, and a data structure including a control signal are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. It is what is done.

[0252]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to multiplex record still image information having a comparatively large amount of data together with moving image information, audio information, etc., while suppressing an increase in load in reproduction display processing. The still image information can be reproduced. In particular, the control information identification flag according to the present invention (for example,
SCP identification flag) and still image information identification flag (for example,
By adopting the SP data identification flag), the acquisition processing of still image information and the reproduction control processing can be efficiently performed, and the amount of data required for these processings can be suppressed to save the recording capacity as a whole. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of an optical disc which is an embodiment of an information recording medium of the present invention, an upper part is a schematic plan view of an optical disc having a plurality of areas, and a lower part associated therewith is its It is a schematic conceptual diagram of the area structure in the radial direction.

FIG. 2 is a schematic conceptual diagram of a conventional MPEG2 program stream (FIG. 2A) and a schematic conceptual diagram of an MPEG2 transport stream used in this embodiment (FIG. 2B).

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure recorded on the optical disc of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing details of a data structure in each object shown in FIG.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a view showing that an elementary stream for the program # 1 in the upper stage and an elementary stream for the program # 2 in the middle stage are multiplexed to form a transport stream for these two programs in the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows a mode notionally, considering a horizontal axis as a time axis.

FIG. 6 shows an image of TS packets multiplexed in one transport stream in the present embodiment,
It is conceptually shown as a packet arrangement along time.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a logical configuration of data on an optical disc in the embodiment, focusing on development from a logical hierarchy to an object hierarchy or an entity hierarchy.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (part 1) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (No. 2) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (No. 3) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (No. 4) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a reproducing operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows E in the object information in the embodiment.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the data structure in ES address information regarding a video stream built in an S map table.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing an example of positions of TS packets registered in ES address information of a video stream on a TS object with respect to a time axis.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of SP data, SP control information, and structure information related to the method of acquiring SP data and SP control information in the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a sub-picture structure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing the packet arrangement conditions adopted in the acquisition method according to the embodiment on the time axis of the TS object.

FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram showing an acquisition procedure in the acquisition method according to the embodiment.

20 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of ES address information related to a sub-picture stream in the TS object shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram conceptually showing the overall flow of access at the time of reproduction in relation to the logical structure of the optical disc in the present embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of a data configuration of a disc information file in a specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data configuration of the title information table included in the disc information file in the specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data structure in the playlist information table constructed in the playlist information file in the specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data structure in the AU table constructed in the object information file and the ES map table associated with the AU table in the specific example according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 optical disk 105 file system 110 disk information file 120 playlist information file 126 playlist 130 object information file 131 AU (associate unit) table 132 AU 132I AU information 134 ES map table 134d ES address information 140 object data file 142 TS (transport) Stream) object 146 TS packet 200 title 204 item 302 PU (presentation unit) 302I PU information 500 information recording / reproducing device 502 optical pickup 506 demodulator 508 demultiplexer 511 video decoder 512 audio decoder 513 sub-picture decoder 520 system controller 540 memory 606 modulation Bowl 608 Formatter 610 TS object generator 611 Video encoder 612 Audio encoder 613 Sub-picture encoder 701, 702, 703 Sub-picture structure 711 Structure information 712 Still picture control information 713 Still picture information

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toru Kanae             2626 Hanazono, Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture             Near Tokorozawa Factory (72) Inventor Masanori Nakahara             2626 Hanazono, Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture             Near Tokorozawa Factory (72) Inventor Takao Sawabe             2626 Hanazono, Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture             Near Tokorozawa Factory (72) Inventor Yasuko Fukuda             2626 Hanazono, Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture             Near Tokorozawa Factory (72) Inventor Akira Imamura             2626 Hanazono, Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture             Near Tokorozawa Factory F term (reference) 5C052 AA02 AB05 AC01 CC01 DD04                 5C053 FA14 FA24 GA06 GB01 GB06                       GB38 HA21 JA03 JA24 KA24                 5D044 AB05 AB07 AB08 BC03 CC06                       DE12 DE38 DE60 DE91 FG18                       GK12

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An information recording medium in which an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplexed and recorded in a packet unit which is a physically accessible unit. And an object data file storing object data composed of a plurality of packets each of which is a logically accessible unit and each of which stores a fragment of the content information, and a reproduction sequence defining a reproduction sequence of the object data. A reproduction sequence information file that stores information, and correspondence definition information that defines a correspondence relationship between the plurality of multiplexed packets and the plurality of partial streams as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data. Object information file to store At least one partial stream of the plurality of partial streams respectively includes still image information which is one of the content information and a fragment of still image control information for controlling display of the still image information. It is configured to include a plurality of packets to be stored, the correspondence definition information, for each of the plurality of partial streams,
Address information relating to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets, and further, regarding the at least one partial stream, (i) a position in the address information among a plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream. And a still image information identification flag indicating whether or not a leading packet of a group of packets storing the still image information is present in an entry section specified by two packets adjacent to each other in an arrangement of only the packets specified by (ii) An information recording medium, characterized in that the entry section includes a control information identification flag indicating whether or not a head packet of a group of packets including the still image control information is present. 2. The address of the first packet of the group of packets storing the still image control information for controlling the i-th still image information stores the still image control information for controlling the (i + 1) th still image information. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the packets storing the still image information and the still image control information are arranged so as to be smaller than the address of the first packet of the group of packets. 3. The content information is MPEG2 (Mo
Ving Picture Experts Grou
When the video information based on the p phase 2) standard is included, the address information includes a serial number of a packet related to an I picture and a display start time corresponding to the serial number. Or the information recording medium described in 2. 4. The still image control information includes information indicating a display start time of a still image displayed based on the still image information and a display time of the still image.
The information recording medium according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. A plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream is a still image information set including at least one of the still image information and the still image control information, and further includes structure information indicating a structure thereof. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a packet for storing each of the fragments of the still image information set including the packet. 6. The still image information set includes: (i) a first still image information set including three of the still image information, the still image control information, and the structural information; (ii) the still image control information. And a second still image information set including both of the structural information and not including the still image information, and (iii) including both of the still image information and the structural information and including the still image control information. Of the 3rd still image information set that is not
The information recording medium according to claim 5, comprising at least one of the first and third still image information sets and the second still image information set. 7. The information recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the packet storing the structure information is arranged at the head of a plurality of packets related to the still image information set. 8. The structure information is at least the identifier of an identifier of the still image information, a data length of the still image control information, a data length of the still image information, and position information indicating a recording position of the still image information. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising: 9. An entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplexed and recorded in a packet unit, which is a physically accessible unit, on an information recording medium. An information recording device, comprising: first recording means for recording an object data file which is a logically accessible unit and which stores object data consisting of a plurality of packets including packets each storing a fragment of the content information; A second recording unit that records a reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data, and a plurality of the multiplexed plurality of reproduction control information for controlling the reproduction of the object data. Correspondence between each packet and the plurality of partial streams Third recording means for recording an object information file that stores correspondence definition information that defines the relationship between at least one of the plurality of partial streams, and at least one partial stream of the still image that is one of the content information. Information and a plurality of packets each storing a fragment of still image control information for controlling the display of the still image information, wherein the correspondence definition information is, for each of the plurality of partial streams,
Address information relating to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets, and further, regarding the at least one partial stream, (i) a position in the address information among a plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream. And a still image information identification flag indicating whether or not a leading packet of a group of packets storing the still image information is present in an entry section specified by two packets adjacent to each other in an arrangement of only the packets specified by (ii) An information recording apparatus, characterized in that the entry section includes a control information identification flag indicating whether or not a head packet of a group of packets including the still image control information is present. 10. An entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplexed and recorded on an information recording medium in units of packets which are physically accessible units. An information recording method, comprising: a first recording step of recording an object data file that stores object data that is a logically accessible unit and that includes a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store fragments of the content information. A second recording step of recording a reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data, and a plurality of the multiplexed plurality of reproduction control information for controlling the reproduction of the object data. Correspondence between each packet and the plurality of partial streams A third recording step of recording an object information file that stores correspondence definition information that defines a relationship, wherein at least one partial stream of the plurality of partial streams is a still image that is one of the content information. Information and a plurality of packets each storing a fragment of still image control information for controlling the display of the still image information, wherein the correspondence definition information is, for each of the plurality of partial streams,
Address information relating to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets, and further, regarding the at least one partial stream, (i) a position in the address information among a plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream. And a still image information identification flag indicating whether or not a leading packet of a group of packets storing the still image information is present in an entry section specified by two packets adjacent to each other in an arrangement of only packets specified by (ii) An information recording method characterized in that the entry section includes a control information identification flag indicating whether or not a head packet of a group of packets including the still image control information is present. 11. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded content information from the information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium physically reads information from the information recording medium. And reproducing means for reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading means based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading means. An information reproducing apparatus characterized by the above. 12. The reproducing means refers to the control information identification flag when a display start time is given,
The still image control information further comprises means for specifying an entry section in which one still picture control information corresponding to the display start time is present, and the reading means is provided in the specified entry section in the object data. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for accessing and reading the one still image control information. 13. The reading means records one still image information which is paired or paired with the one still image control information in the still image information and on which the one still image control information should act. 13. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for accessing and reading the one still image information to be operated based on the position information indicating the position. 14. The reproducing unit refers to the still image identification flag to divide an entry section including the one still image information to be operated and an entry section including the one still image control information. Between the still image information, the reading unit is configured to specify an entry section in which other still image information exists, and the reading unit is configured to specify the other still image in the specified entry section in the object data. 14. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for accessing information and reading the information. 15. An information reproducing method for reproducing the recorded content information from the information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information is physically read from the information recording medium. And a reproducing step of reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading unit based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading unit. An information reproducing method characterized by the above. 16. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the content information on the information recording medium according to claim 1 and reproducing the recorded content information, wherein the object data file. A first recording means for recording the reproduction sequence information file, a second recording means for recording the reproduction sequence information file, a third recording means for recording the object information file, and a reading means for physically reading information from the information recording medium. Reproducing means for reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading means, based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading means. Characteristic information recording / reproducing apparatus. 17. An information recording / reproducing method for recording the content information on the information recording medium according to claim 1 and reproducing the recorded content information, wherein the object data file A first recording step of recording the information, a second recording step of recording the reproduction sequence information file, a third recording step of recording the object information file, and a reading step of physically reading information from the information recording medium. A reproducing step of reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading means based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading means. Characteristic information recording / reproducing method. 18. A computer program for recording control for controlling a computer provided in the information recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the computer comprises the first recording means, the second recording means, and the second recording means. (3) A computer program for recording control, which is caused to function as at least a part of recording means. 19. A computer program for reproduction control for controlling a computer provided in the information reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the computer is at least a part of the reproducing means. A computer program for reproduction control, characterized by causing it to function as. 20. A computer program for recording / reproducing control for controlling a computer provided in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the computer comprises:
A computer program for recording / reproducing control, which functions as at least a part of the first recording unit, the second recording unit, the third recording unit, and the reproducing unit. 21. An entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplexed and recorded in a packet unit which is a physically accessible unit, and logically An object data file that stores object data that is an accessible unit and that includes a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store fragments of the content information, and a reproduction that stores reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data. A sequence information file and an object information file that stores, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data, correspondence definition information that defines a correspondence relationship between the plurality of multiplexed packets and the plurality of partial streams. And At least one partial stream of the plurality of partial streams is a plurality of packets each storing still image information which is one of the content information and a fragment of still image control information for controlling display of the still image information. The correspondence definition information includes, for each of the plurality of partial streams,
Address information relating to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among the plurality of packets, and further, regarding the at least one partial stream, (i) a position in the address information among a plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream. And a still image information identification flag indicating whether or not a leading packet of a group of packets storing the still image information is present in an entry section specified by two packets adjacent to each other in an arrangement of only the packets specified by (ii) A data structure including a control signal, wherein the entry section includes a control information identification flag indicating whether or not a head packet of a group of packets including the still image control information is present.