HK1142434B - Information storage medium storing management information of application executable from a plurality of storage media, and method and apparatus for executing the application - Google Patents

Description

Information storage medium storing management information of applications executable from a plurality of storage media and method and apparatus for executing applications

The present application is a divisional application of application No. 200680002182.X, entitled "information storage medium storing management information of applications executable from a plurality of storage media and method and apparatus for executing applications", filed on 2006, 1, 12, 2006 to the chinese intellectual property office.

Technical Field

An aspect of the present invention relates to reproduction of multimedia data recorded on an information storage medium, and more particularly, to an information storage medium storing management information of an application executable from a plurality of storage media, and a method and apparatus for executing an application based on the management information.

Background

Moving picture data recorded on a conventional recording medium, such as a DVD, a BD, etc., contains compression-encoded Audio Video (AV) data and navigation data required to control reproduction of the AV data.

In particular, the AV data includes an AV stream composed of video, audio, and/or subtitles encoded according to a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard. The AV data may further include additional information such as an encoding attribute of the AV stream or an entry point (entry point) for random reading, and a playlist, which is an object for arranging the order of reproducing moving pictures.

The navigation data includes navigation commands for controlling reproduction of AV data. Examples of the navigation command include a command to reproduce a playlist and a command to jump to another playlist. AV data can be reproduced with reference to navigation information recorded in a storage medium. Therefore, the user can watch a high-quality moving image (e.g., a movie).

Further, in addition to providing moving image data, application data having a program function is provided so as to allow interactive operation with a user. The application data may be executed in a title or titles contained in the information storage medium.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

However, when the content is too large to be stored in one information storage medium, the content is stored in a plurality of information storage media. For example, a series of contents or games using a plurality of stages may be stored in a plurality of information storage media. Therefore, it is necessary to execute applications from a plurality of information storage media and manage the applications.

Technical scheme

Aspects of the present invention provide an information storage medium storing management information of an application executable from a plurality of storage media, and a method and apparatus for executing an application based on the management information.

Advantageous effects

According to an aspect of the present invention, a run cycle (life cycle) of a disc unbound application (disc unbound application) is managed, thereby using applications that can be stored on different information storage media.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates data types recorded on an information storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a directory structure of the information storage medium of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 illustrates a run period of a BD-J application being executed during reproduction of a title;

FIG. 4 illustrates a run cycle of a BD-J application being executed from a plurality of information storage media;

FIG. 5 illustrates a message provided to a user when a new information storage medium is inserted into a reproducing apparatus during execution of the BD-J application illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A illustrates the structure of an Application Management Table (AMT) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B shows another AMT configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6C shows another AMT configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a relationship between a waiting time from ejection of a storage medium to insertion of a new storage medium and execution of a BD-J application;

fig. 8 is a block diagram of a reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of executing an application according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of executing an application from a plurality of information storage media, the method comprising: reading information regarding an identifier of a new information storage medium if the new information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus during execution of the application; and determining whether to continue executing the application based on the information, and continuing executing the application according to a result obtained by the determination.

The reading of the information on the identifier of the new information storage medium may include: information on an identifier of the new information storage medium is extracted.

The application may contain information on an identifier of an information storage medium capable of executing the application, and the determining whether to continue executing the application includes: comparing information about the identifier of the information storage medium included in the application with information about the identifier of the new information storage medium, and determining whether to continue execution of the application based on the comparison result.

The step of determining whether to continue executing the application may further include: if the information on the identifier of the information storage medium included in the application is the same as the information on the identifier of the new information storage medium, the reproduction of the application is maintained.

The step of determining whether to continue executing the application may further include: if the information about the identifier of the information storage medium included in the application is different from the information about the identifier of the new information storage medium, a user interface is provided that requires user reconfirmation.

The step of determining whether to continue executing the application may further include: information on identifiers of information storage media capable of executing applications is separately managed with reference to an Application Management Table (AMT) stored in the information storage medium, and when a new information storage medium is inserted into a reproducing apparatus, the identifier of the new information storage medium is compared with the AMT and it is determined whether to reproduce the application.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of executing an application from a plurality of information storage media, the method comprising: confirming whether a new information storage medium includes the same information on the application identifier as the executed application if the new information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus during the execution of the application; determining whether to continue executing the application based on a result obtained by the confirmation, and continuing executing the application according to a result obtained by the determination.

The step of determining whether to continue executing the application may include: if the new information storage medium includes the same information on the application identifier as the executed application, the execution of the application is continued.

The step of determining whether to continue executing the application may further include: if the new information storage medium does not include the same information on the application identifier as the executed application, a user interface is provided that requires user reconfirmation.

The step of determining whether to continue executing the application may further include: if the new information storage medium does not include the same information on the application identifier as the executed application, the application is terminated.

The confirming whether the new information storage medium includes the same information may include: confirming that the new information storage medium includes the same information on the application identifier as the information on the identifier of the executed application based on the AMT stored in the new information storage medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Application Management Table (AMT) for managing applications executed from a plurality of information storage media, the AMT comprising: an ID for identifying an application; information indicating whether the application is a disc-unbound application executed from a plurality of information storage media.

The AMT may further comprise: information on an identifier of an information storage medium capable of executing an application.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage medium storing an AMT for managing applications executed from a plurality of information storage media, wherein the AMT includes: an ID for identifying an application; information indicating whether the application is a disc-unbound application executed from a plurality of information storage media.

The AMT may further comprise: information on an identifier of an information storage medium capable of executing an application.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus of an information storage medium storing an application executed from a plurality of information storage media, the reproducing apparatus comprising: and an application manager for managing execution of the application and terminating the application when the information storage medium is ejected from the reproducing apparatus during execution of the application and a new information storage medium is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus for a predetermined time.

The application manager may forcibly terminate the application if a new information storage medium is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus within a predetermined time by measuring the system clock after the information storage medium is ejected from the reproducing apparatus.

The reproducing apparatus may further include: a module manager for providing a user interface so that a user can terminate an application and receive a user input through the user interface when the information storage medium is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus.

The module manager may further comprise: and a termination key for executing a command input through the user interface.

The module manager may map commands entered through the user interface to existing keys.

When no information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus, the module manager may cover keys included in the user interface related to the application.

When no information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus, the application manager may control the application not to access a local storage or a network of the reproducing apparatus.

Modes for carrying out the invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Fig. 1 illustrates data types recorded on an information storage medium 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 1, the information storage medium stores moving image data 110, application data 120 for program operation (hereinafter, referred to as application data), and system data 130.

The moving image data 110 for reproducing the moving image is referred to as core mode data (core mode data) or movie mode data (movie mode data). The moving picture data 110 includes AV data that is compression-encoded and navigation data for controlling reproduction of the AV data. Accordingly, AV data can be reproduced with reference to navigation data recorded on a storage medium, and a user can view a high-quality moving image (e.g., a movie).

The application data 120 for providing interactive operations with the user is referred to as full mode data (fullmode data). The application data 120 may provide various applications for providing games using moving images, an operation of displaying a director's comment when a partial moving image is reproduced, an operation of displaying additional information when a partial moving image is reproduced, or a chatting operation during reproduction of a moving image.

If the movie has been recorded on the information storage medium, movie-related information (such as latest news about actors who performed the movie, movie-related events, or updated subtitles) stored on a web page or in a database may be retrieved and reproduced together with the movie.

In order to execute an application program when reproducing a moving picture, the application data 120 may include an Application Program Interface (API) operation for a display engine that reproduces moving picture information. The application data 120 is implemented using a program language such as C or JAVA. For example, the present invention will describe JAVA applications (e.g., xlets).

The system data 130 includes start-up information, title information, and application management information 131. The start-up information includes information on a position of data to be first reproduced by the reproducing apparatus. The title information includes information on items and attributes of data operated when each title is reproduced.

The information storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention includes application data 120 for program operation in addition to moving image data 110, thereby reproducing moving images and providing various interactive operations to a user.

Fig. 2 illustrates a directory structure of an information storage medium recorded in the data illustrated in fig. 1. Referring to fig. 2, a BDMV directory below a root (root) directory stores high-quality moving picture data 110 and system data 130, and includes an index table (index table), a movie object, a playlist directory, a clip information directory, a clip AV stream directory, and an auxiliary data directory. Further, the BD-J application directory below the root directory stores application data 120 for program operations, and includes an application Identification (ID) directory and an actual data directory of the application.

More specifically, the system data 130 is stored with a file name' index. The movie object including navigation data is stored with a file name' movie object. Also, a PLAYLIST, which is a reproduction unit of a moving image, is stored under the PLAYLIST directory with a file name having five digits and an extension. The clip AV STREAM is stored under the STREAM directory with a file name of five digits and extension m2 ts. In particular, a clip information file corresponding to a clip AV stream file has the same five numerals as the clip AV stream file and a different extension from the clip AV stream file. Auxiliary data, such as font files for text subtitles, is stored in the AUXDATA directory.

Jar 'is stored in the APP #1 directory indicating information on an application identifier with a file name' aa. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of applications may be stored with file names such as 'aa.jar', 'bb.jar', etc. in APP #1 directory and APP #2 directory, etc. indicating information on identifiers of the plurality of applications.

Fig. 3 illustrates a run period of a BD-J application being executed during reproduction of a title. Referring to fig. 3, during reproduction of a title, applications that operate in the BD-J mode and are separated according to the title so as to be used as a reproduction unit in an information storage medium are executed and terminated.

An Application Management Table (AMT) is used to manage the running period of an application according to a title. Applications not defined in the AMT cannot be executed during reproduction of the title. Therefore, when a specific title is converted into another title, the application defined in the AMT having the run period of the specific title is automatically terminated.

However, when the title currently being reproduced is converted into another title, the execution of the applications 1(310), 4(340), and 5(350) is continued. Application 1(310), application 4(340), and application 5(350) are title unbound applications. Since the title-unbound applications are registered in the AMT together with the plurality of titles, the title-unbound applications continue to be executed even when one title is terminated.

Fig. 4 illustrates a run cycle of a BD-J application being executed from a plurality of information storage media. According to fig. 4, one content is recorded in a plurality of information storage media (e.g., discs), and thereafter, an application is executed from the plurality of information storage media. The application is a disc unbound application. The disc-unbound application is required to share one application by a plurality of information storage media associated with each other in content.

For example, when one item of moving image data is recorded in a plurality of discs, a game application is provided as an application of the moving image data. In this regard, when a game application is executed from the disc 1 while the disc 2 is reproduced as necessary, it is difficult to handle the game application being executed.

Disc unbound applications have the following problems, while title unbound applications are different and do not. Referring to fig. 4, an application 410 is a disc-unbound application executed from disc a and disc B. In this regard, a cross-disk run period must be maintained in order to execute the application 410 from a plurality of authenticated information storage media. However, when the disc a is not changed and the disc B is replaced by a new information storage medium inserted by the user into the reproducing apparatus by mistake, the application 410 is terminated and another application defined by the new information storage medium is executed. That is, reproduction of the disc-unbound application is not guaranteed. Therefore, unlike the title-unbound application, the disc-unbound application must carefully check (double check) whether an information storage medium that is not desired to be inserted has been inserted into the reproducing apparatus.

Fig. 5 illustrates messages provided to a user when a new information storage medium is inserted into a reproducing apparatus during execution of the BD-J application illustrated in fig. 4. Referring to fig. 5, in order to solve the problem of an undesired information storage medium being inserted into a reproducing apparatus, when a new information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus during the execution of a disc-unbound application, a message is provided to a user without terminating the disc-unbound application. Accordingly, when the information storage medium is exchanged during the execution of the disc-unbound application, the reproduction of the disc-unbound application is guaranteed.

More specifically, various methods of providing a message to a user will now be described. A first method comprises providing information for handling a disc-unbound application. A second method includes providing information to handle a disk unbound application in an AMT of disks.

The first method uses information about an identifier of an information storage medium. That is, the manufacturer inserts a specific program in advance to handle the disc unbound application. When a new information storage medium is inserted into a reproducing apparatus during execution of a disc-unbound application, the disc-unbound application reads unique information about an identifier (e.g., a disc ID) of the new information storage medium. Further, the disc-unbound application compares the read information on the identifier with unique information on an identifier of an information storage medium in which an application registered in the disc-unbound application can be executed, and provides a user interface based on a result obtained by the comparison.

In detail, if the information about the identifiers of the information storage media are identical to each other, the user interface illustrated in fig. 5 is not provided to the user. But continues to reproduce the application. However, if the information on the identifiers of the information storage media are different from each other, the user interface shown in fig. 5 is provided to the user in order to prompt the user to insert the information storage media in the reproducing apparatus.

The second method uses information on an information storage medium identifier or information on an application identifier as information for processing an application. In detail, when a new information storage medium is inserted into a reproducing apparatus during the execution of a disc-unbound application, it is determined whether to execute the disc-unbound application based on the AMT according to the present invention recorded in the information storage medium.

Various AMTs may be implemented according to aspects of the present invention.

Fig. 6A shows the structure of an AMT according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 6A, the AMT related to one title includes information on an application identifier, information on whether the application is a disc-unbound application, and if the application is a disc-unbound application, the AMT further includes disc-unbound information including information on an identifier of an information storage medium in which the disc-unbound application is effectively executed.

Fig. 6B shows another structure of the AMT according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 6B, the AMT associated with one title includes information on the type of application, information on the application identifier, and the title of the application being efficiently executed, or information on the disc identifier. The information on the application type refers to information on whether the application is a title-dependent application, a title-unbound application, or a disc-unbound application.

The embodiment shown in fig. 6A and 6B includes unique information on an information storage medium identifier in order to efficiently execute a disc-unbound application. Accordingly, when the disc-unbound application is operated, the reproducing apparatus separately manages information on the information storage medium identifier that effectively executes the application defined in the AMT. When a new information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus reads information about an identifier of a previously inserted information storage medium and compares the read information with information about an information storage medium in which an application can be efficiently executed. If the information of the media are identical to each other, the reproducing apparatus does not provide a user interface to the user, but continuously reproduces the disc-unbound application. If the information of the media are different from each other, the reproducing apparatus provides the user with the user interface shown in FIG. 5.

Fig. 6C shows the structure of another AMT according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 6C, the AMT associated with one title includes information on an application identifier and information on whether the application is a disc-unbound application. The AMT does not include information on an information storage medium in which a disc-unbound application can be efficiently executed.

Unlike the AMT shown in fig. 6A and 6B, information on an information storage medium that effectively executes a disk unbound application is not included in the AMT.

When a new information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus during the execution of the disc-unbound application, the reproducing apparatus reads information on the AMT recorded in the new information storage medium. The reproducing apparatus confirms whether the AMT includes the same information on the identifier of the application as the disc-unbound application. If the AMT includes the same information on the identifier of the application as the disc-unbound application, the reproducing apparatus continues to execute the application. If the AMT does not include the same information on the identifier of the application as the disc-unbound application, the reproducing apparatus provides the user with the user interface shown in FIG. 5 or terminates the disc-unbound application.

Fig. 7 shows the relationship between the latency 610 from the ejection of a storage medium to the insertion of a new storage medium and the execution of a BD-J application. Referring to fig. 7, the disc-unbound application requires a predetermined time (e.g., a waiting time 610) in order to insert a different information storage medium into the reproducing apparatus. During the waiting time 610, the information storage medium is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus, but a specific disc-unbound application is executed. When the executable disc unbound application accesses the local storage of the reproducing apparatus or accesses the website of the manufacturing enterprise through the network during the waiting time 610, the access security may be unreliable. When the wait time 610 is allowed to continue indefinitely, the application is continued to be executed without requiring the user to purchase the information storage medium. Accordingly, the reproducing apparatus according to aspects of the present invention may have the following operations.

First, if a waiting time 610 required to execute a specific application without an information storage medium exceeds a predetermined time, a disc-unbound application may be terminated. In this regard, the application manufacturer may be programmed such that if the wait time 610 exceeds a predetermined time, the particular application automatically terminates. Further, if the disc B is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus within a predetermined time by measuring the system clock after the disc a is ejected from the reproducing apparatus, the application manufacturer may be programmed so that a specific application is forcibly terminated.

Second, a user input key for forcibly terminating the disc-unbound application and a user operation for the user input key are provided to the user input means of the reproducing apparatus. The user ejects the disc a and continues to execute the disc-unbound application without inserting a new information storage medium in the reproducing apparatus. Further, when the user ejects the disc a and desires to execute an application from the information storage medium unrelated to the disc unbound application, if the reproducing apparatus displays the user interface shown in fig. 5, the user may not be able to appropriately execute the new application.

Accordingly, the user can terminate the application using the user input key in order to forcibly terminate the disc-unbound application. Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user input device may provide a user operation to terminate the application using an existing key without inputting a key by the user. For example, the user may terminate the disk unbound application by clicking the stop key twice.

Third, during the waiting time 610, when no information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus may prevent the executable disc-unbound application from accessing the local storage of the reproducing apparatus and the website of a specific manufacturer. If such a rule is not set, the local storage of the reproduction device and the website of a specific manufacturer can be accessed. Here, when the information storage medium contains a bad disc-unbound application, access security cannot be ensured. Accordingly, when the disc-unbound application requires material on the local storage and the web site, the reproducing apparatus confirms whether the information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus, and if the information storage medium is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus, the request of the disc-unbound application can be ignored.

Fourth, the reproduction device may cover such keys so that the user cannot operate the keys: which is included in the user interface and is related to the executable disc-unbound application when no information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus during the waiting time 610. This prevents the disc-unbound application from accessing the local storage of the reproducing apparatus and a specific manufacturer's website using a bad information storage medium, or, when the disc is exchanged during execution of a game application including moving image data, from being terminated by erroneously clicking a key provided in the user interface.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 8, the reproducing apparatus includes: a reader 710 for reading data from the information storage medium 700; buffers 720 to 723 temporarily storing the read data; and reproducers 725 through 734, which are engines for reproducing the buffered data.

The reproducer includes: a module manager 733 controlling the navigation engine 731 by reading system data and processing title change or navigation change made by initial execution and user selection; a navigation engine 731 controlling reproduction of a moving image based on the content of the navigation data; a display engine 732 that decodes the moving image data and outputs the decoded moving image; and a program engine 730 for executing an application program. For example, a JAVA virtual machine executing a JAVA application and a browser engine executing an HTML application are required to reproduce the JAVA and HTML applications.

The reproducer further includes: the mixer 734 superimposes a result obtained by executing the application program of the program engine 730 and a result obtained by reproducing the moving image data of the display engine 732. The mixer 734 then forms a screen. Further, the program engine 730 may include: the application manager 725 controls the execution of application programs using application objects to provide program operations.

The application manager 725 manages execution of an application and terminates the application when an information storage medium is ejected from a reproducing apparatus during execution of the application and a new information storage medium is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus within a predetermined time. The application manager 725 controls the application not to access the local storage or network of the reproducing apparatus when a new information storage medium is not inserted into the reproducing apparatus. Detailed descriptions are provided with reference to fig. 4 through 7.

The reproducing apparatus further includes: the local storage 701 stores a program application downloaded from the information storage medium 700 or the external database 702. Accordingly, the module manager 733 forms a virtual file system shown in fig. 5 using data read from the information storage medium 700 and the local storage 701, and transfers reproduction control information to the program engine 730 and the navigation engine 731.

The module manager 733 provides a user interface so that a user can terminate an application when no information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus. For example, the user interface may provide an end key to execute a command for performing user input and map the command to an existing key.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of executing an application according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 9, if a disc is ejected and a new disc is inserted, a disc unbound application is reproduced and information on an identifier of the new disc is read (operation 810). Based on the information, it is determined whether to continue executing the disc-unbound application (operation 820). The method of determining whether to continue executing the disc-unbound application has been described with reference to fig. 4 to 7.

An aspect of the present invention can also be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that stores data, which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims (4)

1. A reproducing apparatus for executing a disc-unbound application from a plurality of information storage media, the apparatus comprising:

a reader configured to read data from an information storage medium;

an application manager configured to execute a disc-unbound application read from an information storage medium by a reader, and manage execution of the disc-unbound application;

wherein the reader is further configured to read information on an application management table including information on an identifier of the application when a new information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus during execution of the disc-unbound application, and the application manager is further configured to: the application manager continues to execute the disc-unbound application if the application management table of the new information storage medium includes information on an identifier of the same application as the disc-unbound application, and does not execute the disc-unbound application if the application management table of the new information storage medium does not include information on an identifier of the same application as the disc-unbound application.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application manager extracts information on an identifier of a new information storage medium.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an application management table is stored in the information storage medium and includes an identifier of the information storage medium on which the application can be executed, wherein the application manager compares information on the identifier of the information storage medium included in the application management table with information on the identifier of the new information storage medium and determines whether to continue to execute the application based on a result of the comparison; if the information on the identifier of the information storage medium included in the application management table is the same as the information on the identifier of the new information storage medium, the application manager continues to execute the application; the application manager provides a user interface requiring user reconfirmation if information on the identifier of the information storage medium included in the application management table is different from information on the identifier of the new information storage medium.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application manager individually manages information regarding identifiers of information storage media capable of executing the applications with reference to an application management table stored in the information storage media, such that when a new information storage medium is inserted into the reproducing apparatus, the identifier of the new information storage medium is compared with the application management table, and the application manager determines whether to execute the applications.