Multimedia computer system

• US 5,809,245 A
• Filed: 08/02/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Zenda, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/687,371
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 348/403, 364/715.02, 395/200.77, 395/888, 395/200.32, 395/200.67, 395/200.68, 395/200.47, 345/334, 345/204, 345/214
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/30 using hierarchical techniques, e.g. scalability H04N19/63 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/42 characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation H04N19/635 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/423 characterised by memory arrangements H04N19/433 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/433 characterised by techniques for memory access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/44 Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/46 Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/70 characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Full-motion video data with a sub-picture and sound is recorded in a DVD-ROM drive. The DVD-ROM drive is connected to an ATAPI interface. Using a data buffer of the ATAPI interface, an MPEG stream is transferred to an MPEG2 decoder on the system board at a variable rate, and video data, audio data, and a sub-picture included in the MPEG stream are decoded by the MPEG2 decoder incorporated in the system. The decoded sub-picture is drawn in a VRAM as in normal VGA graphics. The sub-picture image drawn in the VRAM is synthesized with the video from the MPEG2 decoder by a multimedia display controller and displayed on a screen.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a video decoder connected to said system bus to decode said full-motion video data included in a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit;

a sub-video decoder connected to said system bus to decode said sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit; and

a display controller connected to said system bus to receive said decoded full-motion video and said decoded sub-picture data and to display said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data on a screen of said display monitor.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein digitally compressed and coded sound data is multiplexed with said full-motion video data with said picture data and recorded in said recording medium, and said computer system further comprises an audio decoder connected to said system bus to decode said sound data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit.

3. A computer system according to claim 2, further comprising an audio controller connected to said system bus to receive said sound data decoded by said audio decoder and to reproduce said sound data.

4. A computer system according to claim 3, further comprising an audio bus for connecting said audio decoder and said audio controller, wherein

said audio decoder transfers said decoded sound data to said audio controller through said audio bus.

5. A computer system according to claim 4, wherein said audio controller comprises:

a sound source unit, and

means for selectively reproducing an output from said sound source unit and said sound data transferred from said audio decoder through said audio bus.

6. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said full-motion video data is coded at a variable rate and stored in said recording medium of said disk drive unit, and said video decoder comprises means for decoding said full-motion video data coded at said variable rate.

7. A computer system according to claim 6, further comprising a peripheral interface unit including a data buffer to perform data transfer between said computer system and a peripheral unit by using said data buffer, wherein:

said disk drive unit is connected to said system bus through said peripheral interface unit, and

a variable rate data transfer of said digital data stream from said disk drive unit to said video decoder is executed through said data buffer of said peripheral interface unit.

8. A computer system according to claim 7, wherein data transfer from said disk drive unit to said data buffer of said peripheral interface unit is executed at a rate substantially equal to a maximum value of a variable data transfer rate from said data buffer to said video decoder.

9. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit storing full-motion video data coded at a variable rate;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a peripheral interface unit connected to said system bus and including a data buffer, said peripheral interface unit using said data buffer to execute a variable rate data transfer from said disk drive unit to said computer system;

a video decoder connected to said system bus to decode said full-motion video data coded at said variable rate and transferred from said disk drive unit through said data buffer of said peripheral interface unit; and

a display controller connected to said system bus to control said display monitor of said computer system, said display controller receiving said decoded full-motion video data from said video decoder and displaying said full-motion video data on a screen of said display monitor.

10. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded thereon;

a card slot provided in a computer main body;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a card controller connected to said system bus to control a card mounted in said card slot;

a card capable of being mounted in said card slot and including a video decoder and a sub-video decoder for decoding said full-motion video data and said sub-picture data included in a digital data stream transferred from said disk drive unit through said card controller; and

a display controller connected to said system bus to control said display monitor of said computer system, said display controller receiving said full-motion video data and said sub-picture data decoded by said card through said card controller and displaying said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data on a screen of said display monitor.

11. A computer system according to claim 10, wherein:

digitally compressed and coded sound data is multiplexed with said full recording medium, and

said card further comprises an audio decoder for decoding said sound data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit.

12. A computer system according to claim 11, further comprising an audio controller connected to said system bus to receive said sound data decoded by said audio decoder and sound data.

13. A computer system according to claim 12, further comprising:

an audio bus for connecting said card controller to said audio controller, wherein said card controller transfers said sound data decoded by said audio decoder of said card to said audio controller through said audio bus.

14. A computer system according to claim 13, wherein said audio controller comprises:

a sound source unit, and

means for selectively reproducing an output from said source unit and said sound data transferred from said audio decoder through said audio bus.

15. A computer system according to claim 10, wherein:

said full-motion video data is coded at a variable rate and stored in said recording medium of said disk drive unit, and

said video decoder comprises means for decoding said full-motion video data coded at said variable rate.

16. A computer system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a peripheral interface unit including a data buffer to perform a data transfer between said computer system and a peripheral unit by using said data buffer, wherein;

said disk drive unit is connected to a bus of said computer system through said peripheral interface unit, and

variable rate data transfer of said digital data stream from said disk drive unit to said video decoder of said card is executed through said data buffer of said peripheral interface unit.

17. A computer system according to claim 16, wherein a data transfer from said disk drive unit to said data buffer of said peripheral interface unit is executed at a rate substantially equal to a maximum value of a variable data transfer rate from said data buffer to said video decoder.

18. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit storing full-motion video data coded at a variable rate;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a peripheral interface unit connected to said system bus and including a data buffer, said peripheral interface unit using said data buffer to execute a variable rate data transfer from said disk drive unit to said computer system;

a card slot provided in a computer main body;

a card controller connected to said system bus to control a card mounted in said card slot;

a card capable of being mounted in said card slot and including a video decoder for decoding said full motion video data coded at said variable rate and transferred from said disk drive unit through said data buffer of said peripheral interface unit; and

a display controller connected to said bus to control said display monitor, said display controller receiving said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder of said card through said card controller and displaying said full-motion video data on a screen of said display monitor.

19. A computer system comprising:

a drive disk unit capable of driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded thereon;

a CPU;

a video memory for storing video data;

a video decoder connected to a bus of said computer system to decode said full-motion video data;

a display controller connected to said bus to synthesize said full-motion video data encoded by said video decoder on graphics drawn in said video memory and to display said full-motion video data on a screen of a display monitor;

means for causing said CPU to decode said sub-picture data included in a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit; and

means for causing said CPU to draw said decoded sub-picture data in said video memory so that said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data is displayed on said screen by said display controller.

20. A computer system according to claim 19, wherein:

said full-motion video data is coded at a variable rate and stored in said recording medium of said disk drive unit, and

said video decoder comprises means for decoding said full-motion video data coded at said variable rate.

21. A computer system according to claim 19, further comprising:

a video bus for connecting said video decoder to said display controller, wherein

said video decoder transfers said decoded full-motion video data to said display controller through said video bus.

22. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded thereon;

a CPU;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a card slot provided in a computer main body;

a card controller connected to said system bus to control a card mounted in said card slot;

a card capable of being mounted in said card slot and including a video decoder for decoding said full-motion video data;

a display controller connected to said bus to synthesize said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder of said card on graphics drawn in a video memory and to display said full-motion video data on a screen of said display monitor;

means for causing said CPU to decode said sub-picture data included in a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit; and

means for causing said CPU to draw said decoded sub-picture data in said video memory so that said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data is displayed on said screen by said display controller.

23. A computer system according to claim 22, wherein:

said full-motion video data is coded at a variable rate and stored in said recording medium of said disk drive unit, and

said video decoder of said card decodes said full-motion video data coded at said variable rate.

24. A computer system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a video bus for connecting said card controller to said display controller, wherein

said card controller transfers said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder of said card to said display controller through said video bus.

25. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a video decoder connected to said system bus to decode said full-motion video data included in a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit;

a sub-video decoder connected to said system bus to decode the said sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit;

a video bus for connecting one of said video decoder and said sub-video decoder to said display controller; and

a display controller connected to said system bus to receive said decoded full-motion video and said decoded sub-picture data and to display said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data on a screen of said display monitor, wherein

one of said video decoder and said sub-video decoder synthesizes said decoded sub-picture data with said decoded full motion video to form synthesized video data and transfers said synthesized video data to said display controller through said video bus.

26. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein said display controller systhesizes video received through said video bus on graphics and displays said video data on said screen.

27. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded;

a card slot provided in a computer main body;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a card controller connected to said system bus to control a card mounted in said card slot;

a card capable of being mounted in said card slot and including a video decoder and a sub-video decoder for decoding said full-motion video data and said sub-picture data included in a digital data stream transferred from said disk drive unit through said card controller;

a video bus for connecting said card controller to said display controller, wherein

said card controller synthesizes said sub-picture data decoded by said sub-video decoder with said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder of said card to form synthesized video data and transfers said synthesized video data to said display controller through said video bus; and

a display controller connected to said system bus to control said display monitor of said computer system, said display controller receiving said full-motion video data and said sub-picture data decoded by said card through said card controller and displaying said full motion video data with said sub-picture data on a screen of said display monitor.

28. A computer system according to claim 27, wherein said display controller synthesizes said synthesized video data received through said video bus on graphics data to form second synthesized video data and displays said second synthesized video data on said screen.

29. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit capable of driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded;

a CPU;

a system bus;

a video memory for storing video data;

a video decoder connected to a bus of said computer system to decode said full-motion video data;

an audio decoder connected to said system bus to decode sound data;

means for causing said CPU to separate a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit into said sub-picture data, said full-motion video data, and said sound data and transfer said separated full-motion video data and said sound data to said video decoder and said audio decoder, respectively;

a display controller connected to said bus to synthesize said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder on graphics drawn in said video memory and to display said full-motion video data on a screen of a display monitor;

means for causing said CPU to decode said sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive;

means for causing said CPU to draw said decoded sub-picture data in said video memory so that said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data is displayed on said screen by said display controller, wherein

said sound data is digitally compressed, coded and multiplexed with said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data and recorded in said recording medium thereon.

30. A computer system according to claim 29, further comprising an audio controller connected to said system bus to control audio reproduction, said audio controller receiving said sound data decoded by said audio decoder and reproducing said sound data.

31. A computer system according to claim 30, further comprising:

an audio bus for connecting said audio decoder to said audio controller, wherein

said audio decoder transfers said decoded sound data to said audio controller through said audio bus.

32. A computer system according to claim 30, wherein said audio controller comprises:

a sound source unit, and

means for selectively reproducing an output from said sound source unit and said sound data transferred from said audio decoder through said audio bus.

33. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded thereon;

a CPU;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a card slot provided in a computer main body;

a card controller connected to said system bus to control a card mounted in said card slot;

an audio decoder provided in said card to decode sound data;

means for causing said CPU to separate a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit into said sub-picture data, said full-motion video data, and said sound data and for transferring said separated full-motion video data and said sound data to said card,

a card capable of being mounted in said card slot and including a video decoder for decoding said full-motion video data;

a display controller connected to said bus to synthesize said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder of said card on graphics drawn in a video memory and to display said full-motion video data on a screen of said display monitor;

means for causing said CPU to decode said sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit and

means for causing said CPU to draw said decoded sub-picture in said video memory so that said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data is displayed on said screen by said display controller, wherein

said sound data, which is digitally compressed and coded, is multiplexed with said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data and recorded in said recording medium thereon.

34. A computer system according to claim 33, further comprising an audio controller connected to said system bus to control audio reproduction, said audio controller receiving said sound data decoded by said audio decoder of said card and reproducing said sound data.

35. A computer system according to claim 34, further comprising:

audio bus for connecting said card controller to said audio controller, wherein

said card controller transfers said sound data decoded by said audio decoder of said card to said audio controller through said audio bus.

36. A computer system according to claim 34, wherein said audio controller comprises:

a sound source unit, and

means for selectively reproducing an output from said sound source unit and said sound data transferred from said audio decoder through said audio bus.

37. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit capable of driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded thereon;

a CPU;

a video memory for storing video data;

a video decoder connected to a bus of said computer system to decode said full-motion video data;

means for causing said CPU to separate a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit into said sub-picture data and said full-motion video data and transfer said separated full-motion video data to said video decoder;

a display controller connected to said bus to synthesize said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder on graphics drawn in said video memory and to display said full-motion video data on a screen of a display monitor;

means for causing said CPU to decode said sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit; and

means for causing said CPU to draw said decoded sub-picture data in said video memory so that said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data is displayed on said screen by said display controller.

38. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded;

a CPU;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a card slot provided in a computer main body;

means for causing said CPU to separate a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit into said sub-picture data and said full-motion video data and for transferring said separated full-motion video data to said video decoder of said card;

a card controller connected to said system bus to control a card mounted in said card slot;

a card capable of being mounted in said card slot and including a video decoder for decoding said full-motion video data;

a display controller connected to said bus to synthesize said full-motion video data decoded by said video decoder of said card on graphics drawn in a video memory and to display said full-motion video data on a screen of said display monitor;

means for causing said CPU to decode said sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit; and

means for causing said CPU to draw said decoded sub-picture data in said video memory so that said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data is displayed on said screen by said display controller.

39. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded, said full-motion video data being coded at a variable bit rate and stored in said recording medium of said disk drive unit;

a system bus;

a display monitor;

a video decoder connected to said system bus to decode said full-motion video data coded at said variable rate and included in a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit;

an ATA packet interface (ATAPI) to perform a data transfer between said computer system and a peripheral unit;

a sub-video decoder connected to said system bus to decode sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit; and

a display controller connected to said system bus to receive said decoded full-motion video data and said decoded sub-picture data and data to display said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data on a screen of said display monitor, wherein

said disk drive unit is connected to said system bus through said ATAPI, and a variable rate data transfer of said digital data stream from said disk drive unit to said video decoder is executed through said ATAPI.

40. A computer system comprising:

a disk drive unit for driving a recording medium in which digitally compressed and coded full-motion video data with sub-picture data is recorded, said full-motion video data being coded at a variable bit rate and stored in said recording medium of said disk drive unit;

a system bus;

a display monitor ;

a video decoder connected to said system bus to decode said full-motion video data coded at said variable rate and included in a digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit;

a small computer system interface (SCSI) to perform a data transfer between said computer system and a peripheral unit;

a sub-video decoder connected to said system bus to decode said sub-picture data included in said digital data stream read out from said disk drive unit; and

a display controller connected to said system bus to receive said decoded full-motion video data and said decoded sub-picture data and to display said full-motion video data with said sub-picture data on a screen of said display monitor,

wherein said disk drive unit is connected to said system bus through said SCSI, and a variable rate data transfer of said digital data stream from said disk drive unit to said video decoder is executed through said SCSI.