CN100583269C - Recording medium and audio-signal processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A digital signal recording disc has a first area and a second area. The second area is different from the first area. The first area stores a first channel digital audio signal and a second channel digital audio signal. The first channel digital audio signal is the result of quantizing the first channel analog audio signal with a first number of quantization bits. The second channel digital audio signal is the result of quantizing the second channel analog audio signal with a second number of quantization bits. The second area stores first and second quantization bit information.

Description

Recording medium and audio signal processing device

This application is a divisional application of a patent application with the application number 98116069.7, the filing date being July 15, 1998, and the invention title being "recording medium and audio signal processing device".

technical field

The present invention relates to recording media such as digital video discs or digital versatile discs (DVD). The invention also relates to a device for encoding an audio signal. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a device for decoding an audio signal. Also, the present invention relates to optical disc players such as DVD (Digital Video Disc) players.

Background technique

Optical discs for storing information include digital video discs (DVDs). A standard DVD stores a combination of audio and video signals. Standard DVD audio signal recording capacity is significantly smaller than its video signal recording capacity. It is difficult to manage time-dependent information of audio signals recorded on standard DVDs. It is also difficult to read out music title information represented by audio signals recorded on a standard DVD.

Contents of the invention

A first object of the present invention is to provide an improved recording medium.

A second object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for encoding audio signals.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved device for decoding audio signals.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an improved optical disc player.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a digital signal recording disc, the recording disc includes a first area for storing a first channel digital audio signal and a second channel digital audio signal, the first channel digital audio signal comes from a first quantized The number of digits is the result of quantizing the analog audio signal of the first channel, and the digital audio signal of the second channel is derived from the result of quantizing the analog audio signal of the second channel with the second quantization number of digits; The second field of quantization bits information.

A second aspect of the present invention is based on its first aspect, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first channel digital audio signal comprises a front channel digital audio signal and the second channel digital audio signal comprises a rear channel digital audio signal, and the first and the second quantization bits are different from each other.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a digital signal recording disc, the recording disc includes a first area for storing a first channel digital audio signal and a second channel digital audio signal, the first channel digital audio signal comes from a pair of The analog audio signal of the first channel is converted from analog to digital, and the digital audio signal of the second channel comes from the analog to digital conversion of the analog audio signal of the second channel according to the second sampling frequency; Second field for second sampling frequency information.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is based on the third aspect thereof, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first-channel digital audio signal includes a front-channel digital audio signal and the second-channel digital audio signal includes a rear-channel digital audio signal, and the first and the second sampling frequency are different from each other.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is based on the third aspect thereof, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first-channel digital audio signal includes a front-channel digital audio signal and the second-channel digital audio signal includes a rear-channel digital audio signal, and the first and the second sampling frequency are equal to each other, and wherein the rear channel digital audio signal comes from the result of thinning (decimation), and the second area stores thinning (decimation) information.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is based on its third aspect, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first channel digital audio signal includes a front channel digital audio signal and the second channel digital audio signal includes a low frequency effect channel digital audio signal, and the first channel digital audio signal includes a low frequency effect channel digital audio signal, and The first and second sampling frequencies are equal to each other, and wherein the low frequency effects channel digital audio signal is a result of refinement, and the second region stores the refinement information.

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a digital signal recording disc comprising a first area for storing a first channel digital audio signal and a second channel digital audio signal, the first channel digital audio signal being derived from the first channel analog audio signal According to the analog-to-digital conversion result of the first sampling frequency and the first quantization digit, the second channel digital audio signal comes from the analog-to-digital conversion result of the second channel analog audio signal according to the second sampling frequency and the second quantization digit , the second sampling frequency is different from the first sampling frequency, the second quantization bit number is different from the first quantization bit number; and the second area different from the first area stores the first and second sampling frequency information and the first and the second quantization bit information.

An eighth aspect of the present invention provides a digital signal recording disc comprising a first area for storing at least first channel and second channel digital audio signals each assigned to the first channel group or the second channel group, the first The digital audio signal in one channel group comes from the analog-to-digital conversion result of the first analog audio signal according to the first sampling frequency and the first quantization number, and the digital audio signal in the second channel group comes from the second analog audio signal according to the first sampling frequency. Analog-to-digital conversion results of two sampling frequencies and second quantization bits; and a second area different from the first area, which stores first and second sampling frequency information, first and second quantization bit information, and Information about the first channel and the second channel digital audio signal is assigned to the first and second channel groups.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is based on the seventh aspect thereof, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first area stores left channel and right channel stereo digital audio signals from the left channel and the right channel The result of the analog-to-digital conversion of the stereo analog audio signal according to the third sampling frequency, and wherein the second area stores information of the third sampling frequency.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is based on the seventh aspect thereof, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first area stores left channel and right channel stereo digital audio signals from the left channel and the right channel The result of the analog-to-digital conversion of the stereo analog audio signal according to the third quantization bit, and wherein the second area stores the information of the third quantization bit.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is based on the ninth aspect thereof, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the left channel and right channel stereo digital audio signals are different from the first channel and second channel digital audio signals, and the first area includes the storage The first sub-area stores the digital audio signals of the first channel and the second channel, and the second sub-area stores the stereo digital audio signals of the left channel and the right channel.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is based on its seventh aspect, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first channel and the second channel digital audio signals are derived from AC-3 encoding process, MPEG-1 encoding process and PMEG-2 encoding The result of an encoding process selected in the process.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal encoding device, which includes first means for quantizing the front-channel analog audio signal into a corresponding front-channel digital audio signal according to a first quantization bit number; A second quantization bit of the first quantization bit quantizes the rear channel analog audio signal into a second device corresponding to the rear channel digital audio signal; and is used to convert the front channel digital audio signal, the rear channel digital audio signal, and the first and the second quantization bit information formatted as a third means having a structure of a first area and a second area, the first area contains the front channel digital audio signal and the rear channel digital audio signal, and the second area is different from the first area and contains First and second quantization bit information.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal encoding device, which includes first means for quantizing the front-channel analog audio signal into a corresponding front-channel digital audio signal at a first sampling frequency; A second sampling frequency of a sampling frequency quantizes the rear channel analog audio signal into the second device of the corresponding rear channel digital audio signal; and is used to convert the front channel digital audio signal, the rear channel digital audio signal, and the first and second The sampling frequency information is formatted as a third means having a structure of first and second areas, the first area contains the front channel digital audio signal and the rear channel digital audio signal, and the second area is different from the first area and contains the first and second Two sampling frequency information.

The fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal encoding device, which includes a first quantization method for quantizing the front channel analog audio signal into a corresponding front channel digital audio signal according to the first quantization bit number and the first sampling frequency. Device; Quantize the rear channel analog audio signal into the second device of the corresponding rear channel digital audio signal according to the second quantization bit number and the second sampling frequency, the second quantization bit number is different from the first quantization bit number, and the second sampling frequency Different from the first sampling frequency; and used to format the front channel digital audio signal, the rear channel digital audio signal, and the first and second quantization bit information and the first and second sampling frequency information to have the first and second sampling frequency information In the third device of the two-area structure, the first area contains the front channel digital audio signal and the rear channel digital audio signal, and the second area is different from the first area and contains the first and second quantization bit information and the first and second Sampling frequency information.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal encoding apparatus comprising first means for distributing each of the first channel and the second channel analog audio signals to the first channel group or the second channel group; A second device for quantizing the analog audio signal in the first channel group into a corresponding digital audio signal in the first channel group according to the first sampling frequency and the first quantization number; a third means for quantizing the analog audio signal in the second channel group into a corresponding digital audio signal in the second channel group; and for converting the digital audio signal in the first and second channel groups, and The first and second quantization bit information, the first and second sampling frequency information, and the distribution information of the first channel and the second channel analog audio signal to the first and second channel group are formatted with the first and second The fourth means of the structure of the area, the first area contains the digital audio signal of the first and second channel group, the second area is different from the first area and contains the first and second quantization bit information, the first and the second sample Frequency information and information on assignment of the first channel and second channel analog audio signals to the first and second channel groups.

A seventeenth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal decoding apparatus comprising first means for extracting first quantization bit information for a front channel and second quantization bit information for a rear channel from a reproduced signal , the second quantization bit number is different from the first quantization bit number; second means for deriving the front channel digital audio signal and the back channel digital audio signal from the reproduced signal; for responding to the first quantization bit number information for front channel digital audio third means for signal decoding; and fourth means for decoding the rear channel digital audio signal in response to the second quantization bit information.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal decoding apparatus comprising first means for extracting first sampling frequency information for a front channel and second sampling frequency information for a rear channel from a reproduced signal, the first The second sampling frequency is different from the first sampling frequency; the second device for deriving the front channel digital audio signal and the rear channel digital audio signal from the reproduced signal; the third device for decoding the front channel digital audio signal in response to the first sampling frequency information means; and fourth means for decoding the rear channel digital audio signal in response to the second sampling frequency information.

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal decoding device, which includes a device for extracting the first sampling frequency and the first quantization bit information for the front channel from the reproduced signal and extracting the second sampling frequency and the first quantization bit information for the rear channel. The first means of the second quantization bit information, the second quantization bit is different from the first quantization bit, and the second sampling frequency is different from the first sampling frequency; for deriving the front channel digital audio signal and the rear channel digital audio signal from the reproduced signal A second device for audio signals; a third device for decoding the front channel digital audio signal in response to the first quantization bit number and first sampling frequency information; and a second quantization bit number and second sampling frequency information for post A fourth means for decoding channel digital audio signals.

The twentieth aspect of the present invention provides an audio signal decoding device, which includes a method for extracting the first quantization bit number and the first sampling frequency information for the front channel group from the reproduced signal and extracting the second quantization number for the rear channel group. First means of quantization bit number and second sampling frequency information, the second quantization bit number is different from the first quantization bit number, and the second sampling frequency is different from the first sampling frequency; for deriving the first channel digital audio signal from the reproduced signal and second means of digital audio signals of the second channel, each derived first channel and second channel digital audio signal assigned to the first channel group or the second channel group; for extracting the first channel and the second channel from the reproduced signal a third means for assigning information of channel digital audio signals to first or second channel groups; and for responding to first and second quantization bit information, first and second sampling frequency information, and first channel and second Assignment information of the channel digital audio signal to the first or second channel group. Fourth means for decoding the first channel digital audio signal and the second channel digital audio signal.

A twenty-first aspect of the present invention provides an optical disc player comprising first means for reproducing audio packs and control packs from an optical disc; first and second buffers; Second means for alternately writing the audio packs reproduced in the two buffers; third means for decoding the reproduced control packs into control data; for decoding the audio packs in the first and second buffers in response to the control data A fourth means for audio data; a D/A converter for converting the audio data into an analog audio signal.

A twenty-second aspect of the present invention is based on the twenty-first aspect thereof, and provides an optical disk player, wherein the first and second buffers have a capacity of 4 kilobytes.

A twenty-third aspect of the present invention is based on the eighth aspect thereof, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first area stores audio data in audio packs, and the second area stores audio data information in audio packs ADI.

A twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is based on the eighth aspect thereof, and provides a digital signal recording disc, wherein the first area includes the audio content block set ACBS, and the second area stores only the audio content block set ACBS in the audio work set information ATSI. The audio object attribute AOTT-AOB-ATR containing the audio work.

A twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention is based on the sixteenth aspect thereof, and provides an audio signal encoding device further comprising fifth means for formatting a digital audio signal into audio data in audio packets and a sixth means for distributing first and second sampling frequency information, first and second quantization bit information, and information on first and second channel analog audio signals to first and second channel groups Formatted as audio data information ADI in audio packets.

A twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention is based on the sixteenth aspect thereof, and provides an audio signal encoding device, which further includes fifth means for formatting the digital audio signal into an audio content block set ACBS; And a sixth means for distributing the first and second sampling frequency information, the first and second quantization bit information, and the information format of the first channel and the second channel analog audio signal to the first and second channel groups Converted to the audio object attribute AOTT-AOB-ATR containing only the audio work in the audio work set information ATSI.

A twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is based on the twentieth aspect thereof, and provides an audio signal decoding apparatus, wherein the first means comprises means for reproducing the first quantization bit number and The first sampling frequency information, and the second quantization number of bits and the second sampling frequency information means, and wherein the third means includes for reproducing the audio data information ADI from the audio pack and assigning the first and second channel groups to the first and second channel groups. A device for information about channel and second channel digital audio signals.

A twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention is based on the twentieth aspect thereof, and provides an audio signal decoding apparatus, wherein the first means includes an audio object attribute for only audio works from the audio work set information ATSI AOTT-AOB-ATR Means for reproducing the first quantization bit number and first sampling frequency information, and the second quantization bit number and second sampling frequency information, and wherein the third means includes only The audio object attribute AOTT-AOB-ATR containing the audio work reproduces means for assigning information of the first channel and the second channel digital audio signal to the first and second channel groups.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is an illustration of a video DVD signal recording format.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of the audio DVD signal recording format according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the structure of the AMG region in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the structure of the ATS region in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the structure of the AMGI region in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the structure of the ATS-ATRT region in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the structure of the ATS-ATR region in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the structure of the ATSI region in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the structure of the ATSI-MAT region in FIG. 8 .

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the structure of the ATSM-AST-ATR region in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the structure of the ATS-AST-ATRT region in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is an illustration of the structure of the ATS-AST-ATR region in FIG. 11 .

Figure 13 is an illustration of a sequence of packets.

Fig. 14 is an illustration of the structure of an audio pack A or a video pack V.

Fig. 15 is an illustration of the structure of an audio control pack A-CONT.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of the structure of the ACD region in FIG. 15 .

FIG. 17 is an illustration of an indication of a Japanese musical piece title added with English.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the structure of the ASD region in FIG. 15 .

Fig. 19 is an illustration of a sequence of packets.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing the relationship among channels, sampling frequency, quantization bit number, data rate, and longest recording time.

Fig. 21 is a diagram showing the relationship among channels, sampling frequency, quantization bit number, data rate, and longest recording time in the case of 2-channel plus 6-channel audio signals.

Fig. 22 is a diagram showing the relationship among channels, sampling frequency, quantization bits, data rate, and longest recording time in the case of 2-channel plus 5-channel audio signals.

Fig. 23 is a diagram showing the relationship among channels, sampling frequency, quantization bit number, data rate, and longest recording time in the case of a 6-channel audio signal.

Figure 24 is an illustration of an audio DVD.

Figure 25 is an illustration of the ACD domain structure.

Fig. 26 is an illustration of the audio DVD recording format according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 27 is an illustration of a sequence of packets.

Fig. 28 is an illustration of the signal recording format of DVD-Van.

Fig. 29 is an illustration of a signal recording format of a video DVD.

Fig. 30 is an illustration of the signal recording format of DVD-Avd.

Figure 31 is an illustration of the AOTT-AOB-ATR domain structure.

Figure 32 is an illustration of channel assignments.

Fig. 33 is an illustration of a linear PCM audio pack structure.

FIG. 34 is an illustration of the ADI field structure in FIG. 33 .

Figure 35 is an illustration of the structure of the AOTT-VOB-AST-ATR region.

Fig. 36 is a block diagram of an audio signal encoding apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram of the signal processing circuit in FIG. 36 .

Fig. 38 is a block diagram of an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 39 is a block diagram of an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 40 is a block diagram of an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 41 is a block diagram of an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 42 is a block diagram of an optical disk player according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 43 is a block diagram of an optical disk player according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

first embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a signal recording format of a video DVD (Digital Video Disc-Video). As shown in 1, the video DVD has a first area allocated to the video manager VMG. Following the VMG area are sequences assigned to the second and subsequent areas of the video production set VTS, respectively.

Each VTS area has a series of areas, namely one area allocated to VTS information VTSI, one or more areas allocated to respective sets of video content blocks VCBS, and one area allocated to VTS information VTSI. The first video content block set VCBS stores menu information indicating menu screens.

Each VCBS region has a series of regions respectively assigned to video content blocks VCB. Each video content block VCB corresponds to a video work.

Each VCB area has a series of areas respectively corresponding to chapters. Each chapter contains information representing a part of a work marked by PTT.

Each chapter has a series of units. Each cell has a series of VCB units VCBU. Each VCB unit VCBU has a series of packs. Each packet has 2048 bytes.

In each VCB unit VCBU, the first pack is a control pack CONT, followed by a series of packs including a video pack V, an audio pack A, and a sub-picture pack SP. The control pack CONT is allocated to information for controlling the video pack V following the control pack CONT. The control information contains video packet synchronization information. Each audio pack is allocated to audio data.

FIG. 2 shows a signal recording format of an audio DVD (Audio Digital Video Disc) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Audio DVD is compatible with Video DVD (see Figure 1). As indicated at 2, the audio DVD has a first area allocated to the audio manager AMG. The AMG zone is followed by a second and subsequent series of zones respectively assigned to the collection of audio works ATS.

Each ATS zone has a series of zones, namely one zone allocated to the ATS information ATSI, one or more zones allocated to the respective set of audio content blocks ACBS, and one zone allocated to the ATS information ATSI. The ATS information ATSI indicates the playing time length of each music piece represented by the audio data in the audio content block set ACBS. The playback duration of each song is expressed in real time. The first audio content block set ACBS stores menu information indicating menu screens.

Each ACBS area has a series of areas respectively assigned to audio content blocks ACB. Each audio content block ACB corresponds to an audio composition.

Each ACB area has a series of areas respectively corresponding to tracks. Each track contains information representing a portion of the work marked by the PTT.

Each track has a series of indices (units). Each index has a series of ACB units ACBU. Each ACB unit ACBU has a series of packs. Each packet has 2048 bytes.

In each ACB unit ACBU, the first pack is an audio control pack A-CONT, followed by a series of packs including audio packs A1 and A2 and a video pack V. The audio control pack A-CONT is assigned information for managing audio signals (audio data) in the audio packs A1 and A2 following the audio control pack A-CONT. The management information in the audio control pack A-CONT is basically similar to TOC (Table of Contents) information in a compact disc (CD). The management information includes audio packet synchronization information. Each audio pack A1 and A2 is assigned to audio data. The video pack V is allocated to video data and non-audio data such as closed caption (CC) data. The video pack V can be omitted from the ACB unit ACBU.

It should be noted that each ACB unit ACBU may also contain control packets CONT.

As shown in FIG. 3, the AMG area (see FIG. 2) stores audio management information AMG1, an audio content block set AMGM-ACBS for an AMG menu, and backup audio management information AMGI. The audio management information AMGI has TOC (Table of Contents) information. The audio content block set AMGM-ACBS has presentation control information PCI and data retrieval information DSI as pieces of control information, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the ATS area (see FIG. 2 ) stores Audio Work Set Information ATSI, Audio Content Chunk Set ATSM-ACBS for ATS Menu, Audio Content Chunk Set ATSA-ACBS for ATS Work, and Backup Audio Portfolio Information ATSI. The audio composition information ATSI has TOC (Table of Contents) information. Each audio content block set ATSM-ACBS and ATSA-ACBS has presentation control information PCI and data retrieval information DSI.

As shown in Figure 5, the audio manager information AMGI (see Figure 3) has its management table AMGI-MAT, work retrieval pointer table T-SRPT, audio manager menu program chain information unit table AMGM-PGCI-UT, parent management information Table PTL-MAIT, Audio Work Collection Attribute Table ATS-ATRT, Text Data Manager TXTDT-MG, Audio Manager Menu Unit (Index) Address Table AMGM-C-ADT, and Audio Manager Menu Audio Content Block Unit Address Mapping AMGM -ACBU-ADMAP.

As shown in FIG. 6, the audio work set attribute table ATS-ATRT (see FIG. 5) has audio work set attribute table information ATS-ATRTI, audio work set attribute retrieval pointers ATS-ATRTI for each "n" audio work sets ATS ATR-SRP#1, ATS-ATR-SRP#2, . ATS-ATR-#2, ...ATS-ATR-#n.

As shown in FIG. 7, each audio work set attribute data piece ATS-ATR-#1, ATS-ATR-#2, ... ATS-ATR-#n (see FIG. 6) represents the end address of the audio work set attribute ATS-ATR-EA, category ATS-CAT of audio work collection, and audio work collection attribute information ATS-ATRI.

As shown in FIG. 8, the audio work collection information ATSI (see FIG. 4) has a management table ATSI-MAT of the audio work collection information ATSI, a partial work retrieval pointer table ATS-PTT-SRPT for the audio work collection, Aggregate Program Chain Information Table ATS-PGCIT, PGCI Unit Table ATSM-PGCI-UT for Audio Work Collection Menu, Time Mapping Table for Audio Work Collection ATS-TMAPT, Unit (Index) for Audio Work Collection Menu Address Table ATSM-C-ADT, Audio Content Block Unit Address Map ATSM-ACBU-ADMAP for Audio Work Collection Menu, Unit (Index) Address Table ATS-C-ADT for Audio Work Collection, and for Audio Work Aggregate Audio Content Block Unit Address Map ATS-ACBU-ADMAP.

As shown in FIG. 9, the audio work set information management table ATSI-MAT (see FIG. 8) has an identifier ATS-ID for the audio work set, an end address ATS-EA of the audio work set, an end address of the audio work set information ATSI-EA, the version number VERN of the audio DVD specification, the type of audio collection ATS-CAT, the end address of the audio collection information management table ATSI-MAT-EA, the start address of the ATS menu audio content block collection ATSM-ACBS-SA , the starting address ATSA-ACBS-SA of the audio content block collection of ATS works, the starting address ATS-PTT-SRPT-SA of the audio work collection partial work retrieval pointer table, and the starting address ATS-PGCIT-SA of the audio work collection program chain information table , the start address of the audio work collection menu program chain information unit table ATSM-PGCI-UT-SA, the start address of the audio work collection time mapping table ATS-TMAPT-SA, the start address of the audio work collection menu unit address table ATSM-C- ADT-SA, start address of ATS menu content block unit address mapping ATSM-ACBU-ADMAP-SA, ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR, number of audio stream in audio work collection ATS-AST-Ns, and ATS Audio Stream Attribute Table ATS-AST-ATRT.

As shown in Fig. 10, the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR (see Fig. 9) has a series of 8 bytes, namely 64 bits b63, b62, b61, ... b1, b0. The set of bits b63, b62, and b61 indicates from the Dolby AC-3 encoding method, corresponding to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 encoding method without any extended bitstream, corresponding to MPEG-2 encoding method with extended bitstream , an audio coding method selected from the first linear PCM audio coding method, and the second linear PCM audio coding method. The second linear PCM audio encoding method is a type including a subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 5 channels, a subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 6 channels, and a subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 8 channels . Specifically, the bit sequence "000" is assigned to the Dolby AC-3 encoding method. The bit sequence "010" is assigned to a coding method corresponding to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 without any extended bit stream. The bit sequence "011" is assigned to an encoding method corresponding to the MPEG-2 bit stream with extension. The bit sequence "100" is assigned to the first linear PCM audio coding method. The bit sequence "101" is assigned to the second linear PCM audio coding method.

A set of bits b55 and b54 in the ATS Menu Audio Stream Attribute ATSM-AST-ATR indicates quantization/dynamic range control (DRC) information. When the audio encoding method is "000", the quantization/DRC information is set to "11". When the audio coding mode is "010" or "011", the bit sequence "00" related to the quantization/DRC information indicates the absence of dynamic control data from the MPEG audio stream. When the audio encoding method is "010" or "011", the bit sequence "01" related to the quantization/DRC information indicates that there is dynamic control data in the MPEG audio stream. When the audio coding mode is "100" or "101", the bit sequence "00" related to the quantization/DRC information indicates that each channel (two stereo channels) has 16 bits for each signal sample. When the audio encoding mode is "100" or "101", the bit sequence "01" related to the quantization/DRC information indicates that each channel (two stereo channels) has 20 bits for each signal sample. When the audio coding mode is "100" or "101", the bit sequence "10" related to the quantization/DRC information indicates that each channel (two stereo channels) has 24 bits for each signal sample.

The set of bits b53 and b52 in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR indicates the sampling frequency "fs" associated with each of the two stereo channels. Specifically, the bit sequence "00" indicates that the sampling frequency "fs" is equal to 48kHz. The bit sequence "01" indicates that the sampling frequency "fs" is equal to 96kHz. The bit sequence "10" indicates that the sampling frequency "fs" is equal to 192kHz.

The set of bits b50, b49 and b48 in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR indicates the number of audio channels. Specifically, the bit sequence "000" indicates that there is only one channel (mono). The bit sequence "001" indicates that there are two stereo channels. The bit sequence "010" indicates that there are three channels. The bit sequence "011" indicates that there are four channels. The bit sequence "100" indicates that there are two stereo channels plus five channels. The bit sequence "101" indicates that there are two stereo channels plus six channels. The bit sequence "110" indicates that there are seven channels. The bit sequence "111" indicates that there are two stereo channels plus eight channels.

As shown in FIG. 11, the ATS audio stream attribute table ATS-AST-ATRT (see FIG. 9) has the respective ATS audio streams ATS-AST-#0, ATS-AST-#1, ..., ATS-AST-#7 The attribute ATS-AST-ATR. Each ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR has 8 bytes. Thus, the total number of bytes representing the ATS audio stream attribute table ATS-AST-ATRT is equal to 64.

As shown in FIG. 12, each ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR (see FIG. 11) has a sequence of 8 bytes, namely 64 bits b63, b62, b61, . . . , b1, b0. A set of bits b63, b62, and b61 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates the audio encoding method as in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR (see FIG. 10). A set of bits b55 and b54 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates information like quantization/dynamic range control (DRC) in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR (see FIG. 10 ). The set of bits b53 and b52 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates the sampling frequency "fs" as in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR (see FIG. 10). A set of bits b50, b49 and b48 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates the number of audio channels as in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR (see FIG. 10).

Bit b60 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates the information of multi-channel extended ME. The set of bits b59 and b58 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates the audio type.

The set of bits b57 and b56 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates the audio application mode. Specifically, the bit sequence "01" indicates the karaoke mode. The bit sequence "10" indicates the wrapping mode. The bit sequence "11" indicates 2-channel plus surround mode.

A set of bits b47 and b46 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR indicates information on thinning (decimation) of the associated audio stream AST. Specifically, the bit sequence "00" indicates that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement). The bit sequence "01" indicates that the thinning corresponds to "half" (1/2). The bit sequence "10" indicates that the thinning corresponds to "quarter" (1/4).

The set of bits b45 and b44 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR represents information on the refinement data in the associated low frequency effects (LFE) channel. Specifically, the bit sequence "00" indicates that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement). The bit sequence "01" indicates that the thinning corresponds to "half" (1/2). The bit sequence "10" indicates that the thinning corresponds to "quarter" (1/4).

For audio stream AST#0, bits b50, b49 and b48 (see FIG. 10 ) in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR are fixed to "001", indicating that there are two stereo channels. For audio stream AST#1, bits b50, b49, and b48 (see FIG. 10 ) in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR are fixed to "010", indicating that there are three channels.

In the case where an audio signal recorded in a work has two stereo channels plus six channels, the 2-channel stereo signal is assigned to the audio stream AST#0, and the 3-channel front signal of the 6-channel signal is assigned to the audio stream AST#1, The 2-channel rear signal and the 1-channel LFE signal are assigned to the audio stream AST#2. In this case, the signal "3" indicates that the use of three audio streams (AST#0, AST#1, and AST#2) is placed in the management table AMGI-MAT within the audio manager information AMGI of FIG. 5 , and In the management table AMGI-MAT in the audio composition information ATSI of FIG. 8 .

The following will describe a case where an original analog audio signal has two stereo channels plus six channels, and the original analog audio signal is processed into a digital audio signal under the conditions shown below before recording the digital audio signal. A 2-channel analog stereo signal is sampled at 48kHz frequency "fs" and quantized with a quantization bit number of 20. The 3-channel analog pre-signal is sampled at 96kHz frequency "fs" and quantized with a quantization bit number of 16. The 2-channel post-analog signal and the 1-channel analog LFE signal are sampled at a frequency "fs" of 48kHz and quantized with a quantization bit number of 16. The resulting 8-channel digital signal is not refined. In this case, the attribute information pieces of the two stereo channels are set in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR of FIG. 10 as follows. The bits b63, b62 and b61 in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR are set to "101", indicating that the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 5 channels, the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 6 channels, and the corresponding The second linear PCM audio coding method of the subtype of 2 channels plus 8 channels. Bits b55 and b54 in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR are set to "01", indicating that each of the two stereo channels has 20 bits per signal sample. Bits b53 and b52 in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the sampling frequency "fs" is equal to 48kHz. Bits b50, b49 and b48 in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR are set to "101", indicating that there are two stereo channels plus six channels.

In the above situation, the pieces of information for setting attributes for the audio stream AST#0 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR in FIG. 12 are as follows. Bits b63, b62, and b61 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "101", indicating that it includes the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 5 channels, the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 6 channels, and the subtype corresponding to The second linear PCM audio coding method of the sub-type of 2 channels plus 8 channels. Bits b55 and b54 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "01", indicating that each of the two stereo channels has 20 bits per signal sample. Bits b53 and b52 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the sampling frequency "fs" is equal to 48kHz. Bits b50, b49 and b48 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "001", indicating that there are two stereo channels. Bits b57 and b56 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "11", indicating 2-channel plus surround mode. As information for the refinement of the associated audio stream AST#0, bits b47 and b46 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement ). As information for the refinement data in the relevant LFE channel, bits b45 and b44 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement) .

In the above situation, the piece of attribute information set for the audio stream AST#1 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR of FIG. 12 is as follows. Bits b63, b62, and b61 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "101", indicating that it includes the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 5 channels, the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 6 channels, and the subtype corresponding to The second linear PCM audio coding method of the sub-type of 2 channels plus 8 channels. Bits b55 and b54 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that each channel has 16 bits for each signal sample. Bits b53 and b52 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "01", indicating that the sampling frequency "fs" is equal to 96 kHz. Bits b50, b49 and b48 in the ATS menu audio stream attribute ATSM-AST-ATR are set to "010", indicating that there are three channels. Bits b57 and b56 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "11", indicating 2-channel plus surround mode. As information for the refinement of the associated audio stream AST#1, bits b47 and b46 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement ). As information for the refinement data in the relevant LFE channel, bits b45 and b44 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement) .

In the above situation, the piece of attribute information set for the audio stream AST#2 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR of FIG. 12 is as follows. Bits b63, b62, and b61 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "101", indicating that it includes the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 5 channels, the subtype corresponding to 2 channels plus 6 channels, and the subtype corresponding to The second linear PCM audio coding method of the sub-type of 2 channels plus 8 channels. Bits b55 and b54 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that each channel has 16 bits for each signal sample. Bits b53 and b52 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the sampling frequency "fs" is equal to 48kHz. Bits b50, b49 and b48 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "010", indicating that there are three channels. Bits b57 and b56 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "11", indicating 2-channel plus surround mode. As information for the refinement of the associated audio stream AST#2, bits b47 and b46 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement ). As information for the refinement data in the relevant LFE channel, bits b45 and b44 in the ATS audio stream attribute ATS-AST-ATR are set to "00", indicating that the refinement corresponds to "full" (1/1, no refinement) .

Referring to Fig. 13, there is a pack sequence including control pack CONT, audio pack A, audio control pack A-CONT, and video pack V. Audio streams are recorded in audio pack A. Each VCB unit VCBU has a set of consecutive packets corresponding to a time length of 0.4 seconds to 1.0 seconds. The total number of packets in a VCB unit VCBU is arbitrary. The first pack in each VCB unit VCBU is a control pack CONT. On the other hand, each ACB unit ACBU has a set of consecutive packets corresponding to a time length of 0.5 seconds to 1.0 seconds. The total number of packets in an ACB unit ACBU is arbitrary. The first pack in each ACB unit ACBU is the audio control pack A-CONT. The audio control pack A-CONT in each ACB unit ACBU in the audio DVD is located at a position corresponding to the third pack in the VCB unit VCBU in the video DVD.

Basically, the audio control packs A-CONT are spaced at intervals corresponding to 0.5 seconds. In the boundary between indexes (units), audio control packs A-CONT are spaced at intervals corresponding to a time of 0.5 second to 1.0 second.

The audio-related time (GOF, group of audio frames) is indicated by each audio control packet A-CONT, and the related data position is determined by the audio frame number, the first access unit pointer, and the frame header number. The audio pack A immediately preceding the audio control pack A-CONT may be padded to provide a 0.5 second interval between the audio control packs A-CONT.

The audio signal segments stored in respective adjacent audio packs A have a predetermined relationship with each other. In the case where the recorded audio signal is of stereo type, the adjacent audio packs A store the left channel signal segment and the right channel signal segment respectively. In the case where the recorded audio signal is of multi-channel type (5-channel type, 6-channel type, or 8-channel type), adjacent audio packs A respectively store different channel signal segments.

Each video pack V stores picture information related to audio signal segments in the audio pack A near the video pack V.

As shown in Figure 14, each audio packet A and video packet V have 4-byte packet start information, 6-byte SCR (system clock reference) information, 3-byte multiplexing (mux) rate information, 1-byte padding information, and a sequence of 2,034-byte packet-shaped user data. Thus, each audio pack A and video pack V has 2048 bytes. In each audio pack A or video pack V, pack start information, SCR information, multiplexing rate information, and stuffing information constitute a 14-byte pack header. The SCR information in each audio pack A or video pack V functions as a time stamp.

The time stamp in the first audio pack A among the audio packs associated with one work is set to "1". The time stamps in the second and subsequent audio packs related to the same work are set to sequence numbers "2", "3", "4", . . . respectively. Sequentially numbered time stamps enable time management of audio packages related to the same work.

As shown in FIG. 15, each audio control pack A-CONT has a pack header of 14 bytes, a system header of 24 bytes, an audio character display (ACD) pack of 1003 bytes, and audio retrieval data of 1007 bytes. A sequence of (ASD) packets. The ACD pack has a pack header of 6 bytes, an area of 1 byte allocated to stream identification (ID) information, an area of 636 bytes allocated to audio character display (ACD) information, and one of a reserved area of 360 bytes sequence. The ASD pack has a sequence of a 6-byte pack header, a 1-byte area allocated to stream identification (ID) information, and a 1000-byte area allocated to audio retrieval data (ASD) information.

As shown in FIG. 16, the 636-byte ACD information area has a 48-byte area allocated for general information, a 294-byte area for the first language, and a 294-byte area for the second language. The 294-byte area for the first language is divided into a 93-byte name space area, a first 93-byte free space area, a second 93-byte free space area, and a 15-byte data pointer area. Similarly, the 294-byte area for the second language is divided into a 93-byte namespace area, a first 93-byte free space area, a second 93-byte free space area, and a 15-byte data pointer area. In the case where the first language is Japanese, as shown in FIG. 17 , the 93-byte namespace area for the first language stores data representing Japanese musical piece titles with English added thereto. In the case where the second language is English, the 93-byte namespace area for the second language stores data representing the title of music pieces in English. The first and second language can be determined by the publisher of this audio DVD.

The 48-byte general information area in the ACD information area of Figure 16 has a 16-byte area allocated to service level information, a 12-byte area allocated to language code information, a 6-byte area allocated to character set code information, and a 6-byte area allocated to character set code information. There is a 6-byte area for display item information, a 2-byte area for difference information from previous ACD information, and a 6-byte reserved area. The service level information of 16 bytes indicates a display size, a display type, a discrimination among audio, video, and sub-picture SP, and a stream. The characters specified by the 48-byte general information are mandatory, and the bitmap specified by them is optional. The 12-byte language code information has a first 2-byte information piece specifying the first language, and a second 2-byte information piece specifying the second language. Eight or fewer languages may be specified in one file. Regarding the first and second language, English is mandatory.

The 6-byte character set code information represents 15 or less character code words corresponding to the language code words. The 6-byte character set code information has a 1-byte piece of information indicating the presence or absence of the first and second languages and also indicating the types of the first and second languages. For example, the first language codeword corresponds to the "ISO646" standard, the second language codeword corresponds to the "ISO8859-1" standard, and the third language codeword corresponds to the "MS-JIS" standard.

The display item information of 6 bytes indicates whether there is or not free space for the first and second languages (see FIG. 16) and data pointers for the first and second languages (see FIG. 16). The 6-byte display item information contains related ID (identification) information. It should be noted that namespaces (see Figure 16) for the first and second languages are mandatory. The piece of information for the title of the work, the piece of information for the name of the music, the piece of information for the name of the artist are stored in the name space areas for the first and second languages.

As shown in Figure 18, the 1000-byte Audio Search Data (ASD) area (see Figure 15) is divided into a 16-byte area allocated for general information, an 8-byte area allocated for current 16-byte area for time information, 8-byte area for collection search information, 8-byte area for work search information, 404-byte area for track search information, 408-byte area for index search information The byte area is allocated to the 80-byte area for high-brightness retrieval information and the 52-byte reserved area.

The 8-byte current number information area in FIG. 18 is divided into a 2-byte area assigned to the BCD information of the current work number of the related work collection, and a 2-byte area assigned to the BCD information of the current track number of the related work collection. area, a 2-byte area assigned to the BCD information of the current index number of the relevant track, and a 2-byte reserved area.

The 16-byte current time information area in FIG. 18 is divided into a 4-byte area allocated to the BCD information of the playback time of the relevant track, a 4-byte area allocated to the BCD information of the remaining playback time of the relevant track, and an area allocated to A 4-byte area assigned to the BCD information of the absolute time of the related work, and a 4-byte area assigned to the BCD information of the remaining absolute time of the related work.

The 8-byte work search information area in FIG. 18 is divided into a 4-byte area assigned to information on the sequence number of the first sector of the relevant work collection, and a 4-byte area assigned to the sequence number of the last sector of the relevant work collection. 4-byte area of information.

The 8-byte work search information area in FIG. 18 is divided into a 4-byte area for information on the sequence number assigned to the first sector in the related work, and a 4-byte area for information on the sequence number assigned to the last sector of the related work. section area.

The 404-byte track search information area in FIG. 18 is divided into a 4 by 99-byte area allocated to the information on the sector sequence number and track sequence number in the related work, and a 4 by 99 byte area allocated to the information on the first track sequence number in the related work. byte area, and a 4-byte area assigned to the sequence number information of the last track in the related work.

The 408-byte index search information area in Figure 18 is divided into a 4 by 100-byte area allocated to the information of the sector sequence number and index sequence number in the relevant track, and a 4-byte area allocated to the information of the first index sequence number in the relevant track. area, and a 4-byte area allocated to sequence number information of the last index in the relevant track.

The 80-byte high-brightness search information area in Figure 18 is divided into a 4 by 10 byte area allocated to the sequence number information in the sector in the relevant track, and a 4 by 10 byte area allocated to the sequence number information outside the sector in the relevant track area.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 13, the audio control pack A-CONT precedes a plurality of audio packs A in the audio DVD. The audio control pack A-CONT stores information for managing audio signal segments stored in subsequent audio packs A. In Audio DVD, audio data can be independent of video data. Audio DVDs have a larger audio recording capacity than video DVDs. The Audio Control Package A-CONT in Audio DVD enables management of audio-related time. For example, character information representing the title of a musical piece can be read from the audio control pack A-CONT.

In the audio DVD, each audio control pack A-CONT stores management information (TOP information) indicating a work, a start address, and a playback time. During the playback of audio signals from the Audio DVD, the information required by the user can be read from the Audio Control Pack A-CONT and represented on the display of the Audio DVD player. By referring to the displayed information, the user can determine the desired replay position. Playback may be restarted from a desired position in response to a user request.

In an audio DVD, audio manager information AMGI and audio work collection information ATSI have TOC information. Before playing back the audio signal from the audio DVD, the TOC information can be read from the audio DVD and stored in memory within the audio DVD player. Information requested by the user can be read from the memory and displayed on the display of the audio DVD player. By referring to the displayed information, the user can determine a desired playback start position. Playback can be started from a desired position in response to a user's request.

Regarding audio DVD, retrieval and random access to works, musical pieces, and indexes can be realized. In addition, random access, time search, and music head search can be realized in units of GOF (Group of Audio Frames). In addition, it is possible to manage the time related to works, the time related to music pieces, and the time related to indexes in real time.

The video pack V in the audio DVD enables management and representation of the current time and remaining playback time of a musical piece or composition.

It should be noted that the packet sequence of FIG. 13 may be replaced by the packet sequence of FIG. 19 from which the video packet V and the control packet CONT are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 20, the time length of an audio signal that can be recorded on an audio DVD is related to the number of channels of the audio signal, the sampling frequency "fs", and the number of quantization bits. The length of time ranges from a few tens of minutes to about four hundred minutes.

Fig. 21 shows the relationship among the time length, the sampling frequency "fs", and the number of quantization bits recordable on an audio DVD of 2-channel plus 6-channel audio signals. In this case, the 6 channels are 3 front channels, 2 rear channels, and one LFE channel. In Figure 21, the length of time ranges from 62 minutes to 70 minutes.

Fig. 22 shows the relationship among the time length, the sampling frequency "fs", and the number of quantization bits recordable on an audio DVD of 2-channel plus 5-channel audio signals. In this case, 5 channels are 3 front channels and 2 rear channels. In Figure 22, the length of time ranges from 62 minutes to 67 minutes.

Fig. 23 shows the relationship between the time length of a 6-channel audio signal recordable on an audio DVD, the sampling frequency "fs", and the number of quantization bits. In this case, the 6 channels are 3 front channels, 2 rear channels and an LFE channel. In Figure 23, the length of time ranges from 65 minutes to 86 minutes.

Referring to Fig. 24, an audio DVD (reference D) has an inner area D1 and an outer area D2. The outer area D2 extends beyond the inner area D1. Audio DVD (designation D) is for 2-channel plus multi-channel audio signals. Audio streams related to multi-channel are stored in the inner area D1, while audio streams related to 2-channel are stored in the outer area D2.

As described above, it is possible to select from the Dolby AC-3 encoding method, the encoding method corresponding to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 without any extended bit stream, the encoding method corresponding to MPEG-2 with an extended bit stream, the first linear PCM An audio coding method is selected from the audio coding method and the second linear PCM audio coding method. In the case where the audio coding method conforms to the Dolby AC-3 coding method, MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 coding method, the sampling frequency "fs" and the number of quantization bits for channels other than the front channel are preferably equal to the standard values, However, for the front channel the sampling frequency "fs" and the number of quantization bits are different from the standard values.

It should be noted that the 636-byte ACD information area in FIG. 16 can be replaced by the 636-byte ACD information area in FIG. 25 . The 636-byte ACD information area in FIG. 25 has a 48-byte area allocated for general information, a 294-byte area for one language, and a 294-byte area allocated for audio reproduction control information. The 294-byte area for language stores information representing the title of a music piece as an audio guide. The 294-byte area for language is divided into a 93-byte name space area, a first 93-byte free space area, a second 93-byte free space area, and a 15-byte data pointer area.

The 294-byte audio reproduction control information area is divided into a 250-byte area allocated for audio reproduction control information and a 44-byte reserved area. The 250-byte audio reproduction control information area is divided into ten 25-byte areas respectively assigned to different pieces of audio reproduction control information. Each 25-byte audio reproduction control information area is divided into a 20-byte area allocated to graphic equalizer information, a 3-byte area allocated to level balance information, and a 2-byte area allocated to echo adding information. During playback of an audio signal from an audio DVD, one of the pieces of audio reproduction control information can be selected by the user to control the quality of the reproduced sound. The audio reproduction control information piece is data recommended by professional sound mixers, which optimizes the quality of reproduced sound according to the type of music piece and the status of performance and recording of the music piece. The 44-byte reserved area can store a mixing coefficient for mixing 6-channel audio signals into 2-channel audio signals.

second embodiment

Fig. 26 shows an audio DVD (Audio Digital Video Disc) signal recording format according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The audio DVD in FIG. 26 has an area allocated to the audio set directory ATS_D containing several audio set sets ATS. The audio DVD in Fig. 26 does not have any area allocated to the video set VTS.

The ATS_D area has an area allocated to the audio manager AMG, an area allocated to the audio manager menu AMGM, an area allocated to the first audio composition set ATS<1>, and an area allocated to the second audio composition set ATS<2 > a region of the . The audio manager AMG contains audio manager information AMGI for managing audio work sets ATS<1> and ATS<2>. The audio manager AMG has a structure similar to that in FIG. 3 .

Audio Work Collections ATS<1> and ATS<2> are similar in structure. Therefore, only the audio composition set ATS<1> will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 27, the audio work set ATS<1> has a pack sequence including an audio pack A, a still picture pack SPCT, and a real-time information pack RTI. The sequence of packets in the audio work set ATS<1> does not have any audio control packets A-CONT. Each track has approximately one still picture pack SPCT. The still picture pack SPCT is a video pack V of a given type. Each still picture pack SPCT has a pack header, packet header, and a sequence of data representing a still picture. The real-time information pack RTI corresponds to the ACD packet in the audio control pack A-CONT. Each real-time information packet RTI has a sequence: packet header, packet header, secondary stream identification information, ISRC information, dedicated header length information, identification information for real-time information, stuffing bytes, and real-time data (audio character display data).

Fig. 28 shows the signal recording format of DVD-Van (Digital Video Disc - Video plus Audio Guide). The DVD-Van in FIG. 28 has an area allocated to the video set directory VTS_D containing several video sets VTS, and an area allocated to the audio guide set directory ANV-TS_D. The video title set VTS corresponds to DVD video data, and the audio guide title set ANV-TS corresponds to audio guide data. The video work set VTS has a structure similar to that in FIG. 1 .

The VTS_D area in FIG. 28 has an area allocated to the video manager VMG, an area allocated to the video manager menu VMGM, an area allocated to the first video title set VTS<1>, and an area allocated to the second video title set VTS<1>. A region of set VTS<2>. The video manager VMG includes video manager information VMGI for managing video production sets VTS<1> and VTS<2>. Each video work set VTS<1> and VTS<2> has a pack sequence including video pack V and audio pack A.

The ANV-TS_D area in FIG. 28 has an area allocated to the audio manager AMG, an area allocated to the first audio composition set ATS<1>, and an area allocated to the second audio composition set ATS<2>. The audio manager AMG contains audio manager information for managing audio work sets ATS<1> and ATS<2>. The audio manager AMG has a structure similar to that in FIG. 3 . Each audio work set ATS<1> and ATS<2> has a pack sequence including audio pack A. The first audio composition set ATS<1> forms a pair with the first video composition set VTS<1>. The second audio composition set ATS<2> forms a pair with the second video composition set VTS<2>.

Fig. 29 shows a signal recording format of a video DVD (Video Digital Video Disc). The video DVD of Fig. 29 has an area allocated to the video title set directory VTS_D. The video title set VTS corresponds to DVD video data. The video work set VTS has a structure similar to that in FIG. 1 . The Video DVD of FIG. 29 does not have any area allocated to ATS_D of the Audio Work Collection directory. The video DVD of FIG. 29 is not allocated to any area of the audio guide collection directory ANV-TS_D.

The VTS_D area of FIG. 29 has an area allocated to the video manager VMG, an area allocated to the video manager menu VMGM, an area allocated to the first video set VTS<1>, and an area allocated to the second video set. A region of VTS<2>. The video manager VMG contains video manager information VMGI for managing video production sets VTS<1> and VTS<2>. Each video work set VTS<1> and VTS<2> has a pack sequence including video pack V and audio pack A.

Fig. 30 shows the signal recording format of DVD-Avd (Digital Video Disc-Audio Plus AV Data). The DVD-Avd in FIG. 30 has an area allocated to the video set directory VTS_D, and an area allocated to the audio set directory ATS_D. The video title set VTS corresponds to DVD video data, and the audio title set ATS corresponds to DVD audio data. The video work set VTS has a structure similar to that of FIG. 1 .

The VTS_D area in FIG. 30 has an area allocated to the video manager VMG, an area allocated to the video manager menu VMGM, and an area allocated to the video title set VTS<1>. The video manager VMG contains video manager information VMGI for managing the video production set VTS<1>. The video work set VTS<1> has a pack sequence including a video pack V and an audio pack A.

The ATS_D area in FIG. 30 has an area assigned to the audio manager AMG, an area assigned to the audio manager menu AMGM, an area assigned to the first audio composition set ATS<1>, and an area assigned to the second audio composition A region of the set ATS<2>. The audio manager AMG contains audio manager information AMGI for managing audio work sets ATS<1> and ATS<2>. The audio manager AMG has a structure similar to that in FIG. 3 . The first audio composition set ATS<1> has a pack sequence including audio pack A. The first audio composition set ATS<1> forms a pair with the first video composition set VTS<1>. The second audio composition set ATS<2> has a pack sequence including audio pack A, still picture pack SPCT, and real time information pack RTI. The second audio work set ATS<2> does not have any audio control pack A-CONT.

Each audio piece set ATS<1> and ATS<2> in the audio DVD of FIG. 26 contains audio piece set information ATSI. The audio work set information ATSI includes a management table ATSI-MAT having only the audio work audio object attribute AOTT-AOB-ATR.

As shown in FIG. 31, the audio object attribute AOTT-AOB-ATR containing only audio works has a sequence of 16 bytes, namely b127, b126, b125, ..., b1, b0, a total of 128 bits. A set of bits b127, b126, b125, b124, b123, b122, b121, and b120 indicates an audio encoding method. A set of bits b111, b110, b109, b108 represents the number of quantization bits Q1 of the channel group "1". A set of bits b107, b106, b105, b104 represents the number of quantization bits Q2 of channel group "2". The set of bits b103, b102, b101, b100 represents the sampling frequency fs1 of the channel group "1". The set of bits b99, b98, b97, b96 represents the sampling frequency fs2 of channel group "2". A set of bits b95, b94, b93, b92 indicates a multi-channel type. The set of bits b91, b90, b89, b88 indicates the channel allocation. Other bits form reserved areas.

The audio coding method represented by bits b127, b126, b125, b124, b123, b122, b121 and b120 in Fig. 31 can be from linear PCM audio coding method, Dolby digital coding method, MPEG-2 coding method without extension, with extension Choose from the MPEG-2 encoding method, DTS encoding method, and SDDS encoding method. Specifically, a bit sequence of "00000000" is assigned to the linear PCM audio encoding method. The "00000001" bit sequence is assigned to the Dolby Digital encoding method. The "00000010" bit sequence is assigned to the MPEG-2 coding mode without extension. The "00000011" bit sequence is assigned to the MPEG-2 encoding method with extensions. The "00000100" bit sequence is assigned to the DTS encoding method. The "00000101" bit sequence is assigned to the SDDS encoding method.

The quantization bit Q1 of channel group "1" represented by bits b111, b110, b109, and b108 in FIG. 31 can be varied among 16 bits, 20 bits, and 24 bits. Specifically, the "0000" bit sequence is allocated to 16 bits. The "0001" bit sequence is assigned to 20 bits. The "0010" bit sequence is allocated to 24 bits.

The number of quantization bits Q2 of channel group "2" represented by bits b107, b106, b105, and b104 in FIG. 31 can be changed among 16 bits, 20 bits, and 24 bits. Specifically, the "0000" bit sequence is allocated to 16 bits. The "0001" bit sequence is assigned to 20 bits. The "0010" bit sequence is allocated to 24 bits.

The state of the set of bits b107, b106, b105, and b104 has the following relationship with the state of the set of bits b111, b110, b109, and b108. When the set of bits b111, b110, b109, and b108 is "0000", the set of bits b107, b106, b105, and b104 is also "0000". In other words, when the quantization bit Q1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 16 bits, the quantization bit Q2 of the channel group "2" is also equal to 16 bits. When the set of bits b111, b110, b109, b108 is "0001", the set of bits b107, b106, b105, b104 is "0000" or "0001". In other words, when the quantization bit Q1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 20 bits, the quantization bit Q2 of the channel group "2" is equal to 16 bits or 20 bits. When the set of bits b111, b110, b109, b108 is "0010", the set of bits b107, b106, b105, b104 is "0000", "0001", or "0010". In other words, when the quantization bit Q1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 24 bits, the quantization bit Q2 of the channel group "2" is equal to 16 bits, 20 bits or 24 bits.

The sampling frequency fs1 of channel group "1" represented by bits b103, b102, b101, b100 can be varied among 48 kHz, 96 kHz, 192 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz, and 176.4 kHz. Specifically, the bit sequence "0000" is assigned to 48kHz. The bit sequence "0001" is assigned to 96 kHz. The bit sequence "0010" is assigned to 192 kHz. The bit sequence "1000" is assigned to 44.1 kHz. The bit sequence "1001" is assigned to 88.2 kHz. The bit sequence "1010" is assigned to 176.4 kHz.

The sampling frequency fs2 of the channel group "2" represented by bits b99, b98, b97, b96 is variable among 48 kHz, 96 kHz, 192 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz, and 176.4 kHz. Specifically, the bit sequence "0000" is assigned to 48kHz. The bit sequence "0001" is assigned to 96 kHz. The bit sequence "0010" is assigned to 192 kHz. The bit sequence "1000" is assigned to 44.1 kHz. The bit sequence "1001" is assigned to 88.2 kHz. The bit sequence "1010" is assigned to 176.4 kHz.

The state of the set of bits b99, b98, b97, b96 and the state of the set of bits b103, b102, b101, b100 have the following relationship. When the set of bits b103, b102, b101, and b100 is "0000", the set of bits b99, b98, b97, and b96 is also "0000". In other words, when the sampling frequency fs1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 48kHz, the sampling frequency fs2 of the channel group "2" is also equal to 48kHz. When the set of bits b103, b102, b101, b100 is "0001", the set of bits b99, b98, b97, b96 is "0000" or "0001". In other words, when the sampling frequency fs1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 96 kHz, the sampling frequency fs2 of the channel group "2" is equal to 48 kHz or 96 kHz. When the set of bits b103, b102, b101, b100 is "0010", the set of bits b99, b98, b97, b96 is "0000", "0001", or "0010". In other words, when the sampling frequency fs1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 192kHz, the sampling frequency fs2 of the channel group "2" is equal to 48kHz, 96kHz or 192kHz. When the set of bits b103, b102, b101, and b100 is "1000", the set of bits b99, b98, b97, and b96 is also "1000". In other words, when the sampling frequency fs1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 44.1 kHz, the sampling frequency fs2 of the channel group "2" is also equal to 44.1 kHz. When the set of bits b103, b102, b101, b100 is "1001", the set of bits b99, b98, b97, b96 is "1000" or "1001". In other words, when the sampling frequency fs1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 88.2 kHz, the sampling frequency fs2 of the channel group "2" is equal to 44.1 kHz or 88.2 kHz. When the set of bits b103, b102, b101, and b100 is "1010", the set of bits b99, b98, b97, and b96 is "1000," "1001," and "1010." In other words, when the sampling frequency fs1 of the channel group "1" is equal to 176.4 kHz, the sampling frequency fs2 of the channel group "2" is equal to 44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz or 176.4 kHz.

Normally, bits b95, b94, and b93 in Fig. 31 are set to "000", indicating that the multi-channel type corresponds to type "1".

The channel assignment represented by bits b92, b91, b90, b89, b88 in FIG. 31 can vary among the 21 different types shown in FIG. 32. The bit sequence "00000" is assigned to a first type of channel allocation, where the first channel ACH0 forms a mono channel C (mono), the second and subsequent channels ACH1, ACH2, ACH3, ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the first type of channel assignment, the mono channel C (mono) is in group "1". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to one and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to zero. The bit sequence "00001" is assigned to the second type of channel allocation, where the first and second channels ACH0 and ACH1 form the left channel L and the right channel R respectively, and the third and subsequent channels ACH2, ACH3, ACH4 and ACH5 are not used . According to the second type of channel assignment, the left channel L and the right channel R are in group "1". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to zero. The bit sequence "00010" is assigned to a third type of channel allocation, where the first, second and third channels ACH0, ACH1 and ACH2 form the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf and the surround channel S respectively, the fourth and subsequent channel ACH3 , ACH4, and ACH5 are not used. According to the third type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", and the surround channels are in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to one. The bit sequence "00011" is assigned to a fourth type of channel allocation, where the first, second, third and fourth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2 and ACH3 respectively form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, left surround channel Ls and right Surround channel Rs, fifth and sixth channels ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the fourth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", while the left surround channel Ls and right surround channel Rs are in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two, and the number of channels in group "2" is also equal to two. The bit sequence "00100" is assigned to a fifth type of channel allocation, in which the first, second and third channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2 respectively form the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf and the low-frequency effects channel LFE, while the fourth and subsequent Channels ACH3, ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the fifth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", and the low frequency effect channel LFE is in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to one. The bit sequence "00101" is assigned to a sixth type of channel allocation, wherein the first, second, third and fourth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2 and ACH3 respectively form the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, the low frequency effects channel LFE, and Surround channel S, while the fifth and sixth channels ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the sixth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", while the low frequency effect channel LFE and the surround channel S are in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two, and the number of channels in group "2" is also equal to two. The bit sequence "00110" is assigned to the seventh type of channel allocation, where the first, second, third, fourth and fifth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3 and ACH4 respectively form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, low frequency The effect channel LFE, the left surround channel Ls, the right surround channel Rs, and the sixth channel ACH5 are not used. According to the seventh type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", while the low frequency effect channel LFE, left surround channel Ls and right surround channel Rs are in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to three. The bit sequence "00111" is assigned to an eighth type of channel allocation, wherein the first, second and third channels ACH0, ACH1 and ACH2 respectively form the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, and the center channel C, while the fourth and subsequent Channels ACH3, ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the eighth type channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", and the center channel C is in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to one. The bit sequence "01000" is assigned to the ninth type of channel allocation, in which the first, second, third and fourth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2 and ACH3 respectively form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, center channel C, and surround Channel S, while the fifth and sixth channels ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the ninth type channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in the group "1", and the center channel C and the surround channel S are in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two, and the number of channels in group "2" is also equal to two. The bit sequence "01001" is assigned to the channel allocation of the tenth type, where the first, second, third, fourth and fifth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3 and ACH4 respectively form the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, the center Channel C, left surround channel Ls and right surround channel Rs, while the sixth channel ACH5 is not used. According to the tenth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in the group "1", and the center channel C, the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs are in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to three. The bit sequence "01010" is assigned to an eleventh type of channel allocation, where the first, second, third and fourth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2 and ACH3 respectively form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, center channel C and low frequency The effect channel LFE, while the fifth and sixth channels ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the eleventh type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", while the center channel C and the low frequency effect channel LFE are in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two, and the number of channels in group "2" is also equal to two. The bit sequence "01011" is assigned to a channel allocation of the twelfth type, where the first, second, third, fourth and fifth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3 and ACH4 form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, Center channel C, low frequency effect channel LFE and surround channel S, while the sixth channel ACH5 is not used. According to the twelfth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in group "1", and the center channel C, low frequency effect channel LFE and surround channel S are in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to three. The bit sequence "01100" is assigned to a channel allocation of the thirteenth type, where the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3, ACH4 and ACH5 respectively form the left front channel Lf , right front channel Rf, center channel C, low frequency effect channel LFE, left surround channel Ls and right surround channel Rs. According to the thirteenth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf and the right front channel Rf are in the group "1", and the center channel C, the low frequency effect channel LFE, the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs are in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to two and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to four. The bit sequence "01101" is assigned to the channel allocation of the fourteenth type, where the first, second, third and fourth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2 and ACH3 respectively form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, center channel C, surround Channel S, fifth and sixth channels ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the fourteenth type channel allocation, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf and the center channel C are in group "1", and the surround channel S is in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to three and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to one. The bit sequence "01110" is assigned to a fifteenth type of channel allocation, where the first, second, third, fourth and fifth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3 and ACH4 form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, The center channel C, the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs, the sixth channel ACH5 are not used. According to the fifteenth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf and the center channel C are in the group "1", and the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs are in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to three and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to two. The bit sequence "01111" is assigned to a channel allocation of the sixteenth type, wherein the first, second, third and fourth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2 and ACH3 respectively form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, center channel C, and The low-frequency effect channel LFE, the fifth and sixth channels ACH4 and ACH5 are not used. According to the channel allocation of the sixteenth type, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf and the center channel C are in the group "1", and the low frequency effect channel LFE is in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to three and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to one. The bit sequence "10000" is assigned to a channel allocation of the seventeenth type, wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3 and ACH4 respectively form the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, The center channel C, the low-frequency effect channel LFE, and the surround channel S, the sixth channel ACH5 are not used. According to the channel allocation of the seventeenth type, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf and the center channel C are in the group "1", and the low frequency effect channel LFE and the surround channel S are in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to three and the number of channels in group "2" is equal to two. The bit sequence "10001" is assigned to an eighteenth type of channel allocation, where the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3, ACH4 and ACH5 respectively form the left front channel Lf , right front channel Rf, center channel C, and low frequency effect channel LFE, left surround channel Ls and right surround channel Rs. According to the eighteenth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf and the center channel C are in the group "1", the low frequency effect channel LFE, the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs are in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to three, and the number of channels in group "2" is also equal to three. The bit sequence "10010" is assigned to a channel allocation of the nineteenth type, where the first, second, third, fourth and fifth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3 and ACH4 form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, Left surround channel Ls, right surround channel Rs and low frequency effect channel LFE, the sixth ACH5 is not used. According to the nineteenth type channel allocation, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs are in group "1", and the low frequency effect channel LFE is in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to four, while the number of channels in group "2" is equal to one. The bit sequence "10011" is assigned to channel allocation of the twentieth type, wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3 and ACH4 respectively form the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, Left surround channel Ls, right surround channel Rs and center channel C, the sixth ACH5 is not used. According to the twentieth type of channel allocation, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs are in group "1", and the center channel C is in group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to four, while the number of channels in group "2" is equal to one. The bit sequence "10100" is assigned to channel allocation of the twenty-first type, where the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth channels ACH0, ACH1, ACH2, ACH3, ACH4 and ACH5 respectively form the left front channel Lf, right front channel Rf, left surround channel Ls, right surround channel Rs, center channel C and low frequency effect channel LFE. According to the channel assignment of the twenty-first type, the left front channel Lf, the right front channel Rf, the left surround channel Ls and the right surround channel Rs are in the group "1", and the center channel C and the low frequency effect channel LFE are in the group "2". Thus, the number of channels in group "1" is equal to four, while the number of channels in group "2" is equal to two.

Generally, in the audio DVD of FIG. 26, the audio coding system represented by bits b127, b126, b125, b124, b123, b122, b121, and b120 in FIG. 31 conforms to the linear PCM audio coding system. According to the linear PCM audio encoding method, each audio pack A has 2048 bytes or less.

As shown in FIG. 33, the linear PCM audio pack A has a pack header of 14 bytes and one audio packet. The package header is followed by the audio grouping. An audio packet has a packet header, a dedicated header, and a sequence of audio data. The packet header has 9 bytes, 14 bytes or 17 bytes. Audio data has 1 byte to 2,013 bytes.

As shown in Figures 33 and 34, the dedicated header has a sequence: 8-bit secondary stream ID (identification) information, 4-bit reserved area, 4-bit ISRC number information, 8-bit ISRC data information, 8-bit dedicated header Length information, 16-bit first access unit pointer, 6-byte audio data information ADI, and 0 to 7 stuffing bytes.

As shown in Figure 34, the audio data information ADI (see Figure 33) has a sequence: an audio emphasis flag of 1 bit, a reserved area of 1 bit, a reserved area of 2 bits, a down-mixing code of 4 bits, a group of 4 bits Quantization word length (quantization number of bits) information in "1", quantization word length (quantization number of bits) information in group "2" of 4 bits, audio sampling frequency fs1 information in group "1" of 4 bits, group of 4 bits "2" audio sampling frequency fs2 information, 4-bit reserved area, 4-bit multi-channel type information, 3-bit reserved area, 5-bit channel allocation information (see FIG. 32 ), and 8-bit dynamic range control information.

When used for VTS_D in FIG. 30, the audio-only audio object attribute AOTT-AOB-ATR in FIG. 31 can be replaced by the audio-only video object audio stream attribute AOTT-VOB-AST-ATR. The audio-only work video object audio stream attribute AOTT-VOB-AST-ATR has the structure shown in FIG. 35 .

third embodiment

Fig. 36 shows an audio signal encoding apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of FIG. 36 includes analog-to-digital (A/D) converters 31 and 31V, a signal processing circuit 32, a video encoder 32V, and a DVD formatting section 34.

The analog video signal is applied to the A/D converter 31V. A/D converter 31V followed by video encoder 32V. A video encoder 32V is followed by a DVD formatting section 34 .

The analog audio signal is applied to the A/D converter 31 . In general, an analog audio signal has multiple channels, eg including front and rear channels. Analog audio signals may be of the monaural type. The A/D converter 31 is followed by a signal processing circuit 32 . The signal processing circuit 32 is followed by a DVD formatting section 34 .

The DVD formatting section 34 is sequentially followed by a modulation circuit 35A and a master authoring device 35B.

As shown in FIG. 37 , the signal processing circuit 32 includes a low-pass filter (LPF) 36 , thinning circuits (decimation circuits) 37 and 38 , a subtractor 39 , and a distribution circuit 40 . A low-pass filter 36, a thinning circuit 38, and a distribution circuit 40 follow the A/D converter 31 (see FIG. 36). The low-pass filter 36 is followed by a thinning circuit 37 . A first input of the subtractor 39 is connected to the output of the thinning circuit 37 . A second input of the subtractor 39 is connected to the output of the thinning circuit 38 . The output of the subtractor 39 is connected to a distribution circuit 40 . The output of the refinement circuit 37 is connected to a distribution circuit 40 . The distribution circuit 40 is followed by a DVD formatting section 34 (see FIG. 36).

The A/D converter 31 samples the analog audio signal at a given sampling frequency "fs", and converts each sample of the analog audio signal into a corresponding digital sample. In this way, the A/D converter 31 converts an analog audio signal into a corresponding digital audio signal (for example, a PCM audio signal) by a given number of quantization bits. In other words, the A/D converter 31 quantizes the analog audio signal into a corresponding digital audio signal. The quantization performed by the A/D converter 31 may vary from channel to channel. For example, the A/D converter 31 quantizes the front channel component of the analog audio signal at a first predetermined sampling frequency and a first predetermined number of quantization bits. The A/D converter 31 quantizes the rear channel components of the analog audio signal at a second predetermined sampling frequency and a second predetermined quantization number of digits, and the second predetermined sampling frequency and the second predetermined quantization number of digits are respectively the same as the first The predetermined sampling frequency is equal to or different from the first predetermined number of quantization bits. The A/D converter 31 outputs a digital audio signal to the signal processing circuit 32 .

The operation of the signal processing circuit 32 is changeable between first and second modes corresponding to the presence and absence of thinning, respectively.

During operation of the signal processing circuit 32 in the first mode (no thinning present), the digital audio signal is passed directly from the A/D converter 31 to the distribution circuit 40 . The device 40 distributes the digital audio signal to the audio data which may be placed in the audio pack A (see FIG. 14 or FIG. 33 ). The distribution circuit 40 outputs the audio data to the DVD formatting section 34 .

During operation of the signal processing circuit 32 in the second mode (refinement present), the digital audio signal is passed from the A/D converter 31 to the low pass filter 36 and the refinement circuit 38 . Low pass filter 36 passes only half the frequency band of the digital audio signal. The low-pass filter 36 outputs the resulting signal to a refinement circuit 37 . Thinning circuit 37 selects a quarter of the samples of the output signal of low-pass filter 36 . Thinning circuit 37 outputs only selected signal samples to subtractor 39 and distribution circuit 40 . The selected samples are spaced at intervals of 4 samples.

During operation of the signal processing circuit 32 in the second mode (refinement present), the refinement circuit 38 selects alternate samples of the digital audio signal. Thinning circuit 38 outputs only selected signal samples to subtractor 39 .

The sample sequence of the signal output from refinement circuit 37 is now represented as follows:

xc1, xc2, xc3, ..., xci, xai, ...

On the other hand, the sequence of signal samples output from the refinement circuit 38 is expressed as follows:

xb1, xb2, xb3, ..., xbi, ...

During operation of the signal processing circuit 32 in the second mode (refinement present), the subtractor 39 calculates the differences Δ1i and Δ2i between the output signals of the refinement circuits 37 and 38 . The differences Δ1i and Δ2i are given as follows.

Δ1i=xbi-xci

Δ2i=xai-xci

The subtracter 39 notifies the distribution circuit 40 of the calculated differences Δ1i and Δ2i.

During operation of the signal processing circuit 32 in the second mode (refinement present), the distribution circuit 40 combines the output signal of the refinement circuit 37 and the information of the differences Δ1i and Δ2i into audio user data which can be placed in an audio package A (cf. Figure 14 or Figure 33). The distribution circuit 40 outputs the audio user data to the DVD formatting section 34 .

The A/D converter 31V converts the analog video signal into a corresponding digital video signal. The A/D converter 31V outputs a digital video signal to the video encoder 32V. The video encoder 32V converts the digital video signal into a signal in MPEG format. Video encoder 32V packs the signal in MPEG format into video user data which can be placed in video packets V. The video encoder 32V outputs video user data to the DVD formatting section 34 .

DVD formatting section 34 receives control data from a suitable device (not shown). The control data represent character information, display time information, sampling frequency information, quantization bit information, thinning information, and other information to be added. The DVD formatting section 34 packs audio data (or audio user data), video user data, and added information into an audio DVD format corresponding to the audio DVD signal recording format in FIG. 2 or the audio DVD signal recording format in FIG. Combined signals. The DVD formatting section 34 outputs the combined signal in the audio DVD format to the modulating circuit 35A. The modulation circuit 35A subjects the composite signal of the audio DVD format to given modulation (for example, EFM modulation) suitable for the audio DVD. The modulation circuit 35A outputs a modulation result signal to the master production device 35B. The device 35B makes a master 35C in response to the output signal of the modulation circuit 35A. The master disk 35C stores the output signal of the modulation circuit 35A. An audio DVD is created by a DVD authoring device (not shown) based on the master disc 35C.

Fourth embodiment

Fig. 38 shows an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The player in Fig. 38 is designed for audio DVD in Fig. 2 .

The player in Figure 38 operates on Audio DVD 1. The player in FIG. 38 includes an operation unit 18 and a remote control unit 19 . The remote control unit 19 can communicate with the operation unit 18 by wireless. The operation unit 18 is connected to a control unit 23 including a CPU. The control unit 23 is connected to the drive unit 2 and the reproduced signal processing unit 17 . The drive unit 2 is connected to a reproduced signal processing unit 17 .

The CPU 23 operates according to programs stored in the internal ROM. When the user activates the operation unit 18 or the remote control unit 19 to request music selection, playback, fast forward, or stop, the CPU 23 controls the drive unit 2 and the reproduction signal processing unit 17 to implement the requested operation mode.

During playback, the drive unit 2 reads the signal from the audio DVD 1. The drive unit 2 includes a demodulator that subjects the read signal to demodulation (eg, EFM demodulation). The drive unit 2 outputs the demodulation result signal to the reproduced signal processing unit 17 as a reproduced signal. The drive unit 2 has a function of detecting TOC information in the demodulation result signal (reproduced signal). The drive unit 2 outputs the detected TOC information to the signal processing unit 17 .

The reproduced signal processing circuit 17 includes a control packet detector 3 which receives the reproduced signal from the drive unit 2 . The control packet detector 3 detects each control packet CONT in the reproduced signal. The control packet detector 3 generates control parameters in response to the detected control packets CONT. The control packet detector 3 sets control parameters in a parameter unit (parameter memory) 8 . The control packet detector 3 selects a video packet V from the reproduced signal in response to the detected control packet CONT. Control packet detector 3 writes video packets into video packet buffer 4 sequentially.

The reproduced signal processing unit 17 includes a reading unit 5 connected to the video packet buffer 4 . The reading unit 5 reads user data from the video pack V in the video pack buffer 4 in the order determined by the SCR information (see FIG. 14 ) in each video pack V. The reading unit 5 outputs the user data stream to the screen converter 6 . The picture converter 6 converts the user data stream into a corresponding digital video signal. The picture converter 6 outputs a digital video signal to a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 7 . The D/A converter 7 converts the digital video signal into a corresponding analog video signal. The D/A converter 7 outputs an analog video signal to an external device (not shown).

It should be noted that the reading unit 5 can read out user data from the video pack V in the video pack buffer 4 in the order determined by the PTC (representing time stamp) information in the control pack CONT. To this end, the control packet detector 3 provides the reading unit 5 with the PTS information in the detected control packet CONT.

The reproduction signal processing circuit 17 includes an audio control packet detector 9 that receives a reproduction signal from the drive unit 2 . The audio control pack detector 9 detects each audio control pack A-CONT in the reproduced signal. The audio control packet detector 9 generates control parameters in response to the detected audio control packet A-CONT. The audio control packet detector 9 sets control parameters in the parameter unit (parameter memory) 14 . The audio control pack detector 9 selects the audio pack A from the reproduced signal in response to the detected audio control pack A-CONT selection. The audio control pack detector 9 sequentially writes the audio packs A into the audio pack buffer 10 .

The reproduction signal processing circuit 17 includes a reading unit 11 connected to the audio pack buffer 10 . The reading unit 11 reads user data (audio data) from the audio pack A in the audio pack buffer 10 in the order determined by the SCR information (see FIG. 14 ) in each audio pack A. The reading unit 11 outputs a user data (audio data) stream to the PCM converter 12 . The PCM converter 12 converts the user data stream (audio data stream) into a corresponding digital audio signal through a PCM decoding process. The PCM converter 12 outputs a digital audio signal to a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 13 . The D/A converter 13 converts the digital audio signal into a corresponding analog audio signal. For example, an analog audio signal has a left front channel Lf, a right front channel Rf, a center channel C, a left surround channel Ls, and a right surround channel Rs. The D/A converter 13 outputs an analog audio signal to an external device (not shown).

It should be noted that the reading unit 11 can read out user data from the audio pack A in the audio pack buffer 10 in the order determined by the current time information in the audio retrieval data ASD (see FIG. 18 ) in the audio control pack A-CONT. data (audio data). To this end, the audio control packet detector 9 supplies the reading unit 11 with current time information in the detected audio control packet A-CONT.

The reproduced signal processing unit 17 includes a memory 14A which stores TOC information supplied from the drive unit 2 . The memory 14A is connected to the parameter units 8 and 14 and the control unit 23 . When the user activates the operation unit 18 or the remote control unit 19 so as to select desired music, the control unit 23 refers to the TOC information in the memory 14A, and controls the drive unit 2 and the reproduction signal processing unit 17 in response to the TOC information to play back the desired song from the beginning. music.

The reproduced signal processing unit 17 includes a detector 95 which receives the reproduced signal from the drive unit 2 . The detector 95 extracts sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) information and quantization bit number Q (Q1 and Q2) information from the reproduced signal. The detector 95 supplies the CPU 23 with information on the sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) and the number of quantization bits Q (Q1 and Q2). The CPU 23 controls the PCM converter 12 and the D/A converter 13 in response to the sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) information and the quantization bit number Q (Q1 and Q2) information. Then, the status of dequantization (signal decoding) by PCM converter 12 and D/A converter 13 is related to sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) information and quantization bit number Q (Q1 and Q2) information. In this way, dequantization can be done on a channel-by-channel basis or on a channel-group-by-channel basis.

fifth embodiment

Fig. 39 shows an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The player in FIG. 39 is substantially similar to the player in FIG. 38 .

The player of FIG. 39 operates on the audio DVD 1 having the TOC area 1a loaded with TOC information. The TOC area 1a can be omitted from the audio DVD 1. The player of Fig. 39 includes a control unit 23 connected to an operation unit (not shown). The control unit 23 includes a CPU. A remote control unit (not shown) can communicate with the operating unit wirelessly. The control unit 23 is connected to the playback device 2A.

The playback device 2A is connected to a TOC detector 2B, an audio processor 17A, and a video processor 17B. TOC detector 2B is connected to memory 14A. The memory 14A is connected to the control unit 23 . The audio processor 17A and the video processor 17B are connected to the control unit 23 . The audio processor 17A is connected to the output devices 13A and 13B. The video processor 17B is connected to the output devices 7A and 7B.

When the audio DVD 1 is set in place in the player of FIG. 39, the reproducing device 2A reads out a signal from the TOC area 1a of the audio DVD 1. The playback device 2A outputs a readout signal to the TOC detector 2B. TOC detector 2B detects TOC information in the readout signal. TOC detector 2B stores the detected TOC information into memory 14A.

When the user activates the operation unit or the remote control unit to select a desired tune, the control unit 23 refers to the TOC information in the memory 14A, and controls the reproducing apparatus 2A in response to the TOC information to play back the desired tune from the beginning.

During playback, the reproduction device 2A reads out the signal from the audio DVD 1. The reproduction device 2A outputs the readout signal as a reproduction signal to the audio processor 17A and the video processor 17B. The audio processor 17A separates audio data from the reproduced signal. The audio processor 17A supplies audio data to the output device 13A. The output device 13A converts the audio data into corresponding audio signals. The output device 13A supplies audio signals to an external device (not shown). Furthermore, the audio processor 17A separates character information from the reproduced signal. The audio processor 17A supplies character information to the output device 13B. The output device 13B converts the character information into a corresponding character signal. The output device 13B supplies character signals to an external device (not shown). In addition, the audio processor 17A separates the information in each audio control pack A-CONT from the reproduced signal. The audio processor 17A supplies the audio control packet information to the control unit 23 .

During playback, the video processor 17B separates video data from the reproduced signal. The video processor 17B supplies video data to the output device 7A. The output device 7A converts the video data into a corresponding video signal. The output device 7A supplies the video signal to an external device (not shown). In addition, the video processor 17B separates sub-picture information from the reproduced signal. The video processor 17B supplies the sub-picture information to the output device 7B. The output means 7B converts the sub-picture information into corresponding sub-picture signals. The output device 7B supplies the sub-picture signal to an external device (not shown). In addition, the video processor 17B separates the information in each control pack CONT from the reproduced signal. The video processor 17B supplies the control packet information to the control unit 23 .

Sixth embodiment

Fig. 40 shows an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The player in Figure 40 is designed for Audio DVD in Figure 26.

The player in Figure 40 operates on Audio DVD 1. The player in FIG. 40 includes an operation unit 18 and a remote control unit 19 . The remote control unit 19 can communicate with the operation unit 18 wirelessly. The operating unit 18 is connected to the control unit 23 . The control unit 23 includes a CPU. The control unit 23 is connected to the drive unit 2 and the reproduced signal processing unit 17D. The drive unit 2 is connected to a reproduced signal processing unit 17D.

The CPU 23 operates according to programs stored in the internal ROM. When the user activates the operation unit 18 or the remote control unit 19 to request music selection, playback, fast forward, or stop, the CPU 23 controls the drive unit 2 and the reproduction signal processing unit 17D to implement the requested operation mode.

During playback, the drive unit 2 reads the signal from the audio DVD 1. The drive unit 2 includes a demodulator which subjects the read signal to a given demodulation (eg EFM demodulation). The drive unit 2 outputs the modulation result signal as a reproduced signal to the reproduced signal processing unit 17D.

The reproduced signal processing unit 17D includes a video packet detector 3A which receives the reproduced signal from the drive unit 2 . The video packet detector 3A detects video packets V (still picture packets SPCT) in the reproduced signal. The video packet detector 3A generates control parameters in response to detected video packets V. Video packet detector 3A sets control parameters in parameter unit (parameter memory) 8 . The video packet detector 3A sequentially writes the video packets V into the video packet buffer 4 .

The reproduced signal processing circuit 17D includes a reading unit 5 connected to the video pack buffer 4 . The reading unit 5 reads out user data from the video packs V in the video pack buffer 4 in the order determined by the SCR information (see FIG. 14) in each video pack V. The reading unit 5 outputs the user data stream to the screen converter 6 . The picture converter 6 converts the user data stream into a corresponding digital video signal. The picture converter 6 outputs a digital video signal to a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 7 . The D/A converter 7 converts the digital video signal into a corresponding analog video signal. The D/A converter 7 outputs an analog video signal to an external device (not shown).

The reproduction signal processing circuit 17D includes an audio packet detector 9A which receives the reproduction signal from the drive unit 2 . The audio control pack detector 9A detects the audio pack A and the real time information pack RTI in the reproduced signal. The audio packet detector 9A generates control parameters in response to the detected audio packet A and the detected real time information packet RTI. The audio pack detector 9A sets control parameters in the parameter unit (parameter memory) 14 . The audio pack detector 9A sequentially writes the audio pack A and the real time information pack RTI into the audio pack buffer 10 .

The reproduction signal processing circuit 17D includes a reading unit 11A connected to the audio pack buffer 10 . The reading unit 11A reads user data (audio data) from the audio pack A in the audio pack buffer 10 in the order determined by the SCR information (see FIG. 14 ) in each audio pack A. The reading unit 11A outputs a user data (audio data) stream to the PCM converter 12 . The PCM converter 12 converts the user data stream (audio data stream) into a corresponding digital audio signal through a PCM decoding process. The PCM converter 12 outputs a digital audio signal to a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 13 . The D/A converter 13 converts the digital audio signal into a corresponding analog audio signal. For example, an analog audio signal has a left front channel Lf, a right front channel Rf, a left surround channel Ls, a right surround channel Rs, a center channel C, and a low frequency effect channel LFE. The D/A converter 13 outputs an analog audio signal to an external device (not shown).

Further, the reading unit 11A reads out audio character display information (ACD information) from the real-time pack RTI in the audio pack buffer 10 in the order determined by the ISCR information in each real-time pack RTI. The reading unit 11A outputs audio character display information to the display signal generator 20 . The display signal generator 20 converts the audio character display information into corresponding display signals. The display signal generator 20 outputs a display signal to the display device 21 . The display device 21 designates a display signal. The display signal generator 20 may output display signals to an external device (not shown).

The reproduced signal processing unit 17D includes a detector 95 which receives the reproduced signal from the drive unit 2 . The detector 95 extracts sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) information and quantization bit number Q (Q1 and Q2) information from the reproduced signal. The detector 95 supplies the CPU 23 with information on the sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) and the number of quantization bits Q (Q1 and Q2). The CPU 23 controls the PCM converter 12 and the D/A converter 13 in response to the sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) information and the quantization bit number Q (Q1 and Q2) information. Then, the status of dequantization (signal decoding) by PCM converter 12 and D/A converter 13 is related to sampling frequency "fs" (fs1 and fs2) information and quantization bit number Q (Q1 and Q2) information. In this way, dequantization can be done on a channel-by-channel basis or on a channel-group-by-channel basis.

Seventh embodiment

Fig. 41 shows an audio DVD player including an audio signal decoding apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The player in FIG. 41 is substantially similar to the player in FIG. 40 .

The player of FIG. 41 operates on an audio DVD 1 having a TOC area 1a loaded with TOC information. The TOC region 1a can be included in the lead-in area or AST_D. The TOC may be called SAPP (Simple Audio Play Pointer) for audio DVD discs. The player in Fig. 41 includes a control unit 23 connected to an operation unit (not shown). The control unit 23 includes a CPU. A remote control unit (not shown) can communicate with the operating unit wirelessly. The control unit 23 is connected to the playback device 2A.

The playback device 2A is connected to a TOC detector 2B, an audio processor 17A, and a video processor 17B. TOC detector 2B is connected to memory 14A. The memory 14A is connected to the control unit 23 . The audio processor 17A and the video processor 17B are connected to the control unit 23 . The audio processor 17A is connected to the output devices 13A and 13B. The video processor 17B is connected to the output devices 7A and 7B.

When the audio DVD 1 is set in place in the player of FIG. 41, the reproduction device 2A reads out a signal from the TOC area 1a of the audio DVD 1. The playback device 2A outputs a readout signal to the TOC detector 2B. TOC detector 2B detects TOC information in the readout signal. TOC detector 2B stores the detected TOC information into memory 14A.

When the user activates the operation unit or the remote control unit to select a desired tune, the control unit 23 refers to the TOC information in the memory 14A, and controls the reproducing apparatus 2A in response to the TOC information to play back the desired tune from the beginning.

During playback, the reproduction device 2A reads out the signal from the audio DVD 1. The reproduction device 2A outputs the readout signal as a reproduction signal to the audio processor 17A and the video processor 17B. The audio processor 17A separates audio data from the reproduced signal. The audio processor 17A supplies audio data to the output device 13A. The output device 13A converts the audio data into corresponding audio signals. The output device 13A supplies audio signals to an external device (not shown). Furthermore, the audio processor 17A separates character information (audio character display information) from the reproduced signal. The audio processor 17A supplies character information to the output device 13B. The output device 13B converts the character information into a corresponding character signal. The output device 13B supplies character signals to an external device (not shown). In addition, the audio processor 17A separates the audio manager AMG and the audio composition set ATS from the reproduced signal. The audio processor 17A supplies the audio manager AMG and the audio composition set ATS to the control unit 23 .

During playback, the video processor 17B separates video data from the reproduced signal. The video processor 17B supplies video data to the output device 7A. The output device 7A converts the video data into a corresponding video signal. The output device 7A supplies the video signal to an external device (not shown). In addition, the video processor 17B separates sub-picture information from the reproduced signal. The video processor 17B supplies the sub-picture information to the output device 7B. The output means 7B converts the sub-picture information into corresponding sub-picture signals. The output device 7B supplies the sub-picture signal to an external device (not shown).

Eighth embodiment

Fig. 42 shows an optical disc player or audio DVD player according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The audio DVD player in FIG. 42 includes a demultiplexer 110 following the packet reproduction section 105. In FIG. The packet reproducing section 105 reads out a signal from an audio DVD, and derives a packet stream from the read out signal. The demultiplexer 110 receives the packet stream from the packet reproduction section 105 .

In the audio DVD player in FIG. 42, the demultiplexer 110 is connected to the buffers 131-1, 131-2, 141, and 151. The buffers 131 - 1 and 131 - 2 are connected to the decoder 132 . The decoder 132 is connected to a buffer 133, D/A converters 134-1 and 134-2.

The buffer 141 is connected to the decoder 142 . The decoder 142 is connected to the buffers 143 and 144 . The buffer 144 is connected to a decoder 145 . The decoder 145 is connected to a buffer 146 .

The buffer 151 is connected to a decoder 152 . The decoder 152 is connected to buffers 153 and 154 . The buffer 154 is connected to a decoder 155 . The decoder 155 is connected to a buffer 156 .

The demultiplexer 110 separates audio packets A from the packet stream. The demultiplexer 110 writes the separated packet stream A sequentially and alternately into the buffers 131-1 and 131-2. The capacity of each buffer 131-1 and 131-2 is equal to 4 kilobytes.

Furthermore, the demultiplexer 110 separates the audio control packets A-CONT from the packet stream. The demultiplexer 110 sequentially writes the separated audio control packets A-CONT into the buffer 151 .

Furthermore, the demultiplexer 110 separates control packets CONT from the packet stream. The demultiplexer 110 extracts the representative control information PCI from the separated control packet CONT. The demultiplexer 110 writes the extracted presentation control information PCI into the buffer 141 .

The decoder 152 reads out information from the audio control pack A-CONT in the buffer 151 . The decoder 152 cooperates with the buffer 153 to decode the read information. The decoder 152 notifies the decoder 132 of decoding result information. The decoder 152 separates audio highlight information from the decoding result information. The decoder 152 writes the audio highlight information to the buffer 154 . The decoder 155 reads out the audio highlight information from the buffer 154 . The decoder 155 cooperates with the buffer 156 to decode the audio highlight information. The decoder 155 outputs decoding result information to an external device (not shown).

The decoder 132 alternately accesses the buffers 131-1 and 131-2, and reads out user data (audio data) from the audio pack A in the buffers 131-1 and 131-2. When the buffer 131-1 is accessed by the demultiplexer 110, the decoder 132 accesses the buffer 131-2. When the buffer 131-2 is accessed by the demultiplexer 110, the decoder 132 accesses the buffer 131-1. Decoder 132 cooperates with buffer 133 in response to information provided from decoder 152 to combine user data into an audio data stream and decode the audio data stream into a PCM audio signal. The PCM audio signal has 3 front channels, 2 rear channels and one LFE channel. The 3 front channels are associated with a sampling frequency "fs" of 96kHz. The 2 rear channels are associated with a sampling frequency "fs" of 48kHz. The decoder 132 outputs the PCM audio signals of the 3 front channels to the D/A converter 34-1. The decoder 132 outputs the PCM audio signals of the two rear channels and the LFE channel to the D/A converter 34-2. The D/A converter 34-1 converts the PCM audio signals of the 3 front channels into analog audio signals of the corresponding 3 front channels. The D/A converter 34-1 outputs the analog audio signals of the 3 front channels to an external device (not shown). The D/A converter 34-2 converts the 2 rear channels and the LFE channel into corresponding analog audio signals. The D/A converter 34-2 outputs the analog audio signals of the 2 rear channels and the LFE channel to an external device (not shown).

The decoder 142 reads out the display control information PCI from the buffer 141 . The decoder 142 cooperates with the buffer 143 to decode the presentation control information PCI into highlight information. The decoder 142 writes the highlight information into the buffer 144 . The decoder 145 reads out highlight information from the buffer 144 . The decoder 145 cooperates with the buffer 146 to decode the highlight information. The decoder 145 outputs decoding result information to an external device (not shown).

Ninth embodiment

Fig. 43 shows an optical disc player or video DVD player according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. The video DVD player in FIG. 43 includes a demultiplexer 110 following the packet reproduction section 105. In FIG. The packet reproduction section 105 reads out a signal from a video DVD, and derives a packet stream from the readout signal. The demultiplexer 110 receives the packet stream from the packet reproduction section 105 .

In the video DVD player in FIG. 43, the demultiplexer 110 is connected to the buffers 111, 121, 131, and 141. The buffer 111 is connected to the decoders 112 and 132 . The decoder 112 is connected to the buffer 113 , the sort buffer 114 and the switch 115 . The sort buffer 114 is connected to a switch 115 . The switch 115 is connected to a text box converter 116 . The text box converter 116 is connected to the adder 117 .

The buffer 121 is connected to the decoder 122 . The decoder 122 is connected to the adder 117 and the buffer 123 .

The buffer 131 is connected to a decoder 132 . The decoder 132 is connected to a buffer 133 .

The buffer 141 is connected to a decoder 142 . The decoder 142 is connected to buffers 143 and 144 . The buffer 144 is connected to a decoder 145 . The decoder 145 is connected to a buffer 146 .

The demultiplexer 110 separates video packets V, audio control packets A-CONT and control packets CONT from the packet stream. The demultiplexer 110 writes the separated video packet V, audio control packet A-CONT and control packet CONT into the buffer 111 .

The demultiplexer 110 separates sub-picture packets SP from the packet stream. The demultiplexer 110 writes the separated sub-picture packs SP into the buffer 121 sequentially.

The demultiplexer 110 separates audio packets A from the packet stream. The demultiplexer 110 sequentially writes the extracted audio packs A into the buffer 131 .

Furthermore, the demultiplexer 110 separates guided packets from the packet stream. The demultiplexer 110 extracts the display control information PCI from the separated boot packet. The demultiplexer 110 can extract the representative control information PCI from the separated control packet CONT. The demultiplexer 110 writes the extracted presentation control information PCI into the buffer 141 .

The decoder 112 reads out user data (video data) from the video pack V in the buffer 111 . The decoder 112 cooperates with the buffer 113 to decode the read video data into a corresponding video signal. The decoder 112 writes the audio signal to the buffer 114 . Furthermore, the decoder 112 outputs a video signal to the switch 115 . Switch 115 selectively connects text box converter 116 to decoder 112 or sort buffer 114 . Text frame converter 116 receives video signals from decoder 112 when switch 115 connects text frame converter 116 to decoder 112 . In this case, the text frame converter 116 subjects the received video signal to a given conversion. The text box converter 116 outputs a signal of the conversion result to the adder 117 . When switch 115 connects text frame converter 116 to buffer 114, text frame converter 116 accesses the video signal in buffer 114 and sequences the video signal. In this case, the text box converter 116 subjects the sorted result video signal to a given conversion. The text box converter 116 outputs a conversion result signal to the adder 117 .

The decoder 122 reads video data from the sub-picture pack SP in the buffer 121 . The decoder 122 cooperates with the buffer 123 to decode the video data into sub-picture signals. The decoder 122 outputs the sub-picture signal to the adder 117 . The adder 117 combines the output signal of the text frame converter 116 and the output signal (sub-picture signal) of the decoder 122 into a sub-picture-added video signal. The adder 117 outputs the sub-picture-added video signal to an external device (not shown).

The decoder 132 reads out information from the audio control pack A-CONT in the buffer 111 . Furthermore, the decoder 132 reads out user data (audio data) from the audio pack A in the buffer 131 in response to the A-CONT information. Decoder 132 cooperates with buffer 133 in response to the A-CONT information to assemble user data into an audio data stream and decode the audio data stream into a corresponding audio signal. The decoder 132 outputs audio signals to an external device (not shown).

The decoder 142 reads out the display control information PCI from the buffer 141 . The decoder 142 cooperates with the buffer 143 to decode the presentation control information PCI into highlight information. The decoder 142 writes the highlight information into the buffer 144 . The decoder 145 reads out highlight information from the buffer 144 . The decoder 145 cooperates with the buffer 146 to decode the highlight information. The decoder 145 outputs decoding result information to an external device (not shown).

Claims (3)

1. An audio signal encoding device, comprising: First means for quantizing the front channel analog audio signal to a corresponding front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) with a first quantization bit number (Q1) and a first sampling frequency (fs1); The second device is used to quantize the rear channel analog audio signal into a corresponding rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs) with the second quantization bit number (Q2) and the second sampling frequency (fs2), the second quantization bit number ( Q2) is different from the first quantization bit number (Q1), and the second sampling frequency (fs2) is different from the first sampling frequency (fs1), wherein the first and second sampling frequencies (fs1, fs2) can be from 48kHz to 96kHz , 192kHz to choose; The third device is used for said front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf), said rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs), said front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) and said rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs) The information on the parameters of the rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs) is formatted into a structure comprising an Audio Manager (AMG) and an Audio Work Set (ATS) comprising a first area ( ACBS) and the second area (ATSI), the first area (ACBS) contains the digital audio signal of the front channel (Lf, Rf) and the digital audio signal of the rear channel (Ls, Rs), the second area (ATSI) is different has an audio object attribute (AOTT-AOB-ATR) in the first area (ACBS) and contains parameters representing parameters related to said front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) and said rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs) The parameters include first and second quantization bits (Q1, Q2) and first and second sampling frequencies (fs1, fs2). 2. An audio signal coding method, comprising: Quantize the front channel analog audio signal into a corresponding front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) with the first quantization bit number (Q1) and the first sampling frequency (fs1); Quantize the rear channel analog audio signal into a corresponding rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs) with the second quantization bit number (Q2) and the second sampling frequency (fs2), the second quantization bit number (Q2) is different from the first The number of quantization bits (Q1), the second sampling frequency (fs2) is different from the first sampling frequency (fs1), wherein the first and second sampling frequencies (fs1, fs2) can be selected from 48kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz; and The front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf), the rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs), and the representation related to the front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) and the rear channel digital audio signal (Ls , Rs) parameter information is formatted into a structure that includes an audio manager (AMG) and an audio work set (ATS) that includes a first area (ACBS) and a second area ( ATSI), the first area (ACBS) contains the front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) and the rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs), the second area (ATSI) is different from the first area (ACBS) while having an audio object attribute (AOTT-AOB-ATR) and containing information representing parameters relating to said front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) and said rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs), said parameters including First and second quantization bits (Q1, Q2) and first and second sampling frequencies (fs1, fs2). 3. An audio signal decoding device for decoding a signal encoded by the audio signal encoding device according to claim 1, comprising: First means for extracting information representing parameters relating to said front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) and rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs) from a reproduced signal, said parameters comprising first and second Two quantization bits (Q1, Q2) and first and second sampling frequencies (fs1, fs2), wherein the first and second sampling frequencies (fs1, fs2) are selected from 48kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz; second means for extracting said front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf) and said rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs) from said reproduced signal; A third means for decoding said front channel digital audio signal (Lf, Rf); and fourth means for decoding said rear channel digital audio signal (Ls, Rs).

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