Moving picture reproduction control method and image display device applied with same

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a moving image reproduction control method and an image display device to which the method is applied, and more particularly to a moving image reproduction control method and an image display device for interactively reproducing moving image data such as a DVD video.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, with the development of computers and multimedia technologies, various so-called multimedia-compatible computer systems have been developed. In this type of computer system, in addition to text data and graphics data, a function for playing video and audio data is provided.

【0003】

With the increasing multimedia of computers, DVDs have recently been attracting attention as a new storage medium to replace CD-ROMs. One DVD-ROM medium can record about 4.7 GB of data on one side, which is about 7 times that of the current CD-ROM, and double-sided recording can record about 9.4 GB of data. By using this DVD-ROM media, it is possible to reproduce moving images such as movies containing a large amount of video information on a computer with high quality.

【0004】

The data structure of video information recorded on DVD-ROM media is defined by the DVD-Video standard. Video information can be broadly divided into two types of data: presentation data and navigation data.

【0005】

Presentation data is a collection of video objects that are played back and consists of video, subpictures, and audio. The video data is compressed and coded in the MPEG2 format. In addition, run-length coding, AC-3, and the like are supported as sub-picture and audio coding methods. Sub-pictures are bitmap data, which are used for movie subtitles and display of options on the menu screen. A video object can contain 1 channel of video data, up to 8 channels of audio data, and up to 32 channels of subpicture data.

【0006】

The navigation data is playback control data that controls the playback procedure of the presentation data. At the time of title reproduction, the navigation data is interpreted to determine the reproduction order, reproduction method, etc. of the moving image data, and the moving image is reproduced according to the determination. In addition, navigation commands can be embedded in the navigation data. The navigation command is for changing the playback content and playback order of the video data. By using this navigation command, the title creator can define various branch structures in the title, and more. It is possible to create interactive titles.

【0007】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

While titles of such DVD-Video standards have begun to appear on the market, information distribution using the Internet has recently been actively carried out. With the spread of the Internet, it is possible to view all kinds of information from all over the world with a WWW browser.

【0008】

From such an environment, the creation of new contents that combine DVD video titles and Internet technology has begun to be required. However, DVD-Video and the Internet are completely independent technologies, and the DVD-Video standard is very detailed, so it is difficult to modify the standard to integrate it with the Internet. Therefore, at present, it is very difficult to integrate the DVD video title and the Internet.

【0009】

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and makes it possible to integrate a DVD-Video title and the Internet only by effective use and simple extension of the DVD-Video standard without changing the DVD-Video standard. An object of the present invention is to provide a video playback control method and an image display device that can realize a new service that fuses a title and hypermedia contents such as HTML files provided on the Internet.

【0010】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention obtains the moving image stream from a storage medium in which a moving image stream including management information for controlling playback of video data constituting the moving image stream is stored for each predetermined playback unit. It is a moving image playback control method used in an image display device that reads out and displays a moving image on a screen, and the management information is necessary for acquiring hypermedia information related to the video of the video data being played back from the outside. Identification information is embedded, the hypermedia information specified by the identification information is acquired from the outside, and the hypermedia information related to the video being played is displayed on the screen in conjunction with the reproduction of the moving image. It is characterized by that.

【0011】

In this video playback control method, we focused on the fact that the video stream of the DVD video standard contains management information called navigation back in units of 1 GOP or 2 GOP (0.4 to 1 second) video data. , The method of embedding the identification information for acquiring the hypermedia information in the free area of the management information is adopted. As a result, the identification information of the hypermedia information corresponding to the scene being played can be recognized in real time, so that the hypermedia information such as the corresponding HTML content is sequentially transmitted through the Internet for each moving image of the scene being played. It is possible to acquire and display it in conjunction with the scene being played, and it is possible to realize a new service that fuses the DVD video title and the HTML content provided on the Internet.

【0012】

In addition, HTML content related to the moving image corresponding to the scene being played can be displayed on the screen by extending the navigation command defined by the DVD video standard.

【0013】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of hardware and software of an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

【0014】

This image display device is used as a digital video player, a set-top box, or a personal computer, and has a function of displaying computer graphics, moving images, and the like on a dedicated display monitor or a home TV.

【0015】

This image display device has a DVD drive 111 that reads the information recorded on the DVD media as the main hardware necessary for playing the DVD video information, and an MPEG2 program stream read from the DVD drive 111. MPEG2 decoder 112 that decodes the composed DVD video information (video, subpicture, audio), VGA controller 113 that controls the display monitor, remote controller 114, and communication device (ISDN card or modem) 100 for connecting to the Internet, etc. Is provided.

【0016】

In addition to the navigation data 301 and the presentation data 302 that make up the DVD video title, the DVD media stores an HTML file for displaying in conjunction with the DVD video. This HTML file is used as an initial screen for explaining the contents of a DVD video title, for example, and is downloaded to the memory of an image display device.

【0017】

Title playback on the DVD-ROM media is controlled by the DVD playback control program 116. This DVD playback control program 116 has an interface function with the WWW browser 117 in order to display HTML contents on the screen in conjunction with the playback of the DVD video.

【0018】

The DVD playback control program 116 is actually composed of a group of drivers for controlling the above-mentioned various hardware and an application program for playing a title using these driver groups. The DVD playback control program 116 of the DVD playback control program 116 The functions are classified into Navigation Manager 201 and Presentation Engine 202. The navigation manager 201 decodes the navigation data 301 and instructions from the user to determine how to reproduce the presentation data. The navigation manager 201 also has a function of extracting address information such as a URL indicating the location of HTML content to be linked and displayed from the navigation data 301 and notifying the WWW browser 117 of the address information. The URL indicating the location of the HTML content related to the video image is embedded in the free space of the navigation back included in the MPEG2 stream in 1 GOP or 2 GOP (0.4 to 1 second) video data units. Whether or not to display the HTML content in conjunction with each other is determined by an instruction from the user. The instruction from the user is input to the navigation manager 201 via the remote controller driver 118. It is also possible to notify the navigation manager 201 of an instruction from the user by using a keyboard or a mouse operation.

【0019】

The presentation engine 202 reproduces the title of the moving image in response to an instruction from the navigation manager 201. The WWW browser 117 is a WWW client for communicating with an external WWW server using a protocol called HTTP, receives an HTML file from the external WWW server via the communication device 100, and uses the VGA controller 113. Use to display on the screen.

【0020】

In the system of FIG. 1, when the user inputs an instruction to display the HTML content, the navigation manager 201 extracts the URL indicating the location of the HTML content related to the currently playing video image from the navigation data 301, and obtains the URL. Is notified to the WWW browser 117. As a result, the HTML content specified by the URL is acquired by the WWW browser 117, and it is displayed on the screen together with the moving image. In this case, by embedding the URL in the free area of the navigation back as described above, hypermedia information such as HTML content corresponding to each video image corresponding to the scene being played is sequentially acquired and displayed via the Internet. It becomes possible to do. In addition, the URL of the HTML content related to the moving image corresponding to the scene being played can be extracted from the navigation data 301 by extending the navigation command defined by the DVD video standard. Details such as how to embed these URLs will be described in FIGS. 3 and later.

【0021】

Next, a specific system configuration of the image processing device of the present embodiment will be described. The system includes a PCI bus 10, a CPU 11, a main memory (MEM) 12, an HDD 13, a DVD interface 16 consisting of an ATAPI or SCSI interface, and an audio controller 17, as shown in FIG. A DVD drive 111, a DVD decoder 112, a VGA controller 113, a remote controller 114, and a communication device 100 are provided.

【0022】

The DVD drive 111 reads the DVD video stream stored in the DVD media at a maximum transfer rate of 10.08 Mbps. The DVD drive 111 includes a DVD medium made of an optical disk, a motor, a pickup, a pickup drive, a servo controller, a drive controller including an ECC circuit for error detection and correction, and the like. The motor, pickup, pickup drive, servo controller, and drive controller function as a drive device for driving the DVD media and reading the data recorded on the DVD media.

【0023】

For example, a DVD medium can record a movie of about 135 minutes on one side. The presentation data that constitutes this movie information can include a main video (video), sub-video (sub-picture) up to 32 channels, and audio (audio) up to 8 channels.

【0024】

In the MPEG2 standard, MPEG2-encoded data can include other encoded data, and these encoded data are treated as one MPEG2 program stream.

【0025】

MPEG2 is used for video coding, and run-length coding and DOLBY AC3 are used for sub-picture and audio coding, respectively. Even in this case, the encoded video, subpicture, and audio are treated as one MPEG2 program stream.

【0026】

The coding process of the MPEG2 standard is variable rate coding, and the amount of information to be recorded / reproduced per unit time can be different. Therefore, the more intense the scene, the higher the transfer rate of the MPEG stream constituting the corresponding frame group, so that high-quality moving image can be reproduced.

【0027】

FIG. 3 shows an example of the recording format of the DVD video information used in the present embodiment. This recording format corresponds to the DVD video standard.

【0028】

As shown in Figure 3, the volume space on DVD-ROM media is the volume file structure for volume and file management, the DVD video zone that makes up the DVD video information, and other file areas other than DVD video. In the other file area, HTML files such as those for the above-mentioned initial screen are stored.

【0029】

The DVD-Video Zone consists of a Video Manager (VMG) and one or more DVD-Video title sets (VTS # 1 to VTS # n). The VMG contains Video Manager Information (VMGI), Video Object Set for Menus (VOBS), and Video Manager Information for Backup (VMGI).

【0030】

VMGI is used as table of contents information for all DVD video title sets (VTS # 1 to # n) existing on DVD media, such as search information and parrent attribute information for each video title set (VTS). including. If the VMG contains a video object set (VOBS) for the menu, the VMGI also includes program chain information (PGCI) as information for controlling the playback of the menu. This PGCI shows the playback order of the cells that make up each video object (VOB) for the menu, and the title creator can use the navigation commands (pre-command, post-command, button command, cell command) described here. ) Can be embedded.

【0031】

Pre-commands are a group of navigation commands that are executed before starting playback of a group of cells (cells in PGC) whose playback order is defined by PGCI, and are used for initial settings before PGC playback. Post commands are a group of navigation commands that are executed when the playback of all cells in the PGC is completed, and are used for minute processing to the PGC to be played next. Cell commands are a group of navigation commands that are executed when the playback of the corresponding cell in the PGC is completed, and are used for repeated playback of a specific cell. Button commands are a group of navigation commands that are executed when a button, which is a selected item in the menu screen, is confirmed by a user operation, and are used for executing menu items and the like.

【0032】

Each video title set (VTS) comes from the video title set information (VTSI), the video object set for menus (VOBS), the video object set that makes up the title (VOBS), and the video title set information for backup (VTSI). It is composed.

【0033】

The VTSI is the playback control information of the menu and the title in the VTS, and includes the search information of the title and the program chain information (PGCI) that manages the cell reproduction order in the menu and the title. The navigation commands (pre-command, post command, button command, cell command) mentioned above are also embedded in this PGCI. In addition, multiple URLs indicating the location of HTML content related to the video of each scene in the title can be embedded in the PGCI in this VTS.

【0034】

The video object set (VOBS) that makes up the title contains a large number of video objects (cells # 1, # 2, ...) called cells. Each cell (video object) consists of a large number of video object units, with a navigation pack (NAVI) at the beginning. In other words, one cell (video object) is from the navigation pack to the next navigation pack. This Navipack is included in 1GOP or 2GOP (0.5 to 1 second) video data units as described above. Each navigation pack is management information for controlling the playback of the corresponding video object, and consists of a disk search information (DSI) pack and a presentation control information (PCI) pack. The DSI pack is used as search information for the playback start address during special playback such as fast forward and rewind. The PCI pack is used for angle switching during multi-angle playback and for displaying highlight information for executing navigation commands (button commands) in response to instructions from the user. In the present embodiment, a URL indicating the location of the HTML content related to the video of the corresponding video object is embedded in the free space of the DSI pack or the PCI pack.

【0035】

One cell constitutes information for 15 frames required for video playback for a certain period of time, for example, 0.5 seconds to 1 second, and as described above, the GOP (Group of picture) of the MPEG2 program stream is used as a unit. It is composed. A video pack (V), a sub-picture pack (S), and an audio pack (A) are multiplexed and recorded in each cell. These video packs (V), sub-picture packs (S), and audio packs (A) are encoded video, sub-picture, and audio data units, respectively. The data size of these packs is fixed, but the number of packs that can be contained in one cell is variable. Therefore, the more cells that correspond to a fast-moving scene, the more video packs will be included.

【0036】

In the above formats, VMGI, VTSI, PGCI, PCI, and DSI make up navigation data, and video packs, sub-picture packs, and audio packs for each menu and title make up presentation data.

【0037】

Further, in the present embodiment, the button command in the above-mentioned navigation command embedded in PGCI or PCI is also used as a command for specifying the URL embedded in PGCI in the corresponding VTS or PGCI in VMG. Has been done. This makes it possible to display a button indicating interlocking with HTML content on the video playback screen, and when that button is selected, acquire the corresponding HTML content from the outside and display it on the screen by executing a command. ..

【0038】

Next, each unit of the system of FIG. 2 will be described. The CPU 11 controls the operation of the entire system, and executes the operating system stored in the system memory (MEM) 12 and the application program to be executed. Playback of the DVD video title recorded on the DVD media is started by causing the CPU 11 to execute the DVD playback control program 116.

【0039】

The DVD interface 16 is a peripheral interface for connecting a peripheral device such as an HDD or a CD-ROM to the PCI bus 10, and in this embodiment, data is transferred to and from the DVD drive 111.

【0040】

The audio controller 17 controls the input / output of sound data under the control of the CPU 11, and includes a PCM sound source 171, an FM sound source 172, a multiplexer 173, and a D / A converter 174 for sound output. .. The output from the PCM sound source 171 and the FM sound source 172 and the digital audio data transferred from the DVD decoder 112 are input to the multiplexer 173, and one of them is selected. The function corresponding to the D / A converter of the audio controller 17 is also provided in the DVD decoder 112, and the analog audio signal can be directly output without using the audio controller 17.

【0041】

The digital audio data is obtained by decoding the audio data read from the DVD drive 111. The audio bus 18a is used and the PCI bus 10 is not used to transfer the digital audio data from the DVD decoder 111 to the audio controller 17. Therefore, high-speed transfer of digital audio data is possible without affecting the performance of the computer system.

【0042】

The DVD decoder 112 reads the MPEG2 program stream through memory 12 or directly from the DVD-ROM drive 111 under the control of CPU 11, separates it into video, subpicture, and audio packets, and then separates them. Each is decoded, synchronized, and output. The DVD decoder 112 includes a transaction control unit, a FIFO buffer, and an MPEG2 decoder as shown in the figure. The transaction control unit is for operating the DVD decoder 112 as a bus master (initiator) for issuing transactions on the PCI bus 10, and is a bus cycle for reading the MPEG2 program stream from the memory 12 or the DVD-ROM drive 111. To execute. This MPEG2 program stream is sent to the MPEG2 decoder via a FIFO buffer, where it is separated into video, subpicture, and audio packets and decoded.

【0043】

The decoded audio data is transferred to the audio controller 17 via the audio bus 18a as digital audio data as described above, or is directly output to an external DSP or the like. The decoded video and subpictures are combined and sent as digital YUV data to the digital YUV input port of VGA controller 113. In this case, the video bus 18b is used and the PCI bus 10 is not used for transferring the digital YUV data from the DVD decoder 112 to the VGA controller 113. Therefore, the transfer of digital YUV data can be performed at high speed without affecting the performance of the computer system, as with the digital audio data.

【0044】

As the video bus 18b, VESA standard VAFC (VESA Advanced Feature Connector), VM-Channel (VESA Media Channel), S3 LBP interface, ZV port, etc. can be used.

【0045】

The VGA controller 113 controls the CRT display and LCD used as the display monitor of this system under the control of the CPU 11, and supports VGA specification text and graphics display as well as video display. As shown in the figure, the VGA controller 113 is provided with a graphics display control circuit 191, a video display control circuit 192, a multiplexer 193, a D / A converter 194, and the like.

【0046】

The graphics display control circuit 191 is a VGA compatible graphics controller, and converts VGA graphics data drawn in the video memory (VRAM) 20 into RGB video data and outputs the data. The video display control circuit 192 includes a video buffer for storing digital YUV data, a YUV-RGB conversion circuit for converting the YUV data stored in the buffer into RGB video data, and the like.

【0047】

The multiplexer 193 selects one of the output data of the graphics display control circuit 191 and the video display control circuit 192, or DVD video from the video display control circuit 192 on VGA graphics such as HTML content from the graphics display control circuit 191. Is synthesized and sent to the LCD and D / A converter 194. The D / A converter 194 converts the video data from the multiplexer 194 into an analog RGB signal and outputs it to the CRT display.

【0048】

The VGA controller 113 also has a function of converting digital YUV data and audio data into NTSC TV signals and outputting them to the video input of an external TV receiver.

【0049】

FIG. 4 shows an example of a display screen in which a DVD video and HTML content are linked. As shown in FIG. 4A, the DVD video provided by the DVD playback control program 116 and the HTML content provided by the WWW browser 117 are simultaneously displayed on the screen. In this state, for example, an input operation for designating the interlocking display of HTML content by a remote control operation such as pressing a Web display key provided on the remote control unit by the user, or being displayed on a DVD video image. When you select a Web button with a remote controller, keyboard, mouse, etc., the HTML content related to the currently playing video is automatically displayed on the external WWW server as shown in Fig. 4 (b). It is obtained from and displayed on the screen.

【0050】

Of course, if the same HTML content is cached on a hard disk or the like, the HTML content will be displayed on the screen without accessing the WWW server. Also, the WWW browser 117 does not need to be started in advance. In other words, in this case, the user selects the input operation for specifying the linked display of HTML content by remote control operation or the Web button displayed on the DVD video image when the WWW browser 117 is not started. At that time, the HTML content related to the video image currently being played for the first time is automatically acquired from the external WWW server and displayed on the screen.

【0051】

In the example of FIG. 4, a car is included in the image of the scene being played by the DVD video, and a case where characters and images about the specifications of the car are displayed in conjunction with each other as HTML content is shown. ..

【0052】

Next, a specific method for interlocking display processing between the DVD video and the HTML content according to the present embodiment will be described. First, we will explain how to give a URL to a video object of the DVD video standard and how to play it in that case.

【0053】

As explained in Fig. 3, the DVD-Video standard consists of a group of video object files that are video data, a group of control information files that describe management information for that data, and a playback procedure. The video object is an MPEG2 program stream, and as described above, it has PCI and DSI as substreams of video data management information. Since the Navipack containing these always exists at the beginning of the video data containing 1 GOP or 2 GOP minutes (0.5 seconds to 1 second) of video data called the video object unit, embed the URL in the reserve area of the PCI or DSI. This allows you to specify the internet address associated with the stream during playback.

【0054】

A reproduction example when the data is embedded will be specifically described below. When the Web button on the remote control is pressed while playing a DVD video, the related HTML content is displayed by the following procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

【0055】

That is, the DVD playback control program 116 acquires the currently playing video object unit navigation pack (NV PCK) when the button is pressed (step S101). The DVD playback control program 116 then determines if the NV PCK has an internet address (URL) (step S102). If there is no internet address, playback continues as it is (step S103).

【0056】

On the other hand, if the internet address (URL) is included, the DVD playback control program 116 saves all the positions and states of the currently playing DVD video and enters the pause (or stop) state (step S104). , S105). At the same time, the DVD playback control program 116 starts the WWW browser 117 with the Internet address as an argument, or passes the information as the Internet address to be displayed to the running WWW browser 117 (step S106). Then, when the WWW browser 117 is closed, the playback start is specified by the user, or after a certain period of time has elapsed, the DVD playback control program 116 resumes the playback of the DVD video.

【0057】

The purpose of temporarily interrupting the playback of the DVD video is to prevent the contents of the DVD video from being overlooked, but it is of course possible to display the browser while continuing to play the DVD video.

【0058】

Next, a playback method when an ID is given to the DVD-VIDEO standard video object navigation pack instead of the Internet address information (URL) will be described.

【0059】

In this case, the URL corresponding to the ID is detected by referring to the correspondence table between the ID and the URL that has been downloaded in advance in a specific external server such as a provider or an image display device. Of course, this corresponding table can also be provided inside the DVD media.

【0060】

The processing after the Web button is pressed is performed as follows according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the button is pressed, the DVD playback control program 116 first acquires the navigation pack (NV PCK) of the video object unit currently being played (step S201), and the ID is entered in the NV PCK. Check if it is present (step S202). If the ID is not entered, playback continues as usual (step S203).

【0061】

On the other hand, if the ID is entered, the WWW browser 117 is used to connect to a pre-fixed external server such as a provider and send the ID to it (step S204). The provider manages the ID and the Internet address information (URL) related to the ID in advance, searches for the related Internet address from the ID, and automatically obtains the associated HTML file and obtains the associated HTML file. WWW Browser 117 The HTML content is displayed by the WWW browser 117 by sending to (steps S206, S207). If the ID-URL correspondence table is downloaded in the image display device, the DVD playback control program 116 may acquire the URL from the correspondence table and send it to the WWW browser 117.

【0062】

The correspondence table between the ID and the Internet address information (URL) related to the ID can be considered as shown in Fig. 7. Figure 7 (A) simply manages IDs and URLs on a one-to-one basis. For example, for the ID TOKYO001, the URL "http://www.tokyo.co.jp/....../tos001.htm" will be searched.

【0063】

FIG. 7B shows an example in which a plurality of URLs are associated with each ID, and a command for finding the URL of the link destination for the ID is used.

【0064】

In this example, If Today> 981231 Jum 2 is http: / if Today (quantified today's date) is greater than 981231 (98/12/31) (the date is later). It indicates that you should link to "/...tos0002.htm", otherwise to "http: //.../tos0001.htm". Jump2 means see the second parameter there.

【0065】

If the value of GPRM [0], which is one of the general parameters of the DVD playback control program 116 or the image display device, is larger than 3, "If GPRMO> 3 Jump 2" is "http: // ... It indicates that you should link to "tos0002.htm", otherwise to "http: //.../tos0001.htm". By transmitting such general parameters together with the ID, it is possible to change the URL of the link destination according to the country code registered in the image display device and the parrent level of the DVD video currently being played. ..

【0066】

Also, by using the above playback method, when the ID is acquired, the HTML content that will be loaded after that is searched, and by starting loading in advance at that point, the page of that HTML content can be displayed after that. When opening, it is possible to display the page without delay. An example of the ID-URL correspondence table at this time is shown in Fig. 7 (C), and the number of pages to be pre-read and each URL are managed as a set for each ID.

【0067】

For example, for ID = TOKYO001, "http: //.../tos0001.htm" is registered as the URL of the HTML content corresponding to the scene currently being played, and the HTML related to the scene to be played in the future. "3" is the number indicating the number of contents, and "http: //.../tos0002.htm", "http: //.../tos0003.htm", and "" as the URL of each of these HTML contents. http: //.../tos0004.htm is registered. If there is no HTML content to be read ahead, "0" is registered as a number indicating the number of HTML contents.

【0068】

The flowchart of FIG. 8 shows the flow of processing when the table of FIG. 7 (C) is used. FIG. 8 (a) shows the processing on the server side, and FIG. 8 (b) shows the processing on the image display device side.

【0069】

The DVD playback control program 116 first sends an ID (step S401). On the server side that received it, the search for related information is started from the ID, the URL corresponding to the ID and the HTML file specified by that URL are searched, and if the HTML file is found, it is acquired, and those URLs and the HTML file are obtained. Is transmitted to the image display device side as related information corresponding to the ID (steps S301, S302, S303). When the URL address is sent, the DVD playback control program 116 requests the WWW browser 117 to display the HTML file specified by the URL address (steps S402 and S403).

【0070】

The server then refers to the table to obtain the number of URL addresses to be read ahead and sends it to the image display device side (step S305). Next, if the number is not 0, the server sends the number of URL addresses to the image display device side (step S305). The DVD playback control program 116 receives the number of URLs to be read ahead from the server, and if the number is not 0, it receives the URL address and whether or not the HTML file corresponding to each URL is already cached in the image display device. Check (steps S404 to S407).

【0071】

If it is already cached in the image display device, use the WWW browser 117 to acquire the HTML file corresponding to the URL from the server and cache it in the image display device (step S408).

【0072】

In addition, such pre-reading is not limited to the method of registering the URL to be pre-read in the ID and URL correspondence table, but also the URL of the HTML file corresponding to the scene currently being played and the scene to be played in the future. It can also be realized by managing the table that associates with the URL of the related HTML file in the server, image display device, or DVD media. In addition, a plurality of URLs including the URL to be read ahead may be registered in the navigation pack.

【0073】

Next, a method of linking to a URL using a button command will be described. In the DVD-Video standard, buttons can be defined by describing a rectangle to be highlighted and a navigation command (Navigation Command) to be executed when the rectangle is selected in PCI. There is no command to link to the specified URL in this Navigation Command, but by defining this command newly, it is possible to link to a certain URL when the button is selected. As a result, as explained in Fig. 4, a button to link to the URL (Web link button) can be displayed on the screen of the DVD video, and at that time, if the button is selected and confirmed by the remote control or the like, The HTML content corresponding to the specified URL can be displayed.

【0074】

Here, the navigation commands of the DVD video standard will be briefly described. Navigation commands can be used in four types of command areas called the pre-command area, post-command area, button command area, and cell command area. Navigation commands for each area are realized by a combination of 1 to 3 instructions. Instructions can be broadly divided into the following six groups.

【0075】

(1) Goto Instruction Group: Multiple navigation commands can be defined in the pre-command area and post-command area. The Goto Instruction Group is used to change the execution order of these navigation commands, and indicates the number of the navigation command to be executed next in the area to which the Goto Instruction Group belongs.

【0076】

(2) Link Instruction Group: This instruction directs the transition within the current domain. (3) Jump Instruction Group: This instruction directs a transition across domains.

【0077】

(4) Compare Instruction Group: This instruction compares the values and instructs to execute the next instruction if it is TRUE and to ignore it if it is False.

【0078】

(5) SetSystem Instruction Group: This instruction directs the setting of navigation parameters. (6) Set Instruction Group: This instruction is used to perform a specific operation.

【0079】

One or more combinations of Instructions classified into these six types of groups are one command. There are 15 ways to combine. Specifically, the following method can be considered as an extension example of such a navigation command.

【0080】

(Part 1) "Extension of existing commands such as Jump command" Figure 9 (a) shows the Jump command that exists in the navigation command of the DVD video standard. You can jump to the title or menu by specifying the Jump destination in the Jump operand. Figure 9 (c) is also one of the Jump commands, which is the Compare & Jump command. As a result of comparison, if it is TRUE, it is a command to jump.

【0081】

The Jump commands in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (c) are extended as shown in FIGS. 9 (b) and 9 (d) to specify the JumpURL command and the EQ & JumpURL command, respectively.

【0082】

It is specified that the Operannd of these "JumpURL" command and "EQ & JumpURL" command should specify the address where the URL is described. By doing this, when the button is pressed, it can be linked to the specified location. In particular, in the case of the "EQ & JumpURL" command, it is possible to dynamically change the URL of the link destination depending on the conditions.

【0083】

When the Web link button is selected, these "JumpURL" and "EQ & JumpURL" commands are executed, and the corresponding URL is obtained from PGCI etc. and passed to the WWW browser 117 to display HTML content. It becomes.

【0084】

(Part 2) "How to expand and interpret information such as the linked PGC using an existing command" Since there is a command that links to the PGC that manages the playback order of video objects and specifies the playback start position, the link for this command First, by using the area where the URL is written, it is possible to regard the area where the URL is written as if it were a PGC. In other words, it is a method of extending the unit for managing the playback order so that it is not a video object but external connection information, which allows other information to be connected to the outside without much extension of the existing format. You can do something new that you can display.

【0085】

Hereinafter, a specific description will be made with reference to FIG. Figure 10 (a) shows the structure of the PGC. The structure of Program Chain General InFormation is shown in Fig. 10 (b), and the structure of PGC Contents in Fig. 10 (b) is shown in Fig. 10 (c). Since there are 2 bytes of Reserved area in Fig. 10 (c), a pointer indicating the position where the URL is described should be described there as shown in Fig. 10 (d).

【0086】

This makes it possible to extract the URL and obtain the corresponding HTML file from the server and display it when executing the link command to PGC. (Part 3) "How to store the URL table file together with the DVD video on the DVD media and refer to the URL table downloaded in the image display device at the time of the Nop command" The Nop command is used as the navigation command of the DVD video standard. That is, there is a command to do nothing. If the Nop command is embedded, it is specified as a link button to the URL. Then, each time the button is pressed, the URLs are acquired one by one from the URL table, and the HTML file corresponding to the URL is acquired from the server and displayed.

【0087】

(Part 4) "How the player ignores all button commands and refers to the table in some cases" This is a variant of (3), but assuming that all commands may link to the URL, the URL table is used. Go to reference and get the URL from the URL table.

【0088】

Next, a method of playing a DVD video from an HTML file will be described. Playback of a DVD video from a specified position is all feasible with navigation commands. Therefore, by scripting this navigation command, it can be played directly from HTML.

【0089】

As a script in HTML, write <CallSSFPPGC> (meaning to call and play the PGC (FPPGC) that should be played first when the media is loaded) when a button is pressed. By doing so, playback can be resumed in the same way that DVD media is played when it is inserted. That is, this method controls the playback of the DVD media mainly on the displayed HTML file, and embeds a tag that specifies the playback start position of the DVD video in the HTML script. .. This method also enables linked display of DVD video and HTML content.

【0090】

In the above embodiment, the description has been made on the premise that the HTML content is acquired from an external server, but a plurality of HTML contents are stored in advance in the DVD media, and the HTML contents are used for playing the DVD video. It can also be displayed in conjunction. It is also possible to incorporate the functions of the WWW browser into the DVD playback control program 116.

【0091】

Further, instead of requesting the display of the HTML content one by one by the user's button operation, all the HTML content may be automatically displayed in conjunction with the playback of the DVD video.

【0092】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to integrate the DVD video title and the Internet only by effective use and simple extension of the DVD video standard without changing the DVD video standard. It is possible to realize a new service that integrates with hypermedia contents such as HTML files provided on the Internet. In particular, by adopting the method of embedding the URL in the navigation pack that is regularly included in the DVD video stream, it is possible to improve the real-time display of HTML content because the trouble of searching the URL is eliminated. Become.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

The block diagram which shows the basic structure of hardware and software for realizing the image display device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

The block diagram which shows an example of the specific hardware configuration of the image display device of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 3]

The figure which shows the format of the video data used in the image display apparatus of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 4]

The figure which shows an example of the interlocking display screen of a DVD video and HTML content by the image display device of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 5]

The flowchart which shows the 1st procedure of the interlocking display processing applied to the image display apparatus of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 6]

The flowchart which shows the 2nd procedure of the interlocking display processing applied to the image display apparatus of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 7]

The figure which shows an example of the correspondence management table of ID and URL used in the image display device of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 8]

The flowchart which shows the 3rd procedure of the interlocking display processing applied to the image display apparatus of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 9]

The figure which shows the extended example of the navigation command used in the image display device of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 10]

The figure which shows the structure of PGC used in the image display device of the same embodiment, and the extended example of the command linked with it.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... communication device 111 ... DVD drive 112 ... MPEG2 decoder 113 ... VGA controller 114 ... remote control controller 116 ... DVD playback control program 117 ... WWW browser 201 ... Navigation Manager 202 ... Presentation engine 301 ... Navigation data 302 ... Presentation data