Method and an apparatus for reproducing bitstream having non-sequential system clock data seamlessly therebetween

• US 6,393,574 B1
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kashiwagi, Yoshiichiro, Okada, Tomoyuki, Fukushima, Yoshihisa, Kozuka, Masayuki, Hasebe, Takumi, Matsui, Kenichi, Azumatani, Yasushi, Tsuga, Kazuhiro, Nakamura, Kazuhiko, Kawara, Toshiyuki, Mori, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/195,998
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 713/400, 710/1, 710/29, 710/58, 710/61, 707/1, 707/2, 707/101, 369/2.72, 369/275.1, 369/275.3, 369/275.4
• US Class Current: 713/400
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1251 for continuous data, e.g. digitised analog information signals, pulse code modulated [PCM] data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10944 Real-time recording or reproducing, e.g. for ensuring seamless playback of AV data
• 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 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/178 Metadata, e.g. disparity information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/06 : Generation of synchronising signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/877 : by assembling picture element blocks in an intermediate memory

Abstract

A system stream contiguous reproduction apparatus to which are input one or more system streams interleaving at least moving picture data and audio data, and system stream connection information includes a system clock STC generator for producing the system clock that is used as the system stream reproduction reference clock. The system stream contiguous reproduction apparatus further includes one or more signal processing decoders that operate referenced to the system clock STC, decoder buffers for temporarily storing the system stream data transferred to the corresponding signal processing decoders, and STC selectors for selecting a system clock STC referenced by the signal processing decoders when decoding the first system stream, and another system clock STC referenced by the signal processing decoders when decoding a second system stream reproduced contiguously to the first system stream.

Claims

1. A reproduction method for reproducing an optical disc containing a first area containing at least one cell, a second area containing at least one cell, and a management information area operable to record management information, wherein the management information contains first data operable to indicate whether or not a second cell, which is a specific cell in the second area, shall be presented seamlessly after presentation of a first cell, which is a specific cell in the first area, said reproduction method comprising:

reading the management information and the first and second cells from the optical disc; and

determining based on the first data, whether or not to present the second cell seamlessly after presentation of the first cell.

2. A reproduction apparatus for reproducing an optical disc containing a first area containing at least one cell, a second area containing at least one cell, and a management information area operable to record management information, wherein the management information contains first data operable to indicate whether or not a second cell, which is a specific cell in the second area, shall be presented seamlessly after presentation of a first cell, which is a specific cell in the first area, said reproduction apparatus comprising:

a reading arrangement operable to read the management information and the first and second cells from the optical disc; and

a determining arrangement operable to determine, based on the first data, whether or not to present the second cell seamlessly after presentation of the first cell.

3. A machine readable optical disc comprising:

a first area containing at least one cell;

a second area containing at least one cell; and

a management information area operable to record management information, wherein the management information contains information operable to indicate, when said optical disc is read by a machine, whether or not a second cell, which is a specific cell in the second area, shall be presented seamlessly after presentation of a first cell, which is a specific cell in the first area.