US6167189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recording medium capable of interactive reproducing
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1996-04-12
•
Granted: 2000-12-26
•
Expires: 2016-04-12
Abstract
Abstract On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST -- VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST -- VOBS), many of data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged. Management information on programs chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set program chain table (VTS -- PGCIT). By referring to the PGC table (VTS -- PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of the program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiko Taira
- 👤 Shinichi Kikuchi
- 👤 Tomoaki Kurano
- 👤 Hideki Mimura
- 👤 Takeshi Hagio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:01
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/80; H04N9/82; H04N9/8205; H04N9/8227; G11B17/00; G11B17/005; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/12; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/034; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/105; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/30; G11B27/3027; G11B27/32; G11B27/327; G11B27/329; G11B27/34; H04N9/804; H04N9/8042; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/21; G11B2220/211; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2562; G11B7/00; G11B7/002; G11B7/0037; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782; H04N5/783; H04N5/84; H04N5/85; H04N9/806; H04N9/8063; H04N9/8211; H04N9/8216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
450 words
A recording medium, readable by a machine, tangibly embodying data for access by an application mechanism, comprising: a data area including a video object to be reproduced by the application mechanism and a program chain information table for defining at least two program chains, each of which is specified by a program chain number; wherein said video object has an arrangement of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and each video object unit composed of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of data packs including a combination of at least one video, audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence, wherein each of the video, audio and the sub-picture packs includes a pack header and a packet of encoded video, audio or sub-picture data, and the navigation pack includes a pack header, a first packet for storing a first control information of presenting the video object unit and a second packet for storing a second control information of searching the video object units; and wherein said program chain information table includes program chain information items associated with respective said program chains, and search pointers corresponding to the program chain numbers, for searching the corresponding program chain items by said application mechanism, respectively, each of said program chain information items comprising: (1) cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain, each cell being defined by start addresses of the first and last video object units in the corresponding cells; (2) content information describing the number of cells in said associated program chain; and (3) program chain navigational control information including: (a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium by said application mechanism; (b) a previous program chain number specifying a program chain preceding said associated program chain, when said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists; (c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium by said application mechanism; (d) a next program chain number specifying a program chain following said associated program chain, when said program chain following said associated program chain exists; (e) GoUp program chain information indicative of whether there exists a GoUp program chain that can be reproduced by said application mechanism instead of continuing to reproduce said associated program chain; and (f) a GoUp program chain number indicative of a number of a GoUp program chains, when said GoUp program chain exists.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
450 words
A recording medium, readable by a machine, tangibly embodying data for access by an application mechanism, comprising: a data area including a video object to be reproduced by the application mechanism and a program chain information table for defining at least two program chains, each of which is specified by a program chain number; wherein said video object has an arrangement of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and each video object unit composed of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of data packs including a combination of at least one video, audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence, wherein each of the video, audio and the sub-picture packs includes a pack header and a packet of encoded video, audio or sub-picture data, and the navigation pack includes a pack header, a first packet for storing a first control information of presenting the video object unit and a second packet for storing a second control information of searching the video object units; and wherein said program chain information table includes program chain information items associated with respective said program chains, and search pointers corresponding to the program chain numbers, for searching the corresponding program chain items by said application mechanism, respectively, each of said program chain information items comprising: (1) cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain, each cell being defined by start addresses of the first and last video object units in the corresponding cells; (2) content information describing the number of cells in said associated program chain; and (3) program chain navigational control information including: (a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium by said application mechanism; (b) a previous program chain number specifying a program chain preceding said associated program chain, when said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists; (c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium by said application mechanism; (d) a next program chain number specifying a program chain following said associated program chain, when said program chain following said associated program chain exists; (e) GoUp program chain information indicative of whether there exists a GoUp program chain that can be reproduced by said application mechanism instead of continuing to reproduce said associated program chain; and (f) a GoUp program chain number indicative of a number of a GoUp program chains, when said GoUp program chain exists.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Twice Amended) A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of said program chain information items includes informative of a duration of time needed to reproduce said associated program chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of said program chain information items includes information indicative of a user operation that is prohibited during reproduction of said associated program chain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said program chain information table includes first search pointer information identifying a start address of a first group of program chain information and second search pointer information identifying a start address of a second group of program chain information, said program chain information items including said first and said second groups of program chain information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said video data cells include video data packs for reproducing images, audio data packs for reproducing audio, and sub-picture data packs for reproducing sub-pictures, said audio data packs containing at least one audio stream, wherein each audio stream is identified by an audio stream number and can be reproduced selectively, and said sub-picture data packs contain sub-picture streams that are identified by sub-picture stream numbers and can be reproduced selectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of said program chain information items includes selectable audio stream numbers and selectable sub-picture stream numbers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said program chain navigational control information includes information indicative of a repetitive playback mode of said associated program chain and indicative of a number of repetitions to be carried out.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said program chain navigational control information includes information indicative of whether a reproduced state of said associated program chain is forced to remain stationary after said associated program chain has been reproduced and information indicative of a duration of said stationary state, when said reproduced state is to remain stationary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain command table containing precommand information describing commands to be executed before said associated program chain is reproduced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain command table containing postcommand information describing commands to be executed after said associated program chain is reproduced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A recording medium according to claim 10, wherein said postcommand information includes a command to change a processing related to playback of said associated program chain according to an externally supplied input after reproduction of said associated program chain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of said program chain information items includes intercell command information defining a command to be executed after a cell in said associated program chain has been presented.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain program map defining a structure for programs in said associated program chain, said program chain map including an entry cell number for a first cell in each program in said associated program chain.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said data area also stores menu information that enables a user to select a program chain to be reproduced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said video, audio, and sub-picture packs have equal pack length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A medium as in claim 1 wherein: (a) each data pack has the same length; (b) the first control information includes a start time and an end time of the presentation of the corresponding video object units; (c) the second control information includes search addresses of the video object units and end addresses of the last pack in each of respective the video object units.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
437 words
A method of recording on a recording medium comprising: (A) creating at least two program chains, each of which is specified by a program chain number and each of which contains a plurality of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and each video object unit composed of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of the data packs including a combination of at least one video, audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence, wherein each of the video, audio and the sub-picture packs includes a pack header and a packet of encoded video, audio or sub-picture data, and the navigation pack includes a pack header, a first packet for storing a first control information of presenting the video object unit and second packet for storing a second control information of searching the video object units; (B) creating said program chain information table includes program chain information items associated with respective said program chains, and search pointers corresponding to the program chain numbers, for searching the corresponding program chain items, respectively, said each of said program chain information items comprising: (1) cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain, each cell being defined by start addresses of the first and last video object units in the corresponding cells; (2) content information describing the number of cells in said associated program chain; and (3) program chain navigational control information including: (a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (b) a previous program chain number specifying said program chain preceding said associated program chain, when said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists; (c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (d) a next program chain number specifying said program chain following said associated program chain, when said program chain following said associated program chain exists; (e) GoUp program chain information indicative of whether there exists a GoUp program chain that can be reproduced instead of continuing to reproduce said associated program chain; and (f) a GoUp program chain number specifying said GoUp program chain, if said GoUp program chain exists; and (C) recording the program chain information table in a first portion of a recording medium and recording said program chains in a second portion of the recording medium different from the first portion.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
437 words
A method of recording on a recording medium comprising: (A) creating at least two program chains, each of which is specified by a program chain number and each of which contains a plurality of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and each video object unit composed of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of the data packs including a combination of at least one video, audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence, wherein each of the video, audio and the sub-picture packs includes a pack header and a packet of encoded video, audio or sub-picture data, and the navigation pack includes a pack header, a first packet for storing a first control information of presenting the video object unit and second packet for storing a second control information of searching the video object units; (B) creating said program chain information table includes program chain information items associated with respective said program chains, and search pointers corresponding to the program chain numbers, for searching the corresponding program chain items, respectively, said each of said program chain information items comprising: (1) cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain, each cell being defined by start addresses of the first and last video object units in the corresponding cells; (2) content information describing the number of cells in said associated program chain; and (3) program chain navigational control information including: (a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (b) a previous program chain number specifying said program chain preceding said associated program chain, when said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists; (c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (d) a next program chain number specifying said program chain following said associated program chain, when said program chain following said associated program chain exists; (e) GoUp program chain information indicative of whether there exists a GoUp program chain that can be reproduced instead of continuing to reproduce said associated program chain; and (f) a GoUp program chain number specifying said GoUp program chain, if said GoUp program chain exists; and (C) recording the program chain information table in a first portion of a recording medium and recording said program chains in a second portion of the recording medium different from the first portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said program chain information items includes information indicative of a duration of time needed to reproduce said associated program chain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said program chain information items includes information indicative of a user operation that is prohibited during reproduction of said associated program chain.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said content information includes entry information as to whether a first data arrangement is to be reproduced first.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said video data packs are for reproducing images, said audio data packs are for reproducing audio, and said sub-picture data packs are for reproducing sub-pictures, wherein said audio data packs containing at least one audio stream, wherein each audio stream is identified by an audio stream number and can be reproduced selectively, and wherein said sub-picture data packs contain sub-picture streams that are identified by sub-picture stream numbers and can be reproduced selectively.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said program chain information items includes selectable audio stream numbers and selectable sub-picture stream numbers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said program chain navigational control information includes information indicative of a repetitive playback mode of said associated program chain and indicative of a number of repetitions to be carried out.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said program chain navigational control information includes information indicative of whether a reproduced state of said associated program chain is forced to remain stationary after said associated program chain has been reproduced and information indicative of a duration of said stationary state, if said reproduced state is to remain stationary.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain command table containing precommand information describing commands to be executed before said associated program chain is presented.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain command table containing postcommand information describing commands to be executed after said associated program chain is presented.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said postcommand information includes a command to change a processing related to playback of said associated program chain according to an externally supplied input after reproduction of said associated program chain.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said program chain information items includes intercell command information defining a command to be executed after a cell in said associated program chain has been presented.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain program map defining a structure for programs in said associated program chain, said program chain map including an entry cell number for a first cell in each program in said associated program chain.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said cell playback information includes data indicative of a start address of a last video data cell in said associated program chain.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said first portion includes search information for searching for said program chain information table recorded therein.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said first portion also stores menu information that enables a user to select a program chain to be reproduced.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
443 words
An apparatus for recording on a recording medium comprising: (A) means for creating at least two program chains, each of which is specified by a program chain number and each of which contains a plurality of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and each video object unit composed of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of the data packs including a combination of at least one video, audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence, wherein each of the video, audio and the sub-picture packs includes a pack header and a packet of encoded video, audio or sub-picture data, and the navigation pack includes a pack header, a first packet for storing a first control information of presenting the video object unit and second packet for storing a second control information of searching the video object units; (B) means for creating said program chain information table includes program chain information items associated with respective said program chains, and search pointers corresponding to the program chain numbers, for searching the corresponding program chain items, respectively, said each of said program chain information items comprising: (1) cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain, each cell being defined by start addresses of the first and last video object units in the corresponding cells; (2) content information describing the number of cells in said associated program chain; and (3) program chain navigational control information including: (a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (b) a previous program chain number specifying said program chain preceding said associated program chain, when said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists; (c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (d) a next program chain number specifying said program chain following said associated program chain, when said program chain following said associated program chain exists; (e) GoUp program chain information indicative of whether there exists a GoUp program chain that can be reproduced instead of continuing to reproduce said associated program chain; and (f) a GoUp program chain number specifying said GoUp program chain, if said GoUp program chain exists; and (C) means for recording the program chain information table in a first portion of a recording medium and recording said program chains in a second portion of the recording medium different from the first portion.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
443 words
An apparatus for recording on a recording medium comprising: (A) means for creating at least two program chains, each of which is specified by a program chain number and each of which contains a plurality of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and each video object unit composed of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of the data packs including a combination of at least one video, audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence, wherein each of the video, audio and the sub-picture packs includes a pack header and a packet of encoded video, audio or sub-picture data, and the navigation pack includes a pack header, a first packet for storing a first control information of presenting the video object unit and second packet for storing a second control information of searching the video object units; (B) means for creating said program chain information table includes program chain information items associated with respective said program chains, and search pointers corresponding to the program chain numbers, for searching the corresponding program chain items, respectively, said each of said program chain information items comprising: (1) cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain, each cell being defined by start addresses of the first and last video object units in the corresponding cells; (2) content information describing the number of cells in said associated program chain; and (3) program chain navigational control information including: (a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (b) a previous program chain number specifying said program chain preceding said associated program chain, when said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists; (c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium; (d) a next program chain number specifying said program chain following said associated program chain, when said program chain following said associated program chain exists; (e) GoUp program chain information indicative of whether there exists a GoUp program chain that can be reproduced instead of continuing to reproduce said associated program chain; and (f) a GoUp program chain number specifying said GoUp program chain, if said GoUp program chain exists; and (C) means for recording the program chain information table in a first portion of a recording medium and recording said program chains in a second portion of the recording medium different from the first portion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said program chain information items includes information indicative of a duration of time needed to reproduce said associated program chain.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said program chain information items includes information indicative of a user operation that is prohibited during reproduction of said associated program chain.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said content information includes entry information as to whether a first data arrangement is to be reproduced first.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said video data packs are for reproducing images, said audio data packs are for reproducing audio, and said sub-picture data packs are for reproducing sub-pictures, wherein said audio data packs containing at least one audio stream, wherein each audio stream is identified by an audio stream number and can be reproduced selectively, and wherein said sub-picture data packs contain sub-picture streams that are identified by sub-picture stream numbers and can be reproduced selectively.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said program chain information items includes selectable audio stream numbers and selectable sub-picture stream numbers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said program chain navigational control information includes information indicative of a repetitive playback mode of said associated program chain and indicative of a number of repetitions to be carried out.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said program chain navigational control information includes information indicative of whether a reproduced state of said associated program chain is forced to remain stationary after said associated program chain has been reproduced and information indicative of a duration of said stationary state, if said reproduced state is to remain stationary.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain command table containing precommand information describing commands to be executed before said associated program chain is presented.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain command table containing postcommand information describing commands to be executed after said associated program chain is presented.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said postcommand information includes a command to change a processing related to playback of said associated program chain according to an externally supplied input after reproduction of said associated program chain.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said program chain information items includes intercell command information defining a command to be executed after a cell in said associated program chain has been presented.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said program chain information items includes a program chain program map defining a structure for programs in said associated program chain, said program chain map including an entry cell number for a first cell in each program in said associated program chain.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said cell playback information includes data indicative of a start address of a last video data cell in said associated program chain.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said first portion includes search information for searching for said program chain information table recorded therein.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said first portion also stores menu information that enables a user to select a program chain to be reproduced.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4333152A
Cited
US4569026A
Cited
US4305131A
Cited
US4467354A
Cited
WO1983002839A1
Cited
US4680647A
Cited
US4839743A
Cited
US4979159A
Cited
US5367510A
Cited
US5093731A
Cited
US4947265A
Cited
EP0325325A2
Cited
US5371602A
Cited
US5546365A
Cited
US5109482A
Cited
GB2260463A
Cited
EP0389689A1
Cited
US5161034A
Cited
US5410676A
Cited
EP0424903A2
Cited
US5191436A
Cited
JPH0438679A
Cited
EP0460764A1
Cited
EP0460751A2
Cited
US5336844A
Cited
US5245600A
Cited
US5363362A
Cited
US5241659A
Cited
US5528569A
Cited
US5297131A
Cited
EP0521487A1
Cited
US5388093A
Cited
EP0540164A1
Cited
EP0542377A2
Cited
US5574569A
Cited
JPH05282796A
Cited
WO1994007332A1
Cited
US5455684A
Cited
US5561649A
Cited
US5546368A
Cited
EP0606868A2
Cited
US5434678A
Cited
EP0614188A2
Cited
US5442456A
Cited
JPH06309841A
Cited
US5646796A
Cited
WO1994030014A1
Cited
US5519681A
Cited
EP0635835A2
Cited
EP0714377A1
Cited
US5638346A
Cited
JPH0779399A
Cited
EP0644692A2
Cited
US5613109A
Cited
US5596564A
Cited
US5488410A
Cited
US5400077A
Cited
EP0677842A1
Cited
WO1995012275A1
Cited
US5619338A
Cited
US5463565A
Cited
US5546367A
Cited
EP0664646A2
Cited
EP0675493A2
Cited
JPH07272445A
Cited
EP0685845A2
Cited
US5636200A
Cited
EP0680216A2
Cited
JPH08147939A
Cited
EP0724264A2
Cited
EP0730272A2
Cited
EP0737979A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-26 | 2004-06-26 | 2004-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-26 | 2008-06-26 | 2008-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-26 | 2012-06-26 | 2012-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |