JP4158805B2 - Playback device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus for performing reproduction by designating a binary file in which binary data and an index for managing the binary data are stored.

Conventionally, a playback apparatus for playing back video data (binary data) such as a TV program recorded on an information storage medium or playing back multimedia content (binary data) via an intranet or the Internet has been put into practical use and widely used. It is popular.
The playback device is, for example, an optical disk device, a magnetic disk device, or a personal computer. The information storage medium is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk (HD), a CD, or a DVD.

In a conventional playback apparatus of this type, a binary file storing such binary data is played from the beginning or specially played to view a desired scene.
Here, the binary file stores binary data and an index, and is, for example, an AVI (Audio Video Interleaving) file, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) file, or an ASF (Advanced Streaming Format) file. Binary data refers to data in a format other than character data, and is data such as images and sounds. The index is information for managing binary data, and describes, for example, the address of binary data or the amount of data. Special playback is, for example, time search, fast forward, rewind, fast forward playback, rewind playback, slow playback, or skip playback. Time search is playback that starts from the middle by specifying the playback elapsed time.

When the special reproduction is performed, an address is required for binary data, so an index is necessary.
Therefore, when a binary file is designated by a user operation, the conventional playback device reads all indexes before playback. Alternatively, the conventional playback apparatus reads all indexes when special playback is designated during playback.

On the other hand, a reproducing apparatus as described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed.
The reproducing apparatus includes an index key for reading an index, and reading means for reading an index from a memory card and reading a plurality of thumbnail images stored therein when the index key is operated during moving image reproduction. .
When the user selects one thumbnail image from a plurality of thumbnail images, the reading unit reads a still image corresponding to the selected thumbnail image.
JP 2000-175158 A

However, the conventional reproducing apparatus cannot select the timing for reading the index in advance. For this reason, in the case of setting all indexes to be read before reproduction, the waiting time until the reproduction is started becomes long even if the user does not plan to perform special reproduction. In particular, in the optical disc apparatus, a time for seeking the pickup head is required to read the index, so that the waiting time becomes longer.
Therefore, the conventional reproducing apparatus has a problem that it causes irritation to users who do not plan to perform special reproduction.

On the other hand, in the case of setting to read all indexes when special playback is designated, if the user performs special playback, the waiting time until the start of special playback at the time of executing special playback becomes long. Similar to the above, the optical disc apparatus has a longer waiting time.
Therefore, the conventional playback device also has a problem that it causes irritation at the time of executing the special playback to the user who intends to perform the special playback.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, when special reproduction is designated during reproduction, all indexes are read out. However, the reproduction apparatus in Patent Document 1 cannot set the timing for reading the indexes. Therefore, a problem similar to that of the conventional reproducing apparatus occurs.

  The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and provides a playback apparatus that can select a timing for reading an index in accordance with a user's schedule and eliminates a waiting time until the start of playback or special playback. The purpose is to do.

  The reproducing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.

(1) Operation means for instructing reproduction of a binary file in which binary data and an index that includes address information of the binary data and that manages the binary data are stored based on the address information, and the operation means having a special playback key for performing a special reproduction of the binary file, such as a playback key and the time search and fast-forward to perform the normal playback specified by,
Reading means for reading the binary data from the binary file when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key;
In the reproducing apparatus that reads the binary data using the index, at least when the special reproduction is performed ,
The operation means has designated a first setting for reading the index when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key, and a special reproduction that requires the index during the normal reproduction . A selection key for pre-selecting a second setting for reading the index when
The reading means reads out the index from the binary file and performs the normal reproduction when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key when the first setting is previously selected by the selection key. When the special reproduction is designated by the special reproduction key during the period , the binary data is read with reference to the index,
When the second setting is previously selected by the selection key, the reading means is configured to designate special reproduction that requires the index by the special reproduction key during the normal reproduction. The index is read from the binary file, and the binary data is read with reference to the index.

In this configuration, the playback device is, for example, an optical disk device, a magnetic disk device such as an HD, or a personal computer.
The binary file stores binary data and an index, and is, for example, an AVI (Audio Video Interleaving) file, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) file, or an ASF (Advanced Streaming Format) file. Here, the binary file is usually recorded in an information storage medium. The information storage medium is, for example, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or a hard disk (HD).
Binary data refers to data in a format other than character data, and is data such as images and sounds. The index is information for managing binary data and describes the address of binary data . Playback includes normal playback and special playback. Normal playback is playback at a normal speed in the forward direction (the reverse direction of rewinding). Special playback is, for example, time search, fast forward, rewind, fast forward playback, rewind playback, slow playback, or skip playback. Time search is playback that starts from the middle.
When the special reproduction is performed, since an address of binary data is required, an index is necessary.
When the second setting is selected in advance, the reading unit reads an index from the binary file when special playback is designated, and reads the binary data with reference to the index.
Therefore, when the second setting is selected in advance and the user does not perform special playback, the waiting time until playback starts can be made zero.
Therefore, there is an effect that the user who does not plan to perform special reproduction does not need to be frustrated.
On the other hand, when the first setting is selected in advance, the reading unit reads an index from the binary file when the binary file is designated. When special reproduction is designated by the special reproduction key during reproduction, the reading means reads binary data with reference to the index.
As described above, when the first setting is selected in advance and the user performs special reproduction, the index is read in advance, so that the reading unit does not stop the special reproduction key operation by the user. There is no special playback.
Therefore, the waiting time from the special reproduction designation to the special reproduction start at the time of executing the special reproduction can be shortened.
Therefore, there is an effect that it is not necessary to give frustration to the user who is scheduled to perform the special reproduction when the special reproduction is performed.

(2) The reading means investigates the data amount of the index of the binary file when neither the first setting nor the second setting is selected by the selection key;
The reading means reads the index from the binary file when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key if the data amount of the investigated index is less than a certain amount,
The reading means reads the index from the binary file when special reproduction requiring the index is designated by the special reproduction key during reproduction if the data amount of the investigated index is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. .

In this configuration, the fixed amount is, for example, 1 kbyte, 100 kbyte, 500 kbyte, or 1 Mbyte. A certain amount may be determined in consideration of the waiting time required for reading the index. This is because if the waiting time exceeds a certain time, the user is frustrated. The fixed time is, for example, 1 second or 2 seconds. Naturally, the waiting time depends on the specifications of the apparatus (particularly, the processing speed).
In this configuration, the reading unit selects the first setting if the data amount of the index is less than a certain amount.
On the contrary, the reading means selects the second setting if the data amount of the index is a certain amount or more.
That is, when the user has not selected either the first setting or the second setting with the selection key, the reading means determines either the first setting or the second setting from the data amount of the index. Select.
The purpose of selecting the first setting when the reading means has an index data amount less than a certain amount is that, in this case, processing such as index reading does not require time.
Therefore, even if the manual setting is not performed, the automatic setting provides an effect that the user is not frustrated when the data amount of the index is less than a certain amount.
In this case, either the first setting or the second setting is selected based on the data amount of the index, but the frequency of using the special reproduction may be used as the determination criterion. In this case, the reading means selects the first setting if the special reproduction is used at a certain rate or more in the reproduction of the binary file, and the reading means is used at a certain rate or more in the reproduction of the binary file. If not, select the second setting. Here, the certain ratio is a value obtained by “number using special reproduction / number of reproduced binary files”, for example, 30%, 50%, or 70%.

(3) The binary file is an AVI file, an MPEG file, or an ASF file.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is not necessary to irritate a user who does not plan to perform special reproduction.
In addition, there is an effect that it is not necessary to give frustration to the user who intends to perform special reproduction when executing special reproduction.

  Hereinafter, an optical disc apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an optical disc apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The optical disc apparatus 1 is a so-called DVD recorder, and includes a control unit 4 that controls the apparatus main body 1, a pickup head 2 that records and reads data on the optical disc 100 (hereinafter referred to as a PU head 2), and an RF amplifier. A recording / reproducing unit 3 such as a recording key, a reproduction key, a special reproduction key, a selection key, an operation unit 5, a display unit 7 for displaying information, a storage unit 6 for storing data, and a voice A D / A converter 11 for converting data into an analog reproduced audio signal, an image processing unit 13 for converting image data into an analog reproduced image signal, a receiving unit 10 for receiving TV broadcast signals and acquiring data, It has.
The optical disc 100 stores a binary file and is, for example, a CD or a DV D.
Here, the binary file stores binary data and an index, and is, for example, an AVI file, an MPEG file, or an ASF file. Binary data refers to data in a format other than character data, and is data such as images and sounds. The index is information for managing binary data, and describes, for example, the address of binary data or the amount of data.

In this embodiment, the optical disk apparatus 1 is described as a playback apparatus. However, a magnetic disk apparatus such as an HD drive, a personal computer, or the like may be used. The optical disk device is not limited to a DVD recorder, and may be a DVD player.
In this embodiment, the optical disk 100 is described, but a semiconductor memory, a hard disk (HD), or the like may be used.

The PU head 2 includes a laser diode (LD), a collimator lens, a beam splitter, an objective lens, a photodetector, a thread motor, and a biaxial actuator (not shown).
The PU head 2 is movably attached to an axis extending in the radial direction of the optical disc 100. The sled motor moves the PU head 2 in the radial direction of the optical disc 100.
The LD is a light source that outputs laser light, and the photodetector is formed of a plurality of light receiving elements, and detects reflected light from the optical disc 100. In the photodetector, for example, the light receiving area is divided into four substantially equally, and four light receiving areas are formed.
The objective lens adjusts the irradiation position of the laser beam on the optical disc 100. The biaxial actuator moves the objective lens in the direction in which the objective lens is brought into contact with or separated from the optical disc 100 and in the radial direction of the optical disc 100.

First, the operation during reproduction will be described.
The PU head 2 irradiates the optical disc 100 with a laser beam having a reading power, and detects reflected light from the optical disc 100 with a photodetector. Thereby, the information recorded on the optical disc 100 is optically read.
The recording / reproducing unit 3 generates an RF signal based on the outputs of the plurality of light receiving elements in the PU head 2 and amplifies the RF signal. Then, the recording / reproducing unit 3 processes the RF signal to extract and decode image and audio data. Here, the extracted image data is encoded by, for example, MPEG. The audio data to be extracted is encoded by, for example, MPEG or AC-3. Then, the recording / reproducing unit 3 outputs the audio data to the D / A converter 11 and the image data to the image processing unit 13 while synchronizing both data.
The D / A converter 11 converts the expanded audio data into an analog reproduction audio signal, and outputs the reproduction audio signal to the external television 101.
If the television 101 is digital compatible, it may be output digitally.

The image processing unit 13 converts the input image data into an analog reproduction image signal and outputs it to the external television 101.
If the television 101 is digital compatible, it may be output digitally.

  A television 101 is connected to the D / A converter 11 and the image processing unit 13, and the user can select an image based on the image signal output from the D / A converter 11 and the image processing unit 13, and Audio based on the audio signal can be viewed.

Next, the operation during recording will be described.
The receiving unit 10 is a tuner, for example.
The receiving unit 10 extracts a TV broadcast signal of a selected channel from an antenna that receives a TV broadcast or the like, A / D converts it, digitizes it, and outputs it. If it is input as data as in the Internet or digital broadcasting, the receiving unit 10 extracts the data from the packet or TV broadcast signal and outputs it.
Here, the receiving unit 10 not only receives a TV broadcast signal or the like from an antenna for TV broadcast or the like, but also receives a moving image captured by the imaging device.

The recording / reproducing unit 3 encodes the input data (for example, in MPEG) and outputs a digital signal to the PU head 2. The inputted data includes AV (audio visual) data which is binary data, and is encoded after being separated.
When a digital signal is input from the recording / reproducing unit 3, the PU head 2 controls a laser beam having a recording power in accordance with the digital signal and irradiates the recording surface of the optical disc 100.
In this way, a binary file is recorded on the optical disc 100.

  The operation unit 5 is used by the user to input various commands (commands) to the optical disc apparatus 1, and is provided with a recording key, a reproduction key, a special reproduction key, a selection key, and the like. A command input by the user to the optical disc apparatus 1 is transmitted to the control unit 4.

Playback includes normal playback and special playback. In order to instruct the reproduction, the operation unit 5 has a reproduction key and a special reproduction key. The reproduction key is a key for performing normal reproduction by designating a binary file. Normal playback is playback at normal speed in the forward direction (the reverse direction of rewinding). The special reproduction key is a key for performing special reproduction of the binary file. Special playback is, for example, time search, fast forward, rewind, fast forward playback, rewind playback, slow playback, or skip playback. Time search is playback that starts from the middle.
The user reproduces the binary file recorded on the optical disc 100 from the beginning by using the reproduction key and the special reproduction key or special reproduction for viewing a desired scene (see FIG. 4 described later).

The selection key is a first setting that reads an index when a binary file is specified by the playback key, and a second setting that reads an index when special playback that requires an index during normal playback is specified. This is a key for selecting a second setting in advance.
The user can select in advance the first setting and the second setting in accordance with the use schedule by using this selection key. For example, if there is no plan to perform special playback, the second setting is selected in advance, and if there is a plan to perform special playback, the first setting is selected in advance.

The storage unit 6 is composed of, for example, SDRAM or EEPROM, and stores the main control program of the apparatus main body 1. Further, the storage unit 6 stores which one of the first setting and the second setting selected by the selection key of the operation unit 5 is set.
The display unit 7 is configured by an LCD, for example.
The display unit 7 displays the time, the setting state of the optical disc apparatus 1 and the like. The setting state of the optical disc apparatus 1 is information indicating which one of the first setting and the second setting is set.
Further, when these settings are selected, a setup screen may be displayed on the display unit 7. The user operates the selection key while viewing this screen, and selects either the first setting or the second setting.

The control unit 4 includes, for example, an SRAM and a microcomputer, and controls each unit of the optical disc device 1 in accordance with a command input to the optical disc device 1 from a user.
Further, the control unit 4 incorporates a timer circuit (clock unit) that passes time and time.
In an actual optical disc apparatus, tracking servo control for adjusting the laser beam irradiation position to the center of the track of the optical disc at the time of reading or recording, focus servo control for adjusting the focal position of the laser beam to the recording surface of the optical disc, Although not shown in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, the PU head 2, the recording / reproducing unit 3, and the control unit 4 correspond to the “reading unit” of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the data structure of an AVI file, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the data structure of an ASF file.
An AVI file is an AVI format file. The ASF file is an ASF format file.

As shown in FIG. 2, the AVI file is composed of three areas: a header area, an AVI data area in which binary data is stored, and an index area in which an index for managing the binary data is stored. The
The header area stores information necessary for reproduction such as a compression method and a frame rate.
Image data and audio data are alternately stored in the AVI data area.
In the index area, for example, an address of binary data or a data amount is stored.
Here, the AVI file can be played normally from the beginning without an index. However, special playback is not possible without an index.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ASF file is composed of the same area as the AVI file. Even if there is no index, playback from the beginning is possible, but without the index, special playback is not possible.
The difference between the ASF format and the AVI format is that it is suitable for streaming playback. This is because the reproduction time is attached to each of the image data and the sound data so that both can be synchronized.

  2 and 3, AVI (Audio Video Interleaving) files and ASF (Advanced Streaming Format) files are described as binary files, but file formats such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) files are excluded. Not the purpose.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the control unit in the optical disc apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
When the optical disc 100 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, the control unit 4 causes the PU head 2 to check what file is recorded on the optical disc 100. The control unit 4 causes the display unit 7 to display all files recorded on the optical disc 100. The display unit 7 displays the title of a binary file.
Then, the user designates a desired binary file (title) from a plurality of or a single file (title) displayed on the display unit 7 by using the reproduction key of the operation unit 5 and executes reproduction.

  The operation of FIG. 4 is an operation that is started by the designation of a binary file as a trigger. The main routine shown in FIG. 4 is a routine related to (preinstalled in) the main control program, and is called from the main control program when a binary file is designated.

  First, the control unit 4 checks the storage unit 6 and determines whether the first setting is selected in advance (s1).

  If it is determined that the first setting is not selected in advance, that is, if it is determined that the second setting is selected in advance, the control unit 4 proceeds to s3 and continues the process.

  On the other hand, when determining that the first setting is selected in advance, the control unit 4 causes the PU head 2 to read the index from the binary file recorded on the optical disc 100 (s2). When the control unit 4 acquires the index from the recording / reproducing unit 3, the control unit 4 may store the index in the storage unit 6 for s7 described later. In this case, the storage unit 6 preferably uses a memory having a high access speed.

The control unit 4 causes the PU head 2 to read binary data from the binary file recorded on the optical disc 100 from the top (s3). Then, normal reproduction is performed, and the user can view the image based on the image signal output from the D / A converter 11 and the image processing unit 13 and the sound based on the audio signal on the television 101.

During normal reproduction , the control unit 4 determines whether or not special reproduction is designated by the special reproduction key of the operation unit 5 (s4).

If it is determined that special reproduction is not designated, the control unit 4 determines whether the currently reproduced binary data has reached the end (s8). This determination is made using the PU head 2.
When determining that the binary data has not reached the end, the control unit 4 proceeds to s4 and continues the processing. That is, during normal playback , the control unit 4 repeats the processing from s4 to s8 (that is, a loop).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the binary data has reached the end, the control unit 4 ends this processing.
In this way, when the second setting is selected in advance and the user does not perform special playback, that is, when s1, s3, s4, s8, and the end, the waiting time until the start of playback is zero. Can be.
Therefore, there is an effect that the user who does not plan to perform special reproduction does not need to be frustrated.

  Conversely, if it is determined in s4 that special playback is designated, the control unit 4 checks the storage unit 6 and determines whether the second setting is selected in advance (s5).

If it is determined that the second setting is not selected in advance, that is, if it is determined that the first setting is selected in advance, the control unit 4 controls each part of the apparatus main body to perform the special playback, in particular, the PU. This is performed on the head 2 (s7). Since an index is required to execute special reproduction, the control unit 4 refers to the index and causes the PU head 2 to read binary data. The index may be referred to by reading the index stored in the storage unit 6 in s2 from the storage unit 6. In this case, it is preferable to use a memory having a high access speed for the storage unit 6.
In s7 in this case, since the index is read in advance in s2, the special reproduction is performed on the television 101 immediately after the special reproduction key operation by the user.
As described above, when the first setting is selected in advance and the user performs special reproduction, that is, when the process proceeds to s1, s2, s3, s4, s5, and s7, special reproduction at the time of executing special reproduction. The waiting time from the designation to the start of special playback can be shortened.
Therefore, there is an effect that it is not necessary to give frustration to the user who is scheduled to perform the special reproduction when the special reproduction is performed.

  Then, as described above, the control unit 4 determines whether the currently reproduced binary data has reached the end (s8).

On the other hand, when determining in step s5 that the second setting has been selected in advance, the control unit 4 causes the PU head 2 to read the index from the binary file recorded on the optical disc 100 (s6). In preparation for the next special playback designation, the control unit 4 may store the read index in the storage unit 6.
This “case where the second setting is selected in advance and special playback is designated” assumes a case where the user's schedule changes midway.

  The control unit 4 performs control for executing special reproduction on each part of the apparatus main body, particularly on the PU head 2 (s7).

  Then, as described above, the control unit 4 determines whether the currently reproduced binary data has reached the end (s8).

  Hereinafter, an optical disk apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The difference between the optical disk device of this embodiment and the optical disk device of the above embodiment is that the setting without setting in the storage unit 6 is possible.
The storage unit 6 stores which one of the first setting, the second setting, and no setting selected by the selection key of the operation unit 5 is set.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the control unit in the optical disc apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The operation performed by the control unit is an operation in which s11 to s15 are added before the process of s1 in FIG. 4 is performed, and the other processes (s1 to s8) are the same.

  When a binary file is specified, the control unit 4 checks the storage unit 6 and determines whether either the first setting or the second setting is selected in advance (s11).

  If it is determined that either one is selected in advance, the control unit 4 proceeds to s1 and continues the process. In this case, the operation is the same as that of the above embodiment.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that either one has not been selected in advance, the control unit 4 investigates the data amount of the binary file index recorded on the optical disc 100 (s12). This check is performed by, for example, a method of causing the PU head 2 to refer to the header of the binary file or a method of causing the PU head 2 to actually check the data amount of the index.

  The control unit 4 determines whether or not the data amount of the investigated index is a certain amount or more (s13). A certain amount is, for example, 1 Mbyte. A certain amount may be determined in consideration of the waiting time required for reading the index. That is, if the waiting time exceeds a certain time, the user is frustrated. The fixed time is, for example, 1 second or 2 seconds. Naturally, the waiting time depends on the specifications of the apparatus (particularly, the processing speed).

When determining that the data amount of the index is less than the predetermined amount, the control unit 4 sets the first setting in the storage unit 6 (s14), proceeds to s1, and continues the processing. Then, when a binary file is designated by the reproduction key, the index is read from the binary file to the PU head 2 (s2).
Note that the purpose of selecting the first setting when the data amount of the index is less than a certain amount is that, in this case, processing such as reading of the index does not take time.

  Therefore, even if the manual setting is not performed, the automatic setting provides an effect that the user is not frustrated when the data amount of the index is less than a certain amount.

On the other hand, when determining that the data amount of the index is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the control unit 4 sets the second setting in the storage unit 6 (s15), proceeds to s1, and continues the processing. Then, when special reproduction is designated by the special reproduction key during normal reproduction, the PU head 2 is caused to read the index from the binary file recorded on the optical disc 100 (s6).
Therefore, if special reproduction is not designated by the special reproduction key during normal reproduction, there is an effect that the user does not need to be frustrated.

In this embodiment, either the first setting or the second setting is selected based on the data amount of the index, but the frequency of using the special playback may be used as the determination criterion. Absent. In this case, the control unit 4 selects the first setting if the special reproduction is used for a certain ratio or more in the reproduction of the binary file (including normal reproduction and special reproduction) , and a certain ratio in the reproduction of the binary file If not used, the second setting is selected. Here, the certain ratio is a value obtained by “number using special reproduction / number of reproduced binary files”, for example, 30%, 50%, or 70%. The use frequency is counted by providing a counter in the control unit 4.

1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an optical disc apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Diagram showing data structure of AVI file Diagram showing data structure of ASF file The flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a control part performs in the optical disk device which is embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a control part performs in the optical disk apparatus which is other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-optical disk device 2-PU head 3-recording / reproducing unit 4-control unit 5-operation unit 6-storage unit 7-display unit 10-receiving unit 11-D / A converter 13-image processing unit 100-optical disk 101-TV John

Claims (4)

Operation means for instructing playback of an AVI file that includes binary data and address information of the binary data and stores an index for managing the binary data based on the address information , wherein the AVI file is designated. and the operation means having a special playback key for performing a special reproduction of the AVI file, such as a playback key and the time search and fast-forward to perform the normal playback,
A reading means for reading the binary data from the AVI file when the AVI file is designated by the playback key;
In the DVD player that reads the binary data using the index, at least when the special reproduction is performed ,
The operation means specifies a first setting for reading the index when the AVI file is specified by the playback key and a special playback that requires the index during the normal playback . A selection key for pre-selecting a second setting for reading the index when
The reading means reads the index from the AVI file and performs the normal reproduction when the AVI file is designated by the reproduction key when the first setting is previously selected by the selection key. When the special reproduction is designated by the special reproduction key during the period , the binary data is read with reference to the index,
When the second setting is previously selected by the selection key, the reading means is configured to designate special reproduction that requires the index by the special reproduction key during the normal reproduction. , Reading the index from the AVI file, referring to the index, reading the binary data,
Said reading means, if it is not selected any of the first set and the second set, to investigate the data amount of the index of the AVI file by the selection key,
The reading means reads the index from the AVI file when the AVI file is designated by the playback key if the data amount of the investigated index is less than a certain amount,
The reading means reads the index from the AVI file when special reproduction requiring the index is designated by the special reproduction key during reproduction if the data amount of the investigated index is a predetermined amount or more. DVD player. An operation means for instructing reproduction of a binary file in which binary data and an index that includes address information of the binary data and that manages the binary data based on the address information are stored , and specifies the binary file. and the operation means having a special playback key for performing a special reproduction of the binary file, such as a playback key and the time search and fast-forward to perform the normal playback,
Reading means for reading the binary data from the binary file when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key;
In the reproducing apparatus that reads the binary data using the index, at least when the special reproduction is performed ,
The operation means has designated a first setting for reading the index when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key, and a special reproduction that requires the index during the normal reproduction . A selection key for pre-selecting a second setting for reading the index when
The reading means reads out the index from the binary file and performs the normal reproduction when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key when the first setting is previously selected by the selection key. When the special reproduction is designated by the special reproduction key during the period , the binary data is read with reference to the index,
When the second setting is previously selected by the selection key, the reading means is configured to designate special reproduction that requires the index by the special reproduction key during the normal reproduction. A playback apparatus that reads the index from the binary file and reads the binary data with reference to the index. The reading means investigates the data amount of the index of the binary file when neither the first setting nor the second setting is selected by the selection key;
The reading means reads the index from the binary file when the binary file is designated by the reproduction key if the data amount of the investigated index is less than a certain amount,
The reading means reads the index from the binary file when special reproduction requiring the index is designated by the special reproduction key during reproduction if the data amount of the investigated index is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 2.   The playback apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the binary file is an AVI file, an MPEG file, or an ASF file.

Images