JP2007221814A - Reproduction apparatus, recording medium, and character display method using same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display characters in a display form intended by a content provider even in an apparatus which does not comprise font data instructed by the content provider. <P>SOLUTION: Font data designated by a content provider and control information instructing a display method of the font data are recorded to a recording medium and in accordance with the instruction of the control information, a reproduction apparatus selects a font to be displayed and displays characters. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a recording medium on which image / sound data is recorded and a playback apparatus for playing back the image / sound data recorded on the recording medium, and more particularly to recording character information on characters to be displayed in addition to image / sound data. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a playback apparatus that determines and displays a character font to be displayed according to the character information.

In recent years, with the spread of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as personal computers) and the Internet, users are connected to a network, and various information provided by a server computer (hereinafter referred to as a server) connected to the network, such as image data, character data, and voice. Opportunities to browse and acquire data are increasing and becoming more common. In addition to the acquisition of information using personal computers, the demand for information browsing and information acquisition using AV (Audio Visual) devices such as TVs and DVD players is increasing. Equipment is commercially available.

As for DVD players, standardization is progressing with regard to technology for reproducing high-quality, high-quality image / audio data, such as movie content, and DV technology adopting the above-mentioned technology is being developed.
The D player is also standardizing a technique for displaying various information by connecting to the Internet (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

Further, as a method for displaying characters in an apparatus for reproducing image / sound data, a technique for storing font data for characters to be displayed on a recording medium and combining the font data with the reproduced image / sound data for display. Is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-20875

"Nikkei Electronics July 21 issue" Nikkei BP, July 21, 2003, P.125-138

When browsing and obtaining various information from a server on the Internet using a personal computer, browser software (hereinafter referred to as a browser) that can be used on the personal computer is used. In response to a request from the personal computer, the server transmits, for example, an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format file, for example, a JPEG format image file. The browser analyzes various files transmitted from the server and outputs them to an output device of a personal computer. On the other hand, when browsing and acquiring various information from a server on the Internet using a device such as a DVD player, the DVD
A browser that can be used in a device such as a player is installed in the device, and various types of information are displayed on an output device such as a TV connected to the device by a method similar to the output method using the personal computer.

When the HTML file is used, it is possible to specify a font of characters displayed by the content provider. However, a display device such as the personal computer or the DV
In the D player, when the designated font data is not provided, information is displayed using the font data provided in the device, and thus there is a problem that the display cannot be performed in a display form intended by the content provider.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to record a font that the content provider wants to display and control information for controlling the display method of the font on a recording medium, and according to the control information in the device. By reading and displaying the font recorded on the recording medium, it is possible to display characters in a form intended by the content provider even in an apparatus that does not have the font specified by the content provider.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a reproducing apparatus for reproducing image / audio data recorded on a recording medium, character display control information indicating a character display method recorded on the recording medium is read, A character display technique for reading and displaying font data recorded on a recording medium according to character display control information.

A recording medium for recording image / sound data; a recording medium for recording font data desired by a content provider and character display control information for instructing a display method for displaying the font data; To do.

The recording medium can record and store data therein, and is, for example, a DVD disc recording movie content, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, or the like. .

By using the playback apparatus, recording medium, and character display method using these according to the present invention, even in a playback apparatus that does not have font data intended by the content provider, characters are displayed in a form intended by the content provider. It becomes possible to do.

Hereinafter, an example of a DVD player will be described as an example of a playback apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings illustrating examples of the DVD player.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.

Image / audio data read from the DVD disk 132 by a reproducing head such as an optical pickup is separated by the separation processing unit 101 and converted into digitally encoded image data and digitally encoded audio data. The type of the reproducing head is not particularly limited as long as it reproduces data from a recording medium. The reproducing head is, for example, an optical pickup of an optical disk such as a DVD, a magnetic head of a magnetic recording medium such as an HDD, a signal processing circuit of a semiconductor recording medium such as a memory card, or the like.

Regarding the image data, the image decoding unit 102 decodes the digitally encoded image data, and the OSD synthesis unit 103 synthesizes the graphic data and the decoded image data in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 120, and performs image signal processing. The unit 104 converts the format of the image data output from the OSD synthesis unit 103 to NTSC or the like, and outputs the converted image data to an external image display device such as a TV via the image output terminal 105. The instruction that the main CPU 120 gives to the OSD composition unit 103 is in accordance with a graphic display instruction by the user, for example, when displaying a menu or the like provided in the playback device, or according to a graphic display instruction recorded on the recording medium being played back. This is done when displaying graphics.

As for audio data, the audio decoding unit 110 decodes the digitally encoded audio data, and the audio signal processing unit 111 converts the audio data decoded by the audio decoding unit 110 to D / A.
The signal is converted into an analog audio signal, amplified, and output to an external output device such as a speaker via the audio output terminal 112.

By the method described above, in the playback apparatus, an image / recorded on the recording medium
Play audio data.

Next, a description will be given of a method for displaying content recorded on a recording medium and displaying character data, for example, an HTML file or the like in the playback apparatus.

When the main CPU 120 receives an instruction to display the content from the user, the main CPU 120 controls the DVD drive control unit 130 to read out the desired content from the DVD disc 132 and analyze the display form of the content. Further, the main CPU 120 includes a character code included in the content, and when it is necessary to display characters in the content,
The character display control unit 140 is controlled to read the font data 141 corresponding to the desired character code and create content data for display. The created content data is transmitted to the OSD combining unit 103, and is combined with the decoded image data as necessary,
The image is output to the external image display device.

By the method described above, the content recorded on the recording medium is displayed on the playback device.

However, the font data 141 may not be displayed in the font intended by the content provider because the type, size, and the like differ depending on the playback device manufacturer. FIG.
These are figures which show the example of a display when the content which displays a character is displayed on the external image display apparatus. In FIG. 2, (a) is a display example using font data intended by the content provider, and (b) is a display example when font data provided in the playback device is used. The playback device displays the content by the method described above. If the playback device does not have the font data intended by the content provider, the content is displayed using the font data provided by the playback device. . Therefore, although the content provider intends the display form of FIG. 2 (a), since the content provider does not have the font data desired by the content provider, the display form of FIG. Display form unintended by the user.

Therefore, a recording apparatus that does not have font data intended by the content provider by recording font data intended by the content provider and character display control information for displaying the font on the recording medium together with the content. Also, the font intended by the content provider can be displayed.

  Next, the character display control information in the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the character display control information recorded on the recording medium. The character display control information includes display character information 311, font information 312, and font data 313, for example. The display character information 311 includes, for example, a display flag 321 and a font number 3
22 and display priority 323, and the display flag 321 is a flag indicating whether to use font data provided in the reproducing apparatus or font data recorded on a recording medium. Information on how to use the font data such as “use font data recorded in” and “use font data provided in the playback device” is stored. The font number 322 stores the number of types of font data recorded on the recording medium. The display priority 323 stores information that associates font data such as which font data is preferentially displayed with display priority when there are a plurality of types of font data recorded on the recording medium. The font information 312 includes font information 331 relating to the number of font data indicated by the font number 322. Each font information 331 includes, for example, a font name 351 and a storage address 352 storing font data. . The display priority 323 is a part of the display character information 311, but may be a part of each font information 331. The font data 313 is composed of the font data 341 corresponding to the number of fonts 322.

A method for displaying the font intended by the content provider using the character display control information described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

The main CPU 120 reads the content recorded on the recording medium by the method described above. Further, when displaying characters, at least the display character information 311 and the font information 312 are read from the character display control information recorded on the recording medium and transmitted to the character display control unit 140. The character display control unit 140 analyzes the display flag 321 included in the transmitted display character information 311, and if there is an instruction to “use font data in the device”, the character display control unit 140 notifies the playback device. Provided font data 14
1, the font data corresponding to the character to be displayed is read and transmitted to the main CPU 120. On the contrary, when there is an instruction to “use the font data in the recording medium”, the character display control unit 140 determines the font data 341 to be used according to the display priority 323, and the storage address The font data corresponding to the character to be displayed is read from the n-th font data 341 from the address indicated by 352 and transmitted to the main CPU 120. The main CPU 120 creates content data for display using the transmitted font data. Here, when the font data 341 in the recording medium designated by the character display control information and the font data 141 included in the playback device are the same, the character display control unit 140 reads the font data from the recording medium. The font data 141 provided in the playback device may be used without reading out. In the above method, only the font data corresponding to the character to be displayed is read. However, the character display control unit 140 reads all the designated nth font data 341 into the RAM 121 and reads the read font. A method of reading font data corresponding to characters to be displayed from the data may be used. The method until the created content data is displayed on the external image display device is as described above.

By the method described above, the content provider records desired font data on a recording medium, and further, an instruction to use the font desired to be displayed in the character display control information, for example, the display flag 321 includes “ By recording an instruction to “use font data in the recording medium” and an instruction to set the display priority of the desired font data 341 to “highest” in the display priority 322, a desired playback device is recorded in the playback apparatus. Even if font data is not provided,
Display with intended font data can be realized.

According to this embodiment, a plurality of types of fonts to be displayed by the content provider can be specified, and the user can select a favorite font from the specified fonts. FIG.
An example of a font selection screen displayed when the user selects a favorite font from the fonts designated by the content provider is shown below. Reference numeral 400 denotes the external image display device.
01 is a list of fonts designated by the content provider and recorded on the recording medium. The main CPU 120 responds to a font selection instruction from a user, and the character display control unit 1
40, and at least the display character information 311 and the font information 312 are read out of the character display control information, and the number of font data and font names recorded on the recording medium,
Acquire information necessary for the user to select a font. Further, the main CPU 120 transmits the acquired information to the OSD composition unit 103 and outputs the information to the external image display device.
The SD composition unit 103 is controlled. In the present embodiment, two fonts “font A” and “font B” are displayed as selectable fonts, and “font A” is selected. The user selects a desired font from the displayed font 401 using the remote controller for the playback device, the main body button, or the like, and the main CPU 120 transmits the selection result to the character display control unit 140 for use. The font data to be controlled is controlled to be the font data selected by the user. In this embodiment, the display order when displaying the fonts that can be selected by the user may be displayed in the order according to the display priority 323 or may be displayed in the order recorded on the recording medium. You may do it.

With the method described above, the content provider can specify the font to be used with priority and display it to the user, and the user can select a favorite font from the specified font. It becomes possible.

Next, a processing flow in the case where the process of displaying characters using the font specified by the content provider using the above-described method is realized by software will be described. FIG. 5 is an example of the flow of the above processing.

When the character display process is started, the character display control information recorded on the recording medium is read (step 51), the presence / absence of font data specified by the content provider in the recording medium,
It is determined whether or not the designated font is used (step 52). When there is font data designated by the content provider and used, the designated font data is read from the recording medium (step 53). Conversely, when there is no designated font data or when it is not used, it is provided in the playback device. The font data is read (step 54), content data including characters is created (step 55), and is output to the external image display device.

As described above, the font data that the content provider wants to display on the recording medium and the character display control information that controls the display method of the font data are recorded, and the font data that is used in accordance with the character display control information in the playback device This makes it possible to display characters in a form intended by the content provider even in a playback device that does not include font data intended by the content provider.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described by a method of recording font data intended by a content provider on a recording medium and reading out font data designated from the recording medium by a playback device, the font data Is not stored in a recording medium, but is stored in a server device connected to a network and designated by the server device when displaying characters using font data that the playback device does not have. Even if the font data is downloaded and stored in the RAM of the playback device, the same effect can be obtained.

The block diagram which shows one Example of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus in this invention Display example showing character display mode An Example which shows the structure of the character display control information in this invention An example of a display screen for selecting a font designated by a content provider in the present invention An example of a flowchart showing a processing flow of a character display method in the present invention

Explanation of symbols

101 Separation processing unit 102 Image decoding unit 103 OSD synthesis unit 110 Audio decoding unit 120 Main CPU
121 RAM
130 DVD drive control unit 132 DVD disc 140 Character display control unit 141 Font data 311 provided in playback device Display character information 312 Font information 313 Font data 321 Display flag 322 Number of fonts 323 Display priority 400 Example of font selection screen 401 Selection List of possible fonts

Claims (10)

In a reproducing apparatus for reproducing a recording medium on which image / audio data is recorded,
Character display information detecting means for detecting character display information instructing a display method of character data recorded on the recording medium;
Font switching means for switching font data to be used according to the character display information detected by the character display information detection means,
A reproducing apparatus for displaying characters using font data designated by the character display information. The playback device according to claim 1,
The font switching means can select and use font data to be used from font data provided in the playback device and font data recorded on a recording medium according to the character display information. Playback device. The playback device according to claim 1, wherein
The character display information includes area information indicating an area in which the font data is stored,
The reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the font switching means is capable of reading font data to be used from an area designated by the area information. The playback device according to claim 1, wherein
The character display information includes a display priority when there are a plurality of types of the font data,
A playback apparatus comprising font data display means for displaying a list of the font data according to the display priority. The playback apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
The character display information includes a font name of the font data,
The reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the font data display means displays a list using the font names. The playback device according to claim 4, wherein:
A font data selection unit that enables a user to select desired font data from the font data displayed in a list by the font data display unit;
The playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the font switching means displays characters using the font data selected by the font data selection means. A recording medium on which image / audio data is recorded,
Character information displayed by a playback device for playing back the recording medium;
Character display control information for instructing a display method of the character information;
A recording medium that records font data used when the playback device displays the character expression. The recording medium according to claim 7,
The character display control information includes an instruction area capable of instructing to display font data recorded on the recording medium in preference to font data included in the playback device. Medium. A recording medium according to claim 7-8,
The character display control information includes a display priority of the font data when a plurality of types of font data usable by the reproducing apparatus are recorded on the recording medium. A recording medium on which image / sound data, character data, font data for displaying the character data, and character display information instructing a display method of the character data are recorded;
A character display method comprising a playback device capable of playing back the recording medium,
The character display information instructs to display character data using either font data provided in the playback device or font data recorded on the recording medium,
The character display method, wherein the playback device reads and displays font data indicated by the character display information from the device or the recording medium.

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