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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium, such as an optical
disc, and a reproducing apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, management information is recorded on an optical disc. The
management information manages data (files) recorded on the optical disc.
As a representative example, management information defined as ISO-9660
standard is known. The management information includes at least ID
information and the size of each disc, the number and reproducing order of
discs that correlate, and the ID information, the record position, and the
size of each file recorded on the disc as structural elements.
However, in recent years, discs that have the management information
corresponding to the ISO-9660 standard are categorized as various types
such as specific discs, single-sided discs, and double-sided discs.
However, the conventional management information does not include
information that distinguishes such disc types.
The management information is especially important for system operation. In
other words, if the management information is damaged, the entire
information on the disc will be lost. To prevent such a problem, the same
management information is recorded in another region as a spare. To
further improve the safety of the management information, as shown in FIG.
40, the spare management information is recorded in a multiplexed fashion
at multiple regions on the disc. However, in this case, the spare
management information is recorded at a different record position as shown
by arrow A. Thus, each portion of duplicated management information
management will have a different value that represents the position
thereof. Thus, as the number of regions of the spare management
information is increased, the work load of the disc provider increases.
Moreover, in recent years, as the storage capacity of optical discs
increases, discs that record a plurality of stories with slightly
different contents and that reproduce any story selected by the user are
known. However, in this case, since the same data for each story is
recorded in a multiplexed fashion, the efficiency of the disc storage
capacity is remarkably low.
Furthermore, in recent years, as a technique for selectively reproducing a
variety of data recorded on the disc, menus are used. When menus are
composed, for example, as shown in FIG. 41, a menu list and memory image
information are recorded at predetermined regions of the disc. In the menu
list, the record position of menu image information corresponding to each
menu number and the file record position corresponding to each menu
selection number are recorded. When any menu number is selected (at step
1), a corresponding menu image information is read (at step 3) based on an
address on the menu list (at step 2). Thus, the menu screen is displayed.
When any file number is selected from the menu screen (at step 4), the
record position of the desired file is determined corresponding to the
menu list (at step 5) and the desired file is reproduced (at step 6).
However, in the above-described method using the menu list, as the number
of selection items increases, the size of the menu list increases and the
ratio of the data amount of the menu to the entire record data amount
increases, thereby lowering the efficiency of the disc storage capacity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium
and a reproducing apparatus thereof that can determine the types of a
recording medium and individual files corresponding to a data record
format.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium
and a reproducing apparatus thereof that determine the number of recording
sides and a recording surface thereof.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium
that does not need to change values that represent positions of regions of
spare management information recorded in a multiplexed fashion.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium
and a recording medium reproducing apparatus that does not need to in a
multiplexed fashion record the same data.
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium
and a reproducing apparatus thereof that do not increase the ratio of menu
data amount to the entire data amount even if the number of menu selection
items increases.
To accomplish such objects, a first aspect of the present invention is a
recording medium comprising a data region in which data is recorded as a
file corresponding to a predetermined data recording format, and a
management region including medium identifying information that represents
the type of the data recording format and file identifying information
that represents the type of the data recording format of the file.
A second aspect of the present invention is a reproducing apparatus,
comprising a first determining means for reading medium identifying
information recorded in the management region and determining a type of a
data recording format of the recording medium corresponding to the medium
identifying information, and a second determining means for reading the
file identifying information of each file recorded in the management
region and determining a type of each file recorded on the recording
medium corresponding to the file identifying information.
Thus, according to the present invention, the type of the recording format
for a recording medium and the type of files can be determined.
Consequently, a recording medium and files dedicated for a specific system
can be provided.
A third aspect of the present invention is a recording medium having two
opposite sides, either or both of which are selective as recording sides,
comprising a data region in which data is recorded, and a management
region including number-of-recording-sides identifying information that
represents the number of recording sides of the recording medium and
recording side identifying information that represents the recording side.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a reproducing apparatus,
comprising a number-of-recording-sides determining means for reading the
number-of-recording-sides identifying information recorded in the
management region and determining the number of recording sides of the
recording medium, and a recording-side determining means for reading the
recording-side identifying information recorded in the management region
and determining the recording side of the recording medium to be
reproduced.
Thus, according to the present invention, different types of recording
mediums that are for example single-sided type and double-sided type can
be handled.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium, comprising a
data region in which data is recorded, a management region in which
management information is recorded, the management information being
adapted for managing data recorded in the data region, and a plurality of
spare management regions in which management information with the same
content as the management region is recorded, values representing the
positions in the spare management regions being represented with relative
distance from the top addresses thereof.
Thus, it is not necessary to change the value that represents the position
of each management information.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium on which data
is recorded as a file, the file comprising a first region in which a data
unit group that is a group of a plurality of types of data that are
synchronously reproduced, a second region in which at least one cell
information table that is a program cell composed by selectively linking
at least one data unit recorded in the first region, and a third region in
which at least one chain information that is a program chain composed by
selectively linking at least one cell information table recorded in the
second region.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is a reproducing apparatus
comprising a first searching means for searching any chain information
table recorded in the third region, a second searching means for searching
at least one cell information table that composes the program chain from
the second region corresponding to the searched chain information table,
and a third searching means for searching at least one data unit that
composes the program cell from the first region corresponding to the cell
information table searched by the second searching means.
Thus, according to the present invention, the same program cell can be
shared with a plurality of program chains. Consequently, the same data can
be prevented from being redundantly recorded. As a result, the efficiency
of the recording capacity of the recording medium can be maximized.
An eighth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium, wherein
the file includes at least one cell information table that composes a menu
screen on which any data item to be displayed is selected, and wherein the
cell information table that composes the menu screen includes identifying
information that represents that the cell information table composes the
menu screen.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is a reproducing apparatus,
comprising means for determining a cell information table that composes a
menu screen corresponding to the identifying information and means for
reproducing the menu screen corresponding to the cell information table.
Thus, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to record a
menu list and so forth in other than a file. Consequently, even if the
number of selection items increases, the ratio of the menu data amount to
the entire record data amount does not increase.
A tenth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium, wherein the
chain information table that composes the program chain with the cell
information table that composes the menu screen includes block mode
information that defines a cell information group that composes the menu
screens that correlate as-one block.
An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus,
comprising a means for recognizing the correlation among a plurality of
menu screens included in the chain information table corresponding to the
block mode information in the chain information table searched by the
first searching means, and a means for reproducing a second menu screen
after a first menu screen is selected, when the recognizing means has
determined that there is correlation between the first menu screen that is
being reproduced and the second menu screen.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium, wherein
the cell information table that composes the menu screen further includes
language type information that represents a language type of characters
displayed on the menu screen.
A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a reproducing apparatus,
comprising a means for determining whether or not a language type of the
menu screen composed of the cell information table on the menu screen
matches a language type selected by the language type selecting means
corresponding to the language type information in the cell information
table when the determining means has determined the cell information table
that composes the menu screen, and a means for reproducing at least one
data unit searched by the third searching means as the menu screen.
Thus, according to the present invention, only a menu screen with a
language type selected by the user reproduced from a plurality of cell
information tables so as to compose a menu screen with same content but
different languages.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description
of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of an optical disc
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an example of PVD table;
FIG. 3 is an example of VTD table;
FIG. 4 is an example of L type PT table;
FIG. 5 is an example of M type PT table;
FIG. 6 is an example of DR(00) table;
FIG. 7 is an example of DR(01) table;
FIG. 8 is an example of file (n) table;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a construction of an optical disc
reproducing apparatus that reproduces data from the disc shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a construction of a device that
determines the types of a disc and a file corresponding to a data
recording format;
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a construction of a function that
determines the number of recording sides and a reproducing side of a disc;
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a file access process of a data
structure;
FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a file access process;
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing disc management information in a
multiplexed fashion written to a read-in region;
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a file;
FIG. 16 is an example of a file management table;
FIG. 17 is an example of a chain information table;
FIG. 18 is another example of a chain information table;
FIG. 19 is an example of a cell information table;
FIG. 20 is an example of a DAT;
FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing a program chain selecting process;
FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of file relocation;
FIGS. 23A-23C illustrate tables showing branch information of three program
chains;
FIGS. 24A-24C illustrate tables showing chain control information of three
program chains;
FIGS. 24A-24C are schematic diagrams showing a reproducing process of three
chain programs;
FIG. 26 is a table showing control information of a program chain;
FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing a successive reproducing process of program
cells;
FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a real example of a successive
reproducing process of program cells;
FIG. 29 is a table showing an example of control information of program
chains including multiple angles;
FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a reproduction control process of multiple
angles;
FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing a real example of a reproducing
process of multiple angles;
FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of chain control
information in a chain information table that composes a menu screen;
FIG. 33 is a table and a schematic diagram showing a structure of a cell
information table that composes a menu screen;
FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a file selecting
menu;
FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a sequence (program
chain) selecting menu;
FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of another menu;
FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a structure of a function for displaying
a menu;
FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram showing a file selecting process;
FIG. 39 is a table showing a cell information table group that composes a
plurality of menu screens with different languages;
FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram showing multiplexedly recorded spare
management information of a related art reference; and
FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram showing a menu composing process of a
related art reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the
present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 a schematic diagram showing a data structure of an optical disc
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The data structure of the disc is based on ISO-9660 standard. The record
space of the disc is divided into a read-in region, a management region, a
data region, and a read-out region. The management region includes a
system area, a PVD (Primary Volume Descriptor) table, a VTD (Volume
Terminate Descriptor) table, a PT (Path Table), and a DR (Directory
Record). The data region is composed of a plurality of files. The physical
sector size is 1024 bytes. The logical sector size is 2048 bytes. The
logical block size is 1024 bytes.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the PVD table of the management region, information
of the disc (volume) such as the size of the volume, the attribute of the
volume, the position of the route DR, and the position of the PT is
written. The content of the VTD table is defined as shown in FIG. 3. In
the PT (L type PT or M type PT), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, hierarchical
structures between DRs are written. The DR is a table group that are
composed of a route DR (00) table, a route DR (01) table, and a file (n)
table. In the route DR (00) table and the route DR (01) table, as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7, the positions thereof are written. The file (n) table is
provided for each file in the data region. As shown in FIG. 8, in the file
(n) table, the position of the file and so forth are written.
As shown in FIG. 2, the PVD table is provided with an application system
region. In the application system region, a disc identifier 1, a
number-of-disc-sides identifier 2, a disc side identifier 3, and so forth
are recorded. The disc identifier 1 represents the type of the data
recording format of the disc. The number-of-disc-sides identifier 2
represents whether the disc is a double-sided disc or a single-sided disc.
The disc side identifier 3 represents whether side A or side B of a
double-sided disc is being reproduced. In the PVD table, the value of the
BP represents the byte position from the top of the table.
As shown in FIG. 8, the file (n) table corresponding to each file is
provided with an application system region. In the application system
region, information (disc identifier) 4 and so forth are recorded. The
disc identifier 4 represents the type of the data recording format of the
file.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of an optical disc
reproducing apparatus that reproduces data from a disc that has the
above-described data structure. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 11 is an
optical disc drive portion that drives the optical disc and reads data
from the optical disc through an optical pickup. Reference numeral 12 is
an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) that controls the entire system of the
apparatus. Reference numeral 13 is a key input portion that supplies a
user command to the MPU 12. Reference numeral 14 is an RAM portion that is
used as a working region for a ROM and the MPU 12. In the ROM, a control
program for the MPU 12 is stored. Reference numeral 15 is a system
processor portion that demodulates and error-corrects the data that is
output from the optical drive portion 11 and divides the error-corrected
data into three types of data that are video (main image), audio, and sub
video. Reference numeral 16 is a RAM portion that processes data.
Reference numerals 17, 18, and 19 are a video decoder portion, an audio
decoder portion, and a sub video decoder portion that decode the video
data, the audio data, and the sub video data that are output from the
system processor portion 15, respectively. Reference numeral 20 is a D/A &
reproducing process portion that converts each decoded data into an analog
signal, multiplexes the video data and the sub video data, and outputs the
multiplexed data to an image and sound output portion 21.
Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13, the operation of the optical disc
reproducing apparatus will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram
showing a construction of a device that determines the types of a disc and
a file corresponding to the data recording format of the disc. FIG. 11 is
a schematic diagram showing a construction of a device that determines the
number of recording sides of the disc and the reproducing side. FIG. 12 is
a schematic diagram showing a file access process of the data structure
shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a file access process.
After the disc reproducing apparatus is activated or the disc is replaced,
the reproducing apparatus reads the PVD table (at step 1). Thereafter, the
reproducing apparatus determines whether or not the disc is based on the
ISO-9660 standard corresponding to the standard identifier in the PVD
table (at step 2). When the disc is based on the ISO-9660 standard, a disc
recording format determining portion 31 of the reproducing apparatus
checks the disc identifier 1 recorded in the application system region of
the PVD table and determines whether or not the reproducing apparatus can
reproduce data from the disc (applicable disc) (at step 3).
When the mounted disc is an applicable disc, a
number-of-disc-recording-sides determining portion 41 of the reproducing
apparatus determines the number-of-disc-sides identifier 2 recorded in the
application system region (at step 4). When the mounted disc is a
double-sided disc, a disc side A/B determining portion 42 of the
reproducing apparatus checks the disc side identifier 3 recorded in the
application system region and determines whether the reproducing side is
side A or side B (at step 5).
Thereafter, the reproducing apparatus reads the PT and determines the
hierarchical structure between the DRs. Next, the reproducing apparatus
reads the route RD and determines the position of each file (n) table (at
step 6). After that, the reproducing apparatus obtains a file name from
the first file (n) table (at step 7) and determines whether or not the
file name matches a predetermined file name (at step 8). When these file
names do not match, the reproducing apparatus obtains the next file name
(at step 9) and repeats the same operation. When these files match, a file
record format determining portion 32 shown in FIG. 10 of the reproducing
apparatus checks the information (disc identifier) 4 in the application
system region of the file (n) table in the matched file and determines
whether or not the file is applicable for the reproducing apparatus (at
step 11). When the file is not applicable, the process is terminated. When
the file is applicable, the reproducing apparatus checks the record
position of the file corresponding to the file (n) table and accesses the
file (at step 12).
Next, the multiplex recording method of the management information will be
described.
On the disc, the same management information as the information recorded in
the management region is recorded at a plurality of positions other than
the positions of the management region and the data region.
FIG. 14 shows the spare management information that is written at a
plurality of positions in the read-in region in a multiplexed fashion. As
shown in FIG. 14, the values that represent the positions of individual
spare management information are defined by the relative distance (number
of sectors) from the top addresses of the spare management regions 51 and
52.
The absolute addresses that represent the positions in a management region
53 and a data region 54 are defined by the relative distance (the number
of sectors) from the top address of the management region 53. Thus, when
any position of the spare management region 51 or 52 is accessed, by
adding the value of a desired absolute address and an offset value of the
top address of the spare management region 51 or 52, the value of the
absolute address can be calculated. For example, when the top address of
the first spare management region 51 is -20, the address represented by
the absolute address 3 is calculated by the following expression.
3+(-20)=-17
Likewise, when the top address of the second spare management region 52 is
-10, the address represented by the absolute address 3 can be calculated
by the following expression.
3+(-10)=-7
Next, the data structure of the file recorded in the data region of the
disc will be described. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the data
structure of the file. As shown in FIG. 15, the file includes a file
management table 5, a group of chain information tables 6, a group of cell
information tables 7, a group of DUT allocation tables (referred to as
DATs) 8, and a group of DUTs (data units) 9.
As shown in FIG. 16, the file management table 5 includes the number of
chain information tables, the number of cell information tables, the
number of DUTs (data units), the number of sectors, and pointers that
represent the top of each table.
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, in the chain information table 6, information
that composes a program chain is written. A program chain is a unit that
composes one story. Each program chain is composed by linking a plurality
of programs in the order of the reproduction. A program is composed of a
group of at least one unit called a program cell. In other words, the
chain information table 6 includes information that composes one program
chain in which a plurality of cell information tables 7 are selectively
linked. In the file, a plurality of chain information tables 6 are
successively placed in the order of chain numbers.
As shown in FIG. 19, in the cell information table 7, information that
composes program cells is written. A program cell is a part that composes
one program. Each program cell is composed by linking a plurality of DUTs
in the order of reproduction. In other words, the cell information table 7
includes information that composes one program cell in which a plurality
of DUTs 9 are selectively linked. In the file, a plurality of cell
information tables 7 are successively linked in the order of cell numbers.
As shown in FIG. 20, in the DAT 8, information that represents the position
of the DUT is written as the relative distance (number of sectors) from
the top of the file. In the file, a plurality of DATs 8 are successively
placed in the order of the DUT numbers.
The DUT 9 is composed of a plurality of types of data that are video data,
audio data, sub video data that are synchronously reproduced. The
reproducing time of each DUT 9 is not defined. In the file, the DUTs 9 are
placed in the order of the DUT numbers.
Next, with reference to FIG. 21, a process for selecting a program chain
will be described.
The reproducing apparatus can reproduce any program chain selected by the
user from a plurality of program chains that are present in a file.
The reproducing apparatus obtains a required file and then reads the file
management table 5 from the file (at step 101). Thereafter, the
reproducing apparatus obtains the number of program chains in the file,
the number of program cells in the file, the number of DUTs in the file,
the number of sectors in the file, and the pointers that represent the top
of each table (at step 103). Next, the reproducing apparatus obtains the
content of the first chain information table corresponding to the obtained
pointers (at step 104) and resets the counter value that represents the
chain number to "0" (at step 105).
After that, the reproducing apparatus determines whether or not the chain
number represented by the counter matches a chain number designated by the
user (at step 106). When these number do not match, with a pointer that is
obtained by adding the length of the table written to the chain
information table to the top pointer, the reproducing apparatus obtains
the content of the next chain information table (at step 107). Thereafter,
the reproducing apparatus increments the chain number by "1" (at step 108)
and determines whether or not the chain number of the counter matches the
chain number designated by the user. The reproducing apparatus repeats
steps 6 to 8 until the chain number represented by the counter matches the
chain number designated by the user.
When the chain number represented by the counter matches the chain number
designated by the user, the reproducing apparatus obtains the number of
program cells that compose the program chain, the number of DUTs, the
number of sub video channels, the number of audio streams, and so forth
from the chain information table (at step 109). Thereafter, the
reproducing apparatus obtains the number of branch points (NBP) in the
chain information table and the top pointer of the cain control
information (SCINFO) from the obtained information (at step 110). After
that, the reproducing apparatus obtains the top chain control information
(SCINFO) from the obtained top pointer (at step 111) and starts the
reproduction control of the program chain corresponding to the chain
control information (SCINFO) (at step 112).
The top positions of the file management table 5, the chain information
table 6, the cell information table 6, the cell information table 7, the
DAT 8, and the DUT 9 in the file shown in FIG. 15 are defined by the
relative distance (the number of sectors) from the top of the file. In the
following description, the number of sectors of the file management table
5 is represented by a. The number of sectors of all chain information
tables 6 is represented by b. The number of sectors of all cell
information tables is represented by c. The number of sectors of all DATs
is represented by d. Thus, the top position of the file management table
is represented by 0. The position of the top chain information table is
represented by a. The position of the top cell information table is
represented by a+b. The position of the top DAT is represented by a+b+c.
The position of the top DUT is represented by a+b+c+d.
Because the position in the file is represented by the relative distance
(the number of sectors) from the top of the file, as shown in FIG. 22,
when the file is relocated to another position of the data region, it is
not necessary to change the value that represents the position.
In the file structure of this optical disc, a plurality of program chains
can share the same program cells.
As shown in FIG. 18, in the chain information table, the number of branch
points (NBP) that represents the number of program cells shared with
another program chain and branch information (BINFO) that is the program
cell number are written. FIGS. 23A-23C and 24A-24C show examples of the
branch information (BINFO) and chain control information (SCINFO) in the
case that program chains A, B, and C share program cells. In the chain
control information (SCINFO), program cell numbers are written in the
order of reproduction thereof. The reproducing apparatus successively
selects and reproduces program cells corresponding to the chain control
information (SCINFO). Thus, the program chains A, B, and C are reproduced
corresponding to the process shown in FIGS. 25A-25C. In FIGS. 25A-24C, (0)
to (8) represent program cell numbers and reproducing regions thereof.
Next, the operation in the case that a program chain is switched while one
of program chains A, B, and C is being reproduced will be described.
1) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain B while the
program cell 1 of the program chain A is being reproduced, the program
chain B is reproduced from the first program cell 5.
2) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain C while the
program cell 1 of the program chain A is being reproduced, the program
chain C is reproduced from the first program cell 7.
3) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain B after the
program cell 1 of the program chain A has been reproduced, the program
chain B is reproduced from the next program cell 2. This is because the
program chain B has the program cell 1 that is shared with the program
chain A. To prevent the same program cell from being redundantly
reproduced, the program chain B is reproduced from the next program cell
2.
4) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain C after the
program cell 1 of the program chain A has been reproduced, the program
chain C is reproduced from the first program cell 7.
5) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain B after the
program cell 2 of the program chain A has been reproduced, the program
chain B is reproduced from the program cell 6. The reason is the same as
3) above.
6) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain C after the
program cell 2 of the program chain C has been reproduced, the program
chain C is reproduced from the first program cell 7.
7) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain B after the
program cell 3 of the program chain A has been reproduced, the program
chain B is reproduced from the program cell 6.
8) When the program chain A is switched to the program chain C after the
program cell 3 of the program chain A has been reproduced, the program
chain C is reproduced from the program cell 8. This is because the program
chain C has the program cell 3 that is shared with the program chain A. To
prevent the same program cell from being redundantly reproduced, the
program chain C is reproduced from the program cell 8.
When a first program chain is switched to a second program chain that
shares program cells with the first program chain, after the shared
program cells have been reproduced, the next program chain is reproduced.
Next, a process for controlling the reproduction of a program chain will be
described.
As shown in FIG. 18, in the chain information table, the chain control
information (SCINFO) is successively recorded in the order of the
reproduction of the program cells. Thus, by reading the chain control
information, the program cells can be successively reproduced (namely, the
program chain can be reproduced).
As shown in FIGS. 18 and 26, the chain control information (SCINFO)
includes a two-bit reproduction control area 61. The reproducing apparatus
can recognize the content of the control of program cells that are
successively reproduced corresponding to the reproduction control
information.
The content of the reproduction control information is:
00: Successively reproduces the next program cell without waiting after a
program cell is reproduced (presence of continuity of programs).
01: Successively reproduces the next program cell without waiting after a
program cell is reproduced (absence of continuity of programs).
10: Reproduces a program cell with waiting time (PWAIT) designated by cell
information table after another program cell is reproduced.
11: Stops the reproducing operation, after a program cell is reproduced.
Next, a real example of the successive reproduction control of program
cells corresponding to the reproduction control information will be
described.
FIG. 26 shows an example of the chain control information (SCINFO). In this
example, a program chain is composed of five program cells. The angle
modes of the program cells are "00". A multi-angle reproduction is not
designated. In the multi-angle reproduction, the user can select one of
program cells that can be reproduced in the same time on the same time
axis. For example, in the case of a baseball program on TV, the user can
select one of the two images which have been photographed and received by
cameras on the first base side and the second base side.
Next, with reference to a flow chart of FIG. 27, a process for controlling
successive reproduction of program cells will be described with no
multi-angle (angle mode=00B).
The reproducing apparatus obtains the first control information (SCINFO)
from the chain information table (at step 201) and reads the first program
cell number therefrom (at step 202). Thereafter, the reproducing apparatus
reads the top pointer of the cell information table from the file
management table and obtains a desired cell information table
corresponding to the top pointer and the program cell number (at step
203). Next, the reproducing apparatus reproduces program cells
corresponding to the content of the obtained cell information table (at
step 204).
At this point, the reproducing apparatus reads the information of the
reproduction control area of the chain control | | |
