JP3334801B1 - Optical disc, reproducing apparatus and reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a title creator with the freedom to create various video streams for one audio sequence. An audio sequence including at least one audio stream, at least one video stream, and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of at least one audio stream and at least one video stream are stored in a data storage medium. Have been. The playback control information includes playback order information that defines the order of at least one video stream that is played back in synchronization with the playback of the audio sequence among the at least one video stream recorded on the recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data storage medium for storing still image data and audio data, a reproducing apparatus for reproducing high-quality audio data and reproducing still image data, and a reproducing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an optical disk and a reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing music information or moving image information including sound, a CD (Compact Disk) and an LD (Large Data) have been used.
Aser Disk) is known.

A CD is a disk for digitally recording music information on an optical disk having a diameter of 12 cm using an encoding technique called linear PCM, and has been used as an application recording medium for music. LD has a diameter of 3
This is a disc that records moving picture information with sound as an analog signal on a 0 cm optical disc, and has been used as an application recording medium for video applications such as movies.

Recently, music information and moving image information including sound are digitized on an optical disk having a diameter of about 12 cm, and a part of the information is recorded for a long time recording or sufficient quality. Also, optical disks having a file structure in which data is efficiently compressed by digitally compressing the information and efficiently recorded, and a data structure easily exchanged with a computer and communication have begun to appear.

Under the above circumstances, there is a demand for recording and reproducing audio information of higher quality than that of CD, and among them, it is possible to reproduce high quality audio such as linear PCM and 96 kHz / 24 bits sampling. DVD-Vi
deo was developed and realized. However, DVD
In the Video standard, it is impossible to reproduce high-quality linear PCM multi-surround sound or higher-quality sound, and a higher-quality sound is required. However, since high-quality audio data has a large data amount and a high reproduction speed of data necessary for reproduction, there is a problem that it is difficult to simultaneously record and reproduce image data.

Further, in the case of reproducing a sound title, there is a demand that image data be treated as auxiliary data of sound data and used for displaying lyrics or displaying a so-called jacket picture such as a figure of a player. Can play video data in synchronization with the playback of high quality audio data, play audio data and video data asynchronously, operate video data with key operation, special effects when switching video data It is required to be more flexible and multifunctional, for example, to realize the above.

[0007] Furthermore, it is required that the reproduction be performed as intended by the title creator without depending on the initial operation specified by the system when the disc is inserted or the direct operation of the audio data depending on the operation of the player. I have.

[0008]

A conventional optical disk, a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method are configured as described above.
There is a problem that it is difficult to record high quality digital audio data together with video data. That is, if the transfer speed of high-quality audio data is almost equal to the reading speed of the optical disk, reproducing the video data simultaneously with the audio is performed by using the audio data and the video data as in a conventional optical disk or a reproducing apparatus. Multiplexing cannot be realized. This is because, when the audio data and the video data are multiplexed, the transfer speed exceeds the reading speed of the optical disk, so that continuous reproduction cannot be guaranteed. Also, as is often used in computer applications, it is not possible to use a method of simultaneously reproducing audio data and video data recorded in different areas of an optical disk by appropriately buffering audio data and video data. . Because
In order to continuously reproduce the data recorded on the disk for more than one hour like a compact disk, the sum of the transfer speeds of the audio data and the video data needs to be lower than the reproduction speed of the optical disk. It is.

[0009] A reproduction method (Browsable) in which only a video is switched in accordance with an instruction from a user while audio is continuously reproduced, or video data is automatically switched in synchronization with a specific position of the audio data. There is a problem that it is impossible to perform such a reproducing method (SlideShow).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides high quality digital audio data.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disc that can be reproduced with video data added thereto under a limited bit rate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mode for synchronously reproducing high-quality digital audio and video data, an optical disk for asynchronously reproducing data and switching video by time or user operation, a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method. And

Further, when audio data and video data are reproduced as independent streams, it is possible to reproduce the data using a general MPEG stream decoder device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a playback device capable of performing playback with video data added at a rate.

[0013]

The optical disk of the present invention comprises:
A plurality of audio sequences and the plurality of audio sequences;
Management information (ATS)
I) and an audio zone area (32c) for storing
An optical disc, wherein the plurality of audio sequences are
Each of the at least one audio object
Project (AOB) and management information (ATSI)
Before being included in each of the audio sequences
At least one audio object (AOB)
Playback order information (ATS_PGCI) indicating the playback order of
The at least one audio object
(AOB) each contains at least one pack.
Each of the at least one pack is an audio
Output timing of the audio data and the audio data.
The first timing information (PTS).
The audio zone area (32c) has at least one static
Still storing a still image object (P_VOB),
At least one still image object (P_VOB)
Each contains still image data and contains the management information (AT
SI) is a corresponding one of the plurality of audio sequences.
Played in connection with the playback of the audio sequence
At least one still image object (P_VO
B) Still image playback information (ATS_ASV_PBI)
And the still image reproduction information (ATS_ASV_PBI)
The at least one still image object indicated by
Second timing indicating the output timing of the signal (P_VOB)
Information (DLIST) and the corresponding audio system
The at least one still image in synchronization with the playback of the sequence
First mode in which object (P_VOB) is reproduced
(SlideShow) and the corresponding audio
Said at least one stillness asynchronous to playback of the sequence
The second mode in which the picture object (P_VOB) is reproduced
Display mode that indicates either one of the
Information (ASV_DMOD).
Thus, the above object is achieved. The display mode information (A
SV_DMOD) indicates the first mode,
The second timing information (DLIST) corresponds to the still image
Time when the display of the object (P_VOB) is updated
And the display mode information (ASV_D MOD)
Indicates the second mode, the second time
Information (DLIST) contains the still image object (P
_VOB) may be indicated for a period during which display is continued. Book
The playback apparatus of the present invention provides information stored on the optical disc described above.
A playback device for playing back information from the optical disc.
At least one audio object (AOB)
And the at least one still image object (P_VO)
B) Reading for reading the management information (ATSI)
Part and the at least one audio object
(AOB) and the at least one still image object
(P_VOB), and the reading unit
And a control unit for controlling the playback unit, wherein the control unit
Is the display mode included in the management information (ATSI).
Information (ASV_DMOD) indicates the first mode
In this case, the second timing information (DLIST)
At the timing indicated by the still image object
(P_VOB) The playback unit is controlled to update the display.
The control unit includes the control information in the management information (ATSI).
The display mode information (ASV_DMOD) is
2 mode, the second timing information
(DLIST) during the period indicated by the still image
To continue displaying the object (P_VOB)
By controlling the reproducing unit, the above object is achieved.
The playback method according to the present invention uses
A method for reproducing information, comprising:
The at least one audio object (AO
B) and the at least one still image object (P_
VOB) and reading the management information (ATSI)
And outputting the at least one audio object.
Object (AOB) and the at least one still image object
A playback step of playing back the object (P_VOB);
Controlling the reading step and the reproducing step
And a control step, wherein the control step comprises:
The display mode information (AS) included in the information (ATSI)
V_DMOD) indicates the first mode,
The second timing information (DLIST) indicates
The still image object (P_VOB)
Controlling the playback step to update the display of
The control step is included in the management information (ATSI).
The display mode information (ASV_DMOD) is
To indicate mode, the second timing information
(DLIST) during the period indicated by the still image
To continue displaying the object (P_VOB)
Controls the playback steps, thereby achieving the above objectives
It is.

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

[0034]

(Embodiment 1) An optical disk according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. (1) Physical structure of optical disk FIG. 1A shows a DVD 10 which is a multimedia optical disk.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the appearance of FIG. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the DVD 107 along the line AA ′ shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of a portion B shown in FIG. 1B.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the DVD 107 has a first transparent substrate 108, an information layer 109, and an adhesive layer 11.
0, the second transparent substrate 111 and the printing layer 112 for label printing are laminated in this order.

The first transparent substrate 108 and the second transparent substrate 111 are reinforcing substrates of the same material. In the example shown in FIG. 1B, the thickness of these substrates is about 0.6 mm. The thickness of these substrates is approximately 0.5 mm to 0.7 m
m is sufficient.

The adhesive layer 110 is provided between the information layer 109 and the second transparent substrate 111 for bonding the information layer 109 and the second transparent substrate 111.

On the surface of the information layer 109 which is in contact with the first transparent substrate 108, a reflection film (not shown) such as a metal thin film is formed. Concavo-convex pits are formed at a high density on this reflective film by a molding technique.

FIG. 1D shows the shape of pits formed in the reflection film. In the example shown in FIG. 1D, the length of each pit is 0.4 μm to 2.13 μm. 1 for DVD 107
The tracks of the book are spirally formed. Each pit is
It is formed along the spiral track so as to have an interval of 0.74 μm in the radial direction of the DVD 107. In this way, a pit row is formed on the spiral track.

When the DVD 107 is irradiated with the light beam 113, a light spot 114 is formed on the information layer 109 as shown in FIG. 1C. The information stored in the DVD 107 is detected as a change in the reflectance of the portion of the information layer 119 illuminated by the light spot 114.

The diameter of the light spot 114 on the DVD 107 is about 1 / 1.6 times the diameter of the light spot on a CD (Compact Disk). The numerical aperture NA of the DVD objective lens is larger than the numerical aperture NA of the CD objective lens, and the wavelength λ of the DVD light beam is CD
Is smaller than the wavelength λ of the light beam for use.

A DVD having such a physical structure can store about 4.7 Gbytes of information on one side.
The storage capacity of about 4.7 Gbytes is close to eight times the storage capacity of a conventional CD. Due to such large storage capacity of DVD,
It is possible to greatly improve the quality of moving images. It is also possible to greatly improve the reproduction time of a moving image. While the playback time of a conventional video CD is 74 minutes, the playback time of a DVD is 2 hours or more.

The basic technology for realizing such a large storage capacity is to reduce the spot diameter D of the light beam. The spot diameter D is given by a formula of spot diameter D = wavelength λ of laser / numerical aperture NA of the objective lens. Therefore, the spot diameter D can be narrowed down by reducing the wavelength λ of the laser and increasing the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens. Here, it should be noted that the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens is
Is large, coma aberration occurs due to the relative inclination (that is, tilt) between the disk surface and the optical axis of the light beam. In DVD, coma aberration is reduced by reducing the thickness of the transparent substrate. Reducing the thickness of the transparent substrate may cause another problem that the mechanical strength of the disk is reduced. In DVD, the strength of the transparent substrate is reinforced by bonding another substrate to the transparent substrate.
This overcomes the problem of the mechanical strength of the disk.

To read information stored on a DVD, a red semiconductor laser having a short wavelength of 650 nm and an objective lens having a large numerical aperture (NA) of about 0.6 mm are used. In addition to this, by using a thin transparent substrate of about 0.6 mm, about 4.7 G on one side of an optical disc having a diameter of 120 mm.
It became possible to store byte information.

FIG. 2A schematically shows a state in which a spiral track 20 is formed from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the information layer 109 of the DVD 107. The spiral track 20 is divided into predetermined units called sectors. In FIG. 2A,
The sectors are indicated by symbols such as S1, S2,..., S99, and S100. Reading of information stored in the DVD 107 is performed in sector units.

FIG. 2B shows the internal structure of a sector. The sector includes a sector header area 21 and a user data area 22.
And an error correction code storage area 23.

The sector header area 21 stores a sector address for identifying a sector and its error detection code. The disk reproducing device determines from which sector of a plurality of sectors information should be read based on the sector address.

The user data area 22 contains 2 KB
Long data is stored.

The error correction code storage area 23 stores error correction codes for the sector header area 21 and the user data area 22 included in the same sector. When reading data from the user data area 22, the disk playback device performs error detection using the error correction code, and performs error correction according to the result of the error detection. This guarantees the reliability of data reading.

(2) Logical Structure of Optical Disk FIG. 3 shows a logical structure of the DVD 107 as an optical disk. As shown in FIG. 3, the area of the DVD 107 is divided into a lead-in area 31, a volume area 32, and a lead-out area 33. These areas can be identified by the identification information included in the sector address of the physical sector. Physical sectors are arranged in ascending order by sector address.

The lead-in area 31 stores data for stabilizing the operation of the disk reproducing apparatus at the start of reading.

The lead-out area 33 does not store any meaningful data. The lead-out area 33 is used for notifying the disk playback device of the end of playback.

The volume area 33 stores digital data corresponding to the application. Physical sectors included in the volume area 32 are managed as logical blocks. A logical block is identified by assigning a continuous number (logical block number) to the physical sector following the physical sector No. 0, with the physical sector at the beginning of the volume area 32 being numbered zero.

As shown in FIG. 3, the volume area 3
2 is further divided into a volume / file management area 32a and an audio zone area 32c.

File system management information for managing a plurality of logical blocks as files is stored in the volume / file management area 32a in accordance with ISO13346. The file system management information is information indicating the correspondence between each file name of a plurality of files and the address of a logical block group occupied by each file. The disk reproducing device realizes accessing the optical disk in file units based on the file system management information. Specifically, the disc playback device refers to the file system management information,
The address of the logical block group corresponding to the given file name is obtained, and the logical block group is accessed based on this address. Thereby, digital data of a desired file can be read.

In the audio zone area 32c, an audio manager 900 and one or more audio title sets 800 are stored.

The audio title set 800 includes a plurality of audio data and management information for managing the reproduction order. The audio title set 800 has a data structure for managing audio data in units called audio titles. Typically, an audio title corresponds to a music album that contains one or more songs.

(3) Data Structure of Audio Zone Area 32c The audio zone area 32c contains an audio manager 900 and one or more audio title sets 800.
Are stored.

(3.1) Audio title set 80
Data Structure of 0 FIG. 5 shows the data structure of the audio title set 800. The audio title set 800 includes a plurality of audio objects (hereinafter, referred to as AOBs) 802.
And audio title set management information (ATSI) 801 for managing the reproduction order of the plurality of AOBs 802, and audio title set management information backup (ATSI_BUP) 804 as backup data of the audio title set management information 801. In the following description, the audio title set may be abbreviated as ATS.

(3.1.1) Data Structure of AOB 802 The AOB 802 is packetized in 2 KB. AOB802 includes LPCM, AC3 or DT
S and other data in a compressed format are stored. LPCM
In the case of, the sample bits are either 16, 20, or 24 bits, the sampling frequency is 48 kHz,
96 kHz, 192 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 88.2
kHz or 176.2 kHz.

(3.1.2) Data Structure of Audio Title Set Management Information 801 The audio title set management information 801 is composed of AOB8
02 includes information for managing the playback order. The reproduction order of the AOB 802 is specified by a program chain (PGC) as in the case of the video object (VOB).
Different PGCs may define different playback orders of AOB 802.

As shown in FIG. 5, the audio title set management information (ATSI) 801 includes an audio title set management table (ATSI_MAT) 811.
And PGC management information table (ATS_PGCIT) 8
12 is included.

Audio title set management table 8
Reference numeral 11 denotes header information of the audio title set management information 801. The audio title set management table 811 stores a pointer indicating the storage position of the AOB 802, a pointer indicating the storage position of the PGC management information table 812, and attribute information of the AOB 802. When a still image is provided, attribute information of the still image is stored.

PGC management information table (ATS_PGC)
The IT) 812 includes audio title set PGC information table information (ATS_PGCITI) 831, a plurality of audio title set PGC information search pointers (ATS_PGCI_SRPs) 832, and a plurality of PGs.
C information (ATS_PGCI) 833.

The audio title set PGC information search pointer (ATS_PGCI_SRPs) 831
This is an index of a plurality of program chain groups stored in the GC management information table 812, and specifies PGC information to be executed first for each title.

Each piece of PGC information describes the recording position of one or more audio objects on the disc and the order of their reproduction, and it is also possible to describe the reproduction of the same audio object using different PGC information. PGC
Specifically, the information is “Audio title set PGC
General information (ATS_PGC_GI) "and" Audio title set program information table (ATS_PG
IT) and an "audio title set cell playback information table (ATS_C_PBIT)".

FIG. 7 shows the data structure of PGC information.
As shown in FIG. 7, the “audio title set PGC general information (ATS_PGC_GI)” includes the number of programs, the number of cells, the PGC playback time included in the PGC information, and the “audio title set program information table (ATS_PGIT)”. ”And“ Audio title set cell playback information table (ATS_C_PBI)
T)) is recorded.

In the “audio title set program information table (ATS_PGIT)”, the AOB of each program and the program preceding it are described.
"Program physical allocation information" that indicates whether data is recorded at physically discontinuous locations on the disc,
Similarly, “program time attribute information” indicating whether the time information with the previous AOB is continuous, “program start cell number” indicating the first cell number of the program, and a still image included in the program "Program still image flag" indicating whether the program has been played, "playback start audio cell time" indicating the first time information of the first audio cell included in the program, and "program total playback" indicating the program playback time. "Time" and "voice pause time" indicating a silence time until the start of reproduction of the voice cell of the program.

The "audio title set cell reproduction information table (ATS_C_PBIT)" stores cell information constituting an AOB to be reproduced. Specifically, the "cell index number" indicating the order of cells included in the program, the "cell type" indicating whether the attribute of the cell is a still image cell, a silent cell, or an audio cell, and the cell start address is The audio title set includes a "cell start address" described by a relative address from the first pack of the AOB, and a "cell end address" similarly describes the address of the last pack of the cell.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the AOB. AO
B is a part of the MPEG2 stream, and is a set of audio cells composed of a still image cell composed of a still image pack, a silence cell composed of an audio pack which is almost silent audio, and an audio pack of audio data constituting a music. is there. An AOB is composed of one or more audio cells, and may not include still image cells and silent cells. The still picture cell and the silent cell are not continuous, and the still picture cell is always followed by a silent cell or an audio cell. A voice cell always follows a silent cell. In FIG. 6, when a voice cell and a silent cell exist and are physically continuous and the time information is continuous, that is, the “program physical allocation information” is a value indicating “continuous” and the “program time attribute information ] Also indicates the case of “continuous”.

In the drawing of the structure of the AOB shown in FIG. 6, a change in the value of the time information (PTS) of the AOB is shown on the upper side of the drawing. Here, point A is the value of the PTS of the first still picture cell. Point B indicates the first PTS of the silent cell. Point C indicates the first PTS of the voice cell. Thus, the PTS of the silence cell is continuous with the PTS of the voice cell,
There is no gap between the silent cell and the voice cell where data underflow occurs in the MPEG2 stream. B
Like the dot, the PTS of the silence cell is
When S is large, it indicates that the still image of the still image cell is displayed before the start of the reproduction of the silent cell. Similarly, the PTS of the next still picture cell is indicated by point D, and the PTS of the silent cell is indicated by point E. As described above, when the PTS of the still image cell and the PTS of the silent cell are the same, it indicates that the reproduction start of the silent cell and the display of the still image are simultaneous. The difference between the first PTS of the next voice cell at the point F and the last PTS of the voice cell at the point D is the “voice pause time”. In addition, according to the MPEG2 regulations, the PTS gap must be 0.7 seconds or less. Therefore, in this figure, the first PTS of the silent cell at point B and the PTS of the still image cell are shown.
The difference between the TS and the difference between the PTS of the still picture cell and the last PTS of the audio cell at the point D must satisfy this.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a PGC for forming a title. In this example, there are five programs, programs # 1 and # 2 are AOB # 1, and programs # 3 and #
4 and # 5 are AOB # 2, and AOB # 1 on the recording medium.
Is recorded after AOB # 2. Further, both the program # 1 and the program # 2 have a still picture cell and a silent cell, and the program # 2 has two voice cells. Programs # 3 and # 4 have only silence cells, and program # 5 has only speech cells.

All voice cells have a playback time of 60 seconds (PT
Assuming that the silent cell is 1 second (90,000 PTS) and the PTS of the still picture cell is the same as the first PTS of the silent cell, the program information is described as shown in FIG. it can. The size of the still image data is about 1.88 Mbit, the audio data is 48 kHz,
If the bit sampling is 2 ch, the number of packs of still image cells is 1 as described in the cell information of FIG.
There are 12 packs, the number of packs of silent cells is 96, and the number of packs of audio cells is 5760.

The audio title set has been described above, and the audio manager will now be described with reference to FIG.

(3.2) Data Structure of Audio Manager 900 The audio manager 900 is information for reproduction control which is first referred to when an optical disk is mainly reproduced by a disk reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the audio manager 900.

The audio manager 900 includes “audio manager information (AMGI)”, “audio manager menu VOB (AMGM_VOBS)”,
"Audio Manager Information Backup (AMGI_
BUP)].

Further, the audio manager information (A
MGI) ”is“ Audio manager information management table (AMGI_MA) having attribute information and pointer information.
T) "," Audio title management information "describing the number of audio titles, etc.," Audio title search pointer (ATT_SRP) "describing audio title search information, and PGC information for audio manager menu. "Audio manager menu PGC management information table (AMGM
_PGCI_UT)].

Further, the "audio title search pointer table (ATT_SRP)" includes "audio title type" for describing the type of each title, "number of programs in the title" for describing the number of programs included in the title, and reproduction of the title. "Title playback time" describing time, "audio title set number" describing the number of the audio title set to which each title belongs, "ATS title number" describing the title number of each title in the audio title set And an “ATS address” that describes the address of an audio title set to which each title belongs.

The above is the end of the explanation of the audio zone area and the explanation of the DVD which is a multimedia optical disc. Next, the reproducing apparatus will be explained.

First, the appearance of a DVD player, which is a playback device for a multimedia optical disk, will be described. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the appearance of the DVD player 1, the television monitor 2, and the remote controller 91.

The DVD player 1 has an opening at the front of the housing, and a drive mechanism for setting an optical disk is provided in the depth direction of the opening.

At the front of the DVD player 1, there is provided a remote control receiver 92 having a light receiving element for receiving infrared rays emitted by the remote controller. Reference numeral 92 issues an interrupt signal indicating that the key signal has been received.

Further, on the back of the DVD player 1,
A video output terminal and an audio output terminal are provided. By connecting an AV code to this terminal, a video signal reproduced from a DVD can be output to a large television monitor 2 for home use. This gives the operator 33 inches,
It is possible to enjoy DVD playback images on a large home-use television such as a 35-inch television. As can be understood from the above description, the DVD player 1 according to the present embodiment is not used by connecting to a personal computer or the like, but is used together with the television monitor 2 as household electric appliance.

The remote controller 91 is provided with a keypad which is biased by a spring on the surface of its housing, and outputs a code corresponding to a pressed key by infrared rays. FIG. 20 shows an operation panel of the operation remote controller 91. In this panel, "PO
"WER" key is the power ON / OF of DVD player 1
F is performed. The "MENU" key is used for calling the volume menu of the optical disk during the reproduction of the program chain. Numeric keys are used for chapter jumps in movies, music selection in music, and the like. The up, down, left and right cursor keys are used to select an item. The "ENTER" key is used to confirm the item selected by the cursor. When the cursor is moved on the item by the up, down, left, and right cursor keys, the item where the cursor exists is displayed in the select color of the item color information of the management information pack, and “ENTER” is displayed.
If confirmed with the key, it will be displayed in the confirmed color. In addition, keys common to other AV devices, such as "play", "stop", "pause", "fast forward", and "rewind" keys, are provided.

Next, the configuration of a DVD player which is a playback device for a multimedia optical disk will be described.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the DVD player 70 according to the present embodiment. DVD
The player 70 includes a drive mechanism 81, an optical pickup 82, a mechanism controller 83, a signal processor 84, an AV decoder 85, a remote controller receiver 92, and a system controller 93.

The drive mechanism 81 includes a base on which an optical disk is set, and a spindle motor that clamps the set optical disk and drives it to rotate. The base on which the optical disk is set is configured to move back and forth in and out of the housing by an eject mechanism (not shown).
The operator mounts the optical disk with the base moved to the outside of the housing. When the optical disk is mounted on the base and the base moves inside the DVD player 70, the optical disk is loaded on the DVD player 70.

The mechanism control unit 83 controls a mechanism system including a motor 81 for driving the disk and an optical pickup 82 for reading a signal recorded on the disk. Specifically, the mechanism control unit 83 adjusts the motor speed according to the track position specified by the system control unit 93. At the same time, the pickup position is moved by controlling the actuator of the optical pickup 82, and when an accurate track is detected by the servo control, the apparatus waits for rotation until a desired physical sector is recorded and continuously starts from the desired position. To read the signal.

The signal processing section 84 amplifies, waveform-shapes, binarizes, demodulates, and outputs the signal read from the optical pickup 82.
The data is converted into a digital data string by performing processing such as error correction, and stored in a buffer memory (to be described later) in the system control unit 93 in units of logical blocks.

The AV decoder 85 receives the input VOB
Is subjected to a predetermined process to convert the digital data into a video signal or an audio signal. Specifically, A
The V decoder 85 further includes a system decoder 8
6, a video decoder 87 and an audio decoder 88.

The system decoder unit 86 receives the digital data string transferred from the buffer memory in units of logical blocks (packets), determines the stream ID and substream ID in the header of each packet, , Audio data packs and management information packs. In this distribution, the moving image data pack is output to the video decoder 87. As for the audio data pack, only the audio data pack having the specified stream number according to the decode stream specification command input from the system control unit 93 is output.
8 is output. The management information pack is output to the system control unit 93. The moving image data pack input to the video decoder 87 is decompressed according to a predetermined method defined by MPEG2, output as digital video data, converted into an NTSC video signal, and output to the outside. The audio data input to the audio decoder 88 for the AV decoder is decoded according to the LPCM or AC3 method according to the data type, D / A converted, and output as an audio signal to the outside.

The audio decoder 94 performs predetermined processing on the input AOB digital data according to the data type, converts the digital data into an audio signal, and outputs the audio signal to the outside.

The system control unit 93 includes: a working memory;
A DVD player 70
Performs overall control.

The operation of the disk reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

A DVD optical disk is a DVD player 70
When the optical disk is loaded, the system control unit 93 detects the loading of the optical disk from an optical sensor or the like. System control unit 9
3 detects the loading of the optical disk, controls the rotation of the disk by controlling the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, and causes the optical pickup 82 to seek to the lead-in area. Thereby, the DVD player 70 is initialized, and the reproduction is started.

At the start of playback, the system control unit 93 determines whether or not the playback mode is a video-centered playback mode by using a playback mode determination unit. If the playback mode is determined to be the video-centric playback mode, the video manager is read based on the information read from the volume / file management area. The system control unit 93 includes a menu PGC for the video manager.
With reference to the management information table, the recording address of the program chain for the volume menu is calculated, reproduced, and stored inside. If the program chain for the volume menu is held inside, the system control unit 93
Calculates the video object (VOB) to be reproduced and its recording address on the optical disk with reference to the stored PGC information. When the video object to be reproduced is determined, the system control unit 93
3, a control signal is output to the signal processing unit 84, and the determined video object is taken out of the optical disc and reproduced. As a result, a video menu for allowing the user to select a title to be reproduced is displayed.

It is assumed that the operator sees the video menu and selects and confirms a menu item of interest. That is, it is assumed that the number of one of the menu items is designated by the remote controller. At this time, the system control unit 93, which has received the designation of the menu item number from the remote controller, refers to the management information pack included in the VOB of the video menu being reproduced, which is input from the AV decoder unit 85, and assigns the designated number to the designated number. Execute the corresponding control command. The control command is Pla
The title number to be reproduced is designated by n such as yTitle # n. As an execution operation by the PlayTitle command, the system control unit 93 refers to the title search pointer table which is a part of the audio manager, and belongs to the audio title set (A
TS), and the title number in the ATS. When the audio title set is determined, the system control unit 9
3 outputs a control signal to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, reproduces the audio title set management information of the determined title set, and searches the audio title set section title search pointer table which is a part of the audio title set management information. Take out inside. If the video title set section title search pointer table can be extracted, the system control section 93 refers to this and refers to the PG of the program chain for starting reproduction of the title to be reproduced.
C information is determined. When the PGC information is determined, the system control unit 93 outputs a control signal to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, reproduces the determined PGC information, and stores the PGC information in an internal PGC information buffer. . If PGC information for starting reproduction of a title is stored, the system control unit 93 determines an audio object to be reproduced and its recording address with reference to the stored PGC information, and reproduces the determined video object. A control signal is output to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84 for execution.

Thereafter, the system control unit 93 sets the stored P
According to the GC information, the audio objects to be reproduced are sequentially determined and the reproduction control is performed. The system control unit 93
When the reproduction of the final audio object indicated by the GC information is completed, the PGC information of the next title is searched for, and the audio object described in the PGC information is similarly reproduced. In this way, all titles are reproduced and the process ends. In this case, depending on the settings of the player or the disc, the reproduction of one title may end, the reproduction of the title may end, or a menu may be displayed.

Next, a method for reproducing still picture cells, silent cells, and audio cells will be described in detail.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a conventional voice cell reproducing method. Conventionally, when such an MPEG2 stream is reproduced, first seek to the head of the audio cell pack and start reading data, but audio output cannot be started immediately, and a certain playback device After a lapse of an idle time determined as described above, audio output is started. This idle time is the time until the PTS of the audio data is determined, the time until the audio data is determined to be correct,
It includes the time required for the muting circuit of the analog output unit to transition from the muting state to the non-muting state, and is a value that differs for each playback device. In particular, if the disc playback device and the decoder are separate housings, the PT
Since the determination of S and the determination that the audio data is correct are performed independently, the idle time tends to be longer.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing a reproducing method in which only a sound is reproduced without displaying a still image even when there is a still image cell. FIG. 12A shows a case where reproduction is performed from the beginning, and FIG. 12B shows a method of performing reproduction continuously from the previous audio cell.

When a title or a program is selected from a head or from a menu or the like to be jumped and reproduced, a jump is first made to the head pack of the silent cell with reference to the start address of the cell information. At this time, the STC, which is the reference time of the decoder, is set to the SC of the first pack of the silent cell.
Set with R. Next, data skip or jump is performed for a predetermined idle time while watching the PTS of the silent cell, and the silent time corresponding to the idle time is reproduced. During this time, audio output is prepared. At this time, the next title number is not displayed on the display device of the playback device, and the playback elapsed time is not updated. As soon as the PTS at the beginning of the audio cell is detected, the audio output is started, the title number is displayed, and the elapsed playback time is updated. The playback device will behave. When the reproduction is continued from the previous audio cell, the still image pack is jumped, and the silent cell is also jumped or skipped so as to leave the idle time. At this time, if the STC serving as the reference of the system time is kept counting, the interval from the completion of the voice of the previous voice cell to the voice output of the next voice cell becomes equal to the voice pause time. However, the continuation of the counting of the STC is when both the physical allocation information and the time attribute information have a value indicating “continuous”, and when either one indicates “discontinuous”, the jump from the menu is performed. The STC is reset at the beginning of the silent cell pack. Even when there is no still image cell, the method is almost the same. When there is no silence cell and the reproduction is started from the beginning, the operation is the same as the conventional one shown in FIG. When playing back from the previous voice cell, if the time attribute information indicates “continuous”, the voice cell is decoded as it is following the previous voice cell,
Output audio. When the time attribute information indicates "discontinuous", the operation is the same as that of the related art in FIG. 14 as in the case of reproducing from the beginning.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show a case where a still image is displayed and sound is reproduced. FIG. 13A shows a case where reproduction is performed from the beginning, and FIG. 13B shows a method of performing reproduction continuously from the previous audio cell.

In the case of reproducing from the beginning, or in the case of jumping by selecting from a menu or the like, first, a seek to a pack of still picture cells is performed from the cell information, the still picture cells are read, and the still picture is decoded. At this time, the SCR of the first pack of the still image cell is used as the reference time of the decoder.
Set TC. Next, the head pack of the silent cell is read. If STC becomes STC of still picture cell,
Display a still image. The rest is the same as without a still image.
The display of a still image may be performed during the processing of a silent cell, or simultaneously with or after the start of output of an audio cell, within the range permitted by the MPEG2 standard. When playing continuously from the previous audio cell, when it becomes a still image pack,
Read and decode still image cells. Next, the processing of the silent cell is performed. As with the case where there is no still image, the presence or absence of the STC set differs depending on the time attribute information. Subsequent processing is the same as when there is no display of a still image. However, display of a still image is performed when the STC becomes the PTS of the still image cell, and the STC is set to the SC
The difference is that R is performed.

FIGS. 15 to 18 are flowcharts showing a method of reproducing one of the programs. If the physical allocation information of the program information indicates "continuous" and the program reproduced before has a program number one less than the program to be reproduced, the disk read head need not be particularly sought. Also, when the time attribute information indicates "continuous", it is not necessary to reset the STC, which is the reference time of the decoder, when the reproduction is continued from the previous program.

The determination as to whether a cell is a still picture cell can be made by using the cell type of the cell information or by using the still picture flag of the program information. The determination of a silent cell is made based on the cell type of the cell information. The last determination of the cell is made by comparing the end address of the cell information with the address of the data read from the disk. The end of the program reproduction can be determined by returning the cell index of the cell information to 0, or by changing the cell type to a still image cell or a silent cell, or by the start cell number of the next program in the program information.

The skipping of the silent cell is performed while detecting the PTS at the time of decoding the silent cell, or by determining the number of packs to be skipped from the data rate and skipping.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the MP
Since the program reproduction information describing the start time of each audio data and the reproduction time with reference to the reproduction start time of the audio data at the head of the EG2 stream is recorded in the management area as a part of the reproduction control information, high quality To provide a multimedia recording medium capable of reproduction by adding video data to a digital audio data at a limited bit rate, and an inexpensive reproduction device,
Even in a playback device that does not have a playback function of video data, the interval of audio playback can be made constant, and the title creator can easily create data.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. (1) Physical structure of optical disk The description is omitted because it is the same as in the first embodiment. (2) Logical Structure of Optical Disc The description is omitted because it is the same as in the first embodiment. (3) Data structure of audio zone area 32c The audio zone area 32c includes an audio manager 900 and one or more audio title sets 800.
Are stored. This is the same as in the first embodiment.
However, the data structure of the audio manager 900 and the data structure of the audio title set 800 are different from those of the first embodiment.

(3.1) Audio title set 80
Data Structure of 0 FIG. 23 shows the data structure of the audio title set 800. The audio title set 800 includes a plurality of audio objects (hereinafter, referred to as AOBs) 802.
And a plurality of picture video objects (hereinafter, P_
VOB) 1002, audio title set management information (ATSI) 801 for managing the reproduction order of a plurality of AOBs 802 and a plurality of P_VOBs, and audio title set management information backup (ATSI_BUP) which is backup data of the audio title set management information 801 804. In the following description, the audio title set is abbreviated as ATS.

(3.1.1) Data structure of AOB 802 The data structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

(3.1.2) Data Structure of P_VOB 1002 FIG. 31 shows the data structure of P_VOB 1002. P
_VOB 1002 is a picture NV pack (P_NV
_PCK) 1003 and video pack (V_PCK) 1
004 and a sub-picture pack (SP_PCK) 1005.

Unlike DVD-Video, only one picture video object unit (P_VOB)
U), and there is only one P_NV_PCK.

A sub-picture pack (SP_PCK) can describe a plurality of sub-picture streams, and has a code for identification, like DVD-Video. SP_PCK may not be required.

P_VOB does not include audio data, unlike DVD-Video. P_NV_PCK is equal to P_
PCI and P_DSI are converted to PCI and P of DVD-Video.
Has the same life as _DSI.

As shown in FIG. 41, the P_PCI includes the P_VOBU to which it belongs, that is, the P_VOB attribute information, reproduction time information, highlight information, and the like.
deo, but without address information.

As shown in FIG. 42, P_DSI
The DVD-V contains the SCR of the NV_PCK to which it belongs, the P_VOBU to which it belongs, that is, the end address of the P_VOB, and the address information of the pack in which the last data of the first I picture of the video pack (V_PCK) exists.
It has the same as the video, but no other.

(3.1.3) Data structure of audio title set management information 801 The audio title set management information 801 includes an AOB 802 group and P_VOB.
Information for managing a plurality of reproduction orders of the 1002 group is stored. Note that the playback order of the AOBs 802 is specified by a program chain (PGC), similarly to the video object.

Audio title set management information 801
Is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 except for the data structure of the PGC information 833.

Each piece of PGC information describes the recording position of one or more audio objects on the disc and its reproduction order, and it is possible to describe the reproduction of the same audio object using different PGC information. PG
The C information is, specifically, “Audio title set PG
C total information (ATS_PGC_GI) "and" audio title set program information table (ATS_P
GIT), “Audio title set cell playback information table (ATS_C_PBIT)”, and “Audio title set picture program information table (AT
S_PPGIT) ”and“ Audio title set picture cell playback information table (ATS_PC_PBI) ”.
T)].

FIG. 25 shows the data structure of PGC information. As shown in FIG. 25, the “audio title set PGC general information (ATS_PGC_GI)” includes the number of picture programs, the number of audio programs, the number of cells, the playback time of PGC, the picture program playback mode included in the PGC information. , Picture program playback control, "audio title set program information table (ATS_PGIT)", and "audio title set cell playback information table (ATS_C_PBI)".
T), an "audio title set picture program information table (ATS_PPGIT)", and pointer information to an "audio title set picture cell reproduction information table (ATS_PC_PBIT)".

[0123] The "audio title set program information table (ATS_PGIT)" contains P
A plurality of "audio program information (ATS_
PGI) is described, and each "audio program information (ATS_PGI)" indicates whether the AOBs of the audio program and the preceding audio program are recorded at physically discontinuous positions on the disc. "Voice program physical allocation information"
"Voice program time attribute information" indicating whether or not the time information with B is continuous, or "Voice program start cell number" indicating the first cell number constituting the voice program
Or "playback start voice Cell time" indicating the first time information of the first voice cell included in the voice program,
The “total reproduction time of the audio program” indicating the reproduction time of the audio program and the “audio pause time” indicating the silence time until the reproduction of the audio cell of the audio program is started are described.

The "audio title set cell playback information table (ATS_C_PBIT)" stores cell information constituting the AOB to be played back. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

"Audio title set picture program information table (ATS_PPGIT)"
Has a plurality of “audio title set picture program information”. Each "audio title set picture program information" is a use SP number (PPG_SP_STN) describing a stream number of a sub-picture used in this picture program, and a button in highlight information used in the picture program. , An initial button number (PPG_FOSL) indicating a button number selected in an initial state, a picture transition mode (PPG_T_mode) indicating a transition mode of a still image of this program, and a still image identification indicating an ISRC code of a still image of this program. Code (PPG_I
SRC_SPCT), picture cell start PT indicating PTS of the first pack of picture cells of this program
S (PC_S_PTM), picture program playback time (ATS_PPG_
PB_TM), a start part transition time (PPG_TI_T) indicating a transition time at the start of reproduction of a still image of this program.
M), and an end section transition time (PPG_TO_TM) indicating a transition time at the end of reproduction of a still image of this program.

In the present embodiment, as the picture transition mode, “no transition”, “fade from black”, “fade to black”, “cross fade”, and “wipe in several directions” are assumed. are doing. Each program is composed of one cell, and each cell has an independent P_VOB, so that the picture program reproduction time is one frame time.

"Audio title set picture cell reproduction information table (ATS_PC_PBIT)"
Is a cell still time (P_C_Still_Time) indicating the duration of display of a picture cell, and a cell program start address (P_C_FVOB).
FIG. 24 including an end address (P_C_LVOBU_SA) indicating the address of the last packet of the cell and an end address (P_C_LVOBU_SA) of the cell shows an example of the configuration of the AOB. AOB is MPE
It is a set of audio cells that are part of the G2 stream and are composed of audio cells that are composed of audio packs that are almost silent audio, and audio packs of audio data that make up a song. AOB
Is composed of one or more voice cells and may not include silence cells. The silence cells are not continuous, and a speech cell always follows the silence cell. FIG.
In the case of No. 4, when a voice cell and a silent cell exist and are physically continuous and the time information is continuous, that is, the “voice program physical allocation information” is a value indicating “continuous”,
"Sound program time attribute information" is also "continuous".

In the drawing of the structure of the AOB shown in FIG. 24, the change of the value of the time information (PTS) of the AOB is shown on the upper side of the drawing. Here, point B is the first P of the silent cell.
Indicates a TS. Point C indicates the first PTS of the voice cell. As described above, the PTS of the silence cell is continuous with the PTS of the audio cell, and the silence cell and the audio cell do not have a gap where data underflow occurs in the MPEG2 stream. Similarly, the PTS of the next silence cell is indicated by point E. The difference between the first PTS of the next voice cell at the point F and the last PTS of the voice cell at the point D is the “voice pause time”. In addition, according to the rules of MPEG2, PTS
Need to be continuous in the same stream, the change in PTS is a straight line as shown in this figure.

A picture video object (P_VOB) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 31, 41 and 42. As described above, at the beginning of P_VOB, time information,
This is a picture NV pack (P_NV_PCK) having a P_PCI packet and a P_DSI packet having position information and highlight information. This P_NV_PCK
Is always present at the head of P_VOB. After that, V_PCK, which is an MPEG2 video pack for storing video data, and a sub-video pack (SP_PC) for dividing and storing up to 32 sub-video streams allowed
K) follows. In this figure, two sub-video streams (S
P # 1 and SP # 2) are shown as being present and each being divided into two packs. In this figure, V_PC
Although K is preceded, there is no restriction on the order of V_PVK and SP_PCK as long as the definition as MPEG2 is satisfied.
Also, in the drawing, termination codes such as program encoding are not shown, but such termination codes may be present if the definition as an MPEG2 stream is satisfied, and P_VOB is an MP
Since it is part of the EG2 program stream, it need not be present.

FIG. 41 shows the structure of P_PCI information described in a P_PCI packet. P_PCI contains P_
PCI general information, P_PCI highlight information, P_PC
I record information. The P_PCI general information includes a P_VOBU type (P_VOBU type) that describes the type of analog copy protection for the video data of this P_VOBU.
_VOBU_CAT), P_VOBU describing the PTS of the first displayed video contained in this P_VOBU
Start time (P_VOBU_S_PTM), this P_VO
P_VOBU end time (P_VOBU_E_PT) describing the PTS of the video to be displayed last included in the BU
M), P in which SEQ exists in this P_VOBU
P_VOBU_SEQ time describing TS (P_VOB
U_SE_E_PTM), a P_VOBU cell playback time (P_VOBU_C_ELT) indicating the relative time in the picture cell of the video first displayed in the P_VOBU
M). The P_VOB is always an I picture of one VOBU, one cell, and one video frame, and since there is always an SEQ, P_VOBU_S_PTM and P_VOB
U_E_PTM and P_VOBU_SE_E_PTM have the same value, and P_VOBU_E_ELTM indicates 0.

The P_PCI highlight information includes P_PCI highlight general information (P_PCI_HL_GI) describing the start and end times of highlight information, the number of buttons, an initial selection button number, a forced execution button number, and the like, and button color information. P_PCI button color information table (P_BTN_COLIT) to be described, button coordinates, size,
It has a P_PCI button information table (P_BTNIT) that describes an operation mode and the like. As described above, P_V
Since the OBU is composed of one video frame, the highlight start time is described as 0 and the end time is described as infinity.

Further, the P_PCI recording information includes the P_V
P_PCI describing the ISRC code of the OBU video
Video ISRC code (P_ISRC_V), also P_PCI sub-picture IS that describes the ISRC code of the sub-picture
It has an RC code (P_ISRC_SP).

FIG. 42 shows the structure of P_DSI information described in a P_DSI packet. P_DSI is P_DS
It consists only of I general information (P_DSI_GI). The P_DSI general information includes the NV of this P_VOBU.
P_VOB in which the lower 32 bits of the SCR of the pack are described
U_NV pack time (P_NV_PCK_SCR), P_VOBU end address describing the relative address of the last pack of this P_VOBU from the NV pack, P
_VOBU first reference address (P_VOBU) describing the relative address from the NV pack of the pack including the last data of the first I picture of the video of the _VOBU
— 1STREF_EA). P_VOBU is
Since it is composed of one VOBU, P_NV_PCK_
SCR is always 0.

FIG. 29 shows PGC, audio program, cell, picture program, picture cell, AOB,
Shows the relationship of P_VOB. The whole figure represents one PGC. The ATS has a plurality of such PGCs. As described above, the PGC includes, in units of audio data access, an audio program group that describes a reproduction order,
A picture program group that describes the reproduction order is described in units of access to video data. Each audio program has Cel, the smallest management unit.
It has l. Cell is AOB which is actual audio data
And determine the playback data. Similarly, a picture program also has picture cells, which point to P_VOB, which is actual video data, and determine the reproduction content.

With such a structure, the actual reproduced data may be recorded on the disc in a different order, or the same data may be pointed by a plurality of cells or picture cells. However, in order to guarantee the reproduction continuity of the audio data, a flag indicating whether the physical layout on the disk is continuous or a continuous portion of the same AOB (audio program physical allocation information, audio program time). Attribute information). Since video data is based on a still image, one program is one cell and one cell is one P_V
The OB does not have such a flag because its physical arrangement does not matter in particular.

FIG. 30 shows an example of a PGC for forming a title. In this example, there are five audio programs, audio programs # 1 and # 2 are AOB # 1, audio programs # 3, # 4 and # 5 are AOB # 2, and AOB # 1 is on the recording medium. It is assumed that it is recorded after AOB # 2. In addition, the audio programs # 1 and # 2 both have silent cells, and the audio program # 2 has two audio cells. Voice program #
3 and # 4 have silence cells, and program # 5 is only voice cells.

All the voice cells have a playback time of 60 seconds (PT
Assuming that the silent cell is 1 second (PTS: 90,000), the audio program information is as shown in FIG.
Can be described as follows. Similarly, picture program information can be described as shown in FIG. In addition, audio data is 2ch at 48 kHz, 16-bit sampling.
Then, as described in the cell information of FIG. 34,
The number of packs of silent cells is 96 and the number of packs of audio cells is 5760. Assuming that the number of still image packs is 50, the picture cell information is as shown in FIG. In this case, the P used in this picture cell
_VOB is recorded at a position following AOB. There is no restriction on the physical recording position of P_VOB and AOB, and there is no particular problem if they are mixed. In such a case, the physical allocation information of the audio program information is N
The o-Continue indicates that the AOB specified by the audio program cannot be continuously reproduced. Further, both the voice cell and the picture cell share AOB and P_VOB used in other cells.

The audio title set has been described above, and the audio manager will now be described with reference to FIG.

(3.2) Data Structure of Audio Manager 900 The audio manager 900 is information for reproduction control which is first referred to when an optical disk is reproduced mainly by audio by a disk reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 22 shows the data structure of the audio manager 900.

The audio manager 900 includes “audio manager information (AMGI)”, “audio manager menu VOB (AMGM_VOBS)”,
"Audio Manager Information Backup (AMGI_
BUP)]. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

Further, the audio manager information (A
MGI) ”is“ Audio manager information management table (AMGI_MA) having attribute information and pointer information.
T) "," Audio title management information "describing the number of audio titles, etc.," Audio title search pointer (ATT_SRP) "describing audio title search information, and PGC information for audio manager menu. "Audio manager menu PGC management information table (AMGM
_PGCI_UT)]. This is also the first embodiment.
This is the same configuration as.

Further, the “audio manager information management table (AMGI_MAT)” includes an AMG identifier (AMG_ID) for identifying the audio manager,
AMG end address (AMG_EA) and AMGI end address (AMG) which are end addresses for managing the table.
I_EA), AMGI_MAT end address (AMGI
_MAT_EA), other address information of AMG and AMGI tables, a version number (VERN), a volume set identifier (VLMS_ID), the number of title sets (TS_Ns) indicating the number of title sets included in the volume, and the provider that created the disc. A provider identifier (PVR_ID) for identification, an automatic execution flag (Auto_Play_Flag) for defining an operation of the player when a disc is inserted, and A describing the attribute information of the VOB present in the audio manager
MGM_VOBS attribute information.

The structure of the "audio title search pointer table (ATT_SRP)" is the same as in the first embodiment.

The explanation of the audio zone area has been completed, and the DVD which is a multimedia optical disc has been described.
After that, a reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded contents of the medium having the above configuration will be described.

The basic structure of the reproducing apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment.
As described above, a key for separately controlling audio data and video data, which is a unique function of the second embodiment, is provided on a remote controller for operating a DVD player or a front panel of the DVD player. . This is a key for skipping video data back and forth or returning to the first video data while audio data reproduction is continued.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the DVD player 80 in the present embodiment. DV
The D player 80 differs from the DVD player 70 shown in FIG. 8 in the configuration of the AV decoder section. Hereafter, A
The configuration of the V decoder section will be described.

In the present embodiment, streams include AOB, which is audio data, and P_VOB, which is mainly video data. For this purpose, the AV decoder unit 85a has two decoders corresponding to each other, and is configured to operate them synchronously or asynchronously. Specifically, the AV decoder 85a receives the P_VOB stream, and determines the stream ID and the sub-stream ID in the header of each packet of each stream constituting the P_VOB stream to determine the video pack, PCI, and sub-picture packet. P_VOB system decoder unit 1 that performs distribution
03, AOB that receives an AOB stream and distributes data according to the packet header of this stream
Buffer 104 for temporarily storing the highlight information of the PCI packet from the P_VOB system decoder 103, the video buffer 96 for temporarily storing the video packet, and the temporary storage of the sub-picture packet as well. Sub-picture buffer 105, A
The audio buffer 99 for temporarily storing audio packets from the OB system decoder unit 104 and the highlight data from the highlight buffer 94 are decoded.
A highlight decoder 95 for outputting decoded highlight information to the system control unit 93; a video decoder 87 for decoding video data from the video buffer 96;
A sub-picture decoder 98 for decoding sub-picture data from the sub-picture buffer 105, an audio decoder 100 for decoding audio data from the audio buffer 99 and outputting it as an audio output, and a video decoder 87.
A video synthesizing unit 101 for synthesizing the decoding results of the sub video decoder 98 and the sub video decoder 98 into one video data; including.

The operation of the disk reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below. The steps up to the reading of the stream are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

At the start of playback, the system control unit 93 determines whether or not the playback mode is a video-centered playback mode by using a playback mode determination unit. If the playback mode is determined to be the video-centric playback mode, the video manager is read based on the information read from the volume / file management area. The system control unit 93 includes a menu PGC for the video manager.
With reference to the management information table, the recording address of the program chain for the volume menu is calculated, reproduced, and stored inside. If the program chain for the volume menu is held inside, the system control unit 93
Calculates the video object (VOB) to be reproduced and its recording address on the optical disk with reference to the stored PGC information. When the video object to be reproduced is determined, the system control unit 93
3, a control signal is output to the signal processing unit 84, and the determined video object is taken out of the optical disc and reproduced. As a result, a video menu for allowing the user to select a title to be reproduced shown in FIG. 40 is displayed.

It is assumed that the operator sees this video menu and selects and confirms the menu item of interest. That is, it is assumed that the number of one of the menu items is designated by the remote controller. At this time, the system control unit 93, which has received the designation of the menu item number from the remote controller, sets the VOB of the video menu being reproduced input from the AV decoder unit 85a.
And executes the control command corresponding to the designated number with reference to the management information pack included in the. The control command is Pl
ayTitle # n, etc., and the title number to be reproduced is specified by n. As an execution operation by the PlayTitle command, the system control unit 93 refers to a title search pointer table which is a part of the audio manager, and determines an audio title set (ATS) to which the system belongs and a title number in the ATS. When the audio title set is determined, the system control unit 93 outputs a control signal to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, reproduces the audio title set management information of the determined title set, and outputs the audio title set management information. A part of the audio title set title search pointer table is taken out. If the audio title set section title search pointer table can be extracted, the system control section 93 refers to this and determines the PGC information of the program chain for starting reproduction of the title to be reproduced. When the PGC information is determined, the system control unit 93 outputs a control signal to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, reproduces the determined PGC information, and stores the PGC information in an internal PGC information buffer. . If the PGC information for starting reproduction of the title is held, the system control unit 93 refers to the held PGC information, first refers to the audio title set picture program information table, and reads all of the PGC information described in the PGC information. Is read from the disk and input to the AV decoder unit 85a. The AV decoder unit 85a
The input P_VOB is separated for each pack and packet by the P_VOB system decoder unit 103 and stored in the corresponding buffer.

At this point, the highlight decoder 95,
The video decoder 87 and the sub-picture decoder 98 do not perform the decoding operation. When all the P_VOBs have been stored in the corresponding buffers, an audio object to be reproduced and its recording address are determined by the audio title set program information table and the audio title set cell reproduction information table, and the determined AO is determined.
The reproduction of B is performed by outputting a control signal to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84. At this point, the first video, sub-picture, and highlight are decoded, and video output, highlight processing, and audio output are started. The output timing is determined according to the audio program information, the picture program information, the highlight information, and the time code information (PTS) of each packet.
Adjust.

As described above, in order to store all data of the corresponding picture program group in the corresponding buffer before reproducing the audio data, the highlight buffer 94, the video buffer 96, The video buffer 105 is an MPEG2 or DVD-Video
It is necessary to use a buffer larger than the buffer capacity specified in.

After that, the system control unit 93 sets the P
According to the GC information, an audio object to be reproduced is sequentially determined, reproduction control is performed, and highlight information, sub-picture information, and video information already read into the buffer are decoded. Then, the system control unit 93
When the reproduction of the final audio object indicated by the GC information is completed, the PGC information of the next title is searched, and the P_VOB and the audio object described in the PGC information are similarly reproduced.

[0155] In this way, the reproduction of all titles ends. In this case, depending on the settings of the player or the disc, the reproduction of one title may end, or the reproduction of the title may end, and then the menu may be displayed.

Next, a method of reproducing picture cells, silent cells, and audio cells will be described in detail.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a conventional voice cell reproducing method. Conventionally, when such an MPEG2 stream is reproduced, first, the head is moved to the head of the audio cell pack to seek, and the data is read. However, the audio output cannot be started immediately. After a lapse of an idle time determined for each certain playback device, audio output is started. This idle time is equal to the PT of the audio data.
The time before determining S, the time until determining that the audio data is correct, and the time until transition of the muting circuit of the analog output unit from the muting state to the non-muting state are included. Different values. In particular, when the disk playback device and the decoder are separate casings, the idle time tends to be longer because the PTS determination and the determination that the audio data are correct are performed independently.

FIGS. 36A and 36B are diagrams showing a reproducing method when reproducing a silent cell and a voice cell. FIG.
6A shows a case where reproduction is performed from the beginning, and FIG. 36B shows a method of performing reproduction continuously from the previous audio cell.

When a title or a program is selected from the beginning or from a menu or the like to be jumped and reproduced, the program first jumps to the first pack of the silent cell with reference to the start address of the cell information. At this time, the STC, which is the reference time of the decoder, is set to the SC of the first pack of the silent cell.
Set with R. Next, data skip or jump is performed for a predetermined idle time while watching the PTS of the silent cell, and the silent time corresponding to the idle time is reproduced. During this time, audio output is prepared. At this time, the next title number is not displayed on the display device of the playback device, and the playback elapsed time is not updated. As soon as the PTS at the beginning of the audio cell is detected, the audio output is started, the title number is displayed, and the elapsed playback time is updated. The playback device will behave.

On the other hand, when the reproduction is continued from the previous voice cell, the silent cell is jumped or skipped so as to leave the idle time. At this time, if the STC serving as the reference of the system time is kept counting, the interval from the completion of the voice of the previous voice cell to the voice output of the next voice cell becomes equal to the voice pause time. However, ST
The continuation of the counting of C is when both the physical allocation information and the time attribute information have a value indicating “continuous”, and when either indicates “discontinuous”, the same as the jump from the menu. Processing is performed, and the STC is reset at the head of the silent cell pack. When there is no silence cell and the reproduction is started from the beginning, the operation is the same as the conventional one shown in FIG. When playing continuously from the previous voice cell, the time attribute information is "continuous"
Indicates that, following the previous voice cell, the voice cell is decoded as it is and the voice is output. When the time attribute information indicates "discontinuous", the operation is the same as that of the related art in FIG. 14 as in the case of reproducing from the beginning.

FIGS. 37 to 38 and FIG. 39 are flowcharts showing a method of reproducing one of the programs. Since the P_VOB information is read in the corresponding buffer in advance, the reproduction of the audio data, the processing of the highlight information, and the output of the still picture and the sub-picture can be performed asynchronously. Of course, it is also possible to synchronously display based on the time code or the time information of the system.

In the reproduction of the audio information, when the physical allocation information of the audio program information indicates “continuous” and the audio program reproduced before is an audio program number one less than the audio program to be reproduced,
It is not necessary to particularly seek the read head of the disk. When the time attribute information indicates “continuous”,
When the reproduction is continued from the previous audio program, it is not necessary to reset the STC, which is the reference time of the decoder.

The determination of a silent cell is made based on the cell type of the cell information. The last determination of the cell is made by comparing the end address of the cell information with the address of the data read from the disk. The end of the audio program reproduction can be determined by returning the cell index of the cell information to “0” or by changing the cell type to a still image cell or a silent cell. The start cell number of the next audio program in the audio program information can be determined. But you can judge.

The skipping of the silent cell is performed while detecting the PTS at the time of decoding the silent cell, or by determining the number of packs to be skipped from the data rate and skipping.

The display of a still image is managed according to the position of the buffer where the still image of the specified cell of the specified program is recorded or the number of the still image since the data is stored in the buffer in advance. . That is, control at the buffer position is performed by sending data from the specified address of the video buffer 96 to the video decoder 87 and displaying the data. In order to manage the information based on the number of the data, the data from the beginning of the video buffer 96 is sent to the video decoder 87, the display is switched when the specified number is reached, and the data transmission is stopped. The display time of the still image is determined by the picture cell still time (P_C_Sti).
11_Time). Still image data itself is 1
Since the data is frame data, the display switches to the next still image after the time described in the cell still time elapses.
Usually, this is performed by the system control unit 93. When the cell still time is FFh, this indicates infinity, and basically indicates that a still image is not switched unless a command, user operation, or termination of an audio program is performed. When the display of the still image is switched, a display effect by designating the transition mode can be added. The switching time of the display effect can be specified for each program before and after the display of the still image, so it follows this. However, if the playback device does not have a display function with special effects, the display effect is ignored and the Switching playback may be used.

In the synchronous mode, the audio data is reproduced based on the audio program reproduction time and the time code information of the audio data, and the still images, highlights and sub-pictures are reproduced according to the picture program reproduction time. Synchronization adjuster 10
2 compares these times with reference time information of the system and performs synchronous control.

In the asynchronous mode, the audio and the highlight, the sub-picture, and the still picture are not synchronized, and are reproduced individually. Synchronous control of highlights, sub-pictures, and still images is performed, and audio data continues to be reproduced in real time based on system time information. Switching of the still image in the asynchronous mode depends on a user operation and a command. The basics of the user operation are the operation of continuing the reproduction of the audio program as it is, sending the picture program back and forth, returning to the beginning, and sending the audio program and the picture program simultaneously back and forth or to the beginning. Commands have a similar function.

The switching between the synchronous mode and the asynchronous mode in the reproduction mode depends on the designation of the picture program reproduction control. If this prohibits the control by the user operation, the reproduction is basically performed in the synchronous mode except for the command.

If the synchronization between the program and the picture program cannot be maintained by the user operation or command due to the designation of the picture program playback mode, wait until synchronization is achieved or the synchronization is not established, and the picture program is reproduced according to the picture program playback time. It is also possible to select whether or not to continue the reproduction. Similarly, when the reproduction of the picture program ends,
If the reproduction of the audio program has not been completed, it is possible to specify whether to return to the first picture program and continue the reproduction or to continue displaying the last picture program. Similarly, if the reproduction of all the audio programs is completed before the reproduction of all the picture programs is completed, the sound is silenced and the reproduction of the picture program alone is performed, or the reproduction of the audio is continued by returning to the first audio program. It is also possible to specify whether or not to end the reproduction of this audio title. Similarly, the reproduction of each audio program and picture program of this audio title is randomly selected from each program and repeated for a specified number of times, or the same program is not reproduced (shuffle mode) and specified. Repeat the number of times, or in this case, synchronize the audio program and the picture program, that is, always play the audio program and the picture program with the same program number simultaneously, or asynchronously play the audio program and the picture program independently. Can be specified.

As a user operation, it is possible to directly reproduce an audio title number or a time by directly operating a remote controller or another key operation.
When the direct designation reproduction prohibition flag (UOP1) and the time designation reproduction prohibition flag (UOP2) of TT_CAT indicate prohibition, direct reproduction by a user operation cannot be performed. By this designation, the title creator can describe a reproducible audio title by a command according to the state of the reproducing apparatus. For example, an audio title that is not normally reproduced can be created, and if certain conditions are met, this audio title can be reproduced. For example, if a special player only sets a certain parameter, the command evaluates the parameter, and the command is described so that this audio title is played only when the parameter has a value. Good. If UOP1 and UOP2 are directly prohibited from being reproduced, this audio title is reproduced only by a special player. By using this mechanism, it is possible to easily realize a mechanism in which only a paid audio title can be reproduced from a disc on which a plurality of audio titles are recorded.

The AV decoder section can have another configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the AV decoder unit 85b can include a system decoder unit that is independent of the AOB system decoder unit and the P_VOB system decoder unit. AOB and P
_VOB is input when it is different from DVD-Vi
It is possible to use a system decoder unit similar to that specified by “deo”. According to this, the highlight buffer 9
4. DVD-Vi except that the buffer capacity of each of the video buffer 96 and the sub-picture buffer 105 is increased, and a still image management mechanism is added to the control of the video buffer 96.
The decoder used for deo can be used as it is. The operation of the AV decoder unit 85b is based on the AV decoder unit 8
The operation is substantially the same as the operation of 5a.

Further, the DVD player can have the configuration shown in FIG. In this configuration, P_
A P_VOB buffer 106, which is a buffer for a VOB stream, is provided immediately before the AV decoder unit 85b. With this configuration, the same type of AV decoder unit used by DVD-Video can be used. The P_VOB buffer stores all P_VOB data to be read before the reproduction of the audio data, and in this buffer, dynamically multiplexes the P_VOB corresponding to the reproduction order with the audio stream to the AV decoder unit and sends out the P_VOB to the AV decoder unit. Therefore, in the AV decoder unit 85b, the DVD-V
A processing speed slightly faster than the speed specified by the video standard is required for the AOB / PVOB system decoder unit 120. In addition, a stream must be supplied to the AV decoder so that the audio buffer 99 does not underflow.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the MP
Since the program reproduction information describing the start time of each audio data and the reproduction time based on the reproduction start time of the first audio data of the EG2 stream is recorded in the management area as a part of the reproduction control information, It is possible to provide an optical disc capable of playing by adding video data to a high-quality digital audio data at a limited bit rate, and does not have an inexpensive playback device or a video data playback function. Also in the reproducing apparatus, the interval of audio reproduction can be made constant, and the title creator can easily create data.

Further, while using high-quality sound, it is possible to display a plurality of still images, display sub-pictures, and display menus synchronously or asynchronously with the sound, thereby enabling various expressions.

(Embodiment 3) Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (1) Physical structure of optical disk The description is omitted because it is the same as in the first and second embodiments. (2) Logical Structure of Optical Disc The description is omitted because it is the same as in the first and second embodiments. (3) Data Structure of Audio Zone Area 32c FIG. 43 shows a data structure of the audio zone area 32c. The audio zone area 32c stores an audio manager 900 and one or more audio title sets 800. This is the same as in the first and second embodiments. In the audio zone area 32c, an audio still image set (Audio Still Video) is set.
Set) 1100 is further stored.

(3.1) Data Structure of Audio Manager 900 FIG. 44 shows a data structure of the audio manager 900. The data structure from the audio manager 900 to the audio manager information management table (AMGI_MAT) 902 is the same as the data structure shown in FIG.

Audio Manager Information Management Table 9
02 is an AS that records the position of the audio still image set
A VS start address (ASVS_SA) 904 is included.

Note that the data structure of the audio manager information management table 902 is the ASVS start address 90
The data structure is the same as that shown in FIG.

(3.2) Audio still picture set 110
Data Structure of 0 FIG. 45 shows the data structure of the audio still image set 1100. The audio still image set 1100 includes a plurality of picture video objects (hereinafter, referred to as P_VOBs) 1102 and audio still image set management information (ASVSI) 110 for managing the plurality of P_VOBs 1102.
1 and a backup (ASVSI_BUP) 1103 of the audio / still image set management information 1101. In the following description, the audio still image set is an AS
It may be abbreviated as VS (Audio Still Video Set). P_VOB 1102 is
Audio still image object (ASVOB: Audi)
o Still Video Object).

(3.2.1) Data Structure of P_VOB 1102 FIG. 46 shows the data structure of P_VOB 1102. P
_VOB 1102 is a picture NV pack (P_NV
_PCK) 1113 and video pack (V_PCK) 1
114 and a sub-picture pack (SP_PCK) 1115. Note that only one picture NV pack 1113 exists in one P_VOB 1102.

The video pack 1114 stores video data forming an I picture in the MPEG system. The picture video object, unlike the video object, is an object for storing a still image instead of a moving image. Therefore, the video data stored in the video pack 1114 basically includes only the I-picture compressed in the frame. Here, information indicating one still image corresponds to one I picture.

In the sub-picture pack 1115, a plurality of sub-picture streams can be described. The sub-picture pack 1115 stores codes for identifying the plurality of sub-picture streams. However, sub-picture pack 11
15 need not be included in the P_VOB 1102.

The picture NV pack 1113 includes a DSI packet (not shown) and a PCI packet (not shown). The DSI packet stores information used for special playback such as fast-forward playback. Highlight information 1120 is stored in the PCI packet.

As shown in FIG. 47, the highlight information 1120 includes an ASV highlight general information 1121 for describing the validity period of the highlight, the number of buttons, and the like, and an ASV button for describing the display color of the button. Color information 11
22 and an ASV button information table 1123 for describing button commands and the like.

Note that P_VOB 1102 is a DVD-V
Unlike video, it has no audio data.

(3.2.2) Data Structure of Audio Still Image Set Management Information 1101 As shown in FIG. 45, the audio still image set management information 1101 has audio still image management information for managing a plurality of still images as a group. Image unit information (ASVUI)
1131 and an audio still image search pointer table (AS) for managing the recording position of P_VOB 1102.
V_SRPT) 1132.

Audio still picture unit information 1131
Means that a plurality of Ps of the same attribute recorded successively on the disc
_VOB 1102 is information for managing the _VOB 1102. This information is a basic unit of processing at the time of reproduction.

The audio still image unit information 1131 includes “audio still image set ID (AS)” for identification.
VS_ID) ”and“ the number of audio still image units (ASVU_N) indicating the number of ASVUs included in the ASVS.
s) ”,“ P_VOB start address (P_VOBS_SA) ”indicating the recording position of P_VOB, and“ P_VOB ”.
B end address (P_VOBS_EA) ”and P_VO
B describes attributes of ASVU such as a compression method of B, an aspect mode, and whether or not there is a button.
SVU_ATR) and a “P_VOB sub-picture palette (P_VOBS_SP_P) for determining the display color of the sub-picture.
LT) and “ASVU general information (ASVU_GI)” corresponding to each ASVU for designating a P_VOB belonging to each ASVU.

Each of the “ASVU general information (ASVU_G
“I)”, “P_VOB number (P_VOB_Ns)” indicating the number of P_VOBs constituting the ASVU, and ASVU
The “start P_VOB number” indicating which P_VOB of the S P_VOBs belong to the ASVU is recorded.

In the audio still image search pointer table 1132, a plurality of “ASV search pointers (ASV_SRPT)” describing the respective start addresses of the P_VOBs included in the ASVS are recorded.

(3.3) Audio title set 80
Data Structure of 0 FIG. 48 shows the data structure of the audio title set 800. The data structure of the audio title set 800 shown in FIG. 48 is the same as the data structure shown in FIG. 5 except for the data structure of the PGC information 833.

FIG. 49 shows the data structure of the PGC information 833. The PGC information 833 includes “audio title set comprehensive information (ATS_PGC_GI)” and “audio title set program information table (ATS_PG
PGIT), an audio title set cell playback information table (ATS_C_PBIT), and an audio title set still image playback information table (ATS_
ASV_PBIT)].

“Audio title set comprehensive information (A
TS_PGC_GI) ”, the number of audio programs, the number of cells, the PGC playback time, and the address information of the ATS_PGC information included in the PGC information are recorded. The address information of the ATS_PGC information is “audio title set program information table (AT
S_PGIT), “Audio title set cell playback information table (ATS_C_PBIT)”, and “Audio title set still image playback information table (ATS_
ASV_PBIT) ".

[0194] The "audio title set program information table (ATS_PGIT)" contains a plurality of "audio program information (ATS_PGIT) included in the PGC information.
I)] is described.

Each "voice program information (ATS_PG)
“I)” includes “audio program physical allocation information” indicating whether or not the AOBs of the audio program and the preceding audio program are recorded at physically discontinuous positions on the disc, and the audio program and its audio program. "Voice program time attribute information" indicating whether the time information of the previous voice program is continuous, "Voice program start cell number" indicating the first cell number constituting the voice program, and "Reproduction start audio cell time" indicating the first time information of the first audio cell, "total reproduction time of audio program" indicating the reproduction time of the audio program, and silence time until the start of reproduction of the audio cell of the audio program. Specify the "voice pause time", which indicates "", and the still image unit that is played back simultaneously when playing the sound of this program And ASVU number (ASVUN) ",
The “still image display mode (ASV_DMO)” indicates a still image display mode such as whether the audio and the still image are synchronized and whether the still images are displayed in order or at random.
D)) and a still image reproduction information table (ATS_ASV_
“ATS_ASV_PBI start address” and “ATS_ASV_PBI end address” for designating the corresponding still image reproduction information in (PBIT) are described.

FIG. 50 shows the “still image display mode (ASV_
DMOD)]. “Still image display mode (ASV_DMOD)” is “Display timing mode”
And a flag “display order mode”.

The "display timing mode" indicates a specific timing for reproducing audio data and a period for updating a still image.

When the “display timing mode” is browsable, the display timing of the still image can be changed by the user's interaction. When the “display timing mode” is a slide show, the display timing of a still image cannot be changed by an interaction from the user.

When the “display timing mode” is a slide show, the display of a still image is updated in accordance with the display timing determined in synchronization with the simultaneously reproduced audio information. If the “display timing mode” is browsable, the display of the still image will be updated if a predetermined display duration time-out occurs asynchronously with the audio information that is reproduced simultaneously.

The "display order mode" indicates whether to display still images sequentially according to the display list, or to display them randomly or in a shuffled manner. Displaying a still image at random means that the still images are selected at random while allowing the duplication, and the still images are displayed in the order in which the still images are selected. Displaying a still image in a shuffle means that a still image is randomly selected by prohibiting duplication and the still images are displayed in the order in which the still images are selected.

The “audio title set cell reproduction information table (ATS_C_PBIT)” includes a plurality of “audio cell reproduction information (ATS_C_PBI)”. Each “audio cell playback information (ATS_C_PBI)” includes “cell index number” indicating the order of cells included in the program, “cell type” indicating whether the attribute of the cell is a still image cell, a silent cell, or an audio cell, and "Cell start address" in which the start address of the cell is described as a relative address from the first pack of the AOB of the audio title set including the cell, and "cell end address" in which the address of the last pack of the cell is similarly described. And are stored.

The “audio title set still picture reproduction information table (ATS_ASV_PBIT)” includes a plurality of “still picture reproduction information (ATS_ASV_PBI)”. Each "still image playback information (ATS_ASV_PBI)"
Indicates which P_ recorded in the audio still image set
It has a plurality of “display lists (DLISTs)” that describe the order in which VOBs are reproduced.

Each "display list (DLIST)" contains A
An “ASV number” indicating the number of the P_VOB of the SVU and an “initial button number (F) indicating the button number selected in the initial state among the buttons in the highlight information
OSL_BTNN) ”,“ audio program number ”indicating an audio program corresponding to DLIST, and DLIST
"Display timing" indicating the timing from the beginning of the audio program to indicate when to display the P_VOB described in the above, "Start transition mode" and "End transition mode" indicating the still image transition mode. Is stored.

In this embodiment, as the picture transition mode, “no transition”, “fade from black”, “fade to black”, “cross fade”, and “wipe in several directions” are assumed. are doing.

(3.4) Data Structure of AOB 802 The AOB 802 is packetized in 2 KB. AOB802 includes LPCM, AC3 or DT
S and other data in a compressed format are stored. LPCM
In the case of, the sample bits are either 16, 20, or 24 bits, the sampling frequency is 48 kHz,
96 kHz, 192 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 88.2
kHz or 176.2 kHz.

An example of the structure of AOB 802 is the same as that described in the second embodiment with reference to FIG. (4) Two playback methods VOB, AOB and P are stored in the audio zone area 32c.
_VOB are stored. A
The OB is included in the audio title set (ATS). P_VOB is included in the audio still picture title set (ASVS). The VOB is included in the audio manager (AMG) as shown in FIG.

AOB and P_VOB are main information stored on the disc, and are typically music information with a still picture. The VOB is typically a menu for allowing the user to select any of the music information with still images.

[0208] Of the MPEG streams stored in the audio zone area 32c, VOBs are reproduced by a standard method defined by the MPEG standard. AOB and P_VOB are reproduced by an extended reproduction method different from the standard reproduction method.

(4.1) Standard Reproducing Method First, the standard reproducing method will be described. This playback method,
It is used when reproducing a VOB recorded on an optical disk.

FIG. 51 shows a data structure of a system stream according to the present embodiment, which is based on MPEG. The optical disc may store at least one system stream.

[0211] The system stream can include a plurality of elementary streams. The elementary streams include a video elementary stream that stores moving image information, an audio elementary stream that stores audio information, and a sub-video elementary stream that stores sub-video information. Each of the plurality of elementary streams is divided into a plurality of packs.

The system stream shown in FIG.
It includes a video elementary stream, an audio elementary stream, and a sub-picture elementary stream. The video elementary stream is divided into one or more video packs. The audio elementary stream is divided into one or more audio packs.
The sub-picture elementary stream is divided into one or more sub-picture packs. In FIG. 51, “V” indicates a video pack, “A” indicates an audio pack,
S ″ indicates a sub-picture pack.

As shown in FIG. 51, each pack is
It includes a “pack header”, a “packet header”, and a “data field”. The data length of one pack is 2Kb
yte.

[0214] The "pack header" contains a pack start code, an SCR (System Clock Reference).
nce) and MUX (Multiplex) rate.

In the “packet header”, the stream I
D, packet length, STD (System Target)
Decoder) buffer scale size, PTS
(Presentation Time Stamp)
MPEG-compliant data is described.

[0216] The stream ID described in the "packet header" indicates whether the data stored in the "data field" is a video elementary stream or another elementary stream. The other elementary streams include an audio elementary stream, a sub-picture elementary stream, and management information.

The management information is called an NV pack. The management information includes a PCI packet and a DSI packet. P
Highlight information for accepting and processing user interaction is stored in the CI packet. DS
Information used for trick play such as fast forward playback is stored in the I packet.

In the present embodiment, the substream ID is stored in the data field of the other elementary streams except for the management information. Substream ID
Is an 8-bit field indicating whether the data stored in the data field is audio data or sub-picture data. Further, substream I
D indicates the encode type and the channel identification number. If the data stored in the data field is audio data, the encoding type is linear PC
Any of the M system, AC-3 system, DTS, etc., and the channel identification numbers are # 0 to # 7 (up to 8 types)
Is one of If the data stored in the data field is sub-picture data, the channel identification number is one of # 0 to # 31 (up to 32 types).

[0219] In the "data field", data compressed according to a predetermined method is recorded. For example, in the case of video data, compressed data of the MPEG2 format is recorded in the data field, and in the case of audio data, compressed data of the linear PCM system, AC-3 system or DTS system is recorded in the data field. In the case of, the sub-picture data compressed by the run-length encoding is recorded in the data field.

[0220] The SCR in the "pack header" and the PTS in the "packet header" are used to adjust the synchronization between the decoding processing of the audio pack and the decoding processing of the sub-picture pack.

When the reproducing apparatus reproduces the system stream recorded on the optical disk, the reproducing apparatus uses the SCR included in the first pack of the system stream as an STC (System Time clock) as a reference clock.
k) is set as the initial value, and each pack is input to each decoder at the timing indicated by the SCR while referring to the STC. Each decoder decodes each input pack. Each decoded pack is output to the outside from the decode at the timing indicated by the PTS. By using the PTS assigned to each pack as the output timing, the synchronization of the output of audio, video, and sub-picture is guaranteed.

As described above, in the case of the standard reproduction method, audio information, video information, and sub-picture information are multiplexed in the reproduced system stream. Also, at the time of reproduction, the STC, which is the reference clock, is reset by the SCR for each system stream,
Audio, video, and sub-picture are output from the decoder to the outside at the timing indicated by the PTS assigned to each pack. In this way, the audio, video and sub-picture are reproduced in synchronization with each other.

(4.2) AOB and P_VOB playback method Next, AOB and P_VOB recorded on the optical disc
Will be described.

FIG. 52 shows P_VOB, ASVU, and Pro.
The relation between gram and AOB is shown.

The ATS includes a plurality of pieces of PGC information (ATS_
PGCI) may be present. In the example shown in FIG.
The TS includes one piece of PGC information (ATS_PGCI).

The PGC information includes one or more audio program information (ATS_PGI) (for example, Program #
1, Program # 2,..., Program #
1) is described. The audio program information is an audio data access unit, and the audio program information is 1 unit.
It contains the above audio cell playback information (ATS_C_PBI). The audio cell reproduction information is a minimum management unit. The audio cell reproduction information points to the position of audio data stored in the AOB. As a result, audio data to be reproduced in association with the audio cell reproduction information is determined.

[0227] In the PGC information, one or more pieces of still picture reproduction information (ATS_ASV_PBI) are described.
The still image reproduction information defines how a still image is reproduced on a program basis. A plurality of audio program information can share the same still picture reproduction information. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 52, Program # 1 and P #
The program # 2 shares the ATS_ASV_PBI # 1.

In such sharing, a plurality of audio program information are stored in the still picture reproduction information table (ATS_ASV_
This is achieved by pointing to a common entry in the PBIT.

FIG. 69 is a view for explaining the relationship between DLIST and P_VOB.

The ATS_ASV_PBI has a plurality of display lists (DLISTs), and each DLIST points to still image data (P_VOB) to be displayed. Normal D
Still image data (P_VOB) according to the order of the LSIT
Is played. Each Prog of ATS_PGCI
ATS_ASV_PBI can be specified in units of ram, but the same ATS_ASV_
PBI can be specified. Also, in units of Program, P
ASVU, which is the unit for reading _VOB, can be specified. However, Pro that specifies the same ATS_ASV_PBI
The same ASVU is specified in the program.

That is, it is possible to specify that the same ATS_ASV_PBI is used for the same ASVU in consecutive programs. This is called ASVU range.

During playback of a program in the same ASVU range, the same ASVU is used.
Reading of a still image does not occur, and audio reproduction is not interrupted. DIST of ATS_ASV_PBI can specify any P_VOB within the same ASVU. Therefore, the same P_VOB can be reproduced any number of times. Also, P_VOB in ASVU does not necessarily need to be specified in DLIST.

From this, it can be seen that in different programs,
It is also possible to play different still images while using the same ASVU. However, ATS_ASV_PBI must be changed.

The audio program information designates an ASVU recorded in the ASVS to designate a plurality of still images (P_VOB) to be displayed simultaneously with the reproduction of the AOB.

[0235] The ASVU specifies a unit in which the playback apparatus buffers still image data. That is, prior to reproducing one piece of audio program information, the still picture data of the designated ASVU is read in advance from the optical disc. For this reason, it is not necessary for the playback device to read out the still image data from the optical disk during the playback of the music program.

When reproducing the next audio program information, the reproducing device determines whether or not a required still image data group indicated by the ASVU exists in the main memory. Therefore, when the still image data group of the ASVU used in the previous audio program information exists in the main storage, the playback device does not need to newly read out the still image data from the optical disc.

If the creator of the disc title wants the playback device to quickly switch from the audio program information to the next audio program information, one ASVU may be shared by both. By sharing the ASVU with the preceding and following audio program information, the playback device can quickly switch from the audio program information to the next audio program information.

Each ATS_ASV_PBI manages the display order of still images to be displayed by a display list (DLIST). In the display list (DLIST), a still image to be displayed is specified by an ASV number. AS
The V number is a number for specifying a still image included in the ASVU.

As described above, according to the PGC information, a still image can be designated for each audio program information. Alternatively, the same still image can be displayed for a plurality of pieces of audio program information. Even if the audio program information changes, only the display can be changed without muting the audio.

FIG. 53 shows an example of a PGC for forming a title. In this example, there are four voice programs, voice program # 1 is AOB # 1, voice program # 2 is A
OB # 2, audio programs # 3 and # 4 are AOB # 3, and AOB # 1, AOB # 2, and AOB # on the recording medium.
3 are recorded in this order. The voice programs # 1, # 2, and # 3 have silence cells, and the voice program # 2 has two voice cells.

The audio programs # 1 and # 2 are AS
VU # 1 and audio programs # 3 and # 4 are ASVU # 2
Are displayed, P_VOB # 1 in cell # 2 and P_VOB # 1 in cell # 4.
P_VOB # 3 in VOB # 2, cell # 5, P in cell # 7
Assume that P_VOB # 5 is displayed in _VOB # 4 and cell # 8.

All voice cells have a playback time of 60 seconds (PT
S is assumed to be 5,400,000), and the silent cell is assumed to be 1 second (90,000 in PTS).
Can be described as follows. Similarly, still image reproduction information can be described as shown in FIG.

Further, assuming that the audio data is 48 kHz and 16-bit sampling is 2ch, the number of silent cell packs is 96 and the number of audio cell packs is 5760, as described in the cell information shown in FIG. Becomes Assuming that the number of still image packs is 50, the ASV search pointer becomes as shown in FIG. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the ASVU general information becomes.

In the present embodiment, the address information of the ASV search pointer is a relative address from the recording position of the first P_VOB, but any address information can be used as long as the position of the P_VOB on the optical disk can be specified. For example, if there is address information serving as a base point in the ASVU general information, a relative address from the position indicated by the address information may be used.

Program # 1 and program # 2 in FIG.
, The still image display mode is “SlideShow”
In the case of, the still image is reproduced in synchronization with the audio.
The ASVU numbers of program # 1 and program # 2 are "
1 ", ASVU # 1 is read into the buffer prior to the reproduction of the program. Next, ATS_ASV
Still image reproduction information # 1 is referred to from the address information of _PBI, and as shown in FIG. 55, the display of the still images of the display list # 1, the display list # 2, and the display list # 3 of the still image reproduction information # 1 is performed. "Audio program number" in the display list,
It starts at the time indicated by “display timing”.
The display timing is synchronized with the reproduction time of the audio information to be reproduced together.

That is, the PTS of the still image in the display list # 1 of the still image reproduction information # 1 is 9 when the AOB # 1 is reproduced.
When it reaches 0000, the PTS of the still image in the display list # 2 of the still image reproduction information # 1 becomes 9 when the AOB # 2 is reproduced.
When it reaches 0000, the still images in the display list # 3 of the still image playback information # 1 are displayed when the PTS reaches 5,580,000 during playback of AOB # 2.

As described above, the still image display mode is "Sli
In the case of "deShow", the display of the still image is displayed at a predetermined display timing in synchronization with the reproduction of the audio, and the still image is displayed by the user's interaction (for example, selection of a specific button with a mouse). The display timing cannot be changed.

FIG. 59A shows that the still image display mode is “Sli
The relationship between the audio playback timing and the still image display timing in the case of "deShow" is shown.

On the other hand, program # 3 in FIG.
As in program # 4, the still image display mode is "Bro
wsable ", the still image is reproduced asynchronously with the audio. AS of program # 3 and program # 4
Since the VU number is "2", ASVU # 2 is read into the buffer prior to the reproduction of the program. Next, A
Still image reproduction information # 2 is referred to from the address information of TS_ASV_PBI. The display timing of the still image in the display list # 1 of the still image reproduction information # 2 and the still image in the display list # 2 is changed by an interaction (for example, a command input by a user operation) from the user.

If no user interaction occurs within the time indicated by “display timing” in the display list, the time of “display timing” is set as the display duration, and the display duration is timed out. Then, the display of the next still image is started.

In the still image display mode, the still images are displayed sequentially according to the display list, or the still images selected at random and reproduced at random (random reproduction), or the duplication is prohibited and randomly selected. It is also possible to designate in which mode the still image is displayed (shuffle playback) or the selected still image is played.

Specifically, when reproduction is started from program # 3, the ASVU number of program # 3 is "
2 ", the ASVU # 2 is loaded into the buffer. Further, the DIST indicated in the still picture reproduction information # 2 is referred to from the address information of the ATS_ASV_PBI, and the audio program number of the display list # 1 is" 3 ". , P_VO from the ASV number of display list # 1
B # 4 is displayed. Here, when a key corresponding to Next_DLIST provided on a remote controller or the like is pressed, a still image of DLIST # 2, that is, P_VOB # 5 indicated by the ASV number is displayed.

The still image of the DLIST has a “display effect” (ie, a start portion display effect and an end portion display effect (FIG. 55).
) And “transition time” (that is, the start transition time and the end display effect (see FIG. 55)). If there is no user operation for a time 5,490,000, ie, about 1 minute (matching the reproduction time of the program # 3) indicated by the display timing of the display list # 1, the still image of the next DLIST, P_VOB # 5 is displayed according to “display effect” and “transition time”. P
The sound of program # 4 is reproduced in association with the display of _VOB # 5.

It should be noted that P_P
If the display timing of VOB # 4 is short, the program #
3, the display of P_VOB # 4 ends, and P_VOB # 4 ends.
The display of B # 5 is started. If the display timing of P_VOB # 4 is longer than the reproduction time of program # 3, P_VOB is started after the reproduction of program # 4 is started.
The display of # 5 is started.

When reproduction is started from program # 4, ASVU # 2 is read, still image reproduction information # 2 is referenced, and audio program number is "4", as in program # 3. P_VOB of a certain first DLIST
Is displayed. After that, the display of the still image can be changed according to a user operation or a command. The audio program number of DLSIT is effective only for determining the P_VOB to be displayed first only when the ASVU changes, and when the reproduction is continued, the user operation or command has priority. If the time indicated by the display timing corresponds to P_VOB
Is displayed, P_VO indicated by the next DLIST
B will be displayed.

When the value indicated by the display timing is a value meaning “infinity”, the corresponding P_VOB continues to be displayed until a user operation or a command is executed. As the value indicating infinity, the maximum value (for example, all bit values are “1”) can be used, but other values may of course be used. If the still image display mode is “Browsable”, P
The display of _VOB can be always infinite.

FIG. 59B shows that the still image display mode is “Bro”.
7 shows the relationship between the audio playback timing and the still image display timing in the case of "wsable".

In this embodiment, the information required for each audio program is audio program information (ATS_PG
Although recorded in I), it may be recorded in any area as long as it can be determined that the information corresponds to each audio program. For example, ASVU number, still image display mode, A
TS_ASV_PBI start address, ATS_ASV_
The PBI end address is, as shown in FIG. 60, an audio title set still image reproduction information table (ATS).
_ASV_PBIT) may be recorded in the still image reproduction information search pointer (ATS_PG_ASV_PBI_SRP).

As described above, unlike VOB reproduction,
AOB and P_VOB are simultaneously reproduced by the decoder.

[0260] Hereinafter, the VOB reproducing method and the AOB and P_VOB reproducing methods will be compared and arranged.

The same point is that video information is output together with audio information. However, in the case of P_VOB, the video information is still image information including only I pictures.

The first different point is the data storage position. In the case of a VOB, audio information and video information are multiplexed with each other and recorded on an optical disc as one system stream, while AOB and P_VOB are recorded on different areas of the optical disc as different system streams.

The second different point is a method of synchronizing a sound and a still image. As described above, VOBs are reproduced by the decoder one by one. That is, by the SCR in the “pack header” of the first pack of the system stream,
The STC, which is the reference clock, is reset, and both the audio information and the still image information are output with reference to the STC and the PTS in the “packet header” of each pack as the output timing. On the other hand, AOB and P_VOB are simultaneously reproduced by the decoder. The details will be described later, but AOB
A plurality of predetermined P_VOBs, which are reproduced synchronously with the data, are read from the disk and input to the decoder prior to the AOB.
P_VOB input to the decoder is different from VOB,
It is not displayed immediately and is held in the decoder. Individual P
In the decoding of _VOB, according to the MPEG decoding model, the STC is reset by the SCR of the head pack, decoded according to the PTS of the packet, and decoded data of a plurality of P_VOBs which are reproduced in synchronization with the AOB are stored. However, the data of P_VOB before being decoded is actually stored in an appropriate buffer. When P_VOB is completely input to the decoder, AOB is read from the optical disk and input to the decoder. If AOB is input to the decoder, AO
B resets the STC, which is the reference clock, by the SCR of the first pack, similarly to the VOB, and outputs the PTS in each pack header as an output timing with reference to the STC.

On the other hand, the information of the actual output timing of P_VOB is recorded in another area of the optical disk (ie, DLIST which is a part of the PGC information). This display timing information is separately supplied to the decoder, and each P_VOB in the decoder is not output in synchronization with the STC, but is output at the display timing recorded in DLIST. That is, when the AOB and the P_VOB are reproduced, the AOB uses the PTS, which is the display timing associated with the AOB, and the P_VOB uses the separately recorded display timing.

With the above, the description of the audio zone area has been completed and the DVD which is a multimedia optical disk has been described.
Next, a description will be given of a reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded contents of a medium having the above-described configuration.

The basic structure of the playback apparatus is the same as that described in the first and second embodiments. However, the remote controller for operating the DVD player or the front panel of the DVD player has the same structure as the second embodiment. Is provided with a key for separately controlling audio data and video data. This is a key for skipping video data back and forth or returning to the first video data while audio data reproduction is continued.

FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a DVD player 90 according to the present embodiment. DVD
The player 90 is configured as shown in FIG.
Is different from the DVD player 70 shown in FIG. Hereafter, AV
The configuration of the decoder unit will be described.

In this embodiment, the stream includes AOB which is audio data, P_VOB mainly composed of video data, and VOB for menus in which audio and video are multiplexed. The AV decoder unit 85c includes a P_VOB system decoder unit 103, an AOB system decoder unit 104, and a VOB system decoder unit 108. The AV decoder unit 85c has a configuration for operating these system decoder units 103, 104, and 108 synchronously or asynchronously.

System decoder section 103 for P_VOB
Receives the stream of P_VOB, and streams I in the header of each packet of each of the constituent streams.
By determining D and the sub-stream ID, video packets, PCI (highlight) packets, and sub-picture packets are sorted.

The AOB system decoder unit 104
An OB stream is received, and data is distributed according to the packet header of this stream.

The VOB system decoder unit 108
An OB stream is received, and a stream ID and a substream ID in a header of each packet of each stream constituting the OB stream are determined, whereby an audio packet, a video packet, a PCI (highlight) packet,
The sub video packet is distributed.

The AV decoder section 85c includes a highlight buffer 94 for temporarily storing highlight information of PCI packets from the P_VOB system decoder section 103 and the VOB system decoder section 108, a P_VOB system decoder section 103 and a VOB system. A video buffer 96 for temporarily storing video packets from the decoder unit 108; a sub-video buffer 105 for temporarily storing sub-video packets from the P_VOB system decoder unit 103 and the VOB system decoder unit 108; and an AOB system decoder unit 104 And an audio buffer 99 for temporarily storing audio packets from the VOB system decoder unit 108, and decodes highlight data from the highlight buffer 94, and outputs the decoded highlight information to the system. A highlight decoder 95 for outputting to the control unit 93; a video decoder 87 for decoding video data from the video buffer 96; a sub-picture decoder 98 for decoding sub-picture data from the sub-picture buffer 105; An audio decoder 100 for decoding data and outputting it as an audio output; a video synthesis 101 for synthesizing the decoding results of the video decoder 87 and the sub-video decoder 98 into one video data; a highlight decoder 95, a video decoder 87; Synchronization adjuster 102 that performs synchronous management of the operations of decoder 98 and audio decoder 100
And further included.

The operation of the disk reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below. The steps up to the reading of the stream are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIGS. 62 to 66 show a schematic flow of reproducing the PGC information.

At the start of playback, the system control unit 93 determines whether or not the playback mode is a video-centered playback mode by using a playback mode determination unit. If the playback mode is determined to be the video-centric playback mode, the video manager is read based on the information read from the volume / file management area. The system control unit 93 includes a menu PGC for the video manager.
With reference to the management information table, the recording address of the program chain for the volume menu is calculated, reproduced, and stored inside. If the program chain for the volume menu is held inside, the system control unit 93
Calculates the video object (VOB) to be reproduced and its recording address on the optical disk with reference to the stored PGC information. When the video object to be reproduced is determined, the system control unit 93
3, and a control signal is output to the signal processing unit 84, and the determined video object (VOB) is taken out from the optical disc and reproduced. The system stream that makes up the VOB is A
At the same time as being input to the V decoder unit 85, the system control unit 93 outputs “V
An instruction indicating “OB playback” is given to the AV decoder unit 85c.

VOB input to AV decoder unit 85c
Is output by the VOB system decoder unit 108.
, Ie, audio, video, sub-picture, and NV packs, and input to the audio buffer 99, video buffer 96, sub-picture buffer 105, and highlight buffer 94, respectively. The highlight buffer 94 buffers only the highlight information in the PCI pack of the NV pack. The data input to each buffer is input to an audio decoder 100, a video decoder 87, a sub-picture decoder 98, and a highlight decoder 95, respectively, where decoding processing is performed. Audio for the menu is output from the audio decoder 100, and the video decoder 87
And the output of the sub-video decoder 98 are synthesized by the video synthesis 101 and output as a video. The output of the highlight decoder 95 is read by the system control unit 93, and button information of each menu is stored in a memory inside the system control unit 93.

As described above, the video menu for allowing the user to select a title to be reproduced (ie, an audio program) shown in FIG. 40 is displayed.

[0278] It is assumed that the operator selects and confirms a menu item in which the operator is interested while looking at the video menu. That is, it is assumed that the number of one of the menu items is designated by the remote controller. The system control unit 93, which has received the designation of the menu item number from the remote controller, refers to the button information of the highlight information of the PCI pack included in the VOB of the video menu being reproduced stored in the memory in advance and corresponds to the designated number. Execute the control command to be executed. The control command is PlayProgram #n or the like, and the title number to be reproduced is specified by n.

As an execution operation by the PlayProgram command, the system control unit 93 refers to the title search pointer table which is a part of the audio manager, and sets the audio title set (ATS) to which the specified audio program belongs, and the title number in the ATS. To determine. When the audio title set is determined, the system control unit 93 outputs a control signal to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, reproduces the audio title set management information of the determined title set, and outputs the audio title set management information. A part of the audio title set PGC information search pointer is sequentially read, and PGC information of a program chain including an audio program to be reproduced is determined.

When the PGC information is determined, the system control unit 93 outputs a control signal to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, reads out the determined PGC information from the disk, and reads this PGC information for the internal PGC information. Keep in buffer.

If the PGC information for starting the reproduction of the title is held, the system control unit 93 sets the PGC information in accordance with the flow of reproducing the PGC information in FIG.
Play the GC information. It is assumed that the audio program to be reproduced has already been determined by the above-described method using a menu command or direct designation of a remote control key. The system control unit 93 refers to the stored PGC information, first obtains the ASVU number of the first audio program information, compares it with the previously reproduced ASVU number, and if the ASVU number has changed, From the ASVU general information corresponding to the ASVU number, all the still image data included in the ASVU, that is, P_VOB, is read from the disk and input to the AV decoder unit 85c. At the same time, a command indicating “P_VOB playback” is sent from the system control unit 93 as a decode stream instruction command to the AV decoder unit 85.
c. In the AV decoder unit 85c, the input P_VOB is separated for each pack and packet by the P_VOB system decoder unit 92, and stored in the corresponding buffer.

At this time, the size of the video buffer 96 is A
It must be equal to or greater than the maximum value of the sum of the sizes of P_VOBs of the SVU. In any player, the maximum value of the total data amount of P_VOB included in the ASVU is specified in order to guarantee the playback device, and a video buffer 9 of a larger size is specified.
6 is required for all playback devices. In the case of the present embodiment, this maximum value is 2 MB. Since the I picture is 100 KB to 200 KB, 10 to 20 I pictures can be reproduced together with audio information.

When all P_VOBs constituting the ASVU have been completely input to the decoder, the highlight decoder 9
5. The video decoder 87 and the sub-picture decoder 98 do not perform the decoding operation. As described above, in order to store all data of the corresponding ASVU in the corresponding buffers before the reproduction of the audio data, the highlight buffer 94, the video buffer 96, and the sub-picture buffer 1 of the second embodiment are used.
05 requires a buffer larger than the buffer capacity specified by MPEG2 or DVD-Video.

When all the P_VOBs have been stored in the corresponding buffers, in preparation for the audio reproduction of the designated PGC, the audio title mode corresponding to the designated PGC information is set in the audio encoding mode in the PGC information search pointer 832, and the AV encoding mode is started. The states of the decoder unit 85c and the audio decoder 100 are set so that audio data can be decoded. Next, the system control unit 93 prepares for displaying a still image. The system control unit 93 determines the still picture reproduction information from the ATS_ASV_PBI start address of the audio program information.

If the still image display mode of the audio program information is Browseable, the first DLIST of the still image reproduction information determines the still image to be displayed first. The still image display mode of the audio program information is Sli
If it is deShow, a plurality of DLIs of the still image reproduction information
From the STs, the DLIST having the first display timing in the range of the audio program to be reproduced is selected. If the DLIST is determined, the system control unit 93
Displays a still image specified by the ASV number of DLIST, that is, P_VOB. That is, display control information of the still image information is output to the synchronization adjustment unit 102 of the AV decoder unit 85c in accordance with the display timing of the still image reproduction information. The display control information includes designation of an I-picture of the P_VOB to be updated and a wait period until the updated display. When the display control information is input, the synchronization adjustment unit 102 instructs the video decoder 87 to output the specified I picture at the specified timing according to the information. In this way, P_VOB is displayed. P_VOB is A
Unlike OB and VOB, the data is output based on display timing information recorded in another area.

At the same time as the display of P_VOB starts, the sound specified by the sound program is reproduced. at the same time,
A key operation by the user is also accepted.

The reproduction of the sound specified by the sound program is based on the reproduction of the sound program shown in FIG. First, a cell number (Cn) to be reproduced is determined based on the audio title set program information table and the audio title set cell reproduction information table. Here, since it is the first, it is from the first. When the cell type of the cell to be reproduced is a silent cell, a process of reproducing the silent cell is performed. It suffices if there is an effective silence time corresponding to the reproduction time of the silence cell. If the cell is not a silent cell, the cell is a voice cell, so the voice cell of FIG. 65 is reproduced. In the audio output from the head of the audio cell, an audio object to be reproduced and its recording address are determined from the audio cell reproduction information, and a control signal is output to the mechanism control unit 83 and the signal processing unit 84, and the determined AOB is output. Prepare for playback. AOB read from the disc is AV
The signal is input to the decoder 85c, and at the same time, the system controller 9
3, a command indicating “AOB playback” is given to the AV decoder unit 85c as a decode stream instruction command.
The OB is converted into an audio stream by the AOB system decoder unit 104, and the audio buffer 99,
Then, it is ready to be input to the audio decoder 100 and output as audio data. A when ready
The STC of the synchronization adjustment unit 102, which is the reference clock, is reset by the SCR of the first pack of the OB, and the audio data of the AOB is output at the timing of the PTS stored in the packet header. When the output of the AOB is started, according to an instruction from the synchronization adjustment unit 102, at the same time, highlight information for a menu item displayed overlapping with the first I picture of the P_VOB and the I picture as a still image display and The sub-picture information is decoded and output. AO
Although it is not guaranteed that PTS is described in all the packets of B, the audio decoder
Outputs audio data while complementing the PTS.

If the still image display mode of the audio program is “Browsable” during the output of the audio data, and if the display timing of the DLIST corresponding to the currently displayed P_VOB has reached the PTS of the audio being reproduced,
Assuming that the display time of the still image has ended, the still image of the next DLIST is reproduced. When the still image display mode of the audio program is SlideShow, if the audio program number of the next DLIST is not the same as the audio program number currently being reproduced, there is no DLIST to be newly displayed, and the current still image is displayed. Display continues, but the next DLI
If the audio program number of the ST is the same as the audio program number currently being reproduced, when the display timing of the next DLIST reaches the PTS of the audio being reproduced, the next DLIST is displayed.
The still image of ST is reproduced.

FIG. 66 is a flowchart for reproducing the second and subsequent still images. First, the end transition mode of the DLIST of the currently displayed still image is acquired, and this is the No Transit.
If it is “ion”, the display is stopped as it is. No Tra
When the transition is not nition, that is, when the transition effect is designated, the still image is deleted at the designated transition. This is Fade or the like that becomes thinner gradually. However, this transition effect may be ignored or replaced by another effect if the playback device does not have the capability.

When the currently displayed still image disappears, the start transition mode of the DLSIT of the next still image is acquired. If the transition mode is No Transition, the next still image is immediately displayed. No Transition
If the transition effect is not specified, the next still image is displayed with the effect. The switching of the still image is performed in this manner. At this time, not only the video information contained in the P_VOB but also the highlight information and sub-picture information already read into the buffer are decoded.

The processing for the key operation by the user is shown in FIG.
According to the flow of the key operation determination of No. 4. If the key operation involves changing the audio program, ie, N
extProgram (play next audio program),
In the case of PrevProgram (reproduction of the previous audio program), reproduction of the specified audio program, reproduction of the audio program by the command after calling the menu, or change of the audio cell, the audio cell of the audio program to be reproduced is changed. Then, the audio cell is reproduced (FIG. 65).

When the key operation of the user is to change only the still image, that is, NextDLIST (the next DLI
ST still image display), PrevDLIST (display of the previous DLIST still image), display of the specified DLIST still image, etc., only when the still image display mode of the specified still image is Browsable Is selected and the still image reproduction process (FIG. 66) is performed.

For other key operations, the designated operation is performed without changing the audio output or the still image display. Such operations include display of a playback state, switching of a time display mode, and the like. When another stream (VOB) is reproduced, such as when a menu is called, both audio output and display of a still image are completed, and the mode is switched to VOB decoding.

[0294] In this way, the reproduction of all the titles ends. In this case, depending on the settings of the player or the disc, the reproduction of one title may end, or the reproduction of the title may end, and then the menu may be displayed.

Next, the control of the video decoder and the video buffer by the synchronization adjustment unit 102 will be supplemented below.

The display of the still image is managed by the position of the buffer where the still image of the specified cell of the specified program is recorded or the number of the still image since the data is stored in the buffer in advance. . That is, in response to an instruction from the synchronization adjustment unit 102, data is sent from the specified address of the video buffer 96 to the video decoder 87, and the data is displayed. In order to manage the information based on the number of the data, the data from the beginning of the video buffer 96 is sent to the video decoder 87, the display is switched when the specified number is reached, and the data transmission is stopped. When the display of the still image is switched, a display effect by designating the transition mode can be added. Since the switching time of the display effect can be specified for each program before and after the display of the still image,
According to this, if the playback device does not have a display function based on a special effect, the display effect may be ignored and simple switching playback may be performed.

In the synchronous mode (SlideShow),
The audio data is decoded by the audio decoder 100, and the still image, highlight and sub-picture are reproduced according to "display timing". The synchronization adjustment unit 102 compares the reference time information of the system with the “display timing” from the system control unit 93, and performs synchronization control.

In this case, the user is prohibited from switching only the display of a still image. When a still image is displayed by a slide show, it is effective to display lyrics along with music or to display a part of a moving image as a still image. In the asynchronous mode (Browsable), the audio and the highlight, the sub-picture, and the still picture are not synchronized and are reproduced individually. Synchronous control of highlights, sub-pictures, and still images is performed, and audio data continues to be reproduced in real time based on system time information. Switching of the still image in the asynchronous mode depends on a user operation and a command.
The basics of the user operation are the operation of continuing the reproduction of the audio program as it is, sending the display list (DLIST) back and forth, returning to the top, and sending the audio program and the display list (DLIST) simultaneously back and forth or to the top. is there. Commands have a similar function. In this case, the “display timing” is the display duration of the still image, and if no user interaction is received within the “display timing”, the still image is displayed based on the next DLIST.

[0299] When displaying a still image by browsable,
This is effective when switching between and displaying photo albums while playing music, or when switching and displaying various information, such as a collection of music explanations and information on related parties.

The switching between the playback mode in the synchronous mode and the asynchronous mode is performed by designating the still image display mode in the audio program information. In addition to the above, in the still image display mode of the audio program information, a random selection is made from each program of each audio program of the audio title, and the program is repeated a specified number of times or the same program is not reproduced (shuffle mode). Then, it is possible to specify whether to repeat for the specified number of times.

The internal structure of the DVD player is not limited to this.

[0302] The AV decoder section 85c can have another configuration.

As shown in FIG. 67, for AOB, P_VO
Instead of independent system decoder sections for B and VOB, a single AOB, PVOB,
A VOB system decoder unit 109 may be provided. Since AOB, P_VOB, and VOB are input at different timings, it is possible to use a system decoder almost similar to that specified in DVD-Video. According to this, the DVD-Video was used except that the buffer capacity of each of the highlight buffer 94, the video buffer 96, and the sub-picture buffer 105 was increased, and a still image management mechanism was added to the control of the video buffer 96. The decoder can be used almost as is. FIG.
The operation of the AV decoder unit 85d shown in FIG. 7 is almost the same as the operation of the AV decoder unit 85c shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 68, P_V
The P_VOB buffer 106 serving as an OB stream buffer may be provided immediately before the AV decoder unit 85d. According to this configuration, the AV decoder unit 85d
Can use almost the same as DVD-Video, including the capacity of each buffer. All the P_VOB data to be read before the reproduction of the audio data is stored in the P_VOB buffer, and the P_VOB corresponding to the reproduction order is dynamically multiplexed with the audio stream and transmitted to the AV decoder in this buffer. Therefore, the AV decoder unit 8
In 5d, the AOB, P_VOB, and VOB system decoder unit 109 is required to have a processing speed slightly faster than the speed specified by the DVD-Video standard. Also, the stream must be supplied to the AV decoder unit 85d so that the audio buffer 99 does not underflow.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the MP
Since the program reproduction information describing the start time of each audio data and the reproduction time based on the reproduction start time of the first audio data of the EG2 stream is recorded in the management area as a part of the reproduction control information, It is possible to provide an optical disc capable of playing by adding video data to a high-quality digital audio data at a limited bit rate, and does not have an inexpensive playback device or a video data playback function. Also in the reproducing apparatus, the interval of audio reproduction can be made constant, and the title creator can easily create data.

Further, it is possible to display a plurality of still images, display sub-pictures, and display menus synchronously or asynchronously with the audio while using high-quality audio, thereby enabling various expressions.

[0307]

According to the present invention, the reproduction order information that defines the order of the video stream reproduced in synchronization with the reproduction of the audio sequence is recorded on the recording medium. By changing the contents of the reproduction order information, the contents of the video stream reproduced in synchronization with the audio sequence can be easily changed. This provides the title creator with the freedom to produce a variety of video streams for one audio sequence, and allows the user to select a desired video stream from a plurality of video streams provided for one audio sequence. Provide the freedom to choose.

According to the present invention, video reproduction mode information is recorded on a recording medium. Based on the video playback mode information, it is possible to switch whether or not it is possible to change the order of the video streams played back in synchronization with the audio sequence based on the interaction from the user. Also, the reproduction timing / reproduction time of the video stream reproduced in synchronization with the audio sequence can be switched by the video reproduction mode information. As a result, it is possible to provide the user with two different video playback modes, ie, a “slide show” mode and a “browsable” mode.

Further, according to the present invention, prior to reproduction of an audio sequence, a video stream reproduced in synchronization with the audio sequence is buffered in a buffer provided in the reproduction device. By guaranteeing the range to be read from the recording medium to the buffer, playback is guaranteed in any playback device. as a result,
The title creator can easily imagine the situation of the title reproduction, which facilitates the production of the title. As a result, high-quality titles can be supplied at low cost.

[0310] Further, according to the present invention, a stream that does not conform to the MPEG standard can be reproduced by a decoder for decoding the MPEG stream, so that a reproducing apparatus can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is an external view of an optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the optical disc according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is an enlarged sectional view of the optical disc according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a diagram showing pits formed on the optical disc according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a track structure of the optical disc shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a sector structure of the optical disc shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a logical structure of the optical disc shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of an audio manager.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of an audio title set.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an audio object (AOB).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure of PGC information and Cell information.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a DVD player as a playback device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a PGC that forms a title.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of program information.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of Cell information.

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a procedure for reproducing sound without a still image.

FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a procedure for reproducing sound without a still image.

FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a procedure when a still image is displayed and sound is reproduced.

FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a procedure when a still image is displayed and sound is reproduced.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a conventional procedure for reproducing sound.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a schematic flow when performing program reproduction.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flow when reproducing a head audio cell.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow when reproducing a silent cell.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a flow when reproducing a continuous cell.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a DVD device and peripheral devices connected thereto.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote controller used when operating the DVD device.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a logical structure of an optical disk of a DVD which is a multimedia optical disk according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an audio manager.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a data structure of an AOB of a DVD which is a multimedia optical disk according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an AOB.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a data structure of PGC information of a DVD which is a multimedia optical disk according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a DVD player in the present embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a DVD having a system decoder unit also serving as an independent system decoder unit for AOB P_VOB
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a decoder.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a P which is a buffer for a P_VOB stream.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a DVD decoder in which a _VOB buffer 106 is provided immediately before an AV decoder unit.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the relationship among PGC, audio program, cell, picture program, picture cell, AOB, and P_VOB.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of a PGC forming a title.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a structure of a picture video object of a DVD which is a multimedia optical disc according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of audio program information.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of audio program information.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining the number of packs of silent cells and the number of packs of audio cells when audio data is 2 channels at 48 kHz and 16-bit sampling.

FIG. 35 is a diagram for describing picture cell information when the number of still image packs is 50.

FIG. 36A is a diagram illustrating a reproducing method when reproducing a silent cell and a voice cell.

FIG. 36B is a diagram illustrating a reproducing method when reproducing a silent cell and a voice cell.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a method of reproducing one of the programs.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a method of reproducing one of the programs.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a method of reproducing one of the programs.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a video menu for allowing a user to select a title.

FIG. 41 is a diagram for describing a configuration of P_PCI.

FIG. 42 is a diagram for describing a configuration of P_DSI.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a logical structure of the optical disc.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a data structure of an audio manager (AMG).

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a data structure of an audio still picture set (ASVS).

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a data structure of P_VOB.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a data structure of highlight information.

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of an audio title set (ATS).

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing a data structure of PGC information (ATS_PGCI).

FIG. 50 is a diagram for describing a still image display mode.

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a system stream compliant with MPEG.

FIG. 52 shows P_VOB, ASVU, ATS_PGCI,
It is a figure showing relation of AOB.

FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating an example of PGC information (ATS_PGCI).

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing an example of audio program information (ATS_PGI).

FIG. 55: Still picture reproduction information (ATS_ASV_PBI)
It is a figure showing the example of.

FIG. 56 is a diagram illustrating an example of cell information.

FIG. 57 is a diagram illustrating an example of an ASV search pointer.

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing an example of ASVU general information.

FIG. 59A is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the audio playback timing and the still image display timing in the “SlideShow” mode.

FIG. 59B is a diagram showing the relationship between audio playback timing and still image display timing in the “Browsable” mode.

FIG. 60 is a diagram for describing a still image display mode.

FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a DVD player as a playback device.

FIG. 62 is a view showing a schematic flow of reproducing PGC information.

FIG. 63 is a view showing a schematic flow of reproducing an audio program.

FIG. 64 is a view showing a schematic flow of determining a key operation.

FIG. 65 is a view showing a schematic flow of reproducing an audio cell.

FIG. 66 is a view showing a schematic flow of reproducing a still image.

FIG. 67 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of a DVD player that is a playback device.

FIG. 68 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a DVD player as a playback device.

FIG. 69 is a view for explaining the relationship between DLIST and P_VOB.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 player 2 TV monitor 81 drive mechanism 82 optical pickup 83 mechanism control unit 84 signal processing unit 85, 85a, 85b, 85c, 85d AV decoder unit 86 system decoder unit 87 video decoder 91 operation remote controller 92 remote controller reception unit 93 system control unit 94 Highlight buffer 95 Highlight decoder 96 Video buffer 98 Sub-video decoder 99 Audio buffer 100 Audio decoder 101 Video synthesis 102 Synchronization adjustment unit 103 P_VOB system decoder unit 104 AOB system decoder unit 105 Sub-video buffer 106 P_VOB buffer 120 AOB, P_VOB System decoder section

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-11-250629 (JP, A) JP-A-11-219579 (JP, A) JP-A-11-203794 (JP, A) JP-A-11-164243 (JP, A) JP-A-11-134812 (JP, A) JP-A-11-120749 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5/956 G11B 20/10-20/12

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical disc comprising an audio zone area (32c) for storing a plurality of audio sequences and management information (ATSI) for managing reproduction of each of the plurality of audio sequences, wherein the plurality of audio sequences are Includes at least one audio object (AOB), and the management information (ATSI) includes reproduction order information (ATOB) indicating a reproduction order of the at least one audio object (AOB) included in each of the plurality of audio sequences. ATS_PGCI), and the at least one audio object (AO)
B) includes at least one pack, each of the at least one pack includes audio data and first timing information (PTS) indicating output timing of the audio data, and the audio zone area ( 32c) is at least 1
And storing at least one still image object (P_VOB).
OB) each includes still image data, and the management information (ATSI) includes at least one still image object to be reproduced in association with reproduction of a corresponding audio sequence of the plurality of audio sequences. (P_VOB) still image reproduction information (ATS_ASV_PBI); second image information (DLIST) indicating output timing of the at least one still image object (P_VOB) indicated by the still image reproduction information (ATS_ASV_PBI); The at least one still picture object (P_VOB) in synchronization with the reproduction of the corresponding audio sequence
Is reproduced in a first mode (SlideShow) and the at least one still image object (P_VO) is asynchronous with reproduction of the corresponding audio sequence.
B) Second mode in which B) is reproduced (Browsable)
Display mode information (ASV_DMO
D) further comprising: D). 2. The display mode information (ASV_DMO)
When D) indicates the first mode, the second timing information (DLIST) indicates a timing at which the display of the still image object (P_VOB) is updated, and the display mode information (ASV_DMOD) indicates the timing. When indicating the second mode, the second timing information (D
The optical disc according to claim 1, wherein (LIST) indicates a period during which display of the still image object (P_VOB) is continued. 3. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information stored on an optical disk according to claim 1, wherein said at least one audio object (AOB) and said at least one still image object (P_VOB) are read from said optical disk. The management information (ATSI)
And a reading unit for reading the at least one audio object (AO
B) and the at least one still image object (P_
VOB), and a control unit that controls the reading unit and the reproduction unit. The control unit is configured to display the display mode information (ASV_DMOD) included in the management information (ATSI). When indicating the first mode, the second timing information (DL
IST) and controls the playback unit to update the display of the still image object (P_VOB) at the timing indicated by the IST. The control unit controls the display mode information (ASV_DMOD) included in the management information (ATSI). When indicating the second mode, the second timing information (DL
A playback device that controls the playback unit to continue displaying the still image object (P_VOB) during a period indicated by IST). 4. An optical disk stored in the optical disk according to claim 1.
A reproduction method of reproducing the information, wherein the at least one audio audio is reproduced from the optical disc.
Object (AOB) and the at least one still image
The object (P_VOB) and the management information (ATSI)
And reading the at least one audio object (AO).
B) and the at least one still image object (P_
VOB), and controlling the reading step and the reproducing step.
And a control step, wherein the control step is included in the management information (ATSI).
The display mode information (ASV_DMOD) is
1 mode, the second timing information
At the timing indicated by (DLIST)
Update the display of picture object (P_VOB)
Controlling the playback step, wherein the control step is included in the management information (ATSI).
The display mode information (ASV_DMOD) is
2 mode, the second timing information
(DLIST) during the period indicated by the still image
To continue displaying the object (P_VOB)
A playback method that controls the playback steps.