JP3752256B2 - Multimedia data recording / reproducing apparatus and multimedia data generating method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention is recorded on a recording medium.,In addition, a method for recording and reproducing multimedia data that forms at least a moving image by being read from the recording medium and reproduced.LawIn particular, when reproducing a moving image file from a recording medium on which a plurality of compressed moving image files are recorded, the branch instruction at the reproduction point of the moving image is used. , Multimedia data recording / playback that enables selective branch playback to multiple predetermined stories, and that each video file can be played and displayed smoothly as usual.LawAnd the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
CDs (compact discs) developed as recording media for digital audio are used as external storage media such as personal computers because of their large storage capacity, and these are called CD-ROMs. Since the CD-ROM has a large capacity, image data such as moving images and still images, audio data such as music and sound effects, and reproduction control data describing a procedure for reproducing the image data and audio data, etc. In recent years, the use of so-called multimedia software as a recording medium has been attracting particular attention, in which image data and audio data are recorded according to the playback control data and user instructions.
[0003]
In the field of home-use game machines, CD-ROMs have started to be used as game software (hereinafter referred to as game software) becomes more complex and larger. In game software, the effect of images is great in order to make the user feel more realistic. In general, visual effects are stronger for moving images than for still images. For these reasons, the importance of video in game software is increasing.
[0004]
However, since CD-ROM was originally developed for audio, the transfer speed is insufficient for applications that need to transfer huge amounts of data such as moving images at once.
[0005]
To solve this problem, prepare a compressed image that reduces the absolute amount of data by compressing the video data, record it on a recording medium, and restore the compressed image when playing back the image. As a result, technology for displaying moving images has been developed. By using this technology, it has become possible to reproduce moving images even when using a recording medium with a relatively low data transfer rate, such as a CD-ROM. In addition, the technology described above is developed to record compressed image data and compressed audio data on a CD-ROM so that the audio can be reproduced without interruption as the image data is reproduced. It is disclosed in the Kaihei 5-28652 gazette.
[0006]
With the development of such technology, game software has also diversified. One example of diversification is the appearance of game software with a story, commonly called role-playing games. This role-playing game has many story developments in advance. Story development is often determined by some sort of accumulated condition depending on user selection and game progress. Actually, there are several branch points in the story, and the story branches according to the above condition at this branch point. Reproduce the images prepared for each different story. Also, depending on the storyline, the image once displayed may be used again.
[0007]
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of such linked display of moving images. For example, assume that image branching is set as shown in FIG. Here, A, B, C,..., F are names of moving image files to be displayed. That is, in this example, after the moving image file A is displayed, it means that one of the moving image files B, C, and D is displayed. Fig. 8 (2) shows an example of story development when there is a linked display setting like (1). In the moving image file A, the scene where the main character running on the road encounters the cliff is displayed, and the user takes some workaround for the main character on the screen. In the case of this example, when three branch conditions are set and the main character jumps (that is, when the user operates the jump so that the main character jumps: the same applies hereinafter), when the moving image file B is not performed The story branches so that the moving image file C is displayed and the moving image file D is displayed when the dash is made.
[0008]
Conventionally, such branching playback of moving images is performed as follows. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a conventional moving image concatenated playback method. Here, it is assumed that the moving image files necessary for reproduction are grouped into one file in units of several seconds to several tens of seconds in display time and recorded in advance on a CD-ROM. It is assumed that all devices necessary for video playback are available. When there is a connection setting as shown in FIG. 9 (1), the moving image A is first read from the CD-ROM and displayed. In the recording area of the moving image A on the CD-ROM, information indicating the recording position of the moving image files B, C, and D which are branch destination candidates is recorded together with the data of the moving image A. FIG. 9 (2) shows the control contents executed by the moving image playback apparatus. That is, a branching condition for determining the next image to be reproduced during the period (several seconds to several tens of seconds) in which the moving image A is displayed is generated by the user's operation. When the next image to be displayed is determined according to the branch condition, the branch destination moving image data is sought and read according to the recording position information of the branch destination candidate previously read together with the moving image A data. Ideally, as in the example in which the moving image display in FIG. 9 (3) continues, it is desirable that the determination of the branch destination and the reading of the branch destination moving image data are performed within the display period of the moving image A (such as this In the following, the operation of reading the next image within the display period of an image will be referred to as a preload operation hereinafter). If the preload operation does not end within the display period of the moving image A, the display of the image is stopped until the preload operation is completed and the display of the branch destination moving image is started, or the last frame of the moving image A is displayed. Will continue to be displayed (see the example where the moving image display in FIG. 9B is interrupted). In other words, in the above example, one of the following conditions must be satisfied as a condition for continuously displaying moving images. That is,
(A) The display period of the moving image A is sufficiently long
(B) The branch destination is determined within the display period of the moving image A and at a sufficiently early stage.
In any case, it can be understood that the preloading operation within the display period of the moving image A is a necessary condition for continuous reproduction of the moving image. Incidentally, there is an example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-332969 as a technique for realizing the moving image branching display control as described above.
0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the moving image branch reproduction according to the conventional example, the moving image may be interrupted depending on conditions, and smooth branch reproduction cannot be performed. In addition, even when videos are continuous, a branch destination image data read period is required from when the branch destination is determined until the next image is actually displayed. If there is a request to display an image, it cannot be answered.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in order to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable a moving image stream that enables linked reproduction of moving images and also realizes branch reproduction during the linked reproduction. An object of the present invention is to provide a creation method, a creation means for realizing the creation method, a playback method for a moving image stream created by the creation means, and a playback means for realizing the playback method.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to realize a file management method with high access efficiency in a recording medium used for recording and reproducing a moving image stream suitable for continuous reproduction and branch reproduction of the moving image. Here, the moving image stream refers to the entire series of moving image files recorded on the recording medium.
[0012]
  In order to solve the above object, in the present invention,The following recording apparatus is provided. In a recording apparatus for recording a plurality of data files and management information for managing the data files on a recording medium, based on input means for inputting the data file, and instruction information input from the outside of the recording apparatus, Management information generating means for generating management information for managing the data file and the branch destination candidate data file so as to reproduce any one of a plurality of branch destination candidate data files after reproducing the data file; Recording means for recording the data file and the management information on the recording medium, and the recording means provides a recording device for recording a part of the branch destination candidate data file in duplicate on the recording medium To do. In the recording apparatus for recording a branch source data file and a plurality of branch destination candidate data files that can be played back after the branch source data file is played back on a recording medium, the branch source data file and the branch destination candidate And a recording unit configured to record a data file on the recording medium, wherein the recording unit records a part of the branch destination candidate data file in an overlapping manner on the recording medium.
[0015]
[Action]
Since the recording unit of the recording apparatus records a part of the branch destination candidate data file in duplicate on the recording medium, smooth branch reproduction can be performed.
0017]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a procedure for creating a moving image stream will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 8, and 10.
[0018]
In this embodiment, a CD-ROM is taken as an example of a recording medium for the created moving image stream.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a moving image stream creation apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 100 denotes a moving image stream creation apparatus main body composed of constituent elements to be described later. Reference numeral 101 denotes a moving image file link information 106 to be described later. The moving image file arrangement order determining means 102 determines the moving image file arrangement order based on the file size information of the moving image file stored in the moving image database 108, and is displayed next to the moving image file being displayed. For a preload operation for preloading a part or all of an image to be preloaded, preload image size determining means 103 for determining the size to be preloaded, 103 is an image of the preload size determined by the preload image size determining means 102 , Generated from a moving image file read from the moving image database 108 described later A preload image generation unit 104 generates reproduction control information 109 (to be described later) used when reproducing a moving image file in accordance with the arrangement order information of the moving image file determined by the moving image file arrangement order determination unit 101. The control information generation means 105 is stored in the preload image generated by the preload image generation means 103 and the moving image database 108 described later according to the arrangement order information of the moving image file determined by the moving image file arrangement order determination means 101. Moving image stream generation means for generating a moving image stream 110 to be described later using the moving image file, 106Is a figureThe moving image file connection information for describing the information relating to the connection setting of the moving image file as shown in FIG. 3 and determining the moving image file arrangement order by the moving image file arrangement order determining means 101, 107 is the moving image stream generating means A playback apparatus in which specifications such as an access speed of the CD-ROM drive 501 in FIG. 5 for reproducing a moving image from a CD-ROM medium 500 in FIG. Access specification information, 108 is a moving image database capable of recording a large number of moving image files compressed beforehand by data compression means (not shown), and 109 is reproduction control information generating means. The reproduction control information generated by 104, 110 is a moving image Video stream generated by the stream generation unit 105, 111 is a CD-ROM media creating means for creating a CD-ROM medium 500 of FIG. 5 described later matches the reproduction control information 109 and moving image stream 110.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the moving image file connection information 106, which is text data as illustrated. The text contains the following three types of information.
(1) Video file name (NodeName in Fig. 2)
(2) If the branch condition does not occur, the moving image file name displayed after the file in (1) (DefaultLink in FIG. 2)
(3) Branch destination candidate file name when a branch condition occurs (InputLink in Fig. 2)
These three types of information are handled as one set, and there are as many information sets as there are moving image files necessary to form a moving image stream.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the moving image stream 110 created by the moving image stream creation device of FIG. 1 and the concept of the reproduction operation. 300 is a part of the moving image stream 110, 301 is the moving image A and Enlarged portions near the boundary of B, 302 and 303 are preloaded portions of moving image B (details will be described later).
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a recording state of the moving image stream 110 created by the moving image stream creation device of FIG. 1, wherein 400 is a part of the moving image stream 110 and 401 is a part 400 of the moving image stream. This is the part corresponding to the video file B.
[0023]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a moving image stream creation procedure performed by the moving image stream creation device of FIG.
[0024]
The examples in FIGS. 2 to 4 are described so as to correspond to the example of the connection setting of the moving image file shown in FIG.
[0025]
The moving image file arrangement order determining unit 101 reads the moving image file connection information 106 illustrated in FIG. 2 and knows the connection and branching settings of the moving image file. According to the example of FIG. 8, it is understood that the moving image A is reproduced first, and then branches to any of the moving images B, C, and D. Therefore, after the moving image A, the arrangement order is determined so that B, C, and D are arranged successively. Here, the size of each moving image file is added as information together with the determined arrangement order information (FIG. 10, processing 1001).
[0026]
In order to perform branch reproduction smoothly, it is necessary to preload a branch destination image (in this example, any one of B, C, and D) within the display period of the moving image A. When the display period of the moving image A is short as in the example, or when the file size of B, C, D is large, there are cases where it is not possible to preload all of B, C, D. In order to solve this, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the head portions of B, C, and D are cut out and newly defined as preload images, and these preload images are defined as a moving image file A. A new moving image file is created by appending to the end of the file, and the file name “A_IN_STORY”, which means the moving image file A constituting the story, is attached. In addition, the file name “A_SINGLE” which means that it is a single file is attached to the data portion of only the moving image file A which does not include the preloaded image portion connected at the end.
[0027]
At the time of linked playback of moving images, as shown in FIG. 3B, by loading “A_IN_STORY”, the leading portion of the branch destination candidate image can be loaded at the same time, so that the branch destination is the end of the display period of the moving image A. Even in the worst case determined by, the display of the branch destination image can be started. If the remaining part is accessed during the display period of the head part of the branch destination image, the display will not be interrupted.
[0028]
On the other hand, when only moving image A is played back alone, "A_SINGLE" should be loaded. The size to be cut out as the preload image is determined by the size of the moving image A and the playback device access specification information 107, and is sent to the preload image generation means 103 and the playback control information 104 (FIG. 10, processing 1002, 1003). The preload image generation unit 103 reads out the moving images B, C, and D from the moving image database 108, cuts out data from the head portion of these files by the size determined by the preload image size determining unit, and B, C, D Is generated and sent to the moving image stream generation means 105 (FIG. 10, process 1004). The moving image stream generation means 105 connects the B, C, and D preload images generated by the preload image generation means to the end of the moving image A. Next, referring to the arrangement order information sent from the moving picture file arrangement order determining means 101, the moving picture B is connected following the moving picture A with the preloaded image connected at the end. For the moving image B, the leading portion is connected to the trailing portion of the moving image A as a preload image, but this leading portion is also connected without being cut. Therefore, the preload portion of the moving image B exists twice in the moving image stream. This is because when a moving image B is reproduced alone, file management becomes easier and access is faster if one file is recorded continuously. This is shown in Fig. 4 (1).
[0029]
As described above, the moving image stream of this embodiment generates files for independent reproduction and continuous reproduction based on one moving image file, and manages them by assigning different file names to them. Yes. Moreover, since the two files are duplicated except for the preload part, the recording efficiency to the recording medium is hardly reduced. Subsequently, the preload images are similarly generated and connected to the moving images B, C, and D to create a series of moving image streams 110 (FIG. 10, processing 1005).
[0030]
In parallel with the generation processing of the moving image stream 110, the reproduction control information generation unit 104 performs reproduction control based on the arrangement order information from the moving image file arrangement order determination unit 101 and the preload image size data from the preload image size determination unit 102. Information 109 is generated (process 1006 in FIG. 10). The playback control information 109 includes the playback order of the moving image file, the branching condition in the moving image file having a branch point, and each file in the file (for example, “A_IN_STORY”) in which the preload image is connected at the end of the main body image. This includes the recording start position and recording size information of the preload image.
[0031]
The reproduction control information 109 and the moving image stream 110 created by the above procedure are burned onto a CD-ROM by the CD-ROM media creation means 111 (FIG. 10, process 1007).
[0032]
Next, the CD-ROM playback procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, 8, and 11. It is assumed that the connection setting of the moving image file to be reproduced is as shown in FIG.
[0033]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a moving image file playback device according to the present invention. 500 is a CD-ROM medium created by the moving image stream creation device of FIG. 1, and 501 is data from the CD-ROM media 500. A CD-ROM drive for reading data, 502 a reproduction control information storage means for storing reproduction control information read from the CD-ROM medium 500 using the CD-ROM drive 501, and 503 a branch point provided in the story 504 is a branch decision input means for inputting branch conditions, 504 is a playback apparatus control means for controlling the entire moving picture file playback apparatus, and 505 is a preloaded image among the moving picture data sent from the CD-ROM drive. Is stored in the preload video storage means 505. Branch source moving image storage means 507 for storing a branch source moving image to be displayed temporally before the image, 507 is a compressed moving image stored in the preload moving image storage means and the branch source moving image storage means 506. A moving image file decoding means for restoring the data to generate moving image data and sending it to the display device 508 described later, 508 is a display device for displaying moving images and the like.
[0034]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of playback control performed by the moving image file playback apparatus of FIG.
[0035]
First, continuous playback and branch playback are described. When the moving image file playback apparatus is turned on and the CD-ROM medium 500 is loaded in the CD-ROM drive 501, the following initialization process is performed. The playback device control means 504 first reads the playback control information 109 from the CD-ROM medium 500 and stores it in the playback control information storage means 502. Next, referring to the reproduction control information 109, a moving image file to be displayed first (moving image A, file name: A_IN_STORY)ofWhen reading is started and the moving image A has a branch setting, a default branch destination is determined in preparation for the case where there is no branch decision input from the user (FIG. 11, processing 1101).
[0036]
Next, one sector of the data of the moving image file “A_IN_STORY” is read from the CD-ROM medium 500, and the moving image data (that is, the moving image A) and the preload image (that is, the preloaded portion of the moving images B, C, and D) are read. The distribution process (FIG. 11, processes 1102 and 1103) is performed.
[0037]
If it is a preload image, it is stored in the preload video storage means 505 (FIG. 11, process 1104), and if it is a branch source video, it is stored in the branch source video storage means 506 (FIG. 11, process 1105). ). The data of the moving image A stored in the branch source moving image storage unit 506 is transferred and restored to the moving image file decoding unit 507, and the display on the display device 508 is started (FIG. 11, processing 1106). Here, when there is a branch decision input from the user via the branch decision input means 503, the next branch destination moving image file is determined with reference to the reproduction control information 109 stored in the reproduction control information storage means 502. (FIG. 11, process 1107).
[0038]
Next, it is determined whether or not the display of the branch source moving image (moving image A) being reproduced is finished (FIG. 11, processing 1108). If the moving image A continues to be displayed, the next sector is read from the CD-ROM drive 501. And repeat the procedure described so far.
[0039]
In this embodiment, since the preload image is connected to the end of the branch source image, the above process is normally repeated for the number of sectors in which the moving image A is recorded.
[0040]
When the data decoding / display processing for the moving image A is completed after reading in units of sectors (FIG. 11, the case of YES in processing 1108), the branch destination moving image file determined in processing 1107 in FIG. The preload portion of the video B) is read from the preload video storage means 505 and transferred to the video file decoding means 507 (FIG. 11, process 1109), and the video B is reproduced as the next playback video file. Start (FIG. 11, process 1110).
[0041]
When the reproduction of the moving image B starts, a default branch destination image is set with reference to the reproduction control information 109 stored in the reproduction control information storage unit 502 (FIG. 11, process 1111). Thereafter, the first sector of the file “B_IN_STORY” is read from the CD-ROM drive 501 and the processing from step 1102 in FIG. 11 is repeated.
[0042]
In the file “B_IN_STORY”, as shown in FIG. 4 (2), the start address of the first sector is 1020, and this address is the rest of the moving image B excluding the preload portion when referring to FIG. 4 (1). Points to the beginning of. Therefore, the remaining part can be smoothly read out after the head part of the moving picture B preloaded previously. In this way, by preloading the leading portion of the branch destination image by loading the branch source moving image A, even if the branch decision input is made at the final display portion of the moving image A, Images can be played smoothly without interruption.
[0043]
In the above, continuous and branch playback of moving images has been explained. Depending on the application, there may be a request to play each moving image file independently. For example, in order to reproduce the moving image B, the file “B_SINGLE” may be read from the CD-ROM drive 501. As mentioned in the previous video stream creation procedure, the preload part of the branch destination image is recorded in duplicate at the end of the branch source image and the head part of the branch destination image. As shown in FIG. 4B, the file for single reproduction (in this example, “B_SINGLE”) is recorded in a continuous area from the start address 1000 to 1000 sectors on the CD-ROM medium 500. Therefore, even in the case of single playback, it is possible to read at high speed because it is a continuous area access.
[0044]
As described above, in this embodiment, a single playback file and a continuous playback file are generated based on one moving image file, and different file names are assigned to them on the CD-ROM medium 500. It is managed. Since the preload portion of the branch destination candidate image is added to the end of the file for continuous playback, smooth branch playback of moving images can be realized without being bound by the timing of branch decision input. Even in the case of independent playback, the recording area of each video file is continuous, so efficient access is possible. In addition, since the entity for the single reproduction and continuous / branch reproduction is duplicated on the CD-ROM medium 501 except for the preload portion, the recording efficiency is hardly lowered.
[0045]
The reproduction control information storage unit 502, the preload moving image storage unit 505, and the branch source moving image storage unit 506 in this embodiment can be realized using a semiconductor memory or the like.
[0046]
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. A characteristic difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the configuration of the moving image stream 110 created by the moving image stream creation device of FIG. Therefore, in the description of the present embodiment, the portions overlapping with those of the first embodiment are omitted, and the characteristics in the structure of the moving image stream 110 and the control method in the case of reproducing the moving image stream 110 in this case are described. Do it.
[0047]
6 and 7 are added in the description of the present embodiment.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the recording state of the moving image file in the moving image stream 110 and the method of linked reproduction in the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, 600 is a part of the moving image stream 110, and 601 is an enlargement of several sectors of the moving image stream 110 in which the moving image A is recorded.
[0049]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the recording state of the data sector of the moving image stream 110 and the name given to the file for management in the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, 700 is a part of the moving image stream 110, and 701 is an enlargement of the sector in which the moving image B is recorded in the moving image stream 110. The examples in FIGS. 6 to 7 are described so as to correspond to the example of the moving image file connection setting shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, the preload portion of the moving images B, C, and D, which are branch destination candidate images, is added to the end of the branch source moving image A. However, in this embodiment, this preload portion is used. It is characterized by interleaved recording with the data of the branch source image.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 6A, in this example, a moving image A and a moving imageStatueThe preload part is recorded in an interleaved ratio of 3: 1. Then, different channel numbers are assigned to the sector where the moving image A is recorded and the sector where the preload portion of the moving image B is recorded (in FIG. 6 (1), 0 is assigned to A and 1 is assigned to B). )
[0051]
When the recording of the preload portion of the moving image B is completed, the moving images C and D are similarly recorded in an interleaved manner, and the channel numbers are assigned to sectors in which C and D are recorded, for example, C is 2, D is 3, and so on. Assign it. When the recording medium is a CD-ROM, this channel number is defined by the standard to be written in the subheader part in each data sector. However, the correspondence between channel numbers and file names cannot be written in directory entries in the CD-ROM standard. Therefore, the correspondence between the channel number and the file name is configured to be written in the reproduction control information 109 in the reproduction control information generation means 104 in FIG.
[0052]
FIG. 7 (1) shows a state in which the moving image B and the subsequent branch candidate images are interleaved and recorded. Addresses 1000 to 1020 are a preload portion of moving image B, which is also recorded in an interleaved manner in the recording area of moving image A as described above.
[0053]
Since the preload portion of addresses 1000 to 1020 is a portion that is not used during continuous playback as in the case of the first embodiment, branch destination candidate images of moving image B (moving images E and F in this example) are included in this address area. ) Is not interleaved. Then, the interleave recording starts from the subsequent address 1020. At this time, channel number 1 is assigned to moving image B, and channel numbers 4 and 5 are assigned to moving images E and F, respectively, and are written in the subheader portion of each data sector. Then, the file name “B_IN_STORY” is assigned to the data from the address 1020 to the address 2080 (the end address of the moving image B including the preload portions of the moving images E and F), and the file name “B_SINGLE” is assigned to the data from the address 1000. give. This is for continuous reproduction and single reproduction as in the first embodiment.
[0054]
In order to continuously reproduce the moving image stream recorded by the above method, a buffer for each channel number as shown in FIG. 6 (2) is provided in the moving image file reproduction device, and the sector read from the CD-ROM 500 is provided. The assigned channel number is referenced and stored in the corresponding channel number buffer. Then, it is read from the buffer and displayed in accordance with the correspondence between the channel number and the file name written in the playback control information 109.
[0055]
For example, the moving image file playback apparatus of FIG. 5 is configured as follows. That is, instead of the preload image storage means 505 and the branch source moving image storage means 506, storage means for each channel number is provided. This may be provided with a separate storage means for each channel number, or it may be configured as a single storage means and an internal storage area is selectively used according to the channel number. For example, when the file “A_IN_STORY” is read, the channel number 0 is stored in the sector where the moving image A is stored, and the channel number 1 is stored in the sector where the preload portion of the moving image B is stored. Since it is written in the subheader, it is only necessary to store data in the buffer corresponding to each channel number. When there is a branch decision input during the display of the moving image A, the name of the branch destination image and the corresponding channel number are read from the playback control information 109, and the rest of the file (this In this case, the file corresponding to “remaining” is managed with a dedicated name, so the application does not need to be aware of “remaining”.) In other words, if the branch destination is B, “B_IN_STORY” is read.
[0056]
In addition, when playing back each movie file individually, it is only necessary to read out the files with special names “A_SINGLE” and “B_SINGLE”. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7 (1), the preload image is also interleaved in the file for single reproduction, but by referring to the channel number when the data is read, data unnecessary for single reproduction is obtained. Can be destroyed.
[0057]
As described above, in this embodiment, the preload image is not added to the end of the branch source image as in the first embodiment, but is recorded in an interleaved manner in the branch source image. In comparison, preloaded image data can be obtained at the previous stage in time.
[0058]
For this reason, in this embodiment, even when the branch decision input is made at a relatively early stage within the display period of the branch source image, the branch destination image can be displayed immediately. Has the effect of becoming possible.
[0059]
In addition, in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0060]
In the two embodiments described above, a CD-ROM is taken as an example of a moving image stream recording medium. However, the effect of the present invention is not limited to this, and another optical disk is used. The same effect can be obtained on recording media and magnetic recording media because physical file access processing (track access, etc.) occurs for linked playback.
[0061]
The moving image compression method is not specifically mentioned, but if the recording method is such that the output time of the data is longer than the time for loading the data from the recording medium, for example, MPEG (Motion The effect can be exerted even with a compression method such as the Picture Expert Group) method or a recording / playback method for uncompressed data.
[0062]
Furthermore, in each embodiment, the story branching of a moving image file has been described. However, even when other multimedia data such as a compressed audio file or a mixed file of compressed audio and images needs to be continuously reproduced. Can realize story branching by applying the present invention.
[0063]
  As described above, in this embodiment, in the creation and playback of a series of moving image streams with story branches, independent playback and continuous playback for constructing a moving image stream based on each moving image file. Two types of files are generated and are managed on the recording medium with different file names. Since the pre-load portion of the branch destination candidate image is added or inserted into the continuous playback file, the pre-load portion is played even when the branch decision input timing is at the end of the display period of the branch source image. Since the subsequent data can be loaded during this time, smooth branching playback of moving images can be realized. In addition, the size of the preload image is determined by parameters such as the length of the display period of the branch source image, the performance of the playback device of the recording medium, or the buffer size provided in the playback device, so it can be freely set by the application. Even in the case of single file playback, the recording area of each video file is continuous, so efficient and high-speed access is possible. In addition, since the entity for the single playback and continuous / branch playback is duplicated on the recording medium except for the preload portion, the recording efficiency is hardly lowered.
  As described above, according to the present invention, in the creation and playback of a series of moving image streams accompanied by story branches, the preload portion of the branch destination candidate image is added or inserted into the file for continuous playback. Even when the branch decision input timing is at the end of the display period of the branch source image, the preload portion can be played and the subsequent data can be loaded during this time, so smooth branch playback of moving images can be realized.
[0064]
  As described above, according to the present invention,Since the recording unit of the recording apparatus records a part of the branch destination candidate data file in duplicate on the recording medium, smooth branch reproduction can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a moving image stream creation apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of moving image file connection information 106;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a moving image stream 110 created by the moving image stream creation device of FIG. 1 and a concept of a reproduction operation.
4 is a diagram illustrating a recording state of a moving image stream 110 created by the moving image stream creation device of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a moving image file playback device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a recording state of a moving image file in a moving image stream 110 and a method of linked reproduction in the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a recording state of a data sector of a moving image stream 110 and an example of a name given to a file for management in the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of linked display of moving images.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a conventional moving image concatenated reproduction method.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a moving image stream creation procedure performed by the moving image stream creation device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a playback control procedure performed by the moving image file playback device of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Moving image stream production | generation apparatus main body, 101 ... Moving image file arrangement | positioning order determination means, 102 ... Preload image size determination means, 103 ... Preload image generation means, 104 ... Playback control information generation means, 105 ... Moving image stream generation means, 106 ... moving picture file connection information, 107 ... playback device access specification information, 108 ... moving picture database, 109 ... playback control information, 110 ... moving picture stream, 111 ... CD-ROM media creation means, 500 ... CD-ROM media, 501 ... CD-ROM drive, 502 ... reproduction control information storage means, 503 ... branch decision input means, 504 ... reproduction device control means, 505 ... preload image storage means, 506 ... branch source moving image storage means, 507 ... moving image file Decoding means, 508... Display device.

Claims (2)

In a recording apparatus for recording a plurality of data files and management information for managing the data files on a portable recording medium,
An input means for inputting the data file;
The data file and the branch destination candidate data are reproduced so that any one of a plurality of branch destination candidate data files is reproduced after the data file is reproduced based on instruction information input from the outside of the recording device. Management information generating means for generating management information for managing files;
Recording means for recording the data file and the management information on the portable recording medium;
Have
The recording unit is a recording apparatus that records a part of the branch destination candidate data file in duplicate on the portable recording medium. In a recording apparatus for recording a branch source data file and a plurality of branch destination candidate data files that can be reproduced next after reproducing the branch source data file on a portable recording medium,
Recording means for recording the branch source data file and the branch destination candidate data file on the portable recording medium;
The recording unit is a recording apparatus that records a part of the branch destination candidate data file in duplicate on the portable recording medium.

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