KR20010106109A - Bit stream processing for replay - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus plays the bitstream from the disc, which is controlled to ensure that only the requested bitstream is concatenated for MPEG decoding. The converter is repositioned to obtain the requested bitstream data prior to completion of the preceding MPEG picture decoding. Bitstream data is selected to store the necessary data and read prior to buffer storage to discard unnecessary data. The buffer storage is reallocated for the trick play operation and randomly accessed to facilitate trick play picture selection. The decoding and storage of MPEG pictures are controlled to facilitate frame decoding within one field period. The decoded picture is stored in one field period and read out substantially simultaneously.

Description

Bitstream processing apparatus and method for replay {BIT STREAM PROCESSING FOR REPLAY}

For example, the introduction of a disc on which digitally compressed audio and video signals have been recorded using the MPEG compression protocol provides consumers with sound quality and picture quality that is substantially indistinguishable from the original sound and the original material. However, a consumer user would like such digital video discs, i.e.DVDs, to provide the same features as the analog videocassette recorders they have, i.e. For example, the VCR can play forward or backward at a speed different from the recorded speed. Such non-standard speed playback features are also known as trick play modes. Due to the hierarchical compression characteristic of forming pictures into groups with varying degrees of compression, devices with trick play features are less easily provided with MPEG encoded video signals. This group is called a picture group, ie GOP, which in turn requires decoding. A detailed description of MPEG2 is published in ISO / IEC Standard 13818-2. In short, however, an MPEG2 signal stream may contain three types of pictures with varying degrees of content compression. Inner-coded frames or I frames can be decoded regardless of any other frame with minimal compression for the three types. The predicted frame, ie P frame, is compressed with respect to the preceding I or P frame, and achieves a greater degree of compression than the inner-coded frame. A third type of MPEG frame, referred to as a bidirectional coding frame, ie, a B frame, may be compressed based on prediction from a preceding frame or a subsequent frame. The frame coded in both directions has the largest degree of compression. Three types of MPEG frames are arranged into picture groups, i.e., GOPs. The GOP includes twelve frames arranged as shown in FIG. 1A as an example. Since only inner-coded frames are decodable regardless of any other frame, each GOP can only be decoded after decoding of an I frame. The first predicted frame, i.e., P frame, may be decoded and stored based on a change in the preceding I frame that has been stored. Subsequent P frames can be predicted from the stored preceding P frames. The prediction of the P frame is indicated by the solid arrow head line curved in FIG. 1A. Finally, B frames, which are bidirectional coding frames, can be decoded through prediction from preceding and / or subsequent frames, such as stored I and P frames, for example. Decoding of B frames through prediction from adjacent stored frames is indicated by the dotted dotted arrows in FIG. 1A.

The hierarchical nature of coded frames comprising a group of MPEG pictures requires that the I and P frames of each GOP are decoded in the forward direction. Thus, an inverse mode feature can be provided by effectively jumping backward to the previous, i.e., preceding I frame, and then forward decoding the whole to the GOP. The decoded frame is stored in a frame buffer memory for subsequent reverse reading to achieve the desired program sequence. FIG. 1B shows forward playback at normal speed at any time before time t0, and a reverse mode trick play mode is selected, which is three times the speed. The trick play mode is started at time t0 when the I-frame {I 25} is decoded and displayed. The next frame needed for decoding is an I-frame {I 13}, so that the transducer is repositioned as indicated by arrow J1 to obtain the frame {I 13}. After recovering and decoding the I-frame {I 13}, the converter follows as indicated by arrow J2 to obtain and decode the frame {P 16}. The process is repeated as indicated by arrows J3 and J4. Following acquisition and decoding of the frame {P 22}, the converter is moved as indicated by arrow Jn to recover the frame {I 1). Decoding and display of I, P, and possibly B-frames is necessary to smoothly depict the motion of the picture. The jump and play process is repeated for the preceding GOP, smoothly depicting the program material in an inverse sequence at the video output while incompletely inverting the record.

Providing visually smooth playback during trick mode playback requires timely disk search and access to specific images from memory. Although each digital disc is encoded with navigation data that provides picture access points within each video object unit, the picture x-points are limited to numbers and are inherently subject to temporarily aliased picture movement. Can contribute. In order to achieve smoothly smooth mode playback, access and decoding are required for all encoded pictures at various speeds in the forward and reverse directions. Although such performance can be achieved at the cost of storage capacity, the choice of bitstream analysis and buffer storage media offers the opportunity for improved trick mode playback through efficient memory usage.

The present invention relates to the reproduction of digitally encoded signals from a medium, and more particularly to the identification and processing of replay data in various forms.

1A is a diagram illustrating a group of MPEG2 pictures.

FIG. 1B shows a group of pictures recorded during replay and reverse trick play at triple speed thereof. FIG.

2 is a block diagram of an exemplary disc player incorporating the arrangement of the present invention.

3 is a more detailed illustration of FIG. 2 showing various configurations of the invention.

4 shows the digital disc player of FIG. 2 having another advantageous configuration in addition to that of FIG.

5A and 5B illustrate an exemplary bitstream before track buffering.

5C-5D illustrate exemplary data in a buffer memory.

6 is a flow diagram illustrating a configuration of the present invention for recovery of start codes distributed along sector boundaries.

7 is a diagram showing the sequence of the present invention for an inverse trick play mode with triple play speed (3X).

The device plays back the bitstream signal from the disc. The bitstream is controlled to ensure that only the requested bitstream data is concatenated for MPEG decoding. The converter is repositioned to obtain the requested bitstream data prior to completion of the preceding MPEG picture decoding. Bitstream data is read prior to buffer storage in order to select the necessary data for storage and discard unnecessary data. The buffer storage is reallocated for the trick play operation and randomly accessed to facilitate trick play picture selection. MPEG picture decoding and storage is controlled to facilitate frame decoding within one field period. The decoded picture is stored and read out almost simultaneously within one field period.

In an inventive arrangement, the device reproduces a digitally encoded signal from the medium. The apparatus includes a converter to convert the digitally encoded signal and also generate a bitstream from the signal. The processor is coupled to receive the bitstream to controllably process the bitstream. The memory is coupled to a processor to store processed bitstream information. A controller is coupled to control the memory and the processor to control the acknowledgment of the information in the bitstream, where the controller controls the processor to identify the particular sector type of the bitstream and respond to the specific sector acknowledgment, The controller controls the memory for storing the identified particular sector.

In the method of the present invention, one start code is obtained from a plurality of start codes in a data stream arranged in a plurality of sectors converted during playback through a digital disk device. The method includes searching for a data stream to locate a particular sector type in a plurality of sectors. The particular sector type is retrieved to locate one start code from multiple start codes. The startup code is tested to determine if it is incomplete. The data stream is searched to locate a second sector of a particular sector type in a number of sectors. The second sector of the particular sector is retrieved to locate the second start code of the start code type from the plurality of start codes. It is determined whether the second start code is a residue of an incomplete start code. Incomplete start code values and residual start code values are combined to form a complete start code.

Another inventive device for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium includes a converter for converting the digitally encoded signal and generating a bitstream from the signal. The first memory is coupled to the converter above for storing the bitstream. The second memory is controlably connected from the first memory to store data. A controller is coupled to control the first and second memories to control confirmation of information in the bitstream, where the controller controls the first memory to output the bitstream from a particular sector address of the first memory, The controller also controls the second memory to store the first portion of the bitstream output from the particular sector address.

In another apparatus of the present invention, a digitally encoded signal is generated from the medium. The apparatus includes a converter for converting the digitally encoded signal and generating a bitstream from the signal. The memory is coupled to the converter to store the bitstream. The processor is coupled to a memory to process the stored bitstream to identify the MPEG start code included in the stored bitstream. The processor identifies the MPEG start code in the stored bitstream and retrieves the stored bitstream to respond to the MPEG start code acknowledgment, and the processor also indicates the acknowledgment and stores the sector address of the identified MPEG start code.

Another method for decoding and displaying an image in an apparatus for reproduction from a digital disc includes converting a digitally encoded signal from the disc. The digitally encoded signal is stored in the first memory. The digitally encoded signal is decoded to reproduce the picture. The image is stored in the second memory. Concatenate pictures from the second memory for display. The connection to storage and display to the second memory is controlled to occur almost simultaneously.

In another method of the invention, one field of the picture is stored in the first field of the second memory, and the previous picture is concatenated from the second field of the second memory for display.

In another method of the invention, one field of a picture is stored in a first field of the second memory and the previous picture is concatenated from the first field of the second memory for display. The connection for storage and display to the first field in the second memory is controlled to occur sequentially within one field period.

In another configuration of the present invention, an apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium includes a converter for converting the digitally encoded signal. The memory is coupled to the transducer for storing digitally encoded signals. The decoder responds to the digitally encoded signal and decodes the picture from the encoded signal. In a controller for a memory, in a first mode of operation the controller controls the memory to read from the memory a digitally encoded signal stored in response to the first sequence, and in the second mode of operation the controller is in accordance with the second sequence. The memory is controlled to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium includes a source of a bitstream representing the digitally encoded signal. The processor is coupled to the bitstream to process the bitstream to extract at least the first and second datatypes indicated in the bitstream. The memory is controllably coupled to the processor to store one of the first and second data types. The controller is coupled to control the allocation of memory, in the first playback mode the controller allocates memory for storing the first data type, and in the second playback mode the controller is memory for storing the second data type. Allocate

In yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium includes a converter for converting the digitally encoded signal. The processor is coupled to receive a digitally encoded signal to process and generate an image from the encoded signal. The memory is coupled to the processor for storing the image. The controller is coupled to control the memory and the processor, in which the picture is stored in the memory in the first mode, and the picture is sub-sampled and stored in the memory.

In another configuration of the present invention, unnecessary processing of unnecessary sector data is avoided. A method for controlling reproduced data in a sector via a disc player using optical read out includes converting a group of sectors comprising sectors needed for processing and sectors unnecessary for processing. . The necessary sectors excluding unnecessary sectors are supplied to the data processor for processing, and the data sectors necessary for extracting data representing video information from the required data are processed.

In another configuration of the present invention, the delay in the transformed bitstream path is substantially prevented through a processor for controlling the transducer position. During replay in the digital disk device, the method includes receiving first and second translator addresses to control translator positions in response to the replayed address. The delayed address and the first translator address are compared to detect the identity between the delayed address and the first translator address. In response to the detected identity, the translator is moved to a new location determined by the second translator address.

2 shows an exemplary block diagram of a digital disc player. In block 10, a deck is shown in block 10 that can accommodate a digitally recorded disc 14 for rotation through a motor 12. The digital signal is recorded on a disc 14, such as a helical track, having a pit having a respective pit length determined by 8/16 modulation coding in response to each signal data bit. The recorded signal on the disc 14 is read by the pickup 15 which collects illumination reflected from the laser. The reflected laser light is collected by a photo detector or an opto pick-up device. In one example, an imaging device such as a lens or mirror forming part of the transducer pick-up 15 is servo controlled and driven by a motor 11 to follow the recorded track. Other parts of the recording medium can be accessed by easily repositioning the imaging device. Servo controlled motors 11 and 12 are driven through an integrated circuit drive amplifier 20. The pickup 15 is connected to an optical preamplifier, ie block 30, having a drive circuit for the laser illuminator and a preamplifier providing amplification and equalization for the reflected signal output from the optical pick-up device. The amplified and equalized replay signal from the optical preamplifier 30 is connected to the channel processor block 40, where the replay signal is used to synchronize the phase lock loop, and the phase lock loop is used for recording. It is used to demodulate the 8:16 modulation used.

The MPEG encoded bitstream is encoded for error detection and correction via Reed Solomon product coding applied to 16 sector blocks, where each sector is 2048 bytes of payload data. It includes. Thus, after 8:16 demodulation, the replay data stream is de-interleaved or unshuffled and error corrected via Reed Solomon product correction implemented in the ECC buffer memories 45 and 46 of FIG. . Each buffer stores sixteen sectors of the replay data stream arranged in an array to facilitate disassembly and to enable the required row and column product processing. The cascaded ECC buffer memory introduces a near (2 * 16 * 1.4) ms delay for the reproduced serial bitstream, where 2 represents an ECC buffer pair, 16 represents a sector to which correction is applied, and 1.4 ms Denotes a sector period at 1X rotational speed. Therefore, the reproduced serial bitstream is delayed by at least nearly 45 ms.

The error corrected signal bitstream 41 is coupled to the bitstream or mechanical / track buffer memory 60A via a link processor. By using a track buffer to store a large amount of replayed data, including DRAM memory types, data loss while the transducer or pickup 15 is repositioned will not cause any visible defects when decoded. Thus the final output video stream will be shown to the viewer either continuously or without it. Bitstream buffer memory 60A is part of an exemplary 16 megabit DRAM memory. Another exemplary 16 megabit SDRAM memory block includes frame buffers 60C and 60D that provide storage of at least two decoded video frames, a buffer 60B for storing the compressed video bitstream prior to decoding, and an audio bitstream. It is divided into buffer 60E and buffers 60F, G, and H for other storage. Channel processor 40 also includes timing control circuitry that controls writing to bitstream buffer 60A over link 505. The data may be replay track addresses due to user-defined replay video content such as, for example, “directors cut”, parental guidance selection, or even user selectable alternative shot angles. Depending on the change, it may be intermittently written to the bitstream buffer. In order to facilitate faster access and recovery of the recorded signal, the disc 14 can be rotated at an increased speed, resulting in the converted bitstream having a higher bit rate and intermittent delivery.

As described, the recorded data streams are arranged in ECC blocks of 16 sectors. Each sector has a unique sector acknowledgment address that is protected by the error correction bits processed by the ECC block 47 of FIG. However, since the sector address is short and sector specific, no delay for the sector address signal 42 from the error correction processing block 47 is significant. Sector address signal 42 is coupled to servo control integrated circuit 50 to provide positional information. Integrated circuit 50 provides drive and control signals for servo motors 11 and 12. Motor 12 rotates disk 14 and provides servo controlled rotation at various speeds. The optical pick-up or converter 15 is repositioned and servo controlled by the motor 11 in response to the sector address signal 42 and also an I ² C control bus 514 connected via the element 54 of FIG. 4. Can be controlled to quickly reposition or jump to another sector address, ie another location on the disk surface, in response to a sector address request sent by the.

The digital video disc player is controlled by element 510 of block 500, which is a central processing unit, i.e., CPU, which accepts bit streams and error flags reproduced from channel IC 40, and servo IC 90 Provide control commands to The CPU 510 also accepts a user control command from the user interface 90 and also receives an MPEG decoder control function from the MPEG decoder element 530 of block 500. System buffer memory 80 is addressed by CPU 510 and also provides data to CPU 510. In one example, buffer 80 may include both RAM and PROM memory locations. RAM may be used to store various data extracted from the bitstream 41 via the CPU 510, for example such data may be descrambling or decryption information, bitstream and frame buffer memory management data, and navigation data. It may include. The PROM may include, for example, an advantageous converter jump algorithm that facilitates trick mode operation at a forward or reverse select speed.

The MPEG encoded bitstream is coupled to the link processor 505 in FIG. 3, which will function as a hardware demultiplexer to separate the MPEG encoded audio, video and control information from the DVD formatted bitstream. Can be. Alternatively, bitstream demultiplexing may be achieved through direct memory access to the buffer 60A from the CPU 510 of FIG. 3, ie, software control of the DMA. The bitstream encoded before or within the track buffer 60A is retrieved through the microcontroller 510 to locate and read the header and extract the navigation data. Advantageous bitstream search will be discussed with reference to FIG. 6.

The microcontroller 510 uses the front end via the I ² C control bus signal 514 to control or request repositioning of the transducer to obtain the next sector needed by the trick play sequence. Is connected to. The positioning of the transducer can be controlled via an advantageous storage sequence, or jump play pattern, wherein the jump play pattern is a replayed sector address and navigation pack data contained in each video object unit, ie VOBU. It is indexed with reference to the GOP sector address read from. An exemplary sector address and VOBU navigation pack are shown in FIG. 5A. However, following repositioning of the transducer, the sector initially retrieved from the front end may be identified as not the sector requested by the jump command through the microcontroller 510. Thus, the microcontroller 510 advantageously overwrites this unnecessary data in the track buffer 60A and also ensures that only the requested data is provided to the buffer.

After verifying the sector address or header, microcontroller 510 controls direct memory access of buffer 60A, which effectively separates MPEG data from other DVD formatted data stored in the buffer. Accordingly, video DMA 515 separates the condensed video bits that are connected for storage into exemplary video bit buffer 60B. Similarly, the compressed audio bits are read from the buffer 60A and stored in the audio buffer 60E. Sub-picture data is also retrieved from the track buffer 60A via DMA and stored in the buffer 60F.

The compressed video bitstream in the video bit buffer 60B is retrieved through the start code detector 520 to position the picture or higher level start code. The detected start code signal 512 is connected to the microcontroller 510, which then informs the next picture type and quantizer settings and initiates an MPEG decoder via the signal 511 to initiate decoding. Communicate with 530. Decoder status signal 513 is inversely coupled to microcontroller 510 to inform the completion of decoding and that the image data is available for display or storage. Compressed video bit buffer 60B may be considered to function as a FIFO or circular buffer in which the stored bitstream is continuously accessed for MPEG decoding, but the trick mode operation is randomization of buffer 60B as described later. This can be advantageously facilitated through access.

Within the MPEG decoder 530, the video bitstream is processed through a variable length decoder 531 which retrieves the bitstream to locate slice and macro-block start code. Any decoded picture from each group of pictures is recorded in frame buffers 60C and 60D for subsequent use as predictors when deriving or constructing other pictures, such as P and B pictures of a GOP, for example. Frame buffers 60C and 60D have a storage capacity of at least two video frames. The separated audio packet is stored in an audio bit buffer 60E that is read out and concatenated for audio decoding at block 110. Following MPEG or AC3 audio decoding, a digitized audio signal is produced that is coupled to the audio post processor 130 for digital-to-analog conversion and generation of various baseband audio signal outputs. The digital video output signal is converted from the decoded block read from the associated frame buffer 60C / D by the display buffer 580 into a raster scan format. However, during trick mode operation, the output signal source may be field memory that is advantageously reconstructed from memory that is not used during trick mode operation. Thus, the block for raster scan conversion in display buffer 580 may be advantageously controlled in response to trick mode operation. The display buffer is coupled to an encoder 590, which provides digital-to-analog signal conversion and generates baseband video components and encoded video signals.

The operation of the example video player shown in FIG. 2 may be considered with reference to FIG. 1B showing the forward play and reverse trick play sequences. As described above, a coded relationship that exists within each GOP requires that each group of pictures be decoded forward, starting from an I-frame, i.e., a picture. Thus, the inverse mode feature can be provided by effectively jumping backwards to transform a previous or preceding I picture, and then decoding it forward across the GOP. The decoded picture is stored in the frame buffer memory for subsequent readout in reverse order. However, sequences comprising B pictures may use other advantageous features that will be described later. In FIG. 1B, it will be assumed that at some time before time t0, i.e., in an I-picture {I (1), for example, the example video player takes a forward play state in response to a user command. Each group of pictures is decoded in the forward direction as shown in FIG. 1A through arrows connecting the I, B and P frames. At a time prior to time t0, an inverse trick mode that is three times the play speed is selected and the I-picture {I 25} is started at time t0 where it is decoded and displayed. As described above, the next picture required for reverse trick play decoding is an I-picture {I 13}, so that the converter is indicated via arrow J1 to obtain a picture {I 13}. Moved together. Next, signal recovery and decoding is performed by arrow J1 to obtain I 13, arrow J2 to obtain P 16, arrow J3 to obtain P 19, and P (22). Follow the play sequence indicated in FIG. 1B via arrow J4 ... arrow J (n) to obtain. The intervening B picture shown in FIG. 1B is converted, but can be removed from the buffer through overwriting or decoder inhibition, such as, for example, the features required for each trick play mode. In order to avoid the requirement for the additional inverse mode video buffering described above, several advantageous methods for MPEG decoder, buffer memory control and allocation are used.

Determination of the image data can be performed in units of sectors related to the bitstream 41 or the track buffer 60A. However, since the start code of an MPEG picture is embedded in the DVD data formatting and does not necessarily start coincident with the sector boundary, the result is that the position of the picture start code in the unit of the sector is preceded, possibly in a non-video sector. It may inevitably include a fragment. 5A shows a portion of an exemplary bitstream 41 that includes a video object unit that includes an audio video and sub-picture data sectors. Each sector contains 2048 payload bytes with sector addresses shaded at sector boundaries. In FIG. 5B, the video picture A is shown at the end of the sector 54, followed immediately by the start code for the video picture B. However, the remaining video picture B start code occurs in sector 65, and intervening sectors 55 through 64 contain sub-pictures and audio data. The determination or position of the picture data / video sector in the sector unit is shown in Fig. 5C, where the start code of the exemplary picture A is shown in the sector 2, and the start code of the next picture B is the sector. Occurs in (9). Equation (1) represents the position of the image data through the sector count, since the image A starts at sector 2 and ends at sector 9, so image A has a duration of eight sectors. Unnecessary data fragments are shown in FIG. 5C, where video data is shown in relation to the (video) sector number. However, such video sector numbering may be directly related to the sector number or address in the reproduced bitstream. In FIG. 5C, the video bitstream is shown with an exemplary picture A shown with a picture start code starting at byte 1000 of video sector 2. Clearly, 999 bytes of the preceding sector 2 correspond to data from the preceding picture. It is possible to use a more detailed process in which image data is positioned in bytes. Byte accurate processing may require more complexity for memory control than the complexity required for sector level accuracy. However, if only complete picture data whose bytes are stored in the video bit buffer in the correct processing are used, the fragments are removed and hang up of the MPEG decoder 530 is avoided. Determination of a byte accurate picture determination is shown in FIG. 5C for an exemplary picture A, where the picture start code starts at byte 1000 of the video sector 2, and the start of the picture B. The code starts at byte 500 of sector 9. Therefore, the size of the picture A can be calculated as 13,835 bytes using equation (2). The address of the byte-accurate picture thus allows microprocessor 510 to point to a particular byte of exemplary video bit buffer 60B at which variable length decoder (VLD) 531 of FIG. 3 will begin decoding.

If picture data is determined on a sector-by-sector basis, the MPEG decoder reading the picture from the video bit buffer should prevent hang up due to fragments of the removed picture that occur before or after the required picture is decoded. Such picture fragments are shown in the example video bit buffer of FIG. 5D, which shows several sectors containing P and B pictures, where unnecessary data from the previous or subsequent picture includes P and B pictures that appear in diagonal shades. A number of sectors are shown. Each video object block unit, or VOBU, comprises navigation data identifying the last sector address of the first I picture in the first GOP of the VOBU and the last sector address for two subsequent related pictures or P pictures. The navigation data also includes the sector addresses of the I-pictures in the preceding and subsequent VOBUs, so that only the trick mode for the I-pictures can be easily provided. However, if the last byte of the required picture can be identified, the problem caused by the picture fragment can be avoided. Microprocessor 510 / A, for example type ST20, is advantageously configured as a hardware search engine, which tracks the last byte for the I-picture in the last sector stored in buffer 60A. Retrieve the data stored in the buffer. Thus, by checking the I-picture, only the I-picture can be loaded into the video bit buffer 60B, thus avoiding the storage of partial pictures that may cause problems with decoder lockup. The example microprocessor 510 / A can be used to find the start code in the I-picture unique mode because the last sector is known from the navigation data. However, for P, B, or several I-pictures, the example microprocessor cannot provide a practical solution because testing must be performed for every data byte in the bitstream, which is not a problem. ) Intensive use.

Positioning and determination of the start code prior to decoding is facilitated through the arrangement using the link interface block 505 of FIG. 3 to retrieve the start code in the bitstream prior to entering the track buffer 60A. Can be. The use of such a link interface 505 advantageously first provides pre-processing or parsing of the image and / or audio headers that can be signaled to the microprocessor 510. Thus, after checking the headers in the incoming bitstream before entering the track buffer, the picture and audio required for a particular trick mode may be overwritten to erase unnecessary pictures and / or other data from the buffer while the exemplary track buffer 60A. Can be stored in.

In a first arrangement, the start code is positioned by using a start code detector 520 to retrieve the bitstream in either the mechanical / track buffer 60A or the video bit buffer 60B. Although this method has the advantage that the design of the MPEG start code detector is known, however, the detector requires continuous data. Thus, only data in the delivery data structure and the stripped video bit buffer of the DVD can be retrieved. Thus, retrieval of MPEG data in the mechanical / track buffer may be difficult, best memory not available, and start code because the example microprocessor 510 may be difficult to load due to interference. To implement detection specifically requires the addition of a second microprocessor such as 510A.

In an advantageous configuration, start code detection is facilitated through a start code detector which exclusively searches the bitstream for MPEG start codes before or within the track buffer 60A. Thus, by advantageously providing an initial analysis for MPEG video headers in the bitstream, trick play picture requirements can be expected and memory adjustments specific to the trick play operation can be performed. Advantageous parsing may be applied to the video packet stream prior to entering the video bit buffer during trick mode operation. In one example, in reverse replay mode, such pre-processing allows trick play specific selection between pictures to be buffered for decoding and such unnecessary pictures to be removed before storage. Such picture selection, such as, for example, discarding a B-frame, may be nearly twice the number of I and P pictures stored in the example video bit buffer 60B during trick play operations. Thus, confirmation of the necessary data from the unnecessary data is a direct result of pre-processing or analysis prior to buffer storage that is only needed in the video bit buffer 60B, ie the trick play specific picture is to be stored. Therefore, more trick play specific video object units, i.e., VOBUs, can be stored to facilitate smooth trick play movement representation.

In an advantageous configuration, the storage capacity of the track buffer 60A and the video bit buffer 60B is increased during the trick play mode by merely selecting the storage data to be used next. As an example, in the exemplary trick play mode, B frames may not be decoded and thus do not need to be stored in a track or video bit buffer. Therefore, only necessary images are stored, and unnecessary images and other data are removed. To facilitate this advantageous selection between the required picture and the unnecessary picture, position the sequence_header, group_of_picture_header or picture_header before the bitstream or video packet stream is stored. To specify, they need to be pre-processed, analyzed or retrieved. Thus, the analysis or pre-processing of the compressed bitstream is carried out with MPEG parameters such as time_code, closed_gop, and broken_link data for each group of pictures, ie, GOP. Allow the decision of the In addition, by pre-processing the packet stream, the picture_start_code can be positioned, for example, a picture which in turn allows determination of the temporal_reference, picture_coding_types (I, P and B). Allow handling of headers. However, such advantageous MPEG analysis is difficult, as described, because the DVD divides data such as MPEG into sectors of 2048 bytes. Also, since the MPEG start code (4 bytes) is not sector aligned, the example picture start code can be distributed along sector boundaries. 5B shows the bitstream before entering the track buffer 60A, where the video picture A terminates in sector 54 and immediately follows the start code for the video picture B. As shown in FIG. However, the start code of the remaining video picture B occurs in sector 65, and intervening sectors 55 to 64 contain sub-pictures and audio data. 5C shows a demultiplexed video sector bitstream prior to entering video bit buffer 60B, where the start code for exemplary picture A is shown in sector 2, and the next picture (B). Start code occurs in sector 9. The distributed start code occurs for picture C starting at byte 2046 of sector 12 and continues in sector 13. Therefore, part of the start code is located in one video sector and the rest in the next video sector.

In order to enable a bitstream with a distributed start code to be analyzed, an exemplary method of the present invention is shown in FIG. The exemplary method identifies and stores the sector type and address, and also identifies and stores the required start code. Distributed or some start codes are identified and stored by using some start code flags of the present invention that indicate occurrence. The remaining start code occurring in the next video sector is checked and recovered to complete the start code. The method of the present invention of FIG. 6 illustrates a search and MPEG analysis applied to the bitstream 41 prior to track buffering. The bitstream is searched for necessary sectors, for example video sectors, and then for distributed start codes. Distributed start codes may be separated by other non-video sectors, including, for example, audio, sub-pictures, navigation data, and the like. Thus, the bitstream is retrieved and subsequent video sectors are identified and processed, for example intervening non-video sectors that are not normally needed during a particular trick mode may be processed and removed prior to storage or an exemplary track. The buffer 60A can be overwritten. Thus, after identifying the next video sector, the packet data is retrieved to locate the next start code. However, because some start code flags are set, some remaining start code is retrieved, and with the occurrence of the start code, the remaining start code is combined with the start code of the preceding video sector to complete the start code.

The example diagram in FIG. 6 illustrates the method of the present invention used to bitstream search to identify the required sector address, picture type and address, and to detect and refit a distributed start code. The method begins at step 10 where an error corrected bitstream is retrieved to locate a particular required sector from a plurality of sectors, including navigation, audio video sectors, sub-picture data sectors. Detected at 100, where a "no" result forms a loop that continues the corresponding bitstream search. Similarly, the audio sector can be retrieved in step 105 and the audio sector address can thus be stored. If the result of step 100 is "yes", then a video sector is detected and the sector address is stored in step 101. The detected video sector starts another test in step 200 to detect a start code within the video sector. Although step 200 represents a picture start code, however, several start codes may be provided, for example, because a sequence-header, a GOP header or a picture-header may all exist within a video sector, some along the sector boundary. Can be distributed. "No" in step 200 forms a loop that continues to search for a start code in the video sector. “Yes” in step 200 represents detection of a start code that starts another test to detect some start code in step 250. The decision between some start code and the complete start code shown in steps 200 and 250 may be considered as occurring both simultaneously and successively, since any start code is shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. This is because, as interrupted through the generation of sector boundaries and sector addresses, they become partially or incomplete. No at step 250 forms a loop to wait for a partial start code to occur. In addition, "no" in step 250 also indicates the detection of a complete start code, which is tested in step 255 to determine whether the start code is of the required type. If the evaluation of the required start code is “Yes” in step 255, this results in the storage of type and byte location in the sector address in step 260.

If the detection of some start code is “Yes” in step 250, this causes the sequence to resume searching of the bitstream to position the next video sector through reverse looping to step 100. “Yes” at step 250 also initiates a test at step 300 to determine if some start code flag has been set. Some start code flags are not set until the first distributed start code or some start code is detected. Thus, "no" in step 300 sets some start code flags in step 350 and also stores the value of some start code in step 400. "Yes" in step 300 indicates the detection of a residual, ie distributed residual start code, and resets some start code flags in step 500. “Yes” in step 300 also stores the remaining start code detected in step 450. In step 550 the value of some start code from step 400 and the value of the remaining start code from step 450 are combined. Finally, in step 575 the reformed start code type, byte and sector address are stored. Therefore, the described method of the present invention identifies and stores the particular sector type and address, identifies and stores the byte address and start code type in the sector, and identifies and realigns the distributed start code fragment. Thus, the DVD format can be analyzed, for example, to determine a particular MPEG coded picture type prior to storage in a buffer.

It is advantageous to control the MPEG picture decoding order based on awareness of where the picture starts and stops in the video bit buffer. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5C or as determined through the bitstream search of FIG. 6, the perception of image position in video bit buffer 60B is determined by the memory in variable length detector 531 and start code detector 520. Allow the start pointer to advantageously point to the access picture at random, as needed, for example during trick mode operation. Play speed and / or reverse motion to slow motion playback requires playback of B-frames. Such inverse mode operation can be advantageously simplified with respect to buffer memory requirements by reversing the order in which adjacent B pictures are decoded. This inversion of decoding order is advantageously achieved by setting a memory start pointer to enable decoding of the picture required for the trick mode. In addition, the buffer memory size and control can be simplified during trick play operations by advantageously not omitting or reading the picture in the video bit buffer as required by certain trick play algorithms. Memory size and control can be further optimized during the trick play buffer by advantageously enabling multiple decoding of the picture immediately or specifically as needed by the trick play algorithm. Providing these advantageous features requires careful control of the read / write functions and the synchronization between them.

During trick mode operation, and especially during operation at reverse play speed, the image group needs to be stored so that the maximized image buffer capacity is read out in reverse order. During such trick mode, certain player functions or features may not be necessary and may not be useful or available. Such functions or features include audio, multi-language, sub-pictures and on-screen displays, all of which use buffer memory capacity. Thus, buffer memory capacity not used by this function or feature may be reallocated during trick mode operation to provide additional image storage. However, during certain trick modes, such as, for example, a fast play mode, there may be an advantageous requirement that the accompanying audio will be played back at a correct pitch and at a high speed in order to promote the screen position. Limited on-screen displays may also be needed to indicate trick play speed and direction. Thus, unused buffer memory capacity can be dynamically reconfigured to advantageously facilitate trick mode buffering for compressed pictures, decoded frame predictors, and video display fields.

In the configuration of the present invention, the SDRAM buffer memories 60E to H are functionally reallocated between the operation in the forward direction and the trick play mode. Memory capacity allocated to audio 60E, sub-picture 60G during forward play mode provides additional compressed picture storage, increases video bit buffer 60B during trick play, and further prediction for decoding. Can be used to provide a child frame. Likewise, the buffer memory may be reallocated for a particular trick play mode, for example, and storage for extra pictures may not be necessary, so that unused or unnecessary buffer memory capacity is shown at 60H in FIG. It is reconfigured to provide an output display buffer memory. The output display buffer memory can store video data fields or frames for display. This dynamically allocated memory facilitates output picture derivation and is not used as a predictor, thus simplifying memory management during trick mode operation. Memory reallocation may be initiated via user selection, but dynamic allocation, as described, may be advantageous due to the advantage of predictive picture prediction derived from a bitstream analyzed confirmation of advantageous stored trick play sequence requirements and / or compressed picture types. Can be determined through use.

In another advantageous configuration, the frame buffer memory capacity can be effectively doubled during trick play operations by horizontally sub-sampling decoded picture data prior to buffer storage. In one example, the horizontal sub-sampling implemented by example block 62 averages horizontally adjacent pixel pair values in response to a trick mode control command from controller 510. In FIG. 3, signal S1 represents complete bandwidth data coupled to sub-sampler 62 having sampled output data represented by signal S2. Thus, a sub-sampled picture contains almost half of the initial number of pixels, and therefore requires half of the memory capacity to allow the picture, or video frame, to be stored in the field capacity. Thus, by sub-sampling horizontally during the trick play operation, additional frame buffer storage is made available as needed by the trick play algorithm. In addition to increasing trick mode memory capacity, the sub-sampling usage of the present invention advantageously reduces data and address bus control through the memory manager during trick mode memory access. In one example, only half of the data is delivered during half of the time, thus simplifying memory control and management.

Horizontally sub-sampled pictures are inventively reassigned to the buffer H to be read from memory, for example 60C, D, or recovered via sub-sampler 62. In Fig. 3, the signal S3 represents the sub-sampled relevant image data read from the memory for pixel count recovery. The sub-sampler 62 may address each sub-sampled memory location twice, but this action doubles the use of the reduced data and address buses advantageously during the storage process. Therefore, the sub-sampled picture is recovered by doubling each pixel value and output as a signal S4 for directly connecting the MPEG decoder 530 prior to MPEG decoding. Although the method doubles the buffer capacity and reduces the use of both data and address buses, the horizontal spatial resolution is reduced. However, this reduction in horizontal resolution occurs during the track play operation, and through increased image movement speeds, may cause human psycho-visual perception not to detect the decrease.

Although the block diagram of FIG. 4 shows the same numbered functional parts and elements as the functional parts and elements shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 includes an additional inventive arrangement to be described.

The example digital video disc player shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 can be considered to include two parts, a front end and a back end. The front end controls the disc and the converter via the back end, which provides MPEG decoding and full control. Segmentation according to such functionality may represent a clear solution to consistently stable MPEG decoding. However, through such division of processing and control at the back end, the microcontroller can be overloaded, for example during trick mode operation and especially when play in the reverse direction.

As described, the microcontroller 510 is needed to manage the incoming bitstream 41 received from the front end and to identify the required data from unnecessary data. In a first advantageous configuration, the bitstream 41 is controllably connected between the front end and the back end. In the example player of FIG. 2, the light-pickup or converter 15 may be repositioned, as described. The sector address derived at the back end is sent to the front end servo system 50 via the I ² control bus 514 to reposition the translator 15. However, the optical-pickup or converter 15 is servo controlled in response to the truncated sector address to remove the least significant digit. This address omission allows sector acquisition into 16 sector groups or blocks. This grouping is necessary to facilitate error correction (ECC) through payload data insertion applied to 16 sectors during Reed Solomon product coding and storage. Thus, information is obtained from the disk in an ECC group of 16 sectors, and in general, the retrieved data containing the required sector address precedes or precedes the sector address requested by the back end process. The transducer also moves in relation to the rotating disk moving in either the radial or tangential direction to obtain a track comprising the ECC sector block in which the required sector address or addresses are located. Thus, following the repositioning operation, the converter focuses again, and the sector is converted while the disc rotates towards the ECC sector block containing the requested or required sector address. Therefore, if the case where the translator and the required sector address are in the worst position is considered, hundreds of unnecessary sectors can be converted. Since the number of sectors increases as the disk radius increases, too many unnecessary sectors will be reproduced. In addition, obtaining a previous or preceding address may require one complete disc rotation, possibly leading to unnecessary sector playback. Thus a very significant amount of unnecessary data is reproduced before the occurrence of the required sector address. This bitstream is shown as signal 44 in FIG. 4 and includes both necessary and unnecessary data coupled to ECC blocks 45 and 46 for error correction. The error corrected bitstream is output from the ECC process as signal 41, which is coupled to the back end where the microcontroller 510 identifies the necessary data from the unnecessary data.

The configuration of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, where the data signal 44 is output from an 8:16 code demodulator and, via the control element 45A, i. 45 and 46). Control element 45A is controlled by element 43, which is recovered and error corrected at block 47 and derived from the back end and the current replay sector address output as address signal 42. And the next necessary data, for example, the sector address 53A indicating the picture type. The comparison can be facilitated through a comparator or a logic function. Thus, when the replay sector address 42 is the same as the address 53A requested by the back end, the demodulated data output is sent in via signal 43A to connect to the error correction buffer blocks ECC 45 and 46. Is enabled. Error correction is applied to sixteen sector groups, and a comparison of the requested address with the actual address is performed in order to enable the ECC block of the sector containing the required sector to be enabled for Reed Solomon correction. For example, sector address comparison can be facilitated through an address where the least significant bit is omitted.

For example, because a type B MPEG picture may occupy three sectors, while an I type MPEG picture may require 30 sectors or more, the requested sector address may be Represents an initial data sector. In addition, the signal 43A indicating the substantial identity between the required sector address and the replay sector address may be regarded as indicating a latch function in which the logical state continues until the required address is changed, that is, until another translator jump is requested. Can be. Receipt of a new sector address changes the state of signal 43A, which suppresses the reproduced data until a new required address is generated in the reproduced signal and detected via comparator 43. In other words, the signal 44 continues to be enabled for error correction, the ECC blocks 45 and 46 are enabled, and the output signal 41 continues, i.e. simply the disc has different transducer positions. Play continues until requested.

Detected replay occurrences of the required sectors may be performed by comparison with the omitted sector addresses to ensure that the error correction buffers 45 and 46 are filled with the required number of sectors for RS correction. In other embodiments, the same detected replay occurrence may be used using signal 45B to control or enable the operation of error correction buffer memories 45 and 46. In an alternative configuration of the present invention, only the requested sector is enabled through the output control element 46A. The selection through element 46A is different from the control provided through elements 45A and 45B that enable the ECC block containing the requested sector, because of the intervening or intermingled data format. The detection of the required replay sector can be performed by comparing the actual replay sector address with the requested or required address. However, since this control function is essentially performed following error correction and de-scratching using buffer memory, the resulting output signal 41 is delayed by at least one ECC block time period. The error corrected output data therefore corresponds to the sector group converted prior to the required data (address) to be identified when provided to the ECC buffer input. Clearly, since the buffer delay is known, the delay can be compensated by controlling the signal 43A connection to the element 46A by using a delay method, denoted by t, for example. Control element 46A is shown as a series switch element that can enable or disable bitstream supply to the back end. Thus, in time as appropriate to compensate for processing and buffer delays, signal 43A may be applied to selectively enable the unscrambled bitstream 41 transmission to processing block 500. By using the preceding embodiment of the present invention, only the converted data from the requested sector is allowed to be connected to the back end for storage and decoding, thereby reducing the workload of the microcontroller 510.

As described, the converted signal 31 is demodulated in block 40 to remove 8:16 modulation and generate output signals 44 and 44A. Signal 44 is coupled for de-interleaving and error correction, and signal 44A is separately error corrected to generate a replay sector address. Release and error correction are performed in the ECC buffer memories 45 and 46 of FIG. Each buffer stores 16 sectors of the replay data stream arranged in an array to facilitate deinterleaving and to enable required row and column product processing. The cascaded ECC buffer memory generates a delay for the sequence of bit streams reproduced at a rotational speed of 1X, which delay can be close to the next calculated value, 2 * 16 * 1.4 μs, where 2 Represents ECC buffers 45 and 46, 16 represents a sector to which correction is applied, and 1.4 ms represents a sector period at a rotational speed of 1X. Therefore, the reproduced series of bitstreams is delayed by at least nearly 45 ms.

Bitstream 44A is processed in ECC block 47 to error correct the sector acknowledgment address. However, because the sector address is short and specifies the sector, error correction block 47 introduces an insignificant delay for the replay sector address signal 42.

As already explained, the error corrected bitstream is subject to an error correction delay. The bitstream 41 is received at the back end where several MPEG packets are separated from the DVD data. The video packet is stored in the exemplary buffer 60B for decoding by the MPEG decoder 530. As described above, the decoder 530 sends a signal 513 to the controller 510 to indicate the completion of each decoded picture, which in turn acquires the next picture to be decoded. Therefore, at the end of a particular picture, for example the picture contained in the video sector indicated by A in Fig. 5A, a signal 513 is generated by the decoder. The exemplary next picture needed for decoding must be recovered from the disc, and therefore the converter 15 must be relocated to the sector address containing the required picture. FIG. 5A shows a portion of a bitstream 41 comprising a video object unit composed of several sectors, each containing video, audio, sub-picture and navigation data, and connected to a buffer 60A. The end of sector A may be advantageously determined inside or in front of track buffer 60A by the generation of the next sector address, or by the MPEG decoding indicated by the next signal 513. Therefore, the arrow labeled " NEXT " in FIG. 5A indicates the near time accurate occurrence of the next sector address request from the microcontroller 510 to the front end. Such an address and jump request is transmitted on the I ² C control bus, the I ² C control bus delays the issuance (issuance) of the sector required by the request block (interrupt) priority.

In another advantageous configuration, the blocking priorities of the microcontroller 510 are reranked between operating modes. As an example, in the forward play mode, the memory addressing and control requirements differ from the requirements required during operation in trick mode, and especially during operation from play speed to reverse. During trick mode operation, certain features and thus no trick mode memory and MPEG decoder control are needed. In one example, audio decoding, and sub-picture processing are not needed during trick mode operation, so address, data and control bus blocking priorities are assigned lower priorities, and more for picture access from track and video bit buffers. Higher priority is assigned.

Timely acquisition of the requested sector is particularly important during trick mode operation. However, the execution of obtaining the required sectors in response to the back end processing forms a control loop with several delay elements as described. The configuration of the present invention is shown in Figure 4, which simply reduces the delay in the sector acquisition described and allows the translator to move to a previously received new sector address due to the detected replay occurrence of the last required sector. . FIG. 5A shows an arrow B positioned to indicate the approximate time correlation between the replayed bitstream 41 or track buffer 60A and the issuance of the servo of the next / end sector address of the present invention. ). In FIG. 5A, arrow B is shown as occurring shortly after the navigation pack read from the bitstream and shaded. In the picture A, an arrow NEXT is shown to explain the generation of the signal 513 (decoded) after almost seven sectors. However, substantially, I and P type pictures contain significantly more sectors than the sectors shown in FIG. 5A, and therefore occur significantly later than the arrow NEXT corresponding to the issue of address and jump requests is shown. . Thus, the next / end sector address of the present invention is generated by the microcontroller 510 following navigation pack acquisition and / or advantageous picture / sector address determination and table configuration. The use of the next / end sector address distinguishes that the required sector address can be separated in time from the translator instruction in order to jump. The next / end sector address is effectively pre-loaded into the converter servo system via a converter jump that is executed in response to the reproduction of the first unnecessary sector address. Since the sector address is not affected by the long ECC delay of the bitstream 41, the translator is moved before the last required sector address occurs from the ECC blocks 45 and 46.

In FIG. 4, control data is transmitted via an I ² C control bus 514, which delivers the next necessary replay sector address to the servo control system 50. The next required replay sector address is generated by the microcontroller 510, which is configured from a stored trick play, a speed specifying sequence, replayed and stored navigation data, or advantageously determined and replayed image data. Process originating address data. The next address is read from the I ² C bus and stored in element 53. The I ² C data also includes the end / last sector address of the present invention, i.e., the first unnecessary sector address. The end / last sector address can be obtained from recovered and stored navigation data, but it provides only a limited number of predetermined picture addresses, so that the end of the determined picture sector address is advantageously used for trick mode. do. The end / last sector address is read from the I ² C bus and stored in element 52. The last sector address can be changed before or immediately after the bus transfer, for example by adding one unit count to the sector address to prevent the loss of the required sector, thus ensuring addressing and detection of the first unnecessary sector. do. The last sector address, or modified address 52A, is coupled for comparison with the replay sector address signal 42 in the exemplary comparator 51. Therefore, when the replay sector address 42 is the same as the address 52A, the first unnecessary sector is immediately converted, and the comparator 51 generates the control signal 51A. Control signal 51A is connected from element 53 by, for example, loading or moving the stored address data to the servo, or via an example selector switch 54 that connects the next sector address to the servo system as shown. Is enabled and repositioning of transducer 15 is initiated. As described, the converter is moved to a track containing the next required picture, and the data output signal 41 is advantageously enabled by the element 43 when the required picture is reproduced.

The converter continues to follow the track to play the necessary sectors that are processed by the back end. In response to the data recovered from this sector, a new pair of next sector address and end sector address is created and transmitted over the I ² C bus. This new address is received and stored in elements 52 and 53 as before. However, to avoid initiating a translator jump before the new end sector address is replayed and detected by element 51, the example selector 54 may be reset to prevent premature initiation and acquisition of the new sector address. Open.

The converter control sequence of the present invention described above essentially initiates the converter's movement through a comparison between the non-delayed replay sector address and the pre-loaded required sector address, thus delaying the acquisition of a new replay bitstream. Prevents and facilitates improved trick mode operation.

The decoding order of MPEG pictures is, as is well known, determined by the encoded picture layer, so that forward mode operation comes after the decoding sequence. However, the trick play operation can be advantageously facilitated by controlling the MPEG picture decoding order based on the required picture sequence through a predetermined trick play algorithm and recognition of where the picture starts and stops in the video bit buffer. . Thus, for example, the recognition of the picture position in the video bit buffer 60B, as calculated in FIG. 5C or as determined through the bitstream search of FIG. 6, is performed by the start code detector 520 and the variable length detector. The memory start pointer at 531 is advantageously pointed to, for example, during a trick mode operation, to randomly access the image as needed. An example video bit buffer is shown in FIG. 5D, which includes picture fragments as described above. The start code detector memory pointer is shown by an arrow (SCD) to search the exemplary video bit buffer to locate the MPEG start code. However, in the third sector of the first P picture, the start code detector memory pointer SCD1 indicates the start code detection from the unnecessary picture although it is the next picture. Thus, by directing the start code memory pointer to the known byte advantageously to the correct memory location, unwanted pictures and undesirable decoder hang ups are avoided as indicated by arrows SCD2 in FIG. 5D.

In another advantageous trick mode configuration, unnecessary data from the previous picture is cleared from the input and output FIFOs, the first-in, first-out registers in the start code decoder (SCD) 520 and the variable length decoder (VLD) 531. Signals 521/532 shown in FIG. 3 clear or reset each FIFO to remove remaining data from previous decode operations. Clearance or flushing of such FIFOs ensures that the SCD and VLD start the next new decode operation through the new data from the exemplary bit buffer 60B, and thus occur from previous residual data. It is guaranteed to eliminate other sources for incorrect operation of the decoder.

Reverse operation at play speed requires playback of B-frames, and in other trick mode optimizations, reverse mode operation is advantageously simplified by buffer memory requirements by reversing the order in which adjacent B pictures are decoded. This inversion of the decoding order is achieved by setting or controlling the memory start pointer to enable decoding of the particular picture required for the trick mode. In another trick mode optimization, the size and control of the buffer memory is simple during the trick play operation by not advantageously omitting or reading out the picture in the video bit buffer through address adjustment, as required by certain trick play algorithms. It becomes The size and control of the memory can be further optimized during trick play by advantageously enabling the decoding of several pictures that are immediately needed or particularly needed according to the trick play algorithm. Providing this advantageous feature requires careful control of the read / write function and the synchronization between the function.

In another trick mode optimization, the control performance of the decoder, which facilitates audio video synchronization or lip-syncing by omitting the decoding of the picture, is advantageously increased in the control range, and two during the trick mode operation. Is used to ensure that at least six selectable numbers of pictures are not omitted or decoded. Such advantageous adjustment of the picture facilitates the trick play operation at six times the play speed by omitting the B-picture in each GOP.

In addition to the requirements of memory control and allocation for trick mode operation, MPEG decoding essentially includes, for example, decoding the I or P picture and writing the decoded result for display and / or memory storage within a field period. By coincidence it can advantageously be optimized. The ability to decode a B type picture without using a buffer memory is assumed. Decoding for such B type pictures is known as B frames-on-the-fly (BOF). In addition, the trick play operation can be advantageously improved by writing the decoded field into memory and concurrently reading the display field from interlaced locations in the same memory. The display field may originate from temporally separated pictures. Such substantially simultaneous read / write operations can be made within the display field period. However, the decoded field should not overwrite or interfere with the display field readout. This interlaced read / write operation is not needed for B pictures because of its ability to decode without storing into a buffer.

In an exemplary player with reverse trick play decoding, a bitstream or track buffer 60A is used to store the compressed MPEG video bitstream recovered from the medium. Track buffer 60A or compressed video bit buffer 60B can be used to facilitate multiple access of individual MPEG pictures. The decoded trick play output signal must follow TV signal standards to enable the display through a normal TV receiver. The following example shows the control sequence of the present invention for MPEG decoding in a DVD player. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the present invention for an inverse trick play mode that is 3X speed (3X) in the video player. This exemplary diagram has columns representing groups of pictures, namely MPEG coded I pictures and P pictures, including GOP A, B, C and D. Each GOP contains 12 pictures that are not derived from one film source.

In this exemplary trick play sequence, decoding in the reverse direction can be facilitated through an advantageous configuration of an MPEG decoder and two frame buffers that provide both decoding and display of the decoded video in reverse order. In this example, only I pictures and P pictures are decoded, so only these pictures are plotted. 7 shows a sequence of 37 encoded pictures, the numbers of which are indicated in parentheses. The rightmost column is labeled "output field #" and represents the time axis that increases with the field period. The output field # 1, which is the first field, indicates the start of trick play playback. Each row of the chart represents the process of the present invention occurring within each field period. The following abbreviation is used in FIG. 7. Frame buffers are numbered 1 and 2. The uppercase letter "D" means decoding for the picture / frame displayed at the top of a specific column. The process of decoding the picture and storing the result is depicted as "D> 1", where the number represents the number of the destination frame buffer, i. The lower case "d" indicates a display for one field from the frame specific to that column. The output field may be selected to protect the output signal interlaced sequence. In order to provide a continuous output field, the sequence needs to ensure that each row in the table contains one field display command "d".

The sequence shown in Fig. 7 starts at the output field # 1, where the I-picture {I 37} is decoded and stored in the frame buffer 1, i.e. 60C. Simultaneously with the decoding of the I picture 37, one field, for example the top field of the I-frame 37, is displayed. An advantageous decoder 530 is used to facilitate decoding and simultaneous display of the decoded video signal. During the output field # 2, the MPEG picture {I 25} is retrieved from the bitstream buffer 60B, decoded and stored in the frame buffer 2, i.e., 60D. At the same time, another field, for example the bottom field of I 37, is read and displayed from the frame buffer 1, ie 60C.

During the output field period # 3, actions are taken to illustrate aspects of the present invention. During field # 3, the top field of exemplary I 37 is repeated by reading from frame buffer 1, i. Simultaneously with the readout of the upper field of I 37 being repeated, the predicted picture {P 28} is decoded with reference to I 25 and stored in frame buffer 1, i.e., 60C. At the correct time synchronized, the decoded frame {P 28} is written to the frame buffer 1, i.e. 60C. This simultaneous operation is achieved by reading out the display field of the picture {I 37} and subsequently decoding the picture {P 28} on a line-by-line basis. Continuous reading and writing of the frame buffer 1 is a more advantageous performance provided through this exemplary decoder and memory management system.

At the end of the output field # 3, the pictures (I 25 and P 28) of the GOP C are stored in the frame buffers 1 (60C) and 2 (60D), respectively. However, such a frame is necessary to indicate an earlier event in time and to enable decoding of subsequently occurring frames, for example frames {P31 and P34}. An internally-coded picture {P 25} resident in memory 2 (60D) was used to decode the frame {P 28} and is not currently required. Therefore, in order to provide a display for the output field # 4, the frame {I 37} is overwritten in the frame memory 2, and the frame {I 37} is rewritten from the video buffer 60B. Read and decode. In order to continue the interlaced field sequence output, the field of the appropriate frame {I 37} is accessed from the frame buffer 2 for display. In the output field # 5, the advantageous simultaneous processing carried out in the field # 3 is repeated. The output field # 5 is derived by reading the field of the picture {I 37} from the frame buffer 2. At the same time, the picture {P 31} is decoded from the frame memory 1 with reference to the picture {P 28}, and the decoded result is stored in the buffer 2. Thus, the first five output fields for this exemplary triple reverse replay include images of still or fixed I-pictures 37. However, at the end of the output field # 5 having the images {I 28} and P 31 stored in the frame buffers 1 and 2, respectively, the generation of the trick play output signal is started.

In the output field # 6, the predicted picture {P 34} is read and decoded from the bitstream buffer 60A or the video bit buffer 60B, and the appropriate field is displayed without being stored. Thus, field # 6 initiates reverse motion display at triple speed. In the output field # 7, the picture {P 34} is retrieved again and decoded, and another field is selected for display. The picture P31 previously decoded and stored in the frame buffer 2 is read and provided to the output fields # 8 and # 9, respectively.

At the end of the output field # 9 there is no other requirement for storing the picture {P 31}, so that the next preceding inner-coded picture {I 13)} is obtained and decoded. And stored in the frame buffer 2. The output fields # 10 and # 11 are read from the frame buffer 1 containing the predicted picture {P 28}. Simultaneously with the reading of the field # 11, the predicted picture {P 16} is obtained from the bitstream buffer 60B, decoded and subsequently stored in the frame buffer 1. Because both frame buffers contain the anchor frame of the next preceding GOP B, the output fields # 12 and # 13 are derived in the same way as the output fields # 6 and # 7. The predicted picture {P 25} is read from the bitstream buffer 60B and decoded, and the appropriate field is displayed without being stored.

Thus, the following preceding GOP B, which includes pictures {I 13, P 16, P 19 and P 22}, is processed as described for GOP C.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and thus the invention is not limited to the embodiments provided. Will be self-explanatory.

Claims (42)

A method for obtaining one start code from a plurality of start codes in a data stream arranged in a plurality of sectors converted during playback by a digital disk apparatus, the method comprising: a) searching the data stream to locate one particular sector type among the plurality of sectors; b) searching for the specific sector type to locate one start code from the plurality of start codes; c) determining whether the start code is incomplete; d) searching the data stream to locate a second sector of the particular sector type in the plurality of sectors; e) searching for the second sector of the particular sector type to locate a second start code of the start code type from the plurality of start codes; f) determining whether the second start code is a residual of the incomplete start code; g) combining the incomplete start code value and the remaining start code value to form a complete start code. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, the apparatus comprising: A converter for converting the digitally encoded signal and generating a bitstream from the signal; A processor coupled to receive the bitstream for controllably processing the bitstream; A memory coupled to the processor for storing processed bitstream information; A controller coupled to control the memory and the processor to control identification of information in the bitstream, The controller is digitally encoded from a medium that controls the processor to identify a particular sector type in the bitstream and also controls the memory to store the identified particular sector in response to the identification of the particular sector. Device for reproducing the signal. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, the apparatus comprising: A converter for converting the digitally encoded signal and generating a bitstream from the signal; A first memory coupled to the converter for storing the bitstream; A second memory for storing data controllably connected from the first memory; A controller coupled to control the first and second memories to control the identification of information in the bitstream, The controller controls the first memory to output the bitstream from a particular sector address in the first memory, and the controller further stores the first portion of the bitstream output from the particular sector address. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium for controlling a second memory. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, the apparatus comprising: A converter for converting a digitally encoded signal and generating a bitstream from the signal; A memory coupled to the converter for storing the bitstream; A processor coupled to the memory to process the stored bitstream to identify an MPEG start code included in the bitstream stored therein, The processor retrieves the stored bitstream to identify an MPEG start code, and also digitally from the medium, indicating the acknowledgment and storing a sector address of the identified MPEG start code in response to the confirmation of the MPEG start code. Device for reproducing the encoded signal. A method for controlling the position of a transducer during replay in a digital disk device, Receiving first and second translator addresses to control the position of the translator in response to the replayed address; Comparing the replayed address and the first translator address to detect an identity between the replayed address and the first translator address; Responsive to the detected identity, moving the transducer to a new position determined via the second translator address. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, the apparatus comprising: A positionally controlled transducer for converting the digitally encoded signal; A controller coupled to the transducer to control the position of the transducer in response to the digitally encoded signal and the address coupled to the signal, In response to the digitally encoded signal becoming substantially the same as the address, the controller reproduces the digitally encoded signal from the medium, controlling the transducer to a second position determined by a second address. Device for An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, the apparatus comprising: A positionally controlled transducer for converting the digitally encoded signal; A first controller coupled to the transducer to control the position of the transducer in response to the digitally encoded signal and an address coupled to the signal; A comparator coupled to the controller to compare the digitally encoded signal with a first address to change the position of the transducer, In response to the digitally encoded signal becoming equal to the first address, the comparator reproduces the digitally encoded signal from the medium, shifting the transducer to a second position determined by a second address. Device for A method for controlling data reproduced in a sector via a disc player using optical read out, Converting a sector group including one sector to be processed and sectors not to be processed; Providing the data processor to process the necessary sectors except for the one unnecessary sector; Processing the required sectors to extract data in the required sectors representing video information. A method for controlling MPEG compatibility data reproduced in a sector, Converting a sector group comprising one requested sector with MPEG compatibility data for processing and an unrequested sector with MPEG compatibility data not required for processing; Sending the requested sector to a data processor for processing except for the unsolicited sectors; Processing the requested sector to extract the required MPEG compatibility data representing video information. A digital disc player for playing sectors containing MPEG compatible data, A converter for converting from the disk a sector group comprising one requested sector with MPEG compatibility data for processing, and an unrequested sector with MPEG compatibility data not for processing; A first data processor coupled to the converter for processing and concatenating the requested sector with MPEG compatibility data, except for the unsolicited sectors with MPEG compatibility data not required for processing; A digital disc player for playing a sector comprising MPEG compatibility data, the second processor being connected to the first processor for receiving the requested sector of data and extracting the required MPEG compatibility data representing video information. . An apparatus for optically reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc, the apparatus comprising: A positionally controlled transducer for converting the digitally encoded signal having an address and other data; A controller coupled to the transducer for controlling its location in response to the address and the requested address associated with it; A processor coupled to receive the digitally encoded signal from the converter and controllably coupled to the controller for controlling processing of the encoded signal, And in response to the address being substantially identical to the requested address, the controller enables the processing to optically reproduce a digitally encoded signal from the disc. An apparatus for optically reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc, the apparatus comprising: A transducer that is positionally controlled to convert the digitally encoded signal having an address and other data; A controller coupled to the transducer for controlling its location in response to the address and the requested address associated with it; A processor coupled to receive the digitally encoded signal from the converter and controllably coupled to the controller for controlling processing of the encoded signal, In response to receiving the requested address, the controller optically disables the digitally encoded signal from the disc, disabling the processing of the encoded signal until the address and the requested address become substantially the same. Device for playback. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium, the apparatus comprising: A source of a bitstream representing said digitally encoded signal, A processor coupled to the bitstream for processing the bitstream to extract at least first and second data types indicated in the bitstream; A memory controlably connected to the processor for storing one of the first and second data types; A controller coupled to control the allocation of the memory, In a first play mode the controller allocates the memory to store the first data type and in a second play mode the controller allocates the memory to store the second data type. A device for reproducing the encoded signal. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium, the apparatus comprising: A converter for converting the digitally encoded signal; A processor coupled to receive the digitally encoded signal for processing and generating an image from the digitally encoded signal; A memory coupled to the processor for storing the image; A controller coupled to control the memory and the processor, And the picture is stored in the memory in a first mode and the picture is sub-sampled and stored in the memory in a second mode. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium, the apparatus comprising: A source of a bitstream representing said digitally encoded signal, A processor coupled to the bitstream to process the bitstream to extract first and second data types indicated in the bitstream; A memory controllably coupled to the source and the processor for storing the bitstream and the first and second data types; A controller coupled to control the allocation of the memory, In a first play mode the controller allocates the memory to store the bitstream and the first and second data types, and in a second play mode the controller stores the bitstream and the first data type. Allocating the memory for the purpose of reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium, the apparatus comprising: A converter for converting the digitally encoded signal; A memory coupled to the converter for storing the digitally encoded signal; A decoder responsive to the digitally encoded signal for decoding a picture from the digitally encoded signal; A controller for the decoder, In a first mode of operation the controller controls the decoder to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory in response to the first sequence, and in the second mode of operation the controller is configured to: according to the second sequence, And control the decoder to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium, the apparatus comprising: A converter for converting the digitally encoded signal; A memory coupled to the converter for storing the digitally encoded signal; A decoder responsive to the digitally encoded signal for decoding a picture from the digitally encoded signal; A controller for the memory, In a first mode of operation the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory in response to the first sequence, and in the second mode of operation the controller is configured to: according to the second sequence, And control the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory. A method for decoding and displaying an image in an apparatus for reproducing in a first mode of operation from a digital disc, Converting the digitally encoded signal from the disc; Storing the digitally encoded signal in a first memory; Decoding the digitally encoded signal to produce an image; Storing the image in a second memory; Connecting an image from the second memory for display; Controlling the decoding step, storing in the second memory to occur within one field period, and wherein the connecting step for display occurs during a subsequent field period, In the second mode, Converting the digitally encoded signal from the disc; Storing the digitally encoded signal in a first memory; Decoding the digitally encoded signal to produce the picture; Storing the image in a second memory; Connecting the images for display; Controlling said decoding, storing in said second memory, and said concatenating for display occur at essentially the same time within one field period. A method for decoding and displaying pictures in an apparatus for playback from a digital disc, the method comprising: Converting the digitally encoded signal from the disc; Storing the digitally encoded signal in a first memory; Decoding the digitally encoded signal to produce an image; Storing the image in a second memory; Connecting an image from the second memory for display; Controlling the step of storing to the second memory and the connecting step for display to occur substantially at the same time. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disc medium, the apparatus comprising: A converter for converting the digitally encoded signal; A first memory coupled to the converter for storing the digitally encoded signal; A decoder responsive to the digitally encoded signal for decoding a picture from the digitally encoded signal; A second memory for storing the picture and connecting the picture for display; A controller for the decoder and the first and second memories, In a first mode of operation, within one field period, the controller continuously controls connecting the stored digitally encoded signal from the first memory to the decoder for picture decoding, and the second Controllably connect the picture to a memory, control the connection of the picture for display in a subsequent one field period, In a second mode of operation, within one field period, the controller connects the stored digitally encoded signal from the first memory to the decoder for picture decoding and controls the picture in the second memory. An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium, wherein the signal is possibly connected and simultaneously controls the connection of the picture for display. A player for generating trick play mode video images from digital data stored on an optical disc, Means for rotating the disc at a speed that provides a substantially constant data transfer rate for processing; Means for optically reading the digital data from the disc at the data rate; During the trick play mode, means for processing the digital data into the video image for display, And said data transfer rate provided by said rotating means is greater than the data transfer rate produced at 1X rotational speed. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the 1X rotational speed generates a user data bit rate at a reference speed of substantially 11.08 million bits per second. player. 22. The trick play mode video image according to claim 21, wherein the data rate provided by the rotating means is substantially the same data rate for the normal play mode and the trick play mode. Player to play. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data rate provided by the rotating means is a data rate different from the normal play mode and the trick play mode. player. 25. The optical disc of claim 24, wherein the rotating means comprises means for changing a rotational speed with respect to the optical disc between the normal play mode and the trick play mode to provide the other data transfer rate. Player for generating trick play mode video images from digital data. 22. The player according to claim 21, wherein said digital data read from said optical disc represents an MPEG encoded signal. 22. The player according to claim 21, wherein said digital data read from said optical disc represents a Video Object Unit (VOBU). 27. The digital data stored in the optical disc as claimed in claim 26, wherein the digital data is decoded during the trick play mode such that an output display image is formed from internally coded data I and predictively coded data P. Player for generating trick play mode video footage from. 29. The player according to claim 28, wherein said output display image is formed of I and P coded data having substantially equal time intervals. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the digital data is selected for processing to produce a display image in reverse order with respect to the image being processed in the forward normal play speed mode. player. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the display picture with the reverse order occurs at a normal play speed and includes all pictures displayed during a forward play speed mode. player. A method for facilitating generation of trick play mode video images from digital data stored on an optical disc, Rotating the optical disc at a rotational speed to provide a substantially constant data transfer rate; Reading the digital data from the optical disc at the data transfer rate via an optical pickup; Transmitting the digital data read by the optical pickup to a processor; During the trick play mode, processing the selected digital data to produce an output video image, And said data transfer rate provided by said rotating step is greater than the data transfer rate generated at a 1X rotational speed. The method for facilitating generation of trick play mode video images from digital data stored on an optical disc. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the 1X rotational speed generates a user data rate at a reference speed of substantially 11.08 million bits per second. 33. The generation of trick play mode video images from digital data stored on an optical disc as claimed in claim 32, wherein the data rate provided by the rotating step is substantially the same data rate for the normal play mode and the trick play mode. To facilitate the process. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the data transfer rate provided by the rotating step is easy to generate a trick play mode video image from digital data stored on an optical disc, wherein the data transfer rate is different from the normal play mode and the trick play mode. Way to let. 36. The digital stored in an optical disc as claimed in claim 35, wherein the rotating step includes changing a rotation speed for the optical disc between the normal play mode and the trick play mode to provide the different data transfer rate. A method for facilitating generation of trick play mode video images from data. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the digital data read from the optical disc represents an MPEG encoded signal. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the digital data read from the optical disc represents a video object unit (VOBU). 38. The light of claim 37, wherein the digital data is decoded by the processing step during the trick play mode such that an output display image is formed from internally coded data I and predictively coded data P. A method for facilitating generation of trick play mode video images from digital data stored on a disc. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the output display image is formed of I and P coded data having substantially equal time intervals. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the digital data is selected for processing to produce display images in reverse order with respect to images processed in forward normal play speed mode, thereby facilitating generation of trick play mode video images from digital data stored on an optical disc. Way to let. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the display image with the reverse order occurs at a normal play speed and facilitates generation of a trick play mode video image from digital data stored on an optical disc, including all images displayed during a forward play speed mode. Way to let.