Video reproduction apparatus, video reproduction method, video reproduction program, and package media for digital video content

• US 20020194618A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Tomoyuki, Ikeda, Wataru, Nakamura, Kazuhiko
• Application Number:
  US10/109,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2541 Blu-ray discs; Blue laser DVR discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4433 Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/804 involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A video reproduction apparatus according to the present invention reproduces externally supplied package media. The package media contains video content storing video data and playback control data controlling reproduction of the video data in a specified data format, and extensible application software using the video content. The video reproduction apparatus includes as software pre-stored and executed in internal memory an operating system chosen from operating systems of plural types, middleware for absorbing differences in function according to the type of operating system, and a player application that runs on the middleware level for reproducing the video content. The middleware has a class library including tools used by the player application to play back the package media or to run the extensible application software. The player application consistently reproduces the video content of the package media according to the specified format by way of the tools included in the middleware class libraries. The extensible application software is run through the tools included in the class libraries of the middleware using video content contained in the same package media.

Claims

1. A video reproduction apparatus for reproducing externally supplied package media, wherein:

the package media contains video content storing video data and playback control data for controlling reproduction of the video data in a specified data format, and extensible application software for using the video content,

the video reproduction apparatus comprises as software stored and executed in internal memory

an operating system chosen from operating systems of plural types,

middleware for absorbing differences in function according to the type of operating system, and

player application software that runs on the middleware level for reproducing the video content;

the middleware having a class library including tools used by the player application to play back the package media or to run the extensible application software;

the player application software consistently reproducing the video content of the package media according to the specified format by way of the tools included in the middleware class libraries; and

the extensible application software running by way of the tools included in the class libraries of the middleware using video content contained in the same package media.

2. A video reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video reproduction apparatus manages playback status data, the playback control data of the package media includes playback restriction data corresponding to the playback status data, and the extensible application software sets a tool contained in the class libraries of the middleware to an invalid state by analyzing the playback control data and comparing the playback restriction data in the playback control data with the playback status data.

3. A video reproduction method for reproducing externally supplied package media with a video reproduction apparatus, wherein:

the package media contains

video content storing video data and playback control data controlling reproduction of the video data in a specified data format, and

extensible application software for using the video content;

the video reproduction method comprising;

a step for reading into internal memory of the video reproduction apparatus and activating an operating system chosen from operating systems of plural types;

a step for reading into internal memory of the video reproduction apparatus and activating middleware for absorbing differences in function according to the type of operating system, the middleware having a class library including tools used by application software operating at the middleware level to run or reproduce the package media;

a step for reading into internal memory of the video reproduction apparatus and activating a player application operating at the middleware level for reproducing the video content;

a step for reading into internal memory of the video reproduction apparatus and activating extensible application software operating at the middleware level and using the video content,

wherein the player application software consistently reproduces the video content of the package media according to the specified format through the tools included in the class libraries of the middleware, and

wherein the extensible application software runs by way of the tools included in the class libraries of the middleware using video content.

4. A video reproduction program for reproducing externally supplied package media, wherein:

the package media contains

video content storing video data and playback control data controlling reproduction of the video data in a specified data format, and

extensible application software for using the video content;

the video reproduction program comprises as software stored and executed in internal memory;

an operating system chosen from operating systems of plural types,

middleware for absorbing differences in function according to the type of operating system, and

player application software that runs on the middleware level for reproducing the video content;

the middleware having a class library including tools used by the player application to play back the package media or to run the extensible application software;

the player application software consistently reproducing the video content of the package media according to the specified format by way of the tools included in the middleware class libraries; and

the extensible application software running by way of the tools included in the class libraries of the middleware using video content contained in the same package media.

5. A computer-readable recording medium storing a video reproduction program according to claim 4.

6. Package media externally supplied to a video reproduction apparatus and reproduced by the video reproduction apparatus,

the package media containing:

video content storing video data and playback control data controlling reproduction of the video data in a specified data format, and

extensible application software for using the video content;

the video reproduction apparatus comprising as software stored and executed in internal memory;

an operating system chosen from operating systems of plural types;

middleware for absorbing differences in function according to the type of operating system; and

player application software that runs on the middleware level for reproducing the video content;

the middleware having a class library including tools used by the player application to play back the package media or to run the extensible application software;

the player application software consistently reproducing the video content of the package media according to the specified format by way of the tools included in the middleware class libraries; and

the extensible application software running by way of the tools included in the class libraries of the middleware using video content contained in the same package media.