JPH11296543A - Retrieval method, retrieval device and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve a title having desired features from a recording medium where multimedia data are recorded by more than one title by using a retrieval word inputted from a personal computer. SOLUTION: This retrieval device which retrieves a desired title from a disk 12 having multimedia data of plural titles has an input device 20 for retrieval word input, a controller 18 provided with a function for setting the retrieval word as a key word for comparison, a function for reading feature words of multimedia data out of a management file on the recording medium in order so that they are made to correspond to the titles, a function for deciding the similarity between the feature key words and key word, and a function for setting as a retrieval result a tile made to correspond to a feature word having similarity to the key word, and an output device 22 which outputs the retrieval result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data (data including mutually related video, audio, characters, still images, etc.) are recorded by using a search word. The present invention relates to a title search method, apparatus, and recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art DV defined on the DVD-ROM standard
In the D-Video standard, a function of searching for multimedia data by a title name, a time position, and a preset pointer position is standardized.

[0003]

According to the DVD-ROM standard, a micro UDF (Uni) is used as a file system.
versal Data Format) and ISO96
Since the UDF-Bridge format, which is a standard that is integrated with the H.60, is adopted, a DVD-Video file can be accessed using a current personal computer. Since it takes enormous amount of time and money to create multimedia data, there is a demand to make it possible to search for titles with desired characteristics from a presentation system on a personal computer. I can't respond. It is an object of the present invention to enable a user to search for a title having desired characteristics from a recording medium on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded by inputting a search word from a personal computer.

[0004]

In the following, multimedia data is data comprising mutually related video, audio, characters, still images and the like. The invention according to claim 1 is a search method for searching for a desired title from a recording medium on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded, wherein the input search term is set as a keyword for comparison, and Characteristic words representing characteristics and recorded in a management file in the recording medium are sequentially read in association with a title, and the similarity between the read characteristic word and the keyword is determined. If there is similarity with the keyword, This is a search method characterized by setting a title associated with a determined feature word as a search result.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a retrieval apparatus for retrieving a desired title from a recording medium in which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded, comprising: an input apparatus for inputting a search word; Key setting means for setting a word as a keyword for comparison; reading means for sequentially reading a feature word representing the feature of multimedia data from a management file in the recording medium in association with a title; Determining means for determining the similarity with the keyword; search result setting means for setting a title associated with the feature word determined to have similarity with the keyword as a search result; And an output device for outputting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as the key setting means, the reading means, the determining means, and the search result setting means of the second aspect. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable recording medium in which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded, wherein a management file in which a title of the multimedia data is recorded and the multimedia data are recorded for each title. The management file has a text data area in which text data describing the content of the multimedia data is recorded, and a pointer pointing to the start address of each text data recorded in the text data area. And a management table area in which management data consisting of content identification information indicating the content is recorded for each title, and an area in which a feature word representing the feature of multimedia data is defined in the text data area, Text data indicated by the pointer is used for management data The content identification information indicating that if a feature word is set, a recording medium, characterized in that.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Overview: FIG. 1 shows a disc (DV) on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded.
1 shows a configuration example of a system for searching a title having desired characteristics from a (D-video disc) 12 by inputting a search word.

When a search word representing the characteristics of the multimedia data to be searched is input from the input device 20, the key word setting function of the control device 18 substitutes the search word for the variable KEY. That is, it is set as a keyword. Various playback control data recorded on the DVD disk 12 are:
The data is read by the reading device 14 controlled by the control device 18 and stored in the storage device 16.

The titles to be investigated are sequentially specified by the reading function of the control device 18, and the content identification information corresponding to the specified title is sequentially read from the storage device 16 and is the content identification information indicating the characteristic word. It is determined whether or not. As a result, if the content identification information indicates the characteristic word, the characteristic word is read. On the other hand, if the content identification information does not indicate the characteristic word, the content identification information next to the title is read out and processed similarly. If the content identification information indicating the characteristic word is not found even though the processing for all the content identification information of the title has been completed, the next title is designated and the same processing is performed.

In the above processing, when the content identification information indicating the characteristic word is found, the characteristic word is compared with the keyword by the determining function of the control device 18 to determine the similarity. As a result, when there is similarity, the title corresponding to the feature word is set as a search result by the search result setting function of the control device 18 and output to the display device 22. On the other hand, if there is no similarity, the content identification information next to the title is read out and processed in the same manner, and the content indicating the characteristic word despite the completion of the processing for all the content identification information of the title If the identification information is not found, the next title is designated and the same processing is performed. The program for realizing each of the functions of the control device 18 is installed in the control device 18 in advance via a computer-readable recording medium or a network.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 7 show the structure of a file recorded on the DVD disk 12. FIG. The management file is a "title information section", and the data file is a "title # 1 information section to title #n information section". In addition,
A management file (playback control data) also exists in each title #j information section (j = 1, 2,..., N), but is defined as described above in relation to claim 4.

Since the file structure of a DVD-video is defined by a standard and is well known, here, the file structure related to the present invention will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 2B, the title information section shown in FIG. 2A includes a title information management table section, a title search table section,
There are a multimedia data information management table section, a text data management section, a multimedia data address management section, and a multimedia data section.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the text data management section includes an address management table section for each title, a text data address management table section, and a text data section. The text data address management table section in the text data management section includes management information including content identification information defining the content of each text data recorded in the text data section in the text data management section and a pointer pointing to the address of the text data. Data is recorded separately for each title.

In the text data section in the text data management section, text data describing the contents of the multimedia data is recorded, and a feature word representing the feature of the multimedia data is also recorded in the text data section. . If the recorded text data is a feature word, the content identification information paired with the pointer pointing to the feature word in the text data address management table section contains data to that effect in the user-defined information. Is set as

In the search, the content identification information recorded for each title in the text data address management table section in the text data management section is determined, and if the content identification information is information indicating a feature word, the feature identification information is used. This is performed by reading a word from the text data part and comparing it with a keyword.

In the title search table section, the title number of each title and the head address of each title #j information section are recorded. At the time of reproduction, from the address in the title search table section in which the head address of the title #TTN information part, which is the searched title, is described, the processing moves to the head address of the title #TTN information part according to the description of the address. The head address of the multimedia data part is read from the title #TTN information management table part in the TTN information part, and processing is performed so as to move to the head address.

2. Search procedure: Searching for a feature word recorded in the text data section in the text data management section in the title information section, and setting the current title number as a search result when the feature word matches the input keyword. The procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the “current title number” refers to “the number of the title currently being searched”. Also,
The “characteristic word” is data describing characteristics of multimedia data, and is data arbitrarily recorded in a user-defined area in a text data portion.

The variables used in the following description have the following meanings. TXTDDTAd: Start address of the text data management unit. TXTDDTAd0: Start address of the current title number in the address management table for each title. TXTDTAdd1: The head address of the current content identification information in the text data address management table section. TXTDDTAd2: Start address of text data corresponding to the current content identification information (TXTDDTAd3)
Address indicating the position where is described. TXTDDTAd3: An address in the text data portion indicated by the address data described in TXTDDTAd2. TXTDT: Substitution destination of data described from TXTDDTAd3. TXTDENDAdd0: End address (TXTDENDAdd in the text data address management table section)
Address indicating the position where d1) is described. TXTDDENDAdd1: TXTDENDAddd0
The address in the text data address management table section indicated by the address data described in.

When a user inputs a search word (keyword) from the input device 20, the keyword is set to a variable "KEY" (S1). Next, in step S3, an initial value "1" is set to a variable "N" indicating a search title number. In this example, the search is performed in ascending order from title number 1. In the present invention, the search order is not limited to the ascending order, but may be the descending order or an arbitrary order. In this case, the initial value of the title number set in step S3 and the processing in step S9 or step S15 described later also correspond to the order.

In step S5, a value obtained by adding "off1" to the head address "TXTDTAdd" of the text data management unit is set as the head address "TXTDDTAdd0" of the current title number in the address management table for each title. That is, the address after “off1” from the top of the text data management unit is set as the top address “TXTDTAd0” in the title-specific address management table unit of the current title number. Also, the end address of the current title number in the text data address management table section is set as the address “TXTDENDAdd0” of the address data described in the title-based address management table section, and “off7” is added to the head address “TXTDDTAd” of the text data management section. Is added, and the address data (hereinafter referred to as “tail address”) described in the tail address description address is “TXTDTEND”.
Add1 ”. The set end address is used to determine the end of the current title number search process in step S22 described below.

In step S7, characteristic words corresponding to the current title number are sequentially read from the text data portion, and compared with the keyword set in step S1, it is determined in order whether or not the keyword matches the keyword. When a matching feature word is found, a process of setting the current title number as a search result is executed according to the procedure shown in FIG.

First, among the content identification information recorded in the text data address management table section, the head address “TX” of the content identification information corresponding to the current title number
TDTAdd1 ”, the head address“ TX ”in the title-based address management table of the current title number
The address data described in "TDTAAdd0" is set (S21). In other words, "TXTDTAd
"0", address data indicating the head address in the text data address management table of the content identification information corresponding to the current title number is recorded.

In step S22, among the content identification information corresponding to the current title number, the start address "TXTDDTAdd1" of the content identification information to be processed at present (hereinafter referred to as "current content identification information") is replaced by the end address "TXTDTENAdd1". Is determined before the address. That is, it is determined whether or not the processing regarding all the content identification information corresponding to the current title number has been completed. As a result, if it has been completed (S2
2; YES), exits the process of FIG. 5 and proceeds to step S9 of FIG.
Proceed to. In this case, a search result is obtained that the current title number has no feature word that matches the search target keyword. On the other hand, if the processing for all the content identification information corresponding to the current title number has not been completed in step S22 (S22; NO), the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the data (content identification information) described in the head address "TXTDTAd1" of the current content identification information is stored in the variable "TXT ID".
Is set to That is, “TXTDTAdd1” records data specifying the type of the content identification information (eg, data indicating that the content is a “characteristic word”).

In step S25, "TXT ID" is compared with "KeyWord ID". In other words,
It is determined whether the data in the text data part managed by the current content identification information is a “feature word”. Here, in the “KeyWordID”, data uniquely defined by the data creator (for example, data indicating “characteristic word”) is set.

In step S25, if both match (S25; YES), that is, if the data in the text data section managed by the current content identification information is a "characteristic word", the "characteristic word" Is read from the text data part (S27) and compared with the keyword (S29).

More specifically, the head address of the data in the text data portion corresponding to the current content identification information is set as the address "TXTDTAdd2" of the address data described in the text data address management table portion, and Start address "TXT
An address “off3” after “DTAdd1” is set, and the address “T” indicated by the address data described in the address “TXTDDTAd2” is set.
The data described in “XTDTAAdd3” is a variable “T
XTDT ”(S27). This "TXTD
T ”is compared with the keyword set in step S1 (S29).

In step S29, if both match (S29; YES), the current title number "N" is set in the variable "TTN". That is, the multimedia data of the current title number “N” is selected as the search result, and the search processing ends. Note that, instead of ending this search processing, the processing of FIG.
May be configured to search for multimedia data of all title numbers that match the keyword. In that case, it is necessary to make a change such as changing the processing of step S31 and the like so that a plurality of search results can be recorded. Also, in this example, a perfect match between “TXTDT” and “KEY” is checked.
A well-known determination method such as front match and back match may be employed.

In step S25, "TXT ID" and "K
eyeword ID] does not match (S25; N
O) or “TXTDT” and “KE
If "Y" does not match (S29; NO), steps S22 to S2 are performed for the next content identification information in the same manner as described above.
9 is executed. That is, the head address “TXTDTAdd1” of the current content identification information in the text data address management table section is changed from the head address “TXTDTAdd1” of the immediately preceding content identification information to “off”.
After the address subsequent to "4" is set (S33), the processing from step S22 is executed.

When the processing for all the content identification information of the current title number is completed, the text data address management table section of the next current content identification information is more than the end address "TXTDDENDAdd1" in the text data address management table section of the current title number. The leading address "TXTDTAdd1" in the above becomes the subsequent address (S22; YES). Therefore, the process exits from the process in FIG. 5 and proceeds to step S9 in FIG.

In step S9, the title number "N" is incremented (S9). If the incremented title number “N” does not exceed the maximum number of titles “M” recorded on the recording medium, that is, the search processing for all the titles recorded on the recording medium has not been completed. In this case (S11; NO), the head address “T” of the next search target title number (the next current title number) in the title-based address management table section.
As an XTDTAd0 ”, an address that is“ off2 ”after the head address“ TXTDTAd0 ”of the previous current title number in the address management table unit for each title is set (S15), and the new current title number is set in step S7 and subsequent steps. The processing is performed as described above.

At step S11, if the search processing for all titles recorded on the recording medium has been completed (S11; YES), the search processing is performed for all title numbers, and as a result, the " Since there is no title having the "characteristic word" in the text data portion, a message to that effect is output (S13), and this processing ends.

3. Reproduction procedure: The procedure for reproducing the multimedia data retrieved by the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the start address "TT Add" of the title search table is set to the start address "S
TAdd0 "(S41). This is because the head address of the data area (information section) of each title is described in the title search table section.

Next, the head address "STAdd" in the title search table portion of the searched title number "N"
1 "is calculated. That is, the value of the variable "off5" and the total data size "(TTN-1) *" in the title search table portion of the title number group "1, 2, ..., N-1" younger than the retrieved title number "N". The start address “STAdd1” is calculated with “size1” as the position jumped from the above “STAdd0” (S4).
3).

Next, only the start address "STAdd2" to "off6" of the title #TTN information part (information part corresponding to the retrieved title number "N") indicated by the address data described in "STAdd1" The address data described in the subsequent address “STAdd3” is substituted for the variable “ST Result” (S47). Since the start address of the multimedia data portion in the title #TTN information portion is described in the address “STAdd3”, the multimedia data of the searched title number “N” is output and the display device 22
, The data reading may be started from “ST Result”.

[0038]

According to the search method and the search device of the present invention,
By inputting a search word from a personal computer, a title having desired characteristics can be searched from a recording medium on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded. In addition, it is possible to provide a recording medium on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded and on which the present search processing is executed. Further, a program for realizing the search function can be installed in a general-purpose control device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system for executing a search according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a file configuration diagram of a DVD-Video disc 12 of FIG. 1 and a file configuration diagram of a title information section in FIG.

3A is a file configuration diagram of a title #TTN information section in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2B is a file configuration diagram of a text data management section in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a search processing procedure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of step S7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a reproduction processing procedure.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the interrelationship of each file configuration of FIGS. 2 and 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 DVD-Video disc

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A search method for searching for a desired title from a recording medium in which multimedia data is recorded in a plurality of titles, wherein an input search word is set as a keyword for comparison, and a feature of the multimedia data is set. Characteristic words recorded in the management file in the recording medium and read in order in association with the title, and determine the similarity between the read characteristic word and the keyword, and determine that there is similarity with the keyword. A title associated with the feature word set as a search result. 2. A search device for searching for a desired title from a recording medium on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded, comprising: an input device for inputting a search word; and an input device for comparing the input search word. Key setting means for setting as keywords, reading means for sequentially reading feature words representing features of multimedia data from the management file in the recording medium in association with titles, and similarity between the read feature words and the keywords. Determining means for determining, a search result setting means for setting a title associated with a feature word determined to have similarity with the keyword as a search result, and an output device for outputting the set search result A search device, comprising: 3. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as the key setting means, the reading means, the determination means, and the search result setting means according to claim 2 is recorded. 4. A computer-readable recording medium on which a plurality of titles of multimedia data are recorded, comprising: a management file in which a title of multimedia data is recorded; and a data file in which multimedia data is recorded for each title. The management file indicates a text data area in which text data describing the content of the multimedia data is recorded, and a pointer and content indicating a head address of each text data recorded in the text data area. A management table area in which management data composed of content identification information is recorded for each title; and in the text data area, an area in which a feature word representing a feature of multimedia data is recorded is defined. Is the text data pointed to by the pointer Recording medium, wherein the content identification information indicating the fact is set, it if it is over de.