Information reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method

Abstract

Employment of system parameters can be controlled according to a disc type, and then, a proper operation can be obtained. Provided are means for, in the case where output setting information of any of an aspect, resolution, and audio is changed in the middle of playback of first contents, changing setting of a playback section according to the output setting information, and means for, in the case where output setting information of any of an aspect, resolution, and audio is changed in the middle of playback of second contents, establishing a playback state from an object start position of an object of the second contents.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing a configuration of standard contents and advanced contents;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are explanatory diagrams of discs in categories 1, 2, and 3;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a reference example of an enhanced video object (EVOB) using time map information (TMAPI);

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram to help explain an example of a volume space of the disc according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a directory and a file of the disc according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of management information (VMG) and a video title set (VTS) according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a startup sequence of a player model according to this invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of a DISCID.DAT file of the disc according to this invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an exemplary operation of the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another exemplary operation of the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing further another exemplary operation of the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a pack-mixed state of primary EVOB-TY2 according to this invention;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept of recorded information of the disc according to this invention;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing in detail a model of an advanced content player according to this invention;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a video mixing model of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram to help explain an example of a graphics hierarchy in an operation of the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a supply model of a network and persistence storage data in the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data store model in the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a user input handling model in the apparatus according to this invention;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams to help explain an exemplary configuration of an advanced content;

FIG. 21 is a diagram to help explain an exemplary configuration of a play list;

FIG. 22 is a diagram to help explain an example of allocation of presentation object on a timeline;

FIG. 23 is a diagram to help explain a case where trick play (such as chapter jump) of presentation objects is performed on the timeline;

FIG. 24 is a diagram to help explain an exemplary configuration of a play list in the case where an object includes angle information;

FIG. 25 is a diagram to help explain an exemplary configuration of a play list in the case where an object includes a multi-story;

FIG. 26 is a diagram to help explain an exemplary description of object mapping information in the play list and its playback time;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing how a data cache is controlled at the time of apparatus operation using the play list;

FIG. 28 is a view showing an example of a comment displayed in response to an operation of a user interface manager; and

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a whole block configuration of a player according to this invention.

Claims

1. An information reproducing apparatus, comprising: a playback processing section which, in order to play back disc contents, plays back the contents based on playback management information;a continuation control section which, in the case where output setting information of any of an aspect, resolution, and audio is changed in the middle of playback of first contents from the disc, changes setting of the playback processing section according to the output setting information, and then, continues playback; anda replay control section which, in the case where output setting information of any of an aspect, resolution, and audio is changed in the middle of playback of second contents from the disc, establishes the playback processing section in a playback state from an object start position of an object of the disc.

2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a disc type storage section having stored therein disc determination information for determining a first type and a second type other than the first type as a disc type at the time of starting playback, wherein the continuation control section and the replay control section make operations according to contents of the type, referring to the disc determination information, respectively.

3. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replay control section starts operation from reading of a disc identification data file under a directory of the disc when setting a playback state from an object start position of an object of the disc.

4. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, the replay control section reads a playlist showing procedures for playing back advanced contents relevant to the disc and sets a playback state when setting a playback state from an object start position of an object of the disc.

5. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the playback processing section includes: a user interface manager which accepts a user operation, and then, assigns an operating command to the continuation control section and the replay control section;a data access manager which acquires data from a network server and a persistent storage in addition to the disc;a data cache;a presentation engine which decodes an output from the data cache; anda navigation engine which controls the data cache and the presentation engine,wherein the data access manager acquires contents from the network server and the persistent storage according to operating information inputted from the user interface; the navigation engine and the data cache expand the acquired contents; and the presentation engine obtains a playback output of an object included in contents.

6. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replay control section outputs a display comment to the effect that a replay is carried out via a graphic user interface control section when the replay is commanded to the playback processing section.

7. An information reproducing method having a playback processing section which, in order to play back disc contents, plays back the disc based on playback management information; and an output environment manager which sets a display mode of a video signal and an output mode of an audio signal outputted from the playback processing section, based on output setting information, the method comprising the steps of: in the case where the output setting information of any of an aspect, resolution, and audio is changed in the middle of playback of first contents of a disc, changing setting of the playback processing section according to the output setting information, and then, continuing playback; andin the case where the output setting information of any of an aspect, resolution, and audio is changed in the middle of playback of second contents of the disc, establishing the playback processing section in a playback state from an object start position of an object of the second contents.

8. The information reproducing method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: storing disc determination information for determining a first type and a second type other than the first type as a disc type at the time of starting playback; andcarrying out determination of the first and second contents based on the disc determination information.

9. The information reproducing method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of, when setting a playback state from an object start position of an object of the second contents, starting from reading of a disc identification data file under a directory of the disc.

10. The information reproducing method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of, when setting a playback state from an object start position of an object of the second contents, reading a play list showing procedures for playing back advanced contents relevant to the disc, and then, setting a playback state.

11. The information reproducing method according to claim 7, wherein the playback processing section includes: a user interface manager;a data access manager;a data cache;a presentation engine; anda navigation engine,wherein the data access manager acquires contents from the network server and the persistent storage according to operating information inputted from the user interface; the navigation engine and the data cache expand the acquired contents; and the presentation engine obtains a playback output of an object included in contents.

12. The information reproducing method according to claim 7, comprising the step of, when the replay is started, outputting a display comment to the effect that a replay is carried out via a graphic user interface control section.