JP3382614B1 - Recording method and reproduction method - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: When playback is performed by connecting a system stream (VOB) in which moving image data and audio data are interleaved and recorded, the video display does not stop (freeze) at the connection of the system stream (VOB). An optical disk and a method of recording data on an optical disk having a data structure enabling natural reproduction as one title. At least one head audio frame (Af) or more of the same audio is recorded between the plurality of system streams (VOB) after branching, and at least one last GOP or more of the same moving image is recorded between the plurality of system streams (VOB) before combining. You.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention performs various processes on a bit stream carrying information of moving image data, audio data and sub-picture data, which constitutes each title having a series of associated contents, so as to satisfy user's demand. Used for a recording device and a recording medium for generating a bitstream to compose a title having contents according to the above, and efficiently recording the generated bitstream on a predetermined recording medium, and a reproducing device for reproducing and an authoring system. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bitstream seamless connection system encoding method and apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART In recent years, in a system using a laser disk, a video CD, etc., multimedia data such as moving images, audios and sub-pictures are digitally processed to form a title having a series of associated contents. The authoring system that does is put to practical use.

In particular, in a system using a video CD, MPEG is recorded on a CD medium which originally has a storage capacity of about 600 MB and was originally used for recording digital audio.
Recording of moving image data is realized by a moving image compression method called a high compression rate. Conventional laser disc titles such as karaoke are being replaced by video CDs.

From year to year, users' demands regarding the content and reproduction quality of each title have become more complicated and sophisticated. In order to meet such a user's demand, it is necessary to configure each title with a bitstream having a deeper hierarchical structure than ever before. The data amount of multimedia data configured by a bit stream having such a deeper hierarchical structure is more than ten times as large as the conventional one.
In addition, the details of the title need to be finely edited, which requires data processing and control of the bitstream in units of lower hierarchical data.

As described above, it is necessary to establish a high-performance digital processing method including a bit stream structure and recording / reproduction that enables efficient control of a large amount of digital bit streams having a multi-layer structure at each hierarchical level. Is. Further, there is also a need for an apparatus for performing such digital processing, and a recording medium capable of efficiently recording and storing bit stream information digitally processed by this apparatus and rapidly reproducing the recorded information.

[0006] In view of such a situation, as for a recording medium, a study for increasing the storage capacity of a conventionally used optical disk has been actively conducted. In order to increase the storage capacity of the optical disk, it is necessary to reduce the spot diameter D of the light beam, but assuming that the wavelength of the laser is λ and the numerical aperture of the objective lens is NA, the spot diameter D is proportional to λ / NA. , Λ is small and NA is large, it is suitable for increasing the storage capacity.

However, when a lens having a large NA is used, for example, as described in US Pat. No. 5,235,581,
The coma aberration caused by the relative tilt between the disc surface and the optical axis of the light beam called tilt increases, and in order to prevent this, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the transparent substrate. There is a problem that the mechanical strength becomes weak when the transparent substrate is made thin.

Regarding data processing, MPEG2 capable of high-speed transfer of large-capacity data has been developed and put into practical use, as compared with the conventional MPEG1 as a method of recording and reproducing signal data such as moving images, audio, and graphics. . MPEG2 uses a compression method and data format that are slightly different from those of MPEG1. MPEG1 and MPE
Regarding the contents of G2 and their differences, see ISO 1117
2 and ISO 13818 MPEG standard, so detailed description will be omitted. Even in MPEG2, the structure of the video encode stream is specified, but the hierarchical structure of the system stream and the processing method of the lower hierarchical level are not clarified.

As mentioned above, conventional authoring systems cannot process large data streams awaiting sufficient information to meet various user needs. Further, even if the processing technique is established, the processed data cannot be effectively and repeatedly used because there is no large-capacity recording medium capable of efficiently recording and reproducing a large-capacity data stream.

In other words, in order to process a bit stream in units smaller than a title, the storage medium has a large capacity, the hardware called digital processing speedup, and a sophisticated digital processing method including a sophisticated data structure. It was necessary to solve the excessive demand for software called the invention of.

As described above, the present invention controls the bit stream of multimedia data in units of titles or less, which has a high demand for hardware and software, so that it is more effective to meet the needs of users. The purpose is to provide a reliable authoring system.

Further, in order to share data among a plurality of titles and use the optical disc efficiently, a plurality of titles can be shared with common scene data and a plurality of scenes arranged on the same time axis can be arbitrarily set. Multi-scene control that selects and plays is desirable. However, in order to arrange a plurality of scenes, that is, multi-scene data on the same time axis, it is necessary to continuously arrange each scene data of the multi-scenes. As a result, there is no choice but to insert non-selected multi-scene data between the selected common scene and the selected multi-scene data. , It is expected that playback will be interrupted.

In addition, when one of the multi-scene data and one of the common scene data are connected, the difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time on each path is different due to the difference between the video and audio frame reproduction times. . Therefore, the video buffer or the audio buffer underflows at the connection portion, and the video reproduction is stopped (freeze) or the audio reproduction is stopped (mute). Further, even in the one-to-one connection for connecting common scene data, it goes without saying that an underflow of the buffer portion may occur due to the difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time.

In the present invention, even in such multi-scene data, the video display is stopped for the one-to-one, one-to-many, and plural-to-many scene connections at the system stream connection part ( Freeze) and the like-a data structure that enables natural reproduction as a title of a book, a method of generating a system stream having such a data structure, a recording device, a reproducing device, and such a system stream It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disc having a data structure and an optical disc recording method for the purpose of providing a recording medium. In addition,
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. H7-252735 (19
(Filed on September 29, 1995) and H8-041581 (19
(Filed on Feb. 28, 1996), and the disclosures of these two specifications are all part of the disclosure of the present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical disc in which a system stream having at least one or more audio data and moving image data is recorded, and at least one or more system streams recorded in the optical disc is a moving image. The difference between the input start times of moving image data and audio data in the buffer in the decoder and the buffer in the audio decoder is less than or equal to the playback time of the number of frames added to the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer. Thus, the optical disc is characterized in that moving image data and audio data are interleaved (multiplexed) recorded.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to explain the present invention in more detail, it will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Data Structure of Authoring System First, referring to FIG. 1, a bit stream of multimedia data to be processed in an authoring system including a recording device, a recording medium, a reproducing device and their functions according to the present invention. The logical structure of is explained. One title is image and audio information that the user can recognize, understand, or enjoy. In the case of a movie, the title corresponds to the maximum amount of information about the complete movie, and the minimum amount of information indicating the content of each scene.

A video title set VTS is composed of bit stream data containing information for a predetermined number of titles. Hereinafter, the video title set is referred to as a VTS for simplification. The VTS includes reproduction data such as video and audio representing the contents themselves of the above-mentioned titles, and control data for controlling them. A certain number of VTs
From S, a video zone VZ, which is a video data unit in the authoring system, is formed. Hereinafter, the video zone is referred to as VZ for simplification. One VZ
, K + 1 VTS # 0 to VTS # K (K is a positive integer including 0) are linearly and continuously arranged. Then, one of them, preferably the first VTS # 0, is used as a video manager that represents the content information of the title included in each VTS. The multimedia bitstream MBS, which is the maximum management unit of the multimedia data bitstream in the authoring system, is formed from the predetermined number of VZs thus configured. Authoring Encoder EC FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an authoring encoder EC according to the present invention that encodes an original multimedia bitstream to generate a new multimedia bitstream MBS according to any scenario according to a user's request. Indicates. The original multimedia pit stream is composed of a video stream Stl carrying video information, a sub-picture stream St3 carrying auxiliary video information such as captions, and an audio stream St5 carrying audio information. The video stream and the audio stream are streams containing image and audio information obtained from the target during a predetermined time. On the other hand, the sub-picture stream is a stream for the screen, that is, containing the video information of the moment. If necessary, one screen of subpictures can be captured in a video memory or the like, and the captured subpicture screen can be continuously displayed.

These multimedia source data St
In the case of live broadcasting, l, St3, and St5 are supplied with video and audio signals in real time from a means such as a video camera. It may also be a non-real time video and audio signal reproduced from a recording medium such as a video tape. In the figure, for the sake of simplicity, three types of multimedia source streams are selected as three types or more.
It goes without saying that source data representing different title contents may be input. Such multimedia source data having audio, video and auxiliary video information of a plurality of titles is called a multi-title stream.

The authoring encoder EC includes an editing information creating section 100, an encoding system control section 200, a video encoder 300, and a video stream buffer 40.
0, sub-picture encoder 500, sub-picture stream buffer 600, audio encoder 700,
It is composed of an audio stream buffer 800, a system encoder 900, a video zone formatter 1300, a recording unit 1200, and a recording medium M.

In the figure, the bit stream encoded by the encoder of the present invention is recorded on an optical disc medium as an example.

The authoring encoder EC is an edit information generation unit that can output as scenario data for instructing the edit of the corresponding part of the multimedia bit stream MBS according to the user's request regarding the video, sub-picture, and audio of the original multimedia title. Equipped with 100. The edit information creation unit 100 preferably includes a display unit, a speaker unit, a keyboard, a CPU, a source stream buffer unit, and the like. The edit information creation unit 100 is connected to the above-mentioned external multimedia stream source, and is connected to the multimedia source data St.
It is supplied with l, St3, and St5. The user
It is possible to reproduce the video and audio of the multimedia source data using the display unit and the speaker, and to recognize the content of the title. Further, the user inputs an editing instruction of the content according to a desired scenario by using the keyboard unit while confirming the reproduced content. The editing instruction content means that, for all or each of the source data including the content of a plurality of titles, one or more content of each source data is selected at predetermined time intervals, and the selected content is specified. Say the information that you can connect and play by the method.

The CPU receives each stream St of multimedia source data based on keyboard input.
position, length of the edit target portion of l, St3, and St5,
And scenario data St7 that encodes information such as the temporal relationship between the edited parts.

The source stream buffer has a predetermined capacity, and each stream St of multimedia source data St
l, St3, and St5 are delayed by a predetermined time Td and then output.

This is because the user has the scenario data St7.
In the case where encoding is performed at the same time as the creation of the data, that is, in the case of sequential encoding processing, it takes some time Td to determine the editing processing content of the multimedia source data based on the scenario data St7 as described later. Therefore, when actually performing the edit encoding, it is necessary to delay the multimedia source data by the time Td and synchronize with the edit encoding. In the case of such a sequential editing process, the delay time Td is a degree necessary for the synchronization adjustment between the respective elements in the system, and therefore the source stream buffer is usually composed of a high speed recording medium such as a semiconductor memory.

However, at the time of so-called batch editing, in which the multimedia source data is encoded after the scenario data St7 is completed throughout the title, the delay time Td is required for the title or longer. Is. In such a case, the source stream buffer can be configured by using a low-speed large-capacity recording medium such as a video tape, a magnetic disk, an optical disk. That is, the source stream buffer may be configured using an appropriate storage medium according to the delay time Td and the manufacturing cost.

The encoding system control unit 200 is connected to the editing information creation unit 100, and the scenario data S
t7 is received from the editing information creation unit 100. The encoding system control unit 200, based on the information on the temporal position and length of the edit target portion included in the scenario data St7, encode parameter data for encoding the edit target portion of the multimedia source data and the start of encoding. , End timing signal St
9, Stll, and St13 are generated, respectively. Note that, as described above, each multimedia source data St
l, St3, and St5 are output by the source stream buffer with a delay of time Td, and thus are synchronized with the respective timings St9, Stll, and St13.

That is, the signal St9 is the video stream S
This is a video encode signal that indicates the timing of encoding the video stream Stl in order to extract the encoding target portion from tl and generate the video encoding unit. Similarly, the signal Stll is a sub-picture stream encode signal that indicates the timing of encoding the sub-picture stream St3 to generate the sub-picture encoding unit. Also, the signal S
t13 is an audio encode signal that indicates the timing of encoding the audio stream St5 to generate the audio encode unit.

The encoding system control unit 200 further performs encoding based on information such as temporal correlation between the encoding target portions of the respective streams Stl, St3, and St5 of the multimedia source data included in the scenario data St7. Timing signals St21, St23, and S for arranging the generated multimedia encoded streams so as to have a predetermined mutual relationship.
Generate t25.

The encoding system control unit 200 controls the title editing unit (V
OB), reproduction time information IT indicating the reproduction time of the title editing unit (VOB) and encoding parameters for system encoding for multiplexing (multiplexing) multimedia encoded streams of video, audio and sub-picture. The stream encode data St33 shown is generated.

The encoding system control unit 200 determines the multimedia bit stream M from the title editing unit (VOB) of each stream having a predetermined mutual time relationship.
To connect title edit units (VOBs) of each title of the BS or to generate interleaved title edit units (VOBs) that overlap each title edit unit,
Each title editing unit (VOB) is used as a multimedia bit stream MBS, and an array designating signal St39 that defines a format parameter for formatting is generated.

The video encoder 300 is connected to the source stream buffer of the editing information creating unit 100 and the encoding system control unit 200, and includes the video stream Stl, encoding parameter data for video encoding, and encoding start / end timing signals. St9, for example, the start / end timing of encoding,
Parameters such as an NTSC signal, a PAL signal, or a telecine material are input as the bit rate, the encoding condition at the end of encoding, and the type of material. The video encoder 300 receives the video stream St based on the video encode signal St9.
A predetermined part of l is encoded to generate a video encoded stream St15.

Similarly, the sub-picture encoder 500
Is connected to the source buffer of the edit information creation unit 100 and the encoding system control unit 200, and receives the sub-picture stream St3 and the sub-picture stream encode signal Stll, respectively. The sub-picture encoder 500 encodes a predetermined portion of the sub-picture stream St3 based on the parameter signal Stll for sub-picture stream encoding to generate a sub-picture encoded stream St17.

The audio encoder 700 is connected to the source buffer of the edit information creating section 100 and the encoding system control section 200, and receives the audio stream St5 and the audio encode signal St13, respectively. The audio encoder 700 encodes a predetermined portion of the audio stream St5 based on the parameter data for audio encoding and the signal St13 of the encoding start / end timing to generate an audio encoded stream Stl9.

The video stream buffer 400 is connected to the video encoder 300 and outputs the video encoded stream S output from the video encoder 300.
Save t15. The video stream buffer 400 is further connected to the encoding system control unit 200,
Based on the input of the timing signal St21, the stored video encode stream St15 is output as the timed video encode stream St27.

Similarly, the sub-picture stream buffer 600 is connected to the sub-picture encoder 500 and stores the sub-picture encoded stream St17 output from the sub-picture encoder 500.
The sub-picture stream buffer 600 is further connected to the encoding system control unit 200 and outputs the stored sub-picture encode stream St17 as a timed sub-picture encode stream St29 based on the input of the timing signal St23.

The audio stream buffer 80
0 is connected to the audio encoder 700,
The audio encoded stream Stl9 output from the audio encoder 700 is stored. The audio stream buffer 800 is further connected to the encoding system control unit 200 and outputs the stored audio encode stream Stl9 as a timed audio encode stream St31 based on the input of the timing signal St25.

The system encoder 900 is connected to the video stream buffer 400, the sub-picture stream buffer 600, and the audio stream buffer 800, and the timed video encode stream St.
27, timed sub-picture encoded stream St2
9 and the timed audio encode St31 are input. The system encoder 900 is also connected to the encoding system control unit 200, and receives the stream encode data St33.

The system encoder 900 performs a multiplexing process on each timing stream St27, St29, and St31 based on the encode parameter data of the system encode and the signal St33 of the encoding start / end timing, and a title edit unit (VOB). Generate St35.

The video zone formatter 1300 is connected to the system encoder 900 and receives the title edit unit St35 as input. Video zone formatter 1
Further, 300 is connected to the encoding system control unit 200 and receives the format parameter data for formatting the multimedia bit stream MBS and the signal St39 of the format start / end timing. The video zone formatter 1300 rearranges the title editing units St35 for one video zone VZ based on the title editing unit St39 in the order according to the scenario desired by the user to generate the edited multimedia bitstream St43.

The multimedia bit stream St43 edited according to the contents of the scenario requested by the user is transferred to the recording unit 1200. The recording unit 1200 processes the edited multimedia bitstream MBS into data St43 having a format corresponding to the recording medium M and records the data St43 on the recording medium M. In this case, the multimedia bitstream M
The BS includes a volume file structure VFS that indicates a physical address on the medium, which is generated by the video zone formatter 1300 in advance.

It is also possible to output the encoded multimedia bit stream St35 directly to a decoder as described below to reproduce the edited title contents. In this case, it goes without saying that the multimedia bitstream MBS does not include the volume file structure VFS. Clams
Packaging decoder DC Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the authoring encoder EC according to the present invention, decodes the multimedia bitstream MBS edited,
An embodiment of the authoring decoder DC that expands the content of each title according to the scenario desired by the user will be described. In the present embodiment, the recording medium M
Multimedia bitstream St45 encoded by the authoring encoder EC recorded in
Are recorded on the recording medium M.

The authoring decoder DC includes a multimedia bit stream reproduction unit 2000, a scenario selection unit 2100, a decoding system control unit 2300, a stream buffer 2400, a system decoder 2500, a video buffer 2600, a sub picture buffer 2700,
Audio buffer 2800, synchronization control unit 2900, video decoder 3800, sub-picture decoder 310
0, an audio decoder 3200, a synthesizing unit 3500, a video data output terminal 3600, and an audio data output terminal 3700.

Multimedia bit stream playback unit 2
Reference numeral 000 denotes a recording medium drive unit 2004 that drives the recording medium M, a read head unit 2006 that reads information recorded on the recording medium M and generates a binary read signal St57, and performs various processing on the read signal ST57. It is composed of a signal processing unit 2008 that generates a reproduction bit stream St61 and a mechanism control unit 2002. The mechanism control unit 2002 is the decoding system control unit 2
When the multimedia bit stream reproduction instruction signal St53 is received, the reproduction control signals St55 and St59 for controlling the recording medium driving unit (motor) 2004 and the signal processing unit 2008 are generated.

The decoder DC selects and plays a corresponding scenario so that a user-desired portion of the video, sub-picture, and audio of the multimedia title edited by the authoring encoder EC is played. , A scenario selection unit 2100 that can output as scenario data that gives an instruction to the authoring decoder DC.

The scenario selection unit 2100 is preferably
It is composed of a keyboard and a CPU. The user operates the keyboard unit to input a desired scenario based on the content of the scenario input by the authoring encoder EC. The CPU selects the scenario selection data St51 that indicates the selected scenario based on the keyboard input.
To generate. The scenario selection unit 2100 uses, for example, an infrared communication device or the like to decode the decoding system control unit 230.
It is connected to 0. Decoding system control unit 2300
Is a reproduction instruction signal St5 for controlling the operation of the multimedia bitstream reproduction unit 2000 based on St51.
3 is generated.

The stream buffer 2400 has a predetermined buffer capacity and has a reproduction signal bit stream S input from the multimedia bit stream reproduction unit 2000.
At the same time as saving t61, the address information of each stream and the synchronization initial value data are extracted to generate stream control data St63. The stream buffer 2400 is connected to the decoding system control unit 2300 and supplies the generated stream control data St63 to the decoding system control unit 2300.

The synchronization control unit 2900 is connected to the decoding system control unit 2300 to generate synchronization control data St81.
The synchronous initial value data (SCR) included in the above is set, the internal system clock (STC) is set, and the reset system clock St79 is supplied to the decoding system control unit 2300.

The decoding system control unit 2300 generates the stream read signal St65 at a predetermined interval based on the system clock St79, and the stream buffer 2
Enter 400.

The stream buffer 2400 outputs the reproduced bit stream St61 at predetermined intervals based on the read signal St65.

The decoding system control unit 2300 further generates a decoding stream instruction signal St69 indicating the ID of each stream of video, sub-picture and audio corresponding to the selected scenario based on the scenario selection data St51, and the system Output to the decoder 2500.

The system decoder 2500 receives the video, sub-picture, and audio streams input from the stream buffer 2400 as a video encode stream St71 based on the instruction of the decode instruction signal St69.
To the sub picture buffer 2700 as the sub picture encoded stream St73 and to the audio buffer 2 as the audio encoded stream St75.
Output to 800. The system decoder 2500 detects the reproduction start time (PTS) and the decode start time (DTS) in each minimum control unit of each stream St67, and generates the time information signal St77. The time information signal St77 is passed through the decoding system control unit 2300 as the synchronization control data St81 and the synchronization control unit 290.
Input to 0.

The synchronization control unit 2900 uses the synchronization control data S
At t81, the decoding start timing for each stream is determined so that each stream is in a predetermined order after decoding. The synchronization control unit 2900 generates a video stream decoding start signal St89 based on this decoding timing and inputs it to the video decoder 3800. Similarly, the synchronization control unit 2900 generates a sub-picture decoding start signal St91 and an audio decoding start signal t93, and inputs them to the sub-picture decoder 3100 and the audio decoder 3200, respectively.

The video decoder 3800 generates a video output request signal St84 on the basis of the video stream decoding start signal St89, and the video buffer 2600.
Output to. The video buffer 2600 receives the video output request signal St84 and receives the video stream St8.
3 is output to the video decoder 3800. The video decoder 3800 detects the reproduction time information included in the video stream St83, and invalidates the video output request signal St84 when receiving the input of the video stream St83 corresponding to the reproduction time. In this way, the video stream corresponding to the predetermined reproduction time is reproduced by the video decoder 3.
Reproduced video signal Stl decoded by 800
04 is output to the combining unit 3500.

Similarly, the sub-picture decoder 3100
Generates a sub-picture output request signal St86 based on the sub-picture decoding start signal St91 and supplies it to the sub-picture buffer 2700. The sub-picture buffer 2700 has a sub-picture output request signal St86.
In response, the sub picture stream St85 is output to the sub picture decoder 3100. The sub-picture decoder 3100 decodes the sub-picture stream St85 in an amount corresponding to a predetermined reproduction time based on the reproduction time information included in the sub-picture stream St85, reproduces the sub-picture signal St99, and the combining unit 35.
Is output to 00.

The synthesizing unit 3500 uses the video signal Stl04.
And the sub-picture signal St99 is superposed to generate a multi-picture video signal St105, which is output to the video output terminal 3600.

The audio decoder 3200 generates the audio output request signal St88 based on the audio decoding start signal St93, and outputs the audio output request signal St88.
Supply to 00. The audio buffer 2800 receives the audio output request signal St88 and outputs the audio stream St87 to the audio decoder 3200. The audio decoder 3200, based on the reproduction time information included in the audio stream St87, outputs the audio stream St8 in an amount corresponding to a predetermined reproduction time.
7 is decoded and output to the audio output terminal 3700.

In this way, the multimedia bit stream MBS desired by the user can be reproduced in real time in response to the user's scenario selection. That is, each time the user selects a different scenario, the authoring decoder DC can reproduce the title content desired by the user by reproducing the multimedia bitstream MBS corresponding to the selected scenario.

As described above, in the authoring system of the present invention, a plurality of branchable substreams of the minimum editing unit representing each content are set in a predetermined temporal correlation with respect to the basic title content. The multimedia source data can be encoded in real-time or in bulk for alignment to produce a multimedia bitstream according to any of several scenarios.

Also, the multimedia bitstream encoded in this way can be played back in accordance with any of a plurality of scenarios. Then, even during playback, even if another scenario is selected (switched) from the selected scenarios, the multimedia bitstream according to the newly selected scenario can be played back (dynamically). Further, while the title contents are being reproduced according to an arbitrary scenario, an arbitrary scene among a plurality of scenes can be dynamically selected and reproduced.

As described above, in the authoring system of the present invention, not only the encoded multimedia bit stream MBS is reproduced in real time, but also it can be repeatedly reproduced. The details of the authoring system are disclosed in the Japanese patent application dated September 27, 1996 by the same applicant as the present patent application. DVD FIG. 4 shows an example of a DVD having a single recording surface. The DVD recording medium RC1 in this example is a laser beam LS.
Information recording surface RS1 for irradiating and writing and reading information
And a protective layer PL1 covering this. Furthermore, the recording surface R
A reinforcing layer BL1 is provided on the back side of S1. Thus, the surface on the protective layer PL1 side is the surface SA and the reinforcing layer BL1 is
The side surface is referred to as back surface SB. A DVD medium having a single recording layer RS1 on one side like this medium RC1 is called a single-sided single-layer disc.

The recording surface RS1 showing the details of the portion C1 in FIG. 4 is an information layer 410 to which a reflective film such as a metal thin film is attached.
It is formed by 9. On top of that, a predetermined thickness T1
By the first transparent substrate 4108 having
Is formed. The reinforcing layer BL1 is formed by the second transparent substrate 4111 having a predetermined thickness T2. The first and second transparent substrates 4108 and 4111 are adhered to each other by an adhesive layer 4110 provided between them.

Further, if necessary, the second transparent substrate 41
A printing layer 4112 for printing a label is provided on the printed wiring board 11. The printed layer 4112 is not the entire region of the reinforcing layer BL1 on the substrate 4111, but only the portion necessary for displaying characters and pictures is printed, and the transparent substrate 4111 may be exposed in other portions. In that case, when viewed from the back surface SB side, the metal thin film 4109 that forms the recording surface RS1 in the unprinted portion
The reflected light is directly visible. For example, when the metal thin film is an aluminum thin film, the background looks silvery white, and the printed characters and figures appear to float on it. The printed layer 4112 does not need to be provided on the entire surface of the reinforcing layer BL1 and may be partially provided depending on the application.

FIG. 6 shows details of the C2 portion in FIG.
On the surface SA where the light beam LS is incident and information is taken out, uneven pits are formed by a molding technique on the contact surface between the first transparent substrate 4108 and the information layer 4109, and the length and interval of these pits should be changed. Records information. That is, the first transparent substrate 410 is formed on the information layer 4109.
The uneven pit shape of 8 is transferred. The length and interval of the pits are shorter than that of the CD, and the information track and the pitch formed by the pit row are narrow. As a result, the areal recording density is significantly improved.

The surface SA side of the first transparent substrate 4108 where no pit is formed is a flat surface. The second transparent substrate 4111 is for reinforcement and is a transparent substrate made of the same material as the first transparent substrate 4108 and having flat surfaces on both sides. The predetermined thicknesses T1 and T2 are both preferably, for example, 0.6 mm, but are not limited thereto.

Information is taken out in the same manner as in the case of CD.
When the light beam LS is emitted, it is extracted as a change in the reflectance of the light spot. In the DVD system, since the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens can be made large and the wavelength λ of the light beam can be made small, the diameter of the light spot Ls used is about 1 / 1.6 of the light spot on the CD. Can be narrowed down to. This means that it has about 1.6 times the resolution of the CD system.

To read data from a DVD, the NA of the red semiconductor laser with a short wavelength of 650 nm and the objective lens is used.
An optical system whose (numerical aperture) is increased to 0.6 mm can be used. Combined with the fact that the thickness T of the transparent substrate is reduced to 0.6 mm, the information capacity that can be recorded on one side of an optical disc having a diameter of 120 mm exceeds 5 GB.

In the DVD system, as described above, even in the single-sided single-layer disc RC1 having the single recording surface RS1, the recordable information amount is close to 10 times that of the CD.
A moving image with a very large data size per unit can be handled without impairing its image quality. as a result,
In the conventional CD system, the reproduction time is 74 minutes even if the quality of the moving image is sacrificed.
It is possible to record and reproduce high-quality moving images for over 2 hours. As described above, the DVD is characterized in that it is suitable as a moving image recording medium.

7 and 8 show an example of a DVD recording medium having a plurality of recording surfaces RS described above. The DVD recording medium RC2 of FIG. 7 has first and semi-transparent second recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 arranged in two layers on the same side, that is, the front side SA. First recording surface RS1 and second recording surface RS2
On the other hand, by using different light beams LS1 and LS2, recording and reproduction from two surfaces can be performed at the same time. Also, in the direction of the light beam LS1 or LS2,
You may make it correspond to both recording surfaces RS1 and RS2. The DVD recording medium thus configured is called a single-sided dual layer disc. In this example, two recording layers RS1 and RS2 are arranged, but if necessary, two or more recording layers RS are arranged D
It goes without saying that a VD recording medium can be constructed. Such a disc is called a single-sided multi-layer disc.

On the other hand, the DVD recording medium RC3 of FIG. 8 is provided with the first recording surface RS1 on the opposite side, that is, the front side SA side, and the second recording surface RS2 on the back side SB, respectively. . In these examples, one DVD has two recording surfaces, but it goes without saying that it can be configured to have a multilayer recording surface of two or more layers. Figure 7
Similarly to the above case, the light beams LS1 and LS2 may be separately provided, or one light beam may be used for recording / reproducing on both recording surfaces RS1 and RS2. The DVD recording medium thus configured is called a double-sided single layer disc.
Further, it goes without saying that a DVD recording medium having two or more recording layers RS arranged on one side can be constructed. Such a disc is called a double-sided multi-layer disc.

9 and 10 are plan views of the recording surface RS of the DVD recording medium RC as seen from the irradiation side of the light beam LS. For DVD, from the inner circumference to the outer circumference,
Tracks TR for recording information are continuously provided in a spiral shape. The track TR is divided into a plurality of sectors for each predetermined data unit. It should be noted that, in FIG. 9, in order to make it easier to see, it is shown as being divided into three or more sectors per track.

Normally, as shown in FIG. 9, the track TR has an inner peripheral end point IA to an outer peripheral end point O of the disc RCA.
It is wound in the clockwise direction DrA toward A. Such a disk RCA is called a clockwise disk and its track is called a clockwise track TRA. Depending on the application, as shown in FIG. 10, a clockwise direction Dr from the outer peripheral end point OB of the disc RCB toward the inner peripheral end point IB.
A track TRB is wound around B. This direction Dr
B is a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the inner circumference to the outer circumference, so to distinguish it from the disk RCA of FIG.
Counterclockwise disc RCB and counterclockwise truck TR
Call B. The track winding directions DrA and DrB described above.
Is a movement of a light beam scanning a track for recording and reproduction, that is, a track path. Track winding direction D
The opposite direction RdA of rA is the direction in which the disk RCA is rotated. RdB opposite to the track winding direction DrB
Is the direction in which the disc RCB is rotated.

FIG. 11 shows a single-sided dual-layer disc R shown in FIG.
A development view of a disk RC2o which is an example of C2 is schematically shown. On the lower first recording surface RS1, a clockwise track TRA is provided in a clockwise direction DrA as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the counterclockwise track TRB is provided in the counterclockwise direction D on the second recording surface RS2 on the upper side.
It is provided in rB. In this case, the upper and lower track outer peripheral ends OB and OA are located on the same line parallel to the center line of the disc RC2o. Both the winding directions DrA and DrB of the track TR described above are also the reading and writing directions of data with respect to the disc RC. In this case, the winding directions of the upper and lower tracks are opposite, that is, the track paths DrA and DrB of the upper and lower recording layers face each other.

The opposite track path type single-sided dual-layer disc RC2o is rotated in the RdA direction corresponding to the first recording surface RS1, and the light beam LS follows the track of the first recording surface RS1 along the track path DrA. When the light beam LS is traced and reaches the outer peripheral end OA, the light beam LS is adjusted so as to focus on the outer peripheral end OB of the second recording surface RS2. The track on the recording surface RS2 can be traced. In this way, the physical distance between the tracks TRA and TRB on the first and second recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 can be instantaneously eliminated by adjusting the focus of the light beam LS. As a result, in the opposite track path type single-sided dual-layer disc RCo, it is easy to process the tracks on the upper and lower two layers as one continuous track TR. Therefore, the multimedia bitstream MBS, which is the maximum management unit of multimedia data in the authoring system described with reference to FIG. 1, is continuously recorded on the two recording layers RS1 and RS2 of one medium RC2o. Can be recorded.

The winding directions of the tracks on the recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 are opposite to those described in this example, that is, the counterclockwise track TRB is on the first recording surface RS1 and the clockwise track is on the second recording surface. When TRA is provided, both recording surfaces are used as having one continuous track TR, as in the above example, except that the rotation direction of the disc is changed to RdB. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, the illustration and the like of such an example will be omitted. By configuring the DVD in this manner, the multimedia bitstream MBS of a long title can be recorded on a single opposite-track path type single-sided dual-layer disc RC2o. Such a DVD medium is called a single-sided dual-layer opposed track path type disc.

FIG. 12 shows a single-sided dual-layer disc R shown in FIG.
A further development of C2 RC2p is schematically shown. As shown in FIG. 9, the first and second recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 are both provided with a clockwise track TRA. In this case, the one-sided dual-layer disc RC2p is rotated in the RdA direction, and the moving direction of the light beam is the same as the winding direction of the track, that is, the track paths of the upper and lower recording layers are parallel to each other. Also in this case, it is preferable that the upper and lower track outer peripheral end portions OA and OA are located on the same line parallel to the center line of the disc RC2p. Therefore, by adjusting the focus of the light beam LS at the outer peripheral end portion OA, similarly to the medium RC2o described in FIG. 11, from the outer peripheral end portion OA of the track TRA of the first recording surface RS1 to the second recording. Momentarily to the outer peripheral end OA of the track TRA of the surface RS2,
You can change the access destination.

However, in order to access the track TRA of the second recording surface RS2 temporally continuously by the light beam LS, the medium RC2p may be rotated in the reverse direction (in the anti-RdA direction). However, since it is not efficient to change the rotation direction of the medium according to the position of the light beam, the light beam LS is directed to the track outer peripheral end portion of the first recording surface RS1 as indicated by an arrow in the figure. After reaching OA, the light beam is directed to the track inner peripheral end portion I of the second recording surface RS2.
By moving to A, it can be used as one track that is logically continuous. Further, if necessary, the tracks on the upper and lower recording surfaces may not be treated as one continuous track, but the multimedia bit stream MBS may be recorded on each track as a separate track. Such a DVD medium is called a single-sided dual-layer parallel track path type disc.

Incidentally, the winding direction of the tracks on both recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 is opposite to that described in this example, that is, even if the counterclockwise track TRB is provided, the rotation direction of the disk is R.
It is the same except that it is set to dB. This single-sided, double-layer parallel track path type disc is suitable for use in recording a plurality of titles that require random access frequently on a single medium RC2p, such as an encyclopedia.

FIG. 13 is a double-sided single-layer DVD having recording layers RS1 and RS2 on each side shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 shows an exploded view of an example RC3s of medium RC3. The recording surface RS1 on one side is provided with a clockwise track TRA, and the recording surface RS2 on the other side is provided with a counterclockwise track TRB. Also in this case, it is preferable that the track outer peripheral end portions OA and OB on both recording surfaces be the disc RC3.
It is located on the same line parallel to the center line of s. These recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 have the track winding directions opposite to each other, but the track paths have a plane-symmetrical relationship with each other. Such a disc RC3s is referred to as a double-sided single layer symmetrical track path type disc. This double-sided single-layer symmetrical track path type disc RC3s corresponds to the first recording medium RS1 and is R
It is rotated in the dA direction. As a result, the track path of the second recording medium RS2 on the opposite side has its track winding direction D
The direction opposite to rB, that is, DrA. In this case, there are essentially two recording surfaces RS1 regardless of whether they are continuous or discontinuous.
And it is not practical to access RS2 with the same light beam LS. Therefore, on each of the front and back recording surfaces,
Record the multimedia bitstream MSB.

FIG. 14 shows a development view of a further example RC3a of the double-sided single-layer DVD medium RC3 shown in FIG. Both recording surfaces R
Both S1 and RS2 are provided with a clockwise track TRA as shown in FIG. Also in this case, preferably, the track outer peripheral end portions OA and OA of both recording surface sides RSI and RS2 are located on the same line parallel to the center line of the disc RC3a. However, in this example, the double-sided single-track target track path type disc R described above is used.
Unlike C3s, the tracks on the recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 have an asymmetric relationship. Such a disc RC
3a is referred to as a double-sided single layer non-symmetrical track path type disc.
This double-sided non-target track path type disc RC3s
Is rotated in the RdA direction corresponding to the first recording medium RS1. As a result, the track path of the second recording surface RS2 on the opposite side is the direction opposite to the track winding direction DrA, that is, the DrB direction.

Therefore, the single light beam LS is applied to the first recording surface R
By continuously moving from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of S1 and from the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the second recording surface RS2, the medium PC3a can be turned upside down without preparing a different light beam source for each recording surface. It is possible to record and reproduce on both sides without having to do so. Further, in this double-sided single layer non-target track path type disc, both recording surfaces RS
The track paths of 1 and RS2 are the same. Therefore,
By inverting the front and back of the medium PC3a, a single light beam L can be obtained without preparing a different light beam source for each recording surface.
Both sides can be recorded and reproduced by S, and as a result, the device can be manufactured economically. Even if a track TRB is provided on both recording surfaces RS1 and RS2 instead of the track TRA, the same operation as in this example is basically performed.

As described above, a DVD system in which the recording capacity is easily doubled due to the multi-layered recording surface allows a plurality of moving image data, a plurality of audio data, and a plurality of graphics recorded on one disc. It demonstrates its true value in the area of multimedia in which data and the like are reproduced through user interaction. In other words, it was possible to provide the quality of a movie that was produced by a software provider, which was a dream of software providers in the past, as it is, and to provide it to many different languages and many different generations using one medium. To do.

Parentalization Conventionally, software providers of movie titles have been multi-rated as individual packages corresponding to the same title in many languages all over the world and parental locks regulated in Europe and the United States. Producing and supplying titles,
I had to manage. This was a great deal of work. Further, it is important that the image can be reproduced as intended as well as the high image quality. The DVD is a recording medium that approaches the solution of such wishes. Multi-angle In addition, as a typical example of interactive operation, a function called multi-angle is required to switch from one viewpoint to another while playing one scene. For example, in the case of a baseball scene, this is an angle centered on the pitcher, catcher, or batter viewed from the back net side, an angle centered on the infield viewed from the backnet side, a pitcher viewed from the center side, or a catcher. , There is a demand for an application that allows the user to freely choose from a number of angles, such as the batter-centered angle, as if the user were switching cameras.

In the DVD, MPEG similar to the video CD is used as a system for recording signal data such as moving images, audios, graphics, etc. in order to meet such a demand. The video CD and the DVD use the same MPEG format due to differences in capacity, transfer speed, and signal processing performance in the playback apparatus, but employ different compression methods and data formats, that is, MPEG1 and MPEG2.
However, since the contents of MPEG1 and MPEG2 and the difference between them are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, description thereof will be omitted (for example, ISO11172, ISO1381).
8 MPEG standard).

The data structure of the DVD system according to the present invention will be described later with reference to FIGS. 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20. Multi-scene If the titles with the contents as requested are provided to satisfy the above-mentioned requirements for parental lock playback and multi-angle playback, titles with almost the same content having only a part of different scene data are provided. Must be prepared and recorded on a recording medium in the required number. This means that the same data is repeatedly recorded in most areas of the recording medium, so that the utilization efficiency of the storage capacity of the recording medium is significantly excluded. Furthermore, even with a large-capacity recording medium such as a DVD, it is impossible to record titles that meet all requirements. It can be said that such a problem can be basically solved by increasing the capacity of the recording medium, but it is extremely undesirable from the viewpoint of effective use of system resources.

In the DVD system, by using the multi-scene control, the outline of which will be described below, a title having various variations is configured with the minimum necessary data, and the system resources such as the recording medium are effectively used. Is possible. That is, titles having various variations are composed of a basic scene section including common data between titles and a multi-scene section including different scene groups according to respective requirements. Then, at the time of reproduction, the user can freely select a specific scene in each multi-scene section and at any time. Note that multi-scene control including parental lock playback and multi-angle playback will be described later with reference to FIG. Data Structure of DVD System FIG. 22 shows a data structure of authoring data in the DVD system according to the present invention. In the DVD system, in order to record the multimedia bit stream MBS, a lead-in area L1, a volume area VS,
The lead-out area LO is provided with three recording areas.

The lead-in area LI is located at the innermost peripheral portion of the optical disc, for example, at the inner peripheral end portions IA and IB of the track in the disc described in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the lead-in area LI, data etc. for stabilizing the operation at the start of reading by the reproducing apparatus are recorded.

The lead-out area LO is located at the outermost periphery of the optical disc, that is, at the outer peripheral end portions OA and OB of the track described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In the lead-out area LO, data indicating that the volume area VS has ended is recorded.

The volume area VS is a lead-in area L.
Located between I and the lead-out area LO, 2048-byte logical sectors LS are recorded as an n + 1 (n is a positive integer including 0) one-dimensional array. Each logical sector LS is distinguished by a sector number (# 0, # 1, # 2, ... #n). Further, the volume area VS includes a volume / file management area VFS formed of m + 1 logical sectors LS # 0 to LS # m (m is a positive integer including 0 smaller than n) and n−m logical areas. Sectors LS # m + 1 to LS
The file data area FDS is formed from #n. This file data area FDS corresponds to the multimedia bit stream MBS shown in FIG.

The volume / file management area VFS is
This is a file system for managing the data in the volume area VS as a file, and the logical sectors LS # 0 to LS # with the number of sectors m (m is a natural number smaller than n) necessary for storing the data necessary for managing the entire disk. It is formed by m. This volume / file management area V
FS includes, for example, ISO9660 and ISO133.
According to the standards such as 46, information of files in the file data area FDS is recorded.

The file data area FDS is composed of n−m logical sectors LS # m + 1 to LS # n, each of which is an integer multiple (2048 × I, I) of the logical sector.
Is a video manager VM having a size of a predetermined integer)
G and k video title sets VTS # 1 to V
TS # k (k is a natural number smaller than 100) is included.

The video manager VMG holds information indicating title management information of the entire disc and also has information indicating a volume menu which is a menu for setting / changing reproduction control of the entire volume. The video title set VTS # k 'is also simply called a video file, and represents a title made up of data such as moving images, audios, and still images.

FIG. 16 shows the internal structure of the video title set VTS shown in FIG. Video title set VTS
Is VTS information (VTS
I) and VOBS (VTSTT) for VTS titles, which are system streams of multimedia bit streams.
_- are roughly classified into VOBS). First, the VTS information will be described below, and then the VOBS for the VTS title will be described.

The VTS information mainly includes a VTSI management table (VTSI _- MAT) and a VTSPGC information table (VTS _- PGCIT).

The VTSI management table includes the internal structure of the video title set VTS and the video title set VTS.
Number of selectable audio streams, number of sub-pictures and video title set VT included in TS
The storage location of S and the like are described.

The VTSPGC information management table contains i pieces (i is a natural number) of PGC information VTS _- PGCI # 1 to V which represent a program chain (PGC) for controlling the reproduction order.
It is a table in which TS _- PGCI # I is recorded. PGC information _VTS of each entry - PGCI # I is information representing a program chain, j number (j is a natural number) cell playback information _C of - consisting of PBI _# j - PBI # 1~C.
Each cell reproduction information C _- PBI # j includes cell reproduction order and control information regarding reproduction.

The program chain PGC is a concept for describing a story of a title, and a title is formed by describing a reproduction order of cells (described later). For example, in the case of information about a menu, the VTS information is stored in a buffer in the playback device at the start of playback,
When the "menu" key of the remote controller is pressed in the middle of reproduction, the reproduction device refers to it and, for example, the # 1 top menu is displayed. For a hierarchical menu, for example,
Program chain information VTS _- PGCI # 1 is the main menu displayed by pressing the "menu" key, # 2 to # 9 are sub-menus corresponding to the numbers on the "numeric keypad" of the remote control, and # 10 and later are lower layers. It is structured like a submenu. In addition, for example, # 1 is a top menu displayed by pressing the "menu" key, and # 2 and the subsequent voice guidance are reproduced corresponding to the numbers on the "ten" key.

Since the menu itself is represented by a plurality of program chains specified in this table, it is possible to configure a menu of any form, whether it is a hierarchical menu or a menu including voice guidance. It is possible.

For example, in the case of a movie, the playback device refers to the cell playback order stored in the buffer in the playback device at the start of playback and described in the PGC, and plays the system stream.

The cell referred to here is all or part of the system stream and is used as an access point during reproduction. For example, in the case of a movie, it can be used as a chapter that divides the title in the middle.

The PGC information C _- PB entered
Each I # j includes cell reproduction processing information and a cell information table. The reproduction processing information is composed of processing information necessary for cell reproduction such as reproduction time and number of repetitions. Block mode (CBM), cell block type (CB
T), seamless playback flag (SPF), interleaved block placement flag (IAF), STC reset flag (STCDF), cell playback time (C _- PBTM), seamless angle switching flag (SACF), cell head VO
It consists of a BU start address (C _- FVOBU _- SA) and a cell end VOBU start address (C _- LVOBU _- SA).

The seamless playback mentioned here is a DVD.
In the system, multimedia data such as video, audio and sub-video is reproduced without interruption of each data and information, which will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24.

The block mode CBM indicates whether or not a plurality of cells constitute one functional block, and the cell reproduction information of each cell constituting the functional block is continuously PGC.
The CBM of the cell playback information placed in the information and placed at the beginning of the cell has a value indicating the “first cell of the block”, and the CBM of the cell playback information placed at the end of it has the “last cell of the block” ", A value indicating" cell in block "is shown in the CBM of the cell reproduction information arranged between them.

The cell block type CBT indicates the type of block shown in the block mode CBM.
For example, when the multi-angle function is set, the cell information corresponding to the reproduction of each angle is set as the functional block as described above, and the type of the block is set to “angle” in the CBT of the cell reproduction information of each cell. Set the value that indicates ".

The seamless reproduction flag SPF is a flag indicating whether or not the cell or cell block to be reproduced previously is seamlessly connected and reproduced, and is seamlessly connected to the previous cell or previous cell block. When reproducing, a flag value of 1 is added to the SPF of the cell reproduction information of the cell.
To set. Otherwise, the flag value 0 is set.

Interleave allocation flag IA
F is a flag indicating whether or not the cell is arranged in the interleave area. When the cell is arranged in the interleave area, a flag value 1 is set in the interleave allocation flag IAF of the cell. Otherwise, the flag value 0 is set.

The STC reset flag STCDF is information indicating whether or not the STC (Sistem Time Clock), which is used for synchronization, needs to be reset at the time of reproducing the cell. When the reset is necessary, the flag is set. Set the value to 1. Otherwise, the flag value 0 is set.

Seamless angle change flag SAC
When the cell belongs to the angle section and is seamlessly switched, F sets a flag value 1 in the seamless angle change flag SACF of the cell. Otherwise, the flag value 0 is set.

The cell playback time (C _- PBTM) indicates the cell playback time with the accuracy of the number of video frames.

C _- LVOBU _- SA is a cell end VOB.
Indicates the U start address and its value is VO for VTS title
The distance from the logical sector of the head cell of BS (VTSTT _- VOBS) is shown by the number of sectors. C _- FVOBU _-
SA indicates the cell start VOBU start address, and indicates the distance from the logical sector of the start cell of the VTS title VOBS (VTSTT _- VOBS) in the number of sectors.

Next, VOBS for VTS title, that is, one multimedia system stream data VTS
The TT _- VOBS will be described. The system stream data VTSTT _- VOBS is a video object V
It consists of i (i is a natural number) system streams SS called OB. Each video object VOB # 1 to V
OB # i is composed of at least one video data, and in some cases is composed of up to 8 audio data and up to 32 sub-picture data interleaved.

Each video object VOB has q (q
Is a natural number) of cells C # 1 to C # q. Each cell C
Is formed from r (r is a natural number) video object units VOBU # 1 to VOBU # r.

Each VOBU is composed of a plurality of GOPs (Gropes of Pictures), which are refresh cycles of video encoding, and audio and sub-pictures at a time corresponding to them. In addition, at the head of each VOBU, the VOB
It includes Nabupack NV which is the management information of U. The configuration of the nabupack NV will be described later with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 17, the system stream St35 (FIG. 25) encoded by the encoder EC described later with reference to FIG. 25, that is, the video zone VZ (FIG. 2)
The internal structure of 2) is shown. In the figure, the video encode stream St15 is a compressed-dimensional video data string encoded by the video encoder 300. Audio encode stream Stl9
Similarly, the stereo left and right data encoded by the audio encoder 700 is a one-dimensional audio data string that is compressed and integrated. Also,
A multi-channel such as surround may be used as the audio data.

The system stream St35 is a logical sector L having a capacity of 2048 bytes described in FIG.
It has a structure in which packs having the number of bytes corresponding to S # n are arranged in a -dimension. System stream St3
At the beginning of 5, that is, the beginning of VOBU, a stream management pack called navigation pack NV, which records management information such as a data array in the system stream, is arranged.

The video encode stream St15 and the audio encode stream Stl9 are packetized for each number of bytes corresponding to the pack of the system stream. These packets are represented by V
, V2, V3, V4, ... And A1, A2 ,. These packets are interleaved as the system stream St35 in the figure in an appropriate order in consideration of the processing time of the decoder for decompressing video and audio data and the buffer size of the decoder to form an array of packets. For example, in this example, V1, V2, A1,
They are arranged in the order of V3, V4, and A2.

FIG. 17 shows an example in which one moving image data and one audio data are interleaved. However, in the DVD system, the recording / reproducing capacity has been greatly expanded, the high-speed description reproduction has been realized, and the performance of the signal processing LSI has been improved. Sub-picture data, which is a plurality of graphics data, is recorded in an interleaved form as one MPEG system stream, and it becomes possible to selectively reproduce from a plurality of audio data and a plurality of sub-picture data during reproduction. . FIG.
Shows the structure of the system stream used in such a DVD system.

Also in FIG. 18, the packetized video encode stream St15 is the same as in FIG.
It is represented as V1, V2, V3, V4, .... However, in this example, the audio encode stream St
The number 19 is not one, and three audio data strings, Stl9A, Stl9B, and Stl9C, are input as sources. Furthermore, the sub-picture encoding stream St17, which is a sub-image data string, also has two columns of data, St17A and St17B, as sources. These six compressed data strings in total are interleaved in one system stream St35.

Video data is encoded by the MPEG system, and a unit called GOP is a compression unit.
As for the GOP unit, in the case of NTSC as standard, 15 frames make up one GOP, but the number of frames is variable. Stream management packs representing management data having information such as interleaved data correlations are also interleaved at intervals based on GOP based on video data, and constitute GOPs. If the number of frames changes, the interval also changes. In the DVD, the interval is a reproduction time length within the range of 0.4 seconds to 1.0 seconds, and the boundary is in GOP units. If the reproduction time of a plurality of consecutive GOPs is 1 second or less, the management data pack is interleaved in one stream for the video data of the plurality of GOPs.

In a DVD, such a management data pack is called a nabupack NV. From this nabupack NV,
Up to the pack immediately before the next nab pack NV is called a video object unit (hereinafter referred to as VOBU), and one continuous playback unit that can be generally defined as one scene is called a video object (hereinafter referred to as VOB) and one It will consist of the above VOBUs. Also, a set of data in which a plurality of VOBs are collected is a VOB set (hereinafter referred to as VOB set).
Call S). These are the data formats first adopted in DVD.

When a plurality of data strings are interleaved in this way, a navigation pack NV representing management data indicating the interrelationship of the interleaved data.
Also needs to be interleaved in a unit called a predetermined pack number unit. A GOP is a unit in which about 0.5 seconds of video data, which usually corresponds to a reproduction time of 12 to 15 frames, is gathered, and it is considered that one stream management packet is interleaved with the number of data packets required for reproduction of this time. To be

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing stream management information contained in a pack of interleaved video data, audio data, and sub-picture data which constitutes a system stream. As shown in the figure, each data in the system stream is recorded in a packetized and packed format conforming to MPEG2. The packet structure for video, audio, and sub-image data is basically the same. In the DVD system, one pack has a capacity of 2048 bytes as described above, includes one packet called a PES packet, and has a pack header PK.
H, a packet header PTH, and a data area.

In the pack header PKH, the time when the pack should be transferred from the stream buffer 2400 to the system decoder 2500 in FIG. 26, that is, AV
An SCR indicating the reference time information for synchronous reproduction is recorded. In MPEG, it is assumed that this SCR is used as the reference clock for the entire decoder.
In the case of a disk medium such as a VD, closed clock management is sufficient for each player, so a clock that serves as a reference for the time of the entire decoder is separately provided. In the packet header PTH, PTS indicating the time when the video data or audio data included in the packet should be output as reproduction output after being decoded, or DTS indicating the time when the video stream should be decoded.
PTS and DTS in which is recorded are placed when the head of the access unit that is the decoding unit is in the packet, PTS indicates the display start time of the access unit, and DTS indicates the decode start time of the access unit. ing. If the PTS and DTS are at the same time, the DTS is omitted.

Further, the packet header PTH has a stream ID, which is an 8-bit length field indicating whether it is a video packet representing a video data string, a private packet, or an MPEG audio packet.
It is included. Here, the private packet is data whose content may be freely defined in accordance with the MPEG2 standard. In the present embodiment, the private packet 1 is used for audio data (other than MPEG audio) and sub-picture data. And a private packet 2 is used to carry a PCI packet and a DSI packet.

The private packet 1 and the private packet 2 are composed of a packet header, a private data area and a data area. The private data area includes a substream ID having an 8-bit field indicating whether the recorded data is audio data or sub-picture data. The audio data defined by the private packet 2 is # 0 to # 7 for each of the linear PCM system and the AC-3 system.
Up to 8 types can be set. In addition, the sub-picture data can be set to a maximum of 32 types from # 0 to # 31.

The data area is MP for video data.
This is a field for recording EG2 format compressed data, linear PCM AC-3 system or MPEG system data in the case of audio data, and graphics data compressed by run-length encoding in the case of sub-picture data.

Further, MPEG2 video data has a fixed bit rate system (hereinafter also referred to as "CBR") and a variable bit rate system (hereinafter also referred to as "VBR") as a compression method. The fixed bit rate and method are methods in which a video stream is continuously input to a video buffer at a constant rate. On the other hand, in the variable bit rate method, the video stream is intermittent (intermittent).
This is a method of inputting to a video buffer, which makes it possible to suppress the generation of unnecessary code amount. The DVD can be used in both the fixed bit rate system and the variable bit rate system. In MPEG, moving image data is compressed by a variable length coding method, so that the amount of GOP data is not constant. Furthermore, the decoding time of the moving image differs from that of the audio, and the time relation between the moving image data and the audio data read from the optical disc does not match the time relation between the moving image data and the audio data output from the decoder. Therefore, a method of temporally synchronizing the moving image and the audio will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 26. First, for simplicity, the description will be given based on the fixed bit rate method.

FIG. 20 shows the structure of the Nabupack NV.
The nab pack NV is composed of a PCI packet and a DSI packet, and has a pack header PKH at the head. PK
In H, as described above, the pack is from the stream buffer 2400 to the system decoder 25 in FIG.
SCR indicating the time to be transferred to 00, that is, the reference time information for AV synchronous reproduction is recorded.

[0128] PCI packet, PCI information (PCI _-
GI) and non-seamless multi-angle information (NSML _-
AGLI).

The PCI information (PCI _- GI) contains the VO
The beginning video frame display time (VOBU _- S _- PTM) and the final video frame display time (VOBU _- E _- PTM) of the video data included in the BU are described with system clock accuracy (90 KHz).

Non-seamless multi-angle information (NSM
In L _- AGLI), the read start address when the angle is switched is described as the number of sectors from the VOB head. In this case, since the number of angles is 9 or less, the region as a 9-angle component of address description area (NSML _-
AGL _- C1 _- DSTA to NSML _- AGL _- C9 _- D
STA).

[0131] DSI information in the DSI packet (DSI _-
GI), seamless playback information (SML _- PBI) and seamless multi-angle playback information (SML _- AGL).
I).

The VO is used as DSI information (DSI _- GI).
VO the last pack address (VOBU _- EA) in BU
Described as the number of sectors from the beginning of BU.

Although seamless reproduction will be described later, in order to seamlessly reproduce a branched or combined title, it is necessary to interleave (multiplex) at the system stream level with ILVU as a continuous read unit. An interval in which a plurality of system streams are interleaved with ILVU as the minimum unit is defined as an interleave block.

In order to seamlessly reproduce the interleaved stream with ILVU as the minimum unit, seamless reproduction information: (SML _- PBI) is described. In the seamless reproduction information (SML _- PBI), an interleave unit flag (ILVU flag) indicating whether the VOBU is an interleave block is described. This flag indicates whether it exists in the interleave area (described later), and when it exists in the interleave area, "1" is set. Otherwise, the flag value 0 is set.

When the VOBU exists in the interleave area, a unit end flag (UNITEND Flag) indicating whether the VOBU is the last VOBU of ILVU.
Describe. Since ILVU is a continuous read unit, "1" is set if the currently read VOBU is the last VOBU of ILVU. Otherwise, the flag value 0 is set.

[0136] If the VOBU exists in the interleaved region, ILVU final pack address (ILVU indicating the address of the last pack of ILVU to which the VOBU belongs _-
EA) is described. Here, as the address, the VOBU
Described by the number of sectors from NV.

When the VOBU exists in the interleave area, the start address (NT _- I
LVU _- SA). Here, the number of sectors from the NV of the VOBU is described as the address.

In the case of seamlessly connecting two system streams, especially when the audio before connection and the audio after connection are not continuous (different audio, etc.), the video and audio after connection are synchronized. It is necessary to pause (pause) the audio in order to take it. For example, in the case of NTSC, the frame period of video is about 3
The audio AC3 has a frame period of 32 msec.

For this reason, the audio reproduction stop time 1 (VOBU) indicating the time and period information for stopping the audio.
_- A _- STP _- PTM1), audio reproduction stopping time 2
(VOBU _- A _- STP _- PTM2), audio reproduction stop period 1 (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LENI), audio reproduction stop period 2 (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN2)
Describe. This time information is the system clock accuracy (9
0 KHz).

Further, as the seamless multi-angle reproduction information (SML _- AGLI), the read start address when the angle is switched is described. This field is a valid field in the case of seamless multi-angle. This address is described by the number of sectors from the NV of the VOBU. Since the number of angles is 9 or less, the address description area for 9 angles is (S
ML _- AGL _- C1 _- DSTA to SML _- AGL _- C9
_- DSTA) have a. DVD Encoder FIG. 25 shows an embodiment of the authoring encoder ECD when the multimedia bitstream authoring system according to the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned DVD system. Authoring encoder ECD applied to a DVD system (hereinafter referred to as a DVD encoder)
Has a configuration very similar to the authoring encoder EC shown in FIG. The DVD authoring encoder ECD basically has a structure in which the video zone formatter 1300 of the authoring encoder EC is replaced by the VOB buffer 1000 and the formatter 1100. Of course, the bitstream encoded by the encoder of the present invention is
It is recorded on the DVD medium M. The operation of the DVD authoring encoder ECD is described below.
Description will be made while comparing with C.

In the DVD authoring encoder ECD as well, as in the authoring encoder EC, the encoding system control unit 200 controls each of the encoding system control units 200 based on the scenario data St7 representing the user's editing instruction content input from the editing information creating unit 100. Control signals St9, Stll,
St13, St21, St23, St25, St33,
And St39 are generated to control the video encoder 300, the sub-picture encoder 500, and the audio encoder 700. Incidentally, the editing instruction content in the DVD system is the same as the editing instruction content in the authoring system described with reference to FIG. 25, for all or each of the source data including a plurality of title contents. In addition, it includes not only information for selecting one or more contents of each source data for each predetermined time and connecting and reproducing the selected contents by a predetermined method, and further includes the following information. That is, the multi-title source stream is divided into predetermined time units, and the number of streams included in the editing unit, the number of audios in each stream, the number of sub-pictures and the display period of the data, parental or multi-angle data from multiple streams. It includes information such as whether or not to select, a switching connection method between scenes in the set multi-angle section, and the like.

In the DVD system, the scenario data St7 can be controlled by VOB unit necessary for encoding the media source stream, that is, whether or not it is a multi-angle parental control. Is the generation of multi-rated titles, the bit rate at the time of encoding each stream considering the interleave and disk capacity in the case of multi-angle or parental control described later, the disclosure time and end time of each control, It contains the content of whether to connect seamlessly with the stream. Encoding system control unit 200
Extracts information from the scenario data St7 and generates an encoding information table and encoding parameters required for encoding control. The encoding information table and the encoding parameters will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 27, 28, and 29.

The system stream encode parameter data and the signal St33 of the system encode start / end timing include VOB generation information by applying the above information to the DVD system. As VOB generation information, connection conditions before and after, audio count, audio encoding information, audio ID, sub-picture count, sub-picture I
D, time information for starting video display (VPTS), time information for starting audio reproduction (APTS), and the like.
Furthermore, the format parameter data of the multimedia tail bit stream MBS and the signal St39 of the format start / end timing include reproduction control information and interleave information.

The video encoder 300 encodes a predetermined portion of the video stream St1 on the basis of the encode parameter signal for video encoding and the signal St9 of the encoding start / end timing to obtain ISO.
An elementary stream conforming to the MPEG2 video standard defined by 13818 is generated. Then, this elementary stream is output to the video stream buffer 400 as the video encode stream St15.

Here, in the video encoder 300, an elementary stream conforming to the MPEG2 video standard defined in ISO13818 is generated, but based on the signal St9 containing the video encoding parameter data,
As the encoding parameter, the encoding start / end timing, the bit rate, the encoding condition at the start / end of the encoding, the material type as the NTSC signal or PA
Parameters such as L signal or telecine material and the setting of the encoding mode of open GOP or closed GOP are input as encoding parameters.

The MPEG2 coding system is basically a coding which utilizes correlation between frames. That is, encoding is performed with reference to the frames before and after the frame to be encoded. However, in terms of error propagation and accessibility from the middle of the stream, a frame that does not refer to another frame (intra frame) is inserted. The encoding processing unit having at least one intraframe is GO
Call P.

In this GOP, a GOP whose encoding is completely closed within the GOP is a closed GOP,
The frame that refers to the frame in the previous GOP is the GOP.
If it exists inside, the GOP is called an open GOP.

Therefore, when reproducing a closed GOP, only the GOP can be reproduced, but when reproducing an open GOP, the previous GOP is generally required.

Further, the GOP unit is often used as an access unit. For example, at the time of special reproduction such as a reproduction start point in the case of reproducing from the middle of the title, a video switching point, or fast-forwarding, by reproducing only the frame that is the intra-frame encoded frame in the GOP in GOP units, high speed Achieve playback.

The sub-picture encoder 500, based on the sub-picture stream encode signal St11,
A predetermined portion of the sub-picture stream St3 is encoded to generate variable length encoded data of bitmap data. Then, this variable-length coded data is output to the sub-picture stream buffer 600 as a sub-picture encoded stream St17.

The audio encoder 700 encodes a predetermined portion of the audio stream St5 based on the audio encode signal St13 to generate audio encoded data. As this audio encode data, M specified in ISO11172 is used.
Data based on the PEG1 audio standard and the MPEG2 audio standard defined by ISO13818;
There are AC-3 audio data, PCM (LPCM) data, and the like. Methods and devices for encoding these audio data are known.

The video stream buffer 400, which is connected to the video encoder 300, outputs the video encoded stream S output from the video encoder 300.
Save t15. The video stream buffer 400 is further connected to the encoding system control unit 200,
Based on the input of the timing signal St21, the stored video encode stream St15 is output as the timed video encode stream St27.

Similarly, the sub-picture stream buffer 600 is connected to the sub-picture encoder 500 and stores the sub-picture encoded stream St17 output from the sub-picture encoder 500.
The sub-picture stream buffer 600 is further connected to the encoding system control unit 200 and outputs the stored sub-picture encode stream St17 as a timed sub-picture encode stream St29 based on the input of the timing signal St23.

Further, the audio stream buffer 80
0 is connected to the audio encoder 700,
The audio encoded stream Stl9 output from the audio encoder 700 is stored. The audio stream buffer 800 is further connected to the encoding system control unit 200 and outputs the stored audio encode stream Stl9 as a timed audio encode stream St31 based on the input of the timing signal St25.

The system encoder 900 is connected to the video stream buffer 400, the sub-picture stream buffer 600, and the audio stream buffer 800, and controls the timed video encode stream St.
27, timed sub-picture encoded stream St2
9 and the timed audio encode St31 are input. The system encoder 900 is also connected to the encoding system control unit 200, and St33 including encoding parameter data for system encoding.
Is entered.

The system encoder 900, based on the encode parameter data and the encode start / end timing signal St33, outputs each of the timing streams St27, St27.
Multiplexing processing is performed on t29 and St31 to generate the minimum title editing unit (VOB) St35.

The VOB buffer 1000 is a buffer area for temporarily storing the VOB generated in the system encoder 900. In the formatter 1100, St3 is stored.
VO required from the VOB buffer 1100 according to 9
B is read and one video zone VZ is generated. Further, in the formatter 1100, the file system (V
FS) is added to generate St43.

The stream St43 edited according to the contents of the scenario requested by the user is transferred to the recording section 1200. The recording unit 1200 stores the edited multimedia bitstream MBS in the data St format of the recording medium M.
It is processed into 43 and recorded on the recording medium M. DVD Decoder Next, referring to FIG. 26, the multimedia bit stream authoring system according to the present invention will be described in the above-mentioned DV.
Authoring decoder D when applied to D system
An authoring encoder DCD (hereinafter referred to as a DVD decoder) applied to a DVD system showing an embodiment of C is a multimedia bit stream MB edited by a DVD encoder ECD according to the present invention.
S is decoded and the content of each title is expanded according to the scenario desired by the user. In the present embodiment, the multimedia bitstream St45 encoded by the DVD encoder ECD is recorded on the recording medium M. DVD authoring decoder DC
The basic configuration of D is the authoring decoder D shown in FIG.
Same as C, the video decoder 3800 replaces the video decoder 3801, and the video decoder 3801
The reorder buffer 3300 and the switch 3400 are inserted between the synthesizing unit 3500 and the synthesizing unit 3500. The switch 3400
Is connected to the synchronization control unit 2900, and the switching instruction signal St
The input of 103 is received.

The DVD authoring decoder DCD includes a multimedia bitstream reproducing unit 2000, a scenario selecting unit 2100, a decoding system controlling unit 2300,
Stream buffer 2400, system decoder 250
0, video buffer 2600, sub-picture buffer 2
700, audio buffer 2800, synchronization control unit 29
00, video decoder 3801, reorder buffer 33
00, sub-picture decoder 3100, audio decoder 3200, selector 3400, combining unit 3500, video data output terminal 3600, and audio data output terminal 3700.

Multimedia bitstream playback unit 2
Reference numeral 000 denotes a recording medium drive unit 2004 that drives the recording medium M, a read head unit 2006 that reads information recorded on the recording medium M and generates a binary read signal St57, and performs various processing on the read signal ST57. It is composed of a signal processing unit 2008 that generates a reproduction bit stream St61 and a mechanism control unit 2002. The mechanism control unit 2002 is the decoding system control unit 2
When the multimedia bit stream reproduction instruction signal St53 is received, the reproduction control signals St55 and St59 for controlling the recording medium driving unit (motor) 2004 and the signal processing unit 2008 are generated.

The decoder DC selects and reproduces the corresponding scenario so that the user's desired portion concerning the video, sub-picture, and audio of the multimedia title edited by the authoring encoder EC is reproduced. , A scenario selection unit 2100 that can output as scenario data that gives an instruction to the authoring decoder DC.

The scenario selection unit 2100 is preferably
It is composed of a keyboard and a CPU. The user operates the keyboard unit to input a desired scenario based on the content of the scenario input by the authoring encoder EC. The CPU selects the scenario selection data St51 that indicates the selected scenario based on the keyboard input.
To generate. The scenario selection unit 2100 uses, for example, an infrared communication device or the like to decode the decoding system control unit 230.
It is connected to 0 and inputs the generated scenario selection signal St51 to the decoding system control unit 2300.

The stream buffer 2400 has a predetermined buffer capacity and has a reproduction signal bit stream S input from the multimedia bit stream reproduction section 2000.
The t61 is temporarily saved and the volume file structure VFS, the synchronization initial value data (SCR) existing in each pack, and the VOBU existing in the nab pack NV are also stored.
Stream control data S by extracting control information (DSI)
Generate t63.

The decoding system control unit 2300 controls the operation of the multimedia bit stream reproduction unit 2000 based on the scenario selection data St51 generated by the decoding system control unit 2300.
53 is generated. The decoding system control unit 2300
Further, the reproduction instruction information of the user is extracted from the scenario data St53, and a decoding information table required for decoding control is generated. For the decode information table,
A detailed description will be given later with reference to FIGS. 58 and 59. Furthermore,
The decoding system control unit 2300, based on the file data area FDS information in the stream reproduction data St63,
Video manager VMG, VTS information VTSI, PGC
The title information St200 is generated by extracting the title information recorded on the optical disc M such as the information C _- PBI # j and the cell reproduction time (C _- PBTM).

Here, the stream control data St63 is generated in pack units in FIG. The stream buffer 2400 is connected to the decoding system control unit 2300, and generates the stream control data St6.
3 is supplied to the decoding system control unit 2300.

The synchronization control unit 2900 is connected to the decoding system control unit 2300, and the synchronization reproduction data St81.
To receive the synchronization initial value data (SCR) included therein, set the internal system clock (STC), and supply the reset system clock St79 to the decoding system controller 2300.

The decoding system control unit 2300 generates the stream read signal St65 at predetermined intervals based on the system clock St79, and the stream buffer 2
Enter 400. The read unit in this case is a pack.

Here, a method of generating the stream read signal St65 will be described. Decoding system control unit 2
In 300, the SCR in the stream control data extracted from the stream buffer 2400 and the synchronization control unit 290
The system clock St79 from 0 is compared, and St63 is compared.
The read request signal St65 is generated when the system clock St79 becomes larger than the internal SCR. By performing such control in pack units, pack transfer is controlled.

The decoding system control unit 2300 further generates a decoding stream instruction signal St69 indicating the ID of each stream of video, sub-picture and audio corresponding to the selected scenario based on the scenario selection data St51, and the system Output to the decoder 2500.

In the title, for example, a plurality of audio data such as audio by language such as Japanese, English, French, etc., and a plurality of subpictures such as subtitles by language such as Japanese subtitle, English subtitle, French subtitle, etc. When data exists, ID is given to each. That is,
As described with reference to FIG. 19, video data and
A stream ID is given to the MPEG audio data, and a substream ID is given to the sub-picture data, the AC3 audio data, the linear PCM, and the nab pack NV information. Although the user is not aware of the ID, the scenario selection unit 2100 selects which language audio or subtitles to select. If you select English audio, scenario selection data St
As 51, the ID corresponding to the English audio is conveyed to the decoding system control unit 2300. In addition, the decoding system control unit 2300 uses the system decoder 2500.
The ID is conveyed to St69 and passed.

The system decoder 2500 outputs the video, sub-picture, and audio streams input from the stream buffer 2400 as the video encode stream St71 based on the instruction of the decode instruction signal St69.
To the sub picture buffer 2700 as the sub picture encoded stream St73 and to the audio buffer 2 as the audio encoded stream St75.
Output to 800. That is, the system decoder 2500
Are the respective buffers (video buffer 2600, sub-picture buffer 27) when the stream ID input from the scenario selection unit 2100 and the pack ID transferred from the stream buffer 2400 match.
00, audio buffer 2800).

The system decoder 2500 determines the reproduction start time (PT) of each stream St67 in each minimum control unit.
S) and the reproduction end time (DTS) are detected, and the time information signal St77 is generated. This time information signal St77 is
St81 is passed through the decoding system control unit 2300.
Is input to the synchronization control unit 2900.

On the basis of this time information signal St81, the synchronization control unit 2900 determines the decoding start timing for each stream so that each stream will be in a predetermined order after decoding. The synchronization control unit 2900 generates a video stream decoding start signal St89 based on this decoding timing and inputs it to the video decoder 3801. Similarly, the synchronization control unit 2900 generates the sub-picture decoding start signal St91 and the audio encoding start signal St93, and the sub-picture decoder 31
00 and audio decoder 3200 respectively.

The video decoder 3801 generates a video output request signal St84 on the basis of the video stream decoding start signal St89, and the video buffer 2600.
Output to. The video buffer 2600 receives the video output request signal St84 and receives the video stream St8.
3 is output to the video decoder 3801. The video decoder 3801 detects the reproduction time information included in the video stream St83, and invalidates the video output request signal St84 when receiving the input of the video stream St83 corresponding to the reproduction time. In this way, the video stream corresponding to the predetermined reproduction time is reproduced by the video decoder 3.
Video signal St9 reproduced by being decoded in 801
5 is output to the reorder buffer 3300 and the switch 3400.

Since the video encode stream is coded by utilizing inter-frame correlation, the display order and the coded stream order do not match when viewed in frame units. Therefore, they cannot be displayed in decoding order. Therefore, the decoded frame is stored in the temporal reorder buffer 3300. In the synchronization control unit 2900, the Stl03 is controlled so as to be in the display order, and the output St95 of the video decoder 3801 and the reorder buffer St9 are controlled.
The output of No. 7 is switched and output to the combining unit 3500.

Similarly, the sub-picture decoder 3100
Generates a sub-picture output request signal St86 based on the sub-picture decoding start signal St91 and supplies it to the sub-picture buffer 2700. The sub-picture buffer 2700 receives the video output request signal St84 and outputs the sub-picture stream St85 to the sub-picture decoder 3100. Sub-picture decoder 31
00 decodes the sub-picture stream St85 in an amount corresponding to a predetermined reproduction time based on the reproduction time information included in the sub-picture stream St85, reproduces the sub-picture signal St99, and outputs the sub-picture signal St99 to the synthesizing unit 3500. .

The synthesizer 3500 superimposes the output of the selector 3400 and the sub-picture signal St99 to generate a video signal St105 and outputs it to the video output terminal 3600.

The audio decoder 3200 generates the audio output request signal St88 based on the audio decoding start signal St93, and outputs the audio output request signal St88.
Supply to 00. The audio buffer 2800 receives the audio output request signal St88 and outputs the audio stream St87 to the audio decoder 3200. The audio decoder 3200, based on the reproduction time information included in the audio stream St87, outputs the audio stream St8 in an amount corresponding to a predetermined reproduction time.
7 is decoded and output to the audio output terminal 3700.

In this manner, the multimedia bit stream MBS desired by the user can be reproduced in real time in response to the user's scenario selection. That is, each time the user selects a different scenario, the authoring decoder DCD can reproduce the title content desired by the user by reproducing the multimedia bitstream MBS corresponding to the selected scenario.

The decoding system control unit 2300 is
The scenario selection unit 2 is passed through the infrared communication device described above.
The title information signal St200 may be supplied to 100. The scenario selection unit 2100 uses the title information signal St
By extracting the title information recorded on the optical disc M from the file data area FDS information in the stream reproduction data St63 included in 200 and displaying it on the built-in display, it is possible to interactively select a scenario by the user.

Further, in the above example, the stream buffer 2400, the video buffer 2600, the sub-picture buffer 2700, the audio buffer 2800, and the reorder buffer 3300 are functionally different and are therefore represented as different buffers. However, one buffer memory can be made to function as these individual buffers by using, in a time-divisional manner, buffer memories having operation speeds several times as high as the read and read speeds required in these buffers. Multi-Scene The concept of multi-scene control in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, it is already composed of a basic scene section made up of common data among titles and a multi-scene section made up of different scene groups according to the respective requirements. In the figure, scene 1, scene 5, and scene 8 are common scenes. Common scene 1 and scene 5
And the parental scene between the common scenes 5 and 8 is a multi-scene section. In the multi-angle section, different angles, that is, any of the scenes photographed from the angle 1, the angle 2, and the angle 3, can be dynamically selected and reproduced during reproduction.
In the parental section, either scene 6 or scene 7 corresponding to data of different contents can be statically selected and reproduced in advance.

The user inputs the contents of the scenario such as which scene in the multi-scene section to select and reproduce in the scenario selection unit 2100 to generate the scenario selection data St51. In the figure, scenario 1
Indicates that an arbitrary angle scene is freely selected, and the scene 6 selected in advance is reproduced in the parental section. Similarly, in scenario 2, in the angle section,
It is possible to freely select a scene, which means that scene 7 is selected in advance in the parental section.

The multi-scene shown in FIG. 21 will be described below.
In the case of using the data structure of VD, PGC information VTS _-
PGCI will be described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31.

FIG. 30 shows a case where the scenario of the user instruction shown in FIG. 21 is described in the VTSI data structure representing the internal structure of the video title set in the DVD data structure of FIG. In the figure, scenario 1 and scenario 2 in FIG. 21 are described as two program chains VTS _- PGCI # 1 and VTS _- PGCI # 2 in the program chain information VTS _- PGCIT in VTSI in FIG. That is, the VTS that describes scenario 1
_- PGCI # 1, the cell playback information to correspond to the scene 1 C _-
PBI # 1, cell playback information C _- PBI # 2 in a multi-angle cell block corresponding to a multi-angle scene
Cell reproduction information C _- PBI # 3, cell reproduction information C _- PBI
# 4, cell reproduction information C _- PBI # corresponding to scene 5
5, cell reproduction information C _- PBI # 6 corresponding to scene 6,
It consists of C _- PBI # 7 corresponding to scene 8.

Also, VTS _- PG describing scenario 2
C # 2 is cell reproduction information C _- PBI corresponding to scene 1.
# 1, cell reproduction information C _- PBI # 2, cell reproduction information C _- PBI # 3, cell reproduction information C _- PBI # 4 in a multi-angle cell block corresponding to a multi-angle scene,
Cell reproduction information C _- PBI # 5 corresponding to scene 5, cell reproduction information C _- PBI # 6 corresponding to scene 7, scene 8
Corresponding to C _- PBI # 7. In the DVD data structure, a scene, which is one unit of reproduction control of a scenario, is described by being replaced with a unit on the DVD data structure called a cell, and a scenario instructed by the user is realized on the DVD.

FIG. 31 shows the scenario of the user instruction shown in FIG. 21, which is a multimedia bit stream V for the video title set in the DVD data structure of FIG.
The case of description in the OB data structure VTSTT _- VOBS is shown.

In the figure, two scenarios, scenario 1 and scenario 2 in FIG. 21, use one title VOB data in common. The single scene shared in each scenario is VOB # 1, scene 5 corresponding to scene 1.
Corresponding to VOB # 5, VOB # 8 corresponding to scene 8
Is arranged in a part which is not an interleaved block, that is, a continuous block, as a single VOB.

In the multi-angle scene shared by scenario 1 and scenario 2, angle 1 is VOB
# 2, angle 2 is VOB # 3, angle 3 is VOB #
4 is made, that is, one angle is made of IVOB, and interleaved blocks are used for switching between angles and seamless reproduction of each angle.

Scenes 6 and 7 which are scenes unique to scenario 1 and scenario 2 are interleaved blocks not only for seamless reproduction of each scene but also for seamless connection and reproduction of common scenes before and after. .

As described above, the scenario of the user instruction shown in FIG. 21 can be realized in the DVD data structure by the reproduction control information of the video title set shown in FIG. 30 and the title reproduction VOB data structure shown in FIG. Seamless The seamless reproduction described above in connection with the data structure of the DVD system will be described. What is seamless playback?
Between common scene sections, between common scene sections and multi-scene sections, and between multi-scene sections, video, audio,
That is, when multimedia data such as sub-picture is connected and reproduced, each data and information are reproduced without interruption. As a factor of interruption of the reproduction of the data and information, as a factor related to hardware, in the decoder, the speed at which the source data is input and the speed at which the input source data is decoded are unbalanced, that is, a so-called decoder. There is something called underflow.

Further, regarding the characteristics of the data to be reproduced, reproduction of data such as reproduction data which is required to be continuously reproduced for a predetermined time unit or more in order for the user to understand its contents or information, such as voice. With regard to the above, there is one in which the continuity of information is lost when the required continuous reproduction time cannot be secured. Playing while ensuring the continuity of such information is called continuous information reproduction and further seamless information reproduction. In addition, reproduction in which information continuity cannot be ensured is called non-continuous information reproduction, and further called non-seamless information reproduction. Needless to say, continuous information reproduction and non-continuous information reproduction are seamless and non-seamless reproduction, respectively.

As described above, the seamless reproduction includes seamless data reproduction for physically preventing a blank or interruption from occurring in the data reproduction due to buffer underflow and the like.
Although there is no interruption in the data reproduction itself, it is defined as seamless information reproduction that prevents the user from feeling information interruption when recognizing information from the reproduction data. Details of Seamless Note that a specific method for enabling seamless reproduction will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24. Interleave Using the authoring encoder EC, the system stream of the DVD data described above is used to record a title such as a movie on the DVD medium. However, in order to provide the same movie in a format that can be used in multiple different cultures or countries, it is natural to record the dialogue in each language, and the ethical requirements of each culture It is necessary to edit and record the contents according to. In such a case, in order to record a plurality of titles edited from the original title on one medium, even in a large-capacity system called DVD, the bit rate must be reduced, and a high image quality is required. Will not be satisfied. Therefore, the common part is shared by a plurality of titles, and only different parts are recorded for each title. This allows
It is possible to record multiple titles by country or cultural area on a single optical disc without reducing the bit rate.

As shown in FIG. 21, a title recorded on one optical disk is composed of a common part (scene) and a non-common part (scene) to enable parental lock control and multi-angle control. Has a multi-scene section.

In the case of parental lock control, when one title contains a so-called adult scene that is not suitable for children, such as a sexual scene or a violent scene, this title is common scene and adult scene. It consists of a scene for children and a scene for children. Such a title stream is realized by arranging a scene for adults and a scene for non-adults as a multi-scene section provided between common scenes.

Further, when the multi-angle control is realized within an ordinary single-angle title, a plurality of multimedia scenes obtained by shooting an object at a predetermined camera angle are used as a multi-scene section and a common scene is defined. It is realized by placing it in between. Here, each scene shows examples of scenes shot at different angles. The scenes may be shot at the same angle, but may be scenes shot at different times, or may be data such as computer graphics. May be.

When data is shared by a plurality of titles, it is necessary to move the optical pickup to different positions on the optical disc (RCI) in order to move the light beam LS from the shared portion of the data to the non-shared portion. become. Due to the time required for this movement, there arises a problem that it is difficult to seamlessly reproduce sound or video, that is, seamless reproduction. To solve such a problem, theoretically, a track buffer (stream buffer 2400) for a time corresponding to the worst access time may be provided. Generally, data recorded on an optical disc is read by an optical pickup, subjected to predetermined signal processing, and then stored as data in a track buffer. The accumulated data is then decoded and reproduced as video data or audio data. Definition of interleave To cut a certain scene or select from multiple scenes, as described above, the data units belonging to each scene are recorded in a continuous arrangement on the track of the recording medium. Therefore, a situation in which the data of the non-selected scene is interrupted and recorded between the common scene data and the selected scene data inevitably occurs. In such a case, if you read the data in the order in which they were recorded, you will have no choice but to access the data of the non-selected scene before accessing and decoding the data of the selected scene, so seamlessly connecting to the selected scene. Connection is difficult. However, in the DVD system, such a seamless connection between a plurality of scenes is possible by utilizing the excellent random access performance to the recording medium. In other words, the data belonging to each scene is divided into a plurality of units having a predetermined amount of data, and the plurality of divided data units to which these different scenes belong are arranged in a predetermined order with respect to each other so that they are arranged in the jump performance range By doing so, the data to which the selected scene belongs can be intermittently accessed and decoded for each division unit, so that the selected scene can be reproduced without interruption. That is, seamless data reproduction is guaranteed. Interleave Block, Unit Structure An interleave method that enables seamless data reproduction will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 67. In FIG. 24, one VOB (VOB-A) to a plurality of VOB (V
OB-B, VOB-D, and VOB-C) are branched and reproduced, and then combined with one VOB (VOB-E). FIG. 67 shows a case where these data are actually arranged on the track TR on the disc.

In FIG. 67, VOB-A and VOB-E
Is a video object that has a single start point and end point for playback, and is placed in a continuous area in principle. Also, as shown in FIG. 24, for VOB-B, VOB-C, and VOB-D, the interleaving process is performed by matching the reproduction start point and reproduction end point. Then, the interleaved area is arranged in a continuous area on the disc as an interleaved area. Further, the continuous area and the interleaved area are arranged in the order of reproduction, that is, in the direction of the track path Dr. FIG. 67 shows a diagram in which a plurality of VOBs, that is, VOBSs, are arranged on the track TR.

In FIG. 67, a data area in which data is continuously arranged is set as a block, and the block is a continuous block in which VOBs whose start points and end points are independently completed are continuously arranged. , Interleaving blocks in which a plurality of VOBs are interleaved by matching the start point and the end point. These blocks are arranged in the order of reproduction as shown in FIG.
.., and block 7 are arranged.

In FIG. 68, VTSTT _- VOBS
Is composed of blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. In block 1, VOBI is arranged alone. Similarly, for blocks 2, 3, 5, and 7,
VOBs 2, 3, 6, and 10 are individually arranged. That is, these blocks 2, 3, 5, and 7 are continuous blocks.

On the other hand, in block 4, VOB4 and VOB
5 are interleaved and arranged. Similarly, in the block 6, three VOBs VOB7, VOB8, and VOB9 are interleaved and arranged. That is, these blocks 4 and 6 are interleaved blocks.

FIG. 69 shows the data structure in a continuous block. In the figure, VOB-i and VOB-j are added to VOBS.
Are arranged as continuous blocks. The VOB-i and VOB-j in the continuous block are further divided into cells which are logical reproduction units, as described with reference to FIG. In the figure, each of VOB-i and VOB-j has three cells CELL # 1, CELL # 2, and CEL.
It is shown that it is composed of L # 3. A cell is composed of one or more VOBUs, and the boundary is defined in units of VOBUs. A cell is a DVD playback control information program chain (hereinafter referred to as PGC).
As shown in FIG. 16, the position information is described. That is, the addresses of the cell start VOBU and the cell end VOBU are described. As clearly shown in FIG. 69, the VOB and the cells defined therein are recorded in the continuous area so that the continuous block is continuously reproduced. Therefore, there is no problem in reproducing continuous blocks. Next, FIG. 70 shows a data structure in the interleave block. In the interleave block, each VOB is divided into interleave units ILVU units, and interleave units belonging to each VOB are arranged alternately. Then, the cell boundary is defined independently of the interleave unit. In the figure, VOB-k is four interleaved units ILVUkl, ILVUk2, ILVUk3,
And ILVUk4 are divided into two cells CE
LL # lk and CELL # 2k are defined. Similarly, VOB-m is ILVUml, ILVUm2, IL
It is divided into VUm3 and ILVUm4, and two cells CELL # lm and CELL # 2m are defined. That is, the interleave unit ILVU includes video data and audio data.

In the example of FIG. 70, two different VOB-k are used.
And VOB-m interleave unit ILVUk
l, ILVUk2, ILVUk3, and ILVUk4 and ILVUml, ILVUm2, ILVUm3, and IL
VUm4s are alternately arranged in the interleaved block. Interleave unit IL of two VOBs
By interleaving VUs in such an arrangement, a single scene can be branched into one of a plurality of scenes, and seamless reproduction from one of the plurality of scenes into a single scene can be realized. By interleaving in this way, it is possible to make a seamless reproducible connection of scenes with branch and coupling in many cases. Multi-Scene Here, the concept of multi-scene control based on the present invention will be described, and a multi-scene section will be described.

An example is shown that is composed of scenes shot at different angles. However, although each scene of the multi-scene has the same angle, it may be scenes shot at different times, or may be data such as computer graphics. In other words, the multi-angle scene section is a multi-scene section. Parental With reference to FIG. 40, the concept of a plurality of titles such as parental lock and director's cut will be described.

FIG. 40 shows an example of a multi-rated title stream based on parental lock. When one title includes so-called adult scenes that are not suitable for children, such as sexual scenes and violent scenes, the titles are common system streams SSa, SS.
b and SSe, an adult system stream SSc including an adult scene, and a non-adult system stream SSd including only a minor scene.
Such a title stream includes an adult system stream SSc and a non-adult system stream SSd.
Is arranged as a multi-scene system stream in a multi-scene section provided between the common system streams SSb and SSe.

The relationship between the system stream described in the program chain PGC of the title stream configured as described above and each title will be described. In the adult-oriented program chain PGCI, common system streams SSa and SSb, adult system stream SSc, and common system stream SSe are sequentially described. Program chain P for minors
The common system streams SSa and SS are included in the GC2.
b, the minor system stream SSd, and the common system stream SSe are sequentially described.

In this way, by arranging the adult system stream SSc and the minor system stream SSd as a multi-scene, the common system streams SSa and SSb are formed by the above-described decoding method based on the description of each PGC. After the reproduction, the adult-oriented SSc is selected and reproduced in the multi-scene section, and the common system stream SSe is reproduced, so that the title having the adult-oriented content can be reproduced. Also, on the other hand,
System stream S for minors in the multi-scene section
By selecting and playing Sd, it is possible to play a minor title that does not include a scene for adults.
In this way, a multi-scene section including a plurality of alternative scenes is prepared in the title stream, a scene to be reproduced is selected in advance from the scenes in the multi-section, and basically, according to the selection content, A method of generating a plurality of titles having different scenes from the same title scene is called parental lock.

The parental lock is called parental lock based on a request from the viewpoint of protection of minors. However, from the viewpoint of system stream processing, as described above, a specific scene in a multi-scene section is selected. This is a technique for statically generating different title streams by the user's preselection. On the other hand, the multi-angle is a technique for dynamically changing the content of the same title by the user selecting a scene in the multi-scene section at any time during title reproduction.

[0208] Also, by using the parental lock technique, it is possible to edit a title stream called a so-called director's cut. With Director's Cut, when a title with a long playing time in a movie etc. is served on an airplane, unlike the playback in the theater, depending on the flight time,
The title cannot be played to the end. To avoid this situation, the title production manager, that is, the director, decides in advance which scenes may be cut in order to shorten the title playback time, and a system stream containing such cut scenes. By placing a system stream that has not been scene-cut in the multi-scene section, it is possible to edit the scene-cut according to the intention of the creator. In such parental control, at the connection from the system stream to the system stream,
It is necessary to connect playback images smoothly and consistently, that is, seamless data playback in which buffers such as video and audio do not underflow, and playback information and playback information are seamless to the audio and visual without causing any unnatural or uninterrupted playback. Become. Multi-Angle The concept of multi-angle control in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Usually multimedia titles are
It is obtained by recording and photographing the object with the passage of time T (hereinafter, simply referred to as photographing). # SC1, # SM1, #S
Each block of M2, # SM3, and # SC3 represents a multimedia scene obtained in the photographing unit times T1, T2, and T3 obtained by photographing the object at a predetermined camera angle. Scene # SM1, #SM
2 and # SM3 are scenes shot with a plurality of (first, second, and third) camera angles different from each other in the shooting unit time T2, and hereinafter, first, second, and third multi-angles. Call it a scene.

[0209] Here, an example is given in which the multi-scene is composed of scenes shot at different angles. However, although each scene of the multi-scene has the same angle, it may be scenes shot at different times, or may be data such as computer graphics. In other words, the multi-angle scene section is a multi-scene section, and the data of that section is
It is not limited to scene data actually obtained at different camera angles, but is a section composed of data such that a plurality of scenes having the same display time can be selectively reproduced.

Scenes # SC1 and # SC3 are respectively
There are scenes photographed at the same basic camera angle in the photographing unit times T1 and T3, that is, before and after the multi-angle scene, and are hereinafter referred to as basic angle scenes. Normally, one of the multi angles is the same as the basic camera angle.

In order to make the relationship between these angle scenes easier to understand, a baseball relay broadcast will be described as an example. The basic angle scenes # SC1 and # SC3 are shot at a basic camera angle centered on the pitcher, catcher, and batter viewed from the center side. The first multi-angle scene # SM1 was shot at the first multi-camera angle centered on the pitcher, catcher, and batter viewed from the back net side. The second multi-angle scene # SM2
The image was taken at the second multi-camera angle centered on the pitcher, catcher, and batter viewed from the center side, that is, the basic camera angle. In this sense, the second multi-angle scene # SM2 is the basic angle scene # SC2 in the shooting unit time T2. The third multi-angle scene # SM3 was shot with a third multi-camera angle centered on the infield seen from the back net side.

Multi-angle scene # SM1, #SM
2 and # SM3 have overlapping display times with respect to the photographing unit time T2, and this period is called a multi-angle section. The viewer views the multi-angle scenes # SM1, # SM2, and # SM3 in the multi-angle section.
By freely selecting, you can enjoy the desired angle scene video from the basic angle scene as if you were switching cameras. In the figure, the basic angle scenes # SC1 and # SC3 and the multi-angle scenes # SM1, # SM2, and # SM3 are shown.
There seems to be a time gap between them, because it is easy to understand what the route of the played scene will be depending on which one of the multi-angle scenes is selected, and it is indicated by the arrow. Needless to say, there is no time gap in practice.

FIG. 23 illustrates the multi-angle control of the system stream according to the present invention from the viewpoint of data connection. The multimedia data corresponding to the basic angle scene #SC is set as the basic angle data BA, and the basic angle data BA at the shooting unit times T1 and T3.
Are BA1 and BA3, respectively. The multi-angle data corresponding to the multi-angle scenes # SM1, # SM2, and # SM3 are represented as first, second, and third multi-angle data MA1, MA2, and MA3, respectively. As described above with reference to FIG. 33,
Multi-angle scene data MA1, MA2, and MA
By selecting any one of 3, it is possible to switch and enjoy the favorite angle scene video. Similarly, basic angle scene data BA1 and BA3 and multi-angle scene data MA1, MA2, and MA are also included.
There is no time gap with 3.

However, in the case of the MPEG system stream, when any data among the multi-angle data MA1, MA2 and MA3 and the connection from the preceding basic angle data BA1 or the connection to the subsequent basic angle data BA3 is connected, Depending on the content of the angle data to be connected, the reproduction information may be discontinuous between the reproduced data and may not be naturally reproduced as one title. That is, in this case, seamless data reproduction is performed, but non-seamless information reproduction is performed.

23, the multi-angle switching, which is seamless information reproduction for selectively reproducing a plurality of scenes in the multi-scene section in the DVD system and connecting the preceding and succeeding scenes, will be described.

Switching of angle scene video, that is, multi-angle scene data MA1, MA2, and MA3
The selection of one of the above must be completed before the end of the reproduction of the preceding basic angle data BA1. For example, it is very difficult to switch to another multi-angle scene data MA2 while reproducing the angle scene data BA1. This is because multimedia data has a variable length coding MPEG data structure, so it is difficult to find a break in the data in the middle of the switching destination data, and the inter-frame correlation is used in the coding process. Since it uses, the image may be distorted when switching the angle. At least 1 in MPEG
GOP is defined as a processing unit having a frame refresh frame. In this GOP processing unit, closed processing that does not refer to frames belonging to other GOPs is possible.

In other words, before the reproduction reaches the multi-angle section, at the latest, the preceding basic angle data B
At the time when the reproduction of A1 is completed, if any multi-angle data, for example MA3, is selected, the selected multi-angle data can be reproduced seamlessly. However, it is very difficult to seamlessly reproduce other multi-angle scene data while reproducing the multi-angle data. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a free viewpoint such as switching cameras during the multi-angle period. Flowchart: Encoder The above-mentioned encoding information table generated by the encoding system control unit 200 based on the scenario data St7 will be described with reference to FIG. The encoding information table corresponds to a scene section delimited by branch points / junction points of the scene, and includes a VOB set data string including a plurality of VOBs and a VOB data string corresponding to each scene. The VOB set data string shown in FIG. 27 will be described in detail later.

In step # 100 of FIG. 34, the encoding system control unit 20 generates the multimedia stream of the DVD based on the title contents instructed by the user.
It is an encoding information table created within 0. In the user-specified scenario, there is a branch point from a common scene to multiple scenes, or a connection point to a common scene. A VOBOB corresponding to a scene section with the branch point / junction point as a delimiter is a VOB set, and data created to encode the VOB set is a VOB set data string. In addition, in the VOB set data string, when the multi-scene section is included, the number of titles shown is VOB.
The number of titles in the set data string (TITLE _- NO) is shown.

The VOB set data structure of FIG. 27 is VO
The contents of data for encoding one VOB set of the B set data string are shown. The VOB set data structure includes a VOB set number (VOBS _- NO), a VOB number in the VOB set (VOB _- NO), a preceding VOB seamless connection flag (VOB _- Fsb), a succeeding VOB seamless connection flag (VOB _- Fsf), and a multi-value. Scene flag (VOB _- Fp) Interleave flag (VOB _- Fi),
Multi-angle (VOB _- Fm), the multi-angle seamless switching flag (VOB _- FSV), interleaved VOB maximum bit rate _(ILV - BR), the division number of interleaved VOB _(ILV - DIV), the minimum interleaved unit playback time (ILV _- MT).
The VOB set number VOBS _- NO is, for example, a number for identifying a VOB set with reference to the title scenario reproduction order.

VOB number in VOB set VOBS _- N
O is a number for identifying the VOB over the entire title scenario, for example, by using the title scenario playback order as a guide.

[0221] preceding VOB seamless connection flag VOB _-
Fsb is a flag indicating whether or not to seamlessly connect to the preceding VOB in scenario reproduction.

[0222] following VOB seamless connection flag VOB _-
Fsf is a flag indicating whether or not to seamlessly connect to the subsequent VOB in scenario reproduction.

Multi-scene flag VOB _- Fp is VOB
It is a flag indicating whether or not the set is composed of a plurality of VOBs.

The interleave flag VOB _- Fi is VO.
It is a flag indicating whether VOBs in the B set are interleaved.

Multi-angle flag VOB _- Fm is VO
It is a flag indicating whether or not the B set is multi-angle.

The multi-angle seamless switching flag VOB _- FsV is a flag indicating whether or not the switching within the multi-angle is seamless.

Interleaved VOB Maximum Bit Rate I
LV _- BR indicates the value of the maximum bit rate of VOB to be interleaved.

Interleaved VOB division number ILV _- DI
V indicates the number of interleave units of VOB to be interleaved.

Minimum interleave unit playback time IL
The VU _- MT has a VOB bit rate of I in the smallest interleaved unit of the track buffer that does not underflow during interleaved block playback.
Indicates the time that can be reproduced in LV _- BR.

The encoding information table corresponding to each VOB generated by the encoding system control unit 200 based on the scenario data St7 will be described with reference to FIG. Based on this encoding information table, the video encoder 300 and the sub-picture encoder 50
0, the audio encoder 700, and the system encoder 900 to generate encoding parameter data corresponding to each VOB described later. The VOB shown in FIG.
The data string is an encoding information table for each VOB created in the encoding system control for generating the multimedia stream of the DVD based on the title content instructed by the user in step # 100 of FIG. One encoding unit is a VOB, and the data created to encode that VOB is a VOB data string. For example, a VOB consisting of three angle scenes
The set will consist of three VOBs. Figure 2
8 VOB data structure is one VOB of VOB data string
Indicates the content of the data for encoding.

The VOB data structure has a video material start time (VOB _- VST) and a video material end time (VOB).
_- VEND), the type of video material _{(VOB -} V _- KIN
D), the video encoding bit rate (V _- BR),
It includes an audio material start time (VOB _- AST), an audio material end time (VOB _- ANED), an audio encoding method (VOB _- A _- KIND), and an audio bit rate (A _- BR).

[0232] The start time VOB _- VST of the video material is
This is the start time of video encoding corresponding to the time of the video material.

End time of video material VOB _- VEND
Is the end time of video encoding corresponding to the time of the video material.

Video material types VOB _- V _- KIND
Indicates whether the encoded material is in the NTSC format or the PAL format, or whether the video material is a material subjected to telecine conversion processing.

The video bit rate V _- BR is the video encoding bit rate.

Audio material start time VOB _- AST
Is the audio encoding start time corresponding to the time of the audio material.

End time of audio material VOB _- AEN
D is the audio encoding end time corresponding to the time of the audio material.

Audio Encoding Method VOB _- A _- K
IND indicates an audio encoding system, and the encoding system is AC-3 system, MPEG system,
There is a linear PCM method.

Audio bit rate A _- BR is an audio encoding bit rate.

FIG. 29 shows video, audio, and system encoders 300 for encoding VOBs.
The encoding parameters to 500 and 900 are shown.
The encoding parameter is a VOB number (VOB _- N
O), video encode start time (V _- STTM), video encode end time (V _- ENDTM), encode mode (V _- ENCMD), video encode bit rate (V _- RATE), video encode maximum bit rate (V _- MRATE). ), GOP structure fixed flag (G
OP _- FXflag), video encoding GOP structure (GOP
ST), video encoding initial data (V _- INTS
T), video encoding end data (V _- ENDS
T), audio encoding start time (A _- STT
M), audio encoding end time (A _- ENDT
M), audio encoding bit rate (A _- RAT
E), audio encoding method (A _- ENCMD),
Audio start gap (A _- STGAP), audio end gap (A _- ENDGAP), preceding VOB
Number (B _- VOB _- NO), Subsequent VOB Number (F _- VO
B _- NO).

[0241] The VOB number VOB _- NO is a number for identifying the VOB, which is numbered over the entire title scenario, for example, based on the title scenario playback order.

Video encoding start time V _- STTM
Is the video encoding start time on the video material.

Video encoding end time V _- STTM
Is the end time of video encoding on the video material.

Encoding mode V _- ENCMD is an encoding mode for setting whether or not inverse telecine conversion processing is performed at the time of video encoding so that efficient encoding can be performed when the video material is telecine-converted material. Is.

Video Encoding Bit Rate V _- RAT
E is the average bit rate during video encoding.

The maximum bit rate for video encoding is V ₋
MRATE is the maximum bit rate during video encoding.

GOP structure fixed flag GOP _- FXflag is
This indicates whether or not encoding is performed without changing the GOP structure during video encoding. This is an effective parameter for enabling seamless switching in a multi-angle scene.

Video encoding GOP structure GOPST
Is GOP structure data at the time of encoding.

Video encoding initial data V _- INST
Is a parameter that sets an initial value of the VBV buffer (decoding buffer) at the start of video encoding and is effective in seamless reproduction with the preceding video encoded stream. Video encoding end data V _- EN
The DST sets the end value of the VBV buffer (decoding buffer) at the end of video encoding. This parameter is effective for seamless playback with the subsequent video encoded stream. The audio encoder start time A _- STTM is the audio encode start time on the audio material.

Audio encoder end time A _-- END
TM is the audio encoding end time on the audio material.

Audio Encoding Bit Rate A _- R
ATE is a bit rate at the time of audio encoding.

Audio Encoding Method A _- ENCMD
Is an audio encoding system such as AC-3 system, MPEG system, and linear PCM system.

Audio start gap A _- STGAP
Is the time difference between the start of video and the start of audio at the start of VOB. This parameter is effective for seamless playback with the preceding system encoded stream.

Gap at end of audio A _- ENDGA
P is the time difference between the end of video and the end of audio at the end of VOB. This parameter is effective for seamless playback with the subsequent system encoded stream.

The preceding VOB number B _- VOB _- NO indicates the VOB number of the preceding VOB for seamless connection.

The succeeding VOB number F _- VOB _- NO indicates the VOB number of the succeeding VOB of the seamless connection.

The operation of the DVD encoder ECD according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the figure, blocks enclosed by double lines indicate subroutines. Although the present embodiment describes a DVD system, it goes without saying that the authoring encoder EC can be similarly configured.

At step # 100, the user sets the multimedia source data St in the editing information creating section 100.
While confirming the contents of l, St2, and St3, the editing instruction of the contents according to the desired scenario is input.

At step # 200, the editing information creating section 10
0 generates the scenario data St7 including the above-mentioned editing instruction information according to the editing instruction of the user.

The scenario data S in step # 200
At the time of generation of t7, of the editing instruction contents of the user, the editing instruction at the time of interleaving in the multi-angle or parental multi-scene section, which is supposed to be interleaved, is input so as to satisfy the following conditions.

First, the maximum bit rate of VOB is determined so that a sufficient image quality can be obtained, and further, the track buffer amount and jump performance, jump time and jump distance of the DVD decoder DCD which is assumed as a reproducing apparatus for DVD encoded data. Determine the value of. Based on the above values, the reproduction time of the minimum interleaved unit is obtained from Expressions 3 and 4.

Next, it is verified whether Expressions 5 and 6 are satisfied based on the reproduction time of each scene included in the multi-scene section. If not satisfied, the subsequent scene part scene is connected to each scene in the multi-scene section, etc., and the user changes and inputs the instruction so as to satisfy the equations (5) and (6).

Further, in the case of a multi-angle edit instruction, at the time of seamless switching, Expression 7 is satisfied and at the same time,
Input the edit instruction to make the playback time and audio of each scene of the angle the same. Further, at the time of non-seamless switching, the user inputs an editing instruction so as to satisfy Expression 8.

At step # 300, the encoding system control section 200 first determines, based on the scenario data St7, whether or not the target scene is seamlessly connected to the preceding scene. The seamless connection means that when the preceding scene section is a multi-scene section including a plurality of scenes, any one of all scenes included in the preceding multi-scene section is referred to as a common scene that is the current connection target. Connect seamlessly. Similarly, when the current connection target scene is a multi-scene section, it means that any one scene in the multi-scene section can be connected. If NO in step # 300, that is, if non-seamless connection is determined, step # 400
Go to.

At step # 400, the encoding system control unit 200 resets the preceding scene seamless connection flag VOB _- Fsb indicating that the target scene is seamlessly connected to the preceding scene, and proceeds to step # 600.

On the other hand, if YES at step # 300, that is, if it is determined that the preceding sheet is seamlessly connected, the process proceeds to step # 500.

In step # 500, the preceding scene seamless connection flag VOB _- Fsb is set, and step # 6.
Go to 00.

At step # 600, the encoding system control unit 200 determines, based on the scenario data St7, whether or not the target scene is seamlessly connected to the succeeding scene. If NO in step # 600, that is, if it is determined that the connection is non-seamless, the process proceeds to step # 700.

At step # 700, the encoding system control unit 200 indicates that the scene is seamlessly connected to the succeeding scene, and the succeeding scene seamless connection flag VO.
Reset B _- Fsb and proceed to step # 900.

On the other hand, if YES in step # 600, that is, if it is determined that the seamless connection with the succeeding sheet is made, the process proceeds to step # 800.

At step # 800, the encoding system control unit 200 determines that the succeeding scene seamless connection flag VO.
Set B _- Fsb and proceed to step # 900.

At step # 900, the encoding system control unit 200 determines, based on the scenario data St7, whether or not there are one or more scenes to be connected, that is, whether or not the scene is a multi-scene. The multi-scene includes a parental control that reproduces only one reproduction path among a plurality of reproduction paths that can be configured by the multi-scene and a multi-angle control that can switch the reproduction path during a multi-scene section.

If NO in the scenario step # 900, that is, if it is determined that the connection is a non-multi-scene connection, the process proceeds to step # 1000.

At step # 1000, the multi-scene flag VOB _- Fp indicating the multi-scene connection is reset, and the encode parameter generating step # 180.
Go to 0. The operation of step # 1800 will be described later.

On the other hand, if YES in step # 900, that is, if multi-scene connection is determined, step # 1
Go to 100.

In step # 1100, the multi-scene flag VOB _- Fp is set, and the flow advances to step # 1200 to determine whether multi-angle connection is established.

At step # 1200, it is determined whether or not to switch between a plurality of scenes in the multi-scene section, that is, whether or not the section is a multi-angle section. If NO in step # 1200, that is, if it is determined that the parental control is to reproduce only one reproduction path without switching in the middle of the multi-scene section, step # 130
Go to 0.

At step # 1300, the multi-angle flag V indicating that the connection target scene is multi-angle.
Reset OB _- Fm and proceed to step # 1302.
In step # 1302, the preceding scene seamless connection flag VOB _- Fsb and the subsequent scene seamless connection flag V are set.
It is determined whether any of OB _- Fsb is set. If YES in step # 1300, that is, if it is determined that the connection target scene is seamlessly connected to either the preceding scene or the succeeding scene, or both, the process proceeds to step # 1304.

At step # 1304, the interleave flag VOB _- Fi indicating that the VOB which is the encoded data of the target scene is interleaved is set,
Go to step # 1800.

On the other hand, if NO in step # 1302, that is, if the target scene is not seamlessly connected to either the preceding scene or the succeeding scene, the process advances to step # 1306.

At step # 1306, the interleave flag VOB _- Fi is reset and the routine proceeds to step # 1800.

On the other hand, if YES in step # 1200, that is, if it is determined to be multi-angle, the process proceeds to step # 1400.

In step # 1400, the multi-angle flag VOB _- Fm and the interleave flag VOB are set.
_- proceed to step # 1500 after setting the Fi.

At step # 1500, based on the scenario data St7, is the encoding system control unit 200 so-called seamlessly switched in the multi-angle scene section, that is, in a reproduction unit smaller than VOB, without interruption of video and audio? To judge. If NO in step # 1500, that is, if non-seamless switching is determined, the process proceeds to step # 1600.

[0285] At step # 1600, a seamless switching flag V indicating that the target scene is seamless switching.
Reset OB _- FsV and proceed to step # 1800.

On the other hand, if step # 1500 returns YES, that is, if seamless switching is determined, step # 17
Go to 00.

At step # 1700, the seamless switching flag VOB _- FsV is set, and the routine proceeds to step # 1800. As described above, in the present invention, after the edit information is detected as the set state of each flag described above from the scenario data St7 that reflects the intention to edit, the step # 1800 is performed.
Proceed to.

In step # 1800, the VOB set unit and VOB shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, respectively, for encoding the source stream based on the user's editing intention detected as the set state of each flag as described above. Information is added to the encoding information table for each unit, and an encoding parameter for each VOB data unit shown in FIG. 29 is created. Then, the process proceeds to step # 1900. Details of this encoding parameter creating step will be described later with reference to FIGS. 35, 36, 37, and 38.

In step # 1900, step # 180
After the video data and the audio data are encoded based on the encoding parameter created in step 0, the process proceeds to step # 2000. It should be noted that the sub-picture data is originally not required to have continuity with the preceding and subsequent scenes for the purpose of inserting and using the sub-picture data as needed during video reproduction. Further, since the sub-picture is video information for about one screen, unlike the video data and audio data extending on the time axis, the sub-picture is often stationary on the display and is not always continuously reproduced. Absent. Therefore,
In the present embodiment relating to continuous reproduction called seamless and non-seamless, description of the encoding of sub-picture data is omitted for simplification.

At step # 2000, a loop composed of steps # 300 to # 1900 is rotated by the number of VOB sets, and reproduction information such as the reproduction order of each VOB of the title of FIG. Program chain with structure (VTS _- PGC #
I) Formatting information and VOB of multi-scene section
VOB set data string and VOB required for creating an interleaved arrangement and system encoding
Complete the data string. Then, the process proceeds to step # 2100.

In Step # 2100, Step # 200
When the total number of VOB sets VOBS _- NUM obtained as a result of the loop up to 0 is obtained and added to the VOB set data string, and the number of scenario playback paths in the scenario data St7 is the number of titles, the title Number TI
After setting TLE _- NO to complete the VOB set data string as the encoding information table, step # 2
Proceed to 200.

In step # 2200, step # 190
System encoding for creating VOB (VOB # i) data in VTSTT _- VOBS of FIG. 16 is performed on the basis of the video encode stream, the audio encode stream encoded by 0, and the encode parameter of FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step # 2300.

At step # 2300, the VTSI management table (VTS) included in the VTS information and VTSI shown in FIG.
I _- MAT), VTSPGC information table (VTSPG
CIT) and data generation of program chain information (VTS _- PGC # I) for controlling the reproduction order of VOB data, and formatting including processing such as interleaved arrangement of VOBs included in the multi-scene section.

Referring to FIGS. 35, 36, and 37,
The operation of generating the encode parameter at the time of multi-angle control in the encode parameter generating subroutine in step # 1800 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 34 will be described.

First, referring to FIG. 35, the step of FIG.
When it is determined to be NO in step # 1500, that is, each flag
Each is VOB₋Fsb = 1 or VOB₋Fsf = 1, V
OB ₋Fp = 1, VOB₋Fi = 1, VOB₋Fm = 1, Fs
When V = 0, that is, when the multi-angle control
Seamless switching stream encoding parameters
The generation operation will be described. 27 and 28 by the following operation.
Encoding information table shown in FIG.
Create a parameter.

At step # 1812, the scenario playback order included in the scenario data St7 is extracted, and VOB is extracted.
Set number VOBS _- Set NO, against further one or more VOB in the VOB set, VOB number VOB _-
Set to NO.

At step # 1814, the maximum bit rate ILV _- BR of the interleave VOB is extracted from the scenario data St7, and the interleave flag VOB _- Fi.
= 1, based on the encoding parameter, set the video encoding maximum bit rate V _- MRATE.

At step # 1816, the minimum interleave unit reproduction time IL is calculated from the scenario data St7.
Extract VU _- MT.

At step # 1818, based on the multi-angle flag VOB _- Fp = 1, the video encoding GO
The value of N = 15 and M = 3 of the P structure GOPST and the GOP structure fixed flag GOPFXflag = “1” are set.

Step # 1820 is a common VOB data setting routine.

FIG. 36 shows the VOB data common setting silitin of step # 1820. In the following operation flow,
The encoding information table shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, and FIG.
Create the encoding parameters shown in.

[0302] In step # 1822, from the scenario data St7, start time VOB of the video material of each VOB _-
VST and end time VOB _- VEND are extracted, and video encoding start time V _- STTM and encoding end time V are extracted.
_- the parameters of the video encoding ENDTM.

At step # 1824, the start time VO of the audio material of each VOB is calculated from the scenario data St7.
B _- Extract the AST, the audio encode start time A
_- the parameters of the audio encoding STTM.

At step # 1826, the end time VO of the audio material of each VOB is calculated from the scenario data St7.
B _- Extract the _AEND, VOB - AEND at time not exceeding the time of the audio access unit (hereinafter referred to as AAU) units is decided by the audio encoding method, an audio encoding parameter, encode end time _A - ENDTM And

[0305] Step # 1828, the video encode start time _V - STTM and the audio encode start time _A - from the difference between the STTM, the audio start gap A _-
STGAP is a system encoding parameter.

In step # 1830, the video encoding
End time V₋End of ENDTM and audio encoding
Time A₋Due to the difference in ENDTM, the gap at the end of audio
Pu A ₋ENDGAP system encoding parameters
And

In step # 1832, the video bit rate V _- BR is extracted from the scenario data St7,
As an average bit rate of video encoding, a video encoding bit rate V _- RATE is used as a parameter of video encoding.

At step # 1834, the audio bit rate A _- BR is extracted from the scenario data St7, and the audio encode bit rate A _- RATE is used as an audio encode parameter.

At step # 1836, the type VOB _- V _- KIND of the video material is extracted from the scenario data St7, and if the material is a film material, that is, a material that has been telecine converted, inverse telecine conversion is performed to video encoding mode V _- ENCMD. Set it as a parameter for video encoding.

[0310] At step # 1838, from the scenario data St 7, audio encoding VOB _- A _-
KIND is extracted and audio encoding mode A _- E
The encoding method is set in NCMD and used as an audio encoding parameter.

At step # 1840, the VBV buffer initial value of the video encode initial data V _- INST is
The video encoding end data V _- ENDST is set to a value less than or equal to the VBV buffer end value and used as a video encoding parameter.

[0312] At step # 1842, the preceding VOB seamless connection flag VOB _- Fsb = based on 1, preceding connection VOB number _VOB - VOB number B of the prior connecting NO _-
Set to VOB _- NO and use as system encoding parameter.

[0313] At step # 1844, following VOB seamless connection flag VOB _- based on Fsf = 1, the subsequent connection of the VOB number _VOB - VOB number NO subsequent connection F _-
Set to VOB _- NO and use as system encoding parameter.

As described above, it is a multi-angle VOB set, and an encoding information table and an encoding parameter in the case of control of non-seamless multi-angle switching can be generated.

Next, referring to FIG. 37, in step # 1500 in FIG. 34, when Yes is determined, that is, each flag is VOB _- Fsb = 1 or VOB.
_{- Fsf = 1, VOB - Fp} = 1, VOB - Fi = 1, VOB
_- Fm = 1, VOB _- when it is FSV = 1, the encoding parameter generation operation of the seamless switching stream during multi-angle control is described.

By the following operation, the encode information tables shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 and the encode parameters shown in FIG. 29 are created.

At step # 1850, the scenario playback order included in the scenario data St7 is extracted, and VOB is extracted.
Set number VOBS _- Set NO, against further one or more VOB in the VOB set, VOB number VOB _-
Set to NO. In step # 1852, the maximum bit rate LV _- BR of the interleave VOB is extracted from the scenario data St7, and the interleave flag VO is extracted.
Set the video encoding maximum bit rate V _- RATE based on B _- Fi = 1.

At step # 1854, the minimum interleave unit reproduction time IL is calculated from the scenario data St7.
Extract VU _- MT.

At step # 1856, the video encoding GO is executed based on the multi-angle flag VOB _- Fp = 1.
The value of N = 15 and M = 3 of the P structure GOPST and the GOP structure fixed flag GOPFXflag = “1” are set.

At step # 1858, closed GOP is set in the video encode GOP structure GOPST based on the seamless switching flag VOB _- FsV = 1.
Use as a parameter for video encoding.

Step # 1860 is a common VOB data setting routine. This common routine is shown in FIG.
Since the routine is shown in FIG. 1 and has already been described, the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the encoding parameter in the case of seamless switching control can be generated with the multi-angle VOB set.

Next, referring to FIG. 38, in FIG. 34, when NO is determined in step # 1200 and YES is determined in step 1304, that is, each flag is VOB _- Fsb = 1 or VOB _- Fsf = 1, VOB
_{- Fp = 1, VOB - Fi} = 1, VOB - when it is Fm = 0, the encoding parameter generation operation in the parental control will be described. The following operation creates the encoding information table shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 and the encoding parameter shown in FIG. 29.

At step # 1870, the scenario reproduction order included in the scenario data St7 is extracted, and VOB is extracted.
Set number VOBS _- Set NO, against further one or more VOB in the VOB set, VOB number VOB _-
Set to NO.

At step # 1872, the maximum bit rate ILV _- BR of the interleave VOB is extracted from the scenario data St7, and the interleave flag VOB _- Fi is extracted.
= 1, the video encoding maximum bit rate V ₋
Set to RATE.

At step # 1874, the VOB interleave unit division number IL is calculated from the scenario data St7.
Extract V _- DIV.

Step # 1876 is a common routine for setting VOB data. This common routine is shown in FIG.
Since the routine is shown in FIG. 1 and has already been described, the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the encoding parameter in the parental control can be generated by the multi-scene VOB set.

Next, referring to FIG. 32, in FIG. 34, when NO is determined in step # 900, that is, each flag is VOB _- Fp = 0, that is, a single scene. The encoding parameter generation operation of will be described. The following operation creates the encoding information tables shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 and the encoding parameters shown in FIG. 29.

At step # 1880, the scenario reproduction order included in the scenario data St7 is extracted, and VOB is extracted.
Set number VOBS _- Set NO, against further one or more VOB in the VOB set, VOB number VOB _-
Set to NO.

At step # 1882, the maximum bit rate ILV _- BR of the interleave VOB is extracted from the scenario data St7, and the interleave flag VOB _- Fi is extracted.
= 1, the video encoding maximum bit rate V ₋
Set to MRATE.

Step # 1884 is a common VOB data setting routine. This common routine is shown in FIG.
Since the routine is shown in FIG. 1 and has already been described, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0333] Creation of the encoding information table as described above,
By the encoding parameter creation flow, encoding parameters for DVD video, audio, system encode, and DVD formatter can be generated. Decoder Flowchart Stream-to-Stream Buffer Transfer Flow Below, with reference to FIG. 58 and FIG. 59, the decoding system control unit 23 based on the scenario selection data St51.
The decoding information table generated by 00 will be described. The decoding information table is composed of the decoding system table shown in FIG. 58 and the decoding table shown in FIG. 59.

As shown in FIG. 58, the decoding system table includes a scenario information register section and a cell information register section. The scenario information register unit extracts and records the reproduction scenario information such as the title number selected by the user included in the scenario selection data St51. The cell information register unit extracts and records information necessary for reproduction of each cell information forming the program chain based on the scenario information selected by the scenario information register unit by the user.

Further, the scenario information register section includes an angle number register ANGLE _- NO _- reg, a VTS number register VTS _- NO _- reg, and a PGC number register VTS.
_- PGCI _- NO _- reg, audio ID register AU
DIO _- ID _- reg, sub-picture ID register SP _- ID _- r
eg, and SCR buffer register SCR _- buffer.

[0336] angle number register ANGLE _- NO _-
The reg records information about which angle is to be reproduced when the PGC to be reproduced has multiple angles. VT
The S number register VTS _- NO _- reg records the number of the VTS to be reproduced next among the plurality of VTSs existing on the disc. PGC number register VTS _- PGCI _- N
The O _- reg records information instructing which PGC is to be reproduced among a plurality of PGCs existing in the VTS for purposes such as parental use. Audio ID register AUDIO _-
The ID _- reg records information indicating which of a plurality of audio streams existing in the VTS is played back. The sub-picture ID register SP _- ID _- reg records information for instructing which sub-picture stream is reproduced when a plurality of sub-picture streams exist in the VTS. S
The CR buffer SCR _- buffer is a buffer for temporarily storing the SCR described in the pack header as shown in FIG. The SCR stored at this time is the stream reproduction data St6 as described with reference to FIG.
3 is output to the decoding system control unit 2300.

The cell information register section includes a cell block mode register CBM _- reg, a cell block type register CBT _- reg, and a seamless reproduction flag register SPB _- r.
eg, interleave allocation flag register IA
F _- reg, STC reset flag register STCDF _- re
g, Seamless angle switching flag register SAC
F _- reg, cell first VOBU start address register C
_- FVOBU _- SA _- reg, last cell VOBU start address register _{C -} LVOBU - including reg _- SA.

Cell block mode register CBM _- reg
Indicates whether or not a plurality of cells form one functional block, and if not, the value is "N _- BLO".
CK "is recorded. When a cell constitutes one functional block," F _- CELL "is given for the first cell of the functional block and" L _- CEL "is given for the last cell.
L "is recorded as a value of" BLOCK "for cells in between.

Cell block type register CBT _- reg
Is a register for recording the type of block indicated by the cell block mode register CBM _- reg, and records "A _- BLOCK" in the case of multi-angle and "N _- BLOCK" in the case of non-multi-angle.

Seamless playback flag register SPF _- re
The g records information indicating whether or not the cell is seamlessly connected to the cell or cell block to be reproduced before and is reproduced. When seamlessly connecting to the previous cell or previous cell block and reproducing, "SML" is recorded as a value, and when not seamlessly connected, "NSML" is recorded as a value.

The interleave allocation flag register IAF _- reg records information as to whether or not the cell is arranged in the interleave area. “ILVB” is set as the value when it is placed in the interleave area
, "N" if not placed in the interleaved area.
_- to record the ILVB ".

[0342] STC resetting flag register STCDF _-
The reg records information about whether or not the STC used for synchronization needs to be reset when the cell is reproduced. When resetting is required, the value is "STC _- RESET".
Is set to "STC _- NR" when the resetting is not necessary.
Record ESET ".

The seamless angle change flag register SACF _- reg records information indicating whether the cell belongs to the angle section and is seamlessly switched. "SML" as the value when switching seamlessly in the angle section, otherwise "NSML"
To record.

The cell first VOBU start address register C _- FVOBU _- SA _- reg records the cell head VOBU start address. The value is VOB for VTS title
The distance from the logical sector of the head cell of S (VTSTT _- VOBS) is indicated by the number of sectors, and the number of sectors is recorded.

The cell end VOBU start address register C _- LVOBU _- SA _- reg records the cell end VOBU start address. Its value is VO for VTS title
The distance from the logical sector of the head cell of the BS (VTSTT _- VOBS) is indicated by the number of sectors, and the number of sectors is recorded.

Next, the decode table of FIG. 59 will be described. As shown in the figure, the decoding table includes a non-seamless multi-angle information register section, a seamless multi-angle information register section, a VOBU information register section, and a seamless reproduction register section.

The non-seamless multi-angle information register unit has NSML _- AGL _- C1 _- DSTA _- reg to NS.
ML _- AGL _- C9 _- DSTA _- reg is included.

NSML _- AGL _- C1 _- DSTA _- reg
2 to NSML _- AGL _- C9 _- DSTA _- reg.
NSML in PCI packet shown in 0 _- AGL _- C1 _-
Record DSTA to NSML _- AGL _- C9 _- DSTA.

[0349] seamless Machiru angle information register _{section, SML - AGL - C1 - DSTA} - reg~SML -
Contains AGL _- C9 _- DSTA _- reg.

SML _- AGL _- C1 _- DSTA _- reg ~
The SML _- AGL _- C9 _- DSTA _- reg contains SML _- AGL _- C1 _- DST in the DSI packet shown in FIG.
Record A to SML _- AGL _- C9 _- DSTA.

The VOBU information register section includes a VOBU final address register VOBU _- EA _- reg.

VOBU information register VOBU _-- EA _-- re
The g is VOBU _- E in the DSI packet shown in FIG.
Record A.

The seamless playback register section is
Save unit flag register ILVU₋flag₋reg, you
Knit end flag register UNIT₋END₋flag₋
reg, ILVU Last pack address register ILVU₋
EA₋reg, next interleave unit start address
NT₋ILVU₋SA₋First video frame in reg and VOB
Display start time register VOB₋V₋SPTM₋re
g, VOB final video frame display end time register
VOB₋V₋EPTM₋reg, audio playback stop time
1 register VOB₋A₋GAP₋PTM1₋reg, oh
Dio playback stop time 2 register VOB₋A₋GAP₋P
TM2₋reg, audio playback stop period 1 register VO
B₋A₋GAP₋LENI, audio playback stop period 2
Register VOB₋A ₋GAP₋Including LEN2.

Interleave unit flag register I
LVU _- flag _- reg indicates whether the VOBU exists in the interleaved area. If the VOBU exists in the interleaved area, "ILVU" is recorded, and if it does not exist in the interleaved area, "N _- ILVU" is recorded.

[0355] Units - end flag register UNIT _-
END _- flag _- reg is the last VOBU of ILVU when the VOBU exists in the interleave area.
Record the information indicating Since ILVU is a continuous read unit, the VOBU currently read is the ILVU.
If it is the last VOBU of U, "END" is set, and the last VO
If it is not BU, "N _- END" is recorded.

ILVU final pack address register IL
The VO _- EA _- reg records the address of the last pack of the ILVU to which the VOBU belongs when the VOBU exists in the interleave area. Here, the address is the VOB
U is the number of sectors from NV.

[0357] start of the next ILVU address register NT _-
ILVU _- SA _- reg records the start address of the next ILVU when VOBU exists in the interleave area. Here, the address is the number of sectors from the NV of the VOBU.

The start video frame display start time register VOB _- V _- SPTM _- reg in the VOB records the time when the display of the start video frame of the VOB is started.

The last video frame display end time register VOB _- V _- EPTM _- reg in the VOB records the time when the display of the last video frame of the VOB ends.

Audio reproduction stop time 1 register VOB
₋A₋GAP₋PTM1₋reg stops audio playback
Audio playback stop period 1 register V
OB ₋A₋GAP₋LENI₋reg play audio
Record the time period to stop.

Audio reproduction stop time 2 register VOB
_- A _- GAP _- PTM2 _- reg and audio reproduction stopping period 2 register _VOB - _A - _GAP - The same applies to LEN2.

Next, the operation of the DVD decoder DCD according to the present invention, the block diagram of which is shown in FIG. 26, will be described with reference to the DVD decoder flow shown in FIG.

Step # 310202 is a step of evaluating whether or not a disc has been inserted, and if the disc is set, the process proceeds to step # 310204.

In step # 310204, FIG.
After reading the volume file information VFS of, the process proceeds to step # 310206.

At step # 310206, the VTS for reading and reproducing the video manager VMG shown in FIG.
Is extracted and the process proceeds to step # 310208.

In step # 310208, the video title set menu address information VTSM _- C _- ADT is extracted from the VTS management table VTSI, and the flow advances to step # 310210.

[0367] In step # 310210, VTSM _-
Based on the C _- ADT information, the video title set menu VTSM _- VOBS is read from the disc and the title selection menu is displayed. The user selects a title according to this menu. In this case, not only the title but also the angle number is input if the title includes an audio number, sub-picture number, and multiang. When the user's input is completed, the process proceeds to the next step # 310214.

At step # 310214, VTS _- PGCI # J corresponding to the title number selected by the user is extracted from the management table, and then at step # 31021.
Go to 6.

At next step # 310216, the PGC reproduction is started. When the PGC reproduction is completed, the decoding process is completed. After that, when another title is reproduced, it can be realized by control such as returning to the title menu display in step # 310210 if the user inputs a key in the scenario selection unit.

Next, with reference to FIG. 61, the reproduction of the PGC in step # 310216 described above will be described in more detail. As shown in the figure, the PGC reproduction step # 310216 includes steps # 31030, # 31032, and # 3.
1034 and # 31035.

At step # 31030, the decoding system table shown in FIG. 58 is set. Angle number register ANGLE _- NO _- reg, VTS number register VTS _- NO _- reg, PGC number register PGC _- N
O _- reg, audio ID register AUDIO _- ID _- r
eg, the sub-picture ID register SP _- ID _- reg is set by a user operation in the scenario selection unit 2100.

When the user selects a title,
When the live PGC is decided, the corresponding cell information (C
₋PBI) is extracted and set in the cell information register. Setting
The register to set is CBM₋reg, CBT₋reg, SPF₋
reg, IAF₋reg, STCDF₋reg, SACF₋reg,
C₋FVOBU₋SA₋reg, C₋LVOBU₋SA ₋r
It is eg.

After setting the decoding system table, the data transfer processing to the stream buffer in step # 31032 and the data decoding processing in the stream buffer in step # 31034 are activated in parallel.

Here, the data transfer processing to the stream buffer in step # 31032 relates to the data transfer from the disk M to the stream buffer 2400 in FIG. That is, necessary data is read from the disc M according to the title information selected by the user and the reproduction control information (navpack NV) described in the stream, and the stream buffer 240 is read.
This is a process of transferring to 0.

On the other hand, in step # 31034, the data in the stream buffer 2400 in FIG. 26 is decoded, and the video output 3600 and the audio output 37 are output.
This is a part for performing processing of outputting to 00. That is, this is a process of decoding and reproducing the data stored in the stream buffer 2400.

This step # 31032 and step #
31034 operates in parallel.

Step # 31032 will be described in more detail below.

The process of step # 31032 is performed on a cell-by-cell basis, and when the process of one cell is completed, the next step # 3 is performed.
At 1035, it is evaluated whether the PGC process is completed. PG
If the processing of C is not completed, step # 31030
Then, set the decoding system table corresponding to the next cell. This process is repeated until PGC ends.

Next, referring to FIG. 62, step # 31
The operation of 032 will be described. The data transfer processing step # 3102 to the stream buffer includes steps # 31040, # 31042, # 31044 and # 31 as shown in the figure.
046 and # 31048.

Step # 31040 is a step of evaluating whether or not the cell is multi-angle. If the angle is not multi-angle, the process proceeds to step # 31044. Step # 31044 is a processing step in non-multiangle.

On the other hand, if multi-angle is determined in step # 31040, the flow advances to step # 31042. This step # 31042 is a step of evaluating whether or not it is a seamless angle.

If the angle is seamless, step #
Proceed to step 31046, Seamless Multi Angle. On the other hand, if it is not a seamless multi-angle, the process proceeds to step # 31048 of non-seamless multi-angle.

Next, with reference to FIG. 63, the above-mentioned non-multi-angle processing in step # 31044 will be described in more detail. Non-multi-angle processing step # 3
1044, steps # 31050, # 3, as shown.
1052 and # 31054.

First, in step # 31050, it is evaluated whether the block is an interleaved block. If it is an interleaved block, the process proceeds to the non-multi-angle interleaved block process of step # 31052.

Step # 31052 is a processing step in, for example, a multi-scene where there is a branch or connection for seamless connection.

On the other hand, if it is not an interleaved block, the process proceeds to the non-multi-angle continuous block process of step # 31054.

Step # 31054 is the processing when there is no branch or join. Next, with reference to FIG. 64, the processing of the non-multiangle interleaved block in step # 31052 described above will be described in more detail.

In step # 31060, the VOB at the beginning of the cell
Jump to the U start address (C _- FVOUB _- SA _- reg).

More specifically, referring to FIG.
The address data (C _- FVOUB _- SA _- reg) held in the decoding system control unit 2300 is transferred to St53.
It is given to the mechanism control unit 2002 via. Mechanism control unit 20
Reference numeral 02 controls the motor 2004 and the signal processing unit 2008 to move the head 2006 to a predetermined address to read out data, and after the signal processing unit 2008 performs signal processing such as ECC, the VOBU at the cell head via St61. Transfer data to stream buffer 2400, step #
Proceed to 31062.

[0390] In step # 31062, the stream bar is
The Nuffac NV shown in FIG.
Extract the DSI packet data from the data and decode it.
Table, and proceeds to step # 31064. here
As a register to set, ILVU₋EA₋reg, N
T₋ILVU₋SA₋reg, VOB₋V₋SPTM₋re
g, VOB₋V₋EPTM₋reg, VOB₋A₋STP₋
PTM1₋reg, VOB ₋A₋STP₋PTM2₋reg,
VOB₋A₋GAP₋LEN1₋reg, VOB₋A₋G
AP₋LEN2₋There is a reg.

At step # 31064, the cell head VO
BU start address (C₋FVOBU ₋SA₋reg)
Interleave unit end address (ILVU₋EA
₋reg) data, that is, the data for one ILVU
Data to the stream buffer 2400 and step #
Proceed to 31066. More specifically, the data shown in FIG.
Addresses stored in the code system control unit 2300
Data (ILVU₋EA₋reg) via St53
It is given to the mechanism control unit 2002. The mechanism control unit 2002 is
Data and the CN signal processing unit 2008 to control I
LVU₋EA₋Read data up to reg address
Then, the signal processing unit 2008 performed signal processing such as ECC.
Then, the data for the ILVU at the beginning of the cell is transferred via St61.
Transfer to the stream buffer 2400. Like this
Data for one continuous interleave unit on the disk
Data can be transferred to the stream buffer 2400.
Wear.

In step # 31066, it is evaluated whether all interleave units in the interleave block have been transferred. If it is the last interleave unit of the interleave block, the end is shown as the address to be read next. “0x7FFFFFFF” is register N
It is set to T _- ILVU _- SA _- reg. here,
If all the interleaved units in the interleaved block have not been transferred, step # 31068.
Go to.

[0393] At step # 31068, the address of the next interleave unit to be reproduced _(NT - ILVU _-
SA _- reg) and proceeds to step # 31062. The jump mechanism is the same as described above.

The steps after step # 31062 are the same as described above.

On the other hand, at step # 31066, if all the interleave units in the interleave block have been transferred, step # 31052 is ended.

Thus, in step # 31052, 1
One cell data is transferred to the stream buffer 2400.

Next, with reference to FIG. 65, the processing of the non-multi-angle continuous block in step # 31054 described above will be described.

[0398] In step # 31070, the VOB at the beginning of the cell
It jumps to the U start address (C _- FVOUB _- SA _- reg) and proceeds to step # 31072. The jump mechanism is the same as described above. Thus, the V at the beginning of the cell
The OBU data is transferred to the stream buffer 2400.

At step # 31072, the nabupack NV shown in FIG.
The DSI packet data in the data is extracted, the decode table is set, and the process proceeds to step # 31074. The registers set here are VOBU _- EA _- reg, V
OB _- V _- SPTM _- reg, VOB _- V _- EPTM _- re
_{g, VOB - A - STP -} PTM1 - reg, VOB - A -
STP _- PTM2 _- reg, VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN
1 _- reg and VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN2 _- reg.

At step # 31074, the cell head VO
BU start address (C₋FVOBU ₋SA₋reg)
VOBU end address (VOBU₋EA₋up to reg)
Stream data, that is, data for one VOBU
Transfer to the buffer 2400 and go to step # 31076.
move on. In this way, the continuous IVOBU
Transfer data of stream to stream buffer 2400
You can

At step # 31076, it is evaluated whether the cell data transfer is completed. If all the VOBUs in the cell have not been transferred, the next VOBU data is continuously read and the process proceeds to step # 31070.

The steps after step # 31072 are the same as described above.

On the other hand, in step # 31076, if all the VOBU data in the cell has been transferred, step # 31054 is ended. Step like this #
In 31054, one cell data is transferred to the stream buffer 2400. Decoding Flow from Stream Buffer Next, referring to FIG. 66, step # 31 shown in FIG.
The decoding process in the 034 stream buffer will be described.

Step # 31034 includes steps # 31110, # 31112, and step # 31112 as shown in the figure.
31114 and step # 31116.

The step # 31110 is from the stream buffer 2400 to the system decoder 250 shown in FIG.
Data is transferred in pack units to 0, and step # 3
Proceed to 1112.

In step # 31112, the pack data transferred from the stream buffer 2400 is transferred to each buffer, that is, the video buffer 2600, the sub-picture buffer 2700 and the audio buffer 2800.

At step # 31112, the IDs of the audio and sub-picture selected by the user, that is, the audio ID register AUDIO _- ID _- reg and the sub-picture ID register S included in the scenario information register shown in FIG.
P _- ID _- reg and the packet header shown in FIG.
Compare the stream ID and the substream ID,
Matching packets are distributed to respective buffers (video buffer 2600, audio buffer 2700, sub-picture buffer 2800), and step # 3111
Go to 4.

At step # 31114, the decoding timing of each decoder (video decoder, sub-picture decoder, audio decoder) is controlled, that is, synchronization processing between each decoder is performed, and the routine proceeds to step # 31116. Details of the synchronization processing of each decoder in step # 31114 will be described later.

[0409] In step # 31116, the decoding process of each elementary is performed. That is, the video decoder reads data from the video buffer and performs decoding processing.
Similarly, the sub-picture decoder also reads data from the sub-picture buffer and performs decoding processing. Similarly, the audio decoder reads data from the audio decoder buffer and performs decoding processing. When the decoding process ends, step # 31034 ends.

Next, with reference to FIG. 15, the above-mentioned step # 31114 will be described in more detail.

As shown in the figure, step # 31114 comprises step # 31120, step # 31122, and step # 31124.

[0412] Step # 31120 is a step of evaluating whether the preceding cell and the cell are seamlessly connected,
If it is a seamless connection, proceed to step # 31122,
Otherwise, it proceeds to step # 31124.

At step # 31122, synchronization processing for seamless is performed.

On the other hand, in step # 31124, non-seamless synchronization processing is performed. In the system encoder DVD decoder DCD, one buffer memory is time-division controlled as described above, and the stream buffer 2
An embodiment in the case of being used as a plurality of buffer means such as 400, video buffer 2600, audio buffer 2800, and reorder buffer 3300 will be described below. Hereinafter, an actual buffer means composed of a memory or the like is referred to as a physical buffer, and a case where this physical buffer functions as a buffer for different data by time division is referred to as a functional buffer. Since the decoding of the sub-picture is instantaneously completed, the load on the decoding work of the decoder DCD can be ignored as compared with other video encoded streams and audio encoded streams, and thus one video encoded stream and one encoded stream are used in this example.
The case of one audio encoded stream will be described.

FIG. 39 shows a video buffer 2600 and an audio buffer 28 in the DVD decoder DCD.
00 shows a data input / output simulation result, and a video encode stream S corresponding to this simulation on the DVD encoder ECD side.
t27 and audio encode stream St31
The multiplex procedure of is shown. In the figure, the horizontal axis T indicates the passage of time.

The frame G1 of the first stage is the video encode stream St27 in the DVD encoder ECD.
It shows how to packetize. Each frame in the frame G1 indicates the video packet V, the vertical direction indicates the input transfer rate to the video buffer 2600, the horizontal direction, that is, the time axis T indicates the transfer time, and the area of the frame indicates the data amount. Shows. In the figure, the frame representing the audio packet A is large, that is, the data amount seems to be large, but one frame indicates the packet, and the data amount of the video packet V and the audio packet A is It is the same.

The second row shows the data input / output of the video buffer 2600 in the DVD decoder DCD. Here, the vertical axis represents the video data storage amount Vdv in the video buffer 2600. That is, in the figure, time T
The leading video pack V of the video encoded stream St71 to the video buffer 2600 is input to bl. Then, at time Tvf, the last video pack V of the video encoded stream St71 is input. Therefore, the line SVi indicates the transition of the storage amount Vdv in the video buffer 2600 at the beginning of the video encode stream St71, and similarly the line SVf indicates the storage amount Vdv in the video buffer 2600 at the end of the video encode stream St71. Shows the transition. Therefore, the slopes of lines SVi and SVf indicate the input rate to video buffer 2600. Straight line BCv
Indicates the maximum storage amount in the video buffer 2600.

The straight line Bcv and the straight line Bca are based on the MPEG standard, and are determined based on the data described in the header in the system stream.

The video data storage amount Vdv in the video buffer 2600 linearly increases, and at time Tdl, dl from the beginning of the stored video data is transferred to the video decoder 3801 and decoded. Consumed by. Therefore, the video data storage amount Vdv
Decreases to BCv-d1 and then increases again.
In the figure, an example in which the video data storage amount Vdv reaches the maximum storage amount Bcv at time dl is shown, but the video data storage amount Vdv at the start of decoding is not necessarily the maximum storage amount Bcv. It is needless to say that the storage amount does not have to be Bcv, and the storage amount may be smaller than the maximum storage amount Bcv.

Dl transferred to the video buffer 2600
A part of the minute video data, that is, in the figure, the intersection point tb of the dotted line and the time axis extended to the time axis at the same slope as the input rate to the point B video buffer 2600 is the data at the point B at the time. It is shown that it is input to Tb. That is, it indicates that the first decoded data dl is input from time Tbl to time Tb2. When the data input time Tb2 is delayed from the decoding time Tdl, the video buffer 2600 underflows at time Tdl.

[0421] In a video encode stream compressed by MPEG, the amount of encoded data varies greatly for each picture, and a large amount of encoded data may be temporarily consumed. At this time, the video buffer 260 is previously set so that the video buffer does not underflow.
It is necessary to enter as much data as possible into 0. The time required for data transfer for this is called the decode guarantee storage time vbv _- delay.

The third row shows how the audio data is packed, and like the first-stage video data packet, each frame in the frame G2 shows the audio packet A. The packet data amount is the same as the video packet V.

The fourth row is the video buffer 2 in the second row.
Similar to the data input / output of 600, the simulation result of the input / output of the audio buffer 2800 is shown. The vertical axis represents the data storage amount Vda in the audio buffer 2800.

In the figure, the video display start time is Tv.
Pl, the audio display start time is Tapl, the video frame playback time is Fv, and the audio frame playback time is Fa.

At time Tadl, the audio buffer 28
The first audio pack A of the audio encoded stream St75 to 00 is input. The line SAi shows the transition of the storage amount Vda in the audio buffer 2800 at the beginning of the audio encode stream St75, and the line SAf shows the transition of the storage amount Vda in the audio buffer 2800 at the end of the audio encode stream St75. Shows. Therefore, the line SAi
And the slope of SAf indicate the input rate to the audio buffer 2800. The straight line BCa indicates the maximum storage amount in the audio buffer 2800. The maximum storage amount BCa is determined by the same method as the maximum storage amount BCa of the video buffer 2600.

In the audio stream, the data amount for each audio frame, which is an audio access unit, that is, a compression unit, is usually constant. If the audio data ST75 is input to the audio buffer 2800 in a short time in a data amount exceeding the maximum accumulated BCa of the audio buffer 2800, the audio buffer 2800
800 overflows. As a result, the next audio packet A cannot be input until the audio data in the audio buffer 2800 is consumed, that is, decoded. Further, since the video packet V and the audio packet A are linked as one stream, if the audio buffer 2800 overflows, the video packet V600 itself does not overflow, but the video packet V does not overflow.
Also cannot be input to the video buffer 2600.

In this way, the audio buffer 2800
Depending on the duration of the overflow, the video buffer 2600 underflows. Therefore, to prevent the audio buffer from overflowing, if the sum of the amount of data stored in the audio buffer and the amount of data in the packet exceeds the audio buffer size,
The input is not restricted to the audio buffer 2800. Particularly, in the present embodiment, only packets including necessary data (frames) are transferred by the audio decoding time, and it is restricted that data is not input to the audio buffer more than necessary. However, packets (about 2 kilobytes) and audio frames (AC-3, 384 kbp)
Because of the difference in data size of 1536 mbytes for s,
The data of the frame following the frame is also transferred at the same time. As shown in the data string obtained by packetizing the audio data in the third row and the input / output timing of the buffer in the fourth row in FIG. 39, one audio frame precedes the decoding time by about one audio frame within the range satisfying the above restrictions. Then, the data is input to the audio buffer 2800.

Normally, a video stream compressed by MPEG starts decoding one video frame playback time Fv earlier than the first display time TVpl due to its nature, and the audio also decodes at the decoding time, that is, the first display time Ta.
1 audio frame playback time Fa is faster than pl,
Since it is input to the audio buffer 2800, the decoding guaranteed storage time vbv _- delay is one video frame playback time.
In addition to Fv, the video stream is input to the video buffer in advance of the audio stream by about 1 audio frame reproduction time Fa.

The fifth row shows a state in which the first-stage video packet sequence G1 and the third-stage audio packet sequence G2 are interleaved. The interleaving of video packets and audio packets is based on the input time of each video and audio buffer.
Multiplex. For example, the guideline for the buffer input time of the first packed data of the video encode stream is Tb.
It is l, and the guideline of the buffer input time of the first packed data of the audio encoded stream is Tal. The data packed in this way is multiplexed based on the time when the data in the pack is input to each of the video and audio buffers. As shown in the figure, one video frame is added to vbv _- delay, and one audio frame time is subtracted before the video encoded stream is input to the buffer before the audio encoded stream. Therefore, the video packets continue at the beginning of the system stream for this time. To do. Similarly, at the end of the system stream, audio packets continue at the end of the system stream by the time for allowing the video stream to be input to the buffer ahead of the audio encode stream.

Also, the audio encode stream S
If an amount of data that exceeds the size of the audio buffer 2800 (maximum accumulated BCa) is input to T75 in a short time, the audio buffer overflows and audio data is consumed, that is, until decoding is performed, The audio packet of cannot be input. Therefore, a gap occurs in packet transfer during the transfer period of only the audio packet at the end of the system stream.

For example, in a DVD system, assuming that the video bit rate is 8 Mbps and the video buffer size is 224 kilobytes, if 224 kilobytes are stored before the start of video decoding, vbv _- delay is about 21.
If the video is NTSC and the audio is AC-3, one NTSC video frame is about 33 msec, and one AC-3 audio frame is 32 msec. At this time, the video stream is at the beginning of the system stream. Is about 220 msec (= 2
(19 msec + 33 msec−32 msec) precedes the audio frame, and video packets continue during this period.

Also, even at the end of the system stream, only the audio packet continues in the same manner as the video encode stream is input preceding the audio stream.

By creating and recording the system stream as described above, the underflow of the video buffer does not occur in the DVD decoder shown in FIG.
Can play video and audio.

In the DVD system using such an MPEG system stream, a title such as a movie is recorded on an optical disc. However, multiple titles such as Parental Rock and Director's Cut
In order to record on one optical disk, it is necessary to record 10 or more titles, the bit rate must be reduced, and the demand for high image quality cannot be satisfied.

Therefore, a system stream common to a plurality of titles such as parental lock and director's cut is shared by a plurality of titles, and only different portions are recorded for each title. As a result, it is possible to record a plurality of titles by country or cultural area on a single optical disc without reducing the bit rate.

[0436] Fig. 40 shows an example of a title stream based on the parental lock. When a title includes so-called adult scenes that are not suitable for children, such as sexual scenes and violent scenes, this title includes common system streams SSa, SSb, and SSe and adult scenes. Adult System Stream SSc
And a system stream SSd for non-adults including only minor scenes. In such a title stream, the adult system stream SSc and the non-adult system stream SSd are arranged as a multi-scene system stream in a multi-scene section provided between the common system streams SSb and SSe.

The relationship between the system stream described in the program chain PGC of the title stream configured as described above and each title will be described. In the program chain PGCI for adult titles, common system streams SSa and SSb, adult system stream SSc, and common system stream SSe are sequentially described. Program chain P for minors
The common system streams SSa and SS are included in the GC2.
b, the minor system stream SSd, and the common system stream SSe are sequentially described.

In order to share a system stream with a title having a multi-scene section as described above and to divide the system stream for the convenience of authoring, continuous playback is performed by connecting the system streams. It is necessary to perform continuous playback with the system stream connected, but at the connection part of the system stream, the video display called freeze is stopped, and seamless playback is naturally played as one title. It can be difficult.

FIG. 41 shows a DVD decoder D shown in FIG.
Video buffer 260 for continuous playback using a CD
0 indicates data input / output. In the figure, Ga indicates the data input / output of the video buffer 2600 when the video encode stream Sva and the video encode stream Svb are input to the DVD decoder DCD, and G indicates
b indicates a video packet stream of the video encode stream Sva and the video encode stream Svb, and Gc indicates a system stream Sra and a system stream Srb. Ga,
Gb and Gc are arranged with reference to the same time axis T, as in FIG. 39.

In Ga, the vertical axis represents the data occupation amount Vdv in the video buffer, and the slanted line represents the input rate to the video buffer 2600 with the slope. That is,
The place where the data occupation amount Vdv in the video buffer 2600 is decreasing indicates that the data is consumed, that is, the decoding is performed.

Further, time T1 indicates the input end time of the last video packet V1 of the Gc system stream Sra, T3 indicates the input end time of the last audio packet AI of the Gc system stream Srb, and time Td indicates , Ga indicates the first decoding time of the video stream Svb.

The video stream Sva that constitutes the system stream Sra and the audio stream Saa in the system stream Sra are the video stream Sv.
a precedes audio stream Saa by buffer 2
Since it is input to 600, only the audio packet A remains continuously at the end of the system stream Sra.

When audio packets A exceeding the size of the audio buffer 2800 are continuously input, the audio buffer 2800 overflows, and audio data is consumed, that is, until the next audio packet is decoded. Cannot be entered.

The first video packet V2 of the system stream Srb cannot be input to the video buffer 2600 until the end of the input of the audio packet A1 of the last packet of the system stream Sra. Therefore, from the input end time T1 of the video packet V1 which is the last packet of the system stream Sra to the time T3 when the input end of the audio packet A1 which is the last packet of the system stream Sra, the audio packet A
Due to the interference of 1, the video stream is not input to the video buffer 2600.

For example, in a DVD system, description will be made assuming that the video bit rate is 8 Mbps, the video buffer size is 224 kilobytes, the audio buffer size is 4 kilobytes, the audio data is AC-3 compression, and the compression bit rate is 384 kbps. AC-
3, the reproduction time of one audio frame is 32 msec, so the data size of one audio frame is 153.
It is 6 bytes, and the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer is 2.

The input end time T3 of the audio packet A1 which is the last packet of the system stream Sra is
Since the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer is 2, it is (Sra last audio frame reproduction start time)-(2 audio frame reproduction time) at the earliest. The playback start time of the last Sra audio frame is about one audio frame earlier than the display start time of the first frame of the video stream Svb of the system stream Srb. Video stream S
The display start time of vb is after the guaranteed decoding accumulation time vbv _- delay and one video frame have elapsed from the input end time T1 of the last video packet V1 of the system stream Sra, and is 22 before the start of video decoding.
Assuming that 4 kilobytes are stored, the decoding guaranteed storage time v
The bv _- delay is about 219 msec. Also, assuming that video is NTSC and audio is AC-3, NT
The video frame of SC is about 33 msec, and AC-
One audio frame of 3 is 32 msec. Therefore, the last video packet V of the system stream Sra
Approximately 156 msec (= 219 msec) from the input end time T1 of 1 to the input end time T3 of the audio packet A1 which is the last packet of the system stream Sra.
+33 msec−32 msec−2 × 32 msec). During this approximately 156 msec, the video buffer 26
No video stream Svb is input to 00.

Therefore, at time Td, the video buffer 2600 underflows because not all the data dl to be decoded has been input to the video buffer. In such a case, the occurrence of a freeze such as a video display interruption causes a failure such as an incorrect image display.

As described above, in order to share a system stream with a plurality of titles or to play back one continuous scene with a plurality of system streams encoded separately in a title, the system streams are connected. When the continuous decoding process is performed, freezes such as stop of video display occur at the connection part of the system stream, and seamless reproduction that naturally reproduces as a title of a book may not be possible.

As shown in FIG. 40, when a plurality of different system streams SSc and SSd are connected to one system stream SSe, there is a time difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time due to the difference between the frame reproduction times of video and audio. This occurs and this time difference differs for each reproduction path. As a result, the buffer control is broken at the connection portion, and video reproduction is stopped, that is, freeze or audio reproduction is stopped, that is, mute occurs, and seamless reproduction cannot be performed.

With reference to FIG. 42, the above-mentioned problem regarding the parental lock shown in FIG. 40 will be further described.
In the figure, SScv and SSca indicate the reproduction time of the video stream of the video frame unit and the reproduction time of the audio stream of the audio frame of the adult system stream SSc, respectively. Similarly, SSdv and SSda respectively indicate the reproduction time of the video stream of the video frame unit and the reproduction time of the audio stream of the audio frame unit which configure the minor system stream SSd.

As described above, assuming that the video is NTSC and the audio is AC-3, one video frame of NTSC is about 33 msec, whereas one audio frame of AC-3 is 32 msec. There is no frame playback time. Therefore, the video playback time, which is an integer multiple of the video frame playback time,
A difference occurs in the audio reproduction time, which is an integral multiple of the audio frame reproduction time k. This playback time difference is represented as Tc in the adult system stream SSc and as Td in the minor system stream SSd.
Further, this difference differs depending on the change in the reproduction time of the reproduction path, that is, Tc ≠ Td.

Therefore, when one system stream and a plurality of system streams are connected as in the parental lock and director's cut described above, a maximum of one frame is reproduced at the video reproduction time or the audio reproduction time at the branching unit and the combining unit. A gap is created.

The reproduction gap will be described with reference to FIG. PGC1 in the first row means a program chain representing the system stream path of the above-mentioned adult title. In the same figure, the reproduction times SScv and SSev of video streams in video frame units that compose the adult system stream SSc and the common system stream SSe, and the reproduction time SSca of audio streams in audio frame units.
And SSea are shown. The reproduction time for each frame is shown as a section in which both ends are bounded by arrows in the figure. In this example, adult system stream S
The video stream SScv of Sc ends in 3 frames, and the first frame of the video stream SSev of the common system stream SSe starts from 4 frames. Similarly, the audio stream SSca ends at 4 frames and the first frame of the audio stream SSce starts at the 5th frame. Due to the difference in the playback frame time between the video stream and the audio stream, when the two system streams SSc and SSe are connected, between the video stream and the audio stream,
A time Tc shift corresponding to a maximum of one frame occurs.

Similarly, the PGC2 in the second row has the reproduction times SSdv and SSe of the video stream in video frame units which form the system stream SSd of the minor title and the common system stream SSe, respectively.
v and reproduction times SSda and SSea of the audio stream in units of audio frames. PGC1
Similarly, when connecting the system streams SSd and SSe, between the video stream and the audio stream,
A maximum time difference of one frame Td occurs. It is possible to match the time difference between the video and audio reproduction start times of at least one reproduction path between different reproduction paths before combination as shown in the figure. In this figure, the end time of the video and audio of the system stream SSc and the start time of the video and audio of the system stream SSe are the same, that is, they are connected without a gap, and an example in the case of Td <Tc is shown. .

PGC1, that is, system stream SSc and system stream SSe are connected without a reproduction gap,
The PGC2, that is, the system stream SSd and the system stream SSe are connected with an audio reproduction gap of Tc-Td. In this way, even when a plurality of reproduction paths (SSc and SSd) are connected to one system stream (SSe), it is possible to eliminate the reproduction gap of video or audio in at least one reproduction path.

The third row shows the state of the audio buffer during continuous reproduction of PGC2, that is, system stream SSd and system stream SSe. The system stream SSd and the system stream SSe are connection parts, and the PGC
Connection is made with an audio reproduction gap of Tc-Td, which is the difference between the reproduction time difference Tc in 1 and the reproduction time difference Td in PGC2.

However, since a DVD player normally performs AV synchronization based on audio, audio frames are continuously reproduced. Therefore, the audio reproduction gaps Tc-Td are not reproduced as gaps during reproduction, and audio reproduction is continuously performed.

The system stream SSe is system-encoded so that the audio is reproduced, that is, decoded, with a time Tc behind the video. Therefore, when audio reproduction, that is, decoding is performed without leaving a time corresponding to the audio reproduction gap Tc-Td,
Audio decoding is performed before the audio data is completely input to the audio buffer, and underflow of the audio buffer occurs as indicated by a line Lu in the figure.

When audio reproduction is continued and a reproduction gap is provided between video frames, underflow of the video buffer occurs in the video stream reproduction as in the case where the video stream reproduction is interrupted as shown in FIG. .

As described above, when a plurality of different system streams and one system stream are connected, the difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time on each path is different due to the difference in the video and audio frame reproduction times. . Therefore, the present invention, in the connection portion,
A recording method, a recording device, a reproducing method, and a reproducing device which prevent underflow of a video buffer or an audio buffer and enable seamless reproduction without stopping (freezing) of video reproduction or stopping (mute) of audio reproduction are described below. It is provided as follows.

[0461] The connection of each system stream included in the title stream shown in Fig. 40 with respect to the connection to one system stream according to the present invention will be described below.

Regarding the physical structure of the optical disk M, the data structure of the entire optical disk, the DVD encoder ECD and the DVD decoder DCD in this example, FIGS. 4 to 14, FIG. 1, FIG. 16 to FIG. 20, and FIG. 25 to FIG.
Since it has already been described with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 26, its description is omitted here.

In MPEG, there are a CBR model for continuously transferring data without a gap and a VBR model for intermittently transferring data with a gap in the transfer. In this embodiment, a CBR model will be used for the sake of simplicity.

First, the simple connection of the first and second common system streams SSa and SSb, that is, the one-to-one system stream will be described with reference to FIGS. 44, 45, and 46. In this example, for simplification, the case of one video stream SSav and one audio stream SSba will be described.

The description below shows the system stream created by the present invention in FIG. 44, and FIG.
The operation at the time of connection is described in FIG. 46, and FIG. 46 shows a method of creating a system stream.

FIG. 44 shows the structure of the end of the preceding common system stream SSa and the beginning of the following common system stream SSb recorded on the optical disc M.

Ge in the fifth row shows the configurations of the system stream SSa and the system stream SSb. The first common system stream SSa is a video stream SSav and an audio stream SSa.
Similarly, the second common system stream SSb includes a video stream SSbv and an audio stream SSba.

Gd in the fourth row shows an audio packet sequence A of the audio stream SSaa and the audio stream SSba extracted from the system stream SSa and the system stream SSb.

Gc in the third row indicates the audio stream SSaa and the audio stream SSba in FIG.
6 shows how data is input / output to / from the audio buffer 2800 when input to the DVD decoder DCD shown in FIG.

Gb in the second row is the video stream SSav and the video stream SSav extracted from the system stream SSa and the system stream SSb.
The video packet sequence V of bv is shown.

Ga in the first row is the video stream S
FIG. 27 shows how data is input / output to / from the video buffer 2600 when Sav and the video stream SSbv are input to the DVD decoder DCD shown in FIG.

In the figure, Tvae is the input end time of the video stream SSav into the video buffer 2600, and Taae is the input end time of the audio stream SSaa into the audio buffer 2800.

The system stream SSa is the video stream SSav when it is input to the DVD decoder DCD.
And input end times Tvae and T of the audio stream SSaa to the buffers 2600 and 2800, respectively.
The difference in aae is small and is less than or equal to the reproduction time of two audio frames. Therefore, the last audio pack A can be stored in the audio buffer 2800 before the input of the video stream and the audio stream of the next system stream is started, and the buffer input of the next system stream is not disturbed.

Similarly, the system stream SSb is D
The difference between the start times of inputting the video stream SSbv and the audio stream SSba into the buffers 2600 and 2800 when input to the VD decoder DCD is small and is less than the reproduction time of two audio frames. Note that the Ga, Gb, Gc, Gd, and Ge are arranged with reference to the same time axis (T direction).

FIG. 45 shows the video buffer 2 when the system stream SSa and the system stream SSb (FIG. 44) recorded on the optical disc M are connected and continuously reproduced.
The input / output state of 600 data is shown.

At the first stage, the video stream SSa and the video stream SSb of this embodiment are continuously DV-processed.
Video buffer 26 when input to D decoder DCD
00 data input / output is shown. Further, as in FIGS. 39, 41, and 44, the vertical axis represents the data occupation amount Vdv in the video buffer 2600, and the horizontal axis represents the time T. The diagonal lines in the figure indicate the respective video streams SSav and Sav.
The occupied amount of Sbv in the video buffer 2600 is shown. The slope of the slanted line indicates the input rate to the video buffer 2600. In the figure, a portion where the data occupation amount Vdv in the video buffer 2600 is reduced indicates that data consumption, that is, decoding is performed. Shows.

The second row shows the video packet sequence of the video stream SSa and the video stream SSb shown in FIG.

The third row shows the system stream S of this example.
Sa and system stream SSb are shown. Time T1 indicates the input end time of the last video packet V1 of the system stream SSa, time T2 indicates the input start time of the first video packet V2 of the system stream SSb, and time Td indicates the first decode time of the video stream SSb. Shows.

The buffers 2600 and 28 of the video stream SSav and the audio stream SSaa, respectively, which compose the system stream SSa of this embodiment.
Since the difference in the input end time to 00 is reduced by the system stream creating method shown in FIG. 46, the audio packet A at the end of the system stream SSa.
Does not interfere with the input of the system stream SSb. Therefore, the difference between the input end time T1 of the last video packet V1 of the system stream SSa and the input start time T2 of the first video packet V2 of the system stream SSb is small, and from the input start time T2 of the video packet V2 to the video stream S2.
The time until the first decoding time Td of Sbv is sufficient, and underflow of the video buffer does not occur at time Td.

Therefore, when the system stream SSa and the system stream SSb of this embodiment are connected to perform continuous reproduction, unlike the system stream shown in FIG. 41, the audio buffer does not overflow at the end of the system stream, That is, since the input of the video encode stream of the next system stream is not disturbed, seamless playback can be realized.

Next, with reference to FIG. 46, a first creating method for creating the first common system stream SSa and the subsequent second common system stream SSb will be described. Also in this figure, as in FIG. 44, the optical disc M is used.
The structure of the end of the preceding common system stream SSa and the structure of the beginning of the following common system stream SSb recorded in FIG.

The first row corresponds to Ga in FIG. 44 and corresponds to the video stream SSav in the video buffer 2600.
FIG. 11 is a diagram simulating data input / output of a video stream SSbv. Time T1 indicates the input end time of all data of the video stream SSav.

The second row corresponds to Gb in FIG. 44 and shows how the video data is packetized.

The third row corresponds to Gc in FIG. 44 and is a diagram in which the input and output of the audio stream SSaa and the audio stream SSba in the audio buffer 2800 are simulated.

The fourth row corresponds to Gd in FIG. 44 and shows how audio data is packetized.

The fifth row corresponds to Ge in FIG. 44, and the video packet V shown in the second row of the figure and the audio packet A shown in the fourth row are interleaved and packed. The following shows how the system stream was created. The interleaving of the video packet and the audio packet is based on the order of the input time to the buffer of each of the video and audio, and is multiplexed interleaving. That is, the packed data is multiplexed based on the time when the data in the pack is input to each of the video and audio buffers.

The method for creating the first common system stream and the subsequent second system stream will be described below.

For example, if the video bit rate is 8 Mbp
s, the video buffer size is 224 kilobytes, the audio buffer size is 4 kilobytes, and the audio data is AC-3, 384 kbps. AC-3
Since the playback time of one audio frame is 32 msec, the data size of one audio frame is 1536.
It is a byte, and the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer is 2.

With reference to the input end time T1 of the video encode stream SSav to the video buffer 2600, at time T1, the audio frame data after the audio frame is moved to the audio stream SSba so that one audio frame is accumulated in the audio buffer. To do. This will be described in detail based on the simulation result shown in the third row of this figure.

That is, at the time T1, the second audio frame (data amount 1536 bytes) of the audio encode stream SSaa is accumulated in the audio buffer (4 kB capacity), and the third to sixth subsequent frames. The audio frames surrounded by the frame Ma up to the first frame are moved to the beginning of the subsequent audio encoded stream SSba. The reason why the audio encoded stream is moved in units of audio frames is that the audio frame is a unit for reproduction.

After the above processing, the video encoded stream SSav is packetized as shown in the second row of the figure, and the audio encoded stream SSaa is packetized as shown in the fourth row of the figure. As shown in the fifth row of the figure, the video packets V and the audio packets A are uniformly distributed among the video packets on the basis of the earliest input time to the buffers 2600 and 2800. Then, multiplexed interleaving (multiplexing) is performed, and packing and system streaming are performed and recording is performed on the optical disc.

Similarly, as shown in the second row of this figure, the video stream SSbv is packetized, and as shown in the fourth row of this figure, the audio stream SSba is packetized, and the fifth stream of this figure is shown. As shown in the upper row, the video packet and the audio packet are multiplexed and interleaved so that the audio packets are evenly distributed among the video packets on the basis of the earliest input time to each buffer. The system stream is created and recorded on the optical disc.

The system stream SSa and system stream SSb created by the above method have the data structure shown in FIG. 44, and the DVD decoder D shown in FIG.
Seamless playback can be realized on a CD.

Since the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer is 2, the last SSa audio frame stored in the audio buffer at time T1 is within 2 frame playback time before the decoding time of the audio frame. Is transmitted as the last audio packet of SSa. Therefore, the difference between the input end times of the video packet and the audio packet at the end of SSa is at most 2 audio frame reproduction time.

If the next audio data is input to the audio buffer before the display end time of the audio frame accumulated in the audio buffer at time T2, the audio buffer underflow does not occur. The input time of the audio packet is within 2 audio frame reproduction time (= display time of accumulated audio frame + 1 audio frame reproduction time) after time T2 at the latest. Therefore, the difference between the input start times of the video packet and the audio packet at the beginning of SSb is at most 2 audio frame reproduction times.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a method 2 of creating a system stream recorded on the optical disk of this embodiment. In the figure, the first stage, the second stage, the third stage, the fourth stage, and the fifth stage are arranged with reference to the same time axis (T direction), and are similar to FIG. First, the input / output of each of the video data and the audio data in the buffer is simulated.

The first row corresponds to Ga in FIG. 44 and is a diagram simulating the data input / output of the video stream SSa and the video stream SSb in the video buffer.

The second row corresponds to Gb in FIG. 44 and shows a state in which video data is packetized.

The third one corresponds to Gc in FIG. 44 and is a diagram in which the input / output of the audio stream SSa and the audio stream SSb in the audio buffer is simulated.

The fourth row shows how Gd in FIG. 44 is applied and the audio data is packetized.

The fifth level corresponds to Ge in FIG. 44 and shows a state in which the video packet shown in the second level and the audio packet shown in the fourth level are multiplexed and packed into a system stream. FIG. The multiplexing of video packets and audio packets is based on the earliest input time to the buffer of each video and audio. As mentioned above, FIG.
The common system stream SSa and the subsequent second common system stream SSb can be created by the first creating method described with reference to FIG.

Next, with reference to FIG. 47, a method for further creating the first common system stream SSa and the subsequent second common system stream SSb, that is, a method different from the method described with reference to FIG. The method will be described.

In the first creating method described above, the part of the audio encode stream is moved from the preceding system stream to the subsequent system stream, but in the second creating method described in this stage, It is characterized by moving encoded streams of video and audio from the stream. This method is particularly effective when the preceding scene is a multi-scene section scene, that is, when it is very difficult to move the encoded stream of one scene from a plurality of scenes.

According to this method, the video stream SSbv
The first GOP is moved to the video stream SSav. In the video stream SSav, the IGOP moved from the video stream SSbv is transferred to the video stream Sav.
Connect to the end of Sav so as to be continuous in time. next,
The second GOP from the beginning of the video stream SSbv (the second GOP including the previously moved GOP),
With reference to the input start time T2 of the first decoded data, at time T2, audio data up to the audio frame is stored in the audio buffer so that one audio frame is stored in the audio buffer.
Move to Saa.

In the audio stream SSaa, the data of the audio frame moved from the audio stream SSba is connected to the end of the audio stream SSaa so as to be continuous in time.

The moving of the video data is performed in GOP units because the GOP is a unit for playback as described above. Similarly, the moving of the audio data is performed in units of audio frames. Is the unit of reproduction.

After the above processing, as shown in the second row, the video stream SSav is packetized, as shown in the fourth row, the audio stream SSaa is packetized, and as shown in the fifth row. , Video packets and audio packets are multiplexed based on the earliest input time of each buffer so that the audio packets are evenly distributed among the video packets, packed and system streamed to an optical disc. Record.

Similarly, as shown in the second row, the video stream SSbv is packetized, and as shown in the fourth row, the audio stream SSba is packetized,
As shown in the fifth row, video packets and audio packets are packed and multiplexed based on the earliest input time to each buffer so that the audio packets are evenly distributed among the video packets. And system stream conversion is performed and recorded on the optical disc.

The system stream SSa and system stream SSb created by the above method have the data structure shown in FIG.
Seamless playback can be realized on a CD.

[0510] Also, since the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer is 2, the last SSa audio frame stored in the audio buffer at time T1 is within 2 frame playback time before the decoding time of the audio frame. Is transmitted as the last audio packet of SSa. Therefore, the difference between the input end times of the video packet and the audio packet at the end of SSa is at most 2 audio frame reproduction time.

[0511] Also, if the next audio data is input to the audio buffer by the display end time of the audio frame accumulated in the audio buffer at time T2, the underflow of the audio buffer does not occur, so that the first stream in the system stream SSb is The input time of the audio packet is within 2 audio frame reproduction time (= display time of accumulated audio frame + 1 audio frame reproduction time) after time T2 at the latest. Therefore, the difference between the input start times of the video packet and the audio packet at the beginning of SSb is at most 2 audio frame reproduction times.

The following embodiments of the present invention relate to connection of system streams by branching obtained.

[0513] The physical structure of the optical disk, the data structure of the entire optical disk, and the DVD decoder DC in this embodiment.
Since D has been described in the related art, the description is omitted here.

In the present embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, description will be given using only one video stream and one audio stream.

[0515] Fig. 48 shows the end of the second common system stream SSb recorded on the optical disc of this embodiment and the parental system stream S connected thereto.
It is a figure which shows the structure of each head of Sc and SSd.

In the figure, the common system stream S
Sb and parental system stream SSc and SS
One of d is arranged with reference to the same time axis (horizontal direction) as in the case of the above-mentioned FIG. 46, for example. Each of the system streams SSb, SSc, and SSd represents the following contents, as in FIG.

The fifth level shows the structure of the system stream SSb, the system stream SSc, and the system stream SSd of this embodiment. The system stream SSb is composed of a video stream SSbv and an audio stream SSba, the system stream SSc is composed of a video stream SScv and an audio stream SSca, and the system stream SSd is composed of a video stream SSdv and an audio stream SSda.

The fourth row shows audio stream SSb extracted from system stream SSb, system stream SSc and system stream SSd.
a shows audio packet strings of audio stream SSca and audio stream SSda.

[0519] The third row shows the audio stream SSb.
a and audio stream SSca and audio stream SSda to DVD decoder D similar to the conventional one.
The data input / output in the audio buffer 2800 when inputting to CD is shown.

The second row shows the video stream SSbv, the video stream SScv, and the video stream S extracted from the system stream SSb, the system stream SSc, and the system stream SSd.
The video packet sequence of Sdv is shown.

The first row shows data input / output in the video buffer when the video stream SSbv, the video stream SScv and the video stream SSdv are input to the DVD decoder DCD similar to the conventional one.

[0522] In the system stream SSc and the system stream SSd head, several audio frames at the head of the audio stream SSca and several audio frames at the head of the audio stream SSda are audio of the same content.

[0523] Further, as shown in the figure, the system stream SSb, when input to the DVD decoder DCD,
The difference between the input end times of the video stream SSbv and the audio stream SSba in the respective buffers is small, and is at most 2 audio frame reproduction time or less.

[0524] Further, the system stream SSc, when input to the DVD decoder DCD as shown in the figure,
The difference between the input start times of the video stream SScv and the audio stream SSca into the buffers 2600 and 2800 is small, and is at most the reproduction time of two audio frames or less.

[0525] Further, as shown in the figure, the system stream SSd, when input to the DVD decoder DCD,
The difference between the input start times of the video stream SSdv and the audio stream SSda into the respective buffers is small, and is a maximum of the reproduction time of two audio frames or less.

The data input / output of the video buffer at the time of continuous reproduction by connecting the system stream SSb and the system stream SSc or the system stream SSd of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 48 is the same as in FIG. 44, that is, FIG. 48 corresponds to the system stream SSb in FIG. 48, and the system stream SSb in FIG. 44 corresponds to the system stream SSc or system stream SSd in FIG.

Also, the system stream SSb and the system stream SSd are shown in FIG.
The same is true when continuous playback is performed using D, and underflow of the video buffer does not occur. Therefore, when the system stream SSb of the present embodiment is connected to the system stream SSc or the system stream SSd for continuous reproduction, seamless reproduction can be realized.

Further, the system stream S of this embodiment
The method of creating Sb, the system stream SSc, and the system stream SSd is the same as the method shown in FIG.

System stream SSb and system stream SS created based on the method shown in FIG.
c and the system stream SSd have the data structure shown in FIG. 48, and seamless reproduction can be realized in the DVD decoder DCD shown in FIG.

[0530] Further, as described in the movement of the audio frame in Fig. 46, the difference between the input end time of the video packet at the end of SSb and the input end time of the audio packet is at most 2 audio frame playback time, and the difference between the video packet and the audio at the beginning of SSc and SSd is The difference between the packet input start times is at most 2 audio frame playback times.

[0531] Also, when an audio frame moving from the audio stream SSba is connected to the moving destination audio stream SSca and audio stream SSda, audio reproduction is stopped, that is, by connecting with an audio reproduction gap, each reproduction path The difference between different video play time and audio play time is in a system stream that is not shared between different PGCs,
Since the correction can be performed based on the reproduction gap information described above, it is possible to prevent the processing between system streams connected before and after the influence from being affected.

[0532] Fig. 49 is a diagram showing the difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time which differs for each reproduction path in this embodiment. In the figure, Tb is the time difference between the playback end times of the video and audio at the end of the common part between the adult title and the minor title before audio movement, and Tc is the video at the beginning of the adult title before audio movement. And Td is the time difference between the reproduction start times of the audio and Td is the time difference between the reproduction start times of the video and the audio at the beginning of the minor title before the audio movement.

It is possible to match the time difference between the reproduction start times of video and audio of at least one reproduction path between the different reproduction paths after branching to the time difference between the reproduction end times of video and audio before branching.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that Tb = Tc and Tb <Td and will be described below.

In the adult title after branching, Tb = Tc
Therefore, the audio frame moved from the common part of the entry title and the child title is connected to the beginning of the adult title without an audio reproduction gap.

After the connection, the system stream SSb and the system stream SSc are the first of the system encode streams of the present invention which accompany the transfer of audio data from the system stream SSb to the system stream SSc in order to enable seamless reproduction at the time of connection. In the creation method of No. 1, system stream conversion is performed.

The procedure for creating a system stream is shown in FIG.
The system streams SSa and SSb in FIG. 49 are replaced with the system streams SSb and SSc in FIG.

For minor titles after branching, Tb <T
Since it is d, the audio frame moved from the common part of the adult title and the minor title is set to Td-Tb.
Just connect to the beginning of the minor title with an audio playback gap.

After the connection, the system stream SSb and the system stream SSd are the first of the system encode streams of the present invention which accompanies the transfer of audio data from the system stream SSb to the system stream SSd in order to enable seamless reproduction at the time of connection. In the creation method of No. 1, system stream conversion is performed.

The procedure for creating a system stream is shown in FIG.
Since the system streams SSa and SSb in FIG. 49 are replaced with the system streams SSb and SSd in FIG. 49 to create a system stream, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

At this time, packetization is performed so that audio frames before and after the audio reproduction gap do not fit in the same packet. As a result, the playback start time of the audio frame immediately after the audio playback gap is A-
It becomes possible to specify PTS (playback start time of an audio frame including the audio playback stop time) in the system stream.

Further, since the packet having the audio frame immediately before the audio reproduction gap has a small size inevitably, a padding packet is used to fit a fixed length of 2048 bytes per pack when packed.

Regarding the audio reproduction gap existing in the system stream SSd of this embodiment, the audio reproduction stop time 1 (VO) in the nab pack NV shown in FIG.
B _- A _- STP _- PTM1) describes the audio frame playback end time immediately before the audio playback gap of the child title, and the audio playback stop time 1 (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN1) in the DSI packet describes the audio playback gap time. Describe Td-Tb to insert audio reproduction gap information in the system stream.

If there is no audio reproduction gap, it is possible to identify that there is no audio reproduction gap by describing "0" in the audio reproduction stop time 1.

By the above processing, the time difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time which is different for each reproduction path can be the audio reproduction gap in the system stream which is not shared between different PGCs.

Also, by describing the information regarding the audio reproduction gap in the nab pack NV which is the reproduction control information, it is possible to store all the information regarding the audio reproduction gap and the information regarding the audio reproduction gap in one system stream.

Also, since the audio reproduction gap and the audio reproduction gap information are contained in one system stream, the audio reproduction gap can be moved within the system stream. As a result, the audio reproduction gap can be moved to a place such as a silent portion where there is little hearing loss, and more seamless connection reproduction can be realized.

Next, FIG. 50 shows a detailed block diagram of the system encoder 900 in the DVD encoder EDC shown in FIG. 25 for creating the system stream described above.

FIG. 50 shows a detailed structure of the system encoder 900 shown in FIG. System encoder 90
0 is an elementary stream storage device 3301 for storing moving images, sub-pictures and audio data, a video analyzer 3302 for simulating the buffer state of moving images, a sub-picture analyzer 3308 for simulating the buffer state of sub-pictures, An audio analyzer 3303 that simulates an audio buffer state, a movement amount calculator 3304 that calculates the number of audio moving frames, and a packetizer 3305 that packetizes moving images, subpictures, and audio.
And a multiplexer 3306 that determines the row of packets
And a packer 3307 that packs packets and creates a system stream.

Elementary stream store 3301
Is connected to the video stream buffer 400, the sub-picture stream buffer 600, and the audio stream buffer 800 shown in FIG. 26, and stores an elementary stream. Furthermore, the elementary stream storage device 3301 is further connected to the packetizer 3305.

Similarly, the video analyzer 3302 is connected to the video stream buffer 400, receives the supply of the video encode stream St27, simulates the buffer state of the moving image, and calculates the simulation result as the movement amount calculator 3304 and the multiplexer. 3306
Supply to. Similarly, the audio analyzer 3303 is connected to the audio stream buffer 800, receives the supply of the audio encoded stream St31, and simulates the audio buffer state.
The simulation result is supplied to the movement amount calculator 3304 and the multiplexer 3306. On the other hand, the sub-picker analyzer 3308 uses the sub-picture stream buffer 60.
It is connected to 0, receives the supply of the timed sub-picture encode stream St29, simulates the buffer state of the sub-picture, and supplies the simulation result to the movement amount calculator 3304 and the multiplexer 3306.

The moving amount calculator 3304 calculates the moving amount of audio (the number of audio frames) and the audio reproduction gap information based on these simulated buffer states, and outputs the calculation result to the packetizer 330.
5 and the multiplexer 3306. The movement amount calculator 3304 calculates the movement amount MFApl of audio data from the preceding scene, the movement amount MFAp2 of audio data to the preceding scene, the movement amount MGVp of video data of 1 GOP to the preceding scene, and the video of 1 GOP of the succeeding scene. The data movement amount MGVf, the audio data movement amount MFAfl to the subsequent scene, and the audio data movement amount MFAf2 to the subsequent scene are calculated.

The packetizer 3305 is the movement amount calculator 3
According to the audio movement amount calculated by 304, a video packet, a sub-picture packet, and an audio packet are created and reproduced from the moving image, the sub-picture, and the audio data stored in the elementary stream storage 3301, respectively. Nab pack NV which is control information is also created. At this time, the audio reproduction gap is described in the nab pack NV.

The multiplexer 3306 uses the moving amount calculator 3 based on the video and audio buffer states simulated by the video analyzer 3302 and the audio analyzer 3303 and the audio reproduction gap information.
304 performs reordering of video packets, audio packets, and nabupack NV, that is, performs multiplexing. The packing means 3307 packs the packets and adds a system header to create a system stream.

The operation of the system encoder 900 in this embodiment described above will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

[0555] This embodiment relates to connection of system streams by combining. Physical structure of optical disk, data structure of entire optical disk, DV in this embodiment
Since the D decoder DCD has already been described, the description is omitted here.

In this embodiment, for simplicity, only one video stream and one audio stream will be used for description.

FIG. 51 shows parental system streams SSc and SS recorded on the optical disc M of this embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the structure of the end of d and the head of the following common system stream system stream SSe. Also in the case of this figure, it is basically the same as the case where the parental stream is the succeeding scene described above with reference to FIG.

In the figure, one of the parental system streams SSc and SSd and the common system stream SSe are arranged with the same time axis (horizontal direction) as a reference. System stream SSb, SS
Each of c and SSd represents the following contents as in FIG. 46.

The fifth level shows the structure of the system stream SSc, the system stream SSd, and the system stream SSe of this embodiment. The system stream SSc is composed of the video stream SScv and the audio stream SSca, and the system stream SSd. Is composed of a video stream SSdv and an audio stream SSda, and the system stream SSe is composed of a video stream SSev and an audio stream SSea.

The fourth row shows audio stream SSc extracted from system stream SSc, system stream SSd and system stream SSe.
a shows audio packet strings of audio stream SSda and audio stream SSea.

The third row shows the audio stream SSc.
a and audio stream SSda and audio stream SSea to DVD decoder D similar to the conventional one.
It shows data input / output in the audio buffer when input to the CD.

The second row shows the video stream SScv, video stream SSdv, and video stream S extracted from the system stream SSc, system stream SSd, and system stream SSe.
The video packet sequence of Sev is shown.

The first row shows data input / output in the video buffer when the video stream SScv, the video stream SSdv and the video stream SSev are input to the DVD decoder DCD similar to the conventional one.

[0564] At the end of the system stream SSc and the system stream SSd, at least the IGOP at the end of the video stream SScv and the video stream S
IGOP at the end of Sdv is a moving image with the same content.

At the end of the system stream SSc and the system stream SSd, several audio frames at the end of the audio stream SSca and several audio frames at the end of the audio stream SSda are
The audio has the same content.

Also, the system stream SSc, when input to the DVD decoder DCD, as shown in the figure,
The difference between the input end times of the video stream SScv and the audio stream SSca in the buffers is small, and is at most 2 audio frame reproduction time or less.

Further, the system stream SSd, when input to the DVD decoder DCD, as shown in the figure,
The difference between the input end times of the video stream SSdv and the audio stream SSda in the buffers is small, which is at most 2 audio frame reproduction times or less.

[0568] Further, as shown in the figure, the system stream SSe, when input to the DVD decoder DCD,
The difference between the input start times of the video stream SSev and the audio stream SSea to the respective buffers is small, and even the most dog is less than two audio frame reproduction times.

The data input / output of the video buffer at the time of continuous reproduction by connecting the system stream SSc or the system stream SSd and the system stream SSe of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 51 is the same as in FIG. 44, that is, FIG. 51 is the system stream SSc or the system stream SS of FIG.
4 corresponds to the system stream SSb in FIG.
8 corresponds to the system stream SSe.

Therefore, when the system stream SSc or the system stream SSd of this embodiment and the system stream SSe are connected to perform continuous reproduction, seamless reproduction can be realized.

Further, the system stream S of this embodiment is
As the method of creating Sc, the system stream SSd, and the system stream SSe, the second creating method shown in FIG. 47 is applied. System stream SSa of FIG. 47
51 as the system streams SSc and SSd, the system stream SSb in FIG. 47 can be replaced with the system stream SSe in FIG. 51 to similarly create system streams. The method of generating the system stream is the same as the method already described with reference to FIG.

The system stream SSc, system stream SSd, and system stream SSe created by the above method have the data structure shown in FIG. 51, and seamless reproduction can be realized in the DVD decoder DCD shown in FIG.

Also, as described in the audio frame movement in FIG. 46, the difference between the input end times of the video packet and the audio packet at the end of SSc and SSd is at most 2 audio frame playback time, and the difference between the video packet and the audio at the beginning of SSe is the audio packet. The difference between the packet input start times is at most 2 audio frame playback times.

[0574] In addition, the audio frame moving from the audio stream SSea is set to the destination audio stream SSca and audio stream SSda.
When connecting to, the audio playback is stopped, that is, by connecting with an audio playback gap, the difference between the video playback time and the audio playback time that is different between the playback paths is confined in the system stream that is not shared between different PGCs. Is possible.

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing the difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time which differs for each reproduction path in this embodiment. In the figure, Te is the time difference between the playback start times of the video and audio at the beginning of the common portion of the adult title and the minor title before moving the audio, and Tc ′ is the end of the adult title before moving the audio. It is the time difference between the reproduction end times of the video and audio, and Td ′ is the time difference between the reproduction end times of the video and audio at the end of the minor title before the audio movement.

It is possible to match the time difference between the reproduction start times of the video and audio of at least one reproduction path between the different reproduction paths before the combination with the time difference between the reproduction start times of the video and the audio after the combination.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that Te = Tc 'and Te <Td', and the following description will be given.

[0577] In the adult title before combination, Te = Tc
Therefore, the audio frame moved from the common part of the adult title and the minor title is connected to the end of the minor title without an audio reproduction gap.
After connection, system stream conversion is performed as shown in the figure.

[0578] For a minor title before combination, Td '<
Since it is Te, the audio frame that moves from the common part of the adult title and the minor title is Te-T
Connect to the end of the children's title with an audio playback gap of d'only.

After connection, the system stream SSc, the system stream SSd, and the system stream SSe
In order to enable seamless reproduction at the time of connection, the second method of creating the system encode stream of the present invention involving the movement of the video encode stream and audio data from the system stream SSe to the system stream SSc and the system stream SSd is performed. , Perform system stream conversion.

The procedure for creating a system stream is shown in FIG.
System stream SSa of FIG. 51 and system stream S of FIG. 47.
Since Sb is replaced with the system stream SSe in FIG. 51 to create a system stream, the detailed description is omitted.

At this time, packetization is performed so that audio frames before and after the audio reproduction gap do not fit in the same packet. As a result, the playback start time of the audio frame immediately after the audio playback gap is A-
It becomes possible to specify PTS (playback start time of an audio frame including the audio playback stop time) in the system stream. Further, the packet having the audio frame immediately before the audio reproduction gap has a small size inevitably. Therefore, when packed, a padding packet is used to adjust the fixed length of 2048 bytes per pack.

[0582] For audio reproduction gap existing system stream d of the present embodiment, audio reproduction stopping time 2 in the navigation pack NV shown in Fig. 20 (VOB _-
A _- STP _- PTM2) describes the audio frame playback end time immediately before the audio playback gap of the child title, and the audio playback stop time 2 in the DS1 packet.
The audio reproduction gap time Te-Td 'is described in (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN2), and the audio reproduction gap information is inserted into the system stream.

When there is no audio reproduction gap, it is possible to identify that there is no audio reproduction gap by describing "0" in the audio reproduction stop time 2.

By the above processing, the time difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time which differs for each reproduction path can be set as the audio reproduction gap in the system stream which is not shared between different PGCs.

Also, by describing the information regarding the audio reproduction gap in the nab pack NV which is the reproduction control information, it is possible to store all the information regarding the audio reproduction gap and the information regarding the audio reproduction gap in one system stream.

Also, by storing the audio reproduction gap and the audio reproduction gap information in one system stream, the audio reproduction gap can be moved in the system stream. As a result, the audio playback gap can be moved to a place where there is little hearing loss, such as a silent section, enabling seamless data playback that prevents the audio buffer from underflowing, and ensuring data continuity. It is also possible to enable seamless playback of audio, which is important for

The system stream creation described above is a detailed block diagram in the system encoder 900 in the DVD encoder EDC shown in FIG.
Is created as described above.

Next, the system stream generation flow described above will be described below with reference to the sub-flow of the system encoder of step # 2200 in the DVD encoder flow of FIG. Flowchart of System Encoder The operation of the system encoder will be described with reference to FIG.

In step # 307002, the preceding VOB is
The connection condition with the preceding scene is evaluated based on the seamless connection flag VOB _- Fsb. If it is determined that the connection with the preceding scene is a non-seamless connection, that is, VOB _- Fsb ≠ 1, the process proceeds to step # 307010.

In step # 307010, the moving amount calculator 3304 of FIG. 50 sets the moving amount MFApl of the audio data from the preceding scene, that is, the number of moving audio frames, to "0" based on the information of VOB _- Fsb ≠ 1. Then, the process proceeds to step # 307014.

In one step # 307002, the connection with the preceding scene is seamless, that is, VOB _- Fsb =
If it is determined to be 1, the process proceeds to step # 307004.

At step # 307004, it is evaluated whether the preceding scene is a multi-scene. If the preceding scene is not a multi-scene, proceed to step # 307012,
If the preceding scene is a multi-scene, step # 3070
Proceed to 06.

[0593] In Step # 307012, the moving amount MFApl of the audio data from the preceding scene is calculated,
Go to step # 307014. A method of calculating the moving amount MFApl of the audio data in this step will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 54 after each step # in this flowchart.

[0594] In step # 307006, the moving amount MGVp of the video data for the IGOP to the preceding scene is calculated, and the flow advances to step # 307008. When the preceding scene is a multi-scene, it is impossible to arbitrarily calculate the moving amount of the audio data as in step # 37012 described above. Therefore, 1G from the beginning of the scene to the preceding scene
The moving amount of the video data for OP is calculated.

[0595] In step # 307008, the audio data movement amount MFAp2 to the preceding scene is calculated, and the flow advances to step # 307014. Regarding the method of calculating the moving amount MFAp2 of the audio data in this step, after the description of each step # in this flowchart,
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In step # 307014, the succeeding VOB is
Based on the seamless connection flag VOB _- Fsf, it is evaluated whether or not the subsequent scene is seamlessly connected. If it is not seamlessly connected to the subsequent scene, that is, if VOB _- Fsf ≠ 1, the process proceeds to step # 307022. On the other hand, if it is seamlessly connected to the succeeding scene, that is, if VOB _- Fsf = 1, the process proceeds to step # 307016.

At step # 307022, the movement amount calculator 3304 of FIG. 50 sets the movement amount MFAfl of the audio data to the succeeding scene to "0" based on the information of VOB _- Fsf ≠ 1, and proceeds to step # 307026.

At step # 307016, it is evaluated whether the succeeding scene is a multi-scene based on the multi-scene flag VOB _- Fp. If the subsequent scene is a non-multi-scene, that is, VOB _- Fp ≠ 1, step # 30
Proceed to 7024. The following scene is a multi-scene, that is, V
If OB _- Fp = 1, the process proceeds to step # 307018.

At step # 307024, the moving amount MFAfl of the audio data to the succeeding scene is calculated,
Go to step # 307026. The method of calculating the amount of movement of audio data to the subsequent scene in this step is the same as the method performed in step # 307021.

In step # 307018, the moving amount MGVf of IGOP's worth of video data from the subsequent scene is calculated, and the flow advances to step # 307020.

At step # 307020, the moving amount MFAf2 of the audio data from the succeeding scene is calculated, and the process proceeds to step # 307026. The method of calculating the amount of movement of audio data from the subsequent scene in this step is the same as the method performed in step # 307008.

In step # 307026, the audio reproduction stop time 1VOB _- A _- STP _- PTM1 and the audio reproduction stop period 1VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN1 are calculated from the audio and video end times of the preceding scene, and the flow advances to step # 307028. move on.

At step # 307028, the audio reproduction stop time 2VOB _- A _- STP _- PTM2 and the audio reproduction stop period 2VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN2 are calculated from the audio and video start times of the subsequent scenes, and the process proceeds to step # 307030. move on.

In step # 307030, the audio data including the moving amount of the audio is packetized,
Go to step # 307032.

[0605] In step # 307032, the video data including the moving amount is packetized, and the process proceeds to step # 307034.

[0606] In step # 306034, the nab pack NV is generated to record the audio stop time 1, the audio stop time 1, the audio stop time 2 and the audio stop period 2, and the process proceeds to step # 307036.

At step # 307036, the multiplexing process of the video pack V, the audio pack A and the nabu pack NV is performed.

As described above, depending on the connection conditions before and after, the video and audio data are moved between scenes and system encoding is performed.

Referring to FIG. 54, step # 30701
2 will be described in detail. video1 is a DVD decoder DC
The transition of the video buffer amount at the end of the preceding scene in the D video buffer 2600 is shown. video2
Is also the video buffer 26 at the beginning of the scene.
00 shows the transition of the buffer amount.

Note that video1 and video2 respectively show the state of the video buffer before connection. VDT
S indicates the time of the first decoding in video2. tv
Is the time when the transfer of video 2 is started, and can be calculated by the following formula 1. Note that in Expression 1, vbv _- delay defines the time from the start of input to the video buffer to the start of decoding, and if vbv _- delay time is passed after start of input to the video buffer, It can be guaranteed that the video buffer does not fail (underflow) in the subsequent decoding processing.

Tv = VDTS ₋ vbv ₋ delay (Equation 1) audio1 indicates the state of audio frame transfer at the end of the preceding scene, and is af1, af2, af3, af4.
Indicates an audio frame included in audio1. Here, an audio frame is a unit of processing for encoding, and is composed of audio data for a fixed time (Af).

[0612] audio2 shows the state of transfer of the audio frame at the beginning of the scene, and af5 and af6 are
An audio frame included in audio2 is shown.

APTS indicates the time at which the audio of audio2 is first reproduced.

In the figure, the audio frames (af3, af4) transferred from the time tv to the time APTS period, that is, the number of audio frames (Amove) MFApl belonging to audio1 transferred after the start of the transfer of video2 is expressed by the following formula. Calculated based on 2.

Move = (APTS-tv-Af) / Af Equation 2 In this way, the moving amount (the number of audio frames) of the audio data from the preceding scene is calculated.

Referring to FIG. 55, step # 30700.
8 will be described in detail. video1 is shown in FIG. 54 described above.
Similarly, the transition of the video buffer amount at the end of the preceding scene is shown. video2 shows the transition of the video buffer amount at the beginning of the scene. It should be noted that video 1 and video 2 each show the state of the video buffer before connection. VDTS indicates the time of the first decoding in video2. GOP _- move is the above step # 307006.
The video data GMVp is the video data GMVp for IGOP.
tv is GOP _- a time to start the transfer of video2 after moving the move amount of the GOP can be calculated on the over will.

[0617] audio1 indicates the state of transfer of audio frames at the end of the preceding scene.
2, af3, and af4 indicate audio frames included in audio1. Here, an audio frame is a unit of processing for encoding, and is composed of audio data for a fixed time (Af).

[0618] audio2 indicates the state of transfer of the audio frame at the beginning of the scene, and includes af5, af6,
af7 indicates an audio frame included in audio2.

APTS indicates the time at which the audio2 audio is first reproduced.

In the figure, audio frames (af5, af6, af) transferred from time APTS to time tv are shown.
7) That, GOP _- move amount of the GOP after moving
The number of audio frames (Amove) MFApl belonging to audio2, which is transferred before the transfer of video2 is started, is calculated based on Equation 3 below.

Move = (tv-APTS + 2Af) / Af (Equation 3) As described above, the moving amount (the number of audio frames) of the audio data to the preceding scene is calculated. Audio Gap Playback Processing The basic configuration of the DVD decoder DCD used in this embodiment is as shown in FIG. 26, but the synchronization control unit 2900 has a configuration for processing an audio playback gap as shown in FIG. 3073. .

FIG. 56 shows a detailed block diagram of the synchronization control unit 2900 of FIG. 26 in the present invention. In the figure,
The synchronization control unit 2900 includes an STC generation unit 2950, an audio decoder control unit 2952, and an audio decoder control information storage unit 2954.

STC generation unit 2950 generates STC which is a reference clock for decoding control, based on the SCR value set by decoding system control unit 2300.

The audio decoder control unit 2952 determines whether the S
Based on the STC value from the TC generation unit 2950 and the control information from the audio decoding control information storage unit 2954,
The decoding start and stop of the audio decoder 3200 are controlled.

Audio decoder control information storage section 295
4, the audio decoding control information _(VOB set by the decoding system controller 2300 _- A _- STP _-
Data values such as PTM, VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN) are stored.

The operation of the block structure for realizing the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 26 and 56.

Since the entire operation of the DVD decoder DCD of FIG. 26 has already been described, description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the processing according to the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 26, the decoding system control unit 2300 causes the audio reproduction stop time 1VOB _- A _- STP _- PTM in the DSI packet in the nab pack NV.
1. Audio playback stop time 1VOB _- A _- GAP _- L
EN1, audio playback stop time 2VOB _- A _- STP
_- PTM2, audio reproduction stopping time 2VOB _- A _- G
AP _- LEN2 is read out, and these four pieces of information are stored in the audio decoder reproduction stop information storage unit 2954 in the synchronization control unit 2900 as audio decoder reproduction stop information.

The audio decoder control unit 2954 has the S
The time of the TC generation unit 2950 is the audio decoder control information.
Stop audio playback stored in report storage unit 2954
Time 1VOB₋A₋STP₋In case of PTM1,
Stored in the audio decoder control information storage unit 2954
Audio decoding playback stop time 1VOB₋A ₋
GAP₋Stop audio decoder 3200 during LEN1
Stop it. Similarly, the time of the STC generation unit 2950 is over.
Stored in the Diodecoder control information storage unit 2954
Audio playback stop time 2VOB₋A₋STP₋PT
If M2, the audio decoder control information is stored
Audio decoding playback stop stored in section 2954
Stop time 2VOB₋A₋GAP₋Audio during LEN2
The decoder 3200 is stopped.

As described above, the synchronization control unit 2900 is set to ST
By configuring with the C generation unit 2950 and the audio decoder reproduction stop control unit 2952, it is possible to process the audio reproduction gap existing in the system stream in the multi-scene section at the time of connection with the common scene.

In the present invention, the audio reproduction gap is generated by the VOB6 and VOB corresponding to scenes 6 and 7 in the parental scene section in FIG.
It can occur on 7 or both.

Hereinafter, FIG. 60, FIG. 61, FIG. 62, FIG. 63,
The decoding process of the present invention in the decoding system control unit 2300 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 64, and the process of the audio decoder control unit 2952 in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 57.

FIG. 60 shows a DVD decoder DCD for DVD.
In step # 310, the title is extracted by the user's selection from the multimedia bitstream MBS in
At 214, the decoding system control unit 2300 extracts the program chain VTS _- PGC # i for reproducing the selected title, and at step # 310216, the program chain VTS _- PGC # i is reproduced based on the extracted program chain VTS _- PGC # I. Since the detailed description of FIG. 60 has already been given, it will be omitted.

FIG. 61 shows the reproduction of the program chain VTS _- PGC # I in step # 310216. In step # 31030, the decoding system table of FIG. 58 is set. Transfer processing to the stream buffer 2400 in step # 31032 and step # 31
The data decoding processing in the 034 stream buffer operates in parallel. Step # 31032 is processed based on the cell reproduction information C _- PBI # j. Since the detailed description of FIG. 61 has already been given, it will be omitted.

The details of the process of step # 31032, which is the process for each cell reproduction information C _- PBI # j, will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, in step # 31040, since the present embodiment is the parental control, step # 31044.
Proceed to. A detailed description of FIG. 62 has already been given, and will be omitted.

The processing in processing step # 31044 of a cell of non-multiangle, that is, parental control, will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, in step # 31050, since the parental control of seamless connection is arranged in the interleave block in this embodiment, the process proceeds to step # 31052. The detailed description of FIG. 63 has already been given, and will be omitted.

[0637] In Fig. 64, the processing in step # 31052.
Will be explained. In the figure, in step # 31062,
The DSI packet data in the Navpack NV data shown in 20
Audio playback stop time 1VOB₋A₋STP
₋PTM1, audio decoding playback stop time 1VOB
₋A₋GAP₋LEN1, audio playback stop time 2V
OB₋A₋STP₋PTM2, audio decoding playback
Stop time 2VOB₋A ₋GAP₋LEN2, the table
Extracted as data and further audio decoded in Figure 56
Stored in the control information storage unit 2954, and step # 3106
4 and continue the VOB data transfer, step # 3
At 1066, the interleaved blocks are interleaved.
-End processing when all leave units have been transferred
It

Next, the processing flow of the audio decoder control unit 2952 shown in FIG. 56 will be described with reference to FIG.

In step # 202301 in the figure, the audio decoder control unit 2952 reads the audio reproduction stop time 1 (VOB _- A _- STP _- PTMI) from the audio decoder control information storage unit 2954, and the STC generation unit 2950 outputs it. It is compared with the STC value, and if they match, that is, if “YES”, the process proceeds to step # 202302. On the other hand, if they do not match, that is, "NO", step # 202
Proceed to 303.

At step # 202302, the audio reproduction stop time 1 (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LENI) is read from the audio decoder control information storage unit 2954, and the audio decoder 3200 is stopped during this period.

At step # 202303, the audio decoder control unit 2952 stores the audio reproduction stop time 2 (VO) from the audio decoder control information storage unit 2954.
B _- A _- STP _- PTM2) is read and the STC value from the STC generator 2950 is compared to see if they match, and if they match, if they match, that is, if "YES", proceed to step # 202304. . On the other hand, if they do not match, that is, “NO”, step # 2023.
Return to 01.

At step # 202304, the audio reproduction stop time 2 (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN2) is read from the audio decoder control information storage unit 2954, and the audio decoder 3200 is stopped during this period.

As described above, the reproduction stop information (VOB _- A _- STP _- PT) of the audio decoder is added to the DSI packet in the nab pack NV data in the system stream.
M, VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN), and has a configuration including an audio decoder control unit 2952 and an audio decoder control information storage unit 2954 that controls the audio decoder according to the audio reproduction stop information.
VD decoder DCD, parental control scene,
That is, as shown in FIG. 30, it becomes possible to process an audio reproduction gap existing in a system stream that is not shared between different PGCs, and when a plurality of different system streams such as branch and join are connected to one system stream. It is possible to prevent the stop (freeze) of the video reproduction or the stop (mute) of the audio reproduction due to the underflow of the video buffer or the audio buffer that occurs.

In the present embodiment, the movement is performed in audio frame units. However, even if the movement is performed with the audio frame destroyed, similar effects can be obtained when the system stream is connected and continuous reproduction is performed. To be

In the creating method 2 of this embodiment,
I moved the video data in GOP units.
The same effect can be obtained by moving after breaking.

[0646] Also, the creation method 1 according to the present embodiment described above.
In the above, although only the audio data is moved, the same effect can be obtained by moving the pre-connection system stream including the video data to the post-connection system stream.

Further, although one video stream and one audio stream have been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not essentially limited.

[0648] Also, in the present embodiment, the case where stories branch and join, such as parental lock, has been described, but also in a multi-angle consisting of a plurality of video streams viewed from different viewpoint positions in the same story. Seamless playback is also possible on a multimedia optical disc in which the system stream configuration of this embodiment is recorded.

Also, in the present embodiment, when connecting from a plurality of system streams to one system stream, that is, in the case of connection, the creation method 2 of the present embodiment is used, but system streams that are not shared between different PGCs are used. When the same audio is used in between, the same effect can be obtained by using the creating method 1 of this embodiment.

Also, in the present embodiment, description has been made using a DVD, but the same effect can be obtained with other optical discs in which a system stream having a data structure similar to that of the present embodiment is recorded.

Also, in the present embodiment, as an interleaving method for video data and audio data, it is assumed that only the data used in the next decoding and the fraction by packet transfer (about 2 kilobytes) are input as audio data by the decoding time. However, the same effect can be obtained as long as the audio buffer does not overflow, that is, even when the video data and the audio data are interleaved so as to transfer the audio data.

Also, in this embodiment, the information of the audio reproduction gap generated at the branch portion is set as the audio reproduction stop time 1 (VOB _- A _- STP _- P) in the nab pack NV.
TM1) and the audio reproduction stopping time 1 (VOB _- A _-
GAP _- LEN1), but the information of the audio reproduction gap is recorded as audio reproduction stop time 2 (VOB _- A _- STP _- PTM2) and audio reproduction stop time 2 (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN) in the nab pack NV.
It may be recorded in 2).

Also, in this embodiment, the information of the audio reproduction gap generated at the coupling portion is set as the audio reproduction stop time 2 (VOB _- A _- STP _- P) in the nab pack NV.
TM2) and the audio reproduction stopping time 2 (VOB _- A _-
GAP _- LEN2), but the information of the audio reproduction gap is recorded as audio reproduction stop time 1 (VOB _- A _- STP _- PTM1) and audio reproduction stop time 1 (VOB _- A _- GAP _- LEN) in the nab pack NV.
It may be recorded in 1).

Further, in the present embodiment, the difference between the input end times of the video data and the audio data in the system stream to the respective buffers is 2 audio frame playback time at the maximum, but the video encoding is VB.
The same effect can be obtained when the input start time of the video data to the buffer is advanced by performing the R (variable bit rate method) and lowering the video bit rate (generated code amount) before connection.

Further, in the present embodiment, the difference between the input start times of the video data and the audio data in the system stream to the respective buffers is 2 audio frame reproduction time at the maximum, but the video encoding is VB.
Even if the input end time of the video data to the buffer is delayed by performing the R (variable bit rate method) and lowering the video bit rate (generated code amount) after connection, the same effect can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the storage amount of the audio buffer at the time of connecting the system stream is set to one audio frame, but the same is true when the storage amount of the audio buffer is changed as long as the audio buffer does not overflow. The effect is obtained.

Further, although the GOP is moved in this embodiment, when the input bit rate of the video is different between the connected system streams, the GO to be moved becomes the GO.
The same effect can be obtained by previously encoding P according to the input bit rate of the video in the system stream of the moving destination.

Further, although the compressed video stream and audio stream are moved in this embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by moving the material level first.

Further, in the present embodiment, one GOP is moved, but the same effect can be obtained even if the number of GOPs is two or more, that is, a plurality of GOPs.

As described above, according to the present invention, the difference between the input start time of the video packet and the input start time of the audio packet at the head of the system stream is the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer + 1 audio frame. It is less than or equal to the playback time, and the difference between the input end time of the video packet and the input end time of the audio packet at the end of the system stream is less than or equal to the number of audio frames that can be stored in the audio buffer + the playback time of the audio frame. , In a multimedia optical disc in which video packets and audio packets are interleaved, when the system stream is connected and continuously played back, the video stream may not stop (freeze) at the connection part of the system stream. There is an effect that it is possible to reproduce naturally as over the title of the book.

In particular, even in the case of story branching, that is, when one system stream is connected to a plurality of system streams, at least the first one audio frame or more of the same audio content is output between a plurality of system streams connected to one system stream. On a recorded multimedia optical disc, when a system stream is connected and continuously played back, the system stream connection part naturally plays back as a single title without stopping (freezing) of video display. There is an effect that it becomes possible.

Also, even when a story is combined, that is, when a plurality of system streams are connected to one system stream, a moving image having the same content as at least the first moving image frame or more between the plurality of system streams connected to one system stream. On multimedia optical discs with recorded images, when the system stream is connected and continuously played back, the video stream does not stop (freeze) at the connection part of the system stream-plays naturally as the title of the book. The effect is that it is possible to do.

[0663] The playback control information includes audio playback gap information, and the DVD playback apparatus having a configuration having an audio decoder playback stop control unit capable of controlling the stop of the audio decoder according to the audio playback gap information allows different video playback for each playback path. The effect of solving the problem of underflow of the video buffer or audio buffer at the system stream connection part, that is, stop of video playback (freeze) or stop of audio playback (mute) caused by the time difference between the time and the audio playback time There is.

By inserting the time difference between the video reproduction time and the audio reproduction time which is different for each reproduction path into one system stream which is not shared between different PGCs as an audio reproduction gap, the system streams are connected, that is, across the system streams. It will be possible to replace the problem with a problem within one system stream. As a result, since the audio reproduction gap information can also be accommodated in the DSI in the system stream, the audio reproduction gap and the audio reproduction gap information are also accommodated in one system stream,
It is possible to have a simple structure in terms of data structure.

This has the effect of facilitating the reuse (sharing) of the system stream.

Since the audio reproduction gap is contained in one system stream, the audio reproduction gap can be moved to any position in the system stream. As a result, there is an effect that the audio gap can be moved to a place such as a silent portion where there is little hearing loss.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the method and apparatus for recording / reproducing on / from a medium by the bitstream interleaving according to the present invention requires a user to create a title composed of bitstreams carrying various information. It is suitable for use in an authoring system that can be edited according to the above to compose a new title, and more specifically, it is suitable for a recently developed digital video disc system, a so-called DVD system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a data structure of a multimedia bitstream.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an authoring encoder.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an authoring decoder.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section of a DVD recording medium having a single recording surface.

5 is a diagram showing an enlarged cross section of FIG. 4;

6 is a diagram showing an enlarged cross section of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a cross section of a DVD recording medium having a plurality of recording surfaces (single-sided, double-layer type).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a cross section of a DVD recording medium having a plurality of recording surfaces (double-sided single-layer type).

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a DVD recording medium.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a DVD recording medium.

FIG. 11 is a development view of a single-sided dual-layer DVD recording medium.

FIG. 12 is a development view of a single-sided dual-layer DVD recording medium.

FIG. 13 is a development view of a double-sided single-layer DVD recording medium.

FIG. 14 is a development view of a double-sided single-layer DVD recording medium.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a synchronization processing flowchart of each decoder.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a data structure of VTS.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a data structure of a system stream.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a data structure of a system stream.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a pack data structure of a system stream.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a data structure of Nabpack NV.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example scenario of a DVD multi-scene.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a data structure of a DVD.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing connection of system streams for multi-angle control.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a VOB corresponding to multi-scene.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a DVD authoring encoder.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a DVD authoring decoder.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a VOB set data string.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a VOB data string.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing encoding parameters.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a program chain structure of a DVD multi-scene.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of VOB structure of a DVD multi-scene.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an encoding parameter generation flowchart of a single scene.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the concept of multi-angle control.

34A and 34B are diagrams showing an encoding control flowchart.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an encoding parameter generation flowchart of non-seamless switching multi-angle.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a common flowchart of encoding parameter generation.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a flowchart of encoding parameters for seamless switching multi-angle.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an encoding parameter generation flowchart of parental control.

[Fig. 39] Fig. 39 is a diagram showing changes in the amount of data occupied in the video buffer and the audio buffer.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an example of a multi-rated title stream.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of connection of system streams.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a gap between a video and an audio stream.

[Fig. 43] Fig. 43 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system stream connection when there is an audio gap.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing an example of connection of system streams.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of connection of system streams.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing an example of creating a system stream at the time of branching.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of creating a system stream at the time of combination.

[Fig. 48] Fig. 48 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection of system streams at the time of branching.

[Fig. 49] Fig. 49 is a diagram illustrating a process when there is a gap in an audio stream at branching.

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing a block diagram of system encoding.

[Fig. 51] Fig. 51 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection of system streams at the time of combining.

[Fig. 52] Fig. 52 is a diagram illustrating processing when there is a gap in an audio stream at the time of combination.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing an operation flowchart of system encoding.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing an example of connection of system streams.

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing an example of connection of system streams.

FIG. 56 shows a block diagram for processing an audio gearup.

[Fig. 57] Fig. 57 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flowchart of an audio decoder control unit in audio gearup processing.

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing a decoding system table.

FIG. 59 is a diagram showing a decode table.

FIG. 60 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a decoder.

FIG. 61 is a view showing a flowchart of PGC reproduction.

FIG. 62 is a diagram showing a flowchart of data transfer to a stream buffer.

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing a non-multi-angle decoding process flowchart.

FIG. 64 is a diagram showing a decoding processing flowchart of an interleave section.

FIG. 65 is a diagram showing a decoding process flowchart of a continuous block section.

FIG. 66 is a diagram showing a flowchart of data decoding processing in the stream buffer.

FIG. 67 is a diagram showing an example of interleaved block configuration.

FIG. 68 is a diagram showing an example of VOB block configuration of VTS.

FIG. 69 is a diagram showing a data structure in a continuous block.

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing a data structure in an interleave block.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hamasaka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Hideshi Ishihara 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Nakamura 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Takumi Hasebe, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References Tokuyohei 10-507597 (JP, A) International publication 95/12198 (WO, A1) International publication 95/12179 (WO, A1) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5 / 76-5/956 G11B 20/10-20/12

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A readable information recording medium including a first area and a second area is provided with a plurality of audio frames, each of which is a unit of audio compression and has a predetermined time. A recording method for recording audio data including: audio data to be decoded and presented, wherein at least 1 is included in the first area.
Audio data including at least one audio stream multiplexed with one video stream such that the presentation of the audio data is discontinuous between at least two audio frames for a time shorter than the time of one audio frame. A step of recording, a step of storing management information for managing the presentation of the audio data in a second area, a start time of the discontinuity time of the presentation of the audio data, and a time when the discontinuity of the presentation of the audio data lasts And a step of storing, in the second area, two sets of audio gap information indicating the following. 2. The second area is arranged before the first area, and the audio gap information is information for suspending decoding of the audio data during a discontinuous time of presentation of the audio data. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The at least one audio stream includes a plurality of data blocks, each data block includes playback time information indicating a presentation time of a corresponding data block, and each data block includes audio data. At least two audio frames in which the presentation is discontinuous are included, and the audio gap information indicates a start time of discontinuity time of presentation of two sets of the audio data and a time when the discontinuity of presentation of the audio data lasts. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the recording method is stored so as to include reproduction time information of the data block. 4. A reproducing method for reproducing the recording medium recorded by the recording method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation pack is read from a second recording area of the recording medium to detect audio gap information. Reading the plurality of video packets and the plurality of audio packets from a first recording area; decoding the plurality of video packets to generate decoded video data for presenting a video; Decoding the plurality of audio packets to produce decoded audio data for presenting a video; and providing a reproduction time information of the audio discontinuity indicated by the two sets of audio gap information to a system clock. Play time information from the timer And detecting the timing of pausing the audio, pausing the audio decoding during the time of the audio discontinuity, and pausing the audio decoding during the time. Characteristic reproduction method.