JP2004206810A - Data control method, data control device, data control program, and storage medium in which data control program is stored and which can be read by a computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give various kinds to a display method of a GUI screen performing list display of functions of recording/reproducing devices and contents data on a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: A representative data file in which a plurality of representative data are registered is provided for one contents, a plurality of representative data for one contents are recorded in this representative data file so as to be continuous, also a plurality of representative data of several contents are recorded. And control information indicating relation between each representative data is made control structure provided in index information controlling list information of contents recorded in the recording medium, and this index information is recorded in the recording medium. Thereby, various intrinsic functions are given in a user using the recording medium in which contents are recorded and recording/reproducing devices. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data management method, a data management device, and a data management method for managing content data when a plurality of content data such as video, still image, audio, and text are recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk, an optical disk, and a semiconductor memory. The present invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium storing a management program and a data management program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For one content having a plurality of scenes, information such as a reduced image (thumbnail) representing the feature of the content data recorded on the recording medium, the name (title) of the content data, and text data in which a description of the content data and the like are described; Data (hereinafter, representative data) is recorded for each scene.
[0003]
The relationship between the plurality of representative data is unique, and cannot represent different relationships. For example, in the moving image content, a reduced image of an image at a certain time is certain representative data, a reduced image of an image at another certain time is another representative data, and both are always images at two predetermined times, There is a relationship.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-295873 (publication date: November 10, 1995)
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-176137 (published on July 2, 1999)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, for one content having a plurality of scenes, even in a configuration having a plurality of reduced images representing the characteristics of content data, all of these reduced images correspond to each scene. It is not allowed to register a reduced image that does not conform to the rules.
[0007]
Therefore, even if the recording / reproducing device has a function of processing a general image file (instead of a reduced image of the content data), one obtained by processing one of the reduced images as a material is The content cannot be registered as another reduced image.
[0008]
For this reason, various types of display methods of the reduced image cannot be provided. This results in poor visibility and difficulty in searching if there is only a similar reduced image when trying to look at the reduced image when searching for content.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to use a processing function of a recording / reproducing device to provide various types of representative data when presenting representative data of a content. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data management method, a data management device, a data management program, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the data management program, which can improve the visibility of the data.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a data management method according to the present invention is directed to a data management method for managing a plurality of contents by representative data representing each of the contents and presentable by a recording / reproducing device. When the function of creating individual representative data is referred to as a representative data creation function, for at least one content, how to prepare all the representative data for each content using the above-described representative data creation function is defined. One representative data creation procedure is assigned, and the representative data creation procedure is stored as management information.
[0011]
With the above configuration, for at least one content, one representative data creation procedure that determines how to prepare all the representative data using the representative data creation function is assigned to each content. The data creation procedure is stored as management information.
[0012]
The number of the representative data may or may not be determined in the representative data creation procedure.
[0013]
Examples of the representative data creation function include a function of creating a reduced image of the original data when the original data is image data, a function of creating a character string representing a title of a content, and the like.
[0014]
As the representative data creation procedure, “main”, “back”, and the like described as the thumbnail type in FIG. 3 can be given.
[0015]
By storing the management information, the relationship between the representative data of different contents is stored.
[0016]
The presentation includes display and printing.
[0017]
The representative data is created, for example, based on the data of the content. Also, for example, it is created based on data separately stored in a recording / reproducing device.
[0018]
The representative data may be created in accordance with an instruction from a user.
[0019]
For example, as the management information, the recording / reproducing device can arbitrarily determine the relationship between a plurality of representative data. For example, in a moving image content, a thumbnail of an image just every hour is presented larger than others.
[0020]
Further, for example, as management information, a user can arbitrarily determine a relationship between a plurality of representative data. For example, in a moving image content, characters are inserted only into thumbnails of images that the user particularly likes.
[0021]
More specifically, for example, for at least one content, not limited to only representative data that faithfully reproduces the content, a representative data creation function of the recording / reproducing device that presents the representative data to the user is provided. It is possible to have representative data processed according to a predetermined procedure (which can be determined by the user).
[0022]
In this case, for the predetermined content, only one representative data may be processed using the representative data creation function. For the predetermined content, all the representative data may be processed using the representative data creation function. For all contents, all representative data may be processed using the representative data creation function.
[0023]
The presentation of the representative data is, for example, presentation of a reduced image or a title.
[0024]
Therefore, by managing a plurality of representative data for one content by assigning various meanings to them, a recording / reproducing device having such various representative data creation functions can perform various operations according to the representative data creation function. Representative data can be presented. That is, it is possible to present representative data using various representative data creation functions of the recording / reproducing device. Therefore, when the representative data of the content is presented using the representative data creation function of the recording / reproducing device, the representative data can have various types, and the visibility of the representative data can be improved.
[0025]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, the representative data is stored in a file dedicated to the representative data.
[0026]
With the above configuration, the representative data is stored in a file dedicated to the representative data.
[0027]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, since only the representative data is recorded in the file dedicated to the representative data, the representative data can be read at high speed, and the list can be presented at high speed.
[0028]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, the representative data has a fixed data length.
[0029]
With the above configuration, the representative data has a fixed data size.
[0030]
Therefore, in addition to the effects of the above-described configuration, it is possible to easily exchange, delete, and rewrite data between the data blocks.
[0031]
In addition, in order to access each representative data in the representative data file, only the management information holding the number of the representative data is used, and it is not necessary to separately manage the size information of each representative data. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of management information for accessing the representative data.
[0032]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, a plurality of the representative data for one content is continuously recorded.
[0033]
With the above configuration, a plurality of the representative data for one content is continuously recorded. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by recording representative data relating to one content continuously in the representative data file, it is possible to perform high-speed access when recording or reading the representative data.
[0034]
Further, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, it becomes possible to prepare management information for accessing a plurality of representative data relating to one content with a minimum data amount, and it is possible to reduce the management information amount. Become.
[0035]
In addition, the data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, the representative data file is divided into at least two files and recorded.
[0036]
With the above configuration, the file for the representative data is recorded by being divided into at least two files.
[0037]
For example, the content is divided into files and recorded.
[0038]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by collectively recording the representative data for each content in one file, the contents of the content can be instantaneously confirmed only by referring to the representative data file corresponding to the content. .
[0039]
In addition to the effect of the above configuration, when the same representative data is used between different contents, the representative data file is managed to be the same between these contents, so that the representative data file can be shared. And the number of representative data files can be reduced.
[0040]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, the management information includes management information indicating that head data of the representative data is basic representative data. I have.
[0041]
With the above configuration, the leading data of the representative data is used as the basic representative data for the presentation of the list.
[0042]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by managing the standard representative data used for presenting a list of one content as the leading representative data, for example, the data using the management method indicated by the management information indicating the relationship can be obtained. In a portable device having only a basic data processing function without a processing function, a list of contents recorded on a recording medium can be presented by presenting only basic representative data on a GUI or the like.
[0043]
In the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the management information includes management information indicating that one representative data is managed using two or more data blocks. It is characterized by:
[0044]
With the above configuration, one representative data is managed using two or more data blocks.
[0045]
Therefore, the data area for recording one thumbnail data can be increased as compared with the case where one thumbnail data is recorded in the area (basic thumbnail area) for recording one thumbnail data. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the above configuration, the present invention can be used, for example, when recording high-quality (low-compression) thumbnail data or high-resolution thumbnail data.
[0046]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention further includes, in addition to the basic representative data, original management data added immediately after recording of the content in the management information, for the second and subsequent data. It is characterized in that management information indicating management as representative data is included.
With the above configuration, separately from the basic representative data, original representative data added immediately after recording is managed as second and subsequent representative data.
[0047]
That is, not only devices corresponding to a plurality of representative data managements for performing various data processing functions and list presentation methods, but also basic data processing functions and functions not having these various data processing functions and list presentation methods. It is useful that a recording / reproducing device such as a portable device equipped with only the list presentation method can be managed by a common management method / means without providing a special management method / means. This means that it is necessary to consider compatibility between devices for various applications and manufacturers who have created the devices.
[0048]
For this reason, a management method and management structure that allows management of multiple representative data and compatibility between devices corresponding to various uses with a common management method and means without special management methods and means are developed. can do.
[0049]
Therefore, in this data management method, the thumbnail data according to the user's preference is recorded in the basic thumbnail from among a plurality of thumbnails recorded by editing the original thumbnail data, so that the thumbnail screen is displayed on the content GUI screen. Thumbnail data can be presented. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, it is possible to select the thumbnail data to be presented on the GUI.
[0050]
Further, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, it is possible to always return the thumbnail data presented on the GUI screen to the original thumbnail data.
[0051]
Further, a data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, the management information includes management information representing a user-specific definition.
[0052]
With the above configuration, the management information has management information indicating a user-specific definition.
[0053]
Therefore, a richer expression can be achieved by using a user-specific definition.
[0054]
In addition, since the original user definition is prepared for the representative data, there is a device that cannot understand the thumbnail type of the original user definition, but in the device, the representative data used for the list presentation is the same as described above. By presenting the basic representative data which is the head data of the representative data. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, when managing representative data using user definition, it is possible to maintain compatibility between devices by recording standard representative data as basic representative data. It becomes.
[0055]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, a maker ID unique to a manufacturer of a recording / reproducing device which records the management information is simultaneously recorded as the management information.
[0056]
With the above configuration, a maker ID unique to the manufacturer of the recording / reproducing device that records the management information is simultaneously recorded as the management information.
[0057]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, even when the management information indicating the relationship between certain contents recorded on the recording medium is the same, if the maker ID is different, the recording is performed by assuming a different list presentation method. Can be detected.
[0058]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above configuration, in a system in which the management information cannot be understood, a list is presented using basic representative data which is head data of the representative data. .
[0059]
With the above configuration, in a system that cannot understand the management information, a list is presented using the basic representative data that is the head data of the representative data.
[0060]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, when there is a user-defined thumbnail type that cannot be interpreted, the operation of ignoring the thumbnails after the second thumbnail other than the basic thumbnail is performed. In this case, compatibility between devices can be maintained by reading standard thumbnail data recorded in the basic thumbnail.
[0061]
For example, if there is a user-defined thumbnail type that cannot be interpreted, the operation of ignoring the thumbnails after the second thumbnail other than the basic thumbnail is performed. Therefore, when managing the thumbnail data using the user definition, the thumbnail is recorded in the basic thumbnail. By reading the standardized thumbnail data, compatibility between devices can be maintained.
[0062]
Further, a data management device according to the present invention is a data management device that manages a plurality of contents by representative data that represents each of the contents and can be presented by a recording / reproducing device. A representative data creating means having a creating function as a representative data creating function, and a representative defining how to prepare all the representative data for each content using the above representative data creating function for at least one content. Management information storage means for allocating one data creation procedure and storing the representative data creation procedure as management information.
[0063]
With the above configuration, for at least one content, one representative data creation procedure that determines how to prepare all the representative data using the representative data creation function is assigned to each content. The data creation procedure is stored as management information.
[0064]
The number of the representative data may or may not be determined in the representative data creation procedure.
[0065]
Examples of the representative data creation function include a function of creating a reduced image of the original data when the original data is image data, a function of creating a character string representing a title of a content, and the like.
[0066]
As the representative data creation procedure, “main”, “back”, and the like described as the thumbnail type in FIG. 3 can be given.
[0067]
By storing the management information, the relationship between the representative data of different contents is stored.
[0068]
The presentation includes display and printing.
[0069]
The representative data is created, for example, based on the data of the content. Also, for example, it is created based on data separately stored in a recording / reproducing device.
[0070]
The representative data may be created in accordance with an instruction from a user.
[0071]
For example, as the management information, the recording / reproducing device can arbitrarily determine the relationship between a plurality of representative data. For example, in a moving image content, a thumbnail of an image just every hour is presented larger than others.
[0072]
Further, for example, as management information, a user can arbitrarily determine a relationship between a plurality of representative data. For example, in a moving image content, characters are inserted only into thumbnails of images that the user particularly likes.
[0073]
More specifically, for example, for at least one content, not limited to only representative data that faithfully reproduces the content, a representative data creation function of the recording / reproducing device that presents the representative data to the user is provided. It is possible to have representative data processed according to a predetermined procedure (which can be determined by the user).
[0074]
In this case, for the predetermined content, only one representative data may be processed using the representative data creation function. For the predetermined content, all the representative data may be processed using the representative data creation function. For all contents, all representative data may be processed using the representative data creation function.
[0075]
The presentation of the representative data is, for example, presentation of a reduced image or a title.
[0076]
Therefore, by managing a plurality of representative data for one content by assigning various meanings to them, a recording / reproducing device having such various representative data creation functions can perform various operations according to the representative data creation function. Representative data can be presented. That is, it is possible to present representative data using various representative data creation functions of the recording / reproducing device. Therefore, when the representative data of the content is presented using the representative data creation function of the recording / reproducing device, the representative data can have various types, and the visibility of the representative data can be improved.
[0077]
A data management program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a content management unit and a management information storage unit in any of the data management apparatuses described above.
[0078]
A computer-readable storage medium storing a data management program according to the present invention is characterized by storing the above data management.
[0079]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0080]
In the present embodiment, AV content data such as video, still images, audio, text, etc. is recorded on a randomly accessible recording medium such as a hard disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. A data management method and apparatus for managing AV content data when a plurality of AV content data are recorded thereon. The data management device includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (representative data creation means), an external storage device (management information storage means), a memory, and an input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device and an output device such as a display. It can be realized by a computer provided with. The data management device is realized by a program (data management program) for making this process function. This program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Here, the storage medium is a storage medium configured with a computer main body, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, or an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD. A program reading device is provided as an external storage device, such as a disk system such as a disk system and a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card, and is a storage medium that can be read by inserting a storage medium therein. Alternatively, the medium may include a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or a flash ROM. Further, the medium may be a medium that carries the program fluidly such that the program is downloaded from a communication network. When the program is downloaded from the communication network as described above, the download program may be stored in the computer in advance, or may be installed from another storage medium.
[0081]
Applications of the data management method of the present invention include video cameras, digital still cameras, portable audio players, and the like. The AV content data file according to the present invention, for example, in the case of a video camera, refers to a file in which the time from the start of shooting to the end of shooting is stored as one set of data. Also, in a digital still camera, one still image data is stored in a recording medium as an AV content data file, and in a portable audio player, one music data is stored in a recording medium.
[0082]
Hereinafter, a method for recording and reproducing AV content data according to the present invention, a method for centrally managing AV content data recorded on a recording medium and its structure, and a method for having a plurality of data used for displaying a list of the AV content data will be described. The method and its structure will be described.
[0083]
〔System configuration〕
FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of a video disk recorder commonly used in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 22, this device includes a bus 1200, a host CPU 1201, a RAM 1202, a ROM 1203, a user interface 1204, a system clock 1205, an optical disk 1206, a pickup 1207, an ECC (Error Correcting Coding) decoder 1208, an ECC encoder 1209, and a reproduction device. Buffer 1210, recording / after-recording buffer 1211, demultiplexer 1212, multiplexer 1213, multiplexing buffer 1214, audio decoder 1215, video decoder 1216, audio encoder 1217, video encoder 1218, and cameras, microphones, speakers, displays, and the like (not shown) It consists of.
[0084]
The host CPU 1201 controls a demultiplexer 1212, a multiplexer 1213, a pickup 1207, and an audio decoder 1215, a video decoder 1216, an audio encoder 1217, and a video encoder 1218 (not shown) via a bus 1200.
[0085]
At the time of reproduction, data read from the optical disk 1206 through the pickup 1207 is error-corrected by the ECC decoder 1208, and is temporarily stored in the reproduction buffer 1210. The host CPU 1201 instructs the demultiplexer 1212 to distribute the data in the reproduction buffer to an appropriate decoder according to the type according to the data transmission request from the audio decoder 1215 and the video decoder 1216 based on the management information on the data being reproduced. give.
[0086]
On the other hand, at the time of recording, data compressed and encoded by the audio encoder 1217 and the video encoder 1218 is once sent to the multiplexing buffer 1214, AV multiplexed by the multiplexer 1213, and sent to the recording / after-recording buffer 1211. The data in the recording / after-recording buffer 1211 is added with an error correction code by an ECC encoder 1209, and is recorded on an optical disk 1206 through a pickup 1207.
[0087]
MPEG-1 Layer-II is used for encoding the audio data, and MPEG-2 is used for encoding the video data.
[0088]
The optical disc 1206 is a detachable optical disc in which recording and reproduction are performed in a spiral form from the outer periphery to the inner periphery. 2048 bytes are defined as one sector, and an ECC block is composed of 16 sectors for error correction. When rewriting data in an ECC block, the entire ECC block including the data is read, error correction is performed, target data is rewritten, an error correction code is added again, and an ECC block is formed. Need to be recorded. The optical disc 1206 employs ZCAV (constant zone angular velocity) in order to increase the recording efficiency, and the recording area includes a plurality of zones having different rotation speeds.
[0089]
[File system]
A file system is used to manage various information on the optical disc 1206. As a file system, UDF (Universal Disk Format) is used in consideration of interoperability with a PC (personal computer). On the file system, various management information and AV streams are treated as files.
[0090]
The user area is managed in 2048-byte logical blocks (one-to-one correspondence with sectors). Each file is composed of an integer number of extents (consecutive logical blocks), and may be recorded in a distributed manner in extent units. The free area is managed in logical block units using Space Bitmap.
[0091]
[Thumbnail data is composed of multiple files]
[Manage multiple thumbnails for one content]
[File structure on recording medium]
FIG. 1 shows, on a GUI screen, index information for managing AV content data and attribute information relating to each AV content data recorded on the recording medium on a recording medium according to the present invention, and a list of the index information. An example is shown in which data (thumbnail, title, text data, etc.) representing the characteristics of AV content data used for recording is recorded in a file format via a file system.
[0092]
As the AV content to be recorded on the recording medium, for example, when recording from a recording start to a recording end as one scene in one file, the AV content data file in which one scene is recorded is SHRP0000. INF (108). Similarly, SHRP0001. INF (109) to SHRP0004. INF (112) indicates that it is an AV content data file corresponding to each scene. The AV content data files 108 to 112 are registered in the video directory 103.
[0093]
Next, SHRP0000. The IDX (104) stores attribute information relating to each AV content recorded on a recording medium, management information relating to data representing characteristics of the AV content data such as thumbnail data and title information which are still images of one scene of the AV content data, and the like. Is an index file. The index file 104 is registered in the Index directory 101.
[0094]
In order to present a list of AV contents on a recording medium to a user, thumbnail data representing characteristics of each content is prepared. Thumbnail data is collectively recorded in a dedicated file for recording thumbnails. In the example of FIG. 1, a file in which several pieces of thumbnail data are collectively recorded, SHRP0000. THM (105) to SHRP0002. It is composed of a THM (107).
[0095]
FIG. 1 shows that thumbnail data of the AV content data files 108 and 112 are recorded in the thumbnail data file 105. Similarly, the thumbnail data file 106 indicates that the AV content data files 109 and 110 are recorded, and the thumbnail data file 107 indicates that the thumbnail data of the AV content data file 111 is recorded.
[0096]
The thumbnail data files 105 to 107 are registered in the Thumb directory 102.
[0097]
As described above, a set of a plurality of thumbnail data for each AV content can be divided into a plurality of thumbnail data files and recorded, so that a user or a recording / reproducing device can freely configure a thumbnail data file. .
[0098]
FIG. 1 shows that the Index directory 101, Thumb directory 102, and Video directory 103 are registered in the ROOT directory 100 on the file system hierarchy.
[0099]
[GUI display]
FIG. 2 shows an example in which AV contents 108 to 112 of FIG. 1 are displayed on a GUI display screen. As a region for displaying thumbnails of AV contents recorded on the recording medium, a total of nine 3 × 3 display regions (200) are configured. When there are nine or more AV contents to be displayed, the screen is scrolled by pressing the up and down arrow buttons (206), and thumbnails of all the AV contents registered in the index file can be displayed.
[0100]
Thumbnail data representing the characteristics of the AV content 108 in FIG. 1 is displayed as 201 on the GUI display area. Similarly, AV contents 109 to 112 correspond to 202 to 205 on the GUI display area, respectively.
[0101]
The GUI of FIG. 2 shows a state in which the AV content 201 is selected (the thumbnail image 201 is surrounded by a thick line), and information about the AV content 201 is displayed in an information display area 207 about the content. Is done. In the content information display area 207, “hill climbing” is displayed as title data representing the characteristics of the AV content 201, indicating that attribute information such as a recording mode and a reproduction time is also displayed.
[0102]
[Management of multiple thumbnails]
A case in which a plurality of thumbnails are used as data to be displayed on a GUI, which represents the characteristics of content recorded on a recording medium according to the present invention, will be described.
[0103]
By managing a plurality of thumbnails for one content, the thumbnails displayed on the GUI screen can have various functions and a method of presenting to the user as described later.
[0104]
FIG. 3 shows an example of managing a plurality of thumbnail data for one content, and is a diagram showing thumbnail data used for GUI display of each content file shown in FIG. The thumbnail data sets of the AV content data files 108 to 112 in FIG. 1 correspond to 300 to 304 in FIG. 3, respectively, and 305 to 313 represent the thumbnail data.
[0105]
The thumbnail data provided for the GUI display of the AV content data file 108 in FIG. 1 is the thumbnail data shown in 300 in FIG. 3, the thumbnail type described later is “main”, and the number of data blocks used in the thumbnail data area Is "1". That is, in the AV content data 108, only the thumbnail data 305 is held.
[0106]
Similarly, the thumbnail data provided on the GUI display of the AV content data file 109 in FIG. 1 is a thumbnail data set indicated by 301 in FIG. 3, the thumbnail type is “back”, and the number of used data blocks in the thumbnail data area is Is "2". That is, in the AV content data 109, 306 and 307 are provided as thumbnail data, and 306 is used as a thumbnail to be displayed as a standard on the GUI screen.
[0107]
Similarly, the AV content data files 110 to 112 in FIG. 1 correspond to 302 to 304 in FIG. 3, respectively, indicating that a plurality of thumbnail data are provided for each AV content data file. .
[0108]
[Thumbnail type and number of registrations]
Thumbnail types indicated by 300 to 304 in FIG. 3 represent a method of managing a plurality of thumbnail data shown in FIG.
[0109]
[Description of thumbnail type is "main"]
The thumbnail type “main” indicates that only one thumbnail data is provided in the content file. Reference numeral 300 indicates that one thumbnail data 305 is recorded as a basic thumbnail for the AV content data file 108 in the thumbnail data file 105 in FIG. The number of used data blocks being one indicates that one data area for recording thumbnail data is used (basic thumbnail area).
[0110]
The thumbnail data 304 indicates that one thumbnail data 313 is recorded in the thumbnail data file 105 in FIG. 1 as thumbnail data for the AV content data file 112 using two blocks. The number of used data blocks being two indicates that there are two data blocks for recording thumbnail data.
[0111]
This is because 304 can increase the data area for recording one thumbnail data, compared to recording one thumbnail data in a data block (basic thumbnail area) for recording one thumbnail data, For example, there is an effect that it can be used when recording high-quality (low-compression) thumbnail data or high-resolution thumbnail data.
[0112]
In order to detect whether or not high-resolution thumbnail data is used, when the thumbnail type is “main” and the “number of used data blocks” is 2 or more, it is identified as high-resolution thumbnail data. I do.
[0113]
[Description of thumbnail type is "back"]
The thumbnail type “back” indicates that the original thumbnail data is managed as the second thumbnail of the thumbnail data in the content file. The original thumbnail data is standard thumbnail data of the content, and is, for example, thumbnail data that most represents the characteristics of the content recorded immediately after the content is recorded on the recording medium.
[0114]
At 301 in FIG. 3, original thumbnail data 307 is recorded in the second thumbnail area as thumbnail data for the AV content data file 109 in the thumbnail data file 106 shown in FIG. 1, and characters are added to the original data. This indicates that the edited thumbnail data 306 is recorded as a basic thumbnail. The number of used data blocks being two indicates that there are two data blocks for recording thumbnail data.
[0115]
When only the original thumbnail data is recorded as the thumbnail data to be displayed on the GUI display screen, the same data as that recorded in the second thumbnail data is recorded in the basic thumbnail. Also, for example, when editing such as adding characters to the original thumbnail data 307 as shown at 306 in FIG. 3 or when recording completely different thumbnail data, the basic thumbnail and the third thumbnail and after are added. It is possible to manage such that the thumbnail data is recorded and the thumbnail data used on the GUI display screen is recorded as basic thumbnail data.
[0116]
It is necessary to manage the number of recorded thumbnail data (the number using the thumbnail data area) by the number of used data blocks.
[0117]
In this management method, the thumbnail data according to the user's preference is recorded as a basic thumbnail from a plurality of thumbnails recorded by editing the original thumbnail data, so that the thumbnail data is displayed on the GUI screen of the content. Can be displayed, and there is an effect that the thumbnail data to be displayed on the GUI can be changed by exchanging a plurality of thumbnail data other than the basic thumbnail data with the basic thumbnail data. Further, there is an effect that the thumbnail data displayed on the GUI screen can be returned to the original thumbnail data at any time.
[0118]
[Description of thumbnail type is "multi"]
In the thumbnail type “multi”, one thumbnail data in the content file is recorded in one data block, and can be displayed on the GUI screen by itself, and a free image by a user or a recording / reproducing device is used as thumbnail data. This indicates that multiple recordings are to be made.
[0119]
At 302 in FIG. 3, in the thumbnail data file 106 in FIG. 1, basic thumbnails, second thumbnails, and thumbnail data 308 to 310 are recorded as thumbnail data for the AV content data file 110 as thumbnail data. It is shown that. The number of used data blocks being three indicates that three data blocks for recording thumbnail data are used.
[0120]
This is because, by registering a plurality of thumbnail data for one content, the thumbnail data according to the user's preference among the plurality of recorded thumbnails is recorded as a basic thumbnail, and the thumbnail is displayed on the GUI screen of the content. It is possible to display data, and there is an effect that the thumbnail data displayed on the GUI screen can be changed by exchanging the basic thumbnail data with a plurality of thumbnail data other than the basic thumbnail data.
[0121]
As a method of registering a plurality of thumbnail data, for example, one thumbnail data is registered at an arbitrary reproduction time interval of the content, and the thumbnail data is sequentially displayed at a constant time interval, for example. You can get an overview of Further, since an image at an arbitrary time in the content can be recorded, a means for separately managing time information is provided, such as providing time information corresponding to individual thumbnail data in [management information for managing a plurality of thumbnails] described later. Accordingly, there is an effect that the content can be reproduced from the reproduction position corresponding to the thumbnail data by selecting the thumbnail data by the user.
[0122]
[User defined thumbnail type]
If the thumbnail type is a thumbnail type other than the above “main”, “back”, and “multi”, it indicates that it is a user-defined unique management method. In FIG. 6, the unknown thumbnail type defined by the user is indicated by using “****”. “****” means any four characters, and can be freely set for each type defined by the user.
[0123]
Reference numeral 303 in FIG. 3 indicates that basic thumbnails and thumbnail data 311 and 312 as second thumbnails are recorded as thumbnail data for the AV content data file 111 in the thumbnail data file 107 in FIG. I have. The number of used data blocks being two indicates that two data blocks for recording thumbnail data are used. It also indicates that “ovly” is defined as a unique user-defined thumbnail type.
[0124]
Since a unique user-defined type is prepared for the thumbnail type, some devices cannot understand the user-defined thumbnail type. However, in such a device, as the thumbnail data used for the GUI display, the basic thumbnail is used in the same manner as described above. Is used. In other words, if there is a user-defined thumbnail type that cannot be interpreted, the operation of ignoring thumbnails other than the basic thumbnail, such as the second and subsequent thumbnails is performed. Therefore, when managing thumbnail data using a user definition, it is possible to maintain compatibility between devices by recording standard thumbnails as basic thumbnails. Since a device that cannot interpret the user-defined thumbnail accesses only the basic thumbnail (including changing the thumbnail), the contents of the second and subsequent thumbnails (other than the basic thumbnail) are different from the basic thumbnail from the viewpoint of consistency. It is desirable that there be few dependencies.
[0125]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 303 defines a unique user-defined “ovly” that superimposes and manages a plurality of managed thumbnail data when displaying thumbnail data.
[0126]
As an application example of the GUI display using the thumbnail type, it is shown that the basic thumbnail and the second thumbnail are superimposed and displayed on the GUI display screen. The thumbnail data 311 is thumbnail data of only a person, and nothing exists in the background portion. Reference numeral 312 denotes a desert background image. Then, when displayed on the GUI screen, the registered thumbnails are superimposed and displayed as indicated by 204 in FIG. 2 to display one thumbnail data of a person walking in the desert.
[0127]
As described above, some background thumbnail data such as 312 can be prepared, and the thumbnail data can be combined and displayed on the GUI screen according to the user's preference.
[0128]
Also, by preparing some thumbnail data of only characters and superimposing the thumbnail data of the image and displaying the thumbnail data, thumbnail data with characters can be displayed on the GUI screen. It can be changed. This has the effect of enabling operations such as changing the thumbnail displayed on the GUI screen and returning the changed thumbnail to a standard thumbnail, as in the case of the thumbnail type “back” or “multi”.
[0129]
Note that the thumbnail type “ovly” may be defined as a thumbnail type used in various devices, instead of being user-defined, like “back” and “multi”.
[0130]
[Thumbnail type variations]
When the thumbnail type is “user-defined”, it is used as a unique operation between recording / reproducing devices and manufacturers. Thumbnail types other than “user-defined” (such as “main” and “multi”) are This is a thumbnail type commonly used by recording / reproducing devices and manufacturers.
[0131]
As this commonly used thumbnail type, a basic thumbnail is provided with a thumbnail type for recording standard thumbnail data, and using the second and subsequent thumbnails to record, for example, 2D and 3D thumbnail data. In this case, thumbnail data for 2D is recorded in the basic thumbnail. Then, a thumbnail type may be prepared in which left-eye thumbnail data is recorded as the second thumbnail and right-eye thumbnail data is recorded as the third thumbnail, and thumbnail data as a 3D image is displayed using these two data. Here, a case where up to the third thumbnail data is used has been described, but a plurality of 3D images may be recorded using the fourth and subsequent thumbnail data.
[0132]
Next, a thumbnail obtained by enlarging a standard thumbnail as a thumbnail type may be recorded after the second thumbnail. For example, when the image size of the standard thumbnail data recorded in the basic thumbnail is 160 × 120, the resolution of an image similar to the standard thumbnail data is set to 640 × 480, and the resolution is set to 160 × 120. , And recording is performed using the second to fifth thumbnails. Thus, a high-resolution thumbnail can be displayed using four display portions (for example, 201, 202, 204, and 205 in FIG. 2) of the GUI screen. In addition, it is possible to perform a display method in which one of the thumbnail data with high resolution (for example, the second thumbnail data) is displayed in one display portion of the GUI screen and a part of the thumbnail data is displayed on the GUI screen. it can. Further, a display method is also possible in which a displayed part can move in the entire high-resolution thumbnail.
[0133]
In addition, a display method of partially enlarging the thumbnail data by selecting a part of the standard thumbnail data and displaying the high-resolution thumbnail data corresponding to the selected part is also possible by this thumbnail data recording method. This makes it possible to display enlarged or reduced thumbnail data starting from the standard thumbnail data.
[0134]
Also, a representative image of each scene in one content may be recorded as a plurality of thumbnail data as a thumbnail type. This is a display method in which a plurality of thumbnail data are displayed in order from a basic thumbnail at certain time intervals, so that the extracted contents of the entire content can be viewed as a slide show.
[0135]
Further, as the thumbnail type, for example, one frame of moving image data, which is 15 frames per second, may be recorded as one thumbnail data. In this method, the thumbnail data of a moving image can be displayed by reading out 15 pieces of thumbnail data per second in order from the basic thumbnail, and displaying the thumbnail data in order. These thumbnail data may be the same as the content of the video of the content, or may be a newly created moving image such as an animation.
[0136]
[Basic thumbnail]
The basic thumbnail shown in FIG. 3 is thumbnail data used for displaying on the GUI, and is the first thumbnail data among a plurality of thumbnail data provided for each content. The second and third thumbnails are additional thumbnail data that are used depending on the thumbnail type.
[0137]
With such a structure of the thumbnail data, it is possible to have a function specific to the user to be used depending on the thumbnail type.
[0138]
In addition, by managing standard thumbnail data used for GUI display of one content as the first basic thumbnail data, for example, a portable device having only a basic function that does not have a function of handling a plurality of thumbnails for one content By accessing only the basic thumbnails, a list of contents recorded on the recording medium can be displayed.
[0139]
[Management information for managing multiple thumbnails]
FIGS. 4 to 6 show examples of index information for managing a plurality of thumbnail data for one content according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows index information stored in the index file 104 of FIG. “Uint32” represents an unsigned integer of 32 bits (thus, 4 bytes). Others are the same.
[0140]
The index information is management information such as information for accessing data indicating the recording date and time of each content file recorded on the recording medium and characteristics of the content. Each field of FIG. 4 is stored from the top of the index file 104.
[0141]
The “addition / attribute information”, which is the first field in FIG. 4, stores management information regarding the entire recording medium, such as the date and time when the index file was created.
[0142]
In the second field “content registration number”, the number of content files registered in the index file 104 is registered. Since the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is an example of five AV content data files, 5 is stored in the “content registration number” field.
[0143]
The “fixed-length data size”, which is the third field, manages the data size of an area (hereinafter, one block) for recording thumbnail data (not necessarily thumbnail data) representing the characteristics of the content data managed by the index file. . Here, the data size of one block is managed as a fixed length size. In the management mode of [management of a plurality of thumbnails], one thumbnail data area (basic thumbnail or second thumbnail) has a fixed length size, and this thumbnail data area, that is, a thumbnail using several fixed length size blocks is used. Manage data. For example, 302 in FIG. 3 indicates that the “number of used data blocks” is 3, so that three thumbnail data are recorded in the thumbnail data file 106 using three fixed-length blocks.
[0144]
From the fourth field, index information in each content file shown in FIG. 5 is stored. In FIG. 5, “ID”, “content addition / attribute information”, “thumbnail type”, “file name”, “head data block number”, “number of used data blocks”, “ It has a management information field of "ID", and is registered in the index file in the order of recording the content data on the recording medium in units of this management information field. Hereinafter, each field will be described with an example of index management for the AV content data file 110 in FIG.
[0145]
The “ID” field in FIG. 5 is information for identifying a content data file, and stores an ID number or the like representing the content data file. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, AV content data files 108 to 112 in FIG. 1 and 300 to 304 in FIG. 3 are represented by # 1 to # 5, respectively. The ID number may be any information that specifies the content data, such as the file name of the content data file.
[0146]
When managing by ID number, information for associating the ID number with the content data file on the recording medium is managed, and the content data file corresponding to the ID number is accessed based on the correspondence information.
[0147]
The “content addition / attribute information” field stores content data file specific information such as the creation date and time of each content data file.
[0148]
The “thumbnail type” field is a field for storing the thumbnail type described in [Management of a plurality of thumbnails]. For example, the “ID” field in FIG. 5 corresponding to the AV content data file 110 (302 in FIG. 3) in FIG. 1 indicates that the thumbnail type in the index information of # 3 is “multi”.
[0149]
The “file name” field is information for specifying a file in which data representing the characteristics of the content data file is stored. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the file name of the thumbnail data file is stored. The file storing the thumbnail data of the index information whose ID field is # 3 in FIG. 5 is SHRP0001. THM, which corresponds to the thumbnail data file 106 in FIG.
[0150]
The “head data block number” is information indicating a position where data is stored in a thumbnail data file in a thumbnail data file to be described later. For example, the index information whose ID field is # 3 indicates that the thumbnail data relating to the AV content data file 110 is stored from the second block in the thumbnail data file 106 in FIG.
[0151]
The “number of used data blocks” is a field for storing the number of blocks used by data representing the feature of the content corresponding to the content data described in the “head data block number”. For example, the index information whose ID field is # 3 indicates that the thumbnail data relating to the AV content data file 110 is stored using three blocks from the second block in the thumbnail data file 106 in FIG. ing. Actually, it indicates that three thumbnail data are managed using three blocks.
[0152]
The “manufacturer ID” is an ID indicating the manufacturer of the device that has recorded the content data managed by the index information on the recording medium, and stores a unique value for each maker. FIG. 5 shows that the AV content data files 108 to 111 in FIG. 1 are recorded by devices of the same maker whose “maker ID” is 3, and the AV content data file 112 has a “maker ID” of 1 Indicates that the data was recorded by a manufacturer's device.
[0153]
By recording the AV content on a recording medium and registering the ID of the maker or device that registered the thumbnail data in the index information, it is possible to specify which maker or device recorded the AV content or the thumbnail data. it can. Further, even if the content managed by the index information recorded on the recording medium has the same thumbnail type by interpreting the “maker ID”, if the “maker ID” is different, a different GUI screen is displayed. Assuming a method, it is possible to detect that there is a possibility that the information is recorded.
[0154]
When the thumbnail type is “user defined”, since it is an original management method and a display method on the GUI screen, if the same thumbnail type is accidentally defined between the manufacturers, it may cause a malfunction. . Therefore, when interpreting "user-defined", by interpreting "maker ID" at the same time, there is an effect that malfunction can be prevented.
[0155]
FIG. 6 shows the thumbnail type in the present embodiment, which is as described in [Management of Multiple Thumbnails] and thereafter.
[0156]
[File structure of thumbnail data]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the thumbnail data in the thumbnail data file according to the present embodiment from FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. SHRP0000.N1 having thumbnail data 500 to 501 in FIG. THM corresponds to the thumbnail file 105 in FIG. Similarly, SHRP0001. THM is SHRP0002.SHRP0002. Which has a thumbnail file 106 and thumbnail data 507 to 508. THM corresponds to the thumbnail file 107. Data blocks 0 to 4 in FIG. 7 indicate that one data block is thumbnail data using a data block having a fixed length of 8 KB. This fixed length size is stored in the “fixed length data size” field of FIG.
[0157]
The thumbnail data in the AV content data file 108 shown in FIG. 1 is represented by # 1 in the index information shown in FIG. THM, “head data block number” is 0, and “use data block number” is 1, which represents 500 in FIG. Similarly, the AV content data file 109 has a thumbnail file of SHRP0001. The THM, “head data block number” is 0, and “used data block number” is 2, which represents 502 to 503 in FIG. Hereinafter, the same applies to the AV content data files 110 to 112.
[0158]
Also, the AV content data file 112 manages one thumbnail data because the thumbnail type is “main” from FIG. 5, and the “head data block number” is 1 and the “number of used data blocks” is 2. This indicates that one thumbnail data is managed using two data blocks of data blocks 1 and 2 as indicated by 501.
[0159]
By setting one data block to have a fixed length, it is possible to easily exchange data between data blocks and delete or rewrite data blocks. Further, when an unused fixed-length size data block exists in the thumbnail data file due to the deletion of the data block or the like, the area can be reused to record the thumbnail data.
[0160]
In addition, in order to access each thumbnail data in the thumbnail data file, the size information of each thumbnail data is separately managed only by management information holding the number of thumbnail data (the “number of used data blocks” field in FIG. 5). Since there is no need, there is an effect that the amount of management information for accessing thumbnail data can be reduced.
[0161]
[Content recording]
A process of recording AV content data on a recording medium and registering the recorded AV content data in an index file will be described with reference to FIG. The case where thumbnail data is registered as data representing the characteristics of AV content data to be registered in the index file will be described. However, title data, text data, and the like can be registered by a similar registration method and displayed on the GUI screen. It is also possible to register data in combination with data representing characteristics of a plurality of AV contents, such as thumbnail data and title data.
[0162]
In the content recording process, the AV content data is recorded on the recording medium in S600 according to the process flow chart of FIG. 8, and then the thumbnail data of the AV content data recorded in S601 is recorded. Then, a process of registering the recorded AV content data in the index file together with the thumbnail data recorded in S602 is performed. The details of each process will be described below.
[0163]
[Recording of content data]
The process of recording the content data (S600) in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S603, a file for recording the AV content is opened on a specific directory (for example, the video directory 103 in FIG. 1). Next, in S604, when the recording is started, the data of the AV content sent from the encoder or the like is recorded on the recording medium. Then, when the recording is completed, in step S605, the recorded AV content data file is closed to store the data from the start of recording to the end of recording in one file.
[0164]
[Continuous recording of thumbnail data]
Next, the process of recording the thumbnail data (S601) in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. In S606, the type of the thumbnail to be registered in FIG. 6 is selected. Then, in step S607, one or more pieces of thumbnail data corresponding to the thumbnail type determined in step S606 are recorded on the memory of the recording device from AV content data or thumbnail data prepared in advance. Here, the thumbnail type and the thumbnail data to be recorded are extracted after recording the AV content data. For example, before recording the AV content data, a standard recording method is set in the recording device in advance. In addition, a GUI configuration that prompts the user to select the thumbnail type or the thumbnail data of the AV content data to be registered may be adopted.
[0165]
Then, the thumbnail data extracted to the memory on the recording device is subjected to the fixed-length size of one thumbnail data, so that the thumbnail data has a fixed-length size from the end (for example, 8 Kbytes as shown in FIG. 7). Fill with 0 until Here, when the thumbnail data exceeds the fixed length size, two thumbnail size data blocks are used, and after recording the thumbnail data in the first data block, the remaining thumbnail data is stored in the first data block. Record in the first data block. In order to perform the fixed length of the second data block, the data block is padded with the value 0 until it becomes the fixed length size as described above. If the thumbnail data does not fit in two data blocks, a required number of data blocks are prepared and recorded, and the last data block is padded with a value 0 so as to have a fixed length size as described above ( S608).
[0166]
In S609, a file for recording thumbnail data (for example, the thumbnail data file 105 in FIG. 1) in a specific directory for recording the thumbnail data file (for example, the Thumb directory 102 in FIG. 1) is opened. For a new file, create and open the file.
[0167]
A file for recording a plurality of thumbnail data to be recorded in one content is a file in which all content thumbnail data on a recording medium are collectively recorded in one thumbnail data file, and an index file to be described later is also combined into one file. They may be recorded together.
[0168]
This can be done simply by copying only one thumbnail data file when the list information on all the contents on the recording medium is copied to another medium or device, so that the copying can be performed easily. .
[0169]
Further, a plurality of thumbnail data for one content are continuously recorded in one thumbnail data file, but a plurality of data blocks of the thumbnail data for each content are stored in several files for each thumbnail type and purpose. You may record separately.
[0170]
This is because, for example, by collectively recording thumbnail data for each content in one file, the content of the content can be instantaneously confirmed just by referring to the thumbnail data file corresponding to the content, or the same content can be used between different contents. When thumbnail data is used, the thumbnail data files are managed so as to be the same between the contents, so that the thumbnail data files can be shared and the number of thumbnail data files can be reduced.
[0171]
Then, in S610, all the extracted thumbnail data are continuously recorded at the end of the opened thumbnail data file.
[0172]
When the recording of the thumbnail data is completed, the thumbnail data file recorded in S611 is closed.
[0173]
By continuously recording thumbnail data relating to one content in a thumbnail data file, there is an effect that high-speed access can be performed when recording or reading out thumbnail data. Also, management information for accessing a plurality of thumbnail data relating to one content as shown in FIG. 5 can be prepared with a minimum data amount, and the management information amount can be reduced.
[0174]
Also, as a method of continuously recording thumbnail data, when recording the first thumbnail data when registering a plurality of thumbnail data in one content, a fixed length size of the maximum number of thumbnail data to be registered in advance is used. An area of a certain continuous data block is secured in the thumbnail data file, and indicates in which area of the data block area secured in the [management information for managing a plurality of thumbnails] the thumbnail data is actually stored. A management method of providing a data block valid flag may be performed.
[0175]
For example, if the maximum number of thumbnail data to be registered in one content is 5, new content is recorded on a recording medium, and when thumbnail data is recorded for the first time in a thumbnail data file, five thumbnail data are stored in the thumbnail data file. An area for a data block is secured, and the number of used data blocks in the [management information for managing a plurality of thumbnails] is registered as five. Then, after the first thumbnail data is recorded in the thumbnail data file, a flag indicating that the first data block is used is recorded in the [management information for managing a plurality of thumbnails].
[0176]
When recording two or more thumbnail data, when recording the second thumbnail data, a flag indicating that the recorded data block is used is recorded in any of the remaining four data blocks. Set. This method of recording and managing the thumbnail data is repeated, so that a maximum of five thumbnail data can be recorded and managed.
[0177]
In this manner, by securing and managing the maximum number of recording data block areas for recording thumbnail data for one content, after recording the thumbnail data of a certain content, the thumbnail data file for recording the content thumbnail data becomes available. When thumbnail data of another identical content is recorded, it is possible to add thumbnail data or delete thumbnail data to the original content without moving the subsequent thumbnail data.
[0178]
In this case, the deletion of the thumbnail data can be performed by setting a flag indicating that the data block is used to unused, and there is an effect that the deletion can be performed only by operating the management information.
[0179]
Furthermore, thumbnail data can be added by using (reusing) unused fixed-size data blocks, so that the amount of additional processing of thumbnail data can be reduced and the processing time can be reduced. This has the effect.
[0180]
In addition, when deleting all the thumbnail data by deleting the content or the like, the maximum number of data block areas can be deleted at once without deleting the thumbnail data one by one. There is an effect that can be.
[0181]
[Registration of thumbnails]
The process of registering thumbnails (S602) in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 4, and 5. FIG.
[0182]
In S612 of FIG. 11, an index file (for example, the index file of FIG. 1) for managing content data recorded on a recording medium in a specific directory (for example, the Index directory 101 of FIG. 1) where the index file exists. 104) is opened. If the recording of the AV content data is a new recording, an index file is newly created, and additional / attribute information such as the creation date and time of the index file in FIG. 4 and a fixed-length data size field are registered.
[0183]
Then, in step S613, index information related to the recorded AV content such as the content addition / attribute information and the thumbnail type shown in FIG. 5 is registered.
[0184]
In S614, the file name of the thumbnail data, which is the information of the thumbnail data of the AV content described in [Continuous Recording of Thumbnail Data], and the number of the fixed-length data block (the first The data block starts with block number 0), the number of used data blocks, the maker ID field of the device that performed the recording, and the like.
[0185]
Then, in S615, the index file (for example, 104 in FIG. 1) in which the index information is recorded is closed.
[0186]
With the above processing, the AV content data is recorded on the recording medium, and the index information including the thumbnail data and its management method is recorded on the recording medium.
[0187]
[Content playback]
A process of reproducing AV content data from a GUI display screen using an index file for managing AV content data recorded on a recording medium will be described with reference to FIG. A case will be described in which thumbnail data is used as data representing the characteristics of AV content data displayed on the GUI screen. However, title data and text data are displayed by a similar GUI screen display method, and content to be reproduced is displayed. It is possible to choose. It is also possible to select a content from a GUI display screen displayed by combining data representing characteristics of a plurality of AV contents such as thumbnail data and title data.
[0188]
In the content reproduction process, the list information of the AV content data recorded on the recording medium is displayed on the GUI screen in S700 in accordance with the flow chart of the process in FIG. 12, and then the user selects the content to be reproduced in S701. Then, a process of reproducing the AV content data file selected in S702 is performed. The details of each process will be described below.
[0189]
[Display of GUI screen]
The process of displaying the GUI screen (S700) in FIG. 12 will be described with reference to FIG. In S703, an index file (for example, index file 104 in FIG. 1) that manages list information of AV contents recorded on the recording medium is opened.
[0190]
Next, in S704, it is confirmed whether all the index information stored in the index file has been displayed on the GUI screen. Here, since it is the display of the first index information, the process proceeds to S705 to perform a process of displaying the first index information on the GUI screen.
[0191]
[Display content on GUI screen]
The process of displaying the content on the GUI screen will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0192]
In S707, the addition / attribute information of the content and the access data of the thumbnail data shown in FIG. 5 in the index file are read.
[0193]
In step S708, a thumbnail data file storing the thumbnail data (for example, the thumbnail data file 105 in FIG. 1) is opened based on the file name included in the access data of the read thumbnail data.
[0194]
Next, in step S709, the head block number from the head of the thumbnail data file corresponding to a value obtained by multiplying the head block number and the value of the fixed length data size recorded in the index file from the head block number included in the access data of the thumbnail data is obtained. Move to position. Then, after reading the thumbnail data from the thumbnail data file by the number of used data blocks (the size of the value obtained by multiplying the fixed-length data size and the number of used data blocks), the thumbnail data file is closed in S710.
[0195]
In S711, the read thumbnail data is displayed on the GUI screen by a management method suitable for the manufacturer ID and the thumbnail type. For example, in # 1 in FIG. 5, the thumbnail type is "main", the head block number is "0", and the number of used blocks is "1", so that the thumbnail data file SHRP0000. Basic thumbnail data corresponding to the first data block stored in the first 8 Kbytes of THM is displayed on the GUI screen (corresponding to the data block 500 in FIG. 7).
[0196]
Also, for example, in # 4 in FIG. 5, the thumbnail type is “ovly”, which indicates that the management is based on user definition, and whether the index information is user-defined is confirmed by the manufacturer ID. If it is user-defined, it is displayed on the GUI screen according to the defined management method. In this case, since the thumbnail data having the first block number of “0” and the number of used blocks of “2” is defined as a thumbnail data file SHRP0002. The thumbnail data corresponding to the two data blocks stored in the first 16 Kbytes of the THM are read out and superimposed and displayed on the GUI screen (corresponding to the data blocks 507 and 508 in FIG. 7).
[0197]
In S712, preparation is made for reading out the index information next to the index information displayed on the GUI, and the process returns to S704. Then, the loop of S704 and S705 is repeated to read all the index information stored in the index file, and when the display on the GUI screen is completed, the process proceeds to S706, and the index file is closed.
[0198]
[Selecting content to play]
Next, the process of selecting content to be reproduced in S701 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0199]
In S713, a content to be reproduced on the GUI screen is selected. The content is selected by specifying a content to be reproduced, such as a thumbnail on the GUI screen, with a pointer or a cursor for acquiring a position on the screen. When the content is selected, information corresponding to the selected content is displayed in the display area in the specific GUI screen from the addition / attribute information of the content acquired in step S707 of [Displaying Content on GUI Screen] ( For example, the region 207 in FIG. 2).
[0200]
By selecting the content on the GUI screen, the content data file name of the content selected in S714 is acquired (for example, corresponds to the “No.” field in FIG. 5). Then, the process proceeds to S702 “reproduce content data file” in FIG.
[0201]
[Play content data file]
The process of reproducing the AV content data file in S702 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0202]
In S715, the file of the AV content data file (for example, the AV content data file 108 in FIG. 1) acquired in S714 is opened.
[0203]
Next, in step S716, the AV content data in the AV content data file is sequentially read and sent to a decoder that performs a reproduction process. The decoder decodes the AV content data and reproduces the AV content.
[0204]
In step S717, if the reproduction of the AV content data has been completed or the reproduction has been stopped by the user or the like, the process advances to step S718 to close the AV content data file.
[0205]
The above processing has been a description of the reproducing method from the stage when the recording medium is set in the reproducing device. However, once the recording medium is set in the reproducing device and the index information is displayed on the GUI screen, the processing in S701 of FIG. By performing the processing from, any content can be reproduced any number of times.
[0206]
[Manage one thumbnail for one content]
In the above description of the embodiment, a method of managing a plurality of thumbnails for one content has been described. However, data representing characteristics of the AV content such as the AV content data and the thumbnail data described above. One management method may be used to manage one thumbnail for one content. In this case, it is not necessary to use the fields of the thumbnail type and the number of used data blocks of the thumbnail data in the index management information field shown in FIG. 5, or to prepare them in the index information.
[0207]
[Embodiment 2]
[Thumbnail data is composed of one file]
[Manage multiple thumbnails for one content]
[Record thumbnail data in one thumbnail file]
In the first embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the thumbnail data is taken as an example of the data representing the characteristics of the AV content data and the recording is performed by dividing the data into several thumbnail data files. However, as shown in FIG. The thumbnail data in each of 108 to 112 may be recorded in one thumbnail data file 105.
[0208]
In this management method, the file name field indicating the thumbnail data file in the index information shown in FIG. 5 is not always necessary, and the file name for recording the thumbnail data is SHRP0000. THM and THUMBNAIL. Like DAT, the information may be managed by being determined in advance. By treating all the thumbnail data file names of the thumbnail data as the same, the method of recording and reproducing the AV content of [recording the thumbnail data in one thumbnail file] in the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. I can do it.
[0209]
As described above, by collectively recording the thumbnail data in one thumbnail data file, index information for managing the file name in which the thumbnail data is stored is not required, and the management information amount of the index information can be reduced. There is a possible effect. Further, by copying the index file and the thumbnail data file on the recording medium to a device (for example, a PC) that centrally manages the respective contents recorded on the plurality of recording media, the content recorded on each recording medium is copied. Is managed by simply copying one index file and one thumbnail data file.
[0210]
[Record thumbnail data in one index file]
In the above [recording thumbnail data in one thumbnail file], an index file storing index information and a file storing thumbnail data are individually registered as an example of data representing characteristics of AV content data. As shown in FIG. 18, index information for managing the content data recorded on the recording medium in the index file 104 and thumbnail data representing the characteristics of the content data are stored in one index file as shown in FIG. May be stored.
[0211]
The index information data obtained by this management method becomes the index information shown in FIGS. 19 is the same as FIG. 20 is different from the index information of FIG. 5 in that a file name field for managing a file name in which thumbnail data is stored does not exist. This is because the file storing the index information and the thumbnail data is the index file SHRP0000. By determining a file name or the like in advance as in the case of IDX (104), it becomes possible to access the index information and the thumbnail data, indicating that the file name field is not required. By treating the file names of the files storing the index information and the thumbnail data all as the same, the method of recording and reproducing the AV contents of [recording the thumbnail data in one index file] in the present embodiment is described in the first embodiment. Can be performed by the same processing as described above.
[0212]
With reference to FIG. 21, a description will be given of a data arrangement in an index file when book (recording thumbnail data in one index file) is performed. In FIG. 21, the index information of FIG. 19 is an index file SHRP0000. It is recorded in Index Data (1100) from the head of IDX (104). Subsequent to this Index Data (1100), thumbnail data is recorded, and this becomes data block 0 having a fixed length size. In FIG. 21, the fixed-length size in one data block is 8 KB. In order to access the thumbnail data of data block 0, for example, the data size of Index Data (1100) is recorded in the first 4 bytes of Index Data, and this data size is skipped from the top of the index file. Access can be made to the data blocks starting with 0. This is means for recording information for accessing the beginning of data block 0, such as the offset value from the beginning of data block 0, as well as the data size of Index Data (1100) in the index file, and reading it out. Therefore, any form may be used as long as data block 0 can be accessed.
[0213]
Then, the thumbnail data in the AV content data 108 is stored in the data block 0 (1101) in FIG. 21. In the # 1 field in the index information in FIG. 20, "head data block number" is "0", "use data". The number of blocks is managed as “1”.
[0214]
Similarly, the thumbnail data in the AV content data 109 is continuously stored in two data blocks of the data block 1 (1102) and the data block 2 (1103) in FIG. In the field, “head data block number” is managed as “1” and “number of used data blocks” is managed as “2.” The same applies to the AV content data files 110 to 112 below.
[0215]
As described above, by collectively recording the index information data and the thumbnail data in one index file, the index information for managing the file name in which the thumbnail data is stored is not required, and the amount of management information of the index information is reduced. There is an effect that can be performed. Also, the content recorded on each recording medium is managed by copying the index file on each recording medium to a device (for example, a PC) that centrally manages each content recorded on a plurality of recording media. In this case, the management can be performed only by copying one index file, so that there is an effect that the management becomes easier.
[0216]
[Embodiment 3]
[Manage one thumbnail for one content]
In the above description of the second embodiment, a method of managing a plurality of thumbnails for one content has been described. However, the characteristics of the AV content such as the AV content data and the thumbnail data described above are described. One thumbnail may be managed for one content by using a data management method. In this case, it is not necessary to use the fields of the thumbnail type and the number of used data blocks of the thumbnail data in the index management information field shown in FIG. 20, or to prepare them in the index information.
[0219]
[Embodiment 4]
[Record thumbnail data for one content by dividing it into multiple files]
In the above description, a plurality of pieces of thumbnail data for one content are continuously recorded in one thumbnail data file, and the plurality of pieces of thumbnail data for each content are separately recorded in several thumbnail data files. However, the thumbnail data for one content may be divided into several thumbnail data files and recorded. In this case, in order to access each of the plurality of thumbnail data for one content, the access management information for one thumbnail data (the head data block number and the used data in FIG. 5) in the index management information of FIG. In the block number field), it is necessary to provide information (such as a thumbnail data file name) for specifying a file in which thumbnail data is recorded. Note that, for each thumbnail data, the file name in which the thumbnail data is registered is managed, so that the file name field in FIG. 5 becomes unnecessary.
[0218]
This is because, for example, frequently used thumbnail data such as a basic thumbnail required for GUI display of all contents on a recording medium is collectively recorded as one thumbnail data, and the other optional thumbnail data is stored. By recording infrequently used data, such as by dividing it into thumbnail types, the data can be read out and displayed at high speed during GUI display.
[0219]
Also, when different data such as video data and still image data are mixed and recorded on a recording medium, if the thumbnail data of each content is recorded in one thumbnail data file, the video data and the still image data When the thumbnails are distinguished and displayed on the GUI screen, it is necessary to separately prepare management information for distinguishing the types of the content data.
[0220]
However, the thumbnail data may be collectively recorded as one file for each type of the content data, and the file name of the thumbnail data file may be used to distinguish which type of content data is the thumbnail data. This makes it possible to distinguish between thumbnail data for video data and thumbnail data for still images based on the file name of the thumbnail data. When displaying a list of each type of content at the time of displaying the GUI screen, the thumbnail data can be quickly converted. There is an effect that the GUI screen can be read and the GUI screen can be displayed at high speed.
[0221]
Also, a plurality of thumbnail data at an arbitrary time of the content data (an arbitrary time of the content data is used as a marker in original content data recorded at the time of initial recording, content data generated by editing, moving image, etc.). In a system having a management structure that allows the user to freely classify contents separately from the file hierarchical structure recorded on the recording medium, thumbnail data such as data representing the characteristics of those classifications is recorded. The thumbnail data file may be divided and recorded in units of these functions provided on the playback device side. Thus, since the necessary thumbnail data in the operation state of each function is collectively recorded in one file, the thumbnail data can be read at high speed, so that the GUI display and the operation speed of each function can be improved. effective.
[0222]
Also, one thumbnail data file may be recorded for each thumbnail data (for example, nine thumbnail data in FIG. 2) necessary to be displayed first on the GUI screen, or for some units. As a result, the first GUI screen display thumbnail data can be read at high speed, and the GUI screen can be displayed at high speed. In addition, by using one file for each unit, when scrolling the thumbnail data on the GUI screen, the thumbnail data required for scrolling can be scrolled in a scrollable range unit (corresponding to some of the above units). Therefore, the thumbnail data can be scrolled at high speed.
[0223]
As described above, several application examples of the method of dividing and recording the thumbnail data for one content into a plurality of files have been described. By combining these methods, the thumbnail data can be stored in the file. May be recorded separately.
[0224]
[Embodiment 5]
[Record thumbnail data in each content data file]
In the first to fourth embodiments, the management method of recording data in one index file or at least one data file for storing thumbnails has been described by taking thumbnail data as an example of data representing characteristics of each AV content data. However, thumbnail data corresponding to each AV content data may be stored in each AV content data file.
[0225]
One embodiment of storing thumbnail data in a corresponding content data file will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0226]
25, the index file 104 (SHRP0000.IDX) is recorded in the Index directory 101, and the AV content data files 108 (SHRP0000.INF) to 112 (SHRP0004.INF) are recorded in the Video directory 103 as in FIG. The index directory 101 and the video directory 103 show the hierarchical structure on the recording medium recorded in the root directory 100.
[0227]
This embodiment describes a thumbnail data management method by storing at least one thumbnail data corresponding to an AV content data file in the AV content data file.
[0228]
[Record only basic thumbnail data in the index file]
Basic thumbnail data in each of the AV content data files 108 to 112 in FIG. 25 is recorded in the index file 104, and thumbnail data other than the basic thumbnail data (hereinafter, extended thumbnail data) is recorded in each corresponding content data file. Will be described.
[0229]
[Basic thumbnail data and extended thumbnail data]
FIG. 26 shows extended thumbnail data and basic thumbnail data used by the function managed by the thumbnail type for each AV content data. Thumbnail data corresponding to the AV content data files 108 to 112 in FIG. 25 are 1600 to 1604 in FIG. For example, the AV content data file 108 corresponds to 1600, the thumbnail type is “main”, and indicates that one thumbnail data is held.
[0230]
Similarly, the AV content data file 109 corresponds to 1601, indicating that the thumbnail type is "back" and that two pieces of thumbnail data are held. Hereinafter, the AV content data 110 to 112 similarly correspond to 1602 to 1604, respectively.
[0231]
Reference numerals 1605 to 1609 denote basic thumbnails, which are standard thumbnail data of each AV content data file displayed on the GUI display screen, and are recorded in the index file 104.
[0232]
Reference numerals 1610 to 1615 denote extended thumbnail data used in a function managed by a thumbnail type and a GUI screen display method, and these thumbnail data are stored in corresponding AV content data files.
[0233]
For example, the original thumbnail data 1610 in the AV content data file 109 whose thumbnail type is “back” 1601 is recorded in the AV content data file 109.
[0234]
Also, the thumbnail data 1611 and 1612 different from the basic thumbnail data in the AV content data file 110 whose thumbnail type is “multi” in 1602 are continuously recorded in the AV content data file 110.
[0235]
Hereinafter, the same applies to the extended thumbnail data 1613 to 1615 in 1603 and 1604. The thumbnail type “advn” 1604 is a thumbnail type indicating that two data blocks are used and thumbnail data of higher quality than the basic thumbnail data is held as extended thumbnail data.
[0236]
In the AV content data file 108 whose thumbnail type is “main” in 1600, since the thumbnail data is only the basic thumbnail data and no extended thumbnail data exists, the AV content data file 108 includes the thumbnail data in the AV content data file 108. Is not recorded.
[0237]
[Index information]
FIG. 27 to FIG. 29 show an example of index information in the management method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 27 is the same as FIG. 4 and is stored in the index file 104.
[0238]
FIG. 28 shows a “management information table for each content” recorded in the index file. FIG. 29 shows extended management information recorded in each AV content data file. The “thumbnail type”, “number of used data blocks”, and “maker ID” fields in the present embodiment are recorded as extended management information in the corresponding AV content data file. The “management information table of each content” in FIG. 28 has the “number of used data blocks” and “manufacturer ID” fields recorded as extension information in each AV content data file. It is similar to the one.
[0239]
The “management information table of each content” will be described with reference to FIG. Since the fields in FIG. 28 are the same as in FIG. 5, detailed description will be omitted. However, # 1 to # 5 of the "ID" field, which is information for specifying the AV content data file, are stored in the AV content data file 108. To 112 respectively. The “file name” and “head data block number” are fields indicating the recording destination of the basic thumbnail data.
[0240]
The "thumbnail type" field indicates the type of thumbnail type when a plurality of thumbnail data for one piece of AV content data are managed, as in FIG. 5, and the extended thumbnail data and the AV content corresponding to the extended management information. This is a field indicating whether the data is recorded in the data file.
[0241]
For example, regarding the AV content data file 108, the thumbnail type is “main”, which indicates that one thumbnail data is held, so that only one basic thumbnail data is held. Therefore, the extended thumbnail data and its extended management information are not recorded in the AV content data file 108.
[0242]
The thumbnail type of the AV content data file 109 is “back”, which indicates that two or more pieces of thumbnail data are held. In the present embodiment, one piece of basic thumbnail data and one piece of extended thumbnail data are held, and the extended thumbnail data and its extended management information are recorded in the AV content data file 109.
[0243]
Hereinafter, the same applies to the AV content data files 110 to 112. When the thumbnail type is other than "main" at the time of displaying the GUI screen for displaying the list of the content data on the recording medium, it indicates that the extended thumbnail data and the extended management information are recorded in the AV content data file. By accessing the corresponding AV content data file, it becomes possible to access the extended thumbnail data. When the thumbnail type is “main”, it indicates that the extended thumbnail data and the extended management information do not exist, so that there is no need to access the corresponding AV content data file.
[0244]
In a device with a low hardware specification, such as a portable device equipped with the minimum functions, the type of the thumbnail type is not detected and the GUI screen display may be performed using only the basic thumbnail data in the index file. . In that case, there is no need to access each content data file.
[0245]
As described above, by detecting the type of the thumbnail type field recorded in the index file, it is possible to detect whether or not to access each AV content data file when the GUI screen is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid unnecessary access to the AV content data file and to display the GUI screen at high speed.
[0246]
In the above description, as a means for detecting whether or not it is necessary to access the AV content data file when displaying the GUI screen, the determination is made based on whether or not the thumbnail type is “main”. In the case of the type, the extended thumbnail data does not always exist. For this reason, a "manufacturer ID" field is provided in FIG. 28, and it is determined whether extended thumbnail data exists in the AV content data file by judging by combining the "thumbnail type" and "maker ID" fields. good.
[0247]
The “file name” field is a field indicating a file name in which the basic thumbnail data is recorded. All of the “file name” fields in FIG. 28 are SHRP0000. IDX indicates that basic thumbnail data corresponding to all content data on the recording medium is recorded in the index file 104 (SHRP0000.IDX).
[0248]
Further, a “head data block number” field indicates a head data block number of each basic thumbnail data recorded in the index file 104. For example, this indicates that the basic thumbnail data corresponding to the AV content data file 108 is recorded in data block number 0 in the thumbnail data storage area in the index file 104 (SHRP0000.IDX).
[0249]
Similarly, it indicates that the basic thumbnail data corresponding to the AV content data file 109 is recorded in the data block number 1 in the thumbnail data storage area in the index file 104 (SHRP0000.IDX). The same applies to 110 to 112.
[0250]
Since only the basic thumbnail data is recorded in the index file 104, the number of used data blocks is all 1, and the "number of used data blocks" field is unnecessary. However, when one basic thumbnail data is recorded using several data blocks, a “number of used data blocks” field may be provided to manage one thumbnail data using a plurality of data blocks. . For example, when the thumbnail type for managing high-quality thumbnails in FIG. 26 is “advn” (1604), a basic thumbnail is recorded separately from the high-quality thumbnails. However, similar to the thumbnail data 304 in FIG. 3 in [Description of thumbnail type is “main”] in the first embodiment, the thumbnail type is set to “main”, and one thumbnail is set using a plurality of data blocks. By stipulating that types are managed, basic thumbnails, which are high-quality thumbnail data, can be managed.
Next, the extended management information will be described with reference to FIG.
[0251]
The extended management information including 9 bytes of “thumbnail type”, “number of used data blocks”, and “manufacturer ID”, which are the management information fields in FIG. 29, is recorded in the extended management information area in each AV content data file.
[0252]
For example, in the AV content data file 109, the extended management information indicated by # 2 in FIG. 29 is recorded. For # 2, the thumbnail type is “back”, the number of used data blocks indicating the number of data blocks used by the extended thumbnail data is “1”, and the maker ID indicating the device that created the extended thumbnail data is “3”. This indicates that management information is recorded. Similarly, extended management information of # 3 to # 5 is recorded for the AV content data files 110 to 112, respectively. Note that the extension management information does not exist for the AV content data file 108 because there is no extension thumbnail, and thus the AV content data file 108 is not shown in FIG.
[0253]
[Data arrangement in index file and AV content data file]
The data arrangement in the index file and the AV content data file recorded on the recording medium will be described with reference to FIG.
[0254]
[Index file]
In the index file 104 (SHRP0000.IDX), the index information shown in FIGS. 27 to 29 is stored in the Index Data storage area 1800. A value obtained by adding 4 to the data size of the index information is recorded in the Size area of the first 4 bytes of the index file. By skipping from the head of the file by the value of Size at the head of the index file, it is possible to access the thumbnail data block behind the index information.
[0255]
Data blocks 1801 to 1805 in which thumbnail data is recorded are shown. In the present embodiment, the basic thumbnail data corresponding to the AV content data file 108 is data block 0 (1801) according to FIG. Similarly, basic thumbnails corresponding to the AV content data files 109 to 112 correspond to data block 1 (1802) to data block 4 (1805), respectively.
[0256]
Since each data block has a fixed length of 8 KBytes, an arbitrary data block can be accessed by skipping data block 0 (1801) in units of 8 KBytes.
[0257]
[AV content data file]
Content data is stored in the content data storage area 1808 in the AV content data file 110 (SHRP0002.INF). A value obtained by adding 4 to the data size of the content data is recorded in the size area of the first 4 bytes of the AV content data file 110. By skipping the value of Size at the beginning of the AV content data file 110 from the beginning of the file, the subsequent extended management information and extended thumbnail data can be accessed.
[0258]
The extended management information area 1812 stores the extended management information of # 3 in FIG. Since the extended management information has a fixed length of 9 bytes, by skipping 9 bytes from the head position of the extended management information, the subsequent extended thumbnail data can be accessed.
[0259]
According to # 3 in FIG. 29, the number of data blocks used for the extended thumbnail data is “2” in the AV content data file 110, so the extended thumbnail data uses the data block 0 (1816) and the data block 1 (1817). It represents that you are doing.
[0260]
Since each data block has a fixed length of 8 KBytes, it is possible to access the subsequent data block 1 (1817) by skipping the data block 0 (1816) in units of 8 KBytes.
[0261]
The same applies to the other AV content data files 108 to 109 and 111 to 112, and a description thereof will be omitted. Further, the AV content data 108 (SHRP0000.INF) does not hold extended management information and extended thumbnail data.
[0262]
In this embodiment, since the content data does not start from the head position of the AV content data file, a problem may occur when the content data is reproduced. Therefore, the Size may be provided at an arbitrary position in an arbitrary file, such as the index information in FIG. 28, instead of being provided at the beginning of the AV content data file. Such a management method may be used. This is the same for the method of accessing the thumbnail data in the index file.
[0263]
[Effect of centrally recording only basic thumbnail data in one index file]
By recording only the basic thumbnail data intensively in one index file, only the minimum data necessary for the GUI screen display is stored in the index file, so that the thumbnail data can be read at high speed. There is an effect that list information of content data on a recording medium to be displayed on the GUI screen can be displayed at high speed.
[0264]
Also, since only the minimum data necessary for displaying the GUI screen is stored in the index file, there is an effect that the index management information and the index file size can be reduced.
[0265]
Furthermore, since only the minimum data necessary for displaying the GUI screen is stored in the index file, it is possible to use a device such as a portable device which has only a function managed by a thumbnail type or a basic function not implementing the GUI display method. Also, it is possible to display a list of contents by using only the index file, and it is possible to obtain compatibility between various devices.
[0266]
Further, since the list information of the content data on the recording medium and the thumbnail data thereof are collectively recorded in one file, the file is copied to another recording medium or another device such as a PC, so that the file can be recorded on the recording medium. The list information of the recorded content data can be easily stored in another device or a recording medium, and there is an effect that it can be performed only by copying one index file.
[0267]
[Effects of recording extended thumbnails in each AV content data file]
When the AV content data file alone is copied to another recording medium or another device such as a PC, the extended thumbnail is also copied at the same time. Therefore, by interpreting the extended management information at the copy destination, the extended thumbnail is displayed in the GUI display of the copy destination. Has the effect that the same thumbnail display and function as before copying can be provided.
[0268]
Also, when changing the thumbnail data, only the thumbnail data in the index file needs to be rewritten. For example, compared with the case where the basic thumbnail data is recorded in both the index file and the content data file, the rewriting process of the thumbnail data can be performed. This has the effect of requiring less.
[0269]
[Record all thumbnail data in each content data file]
The above-mentioned [Record only basic thumbnail data in index file] is a management method in which basic thumbnail data is recorded in an index file, and extended management information and extended thumbnail data are recorded in corresponding AV content data files. However, a management method in which the basic thumbnail data, the extended management information, and the extended thumbnail data are stored in the corresponding AV content data file and the thumbnail data is not recorded in the index file may be used.
[0270]
In this case, for example, content data, extension information, basic thumbnail data, and extended thumbnail data may be recorded in the order of each content data file. Also, the "file name" and "head data block number" fields in the index information shown in FIG. 28 become unnecessary. This is because, for the file name, the thumbnail data storage file can be specified by the “ID” field indicating the content data file, and the first data block number is such that the basic thumbnail is recorded in the data block 0 and the extended thumbnail data is the data block 1 This is because it is possible to use the same method for accessing the data block in the content data file in the above-mentioned [Record only basic thumbnail data in the index file], since it is recorded later.
[0271]
The management method in this [recording all thumbnail data in each content data file] is that the "file name" and "head data block number" fields in FIG. The management method is the same as that of [Record only basic thumbnail data in index file], except that extended thumbnail data is recorded in data block 0 of the file and extended thumbnail data is recorded in data block 1 and thereafter.
[0272]
By adopting such a management method,
When the AV content data file alone is copied to another recording medium or a device such as a PC, the basic thumbnail and the extended thumbnail are also copied at the same time, so that the basic thumbnail can be displayed at the copy destination. Also, by interpreting the extended management information, there is an effect that the same thumbnail display and function as before copying can be provided in the GUI display of the copy destination.
[0273]
The index file does not record the thumbnail data and records only the index information related to the content on the recording medium. Therefore, the index file size can be reduced. There is an effect that information can be easily handled and compatibility can be obtained between various devices.
[0274]
When the thumbnail data is changed, only the thumbnail data in the AV content data file needs to be rewritten. For example, compared to the case where the basic thumbnail data is recorded in both the index file and the content data file, the thumbnail data is rewritten. The effect is that less processing is required.
[0275]
[Record extended thumbnail data in each content data file]
In [Record only basic thumbnail data in index file], basic thumbnail data corresponding to all AV content data files on the recording medium is provided in the index file. However, as in Embodiments 1 to 4, Alternatively, an arbitrary number of index files or thumbnail data files may be divided and registered.
[0276]
The same applies to the extended thumbnail data. The extended thumbnail data may be divided into arbitrary index files and thumbnail data and registered. The extended management information and index information in this case may be performed by the same management method as in the first to fourth embodiments.
[0277]
[Record basic thumbnail data in index file and content data file]
The above-mentioned [record all thumbnail data in each content data file] is a management method in which the basic thumbnail data is not included in the index file, but the basic thumbnail data is recorded in the index, and the basic thumbnail data and the extended management A management method for recording information and extended thumbnail data in a corresponding AV content data file may be used. That is, the basic thumbnail data is redundantly recorded in both the index file and each content data file.
[0278]
In this case, the structure of the index information can be performed by using the same management method as described above with reference to [recording only basic thumbnail data in index file] in FIGS.
[0279]
Access to the basic thumbnail data in the index file is performed in the same manner as in the above [Record only basic thumbnail data in index file].
[0280]
Also, access to the basic thumbnail data, extended management information, and extended thumbnail data in each content data file is performed in the same manner as in the above [Record only basic thumbnail data in index file]. The access to the basic thumbnail in each content data file can be made by accessing the data block 0. In addition, by accessing the data block 1 and thereafter, it becomes possible to access the extended thumbnail data.
[0281]
Further, as to the basic thumbnail data to be recorded in the index file, an arbitrary number of index files and thumbnails as in the first to fourth embodiments are used in the same manner as in [Recording extended thumbnail data in each content data file]. The data file may be divided and registered.
[0282]
By performing the management in this manner, in addition to the effect of the above-described effect obtained by [intensively recording only the basic thumbnail data in one index file], the AV content data file alone can be used for other recording media or PCs. When copying to a device, the basic thumbnail and the extended thumbnail are also copied at the same time, so that there is an effect that the basic thumbnail can be displayed at the copy destination. Also, by interpreting the extended management information, there is an effect that the same thumbnail display and function as before copying can be provided in the GUI display of the copy destination.
[0283]
[Applicable to data representing various content features]
In the above description of the embodiment of the present invention, thumbnail data has been described as an example of a method of managing a plurality of data representing the characteristics of contents to be displayed on a GUI. A similar management method can be applied to data representing characteristics of contents such as data.
[0284]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[0285]
It should be noted that the data management method according to the present invention manages "arbitrary number of representative data" for one content and has "management information indicating the relationship" between the "arbitrary number of representative data". May be configured.
[0286]
Therefore, by using a structure in which a plurality of representative data is managed by management information indicating a relationship, it is possible to have a function specific to a user who uses the data or a recording / reproducing device.
[0287]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention may be configured such that the “representative data” is stored in a “file exclusively for representative data”.
[0288]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, since only the representative data is recorded in the file dedicated to the table data, the representative data can be read at high speed, and the GUI screen can be displayed at high speed.
[0289]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention may be configured such that the “representative data” has a “data size of a fixed length”.
[0290]
Therefore, in addition to the effects of the above-described configuration, it is possible to easily exchange, delete, and rewrite data between data blocks. Also, in order to access each representative data in the representative data file, only the management information holding the number of the representative data is needed, and it is not necessary to separately manage the size information of each representative data. It is possible to reduce the amount of management information.
[0291]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention may be configured to continuously record an arbitrary number of the “representative data” for one content.
[0292]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by recording representative data relating to one content continuously in the representative data file, it is possible to perform high-speed access when recording or reading the representative data.
[0293]
Also, management information for accessing a plurality of representative data items relating to one content can be prepared with a minimum data amount, and the management information amount can be reduced.
[0294]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention may be configured such that the “file exclusively for representative data” is recorded in an “arbitrary number of files”.
[0295]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by collectively recording the representative data for each content in one file, the content of the content can be instantaneously confirmed by merely referring to the representative data file corresponding to the content. it can.
[0296]
In addition, when the same representative data is used between different contents, by managing the representative data files to be the same between these contents, the representative data files can be shared and the number of representative data files can be reduced. .
[0297]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention may be configured such that the leading data of an arbitrary number of the “representative data” is used as a “basic representative data” for GUI screen display. .
[0298]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by managing the standard representative data used for the GUI display of one content as the leading representative data, for example, the management method indicated by the management information indicating the relationship is used. By displaying only basic representative data on a GUI in a portable device or the like having only basic functions without implementing the functions, a list of contents recorded on a recording medium can be displayed.
[0299]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, may be configured such that the "management information indicating the relationship" records one representative data using two or more data blocks. Good.
[0300]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, it is possible to increase the data area for recording one thumbnail data as compared with recording one thumbnail data in the area (basic thumbnail area) for recording one thumbnail data. it can. Therefore, it can be used, for example, when recording high-quality (low-compression) thumbnail data or high-resolution thumbnail data.
[0301]
Further, in the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the "management information indicating the relationship" may include, in addition to the basic representative data, original representative data added immediately after recording for the second and subsequent data. May be configured to be recorded in the representative data.
[0302]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, in this management method, the thumbnail data according to the user's preference is recorded as the basic thumbnail from among the plurality of thumbnails recorded by editing the original thumbnail data. By doing so, the thumbnail data can be displayed on the GUI screen of the content, and the thumbnail data to be displayed on the GUI can be selected.
[0303]
Further, the thumbnail data displayed on the GUI screen can be returned to the original thumbnail data at any time.
[0304]
Further, in the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the "management information indicating a relation" has the same meaning, data handling method, and function as that of an arbitrary number of related representative data. May be configured as follows.
[0305]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, it is possible to have a function specific to the user or the recording / reproducing device by using a structure in which a plurality of representative data are managed by management information indicating a relationship. Become.
[0306]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention may be configured such that the “management information indicating a relation” has “management information indicating a user-specific relation”.
[0307]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above-described configuration, since a unique user definition is prepared for the thumbnail type, some devices cannot understand the thumbnail type defined by the unique user. Is performed by displaying basic thumbnails in the same manner as described above. Therefore, when managing thumbnail data using a user definition, it is possible to maintain compatibility between devices by recording standard thumbnails as basic thumbnails.
[0308]
Further, in the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the "management information indicating a relationship" is "unique information (ID) indicating a user" in which the "management information indicating a relationship" is recorded. May be recorded simultaneously.
[0309]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, even if the management information indicating the relationship of a certain content managed by the index information recorded on the recording medium is the same, if the “maker ID” is different, It is possible to detect that the data is recorded assuming a different GUI screen display method.
[0310]
The data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, performs GUI display using "basic representative data" in a system that cannot understand the "management information indicating a user-specific relationship". You may comprise.
[0311]
Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, when there is a user-defined thumbnail type that cannot be interpreted, the operation of ignoring the thumbnails other than the basic thumbnail, the second and subsequent thumbnails, is performed. When the management is performed, the configuration may be such that compatibility between devices can be maintained by reading standard thumbnail data recorded in the basic thumbnail.
[0312]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the data management method according to the present invention, for at least one content, at least one of the representative data representing the content is created using the data processing function of the recording / reproducing device. , Which stores management information indicating the type of the data processing function.
[0313]
Further, a data management program according to the present invention is configured to be a program for causing a computer to function as a content management unit and a management information storage unit in any of the data management apparatuses described above.
[0314]
Further, a computer-readable storage medium storing the data management program according to the present invention has a configuration in which the data management is stored.
[0315]
This allows a plurality of representative data for one content to be given various meanings and managed, so that a recording / reproducing device having such various representative data creation functions can perform various operations according to the representative data creation function. Presentation of representative data. That is, it is possible to present representative data using various representative data creation functions of the recording / reproducing device. Therefore, when the representative data of the content is presented using the representative data creation function of the recording / reproducing device, the representative data can be given various types, and the visibility of the representative data can be improved.
[0316]
In addition, the data management method according to the present invention has a configuration in which the representative data is stored in a file dedicated to the representative data in addition to the above configuration.
[0317]
Accordingly, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, since only the representative data is recorded in the file dedicated to the representative data, the representative data can be read at high speed, and the list can be presented at high speed. To play.
[0318]
Further, in the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the representative data has a data size of a fixed length.
[0319]
Thereby, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, there is an effect that data can be easily replaced, deleted, or rewritten between the data blocks.
[0320]
In addition, in order to access each representative data in the representative data file, only the management information holding the number of the representative data is used, and it is not necessary to separately manage the size information of each representative data. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, there is an effect that the amount of management information for accessing the representative data can be reduced.
[0321]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention has a configuration in which a plurality of the representative data for one content is continuously recorded in addition to the above configuration.
[0322]
Thus, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by recording representative data for one content continuously in the representative data file, it is possible to perform high-speed access when recording or reading the representative data. It works.
[0323]
Further, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, it becomes possible to prepare management information for accessing a plurality of representative data relating to one content with a minimum data amount, and it is possible to reduce the management information amount. It has the effect of becoming.
[0324]
Further, in the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the representative data file is divided into at least two files and recorded.
[0325]
Thus, in addition to the effect of the above-described configuration, the representative data is collectively recorded in one file for each content, so that the content of the content can be instantaneously confirmed just by referring to the representative data file corresponding to the content. It has the effect of being able to do it.
[0326]
In addition to the effect of the above configuration, when the same representative data is used between different contents, the representative data file is managed to be the same between these contents, so that the representative data file can be shared. And the number of representative data files can be reduced.
[0327]
Further, in the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the management information includes management information indicating that head data of the representative data is basic representative data.
[0328]
Thus, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, by managing the standard representative data used for presenting a list of one content as the leading representative data, for example, a management method indicated by management information indicating a relationship is used. In a portable device or the like having only a basic data processing function without a data processing function, presenting only basic representative data on a GUI or the like provides an effect that a list of contents recorded on a recording medium can be presented. .
[0329]
In the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the management information includes management information indicating that one representative data is managed using two or more data blocks. Configuration.
[0330]
This makes it possible to increase the data area in which one thumbnail data is recorded as compared with the case where one thumbnail data is recorded in the area (basic thumbnail area) in which one thumbnail data is recorded. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, there is an effect that it can be used, for example, when recording high-quality (low compression ratio) thumbnail data or high-resolution thumbnail data.
[0331]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the data management method according to the present invention further includes, in addition to the basic representative data, original management data added immediately after recording of the content in the management information, for the second and subsequent data. This is a configuration that includes management information indicating management as representative data.
[0332]
Accordingly, in this data management method, the thumbnail data according to the user's preference is recorded in the basic thumbnail from among a plurality of thumbnails recorded by editing the original thumbnail data, thereby displaying the thumbnail image on the content GUI screen. The thumbnail data can be presented. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, there is an effect that the thumbnail data to be presented on the GUI can be selected.
[0333]
Further, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, there is an effect that the thumbnail data presented on the GUI screen can be returned to the original thumbnail data at any time.
[0334]
Further, in the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the management information includes management information indicating a user-specific definition.
[0335]
As a result, there is an effect that a richer expression can be achieved using a user-specific definition.
[0336]
Further, the data management method according to the present invention has a configuration in which, in addition to the above configuration, a maker ID unique to a manufacturer of a recording / reproducing device that records the management information is simultaneously recorded as the management information.
[0337]
Accordingly, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, even if the management information indicating the relationship between certain contents recorded on the recording medium is the same, if the maker ID is different, a different list presentation method is assumed. This has the effect of being able to detect that it has been recorded.
[0338]
In addition, the data management method according to the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, is configured to present a list using basic representative data which is the head data of the representative data in a system that cannot understand the management information.
[0339]
Accordingly, in addition to the effect of the above configuration, when there is a user-defined thumbnail type that cannot be interpreted, the operation of ignoring the thumbnails after the second thumbnail other than the basic thumbnail is performed. When performing management, there is an effect that compatibility between devices can be maintained by reading standard thumbnail data recorded in the basic thumbnail.
[0340]
Further, the data management device according to the present invention uses a representative data creating unit having a function of creating individual representative data as a representative data creating function, and uses the representative data creating function for each content for at least one content. And a management information storage means for allocating one representative data creation procedure defining how to prepare all the representative data and storing the representative data creation procedure as management information.
[0341]
This allows a plurality of representative data for one content to be given various meanings and managed, so that a recording / reproducing device having such various representative data creation functions can perform various operations according to the representative data creation function. Presentation of representative data. That is, it is possible to present representative data using various representative data creation functions of the recording / reproducing device. Therefore, when the representative data of the content is presented using the representative data creation function of the recording / reproducing device, the representative data can be given various types, and the visibility of the representative data can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure when content data, thumbnail data, and index data recorded on a recording medium are recorded in a file format.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a case where list information of content data recorded on a recording medium is displayed on a GUI screen.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between each piece of content data recorded on a recording medium and thumbnail data.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data arrangement of thumbnail data in each thumbnail file.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of recording content on a recording medium.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of recording a content on a recording medium.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of recording content on a recording medium.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of processing for recording content on a recording medium.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of reproducing content recorded on a recording medium.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a case where thumbnail data relating to content on a recording medium is managed by one thumbnail data file.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a case where index information and thumbnail data relating to content on a recording medium are managed in one file.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information regarding content on a recording medium and index information when thumbnail data is managed in one file.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information regarding content on a recording medium and index information when thumbnail data is managed in one file.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing data arrangement in a file when index information and thumbnail data relating to contents on a recording medium are managed in one file.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a physical index file processing process on a recording medium relating to registration of content in one index file.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a process of registering content in one index file.
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure when basic thumbnail data is recorded in an index file and extended thumbnail data is recorded in a file format in each content file.
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between each piece of content data recorded on a recording medium and thumbnail data.
FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information when basic thumbnail data is stored in an index file and extended thumbnail data is stored in each content file.
FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information when basic thumbnail data is stored in an index file and extended thumbnail data is stored in each content file.
FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a data structure of index information when basic thumbnail data is stored in an index file and extended thumbnail data is stored in each content file.
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a data arrangement in each file when basic thumbnail data is stored in an index file and extended thumbnail data is stored in each content file.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 to 103 Directory on file system hierarchy
104 Index file storing index data
105-107 Thumbnail file storing thumbnail data
108-112 AV contents data file storing AV contents data and its management information
200 Thumbnail image display area of AV content on GUI screen
201 to 205 Thumbnail images of each AV content
206 Scroll bar for thumbnail image on GUI screen
207 Information output area related to AV content on GUI screen
300-304 Thumbnail Data Related to AV Content on Recording Medium and Management Method Thereof
305 to 313 Thumbnail data of AV contents on a recording medium
500-508 Thumbnail data area in thumbnail data file
1100 Index information area
1101-1109 Thumbnail data
1200 bus
1201 Host CPU
1202 RAM
1203 ROM
1204 User Interface
1205 System clock
1206 optical disk
1207 Pickup
1208 ECC decoder
1209 ECC encoder
1210 Playback buffer
1211 Recording / recording buffer
1212 Demultiplexer
1213 Multiplexer
1214 Multiplexing buffer
1215 Audio Decoder
1216 Video Decoder
1217 Audio Encoder
1218 Video Encoder
1310 Recording medium
1311 Index file
1312 List data of index file
1313 to 1315 Thumbnail (or title) data
1401 to 1403 Directory in file system on recording medium
1410 Index file
1420-1422 Content file
1600-1604 Thumbnail data related to content on recording medium and management method thereof
1605 to 1609 Basic thumbnail data in content on a recording medium
1610-1615 Extended thumbnail data in content on recording medium
1800 Index information
1801-1805 Basic thumbnail data
1806-1810 Content data
1811-1814 extended management information
1815-1820 Extended thumbnail data

Claims (14)

In a data management method for managing a plurality of contents by representative data that is representative of each of the contents and can be presented by a recording / reproducing device,
When the function of creating individual representative data is called a representative data creation function,
For at least one content, assign one representative data creation procedure that defines how to prepare all the representative data using the above representative data creation function to each content, and manage the representative data creation procedure A data management method characterized by storing as information. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the representative data is stored in a file dedicated to the representative data. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the representative data has a fixed data size. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the representative data for one content is continuously recorded. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the representative data file is divided into at least two files and recorded. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the management information includes management information indicating that head data of the representative data is basic representative data. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the management information includes management information indicating that one representative data is managed using two or more data blocks. The management information includes, apart from the basic representative data, management information indicating that the original representative data added immediately after recording of the content is managed as the second and subsequent representative data. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein: 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the management information includes management information representing a user-specific definition. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein a maker ID unique to a manufacturer of the recording / reproducing device that records the management information is simultaneously recorded as the management information. 2. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein in a system that cannot understand the management information, a list is presented using basic representative data that is the head data of the representative data. In a data management device that manages a plurality of contents by representative data that is representative of each content and can be presented by a recording / reproducing device,
Representative data creation means having a function of creating individual representative data as a representative data creation function,
For at least one content, assign one representative data creation procedure that determines how to prepare all the representative data using the above representative data creation function to each content, and manage the representative data creation procedure And a management information storage means for storing the information as information. A data management program for causing a computer to function as content management means and management information storage means in the data management device according to claim 12. A computer-readable storage medium on which the data management program according to claim 13 is recorded.

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