JPH11176096A - Digital information recording and reproducing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a digital information recording operation presupposing a variable bit rate by making a recording and reproducing system have a limited storage capacity and an information showing a recordable free capacity (free space of unused disk). SOLUTION: When there is a free capacity, the write-in address (head position of free space) to a disk 10 being set is decided, and a free capacity value corresponding to the free capacity information (FREE-SPACE) read out from control data of the disk 10 is written into a register (FreeAr) in a RAM of an MPU 30. Next, the write-in to the control area of the set disk 10 is performed. Subsequently in the initial setting for video recording, the start of the video recording is set after the initialization of each encoder 53-55 (average transfer rate of a V encoder 53, i.e., setting of average recording rate, or the like), the reset of a system time counter STC 38, the setting of the write-in start address to a disk drive 32, the initialization of a formater 56, or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital information recording medium having a limited storage capacity and premised on variable bit rate recording.

[0002] The present invention also relates to an improvement of a digital information recording / reproducing system using a digital information recording medium having a limited storage capacity.

[0003] Further, the present invention relates to a digital video recorder for recording and reproducing digital moving pictures and other information compressed based on the MPEG standard at a variable bit rate.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a system for reproducing an optical disk on which video (moving image), audio, and the like are recorded has been developed. Popular for reproduction purposes.

[0005] Among them, an international standardized MPEG2 (moving picture expert group) system is used, and AC-3 (digital audio compression) is used.
A DVD (digital versatile disk) standard employing another audio compression method has been proposed. This DV
The D standard includes a read-only DVD video (or DVD-ROM), a write-once DVD-R, and a DVD-RW (or DVD-RAM) that can be repeatedly read and written.

[0006] The DVD video (DVD-ROM) standard conforms to the MPEG2 system layer in accordance with the MPEG2 system layer.
It supports AC3 audio and MPEG audio in addition to M. In addition, this DVD video standard
For subtitles, sub-picture data obtained by run-length-compressing bitmap data and control data (navigation data) for playback control such as fast-forward / rewind data search are added. This standard also conforms to ISO 96 standards so that data can be read by a computer.
60 and UDF bridge formats are also supported.

At present, an optical disk used for DVD video (DVD-ROM) is a single-sided, 12 cm
The disk has a storage capacity of about 4.7 GB (gigabytes). The two layers on one side have a storage capacity of about 9.5 GB, and the two layers on both sides enable a large capacity recording of about 18 GB (when a laser having a wavelength of 650 nm is used for reading).

On the other hand, an optical disk used for a DVD-RW (DVD-RAM) is a 12 cm disk at present having a storage capacity of about 2.6 GB (gigabyte) on one side and a capacity of 5.2 GB on both sides. There is. A DVD-RAM optical disk currently in practical use has a smaller storage capacity than a DVD-ROM disk of a corresponding size. However, technology for expanding the capacity of DVD-RAM disks is constantly being developed, and in the near future,
There is no doubt that a DVD-RAM disk having a storage capacity of 4.7 GB or more on one side will be put to practical use.

However, MPEG2 video files that provide high image quality have a large data size.
With a VD-RAM disk (2.6 GB single-sided disk or 5.2 GB double-sided disk), the recordable time is not sufficient (approximately 1 hour for a 2.6 GB disk and 5.2 GB for a 5.2 GB disk).
About 2 hours on a GB disc).

[0010]

In other words, at present, the storage capacity of individual DVD-RAM disks is not sufficient for long-time moving image recording, and efficient data management (freeing of unnecessary storage areas) is not possible. Management of the variable recording rate according to the remaining recordable capacity, and / or monitoring of the remaining time recordable at the variable recording rate). Further, even if the storage capacity of the DVD-RAM disk increases in the future, the demand for long-time recording will increase accordingly, so that efficient data management is still necessary.

A first object of the present invention is to perform digital information recording on the premise of a variable bit rate, and has a limited storage capacity and a recordable free space (free space of an unused disc). ) Is to provide a digital information recording medium having information indicating

A second object of the present invention is to perform digital information recording on the premise of a variable bit rate, which has a limited storage capacity, and has a recordable free space left after information recording. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital information recording medium having information indicating a used disk free space.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a digital information recording device capable of notifying or displaying how long recording can be performed when performing digital recording at a variable bit rate on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity. It is to provide a reproduction system.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a variable bit rate digital information recording / reproducing system capable of extending a recordable time on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity by appropriately changing a recording bit rate. It is to be.

[0015] A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a digital recording medium capable of having reproduced information capable of specifying an information portion which has been reproduced in the past among recorded information.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a digital recording medium capable of having archive information capable of specifying an information portion to be stored among recorded information.

[0017] A seventh object of the present invention is to provide a digital recording medium according to a fifth object having a limited storage capacity, by converting an information portion which has been reproduced in the past into reproduced information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital information recording / reproducing system which can automatically detect the information based on the information.

An eighth object of the present invention is to automatically detect a seventh recording object when the recording capacity becomes insufficient during recording of information on a fifth recording medium having a limited storage capacity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital information recording / reproducing system capable of extending a recordable time by releasing a reproduced information portion as a new recording area.

A ninth object of the present invention is to provide a digital recording medium capable of compressing and recording digital moving picture information at a variable bit rate and further recording dummy information which can be used for editing recorded information after the recording. is there.

A tenth object of the present invention is to compress and record digital moving picture information on a digital recording medium according to a ninth object at a variable bit rate, and further add dummy information which can be used for editing recorded information after this recording. An object of the present invention is to provide a recordable digital information recording / reproducing system.

An eleventh object of the present invention is to provide a ninth object digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity when the recording capacity becomes insufficient during the recording of moving image information. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital information recording / reproducing system capable of extending a recordable time of digital moving image information by stopping or stopping recording to release a portion for recording dummy information as a new recording area.

A twelfth object of the present invention is that the recording capacity becomes insufficient during recording of information on the first, second, fifth, sixth or ninth object digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital information recording / reproducing system that can continue recording on another information recording medium.

A thirteenth object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller for instructing a change of a recording bit rate in a system for recording digital information at a variable bit rate on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity. is there.

A fourteenth object of the present invention is to provide a system for recording digital information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable bit rate, by notifying or displaying the remaining recordable time. Is to provide a controller.

A fifteenth object of the present invention is to provide, in a system for recording digital information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable bit rate, not only the recording bit rate but also the time available for recording at that bit rate. The idea is to provide a remote controller that tells or displays how much there is.

A sixteenth object of the present invention is to provide a computer program used when each of the above objects is achieved using a computer system such as an information processing terminal having a personal computer or a microcomputer.

A seventeenth object of the present invention is to provide a computer system using the computer program according to the sixteenth object.

[0028]

In order to achieve the first object, a digital information recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention has a recordable free space (free space of an unused disk). Information (physical format information in FIG. 6; or FREE_SPACE in VMGI_MAT in FIG. 17)
It has.

In order to achieve the second object, the digital information recording medium according to one embodiment of the present invention indicates a recordable free space (free space of a used disc) remaining after information recording. Information (VMGI_M in FIG. 17)
AT_FREE_SPACE).

In order to achieve the first or second object, a digital information recording disk according to an embodiment of the present invention performs digital information recording on the premise of a variable recording rate. Having a limited storage capacity, non-rewritable information (physical format information in the lead-in area) indicating a recordable free space (free space of an unused disk), and a recordable remaining after information recording. At least one of information (FREE_SPACE in VMGI) indicating the remaining capacity (free space of the used disk) is provided.

In order to achieve the third object, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is adapted to perform digital recording at a variable bit rate on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity. Is configured to notify (to the user or MPU / CPU) or display (on the display or monitor screen of the apparatus main body) how long recording can be performed.

In order to achieve the third object,
A digital information recording / reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention performs digital recording at a variable recording rate on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity,
It is configured to notify or display the remaining recording time together with the average recording rate in use (see FIG. 58).

In order to achieve the fourth object, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a recording quality and a recordable time for a digital recording medium by changing a variable recording rate. (See FIGS. 42 and 49).

In order to achieve the fourth object,
In the digital information recording / reproducing system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the average recording rate at which the program is recorded varies according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium so that all the programs having a predetermined time length can be recorded. (Fig. 5
0 to FIG. 51).

Further, in order to achieve the fourth object, the digital information recording / reproducing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is designed to record the remaining capacity of the recording medium and the remaining capacity of the recording medium so as to record all the predetermined number of programs. A configuration in which the average recording rate for recording the unrecorded program changes according to the number of recorded programs and their required time (FIG. 50,
FIG. 52).

In order to achieve the fifth object, a digital recording medium according to one embodiment of the present invention provides a reproduced information (hereinafter referred to as "reproduced information") which can specify an information portion of recorded information which has been reproduced in the past. The read flag of FIG. 8; or FIG.
9 PLAY_END Flag).

In order to achieve the sixth object, the digital recording medium according to one embodiment of the present invention uses archive information (FIG. 8 or FIG. 19) which can specify an information portion to be stored in recorded information. Archive flag).

Further, in order to achieve the sixth object,
The digital recording medium according to one embodiment of the present invention has a rewritable archive flag (FIG. 8 or FIG. 19) capable of specifying an information portion to be stored in recorded information.

In order to achieve the seventh object, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a digital information recording / reproducing system having a limited storage capacity. The information portion which has been reproduced is referred to as reproduced information (the read flag in FIG. 8; or FIG. 19).
PLAY_END Flag).

To achieve the eighth object, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to one embodiment of the present invention uses a reproduced information portion detected by the automatic detection of the seventh object as a new recording area. By releasing
It is configured to extend the recordable time.

In order to achieve the eighth object,
The digital information recording / reproducing system according to one embodiment of the present invention deletes the recording information to which a flag indicating that deletion is possible (the read flag in FIG. 8; or the PLAY_END Flag in FIG. 19) is limited. It is configured to extend the recordable time for a digital recording medium having the specified storage capacity.

In order to achieve the ninth object, digital moving picture information of a predetermined unit (VOBU in FIG. 9) is recorded at a variable rate on a digital recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. Dummy information (dummy pack in FIG. 12) that can be used for editing recorded information is further recorded in units corresponding to the predetermined unit (VOBU).

In order to achieve the tenth object, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention records digital moving picture information on a recording medium at a variable rate, and records the digital moving picture information after the recording. It is configured to additionally record dummy information (dummy pack) that can be used for editing information.

In order to achieve the eleventh object, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention has a recording capacity shortage while recording moving image information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity. , The recording of the tenth objective dummy information is stopped or stopped (FIG. 44).
(ST426G) to release the dummy information recording scheduled portion as a new recording area, thereby extending the recordable time of digital moving image information.

In order to achieve the twelfth object, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for recording information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable rate. When the recording capacity becomes insufficient, recording is continued on another information recording medium within a predetermined time (automatic disk exchange by a disk changer or manual disk exchange by a user).

In order to achieve the thirteenth object, a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a system for recording digital information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable bit rate. Operation key for instructing the change of the variable recording rate (5r in FIG. 28)
md).

To achieve the fourteenth object, a remote controller according to one embodiment of the present invention is a system for recording digital information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable bit rate. An operation key (5 dm in FIG. 28) for notifying or displaying the remaining recordable time is provided.

In order to achieve the fifteenth object, a remote controller according to one embodiment of the present invention provides a system for recording digital information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable bit rate. An operation key (for example, 5rmd + 5dm) for notifying or displaying the remaining recording time together with the average recording rate in use is provided.

In order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to one embodiment of the present invention records information on a medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable recording rate. When the free space remaining on the medium falls below a predetermined value (Yes in ST28 in FIG. 34; No in ST420B in FIG. 37), the remaining time available for recording on the medium is determined based on the free space and the variable recording rate. A process of calculating (ST422B in FIG. 37); a process of displaying the variable recording rate and the remaining time at this variable recording rate from the result of the remaining time calculating process (FIG. 37).
ST424B; OSD below TV screen in FIG. 58)
And

In order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention has a limited storage capacity and records information at a variable recording rate (not limited to timer recording). ) Is performed (YES in ST202 of FIG. 50), the average recording rate for the medium is determined based on the free space and the length of the information to be recorded therein. (ST226 in FIG. 50)
(ST226A in FIG. 51; ST226H in FIG. 52); and processing for setting the calculated average recording rate as the recording rate for the free space (ST226B in FIG. 51;
ST226K in FIG. 52).

Further, in order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention records information for a predetermined time at a variable recording rate on a medium having a limited storage capacity. When performing this operation, when the free space remaining on this medium is insufficient (ST54 in FIG. 49).
Yes), a process of discontinuously or stepwise reducing the average recording rate for the medium based on the free space and the information recording time (ST58 in FIG. 49); (ST68 in FIG. 49).

In order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention records information for a predetermined time at a variable recording rate on a medium having a limited storage capacity. If so, a first average recording rate calculation process (ST226H in FIG. 52) for calculating an average recording rate for the medium based on the remaining capacity of the medium and the information recording time; and the calculated average recording. When the rate (Recrate) is smaller than a predetermined lower limit (low image quality mode or long time mode; 1.8 to 2 Mbps) (YES in ST226I in FIG. 52), the recording content of the information (reserved program number N) is changed. (ST226J in FIG. 52), an average recording rate for the medium is calculated based on the changed information recording time and the remaining capacity of the medium. A second average recording rate calculation process (ST226H in FIG. 52) to be issued;
The average recording rate (Recrate) calculated by the average recording rate calculation process (ST226H in FIG. 52) is a predetermined lower limit value (low image quality mode or long time mode; 1.8 to 2).
Mbps) or more (NO in ST226I in FIG. 52), a process (ST226K in FIG. 52) of setting the calculated average recording rate (Recrate) as the recording rate of the recording content of the information with respect to the remaining capacity. Contains.

Further, in order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for performing digital moving image recording at a variable recording rate on a medium having a limited storage capacity. When the remaining capacity of the medium is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (S43 in FIG. 43).
T422F No), a process of performing the digital moving image recording based on the MPEG2 standard (ST424F in FIG. 43);
When digital moving image recording is performed on the medium at a variable recording rate and the remaining capacity of the medium falls below the predetermined value (YES in ST422F in FIG. 43), processing for performing the digital moving image recording based on the MPEG1 standard ( FIG.
ST426F).

In order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in which a recordable remaining capacity of a medium having a limited storage capacity is a predetermined capacity. If there is more than the value (see FIG.
ST422G No), the process of recording the dummy information (the dummy pack of FIG. 9) together with the predetermined information to be recorded (FIG. 4).
4 when the remaining recordable capacity remaining on the medium falls below the predetermined value (ST424G in FIG. 44).
2G yes), a process of stopping the recording of the dummy information (ST426G in FIG. 44).

Further, in order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a reproduction method capable of specifying an information portion which has been reproduced in the past among recorded information. Information (FIG. 19
This is applied to the recording medium (10) in which the management area (VTSI) including the PLAY_END Flag) is stored, and after the recording of the specific information on the recording medium (10) is completed (YES in ST512 of FIG. 53), A process (ST524 in FIG. 54) of setting the reproduced information (PLAY_END Flag) corresponding to this specific information to an unreproduced state (flag “0”) is included.

In order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to one embodiment of the present invention provides a computer readable program capable of specifying an information portion of recorded information which has been reproduced in the past. Information (FIG. 19
This is applied to the recording medium (10) in which the management area (VTSI) including the PLAY_END Flag is stored, and after the reproduction of the information portion of the recording medium (10) is completed (FIG. 5).
5 (YES in ST328), and includes a process (ST336 in FIG. 56) of setting the reproduced information (PLAY_END Flag) corresponding to this information portion to a reproduced state (flag "1").

Further, in order to achieve the sixteenth object, the computer readable program according to one embodiment of the present invention provides an archive information (i.e., an archive information (i.e., an information part) capable of specifying an information part to be permanently stored among recorded information. In FIG.
An archive flag (ARCHIVE Flag) corresponding to a specific information portion, which is applied to a recording medium (10) storing a management area (VTSI) including an ARCHIVE Flag.
g) is in a free state that is not permanently saved (flag "0")
(ST524 in FIG. 54 or S524 in FIG. 56)
T334: This ST334 includes a process of setting the archive flag to 0, that is, erasable state regardless of whether the archive flag is 0 or 1 before that.

In order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to one embodiment of the present invention provides an archive information (i.e., an archive information (i.e., an information part) capable of specifying an information part to be permanently stored among recorded information. In FIG.
An archive flag (ARCHIVE Flag) corresponding to a specific information portion, which is applied to a recording medium (10) storing a management area (VTSI) including an ARCHIVE Flag.
g) is set to a permanent storage state (flag "1") (ST332 in FIG. 56).

Further, in order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer readable program capable of specifying an information portion of recorded information which has been reproduced in the past. The management area (the directory record of FIG. 8; or FIG. 19) including the completed information (the read flag of FIG.
VTSI_MAT) is applied to the recording medium (10), wherein the management area (directory record or VTSI_MAT) of the recording medium (10) is stored.
T), the reproduced information (read flag or
Processing for confirming the contents of (PLAY_END Flag) (ST in FIG. 40)
4220D, ST4221D); a process (ST4221 in FIG. 40) of selectively deleting the information portion (ST4221D YES in FIG. 40) in which the reproduced information (read flag or PLAY_END Flag) is set to the reproduced state.
222D, ST4223D).

In order to achieve the sixteenth object, a computer readable program according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer readable program capable of specifying an information portion of recorded information that has been reproduced in the past. Information (the read flag in FIG. 8; or PLAY_END Flag in FIG. 19) and archive information (ARCHIV in FIG. 8 or FIG. 19) which can specify an information portion of the recorded information to be permanently saved.
E Flag) is applied to the recording medium (10) storing the management area (the directory record of FIG. 8; or VTSI_MAT of FIG. 19), and the management area (directory) of the recording medium (10) is stored. A process (ST4230D to ST4322D in FIG. 41) of confirming the contents of the reproduced information (read flag or PLAY_END Flag) and the contents of the archive information (ARCHIVE Flag) included in the record or VTSI_MAT); Flag or PLAY_END Flag) is set to a reproduced state, and the archive information (ARCHIVE Flag) is not set to a permanent storage state (ST4231D YES, ST423 in FIG. 40).
Process for selectively deleting 2D No. (S in FIG. 40)
T4233D, ST4234D).

Further, in order to achieve the sixteenth object, the computer readable program according to the embodiment of the present invention has a limited storage capacity and a recordable free space (free unused disk space). Space) or management information (free space in a used disk) indicating the remaining recordable capacity (free space of a used disk) left after information recording.
FREE_SPACE) with one digital information recording medium (10)
When the first digital information recording medium (10) is in a state where it can no longer record (ST28 YES in FIG. 34), the medium (10) used for recording is From the first digital information recording medium (10) to the second digital information recording medium (10)
(ST30 in FIG. 34; FIGS. 45 to 48)
The first digital information recording medium (10) to the second digital information recording medium (1).
0) (ST104 to ST108 in FIG. 46) to check whether the medium exchange is completed within a predetermined time.
Or the medium used for recording is the second digital information recording medium (1).
0) after the exchange within the predetermined time (S in FIG. 46).
T104 Yes; or ST1260 Yes in FIG. 48), the management information (FREE_SPACE in VMGI) of the second digital information recording medium (10) is examined (FIG. 45).
ST92; or ST128 in FIG. 47), if there is a recordable free space in the second digital information recording medium (10) (YES in ST94 in FIG. 45; or ST128 in FIG. 47).
130 yes), the second digital information recording medium (1
0) (step ST9 in FIG. 45)
6; or ST134 in FIG. 47).

In order to achieve the seventeenth object, a computer system according to one embodiment of the present invention performs digital information recording on the premise of a variable recording rate, and has a limited storage capacity. And a digital information recording disk having information indicating a recordable free space (eg, physical format information in a lead-in area) or information indicating a recordable remaining space remaining after information recording (eg, FREE_SPACE in a VMGI). For (10), a disk drive (1014, 102) for reading and writing information
Microcomputer (1004); main memory (1010); and the digital information recording medium (1).
0) MPE the digital moving image information at the variable recording rate
A processing board (1030) for recording based on the G standard; the microcomputer (1004), a main memory (1010), and a disk drive (1014, 102)
0) and a bus (1002) for connecting the processing board (1030).

[0063]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a digital information recording / reproducing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As a typical embodiment of the digital information recording / reproducing system according to the present invention, there is a device for recording / reproducing a moving picture encoded based on MPEG2 at a variable bit rate, for example, a DVD digital video recorder. (A specific example of the DVD digital video recorder will be described later.) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a recordable optical disk 10 used in the DVD digital video recorder.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disk 10
Is a pair of transparent substrates 1 each having a recording layer 17 provided thereon.
4 is bonded with an adhesive layer 20. Each substrate 14
Can be made of 0.6 mm thick polycarbonate, and the adhesive layer 20 can be made of an extremely thin (for example, 40 μm thick) ultraviolet curable resin. These pairs of 0.
By bonding the 6 mm substrate 14 such that the recording layer 17 is in contact with the surface of the adhesive layer 20, a large capacity optical disk 10 having a thickness of 1.2 mm is obtained.

The optical disc 10 is provided with a center hole 22. Around the center hole 22 on both sides of the disc, a clamp area 24 for clamping the optical disc 10 during rotation is provided. The spindle of the disk motor is inserted into the center hole 22 when the optical disk 10 is loaded in a disk drive device (not shown).
The optical disk 10 is clamped in the clamp area 24 by a disk clamper (not shown) while the disk is rotating.

The optical disk 10 has an information area 25 around the clamp area 24 where video data, audio data and other information can be recorded.

A lead-out area 26 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the information area 25. Further, a lead-in area 27 is provided on the inner peripheral side in contact with the clamp area 24.
Is provided. A data recording area 28 is defined between the lead-out area 26 and the lead-in area 27.

The recording layer (light reflecting layer) 17 of the information area 25
, Recording tracks are formed continuously in a spiral shape, for example. The continuous track is divided into a plurality of physical sectors, and these sectors are assigned serial numbers. Various data are recorded on the optical disk 10 using this sector as a recording unit.

The data recording area 28 is an actual data recording area. As recording / reproduction information, video data (main video data) such as a movie, sub-video data such as subtitles and menus, and speech / sound effects and the like are recorded. Audio data is recorded as a similar pit row (a physical shape or phase state that causes an optical change to the laser reflected light).

The optical disk 10 has a single-sided, single-layer, double-sided R
In the case of an AM disk, each recording layer 17 can be composed of a triple layer in which a phase-change recording material layer (eg, Ge2Sb2Te5) is sandwiched between two zinc sulfide / silicon oxide mixtures (ZnS / SiO2).

The optical disk 10 has a single-sided, single-layer, single-sided R
In the case of an AM disk, the recording layer 17 on the read surface 19 side
Can be constituted by a triple layer including the phase change recording material layer. In this case, the layer 17 disposed on the opposite side as viewed from the reading surface 19 does not need to be an information recording layer, but may be a simple dummy layer.

The optical disk 10 has a single-sided reading type two-layer R
In the case of an AM / ROM disc, the two recording layers 17
One phase-change recording layer (the back side when viewed from the reading surface 19; for reading and writing) and one translucent metal reflective layer (the reading surface 19
(For playback only).

When the optical disk 10 is a write-once DVD-R, polycarbonate can be used as the substrate, gold can be used as the reflection film (not shown), and ultraviolet curable resin can be used as the protection film (not shown). In this case, an organic dye is used for the recording layer 17. As the organic dye, cyanine, squarylium, croconic, triphenylmenthane dye, xanthene, quinone dye (naphthoquin, anthraquinone, etc.), metal complex dye (phthalocyanine, vorphyrin, dithiol complex, etc.) and others can be used. is there.

Data writing to such a DVD-R disk is performed, for example, at a wavelength of 650 nm and an output of 6 to 12 m.
It can be performed using a semiconductor laser of about W.

The optical disc 10 has a single-sided reading type two-layer R
In the case of an OM disk, the two recording layers 17 can be constituted by one metal reflection layer (the back side when viewed from the reading surface 19) and one translucent metal reflection layer (the front side when viewed from the reading surface 19).

Read-only DVD-ROM disc 1
In the case of 0, a pit row is previously formed on the substrate 14 by a stamper, and a reflection layer of metal or the like is formed on the surface of the substrate 14 on which the pit row is formed, and this reflection layer is used as the recording layer 17. . In such a DVD-ROM disc 10, usually, no groove is provided as a recording track, and a pit array formed on the surface of the substrate 14 functions as a track.

In the various optical disks 10 described above, read-only ROM information is recorded on the recording layer 17 as an emboss signal. On the other hand, such an emboss signal is not formed on the substrate 14 having the recording layer 17 for reading and writing (or for writing once), but a continuous groove is formed instead. A phase change recording layer is provided in the groove. In the case of a read / write DVD-RAM disk, a phase change recording layer on a land portion in addition to the groove is also used for information recording.

When the optical disk 10 is a single-sided reading type (single or two recording layers), the substrate 14 on the back side as viewed from the reading surface 19 does not need to be transparent to the reading / writing laser. In this case, a label may be printed on the entire surface of the back substrate 14.

A DVD digital video recorder, which will be described later, performs repetitive recording / reproducing (read / write) on a DVD-RAM disc (or DVD-RW disc),
One recording / repeated reproduction for VDR disc,
The VD-ROM disc can be configured to be capable of repetitive reproduction.

FIG. 2 shows the optical disk (DVD-RA) shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a correspondence relationship between a data recording area 28 of M) 10 and recording tracks of data recorded thereon.

When the disk 10 is a DVD-RAM (or D
In the case of VD-RW, the main body of the disk 10 is housed in the cartridge 11 to protect the delicate disk surface. When the DVD-RAM disk 10 together with the cartridge 11 is inserted into a disk drive of a DVD video recorder, which will be described later, the disk 10 is pulled out of the cartridge 11 and clamped on a turntable of a spindle motor (not shown) so as to face an optical head (not shown). And is rotationally driven.

On the other hand, if the disc 10 is a DVD-R or D
In the case of a VD-ROM, the main body of the disk 10 is not stored in the cartridge 11, and the naked disk 10 is directly set on the disk tray of the disk drive.

The recording layer 17 of the information area 25 shown in FIG.
, A data recording track is formed continuously in a spiral shape. The continuous track is divided into a plurality of logical sectors (minimum recording units) having a fixed storage capacity as shown in FIG. 2, and data is recorded based on the logical sectors. The recording capacity of one logical sector is determined to be 2048 bytes (or 2 kbytes), which is the same as the one-pack data length described later.

The data recording area 28 is an actual data recording area in which management data, main video (video) data, sub-video data, and audio (audio) data are similarly recorded.

Although not shown, the disk 1 shown in FIG.
The zero data recording area 28 can be divided into a plurality of recording areas (a plurality of recording zones) in a ring shape (annular ring shape). Although the angular velocity of the disk rotation differs for each recording zone, the linear velocity or the angular velocity can be kept constant in each zone. In this case, a spare recording area (free space) can be provided for each zone. The free space for each zone can be collected and used as a reserved area of the disk 10. The storage capacity of the reserved area (reserved capacity) can be used in an automatic image quality setting process (FIG. 51) described later.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the hierarchical structure of information recorded on the optical disk 10 of FIG.

The data recording area 28 formed on the optical disk 10 of FIG. 2 has a structure as shown in FIG. The logical format of this structure is defined in accordance with, for example, one of the standards ISO 9660 and Universal Disk Format (UDF) Bridge.

The data recording area 28 between the lead-in area 27 and the lead-out area 26 is allocated as a volume space. The volume space 28 includes a space for volume and file structure information (volume / file structure 70) and a DVD.
A space for application of the standard (DVD video area 71) and a space for application other than the standard (other recording area 73) can be included.

The volume space 28 is physically divided into a number of sectors, and these physical sectors are assigned serial numbers. The logical address of the data recorded in the volume space (data recording area) 28 is
As defined by ISO9660 and the UDF bridge, it means a logical sector number. The logical sector size here is, like the effective data size of the physical sector,
It is 2048 bytes (2 kbytes). The logical sector numbers are assigned consecutive numbers in ascending order of the physical sector numbers.

Note that, unlike the logical sector, redundant information such as error correction information is added to the physical sector. For this reason, the physical sector size does not exactly match the logical sector size.

That is, the volume space 28 has a hierarchical structure, and the volume / file structure area 7
It includes a DVD video area 71 composed of 0, 1 or more video title sets VTS # n72, and another recording area 73. These areas are partitioned on the boundaries of logical sectors. Here, one logical sector is defined as 2048 bytes, and one logical block is also defined as 2048 bytes. Therefore, one logical sector is defined as being equivalent to one logical block.

The volume / file structure area 70 stores
It corresponds to a management area defined in SO9660 and UDF bridge. Based on the description of the area 70, the contents of the video manager VMG are stored in a system memory (not shown) inside the DVD video recorder described later.

In FIG. 3, the video manager VMG
Is composed of a plurality of files 74A. This file 74A includes a video title set (VTS # 1 to VTS ##).
n) Information for managing 72 (video manager information VMG)
I, a video manager menu video object set VMGM_VOBS, and a video manager information backup file VMGI_BUP).

Each video title set VTS72 includes:
Video data compressed according to the MPEG standard (video pack described later), audio data compressed or uncompressed according to a predetermined standard (audio pack described later),
And run-length-compressed sub-picture data (sub-picture pack described later; including bitmap data in which one pixel is defined by a plurality of bits) and information for reproducing these data (navigation pack described later; presentation control) Information PCI and data search information DSI).

The video title set VTS 72 also has a plurality of files 74B, like the video manager VMG.
It is composed of The file 74B includes video title set information VTSI, a video title set menu object set VTSM_VOBS, and a video title set title video object set VT.
STT_VOBS and video title set information backup VTSI_BUP are included.

Here, the video title set VTS
The number of (VTS # 1 to #n) 72 is limited to a maximum of 99, and the number of files 74B constituting each video title set VTS 72 is determined to be a maximum of 12.
These files 74A and 74B are similarly partitioned at the boundary of the logical sector.

In the other recording area 73, information usable in the above-described video title set VTS 72 or other information unrelated to the video title set can be recorded. This area 73 is not essential, and may be deleted if not used.

As described later with reference to FIG. 9, a video object set VTST for a video title set title
T_VOBS defines a collection of one or more video objects VOB. Each VOB defines a collection of one or more cells. A collection of one or more cells constitutes a program chain PGC.

If one PGC is compared to one drama,
The plurality of cells constituting the PGC can be interpreted as corresponding to various scenes in the drama. The contents of the PGC (or the contents of the cell) are determined by, for example, a software provider that produces the contents recorded on the disc 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining information recorded in the lead-in area 27 of the optical disk 10. When the disc 10 is set on a DVD video recorder (or a DV video player (not shown)), information in the lead-in area 27 is read first. In the lead-in area 27, predetermined reference codes and control data are recorded in ascending order of the sector numbers.

The reference code in the lead-in area 27 is composed of two error correction code blocks (ECC blocks). Each ECC block is composed of 16 sectors. These two ECC blocks (32 sectors) are generated by adding scramble data. When a reference code to which scramble data is added is reproduced, a filter operation or the like on the reproduction side is performed so that a specific data symbol (for example, 172) is reproduced, so that the subsequent data reading accuracy is ensured.

The control data of the lead-in area 27 is 1
It is composed of 92 ECC blocks. In the control data portion, the contents of 16 sectors in each block are 1
It is recorded 92 times repeatedly.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of the control data in the lead-in area 27. This control data composed of 16 sectors includes physical format information in the first sector (2048 bytes), and thereafter includes disc manufacturing information and content provider information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing 20 data included in the control data of FIG.
Indicates the contents of the 48-byte physical format information.

The first byte position “0” describes which version of the DVD standard the recording information conforms to.

In the second byte position "1", the size (12 cm, 8 cm, etc.) of the recording medium (optical disc 10) and the minimum read rate are described. Read-only DV
In the case of D video, the minimum read rate is 2.52M
bps, 5.04 Mbps and 10.08 Mbps are specified, but other minimum read rates are also reserved. For example, when recording is performed at an average bit rate of 2 Mbps by a DVD video recorder capable of recording at a variable bit rate, the minimum read rate can be reduced to 1.5 to 1.8 M by using the reserved portion.
bps.

The third byte position “2” describes the disk structure (number of recording layers, track pitch, recording layer type, etc.) of the recording medium (optical disk 10). Based on the type of the recording layer, it is possible to identify whether the disc 10 is a DVD-ROM, a DVD-R, or a DVD-RAM (or DVD-RW).

At the fourth byte position “3”, the recording density (linear density and track density) of the recording medium (optical disc 10) is described. The linear density is the recording length per bit (0.267 μm / bit or 0.29 μm / bit).
3 μm / bit). The track density is
The adjacent track interval (such as 0.74 μm / track or 0.80 μm / track) is shown. DVD-RAM
Alternatively, a reserved portion is provided at the fourth byte position "3" so that different numerical values can be designated as the linear density and the track density of the DVD-R.

In the fifth byte position "4 to 15", the start sector number and end sector number of the data area 28 of the recording medium (optical disc 10) are described.

At the sixth byte position “16”, a burst cutting area (BCA) descriptor is described.
This BCA is optionally applied only to a DVD-ROM disc, and is an area for storing recording information after the disc manufacturing process is completed.

At the seventh byte position "17-20",
The free space of the recording medium (optical disk 10) is described.
For example, a DVD-RAM in which the disc 10 has a single-sided single-layer recording
If it is a disc, this position on the disc 10
2.6 GB (or the number of sectors corresponding to this number of bytes)
Is described. Disc 10 is double-sided recording DV
In the case of a D-RAM disk, 5.2
Information indicating GB (or the number of sectors corresponding to the number of bytes) is described.

The eighth byte position "21-31" and the ninth byte position "32-2047" are reserved for future use.

FIG. 7 exemplifies a directory structure of information (data file) recorded on the optical disc 10. Similar to the hierarchical file structure employed by a general-purpose operating system of a computer, a subdirectory of a video title set VTS and a subdirectory of an audio title set ATS are connected under a root directory. And video title set V
Various video files (files such as VMGI, VMGM, VTSI, VTSM, and VTS) are arranged in a subdirectory of the TS, and each file is managed in an orderly manner. A specific file (for example, a specific VTS) can be accessed by specifying a path from the root directory to the file.

A DVD-RA as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
The M (DVD-RW) disc 10 or DVD-R disc 10 is preformatted so as to have the directory structure shown in FIG. 7, and this preformatted disc 10 is used as an unused disc (raw disc) for DVD video recording. Can be marketed as

That is, the root directory of the preformatted raw disc 10 includes a subdirectory called a video title set (VTS). This subdirectory contains various management data files (VIDEO
O_TS. IFO, VTS_01_0. IFO); and backup files (VIDEO_TS.BUP, VT) for backing up the information of these management data files.
S_01_0. BUP); a video data file (VTS) for storing digital moving image information, which is managed based on the contents of the management data file.
_01_1. VOB).

The sub-directory contains a menu data file (VMG) for storing predetermined menu information.
M, VTSM).

FIG. 8 shows the contents of a directory record corresponding to the directory structure of FIG.

The directory record length is described in the first relative byte position “0”.

The allocated relative attribute record length is described in the second relative byte position “1”.

In the third relative byte position “2”, the number of the first logical sector assigned to the extension is described.

The data length of the file portion is described in the fourth relative byte position "10".

The fifth relative byte position "18" describes the date and time when the information in the extension described in the directory record was recorded. This relative byte position "1"
The 8 ″ data can be used in the DVD video recorder to record the recording date and time of a recorded program (corresponding to a specific VTS).

In the sixth relative byte position "25", I
A file flag indicating the characteristics of the file defined in Table 10 of SO9660 is described.

At the seventh relative byte position “25”, the file unit size assigned to the file portion is described.

In the eighth relative byte position “27”, the size of the interleave gap allocated to the file portion is described.

At the ninth relative byte position “28”, a volume serial number in the extended volume set described in the directory record is described.

At the tenth relative byte position “32”,
The length of the file ID field of the directory record is described.

At the eleventh relative byte position “33”,
A file ID or a directory defined by ISO9660 is described.

Following the file ID, the file ID
A padding field used as padding when the field length is an even number of bytes is described.

After the padding field, copyright management information used by the system is described.

Following the copyright management information, a recorded specific file (for example, VTS_01_1.V in FIG. 7)
OB) has been read once (or whether or not the VTS has been reproduced at least once in the past). The read flag for a file that has never been read is set to "0". Once read, the file's read flag will be "
It is set to 1 ".

Next to the read flag, a specific recorded file (for example, VTS_1_1.VO in FIG. 7)
An archive flag (or a permanent storage flag) indicating whether or not B) is the content to be permanently stored (or whether the content is to be prevented from being accidentally erased) is described. The archive flag for a file that can be deleted is set to "0". The archive flag of the file that is to be kept without erasing is set to "1".

FIG. 9 shows a hierarchical structure of information included in the video object set VTSTT_VOBS of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, each cell 84 is composed of one or more video object units (VOBU) 85. Then, each video object unit 85
Is configured as an aggregate (pack sequence) of a video pack (V pack) 88, a sub-picture pack (SP pack) 90, and an audio pack (A pack) 91, starting with a navigation pack (NV pack) 86. I have.
That is, the video object unit VOBU85
Is defined as a set of all packs recorded from one navigation pack 86 to immediately before the next navigation pack 86.

[0136] These packs are the minimum units when performing data transfer processing. The minimum unit for performing logical processing is a cell unit, and the logical processing is performed for this cell unit.

The navigation pack 86 is incorporated in the video object unit VOBU 85 so that any angle change (non-seamless reproduction and seamless reproduction) can be realized.

The video object unit VOBU
The playback time of video object unit VOB is 85
This corresponds to the playback time of video data composed of one or more video groups (group of pictures; GOP for short) included in U85, and the playback time is 0.4 seconds to 1.
It is set within the range of 2 seconds. One GOP is usually about 0.5 seconds in the MPEG standard, and is screen data compressed so as to reproduce about 15 images during that time.

Video object unit VOBU85
Contains video data, a GOP (conforming to the MPEG standard) composed of a video pack 88, a sub-picture pack 90 and an audio pack 91 is arranged to form a video data stream. However, irrespective of the number of GOPs, the video object unit VOBU85 is determined based on the playback time of the GOP, and the beginning of the video object unit VOBU85 is always the navigation pack 86 as shown in FIG.
Are arranged.

It should be noted that even in the case of reproduction data of only audio and / or sub-picture data, the reproduction data is constituted by using the video object unit VOBU85 as one unit. For example, when the video object unit VOBU85 is composed of only the audio pack 91 with the navigation pack 86 at the head, as in the case of the video object VOB83 of the video data, the video object unit VOB to which the audio data belongs
The audio pack 91 to be reproduced within the reproduction time of the OBU 85 is the video object unit VOBU.
85.

A VOB having a structure as shown in FIG.
In a DVD video recorder that can record a video title set VTS including S82 on the optical disc 10, this VT
There is a case where it is desired to edit the recorded contents after recording S. To respond to this request, a dummy pack 89 can be inserted into each VOBU 85 as appropriate. The dummy pack 89 can be used when recording editing data later.

As shown in FIG. 9, a video object set (VTSTT_VOBS) 82 is defined as a set of one or more video objects (VOB) 83. The video objects VOB 83 in the video object set VOBS 82 are used for the same purpose.

The menu VOBS 82 is usually composed of one VOB 83, in which a plurality of menu screen display data are stored. On the other hand, the VOBS 82 for the title set is usually composed of a plurality of VOBs 83.

Here, the VOBs constituting the video object set for title set VTSTT_VOBS 82
83 can be considered to correspond to video data of performances of a certain rock band, taking a concert video of the band as an example. In this case, by designating the VOB 83, for example, the third piece of the concert performance music of the band can be reproduced.

The VOB 83 constituting the menu video object set VTSM_VOBS stores menu data of all the concert performances of the band, and according to the display of the menu, a specific song,
For example, an encore performance song can be reproduced.

In a normal video program, one VOBS 82 can be constituted by one VOB 83. In this case, one video stream is one VO
It will be completed in B83.

On the other hand, for example, in an animation collection of a plurality of stories or an omnibus movie, one VO
A plurality of video streams (a plurality of program chains PGC) can be provided in the BS 82 corresponding to each story. In this case, each video stream is stored in the corresponding VOB 83. At that time, the audio stream and the sub-picture stream related to each video stream are also completed in each VOB 83.

The VOB 83 has an identification number (IDN # i;
i = 0 to i), and the VO
B83 can be specified. The VOB 83 includes one or a plurality of cells 84. Although a normal video stream is composed of a plurality of cells, a video stream for a menu may be composed of one cell 84 in some cases.
Each cell 84 is given an identification number (C_IDN # j) as in the case of the VOB 83.

FIG. 10 shows a pack-format data sequence (pack sequence) which is read from the optical disk (DVD-ROM or DVD-RAM) 10 and obtained after signal demodulation / error correction in a disk drive (not shown). Is exemplified. This pack sequence includes a navigation pack (control pack) 86, a video pack 88, a dummy pack 89, a sub-picture pack 90, and an audio pack 91. All of these packs are composed of data in units of 2 kbytes, similar to the logical sector in FIG.

The navigation pack 86 includes a pack header 110, a reproduction control information / presentation control information (PCI) packet 116, and data search information (DS).
I) The packet 117 is included. PCI packet 11
6 is composed of a packet header 112 and PCI data 113, and the DSI packet 117 is a packet header 11
4 and DSI data 115. PCI
The packet 116 contains control data used for non-seamless angle switching, and the DSI packet 117 contains control data used for seamless angle switching.

Here, the angle switching means changing the angle (camera angle) at which a subject image is viewed. In the example of a rock concert video, in the same music performance scene (same event), a scene captured mainly by a vocalist, a scene captured mainly by a guitarist,
This means that you can see scenes from various angles, such as scenes captured mainly by drummers.

[0152] Angle switching (or angle changing) is performed when the angle can be selected according to the viewer's preference, or when the same scene is automatically changed in the flow of the story while changing the angle. (If the software creator / provider configured the story in that way; or if the user of the DVD video recorder described below made such editing).

When selecting an angle,
There are the following: That is, in the case of non-seamless playback in which the angle changes back to the beginning of the same scene and discontinuous in time (for example, the scene at the moment when the boxer puts the counter punch, the camera angle changes to another angle and the counter starts to be launched again. In the case of seamless playback in which the angle changes in the scene that follows the scene and the scene that follows the scene (for example, when the boxer enters the counter and the punch enters, the camera angle changes to another angle and the counter is eaten) When the opponent's flying scene is played continuously in time)
There is.

The video pack 88 has a pack header 881.
And a video packet 882. The dummy pack 89 includes a pack header 891 and a padding packet 890, and the padding packet 890 includes a packet header 892 and padding data 893. However, the padding data 893 contains invalid data.

The sub-picture pack 90 has a pack header 901.
And a sub-picture packet 902. The audio pack 91 includes a pack header 911 and an audio packet 912.

The video packet 882 shown in FIG. 10 includes a packet header (not shown), and a decode time stamp (DST) and a presentation time stamp (PTS) are recorded in the packet header.
Each of the sub-picture packet 902 and the audio packet 912 includes a packet header (not shown), and a presentation time stamp (PTS) is recorded in the packet header.

FIG. 11 shows the structure of one navigation pack shown in FIG.

That is, one pack of the navigation pack 86 has a pack header 110 of 14 bytes, a system header 111 of 24 bytes, and two packets (11
6, 117) including navigation data of 2010 bytes. The two packets constituting the navigation data are the playback control information (PCI) packet 116 and the data search information (DSI) packet 117 mentioned in the description of FIG.

The PCI packet 116 includes a packet header 112A of 6 bytes, a substream identifier (substream ID) 112B of 1 byte, and PCI data 113 of 979 bytes. Substream I
The data stream of the PCI data 113 is specified by the 8-bit code “00000000” of D112B.

The DSI packet 117 includes a 6-byte packet header 114A, a 1-byte sub-stream identifier (sub-stream ID) 114B,
It is composed of 7 bytes of DSI data 115. The 8-bit code “00000000” of the substream ID 114B
The data stream of the DSI data 115 is designated by “1”.

The data length of one pack of the navigation pack 86 configured as described above is the logical sector 1 in FIG.
2048 bytes (2 kbytes) corresponding to one.

The pack header 110 and the system header 111 in FIG. 11 are defined by the MPEG2 system layer. That is, pack start code, system clock reference (SCR) and multiplexing rate information are stored in the pack header 110.
1 describes a bit rate and a stream ID.
Similarly, the packet header 112 of the PCI packet 116
Packet header 114 of A and DSI packet 117
A stores a packet start code, a packet length, and a stream ID as defined in the MPEG2 system layer.

FIG. 12 shows the structure of one dummy pack shown in FIG. That is, one dummy pack 8
9 is composed of a pack header 891, a packet header 892 having a predetermined stream ID, and padding data 893 embedded with a predetermined code. (The packet header 892 and the padding data 893 constitute a padding packet 890.) The contents of the padding data 893 of the unused dummy pack have no particular meaning. The dummy pack 89 can be appropriately used when editing the recorded contents after a predetermined recording is made on the disk 10 in FIG.

For example, consider a case where a videotape on which a family trip is recorded by a portable video camera is recorded on a DVD-RAM (or DVD-RW) disk 10 and edited.

In this case, first, only the video scenes to be collected on one disc are selectively recorded on the disc 10. This video scene is recorded in the video pack 88 of FIG. Also, audio recorded simultaneously with the video camera
It is recorded on the audio pack 91.

VOBU8 including the video pack 88 and the like
5 always has a navigation pack 86 at the beginning. As shown in FIG. 10, the navigation pack 86 includes reproduction control information PCI and data search information DS.
I. Using this PCI or DSI, the playback procedure of each VOBU can be controlled (for example, intermittent scenes can be automatically connected or multi-angle scenes can be recorded).

After editing and recording from a video tape to the disk 10, when dubbing voices and sound effects in VOBU units or adding background music BGM to each scene, a dubbed audio or BGM is added.
Can be recorded in the dummy pack 89. In addition, when a commentary on the recorded content is added, additional images such as additional characters and graphics can be recorded in the dummy pack 89. If an additional video image is to be inserted, the inserted video can be recorded in the dummy pack 89.

[0168] The above-mentioned post-recording sound and the like are written in the padding data 893 of the dummy pack 89 used as an audio pack. In addition, the above additional commentary
This is written into the padding data 893 of the dummy pack 89 used as a sub-picture pack. Similarly, the insert video is written in the padding data 893 of the dummy pack 89 used as a video pack.

That is, the dummy pack 89 is a pack such as a wild card that can be an audio pack, a sub-picture pack, or a video pack depending on the purpose of use.

FIG. 13 shows a PCI packet 116 included in the navigation pack 86 arranged at the head of each VOBU 85. As shown in the figure, the PCI packet 116 is playback control information PCI which is navigation data for changing display contents or playback contents (presentation contents) in synchronization with the playback state of the video data in the video object unit (VOBU) 85. (PC
I data) 113.

FIG. 14 shows the reproduction control information (PCI
Data) 113. The PCI data 113 is
60-byte PCI general information (PCI_GI) and 36
Byte non-seamless playback angle information (NSML
_AGLI) and 694 bytes of highlight information (HL
I) and 189 bytes of recording information (RECI). This recording information (RECI) can include an international standard copyright management code (ISRC).

The highlight information HLI can be used when performing the following highlight processing. That is,
The MPU (or CP) of the DVD video recorder described later
U) reads the highlight information HLI and sets the X / X of the rectangular area (highlight button) displayed by the sub-picture.
A Y coordinate value, a color, a contrast value, and the like are detected. According to the detection information, the MPU of the DVD video recorder
For example, highlight processing is performed on the display of menu selection items and the like. This highlighting process is used as a means for allowing the user to easily recognize the displayed specific item in the visual user interface. Specifically, the DV recorded on the optical disc 10
When the D-video title is a multilingual program, a specific audio language (for example, English) and a subtitle language (for example, Japanese) of a specific language are highlighted by a highlight button displayed by highlight processing. Is selected.

FIG. 15 shows the contents of the reproduction control information general information PCI_GI of FIG.

The general playback control information PCI_GI includes the logical block number (NV_NV_N) of the navigation pack.
PCK_LBN) and the video object unit (V
OBU) category (VOBU_CAT), video object unit (VOBU) user operation control (VOBU_UOP_CTL), and video object unit (VOBU) display start time (VOBU_S_).
PTM) and Video Object Unit (VOBU)
, A display end time (VOBU_E_PTM), a display end time (VOBU_SE_PTM) at the end of a sequence in the video object unit (VOBU), and a cell elapsed time (C_ELTM).

Here, the logical block number (NV_P)
The CK_LBN) indicates the address (recording position) of the navigation pack including the playback control information (PCI) by the video object set (VOB) including the PCI.
This is represented by the number of relative blocks from the first logical block in S).

The above category (VOBU_CAT) is
It describes the content of copy protection of an analog signal corresponding to video and sub-picture in a video object unit (VOBU) including playback control information (PCI).

The user operation control (VOBU_UOP_
CTL) describes user operations that are prohibited during the display (presentation) period of the video object unit (VOBU) including the playback control information (PCI).

The display start time (VOBU_S_PT)
M) describes the display (presentation) start time of the video object unit (VOBU) including the playback control information (PCI). More specifically, the VOBU_S_PTM indicates the display start time of the first video (first picture) in the display order of the first GOP in the video object unit (VOBU).

The display end time (VOBU_E_PT)
M) describes the display (presentation) end time of the video object unit (VOBU) including the playback control information (PCI). More specifically, when video data in the video object unit (VOBU) is continuous, the VOBU_E_
The PTM indicates the display end time of the last video (last picture) in the display order of the last GOP in the video object unit (VOBU).

On the other hand, the video object unit (VO
When there is no video data in the BU) or when the reproduction of the video object unit (VOBU) is stopped, the VOBU_E_PTM is aligned with the time grid of the field interval (1/60 second for NTSC video). It indicates the end time of virtual video data.

The display end time (VOBU_SE_PT)
M) describes the display (presentation) end time by the sequence end code of the video data in the video object unit (VOBU) including the playback control information (PCI). More specifically, it indicates the display end time of the last video (last picture) in the display order, including the sequence end code in the video object unit (VOBU).
If there is no video (picture) with a sequence end code in the video object unit (VOBU), 0000000h is stored in VOBU_SE_PTM.
(H means hexadecimal).

The cell elapsed time (C_ELTM) is calculated from the first video frame in the display order of the cell containing the playback control information (PCI) to the first video frame in the display order of the video object unit (VOBU) containing this PCI. The relative display (presentation) time up to the frame is described in hours, minutes, seconds and frames in the BCD format. When there is no video data in the video object unit (VOBU),
The first video frame of the virtual video data is
Used as the video frame.

FIG. 16 shows the video manager VMG of FIG.
Indicates the contents of This VMG is composed of a plurality of files 74A. The video manager VMG stores video manager information (VMG
I) 75, a video manager menu object set (VMGM_VOBS), and a backup of the video manager information (VMGI_BUP).

Here, the video manager information VMGI
VMGI for backup and video manager information
_BUP is a required item, and a video object set VMGM_VOBS for displaying the video manager information menu VMGM can be optional.

As shown in FIG. 16, the video manager V
The video manager information (VM
GI) 75 includes a video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT; required), a title search pointer table (TT_SRPT; required), a program chain information unit table of the video manager menu (VMGM_PGCI_UT; required when VMGM_VOBS exists), parental. Management information table (P
TL_MAIT; option), video title set attribute table (VTS_ATRT; required), text data manager (TXTDT_MG; option), video manager menu cell address table (VMG
M_C_ADT; mandatory if VMGM_VOBS is present), and video manager menu video object unit address map (VMGM_VOBU_
ADMAP; essential when VMGM_VOBS exists) are described in this order.

The end address of the video manager information management table VMGI_MAT (VMGI_MAT_
EA) and the address such as the start address (TT_SRPT_SA) of the title search pointer TT_SRPT are described by the number of logical blocks relative to the first logical block in which the table VMGI_MAT is stored.

Video Manager Information (VMGI) 75
Contains information used when reproducing each video title set (VTS) 72 shown in FIG. 3, and the information is recorded on the optical disc 10 so as to coincide with the boundary of the logical sector.
Will be recorded.

The video object set VMGM_VOBS for the video manager information menu stores menu information (managed by the video manager VMG) relating to video data, audio data, and sub-picture data recorded on the optical disc 10.

With the video object set for video manager information menu (VMGM_VOBS), the volume name of the optical disk to be played back, the description of the audio and sub-picture accompanying the volume name display can be displayed, and selectable items can be displayed in the sub-picture. Can be displayed.

For example, video object set for video manager information menu (VMGM_VOBS)
Thus, it is possible to display a sub-picture indicating that the optical disk to be reproduced includes a video (in the form of a single story or a multi-story) in which a game storing up to a boxer X world champion is stored. That is, Boxer X's fighting pose is reproduced in video data along with the volume name such as the glorious history of Boxer X, and his theme song (if any) is output as audio. A chronology is displayed.

As the selection items displayed as sub-pictures by the VMGM video object set (VMGM_VOBS), for example, in the form of a menu, (1) the narration sound of a game can be written in any language such as English, Japanese, French, German, etc. (2) whether to display subtitles in a predetermined language in the sub-video, and (3)
An inquiry as to which one of the selectable multi-language subtitles to select is output. From the display by the VMGM video object set (VMGM_VOBS), a viewer (a user of a DVD video recorder described later) can select, for example, English for audio and Japanese for sub-picture subtitles. Thus, the user is ready to watch the video of the game of Boxer X.

The features such as the explanation of the recorded contents using the sub-picture and / or audio, the optional selection of the audio language or the subtitle language, and the change of the reproduction angle described above are the same as those of the conventional video recorder (VHS type VCR).
Etc.), the DVD video recorder of the present invention can have these features.

FIG. 17 shows the contents of the video manager information management table VMGI_MAT of FIG.

That is, the video manager information management table VMGI_MAT includes a video manager identifier (VMG_ID); an end address of the video manager (VMG_EA); an end address of the video manager information (VMGI_EA);
Version number (VE) of the standard adopted by the disc 10
RN); Video manager category (VMG_CA)
T); volume setting identifier (VLMS_ID); FIG.
Free space (recordable capacity) FREE_SPA of the optical disc 10 on which each video title set VTS is recorded.
CE; number of video title sets (VTS_Ns); identifier of provider (production / sales source of software) (PV
R_ID); end address of video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT_EA); start address of first play program chain information (FP)
_PGCI_SA); start address of the video object set in the video manager menu (VMGM_SA)
VOBS_SA); Start address of title search pointer table (TT_SRPT_SA); Start address of unit table of program chain information of video manager menu (VMGM_PGCI_U)
T_SA); start address of parental management information table (PTL_MAIT_SA); start address of video title set attribute table (VTS_ATR)
T_SA); Start address of the text data manager (TXTDT_MG_SA); Start address of the video manager menu cell address table (VM
GM_C_ADT_SA); start address of video manager menu video object unit address map (VMGM_VOBU_ADMAP_SA);
Video attributes (VM
GM_V_ART); number of audio streams shown in the video manager menu (VMGM_AST_N)
s); audio stream attribute shown in the video manager menu (VMGM_AST_ATR); number of sub-picture streams shown in the video manager menu (V
MGM_SPST_Ns); Sub-picture stream attribute (VMGM_SPST) shown in the video manager menu
_ATR); and first play program chain information (FP_PGCI).

The category VM of the video manager in the video manager information management table VMGI_MAT
G_CAT describes a video copy flag and an audio copy flag of a video manager and a video title set. Depending on the contents of these flags,
Whether the copying of the video and the sound is permitted is determined individually.

Free space (recordable capacity) FR in FIG.
EE_SPACE is the same as the free space data in the physical format information of FIG. 6 for the unused blank disk 10. As a method of storing the free space of the disk 10, storage in a file descriptor (physical format information) and management information (VMGI_MAT) can be considered. The free disk space after partially using the disk 10 for recording is the FREE_SPAC in FIG.
E and / or the free space portion of the physical format information of FIG. 6 (here, FREE_
SPACE and physical format information will be written). For example, a single-sided DV having a capacity of 2.6 GB
In the case of the D-RAM disk 10, byte position 17 in FIG.
Information representing 2.6 GB is written in 20.
If no recording has been made on this disk 10, FIG.
In the FREE_SPACE of No. 7, information representing a value obtained by subtracting management data (including the video manager VMG) from 2.6 GB is written.

Assuming that a recording of, for example, 1 GB is made on the disk 10, the information at byte positions 17 to 20 in FIG. 6 is equivalent to 2.6 GB, but FREE_S in FIG.
PACE information is rewritten to 1.6 GB. When such a partially recorded disc 10 is set in a DVD video recorder to be described later, the DVD video recorder first reads the information at byte positions 17 to 20 in FIG. 6 and sets the disc 10 as a 2.6 GB disc. Is detected, and then FREE_SPACE in FIG.
Is read to detect that the free space of the disk 10 set is a 1.6 GB disk. If this disk 10 is completely erased, FREE_S in FIG.
The information of the free space portion of the PACE and the physical format information of FIG. 6 is rewritten to 2.6 GB.

That is, even if the same “free space” is expressed, the free space in FIG. 6 and the FREE_SPACE in FIG.
Can make a difference in content.

FIG. 18 shows the video title set V of FIG.
This shows the contents of TS72. This video title set VT
S is composed of a plurality of files 74B, like the video manager VMG in FIG. Each file 74
B is a video title set information (VTSI) 94, a video title set menu object set (V
TSM_VOBS), a video object set for video title set titles (VTSTT_VOBS; up to 9 files), and a backup (VTSI_BUP) of video title set information.

As shown in FIG. 18, the video title set information VTSI 94 arranged at the head of the video title set VTS 72 includes a video title set information management table (VTSI_MAT; essential) and a part of title of the video title set (for example, Title search pointer table (V for program chapter)
TS_PTT_SRPT; required) and a video title set program chain information table (VTS_PG)
CIT; required) and a program chain information unit table (VTSM_
PGCI_UT; essential when VTSM_VOBS is present), video title set time map table (VTS_TMAPT; optional), and cell address table for video title set menu (VTSM)
_C_ADT; essential if VTSM_VOBS is present) and a video object unit address map for video title set menu (VTSM_VOBU)
_ADMAP; required when VTSM_VOBS is present), a video title set cell address table (VTS_C_ADT; required), and a video object unit address map (V
TS_VOBU_ADMAP; indispensable) are described in this order.

FIG. 19 shows the contents of the video title set information management table VTSI_MAT of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19, the video title set information management table VTSI_MAT includes a video title set identifier (VTS_ID), a video title set end address (VTS_EA), and a program (for example, V in FIG.
TS # 1) has been completely reproduced at least once, and has been reproduced (PLAY_END Flag).
And an archive flag (ARC) that functions to prevent erroneous erasure when the program (eg, VTS # 2 in FIG. 3) recorded on the optical disk 10 is to be retained without being erased.
HIVE Flag), the end address (VTSI_EA) of the video title set information, the version number (VERN) of the standard adopted by the optical disc (DVD disc) 10, the category of the video title set (VTS_CAT), and the video title set information. End address of management table (VTSI_MAT_EA)
And the start address (VTSM_VOBS_S) of the video object set in the video title set menu.
A) and the start address (VTSTT_VOB) of the video object set of the video title set title
S_SA) and the start address (VT) of the part-of-title search pointer table of the video title set.
S_PTT_SRPT_SA), the start address (VTS_PGCIT_SA) of the program chain information table of the video title set, and the start address (VTSM_PGCI_UT_) of the unit table of the program chain information of the video title set menu.
SA) and the start address (VTS_TMAPT_SA) of the time map table of the video title set
And the start address (VTSM_C_ADT_S) of the cell address table of the video title set menu.
A), the start address of the address map of the video object unit in the video title set menu (VTSM_VOBU_ADMAP_SA), the start address of the cell address table of the video title set (VTS_C_ADT_SA), and the start address of the address map of the video object unit of the video title set. (VTS_VOBU_ADMAP_
SA), information such as attributes of video, audio, and sub-pictures, and the number of sub-picture streams (V
TS_SPST_Ns) and a video title set sub-picture stream attribute table (VTS_SPST_AT)
RT) and a multi-channel audio stream attribute table (VTS_MU_) of the video title set.
AST_ATRT).

[0203] Each information item of the table VTSM_MAT is aligned with the boundary of the logical block of the data recorded on the optical disk 10.

FIG. 20 shows the video title set program chain information table VTSI_PGCIT of FIG.
Indicates the contents of

As shown in FIG. 20, the video title set program chain information table VTS_PGCIT includes video title set program chain information table information (VTS_PGCITI) and video title set program chain information search pointers (VTS_PGCI_SRP # 1 to VTS_PGCI_).
SRP # n) and video title set program chain information (VTS_PGCI).

The order of the plurality of video title set program chain information VTS_PGCI is as follows.
A plurality of video title set program chain information search pointers VTS_PGCI_SRP # 1 to VTS_
It is set regardless of the order of PGCI_SRP # n. Therefore, for example, the same program chain information VTS_PGCI can be indicated by one or more program chain information search pointers VTS_PGCI_SRP.

FIG. 21 shows the contents of the video title set program chain information VTS_PGCI of FIG. That is, program chain information (PGCI)
Is a program chain general information (PGC_GI; required), a program chain command table (PGC_GI).
CMDT; option), program chain program map (PGC_PGMAP; indispensable when the next C_PBIT exists), cell playback information table (C_PB
IT; option) and cell position information table (C
_POSIT; indispensable when the C_PBIT exists).

FIG. 22 shows the contents of the cell reproduction information table C_PBIT of FIG. The cell reproduction information table C_PBIT has a configuration as shown in FIG. 22, and has a maximum of 255 pieces of cell reproduction information (C_PBIn; # n = # 1
# 255).

FIG. 23 shows the cell reproduction information C_PB of FIG.
The content of I (C_PBI # 1 to #n) is shown. That is,
As shown in FIG. 23, each cell reproduction information (C_PBI) includes a cell category (C_CAT; 4 bytes), a cell reproduction time (C_PBTM; 4 bytes), and a start address (VOBU) of the first video object unit (VOBU) in the cell. C_FVOBU_SA; 4 bytes), end address of the first interleaved unit (ILVU) in the cell (C_FILVU_EA; 4 bytes), start address of the last video object unit (VOBU) in the cell (C_LVOBU_SA; 4 bytes), and in the cell Final video object unit (VOB)
U) (C_LVOBU_EA; 4 bytes).

FIG. 24 shows the cell category C_C in FIG.
Indicates the contents of the AT. This cell category (C_CAT)
Is the lower 8 bits (b0 to b7) as shown in FIG.
Indicates the number of cell commands, and the next 8 bits (b8 to b1)
5) indicates the cell still time, and the next 5 bits (b16 to
b20) indicates a cell type (for example, karaoke);
The next one bit (b21) indicates an access restriction flag,
The next one bit (b22) indicates a cell playback mode (for example, moving image or still), the reserved bit is skipped, and the next one bit (b24) indicates a seamless angle change flag.
The next one bit (b25) indicates the system time clock ST
C indicates a discontinuity flag (whether or not to reset the STC). The next 1 bit (b26) indicates whether the interleave arrangement flag (C_PBI) is in a continuous block or in an interleaved block. The next one bit (b27) indicates a seamless playback flag (whether or not the cell specified by C_PBI should be seamlessly played), and the next two bits (b2)
8 to b29) indicate the cell block type (for example, whether it is an angle block or not), and the last two bits (b30 to
b31) indicates the cell block mode (for example, whether the cell is the first cell in the block).

Here, the cell block mode is set to 00b (b
Indicates that the cell is not a cell in the block, if it is 01b, it is the first cell in the block, and if it is 10b, it is a cell in the block. , 11b indicates the last cell in the block.

When the cell block type is 00b, it indicates that the cell is not a part of the corresponding block.
The case of b indicates that the corresponding block is an angle block (a block including a multi-angle cell).

If the cell block type is not 01b during reproduction of a title including a multi-angle cell, for example, an angle mark (not shown) is kept lit.

On the other hand, if the cell block type = 01b is detected during the reproduction, the fact that the angle block is being reproduced is indicated by blinking of the angle mark (or change of the lighting color or change of the shape of the angle mark). Can notify the viewer. This allows the viewer to know that the video being reproduced can be reproduced at another angle.

When the interleave arrangement flag is 0b, it indicates that the corresponding cell is in a continuous block (a plurality of VOBUs are continuously recorded), and when the interleave arrangement flag is 1b, the corresponding cell is interleaved. Blocks (ILVUs each containing one or more VOBUs
Are interleaved).

When the seamless angle change flag is set (= 1b), it indicates that the corresponding cell is to be seamlessly reproduced, and this flag is not set (= 1b).
0b) indicates that the corresponding cell is a target for non-seamless reproduction.

That is, the interleave arrangement flag = 1
b, when the seamless angle change flag = 0b, the non-seamless angle changeable state is possible, and when the interleave arrangement flag = 1b, the seamless angle change flag = 1.
In the case of b, the seamless angle can be changed.

A media drive system having an extremely short access time (a system capable of accessing a head of a desired angle block within one frame period of video;
(Not necessarily limited to the optical disk drive system), if the interleave arrangement flag = 0b,
That is, a quick angle change can be realized between a set of VOBUs (separate angle cells) that are not interleaved.

Optical disk 10 with relatively slow access speed
Is used as a recording medium, it is preferable to allocate one round of a recording track of the disc to recording of one interleaved block. Then jump between adjacent interleaved blocks (angle change)
Sometimes the trace destination of the optical head only needs to be slightly moved by one track in the radial direction of the disk, so that a track jump with little time lag (suitable for seamless angle change) can be performed. In this case, when a track jump of one video object unit (VOBU) is performed, a time lag of one rotation of the disc can occur at the maximum. Therefore, an angle change involving a jump in VOBU units is suitable for a non-seamless angle change.

Here, the content of the seamless angle change flag is usually determined in advance by a provider (a software creator who produces the program content of each title recorded on the optical disc 10). That is, by determining the content of the seamless angle change flag in advance, the provider can uniquely determine whether to perform the non-seamless angle change or the seamless angle change.

However, after reading the cell data of the title set from the optical disc, the DVD video recorder is designed so that the contents of the seamless angle change flag in the read data can be arbitrarily changed by a viewer (a user of a DVD video recorder described later). It is possible to configure a recorder.

Note that the seamless angle change flag is a flag indicating whether angle information (not shown) described in the navigation pack 86 is a seamless angle or a non-seamless angle. It is necessary to modify the angle information (not shown) in the table (for example, change from seamless angle information to non-seamless angle information).

When the cell playback mode is 0b, continuous playback is performed in the cell, and when it is 1b, still playback is performed in each VOBU existing in the cell.

When the user performs recording / reproduction, the access restriction flag can be used to prohibit direct selection by user operation. For example, by setting the access restriction flag of the cell in which the answer of the question book is recorded to 1b, it is possible to prohibit the user from eating the answer to the question.

For example, when the corresponding cell is created for karaoke, the following cell type can be indicated by the contents of the five bits.

That is, 000000b does not specify a cell type, 00001b specifies a karaoke title image, 00010b specifies a karaoke intro, and 00001b specifies a climax (rust).
Singing part other than, the singing part of the first climax is specified if 00100b, and the singing part of the second climax is specified if 00100b.
If 0b, the male vocal singing part is specified, and 0011
If it is 1b, the singing part of the female vocal is specified, and 0100
If 0b, the singing portion of mixed gender vocals is specified, and 01
001b specifies the interlude (playing of the instrument only), 01010b specifies the interlude fade-in, 01011b specifies the interlude fade-out, 01100b specifies the first ending performance, and 01101b specifies the first ending performance. A second ending performance part is designated. The contents of the remaining 5-bit code can be used for other purposes.

Note that the angle change can also be applied to the angle change of the background video of karaoke. (For example, a full-length video of a singer singing a guide vocal, a close-up video of the face, a close-up video of the lips, etc., can be seamlessly along the flow of karaoke music, or can be returned a little earlier to be non-seamless, and During the repeat reproduction, the viewer can change the angle as desired.) Further, when the 8-bit content of the cell still time in FIG. 24 is 00000000b, it is specified that it is not still, and it is designated as 111111.
In the case of 11b, a timeless still is specified, and it is 0
In the case of 0000001b to 11111110b, a still display having a length in which the decimal number (1 to 254) specified in this content is displayed in seconds is specified.

The number of cell commands indicates the number of commands to be executed at the end of reproduction of the cell.

FIG. 25 shows the contents of the program chain general information PGC_GI of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 25, program chain general information PGC_GI includes program chain contents (PGC_CNT), program chain playback time (PGC_PB_TM), program chain user operation control information (PGC_UOP_CTL), program chain Chain audio stream control table (P
GC_AST_CTLT) and a control table (PGC_SPST_CT) of the program chain sub-picture stream.
LT), program chain navigation control information (PGC_NV_CTL), program chain sub-picture palette (PGC_SP_PLT), and program chain command table start address (PGC_SP_PLT).
_CMDT_SA) and the start address of the program map of the program chain (PGC_PGMAP_SA)
And the start address (C_PBIT_SA) of the reproduction information table of the cell in the program chain and the start address (C_PBIT_SA) of the position information table of the cell in the program chain.
_POSIT_SA).

Contents of program chain PGC_CNT
Indicates the number of programs and the number of cells (up to 255) in the program chain. Video object VOB
In a program chain without a program, the number of programs is "0"
Becomes

Program chain playback time PGC_P
B_TM indicates the total playback time of the program in the program chain in hours, minutes, seconds, and the number of video frames. This PGC_PB_TM has a flag (tc_flag) indicating the type of the video frame.
The frame rate (25 frames per second or 30 frames per second) and the like are specified by the contents of this flag.

The user operation control information PGC_UOP_CTL of the program chain indicates a user operation prohibited in the program chain being reproduced.

The control table PGC_AST_CTLT of the program chain audio stream can include control information of each of the eight audio streams. Each of these pieces of control information includes a flag (availability flag) indicating whether or not the audio stream is available in the corresponding program chain, and conversion information from the audio stream number to the audio stream number to be decoded.

The program chain sub-picture stream control table PGC_SPST_CTLT includes a flag (availability flag) indicating whether or not the sub-picture stream can be used in the corresponding program chain, and a sub-picture to be decoded from the sub-picture stream number (32). Contains conversion information to stream numbers.

The program chain navigation control information PGC_NV_CTL includes Next_PGCN indicating the program chain number to be reproduced next to the currently reproduced program chain, and the navigation command “L”.
InkPrevPGC ”or“ PrevPGC_S
Previous_PGCN indicating the program chain number (PGCN) quoted by "earch ()"
And GoUp_PGCN indicating a program chain number to be returned from the program chain, and PG Playback indicating a playback mode (sequential playback, random playback, shuffle playback, etc.) of the program.
mode and Still time value indicating the still time after the reproduction of the program chain.

[0237] Sub-picture palette PG of the program chain
C_SP_PLT describes 16 sets of luminance signals and two color difference signals used in a sub-video stream in the program chain.

The start address PGC_CMDT_SA of the command table of the program chain is a description area for a pre-command executed before PGC reproduction, a post command executed after PGC reproduction, and a cell command executed after cell reproduction.

The start address PGC_PGMAP_SA of the program map of the program chain describes the start address of the program map PGC_PGMAP indicating the configuration of the program in the program chain, as a relative address from the first byte of the program chain information PGCI. .

The start address C_PBIT_SA of the reproduction information table of the cells in the program chain is the start address of the cell reproduction information table C_PBIT that determines the reproduction order of the cells in the program chain, relative to the first byte of the program chain information PGCI. It is described by an address.

The start address C_POSIT_SA of the cell position information table in the program chain is the cell position information table C_POSI indicating the VOB identification number and the cell identification number used in the program chain.
T is set to the program chain information PGCI
Is described as a relative address from the first byte of

FIG. 26 shows the disc shown in FIG.
2 shows an example of a configuration of a device (DVD video recorder) for recording and reproducing digital moving image information at a variable recording rate using information having a structure as described above.

The main unit of the DVD video recorder shown in FIG. 26 is roughly a DVD-RAM or DVD
A disk drive unit (3) that rotates the R disk 10 and reads and writes information on the disk 10;
2, 34 etc.) and the encoder unit 50 constituting the recording side
, A decoder section 60 constituting the reproducing side, and a microcomputer block 30 for controlling the operation of the apparatus main body.

The encoder unit 50 has an ADC (analog
Digital converter) 52, video encoder (V encoder) 53, and audio encoder (A encoder)
54, a sub-picture encoder (SP encoder) 55,
A formatter 56 and a buffer memory 57 are provided.

The ADC 52 has an external analog video signal from the AV input section 42 and an external analog audio signal,
Alternatively, an analog TV signal + analog audio signal from the TV tuner 44 is input. The ADC 52 digitizes the input analog video signal at, for example, a sampling frequency of 13.5 MHz and a quantization bit number of 8 bits. (That is, each of the luminance component Y, the chrominance component Cr (or YR), and the chrominance component Cb (or YB) is quantized by 8 bits.) Similarly, the ADC 5
2 digitizes the input analog audio signal with, for example, a sampling frequency of 48 kHz and a quantization bit number of 16 bits.

When an analog video signal and a digital audio signal are input to ADC 52, AD 52
C52 allows the digital audio signal to pass through.
(The processing of reducing only the jitter accompanying the digital signal without changing the content of the digital audio signal or the processing of changing the sampling rate or the number of quantization bits may be performed.)

On the other hand, when a digital video signal and a digital audio signal are
The C52 allows the digital video signal and the digital audio signal to pass through (the digital signal may be subjected to a jitter reduction process, a sampling rate change process, or the like without altering the content).

The digital video signal component from the ADC 52 is sent to a formatter 56 via a video encoder (V encoder) 53. The digital audio signal component from the ADC 52 is sent to a formatter 56 via an audio encoder (A encoder) 54.

The V encoder 53 has a function of converting an input digital video signal into a digital signal compressed at a variable bit rate based on the MPEG2 or MPEG1 standard.

The A encoder 54 has a function of converting the input digital audio signal into a digital signal (or a linear PCM digital signal) compressed at a fixed bit rate based on the MPEG or AC-3 standard. .

When a DVD video signal having a data structure as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is input from AV input section 42 (for example, a signal from a DVD video player with an independent output terminal for a sub-picture signal), or A DVD video signal having a data structure is broadcast and transmitted to a TV tuner 44.
, The sub-picture signal component (sub-picture pack) in the DVD video signal is input to the sub-picture encoder (SP encoder) 55. The sub-picture data input to the SP encoder 55 is arranged in a predetermined signal form and sent to the formatter 56.

The formatter 56 includes a buffer memory 57
Is used as a work area, predetermined signal processing is performed on the input video signal, audio signal, sub-picture signal, and the like, and recording conforming to the format (file structure) described with reference to FIGS. The data is output to the data processor 36.

Here, the contents of the standard encoding process for creating the recording data will be briefly described. That is, when the encoding process is started in the encoder unit 50 in FIG. 26, parameters necessary for encoding video (main video) data and audio data (see step ST20 in FIG. 34 or step ST508 in FIG. 53 described later) are set. Is done. Next, the main video data is pre-encoded using the set parameters, and the optimal code amount distribution for the set average transfer rate (recording rate) is calculated. Encoding of the main video is executed based on the code amount distribution obtained by the pre-encoding in this manner. At this time, the encoding of the audio data is also executed at the same time.

As a result of the pre-encoding, if the amount of data compression is insufficient (when the desired video program cannot fit on the DVD-RAM disk or DVD-R disk to be recorded), if there is a chance to pre-encode again (For example, if the recording source is a repeatable source such as a video tape or a video disc), partial re-encoding of the main video data is performed, and the re-encoded portion of the main video data is pre-encoded. Is replaced with the main video data portion. By such a series of processing, the main video data and the audio data are encoded, and the value of the average bit rate required for recording is greatly reduced.

Similarly, parameters necessary for encoding the sub-picture data are set, and the encoded sub-picture data is created.

The main video data, audio data, and sub-video data encoded as described above are combined and converted into a video title set VTS structure.

That is, main video data (video data)
Is set as the minimum unit, and cell reproduction information (C_PBI) as shown in FIG. 23 is created. Next, the configuration of the cells constituting the program chain as shown in FIG. 3, the attributes of the main video, the sub video, and the audio are set (a part of these attribute information is obtained when each data is encoded). Information is used), information management table information including various information (VMGI_MAT in FIG. 17)
And VTSI_MAT in FIG. 19 are created.

The encoded main video data, audio data and sub video data are subdivided into packs of a fixed size (2048 bytes) as shown in FIG.
Dummy packs are appropriately inserted into these packs.
In addition, in the packs other than the dummy pack, the PTS
(Presentation time stamp), a time stamp such as DTS (decode time stamp) and the like are described. For the PTS of the sub-picture, a time arbitrarily delayed from the PTS of the main picture data or audio data in the same reproduction time zone can be described.

Each data cell is arranged while a navigation pack 86 is arranged at the beginning of each VOBU 85 so that each data cell can be reproduced in the order of the time code, and is constituted by a plurality of cells as shown in FIG. VOB
83 are configured. A V that combines one or more of this VOB83
OBS 82 is formatted into the structure of VTS 72 of FIG.

When digitally copying a DVD reproduction signal from a DVD video player, the contents of the above-mentioned cells, program chains, management tables, time stamps, etc. are determined from the beginning, so there is no need to create them again. (However, to configure a DVD video recorder so that DVD playback signals can be digitally copied,
Digital watermarks and other copyright protection measures must be in place. The disk drive unit that reads and writes (records and / or reproduces) information on the DVD disk 10 includes a disk changer unit 100, a disk drive 32, a temporary storage unit 34, and a data processor 36.
And a system time counter (or system time clock; STC) 38.

The temporary storage unit 34 stores
A certain amount of data (data output from the encoder unit 50) written to the disk 10 via the disk drive 32 is buffered or data reproduced from the disk 10 via the disk drive 32 (input to the decoder unit 60). Is used to buffer a certain amount of the data.

For example, when temporary storage unit 34 is formed of a 4 Mbyte semiconductor memory (DRAM), an average of 4 Mbytes is used.
It is possible to buffer recording or reproduction data for about 8 seconds at a recording rate of bps. Further, when the temporary storage unit 34 is constituted by a 16 Mbyte EEPROM (flash memory), it is possible to buffer recording or reproduction data for about 30 seconds at an average recording rate of 4 Mbps. Further, when the temporary storage unit 34 is configured by a 100 Mbyte ultra-small HDD (hard disk), it is possible to buffer recording or reproduction data for 3 minutes or more at an average recording rate of 4 Mbps.

[0263] The temporary storage unit 34 stores the disk 1 during recording.
When 0 is used up, it can be used to temporarily store recording information until the disk 10 is replaced with a new disk.

In the case where a high-speed drive (double speed or higher) is employed as the disk drive 32, the temporary storage unit 34 temporarily stores extra data read from the normal drive within a certain period of time. Also available. If the read data at the time of reproduction is buffered in the temporary storage unit 34, the reproduced data buffered in the temporary storage unit 34 can be switched and used even when a read error occurs in an optical pickup (not shown) due to vibration shock or the like. This makes it possible to prevent the reproduced video from being interrupted.

Although not shown in FIG. 26, if an external card slot is provided in the DVD video recorder,
The PROM can be sold separately as an optional IC card.
If the DVD video recorder is provided with an external drive slot or a SCSI interface, the HDD can be sold separately as an optional extended drive.

In the embodiment of FIG. 33 described below (in which a personal computer is converted into a DVD video recorder by software), a part of the free space of the hard disk drive of the personal computer itself or a part of the main memory is stored in FIG. Can be used as a temporary storage unit 34.

The data processor 36 shown in FIG. 26 supplies the DVD recording data from the encoder unit 50 to the disk drive 32 or the DVD reproduced from the disk 10 under the control of the microcomputer block 30.
The playback signal is taken out of the drive 32 or the disc 1
0 (directory record in FIG. 8, VMGI_MAT in FIG. 17, VTSI_M in FIG. 19).
AT or the like), or delete data (file or VTS) recorded on the disk 10.

The microcomputer block 30 is composed of M
It includes a PU (or CPU), a ROM in which a control program and the like are written, and a RAM that provides a work area necessary for executing the program.

The MPU of the microcomputer block 30 uses the RAM as a work area according to the control program stored in the ROM, detects the free space (to be described later, for example, ST12 in FIG. 34), and records the recording amount (the number of recording packs). ) Detection (see FIGS. 29 to 32), remaining amount detection (FIG. 3)
6, ST420A; ST424E in FIG. 42, etc.), warning (see FIG. 58), recording mode change instruction (ST4 in FIG. 42).
21E, ST424F / ST426F in FIG. 43, FIG.
ST218 to ST226, etc .; see FIG. 59) and other processes (FIGS. 34 to 57).

Contents to be notified to the user of the DVD video recorder among the execution results of MPU 30 (FIGS. 58 to 62)
Etc.) are displayed on the display unit 48 of the DVD video recorder, or are displayed on an on-screen display (OSD) on a monitor display (FIG. 58).

It should be noted that the MPU 30 includes the disk changer unit 100, the disk drive 32, the data processor 36,
The timing for controlling the encoder unit 50 and / or the decoder unit 60 can be executed based on the time data from the STC 38 (the recording / playback operation is usually executed in synchronization with the time clock from the STC 38). However, other processing may be executed at a timing independent of the STC 38).

The decoder section 60 includes a separator 62 for separating and extracting each pack from DVD playback data having a pack structure as shown in FIG. 9, a memory 63 used for executing pack separation and other signal processing, and a separator 62. Video decoder (V decoder) 64 for decoding the separated main video data (contents of video pack 88 in FIG. 9)
And a sub-picture decoder (SP decoder) 65 for decoding the sub-picture data (contents of the sub-picture pack 90 in FIG. 9) separated by the separator 62, and the audio data (the audio pack 91 in FIG. 9) separated by the separator 62. Audio decoder (A decoder)
68, a video processor 66 for appropriately combining the video data from the V decoder 64 with the sub-picture data from the SP decoder 65, and superimposing and outputting menus, highlight buttons, subtitles and other sub-pictures on the main picture, and a video processor 66. 66
Video-to-Digital-to-Analog Converter (V / DAC) that converts digital video output from analog to analog video signal
And an audio / digital / analog converter (A / DAC) 67 for converting a digital audio output from the A decoder 68 into an analog audio signal.

An analog video signal from the V / DAC 67 and an analog audio signal from the A / DAC 67 are supplied via an AV output unit 46 to an external component (not shown, a multi-channel stereo apparatus of 2 to 6 channels + a monitor TV or a projector). ).

[0274] The OSD data output from the MPU 30 is input to the separator 62 of the decoder section 60, passes through the V decoder 64 (particularly not subjected to decoding processing), and is input to the video processor 66. Then this O
The SD data is superimposed on the main video, which is output to the AV output unit 46.
Is supplied to the external monitor TV connected to the. Then, for example, a warning sentence as shown in FIG. 58 is displayed together with the main video.

FIG. 27 shows an example of the external appearance of the apparatus main body 200 of the DVD video recorder shown in FIG. 26 and an example of its front panel.

When the user presses an open / close button 5g of the remote controller 5, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 28, the disk tray entrance 202 shown in FIG. 27 is opened toward the user.

[0277] This disc tray contains D
A VD-RAM or DVD-RW disk (disk containing a cartridge) 10 or a DVD-R disk (bare disk) 10 is set.

Subsequently, when the user presses the open / close button 5g of the remote controller 5, the disc tray entrance 202 is closed, and the disc (eg, DVD-RW) 10 set in the tray is inserted into the apparatus main body 20.
It is pulled into the disk drive 32 in 0.

Then, the disk drive 32 automatically starts up, and first, the MPU 30 reads the physical format information (including the disk structure data, the free space data of the blank disk, etc.) shown in FIG.
Video manager information management table (including information FREE_SPACE indicating substantial free space, etc.) and the video title set information management table of FIG. 19 (PLA indicating whether or not a specific title set has been reproduced).
The MPU 30 reads the Y_END Flag, including the ARCHIVE Flag indicating whether a particular title set is in a permanent storage state or the like.

If the set disc 10 is an unused DVD-RW disc (or DVD-RAM disc), the "DV-DV" is displayed on the DVD video recorder display (liquid crystal or fluorescent display panel) 48 in FIG.
The item “D-RW” is prominently displayed. Also, the recording time is displayed as 00 (hour): 00 (minute): 00 (second), and the recording title / chapter is also displayed as 00-00.
The chapter display changes like 01-01).

If the device default or user setting is that recording mode = MPEG2 and average bit rate of recording = 4 Mbps,
The items “MPEG2” and “4 Mbps” are displayed prominently.

Further, when recording on the set disk 10 progresses, and the remaining recording time on the disk 10 becomes short (for example, 5 minutes), the MPU 30 detects that (for example, ST422A in FIG. 36). Yes), on the display unit 48, "DI
The item “SK TO BE CHANGED” is prominently displayed.

[0283] A power switch button, an open /
A close key, a play key, a stop key, a chapter / program skip key, a fast reverse key, a fast forward key, a recording start button (not shown), and other basic operation keys are provided.

The DVD video recorder shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the disk changer unit 100 of FIG. 26 is not incorporated (the disk changer unit 100 is connected to the apparatus main body 200 of FIG. 27 as an optional external device by a SCSI cable or the like). In this case, shortly before the disk 10 set in the apparatus main body is used up during recording, the above-mentioned “DISK TO BE C
HANGED ”starts emitting or blinking. Thereafter, when the remaining capacity of the disc 10 becomes zero, recording is automatically continued on one or more DVD-RW discs 10 set in the external disc changer unit 100.

Alternatively, it is also possible to prepare two or more DVD video recorders, connect each MPU 30 in a daisy chain with a communication cable, and perform relay recording using two or more DVD video recorders. In this case, "recording at an MPEG2 / average bit rate of 4 Mbps on the first recorder for one hour and recording at an MPEG2 / average bit rate of 2 Mbps on the second recorder for two hours" can also be performed.

In the case of performing the relay recording by a plurality of DVD video recorders as described above, the "Recorder A uses MPE
G2 / Recording at an average bit rate of 4 Mbps was performed for one hour, and recorder B was MPEG2 / Average bit rate of 2 Mb.
"Recording of ps for 2 hours" may be displayed on the monitor screen.

[0287] The DVD video recorder shown in FIG.
It is configured not to record a warning or notification to the user as shown in FIGS. However, the recording information (average recording bit rate, recording channel number, recording date and time, etc.) as illustrated on the lower side of the monitor screen in FIG. 53 is recorded on the disk 10 for a few seconds immediately after the start of recording. Is also good.

FIG. 28 shows an example of the remote controller 5 for operating the DVD video recorder shown in FIG. FIG.
Although basic operations can be performed with the operation keys provided on the front panel of the DVD video recorder main body 200 shown in FIG. 7, various operations utilizing the features of the DVD are performed by the remote controller 5.

The function (or usage) of each key of the remote controller 5 shown in FIG. 28 will be described below.

[Function of Power Key (POWER) 5a] <1> Turns on / off the secondary side of the AC power supply circuit of the apparatus main body.

<2> When the power key is pressed while a disk is set in the apparatus, the type of disk (D
VD-RW, DVD-R or DVD video). If the disc is a non-reproducible disc, a message to that effect is displayed.

<3> When the power key is pressed when the disc set in the apparatus contains the first play program chain (auto start code), the reproduction of this program chain is started automatically.

<4> When the power key is pressed while the power is on and the tray is open, the power is turned off after the tray is closed.

[Open / Close key (OPEN / CLOSE)
5g Function] <5> Open or close the disc tray.
If the open / close key is pressed during disc playback, the operation of the apparatus up to that point is terminated, and the disc tray is opened. During recording, the operation of this key 5g is invalidated.

<6> When the open / close key is pressed while the power is off and the tray is closed, the power is turned on and the disc tray is opened.

<7> When the open / close key is pressed while the disc tray is open, the disc tray is pulled into the apparatus main body. At this time, if a disc is set on the tray, the management information is read and the type of the set disc (DVD-RW, DVD-R or DVD video) is displayed. If the disc is a non-playable disc, a message to that effect is displayed.

<8> When the open / close key is pressed in the disk tray open state, the disk tray is pulled into the apparatus main body. At this time, if a disc is not set on the tray, for example, the characters "NO DISK" are displayed on the display unit 48 or the monitor TV (OSD).

<9> If the disc pulled into the main unit by turning on the open / close key includes a first play program chain (auto start code), the reproduction of this program chain is automatically started.

[Function of Stop Key (STOP) 5e] <10> When pressed during disk playback or recording, playback or recording is stopped. When the button is pressed while stopped, the title number that has been played back or recorded (or the default setting title number) is displayed.

[Function of Playback Key (PLAY) 5c] <11> If pressed while the disc is set on the disc tray, the setting conditions at that time (default setting or screen aspect ratio set by the user) , Audio language, subtitle language, etc.).

<12> If the play key is pressed after the disc is set on the tray with the disc tray open, the tray is pulled into the apparatus main body, and the default title (or the title creator recorded on the DVD disc) is recorded. Playback from the specified title). However, if the disc contains the first play program chain (auto start code), execute it.

<13> Unless otherwise specified in the recording information of the disc, when the reproduction is performed until the title ends, the reproduction operation ends.

<14> If the button is pressed while the chapter and title numbers are set on the setting screen while the memory setting screen is being displayed, the memory reproduction is started from the set chapter and title numbers.

<15> When pressed when the random mode is set, the contents of the disc set on the tray are reproduced at random.

<16> If the cell playback mode of the disc becomes still during playback, the playback operation up to that point is canceled and the apparatus enters a still image playback state.

[Function of Pause Key (PAUSE) 5d] <17> When pressed during reproduction of a program chain in a certain title, a still image is formed as a video frame of the currently reproduced program chain. If the pause key is further pressed in this state, the display switches to the still image of the next frame. Similarly, each time the pause key is pressed, the frame is switched in the time progress direction, and the frame is advanced by the number of times the key is pressed.

<18> During the above-described still image or frame-by-frame playback, sub-pictures can be played back, but no audio can be played back.

<19> This still image / frame advance can be performed only in the program chain currently being reproduced, and after the frame advance to the last frame in the title, this key operation becomes invalid.

<20> In the case of still in the cell reproduction mode, this key operation is invalid in the last cell of the still cell.

<21> When the reproduction key is pressed in the still image state by the key operation, the normal reproduction is resumed.

[Function of skip key (SKIP / two-level triangular mark with vertical bar) 5f, part 1; in case of one sequential program chain title] <22> When pressed during playback, the next key in the title currently being played back Search for a chapter (or program) and play it. If there is no next chapter, this key operation is invalid. During the chapter search, the user can be notified that the search is being performed by blinking the search destination chapter number on the display unit 48 (or the OSD).

<23> When pressed while stopped, the next chapter after the current chapter is selected. Here, when the reproduction key is turned on, the selected chapter is searched and reproduced.

Note that chapters (or programs) over two titles can be skipped during stoppage. For example, if the skip key is further pressed while the last chapter number of title 1 is displayed, the first chapter number of title 2 is selected. When the reproduction key is turned on, the selected chapter (chapter 1 of title 2) is searched and reproduced.

<24> If the button is pressed for a predetermined time or more in the stop state, the chapter number is incremented by one at a constant speed (if there is a next title, the chapter number is continuously changed from the current title to the next title). Possible). When the user presses the play key after releasing the pressed skip key, the chapter of the title at that time is searched and reproduced.

[Function of skip key (SKIP / two-step triangle with right vertical bar) 5f, part 2; in case of random program chain title] <25> When pressed during playback, next to chapter in current title being played Search for a randomly selected chapter (or program) and play it. However, when the number of times of the random playback loop is the last and there is no next program chain in the title, this key operation is invalidated.

<26> When pressed during still image playback,
The selected chapter (or program) is searched, and a still image is reproduced at the beginning. However, if the still is set in the cell playback mode, the selected chapter is searched and the first still is played.

<27> It can be used for selecting a chapter number (program number) and a title number set on the memory setting screen (incrementing a number or moving a cursor forward).

<28> Can be used for page feed of menus.

[Function of skip key (SKIP / two-step triangle with left vertical bar) 5f, part 1; in case of one sequential program chain title] <29> When pressed during playback, the chapter (or program) currently being played back Search for the beginning of) and play it. When the button is pressed continuously, the chapter number is moved down by one to the chapter number 1.

<30> When pressed while stopped, the current chapter 1
The previous chapter is selected. Here, when the reproduction key is turned on, the selected chapter is searched and reproduced.

While stopped, chapters (or programs) over two titles can be skipped. For example, if the skip key is further pressed while the chapter number 1 of the title 3 is displayed, the last chapter number X of the title 2 is selected. Here, when the reproduction key is turned on, the selected chapter (chapter X of title 2) is searched and reproduced.

[0322] This chapter skip skipping over the title can be executed until the chapter 1 of the title 1 is reached.

<31> If the button is kept pressed for a predetermined time or more in the stop state, the chapter number moves down by one at a constant speed (until the title 1 becomes chapter 1). When the user presses the play key after releasing the pressed skip key, the chapter of the title at that time is searched and reproduced.

[Function of skip key (SKIP / double triangle with left vertical bar) 5f, part 2; in case of random program chain title] <32> When pressed during playback, the chapter (or the title) in the title currently being played back is pressed. Search for the beginning of the program and play it back. However, the search destination can be set to the beginning of the currently reproduced chapter (program) even if it is continuously pressed.

<33> When pressed during playback of a still image,
The beginning of the chapter (or program) currently being reproduced is searched, and the still image is reproduced there. If the cell playback mode is still, the chapter currently being reproduced is searched and the first still is reproduced.

<34> It can be used to select a chapter number (program number) and a title number set on the memory setting screen (decrement of numbers or backward movement of cursor).

<35> Can be used to return to the menu page.

[Function of Menu Key (MENU) 5n] <36> When a disc is set on the tray,
Play back and display the root menu in the currently selected video title set recorded on the disc. If the disc is not set, an error (or warning) is displayed (OSD).

<37> If there is no root menu in the currently selected video title set, an error (or warning) is displayed.

<38> When the menu key is pressed to reproduce the menu during normal reproduction and the user exits the menu by operating the menu, the reproduction is resumed from the part reproduced before the menu reproduction or the part specified by the menu. .

<39> If the button is pressed during the display of the route menu, the state returns to the state before the display of the route menu.

[Function of Title Key (TITLE) 5p] <40> When a disc is set on the tray and a title menu is recorded on the disc, the title menu is displayed. If no disk is set, an error (or warning) is displayed (OS
D).

<41> If the title menu is not recorded on the disc set in the tray, the following operations can be performed while the disc is being played (or stopped).

That is, when the title key is pressed, the title number and the chapter number are displayed on a part of the screen (for example, the upper left corner). When a clear key described later, a title key is pressed again, or a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) elapses without a subsequent key operation,
The title number and chapter number are deleted from the screen.

When a desired title number (for example, “2”) is input from the numeric keypad while a title number (for example, “1”) and a chapter number (for example, “1”) are displayed on the screen, the above-described example is performed. Speaking of which, the screen display is “title number: 2” and “chapter number: 1”
Becomes If the playback key is pressed or left for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) in this state, the playback starts from chapter 1 of title 2.

In this case, during the search for the title and the chapter, the search destination title number and the chapter number on the display section 48 are blinked to notify the user that the search is being performed.

<42> If the title key is pressed during normal playback and the title menu is played back and the title key is pressed again before the title selection is confirmed, the part played back before the title menu playback is started. Resume playback.

[Select key / cursor key (up / down)
Function of the downward triangle mark pair) 5q] <43> Used for item selection in the disc menu (menu called by the title key or menu key) and item selection in the setup menu. For example, when an item is selected by pressing the upward or downward triangle mark of the select key / cursor key, and the item includes several alternatives, the select key / selector is used to select the alternative. You can use the left or right triangle mark of the cursor key.

<44> In the case of pressing while displaying the set value of any of the audio stream, sub-picture stream and angle, pressing the up triangle mark of this select key switches to the next stream or angle, and the down triangle mark is displayed. Press to switch to the previous stream or angle.

<45> When the title key is pressed during display of a title number by the character generator, pressing the upward triangle mark of the select key switches to the next title, and pressing the downward triangle mark switches to the previous title.

[Function of End Key (END) 5end] <46> Used to notify the end of the processing of the user selection setting to the apparatus (to exit the processing loop for setting the reproducible angle).

While displaying a multi-angle selection menu screen (not shown), the cursor operation for selecting a desired angle can be performed using the select key / cursor key 5q or the ten-key 5t described later. (Although not shown, mouse operation or touch panel operation is also possible.) [Function of confirm key (ENTER) 5s] <47> Used to confirm the item selected in the disc menu or the setup menu.

<48> It can also be used to determine the title number and chapter number on the memory screen.

[Function of return key (RETURN) 5r] <49> Title creator (software provider)
Is used when searching for a preset address on the disk. More specifically, the button is pressed when instructing exit from the menu or return (return) operation to a reproduction start (restart) point. Alternatively, it can be used when instructing an operation to return to a selection branch point of a user-selectable multi-story while reproducing one of the multi-story.

[Function of Audio Key (AUDIO) 5aud Part 1; During Playback] <50> When the audio key is pressed during playback (after checking the audio stream information recorded on the disc)
Using the character generator, the language name of the audio stream currently being reproduced (when the type of the audio stream is not music or the like but language) is displayed on the reproduction screen for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) (OSD). When the audio key is further pressed during this display, the sound of the next audio stream number is reproduced. When this audio key operation is repeated, the sound (various languages) of the audio stream recorded in the title is sequentially and cyclically reproduced.

<51> By pressing the select key / cursor key 5q while the audio stream setting value is being displayed on the screen, the current audio stream can be switched to the next audio stream or the previous audio stream. it can. Then, the content of the switched audio stream is reproduced.

<52> When the numeric keypad is pressed while the audio stream setting value is being displayed on the screen, it is possible to switch to the audio stream of the number input by the numeric keypad. Then, the content of the switched audio stream is reproduced.

<53> If the clear key is pressed while the audio stream setting value screen is being displayed, the audio stream setting value display can be erased from the screen.

[Function of audio key (AUDIO) 5aud part 2; When stopped (displaying blue screen)] <54> When the audio key is pressed while stopped, the audio stream information recorded on the disc is checked. After)
Using the character generator, the language name (when the type of the audio stream is language) of the audio stream set for the currently selected title is displayed on the blue screen for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds).
When the audio key is further pressed during this display, the next audio stream number is set. When this audio key operation is repeated, audio stream sounds recorded in the title are sequentially set and displayed cyclically.

<55> When the select key / cursor key 5q is pressed while the blue stream screen of the audio stream set value is displayed, the display switches to the next audio stream of the currently set audio stream or the previous audio stream.

<56> If the numeric keypad is pressed while the audio stream set value blue screen is displayed, the audio stream is switched to the audio stream of the number input by the numeric keypad.

<57> When the clear key is pressed during the display of the audio stream set value blue-back screen, the set value display of the audio stream is deleted from the screen.

[Subtitle key (SUBTITLE) 5sbt]
<1> During playback] <58> When pressed during playback, the language name of the currently played sub-picture stream is used by using the character generator (after checking the sub-picture stream information recorded on the disc). (When the type of the sub-video stream is language) is displayed on the playback screen for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) (OSD). If the subtitle key is further pressed during this display, the sub-picture of the next stream number will be reproduced. When this subtitle key operation is repeated, the sub-video streams recorded in the title are sequentially and cyclically reproduced.

<59> By pressing the select key / cursor key 5q while the sub video stream set value is being displayed on the screen, the next sub video stream of the currently set sub video stream or the immediately preceding sub video stream You can switch to Then, the content of the switched sub-video stream is reproduced.

<60> If the numeric key is pressed while the sub-picture stream setting value is being displayed on the screen, it is possible to switch to the sub-picture stream of the number input by the numeric key. Then, the content of the switched sub-video stream is reproduced.

<61> If the clear key is pressed during the display of the sub video stream set value screen, the display of the set value of the sub video stream can be erased from the screen.

[Subtitle key (SUBTITLE) 5sbt]
<2> When the subtitle key is pressed during stoppage, when the subtitle key is pressed, the character generator is used (after checking the sub-picture stream information recorded on the disc). The language name (when the type of the sub-picture stream is language) of the sub-picture stream set to the currently selected title is displayed on the blue-back screen for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds). When the subtitle key is further pressed during this display, the next sub-video stream number is set. When this subtitle key operation is repeated, the sub-picture stream audio recorded in the title is sequentially set and displayed cyclically.

<63> The select key / cursor key 5
Pressing q switches to the next sub-video stream of the currently set sub-video stream or the previous sub-video stream.

<64> When the numeric keypad is pressed while the blue-back screen of the set value of the sub-picture stream is displayed, the display switches to the sub-picture stream of the number input by the ten-key.

<65> When the clear key is pressed while the blue-back screen of the sub-picture stream setting value is displayed, the setting value display of the sub-picture stream is deleted from the screen.

[Subtitle on / off key (SUBTITLE
ON / OFF) 5v function] <66> Turns on / off the display of the sub-picture (subtitle).

<67> When the subtitle on / off key is pressed during video playback and sub-picture display (sub-picture display on setting state), the sub-picture stream number set value is turned off, and the set value is set by the character generator. After the display (OSD) for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds), the sub-picture is deleted from the screen.

<68> When the subtitle on / off key is pressed during video playback but no sub-picture is displayed (sub-picture display off setting state), the sub-picture stream number set value is turned on and the set value is set. Is displayed for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) by the character generator, and then the sub-picture in the language of the set stream number turned on is reproduced (when the sub-picture is recorded on the disc being reproduced).

<69> When the subtitle on / off key is pressed while video playback is stopped, only on / off setting of sub-picture display can be executed.

<70> In the sub-picture display off setting state, if the forced picture output command is included in the sub-picture stream having the same language code as the audio stream being reproduced, the sub-picture corresponding to this command must be transmitted. Play and display on the screen.

[Function of Angle Key (ANGLE) 5 Ang] <71> When a title having an angle block composed of multi-angle information is selected and this angle block (angle section) is reproduced, this key is pressed. The currently reproduced angle number is displayed by the character generator for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) (OS
D). If the angle key is pressed again during this angle number display period, the same time point of the cell of the next angle number is searched, and reproduction is started from that point.

For example, a home run scene of a certain batter is reproduced at an angle number 1 of a multi-angle block (camera angle for viewing the pitcher's back from the center), and the bat is played five seconds after the reproduction start time of the angle block cell. Meet the ball, and 3 seconds later the hit ball pierces the light stand. When the user who wants to view the home run scene at another camera angle presses the angle key and presses the angle number 2, the playback start time point of the angle block cell is searched, and the angle 2 (for example, the first base infield stand) is searched therefrom. Playback of the home run scene at the camera angle (viewing the entire ground from the side) is resumed.

When the angle key is further pressed during the angle number display period, the recorded angle numbers are sequentially switched cyclically, and reproduction of the selected angle is resumed.

<72> When an angle number is displayed on the screen by the character generator, a desired angle number can be directly selected by operating the ten keys (an angle number that does not exist in the angle block being reproduced is input by the ten keys). Key input is invalid when the key is pressed). Alternatively, the select key / cursor key 5q
Can also raise and lower the angle number.

<73> When an angle is changed during still image reproduction in a cell of a multi-angle block,
A similar reproduction time point search is performed, and the searched still image of another angle is reproduced.

For example, suppose that a still image of a certain automobile is reproduced at angle number 1 (camera angle viewed from the front). When the user who wants to view this car at another camera angle presses the angle key and presses the angle number 2, the playback start time point of the angle block cell of the angle number 2 is searched, and the angle 2 (for example, the right side) is searched therefrom. The still image at the camera angle viewed from behind is played.

When the angle key is further pressed during the angle number display period, the recorded angle numbers are sequentially switched cyclically, and the still image of the selected angle is reproduced.

<74> Even if an angle key operation is performed during the reproduction of a cell other than a multi-angle block, the angle setting (angle number switching) can be rejected.
Angle setting (angle number switching) is accepted only when a multi-angle block cell exists in the title being reproduced.

<75> If a multi-angle block cell exists in the selected title, angle setting (angle number switching) can be accepted even during stop.

[Function of fast forward (FWD) key / fast reverse (REV) key (double triangle pointing left / right) 5j] <76> Pressing the fast forward key or fast reverse key during movie playback or still picture playback Fast forward or fast reverse playback is performed earlier than normal playback (for example, about twice as fast as normal playback). (Moving speed is doubled for moving images, and for still images, the frame-by-frame switching cycle is shortened by half.) If the button is pressed further, it will be faster than normal playback (for example, about 8 times that of normal playback). Fast reverse playback is performed. (In the case of a moving image, the motion becomes 8 times faster, and in the case of a still image, the frame-by-frame display switching cycle is shortened to 1/8.) In the case of fast-forwarding / rewinding, the main video video is displayed at 2 times.
At double speed, MPEG I picture + P picture is played,
At a multiple speed higher than that, an I picture can be reproduced.

At this time, audio reproduction can be performed as follows. That is, in the case of 2 × speed reproduction,
Decode the audio data with twice the clock of normal playback,
Decodes double speed audio data. In the case of the multiple speed, the audio data at the jump speed (from one I picture to the next I picture) is partially reproduced by normal reproduction, thereby performing the audio decoding at the multiple speed.

<77> When the playback key is pressed, the fast forward playback or the fast reverse playback is canceled, and the playback returns to the normal speed.

<78> Fast-forward or fast-reverse playback using the fast-forward key or fast-reverse key is performed only in the program chain that is being played back when the key is operated.
After fast-forwarding to the end of the program chain or rewinding to the beginning of the program chain, the program chain is paused.

<79> During fast forward or fast reverse playback with the fast forward key or fast reverse key, audio (audio stream) and subtitle (sub video stream)
Playback can be automatically prohibited.

Note that sound may be reproduced while changing the reproduction pitch in accordance with the fast-forward speed. If the moving image is, for example, a recorded movie of a marathon event and the subtitle is used to display the elapsed time from the start of the event, the subtitle may be played back during fast forward or fast reverse playback.

<80> If the cell playback mode becomes still during fast-forward or fast-reverse playback using the fast-forward key or fast-reverse key, the fast-forward or fast-return operation is canceled and the still image playback starts. By pressing the fast-forward key (or fast-reverse key) while the cell playback mode is still, it is possible to start a continuous frame-forward (or continuous frame-rewind) operation at a switching rate of about one screen per second, for example. . At this time, fast forward key (or fast reverse key)
By further pressing, continuous frame advance (or continuous frame return) operation can be started at a rate of, for example, about 4 screens / second. Pressing the button once again returns to the continuous frame forwarding (or continuous frame rewinding) operation at a rate of about one screen / second. This continuous frame advance (or continuous frame return)
If the cell playback mode is deviated during the operation, fast forward (or fast reverse) playback at about twice the speed can be performed.

If the above “when the cell playback mode is still” is still (VOBU still) in video object unit units in FIG. 9, when the fast forward key (or fast rewind key) is pressed, the next (or Previous) VOBU
Is reproduced, and when the reproduction of the VOBU is completed, the still becomes a still. However, if the fast-forward key (or fast-reverse key) is further pressed during VOBU playback, the VOBU is fast-forwarded (or fast-returned), and then stops as a VOBU still.

[Function of display key (DISPLAY) 5u] <81> When this key is pressed during stop or playback, the display corresponding to the contents of various key operations at that time is displayed (display section 48 and / or (On the screen of the monitor unit 6).

[Function of Numeric Keypad ([0] to [9] & [+10]) 5t><82> During normal playback, it can be used to specify a chapter number in the current playback title. At the same time as the ten-key input is confirmed (the above-mentioned confirmation key operation), a search operation for a chapter of a designated number is started (this search can also be made by a title number key T described later).
Non-existent chapter numbers will not be accepted.

<83> When stopped, it can be used to specify a chapter number in the selected title. At the same time as the numeric keypad is confirmed, the search operation for the chapter with the specified number starts (this search is performed by the title number key T
Also possible). Non-existent chapter numbers will not be accepted.

<84> When a title including a multi-angle block is being reproduced (angle cell is being reproduced) and an angle number is being displayed, the angle number input from the numeric keypad is directly selected. However, input of non-existent angle numbers is not accepted.

<85> In the disc menu display, if an item in each disc menu screen is numbered, the item corresponding to the number input by the ten keys is selected and executed. However, entry of an item number that does not exist is not accepted.

<86> When setting a parental lock from the setup menu, a ten-key can be used to input a password.

[Function of Clear Key (CLEAR) 5cr] <87> Used to cancel the key input of the title number or the chapter number.

<88> This is used to cancel the input of a personal identification number for changing the parental level.

<89> This is used for releasing a repeat mode described later.

<90> This is used to cancel an input number at the time of operating a memory setting screen described later.

<91> This is used for releasing a memory reproduction mode described later.

<92> This is used for releasing a random playback mode described later.

<93> This is used to cancel the number display of each of the title, audio (audio stream), subtitle (sub-picture stream), and angle.

[Function of Repeat Key (REPEAT) 5k] <94> Used for repeat setting of chapters or titles (only titles of one sequential program chain).

<95> Each time this key is pressed, the repeat mode is sequentially switched cyclically in the order of “chapter repeat” → “title repeat” → “repeat off” → “chapter repeat”.

<96> If the repeat key is pressed during the AB repeat operation described later, the AB repeat operation is canceled,
You can move on to chapter repeat.

<97> When the repeat section is deviated by the operation of the fast forward key, the fast rewind key, or the skip key,
The repeat operation is released.

<98> When there is a multi-angle block in the repeat section, an angle change is enabled (the angle key functions even in the repeat mode).

[AB Repeat Key (AB REPEAT) 5k
<99> Used to set the start point and end point of the two-point repeat operation (however, only the title of one sequential program chain).

<100> The start point (A) is set by pressing this key the first time, and the end point (B) is pressed by pressing the key the second time.
Is set. The set start point is searched at the same time when the end point is set, and thereafter, the section AB is repeatedly reproduced.

<101> The repeat between A and B can be canceled by operating the clear key.

<102> During the AB-B repeat operation, A-
When the playback is changed to a title or chapter other than B, or when the repeat key is pressed, A
-The repeat between B can be canceled.

<103> When the fast forward key, the fast rewind key, or the skip key is operated to leave the AB repeat section, the AB repeat operation is cancelled.

<104> By pressing the clear key, fast forward key, fast rewind key, or skip key before setting the repeat end point (B), the AB repeat operation can be canceled.

<105> If the title ends before reaching the end point (B) during AB repeat playback, AB
The inter-repeat operation is canceled.

<106> In the multi-angle block section, the setting of the start point (A) of the AB repeat can be invalidated. (The beginning of the multi-angle block section can be used as the start point of the repeat between A and B. For example, a camera angle scene with an angle number 1 of a certain multi-angle block is set to A in the draft block.
-It is possible to repeat between B. <107> If a multi-angle block arrives during the AB repeat reproduction, the AB repeat operation can be canceled.

<108> The start point (A) and end point (B) set by the AB repeat key point to the head (start address) of the corresponding image data (group of pictures) immediately after the setting. .

[Function of Memory Key (MEMORY) 5m] <109> When this key is pressed when the tray is closed and a disc is set, a memory setting screen is displayed (OSD). If this key is pressed during the display of the memory setting screen, the state returns to the state before the display of the memory setting screen.

<110> The memory setting method is performed by sequentially inputting the number of the title and the chapter to be reproduced in the memory while the memory setting screen is displayed, using the numeric keypad and the title number (T) key described later.

<111> When the cursor on the display screen is moved with the select key / cursor key and the above-mentioned memory setting is input with the memory number at the cursor position, the title and the memory set with the memory numbers after that memory number are set. The chapter number shifts to the next memory number one by one.

For example, “Title 1 / Chapter 3” and “Title 2 / Chapter 1” have already been set in memory number 1 and memory number 2 and memory number 3
Thereafter, it is assumed that there is no setting. Here, if the cursor is moved to the memory number 1 and “title 2 / chapter 5” is set, the contents previously set to the memory numbers 1 and 2 are shifted to the memory numbers 2 and 3. As a result, the setting contents of the memory numbers 1, 2, and 3 are “title 2 chapter 5”, “title 1 chapter 3”, and “title 2 chapter 1”, respectively.

<112> When the cursor on the display screen is moved with the select key / cursor key and the clear key operation is performed with the memory number at the cursor position, the contents set by the memory number are cleared. The contents set by the memory numbers subsequent to the memory number are moved up to the immediately preceding memory number.

[0415] For example, "Title 2 / Chapter 5", "Title 1 / Chapter 3" and "Title 2 / Chapter 1" are set in memory number 1, memory number 2 and memory number 3, respectively. It is assumed that there is no setting after number 4. Where memory number 2
When the cursor is moved to and the clear key is operated, the contents previously set to memory number 2 “Title 1 ・
"Chapter 3" is cleared, the content previously set to memory number 3 is shifted to memory number 2, and the content previously set to memory number 4 (unset) is shifted to memory number 3. As a result, the setting contents of the memory numbers 1, 2, and 3 are “title 2 chapter 5”, “title 2 chapter 1”, and “no setting”, respectively.

It is not always necessary to limit the number of memory settings (upper limit of memory number). However, due to the necessity of actual software and the problem of physical memory capacity of the device, the maximum number of memory settings Is, for example, 3
It is chosen to be around 0. (Even if 99 titles are recorded on one disc, from the standpoint of a general user,
The maximum number of memory settings does not always need to be 99. On the other hand, in a business device, there is a possibility that a memory setting request may be issued for a plurality of chapters in each of the 99 titles. In this case, the maximum number of memory settings may be 99 or more. <113> If the play key is pressed while the memory setting screen is displayed, the memory playback is started in the order in which the memory settings are registered.

For example, “Title 2 / Chapter 5”, “Title 1 / Chapter 3” and “Title 2 / Chapter 1” are set in memory number 1, memory number 2 and memory number 3, respectively. No setting is made after number 4, and if the play key is pressed while the memory setting screen is displayed in that state, the memory is played as follows. That is, “Title 2 / Chapter 5” is reproduced first, then “Title 1 / Chapter 3” is reproduced, and finally “Title 2 / Chapter 1” is reproduced. When the reproduction of “Title 2 / Chapter 1” ends, the reproduction stops.

<114> By pressing the clear key during the memory reproduction, the memory reproduction mode can be released and the normal reproduction can be directly performed.

<115> The contents set on the memory setting screen can be cleared by the following method.

(A) While the memory setting screen is being displayed, all of the set title numbers and chapter numbers are deleted using the clear key.

(B) When the disc is ejected outside the apparatus by opening the tray. (However, in the case of a business device, a nonvolatile internal memory may be provided inside the device, and even when the disk is ejected, the memory settings may be stored together with a code specifying the disk.) (RANDOM) 5 rm function] <116> If the selected title is one sequential program chain, random playback of chapters within the title is performed.

<117> If this key is pressed during playback, random playback starts from the chapter next to the currently played chapter. (For example, if the random key is pressed during the reproduction of the chapter 2 of the title including the chapters 1 to 9, the random reproduction is performed when the reproduction of the chapter 3 is started. For example, the random reproduction is performed as in the chapters 5, 3, 7, 1, and 9). Each chapter is played.

<118> If this key is pressed during a stop, random reproduction is started from the next time the reproduction key is pressed to start disk reproduction.

<119> After random playback of all chapters in the selected title is completed, playback is stopped. During this random reproduction, the reproduction of the same chapter number is not normally performed, but the reproduction order is merely randomized. However, random playback including overlapping playback may be enabled, or random playback may be repeated in an infinite loop unless the power is turned off or the stop key is pressed.

<120> By pressing the clear key during random reproduction, the memory reproduction mode can be canceled and the normal reproduction can be directly performed.

<121> If the random key is pressed during random playback, the random playback mode is canceled.

[Function of Slow Key (SLOW) 5sw] <122> When the slow key is pressed during playback, slow playback is performed in the forward direction at, for example, 1/2 speed. 1
/ 2 ”or a number / symbol corresponding thereto.

<123> Subsequently, when this key is pressed, slow reproduction is performed, for example, at 1/8 speed in the forward direction. If you press it further, 1/16 → 1/8 → 1/2 → 1/8 → 1/1
The slow playback speed is switched periodically like 6 ...
The slow display on the video image being reproduced also changes correspondingly.

<124> If the slow key is pressed while the playback operation is paused (by the pause key operation), for example, 1/16 slow speed playback is performed. Subsequent slow keys are the same as above.

<125> When the reproduction key is pressed during the slow reproduction, the normal reproduction is started.

<126> If the title is changed during the slow playback, the slow playback mode is released and the normal playback is started.

<127> The slow key operation is invalidated during the still playback in the cell playback mode.

<128> Normally, audio is not reproduced during slow reproduction, but it may be reproduced by changing the pitch of audio data according to the reproduction speed.

[LAST PLAY KEY (LAST PLAY) 5tp
<129> When the last play key is pressed after playback (including a power failure) is interrupted by turning off the stop key or the power key during playback of the disc, from the interrupted position or a position slightly before the interrupted position. Start playback.

<130> When the disc tray is opened after the stop, the memory at the reproduction interruption position can be cleared and the last play key can be invalidated. If the memory at the playback stop position is not cleared and saved in the internal memory of the device, the playback can be started from the position where the playback was interrupted or slightly before the interrupted position by pressing the last play key, even after the disc has been inserted or removed from the tray. Can be resumed.

<131> In the case where the disc has the first play program chain (auto start) and the reproduction is interrupted by turning off the power,
This last play key is invalid. (That is, playback starts from the first play program chain.)

<132> If the reproduction is interrupted during the reproduction of the random program chain, and if the number of random reproduction loops is stored in the apparatus, pressing the last play key causes the position to be interrupted or slightly before the interrupted position. The reproduction can be resumed from the position of.

[Functions of Setup Key (SETUP) 5y] <133> Various device settings (screen size / aspect ratio setting, angle mark setting, parental lock setting, desired audio language type setting, desired audio language type setting) This key is used to call a setup menu for performing subtitle language type setting, desired menu language type setting, auto angle mode setting, etc., and is valid only during playback stop.

<134> When this setup key is pressed while the setup menu is displayed, the display of the setup menu is turned off, and the reproduction is stopped (blue screen).
Becomes

[Function of title number key (T) 5tt] <135> When specifying a title number / chapter number for performing a search operation or a memory reproduction operation, the number input on the numeric keypad before pressing this key is changed to the title. The number is set as a number, and the number input using the numeric keypad after pressing this key is set as the chapter number.

<136> If this title number key is pressed before pressing the random key, random playback of the title will be performed instead of random playback of the chapter. For example, the titles 1, 2, 3,
4 and 5 are recorded, and when the random key is pressed after the title number key is pressed (when the playback key is further stopped, a random number in title units in the order of titles 2, 5, 1, 4, 3) is obtained. Playback starts.

[Function of Remote Controller Switching Key 5x] <137> This is used when the remote controller 5 of FIG. 28 is switched to the operation of a device (for example, an AV television or a VCR) other than the DVD video recorder of FIG. Alternatively, one DVD video player and one D
When the DVD video player and the DVD video recorder are individually operated by one remote controller 5 when the VD video recorder is installed at the same time, the remote controller switching key 5x can be used to switch the operation.

The functions of the keys described above are the same as those of the DVD video player (playback-only device), but the remote controller 5 for the DVD video recorder further includes keys having the following functions.

[Function of Recording Mode Key 5rmd] <138> When this key is pressed while recording is stopped or during recording pause, every time the key is pressed, MPEG2 / 8Mb
ps → MPEG2 / 6Mbps → MPEG2 / 4Mbp
s → MPEG2 / 2Mbps → MPEG1 / 2Mbps
→ MPEG1 / 1Mbps → Automatic image quality mode (see ST226 in FIG. 50) → MPEG2 / 8Mbps →.
, The recording mode switches cyclically.

If the quality of NTSC broadcasting studios is desired, the recording time will be shorter, but MPEG2 / 8Mb
Select ps. S-VH by extending the recording time a little more
If you want to obtain an image quality higher than the standard mode of S-video,
Select EG2 / 6 Mbps or MPEG2 / 4 Mbps. If you want to extend the recording time and obtain an image quality of 3x mode or more of S-VHS video, use MPEG2 / 2
Select Mbps. Normal VHS (or video CD)
If the image quality is sufficient, the recording time can be further extended by selecting MPEG 1/2 Mbps or MPEG 1/1 Mbps.

[Function of Recording Key 5rec] <139> The DVD-RW disc (or DVD-R disc) 10 set in the main unit of FIG. 27 has free space, and the initial setting for recording (MPEG2 / MPE)
If the button is pressed when the setting of G1 has been completed, the setting of the average bit rate of recording has been completed, the recording is started.

When the user presses the recording key without performing the initial setting, the default setting is automatically adopted as the initial setting, and recording is started.

[Function of Display Mode Key 5dm] <140> Recordable DVD-RW disc (or D
When this key is pressed while the VD-R disc (10) is set in the main body 200 of FIG. 27, each time the key is pressed, the OSD display (or the display unit 48 of the apparatus main body) switches as follows: (1) Recording source (TV channel number or AV input number) + current date and time; (2) current title set number, recorded time, remaining recordable time + average recording rate at that time; (3) display off Note that the above (1) and (2) may be displayed simultaneously as illustrated in FIG.

[Function of OSD Key 5osd] <141> If the MPU 30 shown in FIG. 26 is outputting character (or image) data for OSD display and this key is pressed, the user does not want to display an OSD (for example, The warning message at the top of the screen in FIG. 58 is deleted from the monitor screen. When this key is pressed again, MPU3
The OSD data output as 0 is displayed on the monitor screen.

[Function of Timer Key 5tme] <142> When this key is pressed, the MPU 30 in FIG.
Causes a timer reservation menu (including a table for specifying a desired recording channel, recording reservation date and time, recording mode, average recording rate, etc., for each reserved program) to be output to a monitor screen (not shown) (OSD). The program reservation setting in this menu can be performed by using the cursor keys 5q, the ten keys 5t, the enter key 5s and the like.

<143> After a timer reservation operation is performed, a recordable DVD-RW disc (or DVD-RW
When the timer key 5tme and the recording key 5rec are pressed simultaneously with the (R disk) 10 set in the main body 200 in FIG. 27, the DVD video recorder in FIG.
Enter the timer recording mode (timer recording standby state).

A specific example of timer reservation will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 29 shows an example of a recording capacity detection circuit for detecting the number of recording bytes of information recorded on the disk 10 by counting the number of recording bytes in the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26 (when there is no transfer clock). FIG. FIG. 30 shows the counter 3 of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the timing at which 1 counts recording bytes.

The DVD recording data formatted by the formatter 56 in the encoder section 50 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the data pack is composed of a plurality of data packs (one pack is 2048 bytes) 86 to 91 arranged in one line.

When the MPU 30 in FIG. 29 instructs the recording of the DVD recording data via the MPU bus, the data processor 36 sends a request signal RS for requesting the transfer of the data PD of the data pack to the encoder 50 (see FIG. 29). Upper side of FIG. 30). The encoder unit 50 (formatter 56) that has received the request signal RS outputs an acknowledge signal AS confirming that the request has been received to the data processor unit 36 (lower side in FIG. 30). At the same time as the output of the acknowledge signal AS, the encoder 50
The (formatter 56) transfers the data PD for one byte to the data processor unit 36. That is, the encoder unit 50 (formatter 56) transmits one pulse of the acknowledge signal AS each time one byte is transferred to the data processor unit 36.
Is output.

This acknowledge signal AS is output from the counter 31
Is input to The counter 31 counts up by one at the rising edge of the signal AS (trigger point ta in FIG. 30) and holds the contents after the count up. Counter 3
1 is returned to the MPU 30 via the MPU bus.

[0457] The MPU 30 determines the contents of the counter 31 (count value) by using the encoder 50 (formatter 5).
Number of bytes transferred from 6) to the data processor unit 36 (that is, the number of bytes recorded on the disk 10 in FIG. 26)
Is detected. The number of data (the number of bytes) transferred to the data processor unit 36 is the data capacity recorded on the disk 10. Also, subtracting the recording data capacity (count value byte) from the free capacity of the disc 10 (the capacity written to FREE_SPACE in VMGI_MAT in FIG. 17) indicates the remaining capacity of the disc 10 (how many more bytes can be recorded). ). Further, by dividing the remaining capacity by the average recording bit rate, the remaining time of the disk 10 (showing a predicted value of how much time can be recorded) can be determined.

FIG. 31 shows another example of a recording capacity detecting circuit (with a transfer clock) which detects the number of recording bytes of information recorded on the disc of FIG. 1 by counting the number of recording bytes in the DVD video recorder of FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the case of FIG. FIG. 32 is a timing chart for explaining the timing at which the counter of FIG. 31 counts the number of recording bytes.

FIG. 31 shows an example in which the transfer clock signal CK is output from the encoder 50 every time the pack data PD is transferred from the encoder 50 to the data processor 36.

That is, when the data processor 36 sends a request signal (upper side in FIG. 32) to the encoder 50 in accordance with an instruction from the MPU 30,
Is an acknowledgment signal AS to the data processor unit 36 (FIG. 3).
2 middle side). This acknowledge signal AS is 1
The gate signal is not generated every time a byte is transferred, but becomes active during a transfer period corresponding to the number of bytes to be transferred. The transfer clock signal CK output from the encoder unit 50 is sent to the data processor unit 36 as a byte transfer synchronization signal.

The acknowledgment signal AS is applied to the first input of the OR gate 33 as a gate signal. This O
The second input of the R gate 33 has the transfer clock signal C
K is given. Then, during a period in which the acknowledgment signal AS is active (logical "0"), the OR gate 33 operates at each rising edge of the transfer clock signal CK (FIG. 3).
Count up by one to two multiple trigger points tb),
Holds the contents after counting up. The contents of the counter 31 are returned to the MPU 30 via the MPU bus.

The MPU 30 detects the number of bytes (the number of recorded bytes) transferred from the encoder unit 50 to the data processor unit 36 based on the contents (count value) of the counter 31. The content (count value) of the counter 31 is the data capacity recorded on the disk 10. Also, disk 1
By subtracting (count value byte) from the free space of 0,
The remaining capacity of the disk 10 is known. Further, by dividing the remaining capacity by the average recording bit rate, the remaining time of the disk 10 can be determined.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating a case where the recording / reproducing function of the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26 is realized using a general-purpose personal computer. The personal computer 1000 of FIG. 33 may be configured by dedicated hardware, but may also be configured by a general-purpose personal computer having a general configuration.

That is, the personal computer 100
0, an internal bus 1002, a main CPU 1004, a basic input / output system ROM (BIOS / ROM) 100
8, main memory 1010, video memory 1012, floppy disk drive (FDD) 1022, keyboard I / O device 1024, mouse I / O device 1
026, a communication I / O device 1028, and the like. The cache memory 1006 is directly connected to the main CPU 1004 via a dedicated high-speed bus.

[0465] The internal bus 1002 of the personal computer 1000 is provided with a plurality of general-purpose bus slots (not shown). In these slots, a skaji interface (SCSI board) 1014, a DVD processing board 1030, a video I / O device (video card) 1
032, an audio I / O device (audio card) 1034 and the like are inserted.

The SCSI type board 1014 has the SC
An SI hard disk drive (HDD) 1018 and a SCSI type DVD-ROM / DVD-RAM compatible drive 1020 are connected (drive 10
20 may also be compatible with CDs).

The video card 1032 is connected to a high-resolution bitmap display (analog RGB type) 6, and the audio card 1034 is connected to a 2-channel stereo pair of speakers 8 (the card 1034 has a built-in power amplifier). If not, a power amplifier is built in the speaker 8 or a stereo amplifier (not shown) is inserted between the card 1034 and the speaker 8).

The DVD processing board 1030 in FIG. 33 incorporates hardware corresponding to the devices 38, 50 and 60 in FIG. The disk drive 32 of FIG. 26 is the DVD ROM / RAM drive 1020 of FIG.
Corresponding to

A part of the storage area of the memory 1010 or 1012 in FIG. 33 can be used as the temporary storage unit 34, the buffer memory 57, or the memory 63 of the separator in FIG. 26 as necessary.

Further, the hard disk 1018 shown in FIG.
Can also be used as the temporary storage unit 34 in FIG. If the hard disk 1018 is a large-capacity disk of several gigabytes (for example, 3 to 5 GB), a predetermined area (for 2.6 GB) in the disk is partitioned, and it is divided into a virtual DVD-RAM.
(Or DVD-RW or DVD-R) Disc 1
It can be treated as 0.

The DVD video recorder main unit 200 shown in FIG.
Can be assigned to a keyboard (not shown) connected to the keyboard I / O device 1024 in FIG. Also, the functions of various keys (buttons, cursors) of the remote controller 5 in FIG.
Keyboard or mouse I / O device 102 connected to keyboard I / O device 1024
Mouse or communication I / O connected to
It can be assigned to an external controller (not shown) connected to the device 1028.

[0472] Typical data processing in the DVD video recorder in Fig. 26 includes recording (including variable bit rate recording of moving images and fixed bit rate recording of audio or sub-picture), reproduction (reading) processing, and special processing. There is processing.

[0473] As the above-mentioned recording processing, normal recording (Fig. 3
4, FIG. 53) and timer reservation recording (FIGS. 49 to 52).

The above reproduction processing is mostly the same as the processing of the DVD video player (the processing corresponding to the key operation of the remote controller 5 in FIG. 28).
Since it relates to a D-video recorder, there is also a reproduction process unique to the present invention. That is, processing for setting a reproduced flag (read flag) for a recording program (video title set VTS) that has been reproduced once, and processing for setting an archive flag for a recording program (VTS) that the user does not want to delete (permanently saves). (FIGS. 55 to 5
7).

Further, as the special processing, the remaining capacity monitoring processing of the recording disk (FIG. 36), the display processing when the remaining capacity is small (FIGS. 37 and 38), and the specific program in the recorded disk are executed. Disk arranging process for selectively erasing and increasing the free space of a disk (FIGS. 39 to 41)
A disk exchange process (FIGS. 45 to 48) for replacing a recording disk when the disk is used up during recording, a process for setting an average recording rate for recording (FIG. 42), and a moving image recording mode. (MPEG2 or MPEG1
MPEG switching process (FIG. 43), dummy insertion stop processing for increasing the remaining capacity when the remaining capacity of the disk becomes insufficient during recording (FIG. 44), and after the end of the normal recording (FIG. 53). There is a process (FIG. 54) for initializing the reproduced flag and the archive flag.

[0476] Hereinafter, the recording process, the reproducing process, and the special process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figs. 34 to 57 and the monitor display examples of Figs. 58 to 62.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the recording operation of the DVD video recorder of FIG.

First, when a recording command is received from the remote controller 5 or a program for timer reservation, FIG.
From the disk drive 36, the management data (VMGI_MAT in FIG. 17) of the DVD-RAM (or DVD-R) disk 10 set therein.
Is read (step ST10).

[0479] From the free space information (FREE_SPACE) in the read management data, it is determined whether or not the set disk 10 has free space (step S).
T12).

[0480] When the content of the free space information (FREE_SPACE) is zero or substantially zero (a state in which the disk becomes full in a few seconds even after recording is started) (No in step ST12), a not-shown monitor TV screen is displayed.
An OSD display such as "no recording space available" is output (step ST14). At this time, FIG.
A part of the display unit 48 of the apparatus main body 200 as shown in FIG.
"NO R" has the same meaning as "No recording space"
"EC SPACE" may be displayed.

When free space is available, for example, FREE_
If the SPACE indicates 150 Mbytes or more corresponding to a recording time of about 5 minutes in MPEG2 recording at an average of 4 Mbps, the process proceeds to the next processing. In this case, (step ST12
Yes), the write address (the head position of the empty space) for the set disk 10 is determined, and the MPU 30
In the register “FreeAr” provided in the RAM of
The free space value corresponding to the free space information (FREE_SPACE) read from the management data of the disk 10 is written (step ST16).

Here, the “free space value” written in the register “FreeAr” represents 2048 bytes which is the size of one logical sector in FIG. 2 or one pack in FIG. 9 as one unit of recording. It was done.

The disc 10 is configured to record data in a normal file format, and employs a file allocation table (FAT) for managing recorded contents.
If there is no free space information as described above, FAT
, The number of unused clusters (the number of unused blocks) may be read out, and multiplied by the number of bytes of one cluster (one block) to calculate the free space of the disk.

Next, writing is performed on the management area of the set disk 10 (step ST18). For example, a video title set VTS corresponding to a program to be recorded is registered in the video manager information VMGI,
A file relating to this VTS is created.

[0485] Specifically, in step ST18, if it is the first recording for the disc 10,
VTS # 1 of FIG. 3 is registered and its associated file (FIG. 7)
(See each file in the VTS directory). If VTS # 1 is already recorded on the disk 10 and free space remains on the disk 10,
Registration of TS # 2 and creation of its related file are performed in step ST18.

Next, initial settings for recording are made (step ST20). In this initial setting, initialization of each encoder (53 to 55) in FIG. 26 (setting of average transfer rate of V encoder 53, that is, setting of average recording rate, etc.), reset of system time counter STC, and start of writing to disk drive 32 Address setting, formatter 56
(Setting of dummy pack insertion, setting of cell separation time, etc.), and others (resetting of the counter in FIG. 29 or 31).

When the initial setting for recording (ST20) is completed, the setting for starting recording is performed (step ST22). As a result, a recording start command is sent from the MPU 30 to each of the encoders (53 to 55) in the encoder unit 50, and recording to an empty area of the disk 10 set in the disk drive 32 is started.

Thereafter, when there is a recording end input (when the user instructs the end of recording or the timer reservation program issues a recording end command) (step ST24, Yes), the recording end processing (step ST34) is executed. The recording process in FIG. 34 ends.

Here, in the recording end processing of step ST34, initialization of each encoder (53 to 55) in FIG. 26 (returning the recording rate to a default setting value) and initialization of the formatter 56 (various settings are performed by default) Write to the video manager information (F in FIG. 17).
REE_SPACE content update) and writing of video title set information (PGCI content update in FIG. 21).

If there is no recording end input (NO in step ST24), and the recording is being continued, the remaining capacity calculation process (see FIG. 36) of the disk 10 being recorded is executed in parallel with the recording operation (step ST26). .

If the remaining capacity of the disk 10 falls below the predetermined value in the processing of step ST26 (Yes in step ST28; "1" is set in the minimum capacity flag in FIG. 36), the processing when the remaining capacity is small (step ST28). The process proceeds to step ST30.

As a result of the processing in step ST30, when the disk 10 being recorded has no more recordable capacity (Yes in step ST32; the remaining time is zero in step ST422B in FIG. 37), the above-described processing is performed. The process enters the recording termination process of step ST34.

[0493] As a result of the processing in step ST30, if there is still a recordable capacity in the disk 10 being recorded (step ST32: NO), there is a recording end input (step ST24: YES) until the remaining capacity is exhausted (step ST24). (Yes in step ST28; yes in step ST32), and the loop of steps ST24 to ST32 is repeatedly executed.

FIG. 35 is a view for explaining the processing procedure of various processes executed during the recording operation of FIG.

The first interrupt is generated by an interrupt to the data processor 36 indicating that one-pack transfer has been completed.

Upon entering this interrupt, first, the cause of the interrupt is checked. The cause of the interruption is the count-up of the number of recording packs (increment of recording packs; RECpa
ck ++), the counter 3 in FIG. 29 or FIG.
A count-up process of 1 is executed.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for explaining a process of monitoring the remaining recordable capacity remaining on the recording target disk. This processing corresponds to step ST28 in FIG.
(Or step ST42 in FIG. 35).

First, the contents of the register FreeAr set in step ST16 of FIG. 34 are updated.

That is, the number of recording packs is subtracted from the free space set in the register FreeAr before the current recording is started. This "free space-number of recording packs"
Is the free space remaining on the disk 10 currently being recorded. This remaining free space is reset in the register FreeAr as the remaining space. Then, register F
The content of the freeAr is information indicating the remaining capacity that monotonically decreases as the recording progresses.

When the number of recording packs is determined by hardware processing, the number of recording packs can be obtained by dividing the cumulative number of recording bytes counted by the counter 31 in FIG. 29 or 31 by 2048 bytes of one pack size. . That is, “the number of recording packs = the cumulative number of recording bytes ÷ 2048 bytes”.

When the processing is performed by software, the RECpack obtained by the interrupt processing for each pack as shown in FIG. 35 becomes a recording pack.

[0502] If the content (remaining capacity) of the register FreeAr is equal to or more than a predetermined value (No in step ST422A).
The minimum capacity flag is set to "0" (step ST4).
24A), if the remaining capacity falls below a predetermined value (step S).
T422A Yes) The minimum capacity flag is set to "1" (step ST426A).

The "predetermined value" in step ST422A need not always be fixed to a constant value, but in the example of FIG.
In the case of MPEG2 recording at an average bit rate of 4 Mbps, 150 Mbytes corresponding to about 5 minutes are adopted as the predetermined value.

That is, M at an average bit rate of 4 Mbps
In the case where PEG2 recording is continued, it is expected that if the minimum capacity flag is 0, recording will be possible for more than 5 minutes. If the minimum capacity flag is 1, the recording disk 10 will be used up within 5 minutes. It is expected that it will be. (Because the MPEG2 recording is a variable bit rate recording, there is an error in the remaining recordable time calculated from the average bit rate. That is, step ST in FIG. 36
Even though the remaining capacity according to 420A is accurate, the remaining recordable time varies depending on the content of the subsequent recording, so that the prediction as to whether the remaining recordable time is another 5 minutes is not very accurate. These 5 minutes are for reference only. ) FIG.
FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a remaining capacity low process executed according to the result of the remaining capacity monitoring process (contents of the minimum capacity flag) in FIG. 36. FIG. 58 shows a display example on the monitor TV screen, such as a warning display when the remaining disk of the recording is running low, the average recording rate, the remaining recordable time at that rate, and the like.

If the minimum capacity flag in FIG. 36 is "0" (step ST420B YES), the disc 1 being recorded is
Since there is still remaining capacity at 0, the processing of FIG.
Move to the next process.

If the minimum capacity flag is “1” (No in step ST420B), it is determined that the disk 10 being recorded is almost full. In this case, the free space (2048 bytes as one unit of recording) written in the register FreeAr at that time × 204
8 bytes divided by the average bit rate at that time (512 kbytes / sec converted from 4 Mbps to bytes)
Expected “remaining time” (step ST422)
B).

[0507] The MPU 30 in FIG.
“Remaining time” calculated in 2B and step S in FIG.
Using the average transfer rate (recording bit rate) set in T20, "4 Mbps is about 5 minutes remaining time" or 4 Mbps is equivalent to the standard image quality, and "the remaining time in the standard image quality mode is about 5 minutes "on the monitor TV.
At this time, the TV channel number and the recording date and time during recording may be simultaneously displayed on the OSD. Further, step ST424B
At the same time as the OSD display, a warning sentence (see the upper part of the monitor screen in FIG. 58) notifying the user of how to continue the recording may be displayed on the OSD.

The warning text and other OSD display contents can be written in the ROM in the microcomputer block 30 in FIG. 26 in advance.

If the number of recording packs written every predetermined time is A, and the number of previous recording packs written every predetermined time immediately before writing A is B, MPEG recording at a variable bit rate makes moment to moment. The instantaneous value of the recording rate that can be changed can be obtained from the absolute value of [AB] (unit: pack; one pack is 2048 bytes = 16384 bits). Specifically, the predetermined time is set to T
(Seconds), the absolute value of [AB] × 16384１６T
(Seconds), the instantaneous recording rate (bps) can be calculated. The “remaining time” may be calculated by using the instantaneous recording rate instead of the average recording rate. In this case, the remaining time does not always decrease monotonically with the progress of the recording due to a change in the pattern during recording. However, even using this instant recording rate, it is possible to calculate the remaining time and notify the user or the like.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the remaining capacity low process executed in accordance with the result (contents of the minimum capacity flag) of the remaining capacity monitoring process of FIG.

If the minimum capacity flag in FIG. 36 is "1" (step ST420C No), the disk 10 being recorded is
Is determined to be full. In this case, FIG.
Of the display unit 48 of the apparatus main body 200 in FIG.
Disk exchange indicator "DISK T"
OBE CHANGED ”is turned on (illuminated by a backlight and turned on continuously or blinked) (step ST
422C). At the same time, MPU 30 causes the user to OSD display a warning message urging the user to change the disk (see the upper part of the monitor screen in FIG. 58) (step ST426).
C).

[0512] If the minimum capacity flag is "0" (YES in step ST420C), it is determined that the disk 10 being recorded is still recordable. In this case, M in FIG.
The PU 30 is provided with a disk exchange indicator “DISK TO” provided on the display unit 48 of the apparatus main body 200 in FIG.
BE CHANGED ”(step ST4)
24C).

[0513] Step ST426C or ST42
After the execution of the process of 2C, the process of FIG. 38 ends, and the process proceeds to the next process.

[0514] FIG. 39 shows a disk rearrangement process (a process on the MPU side) for deleting reproduced data (data that has been reproduced to the end in the past) from a recording target disk, among the remaining disk processes in FIG. FIG. FIG. 61 shows an example of a dialog box displayed on the monitor during disk organization (during data deletion).

If the minimum capacity flag in FIG. 36 is "0" (step ST420D YES), the disc 1 being recorded is
Since there is still remaining capacity at 0, the processing in FIG.
Move to the next process.

[0516] If the minimum capacity flag is "1" (No in step ST420D), it is determined that the disk 10 being recorded is almost full. In this case, the MPU 30
Pops up a dialog box (a kind of setup menu) as shown in FIG. 61 on the monitor screen of FIG.

When the user who sees the upper left dialog box of FIG. 61 turns on the end key 5end of the remote controller 5 of FIG. 28, the processing of FIG. 39 ends, and the process proceeds to the next processing (this processing is performed in FIG. 39). (Not shown in the flowchart).

When the user who looks at the upper left dialog box in FIG. 61 turns on the enter key 5s of the remote controller 5 in FIG. 28, the disc enter mode is entered, and an OSD display such as "perform disc reorganization" is displayed ( Step ST421D).

Thereafter, the disk drive 32 shown in FIG.
Is issued (step ST422).
D) Until the processing on the disk drive 32 side is completed,
An OSD display with contents as exemplified in the upper right of FIG. 61 is performed (step ST423D).

[0520] The processing on the disk drive 32 side (disk organization mode 1) is, for example, as shown in FIG.

First, from the disk 10 set in the disk drive 32, the directory record (FIG. 8) of each file (the video title set file of FIG. 7) recorded thereon or the management table of each video title set (FIG. 8) 19 (VTSI_MAT) is read (step ST4220D in FIG. 40).

[0522] Next, whether the read directory record has a read flag "1" indicating that playback has been completed (or whether the read video title set information management table VTSI_MAT has PLAY_E indicating that playback has been completed).
ND Flag “1” is checked) (step ST4221D).

Read flag "1" or reproduced flag "1"
If there is at least one 1 "(YES in step ST4221D), the disk drive 32 (specifically, the drive 32
The microcomputer (not shown) reads the file or V of the read flag “1” or the reproduced flag “1”.
Put the TS in a deleted state (step ST4222)
D). Then, the status of the presence of the deleted file or the presence of the deleted VTS is set as the status (step ST4223D), and this status is output to the MPU 30 in FIG. 26 (step S4).
T4225D).

[0524] The contents of the file or VTS that has been deleted in step ST4222D have not yet been actually deleted at that time, but have just become overwritable. Thereafter, when recording is continued, the recorded data is overwritten in the data area in the deleted state. By this overwriting, the file or VTS in the deleted state is actually deleted.

[0525] On the other hand, when there is no read flag "1" or reproduced flag "1" (step ST4221)
(D No), no deletion file or no deletion VTS is set as status (step ST4224D), and this status is output to MPU 30 in FIG. 26 (step ST4).
225D).

The MPU 30 in FIG. 26 waits for the status (ST4225D in FIG. 40) to be sent from the disk drive 32 (step ST4 in FIG. 39).
24D No). When MPU 30 receives this status (YES in step ST424), it deletes the deleted data (deleted file or deleted VT) from the contents of the status.
S) can be detected.

When there is deleted data (step ST4)
25D Yes), the MPU 30 calculates again the remaining recordable time of the disk 10 set in the disk drive 32 at that time (step ST426D).
This remaining time recalculation is performed in step ST422B of FIG.
Is performed in the same manner as the calculation of the remaining time.

Thereafter, an OSD display with contents as exemplified in the lower right of FIG. 61 is performed (step ST427D).

If there is deleted data in step ST425D, the free space of the disk 10 is increased by the deleted data, so that the recalculated remaining time is longer than before the data deletion. In this case, the remaining time OSD before disc organization
The display (for example, 5 minutes at 4 Mbps) is corrected in an increasing direction (for example, the display of “5 minutes at 4 Mbps” is corrected to the display of “6 minutes and 15 seconds at 4 Mbps”).

On the other hand, if there is no deleted data in step ST425D (step ST425D No), recalculation of the remaining time is not performed, and OSD display of the remaining time according to the remaining capacity at that time (for example, 5 minutes at 4 Mbps) )But,
This is performed in step ST427D. In this case, for the remaining time OSD display (5 minutes at 4 Mbps), the calculation result in step ST422B in FIG. 37 can be used.

[0531] When the disc organization is completed, as shown in the lower left of Fig. 61, the dialog box for disc organization is erased, and the video being reproduced or being broadcast is displayed on the monitor screen.

FIG. 41 shows another example (modification of FIG. 40) of the disk drive side processing of deleting unnecessary data from the recording target disk in the disk arrangement processing of FIG.

The processing on the disk drive 32 side (disk arrangement mode 2) shown in FIG. 41 is as follows.

First, from the disk 10 set in the disk drive 32, a directory record (FIG. 8) of each file recorded thereon or a management table of each video title set (VTSI_MAT in FIG. 19).
Is read (step ST4230D).

[0535] Next, whether or not the read directory record has a read flag "1" indicating that playback has been completed (or whether the read video title set information management table VTSI_MAT has PLAY_E indicating that playback has been completed).
ND Flag “1” is checked) (step ST4231D).

Read flag “1” or reproduced flag
If there is at least one “1” (YES in step ST4231D), the read directory record or the video title set information management table VTSI_MAT contains
It is checked whether there is an archive flag “1” indicating permanent storage (or prevention of erroneous erasure) (step ST4232D).

[0537] Read flag "1" or reproduced flag
1 "(YES in step ST4231D), and the read flag" 1 "or the reproduced flag"
1 "File or VTS are all archive flags"
1 "(that is, the archive flag is"
If there is at least one “0”) (step ST 4232)
D No), the disk drive 32 performs the following processing. That is, disk drive 32 deletes the file or VTS whose read flag or reproduced flag is “1” and whose archive flag is “0” (step ST4233D). Then, the status of the presence of the deleted file or the presence of the deleted VTS is set as a status (step ST4234D), and this status is set in FIG.
(Step ST4236D).

On the other hand, when there is no file or VTS with read flag “1” or reproduced flag “1” (step ST4231D No), or even if the read flag or reproduced flag is “1”, If "1" is set in all the archive flags of VTS (YES in step ST4232), the status is set to "no deleted file" or "no deleted VTS" (step ST4235D).
30 (step ST4236D).

[0539] Recording on the disk 10 is interrupted while the disks are being arranged in Figs. Meanwhile, the DV shown in FIG.
A recording program (for example, a TV broadcast program) input to the D-video recorder continues to be recorded in the temporary storage unit 34.

The disc organization shown in FIGS. 39 to 41 is completed.
When the free space of the disk 10 is increased and the recording on the disk 10 can be continued, the recording on the disk 10 is started while reading the contents stored in the temporary storage unit 34 (or the hard disk). For example,
On December 12, 1997 at 9:58:30 pm
It is assumed that the disc organization is started, the disc organization is completed at 9:58:49, and the recording is restarted at 9:58:50. In this case, the recording program after 9:58:30 stored in the temporary storage unit 34 is stored in the disk 10
Is recorded continuously.

In this case, the temporary storage section 34 functions as a recording time shift means for 20 seconds. That is, even if the actual recording program ends at 10:00:00, recording on the disk 10 is continued until 10:00:20. As a result, even if a recording blank (20 seconds) occurs during the disc organizing process between 9:58:30 and 9:58:50, the content broadcast during that time is not interrupted at 10:00. All programs completed in 00 seconds can be recorded.

Alternatively, the disk drive 32 shown in FIG.
If it is a type that can record at high speed, it may be possible to recover the delay of the time spent for organizing the disks during the remaining recording time (catch up to the normal recording pace). In this case, for example, the recording on the disk 10 can be ended simultaneously with the end of the actual recording program.

It should be noted that from 9:58:30 to 9:58:05
The recording is continued with the recording blank for 20 seconds until 0 second, and after the broadcast of 10: 00: 00: 00, the temporary storage unit 3
9:58:30 stored in 4 to 9: 58: 3
A broadcast program for up to 0 seconds may be recorded in the margin of the disk 10.

In this case, the 9:58 recorded in the margin of the disk 10 is added to the DSI packet (FIG. 10) of the navigation pack 86 (FIG. 9) of the last VOBU 85 when the recording was interrupted at 9:58:30. Minutes 30 seconds to 9:58
The start address of the first VOBU for up to 50 minutes is written (by automatic processing by the MPU 30). Similarly,
In the DSI of the navigation pack of the last VOBU between 9:58:30 and 9:58:50 recorded in the margin of the disc 10, the start address of the first VOBU of the recording after 9:58:50 is recorded. (MP
With automatic processing by U30).

[0545] Immediately after the reproduction of the disc until 9:58:30, the VOBU is reproduced from 9:58:30, which is additionally recorded in the margin of the disc 10. Then, 9 recorded additionally in the margin of the disc 10
Immediately after the reproduction up to the hour: 58: 50, the VOBU from 9:58:50 to 10:00:00 recorded in another part of the disk 10 is reproduced.

[0546] That is, each video object unit V
The OBU always has a control pack called a navigation pack 86 at its head (FIG. 9), and the navigation pack 86 enables data search information (DSI) that enables data search in units of the video object unit VOBU.
Contains.

[0547] As described above, "splicing playback of recording programs that have become discontinuous in time" means that the recording data handled by the DVD video recorder of the present invention records navigation pack 86 containing data search information DSI. This is an advantage obtained by always having the unit (VOBU) at the head of the unit (VOBU). In addition, since the recording medium 10 of the present invention is a disk, the access time can be shortened even if the recording locations are physically separated, so that the "joining reproduction of a recording program that has become discontinuous in time" can be performed.
When you do, you don't have to wait for the user to get frustrated at the seams. (If the access speed of the disk drive 32 is increased, it is possible to prevent the user from noticing the joint.) FIG. 42 shows the recording rate (average bit) of the recording (MPEG2) according to the desired image quality. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing a rate. This recording rate change processing is manually set by the user in the processing step ST20 of “initial setting for recording” in FIG. FIG. 59 shows an example of a dialog box displayed on the monitor screen by OSD when changing the average bit rate of recording.

[0548] When the user operates the remote controller 5 shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the menu key 5n and the OSD key 5osd are simultaneously pressed. In response to this key combination, a dialog box as illustrated on the left side of FIG. 59 pops up on the monitor screen of FIG. 58 (step ST420E).

Here, when the enter key 5s of the remote controller 5 is pressed, the dialog box on the left side of FIG. 59 disappears, and the selectable bit rate is displayed on the OSD as a “recording bit rate change menu” instead. (Step ST421E). When the end key 5end of the remote controller 5 is pressed, the dialog box on the left side of FIG. 59 disappears and returns to the state before the processing of FIG.

The recording bit rate change menu is high for editing image quality mode 1 that uses the highest bit rate (8 Mbps) to minimize image quality deterioration due to dubbing editing, and for recording purposes where dubbing is not repeated. Bit rate (6Mbp) that can guarantee recording quality
s) and a bit rate (4 Mbp) at which sufficient image quality can be obtained for normal recording purposes.
s) and a bit rate (2 Mbp) that enables long-time recording with some image quality degradation.
s).

The user moves the cursor to one of the modes 1 to 4 using the cursor key 5q of the remote controller 5 and presses the enter key 5s, and the bit rate of the mode at the cursor position at that time becomes MPEG2.
It is selected as the average recording rate for recording.

The bit rate before entering the processing of FIG. 42 is, for example, 4 Mbps, and the user sets step ST421.
It is assumed that the long time mode (2 Mbps) is selected in the menu of E. In this case, since a bit rate different from the current state is selected (YES in step ST422E), the average transfer rate (recording bit rate) of the V encoder 53 in FIG. 26 is changed to the selected long-time mode rate (2 Mbp).
s) (step ST423E). Then
At the changed bit rate (2 Mbps), the estimated remaining time corresponding to the current free space is calculated (step S).
T424E). This calculation is performed in step ST42 of FIG.
It is performed in the same way as the remaining time calculation in 2B.

When the calculation result of the remaining time at the changed bit rate (2 Mbps) is obtained, as shown in the right side dialog box of FIG.
bps), the remaining time (predicted value) is displayed by OSD (step ST425E). This OSD display is
The menu of step ST421E is generated after the menu is erased, and can be automatically erased after a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds). Or,
Although the message does not automatically disappear, the dialog box shown in FIG. 59 may be erased at an arbitrary timing by pressing the OSD key 5osd of the remote controller 5 shown in FIG.

If the user is informed in advance of the correspondence between the average recording rate and the image quality mode (the instruction manual of the DVD video recorder and / or the step S
T421E menu display), step ST425E
The OSD generated in step (1) may be something like “remaining time in long mode” without using the numerical value of the average bit rate.

Note that the bit rate before entering the processing in FIG. 42 is, for example, 4 Mbps, and the user
When the standard recording mode (4 Mbps) is selected in the menu 421E, the same bit rate as the current one is selected (No in step ST422E), and the menu in step ST421E disappears (before the dialog box in FIG. 42), and returns to the state before the processing in FIG. 42 (for example, step ST20 in FIG. 34).

FIG. 43 shows that the remaining capacity of the disk being recorded in the high image quality mode (MPEG2) in the processing of FIG.
When the remaining recording time becomes insufficient compared to the estimated recording time, the recording mode is set to a low image quality mode (MPEG
It is a flowchart explaining the process switched to 1).

First, the remaining capacity is calculated by the same method as in step ST420A of FIG. 36 (step ST420).
F). The calculated remaining capacity is a predetermined value (for example, 150M
If the value is equal to or more than the byte (a value corresponding to the byte) (step ST422F No), the recording is continued with the high-quality MPEG2 (step ST424F).

On the other hand, the calculated remaining capacity is equal to the predetermined value (15
If the recording mode (0 MB) has been cut (YES in step ST422F), the recording mode (moving image compression method) is changed from MPEG2 to MPEG1, and recording is continued (step ST426F). Although the image quality of MPEG1 is lower than that of MPEG2, the compression ratio can be made higher than that of MPEG2, so that it is possible to record for a longer time with the same capacity.

[0555] The method of extending the recording time by lowering the average bit rate while the recording mode is fixed to MPEG2 and the method of extending the recording time by switching the recording mode from MPEG2 to MPEG1 are obtained as a result. There is a difference in reproduced image quality.

[0560] That is, according to the DVD video standard, even if the average bit rate is reduced in MPEG2, NT
SC can secure 500 horizontal resolutions, but MPEG1
Switching to, the horizontal resolution is almost halved. If the same amount of recording area is consumed per unit of time, MPEG2 with a lower average bit rate may result in better image quality than using MPEG1 with a higher average bit rate. There is.

For example, a certain high-quality program is
Master disk (first recording disk) or 5-1
0GB high capacity hard disk, high bit rate (6
(Up to 8 Mbps). Thereafter, the master disk is edited (C) using the personal computer shown in FIG.
M cut, unnecessary comment cut, etc., and a bit rate reduction process of 1 to 2 passes (the encoder unit 50 in FIG. 26).
) To reduce the average bit rate to 2-3 Mbps. Then, the image quality of the master disk is not significantly degraded (that is, 500
While maintaining the horizontal resolution of the book), the recorded contents of two or three master disks can be combined into one child disk. Creating such high-quality child discs is done by MPE
The use of G1 makes it impossible (that is, the high resolution of the master is not maintained).

[0562] On the other hand, if the recording time is more important than the image quality (the entire long sports program can be recorded on one DV
For example, the pre-encoded moving image data may be recorded in MPEG1.

FIG. 44 shows a case where the remaining capacity of the disk 10 becomes insufficient compared to the estimated remaining recording time during the recording of a moving image together with the editing dummy pack in the processing of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the process which stops recording of a pack and enables the moving image recording area to be enlarged correspondingly.

First, the remaining capacity is calculated by the same method as in step ST420A of FIG. 36 (step ST420).
G). The calculated remaining capacity is a predetermined value (for example, 150M
If it is equal to or more than the byte (value corresponding to the byte) (step ST422G No), recording is continued in, for example, MPEG2 while inserting a dummy pack into each video object unit VOBU (85 in FIG. 9) (step ST422G).
424G).

On the other hand, the calculated remaining capacity is equal to the predetermined value (15
When the size of the dummy pack has been cut (0 M bytes) (YES in step ST422F), the insertion of the dummy pack into each VOBU is stopped, and the recording is continued (step ST426G).

[0566] Here, the average bit rate of recording is 4 Mb.
Assuming that the recording time is set to ps and the average time of the recorded contents stored in each VOBU 85 of FIG. 9 is 0.5 seconds, 2 Mbits (256 kbytes) of data is consumed on average per VOBU. Since the size of each pack constituting the VOBU 85 is 2048 bytes (2 kbytes), one VOBU is composed of 128 packs on average (each V
Since the number of packs constituting the OBU greatly varies depending on the picture to be recorded, the 128 packs are approximate average values).

As described above with reference to FIG. 12, the dummy pack is a pack such as a wild card that can be an audio pack, a sub-picture pack, or a video pack depending on the purpose of use. 1V of such a dummy pack
The amount of automatic insertion per OBU is determined by the initial setting in step ST20 in FIG. The number of the automatically inserted dummy packs is determined by the DVD video recorder apparatus maker shown in FIG. 26 which prepares one or several types as default values, and allows the user to input an arbitrary number of dummy packs.

[0568] Assuming that the number of the automatically inserted dummy packs is set to, for example, about 28 packs out of 1 VOBU (128 packs on average), the dummy pack canceling process (step ST426G) shown in FIG. The time can be increased by about 28% (what could only be used for recording video and the like for 100 packs per VOBU can be used for 128 packs per VOBU).

FIG. 45 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the processing of FIG. 35 for automatically changing the recording disk using the disk changer. FIG.
Shows an example of a dialog box displayed on the monitor during disk replacement.

The automatic disk exchange process of FIG.
Is a DVD video recorder provided with a disc changer unit 100 that can automatically set a plurality of DVD-RAM discs in the disc drive 32 sequentially. (Note that the large-capacity hard disk 1018 shown in FIG. 33 is partitioned into several DVD-RAM disks and these partitions are
When used as a D-RAM disk, this hard disk 1018
Can function as 0. 45) The disk automatic exchange process of FIG. 45 can be executed as one of the processes of “remaining capacity is small” (ST30) when the remaining capacity of the disk 10 during recording falls below a predetermined value.

That is, when the remaining capacity of the disk 10 during recording falls below a predetermined value (for example, 150 Mbytes) (see FIG.
4 (YES in step ST28), and enters the disk exchange process 1 in FIG.

When this processing starts, the MPU 30 in FIG.
Causes an OSD display of a dialog box as exemplified in the upper left of FIG. 60 on the monitor screen of FIG. 58 (step ST80 of FIG. 45).

Subsequently, the MPU 30 issues a command to the disk drive 32 of FIG. 26 to stop the rotation drive of the disk 10 currently being recorded (step ST82). A microcomputer (not shown) of the disk drive 32
Receives the disc stop command, suspends the recording on the disc 10, stores the write address at the time of the recording suspension,
The rotation of the disk 10 is stopped, and an end status of the processing is returned to the MPU 30.

[0574] Upon receiving the process end status (YES in step ST84), the MPU 30 outputs a disc replacement command to the disc changer unit 100 (step ST86).

When the microcomputer (not shown) of the disc changer unit 100 receives the disc exchange command, the microcomputer (not shown) stores the DVD-RA in the disc changer unit 100.
It is checked whether an M (DVD-RW) disc or a DVD-R disc is loaded. As a result, for example, if it is detected that one or more DVD-RW discs 10 are mounted, a processing end status indicating that fact is returned to the MPU 30.

When the above-mentioned processing end status is received (YES in step ST88), the MPU 30 stores the one in the disc changer unit 100 based on the contents of the received status.
It is determined whether or not at least one DVD-RAM (DVD-RW) disk or DVD-R disk is mounted (step ST90).

[0577] One or more DVD-RAM (DVD-RW) discs or DV
If it is determined that a DR disk is mounted (YES in step ST90), the disk (when two or more disks are mounted, for example, a disk with a smaller disk slot number or a disk with a smaller disk ID)
Is read from (step ST92).

[0578] Reading of the management data starts with reading of the video manager information management table VMGI_MAT (Fig. 17) in the video manager VMG of the target disk 10. FREE_S indicating the free space there
If PACE is not described, the target disk 10
The free space information written in the lead-in physical format information (FIG. 6) is read. In this case, the free space information of the lead-in is the FREE_S of the VMGI_MAT.
It is written to the PACE part (byte positions 46 to 49 in FIG. 17).

[0579] FREE_SPACE of VMGI_MAT
If the free space written in the file is zero or insufficient (for example, the timer-reserved recording ends after 5 minutes and the remaining time corresponding to the free space on the disk is only 3 minutes) (No in step ST94), The disk is replaced again.

[0580] That is, the MPU 30 outputs a disk exchange command to the disk changer unit 100 again (step ST86). If there is a second replacement disk (YES in step ST90), management data is read from the disk (step ST92). If the free space written in the FREE_SPACE of the VMGI_MAT of the second replacement disk is sufficient (for example, the remaining time is 10 minutes or more in terms of the average recording rate used at that time) (Yes in step ST94), The write address (start position of the empty space) for the second replacement disk 10 is determined, and the register “FreeAr” provided in the RAM of the MPU 30 is stored in the register “FreeAr”.
The free space value corresponding to the free space information (FREE_SPACE) read from the management data (VMGI-MAT) of 0 is written (step ST96).

Next, writing is performed on the management area of the second replacement disk 10 (step ST98). For example, a video title set VTS corresponding to a program to be recorded is registered in the video manager information VMGI,
A file related to this VTS (a file such as video title set information VTSI) is created.

[0582] Thereafter, the MPU 30 displays OSD on the monitor TV such as "Average recording rate of 4 Mbps and remaining time is about 10 minutes" (step ST100).
The process returns to the normal process (for example, a loop of ST24 to ST32 in FIG. 34).

FIG. 46 is a flowchart for explaining the processing when there is no replacement disk in the disk changer section 100 in step ST90 of FIG.

[0584] The MPU 30 shown in FIG. 26 uses the disk for recording when there is no replacement disk in the disk changer unit 100 (or when there is no free space in the disk even if a disk is mounted in the disk changer unit 100). A dialog box (lower left in FIG. 60) including a message urging the user to load is displayed on the monitor screen in FIG. 58 by OSD (step ST102).

When the user loads the disc 10 into the disc changer unit 100 (step ST104, Yes), the process returns to step ST92 of FIG. 45, and the free space of the loaded disc 10 is checked (step ST104).
94). If the loaded disk 10 is a disk with no free space (No in step ST94) and another replacement disk is not loaded in the disk changer unit 100 (No in step ST90), the process returns to step ST102 in FIG. .

After entering the disk exchange processing of FIG. 45, this processing is exited, and the recording processing loop (ST2) of FIG.
4 to ST32) (i.e., the time elapsed from the time when the disk 10 is changed to a new state to the time when the disk 10 that can be used for continuation of recording is completely set in the disk drive 32 in FIG. 26) is shown in FIG. Is measured by a timer (not shown) in the microcomputer block 30. The MPU 30 periodically monitors the time measurement value of the timer (step ST106 in FIG. 46).

If the time has passed by the user searching for a new replacement disk or the like and the time measurement value of the timer exceeds a predetermined time (No in step ST108), the dialog box at the lower right of FIG. An OSD display stating "Recording is stopped in time for disc replacement" is made (step ST110).

The predetermined time to be checked in step ST108 is determined based on the time at which the buffer can be securely buffered in temporary storage unit 34 in FIG. 26 at the average bit rate at that time. For example, the temporary storage unit 34 has an average of 4
When the recording program has enough capacity to buffer the recording program for at least 30 seconds at Mbps, the average recording rate is 4M.
For example, 25 seconds can be adopted as the predetermined time in bps.

If the disk exchange within the predetermined time is not completed in time, the recording on the disk 10 set in the disk drive 32 of FIG. 26 is stopped at that time, and the recording buffered in the temporary storage unit 34 is stopped. The information is cleared (step ST112). When the recording is stopped in this way, a dialog box as illustrated in the lower right of FIG. 60 is displayed by OSD.

[0590] The stop of recording in step ST112 corresponds to the presence of a recording end input (step ST24 in FIG. 34).
Jesus). In this case, the recording end process of step ST34 is executed, and the recording operation of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26 stops. By the recording end processing in step ST34, the DVD-RAM (or DVD-RW) disk 10 set in the disk drive 32 at that time is read.
VMGI_MAT FREE_SPACE (FIG. 17)
Then, the value at the time of determining that “there is no free space” in step ST94 of FIG. 45 (zero or a value that becomes zero in a very short time) is written.

[0591] A new DVD-RAM (or DVD-RW) disk 10
Is loaded (Yes in step ST104 in FIG. 46), and if there is sufficient free space on the disc (Yes in step ST94 in FIG. 45), the subsequent steps ST96 to ST96
By the process of 100, a dialog box as shown in the upper right of FIG. 60 is displayed by OSD.

FIG. 47 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a process in which the user manually changes the recording disk. FIG. 62 shows an example of a dialog box for notifying the user of elapse of the disk replacement time when the user manually replaces the disk.

[0593] The disk exchange processing of FIG.
This processing can be used when the VD video recorder has only the disk drive 32 that processes the disks 10 one by one and does not have the disk changer unit 100.
This process can be used even when the disc changer unit 100 is provided and there is no free disk to be exchanged in the changer.

The disk exchange process of FIG. 47 can be executed as one of the processes of “remaining low capacity” (ST30) when the remaining capacity of the disk 10 during recording falls below a predetermined value.

That is, when the remaining capacity of the disk 10 during recording falls below a predetermined value (for example, 150 Mbytes) (FIG. 3
4 (YES in step ST28), and enters the disk exchange processing 2 in FIG.

When this process is started, the MPU 30 in FIG.
Is the disk 1 currently being recorded to the disk drive 32.
A command to stop the 0 rotation drive is issued. Upon receiving the disc stop command, the microcomputer (not shown) of the disc drive 32 suspends the recording on the disc 10, stores the write address when the recording was suspended, and
0 rotation is stopped and the end status of the process is changed to MPU3.
Return to 0.

When the above processing end status is received, M
The PU 30 initializes a time bar for notifying the user of the elapsed time at the time of disk replacement (step ST1).
22). Specifically, the microcomputer block 3
A register “Timebar” is provided in the RAM incorporated in the “0”, and a parameter representing the time bar is set in the register “Timebar” (the time bar parameter has an upper limit, for example, the maximum is “10”. Here, “9” is used for the initial setting).

When the time bar is initialized, MP
U30 pops up a dialog box containing a “time bar with nine square marks □ side by side” on the monitor screen of FIG. 58 as shown in the upper left part of FIG. A bar is displayed (step ST124). Thereafter, a time bar process and a disk exchange process for shortening the “time bar in which nine marks □ are arranged side by side” with time are performed (step ST126). (Note that although a square mark painted black is used in the drawing, a white square mark □ is used as a time bar mark in this description.) FIG. 48 shows the time bar display processing and the disk replacement processing of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining a specific example of (step ST126).

First, the user who has seen the message “Please insert a disk” displayed in step ST124 of FIG. 47 is operated by a user to select a disk exchange key (not shown; this key is, for example, the main unit 200 of FIG. 27 or FIG. 28). If no time is pressed (No in step ST1260), the MPU 30 in FIG. 26 checks the elapse of the time (step ST1261).

Although not shown, MPU 30 in FIG. 26 includes a clock oscillator, a main timer for monitoring the elapse of the time (for example, up to 27 seconds) while counting clock pulses from the clock oscillator, and a division within the elapse of the time. A sub-timer for monitoring time (for example, up to 3 seconds corresponding to one time bar mark) is provided.

The time checked by MPU 30 is within a predetermined time (for example, within 27 seconds corresponding to nine time bar marks □ initialized in step ST122 of FIG. 47;
If the timer value used to determine whether or not the time is within the predetermined time decreases with the passage of time and eventually becomes zero (Yes in step ST1261), the MPU 30 in FIG.
Checks whether the user has stopped recording on the disk 10 currently in use (for example, whether the recording state was canceled by pressing the stop key of the apparatus main body or the remote controller) (step ST1262).

[0602] The recording on the disk 10 has not been stopped (No in step ST1262).
When the remaining amount of 0 has run out (step ST126)
6 yes), the management area of the disk (VMGI, VT
SI) (step ST1267) to set each value (the free space value of the disk 10 and the like) and the disk drive 32
Then, a disk stop command is issued (step ST1268).
In response to the disk stop command, the microcomputer (not shown) of the disk drive 32 stops recording on the disk 10. Thereafter, MPU 30 checks whether it is time to erase one time bar mark □ (step ST1263).

[0603] When the recording on the disk 10 is stopped (Yes in step ST1262), or when the disk 10 has the remaining capacity (step ST126).
6 No), the processing of steps ST1267 to ST1268 is skipped, and the processing of MPU 30 jumps to checking whether it is time to erase one time bar mark □ (step ST1263).

If it is not time to erase one time bar mark □ (that is, three seconds for one mark □ have not elapsed) (NO in step ST1263), step ST1260
The MPU 30 returns to steps ST1260 to ST12
The processing of the loop of 63 is executed.

If it is time to erase one time bar mark □ (that is, if 3 seconds have elapsed) (step ST1263)
Yes), MPU 30 deletes one OSD-displayed time bar mark □ as shown in the upper left part of FIG. 62 (step ST1264). Then, the register "Timeba
r ”is decremented by one (step ST
1265), returning to step ST1260,
Executes the loop processing of steps ST1260 to ST1265.

The above steps ST1260 to ST1265
The time passes along with the processing of the loop in FIG. 47, and the time bar mark □ (one corresponds to 3 seconds) in step ST122 of FIG.
When 27 seconds have elapsed immediately after the processing of FIG. 48 has been set after the number of has been set to nine, that is, when the time has passed within the predetermined time (No in step ST1261), the OSD display “Disk replacement is 58. The message "Could not make it in time. Recording will be stopped."
(Step ST126)
9). Then, the recording process is stopped at that point, and FIG.
The recording information buffered in the temporary storage unit 34 is cleared (step ST1270). Thereafter, the process returns to the normal process of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26 (here, the process of waiting for a user operation such as reproduction while the disc is stopped).

On the other hand, when the user who sees the message “Please insert a disk” displayed in step ST124 of FIG. 47 presses the disk exchange key (not shown) (YES in step ST1260), MPU 30 in FIG. ,
It is checked whether the user has stopped recording on the disk 10 currently in use (for example, whether the recording state has been canceled by pressing a stop key of the apparatus main body or the remote controller) (step ST1271).

If the recording on the disk 10 has not been stopped (No in step ST1271), the MPU 30 sets each value (such as the free space value of the disk 10) in the management area (VMGI, VTSI) of the disk ( Step S
T1272), and issues a command to eject the disk to the disk drive 32 (step ST1273).

[0609] If the recording on the disk 10 has been stopped (YES in step ST1271), the MPU 30 issues an instruction to eject the disk to the disk drive 32 (step ST1273). In this case, each value setting process (step ST1272) to the management area (VMGI, VTSI) of the disk 10 is skipped.

[0610] The microcomputer (not shown) in the disk drive 32 that has received the eject instruction ejects the current disk 10. Thereafter, the user inserts the new disk 10 into the tray 2 of the apparatus main body 200 in FIG.
02 and pressing the open / close key 5g of the remote controller 5 in FIG. 28, the new disk 10 is pulled into the apparatus main body 200, and the new disk 10 is loaded into the disk drive 32 (step ST1).
274). Upon completion of the loading, the process moves to Step ST128 in FIG.

Returning to the processing of FIG. 47, MPU3 of FIG.
0 is the disk loaded in the disk drive 32 in step ST1274 of FIG. 48 (displaced disk).
10 management data (lead-in physical format information, management table of video manager information VMGI, etc.)
Is read (step ST128), and it is checked whether or not the replaced disk 10 has free space (step ST130). During this check, a dialog box as shown in the middle right of FIG. 62 is displayed on the OSD.

If there is no free space (step ST130)
No), the MPU 30 is configured as shown in the lower left section of FIG.
A dialog box notifying that there is no free space in the disk (replaced disk) 10 set in the disk drive 32 is displayed by OSD (step ST).
132).

Subsequently, the MPU 30 again enters the processing of FIG. 48, and the user enters another disk 1 within a predetermined time.
0 is loaded on the disk drive 32 (step ST1274). When the disc loading is performed, the process returns to step ST126 in FIG.

Thus, until the disk 10 having a free space is loaded or set in the disk drive 32 within the predetermined time, the processing including the processing in FIG.
The loop from 6 to ST132 is repeated.

If there is free space in the new disk 10 set in the disk drive 32 (step ST13)
0 Yes), the write address to the disk 10 is determined, and the register “Fr” provided in the RAM of the MPU 30 is determined.
The free space information (FREE_SPACE) read from the management data of the new disk 10 is written to "eeAr" (step ST134). Thereafter, writing is performed on the management area (VMGI, VTSI, etc.) of the set new disk 10 (step ST136).

Then, for example, in the same manner as in ST422B of FIG. 37, the remaining recordable time (estimated) is determined based on the average recording rate selected at that time and the free space set in the register “FreeAr”. Value). The remaining time thus calculated is displayed together with the average recording rate at that time in an ODS by a dialog box as shown in the lower right part of FIG. 62 (step ST138). When the setting of the new disk 10 having a free space in the disk drive 32 is completed within the predetermined time in this manner, the process returns to the normal processing for continuing the recording. With this processing, the recording on the new disk 10 is restarted using the recording information buffered in the temporary storage unit 34 in FIG.

FIG. 49 is a flow chart for explaining the timer reservation operation of the DVD video recorder shown in FIG. Here, even if the user does not specify the recording rate,
The recording rate is set automatically.

The user of the DVD video recorder shown in FIG. 26 operates the timer key 5tme of the remote controller 5 shown in FIG.
By pressing, the MPU 30 causes the timer reservation menu (including a table for specifying a desired recording channel, recording reservation date and time, recording mode, average recording rate, etc. for each reserved program) to be output on the monitor screen of FIG. 58 by OSD. (Step ST
50). The program reservation setting in this menu can be performed by using the cursor keys 5q, the ten keys 5t, the enter key 5s and the like. The recording mode (MPEG
2 or MPEG1) and the average recording rate of recording can be set to those desired by the user using the recording mode key 5rmd of the remote controller 5.

[0619] When the reservation setting in step ST50 is completed, the user presses the enter key 5 of the remote controller 5 in FIG.
When the user presses s, the MPU 30 in FIG. 26 sets the average recording that is set to the free capacity of the disk set in the disk drive 10 (the remaining capacity corresponding to the number of unused packs of the disk minus the spare capacity). The remaining recordable time Tr is calculated from the rate Rs (step ST).
52).

Here, an error may occur in the predicted value of the remaining time based on the remaining capacity of the disk 10 and the average recording rate to be used, so that the error (excessive so that the recording does not run out) is expected. It is desirable to keep. The reserve capacity (or reserve capacity) is determined corresponding to the error. For example, as a result of simulating various program recordings, if it is found that an error of up to 10% appears in the remaining time calculation value Tr, 10% of the remaining capacity may be set as the reserve capacity (reserved capacity). .

[0621] The disk 10
A space area for each zone in the data area can be allocated. The DVD disk 10 is divided into a lead-in 27, a data area 28, and a lead-out 26. The data area 28 is, for example, a zone 0
The zone is divided into 24 zones. In this zone, the linear velocity at which the optical pickup performs reading is constant. Further, in the DVD-RAM disk, each zone is divided into a user area and a space area, which are actual data areas. The space area is usually an area prepared as a replacement sector when a defective sector occurs in the zone.
Therefore, if no defective sector occurs, this space area becomes an unused area. This unused area can be used as the reserve capacity (reserve capacity).

Next, the MPU 30 in FIG.
Total time (reservation time) T of the program reserved by the timer in T50
t is compared with the remaining time Tr calculated in step ST52 (step ST54).

If the remaining time Tr is shorter than the reservation time Tt (YES in step ST54), step ST5 is reached.
The timer-recording recording rate (current recording rate) Rs set at 0 is the minimum value (for example, 1.8 Mbp) of the average recording rate adopted by the DVD video recorder of FIG.
s to 2 Mbps) (step ST58).

If the current recording rate Rs is higher than the minimum recording rate (step ST56, Yes), the remaining time Tr can be increased by lowering the rate Rs, so that the recording rate Rs is slightly reduced (for example, 4 Mb).
ps to 3.8 Mbps) (step ST5)
8).

With the new recording rate Rs thus reduced, the remaining time Tr is recalculated (step ST5).
2). If the remaining time Tr after the recalculation is still smaller than the reservation time Tt (Yes in step ST54), step S54 is executed.
The loop from T52 to ST58 is repeated.

If the recording rate Rs falls below the minimum recording rate during the loop repetition of the steps ST52 to ST58 (the situation where the remaining time Tr is smaller than the reservation time Tt) (No in step ST56), the minimum recording is performed. Even at the rate, all the programs reserved by the timer within the remaining time Tr of the disk 10 cannot be accommodated. In this case, the MPU
The OSD display 30 indicates that "the disk capacity is insufficient. Recording of all the reserved programs cannot be performed." (Step ST60), and returns to the normal processing.

The normal processing after the return may be the processing state before the timer reservation, or may be the processing for forcibly entering the timer reservation.

Now, it is assumed that the reserved time Tr is 75 minutes and the remaining time Tr is only 60 minutes after recording at the minimum recording rate Rs = 2 Mbps. In this case, when the MPU 30 is programmed to forcibly enter the timer reservation, the timer reservation recording of the reservation number <3> in step ST50 ends due to running out of the bottom (the 15th minute is not recorded).

[0629] On the other hand, when the remaining time Tr calculated in step ST52 is equal to or longer than the timer reservation time Tt (step ST54: NO), the MPU 30 in FIG. 26 has an OSD of, for example, "the timer has been reserved at a recording rate of 2 Mbps". A display is issued (step ST62). Then, when the user simultaneously presses the timer key 5tme and the recording key 5rec of the remote controller 5 in FIG. 28 (Yes in step ST64), the value of the average recording rate Rs (2 Mbps or the like) displayed in step ST62 changes to FIG.
Is set to the video encoder 53 (step ST6).
8) Enter the scheduled recording mode, and turn off the power of the DVD video recorder in FIG.

In the OSD display state of step ST62, the user operates the timer key 5tme + recording key 5
Operation keys of remote controller 5 other than rec (stop key 5e, end key 5end, clear key 5cr, etc.)
When is pressed, the timer reservation is canceled and the change of the recording rate is canceled (step ST70). For example, if the average recording rate set before the timer
Mbps, and steps ST52 to ST58 in FIG.
If the average recording rate at the time when the processing exits from the processing loop and comes to step ST62 has been changed to 2 Mbps, the recording rate “2 Mbps” is canceled and “4 Mbps”
s ".

FIG. 50 shows another example of the scheduled recording operation by the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26 (including the automatic image quality setting processing).
It is a flowchart explaining.

The DVD-ROM is inserted into the disk drive 32 shown in FIG.
When the RAM (DVD-RW) disk 10 is set, the MPU 30 sets the management data (VMGI) of the disk.
_MAT), and detects the current free space (FREE_SPACE) of the set disk 10 (step ST200).

If the detected free space is zero (or substantially zero) (NO in step ST202), MPU 30
Displays an OSD display such as "no space available" on the monitor screen of FIG. 58 (step ST
204), the process of FIG. 50 ends.

If it is detected that the set disk 10 has free space (YES in step ST202),
The MPU 30 determines the write address for the disk 10, and writes the detected free space into the register "FreeAr" (step ST206).

[0635] After that, a "reservation screen" similar to that in step ST50 of Fig. 49 is displayed on the monitor screen of Fig. 58 (step ST208). The user performs a process of designating a reserved program (N program) to be recorded from now on while viewing the “reservation screen” (step ST210).

In this reservation program designation, the user designates a desired program, its recording time, and one of the high, medium, low, or automatic image quality mode as the image quality mode.

When the user finishes program reservation and presses end key 5end of remote controller 5 in FIG. 28 (No in step ST212), MPU 30 in FIG.
The recording capacity corresponding to the total reserved time of all the reserved programs (N programs) (corresponding to the product of the total reserved time and the default average bit rate at that time) is set in the disk drive 32 at that time. It is checked whether it is within the remaining capacity of the disc 10 (which initially corresponds to the free capacity written in the register "FreeAr") (step ST214).

If the recording capacity exceeds the remaining capacity of the disk 10 (No in step ST214), the MPU 30
An OSD display such as "The disc cannot be inserted" is displayed (step ST224), and the reserved program designation processing (ST
Return to 210).

As a result of the user changing the contents of the reservation in the reserved program designation processing (ST210) (for example, reducing the number N of the reserved programs or reducing the reservation time for one or more of the reserved programs), the recording capacity is reduced to the disk. 10
(Step ST214 YES), the MPU 30 determines (remaining capacity−reserve capacity−ST21).
The recording capacity of the program designated by 0 is stored in a register “Lftsp” indicating a new remaining capacity (step ST).
216).

[0640] The remaining capacity stored in the register "Lftsp" is used to record all the programs set to be of automatic image quality among the programs reserved at that time at a high image quality rate (for example, 6 Mbps) as a recording rate for automatic image quality. However, if it is large enough to allow complete recording (YES in step ST218), 6 Mbps is set as a high image quality rate (step S218).
T220), the process of FIG. 50 ends.

Then, the user operates the remote controller 5 shown in FIG.
And at the same time, the DVD video recorder of FIG.
Step ST2 with high image quality rate (6 Mbps)
Recording of the program reserved at 10 is started.

The remaining capacity stored in the register “Lftsp” indicates that all of the programs set to be of the automatic image quality among the programs reserved at that time have a high image quality rate (for example, 6 Mbp).
s) (No in step ST218), and when it is not possible to record all the programs reserved at that time at a low image quality rate (for example, 2 Mbps) (No in step ST222), the MPU 30
An OSD display such as "The disc cannot be inserted" is displayed (step ST224), and the reserved program designation processing (ST
Return to 210).

The remaining capacity stored in the register “Lftsp” indicates that all of the programs set to be of the automatic image quality among the programs reserved at that time have a high image quality rate (for example, 6 Mbp).
s) cannot be recorded (step ST218)
No), if it is possible to record all the reserved programs at a low image quality rate (for example, 2 Mbps) (Yes in step ST222), the MPU 30 enters an automatic image quality setting process (step ST226).

FIG. 51 shows the automatic image quality setting processing (S
30 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an average recording rate setting process in T226).

First, when the recording time is the recording time of all the programs set as the automatic image quality among the programs reserved in step ST210 in FIG. 50, the above-mentioned remaining capacity is divided by this recording time (the remaining time). (Capacity / recording time) is registered as an average recording rate Rerate (step ST).
226A). Alternatively, in consideration of the above-mentioned spare capacity (= reserved capacity), [remaining capacity-reserved capacity] ÷ recording time is registered as an average recording rate Rerate (step ST226A).

[0646] Subsequently, all the average recording rates of the recorded programs for which the recording rate is automatically set are set to Re- crate registered in step ST226A (step ST226).
B), the process returns to the process of FIG.

FIG. 52 shows the automatic image quality setting processing (S
21 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the average recording rate setting process in (T226).

First, a value obtained by dividing the above-mentioned remaining capacity by a predetermined high-quality recording rate (for example, 6 Mbps) is registered as the recordable time RecTM, and the program number index N of the reserved program is initialized to “1”. The recording time ProgresscTM is initialized to "0", and the number of programs for which the recording rate is automatically set is set in the number-of-programs parameter M (step ST226C).

Next, the N-th (first at first) recording time plus the program recording time ProgrecTM (zero at first) is added to the new program recording time Pro.
regTM (step ST226)
D). Thus, the recording time of the first reserved program is recorded in the ProgresscTM.

[0650] The obtained ProgrecTM is the recordable time RecT registered in step ST226C.
M (step ST226E).

[0651] If ProgressTM is not larger than RecTM (that is, the available recording time is longer than the recording time of the reserved program) (No in step ST226E), the reserved program number N is incremented by one (step ST226F). The second program recording time plus the previous ProgrecTM (first recording time) is the new program recording time ProgrecT
M is registered (step ST226D). Thus, the total recording time of the first and second reserved programs is recorded in the ProgresscTM.

[0652] Above steps ST226D to ST226
After the iteration of the loop of F, the Prog.
If the cTM becomes larger (that is, the available recording time becomes insufficient for the recording time of the reserved program) (step S
T226E yes), the average recording rate up to the N-1st reserved program is set to the high image quality recording rate (6 Mbps in this case) shown in step ST226C (step ST226g).

By the above processing, the first to N-1st (for example, the first and second reserved programs if N = 3) programs are automatically set to the high image quality mode using the high image quality recording rate.

[0654] The Nth and subsequent Mth (for example, from the 3rd to 6th)
Since the reserved programs up to (iii) cannot be recorded at the high image quality recording rate, the average recording rate Rerate used for recording them is changed (step ST226H).
This change is started by first registering a value obtained by subtracting the Nth recording time from the previous Programm (the total recording time of the first to Nth reserved programs) as a new program recording time ProgrecTM.
Then, the ProgrecTM becomes (the total recording time of the reserved programs that can be recorded with high image quality from the first to the N-1st. Here, since the Nth recording time is subtracted, the recordable time RecTM is equal to or greater than the ProgrecTM. Therefore, an average recording rate Rerate required to include all the Nth and subsequent (up to the Mth) reserved programs in the RecTM is calculated (step ST226).
H).

[0655] Recur in this step ST226H
te (tentatively referred to as “Recrate1”) is obtained from [remaining capacity−ProgressTM × high-quality recording rate] ÷ from the Nth to the Mth (for example, N = 3 to M = 6) reserved recording times. .

If the calculated Rerate is lower than the low image quality mode rate (for example, 1.8 Mbps) for which only the minimum image quality can be guaranteed, the program number index N of the reserved program is decremented by one (for example, N = 3 to N = 3). N = 2) (step ST226)
J). Then, Pr calculated in step ST226H
ogreTM decreases (the total recording time of the first to third reserved programs decreases to the total recording time of the first to second reserved programs). As a result, the recording time ProgrecTM of the high image quality rate, which consumes much data per unit time, becomes small.
regrecTM × high image quality recording rate].

The capacity thus expanded [remaining capacity-Pr
ogrecTM × high image quality recording rate] by the total recording time of the Nth to Mth (here, the second to sixth) reserved programs, a new average recording rate Rerate
(Tentatively referred to as “Recrate2”), but in step ST22
Recalculated at 6H. Recra recalculated in this way
“te2” is smaller than “Recrate1”.

[0658] The rate of the low image quality mode (for example, 1.8M
bps) or more (No in step ST226I),
The N-th and later reserved programs (here, the second to sixth reserved programs) are automatically set so as to be recorded at the average recording rate Recrrate2 (step ST226).
K).

The reservation processing of FIGS. 50 to 52 can be used for timer recording, but this processing is not limited to timer reservation. That is, FIGS.
When the user performs a recording start operation after the reservation processing, the reserved program (not the reservation as timer recording) is recorded in the free space of the disk 10 at various average recording rates without waste.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of the recording operation of the DVD video recorder in FIG.

First, the flow of a video signal during recording in the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26 will be briefly described.

First, the AV signal input from the TV tuner 44 or the AV input (external input) 42 is A / D converted. The converted digital video signal is input to a video encoder 53, and the converted digital audio signal is input to an audio encoder 54. The TV tuner 44 inputs a closed caption signal or a text signal such as a text broadcast to the sub-picture encoder 55, if any, in addition to the video signal and the audio signal.

Each of the encoders 53 to 55 compresses each of the input signals into packets, and inputs the packetized signals to the formatter 56. At that time, each packet is divided into packets each having a size of 2048 bytes when packed, and packetized. Here, the encoders 53 to 55 determine and record the presentation time stamp PTS and the decode time stamp DTS of each packet as necessary according to the value of the STC 38.

Here, the STC can be composed of, for example, a timer that counts a 90 kHz clock with the recording start time set to “0000”.

The formatter 56 includes a buffer memory 57
The packet data is temporarily stored, and then the input packet data is packed and mixed for each MPEG group of picture GOP. And each GO
The navigation pack 86 shown in FIG. 11 is added to the head of P and sent to the data processor 36.

The data processor 36 has the formatter 56
EC data from 16 packs sent from
The C group is sent to the disk drive 32 with an error correction code ECC. At this time, if the data is not ready to be recorded on the disk 10, the disk drive 32 transfers the data sent from the data processor 36 to the temporary storage unit 34 and waits until the data recording is ready. . Then, the disk drive 32 starts recording when it is ready to record data on the disk 10. Here, as the temporary storage unit 34, in order to hold recording data for several minutes or more by high-speed access,
A large capacity memory is used.

At the end of recording, the address data of each navigation pack is recorded in a fast-forward / rewind data portion (not shown) provided in each navigation pack 86. After that, the management area (VMGI,
VTSI), and the recording operation ends.

When the DVD-RW disc 10 is set in the DVD video recorder for performing the above-described recording, the management data (lead-in, VMGI) is read (step ST500).

[0669] From the free space information (FREE_SPACE) in the read management data, it is determined whether or not the set disk 10 has free space (step S).
T502).

If the content of the free space information (FREE_SPACE) is zero or substantially zero (a state in which the disk becomes full in a few seconds even after recording is started) (No in step ST502), a message such as "no recording space" is displayed. Output OSD display of contents (step ST50)
4).

When there is free space (step ST50)
2 Yes), writing is performed on the set management area of the disk 10 (step ST506). For example, a video title set VTS corresponding to a program to be recorded is registered in the video manager information VMGI, and a file related to the VTS is created.

[0672] Next, initial settings for recording are made (step ST508). In this initial setting, initialization of each encoder (53 to 55) in FIG. 26 (setting of average transfer rate of V encoder 53, that is, setting of average recording rate, etc.), reset of system time counter STC, and start of writing to disk drive 32 Address setting, formatter 5
6 (setting of dummy pack insertion, setting of cell separation time, etc.), and others.

When the initial setting for recording (ST508) is completed,
A recording start command is set (step ST51).
0). As a result, a recording start command is sent from the MPU 30 to each of the encoders (53 to 55) in the encoder unit 50, and the disk 10 set in the disk drive 32
Recording to an empty area is started.

[0674] Here, there is no recording end input (step S
T512 No) If the recording is ongoing, the remaining capacity calculation processing or the remaining capacity monitoring processing of the disk 10 during the recording (FIG. 3)
6) is performed in parallel with the recording operation (step ST)
514).

[0675] In the process of step ST514, the disk 10
Is less than the predetermined value (step ST51).
6 Yes; "1" is set in the minimum capacity flag in FIG. 36),
The process (step ST518) when the remaining capacity becomes small (step ST518) is entered.

[0676] As a result of the processing in step ST518, if there is still a recordable capacity in the disk 10 being recorded (step ST520 NO), there is a recording end input (step ST512 YES) until there is no remaining capacity (step ST512). Step ST520 yes), steps ST512 to ST512
The loop of ST520 is repeatedly executed.

When the disk 10 being recorded has no more recordable capacity during the repetitive execution of the loop of steps ST512 to ST520 (step ST5).
If yes, or if there is a recording end input (Yes in step ST512), the flow shifts to the processing in FIG.

FIG. 54 is a flow chart for explaining the writing of the management area and the default setting of the reproduction completed flag and the archive flag after the recording in the procedure of FIG. 56 is completed.

[0679] Steps ST512 to ST520 in FIG. 53
54, the recording end process is executed (step ST522). In the recording end processing, initialization of each encoder (53 to 55) in FIG. 26 (returning the recording rate to a default setting value), initialization of the formatter 56 (returning various settings to a default state), video manager information Writing related to VMGI (such as updating the contents of FREE_SPACE in FIG. 17), writing related to video title set information VTSI (such as updating the contents of PGCI in FIG. 21), and the like are performed.

Subsequently, the video title set information VTS
The reproduction completed flag (PALY_END Flag) in the management table VTSI_MAT of I indicates an unreproduced state. "
"0" which is set to "0" and indicates that the archive flag (ARCHIVEFlag) in VTSI_MAT is not saved (erasable or overwritable).
Is set (step ST524).

Thus, the recording processing illustrated in FIGS. 53 to 54 ends. According to this recording processing, it is possible to prevent the program once recorded from being accidentally erased by overwriting or the like before being seen even by using the reproduced flag ("0" state).

FIG. 55 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the reproducing operation of the DVD video recorder shown in FIG.

First, the flow of a video signal at the time of recording in the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26 will be briefly described.

[0684] First, when the MPU 30 in FIG. 26 receives a reproduction command from a user's remote control operation or the like, the disk drive 32 sends the data to the disk 1 via the data processor 36.
0 is read, and an address to be reproduced is determined.

Next, the MPU 30 controls the disk drive 3
2, the address of the data to be reproduced and the read command determined above are sent.

[0686] The disk drive 32 reads sector data from the disk 10 in accordance with the sent command. The read data is subjected to error correction by the data processor 36 and becomes a form of packed data.
Sent to 0.

[0687] Inside the decoder unit 60, the read pack data is received by the separator 62. The separator 62 packetizes the received pack data. Then, the video packet data (MPEG video data) is transferred to the video decoder 64, the audio packet data is transferred to the audio decoder 68, and the sub-picture packet data is transferred to the SP decoder 65 according to the purpose of the data. The navigation pack is MP
It is stored in the internal memory (RAM) of U30. Thus, the MPU 30 can access the contents of the navigation pack in the internal memory at any time.

At the start of transfer of each packet data sent from the separator 62, the presentation time stamp PTS is loaded into the system time counter STC38. Specifically, the PT in the navigation pack
S is set by the MPU 30 to the STC 38, or the video decoder 64 automatically sets the PTS of the video data to the STC 38
Set to 38.

Thereafter, each decoder (64, 65, 68)
Is synchronized with the value of the PTS in the packet data (PTS
Then, the reproduction process is performed (comparing the STC value with the STC value), and, for example, a video image with audio subtitles is supplied to the external monitor TV via the AV output 46.

When the DVD-RW disc 10 is set in the DVD video recorder that performs the above-described reproduction, the recording data is first read from the lead-in. The read lead-in data is the DV of FIG.
If the D-video recorder contains unrecognizable data or fails to correct an error in the read data (NG in step ST30), the DVD video recorder performs error processing (step ST302) and stops reproduction. I do. The error processing includes, for example, a display output such as "This disc cannot be reproduced."

[0691] If there is no error in the read data, or if an error occurs, the error is successfully corrected.
If the DVD-Video recorder in FIG. 26 can recognize the read lead-in data (O in step ST30).
K), the DVD video recorder reads the management data (VMGI) (step ST304).

Then, one or more title sets recorded on the set disc 10 are displayed in a menu format on a TV monitor (not shown). The user who sees this menu selects a desired title set using the cursor keys 5q of the remote controller 5 in FIG. 28, and presses the enter key 5s to determine the title set (step ST306).

When the title set to be reproduced is determined in this way, the MPU 30 in FIG. 26 reads the information VTSI (FIG. 20) of the selected video title set VTS from the disc 10 in which it is set. And MPU30
Is the program chain information P in the read VTSI
GCI (FIG. 21) is connected to the microcomputer block 3
0 in the work area of the internal RAM (step S
T308).

If the determined title set includes a plurality of titles (or a plurality of chapters), the user selects a title (chapter) to be reproduced from the menu by operating the remote controller, It is determined (step ST310).

[0696] Thus, the program number and cell number of the title to be reproduced (for example, PGC in FIG. 3)
# 1 and C_IDN # 1) are determined (step ST3).
12).

Next, the MPU 30 in FIG.
Reference is made to the program chain information PGCI (FIG. 21) stored in the AM. Then, the MPU 30 initializes each of the MPEG video decoder 64, the sub-picture decoder 65, and the audio decoder 68 corresponding to the initial setting at the time of recording (ST508 in FIG. 53) (step ST3).
14).

[0697] After the completion of the initial setting, a preprocessing command is executed (step ST316), and then a cell reproduction process is started (step ST318). By this cell reproduction processing,
For example, cells constituting program chain PGC # 1 in FIG. 3 are reproduced in order.

In the above cell reproduction, if the last cell has not been reached (step ST320: NO), the cell reproduction is started while counting up a cell number counter (not shown) every time reproduction of one cell ends (step ST322). The process proceeds (loop of ST318 to ST322).

[0699] In the above-described cell reproduction, when the last cell is reached (YES in step ST320), MPU 30 performs still processing of the currently reproduced PGC # 1 (for example, the PG
(Still one screen of the last cell of C for a predetermined time).

When the still time has elapsed, the MPU 30
Executes a predetermined post-processing command (step ST32).
6) If the reproduction is not completed yet (No in step ST328), the process returns to step ST316.

After the above-mentioned still time has elapsed and the above-mentioned post-processing command has been executed (step ST 326), if the reproduction is terminated (for example, the user
If the stop key 5e is pressed (Yes in step ST328), the MPU 30 proceeds to the processing in FIG.

FIG. 56 is a flow chart for explaining the update setting of the archive flag and the reproduction completed flag after the reproduction is completed in the procedure of FIG.

First, a menu or the like (not shown) for asking the user whether he / she wants to permanently save the currently reproduced title set (or whether he / she wants to prevent erroneous erasure).
Is displayed on the monitor TV by OSD. If the user selects the one to be permanently saved (Yes in step ST330),
The MPU 30 sets “1” to the archive flag (FIG. 19) in the video title set information (Step S)
T332). If the user selects not to permanently save (No in step ST330), this archive flag is set to "0" (step ST334).

After the setting of the archive flag is completed, the reproduced flag of the title set that has just been reproduced (FIG. 19)
Is set to "1" (step ST336), and other reproduction termination processing (such as issuing a stop command to the disk drive 32 in FIG. 26 and displaying "STOP" on the display unit 48) (step ST338). ), FIGS. 55 to 56
Ends the reproduction process.

[0705] According to this reproduction processing, the program which has been judged by the user to be erasable from the once reproduced program by the reproduced flag ("1" state) can be automatically erased (or overwritten). It can be in a state.
Inadvertent erroneous erasure of a program that has been viewed once but is desired to be saved due to overwriting or the like can be prevented by setting an archive flag (setting it to “1”).

FIG. 57 is a flowchart showing a process ST during cell reproduction in FIG.
318 is a flowchart for describing the contents of 318.

[0707] When cell reproduction is started (step ST4)
00), the MPU 30 in FIG. 26 determines the reproduction start address from the contents of the program chain information PGCI (FIGS. 21 to 25) (step ST404). Thereafter, MPU 30 sets a data read command in disk drive 32 (step ST406).

[0708] Cell playback is not started (step ST400).
No), when the VOBU is not continuous (step S)
(No at T402), the processing of steps ST404 to ST406 is performed. Instead of starting cell playback (step ST4)
00 No), when VOBUs are continuous (Yes in step ST402), steps ST404 to ST406
Is skipped.

Following the above processing, the MPU 30 takes in the navigation pack 86 (FIG. 9) at the head of each VOBU (step ST408), and sets synchronization information (step ST410).

Further, MPU 30 processes PCI packet 116 in navigation pack 86 (FIG. 11) (step ST412). This PCI packet 11
6 (FIG. 13) includes reproduction control information PCI (FIG. 14), and this PCI includes PCI general information PCI_GI (FIG. 15). The MPU 30 determines in step ST4
12, the highlight information HLI in the PCI (FIG. 1)
The highlighting process is performed using 4), and the user control information VOBU_UOP_CTL in PCI_GI (FIG. 15)
An operation for prohibiting a specific user operation is executed using.

Here, as the highlight processing, for example, a sub-picture frame surrounding a selectable item displayed in a menu is highlighted in a color such as green, and when the user decides to select the item, the color is changed to red. There are processes such as changing.

[0712] The above-mentioned user operation prohibition operation includes:
For example, even if the user presses the angle key 5ang of the remote controller 5 in FIG. 28, the angle switching operation is prohibited, and a mark indicating that the key operation is not possible is displayed on the monitor TV.

[0713] Upon completion of the process of step ST412, the MPU 30 checks whether or not it is a VOBU still (step ST414).

[0714] When performing VOBU still (for example, cell playback information C_PB of program chain information PGCI)
In the case where the cell playback mode of I (FIG. 24) is "1" (step ST414 YES), the MPU 30 waits until the playback of the VOBU ends (step ST416).
Since the playback time of one VOBU is about 0.4 to 1.2 seconds, the standby time is not very long.

[0715] When the reproduction of the VOBU is completed, the VOBU still process is started at the end of the reproduction (step ST4).
18). For example, the last frame appearing in the VOBU is reproduced as still. This still reproduction is continued until the user presses the reproduction key of the remote controller (FIG. 28) or the DVD video recorder main body (FIG. 27).

If the user does not press the pause key 5d in step ST414 (No in step ST414),
Alternatively, if the user presses play key 5C during the VOBU still process, MPU 30 checks whether the cell is the last cell containing the VOBU (step ST420).

[0717] If not the last cell (step ST42)
(0 No) Return to step ST408, fetch the navigation pack 86 of the next VOBU, and
08 to ST420 are repeated. If the end of the cell (step ST420 YES), the VOBU at that time
Waits until the reproduction of is completed (step ST42).
2).

[0718] Thereafter, the cell still processing is started, and the last frame of the cell is still reproduced until the time set by the cell still time (Fig. 24) in the program chain information PGCI elapses (step ST42).
4). After the end of the cell still reproduction, the process returns to FIG.

[0719]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the capacity is small, it is possible to obtain the effect of organizing the files that have been reproduced and recording without interrupting the recording.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a recordable / reproducible optical disk (DVD-RAM or DVD-RW disk).

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a correspondence relationship between a data recording area of the optical disk (DVD-RAM) of FIG. 1 and a recording track of data recorded thereon.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining a hierarchical structure of information (contents of a data recording area or a DVD video volume space) recorded on the optical disk of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view for explaining a logical structure of information (lead-in area) recorded on the optical disk of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the contents of control data recorded in a lead-in area of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the contents of physical format information included in the control data of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view for explaining a directory structure of information (data file) recorded on the optical disk of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the contents of a directory record corresponding to the directory structure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a video object set VTSTT_ of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of information included in VOBS.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the contents of the lowermost pack of the hierarchical structure of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the contents of the navigation pack of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the contents of a dummy pack shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the contents of the PCI packet of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining the contents of the reproduction control information PCI of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is reproduction control information general information PCI_GI of FIG. 14;
FIG.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of the video manager information VMGI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of a video manager information management table VMGI_MAT in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of the video title set information VTSI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 19 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of a video title set information management table VTSI_MAT in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of a video title set program chain information table VTSI_PGCIT of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of video title set program chain information VTS_PGCI in FIG. 20;

22 is a cell reproduction information table C_PBIT of FIG. 21.
FIG.

FIG. 23 is an exemplary view for explaining the contents of cell reproduction information C_PBI in FIG. 22;

24 is a view for explaining the contents of a cell category C_CAT in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 shows the general program chain information PGC of FIG. 21.
The figure explaining the content of _GI.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a device (DVD video recorder) that records and reproduces digital moving image information at a variable recording rate on the disc of FIG. 1 using information having a structure as described in FIGS.

FIG. 27 is a diagram exemplifying a front panel of the apparatus main body of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a remote controller for operating the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit (in the case without a transfer clock) for detecting the number of recorded bytes of information recorded on the disc of FIG. 1 by counting the number of recorded bytes in the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26;

FIG. 30 is a timing chart for explaining the timing at which the counter of FIG. 29 counts recording bytes.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit (in the case where a transfer clock is provided) for detecting the number of recording bytes of information recorded on the disc of FIG. 1 by counting the number of recording bytes in the DVD video recorder of FIG. 26;

FIG. 32 is a timing chart for explaining the timing at which the counter of FIG. 31 counts recording bytes.

FIG. 33 shows the state of FIG. 26 using a general-purpose personal computer.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a case where a recording / reproducing function of a DVD video recorder is realized.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the recording operation of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26;

FIG. 35 is an exemplary view for explaining the procedure of various interrupt processes executed during the recording operation of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a process of monitoring the remaining recordable capacity remaining on the recording target disk in the interrupt process of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a remaining capacity low process executed in accordance with the result (contents of the minimum capacity flag) of the remaining capacity monitoring process of FIG.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the remaining capacity low process executed in accordance with the result (contents of the minimum capacity flag) of the remaining capacity monitoring process of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 is a flowchart for explaining processing on the MPU side for deleting unnecessary data from a recording target disk in the interrupt processing of FIG. 35;

FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing on the disk drive side for deleting unnecessary data from a recording target disk in the processing of FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the processing of the disk drive for deleting unnecessary data from the recording target disk in the processing of FIG. 39;

FIG. 42 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing the recording bit rate of recording (MPEG2) according to a desired image quality in the interruption process of FIG. 35;

FIG. 43 shows a high image quality mode (M
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a process of switching the recording mode to a low image quality mode (MPEG1) having a relatively high compression ratio when the remaining capacity of the disk being recorded in PEG2) is insufficient compared to the estimated remaining recording time.

44. In the interrupt processing of FIG. 35, when the remaining capacity of the disk during the moving image recording together with the editing dummy pack becomes insufficient compared to the estimated remaining recording time, the recording of the dummy pack is stopped. The flowchart figure explaining the process which enables the minute moving image recording area to be enlarged.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for automatically changing recording disks using a disk changer in the interrupt processing of FIG. 35;

FIG. 46 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the case where there is no replacement disk in the disk changer in the processing of FIG. 45;

FIG. 47 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which a user manually changes a recording disk in the interrupting process of FIG. 35;

FIG. 48 is a flowchart for explaining a process of notifying a user of a lapse of time until the disk replacement is completed in the process of FIG. 47;

FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating a timer reservation operation of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26;

50 is a flowchart for explaining another example (including the automatic image quality setting processing) of the recording operation of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26;

FIG. 51 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an average recording rate setting process in the automatic image quality setting process of FIG. 50;

FIG. 52 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the average recording rate setting process in the automatic image quality setting process of FIG. 50;

FIG. 53 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining still another example of the recording operation of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26;

FIG. 54 is a flowchart for explaining the writing of the management area and the default setting of the reproduced flag and the archive flag after the recording is completed in the procedure of FIG. 56;

FIG. 55 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining an example of the playback operation of the DVD video recorder in FIG. 26;

FIG. 56 is a flowchart for explaining update setting of an archive flag and a reproduced flag after reproduction is completed in the procedure of FIG. 53;

FIG. 57 is a flowchart for explaining the contents of processing ST318 at the time of cell reproduction in FIG. 55;

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing an example of a warning display when the remaining disk remaining during recording is running low, an average recording rate, a remaining recordable time at that rate, and other display examples.

FIG. 59 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a dialog box displayed on the monitor when changing the average recording bit rate;

FIG. 60 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a dialog box displayed on the monitor during disk replacement;

FIG. 61 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a dialog box displayed on the monitor during disk organization (deletion of unnecessary data);

FIG. 62 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a dialog box for notifying a user of elapse of a disk replacement time or the like when the user manually changes a disk;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 5: Remote controller; 6: Monitor; 8: Speaker; 10: Recordable / playable optical disk (DVD-RAM or DVD-R); 11: Cartridge (for DVD-RAM); 14: Transparent substrate (polycarbonate); Light-reflective layer 17 Recording layer 19 Reading surface 20 Adhesive layer 22 Center hole 24 Clamping area 25 Information area 26 Lead-out area 27 Lead-in area 28 Data Recording area; 30 ... microcomputer block (MPU / ROM)
/ RAM); 32: Disk drive; 34: Temporary storage unit; 36: Data processor; 38: System time counter STC; 42: AV input unit; 44: TV tuner (terrestrial / satellite tuner); 46: AV output 48: DVD video recorder display (liquid crystal or fluorescent display panel); 50: encoder; 52: ADC; 53: video encoder; 54: audio encoder; 55: sub-picture encoder; 56: formatter; 60: Decoder section; 62: Separator; 63: Memory; 64: Video decoder; 65: Sub-picture decoder; 66: Video DAC; 68: Audio decoder; 69: Audio DAC; Structure area; 71 ... DVD E: 72: video title set VTS # n; 73: other recording area; 74A: video manager file; 74B: video title set file; 75: video manager information VMGI; 82: video object set VOBS; 83: video object VOB 85: Video object unit VOBU; 86: Navigation pack; 88: Video pack; 89: Dummy pack; 90: Sub-picture pack; 91: Audio pack; 94: Video title set information VTSI; 110, 881, 891, 901, 911: Pack header; 111: System header; 112B, 114B: Substream ID; 112, 112A, 114, 114A, 892: Packet 115 PCI data; 115 PCI packet; 117 DSI packet; 200 DVD video recorder main body; 202 disk tray entrance; 882 video packet; 890 padding packet; 902: audio packet; 1000: personal computer hardware; 1002: bus; 1004: main CPU (main MPU); 1006: cache memory; 1008: BIOS ROM; ... Video memory; 1014 ... Skudge interface; 1018 ... Hard disk drive; 1020 ... DVD-ROM / DVD-RAM compatible drive; 1022 ... Floppy Disk drive; 1024: Keyboard I / O; 1026: Mouse I / O; 1028: Communication I / O; Video I / O; 1034 ... Audio I / O.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Jin Otomo 70 Yanagimachi, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Toshiba Yanagimachi Plant Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takahiro Kiyota 3-3-9, Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Abu.E.

Claims (52)

[Claims] 1. A digital information recording medium for performing digital information recording on the premise of a variable recording rate, having a limited storage capacity and having information indicating a recordable free space. . 2. A digital information recording method based on a variable recording rate, which has a limited storage capacity and has information indicating a recordable remaining capacity remaining after information recording. Digital information recording medium. 3. A digital recording device, wherein when digital recording is performed on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable recording rate, the remaining recording time is notified or displayed. Information recording and playback system. 4. When digital recording is performed on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable recording rate, it is possible to notify or display the remaining recording time together with the average recording rate in use. A digital information recording / reproducing system characterized by comprising. 5. A variable recording rate digital information recording / reproducing system which is adapted to adapt recording quality and recordable time on a digital recording medium by changing a variable recording rate. 6. A variable recording rate, wherein an average recording rate for recording said program is changed according to a remaining capacity of a recording medium so that all programs of a predetermined time length can be recorded. Digital information recording and playback system. 7. An average recording rate for recording the unrecorded programs according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium, the number of unrecorded programs, and their required time so that a predetermined number of programs can all be recorded. A variable recording rate digital information recording / reproducing system characterized by comprising. 8. A digital recording medium having reproduced information capable of specifying an information portion which has been reproduced in the past among recorded information. 9. A digital recording medium having archive information capable of specifying an information portion to be stored among recorded information. 10. The digital recording medium according to claim 9, wherein said archive information is constituted by a rewritable flag. 11. An information part which has been reproduced in the past, among information recorded on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity, is automatically detected based on the reproduced information. A digital information recording / reproducing system using the medium according to claim 8. 12. When the recording capacity becomes insufficient while recording information on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity, the reproduced information portion detected by the automatic detection is released as a new recording area, The digital information recording / reproducing system according to claim 11, wherein a recordable time is extended. 13. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recordable time on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity is extended by deleting recording information to which a flag indicating that deletion is possible. Digital information recording and playback system. 14. A digital recording system wherein a predetermined unit of digital moving image information is recorded at a variable rate, and dummy information usable for editing recorded information is further recorded in a unit corresponding to the predetermined unit. recoding media. 15. The digital recording medium according to claim 14, wherein the dummy pack includes a pack header and a padding packet. 16. The digital recording medium according to claim 15, wherein said padding packet is composed of a packet header having a predetermined identifier and padding data as invalid data. 17. A digital recording medium on which a predetermined unit of digital moving picture information is recorded at a variable rate, is configured such that a predetermined ratio of a reserved capacity to a recordable capacity remaining on the recording medium can be stored. A digital recording medium characterized by the following. 18. The digital recording according to claim 17, wherein the recording medium has a plurality of divided recording zones, and each of these recording zones is provided with a free space for the reserve capacity. Medium. 19. Digital information recording wherein digital moving picture information is recorded on a recording medium at a variable rate, and dummy information which can be used for editing recorded information is additionally recorded after the recording. Reproduction system. 20. When the recording capacity becomes insufficient during recording of moving image information on the digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity, the recording of the dummy information is stopped or stopped so that the dummy information recording scheduled portion is 20. The digital information recording / reproducing system according to claim 19, wherein the digital information recording / reproducing system is configured to extend a recordable time of the digital moving image information by releasing as a new recording area. 21. When recording information becomes insufficient at a variable rate on a digital recording medium having a limited storage capacity, recording on another information recording medium is continued within a predetermined time. A digital information recording / reproducing system characterized by comprising. 22. A remote controller used for a digital information recording / reproducing system, comprising an operation key for instructing a change of a variable recording rate. 23. The digital camera according to claim 22, further comprising an operation key for notifying or displaying how long recording can be performed when digital recording is performed at the variable recording rate. Remote controller. 24. When digital recording is performed at the variable recording rate, an operation key for notifying or displaying the remaining recording time together with the average recording rate in use is further provided. Do
The remote controller according to claim 22. 25. As a result of recording information on a medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable recording rate, when the free space remaining on the medium falls below a predetermined value, said free space and said variable recording rate A process of calculating a remaining time recordable on the medium based on the above; and a process of displaying the remaining time at the variable recording rate together with the variable recording rate from a result of the remaining time calculation process. Computer readable program. 26. When a recordable free space is left on a medium having a limited storage capacity and recording information at a variable recording rate, said free space and the length of information to be recorded therein. A computer readable program comprising: a process of calculating an average recording rate for the medium based on the program; and a process of setting the calculated average recording rate as a recording rate for the free space. 27. When information is recorded for a predetermined time on a medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable recording rate, when the free space remaining on the medium becomes insufficient, the free space and the information recording time are reduced. Computer-readable processing comprising: a step of discontinuously or stepwise reducing an average recording rate for the medium based on the following: and a step of setting the reduced average recording rate as a recording rate for the free space. Possible programs. 28. When recording information for a predetermined time on a medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable recording rate, an average recording rate for the medium based on the remaining capacity and the information recording time of the medium. Calculating a first average recording rate; calculating a first average recording rate; when the calculated average recording rate is smaller than a predetermined lower limit, changing the recording content of the information; A second average recording rate calculation process for calculating an average recording rate for the medium based on the obtained remaining capacity; and an average recording rate calculated by the first or second average recording rate calculation process is equal to or more than a predetermined lower limit value. And setting the calculated average recording rate as the recording rate of the recorded content of the information with respect to the remaining capacity. Yuta readable program. 29. When performing digital moving image recording at a variable recording rate on a medium having a limited storage capacity, if the remaining capacity remaining on the medium is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the digital moving image recording is performed based on the MPEG2 standard. Performing digital moving image recording at a variable recording rate on the medium; and performing the digital moving image recording based on the MPEG1 standard when the remaining capacity of the medium falls below the predetermined value. A computer-readable program characterized by the following. 30. A process for recording dummy information together with predetermined information to be recorded when the remaining recordable capacity remaining on a medium having a limited storage capacity is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; A process of stopping recording of the dummy information when the remaining recordable capacity falls below the predetermined value. 31. Applied to a recording medium in which a management area including reproduced information capable of specifying an information portion which has been reproduced in the past of recorded information is stored. A computer-readable program comprising a process of setting the reproduced information corresponding to the specific information to an unreproduced state after recording of the information is completed. 32. Applied to a recording medium in which a management area including reproduced information which can specify an information portion which has been reproduced in the past of recorded information is stored, and A computer-readable program comprising a step of, after the reproduction of an information part, setting the reproduced information corresponding to the information part to a reproduced state. 33. Applied to a recording medium in which a management area including archive information capable of specifying an information portion to be permanently stored among recorded information is stored, wherein the information area corresponding to a specific information portion is stored. A computer-readable program including a process for setting archive information to a free state that is not permanent storage. 34. Applied to a recording medium in which a management area including archive information capable of specifying an information portion to be permanently stored of recorded information is stored, wherein the information area corresponding to the specific information portion is stored. A computer-readable program comprising a process of setting archive information to a permanent storage state. 35. Applied to a recording medium in which a management area including reproduced information which can specify an information portion which has been reproduced in the past of recorded information is stored, and A computer comprising: a process of confirming the content of the reproduced information included in a management area; and a process of selectively deleting an information portion in which the reproduced information is set to a reproduced state. A readable program. 36. A management area including reproduced information which can specify an information portion which has been reproduced in the past of recorded information and archive information which can specify an information portion which is to be permanently saved among the recorded information. A process for confirming the contents of the reproduced information and the contents of the archive information included in the management area of the recording medium, wherein the reproduced information is in a reproduced state. And a process for selectively deleting an information portion in which the archive information is not set to a permanent storage state. 37. One or more digital information recording media having a limited storage capacity and having management information indicating a recordable free space or a recordable remaining capacity remaining after information recording, A process of exchanging a medium used for recording from the first digital information recording medium to the second digital information recording medium when the first digital information recording medium is becoming incapable of further recording. Checking whether or not the medium exchange from the first digital information recording medium to the second digital information recording medium has been completed within a predetermined time; and the medium used for recording is the second digital information recording After being exchanged for the medium within the predetermined time, the management information of the second digital information recording medium is checked, and an empty space recordable on the second digital information recording medium is checked. Determining a write address for writing to the second digital information recording medium if there is sufficient capacity. 38. Applied to a recording medium in which a management area including reproduced information capable of specifying an information portion which has been reproduced in the past of recorded information is stored, and After the reproduction of the information portion is completed, a process of setting the reproduced information corresponding to the information portion to a reproduced state; and a result of performing information recording on the recording medium having a limited storage capacity at a variable recording rate; Calculating a remaining time recordable on the medium based on the free space and the variable recording rate when the free space remaining on the medium falls below a predetermined value. Computer readable program. 39. Applied to a recording medium in which a management area including archive information capable of specifying an information portion to be permanently stored among recorded information is stored, and wherein said management area corresponding to a specific information portion is stored. Processing for setting the archive information to a free state that is not permanent storage; as a result of performing information recording at a variable recording rate on the recording medium having a limited storage capacity, the free space remaining on the medium becomes a predetermined value; Calculating a remaining recordable time on the medium based on the free space and the variable recording rate when the power is cut off. 40. Digital information recording based on a variable recording rate is performed, which has limited storage capacity, non-rewritable information indicating a recordable free space, and recordable information remaining after information recording. A digital information recording disk having at least one of information indicating a remaining capacity. 41. Digital information recording on the premise of a variable recording rate, which has a limited storage capacity and indicates information indicating a recordable free space or a recordable remainder remaining after information recording. A disk drive for reading and writing information from and to a digital information recording disk having information indicating a capacity; a microcomputer; a main memory; A computer system comprising: a processing board for recording; and a bus connecting the microcomputer, main memory, disk drive, and processing board. 42. The digital information recording medium is an optical disk having a lead-in area on an inner periphery; the lead-in area includes control data in which physical format information of the optical disk is described; 2. The digital information recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising a description of a free space of the optical disk. 43. The digital information recording medium according to claim 42, wherein said physical format information includes a description of a minimum read rate of information recorded on said optical disc. 44. The physical format information includes a description of the disk structure of the optical disk, and the description of the disk structure includes a description of the number of recording layers and the type of recording layers of the optical disk. The digital information recording medium according to claim 42 or 43. 45. An apparatus for recording moving pictures compressed by MPEG on a recordable optical disc, wherein moving picture information recorded on the optical disc at a variable bit rate is stored in a pack having the following data structure: (A) The optical disk has a lead-in area on the inner periphery and includes a video area on the outer periphery; (B) The video area has one area corresponding to a recording program.
The data file called the video title set,
A data file called a video manager storing information for managing these video title sets; (C) the video title set includes cell data constituting at least a part of the contents of the recording program; (D) The video object unit includes one or more packs having a fixed data size, and at least one of the packs is recorded at the variable bit rate. Includes video information. 46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the lead-in area includes at least physical format information in which free space information of the optical disc is written. 47. The system according to claim 45, wherein the video manager includes a video manager management information table in which free space information of the optical disc after recording is written. 48. The video title set includes a video title set information management table in which information for preventing the contents of the video title set from being erased can be written.
The system according to claim 1. 49. The video title set includes a video title set information management table in which information for determining whether or not the content of the video title set has been reproduced before can be written. 49. The system according to any one of claims 45 to 48. 50. Each of the one or more video object units always has a control pack called a navigation pack at the head thereof, and the navigation pack includes data that enables data retrieval in units of the video object units. 50. The system according to any one of claims 45 to 49, comprising search information. 51. Unused digital moving picture information recording based on a variable recording rate, having a limited storage capacity, and wherein the following directory structure is pre-formatted in advance: Recordable optical disk in a state: a root directory including a subdirectory of one or more video title sets; a storage area of a management data file included in the subdirectory; and backup information of the management data file included in the subdirectory. A storage area for a backup file including; a storage area for a video data file included in the subdirectory and managed based on the description content of the management data file, for storing the digital moving image information. 52. The recordable optical disc according to claim 51, wherein the pre-formatted directory structure further includes the following files: included in the sub-directory, for storing predetermined menu information. Storage area for menu data files.