JP3630989B2 - Information playback device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a disk-shaped recording medium on which a plurality of program information such as an optical disk and a magneto-optical disk are recorded, and in particular, an information reproducing apparatus capable of easily selecting information to be reproduced from the recording medium. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in order to record high-quality moving image information that requires an enormous amount of data and program information using such information, the recording density of disk-shaped recording media such as DVDs (digital video discs) has been improved. In addition, a high improvement in the data compression rate in moving image data such as the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method has been studied.
[0003]
As described above, when the recording density of the recording medium and the data compression rate are improved, a large number of different movies, program information, and the like can be recorded in one recording medium.
[0004]
Conventionally, as a method of selecting desired program information from among a plurality of program information recorded in one recording medium, one program information is sequentially specified by an operator repeatedly instructing a reproduction operation and a skip operation sequentially. It was displayed on the screen and judged by looking at the displayed content. The skip instruction used here is the program information immediately before or immediately after the program information where the current pickup is located, based on the top address of each program information recorded on the innermost or outermost circumference of the recording medium. This means an instruction to move the pickup to the top address.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the number of program information recorded in one recording medium increases, the conventional method of checking by a program by an operator as in the conventional method requires time and effort required for the operation. Is so large that it cannot be ignored, which places an excessive burden on the operator.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a desired program can be selected from a plurality of program information recorded in one recording medium without imposing an excessive burden on the operator. An object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus capable of easily selecting information in a short time.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The information reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a disc-shaped recording medium on which a plurality of program information and management information including the head address of the program information are recorded, a reading means for reading the program information recorded on the recording medium, In an information reproducing apparatus comprising display means for displaying an image based on program information read by the reading means, index image information for each program information is acquired, and a plurality of index images based on the index image information Is provided with a multi-screen information generating means for displaying a list on the display means.
[0008]
With such a configuration, a plurality of index images are displayed in a list on the display means, and the program information recorded on the recording medium is recognized by the operator based on these index images.
[0009]
Further, the multi-screen information generating means acquires index image information from each program information based on the head address of each program information included in the management information.
[0010]
With this configuration, index image information for each program information is automatically acquired based on the head address of each program information.
[0011]
Further, each index image information is recorded in an index image information holding area provided in a part of the recording medium, and the multi-screen information generating means acquires index image information for each program information from the index image information holding area. To do.
[0012]
By adopting such a configuration, the index image information is acquired only by reading the index image information holding area of the recording medium without reading the program information in which the program information is recorded.
[0013]
4. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the management information is disposed on the outermost periphery of the recording medium, and the index image information holding area is disposed on the innermost periphery of the recording medium.
[0014]
With this configuration, the management information recording area and the program information area for recording program information are continuously arranged without interposing the index image holding area.
[0015]
The index image displayed based on each index image information is a still image.
[0016]
With such a configuration, even if the program information is a moving image, the information amount of the index image information is smaller than that of the moving image.
[0017]
Each index image information is the first image information in the program information including the index image information.
[0018]
With such a configuration, the first image information for each program information becomes an index image as a still image.
[0019]
Each index image is updated every predetermined time based on other image information in the program information including the index image information.
[0020]
With such a configuration, more index images are displayed as a list on the display means.
[0021]
The index image that is updated after a predetermined time is based on image information at an address that is moved by an address amount corresponding to the predetermined time from the address of the currently displayed index image in the program information.
[0022]
Further, an identification code is attached to the index image according to the area displayed on the display means, and the identification code is associated with the start address of the corresponding program information.
[0023]
With this configuration, the corresponding program information is selected simply by designating the identification code.
[0024]
In addition, an instruction unit for selecting and specifying the identification code is provided, and the index image having the identification code selected and instructed by the instruction unit is enlarged and displayed on the display unit.
[0025]
By adopting such a configuration, the images displayed as a small list on the display means are enlarged and easily confirmed.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an information recording / reproducing apparatus that uses a magneto-optical disk as a disk-shaped recording medium and displays index images based on a plurality of programs recorded on the magneto-optical disk on a multi-screen will be described.
[0027]
First, the configuration of the magneto-optical disk 4 in the present embodiment will be described.
[0028]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a magneto-optical disk according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a data configuration of data recorded on the magneto-optical disk.
[0029]
As shown in the figure, the magneto-optical disk 4 in the present embodiment includes a management information area 41 in which management information is recorded, and a program area 42 in which a first program... Nth program is recorded.
[0030]
The management information area is arranged on the outermost periphery of the magneto-optical disk 4, and stores management information such as a storage location including an ID number, a file name, and a head address of each program based on the management information. Each program is managed.
[0031]
Each program includes time information such as elapsed time, and this time information is used as an address indicating a position on the magneto-optical disk 4. Each program records lead-in information (not shown) indicating the start of the program and lead-out information (not shown) indicating the end of each program, and between these lead-in information and lead-out information. Stores the program that is actually executed.
[0032]
Next, the configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus that displays an index image based on a plurality of programs recorded on the magneto-optical disk 4 described above on a multi-screen will be described.
[0033]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the information recording / reproducing apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration thereof.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 3, the information recording / reproducing apparatus includes a disk recording / reproducing apparatus 1 capable of recording and reproducing the magneto-optical disk 4, a display device 2, and a remote control device 3.
[0035]
The disc recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a loading table 24 that reciprocates between a reproducing position in the apparatus 1 and a mounting position outside the apparatus 1, an eject button 23 that instructs the reciprocating movement of the loading table 24, and a remote controller. And a receiving unit 25 that receives an infrared signal from the device 3.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 4, the disk recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a spindle motor SM that rotates the magneto-optical disk 4, a pickup 18 that reads or writes information recorded on the disk 4, and the pickup 18 is connected to the magneto-optical disk. 4 includes a linear motor LM that moves in the radial direction, and a control unit 11 that controls driving of both the motors SM and LM.
[0037]
The control unit 11 also includes a decoding unit 13 for decoding information read from the magneto-optical disk 4, an encoding unit 14 for recording information on the magneto-optical disk 4, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12. And.
[0038]
The control unit 11 further includes an index image information memory 16, a multi-screen memory 17, and a multi-screen management information memory 15.
[0039]
The index image information memory 16 holds index image information acquired from each program recorded on the magneto-optical disk 4, and the multi-screen memory 17 is based on the index image information held in the index image information memory 16. The generated multi-screen information is held, and the multi-screen management information memory 15 holds multi-screen management information in which the start address of each program is associated with the identification code corresponding to the display area where the index image is displayed. Is done.
[0040]
On the other hand, the display device 2 is connected to the disk recording / reproducing apparatus 1 via a cable (not shown), and receives an image signal from the disk recording / reproducing apparatus 1 on the front surface and displays the image on the front as shown in FIG. The display part 21 to display and the speaker 22 which receives an audio | voice signal and outputs an audio | voice are provided in the side surface.
[0041]
The remote control device 3 corresponds to the recording / playback instruction unit 31 such as a play button, a stop button, a skip button, and a record button, the selection instruction unit 32 such as a numeric keypad, an OK button, and a clear button, and the instruction content of the pressed button And a transmitter 33 for transmitting an infrared signal.
[0042]
Next, the operation of the above-described optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus 1 will be described. In the following, the reproducing operation will be described in particular.
[0043]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the index image display operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the program selection operation. First, the index image display operation will be described with reference to FIG. 5, and then the program selection operation will be described with reference to FIG.
[0044]
The eject button 23 on the front surface of the disk recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is pushed to move the loading table 24 to a mounting position outside the apparatus 1, and after placing the magneto-optical disk 4 on the loading table 24, the eject button 23 is pressed again. When the thickness is increased, the magneto-optical disk 4 is guided to the recording / reproducing position in the apparatus 1. Then, the pickup 18 moves to the outermost periphery of the magneto-optical disk 4 and reads the management information recorded in the management information area 41 (step S01).
[0045]
Next, based on the management information read from the magneto-optical disk 4, N is set as the total number of recorded programs Pn, and 1 is set as the program number n (step S02).
[0046]
Next, the pickup 18 is moved to the top address of the nth program, and reading of the nth program is started (step S03).
[0047]
If the read n-th program includes a still image, the first still image is used as index image information. If the read n-th program is composed of only moving images, the first moving image is stored as a still image. The still image thus recorded is recorded in the index image information memory 16 as index image information. If the program is a moving image compressed by the MPEG method, the first I picture may be used as index image information (steps S04 and S05).
[0048]
Next, it is confirmed whether index image information has been acquired from all programs. If the index image information has not been acquired from all the programs (N> n), the program moves to the head address of the next program (n = n + 1), and the processes in steps S03 to S05 are performed. If index image information has been acquired from all programs, reading of the program ends (steps S06 and S07).
[0049]
Next, the screen division number d is determined based on the number N of index image information read from the magneto-optical disk 4 and recorded in the index image information memory 16. At this time, if the number of vertical divisions and the number of horizontal divisions of the screen are not the same, the image displayed on the screen is distorted.
[0050]
For example, when N = 9, the screen may be divided into 9 × 3 × 3 as shown in FIG. That is, when 2 ≦ N ≦ 4, the number of screen divisions d = 4 (2 × 2), and when 5 ≦ N ≦ 9, the number of screen divisions d = 9 (3 × 3), Can be displayed (step S08).
[0051]
Then, each index image information once held in the index image memory 16 is read by the CPU 12 by thinning out to 1 / d and held in the multi-screen memory 17. Thereby, each index image information is compressed from data for one screen to data for 1 / d screen (step S09). Then, the data of the multi-screen memory 17 is sent to the display device 2. For example, when N = 9, the screen 21 is divided into 9 (3 × 3) areas as shown in FIG. (Step S10).
[0052]
Finally, the identification code of the displayed area is associated with the start address of the program including the index image displayed on the screen 21 and recorded in the multi-screen management information memory 15, and the index image display operation is completed. .
[0053]
Next, the program selection operation will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, the images displayed on the screen 21 of the display device 2 are nine index images. Each index image has a number 1 to 9 as an identification code on the left shoulder. Is attached.
[0054]
Of the selection instruction unit 32 of the remote controller 3, the numeric keypad having the same number as the identification code of the index image to be selected is pressed to select the index image. For example, when 3 of the numeric keys of the remote controller 3 is pressed, the index image displayed in the area of the identification code 3 is displayed on the full screen as shown in FIG. At this time, the index image displayed on the full screen may use the image information held in the index image information memory 16, or the index image information held in the multi-screen memory 17 may be average value supplemented or the like. Data may be supplemented using a technique. (Steps S12 and S13).
[0055]
Then, the disc recording / reproducing apparatus 1 waits for an input to wait for a signal from the remote controller 3 (step S14). When the clear key 32a of the selection instruction unit 32 of the remote controller 3 is pressed, the display returns to the multi-screen display again. When any key of the recording / playback instruction unit 31 is pressed, the selected index image is displayed. The pickup 18 is moved to the head address of the program to be included, and an operation corresponding to the instruction content is executed (steps S15 to S17). Thereby, the program selection operation ends.
[0056]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of index images are displayed in a list on the screen 21 of the display device 2 and the operator can view the screen 21 and select a program, It is possible to easily select a desired program from a plurality of programs recorded on the magneto-optical disk 4 in a short time without imposing an excessive burden on the user.
[0057]
Further, since the control unit 11 acquires index image information from each program based on the top address of each program included in the management information, the index for each program is automatically acquired based on the top address of each program. Image information can be acquired.
[0058]
Further, since each index image is a still image, the data amount of the index image information can be reduced even in a program composed of moving images with a large amount of data.
[0059]
In addition, when one of the index images displayed in a list is selected by the remote controller 3, the selected index image is enlarged and displayed, so that the visibility of the selected image is improved and more accurate and easy. Selection can be made.
[0060]
In this embodiment, when the magneto-optical disk 4 is mounted on the disk information reproducing apparatus 1, index image information is acquired from each program by the control unit 11 of the program 1, and based on the index image information, Although configured to perform screen display, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each time a program is recorded on the magneto-optical disk 4, index image information acquired from the program may be recorded in an index image information holding area provided in a part of the magneto-optical disk 4. In this case, since the index image information can be acquired by simply reading the index image information holding area of the magneto-optical disk 4 without reading each recorded program, the time required for acquiring the index image information can be greatly reduced. Can do.
[0061]
Further, when the management information area 41 is arranged on the outermost periphery of the magneto-optical disk 4, if the index image holding area is arranged on the innermost circumference, the management information area 41 and the program area 42 become the index image holding area. Thus, it is possible to prevent the extra operation such as the track jump during the recording / reproducing operation of each program. The same effect can be obtained when the management information area 41 is arranged on the innermost circumference of the magneto-optical disk 4 and the index image holding area is arranged on the outermost circumference.
[0062]
In this embodiment, one still image is used for each program as an index image, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image displayed on the screen 21 may be updated based on different image information in the same program every predetermined time. In this case, even if sufficient information sufficient for the operator's judgment cannot be obtained from the index image displayed first, information can be added with the updated image to make a more accurate judgment.
[0063]
Furthermore, by setting the image to be updated as an image of an area moved by an address amount corresponding to a predetermined time from the image before the update, the operator can recognize the updated image without a sense of incongruity.
[0064]
A moving image may be used as the index image.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the index image information for each program recorded in the recording medium is acquired and displayed in a list, and the index image displayed in the list can be selected and instructed. Desired program information can be easily selected from a plurality of program information recorded in a short time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a magneto-optical disk according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic data configuration of information recorded on the magneto-optical disk of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the information reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.
4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an index image display operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a program selection operation in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an index image (a) displayed in a list on the screen and an image (b) displayed in an enlarged manner.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Disc recording / reproducing device 11: Control unit 2: Display device 21: Display unit 3: Remote controller 4: Magneto-optical disk

Claims (9)

Reading means for reading the program information recorded on a recording medium on which a plurality of program information and management information including a head address of the program information are recorded;
Display means for displaying an image based on the program information read by the reading means ;
Wherein acquires index image information of each program information, comprising: a multi-screen information generating means for displaying a list of a plurality of index images based on the index image information on the display means, and
Each index image is updated every predetermined time based on another image information in the program information including the index image information,
The index image updated after the predetermined time is based on image information of an address moved by an address amount corresponding to the predetermined time from the address of the currently displayed index image in the program information. Information playback device. 2. The index image is attached with an identification code according to an area displayed on the display means, and the identification code is associated with a start address of corresponding program information. Information playback device. Instructing means for selecting and instructing the identification code,
3. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the index image having the identification code selected and instructed by the instructing means is enlarged and displayed by the display means. 4. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a disk-shaped recording medium. 5. The multi-screen information generation means acquires the index image information from each program information based on a head address of each program information included in the management information. The information reproducing apparatus described. Each index image information is recorded in an index image information holding area provided in a part of the recording medium,
6. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multi-screen information generating unit acquires index image information for each program information from the index image information holding area. The management information is arranged on the outermost periphery of the recording medium,
7. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the index image information holding area is disposed on the innermost periphery of the recording medium. 8. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index image displayed based on each index image information is a still image. 9. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the program is a moving image compressed by the MPEG method, the index image information is an I picture.

Images