Playback apparatus

• US 20070071397A1
• Filed: 07/03/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Taku, Mizosoe, Hiroki
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8715 involving the mixing of the reproduced video signal with a non-recorded signal, e.g. a text signal

Abstract

An area not displayed by a first stream recorded in a disk is complemented by a second stream which is transmitted from a server through a network to a playback apparatus. A picture represented by the second stream is superimposed on a picture represented by the first stream to display a complete picture. A sound included in the second stream is also mixed with a sound included in the first stream to output a complete sound.

Claims

1. A playback apparatus comprising:

a reading module which reads a first video stream, part of which is dropped, from a recording medium;

a connection module connected to a server through a network to receive a second video stream for complementing the dropped part of the first video stream;

a playback module which plays back the first video stream and second video stream; and

a control module which controls said playback module to perform a first playback mode in which the first video stream is played back without using the second video stream, wherein the dropped part is left dropped, and a second playback mode in which the first and second video streams are played back such that the dropped part of the first video stream is complemented by the second video stream.

2. A playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first video stream, part of which is dropped, is a video stream which lacks part of a screen in the first playback mode, and

said second video stream which complements the dropped part of the first video stream is a video stream which complements the part of the screen.

3. A playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first video stream, part of which is dropped, is a video stream which lacks a high resolution component of a screen in the first playback mode, wherein said first playback mode provides a picture played back at a low resolution, and

said second video stream which complements the dropped part of the first video stream comprises the high resolution component, wherein said second playback mode provides a picture played back at a high resolution.

4. A playback apparatus according to any of claim 1, wherein:

said control module transmits viewing condition determination information to said server through said connection module and network when said connection module receives the second video stream from said server, wherein said viewing condition determination information is used by said server to determine a viewing condition of a user in regard to the second video stream.

5. A playback apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said viewing condition determination information includes the age or paying capability of the user, and

said server does not transmit the second video stream when the user'"'"'s age or paying capability does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

6. A playback apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said reading module reads an ID unique to said recording medium from said recording medium,

said viewing condition determination information includes the ID, and

said server does not transmit the second video stream when the ID does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

7. A playback apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said ID includes an area code which differs according to an area in which the recording medium is sold, and

said server determines whether or not the second stream is transmitted using the area code included in the ID.

8. A playback apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said reading module reads an ID unique to said recording medium from said recording medium,

said viewing condition determination information includes the ID, and

said server stores a plurality of the second video streams, and selects one from the plurality of video stream depending on a condition satisfied by the ID, and transmits the selected second video stream.

9. A playback apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said sever selects one of the plurality of second video streams in accordance with the number of times said server has received the ID and transmitted the second video stream, and transmits the selected second video stream.

10. A playback apparatus according to any of claim 1, wherein:

said server stores a plurality of the second video streams, selects one of the plurality of second video streams in accordance with date and time, and transmits the selected second video stream.

11. A playback apparatus comprising:

a drive unit which reads a read-only recording medium;

a first packet separation unit which receives a first stream from said drive unit, and separates the first stream into a first video stream and a first audio stream;

a first video decoder which receives the first video stream from said first packet separation unit, and decodes the first video stream to output a first video signal;

a first audio encoder which receives the first audio stream from said first packet separation unit, decodes the first audio stream to output a first audio signal;

a network connection unit which receives a second stream from a network;

a recording medium which records the second stream;

a recording medium I/O unit which reads the second stream stored in said recording medium;

a second packet separation unit which receives the second stream from said recording medium I/O unit, and separates the second stream into a second video stream and a second audio stream;

a second video encoder which receives the second video stream from said second packet separation unit, and decodes the second video stream to output a second video signal;

a second audio encoder which receives the second audio stream from said second packet separation unit, and decodes the second audio stream to output a second audio signal;

a graphics display unit which receives the first video signal and the second video signal, and superimposes the second video signal on the first video signal under the control of a system control unit to generate a third video signal; and

an audio mixing unit which receives the first audio signal and the second audio signal, and mixes the first audio signal and the second audio signal under the control of said system control unit to generate a third audio signal,

wherein said system control unit controls said components of said playback system, and

said system control unit accesses a server connected to said network connection unit, said server requesting an authentication of a viewer, receives a second stream transmitted from said server when the viewer is authenticated by said server, said second stream complementing part not displayed by the first video signal, and multiplexes the second stream with the first stream to generate a third video signal and a third audio signal.

12. A playback apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

when said server transmits the second stream through said network connection unit, said server divides the part not displayed by the first stream, and transmits a fragment of the part.

13. A playback apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said server stores a plurality of second streams which differ in resolution, and selects and transmits a second stream in response to a request from said playback apparatus.

14. A playback apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said server charges the viewer for a second stream to be transmitted when said server is requested for the second stream from said playback apparatus.

15. A playback apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said server stores a plurality of second streams which differ in contents, and said server selects and outputs a second stream in accordance with the number of times the first stream is played back, said number of times being transmitted from said playback apparatus.

16. A playback apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said server selects and outputs a second stream in accordance with date and time at which the first stream is played back, said date and time being transmitted from said playback apparatus.

17. A playback apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second stream is displayed to conceal part of the first stream in accordance with a manipulation of the viewer.

18. A playback apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second stream mutes part of a sound associated with the first stream in accordance with a manipulation of the viewer.