Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of interleaved multiple reproduction path video data and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses

The first recording medium having a data structure for managing the reproduction of multiplexed multiplexed video data, and a recording and reproducing method and apparatus. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a recording medium having at least multiple channels for managing the reproduction of the recording medium. The reproduced data structure of video data, and the method and device for recording and reproducing.

2. Description of the Related Art The standardization of new high-density read-only and rewritable optical discs that can record a large amount of high-quality video and audio data is being rapidly promoted, and products related to the new optical discs are expected to be put on the market in the near future. Blu-ray rewritable disc (BD-RE) is an example of these new discs.

Figure 1 shows the file structure of BD-RE. This file structure or data structure is used to manage the reproduction of video and audio data recorded on the BD-RE. As shown in the figure, the data structure includes a root directory containing at least one BDAV directory, a PLAYLIST subdirectory for storing playlist files (*. rpls and *.vpls), and a CLIPINF subdirectory for storing clip information files (*.clpi), And the STREAM subdirectory that stores the A/V stream clip file (*.(n2ts) of the MPEG2 format corresponding to the clip information file. The BDAV directory includes such as'info.bdav','menu, tidx,,'mark, tidx, File. In addition to showing the data structure of the optical disc, Figure 1 also shows the area of the optical disc. For example, the general information file info, bda v is stored in a general information area or multiple areas on the optical disc.

Since the data structure and disc format of the BD-RE shown in FIG. 1 are well-known and easy to obtain, only a brief description of the file structure is given here.

As mentioned above, the STREAM directory includes A/V stream files in the MPEG2 format called clips or clip files. The STREAM directory may also include what is called bridge-clip

03803595.2 (bridge-clip) A special type of clip for Α/V stream files. Bridge-Clip is used for seamless connection between two or more presentation sections selected in the clip, and usually has a smaller amount of data compared with the clip. The Α/V stream includes source packets of video and audio data. For example, the source packet of video data includes a packet header and a transport packet. The source packet includes a source packet number, which is usually a sequentially assigned number used as an address for accessing the source packet. The transmission packet includes the packet identification code (PID). The PID identifies the transmission packet sequence to which the transmission packet belongs. Each transmission packet in the sequence has the same PID.

The CLIPINF directory includes clip information files related to each A/V stream file. The clip information file indicates the type, sequence information, program information, and timing information of the A/V stream related to it. The sequence information describes the sequence of arrival time baseline (ATC) and system time baseline (STC). For example, the sequence information indicates the sequence number, the start and end time information of each sequence, the address of the first source packet in each sequence, and the PID of the transmission packet in each sequence. The sequence of source packets with unchanged program content is called a program sequence. The program information indicates the program sequence number, the start address of each program sequence, and the PID of the transmission packet in the program sequence.

Timing information is called characteristic point information (CPI), and one form of CPI is an entry point (EP) map. The entry point (EP) map maps the presentation time mark (for example, on the arrival time baseline (ATC) and/or the system time baseline (STC)) to the source packet address (ie, the source packet number). The presentation time stamp (PTS) and source packet number (SPN) are related to the entry point of the A/V stream. In other words, the PTS and its related SPN point to the entry point of the A/V stream. The pointed packet is usually called an entry point packet.

The PLAYLIST directory includes one or more playlist files. The concept of playlist is introduced to make editing/compositing of clips for playback easy to operate. A playlist file is a collection of play intervals in a clip, and each play interval is called a play item. In the playlist file, each play item constituting the playlist is identified. And each play item is a pair of IN-point and OUT-point pointing to the position on the timeline of the clip

03803595.2 Section (for example, the presentation time mark on the ATC or STC baseline) o To put it another way, the playlist file identifies play items, and each play item points to a clip or its segment and identifies the clip information related to the clip file. The clip information file is used in it to map the play item to the clip of the source package.

The playlist directory can include real playlists (*·rpls) and virtual playlists (*.vpls). The real playlist can only use clips and not bridge-clips. In other words, the actual playlist is considered to point to the clip part, and therefore, conceptually considered to be equivalent to the pointed clip part in the disk space. The virtual playlist can use clips and bridge-cuts at the same time. Therefore, the conceptual consideration of the real playlist does not exist in the virtual playlist.

Info, bdav files are general information files that provide general information for managing the reproduction of the A/V stream recorded on the optical disc. More specifically, the Info, bdaν file includes a playlist table in which file names in the PLAYLIST directory of the same BDAV directory are identified.

menu, tidx, menu, tdtl and menu. The tdt2 file stores information related to the menu index. The mark, tidx, mark, tdtl and mark. tdt2 files store information related to the mark index. Since these documents are not particularly relevant to the present invention, they will not be described further.

The standardization of high-density read-only optical discs such as Blu-ray ROM (BD-ROM) is underway, and is used to manage the effective data structure of the reproduction of video and audio data recorded on high-density read-only optical discs such as BD-ROM Not yet established.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The recording medium according to the present invention includes path management information for managing the reproduction of at least multiple reproduction path video data (for example, video data of different imaging angles).

In an exemplary embodiment, the recording medium includes:

03803595.2 The first data area where at least a part of the video data of the multiple reproduction path is stored. The multiple reproduction path video data is divided into one or more cross units, and each cross unit is associated with one of the reproduction paths. Each cross unit starts and ends with a point of change in the reproduction path, and cross units related to different reproduction paths cross in the data area.

In an exemplary embodiment, the multi-path reproduction path video data is divided into several clip files, and each clip file includes video data related to one of the multiple reproduction paths. Here, each clip file is divided into one or more intersecting units. The video data of each cross unit can also be divided into one or more entry points.

The recording medium according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in combination with any of the foregoing embodiments, further includes a management area for storing management information. The management information includes at least one entry point map related to each reproduction path, and each entry point map identifies an entry point in the video data of the relevant reproduction path. In this embodiment, each entry point map may indicate which of the identified entry points is the last entry point of the intersection unit. Alternatively, each entry point map may indicate which of the identified entry points is the first entry point of the intersection unit.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the recording medium includes a data area storing several clip files. Each clip file includes video data related to one of the multiple reproduction paths, and is divided into entry points of the video data. The entry points of each clip file are combined into one or more cross units, and several clip files are crossed in the data area based on the cross unit. In this or other embodiments of the invention, each cross unit may include the same number of entry points, or at least two cross units may have a different number of entry points.

The present invention also provides an apparatus and method for recording and reproducing the data structure according to the present invention.

Description of the drawings

03803595.2 The above-mentioned features and other advantages of the present invention can be clearly understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the prior art file and data structure according to the Blu-ray Disc (BD-RE) rewritable standard Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a file or data structure of a recording medium according to the present invention; Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a recording medium having the data structure of Fig. 2 stored thereon; Fig. 4 shows An embodiment of a data structure for managing multiple reproduction path data streams; Figures 5 and 6 show an embodiment of a data structure of a cross unit IU according to the present invention; Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the data structure of the present invention. The time queue existing between the entry point maps of different clip files; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In order to fully understand the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, high-density optical discs, such as Blu-ray ROM (BD-ROM), BD-RE, etc., can have a file or data structure for managing the reproduction of video and audio data according to the present invention. Many aspects of the data structure according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2 are similar to the BD-RE standard described with reference to FIG. 1. Therefore, these aspects will not be described in detail.

As shown in Figure 2, the root directory includes at least one DVP directory. The DVP directory includes general information file Info.dvp, menu files menu.tidx, menu.tdt 1 and others, and stores

03803595.2 The PLAYLIST directory of the first playlist file (true (*.rpls) and virtual (*.vpls)), the CLIPINF directory that stores the clip information file (*.clpi), and the A/ that stores the MPEG2 format corresponding to the clip information file The STREAM directory of the V stream clip information file (*.m2ts).

The STREAM directory includes MPEG2 format A/V stream files called clips or clip files. The A/V stream includes source packets of video and audio data. For example, the source packet of video data includes a packet header and a transport packet. The source packet includes a source packet number, which is usually a number sequentially assigned as an address for accessing the source packet. The transmission packet includes the packet identification code (PID). The PID identifies the transmission packet sequence to which the transmission packet belongs. Each transmission packet in the sequence has the same PID.

The CLIPINF directory includes clip information files related to each A/V stream file. The clip information file indicates the type, sequence information, program information, and timing information of the A/V stream related to it. The sequence information describes the sequence of arrival time baseline (ATC) and system time baseline (STC). For example, the sequence information indicates the sequence number, the start and end time information of each sequence, the address of the first source packet in each sequence, and the PID of the transmission packet in each sequence. The sequence of source packets with unchanged program content is called a program sequence. The program information indicates the program sequence number, the start address of each program sequence, and the PID of the transmission packet in the program sequence.

Timing information is called characteristic point information (CPI), and one form of CPI is an entry point (EP) map. The entry point (EP) map maps the presentation time mark (for example, on the arrival time baseline (ATC) and/or the system time baseline (STC)) to the source packet address (ie, the source packet number). The presentation time stamp (PTS) and source packet number (SPN) are related to the entry point of the A/V stream. In other words, the PTS and its related SPN point to the entry point of the A/V stream. The pointed packet is usually called an entry point packet.

03803595.2 p.

The PLAYLIST directory includes one or more playlist files. The concept of playlist is introduced to make editing/compositing of clips for playback easy to operate. A playlist file is a collection of play intervals in a clip, and each play interval is called a play item. In the playlist file, each play item constituting the playlist is identified. In each play item, there is a pair of IN-point and OUT-point (for example, the presentation time mark on the ATC or STC baseline) pointing to the position on the time axis of the clip. To put it in another way, the playlist file identifies play items, and each play item points to a clip or its segment and identifies the clip information file related to the clip. The clip information file is used in it to map the play item to the clip of the source package.

The playlist directory can include real playlists (*. rpls) and virtual playlists (*.vpls)_oThe actual playlist only uses clips instead of bridge-cuts. In other words, the actual playlist is considered to point to the clipped part, and therefore, conceptually considered to be equivalent to the clipped part in disk space. The virtual playlist can use both clips and bridge-cuts at the same time. Therefore, the conceptual consideration of the real playlist does not exist for the virtual and real playlists.

The Infb.dvp file is a general information file that provides general information for managing the reproduction of the A/V stream recorded on the optical disc. More specifically, the Infb.dvp file includes a playlist table in which file names of playlists in the PLAYLIST directory are identified. The Infb.dvp file will be discussed in more detail below with reference to embodiments of the present invention.

In addition to describing the data structure of the recording medium according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 also shows the area of the recording medium. For example, general information files are recorded in one or more general information areas, playlist directories are recorded in one or more playlist directory areas, and each playlist in the playlist directory is recorded in one or more playlists of the recording medium. List area, etc. Fig. 3 shows a recording medium having the data structure of Fig. 2 stored thereon

03803595.2 The first instance. As shown in the figure, the recording medium includes a file system information area, a database area and an A/V stream area. The database area includes general information files, a playlist information area, and a clip information area. The general information file and playlist information area have a general information file recorded in its general information file area, and a PLAYLIST directory and playlist file recorded in its playlist information area. The clip information area has a CLIPINF directory and related clip information files recorded therein. The A/V stream area has A/V streams of various titles recorded therein.

Video and audio data are typically organized as separate titles; for example, different movies represented by video and audio data are organized with different titles. In addition, headings can be organized into individual chapters, much like a book is usually organized into many chapters.

Since new high-density recording media such as BD-ROM. BD-RE discs have a huge storage capacity, various versions of different titles, one title, or parts of one title can be recorded, and therefore, can be reproduced from the recording medium. For example, video data representing different lens angles can be recorded in the recording medium. As another example, versions of a title or part thereof related to different languages can be recorded in the recording medium. As another example, the director's version of a title and the theater version can be recorded on the recording medium. Alternatively, adult, young, and child versions of a title or part of a title (that is, different parental monitoring versions) may be recorded in the recording medium. Each version, camera angle, etc. represent different reproduction paths. The video data in these examples is called multiple reproduction path video data. It can be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples of multiple reproduction path video data, and the present invention can be applied to any type of multiple reproduction path data or a combination of these types. The following will describe in detail with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. The data structure of the present invention includes path management information and/or guidance information for managing the reproduction of multiple reproduction path video data recorded on a recording medium.

03803595.2 The first embodiment of the reproduction path management information used for the data structure in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a data structure for managing multiple reproduction path data streams. As shown in the figure, the data flow of each reproduction path is logically managed by its own clip file. For example, the data stream of the first reproduction path can be managed by the first clip file Clip File#1, the data stream of the second reproduction path can be managed separately by the second clip file #2, and the data stream of the second reproduction path can be managed separately by the second clip file #2. The data stream of the three-way reproduction path can be separately managed by the third clip file Clip File#3.

As shown in the figure again, each clip file of the first clip file Clip File#1 to the third clip file Clip File#3 is divided into a number of intersecting units IU so that the first clip file Clip File#1 to the third clip file Clip File#3, and the data streams of these clip files are sequentially recorded in a specific recording area on the recording medium in a physically interleaved manner. That is, the intersecting unit IU of the first path P1 is recorded, then the intersecting unit IU of the second path P2 is recorded, and then the intersecting unit IU of the third path P3 is recorded, and so on. Each cross unit IU includes one or more of the EP maps of the clip information file Clip Info File corresponding to one of the first clip file Clip File #1 to the third clip file #3 related to the cross unit. Entry points (EPs).

When the data stream of the first reproduction path P1 is read and reproduced at the request of the user, the optical disc device (described in detail in Figure 8 below) reproduces the cross unit IU related to the first reproduction path P1, and jumps The cross unit IU through the second and third reproduction paths P2 and P3. It is understood that such reproduction and jump operations can be performed based on the EP map related to the selected reproduction path.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the first reproduction path P1 is reproduced, it is required to change the reproduction path to, for example, the second reproduction path P2. The data of the first reproduction path corresponding to the reproduced cross unit IU, search and download

03803595.2 The data stream of the second reproduction path P2 corresponding to the first cross unit IU, and the searched cross unit IU is read and reproduced. It can be understood from the foregoing description that according to this embodiment of the present invention, the change between the reproduction paths occurs at the level of the cross unit. In other words, each cross unit starts and ends with the change point of the reproduction path.

Fig. 5 shows a data structure of a cross unit IU according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a predetermined number of entry points, for example, N entry points, form each intersecting unit IU. Each entry point can have a variable duration, and therefore, the duration of each cross unit is also variable.

The length information IU-length of each cross unit can be recorded in the Clip Info File related to the clip file to which the cross unit IU belongs. Alternatively, the length information may be recorded in the playlist file or the play item Playltem.

The length of each cross unit should be set to prevent buffer underflow when jumping from the cross unit to another cross unit in the same reproduction path to avoid excessive buffer space.

For example, when the length of the cross unit is too short, buffer underflow may occur during a larger jump operation. In addition, there are disadvantages when a relatively large amount of cross-unit length information needs to be recorded and managed. On the other hand, when the length of the interleaving unit is too long, a relatively large buffer space is required for temporarily storing the read data.

For this reason, the system designer should consider the buffer underflow, buffer size, and the recording and management efficiency of the cross-unit length information to design the length of the cross-unit.

Fig. 6 shows a data structure of a cross unit IU according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, regardless of the reproduction path, the number of entry points forming each cross unit is variable. For example, Figure 6 shows the formation of the first reproduction path P1 cross unit IU.P#1-1 and the third reproduction

03803595.2 The N entry points of the first path P3 cross unit IU_P#3-2, the K entry points of the second reproduction path P2 cross unit IU_P#2-1, and the third reproduction path P3 cross unit IU_P#3 -1 S entry points, here Ν, K, S. In an exemplary embodiment, each variable-length cross unit IU may correspond to a related chapter of each clip file.

FIG. 6 also shows that the entry point map in the clip information file related to each clip file includes the intersection unit end flag IU_End_Flag related to each entry point. Each cross unit end flag IU_End_Flag indicates whether the relevant entry point is the last entry point of the cross unit. For example, a cross unit end flag set to 1, "IU_End_Flag = 1", can be combined with the last entry points of the cross unit IUs of the EP map to record, and a cross unit end flag set to 0, "IU_End_Flag = 0", can be Combine records with other entry points in the EP map except the last entry point of the intersection unit.

For example, when reproducing, for example, the data stream of the entry point contained in the cross unit IU_P#1-1 of the first clip file corresponding to the first reproducing path P1, it is required to change the path to a specific path, such as As shown in FIG. 6, each cross unit end flag IU_End_Flag of the entry point included in the cross unit IU_P#1-1 is recognized. The data stream of the cross unit IU_P#1-1 reproduces the data stream of the identified entry point until it contains the cross unit end flag IU_End_Flag =1, which is the last entry point of the cross unit IU_P#1-1. Thus, the interleaved unit IU_P#1-1 is completely reproduced through the data stream of its last entry point.

After the cross unit IU_P#1-1 is completely reproduced, the clip information file related to the clip file of the specific path requested to be reproduced, for example, the third reproduction path P3, is searched for the next cross unit, namely The starting entry point of the interleaving unit IU_P#3-2. That is, the first entry point of the third reproduction path P3 immediately following the entry point of the third reproduction path P3 whose IU_End_Flag is set to 1 is searched. The clip file corresponding to the third reproduction path P3 is then

03803595.2 Afterwards, it reproduces continuously from the start point of the interleave unit IU_P#3-2 in a skipping manner. It can be understood from the above description that the change of the reproduction path occurs at the level of the cross unit. That is, each reproduction unit starts and ends with a change point of the reproduction path. In this embodiment of the cross unit, the mark indicates the path change point.

Therefore, the data stream of the first reproduction path P1 and the data stream of the third reproduction path P3 are continuously reproduced in a seamless manner in units of intersecting units.

Alternatively, the first entry point of each interleaving unit is recorded together with identification information indicating the start of the interleaving unit IU. For example, a cross unit start flag set to 1, "IU_Start_FIag=1", can be combined with each first entry point of the cross unit IUs in the EP map, and a cross unit flag set to 0, "IU_Start_Flag = 0" , Can be combined with other entry points in the EP map except the first entry point of the intersection unit to record.

Figure 7 shows the time queue existing between the entry point maps of different clip files. As mentioned above, the EP map maps the presentation time stamp information to the source package. More specifically, the presentation time stamp is mapped to the address or identifier of the source packet. The address or identifier is the source package number (SPN). Figure 7 also shows the source package number along the presentation time mark axis of each clip file 1, 2 and 3. As shown in the figure, each EP map The source packages of 1, 2, and 3 have the same presentation time stamp. For example, the source package xl of the first clip file 1, the source package yl of the second clip file 2 and the source package zl of the third clip file 3 have the same presentation Time stamp Tl₀In this way, EP maps 1, 2 and 3 are arranged in chronological order. Due to this time arrangement, even when the reproduction path is changed during reproduction, video data can be reproduced seamlessly. The two concentric circles in FIG. 7 show the change of the reproduction path. As shown in the figure, if the user requests to change the reproduction path from the clip file 2 to the clip file 1 when reproducing the second clip file 2, and allows the change of the reproduction path after the source package y2 is reproduced, and then completes the source package y2 After the reproduction of, the source package χ3 is the next

03803595.2 The first source package to reproduce. Similarly, if the user decides to change the reproduction path from clip file 1 to clip file 3 (for example, changing the camera angle) when reproducing clip file 1, and allows to change the reproduction path after the source package X4 is reproduced, and then complete the source After the reproduction of package x4, the source package x5 is reproduced. It can be understood that the source package numbers given in the embodiments are only exemplary, and generally speaking, a source package in a clip file will not have the same source package number as a source package arranged in time in another clip file. .

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the AV encoder 9 receives and encodes audiovisual and video data. The AV encoder 9 outputs the encoded audio and video data together with the encoding information and stream attribute information. The multiplexer 8 multiplexes the encoded audio and video data according to the encoding information and stream attribute information to generate a transport stream such as MPEG-2. The source packer 7 packs the transport packet output by the multiplexer 8 into a source pack according to the audio/video format of the optical disc. As shown in FIG. 8, the operations of the AV encoder 9, the multiplexer 8, and the source packer 7 are controlled by the controller 10. The controller 10 receives the user's input for the recording operation, and provides control information to the AV encoder 9, the multiplexer 8, and the source packer 7. For example, the controller 10 instructs the AV encoder 9 to perform encoding, instructs the multiplexer 8 to generate a transport stream, and instructs the source packetizer 7 of the source packet format. The controller 10 also controls the drive 3 to record the output of the source packer 7 on the optical disc.

The controller 10 also generates navigation and management information for managing the reproduction of audio/video data recorded on the optical disc. For example, based on information received through a user interface (eg, stored on an optical disc, an instruction set provided by a computer system through an enterprise network or the Internet), the controller 10 controls the drive 3 to record Figure 2, Figure 4, and Figure 5 on the optical disc. And/or the data structure shown in Figure 6.

03803595.2 During the first reproduction period, the controller 10 controls the driver 3 to reproduce the data structure. Based on the information contained therein, and user input received through a user interface (eg, a control button on the recording and reproducing device or its remote control), the controller 10 also controls the drive 3 to reproduce the audio/video on the optical disc Source package. For example, the user input specifies the path to reproduce. The user input can be specified, for example, through a menu of a graphical user interface pre-programmed in the controller 10. Using the user input and the path management information reproduced from the optical disc, the controller 10 controls the reproduction of the specified path or changes the reproduction of the specified path as described above in detail with reference to the embodiment of the present invention.

The source unpacker 4 receives the reproduced source packet and converts it into a data stream (for example, an MPEG-2 transport packet stream). The demultiplexer 5 demultiplexes the data stream into encoded video and audio data. The AV decoder 6 decodes the encoded video and audio data to generate original audio and video data input to the AV encoder 9. During reproduction, the controller 10 controls the operations of the source unpacker 4, demultiplexer 5, and AV decoder 6. The controller 10 receives the user's input on the reproduction operation, and provides control information to the AV decoder 6, the demultiplexer 5, and the source unpacker 4. For example, the controller 10 instructs the type of decoding by the AV decoder 6, instructs the demultiplexer 5 to demultiplex to generate a transport stream, and instructs the source unpacker 4 to format the source packet.

Although FIG. 8 is described in terms of a recording and reproducing apparatus, it can be understood that the recording or reproducing function shown in FIG. 8 can be used to provide a recording-only or reproducing-only device.

The above description clearly shows that the present invention provides a method and device for managing multiple data streams of high-density optical discs, which can quickly and accurately select the data stream of the reproduction path determined by the user and reproduce the selected data stream. At the same time, it can effectively suppress buffer underflow and avoid the increase of buffer space.

03803595.2 It can be understood from the foregoing disclosure that the present invention provides a recording medium with a guide file or data structure that allows management and/or control of the reproduction of video data based on multiple reproduction paths. Therefore, the present invention provides greater flexibility than before in the reproduction of video data.

Although the number of disclosed embodiments of the present invention is limited, those skilled in the art can understand various modifications and changes made thereby by using the disclosed content of the invention. For example, although the Blu-ray ROM is described in a few examples, the present invention is not limited to this optical disc standard or this optical disc. All such changes and alterations belong to the spirit and scope of the present invention.

03803595.2