This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-016510, filed Jan. 28, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to a video content reproduction device and a video content reproduction method that automatically discriminate a system of an input video content.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, in recent years, optical disks, such as a digital versatile disk (DVD), are widely used as digital recording media. Then, at present, an HD DVD-Video standard is completed as a next generation DVD standard compatible with a high-definition TV system, that is so-called high-definition (HD)-DVD that enables high-density recording better than DVD.
In this HD DVD-Video standard, four types of systems are specified to be adopted when a video content is recorded in an optical disk. The four types of systems are a national television system committee (NTSC) system, a phase alternation by line (PAL) system, a 50 Hz system that transmits video compatible with the high-definition TV system at 50 frames per second, and a 60 Hz system that transmits video compatible with the high-definition TV system at 60 frames per second.
In addition, in the HD DVD-Video standard, rather than a content of video or audio regulated by a current DVD-Video standard, an advanced content having more interactive function is defined. Then, in the HD DVD, there exist an advanced standard in which an advanced content is recorded and a normal standard in which a standard content other than an advanced content is recorded. The four types of systems described above are specified to be adopted for a video content with respect to each of the advanced standard and the normal standard.
For this reason, in an optical disk reproduction device that reproduces an HD DVD, a system of a video content recorded in an optical disk is discriminated after whether the video content is in the advanced standard or the normal standard is discriminated when the video content is reproduced. Then, the optical disk reproduction device switches internal setting so as to correspond to reproduction of a video content of the discriminated system. In case the optical disk reproduction device does not have a function of reproducing a video content of the discriminated system, an error is displayed and reproduction is stopped.
The optical disk reproduction device of the above kind reads out entire management information from an optical disk in order to read out management information of a title to be reproduced when a system of a video content is discriminated. Then, the optical disk reproduction device acquires information showing a system of the video content from the management information. For this reason, reading and analyzing processing for entire management information, and reading and analyzing processing for management information of a title to be reproduced are required. Accordingly, time is required to discriminate a system of the video content.
For this reason, the optical disk reproduction device requires time to discriminate whether a video content recorded in an optical disk can be reproduced or not. This results in inconvenience in use by the user.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. Publication No. 2002-290898 discloses a configuration of a DVD reproduction device that discriminates whether a DVD is an NTSC disk recording a video signal of the NTSC system or a PAL disk recording a video signal of the PAL system by reading out a variety of information files of the DVD mounted. In this manner, the DVD reproduction device can convert the readout video signal of any disk to a video signal of a system set by the user, and output the video signal.
A general architecture that implements the various feature 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.
Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, to discriminate an optical disk having a DISCID.DAT file existing under an ADV_OBJ folder as compatible with an advanced standard, and discriminate a system of a video content by reading out system identification information existing in a VTSI file under a TS folder of a high-density optical disk standard with respect to the optical disk. In case a video content reproduction device can reproduce a video content of the system, a reproduction processing sequence with respect to the optical disk compatible with the advanced standard is started.
A content read out by the disk drive module 13 is supplied to a separation module 15 through a data processor module 14. In this manner, the content is separated into a main video content, a sub video content, a graphic content, and an audio content.
Among the above contents, the main video content, the sub video content, and the graphic content are supplied to a main video decoder module 16, a sub video decoder module 17, and a graphic decoder module 18 corresponding to the contents respectively, and decoding processing is applied to the contents. Then, the contents output from the decoder modules 16 to 18 are supplied to a combining module 19 and are combined, and converted to analog at a digital/analog (D/A) conversion module 20. After that, the combined content is introduced to a video display device 22 through a video output terminal 21, and video thereof is displayed.
In addition, the audio content separated at the separation module 15 is supplied to an audio decoder module 23 and decoding processing is applied to the audio content. Then, after converted to analog at a D/A conversion module 24, the audio content is introduced to an external speaker 26 through an audio output terminal 25, and audio thereof is reproduced.
Here, all operation of the optical disk reproduction device 11, including reproduction operation of the optical disk 12 described above, is subject to centralized control by a control module 27. The control module 27 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 27a, and receives operation information from a key input module 28 and controls each module so that a content of such operation is reflected.
In this case, the control module 27 mainly uses a memory module 27b. The memory module 27b includes a read only memory (ROM) that stores a control program executed by the CPU 27a, a random access memory (RAM) that provides an operation area to the CPU 27a, and a non-volatile memory that stores variety of setting information, control information, and the like.
Also, the control module 27 can carry out data communication with a predetermined server 31, that is connected to an external network, through an interface module 29 and an input and output terminal 30. In the above manner, the control module 27 can access the server 31 and acquire a desired content, program, and the like from the server 31. In this case, a content acquired from the server 31 is supplied to the data processor module 14, and then is used for video display and audio reproduction described above.
Further, the control module 27 includes a media discrimination module 27c, a system discrimination module 27d, and a mode setting module 27e. The media discrimination module 27c discriminates whether the optical disk 12 mounted in the disk drive module 13 is in conformity with the advanced standard or the normal standard.
In this case, the media discrimination module 27c discriminates the optical disk 12 as in the advanced standard when an ADV(advanced)_OBJ(object) folder exists in the optical disk 12 and a DISCID.DAT file exists under the ADV_OBJ folder. In addition, the media discrimination module 27c discriminates the optical disk 12 as in the normal standard when the ADV_OBJ folder does not exist in the optical disk 12 or the DISCID.DAT file does not exist under the ADV_OBJ folder, and an HV000I01.IFO file exists under an HDDVD_TS folder.
In addition, the system discrimination module 27d discriminates whether a video content recorded in the optical disk 12 is in any of the NTSC system, the PAL system, the 50 Hz system, and the 60 Hz system on the basis of a result of the discrimination of whether the optical disk 12 is in the advanced standard or the normal standard carried out by the media discrimination module 27c, before a normal reproduction processing sequence with respect to the optical disk 12 is started. Detailed description with respect to such discrimination will be made later.
Further, the mode setting module 27e switches internal setting of the optical disk reproduction device 11 so as to correspond to reproduction of a video content in the system discriminated by the system discrimination module 27d. For example, synchronous clock frequencies of each of the decoder modules 16 to 18 are set to frequencies corresponding to the system discriminated by the system discrimination module 27d. In case the optical disk reproduction device 11 does not have a function of reproducing a video content of the system discriminated by the system discrimination module 27d, the mode setting module 27e controls the video display device 22 to display an error, and controls reproduction to be stopped.
Here, the discrimination processing of a system of a video content carried out by the system discrimination module 27d will be described more specifically. First, description will be made with respect to a case where the media discrimination module 27c discriminates that the optical disk 12 is in the advanced standard. In the optical disk 12 in the advanced standard, there exist the ADV_OBJ folder and the HDDVD_TS(transport stream) folder.
Then, in the ADV_OBJ folder, the DISCID.DAT file exists as described above, and also a VPLST000.XPL file which is a playlist exists as well. Moreover, the HDDVD_TS folder includes an HVA00001.VTI file indicating attribute information relating to video, an XXXXXXXX.EVO file as actual video information, and a MAP file indicating positions of a variety of information.
Among the above files, the HVA0001.VTI file is video title set information (VTSI) as shown in
Then, the VTS_EVOB_ATRT includes VTS_EVOB_ATR_SRPs (search pointers) #1 to #n as many as the number of titles, and VTS_EVOB_ATRs #1 to #n describing actual attribute information of the titles at positions indicated by the VTS_EVOB_ATR_SRPs#1 to #n.
Here, one VTS_EVOB_ATR includes EVOB_TY, EVOB_VM_ATR, EVOB_VS_ATR, EVOB_VS_LUMA, EVOB_AMST_Ns, EVOB_AMST_ATRT, AVOB_DM_COEFTS, EVOB_ASST_Ns, EVOB_ASST_ATRT, EVOB_SPST_Ns, EVOB_SPST_ATRT, EVOB_SDSP_PLT, EVOB_HDSP_PLT, and the like.
Among the above, EVOB_VM(main video)_ATR describes TV (television) system information of 3 bits (b28 to b26) as shown in
For the above reason, in case the media discrimination module 27c discriminates that the optical disk 12 is in the advanced standard, the system discrimination module 27d reads the HVA00001.VTI file (VTSI) under the HDDVD_TS folder, discriminates a system of a video content from EVOB_VM_ATR of first VTS_EVOB_ATR#1, and outputs a result of the discrimination to the mode setting module 27e.
EVOB_VM_ATRs of the other VTS_EVOB_ATR#2 to #n describe the TV system information that is same as EVOB_VM_ATR of VTS_EVOB_ATR#1. For the above reason, in order to discriminate a system of a video content, only the TV system information thereof needs to be read out from EVOB_VM_ATR of one VTS_EVOB_ATR#1.
On the other hand, description will be made with respect to a case where the media discrimination module 27c discriminates that the optical disk 12 is in the normal standard. In the optical disk 12 in the normal standard, there exists an HDDVD_TS folder as shown in
Then, the HDDVD_TS folder includes an HV000I01.IFO file showing entire management information of the optical disk 12, an HV000M02.EVO file showing management information of an entire video content recorded in the optical disk 12, and an HV000I01.BUP file that backs up these files.
Also, the HDDVD_TS folder includes HV001I01.IFO files that exist as many as the number of titles and indicate attribute information relating to video of the title, HV001T01.EVO files that exist as many as the number of titles and serve as actual video information for the titles, and an HV0001I01.BUP file that backs up these files.
Among the above files, one HV0001I01.IFO file is VTSI#1 as shown in
Then, as shown in
Among the above, VTS_V(video)_ATR describes TV system information of 3 bits (b28 to b26) as shown in
For the above reason, in case the media discrimination module 27c discriminates that the optical disk 12 is in the normal standard, the system discrimination module 27d reads the first HV001I01.IFO file (VTSI#1 file) under the HDDVD_TS folder, discriminates a system of a video content from VTS_V_ATR of the VTSI_MAT, and outputs a result of the discrimination to the mode setting module 27e.
HV001I01.IFO files other than VTSI#1 also describe the TV system information same as that of VTSI#1. For the above reason, in order to discriminate a system of a video content, only the TV system information thereof needs to be read out from one HV001I01.IFO file (VTSI#1 file).
In addition, in order to discriminate a system of a video content in the optical disk 12 in the normal standard, there is a method as described above, other than a means for reading out VTSI_MAT from the HV001I01.IFO file (VTSI#1) under the HDDVD_TS folder and acquiring the TV system information in VTS_V_ATR thereof as described above.
That is, the HV000I01.IFO file existing under the HDDVD_TS folder is a video manager information (VMGI) file as shown in
Then, the VTS_ATRT includes VTS_ATR_SRPs#1 to #n as many as the number of titles, and VTS_ATRs #1 to #n describing actual attribute information of the titles at positions indicated by the VTS_ATR_SRP#1 to #n. Among the above, one VTS_ATR#1 describes TV system information of 3 bits (b28 to b26) as shown in
For the above reason, in case the media discrimination module 27c discriminates that the optical disk 12 is in the normal standard, the system discrimination module 27d reads the HV000I01.IFO file (VMGI file) under the HDDVD_TS folder, discriminates a system of a video content from VTS_ATR#1 thereof, and outputs a result of the discrimination to the mode setting module 27e.
VTS_ATR#2 to #n other than VTS_ATR#1 also describe the TV system information same as that of VTS_ATR#1. For the above reason, in order to discriminate a system of a video content, only the TV system information thereof needs to be read out from one VTS_ATR#1.
When the system discrimination module 27d discriminates a system of a video content recorded in the optical disk 12 as described above, and in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 has a function of reproducing a video content of a system discriminated by the system discrimination module 27d, the mode setting module 27e switches internal setting of the optical disk reproduction device 11 so as to correspond to reproduction of a video content in the system.
After the above, the control module 27 starts a normal reproduction processing sequence with respect to the optical disk 12. That is, the control module 27 reads out entire management information, management information of a title to be reproduced, and the like from the optical disk 12, and executes normal reproduction processing for reproducing a title on the basis of a playlist and the like.
Also, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 does not have a function of reproducing a video content of the system discriminated by the system discrimination module 27d, the mode setting module 27e controls the video display device 22 to display an error, and controls reproduction of the video content to be stopped.
According to the example described above, a system of a video content is discriminated by reading the TV system information from the optical disk 12 before a normal reproduction processing sequence with respect to the optical disk 12 is started. Accordingly, a system of a video content recorded in the optical disk 12 is discriminated in a short period of time in order to carry out discrimination as to whether the optical disk reproduction device 11 can reproduce the video content or not promptly. In this manner, convenience to the user can be improved.
Then, in case the DISCID.DAT file is determined to exist under the ADV_OBJ folder (YES), the control module 27 determines that the optical disk 12 is in conformity with the advanced standard, and reads the HVA00001.VTI file (VTSI) under the HDDVD_TS folder in Step S4. Then, in Step S5, the control module 27 acquires the TV system information from EVOB_VM_ATR of first VTS_EVOB_ATR#1 in VTS_EVOB_ATRT thereof to discriminate a system of a video content.
After the above, in Step S6, the control module 27 compares the system discriminated previously and specifications of the optical disk reproduction device 11 recorded in a non-volatile memory and the like of the memory module 27b, and discriminates whether the optical disk reproduction device 11 has a function of reproducing a video content of the system.
Then, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 is determined to be able to reproduce a video content of the system (YES), the control module 27 executes a normal reproduction processing sequence [analysis of a VPLST000.XPL file (playlist file) under the ADV_OBJ folder, and the like] with respect to the optical disk 12 in the advanced standard in Step S7. Then, the processing ends (Step S8).
In addition, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 is determined to be unable to reproduce the video content in the above Step S6 (NO), the control module 27 controls the video display device 22 to display an error and stops reproduction of the optical disk 12 in Step S9. Then, the processing ends (Step S8).
On the other hand, in case the ADV_OBJ folder is determined not to exist in the optical disk 12, or the DISCID.DAT file is determined not to exist under the ADV_OBJ folder in the above Step S3 (NO), the control module 27 discriminates whether the HV000I01.IFO file (VMGI file) exists or not under the HDDVD_TS folder in Step S10. In case the HV000I01.IFO file is determined to exist (YES), the optical disk 12 is determined to be in conformity with the normal standard.
Then, in Step S11, the control module 27 reads the first HV001I01.IFO file (VTSI#1 file) under the HDDVD_TS folder and acquires the TV system information from VTS_V_ATR of VTSI_MAT thereof to discriminate a system of a video content, or the control module 27 reads the HV000I01.IFO file (VMGI file) under the HDDVD_TS folder and acquires the TV system from VTS_ATR#1 thereof to discriminate a system of a video content.
After the above, in Step S12, the control module 27 compares the system discriminated previously and specifications of the optical disk reproduction device 11 recorded in a non-volatile memory and the like of the memory module 27b, and discriminates whether the optical disk reproduction device 11 has a function of reproducing a video content of the system.
Then, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 is determined to be able to reproduce a video content of the system (YES), the control module 27 executes a normal reproduction processing sequence [processing of a FirstPlayPGC file, and the like] with respect to the optical disk 12 in the normal standard in Step S13. Then, the processing ends (Step S8).
In addition, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 is determined to be unable to reproduce the video content in the above Step S12 (NO), the control module 27 controls the video display device 22 to display an error and stops reproduction of the optical disk 12 in Step S9. Then, the processing ends (Step S8).
Further, in case the HV000I01.IFO file (VMGI file) is not determined to exist under the HDDVD_TS folder in the above Step S10 (NO), the control module 27 executes reproduction processing of a content acquired from other media, such as the server 31 in Step S14. Then the processing ends (Step S8).
Here, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 is a model exclusively used for reproducing a video content of the NTSC (60 HZ) system, a video content can be reproduced as it is if the discriminated system is in conformity with 60 fps. In case the discriminated system is in conformity with 50 fps, an error is displayed and reproduction is stopped.
In addition, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 is a model exclusively used for reproducing a video content of the PAL (50 HZ) system, a video content can be reproduced as it is if the discriminated system is in conformity with 50 fps. In case the discriminated system is in conformity with 60 fps, an error is displayed and reproduction is stopped.
Further, in case the optical disk reproduction device 11 is a model that is in conformity with reproduction of a video content in both the NTSC (60 Hz) system and the PAL (50 Hz) system, a video content can be reproduced by setting synchronous frequencies to 60 Hz when the discriminated system is in conformity with 60 fps. When the discriminated system is in conformity with 50 fps, the synchronous frequencies can be set to 50 Hz in order to reproduce a video content.
The various modules of the systems described herein can be implemented as software applications, hardware and/or software modules, or components on one or more computers, such as servers. While the various modules are illustrated separately, they may share some or all of the same underlying logic or code.
While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008-016510 | Jan 2008 | JP | national |