STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CATALOG INFORMATION AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLAYING BACK CATALOG INFORMATION

Abstract

A storage medium which stores catalog information and a catalog information playback apparatus and method therefor. Using the method, catalog information including a still picture and additional information together with audio data are recorded on a storage medium such as a digital versatile disk (DVD), which is an optical record storage medium, and the catalog information is played back during playback of the audio data, to thereby provide various information on the audio data. Also, the apparatus includes a buffer memory for catalog playback which maintains a predetermined standard and compatibility, and is capable of real-time reading during playback of the audio data, and automatically plays back the catalog content, corresponding to the playback state of the audio data, when there is no additional selection of a user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 98-7525, filed Mar. 6, 1998, in the Korean Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a field of optical recording and/or playback, and more particularly, to a storage medium storing audio data and catalog information related to the audio data and an apparatus and method for playing back catalog information.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In an optical recording and/or playback apparatus in which a digital versatile disk (DVD) is used as a storage medium, a catalog function, and an apparatus or method for performing the catalog function has not been proposed.

[0006] Here, the contents of the audio include the record contents, the composer, the artist and/or performer, etc. Particularly, the catalog is additional data for illustrating the contents of the audio which is main data recorded on the storage medium, including such additional information as still pictures and captions as video information.

[0007] The catalog information which is played back in a playback apparatus having a video decoder, preferably, has an inspecting function for reading the desired contents of the catalog, without interfering with the playback of the audio.

[0008] It is also preferable that the catalog information can be easily manufactured using an established editing system for DVD-Video.

[0009] In order to satisfy the above-described conditions, two types of information, i.e., audio and catalog data, which perform different functions in a storage medium must be simultaneously played back. Thus, even when the audio data is played back at the maximum transmission speed of the playback apparatus, a predetermined amount of the catalog information must have already been played back and stored in a temporary storage, so that both the audio and the catalog contents can be simultaneously played back.

[0010] That is, when the storage medium, in which information for forming the catalog is stored, is inserted into a driver, a player or an editor, the catalog information stored in the storage medium is read and stored in a temporary storage, i.e., a memory, to be output in the form of an image if necessary. Here, in order to store the catalog information read from the storage medium, in the memory, the image size must be defined, and further a method for effectively using the memory must be provided.

[0011] It is also preferable that navigation information, which has been proposed in the DVD-Video, i.e., search information added to the catalog information such that a user can search an arbitrary catalog page, and a specification for processing the search information be provided. Further, an editing system manufacturing a catalog corresponding to the specification shares with an editing system according to the DVD-Video specification.

[0012] Here, the DVD-Read Only Memory (ROM) is a record medium defined by the physical specification of Part 1 of a DVD specification for a read-only disk produced by Toshiba Corporation and other companies (the DVD forum) in August, 1996 and the file system specification of Part 2 thereof. Also, the DVD-video means video edited by an image information recording method defined by the video specification of Part 3 thereof or a DVD-ROM disk in which the video is recorded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage medium for storing catalog information to satisfy the above-described conditions.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a playback apparatus and method for reading desired catalog contents from catalog information related to audio data, while the audio data stored in a DVD disk is played back.

[0015] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for automatically accessing the location of the catalog using real-time playback information extracted from audio data to be played back without a command to read the catalog in a predetermined location, while audio data stored in a DVD disk is played back.

[0016] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0017] Accordingly, to achieve the above and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium randomly accessible and storing audio data and catalog information which is related to the audio data and stored in a predetermined region of the storage medium.

[0018] The catalog information playback apparatus includes storing means storing audio data and catalog information from the storage medium in which audio data, catalog information formed of information related to the audio data, and catalog playback information connecting the audio data and the catalog information to each other during playback are stored, a video decoder providing an image restored by decoding the catalog information and additional information, an audio decoder providing audio signals restored by decoding the audio data, and a controller controlling playback of catalog information corresponding to a selection of a user and the catalog playback information.

[0019] The method for playing back data recorded on the storage medium storing audio data, catalog information related to the audio data, and catalog playback information connecting the audio data and the catalog information to each other during playback includes the steps of playing back the catalog information corresponding to the catalog playback information; and playing back the audio data corresponding to the played back catalog information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a digital versatile disk (DVD)-read only memory (ROM) structure of one dimension according to an example of a storage medium storing catalog information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is an example of a table showing catalog playback information for playing back catalog information according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a playback apparatus for playing back catalog information according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Reference will now made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the storage space of an entire DVD medium (DVD-ROM) is a volume space 100, which includes a volume and file system region 110 having information on the volume and recorded file structure, a video region 120 for recording image data, an audio region 130 for recording audio data and an other file region 140.

[0026] The above data regions may have no information in the video region 120, and the catalog information related to each item of music may exist in a predetermined area of the audio region 130, and the other file region 140 may or may not exist.

[0027] Also, the video region 120 and the audio region 130 may include a video management (VMG) region 121 and an audio management (AMG) region 131 having management information on the recorded image and audio, respectively, and video title sets (VTS) 122 to 124 and audio title sets (ATS) 132 to 134, respectively, which are files in which the image and audio data are recorded. The VTS1 includes a plurality of program chains (PGC) 125 to 128. Here, the PGC indicates a set of related data. The VTS1 file for the catalog may have information on still pictures formed of a plurality of catalogs and sub-pictures, and navigation information for controlling the information on the still pictures and the sub-pictures. VTS2 to VTSn may have information other than the catalog information. As shown in FIG. 1, all image information related to the audio region 130 is stored in the VTS1122, so that the video region may include only the VMG 121 and the VTS1122.

[0028] Here, the structure of the information on the still picture and sub-picture, and the navigation, and the rules thereof are shown in the DVD-video specification.

[0029] Also, the catalog information can be effectively used by dividing the catalog information into one common catalog PGC1125 for the entire audio region and a plurality of title catalogs PGC2, PGC3, . . . , PGCn+1 126, 127, 128 corresponding to each audio title recorded in the audio region 130. That is, a first audio title set (ATS1), i.e., the title catalog related to a first item of music (such as a song) is stored in the PGC2, and a second title set (ATS2), i.e., the title catalog related to a second item of music is stored in the PGC3, and thus the nth audio title set (ATSn), i.e., the title catalog related to the nth audio title set (ATSn) is stored in PGCn+1. The common catalog and each title catalog are formed in a unit of a program chain (PGC) in the video title.

[0030] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the catalog playback information for connecting the VTS and ATS to each other for playback is stored in the AMG region 131 or a predetermined region (information region) of the audio file. The AMG region 131 has a space for recording information on the entire audio region and each title, and a location of the catalog information may be additionally recorded on the AMG region 131.

[0031] In the embodiment of the present invention, the catalog playback information which is stored in the AMG region or the audio file region, may be stored in any location. Also, when the disk begins to be read, an appropriate means distinguishes whether or not the catalog playback information exists. The means may define the file names, a region of a disk predetermined by a physical or logical address designated as a space for storing catalog playback information, or information indicating whether existence of a file in which the catalog playback information is stored or not and a location of the file in the data region to be necessarily read such as a volume information region when the disk is read.

[0032] The catalog playback information may include the location of the image information in which the catalog is recorded, a file identifier (ID) and an auto presentation information table in which is stored the location of the catalog to be played back corresponding to the predetermined time according to real-time playback information of the audio obtained by real-time playback of the audio.

[0033] In FIG. 2, the file ID can recognize a file in which the catalog playback information is recorded. A catalog PGC number indicates the number corresponding to a common catalog and a title catalog in the video region in which the catalog is recorded. A catalog pointer indicates the location on the disk of a file or a PGC in which the catalog is recorded.

[0034] Also, each corresponding auto presentation information table has playback time information capable of appropriately and automatically playing back the catalog, using the real-time playback information obtained from the audio data while each recorded title is played back, and information on the playback location of the catalog, so that the auto presentation information table has information on the still picture and the sub-picture to be played back within catalogs when a user has not input commands while one title is played back.

[0035] In FIG. 3, a signal read from an optical disk (DVD-ROM) 210 is demodulated and decoded to a digital signal through a DVD playback processing unit 220 according to the physical specification of the DVD-ROM, to provide the restored signal to a buffer memory 250.

[0036] The restored digital signal is divided into audio data and video data under the control of a system controller 240 and the audio data of the DVD-Audio specification as an example is written in an audio buffer 251, and video data of the DVD-Video specification as an example, i.e., catalog data is written in a video buffer 252. At this time, the buffer memory 250 can use one memory space or an additional memory.

[0037] The catalog data stored in the buffer memory 250 is read in accordance with a control signal generated by the system controller 240 and the read catalog data is restored to an image signal to be output. At this time, the system controller 240 generates an appropriate control signal based on control commands of a user through a remote controller, the auto presentation information table according to catalog playback information, real-time playback information extracted from the audio data, and navigation information of the catalog data, such that the catalog data stored in the video buffer 252 to be played back is output through the video decoder 270 as a video signal.

[0038] Meanwhile, the audio data of the DVD-Audio specification read from the audio buffer 251 is provided to the audio decoder 260 and the provided audio data is restored to an audio signal to be output.

[0039] Here, the video decoder 270 represents a device restoring image data produced by the DVD-Video specification to an initial image and information added to the image. The apparatus for playing back the DVD-Video has already been produced and such an apparatus is well-known to a person skilled in the art. Also, the audio decoder 260 restores the audio data including the encoded audio data coded by linear pulse coded modulation (linear PCM) or another predetermined manner, management information for managing the audio data and real-time playback information to initial audio and additional information. The system controller 240 and a servo unit 230 control the system to appropriately operate using the control commands from a user and various control signals obtained by playback signals.

[0040] Subsequently, a playback operation will be described in view of the video buffer 252 writing and reading catalog data, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0041] The playback apparatus shown in FIG. 3 must store information on the common catalog and the title catalog in the video buffer 252, before a predetermined audio title is played back. If not, desired catalog information cannot be played back while the music is played back.

[0042] When either the common catalog or the title catalog is selected, the sum of the two items of catalog data should be smaller than the memory capacity of the video buffer 252 for playing back the catalog. Referring to FIG. 1, assuming that the PGC1125 is the common catalog for the entire audio region, and the PCG2126 is the audio title 1, i.e., the title catalog 1 related to the first item of music, and the PCG3127 is the title catalog 2 for the second item of music, and the PGCn+1 128 is the title catalog n for the nth item of music, the catalog information required for playing back the music has the common catalog information and the title catalog for the music to be played back.

[0043] Meanwhile, the amount of buffer memory of the playback apparatus playing back the DVD-Video is approximately 4 MB (megabytes). This functions as a time buffer for resolving an inconsistency between a transmission speed of data read from the disk such as a variable buffer rate and a bit rate of audio played back in real-time or image information.

[0044] The conventional buffer must be used to play back audio in real-time, and an additional memory must be used to play back the catalog. Thus, assuming that a memory of 16 MB is the entire buffer memory 250 when one memory is used, the memory size of the video buffer 252 for playing back the catalog is 12 MB. For instance, when the amount of the data of the common catalog is 5 MB, the amount of the title catalog cannot exceed 7 MB.

[0045] Also, the title catalog information for each title may not exist. When the sum of the entire catalog data is smaller than the predetermined memory capacity of the video buffer 252, the catalog is not separately classified into the common catalog and the title catalog, and the catalog information on all music can be recorded in the common catalog.

[0046] When the optical disk 210 is played back initially, the system controller 240 reads volume information of the optical disk 210, the file system, and information on the VMG and AMG. As described above, the PGC data in which the catalog information exists is read from the video buffer 252 according to the catalog playback information stored in the AMG region 131 or in a predetermined file. When required catalog data is read, the audio information is read to provide the read audio information to the audio decoder 260 through the audio buffer 251, and the audio information is converted into an audio signal and the converted audio signal is output through the audio decoder 260.

[0047] Meanwhile, if a user selects the catalog, i.e., if the user inputs commands for a desired catalog through an input unit such as a remote controller for controlling the playback apparatus, the predetermined catalog data stored in the video buffer 252 corresponding to the input commands are provided to the decoder 270.

[0048] If the user does not input commands for playing back the predetermined catalog, i.e., the user does not input the commands for a predetermined time, or the user sets an auto presentation mode, the contents stored in the video buffer 252 are output through the video decoder 270 to output an image of the predetermined catalog using the information in the auto presentation information table.

[0049] At this time, the catalog data includes still pictures for the backgrounds and sub-pictures for transferring characters and the still pictures and the sub-pictures are controlled using the navigation information defined by the DVD-Video specification. Thus, compared to the case of using only still pictures, 32 sub-pictures can be selected from the DVD-Video, which supports multiple languages.

[0050] Also, if the still picture includes character information, the increase in the resolution of the still picture is required for playing back the character information to distinct pictures, so that the compression ratio cannot be increased, and the background image and the character information are divided, so that the compression ratio for the background is increased, and characters can effectively be coded using a compression method for effectively compressing characters defined by the DVD-Video.

[0051] As described above, the catalog function is realized using the DVD-Video specification, to thereby edit the catalog for DVD-Audio using an editing system for the DVD-Video, and the playback apparatus for playing back the catalog of the DVD-Audio also plays back the DVD-Video, to thereby minimize additional circuits.

[0052] Also, according to the present invention, the predetermined DVD-Video specification is used, so that the character information of the catalog is not processed as the still picture but as the sub-picture, to thereby enable multiple language display.

[0053] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A storage medium randomly accessible, comprising: audio data stored in the storage medium; and catalog information related to the audio data stored in a predetermined area of the storage medium.

2. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the catalog information comprises: common catalog data for information commonly applied for the entire audio data recorded on the storage medium; and title catalog data having information corresponding to each distinct item of the audio data.

3. The storage medium of claim 2, wherein the catalog information is image information produced according to a digital versatile disk video (DVD-Video) specification, and the storage medium includes an audio region in which the audio data is recorded and an image information record region in which the catalog information is recorded.

4. The storage medium of claim 3, wherein the catalog information comprises: a still picture for a background image; a sub-picture for a caption; and navigation information for controlling the still picture and the sub-picture.

5. The storage medium of claim 3, wherein the audio region for the audio data comprises: an audio data recording region in which the audio data is recorded; and an audio information recording region for the entire audio data and/or audio data in units of distinct items of the audio data, in which catalog playback information connecting the audio data to the catalog information during playback is stored.

6. The storage medium of claim 5, wherein the catalog playback information comprises information on a location of the image information recording region in which the catalog information is recorded.

7. The storage medium of claim 6, wherein the catalog playback information further comprises: a file identifier (ID); and an auto presentation information table determining a location of the catalog information to be played back corresponding to a predetermined time in accordance with real-time playback information of audio obtained from the audio data during real-time playback.

8. The storage medium of claim 1, further comprising: an audio region in which the audio data is stored; and a video region in which the catalog information is stored.

9. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein: the audio region comprises an audio management (AMG) region having management information on the audio data, and a plurality of audio title sets (ATS) in which the audio data is recorded; and the video region comprises a video management (VMG) region having management information on the catalog information, and a video title set (VTS) in which at least one title catalog of the catalog information related to each item of the audio data is recorded.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the VTS comprises information on still pictures formed of a plurality of the title catalogs and sub-pictures relating to the audio data, and navigation information for controlling the information on the still pictures and the sub-pictures.

11. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the AMG region comprises catalog playback information to connect the audio data and the catalog information during playback.

12. The storage medium of claim 8, further comprising: an audio region in which the audio data is stored; and a video region in which the catalog information is stored.

13. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein: the audio region comprises an audio management (AMG) region having management information on the audio data, and a plurality of audio title sets (ATS) in which the audio data is recorded; and the video region comprises a video management (VMG) region having management information on the catalog information, and a video title set (VTS) having a plurality of program chains, wherein a first one of the program chains includes the common catalog information, and remaining ones of the programs chains include the title catalog data having information corresponding to each distinct item of the audio data, respectively.

14. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the AMG region comprises catalog playback information to connect the audio data and the catalog information during playback.

15. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a digital versatile disk (DVD).

16. The storage medium of claim 1, further comprising: an audio region in which the audio data is stored and the catalog information is stored in a predetermined area of the audio region; and a video region which contains no information.

17. A playback apparatus to perform a playback operation on a storage medium in which audio data, catalog information related to the audio data, and catalog playback information connecting the audio data and the catalog information to each other during playback are recorded, the playback apparatus comprising: storing means for storing the catalog information and additional information relating to the audio data; a video decoder which decodes the catalog information and the additional information, to generate a restored image; an audio decoder which decodes the audio data, to generate restored audio signals; and a controller to which controls playback of the catalog information corresponding to a selection of a user and the catalog playback information.

18. The playback apparatus of claim 17, wherein the catalog information comprises common catalog data for information commonly applied for the entire audio data recorded on the storage medium and title catalog data having information corresponding to each distinct item of the audio data, and the controller reads the catalog data from the storing means in accordance with the selection from the user.

19. The playback apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller reads the catalog data from the storing means in a predetermined sequence.

20. The playback apparatus of claim 18, wherein the catalog data stored in the storing means is defined within a predetermined size.

21. The playback apparatus of claim 18, wherein a data size of a sum of the common catalog data and data of one title catalog from a plurality of title catalogs which form the title catalog data is smaller than a capacity of the storing means.

22. The playback apparatus of claim 17, wherein the restored image is a still picture for background display, and the additional information is a sub-picture for transferring characters.

23. The playback apparatus of claim 17, wherein the video decoder decodes the catalog information according to a standard digital versatile disk-video (DVD-Video) specification.

24. The playback apparatus of claim 17, wherein the catalog playback information includes a file identifier and an audio presentation information table determining a location of the catalog information to be played back corresponding to a predetermined time in accordance with real-time playback information of audio obtained from the audio data during real-time playback, wherein if a user does not enter a catalog selection command for a given time during a playback mode of the audio data, the controller reads the audio information table to extract the corresponding catalog information of the audio data being played back.

25. A playback apparatus to perform a playback operation on a storage medium in which audio data, catalog information related to the audio data, and catalog playback information connecting the audio data and the catalog information to each other during playback are recorded, the playback apparatus comprising: a decoding unit to decode the audio data and the catalog information using the catalog playback information; a storage device to store the catalog information of the audio data which is to be played back; and a controller to control the decoding unit and the storage device, so as to simultaneously decode the audio data to be played back and the catalog information corresponding to the audio data to be played back in accordance with the catalog playback information.

26. The playback apparatus of claim 25, wherein the controller stores the catalog information of the audio data which is to be played back prior to playing back the audio data.

27. The playback apparatus of claim 25, wherein the controller distinguishes whether the catalog playback information exists in the storage medium by defining file names of the catalog playback information, defining a region of the storage medium predetermined by a physical or logical address designated as a space for storing the catalog playback information, or defining information indicating whether of a file exists in which the catalog playback information is stored and a location of the file in a volume information region, during the playback operation.

28. A method of playing back data on a storage medium storing audio data, catalog information related to the audio data, and catalog playback information connecting the audio data and the catalog information to each other during playback, comprising the steps of: (a) playing back the catalog information corresponding to the catalog playback information; and (b) playing back the audio data corresponding to the played back catalog information.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the storage medium has an audio region for the audio data which includes an audio data recording region in which the audio data is recorded and an audio information recording region for the entire audio data and/or audio data in units of distinct items of the audio data, in which the catalog playback information is stored.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the storage medium has an audio data recording region in which the audio data is recorded and an image information record region in which the catalog information is recorded, and the catalog information includes common catalog data for information commonly applied for the entire audio data recorded on the storage medium and title catalog data having information corresponding to each distinct item of the audio data.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the catalog playback information includes information on a location of the image information record region in which the catalog information is recorded.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the catalog playback information further includes a file identifier and an auto presentation information table determining a location of the catalog information to be played back corresponding to a predetermined time in accordance with real-time playback information of audio obtained from the audio data during real-time playing back.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step (a) comprises the step of playing back the catalog information according to a predetermined sequence stored in the auto presentation information table.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the step (a) further comprises the steps of: receiving a selection of a user; and playing back the catalog information according to the selection of the user.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the step (a) comprises the steps of: preferentially playing back the catalog information selected by the user; and playing back the catalog information satisfying a predetermined condition.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the predetermined condition is a case of the user not selecting making the selection of the catalog information for a predetermined amount of time or setting a catalog auto presentation mode.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein the playing back of the catalog information in the step (a) is performed simultaneously with the playing back of the audio data in the step (b).

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of storing the catalog information corresponding to the catalog playback information prior to the steps (a) and (b).