JP4047237B2 - Index data creation device, video playback device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to index data relating to time-series content data such as moving image reproduction data.Playback device for video playback based on index dataAbout.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, index data related to content data such as video and audio has been created. Examples of such index data include chapter image data recorded together with moving image content data such as movies. Such chapter image data is produced by the producer and recorded on the same DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) as the moving image content.
[0003]
As the chapter image data as described above, image data corresponding to an important scene of the movie is selected by the producer, and the user can select one of the chapter images to refer to the image, It can be used as index information such as reproducing content data from an image scene.
[0004]
However, in an aspect in which only the scene corresponding to a part of the content selected by the producer, that is, an image corresponding to a part of the content is included as index information, index information that is effective for many users with different hobbies and preferences is provided. It is hard to say that you are doing.
[0005]
Also, when image information is index information, only the image information that is index information is continuously played back so that the entire content can be viewed in a short time, and such playback is possible. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this technique, only an image of a part (such as time) designated by the user is reproduced, so that the user can see the entire contents in a short time.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-76474 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the technique described in the above document, since the user designates a part or the like to be reproduced, each user can know the index information (image information in the above document) of the part desired by the user. Must specify which part to play. For this reason, if the contents of the contents are not known, effective specification cannot be made, and the function of providing index information for conveying the contents to the user in a digest manner cannot be performed. That is, the content portions that the user or the like wants to acquire as index information related to the content may be different from each other, and the technology described in the above-mentioned document or the technology using the chapter image has such various requests. Could not provide index information according to
[0008]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and can provide index information according to various preferences to a user or the like.Index data creation device, video playback deviceThe purpose is to obtain.
[0025]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above objective,Claim1The present invention relates to an index data creation device that creates index data for time-series content data, and obtains index information corresponding to each of the parts obtained by dividing the content data at a certain time interval, and Acquisition means for acquiring index information corresponding to each of the portions obtained by dividing the content data at a time interval different from the certain fixed time interval, and index information corresponding to each portion divided at each of the time intervals, Means for recording on a recording medium classified for each time interval, and recording information for specifying each of the divided parts in association with index information corresponding to the parts AndThe acquisition means includes, as the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval, another index information group having index information corresponding to a portion divided every time interval shorter than the certain time interval. Link information for linking to the included index information is acquired, and the acquisition unit is divided for each short time interval as link information to be included in the index information corresponding to the portion divided for each certain time interval. Information indicating that the index information is a time later than the start time of the corresponding part and is linked to the index information corresponding to the immediately following part with the time closest to the start time as the start time. Index data creation device characterized by acquiringIt is.
[0026]
  Claim1According to the invention, index information corresponding to each of the parts obtained by dividing the content data at a constant time interval is acquired, and index information corresponding to each of the parts divided at a different time interval is acquired. The Then, the acquired index information is recorded on the recording medium as index data in association with information for specifying the corresponding portion.Furthermore, the index information group is different from the index information group to which the index information corresponding to the part divided at a certain time interval currently used belongs, and corresponds to the part divided at a time interval shorter than the certain time interval. When changing to use the index information group to which the index information belongs, the link information that corresponds to such a change and uses as much index information corresponding to a portion divided at a short time interval as much as possible. Index data that is acquired and has index information including such link information can be created.
[0035]
  Claims2The invention according to claim1In the configuration of the invention, the obtaining unit converts the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval into index information corresponding to a portion divided every time interval longer than the certain time interval. Link information for linking is acquired, and the acquisition means is a part divided at the long time interval as link information to be included in index information corresponding to the part divided at the certain time interval, The start time of the immediately preceding portion that is earlier than the start time of the portion corresponding to the index information and is closest to the start time, and the start time of the portion before the portion corresponding to the index information If the start time of the immediately preceding part is earlier than the start time of the previous part, the input corresponding to the previous part is Information indicating that the link is linked to index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion when the start time of the immediately preceding portion is later than the start time of the preceding portion. It is characterized by acquiring.
[0036]
  Claim2According to the invention, the index information group is different from the index information group to which the index information corresponding to the part divided at a certain time interval currently used belongs, and is divided at a time interval longer than the certain time interval. When changing to use the index information group to which the index information corresponding to the assigned part belongs, the index information corresponding to the part divided at a short time interval is used as much as possible while supporting such a change. Link information to be obtained is acquired, and index data having index information including such link information can be created.
[0037]
  Claims3The invention according to claim1In the configuration of the invention according to the above, the acquisition unit includes, as the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval, index information corresponding to a portion divided every time interval shorter than the certain time interval. Link information for linking to index information included in another index information group having, and as link information included in index information corresponding to a portion divided for each certain time interval, for each short time interval It is a part that is divided, and whose index information is earlier than the start time of the corresponding part, and that it is linked to the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding part with the time closest to the start time as the start time It is characterized by acquiring information.
[0038]
  Claim3According to the invention, the index information group is different from the index information group to which the index information corresponding to the part divided at a certain time interval currently used belongs, and is divided at a time interval shorter than the certain time interval. When changing to use the index information group to which the index information corresponding to the assigned part belongs, the index information corresponding to the part divided at a short time interval is used as much as possible while supporting such a change. Link information to be obtained is acquired, and index data having index information including such link information can be created.
[0039]
  Claims4The present invention relates to a video playback apparatus that performs video playback based on index data for content data for playing back a moving image, the index playback data including a plurality of index information groups related to the content data, A reproduction speed set from a recording medium on which index data having index information including image data for at least one frame in image data of a portion obtained by dividing the content data at different time intervals in which the index information group is different. The image data in each of the index information included in the index information group corresponding to the index information group is read in time order of the portion corresponding to each index information, and playback means for playing back images based on the sequentially read image data,The reproduction means receives an instruction to reduce the reproduction speed while reproducing an image corresponding to the image data included in the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval in the forward direction. In this case, it is a portion divided for each time interval shorter than the certain time interval, and the index information is a time later than the start time of the corresponding portion, and the time closest to the start time is a start time. Video data is read out and reproduced from index information corresponding to the immediately following portion, and thereafter image data in the index information belonging to the same index information group as the index information corresponding to the immediately following portion is read and reproduced. It is a playback device.
[0040]
  Claim4According to the invention, there are a plurality of index information groups related to one content data, and each index information group has index information corresponding to each of the parts obtained by dividing the content at different time intervals. Since the image data in the index information of the index information group corresponding to the set reproduction speed is read out and reproduced from the recording medium on which the index data is recorded, high-speed image reproduction can be performed without reading the content data itself.When an instruction to reduce the playback speed is received, the index information corresponding to the portion divided at a short time interval is used as much as possible while responding to the change according to the instruction. More index information can be obtained.
[0049]
  Claims5The invention according to claim4In the configuration according to the invention, the reproducing means increases the reproduction speed while reproducing the image corresponding to the image data included in the index information corresponding to the portion divided at certain time intervals in the reverse direction. When an instruction to do so is received, it is a portion divided every time interval longer than the certain time interval, which is earlier than the start time of the portion corresponding to the index information and closest to the start time Is compared with the start time of the part immediately before the part corresponding to the index information, and the start time of the immediately preceding part is earlier than the start time of the previous part. In this case, when the image data is read and reproduced from the index information corresponding to the previous part, the start time of the immediately preceding part is later than the start time of the previous part. The image data is read and reproduced from the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion, and thereafter the image data in the index information belonging to the same index information group as the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion is read and reproduced. To do.
[0050]
  Claim5According to the invention, when there is an instruction to increase the playback speed, the index information corresponding to the portion divided at a short time interval is used as much as possible while responding to the change according to the instruction. As a result, more index information can be obtained.
[0051]
  Claims6The invention according to claim4In the configuration according to the invention, the playback means slows down the playback speed while playing back the image corresponding to the image data included in the index information corresponding to the portion divided at certain time intervals in the reverse direction. When an instruction to do so is received, it is a portion divided every time interval shorter than the certain time interval, the index information is earlier than the start time of the corresponding portion, and the start time Image data is read and reproduced from the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion starting from the nearest time, and thereafter the image data in the index information belonging to the same index information group as the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion is read and reproduced. It is characterized by doing.
[0052]
  Claim6According to the invention, when there is an instruction to reduce the playback speed, the index information corresponding to the portion divided at a short time interval is used as much as possible while responding to the change according to the instruction. As a result, more index information can be obtained.
[0057]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.Index data creation device, video playback deviceThe preferred embodiment will be described in detail.
[0058]
A. Contents of index data
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of index data according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the index data according to the present embodiment is index data related to moving image content data for reproducing moving images such as movies and television programs, and is expressed in, for example, MPEG7 (Moving Pictures Experts Group 7) format. DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), HD (Hard
Disk) and the like can be recorded on various recording media.
[0059]
The index data according to the present embodiment has a plurality of index information groups for one moving image content data (one movie, one program). Each index information group has index information corresponding to portions obtained by dividing the moving image content data at different time intervals.
[0060]
The index information group G1 includes index information I101, I102,... Corresponding to portions obtained by dividing moving image content data at intervals of 120 seconds. That is, the index information I101 and I102 is index information corresponding to a video of a section of 0 to 120 seconds and a video of a section of 120 to 240 seconds, which are parts obtained by dividing moving image content data at 120-second intervals. Note that each piece of index information schematically shown as a block in FIG. 1 does not represent the amount of data in terms of length, but schematically represents the content portion to which the index information corresponds.
[0061]
The index information group G2 includes index information I201, I202, I203,... Corresponding to portions obtained by dividing moving image content data at 60-second intervals. In other words, the index information I201, I202, and I203 includes 0 to 60 second section video, 60 to 120 second section video, 120 to 180 second section, which is a portion obtained by dividing moving image content data at 60 second intervals. This is index information corresponding to the video in the section.
[0062]
Further, the index information group G3 includes index information I301, I302, I303,... Corresponding to portions obtained by dividing the moving image content data at 30-second intervals, and the index information group G4 includes 15 moving image content data. Have index information I401, I402, I403,... Corresponding to portions divided at intervals of seconds, and the index information group G5 includes index information I501 corresponding to portions obtained by dividing moving image content data at intervals of 7.5 seconds. , I502, I503,. If the time of the content is divisible by the divided time interval, the time of each part is the same, but if it is not divisible, only the time of the last part is different from the other parts as shown in the figure. Unlike this, in this embodiment, index information (I1n, I2m, I3o, I4p, I5q) is prepared for such a portion as well as the other portions. Yes.
[0063]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, index information groups G1 to G1 are arranged in the lower layer with index information corresponding to videos divided at intervals of 120 seconds, 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 15 seconds, and 7.5 seconds. A hierarchical structure is adopted in which the management information G1 to G5 of G5 is arranged below the index information TITLE1 of the entire one content title (for example, one movie). It should be noted that the hierarchical structure is not limited to that shown in the figure, and if the index information corresponding to each part obtained by dividing the content at different time intervals is classified for each divided time interval, A structure may be adopted (grouping such as index information groups G1 and G2).
[0064]
1 and 2, index information I101, I102,..., I201, I202,..., I301, I302,..., I401, I402,. Information for specifying and image data for at least one frame included in the corresponding video are included. The information for specifying the video portion indicates the time in the entire content data of the video portion corresponding to the index information, and includes a start time and an end time.
[0065]
For example, the index information I101 includes time information such as a start time “0” and an end time “120”, and the index information I202 includes time information such as a start time “60” and an end time “120”. In addition, the index information I302 includes time information such as a start time “30” and an end time “60”.
[0066]
Further, the image data included in the index information may be, for example, the first frame in the corresponding video section, or an intermediate frame (a frame to be reproduced at the time of 60 seconds if it is a section of 0 to 120 seconds). ) Or any other frame image data in the section.
[0067]
As described above, by including at least one frame of image data in the index information of each index information group, the image reproducing apparatus reads and reproduces the image data from each index information included in a certain index information group. Thus, for each division time interval of the index information group, for example, in the case of the index information group G2, images at 60-second intervals are sequentially switched and displayed every predetermined time, and the viewer can perform high-speed playback based on moving image content data. You can refer to the image as if it was made.
[0068]
Further, if image data is read out from the index information included in the index information group G3 and reproduced at the predetermined time intervals, images at intervals of 30 seconds are sequentially switched and displayed at predetermined intervals, and the viewer can view the moving image content. It is possible to refer to an image that is high-speed playback based on data and that is played back at half the speed compared to the case of using the index information group G2. In this way, the reproduction speed of high-speed reproduction can be changed by properly using the index information group.
[0069]
Further, in this embodiment, in addition to time information and frame image data, each index information includes link information for linking to index information of an index information group different from the index information group to which the index information belongs. Such link information is information used when changing the index information group to be used when performing high-speed playback in which frame image data included in each index information is sequentially displayed as described above.
[0070]
In the present embodiment, the index information of the index information group G1 includes link information for linking to the index information in the index information group G2, and the index information of the index information group G2 includes the index information group G1 and the index information group G3. Link information for linking to the index information inside is included. As described above, the index information of a certain index information group includes an index information group having a division time interval longer than that of the certain index information group and the closest division time interval (if the index information group is the index information group G2, an index Information G1), and index information in an index information group that is shorter than the certain index information group and has the closest division time interval (or index information group G3 if the index information group is an index information group G2) The link information for linking to is included.
[0071]
Next, details of the link information included in the index information will be described. In the present embodiment, the content of link information included in certain index information is determined according to the rules described below. With respect to the link information determination rule and its contents, when index information is sequentially used in the time-positive direction (direction in which time increases) (that is, when index information I201, I202, and I203 are used in this order), This is a case of using the link information used in the case of reproduction) and the index information in the time reverse direction (direction in which the time is reduced) (index information I204, I203, I202, I201 in the order of the reverse). This will be described separately for link information used for high-speed playback or the like.
[0072]
(1) Link information in the time positive direction
(1-1) Link information to index information group with long division time
First, a procedure for determining the contents of link information to index information of an index information group having a longer division time interval than the index information group to which the target index information belongs will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, certain index information is index information belonging to the index information group G3, and among the link information included in the index information, the content of the link information to the index information of the index information group G2 having a long division time interval Will be described.
[0073]
a. First, index information satisfying the following conditions is specified from the index information in the index information group (G2) to which the index information to be linked belongs.
[0074]
Condition: A portion where the start time is the same time as the end time of the corresponding index information or the time later than the end time, and the time closest to the end time is the start time Index information corresponding to
[0075]
For example, if the target index information is index information I303, the start time is the same time as the end time (90 seconds) or a time later than that, and the time closest to 90 seconds is the start time. The index information corresponding to the existing part (hereinafter referred to as the immediately following part) is searched and specified in the index information group G2. The index information that satisfies this condition is index information I203. In other words, the part corresponding to the index information I203 has a start time of 120 seconds, the end time of the section corresponding to the index information I303 is later than the end time of 90 seconds, and is the time closest to 90 seconds, and corresponds to the immediately following part. Index information I203 is specified. Even when the target index information is index information I304, the specified index information is index information I203.
[0076]
b. The start time of the section corresponding to the index information specified as described above is compared with the end time of the part next to the part corresponding to the target index information.
[0077]
For example, if the target index information is index information I303, the portion corresponding to the index information I303 is a section of 60 to 90 seconds, and the next portion is a portion of 90 to 120 seconds. Accordingly, the end time of 120 seconds, which is the end time of this portion, is compared with the start time of 120 seconds immediately after the portion corresponding to the index information I203 specified as described above.
[0078]
c. If the start time of the immediately following part is the same as the end time of the next part or later than the end time of the next part, the link information included in the target index information corresponds to the next part. Link information to index information. On the other hand, when the start time of the immediately following portion is earlier than the end time of the next portion, the link information included in the target index information is link information to the index information corresponding to the immediately following portion.
[0079]
For example, when the target index information is the index information I303, the end time (120 seconds) of the next part is the same as the start time (120 seconds) of the immediately following part, so the link information included in the index information I303 is This is information to link to the index information I304 corresponding to the next part.
[0080]
On the other hand, when the target index information is the index information I304, the end time of the next part (part corresponding to the index information I305) is 150 seconds, and the start time 120 of the next part (part corresponding to the index information I203). Slower than seconds. Therefore, the link information included in the index information I304 is information indicating that the link is made to the index information I203 corresponding to the immediately subsequent portion.
[0081]
When the link destination of each index information by the link information included in each index information determined by the above procedure is expressed visually (link destination is indicated by →), it is as shown in FIG.
[0082]
As shown in the figure, for example, when the setting is changed to use the information of the index information group G4 while the index information I503 of the index information group G5 is being used (for example, during reproduction of image data), the index is unchanged. Instead of using the index information I403 of the information group G4, first, the index information I504 that is the next index information of the index information group G5 is used. Since the index information I403 of the index information group G4 is designated as the link destination in the link information of the index information I504, the index information I403 is selected as index information to be used next.
[0083]
That is, when the index information I503 is used, for example, when the setting change is made to switch to the reproduction of the index information of the index information group G4 during the reproduction of the image data, the image data of the index information I504 is reproduced next. The image data of the index information I403 of the index information group G4 is read and reproduced.
[0084]
(1-2) Link information to a group of index information with a short division time
Next, a procedure for determining the content of the link information to the index information of the index information group having a shorter division time interval than the index information group to which the target index information belongs will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, the target index information is index information belonging to the index information group G2, and among the link information included in the index information, link information to the index information of the index information group G3 having a short division time interval The contents of will be described.
[0085]
First, the index information satisfying the following conditions is specified from the index information in the index information group (G3) to which the index information as the link destination belongs.
[0086]
Condition: Index information corresponding to a portion whose start time is the time that is later than the start time of the portion to which the target index information corresponds and whose start time is closest to the start time.
[0087]
For example, if the target index information is index information I202, the start time is the same time as the start time (60 seconds) or a time later than that, and the time closest to 60 seconds is the start time. In the index information group G3, the index information corresponding to the existing part (hereinafter referred to as the immediate part) is searched and specified. The index information that satisfies this condition is index information I304. In other words, the part corresponding to the index information I304 has a start time of 90 seconds, the start time of the section corresponding to the index information I202 is later than the start time of 60 seconds, and is the closest time (same time), and corresponds to the immediately following part. Index information I304 is specified.
[0088]
Then, information indicating that the index information corresponding to the immediately subsequent portion is linked becomes the link information included in the target index information. That is, if the target index information is the index information I202, the information to link to the index information I304 is the link information.
[0089]
When the link destination of each index information by the link information included in each index information determined by the above procedure is visually expressed, it is as shown in FIG.
[0090]
As shown in the figure, for example, when the setting is changed to use the information of the index information group G5 while the index information I402 of the index information group G4 is being used (for example, during reproduction of image data), immediately after that. Index information I504 of the index information group G5 corresponding to the portion is used.
[0091]
That is, when the index information I402 is used, for example, when the setting change is made during reproduction of the image data, for example, switching to reproduction of the index information of the index information group G5, the image data of the index information I504 is reproduced, and then the index information is reproduced. Image data is read out in the order of I505, I506,.
[0092]
As described above, the link information in the present embodiment includes link destination information that uses index information having a short divided time interval as much as possible. By doing so, the following effects can be obtained when the index data is used for high-speed playback as described above.
[0093]
That is, as described above, image reproduction using index information having a short division time interval is slower than image reproduction using index information having a long division time interval. More specifically, when the image data included in the index information of the index information group G2 is read and displayed at regular time intervals, that is, when the images at intervals of 60 seconds are switched and displayed at regular time intervals, the divided time When the image data included in the index information of the index information group G3 with a short interval is read and displayed every the above-mentioned fixed time (for example, 0.5 seconds), that is, the image that is switched at intervals of 30 seconds is displayed Playback speed is slow.
[0094]
Therefore, switching to playback using the image data of the index information of the index information group whose division time interval is shorter than that of the currently used index information group means that the playback speed is slowed down. Switching to playback using the image data of the index information of the index information group having a longer division time interval than the existing index information group means increasing the playback speed.
[0095]
Then, by including the link information as described above in the index information, when the reproduction speed is changed at a high speed (for example, when changing from the index information group G3 to the index information G2), the index information that makes the reproduction speed as slow as possible. The index information of group G3 is used so that the playback speed is not increased immediately. On the other hand, when the playback speed is changed to a low speed (for example, when the index information group G2 is changed to the index information G3), the index information of the index information group G3 is used immediately, and the playback speed immediately decreases. I am doing so. By changing the playback speed as described above when changing the playback speed, it is possible to change the speed with less discomfort for the viewer, and there are few oversights when using the high-speed playback for searching the scene you want to see. Become.
[0096]
(2) Link information in reverse direction
(2-1) Link information to index information group with long division time
First, a procedure for determining the contents of link information to index information of an index information group having a longer division time interval than the index information group to which the target index information belongs will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, the target index information is index information belonging to the index information group G3, and among the link information included in the index information, the content of the link information to the index information of the index information group G2 having a long division time interval Will be explained.
[0097]
a. First, index information satisfying the following conditions is specified from the index information in the index information group (G2) to which the index information to be linked belongs.
[0098]
Condition: Index information corresponding to a portion whose start time is the time earlier than the start time of the portion corresponding to the target index information, and the time closest to the start time is the start time.
[0099]
For example, if the target index information is index information I304, the start time is the same time as the start time (90 seconds) or a time earlier than that, and the time closest to 90 seconds is the start time. The index information corresponding to the existing part (hereinafter referred to as the immediately preceding part) is searched and specified in the index information group G2. The index information that satisfies this condition is index information I202. That is, the portion corresponding to the index information I202 has a start time of 60 seconds, is earlier than the start time 90 seconds of the section corresponding to the index information I304 and is closest to 90 seconds, and corresponds to the immediately preceding portion. Index information I202 is specified. Even when the target index information is index information I303, the specified index information is index information I201.
[0100]
b. The end time of the section (immediately preceding portion) corresponding to the index information specified as described above is compared with the start time of the portion before the portion corresponding to the target index information.
[0101]
For example, if the target index information is index information I304, the portion corresponding to the index information I304 is a section of 90 to 120 seconds, and the previous portion is a portion of 60 to 90 seconds. Therefore, the start time of this part, 60 seconds, is compared with the start time of 60 seconds immediately before the part corresponding to the index information I201 specified as described above.
[0102]
c. When the start time of the immediately preceding portion is earlier than the start time of the previous portion, the link information included in the target index information is link information to the index information corresponding to the previous portion. On the other hand, when the start time of the immediately preceding part is later than the start time of the previous part, the link information included in the target index information is link information to the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding part.
[0103]
For example, when the target index information is the index information I304, the start time (60 seconds) of the previous part is the same as the start time (60 seconds) of the immediately preceding part, so the link information included in the index information I304 is This is information to link to the index information I202 corresponding to the immediately preceding portion.
[0104]
On the other hand, when the target index information is the index information I303, the start time of the previous part (part corresponding to the index information I302) is 30 seconds, and the start time of the immediately preceding part (part corresponding to the index information I201) is 0. Slower than seconds. Therefore, the link information included in the index information I303 is information that links to the index information I302 corresponding to the previous part.
[0105]
When the link destination of each index information by the link information included in each index information determined by the above procedure is visually expressed, it is as shown in FIG.
[0106]
As shown in the figure, for example, when the index information I505 of the index information group G5 is being used (for example, when image data is being played backward), the setting is changed to use the information of the index information group G4. Instead of using the index information I402 of the index information group G4 as it is, the index information I504 that is index information immediately before the index information group G5 (next with respect to the reverse direction) is first used. Since the index information I402 of the index information group G4 is specified as the link destination in the link information of the index information I504, the index information I402 is selected as index information to be used next.
[0107]
That is, when the index information I505 is used, for example, when the setting change is made to switch to the reproduction of the index information of the index information group G4 during the backward reproduction of the image data, the image data of the index information I504 is reproduced next, Next, the image data of the index information I402 of the index information group G4 is read and reproduced.
[0108]
(2-2) Link information to index information group with short division time
Next, the procedure for determining the contents of the link information to the index information of the index information group having a shorter division time interval than the index information group to which the target index information belongs will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, the target index information is index information belonging to the index information group G2, and among the link information included in the index information, the content of the link information to the index information of the index information group G3 having a short division time interval Will be explained.
[0109]
First, the index information satisfying the following conditions is specified from the index information in the index information group (G3) to which the index information as the link destination belongs.
[0110]
Condition: Index information corresponding to a portion whose start time is the time earlier than the start time of the portion corresponding to the target index information, and the time closest to the start time is the start time.
[0111]
For example, if the target index information is index information I203, a time earlier than the start time (120 seconds) is set as the start time, and a portion where the start time is closest to 120 seconds (hereinafter referred to as “start time”). The index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion is searched for and specified in the index information group G3. The index information that satisfies this condition is index information I304. That is, the portion corresponding to the index information I304 has a start time of 90 seconds, and is the closest time (same time) earlier than the start time 120 seconds of the section corresponding to the index information I203, and the index corresponding to this immediately preceding portion Information I304 is identified.
[0112]
Information indicating that the link to the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion is linked information to be included in the target index information. That is, if the target index information is the index information I203, the information to link to the index information I304 is the link information.
[0113]
When the link destination of each index information by the link information included in each index information determined by the above procedure is visually expressed, it is as shown in FIG.
[0114]
As shown in the figure, for example, when the setting is changed to use the information of the index information group G5 while using the index information I403 of the index information group G4 (for example, during backward reproduction of image data), Index information I504 of the index information group G5 corresponding to the immediately preceding portion is used.
[0115]
In other words, when the index information I403 is used, for example, when setting change is made such as switching to the reproduction of the index information of the index information group G5 during the backward reproduction of the image data, the image data of the index information I504 is reproduced, and then Image data is read out in the order of index information I503, I502,.
[0116]
As described above, the link information in the present embodiment includes link destination information that uses index information having a short divided time interval as much as possible. In this way, similar to the speed change at the time of forward high-speed playback described above, even when the speed change is made at the time of reverse high-speed playback, it is possible to change the speed with less discomfort for the viewer. Even when the high-speed playback is used for searching for a desired scene, the number of oversights is reduced.
[0117]
The above is the details of the index data regarding the moving image content data according to the present embodiment. Such index data may be recorded on various recording media and provided to the user or the like, or may be provided to the user or the like via a network such as the Internet. It is.
[0118]
For example, index data having the above-described configuration is created for a program broadcast by a broadcaster that broadcasts a TV program and the like, and the index data is transmitted to a user who has recorded the TV program using a network or broadcast waves. You may do it. Of course, by providing the user with an index data creation device, which will be described later, the index data may be created using the index data creation device for content data acquired by the user in some way.
[0119]
In addition, as schematically shown in FIG. 11, the above-mentioned index data related to the content data is recorded on a DVD on which moving image content data such as a movie is recorded, and the DVD is sold. Can be provided to the user. In the example shown in the figure, a plurality of moving image contents (moving image data for a plurality of movies) are recorded on one DVD, and index data is created for each content and recorded on the DVD in association with each content. ing.
[0120]
B. Video playback device and index data creation device
Next, a video playback apparatus that performs high-speed playback and the like based on the index data having the above contents, and an index data creating apparatus that creates and records the index data having the contents based on the content data will be described.
[0121]
In this embodiment, there is provided an optical disc drive having a function as a video playback device based on the index data recorded on the optical disc and an index creation recording device that creates index data from the content data and records it on the optical disc. The configuration of such an information processing apparatus will be described below.
[0122]
DVD-RAM / WO, DVD-R, DVD + R and DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD + RW discs are writable DVDs. The former DVD-RAM / WO, DVD-R, and DVD + R are DVDs that can be written only once, while the latter DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD + RW are DVDs that can be written multiple times. It is. FIG. 12 shows the configuration of an optical disk drive that records and reproduces information on these writable optical disks such as DVDs.
[0123]
As shown in the figure, an optical disk drive 100 includes a spindle motor 2, an optical pickup 3, a motor driver 4, a read amplifier 5, a servo means 6, a DVD decoder 7, and an ADIP (ADdress In Pregroove) decoder 8. A laser controller 9, a DVD encoder 10, a DVD-ROM encoder 11, a buffer RAM 12, a buffer manager 13, a DVD-ROM decoder 14, an ATAPI / SCSI interface 15, a D / A converter 16, and a ROM 17 A CPU 18 and a RAM 19.
[0124]
In FIG. 12, arrows indicate the direction in which data mainly flows, and connection lines between the CPU 18 that controls each part of the apparatus and other components are omitted for simplification of the drawing.
[0125]
The ROM 17 stores a control program written in a code readable by the CPU 18. When the optical disk drive 100 is turned on, the control program is loaded into a main memory (not shown), and the CPU 18 controls each part of the apparatus according to the program and temporarily stores data necessary for control in the RAM 19. save.
[0126]
The spindle motor 2 rotationally drives the optical disc 1 that is a reproduction target or a recording target. The spindle motor 2 is driven by a motor driver 4 and servo means 6. The linear velocity or the angular velocity is controlled to be constant. Note that the linear velocity or angular velocity can be changed in stages.
[0127]
The optical pickup 3 includes a semiconductor laser, an optical system, a focus actuator, a track actuator, a light receiving element, a position sensor, and the like, and irradiates a laser beam LB toward the optical disk 1 that is rotationally driven. The optical pickup 3 can be moved in the sledge direction by a seek motor. The seek motor, the focus actuator, and the track actuator are arranged so that the spot light of the laser beam LB is positioned at the target location on the optical disk 1 by the motor driver 4 and the servo means 6 based on the signals obtained from the light receiving element and the position sensor. Be controlled.
[0128]
At the time of reading information recorded on the optical disc 1, that is, at the time of reading, the reproduction signal obtained by the optical pickup 3 is amplified and binarized by the read amplifier 5 and then supplied to the DVD decoder 7. The DVD decoder 7 performs 8/16 demodulation on the supplied binary signal. Note that the data recorded on the DVD is modulated into 8 bits and modulated (8/16 modulation), and in this modulation, 8 bits are converted to 16 bits. In this case, the combined bits are set so that the number of previous “1” s and “0” s are equal on average. This is called “DC component suppression”, and fluctuations in the slice level of the DC-cut reproduction signal are suppressed.
[0129]
The DVD decoder 7 performs deinterleaving and error correction processing on the data demodulated by 8/16 as described above, and outputs the result to the DVD-ROM decoder 8. In the DVD-ROM decoder 8, an error correction process is performed on the input data in order to increase the reliability of the data. Data that has been subjected to error correction processing by the DVD-ROM decoder 8 is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 12 by the buffer manager 13 and transferred to a host computer, which will be described later, via the ATAPI / SCSI interface 15 in a state in which the data is arranged as sector data. The When the data read from the optical disc 1 is music data, the data output from the DVD decoder 7 is supplied to the D / A converter 16 and output as an analog audio signal Audio.
[0130]
On the other hand, when recording information on the optical disk 1, so-called writing, data to be recorded is supplied from the host computer to the optical disk drive 100 via the ATAPI / SCSI interface 15. This data is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 12 by the buffer manager 13. Then, the recording operation of the data on the optical disc 1 is started, but it is necessary to move the irradiation position of the laser beam to the recording start point on the optical disc 1 prior to the recording of the data.
[0131]
In the case of DVD + RW and DVD + R, the recording start point is obtained by a wobble signal that is previously engraved on the disc by meandering tracks. In DVD-RW and DVD-R, it is obtained from land pre-pits instead of wobble signals, and in DVD-RAM and DVD-RAM / WO, pre-pits are used.
[0132]
The wobble signal read from the DVD + RW and DVD + R by the optical pickup 3 includes address information called ADIP, and this information is extracted by the ADIP decoder 8. The synchronization signal generated by the ADIP decoder 8 is supplied to the DVD encoder 10, thereby enabling recording at an accurate position on the optical disk 1.
[0133]
The data to be recorded once stored in the buffer RAM 12 as described above is subjected to error correction code addition, interleaving, and the like in the DVD-ROM encoder 11 and the DVD encoder 10. Then, the data to be recorded is recorded on the optical disc 1 via the laser controller 9 and the optical pickup 3.
[0134]
FIG. 13 shows a configuration of an information processing apparatus 200 that is a host computer including the optical disc drive 100 as described above. An information processing apparatus 200 shown in the figure has a function of playing back video based on the index data as described above, and a function of creating index data as described above and recording it on a recording medium such as a DVD.
[0135]
As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus 200 includes a control device 201, an input device 202, a display device 203, a storage device 204, an optical disc drive 100, and an interface 205.
[0136]
The control device 201 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and controls each part of the device according to a program stored in the storage device 204 or the like. The interface 205 is a bidirectional communication interface with the optical disk drive 100 having the above-described configuration, and conforms to a standard interface such as ATAPI / SCSI. The interface 205 is connected to the ATAPI / SCSI interface 15 (see FIG. 12) of the optical disc drive 100, so that data can be exchanged between the two. In addition, the connection form between each interface may be not only a wired connection using a communication line such as a communication cable (for example, a SCSI cable) but also a wireless connection using infrared rays or the like.
[0137]
The storage device 204 is an HDD or the like, and stores various programs described in codes readable by the CPU of the control device 201. Note that when the information processing apparatus 200 is turned on, the control apparatus 201 loads the program stored in the storage device 204 into the memory. In the storage device 204 of the information processing apparatus 200 in the present embodiment, a playback program for causing the control device 201 to perform the video playback based on the index data as described above, and for causing the control device 201 to create the index data. Stores a program for creating index data.
[0138]
The display device 203 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), and the like, and receives various information (images, characters, etc.) supplied from the control device 201. indicate. The input device 202 has input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, for example, and supplies information input from the user to the control device 201.
[0139]
Next, the index data creation process and the video reproduction process based on the index data by the information processing apparatus 200 having the above configuration will be described. First, when index data is created by inputting a user instruction or the like, the control device 201 reads an index data creation program stored in the storage device 204 and operates based on the program. FIG. 14 shows a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 200 when the index data creation program is executed as described above.
[0140]
As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus 200 includes an index information acquisition unit 301 and a recording processing unit 302. The index information acquisition unit 301 divides moving image content data (moving image data for one movie, etc.) to be index data created at a plurality of different time intervals, and acquires index information about each of the divided portions. To do.
[0141]
Here, the index information acquisition unit 301 is a moving image content data read from an optical disc such as a DVD by the optical disc drive 100 (for example, content data recorded on a commercially available DVD-Video), the Internet, or the like. The above-described index information acquisition processing is performed on moving image content data downloaded from an external server to the storage device 204 via the above.
[0142]
When creating index data as shown in FIG. 1, moving image content data is divided at five different time intervals such as every 120 seconds, every 60 seconds, every 30 seconds, every 15 seconds, and every 7.5 seconds. The index information for each of the divided parts is acquired.
[0143]
In the present embodiment, the index information acquisition unit 301 acquires time information for specifying the divided part. Then, as index information, link information for linking at least one frame image data of the frame image data belonging to those portions and index information corresponding to portions divided at other time intervals is acquired.
[0144]
First, the time information obtains the start time and end time of the part. Each part is obtained by dividing moving image content data at a constant time interval, and can be obtained from the divided time interval. For example, since the index information I101 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the head portion divided at 120-second intervals, information such as the start time “0” and the end time “120” can be obtained. Further, since the index information I202 corresponds to the second part divided at 60-second intervals, time information such as the start time “60” and the end time “120” can be obtained.
[0145]
Next, one frame of image data may be obtained, for example, by extracting the first frame in the corresponding video portion, or at an intermediate frame (60 seconds if it is an interval of 0 to 120 seconds). The frame to be reproduced may be extracted and acquired.
[0146]
Next, as described above, for link information, link information corresponding to each case of forward reproduction and reverse reproduction is determined and acquired individually. Here, the determination process procedure of the link information included in each index information by the index information acquisition unit 301 is as described above (see FIGS. 3 to 10), and the description of the processing contents is omitted.
[0147]
When the index information corresponding to each of the parts divided at each time interval is acquired as described above, the recording processing unit 302 records index data having such index information on a recording medium such as a DVD or an HD. Process. More specifically, information corresponding to each divided time interval such as information corresponding to a portion divided every 120 seconds (time information, image data, link information), information corresponding to a portion divided every 60 seconds, and the like. Classification, that is, classification as index information groups G1, G2, and G3 shown in FIG. 1, time information for specifying each divided part acquired as described above, one frame image data included in the part, These data are output to the recording device so that the link information is associated with the recording medium and recorded on the recording medium.
[0148]
When recording on an optical disc such as a DVD, the recording processing unit 302 uses the optical disc drive 100 via the interface 205 as data to be recorded as index data in which time information and index information (image data and link information) are associated. Thus, index data as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is recorded on the optical disk. In addition, when recording on an HD or the like, the index data is output to the storage device 204 as data to be recorded, whereby the index data as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is recorded on the HD.
[0149]
Next, a process for video reproduction based on the index data created as described above (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 11) will be described. First, the control device 201 reads a video playback program stored in the storage device 204 and operates based on the program. When the video playback program is executed in this way, the control device 201 functions as video playback means and performs video playback processing according to the procedure shown in FIG.
[0150]
As shown in the figure, it is determined whether or not the user has instructed the playback speed based on the index data via the input device 202 (step Sa1). If there is an instruction, playback should be included in the instruction. The content title, playback speed information, and playback direction are acquired (step Sa2).
[0151]
The control device 201 selects index data used for reproduction based on the content title to be reproduced acquired as described above (step Sa3).
[0152]
More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, when a plurality of contents and index data corresponding to each of the contents are recorded on the DVD, one of the plurality of contents recorded on the DVD is recorded. When one is designated to be reproduced, the control device 201 first selects index data corresponding to the content.
[0153]
When the index data is selected in this way, the control device 201 selects one index information group from among a plurality of index information groups (G1 to G5) included in the index data based on the reproduction speed acquired as described above. Is selected (step Sa4).
[0154]
As described above, the index information groups G1 to G5 have different division time intervals. That is, the section length corresponding to each index information is different, and one frame of image data belonging to such a section having a different temporal length is included in the index information.
[0155]
Therefore, if one frame image data included in one index information is read out and reproduced and displayed at the same time interval (for example, 0.5 seconds), 120 seconds worth is obtained when using the index information of the index information group G1. When the section display is shortened to 0.5 seconds and the index information of the index information group G2 is used, the section display for 60 seconds is shortened to 0.5 seconds and the index information of the index information group G3 is used. In this case, the playback speed is different so that the display of the section for 30 seconds is shortened to 0.5 seconds. Since the reproduction speed varies depending on the index information group selected in this way, the control device 201 selects the index information group corresponding to the designated reproduction speed in order to perform reproduction that matches the reproduction speed designated by the user.
[0156]
When the index information group corresponding to the reproduction speed is selected as described above, the image data included in the index information included in the index information group is read at a constant interval (0.5 seconds), and the image corresponding to this is displayed. Accordingly, an image signal is output to the display device 203 (step Sa5). At this time, the control device 201 determines the order of the index information for reading out the image data based on the reproduction direction designated by the user. In this apparatus, forward reproduction for reading out image data included in the index information in order of increasing time of the corresponding portion of the index information, and reverse reading of image data included in the index information in order of decreasing time of the corresponding portion of the index information. It is possible to read and reproduce data in the time order in two directions, such as direction reproduction.
[0157]
That is, when the forward direction is designated as the playback direction, index information (for example, index information I101) corresponding to the head portion, index information (I102) corresponding to the next portion, and further to the next portion. Reading is performed in the order of corresponding index information (I103).
[0158]
On the other hand, when the reverse direction is designated as the playback direction, the index information corresponding to the last part, the index information corresponding to the previous part, the index information corresponding to the previous part, etc. Reading is sequentially performed from the index information corresponding to the later portion in time.
[0159]
When the high-speed playback is started in this way, the control device 201 determines whether or not there is a playback speed change instruction from the user (step Sa6). When there is an instruction to change the reproduction speed, the control device 201 includes index data that includes image data corresponding to the image currently reproduced and displayed based on the content of the change and the current reproduction direction. The link speed information is referred to, and the process of changing to the reproduction speed designated according to the link information is performed (step Sa7).
[0160]
For example, in the case where image data read from the index information I503 of the index information group G5 in the index data as shown in FIG. 4 is reproduced in the forward direction, there is an instruction to change the speed faster than the current set speed. When this happens, the control device 201 reads out and reproduces the image data from the index information I504 according to the link information included in the index information I503. Since the index information I403 of the index information group G4 is specified as the link destination in the link information of the index information I504, the control apparatus 201 starts from the index information I403 after displaying the image data read from the index information I504. Image data is read and displayed. Thereafter, the image data is read and reproduced in the order of index information I404, I405, I406,.
[0161]
Further, when there is an instruction to change to a lower speed than the current set speed during the forward reproduction by reading the image data from the index information I402 of the index information group G4 in the index data as shown in FIG. The control device 201 reads and displays the image data from the index information I504 of the index information group G5 according to the link information included in the index information I402. Thereafter, the image data is read and reproduced in the order of the index information I506, I507, I508,.
[0162]
Also, when there is an instruction that the image data is read from the index information I505 of the index information group G5 in the index data as shown in FIG. The control device 201 reads out and reproduces image data from the index information I504 that is index information immediately before the index information group G5 (next with respect to the reverse direction) according to the link information included in the index information 505. Let Since the index information I402 of the index information group G4 is designated as the link destination in the link information of the index information I503, the control device 201 obtains image data from the index information I402 of the index information group G4 according to the designation. Read and play.
[0163]
Further, when the image data is read from the index information I403 of the index information group G4 in the index data as shown in FIG. 10 and there is an instruction to change to a lower speed than the current set speed during reverse reproduction, The control device 201 reads and reproduces the image data from the index information I504 of the index information group G5 according to the link information included in the index information I403. Thereafter, the control device 201 reads out the image data in the order of index information I503, I502,.
[0164]
When a playback speed change instruction is given as described above, the playback speed is changed according to the change instruction. On the other hand, if there is no speed change instruction, it is determined whether or not a normal reproduction instruction has been made (step Sa8). The normal reproduction instruction is an instruction to perform general reproduction of moving image content.
[0165]
Here, when there is a normal playback instruction, the control device 201 acquires the start time of the index information including the image data that has been played back and displayed at the time of the instruction, and the content title that is being played back at high speed The reproduction of the moving image content data is started from the acquired start time (step Sa9). For example, when the user gives a normal playback instruction when the image data is read from the index information I405 of the index data related to a certain moving image content shown in FIG. 1 and is displayed for playback, the start time of the index information I405 is used. In order to reproduce the moving image content data from a certain 60 seconds, the moving image content data is read from the optical disc drive 100 or the storage device 204, and thereafter, reproduction processing based on the moving image content data is performed. Do.
[0166]
On the other hand, when there is no normal reproduction instruction, the control device 201 determines whether or not it is time to end the reproduction process based on the index data (step Sa10). Here, the timing at which the reproduction process should be terminated is when image data is read from all index information of the index information group of the selected index data and reproduction is completed, or when an end instruction is given from the user.
[0167]
Here, when it is not the end timing, the control device 201 continues the reproduction process based on the index data as it is, and when it is the end timing, the reproduction process is ended.
[0168]
As described above, in this embodiment, index data having index information corresponding to each of the parts divided at a plurality of different time intervals is used to provide the user with suitable index information according to various applications. can do. That is, when it is desired to know the details of a moving image content in more detail, a large amount of index information can be used by using the index information of the index information group G5 having a short division time interval.
[0169]
On the other hand, the content of a certain moving image content may be simple. However, when it is desired to know in a simpler and shorter time, the index information of the index information group G1 having a long division time interval is used to meet the above request. Index information can be provided.
[0170]
Further, in the present embodiment, the corresponding portion of 1-frame image data is included as the index information. Therefore, the index information group as described above is selected, and the image data is sequentially read from the index information of the selected index information group. By reproducing, high-speed reproduction at various reproduction speeds becomes possible.
[0171]
Conventionally, when moving image data recorded on a DVD-Video is played back at high speed, the content data itself is prefetched at high speed and played back. Therefore, in general, only high-speed playback at the limit of 8 times speed has been realized, and since it is necessary to read data at high speed in order to perform higher-speed playback than this, noise is increased and thermal load is increased. There is also a risk that the system will be increased and the system will be hindered.
[0172]
On the other hand, if index data having index information including one frame of image data as in the present embodiment is used, the image data is read from the index information of the index information group having a long division time interval at a fixed timing. If playback is performed, high-speed playback of 8 times speed or more can be easily achieved. At this time, the playback device only needs to sequentially read the image data included in each index information, so there is no need to perform high-speed reading, and problems such as noise and heat load do not occur.
[0173]
In this embodiment, since the link information as described above is included in the index information, the playback speed can be changed according to the user's request when performing high-speed playback at a certain speed, and the playback speed can be changed. Can be made smoothly. That is, each index information includes link destination information in which index information with a short division time interval is as short as possible, that is, index information with a slow reproduction speed is used as much as possible, so when changing the reproduction speed to high speed, Reading is performed from the index information of the index information group whose reproduction speed is as slow as possible, and reproduction is performed so that the reproduction speed does not increase rapidly. On the other hand, when the reproduction speed is changed to a low speed, the index information of the index information group G3 having a short division time interval is immediately used, and the reproduction speed is immediately reduced. In this way, when there is an instruction to change the playback speed, it is possible to change the speed with less discomfort for the viewer, and also when the high-speed playback is used for searching for a desired scene, etc., the oversight is reduced. The effect is obtained.
[0174]
C. Modified example
In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, Various deformation | transformation which is illustrated below is possible.
[0175]
(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, the image data is sequentially read out from the index information of the index information group corresponding to the playback speed and displayed, so that the display images are sequentially switched and high-speed playback is performed. Smooth high-speed playback may be realized by the processing device 200 operating as follows.
[0176]
That is, as shown in FIG. 16, when image data included in each index information of a certain index information group (for example, index information group G3) is read and displayed, image display based on image data included in the preceding index information is started. Instead of switching to display based on image data included in the next index information, a composite image of images based on both image data may be created and displayed at an intermediate timing.
[0177]
In the illustrated example, when forward reproduction is performed, the image A corresponding to the image data included in the index information I301, the image B corresponding to the image data included in the index information I302, and the image data included in the index information I303 are supported. Instead of displaying images in the order of image C to be performed, images are displayed in the order of image A, image (A + B), image B, image (B + C), and image C.
[0178]
In this way, switching of the image display becomes smooth, and an effect is obtained that the viewer seems to be performing smooth high-speed playback.
[0179]
Further, as described above, the high-speed reproduction may be smoothed by displaying the composite image at the intermediate timing, or may be displayed in a wipe manner.
[0180]
(Modification 2)
In the above-described embodiment, the image data is sequentially read and displayed from the index information of the index information group corresponding to the reproduction speed, so that high-speed reproduction is performed such that one image is sequentially switched and displayed. When the information processing apparatus 200 performs video display based on the index data, a plurality of images may be displayed on one display screen.
[0181]
For example, as shown in FIG. 17, when image data included in each index information of a certain index information group (for example, index information group G3) is read and displayed, an image based on the image data included in one index information I301 is displayed. A, an image B based on the image data included in the next index information I302, an image C based on the image data included in the next index information I303, and further based on the image data included in the next index information I304. The image D may be displayed on one display screen.
[0182]
In addition, the display screen is divided into the main area and three smaller sub-areas as well as a mode in which the display screen is divided into four parts in the vertical and horizontal directions and displays the four images A, B, C, and D. In addition, four images may be displayed on each screen, and the number of images displayed on one screen may be four or more, or two or three.
[0183]
In the above example, an image based on the image data included in the continuous index information such as the index information I301 to I304 is displayed on one screen, but one image information such as the index information I301, I303, I305, and I307 is skipped. The image data included in the index information may be displayed, or an image based on the image data included in the index information corresponding to the 10-minute ahead, 20-minute ahead, and 30-minute ahead sections may be displayed on one screen. It may be. Such multi-image display on one screen was possible by prefetching the content data itself, which is a conventional technique, and acquiring and displaying a plurality of images. Images corresponding to 20 minutes ahead could not be acquired, and it was difficult to display them on one screen. On the other hand, by adopting a method of reading and reproducing the image data included in each index information of the index data as in the present modification, a plurality of images at positions separated from each other in time, such as 10 minutes ahead and 20 minutes ahead. Can be displayed on one screen.
[0184]
(Modification 3)
Further, when displaying a plurality of images on one screen, the information processing apparatus 200 may display an image based on image data read from index information belonging to a plurality of different index information groups.
[0185]
For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the image A based on the image data included in the index information I301 of the index information group G3 is displayed in the main area 500 of the display screen, and the section (0 to 30) corresponding to the index information I301 is displayed. (Second)) may be performed such that the images B and C based on the image data included in the index information I401 and I401 of the index information group G4 are displayed in the sub-areas 501 and 502, respectively.
[0186]
After the display as described above, the information processing apparatus 200 switches the display screen as follows. That is, after the display as described above, the image A ′ based on the image data included in the index information I302 is displayed in the main area 500 and included in the index information I403 and I404 of the corresponding index information group G4. The display screen is switched such that the images B ′ and C ′ based on the image data are displayed in the sub-areas 501 and 502.
[0187]
Thus, the image data included in each index information of the index information group G3 is sequentially displayed in the main area 500, and the index information group G4 corresponding to the same section as the image to be displayed in the main area 500 is displayed in the sub areas 501 and 502. The images are displayed in the order of displaying the images based on the image data included in the index information.
[0188]
By performing such display, a viewer who sees the display screen can know more index information.
[0189]
(Modification 4)
In the above-described embodiment, the link information is included in the index information, and when there is a reproduction speed change instruction, the information processing apparatus 200 determines the index information to be read according to the link information included in the index information. I was trying to do it.
[0190]
As described above, the link speed may be included in the index information in advance to perform the playback speed changing process. However, when video playback based on index data that does not have such link information is performed, the information processing apparatus In the same procedure as when the 200 control devices 201 perform the reproduction process according to the link information, the index information to be read is determined, and the image data included in the determined index information is read and reproduced. It may be.
[0191]
That is, when the link information is not included in the index information and the image display based on the image data read from the certain index information is displayed, if there is a speed change instruction, the information processing apparatus 200 Index information for determining the link destination each time a playback speed change instruction is issued, and for reading out image data according to the determination, in the same procedure as when the content of the link information is determined by the procedure shown in FIGS. To decide.
[0192]
Even in this case, it is possible to smoothly change the reproduction speed as in the case where the link information is included in the index information as in the above embodiment.
[0193]
(Modification 5)
Further, in the above-described embodiments, description is given of the case where the present invention is applied to the contents of index data relating to moving image content data, the apparatus and method for creating the index data, and the apparatus and method for displaying video based on the index data. However, it may be index data related to time-series content other than moving images, for example, index data related to audio content (such as music).
[0194]
(Modification 6)
In the above-described embodiment, one frame image data and link information indicating a link destination when a speed change instruction is issued are included as index information corresponding to each part of the divided content. However, the information included in the index information is not limited to such information, and may be information regarding the corresponding content part, for example, document text data describing the contents of the part, The classification information may be obtained by classifying the portion according to a certain standard.
[0195]
More specifically, when the moving image content is a soccer broadcast program, the index information corresponding to the part where the goal was made may include information such as “XX player's goal” as the document text. Good. Further, when the moving image content is a song program, the name of the singer may be included in the index information as classification information for a portion where a certain singer is shown.
[0196]
The index data having such classification information and document text information can be created by the index data producer using the information processing apparatus 200 configured as described above and inputting information to be included in the index information from the input apparatus 202. it can. That is, when there is an input of document text or classification information that designates certain index information from the input device 202, the control device 201 includes the information in the designated index information. Index information including information may be recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD or an HD.
[0197]
(Modification 7)
In the above-described embodiment, five index information groups G1 to G1 including index information corresponding to portions obtained by dividing content at five time intervals such as 120 seconds, 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 15 seconds, and 7.5 seconds. Although the index data having G5 has been described, a data configuration having six or more index information groups including index information corresponding to portions obtained by dividing content at six or more different time intervals may be used. It is good also as a data structure which has 2-4 index information groups containing the index information corresponding to the part which divided | segmented the content in-4 time intervals.
[0198]
(Modification 8)
Further, in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the control device 201 of the information processing device 200 operates according to the program stored in the storage device 204, thereby realizing the index data creation function and the video playback function as described above. However, the same function may be realized by a device configured by a hardware circuit. In addition, a program for causing a computer to implement an index data creation function and a video playback function based on the index data may be provided to a user via a communication line such as the Internet, or the program may be provided as a CD-ROM (Compact It may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a Disc-Read Only Memory) and provided to the user.
[0204]
【The invention's effect】
  As explained above,Claim1According to the invention, there is an effect that it is possible to create index data that can obtain index information about a portion obtained by dividing content at various time intervals.In addition, when changing the index information group to be used, the index information corresponding to the portion divided at a short time interval is used as much as possible while supporting the change, so that an index that can obtain more index information The effect is that data can be created.
[0207]
  Claims2-3According to the invention, when changing the index information group to be used, the index information corresponding to the portion divided at a short time interval is used as much as possible while corresponding to the change. There is an effect that index data that can be obtained can be created.
[0208]
  Claims4According to the invention, it is possible to reproduce the content data at high speed without reading the content data itself.When there is an instruction to change the playback speed, as many images as possible contained in the index information corresponding to the parts divided at short time intervals are displayed while corresponding to the change according to the instruction. Therefore, there is an effect that more index information can be obtained.
[0211]
  Claims5-6According to the invention, when there is an instruction to change the playback speed, an image included in the index information corresponding to the portion divided at a short time interval while responding to the change according to the instruction. Since it is displayed as much as possible, there is an effect that more index information can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of index data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a hierarchical structure of the index data.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for determining link information in index information included in the index data.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of link information in index information included in the index data.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for determining link information in index information included in the index data.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of link information in the index information included in the index data.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for determining link information in the index information included in the index data.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of link information in index information included in the index data.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for determining link information in the index information included in the index data.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of link information in the index information included in the index data.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data structure of a DVD on which content data and index data related to the content data are recorded.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical disc drive having a function of recording data on an optical disc and a function of reading data recorded on the optical disc.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus having a function for creating the index data and a video reproduction function based on the index data.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus when the index data creation program is executed.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of video reproduction processing based on index data performed by the information processing apparatus.
FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the playback content according to a modification of the video playback process based on the index data.
FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the content of playback according to another modification of the video playback processing based on the index data.
FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the content of playback according to another modification of the video playback processing based on the index data.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Optical disc
2 Spindle motor
3 Optical pickup
4 Motor driver
5 Lead amplifier
6 Servo means
7 DVD decoder
8 ADIP decoder
9 Laser controller
10 DVD encoder
11 DVD-ROM encoder
13 Buffer manager
14 DVD-ROM decoder
15 interface
16 D / A converter
100 optical disk drive
200 Information processing apparatus
201 Control device
202 Input device
203 display
204 Storage device
205 interface
301 Index information acquisition unit
302 Recording processing unit

Claims (6)

An index data creation device for creating index data for time-series content data,
Index information corresponding to each of the parts obtained by dividing the content data at a certain time interval and index information corresponding to each part obtained by dividing the content data at a time interval different from the certain time interval Obtaining means for obtaining
Index information corresponding to each part divided at each time interval is a means for classifying the index information for each time interval and recording it on a recording medium, information for specifying each divided part. And recording means for recording the index information corresponding to each part in association with each other
With
The acquisition means includes, as the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval, another index information group having index information corresponding to a portion divided every time interval shorter than the certain time interval. Get link information to link to the included index information,
The acquisition means, as link information to be included in the index information corresponding to the portion divided for each certain time interval,
An index corresponding to a portion divided by the short time interval, the index information corresponding to the immediately following portion having a time that is later than the start time of the portion corresponding to the index information and the start time being the closest time to the start time Obtain information to link to information
An index data creation device characterized by the above. The acquisition means, as the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval, link information for linking to index information corresponding to a portion divided every time interval longer than the certain time interval. Acquired,
The acquisition means, as link information to be included in the index information corresponding to the portion divided for each certain time interval,
The start time of the portion immediately before the start time of the portion divided by the long time interval, which is earlier than the start time of the portion corresponding to the index information and closest to the start time, and Compare the start time of the part before the part corresponding to the index information,
When the start time of the immediately preceding portion is earlier than the start time of the previous portion, while obtaining information that links to the index information corresponding to the previous portion,
The index according to claim 1 , wherein when the start time of the immediately preceding portion is later than the start time of the previous portion, information indicating that the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion is linked is acquired. Data creation device. The acquisition means includes, as the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval, another index information group having index information corresponding to a portion divided every time interval shorter than the certain time interval. Get link information to link to the included index information,
As link information to be included in the index information corresponding to the portion divided for each certain time interval,
An index corresponding to a portion divided every short time interval, the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion having a time earlier than the start time of the corresponding portion and having a time closest to the start time as the start time 2. The index data creation device according to claim 1 , wherein information indicating that the information is linked is acquired. A video playback device that performs video playback based on index data for content data for playing back a moving image,
Index data having a plurality of index information groups related to the content data, wherein at least one frame of image data in a portion of the image data in which the plurality of index information groups are divided at different time intervals. The image data in each of the index information included in the index information group corresponding to a set reproduction speed is read from the recording medium on which the index data having the index information is recorded in the order of the time corresponding to the index information. Reproducing means for reproducing images based on sequentially read image data
With
The reproduction means receives an instruction to reduce the reproduction speed while reproducing an image corresponding to the image data included in the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval in the forward direction. In this case, it is a portion divided for each time interval shorter than the certain time interval, and the index information is later than the start time of the corresponding portion, and the time closest to the start time is defined as the start time. The image data is read out from the index information corresponding to the immediately following portion and reproduced, and thereafter the image data in the index information belonging to the same index information group as the index information corresponding to the immediately subsequent portion is read out and reproduced.
A video reproducing apparatus characterized by that. The reproduction means receives an instruction to increase the reproduction speed while reproducing an image corresponding to the image data included in the index information corresponding to a portion divided at certain time intervals in the reverse direction. In this case, the start time is a portion divided every time interval longer than the certain time interval, which is earlier than the start time of the portion corresponding to the index information and closest to the start time. Compare the start time of the previous part with the start time of the part before the part corresponding to the index information,
When the start time of the immediately preceding portion is earlier than the start time of the previous portion, the image data is read and reproduced from the index information corresponding to the previous portion,
When the start time of the immediately preceding portion is later than the start time of the previous portion, the image data is read out from the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion and reproduced, and thereafter the same index as the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion 5. The video reproduction apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the image data in the index information belonging to the information group is read and reproduced. The reproduction means receives an instruction to reduce the reproduction speed while reproducing an image corresponding to the image data included in the index information corresponding to a portion divided every certain time interval in the reverse direction. In this case, it is a portion divided for each time interval shorter than the certain time interval, and the index information is earlier than the start time of the corresponding portion, and the time closest to the start time is defined as the start time. The image data is read and reproduced from the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion, and thereafter the image data in the index information belonging to the same index information group as the index information corresponding to the immediately preceding portion is read and reproduced. Item 5. The video playback device according to Item 4 .

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