JP2003304498A - Information recording medium, information recording apparatus and method thereof, information reproducing apparatus and method thereof, information recording and reproducing apparatus and method thereof, computer program for controlling record and reproduction, and data structure containing control signal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a multiplex recording of still images having a large quantity of data together with moving images and sounds in an information recording medium such as an optical disc or the like and effective reproduction of the still images while decreasing the amount of processing load. <P>SOLUTION: In the information recording medium, whole streams containing a plurality of partial streams each composed of contents information including still image information are subjected to the multiplex recording by the packet. The information recording medium stores object data composed of a plurality of packets each storing fragments of the contents information, reproduction sequence information prescribing a reproduction sequence of the object data and corresponding definition information defining corresponding relationship between a plurality of multiplexed packets for controlling reproduction of the object data and a plurality of the partial streams. The reproduction sequence information and the corresponding definition information are provided with read control flags respectively indicating whether to perform reading of the still images at the start of reproduction or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording medium such as a high-density optical disc capable of recording various information such as main video, audio, sub-video, and reproduction control information with high density, and recording information on the information recording medium. Information recording apparatus and method, information reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing information from the information recording medium, information recording and reproducing apparatus and method capable of both recording and reproducing, and recording or reproducing control It belongs to the technical field of a data structure including a computer program and a control signal for controlling reproduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A DVD has been generalized as an optical disc on which various information such as main video, audio, sub-video and reproduction control information is recorded. According to the DVD standard, main video information (video data), audio information (audio data), and sub-video information (sub-picture data) are packetized together with reproduction control information (navigation data), thereby achieving a high-efficiency coding technique. MPEG2 (Moving Pic)
pure Experts Group phase
2) Multiple recording is performed on the disc in the standard program stream format. Of these, the main video information is MPE
The data compressed according to the G video format (ISO13818-2) exists for one stream in one program stream. On the other hand, audio information is transmitted in a plurality of formats (ie linear PCM, AC-3 and MPEG).
Audio, etc.), and a total of 8 streams can exist in one program stream. The sub-picture information is defined by a bit map and is compressed and recorded by a run length method, and up to 32 streams can exist in one program stream. Thus, in the case of DVD, by adopting the program stream format, for example, for one movie, a plurality of streams of selectable audio information (for example, stereo audio or surround audio, Original English voice, Japanese voice over voice, etc.)
Or multiple streams of selectable sub-picture information (for example,
Multiple streams of Japanese subtitles, English subtitles, etc.) are recorded.

On the other hand, a transport stream format of the MPEG2 standard has been standardized, which is suitable for data transmission.
According to this transport stream format, a plurality of elementary streams are simultaneously transmitted. For example, a plurality of programs or programs such as television channels of many satellite digital broadcasts are time-division multiplexed and simultaneously transmitted in one satellite radio wave.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned DVD, the main video of one stream can be multiple-recorded together with the audio information and the sub-video information of multiple streams, and the main video of multiple streams cannot be multiple-recorded. That is, there is a problem that a DVD that records in conformity with the MPEG2 program stream format cannot essentially multiple-record multiple programs or programs simultaneously transmitted in the MPEG2 transport stream format.

Further, even if there is a disk having a high transfer rate and a large recording capacity or a high density recording that can simultaneously record a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs transmitted in the transport stream format of MPEG2, Frequently recording and reproducing a large amount of still image information such as the above-mentioned bitmap data with respect to the reproduction time axis is not appropriate in terms of data efficiency. In particular, if only receiving a broadcast in real time and displaying and outputting it via the tuner, such still image information display processing is relatively simple, but still image information is used as one of the elementary streams. After being recorded on the disc, it is targeted for special reproduction such as time search, chapter search, or interactive reproduction by the user due to its nature. For this reason, the load of reproduction and display processing of still image information or the like made up of bit map data having an enormous amount of data sometimes becomes very large. Then, in order to deal with this, it is necessary to significantly improve the performance of the hardware or the like only for the processing of the still image information, or the image quality of the still image information is deteriorated or special. There is a technical problem that playback and interactive playback are restricted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and still image information having a relatively large data amount can be multiplex-recorded together with moving image information, audio information, etc., and an increase in load in reproduction display processing can be suppressed. Information recording medium, information recording device and method, information reproducing device and method, information recording and reproducing device and method, computer program for recording or reproduction control, and control signal for reproduction control while enabling reproduction of the still image information It is an object to provide a data structure including.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information recording medium of the present invention is characterized in that an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is physically Is an information recording medium which is multiplex-recorded in a packet unit which is an accessible unit, and stores object data which is a logically accessible unit and comprises a plurality of packets each storing a fragment of the content information. An object data file, a reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data, and a plurality of pieces that configure the plurality of partial streams as reproduction control information for controlling the reproduction of the object data. Has a specific relationship among the content information of Object information file that stores related group definition information that defines a group as a related group, and one or more of the plurality of partial streams is a fragment of the still image information that is one of the content information. A plurality of packets to be stored and a plurality of packets storing a fragment of the still image control information for controlling the display of the still image information are combined in a partial stream for one still image or two or more still images. The playback sequence information needs to read at least one of the still image information and the still image control information at the time of transition between playback items in each playback sequence. The related group definition information includes a first read control flag indicating whether or not Switching the reading at the time of containing the second read control flag indicating whether it is necessary.

According to the information recording medium of the present invention, for example, M
The entire stream such as at least a part of the PEG2 transport stream includes a plurality of partial streams such as an elementary stream. The partial stream is video information or sub-picture information (for example, video data or sub-picture data) or audio information (for example, a series of contents that can be reproduced by the information reproducing apparatus).
Audio data) and other content information. That is, in the present application, one "partial stream" refers to one data array or information array such as a video stream, an audio stream, and a sub-picture stream that form a series of contents, which is an elementary stream. On the other hand, in the present application, one "whole stream" refers to a data array or information array in which a plurality of partial streams are bundled. The entire stream may be a transport stream itself formed by bundling m (where m is a natural number of 2 or more) elementary streams in MPEG2,
Of these, a data array or information array in which n (n is a natural number of 2 or more and less than m) elementary streams are bundled may be used. In the present invention, the entire stream includes at least one partial stream (for example, sub-picture stream) composed of still image information and still image control information.

The entire stream constructed in this way is
Multiple recording is performed on the information recording medium in units of packets (for example, TS packets described later) that are physically accessible by the information reproducing apparatus. Here, the object data file is a unit that can be logically accessed by the information reproducing apparatus and stores object data composed of a plurality of packets that respectively store fragments of content information. The reproduction sequence information file stores reproduction sequence information (eg, playlist information) that defines the reproduction sequence of the object data stored in this object data file.

The object information file contains related group definition information (for example, AU information or A described later).
U information table) is stored as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data file by the information reproducing apparatus. Various information stored in the object information file and the reproduction sequence information file is not multiplexed in the packet unit on the information recording medium, unlike the case of the object data file. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce the object data in the information reproducing apparatus based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information. At this time, in particular, based on a related group (for example, an AU described later) having a specific relationship among a plurality of series of contents forming a plurality of partial streams described in the related group definition information included in the reproduction control information. Then, a desired one of a plurality of programs or programs that are multiplex-recorded is converted into a plurality of partial streams (for example, a pair of a video stream and an audio stream, and a set obtained by adding a sub-picture stream to them). By specifying, reproduction can be performed relatively easily. In addition, based on the related group, the information reproducing apparatus side can easily recognize the related group having a specific relationship such as multi-vision broadcasting or multi-view broadcasting, bilingual broadcasting, and bilingual subtitle broadcasting. It will be possible.

Therefore, even a complicated content in which one program or program is composed of a plurality of partial streams is, for example, a definition rule or an interpretation rule (eg, a definition rule) which is packetized in the transport stream when transmitting these. , And can be reproduced without problems according to the related group definition information on the information recording medium, regardless of the contents of PAT and PMT described later). Moreover, such recording is not made by, for example, changing the data structure in the transport stream in which a plurality of television channel programs are digitally broadcast at the same time, but additionally recording the object information file, the reproduction sequence Since it is sufficient to record information files, it is very convenient in practice.

In the present invention, in particular, a partial stream consisting of packets for storing still picture information, a partial stream consisting of packets for separately storing still picture control information, or a packet for storing still picture information and still picture control information. For a partial stream for a still image (for example, a sub-picture stream) such as a partial stream that is composed of both a packet that stores It includes a first read control flag indicating whether or not the control information needs to be read. Furthermore, regarding such a still image partial stream, the related group definition information indicates whether or not the still image information or the still image control information needs to be read when switching each content belonging to the related group. Includes read control flags.

Therefore, at the time of reproduction, at the time of transition of a reproduction item (eg, play item) in the reproduction sequence, if it is indicated that the reading is not necessary according to the first read control flag, then on the still image partial stream. No still image information or still image control information is read. That is, the image information on the other partial stream (for example, the video stream or the audio stream) is read and reproduced preferentially, and the situation in which the reproduction of the main image, the moving image, the music, or the like is delayed is actively performed. It is possible to avoid it. On the other hand, when it is indicated that reading is necessary according to the first reading control flag at the time of such a transition of the reproduction item, the reading of the still image information or the still image control information on the still image partial stream is executed. It That is, the still image information on the partial stream for the still image (for example, the sub-picture stream) and its control information are read and reproduced, and the situation in which the reproduction of the still image is delayed is positively avoided. It becomes possible.

Moreover, when the contents belonging to the related group are switched (for example, when the video in the recorded multivision program is switched), if it is indicated that the reading is not necessary according to the second read control flag, the still image is read. The still image information or the still image control information on the partial stream of is not read. That is, another partial stream (eg, video stream or audio stream)
The above-mentioned image information is read and reproduced preferentially, and it is possible to actively avoid a situation in which the switching of the main video, the moving image, the music, etc. (that is, the reproduction after the switching) is delayed. . On the other hand, at the time of switching the contents belonging to such a related group, if it is indicated that the reading is necessary according to the second reading control flag, the still image information or the still image control information on the still image partial stream is read. Is executed. That is, the still image information on the partial stream for the still image (for example, the sub-picture stream) and its control information are read and reproduced, and the switching of the still image (that is, the reproduction after the switching) is delayed. It is possible to actively avoid such a situation.

As a result of the above, the still image information included as at least one partial stream (for example, a sub-picture stream) in the entire stream, together with other main video information and audio information, or alone, is included in the at least one portion. It is possible to properly play back based on the still image control information included in the stream. At this time, still image reproduction can be executed even when special reproduction such as time search, chapter search, fast forward, rewind, etc. is performed, that is, even when reproduction is started from an arbitrary time. In addition, even when recording and reproducing a multi-vision broadcast or a multi-view broadcast including still image reproduction, it is possible to switch the main video and still image without delay. At this time, in particular, still image information such as bitmap and JPEG having a relatively large amount of data can be efficiently reproduced in any case together with moving image information, audio information, etc. It is effectively suppressed.

The entire stream in the present invention may include two or more partial streams (that is, video streams) including main video information as content information. Alternatively, the entire stream includes a partial stream including main video information as content information, a partial stream including corresponding sub video information (that is, sub picture stream), and a partial stream including audio information (that is,
Audio stream).

In one aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the first read control flag indicates whether or not the read is necessary during special reproduction including time search, instead of or in addition to the transition. The second read control flag indicates whether or not the read is necessary at the time of special reproduction including time search, instead of or at the time of switching.

According to this aspect, at the time of reproduction, during the special reproduction including the time search, if it is indicated that the reading is not necessary according to the first read control flag, the still image on the partial stream for the still image is reproduced. No information or still image control information is read. That is, reading and reproduction of image information on another partial stream (for example, a video stream or an audio stream) are preferentially performed. On the other hand,
If it is indicated that the reading is required, the reading of the still image information or the still image control information on the still image partial stream is executed. In addition, during special playback including such time search, if it is indicated that reading is not necessary according to the second read control flag, still image information on the partial stream for still images and still image control information cannot be read. Not done That is, reading and reproduction of image information on another partial stream (for example, a video stream or an audio stream) are preferentially performed. On the other hand, if it is indicated that the reading is necessary, the reading of the still image information and the still image control information on the partial stream for the still image is executed.
Therefore, in either case, it is possible to positively avoid a situation in which the reproduction of the main image or the still image at the reproduction start point designated by the time search is delayed. Also, in the case of special search such as chapter search, fast forward, rewind, etc. other than time search, similarly, it is possible to positively avoid the situation in which the playback of the main video or still image at the playback start point is delayed. .

[0019] In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the reproduction sequence information comprises playlist information which defines each reproduction sequence in a unit of a playlist which can be logically accessed, and the first read control flag. Indicates whether or not the reading is necessary as the reproduction item at the time of transition between a plurality of play items forming the playlist.

According to this aspect, at the time of reproduction, at the time of transition of the play item in the reproduction sequence, if it is indicated that the reading is not necessary according to the first read control flag, the still image on the partial stream for the still image is stopped. Image information and still image control information are not read. On the other hand, at the time of such a transfer of the play item, if it is indicated that the reading is necessary according to the first reading control flag, the reading of the still image information or the still image control information on the still image partial stream is executed. It In any case, according to the reproduction sequence information and the first read control flag, the reproduction can be favorably started in any play item.

In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the object information file includes a plurality of packets and a plurality of multiplexed packets as other reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data file. The correspondence definition information that defines the correspondence relationship with the partial stream is stored.

According to this aspect, the object information file uses correspondence definition information (for example, packet address information for each partial stream as described later or an ES map table including these) as other reproduction control information. Store. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce the object data in the information reproducing apparatus based on such reproduction control information and reproduction sequence information.

In this aspect, the correspondence definition information includes address information including at least a part of the serial numbers of the packets forming each partial stream and the display start time corresponding to the serial number, the plurality of partial streams. It may be configured to have separately.

According to this structure, the information reproducing apparatus can appropriately reproduce the series of partial streams based on the address information of the packet corresponding to each partial stream.

In this case, further, the content information is MP
When the video information is based on the EG2 standard, the address information may include a serial number of a packet related to an I picture and a display start time corresponding thereto.

According to this structure, at the time of reproduction, the address of the packet can be specified based on the serial number of the packet related to the I picture, and the I picture can be reproduced based on the display start time corresponding to this. Furthermore, based on this I picture, B picture and P picture can be reproduced,
In addition, if there is audio information corresponding to such video information, the audio information can be reproduced. That is, it is possible to access a packet related to an I picture, and it is also possible to access a packet related to video information and audio information related to the accessed I picture, so that a series of contents can be appropriately reproduced. Become. At this time, particularly, the address information of the packets related to the B picture and the P picture,
Since it is not necessary to describe the address information of the packet relating to the corresponding audio information, it is possible to reduce the amount of information recorded on the information recording medium as a whole.

In the information recording medium of the present invention, the correspondence definition information has table information indicating a packet identification number uniquely given among a plurality of packets multiplexed at the same time for each partial stream. You may

With this configuration, a desired partial stream can be obtained at any reproduction time by referring to table information (for example, ES map table or ES address information described later) indicating the packet identification number for each partial stream. It is possible to quickly identify which packet is supported. As a result, the desired partial stream can be reproduced. Furthermore, each of the plurality of packets is configured to have a packet header that stores time information (for example, ATC information described later) indicating a reproduction time on the reproduction time axis of the content information and does not store information indicating a serial number. May be. That is, according to the present invention, such reproduction according to the time information can be executed without any problem without storing the information indicating the serial number in the packet header of each packet as described above. On the contrary, such a configuration can prevent the packet header from being enlarged.

In the aspect relating to these address information, the address information relating to one partial stream other than for the still image in the correspondence definition information satisfies a predetermined condition among a plurality of packets constituting the one partial stream. The address information relating to the packets, and the address information relating to the partial stream for still images in the correspondence definition information, is adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only packets whose position is specified by the address information relating to the one partial stream. It may be described by an entry section specified by one packet.

With this configuration, the address information is
For example, for one partial stream such as a video stream, address information relating to a packet satisfying a specific condition, such as a head packet of an I picture, is described in the correspondence definition information. On the other hand, the entry section specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only the packet whose position is specified by the address information (for example, the head packet of the I-picture) is used for the partial stream for the still image. Address information is described. That is, for a packet forming a partial stream for a still image, instead of describing the address information directly indicating the recording position, the entry section to which the recording position belongs is described. Then, at the time of reproduction, for the partial stream for still image, after the entry section is specified using the correspondence definition information, the still image information or the still image control information is specified in the specified entry section in the object data file. Just look for it. As a result, the data amount of the address information can be reduced as a whole as compared with the case where the recording position of each packet forming the partial stream for a still image is described as the address information in the correspondence definition information.

In the present invention, the "entry point" refers to a packet whose position is specified by ES address information. The "entry section" is a TS specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only the packets whose recording positions are specified by the ES address information.
It refers to each section on the object, and preferably such an entry section is not described as between two consecutive numbers of two packets, but during the display start time of the still image information of the two packets. As. By describing in this way, even if some packets are removed due to editing work, etc., and the packet serial number deviates from the beginning, there will be no deviation between the display times, so the entry section cannot be changed. Because it does not occur. However, in an environment in which such editing work can be ignored, the entry section may be described as between two consecutive numbers relating to the two packets.

Further, in the present invention, the "identification of entry section" in the object data file executed at the time of reproduction is recorded first, for example, in which serial numbers are "0" or "1" in each object data file. The address of the packet that defines each end of the entry section may be specified according to the number of the packet from the reference packet (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “reference packet”) such as the packet that is input. Then, according to the specified address, it becomes possible to access a packet having an arbitrary serial number in the object data file, that is, to access an arbitrary entry section. For example, such a serial number starts from the serial number “0” of the reference packet in the object data file at the time of multiplex recording, and continues in ascending order according to the recording order. Therefore, it is not necessary to add information indicating the packet serial number to each packet itself. The address of the packet referred to here may be a physical address, but more generally it is a logical address, and the actual physical address is one that is uniquely specified from the logical address by the management of the file system. .

Furthermore, in the present invention, the information such as still picture information and still picture control information is “included in the entry section or located in the entry section” when all packets storing the information are the entry. In addition to the meaning included in the section, the head packet storing the information is included in the entry section. That is, in the present application, the position of the still image information, the still image control information, or the like is usually the top packet (SPD to be described later) unless otherwise specified.
And SCP). However, the end packet, the central packet, or the packet located at a predetermined position from the head may be used as a substitute for the head packet.

In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the object information file includes, as the reproduction control information, a sub-set of a plurality of partial streams which can be mutually switched by the information reproducing apparatus in the related group. Subgroup definition information defined as a group is further stored.

According to this aspect, the object information file stores the subgroup definition information (for example, PU information described later) as one of reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data file by the information reproducing apparatus. To do. Therefore, for example, based on the sub-group (for example, PU described later) of a plurality of partial streams that can be switched by the information reproducing device in the related group, which is described in the sub-group definition information, for example, multi-vision broadcast or multi-view The information reproducing apparatus can easily recognize an elementary stream that can be freely switched in a related group having a specific relationship such as broadcasting, bilingual broadcasting, and bilingual subtitle broadcasting.

In the various aspects of the present invention described above, the related group definition information is defined so that the same content can commonly belong to two or more sets each defined as a related group. Alternatively, the subgroup definition information may be defined so that the same partial stream can commonly belong to two or more sets each defined as the subgroup. Further, the entire stream may include two or more partial streams composed of main video information as content information, or may be composed of a partial stream composed of main video information and sub video information as content information. May be included in the partial stream. Further, the related group definition information may include information defining a plurality of series of contents corresponding to one program composed of a plurality of programs as the related group, or the plurality of series related to one program composed of one program. May be defined as the related group.

In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, the still image control information includes information indicating a display start time of a still image displayed based on the still image information and a display time of the still image.

According to this aspect, based on the information indicating the display start time and the display time of the still image included in the still image control information, the still image reproduction by the corresponding still image information is performed according to the intention of the manufacturer. It can be executed only for a desired time.

In another aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention, a plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream is a still image information set including at least one of the still image information and the still image control information. Packets for storing the respective fragments of the still image information set, each of which further includes structure information indicating the structure.

According to this aspect, the still image information and the still image control information have a structure that is gathered together with the structure information as a still image information set, and the structure is indicated by the structure information. For this reason, in the object data file, if the top packet in an arbitrary still image information set is accessed to obtain the structure information, all the packets forming the still image information set are individually based on the structure information (for example, Can be identified (by counting within the structure). In other words, the data amount of the address information in the correspondence definition information necessary for specifying the address of the still image information or the still image control information or the entry section to be stored in the object information file can be reduced.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information recording apparatus of the present invention physically stores, on an information recording medium, an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents. Is an information recording device that multiplex-records in a packet unit that is a unit that is accessible to a plurality of packets, and that stores object data that is a logically accessible unit and that includes a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store fragments of the content information. First recording means for recording an object data file to be stored, second recording means for recording a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information defining a reproduction sequence of the object data, and reproduction of the object data As the reproduction control information for And a third recording means for recording an object information file that stores related group definition information that defines a set having a specific relationship as a related group among a plurality of pieces of content information that form a content stream. One or more of the plurality of packets store a fragment of still image information that is one of the content information, and a plurality of packets that store a fragment of still image control information for controlling the display of the still image information. The packet is configured to be included in one still image partial stream or divided into two or more still image partial streams, and the reproduction sequence information is reproduced in each reproduction sequence. First read indicating whether or not at least one of the still image information and the still image control information needs to be read at the time of transition between items Includes a control flag, the related group definition information includes a second read control flag indicating whether the is read is necessary when switching the contents belonging to the relevant group.

According to the information recording apparatus of the present invention, for example, by the first recording means such as the system controller, the encoder, the TS object generator described later, and the optical pickup,
An object data file that stores object data is recorded, and a reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information is recorded by, for example, a second recording unit such as a system controller, an encoder, a TS object generator described later, and an optical pickup. An object information file storing related group definition information is recorded as reproduction control information by a third recording means such as a system controller, an encoder, a TS object generator described later, and an optical pickup. Then, regarding one or a plurality of still image partial streams, the reproduction sequence information includes a first read control flag, and the related group definition information includes a second read control flag. Therefore, various content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG such as at least a part of the transport stream of MPEG2 can be multiplexed and recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording apparatus of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information recording method of the present invention physically creates, on an information recording medium, an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents. Is an information recording method for performing multiple recording in units of packets which are units accessible to each other, wherein object data composed of a plurality of packets including packets each of which is a logically accessible unit and stores a fragment of the content information. A first recording step of recording an object data file to be stored, a second recording step of recording a reproduction sequence information file storing reproduction sequence information defining a reproduction sequence of the object data, and controlling reproduction of the object data As the reproduction control information for And a third recording step of recording an object information file that stores related group definition information that defines a set having a specific relationship as a related group among a plurality of content information that forms a plurality of content streams. One or more of the plurality of packets store a fragment of still image information that is one of the content information and a plurality of packets that store a fragment of still image control information for controlling the display of the still image information. The packet is configured to be included in one still image partial stream or divided into two or more still image partial streams, and the reproduction sequence information is reproduced in each reproduction sequence. First read indicating whether or not at least one of the still image information and the still image control information needs to be read at the time of transition between items Includes a control flag, the related group definition information includes a second read control flag indicating whether the is read is necessary when switching the contents belonging to the relevant group.

According to the information recording method of the present invention, the object data file storing the object data is recorded in the first recording step, and the reproduction sequence information file storing the reproduction sequence information is recorded in the second recording step. , By the third recording step, as the reproduction control information,
Records an object information file that stores related group definition information. Then, for one or a plurality of still image partial streams, the reproduction sequence information is the first
Including a read control flag, the related group definition information,
It is configured to include a second read control flag. Therefore,
On the information recording medium of the present invention described above, various kinds of content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG data, such as at least a part of a transport stream of MPEG2, can be recorded in multiplex.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording method of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above problems, an information reproducing apparatus of the present invention is an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded content information from the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof), A reading unit that physically reads information from the information recording medium, and information included in the information read by the reading unit based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading unit And a reproducing means for reproducing the object data.

According to the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the reading means such as the optical pickup and the demodulator physically reads the information from the information recording medium in packet units. Then, the reproduction means such as the system controller, the demultiplexer, and the decoder reproduces the object data included in the read information based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. Therefore, the content information multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention can be appropriately reproduced as a series of content information. At this time, in particular, still image information such as a bitmap or JPEG having a relatively large data amount can be efficiently reproduced, and an increase in load in the reproduction processing is effectively suppressed.

More specifically, if the first read control flag indicates that reading is not required at the time of transition between reproduction items in the reproduction sequence or at the start of reproduction of an arbitrary item by time search, still image information and The still image control information is not read and priority is given to reproduction of, for example, a main image (moving image). On the other hand, at this time, if the first read control flag indicates that the reading is necessary, the still image information or the still image control information is read, and the main image (moving image) is reproduced or the main image is reproduced. Prior to reproduction, still image reading is executed by the still image information and the still image control information. Further, if the second read control flag indicates that the reading is not necessary when switching the content belonging to the related group or starting the reproduction of the arbitrary content by the time search, the still image information or the still image control information is read. Instead, the reproduction of the main video (moving image) or the like is prioritized. On the other hand, at this time, if the second read control flag indicates that the reading is necessary, the still image information or the still image control information is read,
For example, the still image reading based on the still image information and the still image control information is executed together with the reproduction of the main image (moving image) or with priority over the reproduction of the main image.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above problems, the information reproducing method of the present invention is an information reproducing method of reproducing the recorded content information from the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof), It is included in the information read by the reading step based on the reading step of physically reading the information from the information recording medium, and the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading step. A reproduction step of reproducing the object data.

According to the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, in the reading step, information is physically read from the information recording medium in packet units or the like. Then, in the reproducing step, the object data included in the read information is reproduced based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. Therefore, the content information multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention can be appropriately reproduced as a series of content information. Especially in this case,
Still image information such as bitmap and JPEG having a relatively large data amount can be efficiently reproduced, and an increase in load in the reproduction process is effectively suppressed.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information reproducing method of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above problems, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention records the content information on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) and reproduces the recorded content information. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the object data file, a second recording means for recording the reproduction sequence information file, a third recording means for recording the object information file, and A reading unit for physically reading information from the information recording medium; and a unit included in the information read by the reading unit based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading unit. And a reproducing means for reproducing the object data.

According to the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, similarly to the above-described information recording apparatus of the present invention, the object data file is recorded by the first recording means and the reproduction sequence information file is recorded by the second recording means. Record and third
The recording means records the object information file. After that, like the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention described above,
The reading means physically reads the information from the information recording medium, and the reproducing means reproduces the object data included in the read information based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. To do. Therefore, various kinds of content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG, such as at least a part of a transport stream of MPEG2, can be multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention. It is possible to appropriately reproduce the content information including the still image reproduction.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above problems, the information recording / reproducing method of the present invention records the content information on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention (including various aspects thereof) and reproduces the recorded content information. An information recording / reproducing method for recording, the first recording step of recording the object data file, the second recording step of recording the reproduction sequence information file, the third recording step of recording the object information file, A reading step of physically reading information from the information recording medium; and a reading step included in the information read by the reading step based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading step. And a reproducing step of reproducing the object data.

According to the information recording / reproducing method of the present invention, similarly to the above-described information recording method of the present invention, the object data file is recorded in the first recording step, and the reproduction sequence information file is recorded in the second recording step. Record and third
The object information file is recorded in the recording step. After that, similarly to the above-described information reproducing method of the present invention,
The reading step physically reads the information from the information recording medium, and the reproducing step reproduces the object data included in the read information based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the read information. To do. Therefore, various kinds of content information including still image information such as bitmap and JPEG, such as at least a part of a transport stream of MPEG2, can be multiplex-recorded on the above-described information recording medium of the present invention. It is possible to appropriately reproduce the content information including the still image reproduction.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the information recording / reproducing method of the present invention can also take various aspects.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a computer program for recording control of the present invention is for recording control for controlling a computer provided in the above-mentioned information recording apparatus of the present invention (however, including its various aspects). A computer program that causes the computer to function as at least a part of the first recording unit, the second recording unit, and the third recording unit.

According to the recording control computer program of the present invention, the computer program can be read and executed by a computer from a recording medium such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM or a hard disk storing the computer program. Alternatively, or alternatively, if the computer program is downloaded to the computer via the communication means and then executed, the information recording apparatus according to the present invention described above can be realized relatively easily.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a computer program for reproduction control of the present invention is for reproduction control for controlling a computer provided in the above-mentioned information reproducing apparatus of the present invention (however, various aspects thereof are also included). A computer program that causes the computer to function as at least a part of the reproducing means.

According to the computer program for reproduction control of the present invention, the computer program can be read and executed by a computer from a recording medium such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk storing the computer program. Alternatively, or alternatively, if the computer program is downloaded via a communication means and then executed, the information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention described above can be realized relatively easily.

In order to solve the above problems, a computer program for controlling recording / reproduction of the present invention controls recording / reproduction for controlling a computer provided in the above-described information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention (however, including various aspects thereof). A computer program for control, which causes the computer to function as at least a part of the first recording unit, the second recording unit, the third recording unit, and the reproducing unit.

According to the recording / reproducing control computer program of the present invention, the computer program is read from a recording medium such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk storing the computer program and executed. Alternatively, or alternatively, if the computer program is downloaded via the communication means to the computer and then executed, the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention described above can be realized relatively easily.

In order to solve the above problems, the data structure including the control signal of the present invention is physically accessible to an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each of which is composed of content information forming a series of contents. An object data file that is multiplex-recorded in units of packets, which is a logically accessible unit, and that stores object data composed of a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store the fragments of the content information, A reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data, and a plurality of content information that configures the plurality of partial streams as reproduction control information for controlling the reproduction of the object data. A set with a particular relationship An object information file that stores related group definition information that is defined as a continuous group, and one or more of the plurality of partial streams store a piece of still image information that is one of the content information. A plurality of packets and a plurality of packets storing a fragment of the still image control information for controlling the display of the still image information are combined in a partial stream for one still image or for two or more still images. The playback sequence information needs to read at least one of the still image information and the still image control information at the time of transition between playback items in each playback sequence. The related group definition information includes a first read control flag indicating whether or not each content belonging to the related group is switched off. The reading at the time of recombination comprises a second read control flag indicating whether it is necessary.

According to the data structure including the control signal of the present invention, as in the case of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, still image information such as bitmap and JPEG is based on the transport stream of MPEG2, for example. It becomes possible to perform multiple recording of complicated content information including, and to reproduce including still image reproduction.

Incidentally, in response to the various aspects of the above-described information recording medium of the present invention, the data structure including the control signal of the present invention can also take various aspects.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments described below.

[0070]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Information Recording Medium) An embodiment of the information recording medium of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the information recording medium of the present invention is applied to an optical disc of a type capable of recording (writing) and reproducing (reading).

First, the basic structure of the optical disc of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the structure of an optical disc having a plurality of areas on the upper side, and shows a schematic diagram of the area structure in the radial direction on the lower side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disc 100 is
For example, it is possible to record by various recording methods such as a magneto-optical method and a phase change method that can record (write) a plurality of times or only once, and can be recorded on a recording surface on a disk body having a diameter of about 12 cm like a DVD. , The lead-in area 10 from the inner circumference to the outer circumference centering on the center hole 102
4, data area 106 and lead-out area 108
Is provided. Further, in each area, for example, a groove track and a land track are alternately provided in a spiral shape or a concentric shape around the center hole 102, and the groove track may be wobbled, or one of them may be wobbled. Alternatively, prepits may be formed on both tracks. The present invention is not particularly limited to an optical disc having such three areas.

Next, the structure of the transport stream (TS) recorded on the optical disc of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For comparison, FIG. 2A schematically shows the structure of the MPEG2 program stream in the conventional DVD, and FIG.
[Fig. 2] schematically shows the structure of a transport stream (TS) of MPEG2.

In FIG. 2A, one program stream includes only one video stream for video data which is main video information along the time axis t, and further, an audio stream for audio data which is audio information. Is included at a maximum of 8 and a maximum of 32 sub-picture streams for sub-picture data that is sub-picture information is included. That is, the video data multiplexed at an arbitrary time tx relates to only one video stream. For example, a plurality of video streams corresponding to a plurality of TV programs or a plurality of movies are simultaneously converted into a program stream. It cannot be included. In order to multiplex and transmit or record a television program accompanied by an image, at least one video stream is required for each television program, so a program for a DVD in which only one video stream exists In the stream format, it is not possible to multiplex and transmit or record a plurality of television programs or the like.

In FIG. 2B, one transport stream (TS) includes a plurality of video streams as an elementary stream (ES) for video data which is main video information, and audio data which is audio information. A plurality of audio streams are included as an elementary stream (ES) for video and a plurality of subpicture streams are included as an elementary stream (ES) for subpicture data that is sub-picture information. That is, the video data multiplexed at an arbitrary time tx relates to a plurality of video streams, and for example, a plurality of video streams corresponding to a plurality of TV programs or a plurality of movies are simultaneously included in the transport stream. It is possible to As described above, in the transport stream format in which a plurality of video streams exist, it is possible to multiplex and transmit or record a plurality of television programs and the like. However, sub-picture streams are not transmitted in digital broadcasting that uses the current transport stream.

2A and 2B, for convenience of explanation, the video stream, the audio stream, and the sub-picture stream are arranged in this order from the top, but this order is the packet as described later. It does not correspond to the order in which they are multiplexed in units. In the transport stream, conceptually, for example, one program corresponds to a group of one video stream, two audio streams, and two sub-picture streams.

The optical disc 100 of this embodiment described above.
Is configured so that a transport stream (TS) including a plurality of elementary streams (ES) can be multiplex-recorded within a limit of a recording rate, that is, a plurality of programs or programs can be simultaneously recorded. ing.

Next, the structure of data recorded on the optical disc 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 schematically shows the data structure recorded on the optical disc 100, and FIG. 4 schematically shows the details of the data structure in each object shown in FIG. .

In the following description, "title" means
It is a unit of reproduction in which a plurality of "playlists" are continuously executed, and is, for example, a unit having a logically large unit such as one movie and one TV program. A "playlist" is a file that stores information necessary for playing an "object", and is composed of a plurality of "items" that each store information related to the playing range of the object for accessing the object. . More specifically, each item has “IN point information” indicating the start address of the object and “OU” indicating the end address.
"T point information" is described. In addition, these "I
“N point information” and “OUT point information” are respectively
The address may be directly indicated, or the address may be indirectly indicated such as time or time on the reproduction time axis.
The “object” is the entity information of the content that constitutes the above-described MPEG2 transport stream.

In FIG. 3, the optical disc 100 has four types of files as a logical structure, a disc information file 110, a play (P) list information file 120, an object information file 130 and an object data file 140. It further comprises a file system 105 for managing the above files. Although FIG. 3 does not directly show the physical data arrangement on the optical disc 100, recording the arrangement order shown in FIG. 3 so as to correspond to the arrangement order shown in FIG. It is also possible to record the file system 105 and the like in the data recording area 106 after the lead-in area 104 and further record the object data file 140 and the like in the data recording area 106. Figure 1
The file structure shown in FIG. 3 can be constructed without the lead-in area 104 and the lead-out area 108 shown in FIG.

The disc information file 110 is a file that stores comprehensive information about the entire optical disc 100, and stores disc comprehensive information 112, a title information table 114, and other information 118. The disc total information 112 stores, for example, the total number of titles in the optical disc 100. Title information table 114
Stores the type of each title (eg, sequential playback type, branch type, etc.) and the play (P) list number constituting each title as logical information for each title.

The play list information file 120 stores a play (P) list information table 121 indicating the logical structure of each play list, which includes play (P) list comprehensive information 122 and play (P) list pointers. 124
And a plurality of play (P) lists 126 (P list # 1 to
#N) and other information 128. This playlist information table 121 stores logical information of each playlist 126 in the order of playlist numbers. In other words, the storage order of each playlist 126 is the playlist number. Further, it is possible to refer to the same playlist 126 from a plurality of titles in the above-mentioned title information table 114. Ie title #
Even when n and the title #m use the same playlist #p, the playlist #p in the playlist information table 121 may be pointed to in the title information table 114.

The object information file 130 is stored in the object data file 140 for each item formed in each playlist 126 (that is,
The logical address of the reproduction target) and various attribute information regarding the reproduction of the item are stored. Particularly in this embodiment,
The object information file 130 includes a plurality of AU (Associate Unit) information 132I (AU #), which will be described in detail later.
1 to AU # q), and an AU table 131, E
S (elementary stream) map table 134
And other information 138 are stored.

The object data file 140 stores TS objects 142 (TS # 1 objects to TS # s objects) for each transport stream (TS), that is, actual data of contents to be actually reproduced.
Store multiple.

The four types of files described with reference to FIG. 3 can be further divided into a plurality of files and stored, and all of them may be managed by the file system 105. For example, it is possible to divide the object data file 140 into a plurality of object data files # 1, object data files # 2 ,.

As shown in FIG. 4, the TS object 142 shown in FIG. 3, which is a logically reproducible unit, is divided into a plurality of aligned units 143 each having a data amount of 6 kB, for example. Aligning unit 14
The head of 3 is matched (aligned) with the head of the TS object 142. Each aligned unit 143 is further subdivided into a plurality of source packets 144 each having a data amount of 192B. Source packet 14
Reference numeral 4 denotes a physically reproducible unit, and at least video data, audio data, and sub-picture data of the data on the optical disc 100 are multiplexed in this unit, that is, a packet unit, and the same applies to other information. May be multiplexed into. Each source packet 144 is
TS with 4B data volume on the playback time axis
(Transport Stream) This includes control information 145 for controlling reproduction such as a packet arrival time stamp indicating a packet reproduction processing start time, and a TS packet 146 having a data amount of 188B. The TS packet 146 has a packet header 146a at its head, and video data is packetized into “video packets”, audio data is packetized into “audio packets”, or Picture data is packetized into "sub-picture packets"
Or other data is packetized.

Next, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, FIG.
Video data, audio data, sub-picture data, etc. in the transport stream format as shown in FIG. 4 are recorded by the TS packet 146 shown in FIG.
The point of multiple recording on 0 will be described. Here, FIG. 5 shows an elementary stream (ES) for the upper program # 1 (PG1) and a middle program # 2 (PG).
2) The elementary stream (ES) for 2) is multiplexed to form a transport stream (TS) for these two programs (PG1 & 2).
FIG. 6 conceptually shows the horizontal axis as a time axis.
FIG. 3 conceptually shows an image of TS packets multiplexed in one transport stream (TS) as a packet array along time.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the elementary stream for program # 1 (upper stage), for example, TS packet 146 in which video data for program # 1 is packetized is plotted on the time axis (horizontal axis). It is arranged discretely. The elementary stream for program # 2 (middle stage) is, for example, a TS packet 146 in which video data for program # 2 is packetized and is discretely arranged with respect to the time axis (horizontal axis). Then, these TS packets 146 are multiplexed to construct a transport stream (lower stage) for these two programs. Although omitted in FIG. 5 for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 2B, actually, audio data is composed of packetized TS packets as an elementary stream for program # 1. Similarly, a sub-picture stream composed of TS packets in which elementary streams and sub-picture data are packetized may be similarly multiplexed. In addition to these, audio data is packetized as an elementary stream for program # 2. Similarly, an elementary stream including TS packets and a sub-picture stream including TS packets in which sub-picture data is packetized may be multiplexed.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, one TS stream is constructed from a large number of TS packets 146 thus multiplexed. And many TS
The packet 146 is multiplexed and recorded on the optical disc 100 by adding information such as a packet arrival time stamp 145 in the multiplexed form. In addition, in FIG. 6, j (j = 1, 1) is set for the TS packet 146 composed of the data forming the program #i (i = 1, 2, 3).
2, ...) is shown as "Element (i0j)" as a number indicating the order of each stream constituting the program, and this (i0j) is a packet ID that is the identification number of the TS packet 146 for each elementary stream. Has been done. This packet ID is used for multiple TS packets 14 that are multiplexed at the same time so that they can be distinguished from each other even if multiple TS packets 146 are multiplexed at the same time.
A unique value is given between 6 and 6.

Further, in FIG. 6, PAT (program association table) and PMT (program map table) are also packetized and multiplexed in TS packet 146 units. Of these, the PAT stores a table indicating packet IDs of a plurality of PMTs.
Particularly, in the PAT, the MPEG2 standard defines that (000) is added as a predetermined packet ID as shown in FIG. That is, the PAT packetized TS packet 146 is detected as the TS packet 146 having a packet ID of (000) among a large number of packets multiplexed at the same time. Then, the PMT stores a table indicating a packet ID for each elementary stream constituting each program for one or a plurality of programs. Although any packet ID can be added to the PMT, those packet IDs are indicated by the PAT whose packet ID can be detected as (000) as described above. Therefore, of the multiple packets multiplexed at the same time, the TS packet 146 in which the PMT is packetized (that is, the TS packet 146 to which the packet IDs (100), (200), and (300) are added in FIG. 6). ) Is configured to be detected by PAT.

When the transport stream as shown in FIG. 6 is digitally transmitted, the tuner refers to the PAT and PMT configured as described above, and thereby the desired packet is selected from the multiplexed packets. It is possible to extract the one corresponding to the mental stream and demodulate it.

Then, in this embodiment, the TS packet 1 stored in the TS object 142 shown in FIG.
46 includes such a PAT or PMT packet. That is, when the transport stream as shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted, there is a great advantage that it can be recorded on the optical disc 100 as it is.

Further, in the present embodiment, the PAT and PMT recorded in this way are not referred to during reproduction of the optical disc 100, and instead, the AU table 131 and the ES map table 13 which will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.
By referring to 4, it is possible to perform more efficient reproduction and to cope with complicated multi-vision reproduction and the like.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, at the time of demodulation or recording, P
Since the correspondence between the elementary stream and the packet obtained by referring to the AT and the PMT is stored in the object information file 130 in the form of the AU table 131 and the ES map table 134 without being packetized or multiplexed. is there.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a logical configuration of data on the optical disc 100 will be described. Here, FIG.
4 schematically shows the logical configuration of data on the optical disc 100, focusing on the development from a logical hierarchy to an object hierarchy or an entity hierarchy.

In FIG. 7, on the optical disc 100, one or a plurality of titles 200, which are a logically large unit such as one movie and one TV program, are recorded. Each title 200 is logically composed of one or a plurality of playlists 126. Each title 200
In the above, the plurality of playlists may have a sequential structure or a branch structure.

In the case of a simple logical structure, one title 200 is composed of one play list 126. Further, it is possible to refer to one play list 126 from a plurality of titles 200.

Each play list 126 is logically composed of a plurality of items (play items) 204. Within each playlist 126, multiple items 204
May have a sequential structure or a branched structure. It is also possible to refer to one item 204 from a plurality of playlists 126. The above-mentioned IN point information and O described in the item 204
The reproduction range of the TS object 142 is logically designated by the UT point information. Then, the reproduction range of the TS object 142 is finally physically specified through the file system by referring to the object information 130d for the logically specified reproduction range. Here, the object information 130d is attribute information of the TS object 142 and the TS object 142.
ES address information 13 required for data search within
It includes various information for reproducing the TS object 142 such as 4d (note that the ES map table 13 shown in FIG.
4 includes a plurality of such ES address information 134d).

Then, the T by the information recording / reproducing apparatus described later is used.
At the time of reproducing the S object 142, a physical address to be reproduced in the TS object 142 is acquired from the item 204 and the object information 130d, and reproduction of a desired elementary stream is executed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the item 20
4, the IN point information and the OUT point information described in No. 4 and the ES address information 134d described in the ES map table 134 (see FIG. 3) of the object information 130d perform association from the logical hierarchy to the object hierarchy in the reproduction sequence. Thus, it is possible to reproduce the elementary stream.

As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, multiple recording is performed on the optical disc 100 in units of TS packets 146, and as a result, a large number of elementary streams as shown in FIG. 2B are included. It is possible to multiplex-record the transport stream on the optical disc 100. According to this embodiment, when a digital broadcast is recorded on the optical disc 100, a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs can be simultaneously recorded within the limit of the recording rate, but here, one TS object 142 is used.
A method of multiplexing and recording a plurality of programs or a plurality of programs is adopted. Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of executing such recording processing will be described.

(Information Recording / Reproducing Apparatus) Next, FIG. 8 to FIG.
An embodiment of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the information recording / reproducing apparatus, and FIGS. 9 to 13 are flowcharts showing the operation thereof.

In FIG. 8, an information recording / reproducing apparatus 500.
Is roughly divided into a reproducing system and a recording system, and is configured to be capable of recording information on the optical disc 100 described above and reproducing the information recorded therein. In this embodiment, although the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 is for recording / reproducing as described above, the embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention can basically be configured from the recording system portion thereof, while basically, An embodiment of the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention can be constructed from the reproducing system portion.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 includes an optical pickup 502, a servo unit 503, and a spindle motor 5.
04, demodulator 506, demultiplexer 508, video decoder 511, audio decoder 512, sub-picture decoder 513, adder 514, system controller 520, memory 530, memory 540, modulator 60.
6, formatter 608, TS object generator 61
0, video encoder 611, audio encoder 6
12 and a sub-picture encoder 613. The system controller 520 includes a file system / logical structure data generator 521 and a file system / logical structure data reader 522. Further system controller 52
A memory 530 and a user interface 720 for user input such as title information are connected to 0.

Of these components, the demodulator 506,
The demultiplexer 508, the video decoder 511, the audio decoder 512, the sub-picture decoder 513 and the adder 514, and the memory 540 constitute a reproduction system. On the other hand, among these components, the modulator 606, the formatter 608, the TS object generator 610, the video encoder 611, the audio encoder 612, and the sub-picture encoder 613 form a recording system. And the optical pickup 50
2, servo unit 503, spindle motor 504,
The system controller 520, the memory 530, and the user interface 720 for user input of title information and the like are generally shared by both the reproduction system and the recording system. As for the recording system, a TS object data source 700, a video data source 711, an audio data source 712, and a sub-picture data source 713 are prepared. Further, the file system / logical structure data generator 521 provided in the system controller 520 is
It is mainly used in the recording system, and the file system / logical structure reader 522 is mainly used in the reproducing system.

The optical pickup 502 is used for the optical disc 10.
0 is irradiated with a light beam LB such as a laser beam as the reading light at the first power during reproduction, and as the writing light at the second power during recording while being modulated. The servo unit 503 receives control by the control signal Sc1 output from the system controller 520 during reproduction and recording, and performs focus servo, tracking servo, and the like in the optical pickup 502 and spindle servo in the spindle motor 504. The spindle motor 504 is configured to rotate the optical disc 100 at a predetermined speed while receiving a spindle servo by the servo unit 503.

(I) Configuration and operation of recording system: Next, FIG.
With reference to FIGS. 12 to 12, specific configurations and operations of the respective components constituting the recording system of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described for different cases.

(I-1) When using a created TS object: This case will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

In FIG. 8, the TS object data source 700 comprises a recording storage such as a video tape or a memory, and stores the TS object data D1.

In FIG. 9, first, TS object data D
Information of each title logically configured on the optical disc 100 by using 1 (for example, playlist content)
From the user interface 720, as the user input I2 such as title information, the system controller 520
Entered in. Then, the system controller 520
Captures the user input I2 such as title information from the user interface 720 (step S21: Yes).
And step S22). At this time, in the user interface 720, under the control of the control signal Sc4 from the system controller 520, it is possible to perform input processing according to the content to be recorded, such as selection via the title menu screen. If the user input has already been executed (step S21: No), these processes are omitted.

Next, the TS object data source 700
Outputs TS object data D1 under the control of the control signal Sc8 instructing the data read from the system controller 520. The system controller 520 then sends the TS object source 700 to the T
Import S object data D1 (step S2
3), the file system / logical structure data generator 5
By the TS analysis function in 21, for example, the data array (for example, recording data length) in the TS object data D1 and the configuration of each elementary stream based on the PAT, PMT, etc. packetized together with the video data etc. as described above. Analysis (for example, ES_PID described later)
(Understanding of elementary stream / packet identification number) is performed (step S24).

Subsequently, the system controller 520
User input I2 such as captured title information and T
From the data array of the S object data D1 and the analysis result of each elementary stream, the file system / logical structure data generator 521 outputs the disk information file 11 as the logical information file data D4.
0, the playlist information file 120, the object information file 130, and the file system 105 (see FIG. 3) are created (step S25). The memory 530 is
It is used when creating such logical information file data D4.

Naturally, various variations such as the data array of the TS object data D1 and the data about the configuration information of each elementary stream are prepared in advance, but they are also within the scope of the present embodiment. is there.

In FIG. 8, the formatter 608 has a T
S object data D1 and logical information file data D
4 is a device for performing a data array format for storing on the optical disc 100. More specifically, the formatter 608 includes a switch Sw1 and a switch Sw2, and is switching-controlled by a switch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520. When the TS object data D1 is formatted, the switch Sw1 is connected to the side. And switch Sw
2 side to side, TS object data source 700
From the TS object data D1. Incidentally, T
The transmission control of the S object data D1 is performed by the control signal Sc8 from the system controller 520. On the other hand, the formatter 608 is switching-controlled by the switch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520 when the logical information file data D4 is formatted, and connects the switch Sw2 to the side.
It is configured to output the logical information file data D4.

In step S26 of FIG. 9, by the switching control by the formatter 608 thus configured, (i) the logical information file data D4 from the file system / logical structure data generator 521 or (ii) TS in step S25 is selected. T from object data source 700
The S object data D1 is output via the formatter 608 (step S26).

The selected output from the formatter 608 is sent to the modulator 606 as the disk image data D5, and is modulated by the modulator 606, and the optical pickup 5
It is recorded on the optical disc 100 via 02 (step S27). The disc recording control at this time is also executed by the system controller 520.

If both the logical information file data D4 generated in step S25 and the corresponding TS object data D1 have not been recorded, the process returns to step S26 and the recording is continued (step S28). : No). The logical information file data D4 and the TS object data D1 corresponding to the logical information file data D4 may be recorded in either order.

On the other hand, if both of them have been recorded,
Whether or not recording on the optical disc 100 should be terminated is determined based on the presence or absence of an end command and the like (step S2
9) If not to end (step S29: N
o) Return to step S21 to continue the recording process. On the other hand,
When it should be ended (step S29: Yes), a series of recording processing is ended.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when using the created TS object.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, step S25
After the logical information file data D4 is created in step S26, the data output of the logical information file data D4 and the corresponding TS object data D1 is executed in step S26. However, before the step S25, the TS object data D1 is output. Alternatively, it is also possible to perform recording on the optical disc 100 and to generate or record the logical information file data D4 after this recording or in parallel with this recording.

(I-2) In the case of receiving and recording the transport stream being broadcast: In this case, FIG.
And FIG. 10 will be described. In addition, in FIG.
Steps similar to those in FIG. 9 are designated by similar step numbers,
The description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

In this case as well, almost the same processing as the above-mentioned "when using the already created TS object" is performed. Therefore, the different points will be mainly described below.

When the transport stream being broadcast is received and recorded, the TS object data source 70
0 is, for example, a receiver (set-top box) that receives a digital broadcast currently being broadcast, receives the TS object data D1, and outputs the formatter 6 in real time.
08 (step S41). At the same time, the program configuration information decrypted at the time of reception and ES_PID described later
The reception information D3 including information (that is, information corresponding to data sent through the receiver and the interface of the system controller 520) is the system controller 52.
0 is stored in the memory 530 (step S44).

On the other hand, the TS object data D1 output to the formatter 608 is output to the modulator 606 by the switching control of the formatter 608 (step S42) and recorded in the optical disc 100 (step S43).

In parallel with these, using the program configuration information and ES_PID information included in the reception information D3 which is fetched at the time of reception and stored in the memory 530, the logical information file data is generated by the file system / logical structure generator 521. D4 is created (step S24 and step S25). Then, after the recording of the series of TS object data D1 is completed, this logical information file data D4 is additionally recorded on the optical disc 100 (steps S46 and S4).
7). The processes of steps S24 and S25 may also be performed after the end of step S43.

Furthermore, if necessary (for example, when a part of the title is edited), the user interface 720
User input I2 such as title information from the memory 53
The logical information file data D4 may be created by the system controller 520 by adding it to the program configuration information and ES_PID information stored in 0, and this may be additionally recorded on the optical disc 100.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when the transport stream being broadcast is received and recorded in real time.

It should be noted that, after all the received data at the time of broadcasting is temporarily stored in the archive device, it is stored in the TS object source 70.
If it is used as 0, the same processing as in the case of using the already created TS object is sufficient.

(I-3) When recording video, audio and sub-picture data: In this case, FIG.
And FIG. 11 will be described. In addition, in FIG.
Steps similar to those in FIG. 9 are designated by similar step numbers,
The description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

When recording separately prepared video data, audio data and sub-picture data, a video data source 711 and an audio data source 712 are recorded.
The sub picture data source 713 is a recording storage such as a video tape or a memory, and stores the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub picture data DS, respectively.

These data sources are control signals S from the system controller 520 for instructing data reading.
Under the control of c8, the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub-picture data DS are sent to the video encoder 611, the audio encoder 612, and the sub-picture encoder 613, respectively (step S).
61). Then, these video encoder 611, audio encoder 612, and sub-picture encoder 613 execute a predetermined type of encoding processing (step S62).

Under control of the control signal Sc6 from the system controller 520, the TS object generator 610 converts the data thus encoded into TS object data forming a transport stream (step S63). At this time, data array information of each TS object data (for example, recording data length)
And the configuration information of each elementary stream (for example, ES_PID described later) is stored in the TS object generator 61.
The information 0 is sent from 0 to the system controller 520 and stored in the memory 530 (step S6).
6).

On the other hand, the TS object data generated by the TS object generator 610 is sent to the switch Sw1 side of the formatter 608. That is, the formatter 608 controls the switch control signal Sc from the system controller 520 when formatting the TS object data from the TS object generator 610.
The TS object data is output by switching control by 5 and connecting the switch Sw1 to the side and the switch Sw2 to the side (step S6).
4). Subsequently, this TS object data is recorded on the optical disc 100 via the modulator 606 (step S65).

In parallel with this, the file system / logical structure generator 521 uses the logical information file by using the data array information of each TS object data and the configuration information of each elementary stream taken in the memory 530 as the information I6. Create data D4 (step S
24 and step S25). Then, after the recording of the series of TS object data D2 is completed, this is recorded on the optical disc 10
0 is additionally recorded (steps S67 and S68). still,
The processes of steps S24 and S25 may also be performed after the end of step S65.

Further, if necessary (for example, when a part of the title is edited), the user interface 720
By adding the user input I2 such as title information from the above to the information stored in these memories 530, the file system / logical structure generator 521 creates the logical information file data D4 and adds it to the optical disc 100. May be recorded.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 performs the recording process when recording separately prepared video data, audio data and sub-picture data.

Note that this recording process can also be applied when recording an arbitrary content owned by the user.

(I-4) When data is recorded by authoring: This case will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12. Note that, in FIG. 12, the same steps as those in FIG.

In this case, by combining the recording processes in the above-mentioned three cases, the authoring system performs the generation of the TS object, the generation of the logical information file data, etc. in advance (step S81), and then the formatter 608. The process up to the switching control is ended (step S82). After that, the information obtained by this work is sent to the modulators 606 provided before and after the disc master cutting machine as the disc image data D5 (step S83), and the master is produced by this cutting machine (step S84).

Especially in the present embodiment, (i) described above is used.
In either case (i-
In 1) to (i-4), data relating to still picture information and its control information (for example, SP data, SP control information, their structural information or header, etc., which will be described later) are also included in the sub-picture data. Are multiplex-recorded on the optical disc 100. Further, data relating to the control information of the still image (SP data identification flag, SCP identification flag, etc.) is generated in the generation of the logical information file data in step S25, and the object information file 130 (see FIG. 3) is generated via the formatter 608. ) Or the like in a form associated with the still image information (for example, in a tabular form associated with an “entry section” described later).

(Ii) Configuration and Operation of Reproducing System: Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 13, the specific configuration and operation of each component constituting the reproducing system of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 will be described. explain.

In FIG. 8, the user interface 72
0 indicates that the title to be reproduced from the optical disc 100, its reproduction condition, and the like are user input I2 such as title information.
Is input to the system controller. At this time, in the user interface 720, under the control of the control signal Sc4 from the system controller 520, it is possible to perform an input process according to the content to be reproduced, such as selection via the title menu screen.

In response to this, the system controller 52
0 controls the disc reproduction of the optical disc 100, and the optical pickup 502 sends the read signal S7 to the demodulator 506.

The demodulator 506 demodulates the recording signal recorded on the optical disc 100 from the read signal S7 and outputs it as demodulated data D8. Logical information file data included in the demodulated data D8 as a non-multiplexed information portion (that is, the file system 105, the disk information file 110, the P list information file 120, and the object information file 130 shown in FIG. 3).
Are supplied to the system controller 520. Based on this logical information file data, the system controller 520 executes various reproduction controls such as reproduction address determination processing and control of the optical pickup 502.

On the other hand, the demultiplexer 508 demultiplexes the TS object data as the multiplexed information portion included in the demodulated data D8 under the control of the control signal Sc2 from the system controller 520. Here, the system controller 5
When the access to the reproduction position address is completed by the reproduction control of 20, the control signal Sc2 is transmitted to start the demultiplexing.

Video packets, audio packets, and sub-picture packets are sent from the demultiplexer 508 and supplied to the video decoder 511, the audio decoder 512, and the sub-picture decoder 513. Then, the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub-picture data DS are decoded respectively.

The packets in which PAT or PMT included in the transport stream shown in FIG. 6 are packetized are included as part of the demodulated data D8, but are discarded by the demultiplexer 508. .

The adder 514 is the system controller 5
Under the control of the control signal Sc3 for instructing the mixing from 20, the video data DV and the sub-picture data DS decoded by the video decoder 511 and the sub-picture decoder 513 are mixed or superposed at a predetermined timing. The result is output as video output from the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 to, for example, a television monitor.

On the other hand, the audio data DA decoded by the audio decoder 512 is output as an audio output from the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 to, for example, an external speaker.

Now, with reference to FIG. 13, a specific example of the reproduction processing routine by the system controller 520 will be described.

In FIG. 13, as an initial state, the recognition of the optical disc 100 by the reproducing system and the file system 10 are performed.
It is assumed that the recognition of the volume structure and the file structure by 5 (see FIG. 3) has already been completed by the system controller 520 and the file system / logical structure reader 522 therein. Here, the disk information file 110
The process flow after obtaining the total number of titles from the disc comprehensive information 112 and selecting one of the titles will be described.

First, a title is selected by the user interface 720 (step S11), and from the reading result of the file system / logical structure reader 522,
The system controller 520 acquires information about the reproduction sequence. Specifically, processing of a logical hierarchy (that is, acquisition of information indicating a playlist structure and information of each item configuring the playlist structure (see FIG. 7), etc.) is performed (step S12). As a result, the reproduction target is determined (step S13).

Subsequently, the object information file 130 relating to the TS object to be reproduced is acquired. In this embodiment, in particular, AU (Associate Unit) information 132I and PU (Presentation Unit) information 302I described later (see FIG. 33 described in detail later).
Is also acquired as the information stored in the object information file 130 (step S14). Based on the obtained information, the above-described logical hierarchy is associated with the object hierarchy (see FIG. 7).

Then, after determining the object to be reproduced and the reproduction address based on the information obtained in step S14 (step S15), the processing of the object hierarchy is started, that is, the reproduction is actually started ( Step S16).

During reproduction, the PU in the AU 132 based on the AU information 132I and the PU information 302I will be described later.
It is monitored whether or not a "scene switching" command input corresponding to the switching of 302 is performed (step S17).
If there is a "scene switch" command input (step S17: Yes), the process returns to step S15, and the processes in steps S15 to S17 are repeated. On the other hand, if there is no "scene switching" command input (step S17: No), it is determined whether or not a command input to end the reproduction process has been input (step S18).
If there is no command input to end the process (step S18: No), the process returns to step S11 and the processes in steps S11 to S18 are repeated. On the other hand, if there is a command input for ending (step S18: Yes), a series of reproduction processing is ended.

Particularly in this embodiment, the sub-picture data decoded by the sub-picture decoder 513 in step S16 of FIGS. 8 and 13 is temporarily stored in the memory 540 functioning as a buffer. Thereafter, as described below, at least one of SP data (still image data) and SP control information (still image control data) included in the temporarily stored sub-picture data is the system controller 52.
It is read under the control of the control signal Sc5 from 0. Then, by applying SP control information to the SP data, a still image is displayed as a part or all of the video output.

The SP control information is stored in the memory 53.
To be temporarily stored in the dedicated area of 0 (that is, SP
Only the data may be temporarily stored in the memory 540). Alternatively, such a memory 540
Can also be constructed using a part of the memory 530.

(Method of Obtaining SP Data and SP Control Information) Next, the SP data and S in this embodiment will be described.
A method of acquiring P control information will be described. This acquisition method is executed by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 (see FIG. 8) described above mainly based on the ES address information in the object information and the SP data and SP control information in the sub-picture structure. .

(A) First Acquisition Method of SP Data and SP Control Information With reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, a first acquisition method of SP data and SP control information and the accompanying still image reproduction control will be described. Here, FIG. 14 is a table showing an example of the data structure in the ES address information related to the video stream constructed in the ES map table in the object information, and FIG. 15 shows the ES address information of the video stream on the TS object. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the position of a registered TS packet with respect to the time axis (horizontal direction in the figure). FIG. 16 is a table showing the contents of SP data, SP control information, and structure information according to the first acquisition method, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing three types of sub-picture structures composed of these three data or information. It is shown in the figure. Figure 18
I picture, SP data, SP adopted in the first acquisition method
The arrangement condition of each head packet of control information is TS
FIG. 20 schematically shows the object on the time axis, and FIG. 19 schematically shows the acquisition procedure in the first acquisition method.
19 is a table showing the data structure of the ES address information relating to the sub-picture stream in the TS object shown in FIG. 19, which is constructed in the ES map table.

ES of video stream shown in FIG.
The (elementary stream) address information is described as a part of the ES address information 134d (see FIG. 7) in the ES map table 134 shown in FIG. In addition,
The video stream here is E in FIG. 34 which will be described in detail later.
It is the elementary stream of index # 14 shown in the S map table.

As shown in FIG. 14, the contents of the ES address information are the packet numbers q, r, s, only for the packets satisfying the predetermined condition on the video stream.
t, u, ... (For example, the serial number of the packet in the TS object, hereinafter appropriately referred to as “packet number”)
And the display start times T14_0 and T14_ corresponding thereto
, T14_2, T14_3, ... Are described.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the present embodiment, a packet satisfying a predetermined condition is set to I based on the MPEG2 standard.
The head packet of the picture is defined, and the packet numbers and the display start times corresponding to these are shown in E in FIG.
It is described as S address information. This is because MPEG decoding can be started if the recording position of the I picture can be specified by the address information.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, each section on the TS object specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only the packets whose recording position is specified by the ES address information is set. It is defined as "entry section". For example, the section specified by the packet q and the packet r having adjacent ES address information is set as the entry section # 0, and the section specified by the packet r and the packet s is set as the entry section # 1. In addition, SP data and SP control information corresponding to the video stream (that is, displayed at the same time or in parallel with the video stream) and on the sub-picture stream relating to the still image are in the range of the entry section defined in this way. It describes their existence depending on whether or not they exist. Note that the sub-picture stream here is the elementary stream of index # 16 shown in the ES map table of FIG. 34, which will be described later in detail. Therefore, the index number information 134 of the elementary stream used as the entry section is included in the index # 16 of the ES map table.
e (according to this embodiment, “index number = 14”)
Is described.

As shown in FIG. 16, in this embodiment, the data or information relating to the still picture recorded on the sub-picture stream is (i) SP data 713 constituting an example of still picture information, (ii) SP control information 712 and (iii) which form an example of still picture control information for controlling the display of the SP data 713, and one or both of them, form one sub-picture structure, and structure information (header) about the sub-picture structure. ) 711 and three data or information.

Then, as the combination of these three data or information, the structure information 711, S shown in FIG.
A sub-picture structure 701 including all components of P control information 712 and SP data 713, FIG.
There is a sub-picture structure 702 having structural information 711 and SP control information 712 shown in FIG. 17B as constituent elements, and a sub-picture structure 703 having structural information 711 and SP data 713 shown in FIG. 17C as constituent elements. . By the way, in the case of DVD, only the types shown in FIG. 17A are defined.

In this embodiment, as described above, various examples of the "still image information set" according to the present invention are shown in FIGS.
Each is composed of the sub-picture structure shown in (c).

As shown in FIGS. 17 (a) to 17 (c),
In this embodiment, normally, the SP control information 712 and the SP data 713 are divided into a plurality of TS packets 146. Then, the structure information 711 is stored in the first packet in the sub-picture structures 701 to 703, and the SP control information 712 (FIG. 17A) following this is stored.
Also, the head portion of (b)) or the head portion of the SP data 713 is also stored in the head packet in which the structure information 711 is stored.

In this embodiment, the TS packet 146 in which the head portion of the SP control information 712 in the sub picture structure 702 is stored is called "SCP". SP data 71 in the sub-picture structure 703
The TS packet 146 in which the first part of 3 is stored is "S
PD ". Further, a sub-picture structure 70 including both of them.
The first packet of No. 1 is "SCP
+ SPD ". In the present application," the subpicture structure is arranged or belongs in the entry section "as shown in FIG. 15 means that FIG. 17 (a) and FIG.
Of the sub-picture structures 701 and 702 of
This means that a header including SCP (that is, a packet storing structure information) is recorded in the entry section, and in the sub-picture structure 703 of FIG. 17C, the header including SPD is , It means that it is recorded in the entry section.

As shown in FIG. 16, the structure information 711 is
It has an "SP data identifier". The SP data identifier is
The sub-picture structures 701 and 703 identify the SP data 713 included in the sub-picture structure. On the other hand, in the sub-picture structure 702, the SP data identifier identifies SP data 713 included in another sub-picture structure on which the SP control information 712 included in the sub-picture structure acts.

The structure information 711 further has information indicating "data length of SP control information" and "data length of SP data". Based on these, at the time of reproduction, it is specified which packet the sub-picture structure 701 continues from the head of the structure information 711. Further, based on the data length of the SP control information, at the time of reproduction, it is specified to which packet from the head of the structure information 711 the packet continues. Furthermore, based on the data length of the SP data, at the time of reproduction, it is specified which packet the sub-picture structure 703 continues from the head of the structure information 711.

In the sub-picture structure 702 which does not have the SP data 713, "SP" in the structure information 711.
By setting "data length of data" to "0", the S
It may indicate that the P data 713 is not included. Similarly,
In the sub-picture structure 703 that does not have the SP control information 712, even if it indicates that it does not have the SP control information 712 by setting the “data length of the SP control information” in the structure information 711 to “0”. Good.

The structure information 711 further has "SP data position information". At the time of reproduction, based on this, the SP data 713 on which the SP control information 712 acts is specified. As the position information of such SP data, its rough position is described using the entry section shown in FIG. As a result, the SP data 713 can be specified by searching for the SPD in the entry section. Therefore, even if the SP data 713 does not have the SP data 713 like the sub-picture structure 702, the SP control information 71 included in the SP
It is possible to operate 2 on the scheduled SP data. However, the SPD packet number may be directly described as the position information of the SP data.

Therefore, in the case of the sub-picture structure 701 or 703 including the SP data 713, the structure information 7
“SP data position information” included in 11 may be set to an invalid value. However, in these cases, since its own sub-picture structure has SP data, it is not necessary to specify the recording position of SP data (specification of the entry section). All the constituent packets are specified based on the data length of SP data as described above).

The SP control information 712 has information indicating the display start time of the SP data that acts and the display time of the SP data. During playback, the S
The SP data on which the P control information 712 acts is reproduced for a predetermined time on the reproduction time axis, and the still image is displayed.

The SP data 713 has, for example, run-length encoded bitmap data format or JPEG format image data. Then, for each pixel, for example, 8-bit color information data and
It has bit transparency information data. Further, SP data indicating one still image is packetized and multiplexed in a plurality of TS packets 146 (see FIG. 4).

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the entry section is represented by using the display start time of the packet number of the head packet constituting this entry section.
For example, the entry section # 0 of the elementary stream of index # 14 is “T14_0”.
It is represented by. In this way, if the display start time is used, the display start time does not have to be shifted even if there is a shift in the packet serial number due to a packet loss due to editing or the like after recording, as shown in FIG. It is not necessary to update the ES address information as described above.

In the present embodiment, in particular, in order to easily and quickly acquire SCP and SPD, the following conditions (hereinafter, referred to as “first placement”) are set for the packet placement for the entry section thus defined. We call "condition".

That is, the sub-picture structure 701 including the SP control information 712 (which holds the display start time "TT") as compared with the "display start time" and the "packet number" of the entry point #i. ~ 70
The header in 3 is physically arranged as follows. The entry point refers to a packet whose position is specified by address information.

When "display start time of entry point #i"<= TT <"display start time of entry point # i + 1", "packet number of entry point #i"<"of sub-picture structure including SP control information""Packet number of header"<"packet number of entry point # i + 1" With such a first arrangement condition, the SP required for the SP data 713 to be displayed during the reproduction of the entry section
Sub-picture structure 702 containing control information 712
Can be found by searching in the entry section.

For example, in FIGS. 14 and 15, when the display start time is T14_1 or more and less than T14_2, the packet number of the header of the sub-picture structure 702 including the SP control information 712 in the entry section # 1 is recorded. . On the other hand, the SP data can be found from the "SP data recording position" (see FIG. 16) included in the structure information 711 forming the header as described above.

In addition to the first arrangement condition as described above, as shown in FIG. 18, in the first acquisition method, the SCP (as described above,
The following condition (hereinafter referred to as “second placement condition”) is also attached to the head packet of the SP control information 712.

"SCP packet number that acts on i-th SP data"<"SCP packet number that acts on i + 1-th SP data" That is, as shown in FIG. 18, it exceeds the SCP of other SP control information. Therefore, the packet arrangement that controls the SP data is not allowed.

Incidentally, in FIG. 18, the dotted arrow coming out of the SCP indicates that the SP control information having the SCP at the head is
The relationship which acts on the SP data which is the control target is shown.

In the first acquisition method according to this embodiment, acquisition of SP data and SP control information as illustrated in FIG. 19 under such first arrangement condition and second arrangement condition is illustrated in FIG. It is executed by using the address information as described above.

In FIG. 19, at the time of reproduction, the display start PTS is first given as the (0) th process, then the SCP is searched for and read as the (1) th process, and then the SP as the (2) th process.
Each process of reading data, next reading SP data as the third (3) process, further reading SP data as the fourth (4) process, and finally starting reproduction as the fifth process, The corresponding points on the time axis (the axis extending from the left to the right in the figure) are graphically marked.

In order to perform such a series of acquisition of SP data and SP control information and accompanying reproduction control of a still image, the first acquisition method particularly corresponds to the entry section defined by the video stream shown in FIG. In this format, the ES address information about the sub-picture stream as shown in FIG. 20 is described in the ES map table.

As shown in FIG. 20, the ES address information for the sub-picture stream indicates whether SPD exists for each entry section of the elementary stream indicated by the index number information 134e (FIG. 34). Bit SP data identification flag and SCP
2 bits of information including a 1-bit SCP identification flag indicating whether or not is recorded. In FIG. 20, if it exists, it is set to “1”, and if it does not exist, it is set to “0”. Then, in the first acquisition method, as described below, when the SCP does not exist at the display start time by the SCP identification flag, it is checked whether the SCP exists ahead (on the left side in FIG. 19) on the reproduction time axis. It

In FIG. 19, when the display start PTS in the entry section # 3 is first obtained at the time of reproduction (the (0) th process), E included in the object information file is reproduced.
The SCP identification flag (see FIG. 20) of the S address information is referred to, and it is checked whether or not the SCP exists in this entry section # 3. Then, in this example, since it is found that the SCP does not exist, the SCP identification flag is further referred to, and the one in which the SCP exists in another entry section located ahead on the reproduction time axis is searched for. As a result, in this example, it is found that the SCP to be read first is in the entry section # 1.

Then, in FIG. 19, this time in the object data file, in this entry section # 1,
The SCP data is searched (process (1) in FIG. 19).
More specifically, first, the ES address information of FIG. 14 is referenced to acquire the head packet (“r” in this example) of entry section # 1, and then the head packet for this head packet is stored in the object data file. Access is executed. After that, the header (structure information 7) of the packet on the same sub-picture stream following this head packet
11) are sequentially checked, and the sub-picture structure 702 including SCP is searched for in the entry section # 1.

After that, the "S" recorded in the SP control information in the sub-picture structure including the acquired SCP.
P data position "(see FIG. 16) is referred to, and the position (entry section) of the SP data that is the control target of this SP control information is specified. Then, access to the SP data whose position is specified is executed (FIG. 1).
Process (2) in FIG. 9). For example, if the display start time T14_0 is described as the position (entry section) of the SP data, first, the ES address information shown in FIG. 14 is referenced in the object information file, and the packet number "q" is referred to. Is obtained. That is, in this example, it is found that the SPD to be read exists in the entry section # 0. After that, the access to the first packet (packet number “q”) is executed in the object data file. Subsequently, the headers (structure information 711) of the packets on the same sub-picture stream following this head packet are sequentially checked, and the sub-picture structure 70 including the SPD in the entry section # 0.
1 or 703 (subpicture structure 701 indicated by “SCP + SPD # 1” in FIG. 19) will be searched for.

Thereafter, the acquired SPD (SCP + SP
SP data in the sub-picture structure including D) is read (process (3) in FIG. 19).

After that, the SP data identification flag shown in FIG. 20 is referred to again, and the SPD acquired in the third process (3).
Including the entry section (here, the entry section #
0) to the entry section including the display start time (here, entry section # 3), the SP data identification flag is "1", and the existence of the section including the SPD is checked. If such an SPD exists, it means that there is SP data that may be displayed after the display start time. In this example, since such an SPD exists in the entry section # 2, the sub-picture structure including the SPD is accessed and acquired ((4) in FIG. 19).
processing).

In the present application, even if the SP data does not need to be displayed at the arbitrary display start time with respect to the arbitrary display start time as described above, the SP data after the arbitrary display time is reproduced on the reproduction time axis. The SP data recorded before the arbitrary display start time, which needs to be read in advance in order to perform the still image display accurately and without interruption, is referred to as “prefetch SP data”. That is, prefetch S
P data must be read before starting playback,
There is a possibility that the still image display may be interrupted after the display is started. However, after the prefetching SP data is prefetched, it may not be actually used for displaying a still image. That is, here, if there is a possibility that it will be used for subsequent display according to the reproduction condition, it is treated as pre-read SP data and pre-read processing is performed.

Thereafter, the S obtained by the above processing is obtained.
Display control based on P control information is performed, and SP
Playback of a still image corresponding to the data is started (process (5) in FIG. 19). Here, for example, based on the display start time and the display time (see FIG. 16) indicated by the SP control information, the still picture display by the sub-picture corresponding to the SP data is performed for a certain period.

By the series of processing shown in FIG. 19 above, even when the display is started from an arbitrary display start time in special reproduction such as time search, chapter search, fast forward, rewind, etc. The still image to be displayed is displayed faithfully, and there is no possibility that the still image that should be originally displayed cannot be displayed or the still image is interrupted.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, according to the first acquisition method of SP data and SP control information, a total of 2 bits of two flags (see FIG. 20).
It is possible to efficiently specify the recording position of the SP data and the SP control information by using the ES address information having a very small data amount (refer to). For example, if the ES address information related to the video stream as shown in FIG. 14 is 32 bits for each entry section, the ES address information related to the sub-picture stream as shown in FIG. The amount is enough.

(B) Second acquisition method of SP data and SP control information Referring to FIGS. 21 to 24 and FIGS. 14 and 15,
The second acquisition method of SP data and SP control information, and the reproduction control of the still image accompanying it will be described. Here, FIG. 21 is a table showing the contents of structure information, SP control information, and SP data according to the second acquisition method.
2 schematically shows the acquisition procedure in the second acquisition method,
23 is constructed in the ES map table.
3 is a table showing the data structure of the ES address information related to the sub-picture stream shown in FIG. Furthermore,
FIG. 24 shows a specific example of structure information and SP control information according to the second acquisition method.

In the above-mentioned first acquisition method, the above-mentioned first and second arrangement conditions are added, but in the second acquisition method described below, the second acquisition method described above with reference to FIG. It is executed without any placement condition. And, in particular, the SP data identification flag (see FIG. 20) in the above-described first acquisition method is not constructed in the ES address information, and only the SCP identification flag is described as the ES address information for the sub-picture stream. . Then, instead of not describing the SP data identification flag in the ES address information in the object information file, information for specifying the prefetched SP data is described in the SP control information in the object data file.

As shown in FIG. 21, in the embodiment according to the second acquisition method, the data or information relating to the still picture recorded on the sub-picture stream is the structure information 71.
1, SP control information 712 'and SP data 71
3 is included. Of these, structure information 7
11 and SP data 713 are the same as those of the first acquisition method shown in FIG. Further, by combining these three data or information, the three types of sub-picture structures 701 to 703 shown in FIG. 17 are similarly constructed.

The SP control information 712 'relating to the second acquisition method has information indicating the display start time of the acting SP data and the display time of the relevant SP data. At the time of reproduction, as a result, the SP data on which the SP control information 712 'acts is reproduced for a predetermined time on the reproduction time axis, and a still image is displayed.

Further, the SP control information 712 'has the total number of prefetched SP data, the identifier of the prefetched SP data, and the position information (entry section) of the prefetched SP data. The "prefetch SP data" here is specified based on the recording position of the SCP of the SP control information in which the total number of the SP control information is described, and is recorded after the SCP of the SP control information on the reproduction time axis. SCP
Is SP data on which the SP control information having the above is acting, and the SP data is SP data recorded ahead of the SCP of the SP control information. Therefore, in the following description of the second acquisition method, SP data that satisfies such a condition is simply referred to as “preread SP data”.

In the second acquisition method according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Acquisition of SP data and SP control information as illustrated in FIG. 2 is executed using the address information as illustrated in FIG.

In FIG. 22, during reproduction, the display start PTS is first given as the (0) th process, then the SCP of the front entry section is searched for and read as the (1) th process, and then the second (2) process is performed. Go to read the SP data, then read the SCP of the rear entry section as the third (3) process,
Next, the SP data is read as the (4) th process, the prefetch SP data is read as the (5) th process, and finally the reproduction is started as the (6) th process. The corresponding points on the axis extending from the left to the right) are shown diagrammatically.

In order to perform the acquisition of such SP data and SP control information and the reproduction control of the still image associated therewith, the second acquisition method particularly corresponds to the entry section defined by the video stream shown in FIG. 14, for example. 23, the ES address information about the sub-picture stream is described in the ES map table as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 23, the ES address information for the sub-picture stream is a 1-bit SCP indicating whether or not SCP is recorded for each entry section.
It comprises an identification flag. Incidentally, in FIG. 23, when it exists, it is set to "1", and when it does not exist, it is set to "0". Then, in the second acquisition method, as described below,
When the SCP does not exist at the display start time according to the SCP identification flag, it is first checked whether or not the SCP exists on the front side on the reproduction time axis, and then the SCP exists on the rear side on the reproduction time axis. Is checked.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 24, unlike the sub-picture structure of FIG. 21 that includes SP data, the sub-picture structure that does not include SP data consists of structure information 711 and SP control information 712 ″. In FIG. 24,
As specific examples corresponding to FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, specific contents of SP control information 712 ″ having SCP # 2 arranged in entry section # 4 as a head packet are illustrated.

In FIG. 22, when the display start PTS in the entry section # 3 is first obtained at the time of reproduction (process (0)), E contained in the object information file is reproduced.
The SCP identification flag (see FIG. 23) of the S address information is referred to, and it is checked whether or not the SCP exists in this entry section # 3. Then, in this example, since it is found that the SCP does not exist, the SCP identification flag is further referred to, and first, a search is made for another entry section that is located forward on the reproduction time axis and in which the SCP exists. As a result, in this example, it is found that the SCP to be read first is in the entry section # 1.

Therefore, referring to FIG. 22, this time in the object data file, in this entry section # 1,
The SCP data is searched (process (1) in FIG. 22). More specifically, first, the ES address information of FIG. 14 is referred to, and the first packet of the entry section # 1 (in this example,
“R”) is acquired, and then the access to this first packet is executed in the object data file. After that, the header (structure information 71) of the packet on the same sub-picture stream that follows this head packet
1) is sequentially checked, and the sub picture structure 702 including the SCP is searched for in the entry section # 1.

After that, "S" recorded in the SP control information in the sub-picture structure including the acquired SCP
"P data position" is referred to, and the position of SP data that is the control target of this SP control information (entry section)
Is specified. Then, access to the SP data whose position has been specified is executed (second process (2) in FIG. 22). For example, if the display start time T14_0 is described as the position (entry section) of the SP data, first, the ES address information shown in FIG. 14 is referenced in the object information file, and the packet number "q" is referred to. Is obtained. That is, in this example, the SP to be read
It is found that D exists in entry section # 0. After that, the access to the first packet (packet number “q”) is executed in the object data file. Subsequently, the headers (structure information 711) of the packets on the same sub-picture stream following the first packet are sequentially checked, and the entry section # 0
Within, a sub-picture structure 701 or 70 including SPD
3 (subpicture structure 703 indicated by “SCP # 1a + SPD # 1” in FIG. 22) will be searched for.

After that, the SP data in the sub-picture structure including the acquired SPD is read (the (2) th process in FIG. 22).

Next, in the other entry section located rearward on the reproduction time axis, one in which SCP exists is searched for. As a result, in this example, it is found that the SCP to be read first is in the entry section # 4.

Then, in FIG. 22, this time in the object data file, in this entry section # 4,
The SCP data is searched (process (3) in FIG. 22). More specifically, first, the ES address information of FIG. 14 is referred to, and the head packet of entry section # 4 (in this example,
“U”) is acquired, and then the access to this first packet is executed in the object data file. After that, the header (structure information 71) of the packet on the same sub-picture stream that follows this head packet
1) are sequentially checked, and within the entry section # 4, the sub-picture structure 702 including the SCP # 2a and the SC
A sub-picture structure 702 containing P # 1c is located,
SP control information 71 having the structure shown in FIG.
2 ”is acquired. Note that FIG. 24 shows the specific contents of the SP control information 712 for SCP # 1c.

After that, the "SP data position" (see FIG. 24) recorded in the SP control information in the sub-picture structure including the acquired SCP # 2a is referred to, and the SP data which is the control target of this SP control information is referred to. The position (entry section) is specified. Then, the SP data whose position has been specified is accessed (process (4) in FIG. 22). For example, if the display start time T14_2 is described as the position (entry section) of the SP data, first, the ES address information shown in FIG. 14 is referenced in the object information file, and the packet number “s” is referred to. Is obtained. That is, in this example,
It turns out that the SPD to be read exists in the entry section # 2. After that, the access to the first packet (packet number “s”) is executed in the object data file. Subsequently, the headers (structure information 711) of the packets on the same sub-picture stream following this head packet are sequentially checked, and the sub-picture structure 701 or 703 including the SPD (in FIG. 22, in the entry section # 2). , The sub-picture structure 703) indicated by "SPD # 2" will be searched for.

After that, the SP data in the sub-picture structure including the acquired SPD is read (process (4) in FIG. 22).

After that, the total number of read-ahead SP data, the identifier and the position information (entry section) described in the SP control information in the sub-picture structure including the SCP # 1c acquired in the process (3) of FIG. Based on (Fig. 2
4), the read-ahead SP data is read. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, the total number of pre-reading SP data is “1”, its identifier is “# 1”, and the position information of the pre-reading SP data “# 1” identified by this is: If T14_0, the ES address information in FIG. 14 is first referred to, and the packet number q is acquired. And
After accessing the packet of this packet number q, a sub-picture or structure containing SP data is searched from a plurality of packets following this packet in the entry section # 0 and read as pre-read SP data (see FIG. 22). Process (5)).

In this specific example, the prefetch SP data #
Since No. 1 has already been acquired in the (2) process, it is not necessary to perform the acquisition operation again.

After that, the S obtained by the above processing is
Display control based on P control information is performed, and SP
The still image reproduction corresponding to the data is started (the (6th) process). Here, for example, based on the display start time and the display time (see FIG. 21) indicated by the SP control information, the still picture display by the sub-picture corresponding to the SP data is performed for a certain period.

By the series of processing shown in FIG. 22, even when the display is started from an arbitrary display start time in the special reproduction such as time search, chapter search, fast forward, rewind, etc., the original display is performed at the display start time. A still image to be displayed is displayed, and a still image that should originally be displayed cannot be displayed or the still image is not interrupted.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 21 to 24 and FIGS. 14 and 15, according to the second acquisition method of SP data and SP control information, one flag has a total of 1 bit (see FIG. 23). It is possible to efficiently specify the recording position of the SP control information by using the ES address information having a very small data amount such as). For example,
If the ES address information relating to the video stream as shown in FIG. 14 is 32 bits for each entry section, the ES address information relating to the sub-picture stream as shown in FIG. 23 has a small data amount of 1/32. Is enough.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 14 to 24, any of the first and second acquisition methods according to this embodiment can be used to obtain three types of sub-picture structures 701 as shown in FIG. To 703, the SP control information 712 at the time of reproduction is adopted.
It is not necessary to read the sub-picture structure including the SP data 713 that is the control target every time the display control is performed by. On the contrary, for one SP data 713, display control can be performed by SP control information recorded separately from this, and in particular, it is possible to apply a plurality of SP control information to the same SP data. Or multiple SPs
The display of the data 713 can be controlled by the same SP control information recorded separately from the above.

The sub-picture structure 701 or 703 including the SP data 713 and the S acting on the sub-picture structure 701 or 703.
Subpicture structure 70 containing P control information 712
2 may be recorded on the same sub-picture stream, but may be recorded separately on a plurality of sub-picture streams.

(Structure of Each Information File for Controlling Reading of Sub-picture) Next, a method of controlling reading of a sub-picture will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 34. According to this read control method, the information recording / reproducing apparatus reads SP data and SP control information for displaying a still picture (sub-picture) in the playlist information file and the object information file (see FIG. 3). Alternatively, instead of executing this, a flag for controlling whether to preferentially execute processing for displaying other main video (video), etc. (“SP read control flag in play list information table” described below) And "SP in AU table
The read control flag ") is stored in advance so that the read control is executed at the time of reproduction.

First, with reference to FIG. 25 to FIG. 29, the TS which is the target of the sub-picture read control in this embodiment.
The data structure of the object 142 will be described with a specific example. 25 and 26 schematically show the data structures of the TS objects # 3 and # 4 including the sub-picture stream, respectively, in one specific example according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. The data structures of the PAT and PMT in the TS objects # 3 and # 4 are schematically shown, respectively. Further, FIG. 29 schematically shows a data structure constructed by including these TS objects # 3 and # 4.

In this example, the TS # 3 object shown in FIG. 25 and the TS # 4 object shown in FIG. 26 among a plurality of TS objects are configured to include a sub-picture stream.

As shown in FIG. 25, the TS # 3 object has ES_PID = 104 as a sub-picture stream in addition to the video stream (Video 6), audio stream (Audio 9) and audio stream (Audio 10). A stream for certain SP data (SP data 1), a stream for SP control information with ES_PID = 105 (SP control 1_1) and a stream for SP control information with ES_PID = 106 (SP control 1_2) It consists of

As shown in FIG. 26, the TS # 4 object is, in addition to the video stream (Video 7) and audio stream (Audio 11), in particular, as a sub-picture stream, a stream for SP data (ES_PID = 203) ( SP data 2)
And a stream for SP control information (SP control) with ES_PID = 204 which acts on this.
2_1).

Then, as shown in FIG. 27, the TS # 3 object is a program # 1 (Program).
1), one PMT specifies one PMT, and this PMT specifies the packet ID (ES_PID) for all elementary streams related to the six contents. And
The packet ID (ES_PID) is specified for the stream for SP data and the stream for SP control information by being included in these.

As shown in FIG. 28, the TS # 4 object is a program # 3 (Program).
3), one PMT specifies one PMT, and this PMT specifies the packet ID (ES_PID) for all elementary streams related to four contents. The SP data stream and S
The packet ID (ES_PID) is also specified for the P control information stream.

As described above, at the time of reproducing information from the optical disc 100, such a PMT or PAT is not referred to, and instead, the object information file 13 is used.
By referring to the AU table 121 (FIG. 33) and the ES map table 134 (FIG. 34) in 0, the correspondence relationship between each stream and each packet is specified, and thereby each stream can be reproduced.

The data structure constructed on the optical disc 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 25 to 28 is summarized as shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 29, the optical disc 100
Includes two items (Item) related to the TS # 1 object and the TS # 2 object that do not include subpictures.
Playlist # 1 (P list # that specifies # 1, # 2)
The title # 1 consisting of 1) is constructed, and two items (Item #) including the sub-picture are further included as described above.
Play list # 2 (P list #
It has a data structure in which a title # 2 consisting of 2) is constructed.

Next, with respect to the TS object configured to include the sub-picture stream (SP data stream and SP control information stream) as described above, read control of the sub-picture structure (see FIG. 17 and the like). The structure of each information file for performing is explained. Of the various information files described below, S
The playlist information file and the object information file each having the P read control flag are directly related to the read control of the sub picture.

(Structure of Each Information File) Next, with reference to FIGS. 30 to 34, various information files constructed on the optical disc 100 of this embodiment, that is, (1) Disc described with reference to FIG. The data structures of the information file 110, (2) playlist information file 120, and (3) object information file 130 will be described with specific examples.

(1) Disk information file: First, FIG.
0 and FIG. 31, the disc information file 110
This will be described in detail with reference to one specific example. Figure 3 here
0 schematically shows one specific example of the data structure of the disc information file 110, and FIG. 31 schematically shows one specific example of the data structure of the title information table (table) 114 included therein. It is a thing.

As shown in FIG. 30, in this specific example, the disc information file 110 contains disc comprehensive information 112,
A title information table 114 and other information 118 are stored.

Of these, the disc comprehensive information 112 is comprehensive disc information such as disc volume information indicating a serial number of a series composed of a plurality of optical discs 100 and total title number information.

The title information table 114 stores all playlists constituting each title and chapter information in the title as other information for each title. Title pointer information, title # 1 information,
Title # 2 information, ... Here, the “title pointer information” is the storage address information of the title #n information, that is, as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
This is storage address information indicating the storage position of the title #n information in the title information table 114, and is described by a relative logical address. The titles in the optical disc 100 are arranged in the order of titles as relative logical addresses. The data amount of each piece of such stored address information may be fixed bytes or variable bytes.

The other information 118 is information relating to each title such as the type of title such as sequential type or branch type and the total number of playlists.

For example, if the title is simply composed of one playlist, the title information table 114 (see FIG. 3) stored in the disc information file 110 shown in FIG. 30 is shown in FIG. It is described as having relatively simple content as shown.

(2) Playlist Information File: Next, with reference to FIG. 32, the playlist information file 120 will be described in detail with a specific example. Figure 32 here
[Fig. 6] is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of a data structure in a playlist information table (table) 121 constructed in the playlist information file 120.

As shown in FIG. 32, in this specific example, a field (Field) is included in the playlist information file 120.
1d), a playlist comprehensive information 122, a playlist pointer table 124, a playlist # 1 information table, and a playlist # 2 information table 126 are stored as a playlist information table 121 (see FIG. 3).

Each field may have a structure capable of adding the required number of tables. For example, if there are four playlists, it may have a structure in which the corresponding fold increases to four.
The same applies to 9.

Of these, the playlist comprehensive information (P
The list total information) 122 describes the size of the play list table, the total number of play lists, and the like.

The playlist pointer table (P list pointer table) 124 has relative logical addresses in the playlist information table 121, as shown by the arrows in FIG. Is stored as

The playlist # 1 information table (P list # 1 information table) 126 stores general information about the playlist # 1, the item information table of the playlist # 1 (P list Item information Table), and other information. Has been done. The playlist # 2 information table 129 also describes the same kind of information related to the playlist # 2.

[Item information table (Item information t
The item) 129 ”stores item information for all the items constituting one program list. Here, A described in “item # 1 (Item # 1 information)” or “item # 2 (Item # 2 information)”
The AU number in the U (Associate Unit) table is the address of the TS object used for playing the item or each elementary stream (that is, video stream, audio stream, or sub-picture stream) in the TS object used for playing the item. ) Is the number of the AU that stores the information for specifying.

In the present embodiment, particularly, in the item information table, the SP read control flag 601 is described for each item information. The SP read control flag 601 constitutes an example of the “first read control flag” according to the present invention.

The SP read control flag 601 is a flag indicating whether or not to execute the read processing of the sub-picture structure (see FIG. 17 etc.) at the reproduction start time. More specifically, it indicates whether or not the read operation of the sub-picture structure is executed before the subsequent play item reproduction is started when the reproduction place is changed from one play item to another play item. For example, it indicates that the sub-picture structure reading process is not executed when the continuous reproduction of the main video on the video stream is prioritized. However, such an SP read control flag 601 may be an option, and in this case, it means a possible flag.

(3) Object Information File: Next, with reference to FIGS. 33 and 34, the object information file 130 will be described in detail with reference to one specific example. FIG. 33 shows an AU (Associate Unit) table 131 constructed in the object information file 130.
FIG. 34 schematically shows a specific example of the data structure in (see FIG. 3), and FIG. 34 shows an ES (elementary stream) map table 134 (see FIG. 3) associated therewith.
2 schematically shows a specific example of the data structure in FIG.

In this specific example, the object information file 130 stores an object information table (object information table), which is shown in FIG.
The AU table 131 shown in FIG. 3 and the ES map table 134 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 33, the AU table 131 is
Each field may have a structure capable of adding as many tables as necessary. For example, if there are four AUs, the fold may be increased to four.

In the AU table 131, the number of AUs, the pointer to each AU, etc. are described in another field (Field), "AU table general information", "packet number discontinuity information", and "other information". Is stored.

In the AU table 131, each A
ES table index #m (ES_table Index #m) in each PU #m corresponding to U #n
As the AU information 132I indicating the index number (Index number =
...) is described. Here, “AU” means a unit corresponding to “program” in television broadcasting as described above (especially, in the case of “multivision type” broadcasting,
It is a unit in which a plurality of “visions” that can be switched are grouped together, and one or more PUs that are playback units are included in this unit. The “PU” is a set of mutually switchable elementary streams included in each AU as described above, and the ES table index # corresponding to each PU is specified by the PU information 302I.
For example, when configuring multi-view content with AUs, a plurality of PUs are stored in each AU, and each PU has a plurality of elementary stream packet IDs indicating packets that compose the content of each view. Stores a pointer to. This indicates an index number in the ES map table 134 described later.

In this embodiment, in particular, the AU table 131
Describes an SP read control flag 602 for each piece of PU information 302I indicating a PU belonging to each AU, as part of PU attribute information. The SP read control flag 602 constitutes an example of the “second read control flag” according to the present invention.

The SP read control flag 602 is a flag indicating whether or not the read processing of the sub-picture structure (see FIG. 17 etc.) is executed at the reproduction start time. More specifically, it indicates whether or not the reading operation of the sub-picture structure is executed before the playback of the newly selected PU when the PU is switched in the same AU.
For example, in a time search, etc., there is a point where PU is
When the reproduction is started from, it indicates whether or not the sub-picture structure is read before the reproduction is started. However,
Such an SP read control flag 602 may be an option, and in this case, it means a possible flag.

In FIG. 34, the ES map table 13
4 shows ES map table comprehensive information (ES_map table comprehensive information) for each field (Field).
And a plurality of indexes #m (m = 1, 2, ...),
"Other information" is stored.

In the "ES map table general information", the size of the ES map table, the total number of indexes, etc. are described.

[0257] Each "index #m" is configured to include an elementary stream packet ID (ES_PID) of all elementary streams used for reproduction, an index number corresponding to the elementary stream packet ID, and address information of the elementary stream. There is.

Particularly in the present embodiment, this address information,
That is, as the ES address information 134d, when the elementary stream is the MPEG2 video stream as described above, only the packet number (SPN) of the first TS packet of the I picture and the display start time corresponding to the ES number are ES. It is described in the map table 134, and the amount of data is reduced (see FIG. 14).

With this configuration, the elementary stream packet ID (ES_PID) of the actual elementary stream can be obtained from the index number of the ES map 134 designated by the AU table 131. Also, since the address information of the elementary stream corresponding to the elementary stream packet ID can be acquired at the same time, the object data can be reproduced based on these information.

In addition, particularly in the present embodiment, when the ES address information 134d (see FIGS. 20 and 23) is created for the sub-picture stream (SP data stream and SP control information stream). In the ES map table of FIG. 34, the stream used as the entry section can be specified during playback,
Index number information 13 indicating the index number of the ES map table of the stream used as the entry section
4e is described. Therefore, regarding the ES address information 134d of the sub-picture stream, only the SCP identification flag and the SP data identification flag are described for each entry section, and the data amount is further reduced.

Further, in this example, the sub-picture stream for SP data and the sub-picture stream for SP control information are separately used for displaying a still picture by the sub-picture stream. For this reason, in order to easily identify which SP data each SP control information acts upon during reproduction, in the ES map table of FIG. In indicating the index number of the ES map table
The dex number information 134f is described.

According to the data structure of the optical disc 100 described above, even when a new title is added to the optical disc 100, necessary information can be easily added, which is useful. On the other hand, even if some information is no longer needed as a result of editing, for example, it is not necessary to simply refer to that information, and it is not necessary to actually delete that information from the table. Is useful because

The ES_PID not referred to from the AU table 131 of FIG. 33 is also described for each index of the ES map table 134 of FIG. 34, but the ES_PID not referred to does not need to be described in this way. However, ES_PI that is not referred to in this way
If the ES map table 134 having higher versatility is created by describing D as well, E can be used when content is re-edited, for example, when authoring is redone.
There is an advantage that it is not necessary to reconstruct the S map table.

In this embodiment, in particular, during the reproduction process shown in FIG. 13 by the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 8 (especially after the reproduction in step S16 is started), one play item Whether or not the playback place is transferred from to another play item is constantly monitored. Then, at the time of this transition, the playlist information table 121
A read operation of the sub-picture structure is appropriately executed according to the SP read control flag 601 in the table before the subsequent play item reproduction is started. Alternatively, it is not appropriately executed according to the SP read control flag 601. For example, when prioritizing continuous playback of the main video on the video stream,
According to the SP read control flag 601, the sub-picture structure read processing is not executed.

Furthermore, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 50 shown in FIG.
During the reproduction process shown in FIG. 13 by 0 (especially after the reproduction is started in step S16), whether or not the PU is switched is monitored in the same AU. Then, at the time of this switching, the newly selected PU is appropriately selected according to the SP read control flag 602 in the AU 131.
Before the reproduction is started, the reading operation of the sub-picture structure is executed. Alternatively, the SP read control flag 602
Will not be performed accordingly. For example, when switching the stream for SP control information so that different SP control information acts on the same SP data, or when starting playback from a certain point (on the way) of the PU, before starting playback, SP read control flag 60
The sub-picture structure is read or not read according to 2.

[0266] Such a playlist information table 12
No. 1 SP read control flag 601 (see FIG. 32) and one AU 131 SP read control flag 602 (see FIG. 33).
Reference) refers to the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 shown in FIG.
By performing access to the playlist information file 120 or the object information file 130 (see FIG. 3) during the reproduction process shown in FIG.
It may be executed almost in real time. Alternatively, in advance (for example, step S12 or step S14 in FIG. 13).
It is also possible to read the SP read control flag 601 and the SP read control flag 602 and hold them in the memory 530 or the like, and refer to them when the play item is transferred or the PU is switched. .

As described above with reference to FIGS. 25 to 34, according to this embodiment, the SP read control flag 601 in the playlist information table 121 and the SP read control flag 602 in the AU table 131 are used. By doing so, the read control of the sub-picture structure (see FIG. 17, etc.) can be efficiently and efficiently performed on the TS object including the sub-picture stream (SP data stream and SP control information stream). It can be executed reliably.

(Access Flow During Reproduction) Next, referring to FIG. 35, one of the features of this embodiment, AU
An access flow at the time of reproduction in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 using the (associate unit) information 132I and the PU (presentation unit) information 302I will be described together with the logical structure of the optical disc 100. Here, FIG. 35 conceptually shows the entire access flow at the time of reproduction in relation to the logical structure of the optical disc 100.

In FIG. 35, the logical structure of the optical disc 100 is roughly classified into three layers, that is, a logical layer 401, an object layer 403, and a logic-object association layer 402 that correlates these layers.

Of these, the logical layer 401 is a layer that logically specifies various logical information for reproducing a desired title at the time of reproduction, a playlist to be reproduced and its constituent contents. The optical layer 100 is included in the logical hierarchy 401.
Disc information 110d showing all the above titles 200 etc.
Is described in the disc information file 110 (see FIG. 3), and the reproduction sequence information 120d of all contents on the optical disc 100 is described in the playlist information file 120 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, as the reproduction sequence information 120d, the configuration of one or a plurality of playlists 126 is described in each title 200, and the configuration of one or a plurality of items 204 is described in each playlist 126. There is. And
When accessing during playback, such a logical hierarchy 4
By 01, the title 200 to be reproduced is specified, the playlist 126 corresponding to this is specified, and the item 204 corresponding to this is specified.

Subsequently, the logic-object association hierarchy 402 identifies the combination and configuration of the TS object data 140d, which is the actual data, based on the information specified by the logic hierarchy 401 in this way, and from the logic hierarchy 401. TS object data 14 to be reproduced so as to perform address conversion to the object hierarchy 403.
It is a layer that specifies the attribute of 0d and its physical storage address. More specifically, in the logic-object association hierarchy 402, a group of contents forming each item 204 is classified into a unit of AU 132 and each A
Object information data 130d that subclassifies U132 into units of PU302 is described in the object information file 130 (see FIG. 3).

Therefore, if the AU 132 to be reproduced is specified and further the PU 302 is specified, the elementary stream to be reproduced is specified. That is, even without using the PAT or PMT shown in FIG. 6, a desired elementary stream can be reproduced from the multiplex-recorded from the optical disc 100.

In this way, in the logical-object association hierarchy 402, the address conversion from the logical address of each item 204 to the physical address of each PU 302 is executed.

Subsequently, the object layer 403 is a physical layer for reproducing the actual TS object data 140d. In the object hierarchy 403, TS
The object data 140d is described in the object data file 140 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, TS packets 146 that form a plurality of elementary streams (ES) are multiplexed at each time, and these are arranged along the time axis to form a plurality of elementary streams. (Fig. 5
reference). Then, the plurality of TS packets multiplexed at each time are associated with the PU 302 specified in the logical-object association hierarchy 402 for each elementary stream. In addition, associating a plurality of PUs 302 with one elementary stream (for example,
It is also possible to commonly use the elementary streams related to the same audio data or the same elementary streams related to the same sub-picture data between a plurality of programs or programs that can be switched. is there.

Thus, in the object hierarchy 403,
The reproduction of the actual object data is executed using the physical address obtained by the conversion in the logic-object association hierarchy 402.

As described above, the access to the optical disc 100 at the time of reproduction is executed by the three layers shown in FIG.

As described above in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 35, according to this embodiment, still image data composed of bitmap data or the like having a relatively large data amount is used as sub-picture data and video data. Multiple recording can be performed efficiently with audio data.

Further, by utilizing the 1-bit flag information such as the SCP identification flag and the SP data identification flag, the S
The acquisition processing of P control information and SP data and the reproduction control processing of a still image can be efficiently performed. In particular, the amount of data required for this can be small, so that the recording capacity on the optical disc 100 can be saved.

[0279] And, in particular, the playlist information table 1
21 by introducing the SP read control flag 601 in the AU table 131 and the SP read control flag 602 in the AU table 131 so as not to hinder the reproduction of the video data in the video stream even when the play item is transferred or the PU is switched. At the same time, the acquisition processing of SP data and SP control information in the sub-picture stream can be efficiently executed.

In the above embodiment, the optical disc 100 as an example of the information recording medium and the recorder or player relating to the optical disc 100 as an example of the information reproducing / recording device have been described. However, the present invention is applicable to the optical disc and the recorder or player. The present invention is not limited to the above, and can be applied to other various information recording media compatible with high-density recording or high transfer rate, and recorders or players thereof.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be appropriately modified within the scope not departing from the spirit or idea of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and is accompanied by such modifications. An information recording medium, an information recording apparatus and method, an information reproducing apparatus and method, an information recording and reproducing apparatus and method, a computer program for recording or reproduction control, and a data structure including a control signal are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. It is what is done.

[0282]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to multiplex record still image information having a comparatively large amount of data together with moving image information, audio information, etc., while suppressing an increase in load in reproduction display processing. The still image information can be reproduced. In particular, by adopting the still image information set (for example, sub-picture structure) according to the present invention, different still image control information is applied to the still image information regarding one sub-picture to display, The same still image information can be used for many different expressions. This allows
It is possible to save the recording capacity for a still image having a large amount of data. Further, a control information identification flag (eg, SCP identification flag), a still image information identification flag (eg, SP data identification flag) according to the present invention, and further first read control information (SP read control flag in the playlist information table). By adopting the second read control flag (SP read control flag in the AU table) and the like, the still image information acquisition process and the reproduction control process can be efficiently performed, and the data required for these processes can be obtained. By suppressing the amount, it is possible to save the recording capacity as a whole.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of an optical disc which is an embodiment of an information recording medium of the present invention, an upper part is a schematic plan view of an optical disc having a plurality of areas, and a lower part associated therewith is its It is a schematic conceptual diagram of the area structure in the radial direction.

FIG. 2 is a schematic conceptual diagram of a conventional MPEG2 program stream (FIG. 2A) and a schematic conceptual diagram of an MPEG2 transport stream used in this embodiment (FIG. 2B).

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure recorded on the optical disc of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing details of a data structure in each object shown in FIG.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a view showing that an elementary stream for the program # 1 in the upper stage and an elementary stream for the program # 2 in the middle stage are multiplexed to form a transport stream for these two programs in the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows a mode notionally, considering a horizontal axis as a time axis.

FIG. 6 shows an image of TS packets multiplexed in one transport stream in the present embodiment,
It is conceptually shown as a packet arrangement along time.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a logical configuration of data on an optical disc in the embodiment, focusing on development from a logical hierarchy to an object hierarchy or an entity hierarchy.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (part 1) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (No. 2) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (No. 3) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a recording operation (No. 4) of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a reproducing operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows E in the object information in the embodiment.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the data structure in ES address information regarding a video stream built in an S map table.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing an example of positions of TS packets registered in ES address information of a video stream on a TS object with respect to a time axis.

FIG. 16 illustrates SP data and S according to a first acquisition method of SP data and SP control information in the embodiment.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the content of P control information and structure information.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a sub-picture structure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing the packet arrangement conditions adopted in the first acquisition method on the time axis of a TS object.

FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram showing an acquisition procedure in the first acquisition method.

20 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of ES address information related to a sub-picture stream in the TS object shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of structure information, SP control information, and SP data according to the second acquisition method of SP data and SP control information in the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram showing an acquisition procedure in the second acquisition method.

23 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of ES address information relating to a sub-picture stream in the TS object shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram showing a specific example of structure information and SP control information according to a second acquisition method.

FIG. 25 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure of a TS object # 3 including a sub-picture stream in a specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure of a TS object # 4 including a sub-picture stream in a specific example according to the present embodiment.

27] PA in the TS # 3 object of FIG. 25
It is a figure which shows the data structure of T and PMT diagrammatically.

28] PA in the TS # 4 object of FIG. 26
It is a figure which shows the data structure of T and PMT diagrammatically.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing FIG. 26 in a specific example according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 29 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure constructed by including the TS objects shown in FIGS.

FIG. 30 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of a data configuration of a disc information file in a specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data structure of the title information table included in the disc information file in the specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data structure in the playlist information table constructed in the playlist information file in the specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data structure in the AU table constructed in the object information file in the specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of the data structure in the ES map table constructed in the object information file in the specific example according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram conceptually showing the overall flow of access at the time of reproduction, in relation to the logical structure of the optical disc in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 optical disk 105 file system 110 disk information file 120 playlist information file 126 playlist 130 object information file 131 AU (associate unit) table 132 AU 132I AU information 134 ES map table 134d ES address information 140 object data file 142 TS (transport) Stream) object 146 TS packet 200 title 204 item 302 PU (presentation unit) 302I PU information 500 information recording / reproducing device 502 optical pickup 506 demodulator 508 demultiplexer 511 video decoder 512 audio decoder 513 sub-picture decoder 520 system controller 530 memory 540 memory 606 strange Adjuster 608 Formatter 610 TS object generator 611 Video encoder 612 Audio encoder 613 Sub-picture encoder 701, 702, 703 Sub-picture structure 711 Structural information 712 Still picture control information 713 Still picture information

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G11B 27/00 H04N 5/85 Z H04N 5/85 5/92 H (72) Inventor Toru Kanee Saitama Prefecture 426-10 Hanazono, Tokorozawa City Pioneer Co., Ltd. Tokorozawa Plant (72) Inventor Masanori Nakahara 4-2610 Hanazono, Tokorozawa City Saitama Prefecture Pioneer Co., Ltd. Tokorozawa Factory (72) Inventor Takao Sawabe Hanakoen Saitama Prefecture 4-2610 Pioneer Co., Ltd. Tokorozawa factory (72) Inventor Yasuko Fukuda 4-2610 Hanazono, Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture Pioneer Co., Ltd. Tokorozawa factory F-term (reference) 5C052 AA04 AB09 AC08 CC01 CC11 DD04 5C053 FA07 FA25 GA11 GB06 GB37 HA29 JA03 5D044 AB05 AB07 AB08 BC04 CC06 DE12 DE60 DE91 EF05 FG18 GK12 5D090 AA01 BB02 BB04 CC02 CC04 FF24 GG36 5D110 AA15 AA27 A A29 BB01 DA12 DB05 DC05 EA06 EA08

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An information recording medium in which an entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplexed and recorded in a packet unit which is a physically accessible unit. And an object data file that stores object data that is a logically accessible unit and that stores a plurality of packets that respectively store fragments of the content information, and playback sequence information that defines a playback sequence of the object data. A reproduction sequence information file that performs reproduction, and as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data, an association that defines a set having a specific association among a plurality of content information that configures the plurality of partial streams as an association group. Store group definition information One or more of the plurality of partial streams, one or more of the plurality of partial streams include a plurality of packets storing a fragment of the still image information, which is one of the content information, and a display of the still image information. Consists of a plurality of packets storing fragments of still image control information for control, combined in one partial stream for still images or divided into two or more partial streams for still images The reproduction sequence information includes a first read control flag indicating whether or not at least one of the still image information and the still image control information needs to be read at the time of transition between reproduction items in each reproduction sequence. The related group definition information includes a second reading indicating whether the reading is necessary when switching each content belonging to the related group. Information recording medium, characterized in that it comprises a control flag. 2. The first read control flag indicates whether or not the read is necessary during special reproduction including time search instead of or in addition to the transition, and the second read control flag is The replacement or addition at the time of switching indicates whether or not the reading is necessary during special reproduction including time search.
The information recording medium described in. 3. The reproduction sequence information includes playlist information that defines each reproduction sequence in a unit of a playlist that can be logically accessed, and the first read control flag includes the playlist as the reproduction item. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium indicates whether or not the reading is necessary at the time of transition between a plurality of play items constituting the. 4. The object information file defines correspondence relationship between a plurality of packets to be multiplexed and the plurality of partial streams, as other reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data file. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which stores definition information. 5. The correspondence definition information includes, for each of the plurality of partial streams, address information including at least a part of a serial number of a packet forming each partial stream and a display start time corresponding to the serial number. The information recording medium according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The content information is MPEG2 (Mo
Ving Picture Experts Grou
6. When the video information is based on the p phase 2) standard, the address information includes a serial number of a packet related to an I picture and a display start time corresponding to the serial number. Information recording medium. 7. The address information related to one partial stream other than the still image in the correspondence definition information is address information related to a packet satisfying a predetermined condition among a plurality of packets forming the one partial stream. The address information related to the partial stream for still image in the correspondence definition information is an entry specified by two packets adjacent to each other in the arrangement of only packets whose position is specified by the address information related to the one partial stream. The information recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the information recording medium is described by a section. 8. The object information file further stores, as the reproduction control information, subgroup definition information that defines, as a subgroup, a set of a plurality of partial streams that can be mutually switched during reproduction in the related group. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: 9. The still image control information includes information indicating a display start time of a still image displayed based on the still image information and a display time of the still image.
9. The information recording medium according to any one of items 1 to 8. 10. A plurality of packets forming the at least one partial stream is a still image information set including at least one of the still image information and the still image control information, and further includes structure information indicating a structure thereof. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a packet that stores each of the fragments of the still image information set that includes the packet. 11. An entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplex-recorded on an information recording medium in a packet unit which is a physically accessible unit. An information recording device, comprising: first recording means for recording an object data file which is a logically accessible unit and which stores object data consisting of a plurality of packets including packets each storing a fragment of the content information; Second recording means for recording a reproduction sequence information file that stores reproduction sequence information defining a reproduction sequence of the object data, and a plurality of partial streams as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data. Of the multiple pieces of content information that make up the A third recording unit that records an object information file that stores related group definition information that defines a set having a constant relationship as a related group, and one or more of the plurality of partial streams is the content. A plurality of packets for storing a piece of still picture information, which is one of the information, and a plurality of packets for storing a piece of still picture control information for controlling the display of the still picture information. It is configured to be included in a stream or divided into two or more still image partial streams, and the reproduction sequence information includes the still image information and the still image information at the time of transition between reproduction items in each reproduction sequence. The related group definition information includes a first read control flag indicating whether at least one of the still image control information needs to be read. The information recording apparatus characterized by comprising a second read control flag indicating whether the is read is necessary when switching the contents belonging to the relevant group. 12. An entire stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplexed and recorded in a packet unit, which is a physically accessible unit, on an information recording medium. An information recording method, comprising: a first recording step of recording an object data file that stores object data that is a logically accessible unit and that includes a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store fragments of the content information. A second recording step of recording a reproduction sequence information file storing reproduction sequence information defining a reproduction sequence of the object data, and a plurality of partial streams as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data. Of the multiple pieces of content information that make up the A third recording step of recording an object information file that stores related group definition information that defines a set having a constant relationship as a related group, wherein one or more of the plurality of partial streams are the contents. A plurality of packets for storing a piece of still picture information, which is one of the information, and a plurality of packets for storing a piece of still picture control information for controlling the display of the still picture information. It is configured to be included in a stream or divided into two or more still image partial streams, and the reproduction sequence information includes the still image information and the still image information at the time of transition between reproduction items in each reproduction sequence. The related group definition information includes a first read control flag indicating whether at least one of the still image control information needs to be read. The information recording method characterized in that it comprises a second read control flag indicating whether the is read is necessary when switching the contents belonging to the relevant group. 13. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded content information from the information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium physically reads information from the information recording medium. And reproducing means for reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading means based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading means. An information reproducing apparatus characterized by the above. 14. An information reproducing method for reproducing the recorded content information from the information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information is physically read from the information recording medium. And a reproducing step of reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading unit based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading unit. An information reproducing method characterized by the above. 15. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording the content information on the information recording medium according to claim 1 and reproducing the recorded content information, wherein the object data file. A first recording means for recording the reproduction sequence information file, a second recording means for recording the reproduction sequence information file, a third recording means for recording the object information file, and a reading means for physically reading information from the information recording medium. Reproducing means for reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading means, based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading means. Characteristic information recording / reproducing apparatus. 16. An information recording / reproducing method for recording the content information on the information recording medium according to claim 1 and reproducing the recorded content information, wherein the object data file A first recording step of recording the information, a second recording step of recording the reproduction sequence information file, a third recording step of recording the object information file, and a reading step of physically reading information from the information recording medium. A reproducing step of reproducing the object data included in the information read by the reading means based on the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by the reading means. Characteristic information recording / reproducing method. 17. A computer program for recording control for controlling a computer provided in the information recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the computer is the first computer.
A computer program for recording control, which functions as at least a part of a recording unit, the second recording unit, and the third recording unit. 18. A computer program for reproduction control for controlling a computer provided in the information reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the computer functions as at least a part of the reproducing means. A computer program for controlling playback. 19. A recording / reproducing control computer program for controlling a computer provided in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 15.
A computer program for recording / reproducing control, which functions as at least a part of the first recording unit, the second recording unit, the third recording unit, and the reproducing unit. 20. A whole stream including a plurality of partial streams each composed of content information forming a series of contents is multiplexed and recorded in a packet unit which is a physically accessible unit, and logically An object data file that stores object data that is an accessible unit and that includes a plurality of packets including packets that respectively store fragments of the content information, and a reproduction that stores reproduction sequence information that defines a reproduction sequence of the object data. A sequence information file and, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the object data, a related group definition that defines a set having a specific relationship among a plurality of content information forming the plurality of partial streams as a related group. Store information One or more of the plurality of partial streams, one or more of the plurality of partial streams include a plurality of packets storing a fragment of the still image information, which is one of the content information, and a display of the still image information. Consists of a plurality of packets storing fragments of still image control information for control, combined in one partial stream for still images or divided into two or more partial streams for still images The reproduction sequence information includes a first read control flag indicating whether or not at least one of the still image information and the still image control information needs to be read at the time of transition between reproduction items in each reproduction sequence. The related group definition information includes a second reading indicating whether the reading is necessary when switching each content belonging to the related group. Data structure including a control signal, characterized in that it comprises a control flag.