JP3464472B2 - Information recording medium, information reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information recording medium, and relates to reproduction of information from a DVD.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A video DVD (disc conforming to the DVD-Video standard) is known as a recording medium for recording video information such as movies. Video DVDs are widely used as recording media for video information such as movies because of their large capacity.

Also, an audio DVD (a disc conforming to the DVD-Audio standard) has been developed in which only audio information such as music is recorded instead of video information such as a movie. This audio DVD
Since the DVD has a large capacity, it is possible to record audio information corresponding to a plurality of CDs (compact discs) on one audio DVD. Further, in addition to video information such as a movie, it is also possible to record audio information corresponding to a music CD of a soundtrack version of the movie.

[0004]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(1) Format of Video DVD First, the recording format (physical recording format) of video information and audio information (including music information; the same applies hereinafter) on the Video DVD will be described with reference to FIG. .

(A) Physical Format As shown in FIG. 1, the video DVD 1 has a lead-in area LI at its innermost peripheral portion and a lead-out area LO at its outermost peripheral portion, and in between, The video information and the audio information have a plurality of VTSs (Video Title Set) 3 (VTS # 1 to VTS # 1 to VTS) each having an ID (identification) number.
It is recorded by being divided into TS # n). Where VT
S is related (the number of pieces of audio information and sub-picture information included in it, attributes such as specifications and supported languages are the same) title (a work such as a movie that the producer intends to present to the viewer) It is a set (collection) that put together. At the beginning of the area where VTS3 is recorded, VMG is recorded.
(Video Manager) 2 is recorded. The information recorded as the VMG2 is, for example, a menu indicating the name of each title, information for preventing illegal copying, or an access table for accessing each title, and the video information recorded on the video DVD 1. And information relating to the entire audio information.

One VTS3 is VTSI (Video Title).
It is divided into a plurality of VOBs (Video OBject) 10 each having an ID number and recorded. Here, a portion composed of a plurality of VOBs 10 is called a VOB set (VOBS).

VTSI11 recorded at the beginning of VTS3
PGCI (Program Chain Informatio), which is various information related to a program chain that is a logical division of a plurality of cells (cells will be described later).
Information such as n) is recorded. In addition, in each VOB10,
In addition to the control information, substantive parts of the video information and audio information (video or audio itself other than the control information) are recorded.

[0009] One VOB 10 is composed of a plurality of cells 20 each having an ID number. One cell 20
Is a plurality of VOB units (V
OBU) 30. Where VOBU30
Here, one unit is composed of any of video information, audio information, and sub-picture information (meaning sub-picture information such as subtitles in a movie) or only a navigation pack described later.

One VOBU 30 includes a navigation pack 41 in which control information for controlling video information included in the VOBU 30 is stored, a video pack 42 including video data as video information, and an audio as audio information. An audio pack 43 containing data and a sub-picture pack 4 containing sub-picture data as sub-picture information
4 and. Here, only video data is recorded as video data, and only audio data is recorded as audio data. Further, as the sub-picture data, only graphic data such as characters and figures as sub-pictures is recorded.

In the pack header recorded at the beginning of each pack P, the reproduction time at which the data contained in each pack P should be read from the track buffer in the reproduction apparatus described later and input to each buffer should be started. Read start time information called SCR (System Clock Reference) indicating the read start time on the axis, a start code indicating the start of the pack P, and the like are recorded.

The navigation pack 41 has search information for searching for a video or audio to be reproduced and displayed (specifically, a D or D in which the video or audio to be reproduced or displayed is recorded).
DSI (Data Search In) which is an address on VD1)
formation) data 51 and PCI (Presentation Control) which is information relating to reproduction display control when reproducing and displaying the video or audio searched based on the DSI data 51.
Information) data 50.

All the video packs 42 included in one VOB unit 30 include one or more GOPs (Groups).
Of Picture). The GOP is MPEG2 (Moving) which is an image compression method adopted when recording video information on the DVD 1 in the present embodiment.
This is the smallest image unit that can be reproduced independently, which is defined in the Picture Experts Group 2) system standard.

In the above-described hierarchical format recording format shown in FIG. 1, each section is a producer of recording information to be recorded in the DVD 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a producer).
According to the intention, it is set freely and recorded. By performing reproduction for each of these sections based on the later-described logical structure, various reproductions rich in change can be performed.

(B) Logical Format Next, a logical format (logical structure) in which information recorded by the physical divisions shown in FIG. 1 is combined will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the logical structure shown in FIG. 2 does not mean that information is actually recorded on the DVD 1 by that structure, but the data (particularly the cell 20) shown in FIG. 1 is combined in the logical structure shown in FIG. Information for reproduction (access information, time information, etc.) is recorded on the DVD 1, especially VTSI.
It is recorded in No. 11.

For convenience of explanation, starting from the lower hierarchy of FIG. 2, by selecting and combining a plurality of cells 20 in the physical structure described in FIG.
One program 60 is logically constructed. The producer can define one or a plurality of the programs 60 as a minimum unit that the viewer can freely select and view, and this unit can be defined as a PTT (Part of Ti
tle).

Here, regarding the number of one cell 20,
When the cell 20 is handled in the physical format shown in FIG. 1, it is treated as a cell ID number (in FIG. 1,
Indicated as cell ID #. ), When handled in the logical format shown in FIG. 2, they are treated as cell numbers in the order of description in PGCI described later.

A plurality of programs 60 are combined to form one P
A GC (Program Chain) 61 is logically configured. The above-mentioned PGCI is defined in units of this PGC 61, and the reproduction order of the cells 20 of each program 60 when reproducing the respective programs 60 (the program unique to each program 60 by this reproduction order is defined in this PGCI. No. is assigned.), The address of each cell 20 which is the recording position on the DVD 1, the number of the leading cell 20 to be reproduced in one program 60, and the like.

In one PGC 61, in addition to the above-mentioned PGCI, actual data such as video and audio is stored in the program 60.
(In other words, as a combination of cells 20).

One title 62 is logically constructed by one or a plurality of PGCs 61. The title 62 is, for example, a unit corresponding to one movie in terms of video information, and is complete information provided by the producer to the viewer of the DVD 1.

[0021] One or more titles 62 allow one V
TS63 is logically configured.

Information corresponding to one VTS 63 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to information included in one VTS 3 shown in FIG. That is, the DVD 1 has the VTS shown in FIG.
All information logically included in 63 is collectively recorded as one VTS 3.

Based on the logical format described above, the producer specifies the information segmented in the physical structure to form a video or music to be viewed by the viewer. (2) Physical and Logical Format of Audio DVD Next, a recording format (physical recording format) of audio information (including music and audio information; the same applies hereinafter) on the audio DVD will be described with reference to FIG.

(A) Physical Format First, the physical format (physical recording format) on the audio DVD will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the audio DVD 200 of the embodiment has a lead-in area LI in the innermost peripheral portion thereof and a lead-out area LO in the outermost peripheral portion thereof, and in between, It is a volume space. The audio zone is always recorded in this. In this audio zone, the voice information has ID
A plurality of ATSs (Audio Title Se) having (identification) numbers
t) 3 (ATS # 1 to ATS # n) are divided and recorded.

Immediately outside the lead-in area LI,
A UDF (Universal Disk Forma) having information for managing the format of a file recorded on the disc.
t) is recorded, followed by AMG (Audio Manager)
202 is recorded. The information recorded as the AMG 202 is, for example, a menu for prompting the user to select an item, information for preventing illegal copying, or an access table for accessing each title.
This is information necessary for reproducing the audio information recorded on the audio DVD 200.

One ATS 203 is an ATSI (Audio Ti
tle Set Information) 211 at the top and I
It is composed of a plurality of AOBs (Audio Objects) 210 each having a D number.

Here, a portion composed of a plurality of AOBs 210 is called an AOB set (AOBS). This AOB set is a substantial part of audio information, and ATSI2
Reference numeral 11 is management / control information of an AOB set including a plurality of AOBs 210.

ATSI recorded at the beginning of ATS 203
Reference numeral 211 denotes a plurality of cells (cells will be described later).
APGCI (Audio Program Chai), which is various information about a program chain that is a logical division of
n Information) is recorded. Also, each AO
In B210, in addition to the control information, the substantial part of the voice information (the voice itself other than the control information) is recorded. One AOB
210 is composed of a plurality of cells 220 each having an ID number.

One cell 220 includes a plurality of audio packs 230 respectively packed, or an audio pack and a real time information pack (Real Time Information Pa).
ck) 231. Audio pack 230
Is a pack of audio information to be recorded on an audio DVD, for example, a linear P.
It includes audio information digitized by CM or the like. The real-time information pack 231 includes text information, BPM (Beat Per Minutes), beat information, and the like.

In the above-described recording structure having the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 3, each section is an audio DVD.
A producer of record information to be recorded in the 200 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a producer) can freely set and record according to the intention. By performing reproduction for each of these sections based on the later-described logical structure, various reproductions rich in change can be performed.

(B) Logical Format Next, a logical format (logical structure) in which information recorded by the physical divisions shown in FIG. 3 is combined will be described with reference to FIG.

The logical structure shown in FIG. 4 does not mean that the information is actually recorded on the audio DVD 200 by the structure. Audio information is recorded on the audio DVD only in the physical format shown in FIG. 3, and the information for reproducing this audio information is recorded in the above-mentioned AMG 202 and ATSI 211 in the logical format shown in FIG. is there.

For convenience of explanation, starting from the lower hierarchy in FIG. 4, among the physical structures described in FIG.
The index 259 is formed by selecting one cell or a plurality of cells 220 and combining them. The index can also be used as a song number and is the smallest unit accessible by the user.

One track 260 is logically constructed by one or a plurality of indexes 259. The track 260 is an information unit corresponding to one piece of music. The user can select any track (song) and directly access it.

Here, the number of one cell 220 is treated as a cell ID number when the cell 220 is handled in the physical format shown in FIG. 3 (see FIG. 3).
Medium, cell ID # is shown. ), When handling in the logical format shown in FIG. 4, they are treated as cell numbers in the order of description in APGCI described later.

The track 260 (song) is an information unit including a plurality of cells, and is a set of cells having certain common attributes and the like. That is, the attributes of all cells in the track are the same. Further, all cells included in the track are recorded adjacently in the same object.

A title 261 is logically constructed by combining one or a plurality of tracks 260. However, the title itself is not recognized by the user as a unit of access. Therefore, it is not possible to access any title by designating the title number.

In the audio DVD, the attributes of each track 260 constituting the title 261 can be independently defined in a maximum of 8 patterns. That is, the attributes as audio information such as the number of channels, the quantization method, and the sampling frequency may be changed for each track (song).

In the unit of this title 261, the above-mentioned A
PGCI is defined, and in the APGCI, the attribute of each track, the reproduction order of the cell 220 for each track 260 when reproducing each track 260, and each cell 220.
Address which is the recording position on the audio DVD 200, the first cell 2 to be reproduced in one track 260
It includes 20 numbers, a reproduction method of each track 260, and various commands.

One title 261 is the above APGCI.
In addition to this, substantive audio information is included as a combination of tracks (songs) 260 (in other words, a combination of cells 220).

A title group 262 is logically constructed by one or a plurality of titles 261. Further, the title group 262 can be defined by the maximum unit that can be accessed by the user, and a maximum of nine title groups can be defined in one volume. The title group 262 includes one or a plurality of titles 26 collected based on a certain relation.
1 and all titles in the title group are continuously played. For example, a singer, a composer's music collection, etc. can be collected as one title group.

One volume 263 is logically constructed by one or a plurality of title groups 262. The volume 263 is an information unit corresponding to one album (DVD).

The actual audio information included in one title shown in FIG. 4 is recorded in any one ATS 203 shown in FIG. 3 on the audio DVD.

Based on the logical format described above, the producer specifies the information segmented in the physical structure, whereby the music listened to by the viewer is formed. (3) Types of DVDs Next, the types of DVD discs will be described.

At present, there are the following four types of discs in DVD.

Video DVD Video DVD with audio navigation (corresponding to the present invention) Audio-only DVD Audio / video dual-use DVD (the video portion of the present invention is the subject of the present invention) These DVDs are disc shapes and information recording systems (modulation). Method, track pitch, pit size, etc.) are all the same, only the content of information is different.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the physical formats of four types of DVDs.

A video DVD is shown at the top of the figure. Video information such as movies and audio information reproduced at the same time are recorded on this disc. Therefore, the lead-in area LI and the lead-out area LO
In addition to management information, video information and audio information are recorded in a plurality of VTSs, and a VMG including management / control information of these VTSs is recorded in a recording area between and. As described with reference to FIG. 1, video information is recorded as a video pack and audio information is recorded as an audio pack.

The lower part of the figure shows a kind of video disc called a video DVD with audio navigation, which is capable of reproducing video information (including accompanying audio information) such as a movie like a mere video DVD. By using the audio navigation information, the disc can reproduce only the audio information in the recorded information in the audio DVD player. A part of the recorded information, that is, a part where only the audio information can be reproduced by the audio DVD player is called "audio play part". As a recording format, video information is recorded in the form of a plurality of VTSs based on the video DVD shown in FIG. In addition to this, the video DVD with audio navigation
AMG including reproduction control information for reproducing only audio information in the recorded VTS and ATSI as reproduction control information (hereinafter also referred to as “audio navigation information”) are recorded, but a substantial part of the audio information. Is not recorded. That is, the AMG and ATSI describe the navigation information of the audio information (specifically, the audio pack (see FIG. 1) in each VOB) included in each VTS in the video DVD with audio navigation.

Shown in the lower stage is an audio-only DVD. Only audio information is recorded on this disc, except for some still images. Therefore, in the recording area between the lead-in area LI and the lead-out area LO, in addition to management information, audio information is recorded as a plurality of ATSs, and AMG including management / control information of these ATSs is recorded. . Also, each ATS includes one or more AOBs that are the substantial part of audio information.

What is shown at the bottom of FIG. 5 is called an audio / video dual-use DVD. Like a video DVD with audio navigation, not only audio information reproduction accompanied by video reproduction by a video DVD player but also audio reproduction is performed. It is a disc capable of reproducing only the audio information of the audio play part by the DVD player. However, the difference from the video DVD with audio navigation is that the recording area of the disc is divided into an audio area in which only audio information is recorded and a video area in which video information is recorded, and different navigation information is recorded in each area.

More specifically, in the video DVD with audio navigation, the audio information is included in the VOB recorded based on the format of the video DVD described above and recorded together with the video information. Then, in order to reproduce only the audio information of the audio play part in the VOB, the navigation information of the audio information recorded in the VOB is added to the audio D mentioned above.
Prepared in ATSI as APGCI in VD, A
This is managed by MG. Therefore, a video DVD with audio navigation is basically a video DV.
It is a disc in which navigation information for reproducing only the audio information of the audio play part contained therein is added to D.

On the other hand, audio / video dual-use DV
D has an audio area in which audio information conforming to the audio DVD format is recorded and a video area in which video information conforming to the video DVD format is recorded. In the audio area, only audio information is recorded in the format according to the audio DVD shown in FIG. That is, the substantial part of the audio information is recorded as a plurality of ATSs, and each A
ATSI including navigation information of substantive audio information in TS is recorded and managed by AMG. That is, audio information is recorded in the audio area in accordance with the format of the audio DVD described with reference to FIGS.

On the other hand, in the video area, video information (including accompanying audio information) is recorded as a plurality of VTSs, and further VTSI including navigation information of substantive information in each VTS is recorded, which is recorded by VMG. to manage. That is, in the video area, video information (including accompanying audio information) is recorded according to the format of the video DVD described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

From this audio / video dual-use DVD,
When the video DVD player reproduces video information, the video information (including accompanying audio information) in each VTS is reproduced according to VMG and VTSI in the video area.

When an audio DVD player reproduces audio information from an audio / video dual-use DVD, there are two cases. One is the case of reproducing the audio information in the AOB according to the navigation information in the AMG and ATS of the audio area, which is ATSI, as in the audio DVD. the other one is,
Like a video DVD with audio navigation,
This is a case where the audio information of the audio play part recorded in the VTS in the video area is reproduced according to AMG and ATSI. In other words, both audio and video D
When reproducing the video information in the VD video area, the video DVD player reproduces the image and the sound in the same manner as a normal video DVD, and the audio DVD player reproduces only the audio information of the audio play part for the same work. can do. This specific reproducing method will be described later. (4) Double management of the same object Next, double management of the same object, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described. Here, the object is a DVD
Refers to substantive information such as video information, audio information, etc. Double management means managing those objects based on two types of navigation information and reproducing them.

The dual management will be described below by taking the above-mentioned video DVD with audio navigation as an example.

FIG. 6 shows the physical format of a video DVD with audio navigation and the navigation information contained therein. As described above, the video DVD with audio navigation has a physical recording format in which navigation information for reproducing only audio information is added to the recording information of the video DVD. That is, in addition to VOB10 which is the substantial part of video information, VTSI11 which is its reproduction control information, and VMG2 which is management information, ATSI211 which is navigation information of audio information included in VTS3 and AMG202 which is its management information. Have However, audio-only DVD and DV for both audio and video
Unlike D, the ATS does not include AOB, which is a substantial part of only audio information, and only ATSI, which is navigation information, is recorded. Therefore, all audio information reproduced from the video DVD with audio navigation is the audio play part of the VOB in the VTS 3 (more specifically, the audio pack 43, see FIG. 1).
It is the information inside.

Therefore, the titles in the video DVD with audio navigation are classified into two. One of them is a normal title of a video DVD when played back on a video DVD player (hereinafter, referred to as "video title (VTT)"). The other is Audio D
This is a title for reproducing only the audio information of the audio play part recorded in the VOB when reproduced by the VD player (hereinafter referred to as “audio only title (AOTT)”).

When playing back with an audio DVD player, a DVD with audio navigation is used for audio DV
First, a path for reproducing an audio-only title (AOTT) when reproducing with a D player will be described.
Since only the audio information recorded on the video DVD is to be reproduced, the AMG 202 is first referenced. A
The MG 202 is an entity of the management information, AMGI (A
MG Information) 240. AMGI240
Is an AMGI management table 241 including information such as the file size and recording address of the AMGI 240.
, Audio title (ATT) search pointer table 242, and audio only title (AOT)
T) search pointer table 243. The audio title includes an audio-only title composed only of audio information and an AV title composed of audio information including accompanying video information (AV title).
TT) is a general term. ATT is an audio DVD
And for a compatible player capable of playing both video and DVD.

Video DV with audio navigation
In D, only the AOTT search pointer exists in the AMG audio title (ATT) search pointer table 242. Therefore, the audio title (AT
T) search pointer table 242 and audio-only title (AOTT) search pointer table 243
The contents of are completely common.

The ATT search pointer table 242 is
It includes ATT search pointer information 244 including information such as the number of ATT search pointers and a plurality of ATT search pointers 245. In FIG. 6, the parentheses of each ATT search pointer indicate the type of title corresponding to the search pointer for convenience of description. However, as described above, in the video DVD with audio navigation, all ATTs are AOTTs.

AOTT search pointer table 243
Similarly includes AOTT search pointer information 246 including information such as the number of AOTT search pointers, and a plurality of AOTT search pointer information 246.
And a T search pointer 247. In FIG. 6, each A
The parentheses of the OTT search pointer also indicate the type of title corresponding to the search pointer for convenience of description. As a matter of course, all the titles written in the AOTT search pointer are AOTT.

Titles ATT and AO corresponding to the same work
The position of each TT on each search pointer table must be the same. The ATT search pointer on the ATT search pointer table 242 corresponds to the AOTT search pointer on the AOTT search pointer table 243.

ATT search pointer 245 and AOTT
The search pointer 247 indicates the APGC that logically configures the target title. More specifically, in this case, the ATT search pointer # 1 and the AOT
The title # 1 designated by the T search pointer # 1 is an AOTT title. Therefore, this AOTT search pointer # 1 specifies the ATS number including the title and the title number in the ATS, so that the AP in the ATSI 211 corresponding to the title is specified.
GCI is specified. Therefore, at the time of reproduction, according to the APGCI designated by the AOTT search pointer # 1, the VOB is reproduced.
Audio pack 4 of the audio play part in 11
Only the audio information is reproduced by reproducing only 3 (see the paths indicated by “A1” and “A2” in FIG. 6).

Playback on Video DVD Next, a video DVD with audio navigation is
The reproduction path of the video title (VTT) when reproduced by the video DVD player will be described. Video DVD with audio navigation is only for video DV
Since it is D, VMG2 is first referred to in order to reproduce a normal video title in which audio information is reproduced together with video information.

VMG2 is V which is the actual part of the management information.
It includes MGI (VMG Information) 21. VMGI
Reference numeral 21 denotes a VMGI management table 21 including information such as the file size and recording address of the VMGI 21.
1 and the title (TT) search pointer table 212
Including and The TT search pointer table 212 is
It includes TT search pointer information 214 including information such as the number of search pointers and a plurality of TT search pointers 215. Note that in FIG. 6, the parentheses of each TT search pointer indicate the type of title corresponding to the search pointer for convenience of description. However, TT on video DVD
The search pointers are all VTT.

Positions on the search pointer table of each title and VTT corresponding to the same work, and ATT and AOTT
The respective positions on the search pointer table may be irrelevant. The contents and order of the AMGI ATT search pointer table and the VMGI TT search pointer table can be defined independently.

The TT search pointer 215 indicates the PGC that logically constitutes the target title. More specifically, the title # 2 designated by the TT search pointer # 2 is a VTT title, that is, a title that is required to reproduce video information together with audio information, and the TT search pointer is VTS3.
By designating the number of the title and the title number in the VTS 3, the PGCI described in the VTSI 11 corresponding to the title is designated. Therefore, the video DVD player acquires this PGCI and reproduces the title as video information with audio by using the video pack, audio pack, etc. in the VOB (shown by "B1" and "B2" in FIG. 6). See path).

That is, in reproducing audio recording information (object) in the same VOB 10, a method of reproducing VOB 10 via VMG and VTSI as shown by paths "B1" and "B2" in FIG. 6 ( Of course, the video information is also reproduced), and A like "A1" and "A2"
MG, ATSI directly VOB1 without going through VTSI
There are two paths, a method of performing reproduction of 0 (only audio information is reproduced).

Also, for the same work, APGCI
And PGCI (PGCI of video) can be defined, and the cells included in each can be defined independently,
It is also possible to change the composition of the work (playback control for the work) when listening to only the sound and when playing back together with the image.

Next, double management of the same object will be described with reference to FIG. 7 while paying attention to the physical structure of the object to be reproduced. Figure 7 shows a VO
The concept of the program when B is reproduced as audio information with video information according to PGCI and when it is reproduced only as audio information of an audio play part according to APGCI is shown. In the figure, VO
B includes video data, sub-picture data and audio data.

When this VOB is reproduced as audio information with video information, its reproduction control is performed based on PGCI described in VTSI. In PGCI, the VOB is divided into 6 video cells # 1 to # 6, the video program # 1 is made by the video cell # 1, the video program # 2 is made by the video cells # 2- # 4, and the video program # 2 is made by the video cell # 6. It constitutes the video program # 3. When reproducing audio information with video information such as a VTT title, reproduction is performed according to such PGCI.

On the other hand, when reproducing only the audio information of the audio play part from the same VOB, the AT
Playback is performed according to APGCI described in SI. Each audio program defined by APGCI is composed of one or more audio cells. Here, even for the same object (VOB), the audio cell may be defined differently (independently) from the video cell. Of course, it is also possible to specify that they match. That is, the start position and end position of each audio cell can be set independently of any video cell. Also, the playback order of the audio cells defined by APGCI can be defined independently of the playback order of the video cells defined by PGCI.

In the example of FIG. 7, audio program # 1
Is composed of audio cells # 1 and # 2, and the audio program # 2 is composed of audio cell # 3. The APGCI includes information such as the recording position and reproduction order of the audio cells included in these audio programs, and the audio information is reproduced based on this.

Next, the effect obtained by allowing the audio cell and the video cell to be independently defined in this way will be described.

(A) The actual reproduction time of audio information can be managed in units of audio frames.

Since the video DVD recording format is premised on the recording of video information, time management is performed in frame units of video information. Therefore, the playback time written on the video DVD (disc) itself is a playback time defined in frame units of video information, and in the case of NTSC, one frame is not exactly 1/30 second, so that It is different from the reproduction time when the information is reproduced. That is, there arises a problem that the reproduction time written on the disc based on the video frame does not coincide with the actual reproduction time.

This is an inherent problem of the video DVD format, and it occurs both when the video information is reproduced from the video DVD and when only the audio information is reproduced. Normally, when reproducing video information such as a movie, accurate time management and display are not necessarily required, but when reproducing only audio information, strict time management is required.

In this respect, according to the present invention, since the audio cell can be defined independently of the video cell as described above, the time management in the audio information can be performed in an independent unit other than the video frame. It can be done independently of time management in information.

Specifically, the system clock reference (SCR), which is the reference for time management, and the output time of the head data of the head audio frame in the audio pack are recorded in the header portion of each audio pack forming the audio cell. Presentation time (PT
M) is recorded, and the time management of the audio information is performed independently of the time management of the video information based on these. Here, the audio frame is, for example, a group of linear PCM data in units of 1/600 seconds.

Dual management, that is, having APGCI and PGCI independently, means that the time information of all audio programs (tracks) in the audio title is managed in an independent unit other than the video frame. Is described in ATSI.

Further, the reproduction time of all tracks in the audio DVD may be described in the AMG or lead-in as concentrated information. As a result, the playback time can be displayed based on the time management based on the audio frame instead of the time information based on the video frame, so the playback time written on the disc and the actual playback time must match. You can This is possible by defining the audio cells independently of the video cells as described above.

When the cell boundaries coincide with each other, the time management based on the audio frame can be performed by using the APGCI information and the position information of the audio data with respect to the cell boundaries together.

(B) It is possible to accurately display the reproduction time when only the audio information is reproduced.

In the video DVD format, a plurality of streams such as a video stream, a sub-picture stream, an audio stream, etc. are multiplexed and divided into certain time units to form a video object (VOB). A video stream in a video object consists of an integer number of video frames, and an audio stream consists of an integer number of audio frames. In most cases, the presentation times of both streams are different, and the video DVD manages only the time of the video stream.

Further, there is no strict definition between the time of video data and the time of audio data in a video object. You can know the time of video data because it is written on the disc as the time of each chapter,
Since the time of audio data in the same video object is not written, it cannot be known.

Therefore, when only the audio data in the video object is reproduced, the actual reproduction time or the like cannot be known. Specifically, it is impossible to accurately know and display the total reproduction time of the music pieces in the disc and the reproduction time of each music piece.

This problem can also be solved by defining the audio cell independently of the video cell as described above and performing the time management of the audio information independently of the time management of the video information. That is, when only the audio information in the video object is reproduced, the reproduction time and the like can be accurately managed and displayed based on the time management information of the audio information.

(C) For the same object, a video-based logical break and an audio-based logical break can be defined independently.

When only the audio information in the video object is reproduced, the logical division must be different from that when the video information is reproduced. For example, it is assumed that the scene shown in FIG. 8 is recorded as a video object. In the video navigation information, a silent scene S1 and a theme song scene S2 constitute a video program # 1, a dialogue scene S3 and a song scene S4 constitute a video program # 2, and a dialogue scene S5 constitutes a video program. The video program # 4 is composed of the ending theme song scene S6.

On the other hand, considering the case where only the audio information in the same object is reproduced, it is not necessary to reproduce the silent scene S1 and the dialogue scenes S3 and S5, so that a program (track) different from the video program is used. It is required to introduce the concept of.

In this example, music scenes S2, S4, S6
Would like to be defined as audio programs # 1, # 2, and # 3, respectively.

Although not shown, it is assumed that three music pieces are included in #n in a certain video program. In this case, the division of the video program is divided to some extent in consideration of a certain scene in the story. On the other hand, when listening to music only, I want to listen to these three songs independently and access them directly. Therefore, it is necessary to define each of these three songs as one audio program (track). Generally, it is necessary to make finer the division when listening to only music.

In the video information, there is a scene in which a menu screen appears during reproduction to allow the viewer to select a story interactively. In such a case, only the audio should be heard and selected. Is not possible and should be excluded from audio programs.

In this respect, according to the present invention, navigation information is independently defined for the same object by the above-described double management method for reproduction of video information + audio information (normal video reproduction) and reproduction of only audio information. Therefore, the audio program can be defined independently of the video program as shown in FIG.

Also, the reproduction order of each audio program can be defined independently of the reproduction order of the video program (the reproduction order of each audio program in FIG. 8 can be exchanged). Therefore, when only the audio information is reproduced, unnecessary portions are eliminated and the reproduction order is changed, so that reproduction with a high degree of freedom becomes possible.

(D) It is possible to independently define a video-based physical break and an audio-based physical break for the same object.

Considering the physical arrangement of the video information and audio information recorded on the video DVD, the recording position of certain video data is different from the recording position of audio data corresponding to its reproduction time.

This is shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows an example of recording a navigation pack, a video pack and an audio pack in a certain VOBU. In the figure, VOBU # 2 is defined by navigation packs 41a and 41b, and a plurality of video packs and audio packs are multiplexed between them.

Here, MPEG (Moving Picture Exper)
In the reproduction of a video DVD in accordance with (T Group), video data is recorded as a plurality of video packs, and an audio pack including audio data corresponding to a predetermined range from these video packs is recorded. At the time of reproduction, the video data of a plurality of video packs is stored in a buffer and is output in synchronization with the audio data in the audio pack. Therefore, as shown in the figure, audio data corresponding to video data in one VOBU may be recorded in the next VOBU with a shift. In the example of FIG. 9, VO
The audio packs 43a and 43b included in BU # 2 correspond to the video data in VOBU # 1.
The audio packs 43e and 43f corresponding to the video data in VOBU # 2 are located in the next VOBU # 3. Therefore, if the cell for reproducing only the audio information is defined based on the VOBU of the video information, the audio information in the cell immediately before that is also reproduced.

In this respect, according to the present invention, the physical position of the audio cell can be defined independently of the physical position of the video cell. In the example of FIG. 9, the audio cell delimiter is defined immediately before the audio pack 43c that is the head of the audio information corresponding to VOBU # 2. That is, the audio cell is defined independently of the video cell defined by the set of VOBUs. This prevents the audio data in the preceding VOBU from being reproduced.

As described above, in the present invention, double management is performed on the same object by video and audio navigation. Further, due to the dual management, the physical and logical boundaries of the video cell and the audio cell can be defined independently of each other.

In addition, regardless of whether the video cell defined by PGCI and the audio cell defined by APGCI have the same physical and logical boundaries, they can be freely combined in the unit of each cell. You can
As a result, it is possible to effectively reproduce video information (with audio) or only audio information from the same object (VOB).

In the above description, the case of the video DVD with audio navigation has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to an audio / video dual-use DVD. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in an audio / video dual-use DVD, while information is recorded in the video area in the video DVD format, navigation information and audio information when the information in the video area is reproduced with an image The navigation information in the case of reproducing only A is the ATT search pointer table in the AMG and the A
Each is recorded in the OTT search pointer table. Therefore, in the case of reproducing the information in the video area by using the navigation information in the AMG in the audio / video dual-use DVD, the present invention can be applied just as in the case of the video DVD with audio navigation described above. (5) Playback Device Video DVD Player As shown in FIG. 10, the video DVD player according to the embodiment has a pickup 80, a demodulation correction unit 81, stream switches 82 and 84, and a track buffer 8.
3, system buffer 85, demultiplexer 86
And VBV (Video Buffer Verifier) buffer 87
, Video decoder 88, and sub-picture buffer 89
, Sub-picture decoder 90, mixer 91, audio buffer 92, audio decoder 93, input unit 98, display 99, system controller 100, drive controller 101, spindle motor 102, slider motor 103. It is composed of and. The configuration shown in FIG. 10 is a video DVD.
Only the part relating to the reproduction of video and audio is described in the configuration of the player, and the servo circuit and the like for servo-controlling the pickup 80, the spindle motor 102, the slider motor 103, and the like are the same as those of the conventional art. The description and detailed description are omitted.

Next, the operation will be described.

The pickup 80 includes a laser diode, a beam splitter, an objective lens, a photodetector and the like (not shown), irradiates the DVD 1 with the light beam B as reproduction light, and reflects the light beam B from the DVD 1. It receives light and outputs a detection signal Sp corresponding to the information pit formed on the DVD 1. At this time, the light beam B is accurately applied to the information track on the DVD 1, and a method similar to that of the conventional technique is applied to an objective lens (not shown) so that the information recording surface on the DVD 1 is accurately focused. The tracking servo control and the focus servo control are performed by.

The detection signal Sp output from the pickup 80 is input to the demodulation correction unit 81, demodulation processing and error correction processing are performed to generate a demodulation signal Sdm, which is output to the stream switch 82 and the system buffer 85. .

The stream switch 82 to which the demodulated signal Sdm is input is controlled to be opened / closed by the switch signal Ssw1 from the drive controller 101, and when closed, the input demodulated signal Sdm is directly passed through and output to the track buffer 83. To do. On the other hand, when the stream switch 82 is open, the demodulated signal Sdm is not output, and unnecessary information (signal) is not input to the track buffer 83.

The track buffer 83 to which the demodulated signal Sdm is input is formed of a FIFO (First In First Out) memory or the like, and temporarily stores the input demodulated signal Sdm, and the stream switch 84 is closed. If so, the stored demodulated signal Sdm is continuously output.

The stream switch 84, to which the demodulated signal Sdm is continuously input, is configured so that, in the demultiplexing process in the demultiplexer 86, various buffers in the subsequent stage do not overflow or conversely become empty and the decoding process is not interrupted. In addition, opening / closing is controlled by the switch signal Ssw2 from the system controller 100.

On the other hand, the system buffer 85 to which the demodulated signal Sdm is input in parallel with the track buffer 83 is DV
First detected when loading D1, DVD
Management information (VMG
2 etc.) or VTS11 for each VTS3 and store it as the control information Sc to the system controller 100, and temporarily store the DSI data 51 for each navigation pack 41 during playback, and the system controller 100 stores it as the control information Sc. Output.

In the demultiplexer 86 to which the demodulated signal Sdm is continuously input via the stream switch 84, the video data, the audio data, the sub-picture data and the PCI data for each navigation pack are supplied from the demodulated signal Sdm for each pack. To extract the video signal Sv, sub-picture signal Ssp, audio signal Sad and PCI signal Spc.
To the VBV buffer 87, the sub-picture buffer 89, and the audio buffer 92, respectively.

At this time, the demultiplexer 86 extracts a pack header, a packet header, etc. from each pack (including the audio pack 43) and packet, and outputs the information contained in each to the system controller 100 as a header signal Shd. .

The VBV buffer 87 to which the video signal Sv is input is formed of a FIFO memory or the like, temporarily stores the video signal Sv, and outputs it to the video decoder 88. The VBV buffer 87 is for compensating the variation in the data amount for each picture (see FIG. 2) in the video signal Sv compressed by the MPEG2 system. Then, the video signal Sv in which the variation in the data amount is compensated is input to the video decoder 88, demodulated by the MPEG2 system, and output to the mixer 91 as a demodulated video signal Svd.

On the other hand, the sub-picture buffer 89 to which the sub-picture signal Ssp is input temporarily stores the input sub-picture signal Ssp and outputs it to the sub-picture decoder 90.
The sub-picture buffer 89 is for outputting the sub-picture data 44 included in the sub-picture signal Ssp in synchronization with the video data 42 corresponding to the sub-picture data 44. Then, the sub-picture signal Ssp synchronized with the video data 42 is input to the sub-picture decoder 90, demodulated and output to the mixer 91 as a demodulated sub-picture signal Sspd.

The demodulated video signal Svd outputted from the video decoder 88 and the demodulated sub-picture signal Sspd outputted from the sub-picture decoder 90 (corresponding demodulated video signal S
Synchronized with vd. ) Is mixed by the mixer 91 and output as a final video signal Svp to be displayed to a display unit such as a CRT (Cathod Ray Tube) not shown.

The audio buffer 92 to which the audio signal Sad is input is composed of a FIFO memory or the like,
The input audio signal Sad is temporarily stored and output to the audio decoder 93. Audio buffer 9
2 is a video signal Sv or a sub-picture signal Ssp containing picture information corresponding to the audio signal Sad based on the header control signal Shc output from the system controller 100.
The audio signal Sad is delayed according to the output status of the corresponding video information. Then, the audio signal Sad time-adjusted so as to be synchronized with the corresponding video information is output to the audio decoder 9
3 and the demodulated audio signal Sadd that has been subjected to the reproduction processing in the linear PCM system based on the header control signal Shc output from the system controller 100.
Is output to a speaker (not shown).

Audio DVD Player Next, regarding the above audio DVD player, FIG.
Will be described with reference to. As shown in FIG. 11, the audio DVD player has the same configuration as that of the video DVD player shown in FIG. 10 in the subsequent stage of the demultiplexer 86, but otherwise has the same configuration. Therefore, the components subsequent to the demultiplexer 86 will be described.

In the demultiplexer 86 to which the demodulated signal Sdm is continuously input via the stream switch 84, the audio information is extracted from the demodulated signal Sdm for each pack and output to the audio buffer 92 as the audio signal Sad. .

The audio buffer 92 to which the audio signal Sad is input is composed of a FIFO memory or the like,
The input audio signal Sad is temporarily stored and output to the audio decoder 93. Audio signal Sad
Is input to the audio decoder 93 and is subjected to reproduction processing or the like in the linear PCM system based on the control signal Shc output from the system controller 100, and output as a demodulated audio signal Sadd to a speaker or the like not shown.

For example, real-time information such as real-time text is output from the demultiplexer to the RTI buffer. The data temporarily stored in the RTI buffer is output to the RTI decoder based on the control signal Shc output from the system controller 100, and lyrics or the like is displayed on a display device (not shown).

When it is detected that the voice needs to be temporarily interrupted (paused) in the reproduction or the like immediately after the access to the desired information, the system controller 10
The pause signal Sca is output from 0 to the audio decoder 93, and the audio decoder 93 temporarily stops outputting the demodulated audio signal Sadd.

Next, a method of reproducing information according to the above-mentioned dual management will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 10. Now, it is assumed that the audio DVD player loaded with the video DVD with audio navigation sequentially reproduces a plurality of audio titles described in the AMGI 240 in the AMG 202 in FIG.

The AMGI 24 has only information regarding audio-only title (AOTT). (Only the AOTT search pointer is also described in the ATT search pointer table.) First, the system controller 100 refers to the AOTT search pointer table in the AMGI 24. Since the AOTT search pointer # 1 is naturally described in the first title # 1, it is an AOTT title, that is, a title in which only audio information is reproduced. Therefore, the ATSI 211 that is the designated destination of the AOTT title search pointer # 1
The inside is referred to (path A1), and the corresponding APGCI is acquired. Since the acquired APGCI includes reproduction control information such as a combination of a plurality of cells in the VOB 10 and a reproduction order, the designated audio packs in the VOB 10 are reproduced in order (path A2). In this way, only the audio data is reproduced.

When the reproduction of the title # 1 is completed, the system controller 100 refers to the AOTT search pointer # 2 of the title # 2. After that, the same operation is repeated and the reproduction is continued. When the title to be reproduced ends, the system controller 100 ends the reproduction process.

Next, it is assumed that the video DVD player loaded with the video DVD with audio navigation sequentially reproduces a plurality of video titles described in the VMGI 21 in the VMG 2 of FIG. First, the system controller 100 refers to the TT search pointer table 214 in the VMGI 21. As a matter of course, the TT search pointer # 1 is the search pointer of the VTT which is the title for which the audio information with the video information should be reproduced, and therefore the system controller 100 jumps to the VTSI 11 which is the designation destination of the TT search pointer # 1. (Path B1), corresponding PGCI is acquired. Then, the cells in the VOB 10 are sequentially reproduced according to the acquired PGCI (path B2). In this way, the video information is reproduced. When the reproduction of the title # 1 is completed, the system controller 100 refers to the TT search pointer # 2 of the title # 2. After that, the same operation is repeated and the reproduction is continued. When the title to be reproduced ends, the system controller 100 ends the reproduction process.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a physical structure (physical format) of a video DVD.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a logical structure (logical format) of a video DVD.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a physical structure (physical format) of an audio DVD.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a logical structure (logical format) of an audio DVD.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing types of DVDs.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a physical format of a video DVD with audio navigation and navigation information included therein.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a concept of dual management of audio information according to the present invention.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video object to be double-managed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of physical division of the same object in dual management.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video DVD player.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an audio DVD player.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... VMG 10 ... VOB 11 ... VTSI 21 ... VMGI 202 ... AMG 211 ... ATSI 212 ... TT search pointer table 215 ... TT search pointer 240 ... AMGI 242 ... ATT search pointer table 243 ... AOTT search pointer table 245 ... ATT search pointer 247 ... AOTT search pointer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shozo Ema 4-2610 Hanazono, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama Pioneer Co., Ltd. Tokorozawa Plant (72) Inventor Sotohiro Takahashi 25 Nishimachi, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture 1 Pioneer Kawagoe Factory Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-9-259574 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5/956 G11B 20/10- 20/12

Claims (18)

(57) [Claims] 1. An area for recording first and second substance information, and an area for recording first and second reproduction control information for reproducing the first and second substance information. The first reproduction control information and the first substance information are continuous.
Are recorded with no, the second entity information and the second reproduction control information is continuously
An information recording medium characterized by being recorded without being recorded . 2. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the first and second reproduction control information are recorded subsequently to the management information including a menu. 3. The information recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the menu is a menu for selecting the first and second physical information. 4. The first and second substance information is video information.
And the audio information, and the first and second reproduction control information are included in the substantive information.
The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is for reproducing the audio information . 5. The first reproduction control information and the second reproduction control information.
Raw control information is recorded continuously
The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The first reproduction control information is the first actual control information.
It is reproduction control information for reproducing body information, The second reproduction control information reproduces the second entity information.
The reproduction control information for storing
5. The information recording medium according to any one of 1 to 5. 7. An area for recording first and second substance information, and an area for recording first and second reproduction control information for reproducing the first and second substance information. And the first reproduction control information and the first entity information are linked.
The second reproduction control information and the second reproduction control information are recorded without continuing.
Information recording medium in which the substantive information of 2 is recorded not continuously
An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information from a body , comprising means for reading the first or second reproduction control information, and the first or second reproduction control information based on the first or second reproduction control information.
Alternatively, an information reproducing apparatus comprising: a unit for reading the second substance information. 8. The first and second reproduction control information are
It is recorded after the management information including the The first or second reproduction control information includes the management information.
Claims characterized by being read by reference
Item 10. The information reproducing apparatus according to Item 7. 9. The menu includes the first and second front menus.
Characterized by a menu for selecting substance information
The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 8. 10. The first and second entity information is video information.
It consists of information and voice information, The first and second reproduction control information are included in the substantive information.
It is for reproducing the voice information,
The information reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 8,
Place 11. The first reproduction control information and the second reproduction control information.
The reproduction control information is recorded continuously.
The information reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10,
Place 12. The first reproduction control information is the first reproduction control information.
It is reproduction control information for reproducing substance information, The second reproduction control information reproduces the second entity information.
It is the reproduction control information for saving.
11. The information reproducing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 11. 13. An area for recording first and second substance information, and an area for recording first and second reproduction control information for reproducing the first and second substance information. And the first reproduction control information and the first entity information are
The second reproduction control information and the second reproduction control information are recorded without continuation.
Information record in which the second substance information is recorded without continuity
An information reproducing method for reproducing information from a medium , comprising: reading the first or second reproduction control information; and the first or second reproduction control information based on the first or second reproduction control information.
Alternatively, an information reproducing method comprising: a step of reading second entity information. 14. The first and second reproduction control information are:
It is recorded after the management information including the menu, The first or second reproduction control information includes the management information.
Claims characterized by being read by reference
Item 13. The information reproducing method according to Item 13. 15. The menu includes the first and second menus.
It is a menu for selecting substantive information
The information reproducing method according to claim 14, 16. The first and second entity information are video information.
It consists of information and voice information, The first and second reproduction control information are included in the substantive information.
It is for reproducing the voice information,
The information re-recording according to any one of claims 13 to 15.
Raw method. 17. The first reproduction control information and the second reproduction control information.
The reproduction control information is recorded continuously.
Information reproduction according to any one of claims 13 to 16
Method. 18. The first reproduction control information is the first reproduction control information.
It is reproduction control information for reproducing substance information, The second reproduction control information reproduces the second entity information.
The reproduction control information for storing
The method for reproducing information according to any one of 3 to 17.