JP4204003B2 - Information recording medium, information recording apparatus and method, information reproducing apparatus and method, information recording / reproducing apparatus and method, computer program for recording or reproduction control, and data structure including control signal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording medium such as a high-density optical disc capable of recording various information such as main video, audio, sub-video, and reproduction control information at high density, an information recording apparatus for recording information on the information recording medium, and Method, information reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing information from the information recording medium, information recording / reproducing apparatus and method capable of both recording and reproduction, computer program for recording or reproduction control, and reproduction control Belongs to the technical field of data structures including control signals for

  According to the DVD of the so-called “DVD video standard”, a plurality of title domains (TT_DOM) composed of a series of content information and a title set menu domain (VTSM_DOM) that controls a menu of the plurality of title domains are VTS (video title set). ) Is recorded in the space (VTS_Space). Here, “a series of content information” is, for example, video information, audio information, sub-video information, etc. constituting one title such as one program, one movie, etc., which are recorded in the VTS space as a title domain. The In addition, the menu in the title domain is, for example, a menu for setting the subtitles of a program constituting one title to English or Japanese, and selecting or setting an angle when the angle can be played back. It is recorded in the VTS space as a menu domain corresponding to each title. In short, the title menu domain is for individually setting in what state each title is reproduced or being played. The “space” is a unit of recording information in the recording area, which corresponds to a handling unit when the player performs the reproduction process.

  A disc menu relating to a plurality of VTS spaces or the entire disc is recorded as a VMG (video manager) menu domain (VMGM_DOM) in a VMG space (VMG_Space) recorded in a region different from the VTS space in the recording region on the disc. Has been. Here, the “disc menu” refers to a menu domain that is common to the entire disc, for example, whether the audio for the entire disc is in Japanese or English, or the title menu in the disc is selected or set. It is recorded in the VMG space as a VMG menu domain. In short, the VMG menu domain is for uniformly setting in what state all titles are reproduced or being played.

  Further, “the VTS space and the VMG space are recorded in different areas” means that the domain recorded in the VTS space and the domain recorded in the VMG space are switched simultaneously or immediately at the time of playback by the player. It means that it is recorded in the recording area so that it cannot be reproduced or cannot be reproduced in parallel.

  However, when a DVD having such a configuration is played back by the player, for example, if a menu display operation is performed during title playback, the player first stops the title playback. Subsequently, for example, a menu screen having a blue background unrelated to the title reproduction is displayed to prompt the user to select or specify a menu. For this reason, the user's interest in content is reduced. On the other hand, if a menu screen is displayed in some form while the title reproduction is continued, it is necessary to perform a reproduction transition between the title domain and the menu domain, and the reading operation in the player becomes complicated. In practice, it is fundamentally difficult to perform a quick playback transition or switching operation, so that it is technically difficult to display the menu screen while continuing the title playback. There is.

  For example, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an information recording that enables display of a menu screen such as a small window display or a semi-transparent superimpose display while the title playback is continued, for example, during the title playback. It is an object to provide a data structure including a medium, an information recording apparatus and method, an information reproducing apparatus and method, an information recording and reproducing apparatus and method, a computer program for recording or reproduction control, and a control signal for reproduction control.

An information recording medium according to claim 1, for example, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a series of content information, menu information about the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information, Play list information that defines a playback sequence of the content information in units of items accessible during playback, and playback control information for playing back the menu information are recorded, and the playlist information includes the content information And item information indicating each item constituting the menu item and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item. The menu information is selectively overlapped or replaced with a part of the content information according to an external designation. or is displayed Te all SANYO not appear at all, Serial content information, Ru objects der different from the menu information.

The information recording apparatus according to claim 2 records a series of content information and menu information related to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information, for example, in order to solve the above-described problem. A first recording means; and a second recording means for recording playlist information defining a playback sequence of the content information in units of items accessible at the time of playback and playback control information for playing back the menu information. And the second recording means records the playlist information so as to include item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item, The menu information is selectively selected according to the external designation and the content information. Or der shall not be displayed at all is displayed over the parts or replaced is, the content information, Ru objects der different from the menu information.

The information recording method according to claim 3 records, for example, a series of content information and menu information related to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information in order to solve the above-described problem. A first recording step; and a second recording step of recording playlist information defining a playback sequence of the content information in units of items accessible at the time of playback and playback control information for playing back the menu information. And the second recording step records the playlist information so as to include item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item, The menu information is selectively selected according to the external designation and the content information. Or der shall not be displayed at all is displayed over the parts or replaced is, the content information, Ru objects der different from the menu information.

An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 4 is an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the information recording medium according to claim 1, for example, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, wherein the content information, the menu information, and the playlist information According to the item information and the slave item information included in the playlist information reproduced by the reproduction means, the reproduction means capable of reproducing the content information, the display output means capable of displaying and outputting the content information and the menu information, The reproduction means is controlled to reproduce the content information and the menu information, and selectively reproduces the reproduced menu information according to an external designation as one of the reproduced content information corresponding to the reproduced menu information. So that the display output is superposed on or replaced with the part or not displayed at all. And a control means for controlling the 示出 force means.

The information reproduction method according to claim 5 reproduces the information recording medium according to claim 1, for example, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. (I) The content information, the menu information, and the playlist information can be reproduced. (Ii) An information reproducing method in an information reproducing apparatus comprising a display output unit capable of displaying and outputting the content information and the menu information, and is included in the playlist information reproduced by the reproducing unit A first control step for controlling the reproducing means to reproduce the content information and the menu information according to the item information and the slave item information; and selectively reproducing the reproduced menu information according to an external designation. Display output by superimposing or replacing a part of the reproduced content information corresponding to the reproduced menu information And a second control step of controlling the display output means so as not to display or output at all.

  A recording control computer program according to claim 6 is a recording control computer program for controlling a computer provided in the information recording apparatus according to claim 2, for example, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, A computer is caused to function as at least part of the first recording unit and the second recording unit.

  A computer program for reproduction control according to claim 7 is, for example, a computer program for reproduction control that controls a computer provided in the information reproduction apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13 in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. A computer program that causes the computer to function as at least part of the reproducing means, the display output means, and the control means.

The data structure including the control signal according to claim 8 is a menu related to the content information for displaying a series of content information and the content information during reproduction of the content information, for example, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. Information, playlist information that defines the playback sequence of the content information in item units accessible at the time of playback, and playback control information for playing back the menu information, the playlist information, Including item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item. The menu information is selectively overlapped with a part of the content information according to an external designation. Displayed or replaced or not displayed at all Oh it is, the content information is, Ru objects der different from the menu information.

  The operation and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below.

An embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention includes a series of content information, menu information relating to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information, and a reproduction sequence of the content information. Play list information defined in units of items accessible at the time of reproduction and reproduction control information for reproducing the menu information are recorded, and the playlist information indicates each item constituting the content information. Including item information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item, wherein the menu information is selectively displayed according to external designation, superimposed or replaced with part of the content information, or not displayed at all Monodea is, the content information, the eye Ru objects der which is different from the-menu information.

  According to the embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention, a series of content information and menu information related to the content information are recorded. The menu information is information that is displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information. Furthermore, playlist information that defines a playback sequence of content information in units of items is recorded, and this playlist information includes item information and slave item information. Slave item information means information associated with one item information. Here, in particular, the item information indicates each item constituting the content information, and the slave item information indicates menu information corresponding to each item as a slave item.

  Therefore, when reproducing the information recording medium, content information such as video information and audio information is reproduced by sequentially reproducing the content information portion instructed by the item information included in the playlist information. It becomes possible. In parallel with the reproduction of the content information, according to the slave item information included in the playlist information, the menu information portion instructed thereby is reproduced in order, whereby the menu information can be reproduced. Performing such content information reproduction and menu information reproduction in parallel can be technically performed with little problem if, for example, the reproduction rate of the information reproduction apparatus is appropriately reduced.

  Here, for example, a user who is viewing content information wants to display an appropriate menu screen for performing desired operations such as switching of audio language, switching of subtitle language, angle switching, and playback transition to another title. Assume that In this case, the content being reproduced and displayed using the item information is displayed on the content information being displayed and selectively reproduced using the slave item information by an external command such as a remote control operation or a panel operation. Menu information that has not been displayed can be displayed quickly or instantaneously. Conversely, for example, when a user who is viewing content information does not want to display the menu screen, the slave item information is used on the content information being reproduced and displayed using the item information. It is possible not to display the menu information being reproduced. That is, in the latter case, even if the menu information exists corresponding to the content information, the menu information continues to be reproduced without being displayed, and can be immediately displayed at any time as desired by the user. ing. In the former case, the menu information that can be displayed immediately is actually displayed and output as a menu screen.

  As a result, for example, during title playback, it is possible to display menu screens such as small window display and translucent superimpose display while title playback continues.

Embodiments of the information recording apparatus of the present invention include a first recording unit that records a series of content information and menu information related to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information, and the content And second recording means for recording playlist information that defines an information playback sequence in units of items accessible at the time of playback and playback control information for playing back the menu information, wherein the second recording means The playlist information is recorded so as to include item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item, and the menu information is selected according to external designation Thus, the content information is superimposed or replaced with a part of the content information. Ri or der shall not be displayed at all is, the content information, Ru objects der different from the menu information.

  According to the embodiment of the information recording apparatus of the present invention, the first recording means including, for example, a controller, an encoder, a TS object generator described later, an optical pickup, or a cutting device is a recording area of an information recording medium including, for example, a DVD A series of content information and menu information related thereto are recorded. For example, the second recording means including a controller, an encoder, a TS object generator (to be described later), an optical pickup, a cutting device, or the like records playlist information that defines a content information playback sequence in units of items. In particular, the second recording means records the playlist information so as to include item information and slave item information.

  Therefore, the above-described embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) can be recorded relatively efficiently.

  Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the information recording medium of the present invention described above, the information recording apparatus of the present invention can also adopt various aspects.

An embodiment of the information recording method of the present invention includes a first recording step of recording a series of content information and menu information related to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information, and the content A second recording step of recording playlist information defining an information playback sequence in units of items accessible at the time of playback and playback control information for playing back the menu information, the second recording step comprising: The playlist information is recorded so as to include item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item, and the menu information is selected according to external designation Thus, the content information is superimposed or replaced with a part of the content information. Ri or der shall not be displayed at all is, the content information, Ru objects der different from the menu information.

  According to the embodiment of the information recording method of the present invention, the first recording area of the information recording medium made of, for example, a DVD is used, for example, by using a controller, an encoder, a TS object generator described later, an optical pickup, a cutting device, or the like. The recording step records a series of content information and menu information related thereto, and the second recording step records playlist information that defines a reproduction sequence of the content information in units of items. In particular, in the second recording step, the playlist information is recorded so as to include item information and slave item information.

  Therefore, the above-described embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) can be recorded relatively efficiently.

  Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention described above, the embodiment of the information recording method of the present invention can also adopt various aspects.

An embodiment of the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the above-described information recording medium embodiment of the present invention (including various aspects thereof), the content information, the menu information, and the Reproducing means capable of reproducing playlist information, display output means capable of displaying and outputting the content information and the menu information, and the item information and slave item information included in the playlist information reproduced by the reproducing means The playback unit is controlled to play back the content information and the menu information, and the played back menu information is selectively displayed in accordance with an external designation, and the played back content corresponding to the played back menu information is reproduced. Overlays or replaces a part of information and outputs it so that it is displayed or not displayed at all And control means for controlling the urchin the display output means.

  According to the embodiment of the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, reproducing means including, for example, a controller, a decoder, a demultiplexer, an optical pickup, etc. reproduces playlist information. Then, for example, under the control of a control unit such as a controller, the reproduction unit reproduces the content information and the menu information according to the item information and slave item information included in the reproduced playlist information. Here, for example, the reproduced content information is reproduced as a main path, while the reproduced menu information is reproduced as, for example, a sub path. Along with such reproduction, the display output means displays and outputs the content information. Here, if there is an external designation by the designation means, for example, whether or not to display the menu screen, the display output means is selectively reproduced according to the designated contents under the control of the control means. Menu information is displayed and output overlaid on or replaced with part of the content information. Alternatively, no display output is performed.

  Therefore, the above-described embodiments of the information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) can be reproduced relatively efficiently.

  Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the information recording medium of the present invention described above, the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention can also adopt various aspects.

An embodiment of the information reproducing method of the present invention reproduces the above-described information recording medium embodiment of the present invention (including various aspects thereof). (I) The content information, the menu information and the playlist information are reproduced. An information reproducing method in an information reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing means capable of reproducing; and (ii) a display output means capable of displaying and outputting the content information and the menu information, wherein the playlist information is reproduced by the reproducing means. A first control step for controlling the reproducing means to reproduce the content information and the menu information according to the item information and the slave item information included in the item information, and the reproduced menu information selectively according to an external designation Is superposed on or replaced with a part of the reproduced content information corresponding to the reproduced menu information. And a second control step for controlling the display output means so as to display and output at all.

  According to the embodiment of the information reproducing method of the present invention, the first control step using, for example, a controller, the content information and menu information according to the item information and slave item information included in the playlist information reproduced by the reproducing means. The playback means is controlled to play back. Further, in the second control step, the reproduced menu information is selectively displayed according to an external designation by the designation means so as to be superposed on or replaced with a part of the reproduced content information corresponding thereto. Alternatively, the display output means is controlled so that no display is output.

  Therefore, the above-described embodiments of the information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) can be reproduced relatively efficiently.

  Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the information recording medium according to the present invention described above, the information reproducing method according to the present invention can also adopt various aspects.

  An embodiment of a computer program for recording control of the present invention is a computer program for recording control for controlling a computer provided in the above-described embodiment of the information recording apparatus of the present invention (including various aspects thereof). Thus, the computer is caused to function as at least part of the first recording unit and the second recording unit.

  According to the computer program for recording control of the present invention, the computer program is read from a recording medium such as a ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and hard disk storing the computer program, and executed. If the computer program is downloaded to a computer via communication means and then executed, the above-described embodiment of the information recording apparatus according to the present invention can be realized relatively easily.

  Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the information recording medium of the present invention described above, the recording control computer program of the present invention can also adopt various aspects.

  The embodiment of the computer program for playback control of the present invention is a computer program for playback control that controls a computer provided in the above-described embodiment of the information playback apparatus of the present invention (including various aspects thereof). The computer is caused to function as at least a part of the reproducing means, the display output means, and the control means.

  According to the computer program for reproduction control of the present invention, the computer program is read from a recording medium such as a ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk or the like for storing the computer program and executed. If the computer program is downloaded to a computer via communication means and then executed, the above-described embodiment of the information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention can be realized relatively easily.

  Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the information recording medium of the present invention described above, the reproduction control computer program of the present invention can also adopt various aspects.

An embodiment of a data structure including a control signal according to the present invention includes a series of content information, menu information regarding the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information, and reproduction of the content information. It has playlist information that defines a sequence for each item that can be accessed at the time of playback, and playback control information for playing back the menu information, and the playlist information includes each item constituting the content information And the item information for indicating the menu information as a slave item, and the menu information is selectively displayed according to an external designation, superimposed or replaced with a part of the content information, or all SANYO not appear at all, the content information Ru objects der different from the menu information.

  According to the embodiment of the data structure including the control signal of the present invention, as in the above-described embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention, for example, during the title reproduction, the small window display and the title reproduction are continued. Menu screens such as a semi-transparent superimpose display can be displayed.

  Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the information recording medium according to the present invention described above, the data structure including the control signal according to the present invention can also adopt various aspects.

  Such an operation and other gains in this embodiment will be further clarified from examples described below.

(Information recording medium)
Embodiments of the information recording medium of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the information recording medium of the present invention is applied to an optical disc of a type capable of recording (writing) and reproducing (reading).

  First, with reference to FIG. 1, the basic structure of the optical disk of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of the structure of an optical disc having a plurality of areas on the upper side, and shows a conceptual diagram of the area structure in the radial direction on the lower side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disc 100 can be recorded by various recording methods such as a magneto-optical method and a phase change method, which can be recorded (written) a plurality of times or only once. A lead-in area 104, a data area 106, and a lead-out area 108 are provided on the recording surface of the disk main body having a diameter of about 12 cm from the inner periphery to the outer periphery with the center hole 102 as the center. In each area, for example, a groove track and a land track are alternately provided spirally or concentrically around the center hole 102, and the groove track may be wobbling, one of these Alternatively, prepits may be formed on both tracks. The present invention is not particularly limited to an optical disc having such three areas.

  Next, the structure of the transport stream (TS) and program stream (PS) recorded on the optical disc of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 (a) schematically shows the structure of the MPEG2 program stream in the conventional DVD for comparison, and FIG. 2 (b) shows the structure of the MPEG2 transport stream (TS). Is shown schematically. Further, FIG. 2 (c) schematically shows the structure of an MPEG2 program stream in the present invention.

  In FIG. 2 (a), one program stream recorded on a conventional DVD includes only one video stream for video data as main video information along the time axis t, and audio data as audio information. 8 audio streams at maximum and 32 sub-picture streams for sub-picture data as sub-picture information. That is, the video data multiplexed at an arbitrary time tx relates to only one video stream. For example, a plurality of video streams corresponding to a plurality of television programs or movies are simultaneously converted into a program stream. Cannot be included. In order to multiplex and transmit or record a television program with video, at least one video stream is required for each television program, etc., so a DVD program in which only one video stream exists In the stream format, a plurality of television programs cannot be multiplexed and transmitted or recorded.

  In FIG. 2B, one transport stream (TS) recorded on the optical disc 100 of the present invention comprises a plurality of video streams as elementary streams (ES) for video data as main video information, Further, a plurality of audio streams are included as an elementary stream (ES) for audio data as audio information, and a plurality of sub-picture streams are included as an elementary stream (ES) for sub-picture data as sub-picture information. That is, the video data multiplexed at an arbitrary time tx relates to a plurality of video streams. For example, a plurality of video streams corresponding to a plurality of television programs or a plurality of movies are included in the transport stream at the same time. Is possible. Thus, in the transport stream format in which a plurality of video streams exist, a plurality of television programs and the like can be multiplexed and transmitted or recorded. However, in the digital broadcasting employing the current transport stream, the sub-picture stream is not transmitted.

  In FIG. 2C, one program stream (PS) recorded on the optical disc 100 of the present invention includes a plurality of video streams for video data as main video information, and further for audio data as audio information. It includes a plurality of audio streams and a plurality of sub-picture streams for sub-picture data that is sub-picture information. That is, video data multiplexed at an arbitrary time tx relates to a plurality of video streams. For example, a plurality of video streams corresponding to a plurality of television programs or a plurality of movies are included in the program stream at the same time. It is possible.

  2A to 2C, the video stream, the audio stream, and the sub-picture stream are arranged in this order from the top for convenience of explanation, but this order is multiplexed in packet units as will be described later. It does not correspond to the order in which they are converted. In the transport stream, conceptually, for example, a group of one video stream, two audio streams, and two sub-picture streams corresponds to one program.

  The above-described optical disc 100 of the present embodiment is configured such that a transport stream (TS) as shown in FIG. 2B can be multiplexed and recorded, that is, a plurality of programs or programs can be recorded simultaneously within the limitation of the recording rate. Has been. Further, in addition to or instead of such a transport stream, the program stream (PS) as shown in FIG. 2C can be multiplexed and recorded on the same optical disc 100.

  Next, the structure of data recorded on the optical disc 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 schematically shows a data structure recorded on the optical disc 100. As shown in FIG. FIG. 4 schematically shows details of the data structure in each title shown in FIG. 5 and 6 schematically show details of the data structure in each play (P) list set shown in FIG. FIG. 7 schematically shows details of the data structure of each item shown in FIG. FIG. 8 schematically shows a logical configuration of data in each title element shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 9 shows a case where each playlist set consists of one playlist. 2 schematically shows a logical configuration of data in each title element. FIG. 10 schematically shows details of the data structure in each object shown in FIG.

  In the following description, a “title” is a playback unit for continuously executing a plurality of “playlists”, and is a unit having a logically large unit such as one movie or one television program. is there. “Playlist set” refers to a bundle of “playlists”. For example, a bundle of playlists for reproducing a plurality of pieces of content information having specific relations that can be switched to each other in angle reproduction or parental reproduction, or contents relating to a plurality of programs broadcast and recorded together in the same time zone It is a bunch of playlists for reproducing information. Or for the same title, depending on the video playback function (video performance) and audio playback function (audio performance) required in the information playback system, such as high-definition support, display resolution, surround speaker support, speaker arrangement, etc. It is a bundle of playlists for reproducing various contents information prepared for each function. The “playlist” is information that stores information necessary for reproducing the “object”, and is composed of a plurality of “items” each storing information related to the reproduction range of the object for accessing the object. . The “object” is entity information of contents constituting the above-described MPEG2 transport stream.

  In FIG. 3, the optical disc 100 has four types of files, a disc information file 110, a play (P) list information file 120, an object information file 130, and an object data file 140, as logical structures. A file system 105 for management is further provided. 3 does not directly show the physical data arrangement on the optical disc 100, but the arrangement order shown in FIG. 3 is recorded so as to correspond to the arrangement order shown in FIG. It is also possible to record the file system 105 and the like in the data recording area 106 subsequent to the lead-in area 104 and further record the object data file 140 and the like in the data recording area 106. Even if the lead-in area 104 and the lead-out area 108 shown in FIG. 1 do not exist, the file structure shown in FIG. 3 can be constructed.

  The disc information file 110 is a file that stores comprehensive information about the entire optical disc 100, and stores disc comprehensive information 112, a title information table 114, and other information 118. The disc comprehensive information 112 stores the total number of titles in the optical disc 100, for example. The title information table 114 is configured to include a title pointer 114-1 and a plurality of titles 200 (titles # 1 to #m) whose identification numbers or recording addresses are indicated thereby. Each title 200 stores, as logical information, the type of each title (for example, sequential playback type, branch type, etc.) and the play (P) list number constituting each title for each title.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each title 200 includes, for example, title general information 200-1, a plurality of title elements 200-2, and other information 200-5. Further, each title element 200-2 includes a pre-command 200PR, a playlist set pointer 200PT, a post command 200PS, and other information 200-6.

  Here, the pointer 200PT as an example of the first pointer information according to the present invention is stored in the playlist information file 120 corresponding to the content information to be reproduced based on the title element 200-2 including the pointer 200PT. The identification number of the playlist set 126S is shown. The pointer 200PT may be information indicating the recording position of the playlist set 126S corresponding to the content information to be reproduced based on the title element 200-2. The pre-command 200PR, which is an example of the first pre-command according to the present invention, indicates a command to be executed before reproduction of content information whose reproduction sequence is defined by one playlist set 126S specified by the pointer 200PT. The post command 200PS, which is an example of the first post command according to the present invention, indicates a command to be executed after the reproduction of the content information whose reproduction sequence is defined by the one playlist set. The other information 200-5 included in the title element 200-2 includes, for example, next information that designates a title element related to playback next to playback related to the title element.

Accordingly, when the information recording medium is played back by the information playback apparatus described later, the playlist set 126S is accessed according to the pointer 200PT, and the one corresponding to a desired program or the like is selected from the plurality of playlists 126 included therein. If the control is executed as described above, the desired content information can be reproduced as the title element 200-2. Further, one title 200 can be reproduced by reproducing one or more such title elements 200-2. Furthermore, in accordance with the pre-command 200PR, it is possible to execute a command to be executed before reproduction of content information whose reproduction sequence is defined by one playlist set 126S specified by the pointer 200PT. Furthermore, in accordance with the post command 200PS, a command to be executed after reproduction of the content information whose reproduction sequence is defined by one playlist set 126S specified by the pointer 200PT can be executed. The post command 200PS is, for example, a command for instructing branching of content information, a command for selecting the next title, or the like. In addition, the title element 200-2 next to the title element 200-2 being reproduced can be reproduced in accordance with the next information included in the other information 200-5.

  In FIG. 3 again, the playlist information file 120 stores a play (P) list information table 121 indicating the logical configuration of each playlist, which includes play (P) list management information 122 and play (P). It is divided into a list set pointer 124, a plurality of play (P) list sets 126S (P list sets # 1 to #n), and other information 128. The playlist information table 121 stores logical information of each playlist set 126S in the order of playlist set numbers. In other words, the storage order of each playlist set 126S is the playlist set number. Further, it is also possible to refer to the same playlist set 126 </ b> S from a plurality of titles 200 in the title information table 114 described above. That is, even when the title #q and the title #r use the same playlist set #p, the playlist information #p in the playlist information table 121 is pointed to the title information table 114. Also good.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the playlist set 126S includes playlist set general information 126-1, a plurality of playlists 126 (playlists # 1 to #x), an item definition table 126-3, and other information. 126-4. Each playlist 126 includes a plurality of playlist elements 126-2 (playlist elements # 1 to #y) and other information 126-5. Each playlist element 126-2 includes a pre-command 126PR, an item pointer 126PT, a post command 126PS, and other information 126-6.

  Here, the pointer 126PT as an example of the second pointer information according to the present invention is defined by the item definition table 126-3 corresponding to the content information to be reproduced based on the playlist element 126-2 including the pointer 126PT. Indicates the identification number of the item to be played. The pointer 126PT may be an item recording position defined by the item definition table 126-3.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the playlist set 126S, a plurality of items 204 are defined in the item definition table 126-3. These are shared by a plurality of playlists 126. Also, as the playlist set general information 126-1, a UI (user interface information) such as the name and playback time of each playlist 126 included in the playlist set 126S, and address information to each item definition table 126-3. Etc. are described.

  In FIG. 5 again, a pre-command 126PR as an example of the second pre-command according to the present invention indicates a command to be executed before reproduction of one item 204 designated by the pointer 126PT. The post command 126PS as an example of the second post command according to the present invention indicates a command to be executed after the reproduction of the one item 204. The other information 126-6 included in the playlist element 126-2 includes, for example, first information that designates the playlist element 126-2 related to the playback next to the playback related to the playlist element 126-2.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the item 204 is a minimum unit of display. In the item 204, “IN point information” indicating the start address of the object and “OUT point information” indicating the end address are described. Each of these “IN point information” and “OUT point information” may directly indicate an address, or may indirectly indicate an address such as time or time on the reproduction time axis. In the figure, when a plurality of ESs (elementary streams) are multiplexed for the object indicated by “stream object #m”, the designation of the item 204 is a combination of specific ESs or specific ESs. Will be specified.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the title element 200-2 logically includes a pre-command 200PR or 126PR, a playlist set 126S selected by the pointer 200PT, a post-command 200PS or post-command 126PS, and next information 200. -6N. Therefore, processing for selecting the playlist 126 from the playlist set 126S is executed according to some conditions that can be reproduced by the system, such as video resolution.

  However, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the playlist set designated by the pointer 200PT is composed of a single playlist, that is, the playlist set 126S shown in FIG. In this case, the title element 200-2 is logically composed of a pre-command 200PR or 126PR, a playlist 126 that is played back during playback, a post-command 200PS or post-command 126PS, and next information 200-6N. May be. In this case, if a playlist set is designated for playback regardless of conditions that can be played back by the system, playback processing of a single playlist 126 is executed.

  In FIG. 3 again, the object information file 130 is stored in the object data file 140 for each item configured in each playlist 126 (that is, a logical address to be reproduced) and various attribute information relating to the reproduction of the item. Is stored. Particularly in the present embodiment, the object information file 130 includes an AU table 131 including a plurality of AU (association unit) information 132I (AU # 1 to AU # q), which will be described in detail later, and an ES (elementary stream) map. A table 134 and other information 138 are stored.

  The object data file 140 stores a plurality of TS objects 142 (TS # 1 object to TS # s object) for each transport stream (TS), that is, actual data of content to be actually reproduced.

  Note that the four types of files described with reference to FIG. 3 can be further divided into a plurality of files and stored, and all of these may be managed by the file system 105. For example, the object data file 140 can be divided into a plurality of object data files # 1, object data files # 2,.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the TS object 142 shown in FIG. 3, which is a logically reproducible unit, is divided into a plurality of aligned units 143 each having a data amount of 6 kB, for example. The head of the aligned unit 143 is aligned with the head of the TS object 142 (aligned). Each aligned unit 143 is further subdivided into a plurality of source packets 144 each having a data amount of 192B. The source packet 144 is a physically reproducible unit. In this unit, that is, a packet unit, at least video data, audio data, and sub-picture data among the data on the optical disc 100 are multiplexed. May be multiplexed as well. Each source packet 144 has a data amount of 4B, control information 145 for controlling reproduction of a packet arrival time stamp indicating a reproduction processing start time of a TS (transport stream) packet on the reproduction time axis, and 188B TS packet 146 having a data amount of The TS packet 146 (also referred to as “TS packet payload”) has a packet header 146a at its head, and the video data is packetized to become a “video packet” or the audio data is packetized to “audio”. “Packet”, or sub-picture data is packetized into “sub-picture packet”, or other data is packetized.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, video data, audio data, sub-picture data, etc. in the transport stream format as shown in FIG. 2B are transferred to the optical disc 100 by the TS packet 146 shown in FIG. The point that multiple recording is performed will be described. Here, in FIG. 11, the elementary stream (ES) for the upper program # 1 (PG1) and the elementary stream (ES) for the middle program # 2 (PG2) are multiplexed. FIG. 12 conceptually shows a state in which a transport stream (TS) for a program (PG1 & 2) is configured, with the horizontal axis as a time axis. FIG. 12 shows a multiplexed stream in one transport stream (TS). 3 conceptually shows an image of a TS packet as a packet arrangement along the time.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the elementary stream for program # 1 (upper stage) includes, for example, TS packets 146 obtained by packetizing video data for program # 1 discretely with respect to the time axis (horizontal axis). Arranged. The elementary stream (middle stage) for program # 2 is formed by discretely arranging TS packets 146 in which video data for program # 2 is packetized with respect to the time axis (horizontal axis). These TS packets 146 are multiplexed to construct a transport stream (lower stage) for these two programs. Although omitted in FIG. 11 for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), actually, it is composed of TS packets in which audio data is packetized as an elementary stream for program # 1. A sub-picture stream consisting of TS packets in which elementary streams and sub-picture data are packetized may be similarly multiplexed. In addition, audio data is packetized as an elementary stream for program # 2. An elementary stream made up of the TS packets and a sub-picture stream made up of TS packets in which sub-picture data is packetized may be multiplexed in the same way.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, one TS stream is constructed from a number of TS packets 146 multiplexed in this way. A large number of TS packets 146 are multiplexed and recorded on the optical disc 100 by adding information such as packet arrival time stamps 145 in such a multiplexed form. In FIG. 12, j (j = 1, 2,...) Is classified by stream constituting the program for the TS packet 146 made up of data constituting the program #i (i = 1, 2, 3). The number indicating the order of “Element (i0j)” is indicated by “Element (i0j)”, and (i0j) is a packet ID as an identification number of the TS packet 146 for each elementary stream. This packet ID is given a unique value among the plurality of TS packets 146 multiplexed at the same time so that they can be distinguished from each other even if the plurality of TS packets 146 are multiplexed at the same time.

  In FIG. 12, PAT (Program Association Table) and PMT (Program Map Table) are also packetized and multiplexed in units of TS packets 146. Among these, the PAT stores a table indicating packet IDs of a plurality of PMTs. In particular, the MPEG2 standard defines that PAT is given (000) as a predetermined packet ID as shown in FIG. That is, the TS packet 146 in which the PAT is packetized is detected as the TS packet 146 whose packet ID is (000) among many packets multiplexed at the same time. The PMT stores a table indicating packet IDs for each elementary stream constituting each program for one or a plurality of programs. Arbitrary packet IDs can be assigned to the PMT, and these packet IDs are indicated by PATs that can be detected with the packet ID (000) as described above. Therefore, among many packets multiplexed at the same time, the TS packet 146 in which the PMT is packetized (that is, the TS packet 146 to which the packet IDs (100), (200), and (300) are assigned in FIG. 12). ) Is detected by PAT.

  When the transport stream as shown in FIG. 12 is digitally transmitted, the tuner refers to the PAT and PMT configured in this manner, thereby converting the multiplexed packet into a desired elementary stream. The corresponding one can be extracted and demodulated.

  In the present embodiment, such a PAT or PMT packet is included as the TS packet 146 stored in the TS object 142 shown in FIG. That is, there is a great advantage that when the transport stream as shown in FIG. 12 is transmitted, it can be recorded on the optical disc 100 as it is.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the PAT and PMT recorded in this way are not referred to when the optical disc 100 is reproduced, but instead refer to the AU table 131 and the ES map table 134 described in detail later after FIG. As a result, more efficient reproduction is possible, and it is possible to cope with complicated multi-vision reproduction. For this reason, in this embodiment, for example, the correspondence between the elementary stream and the packet obtained by referring to the PAT and PMT at the time of demodulation or recording is expressed in the form of the AU table 131 and the ES map table 134 and packetized or It is stored in the object information file 130 without being multiplexed.

  Next, a logical configuration of data on the optical disc 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 schematically shows the logical configuration of data on the optical disc 100, focusing on the development from the logical hierarchy to the object hierarchy or the entity hierarchy.

  In FIG. 13, on the optical disc 100, for example, one or a plurality of logical titles 200 such as one movie and one television program are recorded. Each title 200 includes one or more title elements 200-2. Each title element 200-2 is logically composed of a plurality of playlist sets 126S. Within each title element 200-2, the plurality of playlist sets 126S may have a sequential structure or a branch structure.

  In the case of a simple logical configuration, one title element 200 is composed of one playlist set 126S, and one playlist set 126S is composed of one playlist 126. It is also possible to refer to one playlist set 126S from a plurality of title elements 200-2 or a plurality of titles 200.

  Each playlist 126 is logically composed of a plurality of items (play items) 204. Within each playlist 126, the plurality of items 204 may have a sequential structure or a branch structure. It is also possible to refer to one item 204 from a plurality of play lists 126. The playback range of the TS object 142 is logically specified by the above-described IN point information and OUT point information described in the item 204. Then, by referring to the object information 130d for the logically designated reproduction range, finally, the reproduction range of the TS object 142 is physically designated via the file system. Here, the object information 130d includes various information for reproducing the TS object 142 such as attribute information of the TS object 142 and ES address information 134d necessary for data search in the TS object 142 (shown in FIG. 3). The ES map table 134 includes a plurality of such ES address information 134d).

  When the TS object 142 is reproduced by the information recording / reproducing apparatus described later, the physical address to be reproduced in the TS object 142 is acquired from the item 204 and the object information 130d, and the desired elementary stream is reproduced. The

  The EP (entry point) map including a plurality of ES address information 134d shown in the object information 130d in FIG. 13 is an object information table in which both the AU table 131 and the ES map table 134 are collected. Pointing.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the IN point information and OUT point information described in the item 204, and the ES address information 134d described in the ES map table 134 (see FIG. 3) of the object information 130d, the logic in the reproduction sequence is obtained. The association from the hierarchy to the object hierarchy is executed, and the elementary stream can be reproduced.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the multiplex recording is performed in units of TS packets 146 on the optical disc 100, thereby including a large number of elementary streams as shown in FIG. The transport stream can be multiplexed and recorded on the optical disc 100. According to the present embodiment, when a digital broadcast is recorded on the optical disc 100, a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs can be recorded simultaneously within the limit of the recording rate. A method of multiplexing and recording a plurality of programs is adopted. An embodiment of an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of executing such a recording process will be described below.

(Information recording / reproducing device)
Next, an embodiment of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the information recording / reproducing apparatus, and FIGS. 15 to 19 are flowcharts showing the operation thereof.

  In FIG. 14, an information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 is roughly divided into a reproduction system and a recording system, and is configured to be able to record information on the optical disc 100 described above and to reproduce information recorded on the information. . In this embodiment, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 is used for recording / reproducing as described above, but basically, the embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention can be constructed from the recording system portion, while basically the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 can be constructed. The embodiment of the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention can be configured from the reproducing system portion.

  The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 includes an optical pickup 502, a servo unit 503, a spindle motor 504, a demodulator 506, a demultiplexer 508, a video decoder 511, an audio decoder 512, a sub-picture decoder 513, an adder 514, a still picture decoder 515, a system. The controller 520 includes a memory 530, a memory 540, a memory 550, a modulator 606, a formatter 608, a TS object generator 610, a video encoder 611, an audio encoder 612, and a sub-picture encoder 613. The system controller 520 includes a file system / logical structure data generator 521 and a file system / logical structure data reader 522. Further, the system controller 520 is connected to a memory 530 and a user interface 720 for performing user input such as title information.

  Among these components, a demodulator 506, a demultiplexer 508, a video decoder 511, an audio decoder 512, a sub-picture decoder 513, an adder 514, a still picture decoder 515, a memory 540, and a memory 550 constitute a playback system. Yes. On the other hand, among these components, a modulator 606, a formatter 608, a TS object generator 610, a video encoder 611, an audio encoder 612, and a sub-picture encoder 613 generally constitute a recording system. The optical pickup 502, the servo unit 503, the spindle motor 504, the system controller 520 and the memory 530, and the user interface 720 for inputting user information such as title information are generally shared by both the reproduction system and the recording system. Further, regarding the recording system, a TS object data source 700 (or a PS object data source 700 or a still image data source 700 such as bitmap data and JPEG data), a video data source 711, an audio data source 712, and sub-picture data. A source 713 is provided. Further, the file system / logical structure data generator 521 provided in the system controller 520 is mainly used in the recording system, and the file system / logical structure reader 522 is mainly used in the reproduction system.

  The optical pickup 502 irradiates the optical disc 100 with a light beam LB such as a laser beam at a first power as reading light during reproduction, and irradiates the recording light as a writing light with a second power while being modulated. The servo unit 503 receives control by the control signal Sc1 output from the system controller 520 during reproduction and recording, and performs focus servo, tracking servo, etc. in the optical pickup 502 and spindle servo in the spindle motor 504. The spindle motor 504 is configured to rotate the optical disc 100 at a predetermined speed while receiving spindle servo from the servo unit 503.

(I) Configuration and operation of recording system:
Next, with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 18, specific configurations and operations of the respective components constituting the recording system in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described for each case.

(I-1) When using a created TS object:
This case will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 14, a TS object data source 700 includes a recording storage such as a video tape or a memory, and stores TS object data D1.

  In FIG. 15, first, information of each title logically configured on the optical disc 100 using the TS object data D1 (for example, the configuration content of the playlist) is input from the user interface 720 as user information I2 such as title information. Is input to the system controller 520. Then, the system controller 520 takes in the user input I2 such as title information from the user interface 720 (step S21: Yes and step S22). At this time, in the user interface 720, under the control of the control signal Sc4 from the system controller 520, for example, selection through the title menu screen, input processing corresponding to the content to be recorded is possible. If the user input has already been executed (step S21: No), these processes are omitted.

  Next, the TS object data source 700 outputs TS object data D1 under the control of the control signal Sc8 instructing data reading from the system controller 520. Then, the system controller 520 takes in the TS object data D1 from the TS object source 700 (step S23), and packetizes it with the video data, for example, as described above by the TS analysis function in the file system / logical structure data generator 521. Based on the PAT, PMT, etc., the data array (for example, recording data length) in the TS object data D1, analysis of the configuration of each elementary stream (for example, ES_PID (elementary stream packet identification number) described later) Understand) (step S24).

  Subsequently, the system controller 520 uses the file system / logical structure data generator 521 to analyze the logical information from the user input I2 such as the captured title information, the data array of the TS object data D1, and the analysis result of each elementary stream. As the file data D4, a disc information file 110, a playlist information file 120, an object information file 130, and a file system 105 (see FIG. 3) are created (step S25). The memory 530 is used when creating such logical information file data D4.

  Various variations such as preparing data on the data array of the TS object data D1 and the configuration information of each elementary stream in advance are naturally conceivable, but these are also within the scope of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 14, a formatter 608 is a device that performs a data array format for storing both TS object data D1 and logical information file data D4 on the optical disc 100. More specifically, the formatter 608 includes a switch Sw1 and a switch Sw2, and is controlled by the switch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520. When the TS object data D1 is formatted, the switch Sw1 is set to (1) ( The TS object data D1 from the TS object data source 700 is output by connecting the switch Sw2 to the (1) side. Note that transmission control of the TS object data D1 is performed by a control signal Sc8 from the system controller 520. On the other hand, the formatter 608 is switched by the switch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520 when the logical information file data D4 is formatted, and connects the switch Sw2 to (2) (shown by a circled number in the figure). The logical information file data D4 is output.

  In step S26 in FIG. 15, (i) the logical information file data D4 from the file system / logical structure data generator 521 in step S25 or (ii) the TS object data source by the switching control by the formatter 608 configured as described above. TS object data D1 from 700 is output via the formatter 608 (step S26).

  The selected output from the formatter 608 is sent to the modulator 606 as disc image data D5, modulated by the modulator 606, and recorded on the optical disc 100 via the optical pickup 502 (step S27). The disk recording control at this time is also executed by the system controller 520.

  If both the logical information file data D4 generated in step S25 and the TS object data D1 corresponding to the logical information file data D4 have not been recorded, the process returns to step S26 to continue the recording (No in step S28). . Note that the recording order of the logical information file data D4 and the TS object data D1 corresponding thereto may be either first or second.

  On the other hand, if both of these have been recorded, it is determined whether or not recording on the optical disc 100 should be terminated based on the presence or absence of an end command or the like (step S29). Returning to S21, the recording process is continued. On the other hand, if it should be terminated (step S29: Yes), the series of recording processes is terminated.

  As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when the created TS object is used.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15, after the logical information file data D4 is created in step S25, data output of the logical information file data D4 and the corresponding TS object data D1 is executed in step S26. Before step S25, the TS object data D1 is output and recorded onto the optical disc 100, and the logical information file data D4 can be generated or recorded after this recording or in parallel with this recording. is there.

  In addition, instead of the TS object data source 700, a PS object data source or a still image data source may be used. In this case, instead of the TS object data D1, the recording process for the TS object data D1 described above is similarly performed on the PS object data, the still image data such as bitmap data, JPEG data, and the like. In the object data file 140, PS object data or still picture object data is stored in addition to or instead of the TS object 142 (see FIG. 3). Various logical information related to PS object data or still image object data is generated under the control of the system controller 520, and stored in the disc information file 110, the playlist information file 120, the object information file 130, and the like.

(I-2) When receiving and recording a transport stream being broadcast:
This case will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 16, steps similar to those in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In this case as well, substantially the same processing as in the above-described “in the case of using a created TS object” is performed. Therefore, the following description will be focused on the differences.

  When receiving and recording a transport stream being broadcast, the TS object data source 700 includes, for example, a receiver (set top box) that receives a digital broadcast being broadcast, and receives TS object data D1. Then, it is sent to the formatter 608 in real time (step S41). At the same time, reception information D3 including program configuration information decoded at the time of reception and ES_PID information described later (that is, information corresponding to data sent via the interface between the receiver and the system controller 520) is sent to the system controller 520. The data is captured and stored in the memory 530 (step S44).

  On the other hand, the TS object data D1 output to the formatter 608 is output to the modulator 606 by the switching control of the formatter 608 (step S42) and recorded on the optical disc 100 (step S43).

  In parallel with these, the file system / logical structure generator 521 creates the logical information file data D4 using the program configuration information and ES_PID information included in the reception information D3 captured at the time of reception and stored in the memory 530. (Step S24 and Step S25). After the series of TS object data D1 is recorded, the logical information file data D4 is additionally recorded on the optical disc 100 (steps S46 and S47). In addition, you may perform these processes of step S24 and S25 after completion | finish of step S43.

  Further, as necessary (for example, when editing a part of a title), user input I2 such as title information from the user interface 720 is added to the program configuration information and ES_PID information stored in the memory 530. The logical information file data D4 may be created by the system controller 520 and additionally recorded on the optical disc 100.

  As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when the transport stream being broadcast is received and recorded in real time.

  If all received data at the time of broadcasting is temporarily stored in the archive device and then used as the TS object source 700, the same processing as in the above-described case of using a created TS object is sufficient.

(I-3) When recording video, audio and sub-picture data:
This case will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 17, the same steps as those in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  When recording video data, audio data, and sub-picture data prepared separately in advance, the video data source 711, the audio data source 712, and the sub-picture data source 713 are each composed of a recording storage such as a video tape or a memory. , Video data DV, audio data DA, and sub-picture data DS are stored.

  These data sources are controlled by a control signal Sc8 instructing data reading from the system controller 520, and receive video data DV, audio data DA, and sub-picture data DS, respectively, a video encoder 611, an audio encoder 612, and a sub-picture data DS. The image is sent to the picture encoder 613 (step S61). The video encoder 611, the audio encoder 612, and the sub-picture encoder 613 execute a predetermined type of encoding process (step S62).

  Under the control of the control signal Sc6 from the system controller 520, the TS object generator 610 converts the encoded data into TS object data forming a transport stream (step S63). At this time, data arrangement information (for example, recording data length) of each TS object data and configuration information (for example, ES_PID described later) of each elementary stream are sent from the TS object generator 610 to the system controller 520 as information I6. And stored in the memory 530 (step S66).

  On the other hand, the TS object data generated by the TS object generator 610 is sent to the (2) side of the switch Sw1 of the formatter 608. That is, when formatting the TS object data from the TS object generator 610, the formatter 608 is controlled by the switch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520 to set the switch Sw1 to the (2) side and set the switch Sw2 to (1). By connecting to the side, the TS object data is output (step S64). Subsequently, the TS object data is recorded on the optical disc 100 via the modulator 606 (step S65).

  In parallel with these, the file system / logical structure generator 521 converts the logical information file data D4 by using the data arrangement information of each TS object data fetched into the memory 530 as information I6 and the configuration information of each elementary stream. Create (step S24 and step S25). After the series of TS object data D2 is recorded, it is additionally recorded on the optical disc 100 (steps S67 and S68). Note that the processing in steps S24 and S25 may also be performed after the end of step S65.

  Further, as necessary (for example, when editing a part of the title), the user input I2 such as title information from the user interface 720 is added to the information stored in the memory 530, thereby the file system. The logical information file data D4 may be created by the logical structure generator 521 and additionally recorded on the optical disc 100.

  As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when recording video data, audio data, and sub-picture data separately prepared in advance.

  This recording process can also be applied when recording arbitrary content owned by the user.

(I-4) When recording data by authoring:
This case will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 18, the same steps as those in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In this case, by combining the recording processes in the three cases described above, the authoring system previously generates the TS object, the logical information file data, and the like (step S81), and then performs the switching control performed by the formatter 608. The process up to the process is terminated (step S82). After that, the information obtained by this work is sent as disk image data D5 to the modulator 606 installed before and after the disk master cutting machine (step S83), and the master is created by this cutting machine (step S84).

(Ii) Configuration and operation of playback system:
Next, with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 19, a specific configuration and operation of each component constituting the playback system in the information recording / playback apparatus 500 will be described.

  In FIG. 14, a user interface 720 inputs a title to be reproduced from the optical disc 100, a reproduction condition thereof, and the like as user input I2 such as title information to the system controller. At this time, in the user interface 720, under the control of the control signal Sc4 from the system controller 520, input processing corresponding to the content to be reproduced, such as selection via a title menu screen, is possible.

  In response to this, the system controller 520 performs disc reproduction control on the optical disc 100, and the optical pickup 502 sends a read signal S 7 to the demodulator 506.

  The demodulator 506 demodulates the recording signal recorded on the optical disc 100 from the read signal S7 and outputs it as demodulated data D8. Logical information file data (that is, the file system 105, the disk information file 110, the P list information file 120, and the object information file 130 shown in FIG. 3) included in the demodulated data D8 as an unmultiplexed information portion is stored. To the system controller 520. Based on the logical information file data, the system controller 520 executes various reproduction controls such as a reproduction address determination process and control of the optical pickup 502.

  On the other hand, depending on whether the demodulated data D8 includes TS object data as a multiplexed information part, still image data, or both, the changeover switch SW3 Under the control of the control signal Sc10 from the controller 520, it is switched to the demultiplexer 508 side which is (1) side or switched to the still picture decoder 515 side which is (2) side. Accordingly, the TS object data is selectively supplied to the demultiplexer 508 and the still image data is supplied to the still image decoder 515.

  Then, the demultiplexer 508 demultiplexes the TS object data as the multiplexed information portion included in the demodulated data D8 under the control of the control signal Sc2 from the system controller 520. Here, when the access to the reproduction position address is completed by the reproduction control of the system controller 520, the control signal Sc2 is transmitted so as to start demultiplexing.

  From the demultiplexer 508, a video packet, an audio packet, and a sub-picture packet are sent out and supplied to the video decoder 511, the audio decoder 512, and the sub-picture decoder 513, respectively. Then, the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub picture data DS are decoded. At this time, the sub-picture data DS is supplied to the adder 514 via the memory 540. Under the control of the control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520, the sub-picture data DS is output from the memory 540 at a predetermined timing or selectively, and superimposition with the video data DV is appropriately performed. That is, it is possible to control the timing of superimposing and the necessity of superimposing as compared with the case of superimposing the subpicture data output from the subpicture decoder 513 as it is. For example, by the output control using the control signal Sc5, the subtitle using the sub picture is not properly displayed on the main video, or the menu screen using the sub picture is not properly displayed. Is also possible.

  Note that the PAT or PMT packets included in the transport stream shown in FIG. 6 are included as part of the demodulated data D8, but are discarded by the demultiplexer 508.

  The adder 514 receives the control by the control signal Sc3 instructing mixing from the system controller 520, and the video data DV and the sub picture data DS decoded by the video decoder 511 and the sub picture decoder 513, respectively, at a predetermined timing. Mix or superimpose. The result is output as a video output from the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 to, for example, a television monitor.

  On the other hand, the audio data DA decoded by the audio decoder 512 is output as an audio output from the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 to, for example, an external speaker.

  When the still image data is included in the demodulated data D8 instead of or in addition to the reproduction processing of the video data DV and the sub-picture data DS, the still image data is transmitted by the control signal Sc10 from the system controller 520. It is supplied to the still picture decoder 515 via the change-over switch SW3 that is controlled. Then, the decoded still image data such as bitmap data and JPEG data is controlled by the control signal Sc11 from the system controller 520, and is added to the adder 514 as it is via the changeover switch SW4. Alternatively, it is temporarily stored in the memory 550 via the changeover switch SW4. Under the control of the control signal Sc12 from the system controller 520, still image data is output from the memory 550 at a predetermined timing or selectively, and is supplied to the adder 514 through the changeover switch SW5. Thereby, superimposition of the still image data and the video data DV and the sub-picture data DS is appropriately performed. That is, the timing of superimposing and the necessity of superimposing can be controlled as compared with the case where the still image data output from the still image decoder 515 is superimposed as it is. For example, by output control using the control signal Sc12, a still image such as a menu screen or a window screen using still image data or a still image as a background image is appropriately displayed on the main video or sub-video. It is also possible not to let them.

  In addition, under the control of the control signal Sc13 from the system controller 520, still image data may be separately output via a path (not shown) via the changeover switch SW5 switched to the (2) side. Alternatively, by switching to the (2) side, no still image data may be output from the selector switch SW5.

  Here, a specific example of the reproduction processing routine by the system controller 520 will be described with further reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 19, as an initial state, the recognition of the optical disc 100 by the reproduction system and the recognition of the volume structure and file structure by the file system 105 (see FIG. 3) have already been performed by the system controller 520 and the file system / logical structure reader 522 therein. It is assumed that it is finished at. Here, a processing flow after acquiring the total number of titles from the disc general information 112 in the disc information file 110 and selecting one title 200 among them will be described.

  First, the title 200 is selected by the user interface 720 (step S211). In response to this, the system controller 520 acquires information related to the reproduction sequence from the interpretation result of the file system / logical structure reader 522. In selecting the title 200, a desired one of the plurality of title elements 200-2 (see FIG. 4) constituting the title 200 may be selected by an external input operation using a remote controller or the like by the user. Then, one title element 200-2 may be automatically selected according to a system parameter or the like set in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500.

  Next, the contents of a plurality of playlists 126 constituting the playlist set 126S corresponding to the selected title 200 (title element 200-2) are acquired. Here, as the processing of the logical hierarchy, acquisition of the structure of each playlist 126 and information (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 13) of each item 204 constituting the playlist 126 is performed (step S212).

  Next, the content of the playlist 126 to be reproduced is acquired from the plurality of playlists 126 acquired in step S212. Here, for example, playback is first started from the playlist # 1, and the content of the playlist 126 corresponding to this is acquired (step S213). The contents of the playlist 126 are one or a plurality of playlist elements 126-2 (see FIG. 5) and the like. In the acquisition process of step S213, the playlist elements 126-2 and the like are acquired.

  Subsequently, the pre-command 126PR (see FIG. 5) included in the playlist 126 is executed (step S214). It should be noted that it is possible to select one of a plurality of playlists 126 having a certain relationship constituting the playlist set 126S by the pre-command 126PR. If the playlist element 126-2 constituting the playlist 126 does not have the pre-command 126PR, this process is omitted.

  Next, the TS object 142 (see FIGS. 3 and 10) to be reproduced is determined based on the item 204 (see FIGS. 5 to 7) specified by the playlist 126 acquired in step S213 (step S215). ). More specifically, the acquisition of the object information file 130 (see FIG. 3) related to the TS object 142 to be reproduced is executed based on the item 204, and the stream number, address, etc. of the TS object 142 to be reproduced are specified. To do.

  In this embodiment, AU (Associate Unit) information 132I and PU (Presentation Unit) information 302I described later are also acquired as information stored in the object information file 130. With the acquired information, the above-described association from the logical hierarchy to the object hierarchy (see FIG. 13) is performed.

  Next, the reproduction of the TS object 142 determined in step S215 is actually started. That is, the object hierarchy process is started based on the logical hierarchy process (step S216).

  During the reproduction process of the TS object 142, it is determined whether or not the next item 204 constituting the playlist 126 to be reproduced exists (step S217). Then, as long as the next item 204 exists (step S217: Yes), the process returns to step S215, and the above-described determination and reproduction processing of the TS object 142 are repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S217 that the next item 204 does not exist (step S217: No), a post command 126PS (see FIG. 5) corresponding to the playlist 126 being executed is executed (step S218). If the playlist element 126-2 constituting the playlist 126 does not have the post command 126PS, this process is omitted.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is a next playlist 126 constituting the selected title 200 (step S219). If it exists here (step S219: Yes), it will return to step S213 and the process after acquisition of the play list 126 to be reproduced will be repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S219 that the next playlist 126 does not exist (step S219: No), that is, the reproduction of all the playlists 126 to be reproduced in accordance with the selection of the title 200 in step S211 has been completed. In this case, the series of reproduction processing is finished.

  As described above, the reproducing process of the optical disc 100 is performed by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 of the present embodiment.

Particularly in this embodiment, in the above-described (i) configuration and operation of the recording system, the playlist 126 includes an item 204 for specifying content information and a slave item for specifying menu information corresponding to each item 204. The playlist information file 120 is recorded to include.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, in the above-described (ii) configuration and operation of the playback system, the item for playback and the slave item are determined when the object is determined in step S215. Then, when the object is played back in step S216, the menu is played back by the corresponding slave item during the title playback and display output by the item, so that the menu can be displayed immediately. The menu display is output according to the user's designation. As a result, menu display such as small window display and semi-transparent superimpose display is executed immediately when the user desires while the title reproduction continues. On the other hand, such menu display is not executed when the user does not wish. The selective menu display on the title screen performed using such slave items, sub-pictures, etc. will be described in detail later.

(Playlist selection method in playlist set)
In the present embodiment, a playlist 126 corresponding to desired content information is appropriately selected from the playlist set 126S included in the reproduced playlist information file 120.

  For such playlist selection, for example, the pre-command 200PR (see FIG. 4) included in the title element 200-2 includes a playlist selection command group list in which selection conditions are described for each playlist 126. , May be performed according to this selection condition. Attribute information added to each playlist 126 stored in the playlist set 126S (for example, video resolution for video functions, progressive / interleaving, video codec, number of audio channels, audio codec, etc. It may be performed according to information indicating attributes of content information). Alternatively, it may be performed according to playlist set control information that is included in the title element 200-2 and stores selection conditions for each playlist. By such selection, for example, a desired program, a desired parental block, a desired angle block, and the like corresponding to desired content information can be selected. Alternatively, for example, it is possible to select a playlist that can be played back by the information playback system and preferably makes the best use of the video playback function and audio playback function of the information playback system.

(Control of menu display on main video screen)
Next, referring to FIG. 20 to FIG. 28, a command to display a menu by a user's remote control operation or the like in an arbitrary area on the main video screen by title reproduction (hereinafter referred to as “menu display command” as appropriate), etc. Menus that are selectively and immediately displayed according to the above will be described.

  In this embodiment, such a menu is referred to as “anywhere menu” as appropriate. In other words, the “anywhere menu” is a menu that is displayed and output to an arbitrary location or area designated in advance by the content producer (author) on the main video screen that is being displayed and output by playing a title based on a normal video stream. It is. “Everywhere menu” is a title menu that is directly related to the content of the title being played (for example, selection or switching of subtitle language, angle selection or switching, and selection or switching of audio language for the title of the movie being played, etc. For example, a disc menu relating to the entire optical disc 100 being reproduced or all titles (for example, display of all titles, all titles). Menu for performing default voice selection, setting, etc.). The “anywhere menu” can be switched between display and non-display on the main video screen according to a menu display command or the like by the user. Furthermore, the “anywhere menu” is displayed based on object data for “anywhere menu” described later, and is displayed immediately in response to a menu display command or the like by the user. The object data for “anywhere menu” may be recorded as a sub-picture stream multiplexed with a video stream of the main video. When the “anywhere menu” is played back, the title playback based on the video stream is normally continued as it is. However, this can also be temporarily stopped.

  First, with reference to FIG. 20 to FIG. 22, the structure and control of sub-picture data used for displaying such “anywhere menu” will be described. FIG. 20 shows an SP data structure (FIG. 20A) of SP control information for controlling sub-picture data and an SP data structure including SP data which is still image data forming the main body of the sub-picture data. FIG. 21B is a conceptual diagram showing a specific example of FIG. FIG. 21 schematically shows three types of sub-picture structures composed of these SP control information and SP data structures. FIG. 22 schematically shows the relationship between the SPD stream and a plurality of SCP streams with respect to the playback time axis.

  In this embodiment, in FIG. 14, the sub picture data decoded by the sub picture decoder 513 is temporarily stored in the memory 540 functioning as a buffer. Thereafter, at least one of SP data (still image data) and SP control information (still image control data) included in the temporarily stored sub-picture data is controlled by a control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520. Read out. Then, by applying SP control information to the SP data, a still image is displayed as part or all of the video output.

  As shown in FIG. 20A, the SP control information 721 includes an SCP header and an SF control parameter. The “SCP header” includes an SP data identifier for specifying SP data to be controlled by the SP control information 721, information indicating the recording position of the SP data, and the like. The “SF control parameter” is a unit of subframe (SF) that is an image portion cut out as at least a part of an image defined by SP data, and includes various parameters for controlling SP data. More specifically, it has parameters indicating the display start time and display end time of SF data by PTS (Presentation Time Stamp) and the like. Further, for example, the display time, the cutout range of the sub-picture, and the arrangement and enlargement when displaying Various parameters indicating conditions such as reduction and rotation are included.

  As shown in FIG. 20B, the SP data structure 722 has structure information and SP data (an entity of still image data). The “structure information” includes information such as an identifier for identifying the SP data and the length of the SP data. The “SP data” has, for example, run-length encoded bitmap data format or JPEG format image data.

  Therefore, when sub-picture data is reproduced, the sub-frame is based on the SF control parameter shown in FIG. 20A in units of sub-frames in which at least a part of the SP data shown in FIG. Various reproduction controls using are performed.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the SP control information 721 and the SP data structure 722 are packetized and multiplexed into a plurality of TS packets 146 (see FIG. 10). The TS packet 146 storing the head portion of the SP control information 721 in the sub-picture structure is referred to as “SCP”, and the TS packet 146 storing the head portion of the SP data structure 722 in the sub-picture structure is referred to as “SPD”. "

  As shown in FIG. 21 (a), the SP control information 721 including the SCP and the SP data structure 722 may be divided into a plurality of TS packets 146 as one sub-picture structure. As shown in FIG. 21 (b), the SP control information 721 including the SCP may have one sub-picture structure and may be divided into a plurality of TS packets 146. As shown in FIG. 21C, the SP data information structure 722 including SPD may be a single sub-picture structure and may be divided into a plurality of TS packets 146.

  In this embodiment, for example, the SP control information 721 recorded on the SCP stream different from this stream is applied to the SP data in the SP data structure 722 recorded on the SPD stream. And still image playback control. In this case, there may be only one SCP stream acting on one SPD stream, or there may be a plurality of SCP streams. By recording these two types of streams on different elementary streams, efficient playback control can be performed. Furthermore, by making a plurality of SP control information on a plurality of SCP streams act on SP data on one SPD stream, more efficient reproduction control can be performed.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 22, the SP data (SPD1) on the SPD stream of “ES_PID = 201” at time t11 while the video stream (Video1) of “ES_PID = 200” is being reproduced. Is started and stored in the memory 540 of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 (see FIG. 14). The stored SP data continues to be stored until, for example, a set end time, or until reading of the next sub-picture is started.

  In FIG. 22, the SCP stream (SCP1) of “ES_PID = 202” has SCP # 1a, SCP # 1b, SCP # 1c, and SCP # 1d at timings t21, t22, t23, and t24, respectively. Is arranged. The SCP stream (SCP2) “ES_PID = 203” has SCP # 2a, SCP # 2b, and SCP # 2c arranged at times t31, t32, and t33, respectively. In the SCP stream (SCP3) with “ES-PID = 204”, SCP # 3a, SCP # 3b, SCP # 3c, and SCP # 3d are arranged at times t41, t42, t43, and t44, respectively. ing.

  However, in addition to such still image playback control, SP control information in the sub-picture structure recorded on the same stream is added to SP data in the sub-picture data structure recorded on the sub-picture stream. It is also possible to control the reproduction of still images by acting. That is, both the SP control information 721 and the SP data structure 722 may be recorded in only one sub-picture stream, and the SP control information 721 may be applied to the SP data structure 722.

  In either case, it is possible to save limited recording capacity on the disk by using SP data consisting of bitmap data and JPEG data with a large amount of data, and more efficient playback and display processing. Is also possible. In addition, in any case, it is possible to superimpose such a sub-picture on a moving image or main video based on video data recorded in another video stream.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 23 to FIG. 25, a subframe (SF) used for displaying such “anywhere menu” will be described. FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the object data related to the subframe. FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a display example of the “anywhere menu” on the screen. FIG. 25 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which subframes are cut out from still image data based on control information in order to reproduce and display the “anywhere menu” shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the object data for (i) “anywhere menu” includes general information relating to the entire object data, (ii) one piece of still image data, and (iii) the still image data. A part is cut out as a subframe and a subframe information table including a plurality of pieces of subframe information, which is information for performing various control processes on the cut out subframe. When object data for “anywhere menu” is recorded as a sub-picture stream, for example, the information (i) and (iii) are recorded as SP control information, and the information (ii) is recorded as an SP data structure.

  Among these, “total information” includes the total number (n) of subframes and the like.

  The “subframe information table” is constructed as an information table including various subframe information by subframe # 1,..., Subframe #n and other information. Then, for each subframe #i (i = 1,..., N), coordinate information (for example, two opposite corners for a rectangular subframe or the like) that specifies a clipping range in the still image data of subframe #i. 4 corner coordinate information), the total number l of menu selection / setting buttons, information indicating button information 1 to #l, and the like. Here, “button information” refers to coordinate information specifying an area functioning as a menu selection / setting button in the subframe, and a button command indicating a command to be executed when the button is operated. Have

  “SP data” is the main body of still image data such as bitmap data and JPEG data.

  This corresponds to the “anywhere menu” screen in which one subframe configured as described above is displayed at a time.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 24, the “anywhere menu” screen is displayed as a small window on the display screen of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 based on one subframe. Here, a “anywhere menu” made up of sub-frames is displayed in the vicinity of the upper right corner in the main video screen made up of contents such as movies. Moreover, in this “anywhere menu”, three buttons for changing “audio”, “subtitle”, and “angle” are displayed as a title menu in order from the top in the figure. When such “anywhere menu” is displayed, content such as a movie that was being played when the user issued a menu display command or the like (for example, content whose angle can be switched) is displayed as it is without stopping operation. It continues to be. This is because content such as a movie that forms the main video screen is designated as a (master) item 204 and is displayed as a main path by a video stream. On the other hand, “anywhere menu” is different from that designated by a slave item. This is because it is displayed as a sub-path by a sub-picture stream that is a stream. Specific data structures related to such (master) item 204 and slave item will be described in detail later (see FIGS. 25, 35, and 36).

  A plurality of “anywhere menus” using such subframes can be created from one piece of SP data.

  That is, it is assumed that there is object data for “anywhere menu” related to one piece of still image data as shown in FIG. In this case, four subframes are defined in different areas for one piece of still image data. That is, subframes # 1, # 2, # 3, and # 4 are defined in order from the top in the figure. In each of these subframes, four buttons are defined. That is, in each subframe, buttons # 1, # 2, and # 3 are defined in order from the top in the figure.

  Here, for example, when the “anywhere menu” is first displayed in accordance with a menu display command or the like by the user, the subframe # 1 is used. In this case, a command “display subframe # 2” is set as the button command of button # 1 of subframe # 1. A command “display subframe # 3” is set as the button command of button # 2 of subframe # 1. A command “display subframe # 4” is set as the button command of button # 3 of subframe # 1.

  If each piece of information is set in this way, as shown in FIG. 24, when the “anywhere menu” by subframe # 1 is displayed on the actual screen, button # 1 (ie, “voice” button) ) Is selected by the user, the display is switched to “anywhere menu” by subframe # 2. Further, in this state, when the button # 2 (that is, the “English” button) is selected by the user, the button command of the button # 2, for example, “switch the audio stream number to an audio stream number corresponding to English sound” is displayed. This command can be switched to English voice in response to a button operation on the “anywhere menu”. Even during the button operation in the “anywhere menu”, the content such as a movie constituting the main video is continuously reproduced without being interrupted. Further, at this time, the content being reproduced may be changed in accordance with button operations such as audio change, subtitle change, and angle change in the “anywhere menu”. Alternatively, various changes in accordance with such button operations may be collectively made when the “anywhere menu” is completed.

  Next, a specific configuration of the playlist information table used to display such a “anywhere menu” will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram showing a specific example of a playlist information file that can display a “menu anywhere”.

  In FIG. 26, the playlist information table includes a playlist general information, a playlist pointer table, and a playlist #i (1, 2,...) Information table.

  Among these, “playlist comprehensive information” has comprehensive information regarding the entire playlist information table, such as the size of the playlist and the total number of playlists.

  The “playlist pointer table” has playlist #i (i = 1, 2,...) Pointers respectively indicating storage addresses of playlist #i (i = 1, 2,...) Information.

  The “playlist #i information table” includes (i) playlist #i (i = 1, 2,...) General information and (ii) playlist #i (i = 1, 2,...) An item information table, and (iii) a playlist #i (i = 1, 2,...) Slave item information table.

  That is, in this embodiment, in particular, the playlist #i information table is playlist #i (i = 1) including item information constituting playlist information that defines a playback sequence for a video stream for displaying a main video. 2,...), An item information table, and item information constituting playlist information that defines a playback sequence for displaying “anywhere menu” or the like (“slave item information” in this embodiment as appropriate). It is divided into playlist #i (i = 1, 2,...) Slave item information table. In other words, in this embodiment, the playlist for displaying the main video as the main path is composed of a plurality of items (or master items). On the other hand, a playlist for displaying “anywhere menu” as a sub path is composed of a plurality of slave items.

  The “playlist #i general information” includes information specifying the total number of items constituting the playlist #i (in this example, “3”) and the default “anywhere menu”. In this example, the “anywhere menu” that is the default is held as the number of slave item information (# 1 in this example). Note that “default“ anywhere menu ”” is a default that is commonly used for (master) items or a plurality of (master) items in which slave items related to “anywhere menu” are not registered. is there.

  The “playlist #i item information table” includes item information #i (three item information in this example). Each item information includes the corresponding AU number in the AU table in the object information file 130, the presence / absence or number of slave item information, and the type of slave item information when slave item information exists (for example, “anywhere menu”). Type, other types, etc.), the start time of the object data corresponding to the item, the display period, information indicating the display coordinates relative to the main video screen, and the like.

  The “playlist #i slave item information table” is composed of slave item information #i (three slave item information in this example). Each slave item information includes the type of the slave item information (for example, the type of “menu everywhere”, other types, etc.), information indicating the corresponding AU number in the AU table in the object information file 130, etc. Have

  As described above, if the object data is reproduced based on the playlist information table having the item information (that is, master item information) and the slave item information separately, the content such as a movie forming the main video screen is used as the main path. While displaying, it is possible to display “anywhere menu” on the main video screen as a sub-path as appropriate in accordance with a menu display command or the like by the user.

  In addition, when describing the subframe information (see FIG. 23), the range (coordinates) for cutting out the subframe on the still image data can be arbitrarily set according to the intention of the content producer. Furthermore, when describing the playlist information (see FIG. 26), the range (coordinates) in which the subframe for the main video should be displayed can be arbitrarily set according to the intention of the content producer. Accordingly, various types of menus (that is, “anywhere menus”) can be displayed at various places using a single piece of still image data.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, processing in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 executed when such “anywhere menu” is displayed will be described. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing details of processing for determining objects of items (including items and slave items) to be reproduced, which are executed as part of the processing of step S215 shown in FIG. . FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing processing for reproducing objects (including items specified by items and slave items), which is executed as part of the processing of step S216 shown in FIGS. 19 and 27, respectively. . In FIG. 27, the same steps as those shown in FIG. 19 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted.

  27, after the processing of steps S211 to S214 similar to that shown in FIG. 19 is executed, the playlist information table illustrated in FIG. 26 is referred to as to whether or not the default “anywhere menu” exists. This is determined (step S221). If a default “anywhere menu” exists (step S221: Yes), the object data for the “anywhere menu” illustrated in FIGS. 23 to 25 is read as the default “anywhere menu” (step). S222). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S223. On the other hand, if the default “anywhere menu” does not exist in step S221 (step S221: No), the process proceeds to step S223 as it is.

  Then, the corresponding object of the item to be reproduced is determined based on the item information of the playlist illustrated in FIG. 26 (step S223). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not “anywhere menu” exists in the item (step S224). Here, if the “anywhere menu” exists (step S224: Yes), the slave item corresponding to the existing “anywhere menu” is read (step S225). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S216. On the other hand, if there is no “anywhere menu” in the determination in step S224 (step S224: No), the process proceeds to step S216 as it is.

  Then, the corresponding object is played back (step S216). More specifically, content such as a movie that forms a main video is reproduced as a main path according to item information (master item information), and if “anywhere menu” exists, this is reproduced as a sub path. When object data for “anywhere menu” is multiplexed and recorded as a sub-picture stream with a video stream forming a main video, the corresponding object is reproduced (step S216) instead of (steps S222 and S225). At the same time, the object data for “anywhere menu” may be read.

  Thereafter, the determination in step S217 similar to that shown in FIG. 19 is executed. If the next item exists (step S217: Yes), the process returns to step S223 and the subsequent processing is repeated in this embodiment.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 28, the details of the process related to object reproduction in the present embodiment (that is, the process of step S217 in FIGS. 19 and 27) will be described.

  28, first, a PU (presentation unit) and an ES (elementary stream) to be reproduced are determined by referring to the AU table 131 and the ES map table 134 (see FIG. 3) (step S241). Then, the reproduction of the TS object is started according to the determined PU and ES (step S242).

  Thereafter, whether or not it is within the “anywhere menu” displayable time is determined by referring to the playlist exemplified in FIG. 26 (step S243). Here, if it is not within the “anywhere menu” displayable time (step S243: No), then it is determined whether or not “anywhere menu” is currently being displayed according to a menu display command or the like by the user. (Step S244). If the “anywhere menu” is being displayed (step S244: Yes), the “anywhere menu” being displayed is not displayed (step S245). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S246. On the other hand, if “anywhere menu” is not being displayed in the determination in step S244 (step S244: No), the process proceeds to step S246 as it is.

  On the other hand, if it is within the “anywhere menu” displayable time in the determination in step S243 (step S243: Yes), whether or not the “anywhere menu” should be currently displayed according to the menu display command or the like by the user is determined. Is determined (step S247). If “anywhere menu” is to be displayed (step S247: Yes), it is determined whether or not “anywhere menu” exists in the item by referring to the playlist (step S248). Here, if “anywhere menu” exists (step S248: Yes), this “anywhere menu” is displayed (step S249). That is, the “anywhere menu” display output composed of sub-pictures that have been reproduced as sub-paths is output. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S246. On the other hand, if “anywhere menu” should not be displayed in the determination in step S247 (step S247: No), the process proceeds to step S246 as it is.

  On the other hand, if the “anywhere menu” does not exist in the determination in step S248 (step S248: No), it is subsequently determined whether or not the default “anywhere menu” exists (step S250). Here, if the default “anywhere menu” exists (step S250: Yes), this default “anywhere menu” is displayed (step S251). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S246. On the other hand, if the default “menu everywhere” does not exist in the determination in step S250 (step S250: No), the process proceeds to step S246 as it is.

  Thereafter, in step S246, it is determined whether or not the reproduction of the object to be reproduced has been completed. If it has not been completed (step S246: No), the process returns to step S242 and the subsequent processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it has been completed (step S246: Yes), a series of processing is terminated.

  As described with reference to FIG. 28, in this embodiment, if there is a default or item-specific “anywhere menu” in the reproduction of an object, it continues to be reproduced as a sub-path. In response to a display command or the like, the display output can be immediately executed. Further, if it is not necessary to display and output the object data for “anywhere menu”, it is merely reproduced or held as a sub-pass, and does not particularly disturb the display of the main video.

  As described above in detail with reference to FIGS. 20 to 28, according to the present embodiment, for example, while a title is being displayed and output, a small window display, a semi-transparent superimpose display, and the like are continued. The “anywhere menu” can be displayed. Of course, menu selection on the displayed “anywhere menu” is also possible. Such “anywhere menu” can be displayed at an arbitrary position on the title screen in accordance with the intention of the content producer or the like. Furthermore, it can be displayed only when necessary in accordance with a user's menu display command and the like, and can be immediately displayed in response to such a menu display command.

(Access flow during playback)
Next, referring to FIG. 29, the flow of access at the time of reproduction in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 using AU (associate unit) information 132 and PU (presentation unit) information 302, which is one of the features of this embodiment. A description will be given together with the logical structure of the optical disc 100. FIG. 29 conceptually shows the entire access flow at the time of reproduction in relation to the logical structure of the optical disc 100.

  In FIG. 29, the logical structure of the optical disc 100 is roughly divided into three hierarchies: a logical hierarchy 401, an object hierarchy 403, and a logic-object association hierarchy 402 for associating these two hierarchies with each other.

  Among these, the logical hierarchy 401 is a hierarchy that logically specifies various logical information for reproducing a desired title at the time of reproduction, a playlist (P list) to be reproduced, and the contents of the playlist. In the logical hierarchy 401, disc information 110d indicating all titles 200 and the like on the optical disc 100 is described in the disc information file 110 (see FIG. 3), and reproduction sequence information 120d of all contents on the optical disc 100 is further recorded. Is described in the playlist information file 120 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, the structure of one or a plurality of playlist sets 126S is described as one or a plurality of title elements 200-2 included in each title 200 as the reproduction sequence information 120d. Furthermore, each playlist set 126S includes one or a plurality of playlists 126, and each playlist 126 describes the configuration of one or a plurality of items 204 (see FIG. 13). At the time of access at the time of reproduction, the title 200 to be reproduced is specified by such a logical hierarchy 401, the playlist 126 corresponding to this is specified, and the item 204 corresponding to this is specified.

  Subsequently, the logic-object association hierarchy 402 specifies the combination and configuration of the TS object data 140d, which is entity data, based on the information specified in the logical hierarchy 401 in this way, and from the logical hierarchy 401 to the object hierarchy 403. This is a hierarchy that specifies the attribute of the TS object data 140d to be reproduced and its physical storage address so as to perform address conversion to. More specifically, in the logic-object association hierarchy 402, object information data 130d that classifies a group of contents constituting each item 204 into units of AU 132 and subdivides each AU 132 into units of PU 302 includes object information data 130d. It is described in the file 130 (see FIG. 3).

  Here, “PU (presentation unit) 302” is a unit obtained by associating a plurality of elementary streams in association with each reproduction switching unit. If there are three audio streams in the PU 302, the user can freely switch between the three audios (for example, audio for each language) during playback of this vision.

  On the other hand, “AU (associate unit) 132” is a unit in which a plurality of elementary streams such as video streams in a TS object used in one title are collected, and is composed of a set of one or a plurality of PUs 302. More specifically, the unit is a unit in which elementary stream packet IDs (ES_PID) are collected for each TS object indirectly through the PU 302. This AU 132 corresponds to a set of a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs having a specific relationship with each other in view of content, such as a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs that can be switched to each other in multi-source broadcasting. The PUs 302 belonging to the same AU 132 correspond to a plurality of programs or a set of one or more elementary streams that respectively constitute a plurality of programs that can be switched to each other by a user operation during reproduction.

  Therefore, if the AU 132 to be played back is specified and the PU 302 belonging to the AU 132 is specified, the elementary stream to be played back is specified. That is, a desired elementary stream can be reproduced from the multiplex recorded from the optical disc 100 without using the PAT or PMT shown in FIG.

  A more specific data structure of the AU information 132I and the PU information 302I that define the AU 132 and the PU 302 will be described in detail later.

  Here, the elementary stream that is actually reproduced is specified or specified from the PU information 302 by ES_PID that is the packet ID of the elementary stream (see FIG. 12). At the same time, information indicating the reproduction start time and end time is converted into address information of the elementary stream, so that the content in the specific area (or specific time range) of the specific elementary stream is reproduced.

  In this manner, in the logical-object association hierarchy 402, the address conversion from the logical address related to each item 204 to the physical address related to each PU 302 is executed.

  Subsequently, the object hierarchy 403 is a physical hierarchy for reproducing the actual TS object data 140d. In the object hierarchy 403, TS object data 140d is described in the object data file 140 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, TS packets 146 constituting a plurality of elementary streams (ES) are multiplexed at each time, and these are arranged along the time axis to form a plurality of elementary streams. (See FIG. 11). The plurality of TS packets multiplexed at each time are associated with the PU 302 specified in the logic-object association layer 402 for each elementary stream. It should be noted that a plurality of PUs 302 are associated with a single elementary stream (for example, an elementary stream related to the same audio data is used in common among a plurality of switchable programs or a plurality of programs, or the same It is also possible to use an elementary stream related to the sub-picture data in common).

  Thus, in the object hierarchy 403, actual object data is reproduced using the physical address obtained by the conversion in the logic-object association hierarchy 402.

  As described above, the access to the optical disc 100 at the time of reproduction is executed by the three layers shown in FIG.

  29 and FIG. 29, for the sake of convenience, both the item other than the slave item and the slave item are illustrated as being included in the “item 204”, and the description thereof is given. In other words, the association from the logical hierarchy 401 to the logical-object association hierarchy 402 is as shown in the item 204 for items other than slave items and slave items.

(Structure of each information file)
Next, referring to FIG. 30 to FIG. 37, various information files constructed on the optical disc 100 of this embodiment, that is, (1) disc information file 110 and playlist information file 120 described with reference to FIG. (2) A specific example of the data structure in the object information file 130 will be described.

(1) Disc information file and playlist information file:
With reference to FIGS. 30 to 36, each component in the specific examples of these files and the hierarchical structure between the components will be described. FIG. 30 to FIG. 36 are conceptual diagrams schematically showing the hierarchical structure of these files. In FIG. 30 to FIG. 36, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same files, data or information as already described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 9 and the like, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  First, as shown in FIG. 30, the “title information set” according to this specific example is an information set including the disc information file 110 and the playlist information file 120 shown in FIG.

  The title information set includes one disc header 112x, a plurality of title information 200 (title information # 1,..., #N), a plurality of play (P) list sets 126S (P list set # 1,. #N) and other information.

(1-1) Disc header:
First, the disc header 112x in the title information set shown in FIG. 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 30 and FIG.

  In FIG. 30, the disk header 112x is shown in a form that branches to the upper right in the figure, and in the order from the top in the figure, the version number is shown as information corresponding to the disk general information 112 shown in FIG. , A total number of various information such as a total number of titles, a total number of title information, and a total number of play (P) list sets. The disc header 112x has a title start address table as a table for information corresponding to the title pointer 114-1 shown in FIG. 3, and for information corresponding to the playlist set pointer 124 shown in FIG. As a table, a play (P) list set start address table is provided. The disc header 112x has a field for information indicating a title set attribute indicating an attribute of each title set. Furthermore, the disc header 112x has a title table 112xtt and a playlist set table 112xpt.

  In this way, the disc header 112x having a plurality of fields and a plurality of tables is used for comprehensively managing a plurality of titles in the entire recording area on the disc.

  Here, the “version number” is a version number in the standard, and is, for example, a code “0070” according to ISO646. “Total number of titles” is the total number of titles in the entire recording area on the disc, and “Total number of title information” is the total number of title information in the entire recording area on the disc. “Total number of playlist sets” is the total number of playlist sets in the entire recording area on the disc, and “Title start address table” indicates the start address of each title as a relative byte number from the beginning of the title set. . This byte number is counted from 0, for example. The “playlist set start address table” indicates the start address of each playlist set as a relative byte number from the top of the title set. This byte number is counted from 0, for example. “Title set attribute” indicates, for example, title set attributes such as the data length of the title set, the type of characters used in the title set (Japanese, English, etc.), the name of the title set, and the like.

  In FIG. 31, the title table 112xtt is shown in a form branched to the upper right in the figure, and in the figure, in order from the top, a plurality of title menu start address information # 1,. A plurality of fields for recording a plurality of title content start address information # 1,..., #N in a format paired by number.

  Here, “title menu start address” indicates the start address of title information including each title menu as a relative byte number from the top of the title set. This byte number is counted from 0, for example. The title menu start address “0” is assigned to a disc menu which is a menu related to the entire disc. “Title content start address” indicates the start address of title information including each content title as a relative byte number from the top of the title set. Here, the “content title” is a title indicating the content of each title. This byte number is counted from 0, for example. The title content start address “0” is assigned to, for example, a first play title that is played unconditionally at the beginning of title playback.

  In FIG. 31, the playlist set table 112xpt is shown in the form of branching to the lower right in FIG. 31, in order to record a plurality of play (P) list set start addresses # 1,. Multiple fields.

  Here, “playlist set start address” indicates the start address of each playlist set as a relative byte number from the top of the title set. This byte number is counted from 0, for example.

(1-2) Title information:
Next, the title information 200 in the title information set shown in FIG. 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 32.

  30, the title information 200 is shown in the form of branching to the middle right in the figure, and in order from the top in the figure, the title element corresponding to the title general information 200-1 shown in FIG. It has a field for recording information 200-1x indicating the total number, and further records a plurality of title elements 200-2 (title elements # 1,..., #K) and other information 200-5. Multiple fields.

  Here, “total number of title elements” indicates the total number of title elements included in the title information.

  In FIG. 32, each title element 200-2 is shown to branch to the right in the figure, and in the figure, in order from the top, the pointer 200PT in which the “playlist set number” is described, the total number of candidates , And a plurality of fields for recording P list identification information 200PN in which one or a plurality of applicable play (P) list numbers (that is, P list # 1,..., #K) are described. Furthermore, it has a plurality of fields for recording a P list pre-command 200PR, a P list post command 200PS, and next information 200-6N indicating a title element to be reproduced next. The other information in the title element 200-2 is information relating to each title element, such as a title type such as a sequential type or a branch type.

  Here, “a pointer 200PT in which a playlist set number is described” is a pointer indicating an ID (identification) number of the playlist set. The “total number of candidates” indicates the total number of playlists that can be candidates for selection of title elements in the playlist set designated by the pointer 200PT. “P list identification information 200PN” indicates an ID (identification) number of one or a plurality of playlists that can be selection candidates. By providing the P list identification information 200PN, it is possible to include playlists as selection candidates for reproducing different titles in one playlist set, and one playlist set is also used as different title elements. It becomes possible. On the other hand, the “P list precommand 200PR”, “P list post command 200PS”, “next information 200-6N”, and the like are as described above.

(1-3) Playlist set:
Next, the playlist set 126S in the title information set shown in FIG. 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 33 to 36. FIG.

  In FIG. 30, the playlist set 126S is shown in a form that branches to the lower right in the figure, and corresponds to the playlist set general information 126-1 shown in FIG. 5 in order from the top in the figure. As information, there is a field for recording information 126-1x including the total number of play (P) lists and a plurality of play list (PL) presentations (PL presentations # 1,..., #I). Furthermore, the playlist set 126S is for recording a plurality of play (P) lists 126 (that is, P lists # 1,..., #I), an item definition table 126-3, and other information 126-4. Has multiple fields.

  Here, “total number of playlists” indicates the total number of playlists in the playlist set. PL presentations # 1, ..., #i are attribute information corresponding to the P lists # 1, ..., #i, respectively, and correspond to the attribute information shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 33, each PL presentation 126-1xi is shown in the form of branching to the upper right in the figure. In the figure, the video codec, the video resolution, the video aspect ratio, It has a plurality of fields for recording information indicating video frame rate, audio channel allocation, and the like.

  Here, “video codec” indicates the type of video codec that is used at the time of recording video information related to the playlist set and should be used at the time of reproduction. “Video resolution” indicates the video resolution used when recording video information related to the playlist corresponding to the main path (that is, the video stream providing the main video) in the playlist set. “Video aspect ratio” indicates a video aspect ratio used when recording video information related to a playlist corresponding to the main path in the playlist set. “Video frame rate” indicates a video frame rate used when recording video information related to the playlist corresponding to the main path in the playlist set. “Audio channel assignment” indicates the assignment of the audio channel used at the time of recording the audio information related to the playlist corresponding to the main path in the playlist set.

  In FIG. 33, each playlist 126 is shown in the form of branching to the middle right in the figure. In the figure, in order from the top, information indicating the data length of the playlist 126, a playlist header, A plurality of fields for recording a plurality of playlist elements 126-2 (that is, P list elements # 1,..., #I) and the like are provided.

  Here, the “length” of the playlist indicates the length of the next playlist in bytes. This indicates a data length that does not include the “length” field itself. The “playlist header” indicates information such as the total number of playlist elements included in the playlist, the playback time of the playlist, and the name of the playlist.

  Further, in FIG. 34, each playlist element 126-2 is shown to branch to the right in the figure, and a pointer indicating the item number for the master play (P) item in order from the top in the figure. 126PT, total number of subpaths, a plurality of subpath information 126-2sub (ie, subpath information # 1,..., #K), next information 126-6N, pre-command 126PR for play (P) item, play (P) item A plurality of fields for recording a post command 126PS and other information 126-6 and the like.

  Here, the “pointer 126PT”, “pre-command 126PR”, and “post-command 126PS” are as described above. The “total number of subpaths” indicates the total number of subpaths existing in the playlist element. The “next information 126-6N” indicates a playlist element to be reproduced next.

  Further, in FIG. 35, each sub-path information 126-2sub is shown in a form branching to the right toward the center in the figure, and in the order from the top in the figure, the sub-path type and the total number of slave play (P) items. And a plurality of fields for recording a plurality of slave play (P) item information 126-subPT (ie, slave P item information 1,..., #K).

  Here, the “sub path type” indicates what display is performed by the sub path such as various menu displays. “Total number of slave P items” indicates the total number of slave play items in the sub-pass.

  And each slave play (P) item information 126-subPT is shown in the form which branches from the center toward the right end in the figure, and from the top in the figure, the slave play (P) item number and It has a plurality of fields for recording the start PTS of the master play (P) item.

  Here, the “slave P item number” indicates the ID (identification) number of the play item in the sub-pass. The “master play item start PTS (presentation time stamp)” indicates the reproduction time of the slave item on the reproduction time axis of the master play item.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 33, the item definition table 126-3 is shown in a form branching to the lower right in the figure. In the figure, in order from the top, the total number of play (P) items, a plurality of plays (P) It has a plurality of fields for recording items 204 (that is, P items # 1,..., #N) and the like.

  Here, “total number of play items” indicates the total number of items 204 in the item definition table.

  In FIG. 36, each item 204 is shown in the form of branching to the upper right side toward the center in the same figure, and in the same order from the top in the same figure, play (P) item type, stream object play (P) It has a plurality of fields for recording the item 204-stream and the like.

  Here, “play (P) item type” indicates the type of the play item. For example, if the item is for a stream object for a moving image, the code is “00h”. If the item is for a still image object, the code is “10h”. If it is an item, the code is “20h”.

  Further, the stream object play (P) item 204-stream is shown in the form of branching from the center to the right end in the figure, and from the top in the figure, the ES (element) related to each play item. (Mentary stream) information indicating index number, IN time (IN point), OUT time (OUT point), and the like.

  Here, the “ES index number” indicates the ID (identification) number and type of the elementary stream to which the IN time and the OUT time are applied. Further, “IN time (IN point)” and “OUT time (OUT point)” are as described above, and the reproduction time and end time of the item are described on a time base of, for example, 90 kHz.

  In FIG. 36, the item definition table 126-3 may include an item 204-still for a still image object instead of such a stream object, that is, a moving image item 204. In this case, the item 204-still includes information indicating the type of play item, a still image object play (P) item, and the like.

  Each data amount in the title information set described above may be a fixed byte or a variable byte. Further, each field may have a structure in which a required number of tables can be added.

  Particularly in this embodiment, the slave play (P) item information 126-subPT shown in FIG. 35 designates a slave item for displaying the “anywhere menu” described with reference to FIGS. This slave item corresponds to the item 204 indicated by the “master P item number” in the playlist element 126-2 as shown in FIG. As a result, the reproduction of the title based on the video stream is executed as the main path according to the stream object play item 204-stream (see the right end of FIG. 36) specifying the item 204. In parallel with this execution, playback of the “anywhere menu” is performed as a sub path according to slave item information 126-subPTm (refer to the right end of FIG. 35) specifying a slave item.

(2) Object information file:
Next, with reference to FIG. 37, a specific example is given of the object information file 130 in the case where object data for “anywhere menu” is recorded multiplexed with a video stream forming a main picture as a sub-picture stream. Will be described in detail. FIG. 37 shows the data structure in the AU (associate unit) table 131 (see FIG. 3) constructed in the object information file 130 and the ES (elementary stream) map table 134 (see FIG. 3) associated therewith. A specific example is shown schematically.

  As shown in FIG. 37, in this specific example, an object information table (object information table) is stored in the object information file 130. The object information table includes an AU table 131 shown in the upper part of the figure and an ES map table 134 shown in the lower part.

  In the upper part of FIG. 37, the AU table 131 may have a structure capable of adding as many tables as necessary for each field (Field). For example, if there are four AUs, the corresponding field may be increased to four.

  The AU table 131 stores “AU table general information” in which the number of AUs, a pointer to each AU, and the like are described in another field (Field), and “other information”.

  In the AU table 131, the AU information 132I indicating the ES table index #m (ES_table Index #m) in each PU #m corresponding to each AU #n is used as the index number (Index) of the corresponding ES map table 134. Number = ...) is described. Here, “AU” is a unit corresponding to a “program” in television broadcasting as described above (in particular, in the case of “multi-vision type” broadcasting, a plurality of “visions” that can be switched are combined. This unit includes one or more PUs which are playback units. Further, “PU” is a set of mutually switchable elementary streams included in each AU as described above, and the ES table index # corresponding to each PU is specified by the PU information 302I. For example, when multi-view content is configured by AU, a plurality of PUs are stored in AU, and in each PU, a plurality of elementary stream packet IDs indicating packets configuring the content of each view. A pointer to is stored. This indicates an index number in the ES map table 134 described later.

  37, the ES map table 134 includes ES map table general information (ES_map table general information) and a plurality of indexes #m (m = 1, 2,...) For each field (Field). “Other information” is stored.

  The “ES map table general information” describes the size of the ES map table, the total number of indexes, and the like.

  “Index #m” is configured to include elementary stream packet IDs (ES_PID) of all elementary streams used for reproduction, index numbers corresponding to the elementary stream packet IDs, and address information of the elementary streams.

  In this embodiment, for example, as the address information, that is, ES address information 134d, when the elementary stream is an MPEG2 video stream as described above, the leading TS packet number of the I picture and the display time corresponding thereto are displayed. Only ES is described in the ES map table 134, and the data amount is reduced. On the other hand, regarding the ES address information 134d of the sub-picture stream, the data amount is further reduced by describing the index number information 134e of the elementary stream of SP data on which the SP control information operates.

  With this configuration, the elementary stream packet ID (ES_PID) of the actual elementary stream can be acquired from the index number of the ES map 134 specified from the AU table 131. Further, since the address information of the elementary stream corresponding to the elementary stream packet ID can be acquired at the same time, the object data can be reproduced based on the information.

  According to the data structure of the optical disc 100 described above, even when a new title is added to the optical disc 100, it is useful because necessary information can be easily added. On the other hand, for example, even if some information becomes unnecessary as a result of editing or the like, it is not necessary to simply refer to the information, and it is not necessary to actually delete the information from the table. Because it is beneficial.

  In FIG. 37, ES_PIDs that are not referred to from the upper AU table 131 are also described for each index in the lower ES map table 134. However, the ES_PIDs that are not referred to do not have to be described in this way. However, if the ES map table 134 having higher versatility is created by describing the ES_PID that is not referred to in this way, the ES map table is used when the content is reedited, for example, when authoring is performed again. The advantage is that there is no need to rebuild.

  Here, a description will be given of the reproduction order of various files and the like when reproducing the optical disc 100 having the data structure as in the specific example described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the disc header 112x is reproduced from the title information set shown in FIG. As a part of that, the title table 112xtt shown in FIG. 31 is reproduced, and the title menu start address or title content start address is acquired.

  Next, the reproduction of the title information 200 shown in FIG. 30 is started according to the acquired address information. More specifically, the title element 200-2 shown in FIG. 32 is reproduced, and the playlist set number is acquired. Furthermore, pointers 200PT to the playlists # 1 to #k are acquired. Note that by adopting a configuration in which the playlist 126 is designated by the pointer 200PT, a plurality of playlists in the playlist set previously specified by the reproduction of the title element 200-2 can be shared among a plurality of titles. Become.

  Next, the playlist set table 112xpt shown in FIG. 31 is reproduced, and the playlist set start address is acquired. Based on this, reproduction of the playlist set 126S shown in FIG. 33 is started, and the PL presentation 126-1xi is first reproduced.

  Next, the PL presentation 126-1xi, which is an example of the requested function information, is compared with the playback function (that is, video performance, audio performance, etc.) of the information playback system that is playing back the optical disc 100. One optimal playlist 126 is selected from the playlist set 126S shown in FIG.

  Next, the selected play list 126 is reproduced. More specifically, the play list element 126-2 shown in FIG. 34 is reproduced. At this time, the pre-command 126PR is first executed, then the master P item number shown in FIG. 35 is acquired, and the corresponding item 204 is reproduced by referring to the item definition table shown in FIG. . The item 204 is actually reproduced by reproducing the corresponding TS object according to the ES index number, IN time and OUT time obtained by reproducing the stream object P item 204-stream (FIG. 37). reference). Thereafter, the post command 126PS shown in FIG. 34 is executed, and further, the playlist element to be reproduced next is designated according to the next information 126-6N, and the reproduction is repeated in the same manner.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 38, a specific example of the object information file 130 in the case where the object data for “anywhere menu” is recorded as an object different from the video stream that forms the main video will be described. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a specific example of the data structure in the AU (Associate Unit) table 131 (see FIG. 3) constructed in the object information file 130 and the ES (Elementary Stream) map table 134 associated therewith. It is shown as an example. In this specific example, the video stream that forms the main video is recorded as object # 1 (TS object), and the object data for “anywhere menu” is recorded as object # 2.

  The item information and slave item information further include information indicating the corresponding object number in the object information file 130. The corresponding object is specified by the corresponding object number, the corresponding AU number, etc., and is reproduced by the above-described reproduction sequence (see FIGS. 27 and 28). Object data for “anywhere menu” that has not been multiplexed and recorded is held (cached) in the memory 550 at the time of reading.

  Particularly in the present embodiment, in parallel with the reproduction of the stream object P item 204-stream shown in FIG. 36 for the main path, the corresponding slave play (P) item information 126-subPT shown in FIG. Is also played for the sub-pass. Then, according to the IN time and OUT time on the time axis obtained by reproducing the master play (P) item information 126-2, or as the displayable time, the corresponding “anywhere menu” TS object data is stored. Play as a sub-pass. As a result, the “anywhere menu” described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 28 is reproduced as a sub path.

  As described above in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 38, according to the present embodiment, for example, during the reproduction and display output of a title by an item, the menu is reproduced by the corresponding slave item and the reproduction is performed. By selectively performing display output of the menu, it is possible to efficiently display a menu screen such as a small window display or a semi-transparent superimpose display while the title reproduction is continued.

  In the above-described embodiment, the optical disc 100 as an example of the information recording medium and the recorder or player related to the optical disc 100 as an example of the information reproducing / recording apparatus have been described. However, the present invention is limited to the optical disc and the recorder or player. Instead, the present invention can also be applied to various information recording media corresponding to other high-density recording or high transfer rate, and its recorder or player.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 39, default slave P item information 126MI including a slave P item number and a master P item start PTS is provided in the play (P) list, and there is no subpath information in each P list element. Sometimes, the default slave P item information 126MI may be used in common.

  In addition, the TS packet for menus may be multiplexed and recorded in one TS object together with the TS packet of content, or may be recorded in a TS object different from the object for content.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and information recording accompanying such changes is possible. A medium, an information recording apparatus and method, an information reproducing apparatus and method, an information recording / reproducing apparatus and method, a computer program for recording or reproduction control, and a data structure including a control signal are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. is there.

1 shows the basic structure of an optical disc as an embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention, the upper portion being a schematic plan view of an optical disc having a plurality of areas, and the lower portion associated therewith is the area in the radial direction It is a schematic conceptual diagram of a structure. FIG. 2 is a schematic conceptual diagram of a conventional MPEG2 program stream (FIG. 2A), and a schematic conceptual diagram of an MPEG2 transport stream used in this embodiment (FIG. 2B). FIG. 2 is a schematic conceptual diagram (FIG. 2C) of an MPEG2 program stream used. It is a figure which shows typically the data structure recorded on the optical disk of a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the detail of the data structure in each title shown in FIG. 3 hierarchically. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the detail of the data structure in each playlist set shown in FIG. 3 hierarchically. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the detail of the data structure in each playlist set shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the detail of the data structure in each item shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a logical configuration of data in each title element shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a logical configuration of data in each title element shown in FIG. 4 in a case where each playlist set is constituted by one playlist in the present embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the detail of the data structure in each object shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the state in which the elementary stream for the upper program # 1 and the elementary stream for the middle program # 2 are multiplexed to form a transport stream for these two programs is shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows notionally an axis | shaft as a time axis. It is a conceptual diagram which shows notionally the image of the TS packet multiplexed in one transport stream in a present Example as a packet arrangement | positioning along time. It is the figure which showed typically the logical structure of the data on the optical disk in an Example centering on expansion | deployment from a logical hierarchy to an object hierarchy or a substance hierarchy. It is a block diagram of the information recording / reproducing apparatus based on the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the recording operation (the 1) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the recording operation (the 2) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the recording operation (the 3) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the recording operation (the 4) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the reproducing operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in a present Example. In this embodiment, the data structure of the SP control information for controlling the sub picture data (FIG. 20A) and the SP data structure including the SP data which is still picture data forming the main body of the sub picture data (FIG. 20). It is a conceptual diagram which shows one specific example of (b). FIG. 21 schematically shows three types of sub-picture structures composed of the SP control information and SP data structure shown in FIG. The relationship between the SPD stream and the plurality of SCP streams in the present embodiment is schematically shown with respect to the reproduction time axis. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the object data which concern on a subframe in a present Example. It is a top view which shows the example of a display on the screen of a menu everywhere in a present Example. FIG. 25 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which subframes are cut out from SP data (still image data) based on SP control information in order to reproduce and display the “anywhere menu” illustrated in FIG. 24 according to the present embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a specific example of the play list information file which can display "anywhere menu" in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process for determining the object of the item which should be reproduced | regenerated in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process for reproducing | regenerating an object in a present Example. It is a figure which shows notionally the whole access flow at the time of reproduction | regeneration in relation to the logical structure of the optical disk in a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in one specific example of the title information set in a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in one specific example of the disk header in a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in one specific example of the title information in a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in one specific example of the playlist set in a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in one specific example of the play list in a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in one specific example of the playlist element in a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in one specific example of the item definition table in a present Example. It is a figure which shows typically one specific example of the data structure in the AU table constructed | assembled in the object information file and the ES map table linked | related with this in one specific example by a present Example. It is a figure which shows typically one specific example of the data structure in the AU table constructed | assembled in the object information file and the ES map table linked | related with this in one specific example by a present Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the hierarchical structure in the modification of a play list.

Explanation of symbols

100 Optical disc 105 File system 110 Disc information file 120 Playlist information file 126 Playlist 126S Playlist set 130 Object information file 134 ES map table 140 Object data file 142 TS (transport stream) object 146 TS packet 200 Title 200-2 Title Element 204 Item 500 Information recording / reproducing apparatus 502 Optical pickup 506 Demodulator 508 Demultiplexer 511 Video decoder 512 Audio decoder 513 Sub picture decoder 520 System controller 540 Memory 606 Modulator 608 Formatter 610 TS object generator 611 Video encoder 612 Audio encoder 613 Picture encoder

Claims (8)

A series of content information,
Menu information relating to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information;
Playlist information defining the playback sequence of the content information in units of items accessible during playback;
Reproduction control information for reproducing the menu information is recorded, and
The playlist information includes item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item,
The menu information, selectively in accordance with external designation state, and are not intended to be part overlaid or replaced or no display will be displayed on the content information,
The content information, the information recording medium characterized by different objects der Rukoto from said menu information. First recording means for recording a series of content information and menu information related to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information;
A second recording means for recording playlist information defining a playback sequence of the content information in units of items accessible at the time of playback and playback control information for playing back the menu information;
The second recording means records the playlist information so as to include item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item.
The menu information, selectively in accordance with external designation state, and are not intended to be part overlaid or replaced or no display will be displayed on the content information,
The content information, the information recording apparatus characterized by different objects der Rukoto from said menu information. A first recording step of recording a series of content information and menu information related to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information;
A second recording step of recording playlist information defining a playback sequence of the content information in units of items accessible at the time of playback and playback control information for playing back the menu information;
The second recording step records the playlist information so as to include item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item.
The menu information, selectively in accordance with external designation state, and are not intended to be part overlaid or replaced or no display will be displayed on the content information,
The content information, the information recording method characterized by different objects der Rukoto from said menu information. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the information recording medium according to claim 1,
Playback means capable of playing back the content information, the menu information and the playlist information;
Display output means capable of displaying and outputting the content information and the menu information;
According to the item information and the slave item information included in the playlist information reproduced by the reproduction means, the reproduction means is controlled to reproduce the content information and the menu information, and selectively according to the external designation, The display output means is controlled so that the reproduced menu information is displayed and output by superimposing or replacing a part of the reproduced content information corresponding to the reproduced menu information, or not displayed at all. An information reproducing apparatus comprising: a control means. The information recording medium according to claim 1 is reproduced (i) reproduction means capable of reproducing the content information, the menu information and the playlist information, and (ii) display and output of the content information and the menu information. An information reproduction method in an information reproduction apparatus provided with a certain display output means,
A first control step of controlling the reproduction means to reproduce the content information and the menu information according to the item information and the slave item information included in the playlist information reproduced by the reproduction means;
The reproduced menu information is selectively output according to an external designation so that the reproduced menu information is superposed on or replaced with a part of the reproduced content information corresponding to the reproduced menu information or not displayed at all. And a second control step for controlling the display output means.   A computer program for recording control for controlling a computer provided in the information recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the computer functions as at least part of the first recording means and the second recording means. A computer program for recording control.   5. A computer program for reproduction control for controlling a computer provided in the information reproduction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the computer functions as at least part of the reproduction means, the display output means, and the control means. A reproduction control computer program. A series of content information,
Menu information relating to the content information to be displayed together with the content information during reproduction of the content information;
Playlist information defining the playback sequence of the content information in units of items accessible during playback;
Playback control information for playing back the menu information,
The playlist information includes item information indicating each item constituting the content information and slave item information indicating the menu information as a slave item.
The menu information, selectively in accordance with external designation state, and are not intended to be part overlaid or replaced or no display will be displayed on the content information,
The content information, the data structure including a control signal characterized by different objects der Rukoto from said menu information.

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