DATA STRUCTURE, RECORDING MEDIUM, AUTHORING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM, RECORDING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM, VERIFICATION APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM, AND MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20070280641A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Uchimura, Kouichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/230
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2541 Blu-ray discs; Blue laser DVR discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded

Abstract

A data structure includes content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data. Among the first units in which time information is defined, the time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than the decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates the upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

Claims

1. A data structure comprising:

content data; and

accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data;

wherein, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

2. The data structure according to claim 1, wherein, if decoding times are defined for the first units, the first units are arranged in accordance with the decoding times.

3. The data structure according to claim 1, wherein, in the first unit, structure information concerning a structure of the accompanying data, attribute information concerning attributes of the accompanying data, image information concerning the accompanying data, or breakpoint information concerning breakpoints of the accompanying data is defined,

a second unit is formed from the plurality of first units including one item of the structure information and one item of the breakpoint information,

a third unit is formed from one or the plurality of second units including one or a plurality of items of the attribute information,

in the third unit, the structure information, the attribute information, and the image information defined in the first units are stored, and

the accompanying data is a set of the third units.

4. The data structure according to claim 1, wherein information concerning the decoding time is stored in a packet header of a packet including the first unit.

5. The data structure according to claim 1, wherein the accompanying data includes graphics data to be displayed by being overlaid on a main image represented by the content data, an output time being defined in the graphics data.

6. The data structure according to claim 1, wherein the accompanying data includes a button image that implements animation display and that is used for displaying a button used for an operation screen instructing a user to perform an operation, and also includes display control information concerning the button image.

7. The data structure according to claim 1, wherein information concerning the decoding time is defined for the first unit in which the structure information or the image information is stored.

8. The data structure according to claim 7, wherein the information concerning the decoding time is also defined for the first unit in which the attribute information is stored.

9. A recording medium comprising:

a data structure recorded on the recording medium, the data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data,

wherein, in the data structure, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

10. An authoring apparatus for generating a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the authoring apparatus comprising:

a data generator that generates the content data and the accompanying data;

an encoder that encodes the content data and the accompanying data generated by the data generator; and

a multiplexer that multiplexes the content data and the accompanying data encoded by the encoder,

wherein the data structure is generated such that, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

11. The authoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, if decoding times are defined for the first units, the first units are arranged in accordance with the decoding times.

12. The authoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, in the first unit, structure information concerning a structure of the accompanying data, attribute information concerning attributes of the accompanying data, image information concerning the accompanying data, or breakpoint information concerning breakpoints of the accompanying data is defined,

a second unit is formed from the plurality of first units including one item of the structure information and one item of the breakpoint information,

a third unit is formed from one or the plurality of second units including one or a plurality of items of the attribute information,

in the third unit, the structure information, the attribute information, and the image information defined in the first units are stored, and

the accompanying data is a set of the third units.

13. The authoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein information concerning the decoding time is stored in a packet header of a packet including the first unit.

14. The authoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the accompanying data includes graphics data to be displayed by being overlaid on a main image represented by the content data, an output time being defined in the graphics data.

15. The authoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the accompanying data includes a button image that implements animation display and that is used for displaying a button used for an operation screen instructing a user to perform an operation, and also includes display control information concerning the button image.

16. The authoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein information concerning the decoding time is defined for the first unit in which the structure information or the image information is stored.

17. The authoring apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the information concerning the decoding time is also defined for the first unit in which the attribute information is stored.

18. An authoring method for generating a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the authoring method comprising the steps of:

generating the content data and the accompanying data;

encoding the generated content data and accompanying data; and

multiplexing the encoded content data and accompanying data,

wherein the data structure is generated such that, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

19. An authoring program allowing a computer to execute an authoring method for generating a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the authoring method comprising the steps of:

generating the content data and the accompanying data;

encoding the generated content data and accompanying data; and

multiplexing the encoded content data and accompanying data,

wherein the data structure is generated such that, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

20. A recording apparatus for recording, on a recording medium, a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the recording apparatus comprising:

a data generator that generates the content data and the accompanying data;

an encoder that encodes the content data and the accompanying data generated by the data generator;

a multiplexer that multiplexes the content data and the accompanying data encoded by the encoder;

a converter that converts the content data and the accompanying data multiplexed by the multiplexer into a format suitable for being recorded on the recording medium; and

a recorder that records the content and the accompanying data converted by the converter on the recording medium,

wherein the recorder records, on the recording medium, the data structure in which, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

21. The recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein, if decoding times are defined for the first units, the first units are arranged in accordance with the decoding times.

22. The recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein, in the first unit, structure information concerning a structure of the accompanying data, attribute information concerning attributes of the accompanying data, image information concerning the accompanying data, or breakpoint information concerning breakpoints of the accompanying data is defined,

a second unit is formed from the plurality of first units including one item of the structure information and one item of the breakpoint information,

a third unit is formed from one or the plurality of second units including one or a plurality of items of the attribute information,

in the third unit, the structure information, the attribute information, and the image information defined in the first units are stored, and

the accompanying data is a set of the third units.

23. The recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein information concerning the decoding time is stored in a packet header of a packet including the first unit.

24. The recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the accompanying data includes graphics data to be displayed by being overlaid on a main image represented by the content data, an output time being defined in the graphics data.

25. The recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the accompanying data includes a button image that implements animation display and that is used for displaying a button used for an operation screen instructing a user to perform an operation, and also includes display control information concerning the button image.

26. The recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein information concerning the decoding time is defined for the first unit in which the structure information or the image information is stored.

27. The recording apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the information concerning the decoding time is also defined for the first unit in which the attribute information is stored.

28. A recording method for recording, on a recording medium, a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the recording method comprising the steps of:

generating the content data and the accompanying data;

encoding the generated content data and accompanying data;

multiplexing the encoded content data and accompanying data;

converting the multiplexed content data and accompanying data into a format suitable for being recorded on the recording medium; and

recording the converted content data and accompanying data on the recording medium,

wherein the data structure in which, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units is recorded on the recording medium.

29. A recording program allowing a computer to execute a recording method for recording, on a recording medium, a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the recording method comprising the steps of:

generating the content data and the accompanying data;

encoding the generated content data and accompanying data;

multiplexing the encoded content data and accompanying data;

converting the multiplexed content data and accompanying data into a format suitable for being recorded on the recording medium; and

recording the converted content data and accompanying data on the recording medium,

wherein the data structure in which, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units is recorded on the recording medium.

30. A verification apparatus for performing verification on a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data,

wherein, in the data structure, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units, and data having the data structure is input,

the verification apparatus comprising a determination unit for performing a determination on the data as to whether, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

31. The verification apparatus according to claim 30, wherein, if decoding times are defined for the first units, the first units are arranged in accordance with the decoding times.

32. The verification apparatus according to claim 30, wherein, in the first unit, structure information concerning a structure of the accompanying data, attribute information concerning attributes of the accompanying data, image information concerning the accompanying data, or breakpoint information concerning breakpoints of the accompanying data is defined,

a second unit is formed from the plurality of first units including one item of the structure information and one item of the breakpoint information,

a third unit is formed from one or the plurality of second units including one or a plurality of items of the attribute information,

in the third unit, the structure information, the attribute information, and the image information defined in the first units are stored, and

the accompanying data is a set of the third units.

33. The verification apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the determination unit performs the determination for each of the first units.

34. The verification apparatus according to claim 30, wherein information concerning the decoding time is stored in a packet header of a packet including the first unit.

35. The verification apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the accompanying data includes graphics data to be displayed by being overlaid on a main image represented by the content data, an output time being defined in the graphics data.

36. The verification apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the accompanying data includes a button image that implements animation display and that is used for displaying a button used for an operation screen instructing a user to perform an operation, and also includes display control information concerning the button image.

37. The verification apparatus according to claim 30, wherein information concerning the decoding time is defined for the first unit in which the structure information or the image information is stored.

38. The verification apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the information concerning the decoding time is also defined for the first unit in which the attribute information is stored.

39. A verification method for performing verification on a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data,

wherein, in the data structure, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units, and data having the data structure is input,

the verification method comprising the step of performing a determination on the data as to whether, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

40. A verification program allowing a computer to execute a verification method for performing verification on a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data,

wherein, in the data structure, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units, and data having the data structure is input,

the verification method comprising the step of performing a determination on the data as to whether, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

41. A manufacturing apparatus for a recording medium on which a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units is recorded, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a data generator that generates the content data and the accompanying data;

an encoder that performs encoding on the content data and the accompanying data generated by the data generator;

a multiplexer that performing multiplexing of the content data and the accompanying data encoded by the encoder;

a converter that converts the content data and the accompanying data multiplexed by the multiplexer into a format suitable for being recorded on the recording medium;

a master disc production unit that produces a master disc of the recording medium on which the data structure including the content and the accompanying data converted by the converter is recorded; and

a recording medium reproduction unit that reproduces the recording medium on the basis of the master disc produced by the master disc production unit,

wherein, in the data structure, on the basis of the encoding performed by the encoder and the multiplexing performed by the multiplexer, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

42. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein, if decoding times are defined for the first units, the first units are arranged in accordance with the decoding times.

43. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein, in the first unit, structure information concerning a structure of the accompanying data, attribute information concerning attributes of the accompanying data, image information concerning the accompanying data, or breakpoint information concerning breakpoints of the accompanying data is defined,

a second unit is formed from the plurality of first units including one item of the structure information and one item of the breakpoint information,

a third unit is formed from one or the plurality of second units including one or a plurality of items of the attribute information,

in the third unit, the structure information, the attribute information, and the image information defined in the first units are stored, and

the accompanying data is a set of the third units.

44. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein information concerning the decoding time is stored in a packet header of a packet including the first unit.

45. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the accompanying data includes graphics data to be displayed by being overlaid on a main image represented by the content data, an output time being defined in the graphics data.

46. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the accompanying data includes a button image that implements animation display and that is used for displaying a button used for an operation screen instructing a user to perform an operation, and also includes display control information concerning the button image.

47. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein information concerning the decoding time is defined for the first unit in which the structure information or the image information is stored.

48. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the information concerning the decoding time is also defined for the first unit in which the attribute information is stored.

49. A manufacturing method for a recording medium on which a data structure including content data and accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of first units is recorded, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data, the manufacturing method comprising the steps of:

generating the content data and the accompanying data;

performing encoding on the generated content data and accompanying data;

performing multiplexing of the encoded content data and accompanying data;

converting the multiplexed content data and accompanying data into a format suitable for being recorded on the recording medium;

producing a master disc of the recording medium on which the data structure including the converted content and accompanying data is recorded; and

reproducing the recording medium on the basis of the produced master disc,

wherein, in the data structure, on the basis of the encoding and the multiplexing, among the first units in which time information is defined, a time of a target first unit based on the order of the first units is set to be later than a decoding time defined in the first unit arranged in the order earlier than the target first unit by an amount equal to N first units where N indicates an upper limit of the number of first units that can be stored in a buffer provided for a decoder for decoding the first units.

50. A data structure comprising:

content data; and

accompanying data which is formed on the basis of a plurality of segments, the accompanying data being used for displaying information accompanying the content data,

wherein each of the plurality of segments is one of a segment including structure information concerning a structure of the accompanying data, a segment including window frame information concerning a window frame for displaying the accompanying data, a segment including color information concerning a color of the accompanying data, a segment including image information concerning an image of the accompanying data, and a segment including breakpoint information concerning breakpoints of the accompanying data,

a display set is formed from the plurality of the segments including at least one item of the structure information and one item of the breakpoint information,

an epoch is formed from one or the plurality of the display sets including one or a plurality of the segments including the window frame information and one or a plurality of segments including the color information,

the accompanying data is a set of the epochs, and

a decoding time of a target segment in which the structure information, the window frame information, the color information, or the image information is stored is set to be later than a decoding time of a segment arranged in the order earlier than the target segment by an amount equal to N segments.