Information processing method and apparatus program storage medium, program and information recording medium

• US 8,352,977 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2002
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kato, Motoki, Nakamura, Masanobu, Nakamura, Kazuhiko, Yagi, Tomotaka, Kelly, Declan Patrick, van Gestel, Wilhelmus Jacobus
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US10/470,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,693 Days
• Field of Search: 725/19
• US Class Current: 725/19
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• 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 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

The characteristic playback domain of an AV stream is to be reproduced simply and reliably without complicating the management. As marks representing characteristic points of an AV stream, a mark of the type indicating a point and a mark of the type indicating a section (duration) are provided. The mark of the type indicating a point designates a point with a time stamp corresponding to a preset playback timing of the AV stream. The mark of the type indicating a section specifies the domain based on the time stamp of the playback start point of the preset playback domain of the AV stream and on the duration as from the playback start point until the playback end point.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a signal analysis unit configured to detect a moving picture of a characteristic playback domain from an input AV stream;

a controller configured to independently generate a clip mark referenced by a playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the clip mark having a time stamp of a playback start point of said playback domain, a duration of said playback domain and a system time clock information identifying a time-axis corresponding to the clip mark, the controller generating a clip mark identification information identifying a type of the clip mark;

an acquisition unit configured to acquire extension data from the signal analysis unit, the extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the controller appending said extension data acquired by said acquisition unit to said clip mark; and

a writing unit configured to record said clip mark and clip mark identifying information on an information recording medium, the clip mark and the clip mark information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the recording medium contains the clip mark, the clip mark identification information and the AV stream.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information recording medium is an optical disk.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information recording medium can be removed from the information processing apparatus.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extension data specifies skipping reproduction of the playback domain.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extension data specifies one of fade-in reproduction and fade-out reproduction of the playback domain.

6. An information processing method for causing an information processing apparatus to manage the recording and reproduction of a playback domain, comprising:

detecting, in a signal analysis unit, a moving picture of a characteristic playback domain from an input AV stream;

independently generating, at a controller, a clip mark referenced by a playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the clip mark having a time stamp of a playback start point of said playback domain and a duration of said playback domain, the clip mark including a system clock information identifying a time axis corresponding to the clip mark;

generating, at the controller, a clip mark identification information identifying a type of the clip mark;

acquiring, by an acquisition unit from the signal analysis unit, extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the controller appending said extension data acquired by said acquisition unit to said clip mark; and

recording, at a writing unit, said clip mark and clip mark identification information on an information recording medium, the clip mark and clip mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the recording medium contains the clip mark, the clip mark identification information and the AV stream.

7. A storing computer-readable instructions thereon, said computer-readable instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:

detecting a moving picture of a characteristic playback domain from an input AV stream;

generating, independently, a clip mark referenced by a playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the clip mark having a time stamp of a playback start point of said playback domain and a duration of said playback domain, the clip mark including a system clock information identifying a time axis corresponding to the clip mark;

generating a clip mark identification information identifying a type of the clip mark;

acquiring, based on the detecting, extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the controller appending said extension data acquired by said acquisition unit to said clip mark; and

recording said clip mark and clip mark identification information on an information recording medium, the clip mark and clip mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the recording medium contains the clip mark, the clip mark identification information and the AV stream.

8. An information processing apparatus for reproducing an information recording medium having recorded thereon an AV stream, a clip mark referenced by a playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the clip mark having a time stamp for a playback start point of a characteristic playback domain detected from said AV stream and a duration of said playback domain recorded thereon, said apparatus comprising:

a decoding unit configured to acquire said clip mark from said information recording medium, the decoding unit acquiring a clip mark identification information identifying a type of the clip mark and a system clock information included in the clip mark, the system clock information identifying a time axis corresponding to the clip mark; and

a controller configured to control a processing of a plurality of information recorded on said information recording medium, based on said clip mark and clip mark identification information acquired by said decoding unit, the clip mark and clip mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein a playlist references the clip mark during reproduction of the AV stream, and the characteristic playback domain of the AV stream is reproduced according to extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the extension data being appended to the clip mark based on analysis of the AV stream.

9. An information processing method for causing an information processing apparatus to reproduce an information recording medium having recorded thereon an AV stream, a clip mark referenced by a playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the clip mark having a time stamp for a playback start point of a characteristic playback domain detected from said AV stream and a duration of said playback domain, said method comprising:

acquiring, at a decoding unit, said clip mark from said information recording medium;

acquiring, at the decoding unit, a clip mark identification information identifying a type of the clip mark and a system clock information identifying a time axis corresponding to the clip mark, the system clock information being included in the clip mark; and

controlling, at a controller, a processing of a plurality of information recorded on said information recording medium, based on said clip mark and clip mark identification information, the clip mark and clip mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the clip mark is referenced by a play list during reproduction of the AV stream, and the characteristic playback domain of the AV stream is reproduced according to extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the extension data being appended to the clip mark based on an analysis of the AV stream.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions for an information processing apparatus for reproducing an information recording medium having recorded thereon an AV stream, a clip mark referenced by a playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the clip mark having a time stamp for a playback start point of a characteristic playback domain detected from said AV stream and a duration of said playback domain recorded thereon, said computer-readable instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:

acquiring said clip mark from said information recording medium;

acquiring a clip mark identification information identifying a type of the clip mark and a system clock information identifying a time axis corresponding to the clip mark, the system clock information being included in the clip mark; and

controlling the processing of the information recorded on said information recording medium, based on said clip mark and clip mark identification information, the clip mark and clip mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the clip mark is referenced by a play list during reproduction of the AV stream, and the characteristic playback domain of the AV stream is reproduced according to extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the extension data being appended to the clip mark based on analysis of the AV stream.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a signal analysis unit configured to acquire an optional playback domain, as instructed by a user, from a playlist defining a combination of preset domains in an AV stream;

a controller configured to generate a playlist mark comprised of a set of a time stamp of a start point of said playback domain and a duration of said playback domain, the playlist mark being referenced by the playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the controller generating a playlist mark identification information identifying a type of the playlist mark and identifying a play item in which the playlist mark is placed;

an acquisition unit configured to acquire extension data from the analysis unit, the extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the controller appending said extension data acquired by said acquisition unit to said playlist mark; and

a writing unit configured to record said playlist mark, playlist mark identification information and said AV stream on said information recording medium, the playlist mark and playlist mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said information recording medium is an optical disk.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said information recording medium can be removed from the information processing apparatus.

14. An information processing method for causing an information processing apparatus to manage the recording and reproduction of a playback domain, comprising:

acquiring, at a signal analysis unit, an optional playback domain, as instructed by a user, from a playlist defining a combination of preset domains in an AV stream;

generating, at a controller, a playlist mark comprised of a set of a time stamp of a start point of said playback domain and a duration of said playback domain, the playlist mark being referenced by the playlist during reproduction of the AV stream;

generating, at the controller, a playlist mark identification information identifying a type of the playlist mark and identifying a play item in which the playlist mark is placed;

acquiring, by an acquisition unit from the signal analysis unit, extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the controller appending said extension data acquired by said acquisition unit to said playlist mark; and

recording, at a writing unit, said playlist mark and the playlist mark identification information on said information recording medium, the playlist mark and playlist mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said information recording medium is an optical disk.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said information recording medium can be removed from the information processing apparatus.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:

acquiring an optional playback domain, as instructed by a user, from a playlist defining a combination of preset domains in an AV stream;

generating a playlist mark comprised of a set of a time stamp of a start point of said playback domain and a duration of said playback domain, the playlist mark being referenced by the playlist during reproduction of the AV stream;

generating a playlist mark identification information identifying a type of the playlist mark and identifying a play item in which the playlist mark is placed;

acquiring, based on analysis of the playback domain, extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the controller appending said extension data acquired by said acquisition unit to said playlist mark; and

recording said playlist mark and the playlist mark identification information on said information recording medium, the playlist mark and playlist mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the recording medium contains the playlist mark, playlist mark identification information and the AV stream.

18. An information processing apparatus for reproducing an information recording medium having recorded thereon an AV stream and a playlist mark including a set of a time stamp of a start point of an optional playback domain as instructed by a user from a playlist which gives a definition of combinations of preset domains in said AV stream, and a duration of said playback domain, said apparatus comprising:

a decoder unit configured to acquire said playlist mark from said information recording medium, the decoder unit acquiring a playlist mark identification information identifying a type of the playlist mark, the playlist mark identification information including identification of a play item in which the playlist mark is placed; and

a controller configured to control a processing of a plurality of information recorded on said information recording medium based on the playlist mark and the playlist mark identification information, the playlist mark being referenced by the playlist during reproduction of the AV stream, the playlist mark and playlist mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the optional playback domain of the AV stream is reproduced according to extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the extension data being appended to the playlist mark based on analysis of the optional playback domain.

19. An information processing method for causing an information processing apparatus to reproduce an information recording medium having recorded thereon an AV stream and a playlist mark including a set of a time stamp of a start point of an optional playback domain as instructed by a user from a playlist which gives a definition of combinations of preset domains in said AV stream, and a duration of said playback domain, said method comprising:

acquiring, at a decoder unit, said playlist mark from said information recording medium, the playlist mark being referenced by the playlist during reproduction of the AV stream;

acquiring, at the decoder unit, a playlist mark identification information identifying a type of the playlist mark and identifying a play item in which the playlist mark is placed; and

controlling, at a controller, a processing of a plurality of information recorded on said information recording medium based on the playlist mark and the playlist mark identification information, the playlist mark and playlist mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the optional playback domain of the AV stream is reproduced according to extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the extension data being appended to the playlist mark based on analysis of the optional playback domain.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions for an information processing apparatus reproducing an information recording medium having recorded thereon an AV stream and a playlist mark comprised of a set of a time stamp of a start point of an optional playback domain as instructed by a user from a playlist which gives a definition of combinations of preset domains in said AV stream, and a duration of said playback domain, said instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:

acquiring said playlist mark from said information recording medium, the playlist mark being referenced by the playlist during reproduction of the AV stream;

acquiring a playlist mark identification information identifying a type of the playlist mark and identifying a play item in which the playlist mark is placed; and

controlling the processing of the information recorded on said information recording medium based on the playlist mark and playlist mark identification information, the playlist mark and playlist mark identification information being included in a clip information file corresponding to the AV stream,

wherein the optional playback domain of the AV stream is reproduced according to extension data specifying special reproduction of said playback domain to be performed based on contents of the extension data, the extension data being appended to the playlist mark based on analysis of the optional playback domain.