JPH09259505A - Method and equipment for reproducing a plurality of management information and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate system management at the time of the reproduction of main information by beforehand recording a plurality of management information at a plurality of places in a recording medium and reading management information at a near place when management information is required. SOLUTION: When a menu call is generated during reproduction, the kind of a menu level is decided. When an attribute change is required in a video title set(VTS), a VTSM- VOB is reproduced and displayed as a background image, and the attribute information of a VTSI is indicated. A user detects the indication of the attribute information and changes over an operating section. The system is set so that the VTSM- VOB at a place near to a pickup is reproduced at that time. Whether or not either recording place is near in a plurality of the VTSM- VOBs can be determined easily by conducting the tracing processing of the VTSM- VOBs. When a menu call is generated on the basis of the determined information, the nearest VTSM- VOB is reproduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reproducing method in which a plurality of management records are recorded on a video disc, on which information such as video data and audio data is recorded, in order to facilitate searching for reproduction information. And a reproducing device and an information medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a digital video disk and a reproducing apparatus thereof have been developed as an optical disk in addition to a conventional audio compact disk (hereinafter, referred to as a CD). In this digital video disc,
In particular, recently, a disc which is about the same size as a conventional CD (12 cm in diameter) and capable of recording and reproducing movie information for about 2 hours has been developed. In addition, in this digital video disc, a format is considered in which, in addition to movie information, audio or music in eight different languages and subtitle information in 32 different languages can be recorded on the same disc.

[0003]

As described above, in addition to movie (video) information, audio information in a plurality of languages is recorded, and further, subtitle information in a plurality of different languages is recorded. In this case, it is necessary to take measures so that the user can easily manage these pieces of information (hereinafter, these pieces of information will be referred to as main information) during reproduction.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to record a plurality of pieces of management information in a plurality of locations on a recording medium so that system management can be prepared when reproducing main information. Then, in the reproducing method and apparatus, when the above management information is required during operation, the management information at a close position is read.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a reproduction method and apparatus according to the present invention, wherein first management information and second management information having a part or all of the same contents as the first management information. When there is a request for management information during the reproduction of recording media in which and are recorded at different positions, the management information closer to the current reproduction position of the recording medium is read and reproduced. It has become. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the management information and obtain operational reliability.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention, in order to speed up reading when there is a request requiring management information,
The first management information and the second management information having a part or all of the same content as the first management information are recorded in different positions, and the first and second management information are respectively recorded. Although the menu screen information is included, two types of program chains for reproducing the respective menu screen information are recorded so as to be included in either one of the management information.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an optical disc reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be briefly described. FIG. 1 shows an optical disc reproducing apparatus, FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a disc drive unit 30 which drives the optical disc 10 on which the audio stream is recorded, and FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the optical disc 10. The figure for doing is shown.

The optical disk reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1 will be described. The optical disk reproducing device has a key operation / display unit 500. The optical disk reproducing device includes a monitor 11 and a speaker 1.
2 are connected. The pickup data read from the optical disk 10 is sent to the system processing unit 504 via the disk drive unit 501. Optical disk 10
The pick-up data read from includes, for example, video data, sub-video data, and audio data, and these data are separated by the system processing unit 504. The separated video data is supplied to the video decoder 508 via the video buffer 506, the sub video data is supplied to the sub video decoder 509 via the sub video buffer 507, and the audio data is audio decoder via the audio buffer 512. 513 is supplied. The video signal decoded by the video decoder 508 and the sub-video signal decoded by the sub-video decoder 509 are combined by the combining unit 5
It is combined in 10 and output as an analog video signal in the D / A converter 511 and supplied to the monitor 11. The audio signal decoded by the audio decoder 513 is D
The / A converter 514 produces an analog audio signal and supplies it to the speaker 12.

Reference numeral 502 is a system CPU, and the entire reproducing apparatus is managed by the system CPU 502. Therefore, the system CPU 502 can exchange control signals, timing signals, and the like with the disk drive unit 501, the system processing unit 504, and the key operation / display unit 500. A system ROM / RAM 503 is connected to the system CPU 502. The system ROM / RAM 503 stores a fixed program for the system CPU 502 to perform data processing, and stores management data and the like reproduced from the optical disk 10. It can also be stored.

The data RAM 505 is a system processing unit 5.
04, and is used as a buffer when performing the above-described data separation, error correction, and the like. The disk drive unit 501 is shown in FIG. 2 and described.

The disk motor drive circuit 531 rotationally drives the spindle motor 532. Spindle motor 5
When 32 rotates, the optical disk 10 rotates, and the optical head unit 533 can pick up recorded data recorded on the optical disk. Optical head part 5
The signal read by 33 is supplied to the head amplifier 534, and the output of the head amplifier 534 is input to the system processing unit 504.

The feed motor 535 is driven by a feed motor drive circuit 536. Feed motor 53
5 drives the optical head unit 533 in the radial direction of the optical disk 10. The optical head unit 533 is provided with a focus mechanism and a tracking mechanism, and these mechanisms include a focus circuit 537 and a tracking circuit 53, respectively.
8 is provided.

Control signals are input from the servo processing unit 539 to the disk motor drive circuit 531, the feed motor drive circuit 536, the focus circuit 537, and the tracking circuit 538. Accordingly, the disk motor 532 controls the rotation of the optical disk 10 so that the frequency of the pickup signal is a predetermined frequency, and the focus circuit 537 focuses the optical beam of the optical head unit 533 on the optical disk 10 at the best focus. Control the focusing mechanism of the optical system,
Controls the tracking mechanism so that the optical beam is directed to the center of the desired recording track.

FIG. 3 shows the optical disk 10 and the structure thereof will be described. The optical disc 10 has information recording areas 22 around the clamp areas 21 on both sides thereof. The information recording area 22 has a lead-out area 23 where no information is recorded on the outer circumference, and a lead-in area 24 where no information is recorded at a boundary with the clamp area 21. A data recording area 25 is between the lead-out area 23 and the lead-in area 24.

In the data recording area 26, tracks are continuously formed in a spiral shape. This track is divided into a plurality of physical sectors, and the sectors are numbered consecutively. The signal trace of the track is formed as a pit. In a read-only optical disc, a pit row is formed by a stamper on a transparent substrate, and a reflective film is formed as a recording layer on the pit row forming surface. In the two-bonded type optical disc, two discs are united with an adhesive layer so that the recording layers face each other.
It is a composite disc.

Next, the logical format of the above optical disk 10 will be described. In FIG. 4, the information recording area 2
5 shows a logical format which is an information division of 5. This logical format is based on a specific standard, eg Micro U.
It is defined in accordance with DF and ISO9660. In the following description, the logical address is the micro UDF and I
This means a logical sector number (LSN) defined by SO9660, and one logical sector, which is the same size as the preceding physical sector, has 2048 bytes, and the logical sector number (LSN) is the same as the ascending order of the physical sector numbers. It is assumed that serial numbers are attached.

The logical format has a hierarchical structure and has a volume and file structure area 70, two video managers 71A and 72B having exactly the same contents which are characteristic of this system, and at least one video title set. 72, and other recording area 73
Having. These areas are partitioned on logical sector boundaries. One logical sector is 2048 bytes. 1
The logical block is also 2048 bytes, and one logical sector is defined as one logical block. The above-mentioned video managers 71A and 71B have exactly the same contents, but are recorded in different positions of the optical disc 10 as the first and second management information. For example, the video manager 71A has the outer peripheral side in the radial direction of the optical disc 10, The video manager 71B is recorded at the center of the optical disc 10 in the radial direction.

The file structure area 70 is a micro UDF.
And the management area defined by ISO9660, and through the description of this area, the video manager jar 71
Data of A or 71B is system ROM / RAM section 5
2 and stored again. The video manager jars 71A and 71B are described with information for managing the entire video title set, and are composed of a plurality of files 74 starting from the file # 0.

In the video title set 72, compressed video data, sub-picture data, audio data and reproduction control information for reproducing these are recorded. The maximum number of the plurality of video title sets 72 is 99. Each video title set 72 is composed of a plurality of files 74, and the number of files is 10 at maximum. These files are also separated by logical sector boundaries.

In the other recording area 73, information used when utilizing the information of the above video title set or information used independently is recorded. The video manager jar 71A will be described as a representative in FIG.

The video manager jar 71A is a volume manager information (VMGI) 75, a video object set (VMGM) for a video manager information menu. VOBS) 76 and volume video manager information backup (VMGI (BUP) 77. VMGI71, VMGI BUP77 is an indispensable item, and VNGM VOBS 76 is optional.

VMGM The VOBS 76 stores video data, audio data, and sub-picture data for a menu relating to the volume of the optical disc managed by the video manager 71A.

That is, it is possible to obtain the volume name, the explanation information by the voice and the sub-picture accompanying the volume name display, and the selection item display. For example, if the optical disc stores English conversation for language learning, the volume name of the English conversation and the lesson example will be played back and displayed, and the theme song will be played back as audio. Is displayed. Also, as a selection item, a lesson number (level) selection is displayed, and the viewer waits for operation input. VMGM for such use V
OBS76 is used.

Also, this VGM When the VOBS 76 is reproduced, what kind of video is recorded as the video title set can be displayed on the screen by, for example, the title and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a video object set (VO
BS) 82 is shown. As the video object set (VOBS), there are two types for the menu and one type for the title for the video, but both have the same structure. Saki VGM VOBS7
6 also has such a structure.

Video Object Set (VOBS) 8
2 is defined as a set of one or more video objects (VOBs) 83, and the VOBs are used for the same purpose. Usually, a video object set (V
OBS) is configured as a video object (VOB) for displaying a plurality of menu screens, and a video object set (VOBS) for a video title set.
Is configured as a video object (VOB) for displaying a normal moving image or the like.

The video object (VOB) has an identification number (VOB). IDN # j), and the identification number (VOB A video object (VOB) can be specified using IDN # j). One video object (VOB) includes one or a plurality of cells 84. Similarly, the identification number (C ID
N # j), and the identification number (C IDN #
The cell can be specified using j). A video object for a menu may be composed of one cell.

Further, one cell is composed of one or a plurality of video object units (VOBU).
And one video object unit (VOBU)
Is defined as a pack sequence having one navigation pack (NV pack) at the top. One video object unit (VOBU) is defined as a set of all packs recorded from the NV pack to immediately before the next NV pack.

Video Object Unit (VOBU)
Playback time corresponds to the playback time of video data composed of a single or multiple GOPs (groups of pictures) contained in this VOBU. The playback time is approximately 0.4 seconds or more and within 1 second. It is set. According to the MPEG standard, one GOP compresses image data corresponding to a reproduction time of about 0.5 seconds. Therefore,
According to the MPEG standard, information for about 0.5 seconds is arranged for both audio and video.

One video object unit (VO
BU), the video pack (V pack), the sub-picture pack (SP pack),
Audio packs (A packs) are arranged. Therefore, a plurality of V packs in one VOBU have one GOP or a plurality of GO packs of compressed image data whose playback time is within one second.
The audio signal corresponding to the reproduction time is compressed and arranged as an A pack. Also, the sub-picture data used during this playback time is compressed and arranged as an SP pack. However, the audio signal is recorded by packing data of 8 channels, for example, and 32 channels of sub-picture as a pack.

Returning to FIG. 5, description will be made. As the volume manager information (VMGI) 75, information for searching a video title is described, and at least 3
Two tables 78, 79, 80 are included.

Volume management information management table (VMGI
MAT) is the size of the video manager (VMG) 71, the start address of each information in the video manager, and the video object set (VMGM) for the video manager menu. VOBS) is described.

Title search pointer table (TT
SRPT) describes an entry program chain (EPGC) of a video title included in the volume of the optical disc, which can be selected according to the key operation of the apparatus and the input of the title number from the display unit 500.

The program chain will be described with reference to FIG. The program chain 87 is a set of program numbers for realizing continuous playback of a story or a memory screen of a title, and a story chapter of a title by continuously playing the program chain. Or the story or menu is completed. One program number is composed of a plurality of cell identification numbers. The cell identification number is VOBS
Cells within can be identified.

Video title set attribute table (VT
S ART) 80 describes the attribute information defined in the video title set (VTS) in the volume of the optical disc. As the attribute information, the number of VTSs, the number, the video compression method, the audio encoding mode, the sub-picture display type, etc. are described in this table.

FIG. 8 shows the format of the video title set. At least 1 as shown in FIG.
Although recorded as one or more video title sets 72, each title set includes video title set information (VTSI), a video object set for a video title set menu (VTS) as shown in FIG. VO
BS), video title set title video object set (VTSTT) VOBS, backup of video title set information (VTS BUP).

VTSI is management information in this video title set, and is a video title set information management table (VTS). MAT), video title set partial search pointer table (VTS PTT SRP
T), video title set program chain information table (VTS PGCIT), video title set menu program chain unit table (VTS
M PGCI UT), video title set time map table (VTS TMAPT, video title set cell address table (VTS C ADT),
Video title set Video object unit address map (VTS VOBU ADMAP).

Video title set information management table (VTS MAT), the VTS ID, end address, version number, attribute, end address of this management table, start address of each video object set, start address of each data table, number of sub-picture streams, number of audio streams. Etc. are described.

Video title set partial search pointer table (VTS PTT In SRPT), a pointer for performing partial reproduction when reproducing this video title set is described, and the pointer is selected by the operation input by the user, and the video object is selected according to this pointer. Selected and played.

Video title set program chain information table (VTS PGCIT) describes a program chain for selecting a story when playing back this video title set, and the program chain is selected by the operation input by the user.

Video title set menu Program chain unit table (VTSM PGCI U
In T), a menu of a story may be seen when playing back this video title set, and a program chain for playing a background image while watching the menu is described.

Video title set time map table (VTS TMAPT) describes information on the video recording position and is used as time management information. Video object set for video title set menu (VTS VOBS) describes a video object for a menu of a video title set, and when this is played, the menu of this video title set is displayed.

As the contents of the menu, for example, what kind of language is selected as the sub-picture, what kind of language is selected as the audio, and what angle is selected as the angle are displayed as a menu. The operation mode is switched according to the operation input.

Video Title Set Video Object Set for Title (VTSTT VOBS) is actual video information, sub-picture information, audio information, control information, etc. as shown in FIG. 6, and is, for example, movie information.

Backup of video title set information (VTS BUP) is exactly the same information as the video title set information. FIG. 9 shows an operation example of the reproducing apparatus for reproducing the above-mentioned video disc 10.

In the case of this video disc 10, since the video manager is provided at a plurality of locations as described in FIG. 4, the video object set (VMGM) for the video manager information menu is displayed during the playback of the video title set. This is useful when a VOBS) 76 (shown in Figure 5) is needed.

That is, when it is desired to change the attribute such as the language of the audio or the language of the subtitle during the reproduction of the movie of the video title set, the menu button 1 is operated. When the video title set is desired to be changed (a movie with a different story is desired), the menu button 2 is operated. Particularly in this case, in this system, the screen is smoothly switched to the menu state because the menu object is jumped to the closest position.

That is, the description will be made with reference to FIG. When the playback device is started, the volume manager information (VMGI) is read and stored in the memory. Next, the video object for the video manager information menu is played and the menu is displayed again. Here, the user selects a title set to be reproduced via the operation unit. For example, in the case of a disc on which movie 1 and movie 2 are recorded, one of them is selected (steps A1 to A4). When this selection is made, the position of the selected video title set is jumped to and the video title set information (VTSI) is read. Here, the video title set menu object set is reproduced. When the user selects an attribute such as a voice language or a subtitle language in this menu display state, the title set is reproduced according to the selection (steps A5 to A8).

When the reproduction is completed, the end is reached. In the middle of reproduction, it is determined whether or not there is a menu call (steps A9 and A10), and when there is a menu call, the type of menu level is determined.

In other words, it is a judgment as to whether selection at the volume manager level is necessary or selection within the video title set is necessary. This judgment is
It can be judged by the difference of the menu button.

Now, it is assumed that there is a request for changing the attribute in the video title set. Then, the video object for the video title set menu is reproduced and displayed as the background image, and the image corresponding to the attribute information of the video title set information stored in the memory is displayed as the menu character. The user sees this display and selects the operation unit to switch the attribute.

Here, in this system, step A1
At 2, the reading position is determined. This step A12 is
If there are one or two video title sets on one disc and the video object for the video title set menu is recorded only at the beginning of the video title set, return to the beginning from the middle of the second half of the reproduction of the title set. This is because it takes time or abrupt control is required to move the pickup.

Therefore, in this system, for example, the video object for the video title set menu is set to be reproduced at a position close to the position of the pickup. Since the position where the menu video object is recorded is known in advance, and the movement position of the pickup can be grasped by the playback time and the rotation of the servo motor, it is possible to determine which recording position among the plurality of menu video objects is closer. It can be easily grasped by performing the tracking process.

When there is a menu call based on this grasped information, the closest menu video object is reproduced. In this case, the menu video object is picked up and reproduced based on the menu program chain table (FIG. 8) in the video title set information.

Here, from step A12 to displaying the menu, the video title set information (VT
SI) (FIG. 8), there is a route to return to step A5 and a route to return directly to step A6 to display the menu object.

When returning to step A5, the menu object may be picked up on the basis of the program chain of the video title set information (VTSI) at a close position. However, when returning to step A6,
As the program chain table for the menu, two kinds according to the reproduction position are recorded and prepared. Then, the reproduction process is performed based on the program chain table corresponding to the reproduction position.

The step A12 may be omitted, and the number of title set menu video objects may be one for each title set. It is assumed that there is a menu call at the volume manager level in step A11.

That is, there is a desire to switch the video title set itself being played back to another video title set (for example, to switch to another movie). Also in this case, in step A13, the closest menu video object is determined, and the menu object is reproduced and displayed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, since the video managers are recorded at a plurality of locations, the manager closest to either one is read and the menu is displayed.

In this case also, in order to read from the volume manager information (VMGI) (FIG. 5), step A2
There is a route to return to step A3 and a route to return directly to step A3 to display the menu object. When returning to step A3, two types of program chain tables for menus are recorded and prepared in advance according to the reproduction position. Then, the reproduction process is performed based on the program chain table corresponding to the reproduction position.

In the above system, in order to read and reproduce the management information closer to the current reproduction position of the recording medium, the recording position information of the first and second management information is stored in advance.
Various modes of implementation are possible as a tracking means that takes in the reproduction position information of the pickup and tracks which management information position is closer to the current reproduction position of the pickup.

FIG. 10 shows the current reproduction position (r1 = radius).
To a predetermined point (R1 = radius) of the disk 10, (R
2 shows an example of determining which is closer (2 = radius). Tp is the track pitch, and L is the disc address. Now, r1 is R1 and R on the radius
Although it is located in the middle of 1, it is not always in the middle of L1 and L2 on the address. This is because the disc is recorded by the CLV method. Therefore, when the relational expression of each radius is obtained, π (r1) ₂ = L · Tp + π (R2) ₂ (r1) ₂ = (L · Tp / π) + (R2) ₂ is obtained. Here, the reproducing device always keeps track of the current reproduction address l (r1) ² = (l1.
11 can be calculated from Tp / π) + (R2) ² . Therefore, (L1-l1) <l1-L2) or (L1-
By determining l1) ≧ (l1-L2), the address closer to the current position can be obtained.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to obtain a reproducing method, an apparatus and a recording medium for reproducing a plurality of pieces of management information that are easy to manage when reproducing main information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical disk reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a disk drive unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an optical disc according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording format of the optical disc.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing the video manager of FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is an explanatory diagram of the video object of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a program chain.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of management information of a video title set.

FIG. 9 is a diagram shown for explaining an operation example of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a reproduction position detecting means according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Optical disk, 11 ... Monitor, 12 ... Speaker 500 ... Key operation / display section 501 ... Disk drive section 502 ... System CPU 503 ... System ROM / RAM 504 ... System processing section 505 ... Data RAM 508 ... Video decoder 509 ... Sub-picture Decoder 510 ... Adder 511 ... D / A converter 513 ... Audio decoder 514 ... D / A converter.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Fusho 3-3-9 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Abu E. Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Hirara 3-chome, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. 3-9 Toshiba Abu E Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. During reproduction of a recording medium in which first management information and second management information having a part or all of the first management information and the same content are recorded at different positions. A reproducing method of a plurality of management information, characterized in that when there is a request requiring the management information, the management information closer to the current reproduction position of the recording medium is read and reproduced. 2. During reproduction of a recording medium in which the first management information and the second management information having the same or part of the contents of the first management information are recorded at different positions. A reproducing apparatus for a plurality of management information, which has means for reading and reproducing the management information closer to the current reproduction position of the recording medium when there is a request requiring the management information. 3. In order to read and reproduce the management information closer to the current reproduction position of the recording medium, the first reproduction information is read in advance.
7. A tracking means for taking in the recording position information of the second management information and the reproduction position information of the pickup and tracking which position of the management information is closer to the current reproduction position of the pickup. 2. A playback device for multiple management information described in 2. 4. The means for reading and reproducing management information closer to the current reproduction position on the recording medium includes means for reproducing menu screen information based on a program chain table stored in a memory. 3. The reproducing apparatus for a plurality of management information according to claim 2. 5. The means for reading and reproducing the management information closer to the current reproduction position of the recording medium reads the program chain table of the management information which is the object of reading, and displays the menu screen information based on this program chain. The reproducing apparatus for a plurality of management information according to claim 2, further comprising a reproducing means. 6. The first management information and the first management information for speeding up the reading when there is a request requiring the management information.
Management information and second management information having a part or all of the same content are recorded in different positions, and the first and second management information each include menu screen information. A recording medium characterized in that two types of program chains for reproducing screen information are recorded so as to be included in one of the management information. 7. A current reproduction position (r1 = radius, address l)
1) From a predetermined point on the disc (R1 = radius, L1)
Is an address corresponding to R1), (R2 = radius, L2 is R
When determining which of the two (addresses corresponding to 2) is closer, Tp is set as the track pitch and (r1) ² = (l1.
The address l1 is obtained from Tp / π) + (R2) ² and
(L1-l1) <l1-L2) or (L1-l1) ≧
A plurality of management information, characterized by having means for performing the processing of (11-L2), and determining which of the predetermined points R1 and R2 on the disc is closer to the current reproduction position from the output result of this means. Playback device.