Title of Invention

A RECORDING MEDIUM; A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING MENU INFORMATION FROM A RECORDING MEDIUM; AN APPARATUS FOR RECORDING A DATA STRUCTURE FOR MANAGING REPRODUCTION OF MENU INFORMATION

Abstract In the data structure for managing reproduction of graphic information, graphic information and an indicator associated with the graphic information is stored on the recording medium. The indicator indicates whether the graphic information is for display in response to user request.
Full Text A RECORDING MEDIUM; A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
REPRODUCING MENU INFORMATION FROM A RECORDING MEDIUM; AN
APPARATUS FOR RECORDING A DATA STRUCTURE FOR MANAGING
REPRODUCTION OF MENU INFORMATION
Technical Field
The present invention relates to high density recording media such as read-only blu-ray
discs (BD-ROM) and methods and apparatuses associated therewith.
Background Art
Generally, an optical disk on which a large capacity of data is recordable is widely used as
an optical record medium. Recently, many efforts have been made to develop a new high
density optical record medium (HD-DVD) on which video data of high definition and audio
data of high quality can be recorded and stored, such as a blu-ray disk (hereinafter
abbreviated BD) and the like.
The blu-ray disk (BD) as a next generation HD-DVD technology is the next generation
optical record solution enabling storage of data that remarkably surpasses previous DVD.
The technology specifications of global standards for the BD are being established together
with other digital equipment standards.
Although many efforts have been made to develop optical reproducing players adopting the
BD specifications, there are many difficulties in developing a complete optica] reproducing
player since the BD specifications have not been fully established yet.
Particularly, for effective reproduction of data from the Blu-ray Disc (BD), menu
information most be organized and provided so that through interaction with the user,
selective data reproduction may take place. However, in the present Blu-ray Disc (BD)
standards, because consolidated standards of the supplementary data, particularly the menu
information are not complete yet, there are many restrictions on the development of a Blu-
ray Disc (BD) optical reproducing apparatus, which, causes problems with reproducing the
menu information and providing it to the user according to a request of the user.
Disclosare of Invention
A recording medium according to the present invention includes a data structure for
managing reproduction of graphic information.
In one embodiment, the recording medium stores graphic information and an indicator
associated with the graphic information. The indicator radicates whether the graphic
information is for display in response to user request For example, the graphic information
may be menu information.
In another embodiment, the recording medium stores graphic information and an indicator
associated with the graphic information, and the indicator indicates whether the graphic
information is for always on display. For example, the graphic information may be menu
information.
In one embodiment, the indicator indicates whether the graphic information is for
display in response to user request or for always on display.
In an embodiment, the recording area stores the graphic information multiplexed with main
data. For example, the graphic information may be for always on display.
In another embodiment, the recording area stores the graphic information in a clip file
separate from a clip file storing main data. For example, the graphic information may be for
always on display or may be for display in response to user request.
Embodiments of the present invention also provide for the recording medium to store a
playitem or a subplayitem providing navigation information for reproducing the graphic
information.
The present invention further provides apparatuses and methods for recording and
reproducing the data structure according to the present invention.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the
invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate
embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the
principle of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 illustrates a file structure of a high density optical disc in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a disc volume for storing the file structure of FIG.
1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGs. 3A to 3B illustrate a data structure of the recording medium (e.g., BD-ROM) for
managing graphic information and a method for managing the menu information in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,*
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment for managing a real tune popup menu according to the
present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment for managing a preloaded popup menu according to the
present invention;
FIGs. 6A to 6E illustrates data structures of the management and identification information
according to embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention; and
FIG. 8 illustrates an optical disk having a specific title (Title #n) divided into four scenes to
which popup menus may be applied.
Brief Description of Drawings
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to (he same or like
parts. While trms used in the present invention are possibly selected from
currently well-known terms, terms are arbitrarily chosen by the applicant in some cases and
their meanings are explained in detail in the following description. Hence, the present
invention should be understood with the meanings of the corresponding terms chosen by the
applicant instead of the simple names of the terms.
First of all, the file structure and recording medium format for data playback management
adopted by the present invention are explained in detail by referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2
below. FIG. 1 illustrates a file structure of a high density optical disc in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the file structure includes at least one BD
directory BDMV under a root directory. In the BD directory BDMV, an index file
mdex.bdmv and an object file MovieObjectbdrnv are included as general file (upper file)
information. Moreover, three directories, which have playback management and navigation
information for the data recorded on the recording medium (e.g., a Blu-ray Disc) are
recorded in the BD directory BDMV. The three directories are a playlist directory
PLAYLIST, a clip information directory CLIPINF, and a stream directory STREAM. The
three directories and the files included therein will be explained in detail below.
Files for video and audio streams, which are called an 'AV stream', are recorded according
to specific formats in the stream directory STREAM. For instance, "*.m2ts' is used as each
extension name of AV stream files (e.g., 01000.m2ts and 02000.m2ts) since the AV stream
files are generally recorded as MPEG2 transport packets. In the BD specification, the AV
stream is named a clip stream file. Relating to the present invention, the data recorded in
(he disk will exist in the form of the AV stream file.
The clipinfo directory CLIPINF consists of clipinfo files OlOOO.clpi and 02000.clpi having a
one-to-one correspondence with the AV stream files (*.m2ts), respectively. Specifically,
attribute information and timing information of an AV stream are recorded in the
corresponding clipinfo file (*.clpi). The timing information includes information on
mapping a presentation time stamp (PTS) of data in the AV stream file to a source packet
number of a source packet in the AV stream file. Typically this map is referred to as an
entry point map. In the BD standard, the AV stream file *.m2ts and the corresponding
clipinfo file *.clpi are collectively called a "clip". Accordingly, the file "OlOOO.clpi" in the
clipinfo directory CLIPINF has attribute information and riming information on the file
"01000.m2ts: in the stream directory, and the files "01000x1pi" and "01000.m2ts" form a
clip.
The playlist directory PLAYLIST includes playlist files (*arrpls), and each of the playlist
files (*.mpls) includes at least one playitem designating a playing interval of a specific clip.
The playitem has navigation information on a play starting time (In-Time) and play end
time (Out-Time) of a particular clip desired to play, i.e., designated by the clip name given
in a aip_lnformatiou_File field in the playitem. Moreover, the playlist file * .mpls may be
provided with a subplayitera as necessary, such as when data is to be played non-
synchronized with the playitem.
In the BD directory BDMV, there are an index file index.bdmv and an object file
MovieObject.bdmv as general files for securing user interactivity. The index file
index.bdmv includes an index table index having main menu information and title
information the user can select.
Particularly, the main menu information recorded in the index is called a main menu or a
top menu. In relation to this, the subject disclosure introduces a popup menu, which is
newly defined as new menu information separate from the main menu. A popup menu may
provide detailed menu information according to the data attributes of a specific reproducing
or playback unit (e.g., title, chapter, scene, etc.), and may be provided through a small
window in the display that may overlap a currently reproduced picture in some cases.
Accordingly, the popup menu managing information is provided in each title. For example,
a title may he divided into chapters each represented by one of a plurality of reproduction
units, and popup menu information may be associated with each reproduction unit. Also,
popup menu information may be provided as part of a playlist file (*.mpls), a clipinfo file
(*.clpi), etc, Below, the main mom and the popup menu will be described in more detail
referring to FIGs. 3A and 3B.
As shown in FIG. 2, the disc volume of a BD-ROM is organized into a file system
information area, a database area, and an A/V stream area. The file system information area
stores system information for managing the disc. The database area includes a general files
area and a playlist and clip information area. The general files area stores general files such
as the index.bdmv file and the MovieObject.bdmv file. The playlist and
clip information area stores the PLAYLIST directory and the CLIPINF directory. The main
data and the supplementary data, such as audio/video/graphic, recorded thereon are stored
as the MPEG2 transport stream formatted clip files (*.m2ts) in the A/V stream area.
FIGs. 3A to 3B illustrate a data structure of the recording medium (e.g., BD-ROM) for
managing graphic information such as a popup menu and a method for managing the menu
information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG.
3 A schematically illustrates the file structure provided by the main menu information in the
index table, and FIG. 3B illustrates the data structure for managing popup menu information
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the file structure for managing the main menu includes the index file
index.bdmv having main menu information. Specifically, the index file index.bdmv
includes an Index Table having the main menu information Menu, title information Title #1,
..., Title #n, and first playback information First Playback. The information in the index
table is linked, one-to-one with information in the corresponding object file
MovieObjectbdrnv, which controls reproduction.
Accordingly, the main menu information in the Index Table is performed by a user request
"Call Menu", and in the main menu, a basic title menu is included. Thus, the user can select
from the main menu, one of me titles the user wants to reproduce.
If the user selects Title #1, Title #1 is mapped to an object, e.g., MovieObject #1, designated
by the link information, which is included in Title #1 information within the index table,
i.e., 'Title_ref_to_mobj_id' information. And, a playlist, e.g., PlayList #1, designated by a
command in the corresponding object is played back.
The playlist Playlist #1 is equipped with playitems Playltem #1 and Playltem #2 that
include navigation information for reproducing Clips #1 and #2, respectively.
The first playback information First Playback in the index table Index Table includes link
information that is automatically loaded when the disc is loaded. As such, the playlist file
and clip file linked to the first playback information by an object in the MovieObject.bdmv
file are reproduced, automatically, in the same manner as discussed above with respect to
the Title #1.
In the process for reproducing a corresponding title, reproduction starts from the main menu.
The main menu is limited to providing general, title based main menu information for the
total disc, and there is a limitation in properly providing the main menu according to the
attributes of the recorded data.
Owing in part to the above, when the data attributes of the recorded data are different and/or
more detailed, separate additional menu information may be provided to the user so as to
provide convenience and an environment different from the convention optical disc.
The additional menu information is graphic information called a popup menu. FIG. 3B
illustrates the data structure for managing the graphic information forming popup menu
information according to an embodiment of the present invention.
First of all, the popup mean is menu information separately provided
according to the attributes of data recorded within each playback unit, whereas the main
menu is general information provided for an overall disk. And, the 'specific playback unit'
may be referred to as a 'scene' in FIG. 3B.
The present invention provides two types of popup menus. A first type -will be referred to as
a 'real-time popup menu' or 'first type popup menu (Type #1 PopUp menu)'. The second
type will be referred to as a 'preloaded popup menu' or "second type popup menu (Type #2
PopUp menu)'. Theses two types of popup menus will be described in greater detail below.
The 'scene' means the specific playback unit to which a disk author applies a popup menu.
For instance, in accordance with the contents thereof, a title, chapter or the like may be one
'scene'.
Hence, there are various methods of distinguishing a scene in the file structure of FIG. 1.
For instance, the scene may be distinguished using title information in the index file; using a
playitem, a sub-playitem or playlist mark information in playlist, or using clip information
in the clipinfo file. This will be explained in detail later.
In FIG. 3B, a plurality of scenes are provided for a specific title (e.g., Title #1) and a popup
menu may be provided for each of the scenes. Specifically, the embodiments of toe present
invention enable providing different popup menus on a scene-by-scene basis, whereby the
disk author can decide to provide a popup menu optimal to the attributes of data that will be
recorded in the corresponding scene.
For instance, Scene #1 is provided with a real-time popup menu, and the
corresponding popup menu includes a menu enabling shopping and a language menu
enabling a change of an audio language. Scene #2 is provided with a preloaded popup menu,
and the corresponding popup menu includes a menu for a chapter change and a comment
menu having enhanced data. And, Scene #3 is not provided with a popup menu.
Moreover, each popup menu is additionally equipped with a menu selection for executing
the main menu ia the index table. If the corresponding 'main menu' in the popup menu is
clicked, the 'Call Menu' command is executed so that the main menu of the index file is
executed.
Contrary to how the main menu is displayed, the popup menu is displayed overlapping,
using a small window, a presently reproduced picture without changing the presently
reproduced picture. As such, the presently reproduced picture becomes the background
picture. The background picture may be a stilled or paused picture, or may be continuously
reproduced without being paused.
The execution of the main or popup menu is based on a user's execution command, e.g., a
menu execution button input via a remote controller. In case of the popup menu, various
execution commands may be implemented. For instance, for a real-time popup menu, an
execution icon displaying that a popup menu exists in a current playback section within a
currently displayed image is provided to a user. The user then clicks the corresponding icon
to execute the popup menu. In case of the preloaded popup menu, a menu execution button
input is made via a remote controller to execute the popup menu. These
operations will be explained in detail below with respect to FIGs. 4 and 5.
In summing up the features of the newly defined popup menu, the popup menu provides
menu information based on the data attributes within a specific playback unit There may
exist a plurality of popup menu types, and the disk author selectively determines the popup
menu types. Each of the execution commands PopUp_on of the popup menus is separately
configured per each popup menu type. The operation of the popup menu is performed while
having the background image paused or by maintaining play back of the background image
without switching the background image as when the main menu is executed.
The above-configured menu information, and particularly, the configuration per each type
of the popup menu and various executing methods thereof are explained by referring to the
detailed embodiments of the present invention below.
FIGs. 4, 6A-6C and 6E illustrate embodiments for managing a real time popup menu
according to the present invention, and FIGs. 5, 6A-6B and 6D-6E illustrate embodiments
for managing a preloaded popup menu according to the present invention.
First, differences between the real-time popup menu and the preloaded popup menu in these
embodiments will be described.
Firstly, in configuring popup menu data, the first type popup menu (real-time popup menu)
means a popup menu provided by being multiplexed with the associated AV data and |
provided on a real time basis. The second type popup menu (preloaded popup menu) means
a popup menu provided by a separate popup menu data file, distinguished from the
associated AV data file, that is preloaded by a playback apparatus.
Hence, the first type popup menu and the second type popup menu are named 'real-time
popup menu* and 'preloaded popup menu', respectively. The real-time popup menu and the
preloaded popup menu are occasionally named 'dyna-view popup menu' and 'on-demand
popup menu', respectively.
Secondly, for popup menu execution, a selection of a specific popup menu button provided
on an external remote controller and the like or an input panel is recognized as the execution
command Popup_on. On the contrary, the real-time popup menu is always provided within
a played-back image in the form of a specific execution icon, and a reproducing apparatus
recognizes a user clicking the corresponding icon as the execution command PopUp_pn.
Hence, the preloaded popup menu is occasionally referred to as a user request popup menu
and the real-time popup menu is occasionally referred to as an always on display popup
menu.
A disk author sets up the most efficient popup menu to provide a user based on the
attributes of the recorded data. Hence, the popup menu may not be provided for a specific
playback unit (e.g., Scene #3 in FIG. 3B) or both of the first and second type popup menus
may be provided,
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the configuration and execution of a real-time popup menu.
As shown, a user-recognizable execution icon (e.g., a circled 'R' icon) is provided to one
side of each playback image (e.g., alvays on display). If a user clicks the
corresponding icon ('PopUp_on'), the corresponding menu information is provided.
For instance, if the real-time popup menu is the same as applied to Scene #1 of FIG. 3B, the
activated popup menu includes the menu selections of 'Shopping', 'Language' and 'Main'
menu as discussed above. If a user selects the 'Language' menu, another menu of sub-
selections such as 'Korean', 'Japanese', 'English', and the like is provided. If the user
farther selects 'Korean' from the sub-menu, the language used in playing back the optical
disk is set to Korean, Moreover, if 'Main' menu is selected (which becomes the
'Call_Menu' commandX a current image is switched to a main menu image for execution
by the index file.
Hence, in the actual implementation of the Teal-time popup menu according to the
embodiment of the present invention, the identical popup menu can be configured within
the corresponding playback unit (e.g., Scene #1 in FIG. 4). As will be appreciated, the
playback unit (e.g., Scene #1) may be divided into time-based playback sections, and real-
time popup menus having different menu information may be provided for each of the
divided sections.
FIG. S schematically illustrates the configuration and execution method of the preloaded
popup menu. Here, the corresponding menu information is provided if a user selects a
popup menu execution button using an external remote controller or the like (PopUp_on).
For instance, unlike the real-time popup menu, which includes an always on display
component, the preloaded popup menu is usually not displayed until a user request
is received.
If the preloaded popup menu of FIG. 5 is the same as the preloaded popup menu applied to
Scene #2 of FIG. 3B, the execution command PopTJp_on of the popup menu activates
display of a popup menu consisting of 'Main' menu, 'Chapter' menu, and 'Comment' menu
selections. The chapter menu provides for enabling a chapter change. The comment menu
provides for enhanced data. A user then selects one of the menus to call up the selected
menu. Moreover, if the 'Main' menu is selected (Call_Menu), a current image is switched
to a main menu image as discussed previously.
Hence, in the actual implementation of the preloaded popup menu according to the
embodiment of the present invention, the popup menu can be configured within the
corresponding playback unit (e.g., Scene #2). As mentioned in the foregoing description,
the preloaded popup menu is managed as a menu file separate from the general AV data.
Therefore, both of the real-time and preloaded popup menus may be simultaneously utilized
in some implementations of the present invention. For instance, assuming that Scene #2 is
one chapter, the second type (preloaded) popup menu is utilized as a popup menu in
common with the corresponding chapter and the first type (real-time) popup menu may be
utilized as a popup menu for varying by real time within the corresponding chapter. In this
case, Scene #2 will be the example where both of the first and second types of popup menus
are applied.
With classifying the popup menus of the present invention into two types and using
a specific popup menu type, a data structure for identifying the type of the popup menu in a
specific file information per playback unit is provided. Moreover, the present invention
provides for distmguishing one case where, the popup menu is not applied to a specific
playback unit from the other case where both of the popup menus of the two types are
applied to the specific playback unit The data structure for, and method of recording, the
identification information for identifying the popup menu type is explained in detail as
follows.
FIGs. 6A to 6B illustrates data structures of the management and identification information,
identifying a popup menu type, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6A illustrates an embodiment of recording popup menu identification information, in a
playlist file. Referring to FIG. 6A, in the playlist file, there exists a 'AppmfoPlaylist {}'
data structure recording application information, a 'Playlist {}' data structure recording
playitem and sub-playitem information, and a 'PlaylistMark {}' data structure recording
mark information.
The popup menu type identification information of this embodiment of the present
invention is named *PopUp_menu_type' as a field name and is recorded in the playlist file.
'PopUp_menu_type - 00b' means that a popup menu fails to support a corresponding
playback unit 'PopUp_menu_type = 01b' means that only a real-time popup menu supports
a corresponding playback unit 'popUp_mnenu_type = 10b* means that only a preloaded
popup menu supports a corresponding playback unit And, TopUp__menu_type
= 11b' means that a real-time popup menu and a preloaded popup menu support a
corresponding playback unit
The field 'PopUp_menu_type' may be set for each playback unit (e.g., a scene) or for a
specific playback section within a playback unit For instance, the indicator
'PopUp_menu_type' may be defined in the 'AppInfbPlaylist {}*, 'Playltem 0' or
'SubPlayltem 0' data structures. Moreover, the name of the supported popup menu may be
directly included in the file information managing the playback unit supported by the popup
menu.
FIGs. 6B to 6E show the file structures recorded per 'PopUp_menu_type', and illustrate
cases of 'PopUp_menu_type = 00b (No PopUp menu)', popUp_menu_type= 01 "b (type #1
PopUp menu)', 'PopUp_menu_type = 10b (type #2 PopUp menu)', and
'PopUp_menu_type = 1 lb (type #1 & type #2 PopUp menu)', respectively.
FIG. 6B shows the case of ,PopUp_menu_type - 00b (No PopUp menu)' where a popup
menu fails to exist for a specific playback unit As shown, Playlist #1 includes a playitera
having navigation information for reproducing Clip #1. The Clip #1 has an AV stream
recorded therein. A control unit of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus (e.g., control
unit 12 of the optical reoording/reproducing apparatus in FIG. 7 discussed b detail below)
recognizes that mere is no popup menu in the corresponding playback unit if
'PopUp_menu_type = 00b' for the corresponding Playlist #1. If a user's popup menu
execution command (PopUp_on) is delivered, the control unit delivers an
announcement message via a display screen, for example, announcing that mere is no popup
menu. This will be explained in detail with respect to FIG. 8 below.
Referring to FIG. 6C, shown is the case of 'PopUp_menu_type = 01b' where a first type
(real-time) popup menu exists within a specific playback unit For instance, PlayList #2
includes first and second playitems Playltem #1 and Playltem #2 for managing reproduction
of a Clip #2. The Clip #2 is recorded by multiplexing the graphic information representing
the first type (real-time) popup menu and an AV stream into MPEG2 transport packets.
Here, the control unit of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus such as in FIG. 7 uses
the PID (packet ID) of the real-time popup menu packets, which differ from the PED of the
AV data packets, to filter out real-time popup menu packets and provide the corresponding
popup menu. As will be appreciated based on the description of FIG. 4, the real-time menu
is always on display.
If a user's menu execution command (PopUp_on) for a second type popup menu is
delivered, the control unit delivers an announcement message announcing that the second
type popup menu is not supported. As discussed above, this operation will be described in
detail with respect to FIG. 8.
FIG. 6T> illustrates the case of 'PopUp_menu_type — 10b' where the second type
(preloaded) popup menu exists for a specific playback unit Referring to FIG, 6D, a PlayList
#3 includes a playitem having navigation information for reproducing a Clip #3, which has
AV stream data recorded therein. The Playlist #3 also includes a subplayitem
having navigation information for reproducing a separate file of the graphic information
representing a second type popup menu.
Recognizing 'PopUp_menu_type = 10b' from the corresponding PlayList #3, the control
unit of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus (e.g., control unit 12 of the optical
recording/reproducing apparatus in FIG. 7 discussed in detail below) firstly plays back the
second type (preloaded) popup menu data based on the navigation information provided by
the subplayitem, before playing back Clip #3, and loads the preloaded popup menu into
memory. Once an execution command PopUpon for activating the preloaded popup menu
is received from a user, the preloaded second type popup menu is provided (e.g., output for
display). Additionally, or alternatively, the optical recording/reproducing apparatus of FIG.
7 may provide a recognition icon for display in an particular area of a display screen so that
the user recognizes that the second type popup menu exists. This will be explained in detail
below by referring to FIG. 8.
FIG. 6E illustrates the case of 'PopUp_menu_type = 1 lb' where both of the first and second
types (real-time and preloaded) of popup menus exist for a specific playback unit. Referring
to FIG. 6D, a PlayList #4 includes a playitem having navigation information for managing
reproduction of a Clip #4. The Clip #4 has MPEG2 transport packets of the first type popup
menu and AV stream multiplexed together. The PlayList #4 also includes a subplayitem
having navigation information for reproducing a separate file of the graphic information
representing a second type popup menu.
Recognizing 'PopUp_menu_type = 11b' from the corresponding PlayList #4, the control
unit of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus (e.g., control unit 12 of the optical
recording/reproducing apparatus in FIG. 7 discussed in detail below) firstly plays back the
second type (preloaded) popup menu data based on the navigation information provided by
the subplayitem, before playing back Clip #4, and loads the preloaded popup menu into
memory. Once an execution command PopUp_on for activating the preloaded popup menu
is received, from a user, the preloaded second type popup menu is provided (e.g., output for
display). Additionally, or alternatively, the optical recording/reproducing apparatus of FIG.
7 may provide a recognition icon for display in an particular area of a display screen so that
the user recognizes that the second type popup menu exists. This will be explained in detail
below by referring to FIG. 8.
Moreover, the control unit reads out the multiplexed first type popup menu within Clip #4
by means of PID (packet ID) filtering as discussed above. Once the user's first type popup
menu execution command PopUp_on is delivered, the real-time type popup menu is
provided. Namely, if a user's first type (real-time) popup menu execution command
(PopUp_on) is delivered, the control unit provides the first type popup menu read out by
PH) (packet ID) filtering.
FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention. As shown, the apparatus includes a pickup member 11
for retrieving or recording managing information having data and menu
information recorded in the optical disc; a servo or driver 14 for controlling movement of
the pickup member 11; a signal processor 13 for demodulating a reproduced signal received
from the pickup member 11 into a desired signal value or modulating the signal to be
recorded into a signal recorded in the optical disc; a memory 15 for temporarily storing the
managing information having the menu information, and a microcomputer 16 for
controlling the servo 14, the signal processor 13 and the memory 15. A comprehensive term
of above structural elements is a record playback system 20. Particularly, the record
playback system 20 performs reproduction based on the data structure as described above
with respect to FIGs. 1-6E.
An AV decoder 17 provides the data to the user by decoding output data according to
instruction from a controller 12. The AV encoder 17 converts an input signal into a specific
format (i.e., MPEG2 transport stream) according to the control of the controller 12, and
provides the converted signal to the signal processor 13 in the record playback system 20
for performing the function of recoding the signal to the optical disc.
From the reproduced popup menu type identification information (PopUp_meu_type)
recorded on the recording medium, the control unit 12 recognizes whether each specific
playback unit is supported by a popup menu and the type or types of popup menu
supporting the playback unit. The control unit 12 reads out popup menu data per the
recognized type according to a previously defined method such as described with respect to
FIGs. 6A to 6E, and then provides the corresponding popup menu to a user if a
user's popup menu execution command (PopUp_on) is delivered.
Specifically, when receiving the user's popup menu execution command (PopUp_on), me
control unit 12 performs the popup menu execution command (PopUp_on) corresponding to
the read-out identification information and may provide an announcement message to a user
in response to a popup menu execution command (PopUp_on). This operation is explained
in detail by referring to FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the optical recording/reproducing apparatus
after popup menu type identification information (PopUp_menu_type) per specific playback
unit in a disk has been recognized.
FIG. 8 illustrates an optical disk having a specific title (Title #n) divided into four scenes to
which popup menus may be applied. An optical recording/reproducing apparatus such as in
FIG. 7 recognizes a popup menu type for each scene from the popup menu identification
information PopUp_menu_type recorded in the disk in association with each scene. Based
on the type indication information, the apparatus decides what operations of reading out and
supporting popup menu data to perform based on interaction with a user.
When playing back Scene #1, which is not supported by a popup menu (Popup_memi_type
= 00b), if a second type popup menu execution command PopUp_on (menu button of a
remote controller) is delivered from a user, the apparatus provides a message for display
that informs the user that the popup menu fails to exist. The user has to click an execution
icon displayed on the screen to execute the first type popup menu. Yet, Scene #1 fails
to be supported by the first type popup menu so that the execution icon itself fails to be
displayed on the screen. Hence, the second type popup menu execution command is taken
into consideration only since the first type popup menu execution command PopUp_on can
not be received from the user.
Scene #2 has 'PopUp_menu_type = 01b' indicating that this playback unit is supported by
the first type popup menu only. A first type popup menu execution icon (e.g., circled 'R') is
always displayed on one side of a playback image while the corresponding section is played
back. If a user clicks the corresponding execution icon, the apparatus recognizes this as the
first type popup menu execution command PopUp_on and the apparatus provides the popup
menu. If the second type popup menu execution command PopUp_pn is received from the
user, the apparatus provides a message for display informing the user mat there exists no
second type popup menu. The apparatus may further provide an announcement message
leading to the execution of the real-time popup menu. For instance, the message asks the
user to click the real-time popup menu execution icon with a message of 'Please Click
here!'.
With respect to Scene #1 or Scene #2, either fails to be supported by the second type popup
menu. Yet, the user may frequently demand the execution of the popup menu button using a
remote controller and the like unintentionally (which corresponds to the execution
command PopUp_on of the second type popup menu). Hence, the above methods will be
very useful in alerting the user.
Industrial Applicability
Scene #3 has ,PopUp_menu_type = 10b' indicating that Scene #3 is supported by a
preloaded popup menu only. If a preloaded type popup menu execution command
PopUp_on is delivered from a user in the process of playing back the corresponding section,
the popup menu which is preloaded will be provided. Moreover, the optical
recording/reproducing playback apparatus in one embodiment may provide a recognition
icon (eg., circled 'P') on one side of a provided image if there exists the preloaded popup
menu, thereby informing the user that the preloaded popup menu is supportable in the
current playback section As with Scene #1, Scene #3 fails to be supported by a real-time
popup menu so that the real-time popup menu execution icon fails to be displayed thereon.
Hence, the real-time popup menu execution command PopUp_on will not be delivered from
the user.
Scene #4 has 'PopUp_menn_type = 1 lb' indicating that Scene #4 is supported by both a
preloaded popup menu and a real-time popup menu. As such, the apparatus is able to
provide a popup menu corresponding to each type of user popup menu execution command
PopUp_on while, the corresponding section is played back. As described above with respect
to Scene #3, a recognition icon enabling the user to recognize that the preloaded popup
menu exists may be provided on one side of the screen. In case that me real-time popup
menu is supported, the real-time popup menu execution icon will always be
displayed on the screen. Hence, it is apparent that a separate real-time popup menu
execution indicator will be necessary in this optional embodiment.
In the embodiments described above, the multiplexed or real-time popup menu was
described as the always on display menu. Namely, a component of the real-time popup
menu is always on display. However, the present invention is not limited to the real-time
menu being the popup menu for always on display. Instead, the preloaded popup menu may
serve as the menu for always on display. '
Similarly, in the embodiment described above, the non-multiplexed or preloaded popup
menu was mostly described as a menu that was not displayed until user input requesting
display of the menu was received. However, it will be appreciated that the multiplexed or
real-time popup menu may serve as a user request menu in which no display takes place
until user input requesting display of the menu is received.
To the extent that one type of menu serves as an always on display menu and another type
of menu serves as a user request display menu, the type indication information indicates
whether a menu is an always on or user request menu.
While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments,
those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous
modifications and variations there from. For example, while described with respect to a
Blu-ray ROM optical disk in several instances, the present invention is not limited to this
standard of optical disk or to optical disks. It is intended that all such modifications and
variations fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
WE CLAIM :
1. A recording medium storing an executable data structure for managing
menu information by a reproduction device in which the recording medium is
loaded, comprising:
a recording area storing a graphic stream including menu information and
an indicator associated with the menu information, the indicator being configured
to indicate a menu display type of the menu information with respect to user
request, the menu information to be one of a first type of menu information and a
second type of menu information, the first type of menu information being
displayed in response to user request, the second type of menu information
being displayed without user request,
wherein the indicator is configured to indicate whether the menu
information is the first type of menu information or the second type of menu
information in associated with the user request, if the indicator indicates the first
type of menu information, the associated menu information is displayed in
response to the user request and if the indicator indicates the second type of
menu information, the associated menu information is displayed without user
request.
2. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the menu
information is graphic data.
3. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the menu
information is multiplexed with main data.
4. The recording medium as claimed in claim 3, wherein the indicator is
configured to indicate that the menu information is to be displayed without user
request.
5. The recording medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recording area
stores a playitem, and the playitem includes navigation information for
reproducing the menu information.
6. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the menu
information is stored in a stream file, and the stream file is separate from a
stream file storing main data.
7. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording area
stores a subplayitem, and the subplayitem includes navigation information for
reproducing the menu information.
8. A method of reproducing menu information from a recording medium
loaded into and reproduced by a reproducing device, comprising:
reading a graphic stream including menu information and an indicator
associated with the menu information from the recording medium, the indicator
being configured to indicate menu display type of the menu information with
respect to user request, the menu information to be one of a first type of menu
information and a second type of menu information, the indicator being
configured to indicate whether the menu information is the first type of menu
information or the second type of menu information being separated from the
first type of menu information;
reproducing the menu information according to the indicator;
wherein if the indicator indicates the first type of menu information, the first type
of menu information is displayed without user request and if the indicator
indicates the second type of menu information, the second type of menu
information is displayed in response to the user request.
9. A method of recording a data structure for managing reproduction of menu
information on a recording medium being loaded into and reproduced by a
reproducing device, comprising:
recording a graphic stream including menu information and an indicator
associated with the menu information on the recording medium, the indicator
being configured to indicate menu display type with respect to user request, the
menu information to be one of a first type of menu information and a second type
of menu information, the first type of menu information being displayed in
response user request, the second type of menu information being displayed
without user request,
wherein the indicator is configured to indicate whether the menu
information is the first type of menu information or the second type of menu
information in associated with the user request, such that if the indicator indicates
the first type of menu information, the associated menu information is displayed
in response to the user request and if the indicator indicates the second type of
menu information, the associated menu information is displayed without user
request.
10. An apparatus for reproducing menu information from a recording medium,
comprising:
a reproducing unit configured to read a graphic stream from the recording
medium, the graphic stream including the menu information and an indicator, the
indicator being configured to indicate a menu display type with respect to user
request, the menu information to be one of a first type of menu information and a
second type of menu information being separated from the first type of menu
information, the first type of menu information being displayed in response to
user request, the second type of menu information being displayed without user
request; and
a controller configured to control the reproducing unit to reproduce the
indicator and reproduce one of the first and second type of menu information
according to the indicator;
wherein the indicator is configured to indicate whether the menu
information is the first type of menu information or the second type of menu
information with respect to user request, such that if the indicator indicates the
wherein the first type of menu information is displayed without user
request, for the duration of the menu information, if the indicator indicates the
first type of menu information.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein display of menu information
is not displayed by user request.
14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the menu information is
multiplexed with video data and the indicator indicates that the menu is displayed
without user request.
15. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the menu information is stored
in a stream file and the stream file is different from a stream file storing main
data.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller is configured
to control the menu information to be displayed in response to a user request if
the indicator indicates that the menu information is to be displayed in response
to user request.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the indicator is configured
to indicate whether the menu information is to be displayed in response to the
user request or to be displayed without user request, and
wherein the controller is configured to control the menu information to be
displayed without user request, for the duration of the menu information, if the
indicator indicates that the menu information is to be displayed without user
request.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein display of information is
not discontinued by user request.
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the reproducing unit is
configured to reproduce data from the recording medium according to a
reproduction command transmitted from the controller.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the controller is configured
to control the menu information to be multiplexed with video data and the
indicator indicates that the menu information is displayed without user request.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the controller is configured
to control the menu information to be stored in a stream file, the stream file is
different from a stream file storing main data.
22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the recording unit is
configured to record data on the recording medium according to a record
command transmitted from the controller.
23. The recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first type of
menu information is information of popup menu and the second type of menu
information that is always on menu.

Documents:

00834-kolnp-2006-abstract.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-asignment.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-claims.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-correspondence other.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-correspondence-1.1.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-description (complete).pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-drawings.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-form-1.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-form-18.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-form-3.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-form-5.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-international publication.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-international search authority report.pdf

00834-kolnp-2006-pct form.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-AMENDED DOCUMENTS.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-assignment.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-CANCELLED DOCUMENTS.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-correspondence.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-examination report.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-form 18.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-form 3.1.2.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-form 5.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-FORM-27-1.1.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-FORM-27.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-gpa.1.1.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-GPA.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-granted-abstract.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-granted-claims.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-granted-description (complete).pdf

834-kolnp-2006-granted-drawings.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-granted-form 1.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-granted-specification.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT 1.1.pdf

834-kolnp-2006-reply to examination report.1.3.pdf

834-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-00834-kolnp-2006.jpg


Patent Number 246659
Indian Patent Application Number 834/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 10/2011
Publication Date 11-Mar-2011
Grant Date 09-Mar-2011
Date of Filing 05-Apr-2006
Name of Patentee LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Applicant Address 20, YOIDO-DONG, YONGDUNGPO-GU, SEOUL
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SEO, KANG SOO 104-1504, CHOWON APT., #898 PYEONGCHON-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO
2 YOO, JEA YONG 205-808, SSANGYONG APT., GARAK 2-DONG, SONGPA-GU, SEOUL
3 KIM, BYUNG JIN 111-204, CHONGGU APT., HANSOLMAEUL, #110, JEONGJA-DONG, BUNDANG-GU, SEONGNAM-SI, GYEONGGI-DO
PCT International Classification Number G11B 27/10
PCT International Application Number PCT/KR2004/002091
PCT International Filing date 2004-08-19
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10-2003-097529 2003-12-26 Republic of Korea