JP2007243843A - Information reproducing device and information reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display characters readably irrespective of a reproduction state of a moving picture. <P>SOLUTION: A disk reproduction device comprises: a video recorder for reproducing a moving picture, based on a video PES; a sub-picture decoder for generating a character image containing a character string, based on an advanced sub-title; and a mixer for mixing the generated character image and the reproduced moving picture. The sub-picture decoder generates the character image containing characters in synchronism with the non-reproduced moving picture in a digest reproduction mode in which the video decoder thins out the video PES and reproduces the moving picture (S03, S05). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus and an information reproducing method, and more particularly to an information reproducing apparatus having a function of displaying captions in moving image data and an information reproducing method executed by the information reproducing apparatus.

  At present, the HD DVD (High Definition Digital Versatile Disc) standard is defined, and the development of a playback apparatus that plays back video recorded in the HD DVD standard is underway. In order to record content such as a movie on an HD DVD, a standard is defined so that character data for reproducing characters such as subtitles can be recorded in addition to moving image data for reproducing video.

  The character data includes characters to be reproduced and information indicating where to display characters from the reproduced moving image so that the characters can be reproduced in synchronization with the reproduced moving image. However, when fast-forward playback, fast-rewind playback, or digest playback is performed, a part of the moving image is played back, so that a frame that cannot be played back is generated. For this reason, there is a problem that the time during which characters are reproduced is shortened or characters that are not reproduced are generated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-167426 controls character information added to a video signal by the graphic control means during high-speed reproduction of the recording medium so that its display period is shorter than that during normal reproduction. The video reproduction apparatus is characterized in that the amount of information is controlled to be smaller than that during normal reproduction. According to this video reproducing apparatus, when the character information display period is shortened compared with normal reproduction during high-speed reproduction, the viewer switches to display the next character information before reading the character information. Therefore, there is a problem that character information cannot be read. In addition, when the amount of character information is smaller than that during normal playback, there is a problem that the viewer cannot read character information that is not displayed.
JP 2005-167426 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to enable display so that viewers can read characters regardless of the playback state of moving images. Is to provide a simple information reproducing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an information reproducing apparatus reads and reproduces moving image data and character data from a recording medium storing at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data. An information reproduction apparatus, a reproduction unit that reproduces a moving image based on moving image data, a character image generation unit that generates a character image including a character string based on character data, and the generated character image Mixing means for mixing moving images, and the character image generating means generates character images including characters synchronized with moving images that are not reproduced in a special reproduction mode in which the reproducing means reproduces moving images by thinning out moving image data. Asynchronous image generation means.

  According to this aspect, in the special playback mode in which moving image data is thinned out to reproduce a moving image, a character image including characters that are synchronized with a moving image that is not reproduced is generated. Can be mixed with moving images. As a result, it is possible to provide an information reproducing apparatus capable of displaying so that a viewer can read characters regardless of the reproduction state of moving images.

  Preferably, the character data includes a set of character strings associated with each of a plurality of character display periods included in the reproduction time when the moving image is reproduced without thinning out the moving image data. In the mode, the moving image is reproduced during a selection period selected according to a predetermined rule from the reproduction time during which the moving image is reproduced without thinning out the moving image data, and the asynchronous image generation means selects the plurality of character display periods. At least one character string associated with at least one character display period included in the period and at least one character string associated with at least one character display period included in a period other than the selected period among the plurality of character display periods. Extraction means for extracting a set of character strings is included.

  According to this aspect, in the special reproduction mode, a moving image of a selection period selected according to a predetermined rule is reproduced from reproduction times for reproducing a moving image without thinning out moving image data, and a plurality of character display periods are reproduced. Of these, at least one set of character strings associated with at least one character display period included in the selection period and a plurality of character display periods associated with at least one character display period included in a period other than the selection period At least one set of character strings is extracted. Therefore, it is possible to mix a character string corresponding to a moving image that is not reproduced into a reproduced moving image.

  Preferably, the reproduction means reproduces the moving image of a selection period selected according to a predetermined rule from the reproduction time of reproducing the moving image without thinning out the moving image data in the special reproduction mode, and the asynchronous image generation means A plurality of sets of character strings respectively associated with a plurality of character display periods included in a shortening target period from the start time of the selection period to the start time of the next selection period of the selection period among the plurality of character display periods Extraction means for extracting is included.

  According to this aspect, in the special playback mode, the moving image of the selection period selected according to a predetermined rule from the playback time during which the moving image is played back is played, and the start of the selection period among the plurality of character display periods A plurality of sets of character strings respectively corresponding to a plurality of character display periods included in the partial reproduction period from the time to the start time of the next selection period of the selection period are extracted. Therefore, it is possible to mix a character string corresponding to a moving image that is not reproduced into a reproduced moving image.

  Preferably, the asynchronous image generating unit includes a shortening target period determining unit that determines a shortening target period so that the number of characters of the plurality of sets of character strings extracted by the extracting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The reproduction mode includes a selection unit that selects a selection period from the determined shortening target periods.

  According to this aspect, in the special reproduction mode, the shortening target period is determined so that the number of characters of the plurality of sets of character strings to be extracted is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the selection period is selected from the determined shortening target periods. Selected. For this reason, it is possible to mix all of a plurality of sets of character strings included in character data into a moving image to be reproduced.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an information reproducing apparatus is an information reproducing apparatus that reads and reproduces moving image data and character data from a recording medium that stores at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data. Reproducing means for reproducing a moving image based on moving image data, character image generating means for generating a character image including a character string based on character data, and mixing for mixing the generated character image and the reproduced moving image And the character data includes a set of character strings associated with each of a plurality of character display periods included in the reproduction time when the moving image is reproduced. In the special playback mode in which moving images are reproduced by thinning out the data, the playback means reproduces the moving images without thinning out the moving image data in a plurality of character display periods. Including asynchronous image generating means for generating a character image including a plurality of sets of strings respectively associated with a plurality of character display period included in the predetermined period in the case of.

  According to this aspect, characters including a plurality of sets of character strings respectively associated with a plurality of character display periods included in a predetermined period when a moving image is reproduced without thinning out moving image data among a plurality of character display periods. An image is generated. For this reason, for example, when a moving image is played back at a playback speed faster than the normal playback speed such as fast-forward playback or fast-rewind playback, It is mixed. As a result, it takes a long time to display characters, so that it is possible to provide an information reproducing apparatus capable of displaying characters so that the viewer can read the characters regardless of the reproduction state of the moving image.

  Preferably, the asynchronous image generation unit includes a character size determination unit that determines a character size based on the number of characters included in the asynchronous image.

  According to this aspect, since the character size is determined based on the number of characters of the plurality of sets of character strings included in the asynchronous image, all of the plurality of sets of character strings included in the character data are reproduced as moving images. Can be mixed.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an information reproducing method is an information reproducing method for reading and reproducing moving image data and character data from a recording medium storing at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data, When a moving image is reproduced based on moving image data, a step of generating a character image including a character string based on character data, and a moving image reproduced by thinning out moving image data in the reproducing step, the moving image is not reproduced. The method includes a step of generating a character image including a character string to be synchronized, and a step of mixing the generated character image and the reproduced moving image.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, an information reproduction method is an information reproduction method for reading and reproducing moving image data and character data from a recording medium storing at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data. The character data includes a set of character strings associated with each of a plurality of character display periods included in the reproduction time when the moving image is reproduced, and reproduces the moving image based on the moving image data; When a moving image is reproduced by thinning out the moving image data by the step of generating a character image including a character string based on the data and the reproducing step, and when the moving image is reproduced without thinning out the moving image data in a plurality of character display periods The step of generating a character image including a plurality of sets of character strings respectively associated with a plurality of character display periods included in the predetermined period in FIG. And a step of mixing and flop, the generation and character images and reproduced moving image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information reproducing method capable of displaying so that a viewer can read characters regardless of the reproduction state of a moving image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a disk reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, disk playback apparatus 100 is loaded with HD DVD 20 on which moving image data and audio data in which images and audio are compression-encoded, and reads out moving image data and audio data from HD DVD 20 to generate image and audio. Play.

  The disc playback apparatus 100 includes a system controller 10 that controls the entire disc playback apparatus 100, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface 15 connected to the system controller 10, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, and a read buffer 26. A playback buffer memory 27, a parser 31, a video decoder 32, an advanced subtitle player 33, a mixer 34, a video encoder 35, and an audio decoder 36.

  The HD DVD 20 is rotated by a spindle motor 22. The servo circuit 23 controls the rotation speed of the spindle motor 22 and the focus servo and tracking servo of the pickup 21. When playing back a title recorded on the HD DVD 20, the data recorded on the HD DVD 20 is read by the pickup 21. The pickup 21 receives the light reflected by the HD DVD 20, converts the received light into an electrical signal by a photoelectric conversion element, and outputs the electrical signal to the demodulation unit 24. Since the electric signal input to the demodulator 24 is a signal modulated to a signal suitable for recording on the HD DVD 20, the demodulator 24 demodulates it and restores it to its original form. The error correction unit 25 performs error correction using a Reed-Solomon product code (RS-PC) correction method, and stores the error-corrected data in the read buffer 26.

  The system controller 10 includes a navigation information analysis unit 11. The navigation information analysis unit 11 reads data from the read buffer 26 and analyzes navigation information. Further, the system controller 10 stores the video data and audio data read from the reading buffer 26 and the advanced subtitle (Advanced Subtitle) in the reproduction buffer memory 27. Further, the system controller 10 controls the parser 31 so that the parser 31 reads out the video data, audio data, and advanced subtitle stored in the reproduction buffer memory 27.

  The parser 31 outputs video data to the video decoder 32, outputs audio data to the audio decoder 36, and outputs an advanced subtitle to the advanced subtitle player 33. The audio decoder 36 decodes input audio data and outputs the decoded digital audio data.

  The video decoder 32 decodes the input compressed video data by the MPEG method, and outputs the video data (moving image) obtained by the decoding to the mixer 34. Further, the video decoder 32 thins out a part of the video data and outputs it to the mixer 34 when the disc playback apparatus 100 is in the special playback mode of fast forward playback, fast reverse playback, or digest playback. When the disc playback apparatus 100 is in the fast forward playback or fast reverse playback mode, the video decoder 32 thins out frames from the video data and outputs the result to the mixer 34. When the disc playback apparatus 100 is in the playback mode of the digest playback, the video decoder 32 thins out video data of a part of the period from the video data and outputs it to the mixer 34.

  The advanced subtitle player 33 decodes the advanced subtitle to generate sub picture data. The advanced subtitle includes one or more sets of character strings described in a text format, a character display period, and font information. The character display period includes a start time and an end time for displaying one or more sets of character strings in synchronization with the video data. The advanced subtitle player 33 generates subpicture data (character image) including a character string, and outputs the generated subpicture data to the mixer 34 during the character display period. In addition, the advanced subtitle player 33, when the disc playback apparatus 100 is in the special playback mode of fast forward playback, fast reverse playback, or digest playback, sub-picture data (character Image) and the generated sub-picture data is output to the mixer 34 for a period specified by the system controller 10.

  The mixer 34 mixes the video data input from the video decoder 32 and the sub-picture data input from the advanced subtitle player 33 and outputs the mixed data to the video encoder 35. The video encoder 35 converts the mixed data into a display image and outputs it.

  The LAN interface 15 is a communication interface for connecting the disc playback apparatus 100 to the Internet 16. Here, the LAN interface 15 is connected to the Internet 16, and the system controller 10 can communicate with a computer 17 connected to the Internet. The computer 17 stores data that has been compression-encoded according to the MPEG standard, and transmits the stored data in response to a request from the disk playback device 100. For this reason, the disc playback apparatus 100 receives data from the computer 17 and plays back video and audio in the same manner as the data read from the HD DVD 20 described above.

  The operation unit 12 includes a plurality of button switches provided on the front surface of the disc playback apparatus 100. The operation unit 12 accepts an input of an instruction from a user who operates the disc playback apparatus 100. The operation unit 12 can wirelessly communicate with a remote controller (remote controller) 14 using infrared rays. The remote controller 14 has a button switch for inputting an instruction similar to that of the operation unit 12. Therefore, the user can input an instruction similar to that input to the operation unit 12 using the remote controller 14.

  The display unit 13 is a fluorescent display tube, and displays the operation state of the disc playback apparatus 100, displays a user instruction input to the operation unit 12, and the like. Note that a liquid crystal display device, an organic electroluminescence display (ELD), an LED (Light Emitting Diode) panel, or the like may be used instead of or together with the fluorescent display tube.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a file structure recorded on the HD DVD. Two directories, HVDVD_TS and ADV_OBJ, are arranged immediately below the root directory. In the HVDVD_TS directory, data in which video data and audio data are mixed is arranged. Advanced subtitle files and the like are arranged in the ADV_OBJ directory.

<Digest playback>
The disc playback apparatus 100 in the present embodiment can perform digest playback. Digest playback is a playback method in which a moving image is partially played back. For example, a 1 hour movie is divided into 6 parts every 10 minutes, and the first minute of each part is played. In digest playback, various techniques are known for determining the part to be played back, but any method may be used. Here, the time from the start to the end when the moving image is played back in the normal playback mode is called a playback time. If the movie has a playback time of 1 hour, if the movie is played back in the normal playback mode, the playback ends in 1 hour after the movie starts playing.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a reproduction time and a moving image and a character image reproduced in digest reproduction. Referring to FIG. 3, the reproduction time is divided into N shortening target periods from a first shortening target period to an Nth shortening target period. However, N is an integer. Each of the N shortening target periods includes one selection period. Here, an example in which the nth shortening target period includes the nth selection period is shown. However, n is an integer of 1 or more and N or less. As described above, the advanced subtitle includes a set of character strings and a character display period. Here, an example in which the first character display period to the Mth character display period exist during the reproduction time will be described. Note that a period in which no character display period is assigned during the reproduction time is a period in which no character string is displayed.

  In the normal playback mode, a character image including a character string corresponding to a character display period assigned to an elapsed time from the start of video playback is generated, mixed with a moving image, and displayed. .

  In the case of the digest playback mode, only moving images in the selected period are played back. In this case, among the character display periods included in the shortening target period, there are those included in the selection period and those not included in the selection period. For example, the first shortening target period includes a first selection period and a first character display period to a tenth character display period. The first and second character display periods are included in the first selection period, but the third to tenth character display periods are not included in the first selection period.

  It should be noted that the selection period for reproducing the moving image in the digest reproduction is determined from among the reproduction times for reproducing all the moving images, and a plurality of reduction target periods are determined by dividing the reproduction time, and the selection period is selected from each of the plurality of reduction target periods. In the digest playback, the part of the moving image to be played back (selection period) is determined first, and the period from the start of the previous selection period to the start of the next selection period is shortened. It is good also as a target period.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a moving image and a character image when digest reproduction is performed. Referring to FIG. 4, the moving images in the first selection period to the Nth selection period in the entire moving image reproduction time shown in FIG. 3 are sequentially reproduced. The character image includes a plurality of character strings respectively corresponding to all the character display periods included in one shortening target period shown in FIG. This character image is mixed with the moving image of the corresponding selection period. For example, taking the first shortening target period as an example, a character image including all 10 sets of character strings respectively corresponding to the first to tenth character display periods is mixed with a moving image in the first selection period. For this reason, in the digest reproduction, the moving image is reproduced only in the first to Nth selection periods, but the character image is displayed with all the sets of character strings corresponding to the first to Mth character display periods.

  FIG. 5 is a first flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the reproduction process. This reproduction process is a process executed by the system controller 10 when the system controller 10 executes an information reproduction program. Referring to FIG. 5, system controller 10 determines whether the playback mode is digest playback (step S01). If the playback mode is digest playback, the process proceeds to step S02; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S09. In step S09, playback is performed in the normal playback mode. Then, when the reproduction is finished (YES in step S11), the process is finished.

  In step S02, it is determined whether or not there is an advanced subtitle corresponding to the video data in the shortening target period. If such an advanced subtitle exists, the process proceeds to step S03, and if not, the process proceeds to step S07. In step S07, the video decoder 32 selects and decodes the video data in the selection period, and the video encoder 35 converts the video data in the selection period output from the video decoder 32 into a display image, thereby moving the video in the selection period. Is output. This is because if there is no advanced subtitle, there is no need to mix moving images and character images.

  In step S03, the advanced subtitle player 33 is made to extract all the advanced subtitles that have a character display period within the shortening target period to be processed from the advanced subtitles. For example, since the first selection period shown in FIG. 4 includes the first to tenth character display periods, the advanced subtitle player 33 extracts the advanced subtitles that define these character display periods. Then, the character size is determined (step S04). The character size is determined based on the total number of characters in the character string included in the advanced subtitle extracted in step S03. For example, since the first selection period shown in FIG. 4 includes the first to tenth character display periods, the advanced subtitle player 33 has 10 advanced subtitles that define these character display periods, respectively. The total number of characters of the 10 sets of character strings to be defined is calculated. Then, the total number of characters is compared with the maximum number of characters that can be displayed on one screen predetermined for each character size, and the maximum character size that can display all character strings is determined.

  Then, the advanced subtitle player 33 is caused to generate a character image for displaying all of the plurality of sets of character strings respectively included in all the advanced subtitles extracted in step S03 with the character size determined in step S04 ( Step S05). Then, while the video decoder 32 outputs the video data (moving image) of the selection period, the video data and the character image data generated by the advanced subtitle player 33 in step S05 are mixed with the mixer 34. . Specifically, the video decoder 32 is made to select and decode video data in a selection period. As a result, the video decoder 32 outputs the video data in the selected period to the mixer 34. The mixer 34 mixes the character image data output from the advanced subtitle player 33 with the video data in the selection period output from the video decoder 32 (step S06). Then, the video data mixed by the video encoder 35 is converted into a display image, and a moving image in the selected period is output (step S07).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is video data for a shortening target period to be processed (step S08). If such video data exists, the process returns to step S02, and if not, the process is performed. finish.

  FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a character image generated by digest reproduction. Referring to FIG. 6, the first shortening target period to the fourth shortening target period are substantially the same length, but the four character images generated corresponding to each of them have different numbers of characters. . The character image includes characters having a smaller character size as the number of characters included in the character image increases.

  FIG. 7 is a second flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the reproduction process. This reproduction process is a process executed by the system controller 10 when the system controller 10 executes an information reproduction program. Referring to FIG. 7, system controller 10 determines whether or not the playback mode is digest playback (step S11). If the playback mode is digest playback, the process proceeds to step S12; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S23. In step S23, playback is performed in the normal playback mode. Then, when the reproduction is finished (YES in step S24), the process is finished.

  In step S12, it is determined whether or not an advanced subtitle exists. If the advanced subtitle exists, the process proceeds to step S13; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the video decoder 32 selects and decodes the video data in the selection period, and the video encoder 35 converts the video data in the selection period output from the video decoder 32 into a display image, thereby moving the moving image in the selection period. Is output. This is because if there is no advanced subtitle, there is no need to mix moving images and character images.

  Next, 1 is set to the variable n (step S13), n advanced subtitles are extracted, and the total number of characters of the character string defined by the extracted advanced subtitles is calculated (step S14). The n advanced subtitles are selected in order from the earliest playback order among the advanced subtitles not yet processed. Then, it is determined whether or not the total number of characters exceeds a threshold value (step S15). If the total number of characters exceeds the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S17. If the total character number does not exceed the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, 1 is added to variable n, and the process returns to step S12. The threshold value is a predetermined value and is the maximum number of characters that can be displayed on one screen. For example, if the total number of characters in the character string defined by the advanced subtitle defining the first to eleventh character display periods shown in FIG. 4 exceeds a threshold value, the first to tenth character display periods Select the advanced subtitle that defines the.

  In step S17, the advanced subtitle player 33 is made to have a predetermined character size for all the sets of character strings included in each of the advanced subtitles whose total number of characters does not exceed the threshold (variable n-1). Generate a character image for display.

  In step S18, a shortening target period is determined. The shortening target period determined here includes all of the character display period defined by the advanced subtitle used for generating the character image in step S17. For example, the end time of the last character display period may be set from the start time of the first character display period. Specifically, when an advanced subtitle that defines the first to tenth character display periods is selected in step S17, the time from the start time of the first character display period to the end time of the tenth character display period is shortened. The target period. The shortening target period is used to determine the next selection period.

  In step S19, a selection period is determined from the shortening target periods determined in step S18. As the selection period, a predetermined period may be selected from among the shortening target periods, or a period of a predetermined ratio with respect to the shortening target period may be selected from among the shortening target periods. Also, the first predetermined period of the shortening target period may be selected, the last predetermined period may be selected, or an intermediate predetermined period may be selected. Furthermore, you may select the predetermined period with the characteristic among shortening object periods.

  Then, while the video decoder 32 outputs the video data (moving image) of the selection period, the video data and the character image data generated by the advanced subtitle player 33 in step S17 are mixed with the mixer 34. . Specifically, the video decoder 32 is made to select and decode video data in a selection period. As a result, the video decoder 32 outputs the video data in the selected period to the mixer 34. The mixer 34 mixes the video data in the selection period output from the video decoder 32 with the character image data output from the advanced subtitle player 33. Then, the video data mixed by the video encoder 35 is converted into a display image, and a moving image in the selected period is output (step S21).

  Next, it is determined whether or not video data (moving image data) for a shortening target period to be processed exists (step S22). If such video data exists, the process returns to step S12 and exists. If not, the process ends.

  FIG. 8 is a second diagram illustrating an example of a character image generated by digest reproduction. Referring to FIG. 8, the first shortening target period to the fourth shortening target period have different lengths. The four character images generated corresponding to each have the same character size, and the number of characters is equal to or less than the threshold value. The time during which these character images are displayed is equal to the time during which the moving image during the selection period is displayed.

<Fast forward playback or fast reverse playback>
The disc playback apparatus 100 in the present embodiment can perform fast forward playback or fast reverse playback. In fast-forward playback or fast-rewind playback, moving image frames are thinned out for playback. For example, if the playback speed of fast forward playback or fast reverse playback is double speed, half of the frames are skipped and only the remaining half of the frames are played back. Note that the playback speed of fast-forward playback or fast-rewind playback is not limited to double speed, but may be faster than normal playback speed (single speed). Since fast-forward playback and fast-reverse playback differ only in the playback direction, fast-forward playback will be described as an example here.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a reproduction time and a character image in normal reproduction (single speed reproduction). With reference to FIG. 9, an example in which the first character display period to the Mth character display period exist corresponding to the reproduction time will be described. Note that a period in which no character display period is assigned during the reproduction time is a period in which no character string is displayed. In the normal playback mode, a character image including a set of character strings corresponding to the character display period assigned to the elapsed time from the start of the video playback is generated and mixed with the moving image. Is displayed.

  Here, for the sake of explanation, an example of fast-forward playback at double speed is shown. When the reproduction time is divided into N equal parts, the reproduction time is divided into N fixed periods from the first fixed period to the Nth fixed period. However, N is an integer. In the fast forward playback mode, the playback time is halved.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a moving image and a character image in the case of fast forward playback or fast reverse playback. Referring to FIG. 10, half of the number of frames of the moving images in the first fixed period to the Nth fixed period shown in FIG. For this reason, the reproduction time is halved. The character image includes a plurality of sets of character strings respectively corresponding to all the character display periods included in one fixed period shown in FIG. This character image is mixed with a corresponding moving image of a fixed period. For example, a character image including all 10 sets of character strings respectively corresponding to the first to tenth character display periods is mixed with a moving image in the first fixed period that is reproduced at double speed. For this reason, in fast-forward playback, a moving image is played with half the number of frames skipped, but a character image displays all M sets of character strings corresponding to the first to Mth character display periods. .

  FIG. 11 is a third flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the reproduction process. This reproduction process is a process executed by the system controller 10 when the system controller 10 executes an information reproduction program. The same process as the reproduction process shown in FIG. Hereinafter, different parts will be mainly described. Referring to FIG. 11, system controller 10 determines whether the playback mode is fast forward playback or fast reverse playback (step S01A). If the playback mode is fast forward playback or fast reverse playback, the process proceeds to step S02; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S09.

  In step S02, it is determined whether or not there is an advanced subtitle corresponding to the fixed period video data. If such an advanced subtitle exists, the process proceeds to step S03, and if not, the process proceeds to step S07. In step S07, the video decoder 32 is made to select and decode video data of a fixed period, and the video encoder 35 is made to output video data obtained by thinning out 1/2 frame from the decoded video data of the fixed period. Then, the video data obtained by thinning out 1/2 frame from the frame of video data of the fixed period output by the video decoder 32 is converted into a moving image for display, and a moving image is output. This is because if there is no advanced subtitle, there is no need to mix moving images and character images.

  In step S03A, the advanced subtitle player 33 is made to extract all the advanced subtitles that have a character display period within a fixed period to be processed from among the advanced subtitles. For example, since the first fixed period shown in FIG. 9 includes the first to tenth character display periods, the advanced subtitle player 33 extracts the advanced subtitles that define these character display periods. Then, the character size is determined (step S04).

  Then, the advanced subtitle player 33 is caused to generate a character image for displaying all of a plurality of character strings included in the advanced subtitle extracted in step S03A in the character size determined in step S04 (step S05). . Then, while the video decoder 32 outputs video data obtained by decimating 1/2 frame from video data frames in a fixed period, the video data and the advanced subtitle player 33 are generated in step S05. The character image data is mixed (step S06A). Then, the video data mixed by the video encoder 35 is converted into a moving image for display, and a moving image is output (step S07A).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is a fixed period of video data to be processed (step S08A). If such video data exists, the process returns to step S02, and if not, the process ends. To do.

  FIG. 12 is a fourth flowchart showing an example of the flow of the reproduction process. This reproduction process is a process executed by the system controller 10 when the system controller 10 executes an information reproduction program. The same process as the reproduction process shown in FIG. Hereinafter, different parts will be mainly described. Referring to FIG. 12, system controller 10 determines whether the playback mode is fast forward playback or fast reverse playback (step S11A). If the playback mode is fast forward playback or fast reverse playback, the process proceeds to step S12; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S23. In step S12, it is determined whether or not an advanced subtitle exists. If the advanced subtitle exists, the process proceeds to step S13; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S21A.

  In step S18A, a target period is determined. The target period determined here includes all of the character display period defined by the advanced subtitle used for generating the character image in step S17. For example, the end time of the last character display period may be set from the start time of the first character display period. Specifically, in step S17, when an advanced subtitle that defines the first to tenth character display periods is selected, the target is from the start time of the first character display period to the end time of the tenth character display period. Period.

  Then, while the video decoder 32 outputs video data obtained by decimating 1/2 frame from the video data frame in the target period, the video data and the advanced subtitle player 33 are generated in step S17. The character image data is mixed (step S20A). Then, the video data mixed by the video encoder 35 is converted into a moving image for display, and a moving image is output (step S21A).

  As described above, the disc playback apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment generates a character image including characters that are synchronized with a moving image that is not played back in the digest playback playback mode in which moving image data is thinned out and played back. Thus, it is possible to mix a character synchronized with a moving image that is not reproduced with a reproduced moving image. As a result, the viewer can read the characters regardless of the playback state of the moving image.

  Also, in a playback mode of digest playback, a selection period (for example, a first time) selected according to a predetermined rule from a playback time (for example, a first shortening target period) for reproducing a moving image without thinning out moving image data in normal playback. For example, in the first shortening target period, each of the first shortening period and the first character display period is associated with each of the first and second character display periods included in the first selection period. The two sets of character strings and the eight sets of character strings corresponding to the third to tenth character display periods included in the periods other than the first selection period among the first to tenth character display periods are extracted. . For this reason, it is possible to display a character image including eight sets of character strings corresponding to the third to tenth character display periods corresponding to moving images that are not reproduced.

  In the digest playback mode, for example, the number of characters in a plurality of character strings corresponding to each of the first to tenth character display periods extracted in the playback order from the first to Mth character display periods is predetermined. Since the first shortening target period is determined to be equal to or less than the threshold value, and the first selection period is selected from the determined first shortening target period, all of a plurality of sets of character strings included in the character data are displayed. can do.

  Further, in the playback mode of fast forward playback or fast reverse playback, the disc playback apparatus 100 plays back a moving image without thinning out moving image data in the first to Mth character display periods in FIG. 9, for example. An image including a plurality of sets of character strings respectively associated with the first to tenth character display periods included in the first fixed period is generated (S03A). Therefore, when a moving image is played back at a playback speed faster than the playback speed in the normal playback mode such as the fast forward playback mode or the fast reverse playback mode, a plurality of sets corresponding to the first to tenth character display periods respectively. A character image including the character string is mixed with a moving image reproduced by fast-forward reproduction or fast-reverse. As a result, it is possible to lengthen the time for displaying characters in the playback mode of fast forward playback or fast reverse playback.

  In addition, since the character size is determined based on the number of characters in a plurality of sets of character strings included in the character image, all of the plurality of sets of character strings included in the character data can be displayed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the disc playback apparatus 100 has been described. However, an information playback method for causing the disc playback apparatus 100 to execute the playback process shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. It goes without saying that the invention can be understood as an information reproduction program.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

<Appendix>
(1) The character data includes a set of character strings associated with each of a plurality of character display periods included in a reproduction time when a moving image is reproduced without thinning out the moving image data.
The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the asynchronous image generating unit generates a character image including a plurality of sets of the one set of character strings associated with each of the plurality of character display periods.
(2) In (1), the character image generation means, when the reproduction means reproduces a moving image without thinning out the moving image data, the set of characters associated with each of the plurality of character display periods. Synchronous image generation means for generating a character image including a column is further included.
(3) When the reproducing unit reproduces a moving image without thinning out the moving image data, the mixing unit is configured so that an elapsed time from the start of the reproduced moving image is in each of the plurality of character display periods. A character image including the set of character strings associated with the character reproduction period is mixed with a moving image, and in the special reproduction mode, the reproduction unit reproduces the moving image of the predetermined period. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the asynchronous image is mixed with the reproduced moving image.
(4) When the reproducing unit reproduces a moving image without thinning out the moving image data, the mixing unit is configured so that an elapsed time from the start of the reproduced moving image is in each of the plurality of character display periods. A character image including the set of character strings associated with the character display period is mixed with a moving image, and in the special reproduction mode, while the reproducing unit reproduces the moving image of the selected period, The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the asynchronous image is mixed with the reproduced moving image.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the disc reproducing | regenerating apparatus in one of the embodiments of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the file structure recorded on HD DVD. It is a figure for demonstrating the reproduction | regeneration time and the moving image and character image reproduced | regenerated in digest reproduction | regeneration. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between a moving image and a character image in the case of digest reproduction | regeneration. It is a 1st flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a 1st figure which shows an example of the character image produced | generated by digest reproduction | regeneration. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a 2nd figure which shows an example of the character image produced | generated by digest reproduction | regeneration. It is a figure for demonstrating the reproduction time and character image in normal reproduction | regeneration (1 time speed reproduction). It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between a moving image and a character image in the case of fast-forward playback or fast-rewind playback. It is a 3rd flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a 4th flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a reproduction | regeneration process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 System controller, 11 Navigation information analysis part, 12 Operation part, 13 Display part, 14 Remote control, 15 Interface, 16 Internet, 17 Computer, 20 HD DVD, 21 Pickup, 22 Spindle motor, 23 Servo circuit, 24 Demodulation part, 25 Correction unit, 26 reading buffer, 27 playback buffer memory, 31 parser, 32 video decoder, 33 advanced subtitle player, 34 mixer, 35 video encoder, 36 audio decoder, 100 disc playback device.

Claims (8)

An information reproducing apparatus that reads and reproduces the moving image data and the character data from a recording medium that stores at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data,
Playback means for playing back a moving image based on the moving image data;
A character image generating means for generating a character image including a character string based on the character data;
Mixing means for mixing the generated character image and the reproduced moving image;
The character image generation means includes an asynchronous image generation means for generating a character image including a character synchronized with a moving image that is not reproduced in a special reproduction mode in which the reproduction means reproduces a moving image by thinning out the moving image data. Playback device. The character data includes a set of character strings associated with each of a plurality of character display periods included in a reproduction time when a moving image is reproduced without thinning out the moving image data,
The reproduction means reproduces a moving image of a selection period selected according to a predetermined rule from reproduction times of reproducing a moving image without thinning out the moving image data in the special reproduction mode,
The asynchronous image generation means includes at least one set of character strings associated with at least one character display period included in the selection period among the plurality of character display periods and the selection period among the plurality of character display periods. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an extracting unit that extracts at least one set of character strings associated with at least one character display period included in a period other than. The reproduction means reproduces a moving image of a selection period selected according to a predetermined rule from reproduction times of reproducing a moving image without thinning out the moving image data in the special reproduction mode,
The asynchronous image generation unit associates each of the plurality of character display periods with a plurality of character display periods included in a reduction target period from a start time of the selection period to a start time of a selection period next to the selection period. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising extraction means for extracting a plurality of sets of character strings. The asynchronous image generating means includes a shortening target period determining means for determining the shortening target period so that the number of characters of the plurality of sets of character strings extracted by the extracting means is equal to or less than a predetermined value,
The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reproducing unit includes a selecting unit that selects the selection period from the determined shortening target periods in the special reproduction mode. An information reproducing apparatus that reads and reproduces the moving image data and the character data from a recording medium that stores at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data,
Playback means for playing back a moving image based on the moving image data;
A character image generating means for generating a character image including a character string based on the character data;
Mixing means for mixing the generated character image and the reproduced moving image;
The character data includes a set of character strings associated with each of a plurality of character display periods included in a reproduction time when a moving image is reproduced,
In the special reproduction mode in which the reproduction unit thins out the moving image data and reproduces a moving image, the character image generation unit reproduces the moving image without thinning out the moving image data during the plurality of character display periods. An information reproducing apparatus including asynchronous image generating means for generating a character image including a plurality of sets of character strings respectively associated with a plurality of character display periods included in a predetermined period.   The information reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the asynchronous image generation unit includes a character size determination unit that determines a character size based on the number of characters included in the asynchronous image. An information reproducing method for reading and reproducing the moving image data and the character data from a recording medium storing at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data,
Replaying a moving image based on the moving image data;
Generating a character image including a character string based on the character data;
A step of generating a character image including a character string synchronized with a moving image that is not reproduced when reproducing the moving image by thinning out the moving image data in the reproducing step;
A method for reproducing information, comprising: mixing the generated character image and the reproduced moving image. An information reproducing method for reading and reproducing the moving image data and the character data from a recording medium storing at least moving image data and character data synchronized with the moving image data,
The character data includes a set of character strings associated with each of a plurality of character display periods included in a reproduction time when a moving image is reproduced,
Replaying a moving image based on the moving image data;
Generating a character image including a character string based on the character data;
When the moving image is reproduced by thinning out the moving image data in the reproduction step, a plurality of character display periods included in a predetermined period when the moving image is reproduced without thinning out the moving image data among the plurality of character display periods. Generating a character image including a plurality of sets of character strings respectively associated with each other;
A method for reproducing information, comprising: mixing the generated character image and the reproduced moving image.

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