Recording medium, recording method, reproduction apparatus and method, and computer-readable program

• US 7,680,394 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Tomoyuki, McCrossan, Joseph, Ikeda, Wataru, Yahata, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendmagegn; Girumsew
• Application Number:
  US11/508,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20060294543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 386/95, 386/125, 725/35, 725/37
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/027 Remotely controlled remote control systems in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• 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 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• 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 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 : the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

An AV Clip generated by multiplexing video and graphics streams is recorded on a BD-ROM. The graphics stream is a sequence of PES packets. The PES packets include ODSs (Object Definition Segments) carrying graphics data and PCSs (Presentation Control Segments) carrying control information. A PCS indicates that graphics data in a preceding ODS in the arrangement is to be displayed at a predetermined time in a state of being overlaid on the video stream. The PCS and the preceding ODS belong to different DSs, and the graphics data in the preceding ODS may be non-referenced graphics data that is not referenced by a PCS which belongs to the same DS as the preceding ODS.

Claims

1. A reproduction apparatus for reproducing a digital stream generated by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics stream which is a sequence of a plurality of packets, comprising:

a video decoder configured to decode the video stream to generate a moving picture;

a graphics decoder configured to decode the graphics stream to generate graphics; and

a plane memory, wherein

the graphics stream is a sequence of packets, the packets constituting the graphics stream include two types, one of which is packets containing graphics data and the other is packets containing control data, the sequence of packets includes a pair of a packet containing graphics data and a packet containing control data, the pair is followed by a packet containing control data that performs a forward reference,

the control data that performs the forward reference indicates that graphics, which corresponds to the graphics data contained in the pair of packets which precedes the control data that performs the forward reference, is to be displayed,

the graphics decoder includes;

an object buffer;

a processor configured to generate graphics on the object buffer by decoding the graphics data contained in the pair of packets; and

a controller configured to execute a graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into a partial area in the plane memory, based on the control data contained in the pair of packets, wherein

the plane memory is a memory for overlay with moving pictures and is provided in the reproduction apparatus, and

when control data that performs a forward reference has been read into the graphics decoder from a recording medium, the controller updates the graphics display by writing, at a time indicated by a time stamp in a packet storing the control data that performs the forward reference, the graphics generated on the object buffer into the partial area based on the read control data that performs the forward reference.

2. A method of recording onto a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

generating application data by using an authoring device; and

recording the application data to the recording medium, wherein;

the application data includes a digital stream generated by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics stream;

the graphics stream is a sequence of packets, the packets constituting the graphics stream include two types, one of which is packets containing graphics data and the other is packets containing control data, the sequence of packets includes a pair of a packet containing graphics data and a packet containing control data, the pair is followed by a packet containing control data that performs a forward reference,

the control data that performs the forward reference indicates that graphics, which corresponds to the graphics data contained in the pair of packets which precedes the control data that performs the forward reference, is to be displayed,

the digital stream is supplied to a reproduction apparatus that includes;

a video decoder configured to decode the video stream to generate a moving picture;

a graphics decoder configured to decode the graphics stream to generate graphics; and

a plane memory,

the graphics decoder includes;

an object buffer;

a processor configured to generate graphics on the object buffer by decoding the graphics data contained in the pair of packets; and

a controller configured to execute a graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into a partial area in the plane memory, based on the control data contained in the pair of packets, wherein

the plane memory is a memory for overlay with moving pictures and is provided in the reproduction apparatus, and

a packet storing the control data that performs the forward reference includes a time stamp, and

a time indicated by the time stamp in the packet storing the control data that performs the forward reference is a timing at which the graphics decoder is controlled to update the graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into the partial area based on the control data that performs the forward reference.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to reproduce a digital stream generated by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics stream comprising the steps of:

program code configured to cause the computer to decode the video stream to generate a moving picture; and

program code configured to cause the computer to decode the graphics stream to generate graphics, and display the graphics;

wherein the graphics stream is a sequence of packets, the packets constituting the graphics stream include two types, one of which is packets containing graphics data and the other is packets containing control data, the sequence of packets includes a pair of a packet containing graphics data and a packet containing control data, the pair is followed by a packet containing control data that performs a forward reference, the control data that performs the forward reference indicates that graphics, which corresponds to the graphics data contained in the pair of packets which precedes the control data that performs the forward reference, is to be displayed, the graphics generating program code includes;

a sub-program code configured to generate graphics on an object buffer provided in the computer by decoding the graphics data contained in the pair of packets; and

a sub-program code configured to execute a graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into a partial area in a plane memory provided in the computer, based on the control data contained in the pair of packets, wherein the plane memory is a memory for overlay with moving pictures, and when control data that performs a forward reference has been read into the graphics decoder from a recording medium, the graphics display executing sub-program code updates the graphics display by writing, at a time indicated by the time stamp in a packet storing the control data that performs the forward reference, the graphics generated on the object buffer into the partial area again based on the read control data that performs the forward reference.

4. A method of causing a computer to reproduce a digital stream generated by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics, comprising the steps of:

decoding the video stream to generate a moving picture; and

decoding the graphics stream to generate graphics, and display the graphics, wherein

the graphics stream is a sequence of packets, the packets constituting the graphics stream include two types, one of which is packets containing graphics data and the other is packets containing control data, the sequence of packets includes a pair of a packet containing graphics data and a packet containing control data, the pair is followed by a packet containing control data that performs a forward reference,

the control data that performs the forward reference indicates that graphics, which corresponds to the graphics data contained in the pair of packets which precedes the control data that performs the forward reference, is to be displayed,

the graphics decoding step includes the sub-steps of;

generating graphics on an object buffer provided in the computer by decoding the graphics data contained in the pair of packets; and

executing a graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into a partial area in the plane memory provided in the computer, based on the control data contained in the pair of packets, wherein

the plane memory is a memory for overlay with moving pictures, and

when control data that performs the forward reference has been read into the graphics decoder from a recording medium, the graphics display executing sub-step updates the graphics display by writing, at a time indicated by a time stamp in the packet storing the control data that performs the forward reference, the graphics generated on the object buffer into the partial area based on the read control data that performs the forward reference.

5. A reproduction apparatus for reproducing a digital stream generated by multiplexing a video stream and a graphics stream, comprising:

a video plane;

a graphics plane;

a video decoder configured to decode the video stream to generate a moving picture, and store a picture constituting the moving picture into the video plane;

a graphics decoder configured to decode the graphics stream to generate graphics, and store the generated graphics into the graphics plane; and

an adder configured to overlay the graphics and the moving picture by performing addition for corresponding pixels in the picture stored in the video plane and the graphics stored in the graphics plane, wherein

the graphics stream is a sequence of packets, the packets constituting the graphics stream include two types, one of which is packets containing graphics data and the other is packets containing control data, the sequence of packets includes a pair of a packet containing graphics data and a packet containing control data, the pair is followed by a packet containing control data that performs a forward reference,

the control data that performs the forward reference indicates that graphics, which corresponds to the graphics data contained in the pair of packets which precedes the control data that performs the forward reference, is to be displayed,

the graphics decoder includes;

an object buffer;

a processor configured to generate graphics on the object buffer by decoding the graphics data contained in the pair of packets; and

a controller configured to execute a graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into a partial area in the plane memory, based on the control data contained in the pair of packets, wherein

when control data that performs the forward reference has been read into the graphics decoder from a recording medium, the graphics display executing sub-step updates the graphics display by writing, at a time indicated by a time stamp in the packet storing the control data that performs the forward reference, the graphics generated on the object buffer into the partial area based on the read control data that performs the forward reference.

6. A method of recording onto a recording medium, comprising the steps, which are referred to by an authoring device, of:

generating a graphics stream;

multiplexing a video stream and the graphics stream; and

recording a digital stream, which is obtained by the multiplexing, on the recording medium, wherein

the graphics stream generating step includes the sub-steps of;

storing the graphics data and the control data into different packets, respectively;

arranging, serially, packets storing the graphics data and packets storing the control data to obtain a graphics stream, wherein

in the storing sub-step, when the control data is stored into a packet, a time stamp is included into the packet that stores the control data,

the digital stream is supplied to a reproduction apparatus that includes;

a video decoder configured to decode the video stream to generate a moving picture;

a graphics decoder configured to decode the graphics stream to generate graphics; and

a plane memory,

the graphics stream is a sequence of packets, the packets constituting the graphics stream include two types, one of which is packets containing graphics data and the other is packets containing control data, the sequence of packets includes a pair of a packet containing graphics data and a packet containing control data, the pair is followed by a packet containing control data that performs a forward reference,

the control data that performs the forward reference indicates that graphics, which corresponds to the graphics data contained in the pair of packets which precedes the control data that performs the forward reference, is to be displayed,

the graphics decoder includes;

an object buffer;

a processor configured to generate graphics on the object buffer by decoding the graphics data contained in the pair of packets; and

a controller configured to execute a graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into a partial area in the plane memory, based on the control data contained in the pair of packets, wherein

the plane memory is a memory for overlay with moving pictures, and

a time indicated by the time stamp in the packet storing the control data that performs the forward reference is a timing at which the graphics decoder is controlled to update the graphics display by writing the graphics generated on the object buffer into the partial area based on the control data that performs the forward reference.