JP2002369154A - Video playback device, video playback method, video playback program, and package media for digital video content - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a technology for adding new added value to content and a technology for managing the added value of content. SOLUTION: The video reproducing apparatus of the present invention reproduces package media. The package medium includes video content for storing video data and playback control information, and an extended application using the video content. This video reproducing apparatus operates as one software, middleware for absorbing a difference in function corresponding to the type of the OS, and operates on the middleware to reproduce video content as software held and executed in an internal memory. And a player application. The middleware has a class library including a tool for reproducing a player application and a tool for executing the player application. The player application plays the video content via the tool. The extension application is executed via the tool.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a package medium storing digital video contents such as a movie,
The present invention relates to a video playback device, a video playback method, and a video playback program. In particular, E, a technology for replacing DVDs
Regarding the package.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art (Package Business) First, the transition of the package business will be described. FIG. 1 shows the distribution form of the package business at present and in the future.
As shown in FIG. 1, distribution of a package business is how to provide content such as a movie possessed by a content provider to a user.

[0003] In recent years, contents such as movies have been provided to users from content providers via DVDs. DVD compared to traditional video cassette distribution
The company was able to significantly improve the efficiency of the distribution business by reducing manufacturing costs by using stampers, reducing transport costs by using small spaces, and reducing exhibition space in stores. DVDs have added values such as high image quality, high sound quality, random access functions, and interactive functions such as multi-angles, and have great merits as compared with video cassettes.

Next, the value of the content will be described.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the value of the content. Conventional video cassettes record titles linearly on tape. In other words, like a movie theater, it is a medium that supplies the movie itself, and has no further value. DVD is not only worth the movie itself,
It has added value such as interactive functions such as multi-angle and multi-story, title selection and random access from menus, and multilingual support for audio and subtitles.

[0005] The value of content is reduced by various factors. For example, music has "fashion".
Many music contents change their fashion over time and their value is significantly reduced. Movies also tend to do so. On the other hand, movies contain "story". Viewers who want to know the story will see more. vice versa,
For viewers who have learned about the story, their motivation to continue is diminished. That is, the value of the content decreases for each individual. This is why many people listen to the same music every day while few people watch the same movie every day. Statistically speaking, as more people watch a movie, the value of the content in the market gradually decreases.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the value of the content on the time axis and the movie business according to the value. The horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates content value. Movies have a unique business model called time shift. The movie is first shown in the cinema,
Thereafter, it is sold to individuals as package software such as DVDs. Then, it is provided for pay viewing called Pay Per View by using satellite broadcasting or Capele TV, and finally provided for free broadcasting by a terrestrial broadcasting station. Terrestrial broadcasting, of course, allows individuals to watch for free, but this is supported by advertising revenue from corporate sponsors.

(Example of DVD) Here, a technology for supporting a conventional package business will be described using a DVD as an example. Unless otherwise specified, DVD referred to in the text refers to a DVD-ROM, that is, a read-only disc, and does not refer to a recordable / playable disc such as a DVD-RAM.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of data recorded on a DVD. A DVD disk has a recording area of about 4.7 GB (gigabytes). Following an area called lead-in for stably rotating the servo of the DVD drive,
A logical address space for recording a binary value “0” or “1” follows, followed by a lead-out area indicating the end of the disc recording area.

In the logical address space, there is a file system area, and subsequently, navigation data describing AV data and movie scenarios is recorded. The file system is a system for managing data as files and directories (folders), and all AV data and navigation data recorded on a DVD disc can be handled as respective directories and files through the file system.

As shown in FIG. 4, on a DVD disk, a directory for storing a DVD video title called “VIDEO_TS” is located immediately below a root directory. In this directory, “VIDEO_TS.IFO”, “VIDEO_TS.IFO” that records navigation information for realizing scenario management and interactivity
TS_01_0. A file such as “IFO” and a file “VTS — 01 — 0.VOB” that records AV data are placed.

As AV data, ISO / IEC13
818 (MPEG) compliant stream is recorded. In a DVD, one MPEG stream is called a VOB, and a plurality of VOBs are recorded in a file having the extension “.VOB”. A plurality of VOBs are one V in order
It is recorded in the OB file, but the VOB file is 1
If the data exceeds GB, the data is divided into a plurality of VOB files at the boundary of 1 GB and recorded.

The navigation information is broadly classified into information for managing the entire disc called "VMGI" and information about each title called "VTSI".
The “VTSI” includes “PGC information” having “Cell” in which a part or all of “VOB (MPEG stream)” is one playback unit. "C
"ell" defines a playback sequence. What is important here is that "Cell" uses a part of or all of "VOB" to indicate address information based on the logical address space.

For example, in the case of an HDD (hard disk drive) on a computer, files are recorded, edited,
Since erasure is performed repeatedly, there is no guarantee that the same file is always recorded at the same location on the HDD. The biggest feature of the file system is that the file is H
Regardless of where the file is recorded on the DD, the application can handle the file in the same manner.

[0014] DVD is intended to integrate AV and PC.
It has a data structure that is conscious of logical addresses while mounting a file system. The performance of consumer AV equipment is far from PC. In particular, the performance at the time of the appearance of DVD was even threatened with the mounting of a file system. However, DVDs are expected to be used not only in consumer devices but also in PCs. In fact, it is not uncommon for recent PC products to be equipped with a DVD playback function.

That is, the DVD has been desired to have both a realistic performance as a consumer device and an access from a PC.
For this reason, DVDs were designed so that PCs can access data through a file system, while consumer AV devices without a file system function can access data on a logical address basis. Thus, DVD has gained widespread support for both consumer devices and PCs.

[0016]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] (Problems of the DVD standard)
FIG. 1 illustrates current and future distribution forms of the package business. As shown in FIG. 1, due to the explosive spread of the Internet and the practical use of digital broadcasting, the distribution of packages is no longer limited to the method using physical disks.

Some content has already been streamed over the Internet. In recent years, a set-top box (STB) equipped with a hard disk drive (HDD) as a temporary storage medium has appeared. Digital broadcasts are stored in this hard disk drive and can be viewed later. In this way, the environment for conducting the content business is changing dramatically.

[0018] The distribution of movie contents is also considered to shift from distribution through physical media such as DVDs to electronic distribution using digital broadcast waves and the Internet.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of AV equipment in a home. The environment surrounding AV equipment has been greatly changed by the Internet and digital broadcasting. For example, a connection between devices such as an Internet connection of AV devices and a connection between a set-top box (STB) for receiving digital broadcasting and a recorder or a television, that is, a home network is essential.

In particular, the content distribution by digital broadcasting is not a pull type which responds to a request from a user like the Internet, but a push type which unilaterally sends data. That is, the content is unilaterally delivered to all viewers. In this case, a system for preventing the copyright of the content is required. The copyright protection system uses encryption technology and its system technology DRM (Digital
Light management).

The next required technology is a technology for managing the value of the content. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a value added method which is more advanced than the existing DVD, and a value management method of the content according to the time and the distribution situation like the time shift model shown in FIG. 3 are required. . Since existing DVDs are based on sell-out (sel-through) of disks, they do not have a structure in which new added value can be added or managed.

(Problems of Content Distribution) One of the problems of content distribution is the instability of digital broadcasting systems. In Japan, CS digital broadcasting and BS digital broadcasting have been put into practical use, and a new satellite broadcasting called CS110 ° and terrestrial digital broadcasting are about to begin. In Europe, there are different digital broadcasting systems in each country.
(Digital Video Broadcasting) system is moving toward unification. However, this DVB system is different from the Japanese system. A unique system called ATS is also being studied in North America.

In digital broadcasting, the system differs from region to region in a more complicated manner than the current analog broadcasting NTSC, PAL, and the like. For this reason, in the case of contents that cover the whole world, such as movies, authoring is required for each region, and production costs are expected to rise.

As one of the solutions, a worldwide unified electronic distribution package for electronically distributing contents equivalent to a DVD can be considered. However, if this electronic distribution package is replaced with paid broadcasting or free terrestrial broadcasting as it is, the same content as DVD can be enjoyed on free terrestrial broadcasting, which lowers the user's desire to purchase DVDs and collapses the DVD business. There is a risk of causing

Therefore, there is a need for a technique for adding a new added value according to the distribution time of the content and a technique for managing the added value such as, for example, setting restrictions on the reproduction and use of the content according to the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems "adding added value to contents" and "value management of contents according to timing and distribution form".
Specifically, it is to provide an E-package which is a technology for building a new content business corresponding to the network age.

[0027]

A video reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is a video reproducing apparatus for reproducing a package medium supplied from the outside, wherein the package medium comprises:
Video data, including video content that stores playback control information for controlling the playback of the video data in a predetermined data format, and extended application software that uses the video content, wherein the video playback device has an internal memory. As software that is held and executed in advance, one operating system selected from a plurality of types of operating systems, middleware that absorbs differences in functions corresponding to the types of the operating systems, and operates on the middleware, Player application software for playing the video content, wherein the middleware is used for the player application software to play the package media or execute the extended application software. A class library including a tool to be used, wherein the player application software uniformly reproduces the video content of the package media according to the predetermined format via the tool included in the class library of the middleware. Then, the extended application software is executed using the video content included in the same package medium via the tool included in the class library of the middleware.

This video reproducing apparatus reproduces the video contents of the E package. As the operating system, for example, Windows (registered trademark) by Microsoft Corporation, Mac OS (registered trademark) by Apple Inc., or freeware Linux can be used. Note that the operating system is not limited to the above, but includes an OS by each manufacturer. As the middleware, for example, Java (registered trademark) can be used. Even if the type of the operating system is different by the middleware, the difference in the function can be absorbed. Further, the player application software reproduces the video content of the package media. Further, the extended application software is, for example, a game application using the video content of the package media. The player application software and the extended application software operate on the middleware. The middleware has a class library including tools used when the application software plays and executes video contents. The tools included in the class library mean, for example, classes that implement various functions and their member functions. Further, the video reproduction system can be configured by executing software distributed via a network.

Further, the video reproducing apparatus manages reproduction status information, the reproduction control information of the package medium includes reproduction restriction information corresponding to the reproduction status information, and analyzes the reproduction control information. The extended application software invalidates one of the tools included in the class library of the middleware by comparing the reproduction restriction information in the reproduction control information with the reproduction status information.

A video reproducing method according to the present invention is a video reproducing method for reproducing an externally supplied package medium by a video reproducing apparatus, wherein the package medium controls video data and reproduction of the video data. A video content that stores playback control information in a predetermined data format, and extended application software that uses the video content, wherein the video playback method includes:
A step of reading one operating system selected from a plurality of types of operating systems into an internal memory of the video playback device and starting, and middleware for absorbing a difference in a function corresponding to the type of the operating system, Loading middleware having a class library including a tool used for playing or executing the package media by the application software operating on the middleware into the internal memory of the video playback device, and activating the middleware;
Loading the player application software that runs on the middleware and plays the video content into an internal memory of the video playback device, and launches the extended application software that runs on the middleware and uses the video content Loading into the internal memory of the video playback device, and activating the video content of the package media by the player application software through a tool included in the class library of the middleware. And executing by the extended application software using the video content via the tool included in the class library of the middleware. That and a step.

A video playback program according to the present invention is a video playback program for playing back package media supplied from the outside, wherein the package media includes video data, playback control information for controlling the playback of the video data, and Video content, and extended application software that uses the video content, wherein the video playback program is stored in advance in an internal memory and executed as a software from a plurality of types of operating systems. One selected operating system, middleware that absorbs a difference in function corresponding to the type of the operating system, and player application software that operates on the middleware and reproduces the video content. The middleware has a class library including tools used by the player application software to play the package media and execute the extended application software, and the player application software includes the middleware of the middleware. Via the tool included in the class library, the video content of the package media is uniformly played back according to the predetermined format, and the extended application software uses the video content included in the same package media. Then, the program is executed via the tool included in the class library of the middleware.

A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention stores the video reproduction program.

A package medium according to the present invention is a package medium supplied from outside to a video reproducing apparatus and reproduced by the video reproducing apparatus, wherein the package medium controls video data and reproduction of the video data. Playback control information to be stored in a predetermined data format, and extended application software that uses the video content, wherein the video playback device has a plurality of pieces of software stored and executed in advance in an internal memory. One operating system selected from the types of operating systems, middleware that absorbs differences in functions corresponding to the types of the operating systems, and player application software that operates on the middleware and reproduces the video content. Wherein the middleware has a class library including tools used by the player application software to play the package media and execute the extended application software, and the player application software includes the middleware. Via the tool included in the class library, uniformly reproduces the video content of the package media according to the predetermined format, and the extended application software includes the video content included in the same package media. Using the tool included in the class library of the middleware.

This package medium is an E-package having a high added value. That is, it is possible not only to reproduce the video content of the package medium with the player application software but also to execute the game application software using the video content in association with the video content. In this package medium, the playback control information may include scenario information that defines the playback order of the video data. further,
The reproduction control information may include reproduction level information that defines a level that restricts reproduction of video content and use of a game application.

[0035]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same components.

(New Business Form) As described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the value of movie contents decreases with time. Furthermore, in order to promote electronic distribution worldwide, it is necessary to change existing business models.

As shown in FIG. 2, the package media including digital video contents (hereinafter referred to as “E-package”) according to the embodiment of the present invention introduces an application comparable to a movie itself as an added value.
Thereby, the value of the package can be increased.
Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the value guided by the application is controlled, and the package is given a level so that the same title can be differentiated.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a package in which all applications can be used is "full package", a package in which use of some applications is restricted is "restricted package", and only movie contents are viewed. The value is controlled by setting a level as a "free package" for the package that has enabled.

In the package business shown in FIG. 3, a full package can be distributed in place of an existing DVD, a restricted package can be distributed in place of a pay broadcast, and a free package can be distributed in place of a free broadcast. In the present embodiment, description will be given only at three levels, but the package level is further subdivided,
You can also develop your distribution business in detail.

(Configuration of Various Standards) Referring to FIG. 9, typical media such as a CD (FIG. 9A) and a DVD (FIG. 9)
(B)) The configuration and outline of the standards of the DVB-MHP (FIG. 9C) and the E package (FIG. 9D) will be described. It should be noted that VHS is composed of physical characteristics and electric signals, and is significantly different from other standards having a data structure, so that the description of VHS is omitted.

The CD has a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz.
z and the TOC (Table Of
Content), which is index information for each track (song) called “Contents”. The CD player reads the TOC, receives a request from the user, for example, “playback of track 3”, reads out the data of the corresponding music piece, performs DA conversion, and plays it back.

Although not shown, the improved version of the CD, Vi
The deo CD includes an AV stream and a PSD (Programmable Seque) serving as an index thereof.
No. Descriptor) is recorded.
The Video CD player reads and decodes the corresponding AV stream according to the operation of the user, and reproduces it. The data structure of both CDs and Video CDs is standardized, and the playback device interprets and executes the data structure according to the standard.

The concept of a virtual machine has been introduced to DVD. This is a configuration having an arithmetic processing function and a register (dedicated memory), similarly to the CPU. The operation of the player differs depending on the operation of the user and the value of the register with respect to the scenario data described as the data structure.

To explain a simple example, the story can be divided according to whether a movie viewer is an "adult" or a "child under 18". This is a function called parental lock. As a result, sexual scenes and violence scenes in the movie are cut so as not to be shown to children. In addition, the story and angle can be changed depending on whether the user is male or female.

In the DVD, in addition to a static data structure, an operation model of a player (also referred to as a video playback device) is defined as a virtual machine as a standard. This absorbs differences in hardware and software platforms and player application software implementations between player manufacturers, and achieves compatibility between players.

Next, DVB-MHP (Digital
Video Broadcasting Multim
media home platform) will be described. DVB-MHP is a next-generation digital broadcasting standard that is being standardized in Europe. The greatest feature of this standard is that it uses middleware called Java (registered trademark).

[0047] Java is a registered trademark of Sun Micros in order to improve compatibility between platforms.
This is middleware proposed by systems. Jav
a (registered trademark) on a computer or device
The greatest feature is that all Java (registered trademark) applications can operate and the range of use of the application can be greatly expanded beyond the boundaries of the platform.

In Japan, NTT DoCoMo i-mode and Hav aiming at a network between AV devices
There is a movement to adopt Java (registered trademark) in i.

In the DVB-MHP, with the introduction of Java (registered trademark), an object class specialized in DVB-MHP, that is, an object class for processing a video program and a data broadcast program of a television broadcast and an interface thereof are defined.

The DVB-MHP is greatly different from the conventional standard in that a static data structure is not determined but an interface on middleware is defined as a standard.

For this reason, any application that can be created as a computer program can be used for the application. On the other hand, there is no system for creating applications. Therefore, the applications used are closer to computer games than AV systems such as music and movies, as compared to conventional content businesses.

In the E package of the present invention, DVB-MH
As with P, middleware is mounted so that various applications can operate on the player. However, in order to efficiently create the largest content called movies,
It is more convenient to have a conventional static data structure and a player behavior model such as a virtual machine.

Therefore, the E package of the present invention defines a static data structure and a player operation model for movie contents. The E-package also provides an interface to applications that increase the value of movie content.

(Player Model) FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a player model on middleware. The middleware used here is an object thinking programming language such as Java (registered trademark). Since many of the object thinking programming languages and their basic classes are publicized in books or on homepages on the Internet, details thereof, particularly processing in the class library, are omitted.

In the middleware of the E package, various functions such as titles and language settings are defined as classes and their member functions. An instance of each class is generated at the time of execution, and is accessed from an application such as a player application.

The class used here will be described briefly.
The ellipses in FIG. 10 indicate instances of each class.

The "Title class" is a class dedicated to the E package corresponding to each movie title. This class has scenario information such as chapters, AV data address information, interface information provided to an application, and the like.

All of this information is described in the reproduction control information file (lower part in the figure). The attribute described by the reproduction control information becomes the attribute of the object as it is. For example, the level attribute of a Title instance is
It is specified by the attribute level of the reproduction control information Title. Details will be described later.

The Title class has a member function (Methods) for reproduction control. For example, the reproduction of the title is performed by calling a “Play ()” function, and the reproduction stop is performed by calling a “Stop ()” function.

These member functions (Methods)
Also, its function is controlled by the reproduction control information. For example, the SetRate (special playback function) of the Title instance corresponds to <SETRATE le in the playback control information.
vel = ""> restricts the use of the function.
Details will be described later.

The "Audio class" is a class corresponding to an audio stream. This class is instantiated for each audio stream. An instance has stream attributes and language information. For example, the language information of the audio stream is <AUDIO
language = “Japanese”> to define the playback control information. This attribute value is
It can be extracted from the o instance by the member function getLang ().

The E package supports multi-languages like a DVD, and allows the user to select a desired audio stream. The player application receives the request from the user and sets the corresponding instance to Title.
Specify (set) to the class instance. At this time, as described above, the member function g of each Audio instance
Use etLang () to check the corresponding language, select an Audio instance that meets the user's request,
Specify (set) to an instance.

The “Subtilt class” is a class corresponding to a subtitle stream, and has almost the same function as the Audio class.

The "Socket class" is a class for communicating with other players (video playback devices), servers, and the like via a network.

The “Loader class” is a class that dynamically incorporates another application or the like. Load
The application dynamically incorporated by the er class is defined by the playback control information file. When reproducing another application using the player application, the Loader class is usually used. However, when an application having a player function is executed, it is not always necessary to call the Loader class.

The "Event class" is a class that generates an event trigger described in a scenario. For example, it can be used to display a dialog message to a user in the middle of a movie.

The "Cursor class" is a class for transmitting the cursor movement of the user to the application. Catch the movement of the cursor with the remote control.

"Button class", "Canvas"
The “class” and “Frame class” are classes for displaying buttons, canvases, and frames on the screen, respectively.
Drawing is performed by generating instances of these classes and incorporating them on the screen (add).

In particular, the Canvas class is a class for drawing a moving image. By incorporating (adding) a Title instance on the instance of the Canvas class, a moving image can be displayed on the screen. Also, Ti
The moving image display can be terminated by removing (deleting) the tle instance.

The "Text class" is a class for displaying text on a screen. By constructor, T
By generating an ext instance and placing (adding) the Text instance on the Canvas instance, an arbitrary text can be drawn on the screen.

(Example of Application) With the configuration of the player model described above, the following application can be realized.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a simple DVD player. As shown in FIG. 11, the DVD player application is also mounted on the middleware as one application. The player application generates an instance from a class library provided on the middleware and calls the member function to reproduce the title.

For example, a menu is created on the screen by setting (adding) a menu instance created from the Title class in the canvas instance, and a request from the user is accepted. The user uses the cursor to select a title to be played.

The request from the user is Cursor
Delivered to the title or menu through an instance of the class. For example, in the menu, an instance of the Title class corresponding to the title selected by the user is acquired, and placed in the Canvas instance (ad
d) Execute playback.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a game application. In FIG. 12, a game application is activated in place of the player application. The game application selects an arbitrary screen from the titles in the package and displays it as a background screen of the game. The game application places the 3D polygon image on the background image and proceeds with the game. The basic operation is the same as that of the player application described above, and the application program is not a dedicated player application but a game application.

Of course, it is also possible to finely control the background screen to perform a display synchronized with the game.

FIG. 13 shows a link structure between titles. As described above, a large number of movie contents are recorded on the home server. Which movie title is actually recorded varies from home to home, and the structure across titles cannot be uniquely defined as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the E package of the present invention has a configuration in which link title information is provided for each title, and only the actually valid link destination is valid at the time of reproduction.

For example, “Title1” is replaced by “Titl”
e2 "," Title3 "," Title5 "," Ti
tel6 ". On the other hand, “Title5” does not exist on the home server. in this case,
The valid link at the time of "Title1" reproduction is "Title1".
2 "," Title3 "or" Title6 ". Thus, it is possible to select only dynamically reproducible links.

(Structure of Standard) FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the structure of the standard. As shown in FIG. 14, the E-package standard is mainly composed of three parts: a player model, a data structure, and AV data.

The player model is configured as a class library of an object-oriented programming language, and instantiates functions such as menus and titles based on reproduction control information, and provides them to an application.

As shown in FIG. 14, the data structure includes package information for managing the entire package, menu information describing a menu, title information describing a scenario for each title, attributes for each stream, and addresses for accessing. And the like in which stream information and the like are described. The details will be described below.

First, the directory and file structure of the package will be described with reference to FIG.

The E package may be distributed as a single optical disk like a DVD, or may be electronically distributed through a network and stored in an HDD. The directory (may be referred to as a folder) and the file structure described here are both commonly used formats.

The E package introduces a file system like the DVD. In the file system of the E package, a “PACKAGE” directory is located immediately below the root directory. This directory is a directory dedicated to the E package, and does not include other applications such as conventional DVD data. Sub-directories are further placed under the “PACKAGE” directory, each of which corresponds to one package. “Abc” and “ah” in FIG. 15 correspond to them.

In the sub-directory, files corresponding to each management information and stream data are placed. The first “package.xml” is a reservation file in which the above-mentioned “package information” is recorded. In addition, “menu.xml” describing a menu, “title1.xml” describing a title, “tit.
le2. xml ”and“ str ”that records stream information
eam1. xml "and" stream2.xml ".

(Details of Data Structure) FIG. 16 shows details of the package information “package.xml”. As described above, the data description follows the XML description method.
Package information is described inside a tag <PACKAGE>, and has the following information. <GENERAL> General information Version information (version) <ACCESS> Access restriction information Regional information (region)

The E package can restrict the area where the video content can be reproduced by restricting access to the video content using the area information. By gradually increasing the reproducible regions to this region information, or by adding the region information corresponding to each region, the time shift of the movie title, for example, starting with North America, the title will be in the order of Japan and Europe, Asia, and China. Can be supplied. The regional information (region) is "US", "Japan", "EU", "Asia", and "C", respectively.
hina ".

<UPDATE> Update notice information Date and time information (data) Automatic acquisition execution flag (auto) This update notice information describes a scenario and an automatic update schedule of a movie title. Player (video playback device)
Can automatically update to new information through the Internet based on this information.

<INTERNET> Internet homepage information URL (URL) This Internet homepage information is Internet homepage address information in which related information is described. When a user requests for Internet access, access is made to the address indicated by this information. Also, in the above-described update notice, information is obtained based on the above address.

<MENU> Menu information Menu information file (menu) The menu information specifies a menu information file. Menu information is described in the specified file.

<TITLE_LIST> Title list The title handled by the package is <TITLE_LIST
The <TITLE> tag describes the content between the <TITLE> tags. <TITLE> Title information Title number information (number) Title information file (file) In the title information, link information to each title is described. Each title itself is described in the designated title information file.

FIG. 17 shows the menu information “menu.xm”.
l "is described in detail. The following menu information is described in a box surrounded by a tag <MENU>. <MENU_PAGE> Menu page information Page number (page) Background image information (image) Menu page information is information on a multi-page menu having a plurality of menu screens. For example, if there is a large number of titles to be displayed, such as 100 or more, and a single page cannot be displayed, a multi-page menu is used.

<TITLE> Title information Horizontal coordinate (column) Vertical coordinate (row) Title number (title) Object name (object) Title name (described between <TITLE> tags) For each title information tag, Title information is written.
The player application performs menu display based on this information. Also, the parts specified by the object are displayed on the screen as a graphical user interface. This component is provided as a class library function on middleware.

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, when the object is a button, a button object provided by a graphic library of middleware is displayed on a menu. The display position is represented by abscissa (column) and ordinate (row)
And the title name is displayed on the button.

FIG. 18 shows the title information “title1.x
ml "and others. Title information shown below is described in a box surrounded by tags <TITLE>. <TITLE> Title information Title number (title) Level (level) The level indicates the reproduction level of the title. As described above, in the E package, by setting the reproduction level of the package, the reproducible level can be divided according to the purchase situation of the user. Specifically, the level (le
vel) has a value of one of a full package (full), a restricted package (restricted), and a free package (free). On the other hand, if the status (Status) of the player is “full playback”, all packages can be played, and the status (Stata) can be played.
tus) is "restricted playback possible (restricte
d) "(restricted playb
ack) is a restricted package (restricte)
d) or a free package (free) can be played. When the attribute on the player side is “free package only”, only the free package (free) can be reproduced.

Here, the types of packages are limited to three types, but the number of classes is not an essential problem, and two types, four types,
Of course, it is possible to classify the data into types or more types and restrict the reproduction. Further, the method of classification and the names are not limited to those described above.

<LINK_LIST> Link List Defines a list of links that occur in the title.

<LINK> Information Identification information (ID) Link destination package information (package) Link destination title information (title) Link destination chapter information (chapter) Link destination time information (time) Link information is described for each link information tag. You. Each piece of link information is actually used in time line information described later. The link information is valid when the title is launched,
It is defined so that the player can automatically detect invalidity.

<CHAPTER_LIST> Chapter list <CHAPTER> Chapter information Start time information (in) End time information (out) Playback stream information (video) Playback subtitle information (subtitle) A chapter is entered in title information.

<TIMELINE> Timeline Information Information such as events developed on the time axis is described in a timeline information tag. The information described is as follows. <BRANCH> Branch information Level information (level) Message information (message) Identification information (ID) Valid section start time information (in) Valid section end time information (out) Branch destination title (jump)

The level information (level) is a flag indicating whether or not to perform the processing according to the status (Status) of the video reproducing apparatus as described above. For example, the status (Status) of the video reproducing apparatus is “free package only (free only)” and the level information (le)
For example, when “vel.” is “full package”, the branch tag (BRANCH) is ignored. The identification information (ID) corresponds to the identification information (ID) of the LINK information described above.

[0103] Upon receiving a branch request from the user, the player model starts reproduction of the location described in the corresponding LINK information.

<MESSAGE> Message information Level information (level) Message information (message) Identification information (ID) Valid section start time information (in) Valid section end time information (out) The message described by the message tag is Subtitles are displayed by OSD.

<TRIGGER> Event trigger information Level information (level) Event information (event) Identification information (ID) Occurrence time information (time) At the time of occurrence, an event is thrown to the application. The content is described in event information (event) and is passed to the application as it is.

<INTERFACE> Interface information <PLAY> Playback function control tag <STOP> Stop function control tag <SETRATE> Special replay function control tag <SETTIME> Dive playback function control tag <SETAUDIO> Voice setting function control tag <SETSUBTITLE> Caption Setting function control tag

Interface information (<INTERFA
CE>) has some player function control tags described above. Each tag is a member function of the Title instance: play, stop, setRate, setTi
me, setAudio, and setSubtitle, respectively. Each tag has an attribute level (le
vel) and “full”, “restricted” or “f” as in the case of the package level.
ree ".

For example, if the level is “full”
In the case of "1", the use of the member function of the corresponding Title instance is restricted. In this case, the status (Status) of the video reproducing apparatus is set to "full reproduction possible (f
The function can be used only in the case of “ull playback” ”. Each function level,
Player application status (Status
s) is related to the level (level) in the package described above.
Same as l).

FIG. 19 shows the stream information "stream".
1. xml "and others. Tag <STRE
AM>, the following title information is described. <STREAM> Stream information File information (file) File information describes the name of a stream file to be reproduced.

<ATTRIBUTE> Attribute Information The video and audio attribute information described below is described between attribute information tags.

<VIDEO> Video attribute information Compression information (coding) Resolution information (resolution) Aspect ratio information (aspect)

<AUDIO> Audio attribute information Compression information (coding) Bit rate information (bitrate) Number of channels (channel) Language information (language)

<TIMEMAP> Time Map Information Time map information describes time and size information for each VOBU (details will be described later). Each VOBU
The reproduction time length (the number of frames) and the data size (the number of bytes) of the unit entered as "."

Jumping to an arbitrary time of the reproduction stream,
When performing reproduction, the time information of each entry of the time map information is added to detect the target VOBU, and similarly,
The seek destination in the file can be derived based on the result of adding the OBU size information. As described above, the time map information plays a role of a filter that converts time information and address information in the stream.

<ENTRY> Entry information Time information (duration) Size information (size)

FIG. 20 shows the subtitle information “subtitle”.
1. xml "and other details.

[0117] Captions for each language are described by the following information enclosed by tags <SUBTITLE>. <LANGUAGE> Language information Language information (language) Character information (character) Font information (font) Color (color) Italic Bold (bold) Underline (underline) English, Japanese, etc. are used as attribute values of language information tags. Described language information, character information such as shift JIS, font information such as Mincho font, and display character modification information are described.

<TEXT> Text information Display start time information (in) Display end time information (out) Text

(Stream Structure) Details of the stream will be described with reference to FIG. The stream used in the present embodiment is an international standard called MPEG-2, ISO / IEC1.
3818. MPEG-2 is composed of a video stream, an audio stream, and a system stream that multiplexes them (bundles them into one stream).

The video data is compressed into a GOP structure having an I picture (intra-frame encoding), a P picture (temporal prediction encoding), and a B picture (bidirectional temporal prediction encoding). The reference relation between the respective pictures is shown in FIG.
It is as follows.

[0121] The compressed video data is packetized and then packed and multiplexed with audio data to form one system stream.

In the multiplexing layer, a VOBU is formed on the basis of a GOP (from a pack including the head of a GOP to immediately before a pack including the head of the next GOP). GOP is a word defined in the video layer, and cannot be applied to the definition in the system layer, so VOBU is introduced.

In this embodiment, the MPEG-2 system stream is referred to as VOB (Video Object).
ect).

(Player Structure) FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a video reproducing apparatus. The video playback device receives data from an external tuner such as an STB (10
1), storage medium (102) for recording data, CPU
(103), a program memory (104), a work memory (105), a decoder for decoding a stream (106), a display means (107) for displaying and outputting to a monitor and a speaker, an I / F for receiving a request from a user
(108). The CPU (103) has a clock therein and has date and time information. The work memory (105) has playback control status information (full / restrict) of the video playback device.
ted / free) is stored.

(Details of Class Library) FIG. 23 is a software configuration diagram of the video playback device of the E package.
A file system driver (201) and a device driver (202) are provided below the OS, centering on an operating system (203, hereinafter abbreviated as OS). A file system driver (201) provides an environment for accessing data on a disk using a file or directory structure to an application. The device driver (202) controls a decoder and a graphic card, which are hardware devices of the computer.

Also, the middleware (20
4) ride. For example, in the case of Java (registered trademark), J
ava (registered trademark) virtual machine (Virtual M
(hereinafter referred to as Java (registered trademark) VM) and a class library. As this class library, a class library (20
5) is also placed.

The standard class library and the class library for the E package provide classes and their member functions to the application as a programming environment.

As an application, in addition to the player application (206) dedicated to the E package, an external application (20
7) operates.

FIG. 24 is an E package class configuration diagram in the middleware. In the middleware, “Pakage class”, “Title class”, “Menu class”, “Audio class”, “Su”
"title class", "Event class", "Link"
Class, "Cursor class", "Status class" and the like are prepared. Hereinafter, each will be described individually.

[Package class] Package
The class is the first class called. Package information package. An instance is generated based on the xml.

FIG. 25 shows the processing of the Package class. Constructor Package (packa
Ge) is described in package. xml, Pac
Acquire the attribute value of the aka instance (250
1). As described above, the attribute values of the instance are all described in the target management information file.

Next, region information (region),
Based on the level information (level) and the date and time information (expire), an authentication process is performed to determine whether the package can be reproduced (2).
502). If the reproduction is impossible (prohibited), an error is returned to the application, and the process ends (2503).

Passing the authentication process (permitte
If d), an update check is performed (250)
4).

The date and time information (date) of the update tag (<UPDATE>) is compared with the date and time information of the CPU.
If the update notice date has passed and if the automatic update information (auto) is "yes", download from the Internet is executed (2505).
The reproduction is restarted with the new reproduction control information (2501).

If the download is not executed in the update check (2504), the Menu instance generation (2506) and the Title instance generation (250)
7) is performed.

A Package instance is getM
eu member function (Fig. 25 (b)), getTitle
It has an s member function (FIG. 25 (c)). Packag
After creating the e-instance, the application can call this function to obtain the Menu and each Title instance, respectively.

[Title Class] The Title class is a class for controlling playback of a title. An instance is created for each title, and the instance is
By arranging (adding) on the vas instance, drawing on the screen is performed. Also, title playback is controlled by calling the member function.

FIGS. 26 and 33 show the processing of the Title class. Constructor Title (tit
le) is activated and title. xml is read (2601), and Li is read based on Link_LIST.
An nk list is generated internally (2602). At this time, it is checked whether the target title is in an accessible location, and if it is not accessible, it is deleted from the list. Specifically, it is confirmed whether the file exists using a network protocol or the like. However, since the file does not directly relate to the present invention, a detailed description is omitted.

Next, a Chapter list is generated (26).
03), and reads the attribute information file (for example, stream.xml) of the stream referred to by the Chapter (2604), and generates an Audio and Subtitle instance (2605).

Next, based on the TIMELINE information, T
Generate an imline list (2606),
A function list is generated based on the RFACE information (260
7), and finally create a Cursor instance (26)
08) and prepares to respond to a request from the remote controller (I / F).

The Title class has various member functions. Playback (play), stop (stop), playback speed setting (setRate), playback position setting (set
Time) is a function for directly controlling AV reproduction. These provide the functions provided by the decoder to the application as they are. For example, when the play is called from the application, the function checks the validity / invalidity of the function, and when valid, instructs the decoder to start reproduction.

For example, consider a case where a reproduction function (play) is called from an application. At this time, the playback function (play) indicates that the player is ready for playback (full
playback / restricted play
Back / free only) is compared with the function list from the function list (2611). If the function is available, execution of the function is started (261).
2). On the other hand, if the function cannot be used, the processing of the function is stopped.

Here, the valid / invalid relationship of the functions is summarized in the following table. level = full restricted free Status = full playback enabled enabled enabled enabled restricted playback disabled enabled enabled free only disabled disabled enabled enabled The above table shows the enabled / disabled functions of the Title instance as well as the playback for the package's own level. It also matches the criteria for determining whether it is possible.

The control of audio and subtitles is performed in a stream within the title, ie, getAudio and getSubtitle for acquiring an instance having an attribute value for each language,
SetAudio to set the stream to be played, se
tSubtitle.

GetAudio and getSubti
tle is the Aud generated by the Title constructor
The io instance and the Subtitle instance are passed to the application as their return values (262
1). The application uses the instance obtained here as it is as setAudio or setSubti.
A playback stream is set as an argument of tel.

SetAudio and setSubti
The tle function first checks whether the function is valid (2631). Specifically, the playback state of the video playback device (full playback / restrict)
ed playback / free only) is compared with the usage restriction of the function in the function list. If the function can be used, the playback stream attribute value is set in the decoder according to the attribute value of the received instance (2632). On the other hand, if the function cannot be used, the processing of the function is stopped.

The comparison between the status of the video reproducing apparatus and the function is the same as in the table described above.

The Title class also has an enableEvent for activating event processing and an enableLink function for activating inter-title link processing.

The enableEvent function is defined as Titl
e-time information (<TIMELINE)
E>), that is, branch information (<BRANCH>), message information (<Message>), and event trigger information (<TRIGGER>). enableE
When the vent function is called, it internally starts a thread (3301). The started thread continues to perform the following loop processing. The playback time information is monitored, and each event in the timeline list, for example, branch information (<BR
ANCH>), message information (<Message)
>) Or event trigger information (<TRIGGER
It is checked whether or not>) is the specified valid time (3302). If the effective time has come, it is compared with the reproducible information (Status) of the video reproducing apparatus (330).
3) Then, it is determined whether or not each event can be executed by the video reproducing apparatus.

If each event can be executed, the type of event is a branch (B) requiring a request from the user.
RANCH) is checked (3304).

In the case of the branch (BRANCH), the process proceeds to the reception of a request from the user (3305), and a loop is made so as to keep waiting for the request until the valid time (specified by out) of the branch (BRANCH) (330).
6). If the valid time (out) expires without receiving the request, the process returns to the top of the loop (3302) again. If a request from the user is received before the valid time (out), a branch destination Title Title instance (specified by jump) is generated, and the process proceeds to reproduction of the title (3307).

At step 3304, the process branches (B
RANCH), that is, the message (MESS)
AGE) or the event trigger (TRIGGER), the process proceeds to step 3308, and the process proceeds to the message (MESSAGE) or the event trigger (TRIGGER).
IGGER). The processing is a message (ME
SSAGE), the specified message information (m
Generate a Text instance from (message) (3
309), the Text instance is displayed (added) on the Canvas instance (3310). Also, the process waits until the message display period (out) (3311), deletes the Text instance (deletes from the Canvas instance) at the same time as the display period ends (out) (3312), and returns to the loop start (3302).

At step 3308, the processing is
If it is determined to be GER, an event instance is generated (3313), the function (eventExec) implemented by the application is executed (3314), and the process returns to the loop start (3302).

"Menu class" The Menu class is T
This class displays a menu derived from the title class. It is instantiated for each Menu that is the same as the title, and is displayed on the screen by placing it in the Canvas class.

FIG. 27 shows the processing of the Menu class. The constructor Menu () is a menu information file menu. xml is read (2701), and Ti
After processing (2702) as a tle class, a menu page is generated (2703), the first menu page is displayed (2704), and a menuThread for processing events from the Cursor is started (2705) (FIG. 27A).

The contents to be displayed as each page are, as described with reference to FIG. 17, the menu pages (<M
ENU_PAGE>). Buttons are created based on the title (<TITLE>) in the menu page and displayed on the screen.

In the case of a multi-page menu, the next page is executed by the member function nextPage (2711).
(FIG. 27B), the display is moved to the display of the previous page (2721) by prevPage (FIG. 27C). When a title is selected, selectedTi
The selected title information is notified to the application by tel (2731) (FIG. 27D).

In the menuThread function, a thread is started (2741) and an event from the Cursor instance is received (2742). When an event from the Cursor instance is received, it is checked whether the event is a title selection (2743). If the event is a title selection, a selectedTitle function is called (2744) to notify the application of the selected title.

At step 2743, if the title is not selected, it is checked whether or not the page has been moved next (2745). If true, it is determined whether or not the page has been moved to the next page or the previous page. (2746), start nextPage (2747), prevPa
Ge is started (2748) (FIG. 27 (e)).

“Audio class” and “Subti”
tel Class "The Audio class is a class having an attribute value for each audio stream. If there are, for example, two usable audio streams in the title, two instances of the Audio class are generated. SetAudio of Title class from either instance
By setting the function, the audio stream to be reproduced is set.

FIG. 28 shows the processing of the Audio class. The constructor Audio () generates a stream attribute information file stream. xml (2
801), and secure an attribute value in the instance (280)
2) (FIG. 28 (a)).

The Audio class has a member function g
The language information of the instance in etLang (FIG. 28B), that is, the language corresponding to the stream, and getCo
In the ding (FIG. 28C), the compression information of the instance, that is, the stream compression method (2811),
Chs returns the channel information of the instance, that is, the number of channels of the stream (2821), to the application.

The Subtitle class has the same function as the Title class.

"Event Class" and "Link Class" The Event class is a class for generating an event in a title, and the Link class is a class for generating an event for inter-title link information in a title.

FIG. 29 shows the Event class and the Lin class.
The processing of k classes is shown. The constructor of the Event class sets the Event attribute based on the argument (2901) (FIG. 29A).

Event class member function execE
vent is a function overwritten by the application (FIG. 29B). That is, execE
Activation of the event activates an event handler (291)
1). execEvent has an ID (id) as an argument, by which the application identifies which event trigger (TRIGGER) was fired,
Subsequent processing can be performed in a branched manner.

The Link class constructor generates an instance of the Title given by the argument (FIG. 29 (c)).

Not which is a member function of the Link class
The ifLink is a function that is overwritten to the application in the same way as execEvent, and uses this function to pass a Title instance to the application and execute event processing (FIG. 29D).

[Cursor Class] The Cursor class is a class for processing a cursor on the screen. This will be described with reference to FIG.

The constructor of the Cursor class is as follows:
First, position information is generated / initialized (3401), communication with the remote controller is started (3402), and a cursor processing thread CursorThread is started (3403).
(FIG. 34 (a)).

CursorThr Cursor Processing Thread
In ead, a thread is first woken up (3411) and the processing loop is entered. In the processing loop, it is checked whether or not the movement of the cursor has occurred (3412). If the movement has occurred, the moved function is called (3413), and the position information is updated. If there is no movement, or step 341
After 3, it is detected whether or not the selection has been performed, in other words, whether or not the user has performed the selection execution on the button selected by the cursor (3414). If the selection has been performed, the selected function is selected. (3415), and notifies the current Title (FIG. 34 (b)).

In the moved function, the position information is corrected based on the designated argument (3421) (FIG. 34).
(C)), the selected function notifies the Title instance of the selection execution request (34).
31) (FIG. 34 (d)).

[Status Class] The Status class is a class expressing the status of the video reproducing apparatus. This class exists uniquely for the video playback device or system, and is not instantiated each time. Access is performed as it is from the application as a class.

The access is performed by the getStatus which the application knows the status or the getP which knows the validity period.
eriod and the like are prepared.

As shown in FIG. 35, the Status class internally generates Status information and Period information based on the value specified by the parameter (350).
1) (FIG. 35 (a)). Member function getStatus
Returns Status information to the application (351
1) (FIG. 35 (b)), member function getPeriod
Returns Period information to the application (352).
1) (FIG. 35 (c)).

"Frame Class" and "Canva"
s class "A class that configures the screen. The Frame class is a class on which a screen is displayed, and corresponds to, for example, a window seen in Windows (registered trademark) OS. Fra
A Canvas instance for playing back a moving image is placed in the me instance.

The Canvas class will be described with reference to FIG. The Canvas class generates a Frame instance for overlay display of video data in a constructor (3601). Subsequently, initialization of the decoder (3602) and initialization of the overlay, that is, the graphic function (3603) are performed (FIG. 36A). The initialization processing of the decoder and the initialization processing of the graphic function are performed by a lower-level operating system (OS),
Since the processing depends on hardware and is not essentially related to the present invention, a detailed description will be omitted.

The window to be drawn on the screen is displayed by the Canvas instance, but the actual image drawing is executed by the member function add. Function ad
d is called with a Title instance as an argument, and Ti
The stream information read (3611) and the decoder setting (3612) of the tel instance are performed. Subsequently, the decoder starts decoding (3613).
Start drawing the decoded image on the overlay (3614)
(FIG. 36B).

The Canvas class has a member function setSize.
Can be resized. As internal processing, Frame
The size of the e-instance is changed (3621) and the size of the display to be overlaid is changed (3622) (FIG. 36 (c)).

(Player Playback Processing) Next, playback processing as a player application will be described. FIG.
0 is a flow of the player reproduction process. After startup (3001), the player application executes Ca as described below.
An nvas instance is generated to generate a video display window (3002). The internal operation of generating a Canvas instance is as described with reference to FIG. Can
vas objCanvas = new Canva
s ();

The above description is based on the Java (registered trademark) language. The leftmost Canvas is a class declaration, and declares that the following objCanvas is an object (instance) of the Canvas class. In addition, new Canvas () is Canvas
Invokes the constructor of the class, which causes the obj
A Canvas is generated.

Next, the system waits for the user to select a package (3003).
A package instance is generated (3004), a menu instance is obtained (3005), and a menu is displayed (3006). The generation of the package instance is as described with reference to FIG. Package objPackage = new
Pakage (package); Menu obj
Menu = objPackage. getMenu
(); ObjCanvas. add (objMen
u);

As shown in FIG. 31, the menu includes a background image and a title information display (text).
Selection of a title (3007) is performed by moving a cursor with a remote controller and performing "selection" on a target title.

The cursor is moved by remote control keys (up / down / left / right). The movement of the cursor and the execution of selection are shown in FIG.
As described in 4 above, C which is activated as a thread
Detected and processed by ursorThread function.

For example, when the next page is selected to be moved, the selected function of the Cursor instance is called, and the Menu instance knows that there is a page movement request. Next, Menu instance is next
Call the Page function to send the menu to the next page.

[0186] Also, the cursor is "selected" on title 4
, The (select) of the Cursor instance
Menu indicates that the title has been selected through ted)
Get an instance. Then, selectedT
The title function notifies the application that a title has been selected, and the application proceeds to a title reproduction step (3008 and thereafter).

[0187] The player application calls the getTitle function of the Package instance with the selected title information as an argument, and acquires the Title instance (3008). Next, the player application executes the pl of the acquired Title instance.
Call the ay function to start title playback (300
9) Call the enableEvent function to activate the event thread (3010). Title objTitle = objPacka
ge. getTitle (title); objTit
le. play (); objTitle. enable
Event ();

Thereafter, the confirmation of the occurrence of the event (3011), the event processing when the event occurs (3012), and the confirmation of the termination of the reproduction of the title (3013) are repeated until the reproduction of the title is completed. When the end of the title reproduction is confirmed, the processing in the player application ends (3014).

The event processing in step 3012 is as described with reference to FIG. The jump processing between titles during title playback will be described with reference to FIG. In the title 1, a branch acceptance period to the title 2 is provided as shown. The branch acceptance period is set in the information file title1. TIMELIN in xml
It is defined by the BRANCH tag in the E information and its attribute value.

During the branch acceptance period, a message is displayed as shown in the lower part of FIG. 32, and when the user presses the “select” key, the transition is made to the title 2 of the link destination.

The branch reception period (branch information (<BRANCH
33), the status of the branch (BRANCH) process and the status of the video playback device are entered.
(Acquired by Status.getStatus ()) is compared (as in the table described above), and it is determined whether or not the processing is possible (FIG. 33, 3303), and after confirming that it is BRANCH (FIG. 33, 3304), the user 33 (FIGS. 33, 3305 and 3306).

The selection execution request from the user is Cu
received through the rsor instance (FIGS. 34 and 34)
14 to 3415). When there is a selection execution request from the user, a new Title instance is generated, and reproduction of the next title (title 2 in FIG. 32) is started (3307 in FIG. 34). Also, if there is no selection execution request from the user before the branch acceptance period (out), a timeout is detected (FIG. 33,
3306), the branch (BRANCH) process ends.

FIG. 37 shows an example of a game application. In this example, a game application is activated instead of the player application (3701). Similarly to the player application, a Canvas instance is generated and a video display window is generated (3.
702). The internal operation of generating a Canvas instance is as described with reference to FIG. Canvas objC
anvas = newCanvas ();

The game application starts the game (3703), and sets the Pa used by the game application.
Acquisition of cage instance (3704) and Title
The e instance is acquired (3705). Acquired T
The play of the title is called by calling the play function of the title instance (3706), and enableEven
Activate the event thread by calling the t function (3
707). Package objPackage = new
Pakage (package); Title ob
jTitle = objPackage. getTi
tle (title); objTitle. pla
y (); objTitle. enableEven
t ();

Thereafter, until the game is over, it is confirmed that an event has occurred (3708), and event processing at the time of the event occurrence (37)
09), the confirmation of the end of title reproduction (3710) is repeated. When the game end is confirmed, the processing of the game application is ended (3711).

In the case of a game application, it is possible to synchronize a game with AV playback using an event trigger. For example, the title information (<TI
TLE>) (<TIMELINE)
>), The following event trigger (<TRIGGE
R>). <TRIGGER level = “full” id = ”
1 "event =" 1 "time =" 00: 01: 00: 00: 00 ">>

At time 00: 01: 00: 00 (1 minute), the event thread recognizes that the target time (time) has come (FIG. 33, 3302), and the status (S
status) (FIG. 33, 3303), branch (Bra)
nch) confirmation (FIG. 33, 3304), message (Me
Ssage) After confirmation (FIGS. 33, 3308), Eve
nt generation (FIGS. 33 and 3313) and execution of execEvent (FIGS. 33 and 3314) are executed.

Activated member function execEvent
Is overwritten by the game application, and the game application
It is possible to perform synchronization processing on the game side based on the id obtained from nt.

FIGS. 38 and 39 show the status or Expire information updated from the server via the network in order to release the reproduction restriction based on the status (Status) or the expiration date (Expire) between the package and the video reproducing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of performing

As described with reference to FIG. 25, the reproduction level (level) and the expiration date (expir) of the package
e) and the status (Status
s) and the date and time information, respectively, to authenticate whether the package can be reproduced (2502 in FIG. 25). If the reproduction is possible, the steps after 2504 are processed, and if the reproduction is not possible, the reproduction processing is terminated in step 2503.

Instead of the end of the reproduction process (2503) in FIG. 25, a process of updating the status (Status) of the video reproduction device or the expiration date (expire) of the package may be performed.

FIG. 39 shows the status (S
If the playback could not be performed because the (status) did not match the package level (level), communication with the server was performed and the status (Status) of the video playback device was
This is an example of updating s). In place of the end (2503) in FIG. 25, in FIG. 39, a status (Status) update (2503) is executed (FIG. 39 (a)). FIG.
First, as shown in (b), the update application is started (250301). This update application may be a single application built on middleware as well as a player application or a game application, or may be a binary code-based application launched directly on the operating system. For example,
If the application is on middleware, the player application can activate the update application via the Loader class.

The update application is a Soc provided by middleware (Java (registered trademark)).
ket class and direct network protocol (TCP /
Communication with the server using the IP (25030).
2). The server that communicates is Package <INTE
Indicated by RNET URL = "">>. The application communicates with the server and sends the status (S
status) The condition (amount) necessary for updating is obtained (250303) and presented to the user (25030).
4).

The application waits for a response from the user (250305).
If the user wants to update (Status) (250306), the server performs billing processing (250307) with the server, performs status (Status) updating processing (250308), terminates the application (250309), and the player application returns to the step in FIG. The processing from step 2501 is performed again.

The charging process is performed by inputting a credit card number and communicating. There are various technologies for a billing system on the Internet, and there is essentially no relation to the present invention, so a detailed description will be omitted.

If the user does not wish to update the status (Status) in step 250306, the process ends (250310).

[0207] Here, the update of the status (Status) has been described as an example, but the update of the expiration date (expire) can be performed in the same manner. However, in this case, instead of updating the status (Status) information of the video playback device, the package expiration date (expir
e) Update the information. Package is ReWritable
If the information is recorded by e-media, the information can be updated directly. On the other hand, in the case of a read-only medium, the expiration date (expir
e) By providing a system for temporarily recording information,
Update information can be reused.

[0208]

The video reproducing system of the present invention aims to realize not only a video reproducing apparatus for simply reproducing a movie but also various applications. For this reason, this video playback device includes middleware that absorbs differences in functions corresponding to the type of operating system as software that is read and executed in advance in the internal memory. This middleware has a class library including tools used by a player application to reproduce video content and to execute an extended application such as a game application. Specifically, this middleware has a class library for the E package as described above. Here, a tool is a class used to realize each function, a member function thereof, and the like. Further, the function list recorded in the reproduction control information (management information) included in the package medium describes the functions provided by the class library to the applications including the player application and the game application. Also, this function list has status information for each function, and it is possible to control the content that can be played back by each video playback system at a function level by comparison with the status information that the video playback system itself has.

As a result, it becomes possible to control various applications realized by the E package according to the form and quality of business and services.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a package business.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are conceptual diagrams showing the value of content.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a time shift business in a movie.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the DVD standard.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an AV device at home.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a link between movie titles.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a new value.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing levels of an E package.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are configuration diagrams of various standards.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a player model on middleware.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of an example of an application “player”.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of an example of an application “game”.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of an example of an application “inter-movie link”.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of the E package standard.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of directories and files.

FIG. 16 is a data structure diagram “package information”.

FIG. 17 is a data structure diagram “menu information”.

FIG. 18 is a data structure diagram “title information”.

FIG. 19 is a data structure diagram “stream information”.

FIG. 20 is a data structure diagram “subtitle stream”.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a stream structure.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of a video playback device.

FIG. 23 is a software configuration diagram.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a class list.

FIGS. 25A to 25C are processing flows of a Package class.

FIGS. 26A to 26D are processing flows of a Title class.

FIGS. 27A to 27E are processing flows of the Menu class.

FIGS. 28A to 28C are processing flows of an Audio class.

FIGS. 29A to 29D are processing flows of an Event class and a Link class.

FIG. 30 shows a player reproduction flow.

FIG. 31 is a diagram of a menu example.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an operation example during title playback.

FIG. 33 is a processing flow of an enableEvent function.

FIGS. 34 (a) to (d) show a processing flow of the Cursor class.

FIGS. 35A to 35C are processing flows of the Status class.

FIGS. 36 (a) to (c) are processing flows of the Canvas class.

FIG. 37 shows a game application playback flow.

FIG. 38 is a conceptual diagram of status update.

39 (a) is a partial view of FIG. 25 (a), and FIG. 39 (b) is an update application processing flow.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 file system driver 202 device driver 203 operating system 204 middleware 205 E package class 206 player application 207 external application 2501 package. XML reading step 2502 Authentication step 2503 Update confirmation step 2504 Menu instance generation step 2505 Title instance generation step 2511 Menu instance return step 2521 Title instance return step 2601 title. XML reading step 2602 Link list generation and Link destination detection step 2603 Chapter list generation step 2604 stream. xml reading step 2605 Audio and Subtitle instance generation step 2606 Timeline list generation step 2607 Function list generation step 2608 Curosr generation step 2611 Validation check step 2612 Playback start step 2621 Audio instance return step 2631 Audio stream setting step 2641 Thread start step 2642 Target time check Step 2701 menu. xml reading step 2702 Title instance generation step 2703 Page instance generation step 2704 First Page display step 2705 menuThread start step 2711 Next page display step 2721 Previous page display step 2731 Title notification step 2741 Thread start step 2742 Cursor notification reception step 2743 Title selection step 2744 selectTitle start step 2745 Page move confirmation step 2746 Next page move confirmation step 2747 nextPage start step 2748 prevPage start step 2801 stream. xml reading step 2802 attribute value recording step 2811 language information return step 2821 compression information return step 2901 Event attribute setting step 2911 event processing step 2921 Title instance generation step 2931 event processing step 3001 player activation step 3002 image generation step 3003 package selection step 3004 package Generation step 3005 Menu acquisition step 3006 Menu display step 3007 Title selection step 3008 Title acquisition step 3009 Title playback start step 3010 Event thread start step 3011 Event reception step 3012 Event processing step 3013 Title end confirmation step 3014 Play End step 3301 Thread start step 3302 Time check step 3303 Status check step 3304 Branch check step 3305 User request check step 3306 Timeout check step 3307 Title generation step 3308 Message check step 3309 Text generation step 3310 Text display step 3311 Timeout check step 3312 Text erase Step 3313 Event generation step 3314 ExecEvent start step 3401 Location information generation step 3402 Communication start step 3403 CurrosrThread start step 3411 Thread start step 3412 Move check step 3413 Moved start step 3414 Selection execution check step 3415 selected activation step 3421 position information update step 3431 Title notification step 3501 status / period information generation step 3511 status information response step 3521 period information response step 3601 Frame generation step 3602 decoder initialization step 3603 overlay initialization step 3611 stream information read step 3612 decoder Setting step 3613 Decoding start step 3614 Drawing start step 3621 Frame size update step 3622 Display size update step 3701 Game start step 3702 Screen generation step 3703 Game start step 3704 Package acquisition step 3705 Title acquisition step 3706 Title playback start step 370 Event thread start step 3708 Event accepting step 3709 Event processing step 3710 Game end step 3711 Game end step 250301 Update application start step 250302 Server communication start step 250303 Status update condition obtaining step 250304 Status update condition presentation step 250305 User input wait step 250306 Status update Confirmation step 250307 Billing step 250308 Status update step 250309 Application end step 250310 Application end step

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Nakamura 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C052 AA01 AB03 AB04 AB05 CC06 DD04 5C053 FA23 GB06 LA06 LA11 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC03 CC06 FG10 FG18 FG21 GK08 GK12

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A video reproducing apparatus for reproducing package media supplied from outside, wherein the package media stores video data and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the video data in a predetermined data format. Video content, and extended application software that uses the video content, wherein the video playback device is an operating system selected from a plurality of types of operating systems as software previously held and executed in an internal memory. And middleware that absorbs a difference in function corresponding to the type of the operating system; and player application software that operates on the middleware and reproduces the video content. The middleware includes the player Application software having a class library including tools used to play the package media and execute the extended application software, wherein the player application software includes the tools included in the class library of the middleware. The integrated application software reproduces the video content of the package media in accordance with the predetermined format, and the extended application software uses the video content included in the same package media to execute the class of the middleware. A video playback device executed via the tool included in a library. 2. The video playback device manages playback status information, wherein the playback control information of the package medium includes playback restriction information corresponding to the playback status information, and analyzes the playback control information. The extended application software sets one of the tools included in the class library of the middleware to be invalid by comparing the reproduction restriction information in the reproduction control information with the reproduction status information. Video playback device. 3. A video reproducing method for reproducing a package medium supplied from the outside by a video reproducing apparatus, wherein the package medium includes: video data; and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the video data. Video content stored in a data format, and extended application software using the video content, wherein the video playback method stores one operating system selected from a plurality of types of operating systems in an internal memory of the video playback device. Reading and launching, and middleware for absorbing a difference in functions corresponding to the type of the operating system, so that application software running on the middleware plays or executes the package media. Two to use Loading middleware having a class library including the class library into the internal memory of the video playback device, and activating the middleware; and operating player software running on the middleware and playing back the video content inside the video playback device. Loading into memory, starting; reading the extended application software that operates on the middleware and uses the video content into the internal memory of the video playback device, and starting;
Via the tool included in the class library of the middleware, uniformly reproducing the video content of the package media according to the predetermined format; and using the video content by the extended application software. Executing the program through the tool included in the class library of the middleware. 4. A video reproduction program for reproducing a package medium supplied from outside, wherein the package medium stores video data and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the video data in a predetermined data format. A video content to be executed, and extended application software using the video content, wherein the video playback program is one of an operating system selected from a plurality of types of operating systems as software previously held and executed in an internal memory. And middleware that absorbs a difference in function corresponding to the type of the operating system; and player application software that operates on the middleware and reproduces the video content. The player application software has a class library including a tool used for playing the package media or executing the extended application software, wherein the player application software includes the tool included in the class library of the middleware. Via the unified playback of the video content of the package media according to the predetermined format, the extended application software uses the video content included in the same package media, A video playback program executed via the tool included in a class library. 5. A computer-readable recording medium for storing the video reproduction program according to claim 4. 6. A package medium which is externally supplied to a video reproducing apparatus and reproduced by the video reproducing apparatus, wherein the package medium includes video data and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the video data. Video content stored in a predetermined data format, and extended application software that uses the video content, wherein the video playback device is selected from a plurality of types of operating systems as software previously held and executed in an internal memory. A single operating system, middleware that absorbs a difference in function corresponding to the type of the operating system, and player application software that operates on the middleware and reproduces the video content. Has a class library including tools used by the player application software to play the package media and execute the extended application software, and the player application software is included in the class library of the middleware. Via the tool, uniformly reproduce the video content of the package media according to the predetermined format, the extended application software uses the video content included in the same package media, A package medium executed via the tool included in the class library.