U.S. patent application number 09/911788 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for audio information recording medium and audio information reproducing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pioneer Electronic Corporation. Invention is credited to Ema, Shozo, Hasegawa, Yoshinori, Ishii, Hidehiro, Sawabe, Takao, Takahashi, Tokihiro, Yamamoto, Kaoru.
Application Number | 20010055250 09/911788 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18205499 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010055250 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ishii, Hidehiro ; et
al. |
December 27, 2001 |
Audio information recording medium and audio information
reproducing apparatus
Abstract
An information recording medium has:a plurality of audio
information which are independent of each other; and a plurality of
reproducing control information to be used for reproducing the
audio information. Each of the plurality of reproducing control
information is assigned to any one of the plurality of audio
information. The reproducing control information includes double
reproducing control information. The double reproducing control
information is assigned to one of the plurality of audio
information to which different one of the plurality of reproducing
control information has been assigned.
Inventors: |
Ishii, Hidehiro;
(Tokorozawa-shi, JP) ; Sawabe, Takao; (Tokyo-to,
JP) ; Ema, Shozo; (Tokorozawa-shi, JP) ;
Yamamoto, Kaoru; (Tsurugashima-shi, JP) ; Hasegawa,
Yoshinori; (Tokorozawa-shi, JP) ; Takahashi,
Tokihiro; (Kawagoe-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS
1800 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-5869
US
|
Assignee: |
Pioneer Electronic
Corporation
|
Family ID: |
18205499 |
Appl. No.: |
09/911788 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09911788 |
Jul 25, 2001 |
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09200428 |
Nov 27, 1998 |
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6272082 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
369/47.16 ;
G9B/20.014; G9B/27.019; G9B/27.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 27/105 20130101;
G11B 27/031 20130101; G11B 7/007 20130101; G11B 7/005 20130101;
G11B 27/329 20130101; G11B 2220/2562 20130101; G11B 20/10527
20130101; G11B 2020/10592 20130101; G11B 27/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/47.16 |
International
Class: |
G11B 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 1997 |
JP |
P09-328009 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information recording medium comprising: a plurality of audio
information which are independent of each other; and a plurality of
reproducing control information to be used for reproducing said
plurality of audio information, each of said plurality of
reproducing control information being assigned to any one of said
plurality of audio information, wherein said plurality of
reproducing control information includes double reproducing control
information, and said double reproducing control information is
assigned to one of said plurality of audio information to which
different one of said plurality of reproducing control information
has been assigned.
2. An information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein
said information recording medium includes a first information
group comprising a set of said reproducing control information
except said double reproducing control information, and a second
information group comprising a set of said reproducing control
information including said double reproducing control
information.
3. An information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein
said information recording medium further comprises centralized
reproducing control information which includes all of said
plurality of reproducing control information.
4. An information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein
each of said plurality of reproducing control information includes
address information which indicates a recording position of one of
said plurality of audio information, and said double reproducing
control information and said reproducing control information except
said double reproducing control information include the same
address information as each other.
5. An information recording medium according to claim 3, wherein
said centralized reproducing control information includes double
assignment information which indicates whether or not said
reproducing control information is said double reproducing control
information.
6. An information recording medium according to claim 3, wherein
said centralized reproducing control information includes attribute
information, and said attribute information includes at least
information which indicates a recording position of one of said
plurality of audio information, a sampling frequency and the number
of bit of quantization with respect to each of said plurality of
audio information.
7. An information recording medium according to claim 3, wherein
said centralized reproducing control information is recorded in a
lead in area of said information recording medium.
8. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information recording
medium, said information recording medium comprising: a plurality
of audio information which are independent of each other; a
plurality of reproducing control information to be used for
reproducing said plurality of audio information, each of said
plurality of reproducing control information being assigned to any
one of said plurality of audio information; and centralized
reproducing control information which includes all of said
plurality of reproducing control information, wherein said
plurality of reproducing control information includes double
reproducing control information, which is assigned to one of said
plurality of audio information to which different one of said
plurality of reproducing control information has been assigned, and
said centralized reproducing control information includes double
assignment information which indicates whether or not said
reproducing control information is said double reproducing control
information, said reproducing apparatus comprising: a reading
device for reading information including said plurality of audio
information, said plurality of reproducing control information and
said centralized reproducing control information from said
information recording medium; an input device for inputting an
instruction to select either of a normal reproduction and a
non-double reproduction; and a reproducing device for referring
said centralized reproducing control information read by said read
device, and reproducing said plurality of audio information,
wherein said reproducing device, if said normal reproduction is
selected, reproduces said plurality of audio information according
to all of said plurality of reproducing control information, and
said reproducing device, if said non-double reproduction is
selected, refers said double assignment information and reproduces
said plurality of audio information according to said plurality of
reproducing control information except said double reproducing
control information.
9. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said
centralized reproducing control information includes a first total
reproduction time in a case of said normal reproduction and a
second total reproduction time in a case of said non-double
reproduction, and said reproducing apparatus further comprises a
displaying device for displaying either of said first total
reproduction time and said second total reproduction time.
10. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information
recording medium, said information recording medium comprising: a
plurality of audio information which are independent of each other;
a plurality of reproducing control information to be used for
reproducing said plurality of audio information, each of said
plurality of reproducing control information being assigned to any
one of said plurality of audio information; and centralized
reproducing control information which includes all of said
plurality of reproducing control information, wherein said
plurality of reproducing control information includes double
reproducing control information, which is assigned to one of said
plurality of audio information to which different one of said
plurality of reproducing control information has been assigned, and
said centralized reproducing control information includes address
information which indicates a recording position of one of said
plurality of audio information, said reproducing apparatus
comprising: a reading device for reading information including said
plurality of audio information, said plurality of reproducing
control information and said centralized reproducing control
information from said information recording medium; an input device
for inputting an instruction to select either of a normal
reproduction and a non-double reproduction; a reproducing device
for referring said centralized reproducing control information read
by said read device, and reproducing said plurality of audio
information; and a storage device for storing said address
information of said audio information that has been previously
reproduced by said reproducing device, wherein said reproducing
device, if said normal reproduction is selected, reproduces said
plurality of audio information according to all of said plurality
of reproducing control information, and said reproducing device, if
said non-double reproduction is selected, refers said address
information in said storage device and reproduces said plurality of
audio information according to said reproducing control information
assigned to said audio information whose address information has
not been stored in said storage device.
11. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
centralized reproducing control information includes a first total
reproduction time in a case of said normal reproduction and a
second total reproduction time in a case of said non-double
reproduction, and said reproducing apparatus further comprises a
displaying device for displaying either of said first total
reproduction time and said second total reproduction time.
12. An information recording medium comprising: a plurality of
audio information each corresponding to any one of a plurality of
song to be reproduced independently; a plurality of reproducing
control information to be used for reproducing said plurality of
audio information, each of said plurality of reproducing control
information being assigned to any one of said plurality of audio
information; and a title group information for defining a plurality
of title groups each of which is a set of said plurality of songs,
wherein a same song is doubly included in more than one of said
plurality of title groups.
13. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information
recording medium, said information recording medium comprising: a
plurality of audio information each corresponding to any one of a
plurality of song to be reproduced independently; a plurality of
reproducing control information to be used for reproducing said
plurality of audio information, each of said plurality of
reproducing control information being assigned to any one of said
plurality of audio information; and a title group information for
defining a plurality of title groups each of which is a set of said
plurality of songs, wherein a same song is doubly included in more
than one of said plurality of title groups, said reproducing
apparatus comprising: a reading device for reading information
including said plurality of audio information, said plurality of
reproducing control information and title group information; and a
reproducing device for referring to said title group information,
and reproducing all of said plurality of songs included in each of
said plurality of title group according to said reproducing control
information.
14. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information
recording medium, said information recording medium comprising: a
plurality of audio information each corresponding to any one of a
plurality of song to be reproduced independently; a plurality of
reproducing control information to be used for reproducing said
plurality of audio information, each of said plurality of
reproducing control information being assigned to any one of said
plurality of audio information; and a title group information for
defining a plurality of title groups each of which is a set of said
plurality of songs, wherein one of a same song is doubly included
in more than one of said plurality of title groups, said
reproducing apparatus comprising: a reading device for reading
information including said plurality of audio information, said
plurality of reproducing control information and title group
information; an identifying device for referring to said title
group information, and for identifying said song that is doubly
included in more than one of said plurality of title groups; and a
reproducing device for reproducing said audio information
corresponding to each of said plurality of songs according to said
reproducing control information, wherein said reproducing device
reproduces said audio information except audio information that has
been previously reproduced.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an information recording
medium such as a DVD, on which a large amount of information such
as images, sound, etc. can be recorded densely, and a reproducing
apparatus to reproduce the information recorded on the information
recording medium.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] An LD (Laser Disk), a CD (Compact Disk), etc. are popular as
an optical disc to record information such as images, sound, etc.
thereon.
[0005] On such an LD or CD etc, image information and audio
information are recorded together with time information, which
represents a time to reproduce each of the image information and
audio information on the basis of the reproduction starting point.
Therefore, in the case of CD, it is possible not only to reproduce
the audio information in order of the recording arrangement but
also to reproduce only some pieces of audio information that the
user wants to listen. Furthermore, it is possible to reproduce
audio information in random order.
[0006] However, the user have no choice with respect to contents of
images to be displayed or contents of sound to be reproduce. For
example, when watching pictures or movies, the user cannot choose
the subtitles. When listening music, the user cannot choose the
sound, voice or language (e.g. lyrics). This is a disadvantage of
the conventional optical disc, LD or CD. That is, the LD or CD does
not has the capability of interactive selection or the capability
that many choices are given to the user.
[0007] On the other hand, a DVD, which is a kind of optical disk,
has been proposed and now actively developed. The DVD has the same
size as that of the CD, and has a recording capacity that is about
ten times as large as that of the CD. If such a DVD is used, a
number of subtitles and a number of lyrics can be recorded on it,
and it makes possible to allow the user to choose the subtitles or
lyrics. That is, according to the DVD, it is possible to achieve
the interactive selection and to give many choices to the user.
[0008] If audio information such as music etc. is recorded on the
DVD, the audio information whose amount is as large as the total
amount of audio information recorded on several CDs can be recorded
on it, since the DVD has a large amount of recording capacity.
Hereinafter, a DVD on which audio information is mostly recorded is
referred to as an "audio DVD".
[0009] For example, if an audio DVD is produced with respect to one
musician, all of the songs included in several CD albums produced
by this musician can be recorded on this one audio DVD.
Furthermore, it is possible to select several songs from these CD
albums on the basis of a certain theme and add them as a song
collection album onto the same audio DVD.
[0010] More concretely, if an audio DVD is produced with respect to
the Beatles, all of the songs included in several CD albums
produced by the Beatles can be recorded on this one audio DVD.
Furthermore, it is possible to select several songs that the lead
vocal is John Lennon from these CD albums and add them as "John
Lennon Vocal Collection Album" onto the same audio DVD.
[0011] In this case, the same song is recorded doubly on one audio
DVD. For example, the song, "Let It Be", is recorded as a song
included in the album whose title is "Let It Be", and this song is
further recorded as a song included in the "John Lennon Vocal
Collection Album".
[0012] It is useless to record the same song more than one time.
That is, recording the audio information having same contents onto
one DVD is in vain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an information recording medium which can use its recording
capacity efficiently by preventing to record audio information
having the same content more than one time, and which can provide
the user with the aforementioned interactive selection and many
choices.
[0014] The above mentioned object can be achieved by an information
recording medium in accordance with the present invention. The
information recording medium has:a plurality of audio information
which are independent of each other; and a plurality of reproducing
control information to be used for reproducing the plurality of
audio information. Each of the plurality of reproducing control
information is assigned to any one of the plurality of audio
information. The plurality of reproducing control information
includes double reproducing control information. The double
reproducing control information is assigned to one of the plurality
of audio information to which different one of the plurality of
reproducing control information has been assigned.
[0015] Thus, the double reproducing control information and another
reproducing control information are doubly assigned to one audio
information. If this audio information is reproduced according to
the double reproducing control information and the reproducing
control information, this audio information is doubly reproduced.
Therefore, it is not needed to doubly record the same audio
information on one information recording medium, and it is possible
to record the audio information efficiently.
[0016] In the information recording medium may include a first
information group having a set of the reproducing control
information except the double reproducing control information, and
a second information group having a set of the reproducing control
information including the double reproducing control information.
According to the information recording medium of the present
invention, these information groups can be defined efficiently.
[0017] In the aforementioned information recording medium, the
information recording medium may further have centralized
reproducing control information which includes all of the plurality
of reproducing control information. Therefore, all of the
reproducing control information can be obtained by referring to the
centralized reproducing control information, so that it is possible
to make the reproducing process simple. As a result, the
reproducing process can be carried out rapidly.
[0018] In the aforementioned information recording medium, each of
the plurality of reproducing control information includes address
information which indicates a recording position of one of the
plurality of audio information. The double reproducing control
information and the reproducing control information except the
double reproducing control information include the same address
information as each other. Therefore, by referring the address
information of the audio information corresponding to each
reproducing control information, the reproducing control
information assigned to the doubled audio information can be found
easily.
[0019] In the aforementioned information recording medium, the
centralized reproducing control information may include double
assignment information which indicates whether or not the
reproducing control information is the double reproducing control
information. Therefore, it is possible to easily determined whether
or not the reproducing control information is the double
reproducing control information by referring to the double
assignment information.
[0020] In the aforementioned information recording medium, the
centralized reproducing control information may include attribute
information, and the attribute information may include at least
information which indicates a recording position of one of said
plurality of audio information, a sampling frequency and the number
of bit of quantization with respect to each of the plurality of
audio information. Therefore, the attributes of the audio
information corresponding to all the reproducing control
information can be easily obtained by referring to the attribute
information included in the centralized reproducing control
information.
[0021] In the aforementioned information recording medium, the
centralized reproducing control information may be recorded in a
lead in area of the information recording medium. The lead in area
is firstly read-out by the reproducing apparatus. Therefore, the
centralized reproducing control information can be rapidly
obtained, and thereafter, the reproducing process can be rapidly
and efficiently carried out.
[0022] The above mentioned object can be also achieved by a first
reproducing apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The
first reproducing apparatus is an apparatus for reproducing an
information recording medium. The information recording medium
has:a plurality of audio information which are independent of each
other; a plurality of reproducing control information to be used
for reproducing the plurality of audio information; and centralized
reproducing control information which includes all of the plurality
of reproducing control information. Each of the plurality of
reproducing control information is assigned to any one of the
plurality of audio information. The plurality of reproducing
control information includes double reproducing control
information, which is assigned to one of the plurality of audio
information to which different one of the plurality of reproducing
control information has been assigned. The centralized reproducing
control information includes double assignment information which
indicates whether or not the reproducing control information is the
double reproducing control information. The first reproducing
apparatus has:a reading device for reading information including
the plurality of audio information, the plurality of reproducing
control information and the centralized reproducing control
information from the information recording medium; an input device
for inputting an instruction to select either of a normal
reproduction and a non-double reproduction; and a reproducing
device for referring the centralized reproducing control
information read by the read device, and reproducing the plurality
of audio information. The reproducing device, if the normal
reproduction is selected, reproduces the plurality of audio
information according to all of the plurality of reproducing
control information, and the reproducing device, if the non-double
reproduction is selected, refers the double assignment information
and reproduces the plurality of audio information according to the
plurality of reproducing control information except the double
reproducing control information.
[0023] In this first reproducing apparatus, when an instruction to
indicate either normal reproduction or non-double reproduction is
input by the user, the first reproducing apparatus refers the
centralized reproducing control information, and reproduces the
audio information. If the normal reproduction is indicated, the
first reproducing apparatus reproduces the audio information
according to all the reproducing control information included in
the centralized reproducing control information. On the other hand,
if the non-double reproduction is indicated, the first reproducing
apparatus refers the double assignment information, and reproduces
the audio information according to the reproducing control
information except the double reproducing control information.
Thus, the audio information can be reproduced by the appropriate
reproducing process (i.e., reproduction mode), depending on the
user's selection.
[0024] The above mentioned object can be also achieved by a second
reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The second
reproducing apparatus is an apparatus for reproducing an
information recording medium. The information recording medium
has:a plurality of audio information which are independent of each
other; a plurality of reproducing control information to be used
for reproducing the plurality of audio information; and centralized
reproducing control information which includes all of the plurality
of reproducing control information. Each of the plurality of
reproducing control information is assigned to any one of the
plurality of audio information. The plurality of reproducing
control information includes double reproducing control
information, which is assigned to one of the plurality of audio
information to which different one of the plurality of reproducing
control information has been assigned. The centralized reproducing
control information includes address information which indicates a
recording position of one of the plurality of audio information.
The second reproducing apparatus has:a reading device for reading
information including the plurality of audio information, the
plurality of reproducing control information and the centralized
reproducing control information from the information recording
medium; an input device for inputting an instruction to select
either of a normal reproduction and a non-double reproduction; a
reproducing device for referring the centralized reproducing
control information read by the read device, and reproducing the
plurality of audio information; and a storage device for storing
the address information of the audio information that has been
previously reproduced by the reproducing device. The reproducing
device, if the normal reproduction is selected, reproduces the
plurality of audio information according to all of the plurality of
reproducing control information, and the reproducing device, if the
non-double reproduction is selected, refers the address information
in the storage device and reproduces the plurality of audio
information according to the reproducing control information
assigned to the audio information whose address information has not
been stored in the storage device.
[0025] In this second reproducing apparatus, when an instruction to
indicate either normal reproduction or non-double reproduction is
input by the user, the second reproducing apparatus refers the
centralized reproducing control information, and reproduces the
audio information. If the normal reproduction is indicated, the
second reproducing apparatus reproduces the audio information
according to all the reproducing control information included in
the centralized reproducing control information. On the other hand,
if the non-double reproduction is indicated, the second reproducing
apparatus refers the audio information in the storage device, and
determines whether or not the address information of the audio
information corresponding to the reproducing control information
has not been stored in the storage device. Then, the second
reproducing apparatus reproduces the audio information according to
the reproducing control information assigned to the audio
information whose address information has not been stored in the
storage device. Thus, the audio information can be reproduced by
the appropriate reproducing process (i.e., reproduction mode),
depending on the user's selection.
[0026] In the aforementioned first or second reproducing apparatus,
the centralized reproducing control information includes a first
total reproduction time in a case of the normal reproduction and a
second total reproduction time in a case of the non-double
reproduction. The first or second reproducing apparatus further has
a displaying device for displaying either of the first total
reproduction time and the second total reproduction time.
Therefore, the total reproduction time can be displayed before the
reproduction is actually carried out.
[0027] The above mentioned object can be also achieved by another
information recording medium in accordance with the present
invention. The information recording medium has:a plurality of
audio information each corresponding to any one of a plurality of
song to be reproduced independently; a plurality of reproducing
control information to be used for reproducing the plurality of
audio information; and a title group information for defining a
plurality of title groups each of which is a set of the plurality
of songs. Each of the plurality of reproducing control information
is assigned to any one of the plurality of audio information. The
same song is doubly included in more than one of the plurality of
title groups.
[0028] In this information recording medium, the title group is
defined in such a way that the same song is doubly included in more
than one title group, and only one audio information corresponding
to this song is recorded on the information recording medium.
Therefore, it is not needed to record the same audio information
doubly, and various relations between the title group and songs can
be produced.
[0029] The above mentioned object can be also achieved by a third
reproducing apparatus. The third reproducing apparatus is an
apparatus for reproducing an information recording medium. The
information recording medium has:a plurality of audio information
each corresponding to any one of a plurality of song to be
reproduced independently; a plurality of reproducing control
information to be used for reproducing the plurality of audio
information; and a title group information for defining a plurality
of title groups each of which is a set of the plurality of songs.
Each of the plurality of reproducing control information is
assigned to any one of the plurality of audio information. The same
song is doubly included in more than one of the plurality of title
groups. The third reproducing apparatus has:a reading device for
reading information including the plurality of audio information,
the plurality of reproducing control information and title group
information; and a reproducing device for referring to the title
group information, and reproducing all of the plurality of songs
included in each of the plurality of title group according to the
reproducing control information.
[0030] According to the third reproducing apparatus, all of the
songs included in each title group can be reproduced according to
the definition of each title group.
[0031] The above mentioned object can be also achieved by a fourth
reproducing apparatus. The fourth reproducing apparatus is an
apparatus for reproducing an information recording medium. The
information recording medium has:a plurality of audio information
each corresponding to any one of a plurality of song to be
reproduced independently; a plurality of reproducing control
information to be used for reproducing the plurality of audio
information; and a title group information for defining a plurality
of title groups each of which is a set of the plurality of songs.
Each of the plurality of reproducing control information is
assigned to any one of the plurality of audio information. The same
song is doubly included in more than one of the plurality of title
groups. The forrth reproducing apparatus has:a reading device for
reading information including the plurality of audio information,
the plurality of reproducing control information and title group
information; an identifying device for referring to the title group
information, and for identifying the song that is doubly included
in more than one of the plurality of title groups; and a
reproducing device for reproducing the audio information
corresponding to each of the plurality of songs according to the
reproducing control information. The reproducing device reproduces
the audio information except audio information that has been
previously reproduced.
[0032] According to the fourth reproducing apparatus, when the
songs included in the different title groups are reproduced, it is
prevented that the same song is reproduced repeatedly.
[0033] The nature, utility, and further feature of this invention
will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed
description with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings briefly
described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a physical format of an audio
DVD of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a logical format of the audio
DVD;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a centralized
audio information of the embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an audio DVD reproducing
apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an audio decoder of the
audio DVD reproducing apparatus;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first process of a normal
reproduction and a fist process of a non-double reproduction in the
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0040] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second process of the normal
reproduction and a second process of the non-double reproduction in
the embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] Referring to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the
present invention will be now described. In the description set
forth hereinafter, the present invention is embodied in an audio
DVD and an audio DVD reproducing apparatus.
[0042] In addition, in the following list, a number of terms
described in the claims of this application are listed on the left
side, a number of terms described in the embodiment are listed on
the right side. The terms on the left side and the right side are
corresponding to each other, and the terms on the right side are
examples of the respective terms on the left side.
1 Audio information Audio Information corresponding to Track (i.e.
AOB) Reproducing Control Address Information in each track of
Information Centralized Audio Information, or APGCI Centralized
Reproducing Centralized Audio Information Control Information
Double Reproducing Address Information, Attribute Control
Information Information corresponding to Doubled Track Double
Assignment Double Flag Information Title Group Information Logical
Information defining Title Group (i.e. AMG)
[0043] I. Information Recording Medium
[0044] Firstly, an embodiment of an information recording medium of
the present invention will be described.
[0045] (1) Physical Format and Logical Format of Audio DVD
[0046] (1-A) Physical Format
[0047] A physical format of the record format on the audio DVD is
explained with reference to FIG. 1.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, an audio DVD 200 as an embodiment is
provided with the lead in area LI at its most inner circumferential
portion and the lead out area LO at its most outer circumferential
portion, between which one volume space is recorded. Within the
volume space, an audio zone is always recorded. In this audio zone,
the audio information is recorded such that it is divided into a
plurality of ATSs (Audio Title Sets) 230, each of which has a
unique ID (Identification) number (i.e. ATS #1 to ATS #n).
[0049] At the outer circumference side of the lead in area LI, a
UDF (User Disc Format) 201 for managing the format of the file
recorded on the audio DVD 200 is recorded, and, next to it, an AMG
(Audio Manager) 202 is recorded. As the information recorded in the
AMG 202, for example, information related to the whole audio
information recorded on the audio DVD 200, such as a menu for
showing a name of each item, information for preventing an illegal
copy, an access table for directly accessing each title and so on,
is recorded.
[0050] One ATS 230 is recorded such that it is divided into a
plurality of AOBs (Audio Objects) 210, each of which has an ID
number (AOB ID#1, AOB ID#2, . . . ), and ATSI (Audio Title Set
Information) 211 disposed ahead of the AOBs 210.
[0051] Here, a data portion constructed by a plurality of AOBs 210
is defined as an AOB set (AOBS) as shown in FIG. 3. The AOB set is
the substantial portion of the audio information, while the ATS 211
is the managing and controlling information of the AOB set
consisting of a plurality of AOBs 210.
[0052] In the ATSI 211 recorded at the head of the ATS 230,
information such as APGCI (Audio ProGram Chain Information), which
is various information related to a program chain as a logical
division obtained by combining a plurality of cells (the "cell"
will be described later in detail), is recorded. In each AOB 210,
the substantial portion of the audio information (i.e. the audio
information itself other than control information) besides the
control information is recorded.
[0053] One cell 220 consists of a plurality of audio packs 230 each
of which has been packed, or an audio pack 230 and real time
information pack 231. The audio pack 230 is a data pack into which
the audio information to be recorded onto the audio DVD has been
packed by each predetermined size, and includes audio information
digitized by a linear PCM for example. In the real time information
pack 231, text information, BPM (Beat Per Minutes) information,
hand clap information and the like are included.
[0054] In the above explained record format having a hierarchical
structure as shown in FIG. 3, each division can be freely set
according to the author's intention, so as to perform recording the
record information onto the audio DVD 200 on the basis of these set
divisions. By performing the reproduction on the basis of a later
described logical structure for each of these divisions, the
variegated reproduction can be performed.
[0055] (1-B) Logical Format
[0056] Next, a logical format (logical structure) constructed by
combining the information recorded by the physical divisions shown
in FIG. 1 is explained with reference to FIG. 2.
[0057] The information is not actually recorded on the audio DVD
200 in the logical structure of FIG. 2. Instead, the audio
information is recorded on the audio DVD in the physical format
shown in FIG. 1, and the information to reproduce the audio
information is recorded in the aforementioned AMG 202 and the ATSI
211 in the logical format shown in FIG. 2.
[0058] To make the explanation clear, the following explanation is
made from the lower hierarchical layer in FIG. 2. An index 259 is
constructed by selecting and combining one cell 220 or a plurality
of cells 220 among the physical structure explained with reference
to FIG. 1. The index 259 can be used as the music number, and is
the minimum unit which can be accessed by the user.
[0059] By one or a plurality of indexes 259, one track 260 is
logically constructed. The track 260 is an information unit
corresponding to one music composition. The user can select an
arbitrary track (music composition) and directly access it.
[0060] Here, as for the number of each cell 220, at a time of
treating the cell 220 on the physical format shown in FIG. 3, the
number is treated as the cell ID number (which is indicated by cell
ID # in FIG. 3). On the other hand, at a time of treating the cell
220 on the logical format shown in FIG. 4, the number is treated as
the cell number in the order of description in the APGCI described
later.
[0061] The track (music composition) 260 is an information unit
including a plurality of cells, and is a group of cells having
certain common attributes to each other. Namely, the attributes of
all of the cells in one track 260 are the same to each other.
Further, all of the cells included in the track 260 are recorded
adjacent to each other within the same object.
[0062] One title 261 is logically constructed of one track 260 or a
plurality of tracks 260. However, the title 261 itself is not
recognized as a unit of access by the user. Therefore, it is not
possible to access an arbitrary title by specifying the title
number.
[0063] In case of the audio DVD, the attribute of each track 260
constructing the title 261 can be defined independently within 8
patterns at the maximum. Namely, the attribute as the audio
information such as the channel number, the quantization method,
the sampling frequency and the like may be changed for each track
(i.e., each music composition).
[0064] The aforementioned APGCI is defined by the unit of this
title 261. In the APGCI, the attribute of each track 260, the
reproduction order of the cells 220 in each track 260 when
reproducing each track 260, the address which is the recording
position of each cell 220 on the audio DVD 220, the number of the
cell 220 at the head to be reproduced on one track 260, the
reproducing method of each track 260 and various commands are
included.
[0065] In one title 261, the substantial audio information is
included as the combination of the tracks 260 (i.e., the
combination of the cells 220) other than the above mentioned
APGCI.
[0066] One title group 262 is logically constructed by one or a
plurality of titles 261. The title group 262 is the maximum unit
which the user can access, and can be defined up to 9 groups at the
maximum within one volume. This title group 262 is constructed by
one or a plurality of titles 261 which are collected on the basis
of a certain relationship, and all of the titles 261 within the
title group 262 are continuously reproduced. For example, it is
possible to collect as one title group the music compositions of a
particular singer, a particular composer or the like.
[0067] One volume 263 is logically constructed by one or a
plurality of title groups 262. The volume 263 is an information
unit corresponding to one album (DVD).
[0068] The actual audio information included in one title shown in
FIG. 4 is recorded within one ATS 230 shown in FIG. 3 on the audio
DVD.
[0069] As the author specifies the information divided in the
physical structure on the audio DVD 200 on the basis of the above
described logical format, the music for the audience to listen to
is to be formed.
[0070] (2) Contents of Audio Information
[0071] Next, contents of audio information recorded on the audio
DVD will be roughly explained. The audio DVD has a great amount of
recording capacity, as compared with the CD. Audio information
whose amount is as large as the total amount of audio information
recorded on several CDs can be recorded on one audio DVD. Here, a
set of audio information corresponding to one CD album corresponds
to the aforementioned title group 262.
[0072] For example, an audio DVD on which several CD albums
produced by the Beatles are recorded will be given as an example.
On this audio DVD, all the songs included in several Beatles'
albums (e.g. four albums), such as "Let It Be", "Abbey Road", etc..
The audio information corresponding to one album is recorded as one
title group. For example, the album, "Let It Be", is recorded as
the title group #1, and the album, "Abbey Road", is recorded as the
title group #2.
[0073] In the aforementioned example, one CD album corresponds to
one title group. Additionally, it is possible to select several
pieces of audio information from among all of the audio information
recorded on the audio DVD on the basis of a certain theme, and
assign them to one title group.
[0074] For example, four title groups #1 through #4 corresponding
to respective CD albums are recorded on the audio DVD. Furthermore,
other than these title groups, it is possible to select several
songs that the lead vocal is John Lennon from these CD albums and
add them as "John Lennon Vocal Collection Album" onto the same
audio DVD. Also, it is possible to select several songs that the
lead vocal is Paul McCartney and add them as "Paul McCartney Vocal
Collection Album" onto the same audio DVD. In this case, the "John
Lennon Vocal Collection Album" is assigned to the title group #5,
and the "Paul McCartney Vocal Collection Album" is assigned to the
title group #6.
[0075] In this case, all the songs included in the title groups #5
and #6 are included in the title groups #1 through #4. When any
song included in the title group #5 or #6 is chosen to be
reproduced, a song included in the title group #1, #2, #3 or #4 is
actually reproduced. That is, the user gets the impression that the
two same pieces of audio information exist, one is included in the
title group #5 or #6, and the other is included in the title group
#1, #2, #3 or #4. However, the only one piece of audio information
exists actually. All the pieces of audio information are different
from each other. That is, audio information is not double recorded
on one audio DVD.
[0076] Since audio information is not double recorded on one audio
DVD, it is possible to use the recording capacity of the audio DVD
efficiently. Thus, the audio information included in the title
group #5 or #6 is recorded on each ATS 230 of the audio DVD as the
audio information corresponding to the songs included in the title
group #1, #2, #3 or #4. The reproduction of the songs included in
the title group #5 or #6 is performed by actually reproducing the
audio information included in each ATS 230, while referring to the
reproducing control information in this title group (in this case,
the reproducing control information described in the AMG and
ATSI).
[0077] In addition, a set of several pieces of audio information
selected on the basis of a certain theme, such as the "John Lennon
Vocal Collection Album" or the "Paul McCartney Vocal Collection
Album", is referred to as a "collection". That is, the "collection"
is a title group which includes audio information to which a
different title group other than own title group is further
assigned.
[0078] Furthermore, the title group is a set of several songs that
can be recognized by the user. In the aforementioned example, the
title groups #1 through #4, which correspond to four CD albums, and
the title groups #5 and #6, which correspond to two "collections",
are included in one audio DVD. If the song title list is attached
to this audio DVD, the song titles of the songs included in the six
different CD albums are listed on it. Actually, the substantial
audio information included in the title group #5 or #6 is the audio
information of the song included in any one of the title groups #1
trough #4 corresponding to the four CD albums, and this audio
information is not doubly recorded on this audio DVD. However, the
user cannot recognize this fact, but gets impression that six
different CD albums are recorded on this audio DVD. The user can
recognizes the title group as a set of several songs, regardless of
the actual condition of the audio information recorded on the audio
DVD.
[0079] (3) Centralized Audio Information
[0080] Next, a centralized audio information included in the
information recorded on the audio DVD will be explained. The
centralized audio information is a set of necessary information
relative to reproduction of the audio information recorded on the
audio DVD. This centralized audio information is recorded on the
lead in area LI or the AMG 202.
[0081] As mentioned above, in the audio DVD, the substantial audio
information is recorded on each ATS 230, and the control
information necessary for reproduction of this audio information
and the additional information relative to the attributes of this
audio information are described in the ATSI 211 in each ATS 230.
Therefore, in order to reproduce the audio information included in
each title group, it is needed to refer the ATSI in each ATS and
obtain the reproducing control information included in the control
data included in this ATSI. Generally, in the audio DVD reproducing
apparatus, when the audio DVD disk is mounted or inserted, the lead
in area LI is read-out firstly, and thereafter, the AMG 202 and the
reproducing control information (APGCI) included in the control
data of ATSI 211 in each ATS 230 is read-out, and next, these
information is stored into the predetermined memory installed in
the reproducing apparatus, and thereafter, the substantial audio
information is read-out. Thus, when reproducing each song, the
reproducing control information (APGCI) of the title group
including information of the audio information to be reproduced is
obtained from the memory, and the reproduction is performed on the
basis of this reproducing control information.
[0082] The reproducing control information included in the control
data of the ATSI 211 includes not only information necessary for
the reproduction of the track but also various other information to
realize various functions, such as song number search, special
reproduction, etc.. However, in the case of a simple reproducing
apparatus such as a portable player, some part of the reproducing
control information is only used, because the simple reproducing
apparatus does not have many functions. Furthermore, the new
reproducing control information (APGCI) has to be read-out from the
disk and stored into the memory, each time the title is changed.
Therefore, in order to know the number of songs recorded on the
whole of the disk, the attributes of each song, the presence of the
song to which more than one title group is doubly assigned or the
like, it is needed to read-out all the reproducing control
information (APGCI) and perform the searching and calculation on
them. Therefore, this operation takes a long time and leads to
inefficiency.
[0083] In order to solve this problem, the reproducing control
information with respect to all of the tracks (i.e. songs) recorded
on the audio DVD disk is recorded in the lead in area LI or AMG 202
as the centralized audio information. Therefore, when any one of
the songs included in any one of the title groups is reproduced,
the reproducing control information can be easily and rapidly
obtained by referring to the centralized audio information. If the
centralized audio information is recorded in the lead in area LI,
the reproducing control information necessary for reproduction of
songs can be obtained immediately after the audio DVD disk is
mounted or inserted.
[0084] That is to say, the centralized audio information recorded
on the lead in area LI or the AMG 202 is a set of the reproducing
control information described in the ATSI 211 included in each ATS
230.
[0085] FIG. 3 shows an example of the centralized audio
information. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the audio DVD has four
title groups. These title groups correspond to respective ATSs 230.
Concretely, the title group #1 corresponds to ATS #1, and the title
group #2 corresponds to ATS #2. As mentioned above, the user
recognizes that one title group corresponds to one CD album and
thus four different CD album are recorded on one audio DVD.
[0086] The centralized audio information includes a start address
and an end address with respect to each track (i.e. song). These
address may be an absolute address on the audio DVD, or a relative
address based on the position where this centralized audio
information is recorded.
[0087] Furthermore, the centralized audio information includes an
audio attribute information. The audio attribute information is
information relative to the attributes of the audio information
with respect to all the tracks recorded on the audio DVD.
Concretely, coding type or methods, sampling frequency, the number
of bits of quantization, the number of channels, the presence or
absence of emphasis of audio information, etc are included in the
centralized audio information. The audio DVD reproducing apparatus
automatically adapted for these audio attribute information, and
performs reproduction.
[0088] In FIG. 3, each of the title groups #3 and #4 corresponds to
the aforementioned "collection". Therefore, the user recognizes the
title group #3 or #4 as a different CD album from the title group
#1 or #2. However, the title group #3 or #4 includes the tracks
included in the title group #1 or #2. In the present embodiment, a
double flag is used as information relative to the "collection",
and this double flag is included in the centralized audio
information. The double flag is attached to each track, and
indicates a track having a different track other than own track. As
shown in FIG. 3, the track that the double flag is "1"
(Hereinafter, it is referred to as a "doubled track".) has the same
audio information as that of the track included in the other title
group. For example, the start address and end address of the track
#1 of the title group #3 is equal to those of the track #1 of the
title group #1. This means the substantial audio information of the
track #1 of the title group #3 is the same as that of the track #1
of the title group #1. Namely, this audio information is recorded
at the address 50000-60000, and included in the ATS #1. Therefore,
when reproducing the track #1 of the title group #3, the
reproducing apparatus reproduces the audio information having the
same address as that of the audio information of the track #1 of
the title group #1 (i.e., the audio information of the track #1 of
the title group #1).
[0089] If the double flag is used, it is easily and rapidly
determined whether or not each track is the doubled track. However,
if the double flag is nor used, this determination is carried out
on the basis of comparison of the track address information (i.e.,
start address and/or end address). For example, in a non-double
reproduction (which is described later), when the track is
reproduced, it is determined whether or not the same track address
information as that of this track has been stored in the memory,
and if the same track address information has not been stored, this
track address information is stored into the memory, and this track
is reproduced. If the same track address information has been
stored, this track is not reproduced.
[0090] In addition, in FIG. 3, the double flags are described
together with numerals representing another track (doubled track)
corresponding to this track. For example, the numerals "(1-1)" is
described in the column with respect to the double flag of the
track #1 of the title group #3. This means the audio information of
this track is the same as that of the track #1 of the title group
#1.
[0091] If the double flag is used, it is prevented to doubly
reproduce the same song. This is convenient when the songs recorded
on the audio DVD are copied into another recording medium such as
MD (Mini Disk). That is, if the double flag is used, it is
prevented that the songs recorded on the audio DVD are doubly
copied into the MD disk.
[0092] More concretely, in the example shown in FIG. 3, if the user
inputs the instruction to sequentially reproduce all the songs
recorded on the audio DVD from the title group #1 through the title
group #4, the same song is reproduced more than one time.
Hereinafter, reproducing all the songs recorded on the audio DVD in
order of title groups is referred to as "normal reproduction". It
is undesirable for some users to reproducing the same song
repeatedly. Furthermore, when the all the songs recorded on the
audio DVD are copied into the MD disk, it is undesirable that the
same song is repeatedly copied.
[0093] In such a case, the doubled track is not reproduced by
referring to the double flag, or by the comparison of the track
address information. Therefore, it is prevented to repeatedly
reproduce the same song. That is, all the songs recorded on the
audio DVD are sequentially reproduced without repetition.
Hereinafter, reproducing all the songs recorded on the audio DVD
without repetition is referred to as "non-double reproduction".
[0094] Furthermore, the centralized audio information includes
reproduction time. Concretely, as shown in FIG. 3, the reproduction
time for each track, the total reproduction time for each title
group, the total reproduction time of the disk, and the total
recording time of the disk. Here, the total reproduction time
represents the total amount of time necessary for reproducing all
the songs of all the title groups in the normal reproduction.
Therefore, if the doubled track exists, the amount of time
necessary for repeatedly reproducing the same song is included in
the total reproduction time of the disk. In contrast, the total
recording time of the disk represents the total amount of time
necessary for reproducing the all the songs of all the title groups
in the non-double reproduction. That is to say, the amount of time
necessary for repeatedly reproducing the same song (doubled track)
is not included in the total recording time of the disk. When all
the song is copied from the audio DVD into the MD, this total
recording time of the disk is conveniently used.
[0095] Although, the reproduction time for each track, the total
reproduction time for each title group, the total reproduction time
of the disk, and the total recording time of the disk are included
in the centralized audio information, the only reproduction time
for each track may be included in the centralized audio
information. In this case, the total reproduction time for each
title group, the total reproduction time of the disk, and the total
recording time of the disk can be calculated on the basis of the
reproduction time for each track. For example, the total
reproduction time of the disk can be obtained by adding the
reproduction time of all of the tracks included in all the title
groups. The total recording time of the disk can be obtained by
adding the reproduction time of all of the track included in all
the title groups except for the doubled track.
[0096] II. Reproducing Apparatus
[0097] (1) Audio DVD reproducing apparatus
[0098] Next, an embodiment of an audio DVD reproducing apparatus
will be described with reference in FIG. 4.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 4, an audio DVD reproducing apparatus is
provided with:an optical pickup 80; a demodulate and correct unit
81; stream switches 82 and 84; a track buffer 83; a system buffer
85; a demultiplexer 86; an audio buffer 92; an audio decoder 93; an
audio decoding buffer 94; an RTI buffer 95; an RTI decoder 96; an
RTI decoding buffer 97; an input unit 98; a display unit 99; a
system controller 100; a drive controller 101; a spindle motor 102;
and a slider motor 103. The construction shown in FIG. 4 only
illustrates the portions related to the audio reproduction of the
audio DVD reproducing apparatus. The description and the detailed
explanation as for servo circuits to servo-control the optical
pickup 80, the spindle motor 102, the slider motor 103 and the like
are omitted since they are constructed in the same manner as the
conventional arts.
[0100] Next, an overall operation of the present embodiment is
explained.
[0101] The optical pickup 80 includes a laser diode, a polarization
beam splitter, an objective lens, a photo-detector and the like not
illustrated, and outputs a light beam B as a reproduction light
with respect to the DVD 200. The optical pickup 80 receives a
reflection light of the light beam B from the DVD 200, and outputs
a detection signal Sp corresponding to information pits formed on
the DVD 200. At this time, the tracking servo control and the focus
servo control are operated with respect to the objective lens etc.
of the optical pickup 80 in the same manner as the conventional art
so that the light spot of the light beam B can be located precisely
at the information track of the DVD 200 and that the light beam B
can be focused on the information record surface of the DVD
200.
[0102] The detection signal Sp output from the optical pickup 80 is
input to the demodulate and correct unit 81, where a signal
demodulation process and an error correct process are applied to it
to generate a demodulation signal Sdm, which is fed into the stream
switch 82 and the system buffer 85.
[0103] The opening and closing operation of the stream switch 82,
to which the demodulation signal Sdm is input, is controlled by a
switch signal Ssw1 from the drive controller 101. When it is
closed, the stream switch 82 passes therethrough the input
demodulation signal Sdm as it is to the track buffer 83. When it is
opened, the demodulation signal Sdm is not output therethrough, so
that unnecessary or useless information (signal) is not input to
the track buffer 83.
[0104] The track buffer 83, to which the demodulation signal Sdm is
input, consists of a FIFO (First In First Out) memory, for example.
The track buffer 83 temporarily stores the input demodulation
signal Sdm, and continuously outputs the stored demodulation signal
Sdm when the stream switch 84 is closed.
[0105] The opening and closing operation of the stream switch 84,
to which the demodulation signal Sdm is continuously input, is
controlled by a switch signal Ssw2 from the system controller 100
such that the various buffers at its posterior stage may not be
over-flown or, on the contrary, may not become empty to stop the
decoding process, in the separating process by the demultiplexer
86.
[0106] On the other hand, the system buffer 85, to which the
demodulation signal Sdm is input in parallel with the track buffer
83, accumulates the management information (e.g. the VMG 2 etc.,)
or the VTSI 11 of each VTS 3 which are detected firstly upon
loading the DVD 200 and which are related to the whole information
recorded on the DVD 200. Then, the system buffer 85 outputs the
accumulated data as a control information Sc to the system
controller 100, and temporarily stores the DSI data 51 for each
navi-pack 41 during the reproduction, to output it also as the
control information Sc to the system controller 100.
[0107] the demultiplexer 86, to which the demodulation signal Sdm
is continuously input through the stream switch 84, extracts the
audio information for each pack from the demodulation signal Sdm,
and outputs it to the audio buffer 92 as the audio signal Sad.
[0108] The audio buffer 92, to which the audio signal Sad is input,
consists of a FIFO memory, for example. The audio buffer 92
temporarily stores the audio signal Sad and outputs it to the audio
decoder 93. Then, a reproducing process based on the linear PCM
method is applied thereat to the audio signal Sad on the basis of
the header control signal Shc, and it is output as a decoded audio
signal Sadd to a speaker etc. not illustrated.
[0109] The real time information such as the real time text etc.,
is output from the demultiplexer 86 to the RTI buffer 95. The data
temporarily stored in the RTI buffer 95 is output to the RTI
decoder 96 on the basis of the control signal Shc output from the
system controller 100, so that the lyrics etc., of the song is
displayed on the display device which is not illustrated.
[0110] If a necessity to temporarily stop the audio sound (i.e., to
pause) during the reproduction immediately after the access to a
desired information etc., is detected, a pause signal Sca is output
from the system controller 100 to the audio decoder 93. Then, the
audio decoder 93 temporarily stops the output of the demodulated
audio signal Sadd.
[0111] Next, a construction and an operation of the audio decoder
93 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a construction of the audio
decoder 93. As shown in FIG. 5, the audio decoder 93 has:a signal
processing portion 120 including a digital filter etc.; a D/A
converter 121; an analog output circuit 122 including an amplifier
etc.; a digital output circuit 123; a system micro computer 124
including a RAM 124a; and a clock circuit 125.
[0112] The system micro computer 124 is communicated with the
system controller 100 by using a control signal Sca, and operates
to control the clock circuit 125, the signal processing portion
120, the D/A converter 121 and the analog output circuit 122. The
system micro computer 124 has the RAM 124a. The RAM 124a
temporarily stores the audio attribute information which is
supplied from the system controller 100 as the control signal Sca,
and outputs a control signal to the signal processing portion 120,
the D/A converter 121, the clock circuit 125, etc..
[0113] The signal processing portion 120 operates according to a
clock signal fs applied from the clock circuit 120. The signal
processing portion 120 decodes the audio signal supplied from the
audio buffer 92 and limits the frequency bands, according to
information of the coding type or methods, the sampling frequency,
the number of bits of quantization, etc. Furthermore, the signal
processing portion 120 performs a de-emphasis process according to
information of the presence or absence of the emphasis. Then, the
signal processing portion 120 outputs the audio signal to the D/A
converter 121. The D/A converter 121 divides the input signal into
signals corresponding to respective channels according to channel
information obtained from the system micro computer 124. Then, the
D/A converter 121 converts the signals corresponding to respective
channels from digital to analog, and outputs the resultant analog
signals to the analog output circuit 122. The analog output circuit
122 amplifies the analog signals to their optimum level for each
channel, and outputs them as analog audio signals to speakers
(which is not illustrated).
[0114] Furthermore, the signal processing portion 120 outputs a
digital audio signal Sadd through the digital output circuit
123.
[0115] Next, an reproducing operation will be explained. When a
track (i.e. song) is designated by the user, the reproducing
apparatus refers to audio attribute information included in the
centralized audio information in the lead in area LI or the AMG
202, and controls the audio decoder 93 according to the audio
attribute information of the designated track.
[0116] The track address information of the track on the audio DVD,
which is shown in FIG. 3, is also included in the centralized audio
information in the AMG 202. Therefore, the system controller 100
sends the a control signal Sscl to the drive controller 101 on the
basis of the track address information (e.g. start address), and
controls the pickup 80 in such a way that the pickup 80 is moved
onto the start address. This process is carried out immediately
after the user inputs the instruction to reproduce the track. That
is, this process is carried out while the control process is
carried out in the audio decoder 93.
[0117] After the pickup 80 is moved the start address of the
designated track, the system controller 100 controls the pickup 80
in such a way that the pickup 80 is stopped temporarily.
Thereafter, when the setting of the audio attributes have completed
in the audio decoder 93, the reproduction is started. In this
manner, the songs are reproduced.
[0118] (2) Reproducing processes of Audio DVD
[0119] Next, a first process of the normal reproduction and a first
process of the non-double reproduction will be described.
[0120] Firstly, the first process of the normal reproduction will
be described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0121] The reproducing apparatus displays the menu etc, and waits
for the user to select either of the normal reproduction and the
non-double reproduction (step 1). If the user selects the normal
reproduction (step 3, YES), the system controller 100 refers to the
centralized audio information stored in the internal memory 100a,
and then obtains the total reproduction time of the disk from the
centralized audio information, and next, displays this total
reproduction time onto the display 99 (step 15). Therefore, the
user can know the amount of time necessary for the normal
reproduction. In addition, the total reproduction time of the disk
is calculated on the basis of the reproduction time for each track,
as mentioned above.
[0122] Next, the system controller 100 obtains the start address,
the end address, the attribute information, etc. with respect to
the track #1 of the title group #1 (step 16). Next, the system
controller 100 controls the drive controller 101 in order to move
the pickup 80 onto the start address, and sends the obtained
attribute information to the audio decode 93 in order to carried
out the setting of the audio attributes. Next, when the setting of
the audio attributes has completed in the audio decoder 93, the
system controller 100 reproduces the track #1 (step 17). When the
reproduction of the track #1 has completed, the system controller
100 determines whether or not the next track exists, by referring
to the centralized audio information (step 19). If the next track
exists (step 19, YES), the system controller 100 obtains the start
address, the end address, the attribute information, etc. with
respect to the next track, and reproduces this track (steps 16 and
17). These processes are repeatedly carried out until the last
track of the last title group has been reproduced. If the
reproduction of the last track of the last title group has
completed (step 19, NO), the normal reproduction ends. In this
manner, all the tracks are reproduced. If there are the title
groups of the "collection" (e.g. title group #3 or #4 in FIG. 3),
the track that has been already reproduced as a track of another
title group is reproduced again.
[0123] Next, the first process of the non-doubled reproduction will
be described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0124] If the user selects the non-double reproduction (step 3,
NO), the system controller 100 refers the centralized audio
information stored in the internal memory 100 a (step 5), and
obtains the total recording time of the disk from the centralized
audio information, and next displays this total recording time on
the display 99 (step 6). Therefore, the user can know the total
amount of time necessary for reproducing all the tracks recorded on
the disk without repetition. If the user copies all the tracks into
the another recording medium such as an MD, a cassette tape, etc.,
the user can confirm the recording time.
[0125] Next, the system controller 100 obtains the start address,
the end address, the double flag, the attribute information, etc.
(step 7), and determined whether or not the double flag is "1"
(step 9). If the double flag is not "1", the system controller 100
reproduces the track (step 11). More concretely, the system
controller 100 controls the drive controller 101 in order to move
the pickup 80 onto the start address, and sends the obtained
attribute information to the audio decoder 93 in order to carried
out the setting of the audio attributes. Thereafter, the system
controller 100 reproduces the track.
[0126] On the other hand, if the double track is "1" (step 9, NO),
the system controller 100 does not reproduce the track, because the
track has been already reproduced. Then, the system controller 100
determines whether or not the next track exists (step 13). If the
next track exists, the system controller 100, at step 7, confirms
the double flag corresponding to the next track, and the
aforementioned reproducing operation is repeatedly carried out
depending on the double flag. As a result, the only tracks that the
double track is "0" are reproduced. If the reproduction of all the
tracks has completed (step 13, NO), the non-doubled reproduction
ends.
[0127] In this manner, each track is reproduced one time, with
respect to all of the tracks recorded on the DVD disk. In the
example shown in FIG. 3, all of the tracks of the title group #1
and all of the tracks of the title group #2 are firstly reproduced.
Then, the tracks 2 and 4 of the title group #3 are secondly
reproduced. The other tracks of the title group #3 or all the
tracks of the title group #4 are not reproduced, since these tracks
are the doubled track.
[0128] Next, a second process of the normal reproduction and a
second process of the non-double reproduction will be described.
Although the double flag is used in the first process the normal
reproduction and the first process of the non-double reproduction,
the double flag is not used in the second process of the normal
reproduction and the second process of the non-double reproduction.
In the second processes, the system controller 100 determines on
the basis of comparison of the track address information whether or
not each track is the doubled track. More concretely, the track
address information of the track that has been previously
reproduced is stored in the memory 100a of the system controller
100. When the track is reproduced, the system controller 100
determines whether or not the corresponding track address
information has been stored in the memory 100a. Hereinafter, these
processes will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 7.
[0129] In FIG. 7, the reproducing apparatus displays the menu etc
(step 21), the user selects either of the normal reproduction and
the non-double reproduction (step 23). The use selects the normal
reproduction, the normal reproduction is carried out in the same
manner as the aforementioned first process.
[0130] On the other hand, the user selects the non-double
reproduction (step 23, NO), the system controller 100 refers to the
centralized audio information stored in the internal memory 100a
(step 33), and displays the total recording time (step 34).
[0131] Next, the system controller 100 determines whether or not
the track to be now reproduced is the first track of this audio DVD
(step 35). For example, the first track is the track #1 of the
title group #1 in the example shown in FIG. 3. If the track is
first track, the system controller 100 obtains the track address
information etc. with respect to this track from the centralized
audio information (step 37), and stores this track address
information into the internal memory 100a (step 39). More
concretely, the system controller 100, at step 39, stores the start
address information or both of the start address and end
address.
[0132] Next, the system controller 100 reproduces this track (step
41), and determines on the basis of centralized audio information
whether or not the next track exists (step 43). If the next track
exists, the system controller 100 carries out the determination at
step 35. As the next track is not the first track, the process
proceeds to step 45, and the system controller 100, at step 45,
obtains the track address information etc. with respect to this
track. Next, the system controller 100 compares the obtained track
address information of this track with the track address
information which has been stored in the internal memory 100a. If
the same track address information has been stored in the internal
memory 100a (step 47, YES), the system controller 100 determines
that this track is the doubled track. If so, the system controller
100 does not reproduce this track, and the process proceeds to step
43. On the other hand, the same track address information does not
exist (step 47, NO), the system controller 100 determines that this
track is not the bobbled track, and the track address information
of this track is stored in the internal memory 100a (step 39).
Then, the system controller 100 reproduces this track (step 41).
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 43, and system controller
100 is carried out the aforementioned processes on the next
track.
[0133] In this manner, if the double flag is not included in the
centralized audio information in the lead in area LI or the AMG
202, the doubled track can be determined by using the track address
information or each track included in the centralized audio
information, and the non-double reproduction can be carried out
rapidly.
[0134] Thus, since the track address information of each track is
included in the centralized audio information and this centralized
audio information is recorded in the lead in area LI or the AMG
200, the non-double reproduction can be rapidly and easily carried
out, if the double flag is not used.
[0135] As described above, according to the reproducing apparatus
of the embodiment of the present invention, the normal reproduction
and the non-double information can be carried out on the basis of
the user's selection. Therefore, the audio information can be
reproduced by appropriate process in accordance with the request
from the user.
[0136] Furthermore, the amount of time necessary for the normal
reproduction or the amount of time necessary for the non-doubled
reproduction is displayed depending on the user's selection.
Therefore, the user can know the reproduction time before the
reproduction is actually carried out. When the audio information is
copied from the audio DVD into another recording medium, such as a
cassette tape, the user can confirm the total recording time, and
select a cassette tape having the suitable recording time
(recordable area) easily.
[0137] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in
all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
[0138] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
09-328009 filed on Nov. 28, 1997 including the specification,
claims, drawings and summary is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
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