JP2006294114A - Information recording method, information recording device, and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple information recording method with which seamless connection is guaranteed, in video contents having complicated structure in which a plurality of scenes are connected to a plurality of scenes. <P>SOLUTION: AV clips are made into blocks from connection relation of AV clips in structure of a video title. Extent is arranged considering the minimum extent size and the maximum extent size so that seamless connection is surely guaranteed in the head extent group of an interleave block of the AV clips made into blocks and a final end extent group. Thereby, complicated AV clip relation can be simplified, processing can be performed without being conscious of relation with adjacent AV clips by interleave recording processing of the AV clips made into blocks respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical disk information recording method and apparatus.

In recent years, optical discs have been developed as information recording media capable of recording at high density. For example, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) is generally widely used as an optical disc for recording movies and music. BD (Blu-ray Disc) has a large capacity and a high transfer speed, and is superior to existing DVDs.
There is a DVD video format as a standard for recording video data on a DVD. Many functions are incorporated in the DVD video format in order to widely apply the DVD to various uses.

  One of the functions of the DVD video format is a multi-angle function. The multi-angle is a function of recording scenes shot from a plurality of different angles at the same time, for example, in a movie or the like, and switching and reproducing the multi-angle scenes according to the user's selection. At this time, it is possible to seamlessly reproduce the video without interrupting the reproduction of the video and audio when the scene is switched.

  One of the functions of the DVD video format is a director's cut function. Director's Cut is a function to fit multiple versions of movies, such as the full version and theatrical release version, onto a single DVD. By sharing video data other than scenes that differ between versions, the capacity of the optical disk can be increased. Can be used. In this director's cut, the scenes can be seamlessly connected.

In order to realize such a seamless scene connection of the DVD video format, a method of interleaving and recording video data is used in the DVD video format. For example, there is Patent Document 1. In this interleaved recording method, video data is divided into units called interleave units and recorded on a DVD alternately for each of a plurality of scenes. When each scene is reproduced, the corresponding interleave unit is selectively stored in the buffer memory and then read out, and seamless reproduction is ensured by utilizing the difference between the reading speed from the DVD and the reproducing speed. The interleave unit is limited to a certain size in order to suppress a physical jump distance when sequentially reading from the DVD. Thereby, seamless video reproduction becomes possible.
PCT / JP96 / 02805 publication

  In the DVD video format, it is defined that a plurality of scenes are always connected to a single scene. By arranging a single scene continuously before and after a plurality of scenes, it is easy to guarantee a seamless connection between the plurality of scenes and the single scene. However, in BD, not only seamless connection of a plurality of scenes and a single scene but also a function of seamless connection from a plurality of scenes to the next plurality of scenes is required. Since the structure for connecting a plurality of scenes to the next plurality of scenes becomes complicated, it is expected that it is difficult to guarantee seamless connection.

  Therefore, the present invention is for solving the above-described problems, and a method and apparatus for easily realizing seamless connection between scenes even in a complicated data structure in which a plurality of scenes are connected to a plurality of scenes. The purpose is to provide.

  The information recording method according to claim 1 is an information recording method for recording video content on a disc-shaped recording medium in which a plurality of AV clips are seamlessly reproduced without interruption. Blocking step for grouping into blocks including one or a plurality of AV clips according to the connection relationship, etc., and the AV clip in the block is divided into one or more extents, and seamless playback in the block is performed. The extents are arranged and recorded in a predetermined order that guarantees the end, and the first extent group that is a collection of the first extent of each AV clip arranged at the beginning of the block in the extent, and the end of the block in the extent Is a collection of end extents for each AV clip placed in The size of the extent to place the stent group, so as to ensure seamless reproduction between blocks, comprises a disk creation step of setting, based on a predetermined specified.

  According to the present invention, in an implementation method for guaranteeing seamless playback of a plurality of AV clips, a plurality of AV clips are grouped as blocks, and the extents arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group are guaranteed to be seamlessly reproduced between the blocks. By setting to do so, it is possible to simplify the relationship of AV clips without being aware of the connection between blocks, and it is possible to perform the interleaving process locally.

  According to the present invention, in the disc recording process, the blocking step collects a plurality of AV clips into groups for interleave recording, and determines the context of each group. In the disc creation step, extents are arranged so as to satisfy seamless connection in the first extent group and the end extent group of interleaved blocks of a plurality of AV clips grouped. Therefore, the connection relationship between a plurality of AV clips can be simplified, and the interleave recording process for a plurality of AV clips can be performed without being aware of the relationship between the preceding and succeeding AV clips.

  The information recording method according to claim 2, wherein the disk creation step in the information recording method according to claim 1 adds up the sizes of the extents arranged in the head extent group and the end extent group of the block for each group. The extent size is calculated so that the obtained value is half the maximum jump size that can guarantee seamless playback.

According to the present invention, the extent size calculation for guaranteeing seamless playback between blocks can be performed without considering the number, size, and arrangement information of AV clips outside the block. It can be done simply.
The information recording method according to claim 3 is the information recording method according to claim 1, wherein the sizes of the extents arranged in the head extent group and the end extent group in the block are guaranteed to be seamlessly reproduced. The minimum extent size is the minimum required data size.

According to the present invention, calculation for guaranteeing seamless reproduction between blocks can be set regardless of the number, size, and arrangement information of AV clips inside and outside the block, so that the processing can be simplified.
An information recording apparatus according to claim 4 is an information recording apparatus for recording video content that is seamlessly reproduced without interruption of a plurality of AV clips on a disc-shaped recording medium,
Blocking means for grouping a plurality of AV clips into blocks including one or a plurality of AV clips according to a reproduction order, connection relationship of AV clips, etc.
The AV clip in the block is divided into one or more extents, and the extents are arranged and recorded in a predetermined order that can guarantee seamless playback in the block, and arranged at the head of the block in the extent. The size of the extent to be arranged in the first extent group that is a collection of the first extent of each AV clip and the last extent group that is a collection of the last extent of each AV clip arranged at the end of the block in the extent, In order to guarantee seamless reproduction between blocks, a disc creating means is provided for setting based on a predetermined rule.

  According to the present invention, in the disk recording apparatus, the blocking unit collects a plurality of AV clips into groups for interleaved recording, and determines the context of each group. Also, the disc creation means arranges extents so that seamless playback conditions are satisfied in the first extent group and end extent group of the interleaved blocks of a plurality of AV clips grouped. Therefore, the connection relationship between a plurality of AV clips can be simplified, and the interleave recording process for a plurality of AV clips can be performed without being aware of the relationship between the preceding and succeeding AV clips.

  5. The information recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in the information recording apparatus according to claim 4, the size of the extents arranged in the head extent group and the end extent group of the block is summed up for each group by the disk creating unit. The extent size is calculated so that the obtained value is half the maximum jump size that can guarantee seamless playback.

According to the present invention, the extent size calculation for guaranteeing seamless playback between blocks can be performed without considering the number, size, and arrangement information of AV clips outside the block. It can be done simply.
The information recording apparatus according to claim 6 is the information recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the size of the extents arranged in the head extent group and the end extent group in the block by the disk creation unit is seamless. The minimum extent size, which is the minimum data size required to guarantee playback, is used.

According to the present invention, calculation for guaranteeing seamless reproduction between blocks can be set regardless of the number, size, and arrangement information of AV clips inside and outside the block, so that the processing can be simplified.
The information recording medium according to claim 7 is a disc-shaped information recording medium on which video content that is seamlessly reproduced without interruption of a plurality of AV clips is recorded.
A plurality of AV clips are grouped into the block including one or a plurality of AV clips depending on the playback order, AV clip connection relationship, etc.
The AV clip in the block is divided into one or more extents, and the extents are arranged and recorded in a predetermined order that can guarantee seamless playback in the block, and arranged at the head of the block in the extent. The size of the extent to be arranged in the first extent group that is a collection of the first extent of each AV clip and the last extent group that is a collection of the last extent of each AV clip arranged at the end of the block in the extent, It is set based on a predetermined rule so as to guarantee seamless reproduction between blocks.

According to the present invention, by grouping a plurality of AV clips, the data structure can be simplified even if the data structure is complicated such that the plurality of AV clips are connected to the plurality of AV clips. Can provide video content with more sophisticated and complex data structures.
The information recording medium according to claim 8 is the information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein values obtained by summing the sizes of the extents arranged in the first extent group and the last extent group of the block for each group are seamless. The extent size is calculated so as to be half the maximum jump size that can guarantee proper playback.

According to the present invention, the calculation of the extent size for guaranteeing seamless playback between blocks does not take into account the number, size, and arrangement information of AV clips outside the block, but only the number and size of AV clips in the block. Therefore, video content having a more complicated data structure can be provided.
The information recording medium according to claim 9 is the information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the size of the extents arranged in the first extent group and the last extent group in the block is the minimum to guarantee seamless reproduction. The minimum extent size, which is the required data size.

  According to the present invention, calculation for guaranteeing seamless playback between blocks can be set regardless of the number, size, and arrangement information of AV clips inside and outside the block, and the processing can be simplified. Video content having a complicated data structure can be provided.

Embodiments of a recording method and a recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, among the implementation actions of the recording medium according to the present invention, the form of the use action will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a form of usage of a recording medium according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the recording medium according to the present invention is a BD-ROM 101. The BD-ROM 101 is used for supplying movie works to a home theater system formed by a playback device 102, a television 103, and a remote controller 104.

The above is the description of the usage pattern of the recording medium according to the present invention.
Next, the data structure of a BD-ROM that is a recording medium according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the BD-ROM.
The BD-ROM 201 is shown in the fourth level in the figure, and the track 202 on the BD-ROM is shown in the third level. The track 202 in the figure is drawn by extending the track formed in a spiral shape from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the BD-ROM in the horizontal direction. This track includes a lead-in area, a volume area, and a lead-out area. The volume area in this figure has a layer model of a physical layer, a file system layer, and an application layer. When the application layer format (application format) of the BD-ROM is expressed using the directory structure, it becomes like the first row 204 in the figure. As shown in the figure, the BD-ROM 201 has a BDMV directory under the ROOT directory, and under the BDMV directory, an index file (index.bdmv) in which an index table constituting a title is defined, A movie object file (MovieObject.bdmv) that defines a scenario, a PLAYLIST directory, a CLIPINF directory, and a STREAM directory exist. The following files (XXX.M2TS) that store AV clips, clip information files (XXX.CLPI) that store AV clip management information, and playlist files (YYY) that define logical playback paths (PL) for AV clips .MPLS) are placed under the STREAM directory, CLIPINF directory, and PLAYLIST directory, respectively.

  First, an index table defined in the index file (Index.bdmv) will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the index table is a top-level table that defines all titles, top menus, and FirstPlaybacks stored on the BD-ROM disc. In this table, all titles, top menus, and movie objects to be executed first from FirstPlayback are designated. The BD-ROM player refers to the index table each time a title or menu is called, and executes a predetermined movie object.

Here, “FirstPlayback” is set by the content provider, and a movie object that is automatically executed when the disc is inserted is set.
In the top menu, a movie object to be called when a command command such as “MenuCall” is executed by a user operation on the remote controller is designated.
Next, the movie object will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of movie objects are defined in the movie object file (MovieObject.bdmv), and each movie object is identified by a movie object ID. The movie object includes a plurality of flags for controlling user operations and one or more commands for realizing a dynamic scenario.
Next, the playlist file (YYY.MPLS) will be described.

  A playlist defines a logical path to be played back. As shown in FIG. 5, the play list is composed of one or more playback sections (play items) 501 and includes an entry mark 502 indicating the playback start point. Each play item is identified by a play item ID, and is described in the order to be reproduced in the play list. The entry mark can be given within the playback section defined by the play item. As shown in FIG. 5, the entry mark is attached to a position that can be a playback start point for the play item, and is used for cue playback. For example, chapter reproduction can be performed by adding an entry mark to a position at the beginning of a chapter in a movie title.

  Here, the contents of the play item will be described with reference to FIG. The play item describes clip information 601 to be reproduced, a reproduction start time 602, and a reproduction end time 603, and further includes an elementary selection table 605. Here, the elementary selection table is a table representing whether the elementary stream multiplexed in the AV clip referred to by the clip information 601 is valid or invalid at the time of playing the play item.

  More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the clip includes one video stream, three audio streams, four presentation graphics streams, and three interactive graphics streams. Of these, in the elementary selection table 605, video, audio 1, audio 2, presentation graphics 1, presentation graphics 2, and interactive graphics 1 are valid. Therefore, in this play item, the effective elementary stream can be reproduced, and reproduction of the other elementary streams is prohibited. The elementary stream selection table 605 also records attribute information of each elementary stream at the same time. Here, the attribute information is information indicating the characteristics of each elementary stream, and includes, for example, language attributes in the case of audio, presentation graphics, and interactive graphics.

Next, AV clips (XXX.M2TS) and clip information files (XXX.CLPI) will be described.
An AV clip (XXX.M2TS) is a digital stream in the MPEG-TS (Transport Stream) format, and is obtained by multiplexing a video stream, an audio stream, a presentation graphics stream, and an interactive graphics stream. The video stream indicates the movie part of the movie, the audio stream indicates the sound part of the movie, and the presentation graphics stream indicates the subtitles of the movie. The interactive graphics stream indicates an interactive screen created by arranging GUI parts on the screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing how the AV clip is configured.
The AV clip 713 converts a video stream 701 composed of a plurality of video frames and an audio stream 704 composed of a plurality of audio frames into PES packet sequences 702 and 705, respectively, and further converts them into TS packets 703 and 706 (upper three stages). Eye), similarly, the data of the presentation graphics stream 707 and the interactive graphics 710 are respectively converted into PES packet sequences 708 and 711, further converted into TS packets 709 and 712, and these are multiplexed.

  The clip information file (XXX.CLPI) has a one-to-one correspondence with the AV clip, and defines the correspondence between the stream attribute information of the AV clip and the time information and the packet position information as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 5, the relationship between the playlist and the AV clip specifies the playback section of the AV clip as time information in the play item. When playback time information is given, a table for converting time information into stream packet numbers is described in the clip information file as shown in FIG. You can get and play AV clips.

  In addition, the AV clip is composed of a group of data having consecutive logical addresses on the BD-ROM 101. The logical address is a serial number assigned in units of accessing the optical disk, and indicates this number. Reading of data from the optical disk is performed by designating the logical address. Here, the logical address is defined as continuous even in the arrangement on the optical disc. That is, data having consecutive logical addresses can be read without performing a seek. Hereinafter, a block of data in which logical addresses on the disc by the AV clip are continuous is defined as an extent. FIG. 10 shows a state in which extents are arranged on the disk. In the example of FIG. 10, an AV clip 1001 constitutes three extents 1002A, 1002B, and 1002C on the disc.

In addition, seamless playback of an AV clip that plays video without being interrupted is called seamless playback, and seamless connection is defined as an AV clip arranged so that playback is seamless. Hereinafter, conditions for seamless playback of the AV clip will be described.
As shown by the reproduction path (arrow) in FIG. 10, in order to reproduce all the AV clips, the operation of reading the extents one after another is repeated in the order of the extents 1002A, 1002B, and 1002C. At this time, when reading the next extent 1002B after reading the extent 1002A, it is necessary to change the rotation speed of the BD-ROM and move the optical pickup constituting the reading unit for the BD-ROM in the player. This is called a jump, and here, the jump is defined not only as the movement of the optical pickup but also as the entire access process including waiting for the rotation of the disk until reading / writing to predetermined data. During the jump, data cannot be extracted from the drive constituting the disk reading unit. Therefore, seamless playback of an AV clip is performed so as to absorb the influence of the jump time that occurs during reading.

  Specifically, the AV clip is seamlessly reproduced as follows. FIG. 11 shows a player model for reproduction. The player model includes a drive device for reading data from an optical disk, a disk reading means 1101 for reading AV clip data, a data buffer 1102 including a memory for temporarily storing the read data, and a data buffer 1102. The decoder 1103 decodes the data of the AV clip stored in and performs playback processing. Further, the transfer speed for reading the AV clip of the disk reading means 1101 is Rud, and the transfer speed from the data buffer 1102 to the decoder 1103 is Rmax. Rmax is equal to the bit rate of the AV clip recorded on the recording medium. FIG. 12 is a graph with the horizontal axis representing the playback time in seamless reproduction and the horizontal axis representing the amount of data buffer.

  As a seamless playback procedure, first, the extent 1002A of the AV clip 1001 is read, and the data is stored in the data buffer 1102. The amount of data in the data buffer 1102 at this time increases as indicated by 1201 by the difference between the transfer rate at which AV clips are read and the transfer rate from the data buffer 1302 to the decoder 1103, that is, Rud-Rmax. At this time, reading of the AV clip 1001 from the drive is performed while paused so that the data of the AV clip 1001 does not overflow beyond the size of the data buffer 1102.

  When the reading of the extent 1002A is completed, a jump is made to the extent 1002B. During the jump, reading of data from the optical disk stops, so that data stored in the data buffer 1102 decreases at a transfer rate Rmax to the decoder 1103 as indicated by 1202. However, if the data of the AV clip 1001 in the data buffer 1102 does not run out during the jump, the extent 1002B starts to be read and at the same time the data increases again at the Rud-Rmax speed. Data transfer can be performed seamlessly without interruption. That is, in order to realize seamless reproduction, if the size of the extent 1002A before the jump is sufficiently large, the data stored in the data buffer 1102 is continuously sent to the decoder even during the jump to the next extent 1002B. Thus, continuous supply of data can be guaranteed. This procedure realizes seamless playback of AV clips.

  However, since the size of the data buffer 1102 is limited, a jump time that can be seamlessly reproduced is defined from a state in which data is read to the data buffer 1102 at the maximum. For example, even if the data buffer 1102 of the AV clip accumulated in the data buffer 1102 becomes full due to the reading of the size of the extent 1002A, if the distance to the next extent is very large, the extent 1002B The buffer runs out before jumping to the beginning and starting reading, and seamless playback is not possible. The maximum jump time that can guarantee this seamless playback is defined as the maximum jump time (Tjump). The data size that can be jumped within the maximum jump time is defined as the maximum jump size (Sjump). The maximum jump size is determined by a predetermined standard or the like based on the data buffer 1102, the bit stream, the access speed of the drive, and the like.

From the above, in order to seamlessly play back AV clips, the size of each extent is set to a size that does not exhaust the data stored in the data buffer 1102 even if the maximum jump size is jumped. Can be guaranteed. The extent size that guarantees seamless playback can be expressed by the following equation.
(Sextent × 8) / (Sextent × 8 / Rud + Tjump)> = Rmax (1)
In equation (1), Sextent represents the extent size in bytes, and Tjump represents the maximum jump time from one extent 1002A to the next extent 1002B in seconds. Rud represents the reading speed of the AV clip from the disc, Rmax represents the bit rate of the AV clip, and the unit is bits / second. Note that “8” multiplied by Sextent is for byte / bit conversion. Hereinafter, the minimum value of the extent size that guarantees seamless reproduction calculated by Expression (1) is defined as the minimum extent size.

Next, the configuration of a multi-angle, director's cut BD-ROM will be described.
FIG. 13 shows an example of a data structure in a multi-angle BD-ROM. The multi-angle has a multi-angle section 1301 in which a plurality of playback paths are prepared, and the user wants to freely play back the AV that he / she wants to view from the plurality of playback paths in which the angle to be viewed is played back. Clips can be selected. That is, if the user switches the angle while the angle indicated by the AV clip 1302B is being played, the angle is indicated by the AV clip 1302C or the angle indicated by the AV clip 1302D according to the user's processing. At the time of this switching, playback of video and audio is not interrupted. For example, if a plurality of video data obtained by photographing the same scene from different angles is prepared as a playback path, multi-angle can be realized. Note that the video constituting the multi-angle is not limited to the video for the same scene, and the multi-angle is constituted by a plurality of videos intended to be selectively displayed at the same time on the playback time series. You can also

As a typical example, the multi-angle section is composed of one play item as shown in FIG. That is, one play item includes AV clips having a plurality of angles. In the example of FIG. 13, three AV clips can be selected as a multi-angle in 1301.
In the multi-angle section, in order to shorten the access time required for switching between angles, the streams 1302B, 1302C, and 1302D constituting the multi-angle are divided into extents in appropriate units as shown in the example of FIG. Are alternately arranged. In the example of FIG. 11, when the AV clip 1302B is recorded on an actual disc, the AV clip 1302B is divided and recorded into B0, B1, and B2, and the AV clip 1302C and the AV clip 1302D are similarly divided and recorded. Has been. This disk recording method is called interleave recording, and the unit for interleave recording is called an interleave block. In the example of FIG. 11, the interleave block indicates a section from B0 to D2, and B0, B1, B2, C0, C1, C2, D0, D1, and D2 indicate the respective extents. These extents are recorded at continuous addresses on the disk and set so as to satisfy the conditions of the minimum extent size. The size between the extents is set so as to satisfy the condition of the maximum jump size. For example, in the example of FIG. 13, if the angle is switched in units of extents, the maximum jump size is from the end of B0 to the beginning of D1, or from the end of B1 to the beginning of D2, and the length between the extents is Set so that the maximum jump size is not exceeded. In this way, if the angle is switched in units of extents, jumps are always made after reading a minimum extent size or more, and the distance to the next extent does not exceed the maximum jump size, so that seamless playback can be performed.

Next, the structure of Director's Cut BD-ROM will be described.
FIG. 14 shows the data structure of a Director's Cut BD-ROM. In director's cut, a single AV clip is prepared for a common scene, and a plurality of different AV clips are prepared for different scenes. In the example of FIG. 14, the AV clip 1402A and the AV clip 1402D are common scenes, and the AV clip 1402B and the AV clip 1402C are scenes that have different playback paths for each playlist. A plurality of different playlists are prepared, a play item indicating a common AV clip is prepared for a common scene, and a play item indicating a different AV clip is prepared for a different scene. By sharing AV clips in this way, the capacity of the disc can be used efficiently.

  Even in a plurality of AV clips having different director's cuts, in order to guarantee seamless reproduction to the preceding and succeeding AV clips, it is necessary to record them on the disc by interleave recording. In FIG. 14, it is necessary to guarantee seamless reproduction by connecting the AV clip 1402A to the AV clip 1402B and the AV clip 1402C, and connecting the AV clip 1402B and the AV clip 1402C to the AV clip 1402D. However, in the case of director's cut, it is not necessary to switch between the AV clip 1402B and the AV clip 1402C, and in the case of FIG. 14, the extent size of B0 or B1 is the maximum jump size.

Next, the configuration of a BD-ROM that combines multi-angle and director's cuts will be described.
FIG. 15 shows the data structure of a BD-ROM combined with multi-angle and director's cut. There are a plurality of playlists 1501A and 1501B, and the first play item of each playlist points to the same AV clip 1502A, and the middle play item points to different AV clips 1502B and 1502C. The configuration up to this point is the same as that of Director's Cut. The last play item is a multi-angle section, the last play item of the playlist 1501A is a multi-angle section indicating the AV clips 1502D and 1502E, and the last play item of the playlist 1501B is the AV clips 1502E and 1502F. It is a multi-angle section that points to In this case, the AV clips 1502B and 1502C and the AV clips 1502D, 1502E, and 1502F have a connection relationship, but in order to ensure seamless connection, the connection for each interleave block must be adjusted together with each interleave process. When a plurality of interleave blocks are connected, the connection relationship of the interleave blocks becomes complicated, and it is expected that the processing of the interleave becomes difficult.

  In the information recording method according to the present embodiment, even if the data structure of the AV clip has a complicated connection relationship, it is possible to easily record the AV clip while ensuring seamless connection. In the present embodiment, one or more AV clips are grouped into groups for interleave recording from the connection relationship of the AV clips, and the front-rear relationship of each group is determined. The unit of this group is called a block, and grouping into blocks is defined as blocking. Then, the blocks are arranged in order from the lowest logical address according to the block context. Then, interleave recording is performed in units of blocks, and AV clips in the blocks are divided and recorded in one or more extents. At this time, the first extent group of AV clips arranged at the beginning of the block in the extent is the first extent group, and the last extent group of AV clips arranged at the end of the block in the extent is the end extent group. The extents are arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group so as to guarantee seamless reproduction between the preceding and succeeding blocks.

By allocating extents to ensure seamless playback between blocks in the first extent group and end extent group of blocks, the AV clip relationship between blocks is conscious of interleaved recording processing of AV clips in each block. Processing can be performed without any problems, and the relationship between complicated AV clips can be simplified.
For example, FIG. 16 shows an example of the interleaving method in the case of the BD-ROM data structure in which the multi-angle and director's cut described in FIG. 13 are combined. First, the AV clip 1502A is made a block 1601A, the AV clips 1502B and 1502C are made a block 1601B, and the AV clips 1502D, 1502E and 1502F are made a block 1601C. Then, the order of the block 1601A, the block 1601B, and the block 1601C is defined. Then, extent sizes to be arranged in the head extent group 1602 and the end extent group 1603 are determined so as to guarantee seamless reproduction between blocks before interleave processing in the block. Thereafter, interleave recording processing is performed on other portions in the block.

Next, the configuration of the information recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 17 includes a scenario creation unit 1701 and a disc creation unit 1702.
The scenario creation unit 1701 includes a material input unit 1711, a user interface 1712, a menu screen creation unit 1713, a title structure creation unit 1714, an AV clip creation unit 1715, and a block information creation unit 1716, and constitutes a video, audio, and menu screen. BD-ROM logic such as titles, playlists, play items, AV clips, etc. based on original multimedia source data such as sub-pictures such as button images and subtitle images to be performed and scenarios of arbitrary BD-ROM titles prepared in advance It is a means for setting the structural relationship. The scenario creation means outputs scenario data describing the logical structure of the BD-ROM and the relationship between the multimedia source data and the structure.

The material input unit 1711 is a unit for inputting multimedia source data from the outside. The material input unit 1711 supplies the multimedia source data to the menu screen creation unit 1713 and the AV clip creation unit 1715. The material input unit 1711 has a function of converting to an appropriate format according to the video, audio, and sub-video formats.
The user interface 1712 includes a display, a speaker, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. It has a function of notifying a menu screen creating unit 1713 and a title structure creating unit 1714 of a scenario editing instruction from the user. In addition, the user can reproduce the multimedia source data using the disc play unit and the speaker unit, and can confirm the content of the multimedia source data.

  The menu screen creation means 1713 has a function of editing the design and operation of a menu screen used for a movie title using a multimedia source. In accordance with the content of the editing instruction from the user interface 1512, selection of a still image or moving image as a background from the multimedia source, arrangement of buttons on the background, and operation of the buttons on the movie title are set.

The title structure creation unit 1714 has a function of setting a BD-ROM logical structure relationship such as a title, a play list, and a play item. The title structure creation unit 1714 sets the order of titles, the link relationship between titles, the configuration of a playlist, and the like based on the editing instruction content from the user interface 1512.
The AV clip relation information creating means 1715 is a means for setting the relation of which multimedia source data the AV clip is composed of based on the editing instruction content from the user interface 1512.

The block information creation unit 1716 collects one or more AV clips into blocks to be interleaved recorded based on the following conditions, and determines the context of each block.
(1). Each multi-angle section is blocked.
(2). If there is an AV clip shared from a plurality of playlists, the AV clip is blocked. If the AV clip is shared by a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks are combined into one block.

(3). The AV clip or block connected to the blocked AV clip is blocked by a group of groups connected in front and groups connected in the back.
For example, in the example of FIG. 15, the AV clips 1502D and 1502E are converted into temporary blocks 1503A and the AV clips 1502E and 1502F are converted into temporary blocks 1503B from the condition (1). Further, since the AV clip 1502A is shared from a plurality of playlists from the condition (2), it is blocked. Further, since the AV clip 1502E is shared by a plurality of blocks, the temporary block 1503A and the temporary block 1503B become one block from the condition (2). Also, from the condition (3), AV clips 1502B and 1502C connected behind the blocked AV clip 1502A are blocked.

  These block information creating means may be automated based on the above conditions, or may be arbitrarily modified by a user interface. Information on how AV clips are grouped is output as block information. The block information is managed with a data structure as shown in FIG. In this data structure, the configuration information of AV clips is shown from the blocks, and the arrangement order of the blocks is managed. In the example of FIG. 19, the AV clips constituting the blocks are connected by lines, block # 1 is AV clip # 1, block # 2 is AV clip # 2, AV clip # 3, and block # 3 is AV clip #. 4 indicates that AV clip # 5 and AV clip # 6 are configured. Further, the arrangement order from the top indicates the arrangement order of the blocks, which are arranged in the order of block # 1, block # 2, and block # 3.

The disk image creation means 1702 includes a system multiplexing means 1717, a file system creation means 1718, a block processing means 1719, an interleave processing means 1720, and a disk image writing means 1721. Based on the scenario data output from the scenario creation means 1701 It is a means to create a BD-ROM disc image.
The system multiplexing means 1717 performs a multiplexing process on each multimedia data based on the scenario data output from the scenario editing means 1702, and converts the MPEG-TS format digital stream shown in FIG. create.

  The file system creation unit 1718 receives scenario data and data supplied from the system multiplexing unit 1717, connects to the blocking processing unit 1719 and the interleave creation unit 1720, and creates file system management information according to the disk format. The file system management information is information for managing a file group on the disk such as file creation date and time, size and other attributes and position information.

Based on the blocking information created by the blocking processing unit 1716, the blocking processing unit 1719 guarantees the connection with the external block in units of blocks, and the first extent group and the end of the AV clip included in the block The extent size to be placed in the extent group is calculated.
The extent sizes of the first extent group and the end extent group of all AV clips in the block are calculated, and the extent sizes are notified to the interleave processing means 1720. When there is only one AV clip in the block, it is not necessary to perform interleave recording, so the first and last extent sizes are not calculated, and the interleave means 1720 is notified that there is only one AV clip. To do.

  The interleave processing means 1720 calculates the size of extents other than the head extent group and the end extent group for interleave recording, and determines the position information of the AV clip data. In accordance with the block context, processing is performed in order from the previous block, and processing is performed sequentially from the lowest logical address. At this time, with respect to the head extent group and the end extent group, the arrangement of extents is determined using information from the block processing unit 1706. With respect to the size and arrangement of extents other than the head extent group and the end extent group, processing is performed so as to satisfy a predetermined standard. For example, in the case of interleaving a block including multi-angles, the size of each extent is set to be equal to or larger than the minimum extent size, and the length between the extents when the angle is switched is set to be equal to or smaller than the maximum jump size. In the case of interleaving only for directors cuts, the size of each extent is set to be equal to or larger than the minimum extent size, and the maximum length between extents in the same AV clip is set to be equal to or smaller than the maximum jump size. However, when information indicating that there is only one AV clip is received from the block processing unit 1719, the position information of each extent is determined without performing the interleave recording process. Note that the interleave recording method need not be unique. For example, the interleave recording algorithm for the set of AV clips in the multi-angle section may be different from that for the set of directors cut AV clips.

The size and position information of each extent of the AV clip calculated for interleaved recording in this way is notified to the file system creation means.
The disk image writing means writes data as an actual disk image based on the file management information created by the file system creation means 1718. The export location may be a medium such as an optical disc, or it may be exported as a single image file on an HDD.

Next, the flow of processing of the information recording method in the information recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S1801, the user uses scenario creation means 1701 to create scenario data based on the multimedia source data and the desired scenario.
In step S1802, the block information creation unit 1716 groups AV clips based on the AV clip context.

In step S1803, the system multiplexing unit 1717 is used to multiplex each piece of multimedia data based on the scenario data output from the scenario editing unit 1702 to create AV clip data. To do.
In step S1804, the block processing means 1706 is used to calculate the sizes of the extents of the head extent group and the end extent group of the AV clip of the block.

  In step S1805, the interleave processing unit 1720 is used to calculate the extent size for interleave recording other than the head extent group and the end extent group, and the extent position information of the AV clip is determined. At this time, based on the extent sizes of the head extent group and end extent group notified from the block processing means 1706, the position information of the head extent and end extent of the AV clip is determined.

In step S1806, the file system creation unit 1705 creates file system management information.
In step S1807, a disk image writing unit is used to write a disk image based on the file system management information.
Next, details of step S1804 will be described.

The block processing means 1706 calculates the size of extents arranged in the first and last extent groups of AV clips in the group by the following formula.
Sextent = (Sav_clip / total size of Sav_clip in the block) * Sjump (2)
In Expression (2), Sextent indicates the size of the extent arranged in the first extent group and end extent group of the AV clip to be calculated, Sav_clip indicates the size of the AV clip, and Sjump indicates the maximum jump size.

  For example, the extent sizes of B0 and B2 in the block 1401B of FIG. 14 are calculated by multiplying the size of the AV clip 1502B by the total size of the AV clips 1502B and 1502C and multiplying it by the maximum jump size. Similarly, the extent sizes of C0 and C2 are calculated by multiplying the size of the AV clip 1502C by the total size of the AV clips 1502B and 1502C and multiplying it by the maximum jump size.

  According to this calculation, the total extent size of AV clips arranged in the first extent group or the end extent group of the interleave block does not always exceed half of the maximum jump size. This ensures that the maximum jump size is not exceeded at the connection between the interleave block and the interleave block, no matter how far away the extents are. However, after the calculation, it is determined whether the extent size calculated by the block processing unit 1406 satisfies the condition. It is checked whether there is any AV clip extent size smaller than the minimum extent size calculated by the block processing means 1406. If there is an extent smaller than the minimum extent size, seamless connection cannot be guaranteed. The calculation method is performed and the process is continued or an error is returned to the previous step. If the number of AV clips is only one, it is not necessary to perform interleave recording, so the process proceeds to the next step without performing any processing.

Note that the detailed processing in step S1804 may be as follows.
The block processing means 1706 sets the size of extents arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group of the AV clip in the group to the minimum extent size.
According to this calculation, the extent size of the AV clip placed in the first extent group and the end extent group of the interleave block is always the minimum extent size, so if the maximum size between extents is less than or equal to the maximum jump size, it is seamless. Connection can be guaranteed. However, the following conditional expression is examined.

Sextent * (Nav_clip-1) ≤ Sjump / 2 (3)
In Expression (3), Sextent indicates the minimum extent size, Nav_clip indicates the total number of AV clips in the block, and Sjump indicates the maximum jump size.
If the above conditional expression is not satisfied, there is a possibility that the maximum jump size may be exceeded depending on the relationship between the preceding and succeeding blocks. Therefore, another calculation method is performed and the process is continued or an error is returned to the previous step. If the number of AV clips is only one, it is not necessary to perform interleave recording, so the process proceeds to the next step without performing any processing.

By doing so, the extent size of the beginning and end of the AV clip can be determined regardless of the size of the AV clip, and the processing can be simplified.
According to the first embodiment, AV clips are made into blocks by interleaving processing to ensure seamless playback in which a plurality of scenes are connected to each other, and the processing is localized without being conscious of the connection between the blocks. Will be able to.

  Since the information recording apparatus according to the present invention can easily realize sophisticated and complex movies and video works in which a plurality of scenes are seamlessly connected, more such sophisticated and complex movie works are marketed. Can activate the movie market and consumer equipment market. Therefore, the recording medium and the information recording apparatus according to the present invention have high applicability in the movie industry and the consumer equipment industry.

The figure which shows the usage condition of the recording medium concerning this invention BD-ROM configuration diagram Diagram showing the structure of the index file Diagram showing the structure of a movie object A diagram schematically showing the structure of a playlist The figure which shows the structure of the play item in the play list A diagram schematically showing the structure of an AV clip Diagram showing the structure of a clip information file Diagram showing correspondence between time-address conversion table and AV clip in clip information file Diagram showing the relationship between AV clips and extents The figure which shows the model of the player who plays BD-ROM Graph showing playback time and amount of data buffer in seamless playback processing Diagram showing the structure of a multi-angle BD-ROM Diagram showing the structure of Director's Cut BD-ROM A diagram schematically showing the structure of a BD-ROM that combines multi-angle and director's cut. The figure explaining the blocking and interleaving method in Embodiment 1 of this invention 1 is a block diagram of an information recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Flowchart of recording process in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the example of the blocking information in Embodiment 1 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

101 ... BD-ROM disc 102 ... playback device 103 ... TV 104 ... remote control 201 ... BD-ROM
202 ... Track 203 configured in the physical layer ... File system layer 204 ... Application layer 501 ... Play item 502 ... Entry mark 503 ... Clip information file 601 ... Reference clip Information 602 ... Clip playback start time 603 ... Clip playback end time 604 ... User operation control information 605 ... Elementary selection table 701 ... Video elementary stream 702 ... Video stream PES packet sequence 703... TS stream of video stream 704... Audio elementary stream 705... PES packet sequence of audio stream 706... TS packet sequence 707 of audio stream. Stream 708 ... Presentation graphics PES packet sequence 709 ... Presentation graphics TS packet sequence 710 ... Interactive graphics (button) stream 711 ... Interactive graphics PES packet sequence 712 ... Interactive graphics TS packet Rows 504, 713, 1001, 1302A, 1302B, 1302C, 1302D, 1302E, 1402A, 1402B, 1402C, 1402D, 1502A, 1502B, 1502C, 1502D, 1502E, 1502F ... AV clips 1002A, 1002B, 1002C ... extents 1101... Disk reading means 1102... Data buffer 1103... Decoder 1601A, 1601B, 1601C. Head extent group 1603 ... End extent group 1701 ... Scenario creation means 1702 ... Disc creation means 1711 ... Material input means 1712 ... User interface 1713 ... Menu screen creation means 1714 ... Title Structure creation means 1715 ... AV clip creation means 1716 ... Blocking means 1717 ... System multiplexing means 1718 ... File system creation means 1719 ... Blocking processing means 1720 ... Interleave processing means 1721 ... Disk image writing means

Claims (9)

An information recording method for recording video content that is seamlessly played back without interruption between a plurality of AV clips on a disc-shaped recording medium,
Blocking step for grouping a plurality of AV clips into blocks including one or a plurality of AV clips according to a reproduction order, connection relationship of AV clips, etc.
The AV clip in the block is divided into one or more extents, and the extents are arranged and recorded in a predetermined order that can guarantee seamless playback in the block, and arranged at the head of the block in the extent. The size of the extent to be arranged in the first extent group that is a collection of the first extent of each AV clip and the last extent group that is a collection of the last extent of each AV clip arranged at the end of the block in the extent, An information recording method comprising a disc creation step that is set based on a predetermined rule so as to guarantee seamless reproduction between blocks   In the disk creation step, the total size of the extents arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group of the block for each group is half the maximum jump size that can guarantee seamless playback. 2. The information recording method according to claim 1, wherein the extent size is calculated.   In the disk creation step, the size of the extent arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group in the block is set to a minimum extent size which is a minimum data size required to guarantee seamless reproduction. The information recording method according to claim 1, wherein: An information recording apparatus for recording video content that is seamlessly reproduced without interruption of a plurality of AV clips on a disc-shaped recording medium,
Blocking means for grouping a plurality of AV clips into blocks including one or a plurality of AV clips according to a reproduction order, connection relationship of AV clips, etc.
The AV clip in the block is divided into one or more extents, and the extents are arranged and recorded in a predetermined order that can guarantee seamless playback in the block, and arranged at the head of the block in the extent. The size of the extent to be arranged in the first extent group that is a collection of the first extent of each AV clip and the last extent group that is a collection of the last extent of each AV clip arranged at the end of the block in the extent, An information recording apparatus comprising a disk creating means for setting based on a predetermined rule so as to guarantee seamless reproduction between blocks   The disk creating means is configured such that the total size of the extents arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group of the block for each group is half the maximum jump size that can guarantee seamless playback. 5. The information recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the extent size is calculated.   The disk creating means sets the size of the extents arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group in the block to a minimum extent size which is a minimum data size required to guarantee seamless reproduction. 5. An information recording apparatus according to claim 4, A disc-shaped information recording medium on which video content that is seamlessly played back without interruption is recorded.
A plurality of AV clips are grouped into the block including one or a plurality of AV clips depending on the playback order, AV clip connection relationship, etc.
The AV clip in the block is divided into one or more extents, and the extents are arranged and recorded in a predetermined order that can guarantee seamless playback in the block, and arranged at the head of the block in the extent. The size of the extent to be arranged in the first extent group that is a collection of the first extent of each AV clip and the last extent group that is a collection of the last extent of each AV clip arranged at the end of the block in the extent, An information recording medium that is set based on a predetermined rule so as to guarantee seamless reproduction between blocks   In the disk-shaped recording medium, the sum of the sizes of the extents arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group of the block for each group is half the maximum jump size that can guarantee seamless playback. 8. The information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein a size of the extent is calculated.   In the disk-shaped recording medium, the extent size arranged in the first extent group and the end extent group in the block is the minimum extent size which is the minimum data size required to guarantee seamless reproduction. 5. An information recording apparatus according to claim 4,

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