JP3840894B2 - Image information processing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image information processing method and an image information reproducing apparatus used for reproducing a video signal and an audio signal which are compression-coded and recorded on an information recording medium such as an optical disk.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the development of digital storage media, methods for compressing and recording long-time moving images and audio on recording media have been studied. In the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), standardization activities for audio and video coding methods have been carried out at the Moving Picture Image Coding Experts Group (MPEG) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For example, “ISO / IEC” “13818-2” defines a moving image compression method, “ISO / IEC 13818-3” defines an audio compression method, and “ISO / IEC 13818-1” defines a method for integrating these. By using these technologies, it has become possible to record a long-time moving image such as a movie on a single disc while maintaining high image quality.
[0003]
Studies are also underway on a method of recording data compressed by these methods on a medium such as an optical disk, for example, a DVD standard (DVD Specification for Read-Only Disc Version 1.0).
[0004]
In September 1999, the DVD Video Recording standard (DVD Specifications for Rewritable / Re-recordable Discs) was issued as a standard for recording images and sounds. In this, the concept of PGC (Program Chain) is defined. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, while the original PGC (Original PGC) is left as it is, the user connects arbitrary scenes and creates a new one. PGC (User Defined PCG) can be generated.
[0005]
In order to perform such reproduction, first, a function for starting reproduction from a designated frame and a function for ending reproduction at a designated arbitrary frame are required. In general, since the MPEG compression method is often performed in units of frames, it is more realistic to operate the start point and end point of an image compressed in the MPEG method in units of frames.
[0006]
In addition, in order for the user to set an arbitrary PGC, for example, a function capable of designating a start point and an end point from the original scene #n is required as the new scene # 2. For this reason, normally, the original scene #n is reproduced, and the start point and end point are set by a key operation or the like at the timing when a desired image is displayed while viewing the screen. Furthermore, when more strict designation is desired, it is possible to search for a desired image using functions such as slow playback, frame advance, and frame reverse playback.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above configuration, the following problems occur when setting an arbitrary PGC. In other words, as described above, it is more realistic to operate the start point and the end point in units of frames, and they match in principle. Therefore, when frame advance or the like is performed when the user specifies the start point or the end point, a desired image can be selected by displaying in the frame display mode as shown in FIG. Note that the presence or absence of hatching in FIG. 7 indicates a series of images. In FIG. 7, the images change between 3T and 3B. The series of images with and without hatching is the same as in FIGS. However, in a fast-moving image, the top-field image and the bottom-field image are often different, so when displayed in the frame mode, the image becomes blurred and difficult to see.
[0008]
Therefore, in order to avoid such a blurred image display, it is possible to perform frame advance and frame reverse in units of fields as shown in FIG. 8A. In this case, the starting point is in units of fields. Since the end point is specified, the following problem occurs. That is, as shown in FIG. 8B, when a series of images up to the top field of the third frame and another series of images starts from the bottom field as in this example, the start point In some cases, it is designated from the bottom field (3B) of the third frame, to the top field (3T) of the third frame as the end point. In this case, if playback is started / stopped in units of frames, in this example, playback starts from the third frame, or playback ends by the third frame, so the start image starts from the top field (3T). Thus, the previous image appears to be mixed with the start image, and the next image appears to be mixed with the end image, which causes a problem that an image originally desired by the user cannot be reproduced.
[0009]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly image information processing method and an image information reproducing apparatus.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, an image information processing method according to the present invention provides a top field image that outputs an image using only the image of the top field from image data including a plurality of frames composed of a top field and a bottom field. The output and the bottom field image output for outputting the image using only the bottom field image are processed independently of each other.
[0011]
In addition to the image information processing method described above, a first image reduction output for reducing the top field image to generate a reduced still image, and a first image reduction output for reducing the bottom field image to generate a reduced still image. The two image reduction outputs are processed independently of each other.
[0012]
In any one of the image information processing methods, a first visual image is generated using only an image belonging to the top field from the top field image output, and the first visual image is visually recognized. When the image data corresponding to an arbitrary first visual image is set as a first setting image, a top field reduced still image corresponding to the first setting image is generated by the first image reduction output Then, a second visual image is generated using only the image belonging to the bottom field from the bottom field image output, and the second visual image is visually recognized to be an arbitrary second visual image. When the corresponding image data is set as the second setting image, a bottom field reduced still image corresponding to the second setting image is generated by the second image reduction output.
[0013]
Furthermore, in any one of the above image processing methods, the image processing method further includes a third image reduction output that generates a reduced still image using both the top field image and the bottom field image, and A top field and a bottom field corresponding to the third setting image when the image data corresponding to the third image for visual recognition and set as the third setting image is set as the third setting image. And the third image reduced output belonging to both of the above and the like.
[0014]
The image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for reproducing image data constituting a frame with a top field and a bottom field, and a first mode for setting a first frame for starting reproduction, A second control mode for setting a second frame to end the playback, a playback control means for starting playback from the first frame and ending playback at the second frame, and a top field A top field output unit that outputs an image using only the image; and a bottom field output unit that outputs an image using only the image in the bottom field.
[0015]
In the special playback mode in which playback is performed at a speed other than normal playback with the above-described image information playback apparatus, the first field-use display device uses only images belonging to the top field by the top field output means in the first mode. An image is output, and the second visual image is output using only the image belonging to the bottom field by the bottom field output means in the second mode.
[0016]
Further, in any one of the above-described image information reproducing apparatuses, first image reduction means for generating a reduced still image by reducing the top field image of the reproduced image, and a bottom field image of the reproduced image. Second image reduction means for reducing and generating a reduced still image, and when the first frame is set in the first mode, the first image reduction means A first reduced still image is generated from the top field, and when the second frame is set in the second mode, the second image reduction means generates a second reduced image from the bottom field of the second frame. Control to generate a reduced still image.
[0017]
Further, any one of the above-described image information reproducing apparatuses further includes third image reducing means for generating a reduced still image using both the top field image and the bottom field image of the reproduced image, In the first mode, when the first frame is set by reproduction at the normal speed, both the top field image data and the bottom field image data of the first frame are set by the third image reduction means. A reduced still image is generated using data, and when the second frame is set by reproduction at a normal speed in the second mode, a top field of the second frame is generated by the third image reducing unit. Control is performed to generate a third reduced still image using both image data and bottom field image data.
[0018]
Further, the image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for reproducing image data that constitutes a frame with a top field and a bottom field, and a first mode for setting a first frame for starting reproduction, And a second mode for setting a second frame to end the playback, playback control means for starting playback from the first frame and ending playback at the second frame, and playback A third image reduction means for generating a reduced still image using both a top field image and a bottom field image of the image, and when the first frame is set in the first mode, The third image reduction means reduces and freezes the image using both the top field image data and the bottom field image data of the first frame. When an image is generated and the second frame is set in the second mode, both the top field image data and the bottom field image data of the second frame are generated by the third image reduction means. Control to generate a reduced still image using the image data.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the image information processing method according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the top field image output and the bottom field image output are processed independently of each other, for example, an output signal using only top field image data or a bottom field image is used. An output signal using only data is obtained, and the user can arbitrarily select from two groups of mutually independent image output signals in units of fields.
[0020]
In the image information processing method according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the first image reduction output and the second image reduction output are processed independently of each other, the user is independent when selecting an arbitrary field. The determination can be made with two reduced images, and the selection accuracy of the user can be improved.
[0021]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information processing method according to the present invention, in which a first visual image is visually recognized and set as a first setting image, a top field reduced still image is generated by a first image reduction output, 2 for visually recognizing and setting as a second setting image and generating a bottom field reduced still image by the second image reduction output, when the user selects and sets an arbitrary frame, the top field In addition, confirmation can be made with reduced still images in each of the bottom field and the selection accuracy in frame units can be improved.
[0022]
According to the image information processing method of the present invention as set forth in claim 4, the image of the image data is visually recognized as the third visual image, and image data corresponding to an arbitrary third visual image is set as the third setting image. Then, since the third image reduced output belonging to both the top field and the bottom field corresponding to the third setting image is generated, the third image reduced output is the top field image and the bottom field image. Can be output in association with each frame, and information that allows recognition of the point at which a series of images change in field units is obtained. When a user selects an arbitrary image, a reproduced image is reproduced when the selected image is reproduced. Can provide information on the quality of
[0023]
The image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention according to claim 5 uses reproduction control means for controlling reproduction so as to start reproduction from the first frame and end reproduction at the second frame, and only the top field image. Since it is configured to include a top field output means for outputting an image and a bottom field output means for outputting an image using only the bottom field image, reproduction using only the top field data, or bottom field data Can be selected, and two independent output signals can be selected arbitrarily in field units, so that the start point and end point can be specified in frame units without making the user feel unnatural. .
[0024]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the special reproduction mode in which reproduction is performed at a speed other than normal reproduction, the first visual image in the first mode and the second visual recognition in the second mode are provided. In the first mode in which the start point is set, special playback using only the top field data is performed, and in the second mode in which the end point is set. Special playback using only bottom field data can be performed, and even if the user sets a frame in which continuous images change between the top field and the bottom field, different types of images will be mixed when played back. It can be recognized by the user, and it is possible to suppress the discontinuous image from being mixed into the playback image against the user's intention, and the user feels unnatural at the time of special playback. Without, you can specify the start and end points in frames.
[0025]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprising a first image reduction means and a second image reduction means, and the first frame is set when the first frame is set in the first mode. A first reduced still image is generated from the top field of the first frame by the image reduction means, and when the second frame is set in the second mode, the bottom of the second frame is set by the second image reduction means. Since it has a configuration that controls to generate a second reduced still image from the field, when the user sets a frame, the start point and the end point can be visually confirmed and confirmed by a still image in field units. It is possible to specify a start point and an end point that do not cause the user to feel unnatural when playing a frame.
[0026]
The image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention according to claim 8 is configured such that when the first frame is set by reproduction at the normal speed in the first mode, the second frame is reproduced by reproduction at the normal speed in the second mode. Is set, the start point is set in normal playback because the third image reduction means for controlling the third image reduction means for generating a reduced still image using both the top field and bottom field data of each frame is provided. A reduced still image is generated from both the top field and the bottom field of the start frame by the third image reduction means, and when the end point is set in normal playback, the reduced still image is reduced from both the top field and the bottom field of the end frame. The image can be generated by the third image reduction means, i.e., the third image reduction means has the top field image and the bottom field. The image can be output in association with each frame, and information that can recognize the change point of a series of images in field units is obtained. When the user selects an arbitrary image, the selected image is played back. By providing information on the quality of the image, the start point and end point can be specified in units of frames without making the user feel unnatural.
[0027]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the first frame is set in the first mode, a reduced still image is generated by the image reduction means using both the top field and bottom field data of the first frame. When the second frame is set in the second mode, the image reduction means controls to generate a reduced still image using both the top field and bottom field data of the second frame. Therefore, when the start point is set, a reduced still image is generated by the third image reduction means from both the top field and the bottom field of the start frame, and when the end point is set, the top field and the bottom field of the end frame are set. A reduced still image can be generated from both by the third image reduction means, that is, the third image reduction means is the top. The field image and the bottom field image can be output in association with each frame, and information that can recognize the change of a series of images in field units is obtained. When the user selects an arbitrary image, the selection is performed. Since the information regarding the quality of the reproduced image can be provided when the reproduced image is reproduced, the start point and the end point can be specified in units of frames without making the user feel unnatural.
[0028]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image information decoding / playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 102 is an optical pickup for reading information from an optical disk 101, 103 is an optical pickup driving circuit for driving the optical pickup 102, 104 is a reproduction signal processing circuit, and 105 is for decoding video and audio. AV decoder, 107 is an image memory, 108 is a thumbnail generation unit that generates a reduced still image (hereinafter referred to as a thumbnail image), 112 is a still image memory, 113 is an output control unit, 118 is an image reduction circuit, and 119 is an on-screen An OSD generation circuit for generating On Screen Display (hereinafter referred to as OSD) such as characters displayed on the screen, 120 is a synthesis circuit, and 106 is a system controller for overall control. In FIG. 1, only the portion related to the image is shown, and the portion related to the sound is omitted.
[0029]
The operation of the image information decoding / playback apparatus in the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.
[0030]
At the time of normal reproduction, first, a signal reproduced from the optical disk 101 by the optical pickup 102 is sent to the reproduction signal processing circuit 104, and processing such as binarization, digital demodulation, error correction, etc. is performed and supplied to the AV decoder 105. . In the AV decoder 105, the input bit stream is separated into audio data and image data, and then decoded, and output as digital image data and digital audio data. The decoded digital image is stored in the image memory 107. Is done. The image data read from the image memory 107 is sent to the output control unit 113.
[0031]
The output control unit 113 includes a top field output circuit 114 that outputs a first visual image, a bottom field output circuit 115 that outputs a second visual image, and both field output circuits 116 that output a third visual image. Although the switching circuit 117 is switched to the outputs of both field output circuits 116 during normal reproduction, the top field output circuit 114 and the bottom field output circuit 115 need not be operated at this time. .
[0032]
Both field output circuits 116 read and output the top field image data from the image data stored in the image memory 107 at the timing when the top field image should be output, and at the timing when the bottom field image should be output. The bottom field image data is read out from the image data stored in the image memory 107 and output.
[0033]
The output of the output control unit 113 is sent to the image reduction circuit 118. During normal reproduction, the image reduction circuit 118 is set to a mode in which no processing is performed according to an instruction from the system controller 106. Then, the output of the image reduction circuit 118 is output as image data 121 through the synthesis circuit 119.
[0034]
Therefore, during normal reproduction, the contents of the image memory 107 are output as image data 121 in both fields as they are. The image data 121 is then output as a video signal after performing necessary processing such as D / A conversion (Digital to Analog conversion).
[0035]
Next, a mode for setting a start point and an end point will be described. An example of the screen setting in this mode is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 401 denotes a reduced moving image that displays the first, second, and / or third visual image. An OSD image such as characters displayed on the screen is generated by the OSD generation circuit 119.
[0036]
The OSD image from the OSD generation circuit 119, the image reduced by the image reduction circuit 118, and the still image from the still image memory 112 are combined by the combining circuit 120 and output as image data 121.
[0037]
The OSD generation circuit 119 is a circuit that generates graphic data or the like to be superimposed on the screen in response to an instruction from the system controller 106, and outputs a figure designated by a designated color at a designated position on the screen. The signal can be generated. For example, the buttons 404 to 407 are graphic images generated by the OSD generation circuit 119.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is for explaining the screen of FIG. 4 in more detail. That is, the reduced moving image of the first visual image reduced by the image reduction circuit 118 is displayed at the position of the moving image display area 501 specified by the coordinates (x1, y1), for example. Further, the first reduced still image stored in the still image memory 112 is displayed in the still image display area 504 below from the position of the offset y2, for example. These coordinates (x1, y1) and offset y2 are specified by the system controller 106. The graphic image generated by the OSD generation circuit 119 is superimposed on the screens of the moving image display area 501 and the still image display area 504. For example, portions 401, 402, and 403 in FIG. By drawing in color, it is possible to make the screen visible only in that portion in the moving image display area 501 and the still image display area 504 502 and 503 in FIG.
[0039]
The thumbnail generation unit 108 is for generating a thumbnail image convenient for cueing, heading, and the like, and includes a top field thumbnail generation circuit 109 of a first image reduction unit and a bottom field thumbnail generation circuit of a second image reduction unit. 110 and the third image reduction means both field thumbnail generation circuits 111, and the generated thumbnail images are stored in the still image memory 112. The image in the still image memory 112 is read at a predetermined timing, and is synthesized with the moving image or the OSD image by the synthesis circuit 120.
[0040]
In order to select the first mode (hereinafter also referred to as start point setting mode) and the second mode (hereinafter also referred to as end point mode) on the screen as shown in FIG. One of the buttons 404 to 407 is selected by the “arrow key” of the remote control. For example, when the start point is set, the start point setting button 404 is selected, and the current start point setting mode is displayed. The selected button is subjected to image processing such as changing the color or thickening the outline so that the user can know that it has been selected. FIG. 4 shows a state where the end point setting button 405 is selected. Note that FIG. 4 in the present embodiment has been described in the case where it is attached to the image information reproducing apparatus. However, the display shown in FIG. 4 can be displayed on a liquid crystal screen of a remote controller, for example, and is appropriately selected. Can be used.
[0041]
In the start point setting mode, a desired image is searched for while viewing the reduced moving image 401 of the image belonging to the top field, and at the timing when the desired image is displayed, for example, a “selection key” of a remote controller (not shown) is pressed. To set the first frame to start playback. When set, the AV decoder 105 stops the decoding operation at that frame, the thumbnail generator 108 generates a thumbnail image using the image held in the image memory 107, and the starting point thumbnail on the still image memory 112. Data is written in an area corresponding to the image 402 (502 in FIG. 5). At this time, the thumbnail generation unit 108 generates thumbnail images from both the top field and the bottom field by the both-field thumbnail generation circuit 111.
[0042]
Therefore, if the user happens to press the “select key” at the frame display timing where a scene change occurs between the top field and the bottom field, the top field and the bottom field are mixed. A matching thumbnail image is generated, and the user can be notified that the frame during the scene change has been selected. If the user resets the setting again, it is not necessary to display an image in which the top field and the bottom field are mixed at the connection point when continuous playback is performed later. Alternatively, when the setting is not performed again, the user intentionally selects a field in which a scene change occurs, and as a result, for example, a reproduced image is disturbed, but this is not a problem because the user is prepared.
[0043]
So far, for example, the case where the start point and the end point are set while reproducing one frame at a normal reproduction speed for displaying one frame period has been described. There is a case where it is desired to set the start point and the end point accurately in units of fields while checking the image by special reproduction. The operation in such a case will be described next.
[0044]
At the instant of special playback such as slow playback or frame advance / frame backward playback, the output control unit 113 operates in the top field output mode in the start point setting mode. That is, the switching circuit 117 is switched to the top field output circuit 114 at the time of slow playback or frame forward / frame backward playback, although both field output circuits 116 are selected during normal playback. The top field output circuit 114 outputs an image using only the top field image data of the image memory 107.
[0045]
Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2A, slow playback and frame advance / frame reverse are performed only in the top field. FIG. 2A shows an example in which an image is continuous up to the top field (3T) of the third frame and another continuous image starts from the bottom field (3B) of the third frame. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), when the top of the scene starting from the bottom field (3B) of the third frame is selected by performing slow playback of only the top field or frame advance / frame return, FIG. As shown in (b), the top field (4T) of the fourth frame is selected, and the fourth frame is selected as the start frame.
[0046]
At this time, the system controller 106 instructs the thumbnail generation unit 108 to generate a thumbnail image of the first reduced still image from only the top field image, and the top field thumbnail generation circuit 109 of the first image reduction means. Thus, from only the top field of the image in the image memory 107, for example, a thumbnail image subjected to reduced still image processing in the vertical direction 1/6 and the horizontal direction 1/6 is generated, and a predetermined position in the still image memory 112, that is, in FIG. It is written at the position 502.
[0047]
By the way, for example, if the previous third frame is selected as the start point, the user has selected “3T, 4T, 5T, 6T,. This is a state with one scene. Accordingly, since playback is started from the third frame at the time of playback, in the first frame, a video in which the previous scene and a new scene are mixed is obtained. This is not an irregular operation because it is the user's intention after recognizing the thumbnail image.
[0048]
In the end point setting mode, during normal playback, the output control unit 113 is in both-field output mode, but at the moment of slow playback or frame advance / frame reverse playback, the output control unit 113 operates in the bottom field output mode. That is, the switching circuit 117 is switched to the bottom field output circuit 115 during slow playback or frame forward / frame backward playback, although both field output circuits 116 are selected during normal playback. The bottom field output circuit 115 outputs an image using only the bottom field image data of the image memory 107.
[0049]
FIG. 3A shows a state in which special playback such as slow playback and frame advance / frame reverse playback is performed only in the bottom field. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the image up to the top field (24T) of the 24th frame is a continuous image and another continuous image starts from the bottom field (24B) of the 24th frame. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), when slow playback or frame advance / frame backward playback of only the bottom field is performed and the end of the scene ending with the top field (24T) of the 24th frame is selected, the bottom field of the 23rd frame is selected. (23B) is selected, and in terms of frames, the 23rd frame is selected as the end frame.
[0050]
At this time, the system controller 106 instructs the thumbnail generation unit 108 to generate a thumbnail image of the second reduced still image from only the bottom field image, and the bottom field thumbnail generation circuit 110 stores the image in the image memory 107. From only the bottom field, a thumbnail image of the second reduced still image that has been reduced still image processed in, for example, 1/6 in the vertical direction and 1/6 in the horizontal direction is generated, and a predetermined position in the still image memory 112, that is, in FIG. It is written at the position 503.
[0051]
By the way, for example, if the next 24th frame is selected as the end point, it is selected from the user as “..., 21B, 22B, 23B, 24B”, and the end of the previous scene is selected. Shows a state where a new scene is added. Therefore, during playback, since the 24th frame is played back, in the last frame, the video up to that point and a new scene are mixed, and this is a thumbnail of the second reduced still image by the user. Since it is a user's intention after recognizing with an image, it is not an irregular operation.
[0052]
As described above, when the start point end point is set while performing normal reproduction, an image having a top field and a bottom field that differ greatly from the thumbnail image of the generated third reduced still image is selected as the start point. By notifying the user that it has been selected as an end point, it is possible to achieve a configuration that allows the user to make a selection after being convinced, or to give the user an opportunity to re-set, and to enable user-friendly playback.
[0053]
In addition, when selecting the start point and end point in so-called special playback, which is different from normal playback such as slow playback, frame advance playback, and frame reverse playback, only the top field is displayed when setting the start point, and the end By setting the bottom field to be displayed when setting points, the possibility of selecting the frame where the scene changes between the top field and the bottom field as the start point or end point can be reduced. Thus, it is possible to prevent an image contrary to the user's intention from being displayed. .
[0054]
In the above description, the process is divided into the case where the start point and end point are set in normal playback and the case where the start point and end point are set in slow playback, frame advance playback, and frame reverse playback. As described above, the method of dividing into cases is not limited to this, and for example, it is classified into special playback close to 1 × speed and cases where it is not, normal playback and slow playback, frame-by-frame playback, and frame-by-frame playback. It may be classified.
[0055]
In addition, only slow playback, frame advance playback, and frame reverse playback have been described as special playback. However, not only special playback, which is slower than normal playback, but also high-speed playback, for example, one frame is displayed for one frame period or more. In such a case, it can be implemented in the same manner.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even in a system that performs playback start and playback end processing in units of frames, the start point and end point in units of frames are respected without respecting the user's intention and feeling unnatural. It is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that can be specified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image information reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of setting a start point by the image information reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of setting an end point by the image information reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a start point / end point setting screen by the image information reproducing apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of a start point / end point setting screen by the image information reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of connecting and reproducing arbitrary scenes by a conventional information reproducing apparatus.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method for setting a start point / end point by a conventional image information reproducing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a start point / end point setting method by a conventional image information reproducing apparatus;
[Explanation of symbols]
101 optical disc
102 Optical pickup
103 Optical pickup drive circuit
104 Reproduction signal processing circuit
105 AV decoder
106 System controller
107 Image memory
108 Thumbnail generator
109 Top field thumbnail generation circuit
110 Bottom field thumbnail generation circuit
111 Both field thumbnail generation circuit
112 Still image memory
113 Output controller
114 Top field output circuit
115 Bottom field output circuit
116 Both-field output circuit
117 switching circuit
118 Image reduction circuit
119 OSD generation circuit
120 synthesis circuit

Claims (9)

From image data including a plurality of frames composed of a top field and a bottom field, a top field image output that outputs an image using only the top field image and an image that outputs only the bottom field image. An image information processing method comprising: independently processing bottom field image output. A first image reduction output for generating a reduced still image by reducing the top field image and a second image reduction output for generating a reduced still image by reducing the bottom field image are independent of each other. The image information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the image information processing method is processed. A first visual image is generated using only the image belonging to the top field from the top field image output, and the first visual image is viewed to correspond to an arbitrary first visual image. When the image data is set as the first setting image, a top field reduced still image corresponding to the first setting image is generated by the first image reduction output,
A second visual image is generated using only the image belonging to the bottom field from the bottom field image output, and the second visual image is viewed to correspond to an arbitrary second visual image. 3. When the image data is set as a second set image, a bottom field reduced still image corresponding to the second set image is generated by the second image reduced output. An image information processing method according to claim 1. A third image reduction output for generating a reduced still image using both the top field image and the bottom field image is further provided, and the image of the image data is visually recognized as a third visual image. When the image data corresponding to the third visual image is set as a third setting image, the third image belonging to both the top field and the bottom field corresponding to the third setting image The image information processing method according to claim 1, wherein a reduced output is generated. A device that reproduces image data constituting a frame by a top field and a bottom field, wherein a first mode for setting a first frame for starting reproduction and a second frame for setting a second frame for ending reproduction are provided. And a top field that outputs an image using only the top-field image. An image information reproducing apparatus comprising output means and bottom field output means for outputting an image using only a bottom field image. In the special playback mode in which playback is performed at a speed other than normal playback, the first field image is output using only the image belonging to the top field by the top field output means in the first mode, and the second mode 6. The image information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the bottom field output means outputs the second visual image using only the image belonging to the bottom field. First image reduction means for generating a reduced still image by reducing the top field image of the reproduced image, and second for generating a reduced still image by reducing the bottom field image of the reproduced image. An image reduction means, and when the first frame is set in the first mode, the first image reduction means generates a first reduced still image from the top field of the first frame. When the second frame is set in the second mode, the second image reduction means controls to generate a second reduced still image from the bottom field of the second frame. The image information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6. Third image reduction means for generating a reduced still image using both the top-field image and the bottom-field image of the reproduced image is further provided, and the first image is reproduced at normal speed in the first mode. When one frame is set, the third image reduction means generates a reduced still image using both the top field image data and the bottom field image data of the first frame, and When the second frame is set by reproduction at the normal speed in the second mode, both the top field image data and the bottom field image data of the second frame by the third image reduction means 8. The image information reproduction according to claim 5, wherein control for generating a third reduced still image is performed using Location. A device that reproduces image data constituting a frame by a top field and a bottom field, wherein a first mode for setting a first frame for starting reproduction and a second frame for setting a second frame for ending reproduction are provided. And a playback control means for controlling to start playback from the first frame and end playback at the second frame, and a top field image and a bottom field image of the played back image. And a third image reduction unit that generates a reduced still image using both of the first and second images, and when the first frame is set in the first mode, the third image reduction unit causes the first image reduction unit to generate the reduced still image. A reduced still image is generated using the image data of both the top field image data and the bottom field image data of the frame, and in the second mode, When the second frame is set, the third image reduction means generates a reduced still image using both the top field image data and the bottom field image data of the second frame. An image information reproducing apparatus characterized by performing control to perform.

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