JP2005339691A - Recording device and recording method, reproducing device and reproducing method, recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device, a recording method, a reproducing device, and a reproducing method which realize grouping with higher versatility and ease of use for a user by enabling registration for a common attribute in a folder so that processing based on the common attribute can be performed to content grouped in the folder, and a recording medium thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The recording device for grouping the content in the folder and recording it on a recording medium (11) is equipped with first setting means (17, 25, 26) for setting the folder function information indicating the function given to the requested folder when a common attribute is requested to be registered in the folder, and second setting means (17, 25, 26) for setting the folder common information required for the function set up with the first setting means (17, 25, 26). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method for grouping contents into folders and recording them on a recording medium. The present invention also relates to a playback apparatus and playback method for playing back a recording medium in which a folder is recorded. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a recording medium in which content is grouped and recorded in a folder.

  As is well known, in an apparatus that records and reproduces content such as video and audio on a recording medium, the content is grouped into folders. When grouping contents into folders, currently, there are a technique of classifying by folder name and a technique of classifying contents into a plurality of system folders prepared in advance by function.

  In Patent Document 1, in a digital camera, various setting values corresponding to imaging and recording conditions are associated with folders for managing captured images, and when a user selects a specific folder, various settings corresponding to the folder are set. A configuration is disclosed in which a shooting operation by value is obtained, and an image shot by this shooting operation is stored in the folder.

However, in this patent document 1, since each folder corresponding to a plurality of shooting / recording conditions is prepared in advance and the shot images are grouped for each shooting / recording condition, it is still practical enough for the user. It cannot be said that it has reached a level that can be used for the above, but there is still a lot of room for improvement in various respects.
JP 2003-189215 A

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and by making it possible to register a common attribute in a folder, processing based on the common attribute is performed on the content grouped in the folder. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus, a recording method, a reproducing apparatus, a reproducing method, and a recording medium capable of realizing grouping that is more flexible and easy to use for the user.

  The recording apparatus according to the present invention is intended for recording contents on a recording medium by grouping contents into folders. When it is requested to register a common attribute in a folder, a first setting means for setting folder function information indicating a function to be given to the requested folder, and a function set by the first setting means And a second setting means for setting the folder common information necessary for the above.

  The recording method according to the present invention is directed to a method of grouping contents into folders and recording them on a recording medium. Then, when it is requested to register a common attribute in the folder, a step of setting folder function information indicating a function to be given to the requested folder, and a step of setting folder common information necessary for the set function Are provided.

  Furthermore, the reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is intended for reproducing a recording medium in which contents are grouped and recorded in a folder. Then, referring to the folder function information registered in the designated folder, the discrimination means for discriminating the function of the designated folder and the folder common information registered in the designated folder are discriminated by the discrimination means. An acquisition means for acquiring information necessary for the function and an execution means for executing the function determined by the determination means based on the information acquired by the acquisition means are provided.

  The reproduction method according to the present invention is directed to a method of reproducing a recording medium in which contents are grouped and recorded in a folder. Then, referring to the folder function information registered in the specified folder, the process of determining the function of the specified folder and the information necessary for the determined function are common to the folders registered in the specified folder. A step of acquiring from the information and a step of executing the determined function based on the acquired information are provided.

  Furthermore, the recording medium according to the present invention is intended for a medium in which content is grouped and recorded in a folder. A first area for recording folder function information indicating a function to be given to the folder and a second area for recording folder common information necessary for the function indicated by the folder function information are provided. .

  According to the above-described invention, by allowing common attributes such as “folder function information” and “folder common information” to be registered in a folder, processing based on the common attribute is performed on the content grouped in the folder. As a result, it is possible to realize a user-friendly grouping that is even more flexible for the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a recording / reproducing apparatus described in this embodiment.

  This recording / reproducing apparatus is shown as an apparatus capable of handling both a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) -RAM (Random Access Memory) and a hard disk as a recording medium. The hard disk or DVD-RAM is, for example, a semiconductor memory. It may be replaced with a recording medium or the like.

  When the blocks in FIG. 1 are roughly divided, the main block of the recording unit is shown on the left side, and the main block of the playback unit is shown on the right side.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG. 1 has two types of disk drive units. First, it has a disk drive unit 12 that rotationally drives an optical disk 11 as a first medium, which is an information recording medium that can construct a video file, and executes reading and writing of information. In addition, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) unit 13 that drives a hard disk as a second medium is provided.

  The data processor unit 14 can supply recording data to the disk drive unit 12 and the HDD unit 13, and can receive reproduced signals from the disk drive unit 12 and the HDD unit 13.

  The disk drive unit 12 includes a rotation control system, a laser drive system, an optical system, and the like for the optical disk 11. The data processor unit 14 handles data of recording or reproduction units, and includes a buffer circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, an error correction unit, and the like.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG. 1 mainly includes an encoder unit 15 constituting the recording side, a decoder unit 16 constituting the reproducing side, and a microcomputer block 17 for controlling the operation of the apparatus main body.

  The encoder unit 15 includes an analog-to-digital converter for video and audio that digitizes an input analog video signal or analog audio signal, a video encoder, and an audio encoder. Furthermore, a sub-picture encoder is also included. The output of the encoder unit 15 is converted into a predetermined DVD-RAM format by a formatter 19 including a buffer memory 18 and is supplied to the data processor unit 14 described above.

  The encoder unit 15 receives an external analog video signal and an external analog audio signal from an A / V (Audio / Video) input unit 20 or an analog video signal and an analog audio signal from a TV (Television) tuner unit 21. .

  The encoder unit 15 can also supply the compressed digital video signal or digital audio signal directly to the formatter 19 when the compressed digital video signal or digital audio signal is directly input.

  The encoder unit 15 can also directly supply a digital video signal or audio signal that has been subjected to analog-digital conversion to a V (Video) mixing unit 22 or an audio selector 23.

  In the video encoder included in the encoder unit 15, the digital video signal is converted into a digital video signal compressed at a variable bit rate based on MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 or MPEG1 standard.

  The digital audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal compressed at a fixed bit rate based on the MPEG or AC (Audio Compression) -3 standard, or a linear PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) digital audio signal.

  When a sub video signal is input from the A / V input unit 20 (for example, a signal from a DVD video player with an independent output terminal of a sub video signal) or a DVD video signal having such a data structure is broadcast and Is received by the TV tuner unit 21, the sub-picture signal in the DVD video signal is encoded (run-length encoded) by the sub-picture encoder to become a sub-picture bitmap.

  The encoded digital video signal, digital audio signal, and sub-picture data are packed by the formatter 19 to become a video pack, an audio pack, and a sub-picture pack, and these are assembled into a DVD-recording standard [for example, a DVD-RAM. , Standards for recording on DVD-R (Recordable), DVD-RW (ReWritable), etc.].

  Here, the recording / playback apparatus of FIG. 1 sends the information formatted by the formatter 19 (packs of video, audio, sub-picture data, etc.) and the created management information via the data processor unit 14 to the HDD unit 13 or It can be supplied to the disk drive unit 12 and recorded on the hard disk or the optical disk 11.

  In addition, information recorded on the hard disk or the optical disk 11 can be recorded on the optical disk 11 or the hard disk via the data processor unit 14 and the disk drive unit 12.

  It is also possible to perform an editing process such as deleting a part of video objects of a plurality of programs recorded on the hard disk or the optical disk 11 or connecting objects of different programs. This is because the data unit handled by the format according to this embodiment is defined to facilitate editing.

  The microcomputer block 17 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a control program and the like are written, and a RAM for providing a work area necessary for executing the program. Including.

  The MPU of the microcomputer block 17 uses a RAM as a work area according to a control program stored in the ROM, detects a defect location, detects an unrecorded area, sets a recording information recording position, records a UDF (Universal Disk Format), Performs AV address setting and the like.

  The microcomputer block 17 includes an information processing unit necessary for controlling the entire system. The work RAM, the directory detection unit, the VMG (total video management information) information creation unit, the copy related information detection unit, A copy and scrambling information processing unit (RDI processing unit), a packet header processing unit, a sequence header processing unit, an aspect ratio information processing unit, and the like are provided.

  Among the execution results of the microcomputer block 17, the contents to be notified to the user are displayed on the display unit 24 built in the recording / reproducing apparatus, or displayed on the externally connected monitor display 25 by OSD (On Screen Display). Is done. Further, the microcomputer block 17 has a key input unit 26 for giving an operation signal for operating the recording / reproducing apparatus.

  The timing at which the microcomputer block 17 controls the disk drive unit 12, the HDD unit 13, the data processor unit 14, the encoder unit 15, and / or the decoder unit 16 is based on time data from an STC (System Time Clock) 27. Can be executed based on.

  The recording and reproduction operations are normally executed in synchronization with the time clock from the STC 27, but other processes may be executed at a timing independent of the STC 27.

  The decoder unit 16 separates and extracts each pack from a DVD format signal having a pack structure, a memory used when pack separation or other signal processing is performed, and main video data (video pack of the video pack) separated by the separator. A V decoder that decodes the content), an SP decoder that decodes the sub-picture data separated by the separator (the contents of the sub-picture pack), and an A decoder that decodes the audio data separated by the separator (the contents of the audio pack) Have

  In addition, a video processor is provided that appropriately synthesizes the decoded sub-video with the decoded main video, and outputs a menu, a highlight button, subtitles, and other sub-videos superimposed on the main video.

  The output video signal of the decoder unit 16 is input to the V mixing unit 22. The V mixing unit 22 synthesizes text data. The V mixing unit 22 is also connected to a line that directly takes in signals from the TV tuner unit 21 and the A / V input unit 20.

  A frame memory unit 28 used as a buffer is connected to the V mixing unit 22. When the output of the V mixing unit 22 is an analog output, it is externally output via an I / F (Interface) 29, and when it is a digital output, it is output to the monitor display 25 via a digital / analog converter 30.

  The output audio signal of the decoder unit 16 is analog-converted by the digital-analog converter 31 via the selector 23 and is output to the externally connected speaker 32. The selector 23 is controlled by a select signal from the microcomputer block 17. Thereby, the selector 23 can also directly select a signal that has passed through the encoder unit 15 when directly monitoring the digital signal from the TV tuner unit 21 or the A / V input unit 20.

  The formatter 19 of the encoder unit 15 creates each segmentation information during recording, and periodically sends it to the MPU of the microcomputer block 17 [information at the time of GOP (Group Of Picture) head interrupt, etc.]. The segmentation information includes the number of VOBU (Video Object Unit) packs, the end address of the I picture from the beginning of the VOBU, the playback time of the VOBU, and the like.

  At the same time, information from the aspect ratio information processing unit is sent to the microcomputer block 17 at the start of recording, and the MPU creates VOB stream information (STI). Here, the STI stores resolution data, aspect data, and the like, and at the time of reproduction, each decoder unit is initialized based on this information.

  In this recording / reproducing apparatus, one video file is recorded on one disc. Also, in order to continue playback without interruption while accessing (seeking) data, a minimum continuous information unit (size) is determined. This unit is called CDA (Contiguous Data Area). The CDA size is a multiple of an ECC (error correction code) block (16 sectors), and the file system performs recording in units of CDA.

  The data processor unit 14 receives VOBU unit data from the formatter 19 of the encoder unit 15 and supplies the CDA unit data to the disk drive unit 12 or the HDD unit 13.

  Further, the MPU of the microcomputer block 17 creates management information necessary for reproducing the recorded data and recognizes a data recording end command, and sends the created management information to the data processor unit 14.

  As a result, the management information is recorded on the optical disc 11. Therefore, when encoding is being performed, the MPU of the microcomputer block 17 receives information in units of data (eg, segmentation information) from the encoder unit 15.

  The MPU of the microcomputer block 17 recognizes the management information (file system) read from the optical disk 11 and the hard disk at the start of recording, recognizes the unrecorded area of each disk, and sets the recording area on the data to the data processor unit 14. Is set to disk via.

  FIG. 2 shows the structure of a folder recorded and reproduced by this recording / reproducing apparatus. That is, in addition to basic information such as a folder name as a folder information, a common attribute can be registered in, for example, a management area of the recording medium. As the common attribute, “folder function information” as information for distinguishing the function of the designated folder and “folder common information” for holding information necessary for the function are provided.

  “Folder function information” indicates, for example, information indicating a function (A type) for grouping contents to be recorded in DVD-R / RW in the DVD-Video format, and a function (B type) for controlling content reproduction. Information, information indicating a function (C type) that gives control to display a list of contents in a specified folder, and the like can be considered.

  In the case of the A type function, information indicating the menu background image, the disc name, and the like is registered in the “folder common information”. In the case of the B type function, information indicating a frame image, a reproduction counter font, and the like is registered in the “folder common information”. Further, in the case of the C type function, information indicating a display background image, a folder icon, and the like is registered in the “folder common information”.

  When executing each function, if a folder is specified, the "folder function information" is directly referenced, and after the function is determined, information necessary for processing is acquired from the "folder common information" and the function is executed. . When the content (title) is designated, the folder to which the content belongs is searched, and the function is similarly executed with reference to “folder function information” and “folder common information”. If hierarchized, consider applying to folders under the hierarchy.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart summarizing operations for specifying a folder or content and executing a function corresponding to the “folder function information” and “folder common information”. First, when the process is started (step S1), the microcomputer block 17 determines whether a folder or content is specified in step S2.

  If it is determined that the content is designated, the microcomputer block 17 searches for a folder to which the designated content belongs in step S3.

  After this step S3 or when it is determined that the folder has been specified in the above step S2, the microcomputer block 17 refers to the “folder function information” of the target folder in step S4 to function. In step S5, necessary information is acquired from the “folder common information”. In step S6, the process of the function is executed, and the process ends (step S7).

  Next, registration of the above-described common attributes, that is, “folder function information” and “folder common information” will be described. That is, when creating a new folder, the user can register common attributes, that is, “folder function information” and “folder common information” for the folder or for an existing folder.

  For example, when registering a function for grouping contents (titles) for creating a DVD-Video by attaching a menu to a DVD-R / RW, the user designates information of A type and designates the information as “folder function information”. To hold.

  In addition, when registering a function that requires special processing when reproducing content belonging to a folder, information of B type is designated and the information is held in “folder function information”. Furthermore, when registering a function that requires special processing when displaying a list of contents in a folder, information of C type is designated and the information is held in “folder function information”. These functions allow one or a plurality of settings for one folder.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart summarizing operations for registering common attributes in a folder. First, when the process is started (step S8), the microcomputer block 17 determines in step S9 whether a new folder has been created or registration of common attributes has been requested for an existing folder. .

  If it is determined that the request is a common attribute registration request for an existing folder, the microcomputer block 17 displays “folder function information” indicating types A, B, and C for the target folder in step S10. In step S11, necessary information is set in the “folder common information”, and the process ends (step S12).

  If it is determined in step S9 that a folder has been newly created, the microcomputer block 17 determines in step S13 whether or not to register a common attribute for the newly created folder.

  For this determination, the common attribute setting selection screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the monitor display 25 by OSD, and the key input unit 26 is operated to select “Yes” or “No” with the cursor k on the screen. It is executed by making a decision operation.

  If it is determined that the common attribute is to be set (YES), the microcomputer block 17 proceeds to the process of step S10, and thereafter, the common attribute is set for the newly created folder. If it is determined that the common attribute is not set (NO), the microcomputer block 17 ends the process as it is (step S12).

  Next, a folder in which the above-described A type function, that is, a function for creating a DVD-Video disc with a menu is set will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, this folder is displayed as a menu “For Folder A Video Creation”. Then, by selecting this folder, the content stored in this folder is recorded on the optical disc 11 in a form reflecting “folder common information” set in this folder, and a DVD-Video disc is created. It will be.

  Usually, when creating a DVD-Video disc with a menu, for example, there are many setting items such as a disc name, menu background image (moving image / still image), music at the time of menu reproduction, content saving order, and the like. When writing to a plurality of media, it is necessary to reset the setting items for each medium from the beginning, which makes it difficult to adjust.

  However, as described above, the designated folder is set as a DVD-Video creation folder (A type is registered in “Folder Function Information”), and these setting items are held in “Folder Common Attributes”. It becomes possible to write to a plurality of optical disks 11 or to reset and create only the items that need to be changed among the setting items.

  When creating a DVD-Video disc, processing is executed based on preset information simply by specifying the folder. The menu background image and playback music can be arbitrarily selected by the user from information recorded on the recording medium.

  Currently, in RD, items that can be set when creating a DVD-Video disc are as follows.

・ Background image (title / chapter)
-With or without background pedestal-Background pedestal color-Background pedestal transparency-Menu text color-Menu selection color-Menu decision color-Title order-Playback start (menu title 1)
・ After one title playback operation (menu / next title)
・ Operation after playing the last title (Menu ・ Title 1 ・ Stop)
・ Test before writing (none, parts test, all tests)
・ Title screen ratio (as original video: 4: 3 fixed, 16: 9 fixed)
Disc Name Next, a description will be given of a folder in which the above-described B type function, that is, a function that requires special processing during content playback is set. As shown in FIG. 7, this folder is displayed as a menu as “For playback special”. Then, by selecting this folder, the content (title) stored in this folder is reproduced and displayed in a form reflecting “folder common information” set in this folder.

  That is, the content belonging to the folder created by designating the B type is subjected to special processing at the time of reproduction and is reproduced and displayed on the monitor display 25. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, playback can be performed while displaying an image like a frame on the screen frame, or the font of the playback counter can be changed. The frame and font can be arbitrarily selected by the user from the information recorded on the recording medium.

  Next, a description will be given of a folder in which the above-described C type function, that is, a function that requires special processing when displaying a list of contents in the folder is set. As shown in FIG. 9, this folder is displayed as a menu for “specifying list display”. By selecting this folder, a list of contents stored in this folder is reproduced and displayed in a form reflecting “folder common information” set in this folder.

  That is, a folder created by designating the C type can generate a sound when the folder is opened / closed from the speaker 32 when the folder is expanded. Further, when displaying a list of contents belonging to this folder, as shown in FIG. 10, the user can customize the background image, thumbnail shape, BGM at the time of display, or the icon of the folder itself. The background image, folder icon, audio data, and the like can be arbitrarily selected by the user from information recorded on the recording medium.

  According to the above-described embodiment, by making it possible to register common attributes such as “folder function information” and “folder common information” in a folder, processing based on the common attributes for the contents grouped in the folder Therefore, it is possible to realize a grouping that is more flexible and easy to use for the user.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by variously modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure shown in order to demonstrate the structure of the folder recorded / reproduced with the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment. The flowchart shown in order to demonstrate the operation | movement which performs the function corresponding to a common attribute in the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment. The flowchart shown in order to demonstrate the operation | movement which registers a common attribute in the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment. The figure shown in order to demonstrate the screen which selects whether a common attribute is set to a newly created folder with the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment. The figure shown in order to demonstrate the folder in which the function to create the DVD-Video disc with a menu in the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment was set. The figure shown in order to demonstrate the folder in which the function which requires a special process at the time of content reproduction | regeneration with the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment was set. The figure shown in order to demonstrate an example of the special process performed to a content at the time of reproduction | regeneration with the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment. The figure shown in order to demonstrate the folder in which the function which requires a special process at the time of the list display of the content in a folder with the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment was set. The figure shown in order to demonstrate an example of the special process performed at the time of a content list display with the recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Optical disk, 12 ... Disk drive part, 13 ... HDD part, 14 ... Data processor part, 15 ... Encoder part, 16 ... Decoder part, 17 ... Microcomputer block, 18 ... Buffer memory, 19 ... Formatter, 20 ... A / V input unit, 21 ... TV tuner unit, 22 ... V mixing unit, 23 ... selector, 24 ... display unit, 25 ... monitor display, 26 ... key input unit, 27 ... STC, 28 ... frame memory unit, 29 ... I / F, 30, 31 ... Digital-analog converter, 32 ... Speaker.

Claims (10)

A recording device that groups contents into folders and records them on a recording medium,
When a folder is newly created, a selection means for selecting whether or not to register common attributes in the newly created folder,
A first setting unit for setting folder function information indicating a function to be given to the newly created folder when the selection unit selects to register a common attribute in the newly created folder;
2. A recording apparatus comprising: second setting means for setting common folder information necessary for the function set by the first setting means. A recording device that groups contents into folders and records them on a recording medium,
A first setting means for setting folder function information indicating a function to be given to the requested folder when it is requested to register a common attribute in an existing folder;
2. A recording apparatus comprising: second setting means for setting common folder information necessary for the function set by the first setting means.   The first setting means displays information indicating a function of recording content in a folder on a recording medium in a specific format, information indicating a function of giving control to playback of content in the folder, and displaying a list of contents in the folder. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the information indicating the function for giving control can be set. A recording method for grouping contents into folders and recording them on a recording medium,
When a folder is newly created, selecting whether or not to register common attributes in the newly created folder; and
A step of setting folder function information indicating a function to be given to the newly created folder when registering common attributes in the newly created folder is selected;
And a step of setting common folder information necessary for the set function. A recording method for grouping contents into folders and recording them on a recording medium,
When it is requested to register a common attribute in an existing folder, a step of setting folder function information indicating a function to be given to the requested folder;
And a step of setting common folder information necessary for the set function. A playback device for playing back a recording medium in which content is grouped and recorded in a folder,
A discriminating means for discriminating a function of the designated folder with reference to the folder function information registered in the designated folder;
Acquisition means for acquiring information necessary for the function determined by the determination means, from the folder common information registered in the specified folder;
A playback apparatus comprising: an execution unit that executes a function determined by the determination unit based on information acquired by the acquisition unit. A playback device for playing back a recording medium in which content is grouped and recorded in a folder,
A search means for searching a folder to which the content belongs from specified content;
Determining means for determining the function of the designated folder with reference to the folder function information registered in the folder searched by the search means;
Acquisition means for acquiring information necessary for the function determined by the determination means, from the folder common information registered in the specified folder;
A playback apparatus comprising: an execution unit that executes a function determined by the determination unit based on information acquired by the acquisition unit. A reproduction method for reproducing a recording medium in which contents are grouped and recorded in a folder,
Referring to the folder function information registered in the designated folder, and determining the function of the designated folder;
Obtaining information necessary for the determined function from the folder common information registered in the designated folder;
And a step of executing the determined function based on the acquired information. A reproduction method for reproducing a recording medium in which contents are grouped and recorded in a folder,
Searching for a folder to which the content belongs from the specified content;
Referring to the folder function information registered in the searched folder, and determining the function of the designated folder;
Obtaining information necessary for the determined function from the folder common information registered in the designated folder;
And a step of executing the determined function based on the acquired information. A recording medium in which content is grouped and recorded in a folder,
A first area for recording folder function information indicating a function to be given to the folder;
And a second area for recording common folder information necessary for the function indicated by the folder function information.

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