US20070258699A1 - Recording medium, recording apparatus and recording method for recording data into recording medium, and reproducing apparatus and reproducing method for reproducing data from recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

Data is recorded in a data area of a disk in a hierarchical structure of program chains, programs, cells and packs, each pack is constructed by a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having a data stream recorded therein, the packet has a packet header having a stream ID indicating at least a private stream and a sub-stream ID indicating the classification of the private stream described therein, and the classification indicates packet data of Dolby AC3 audio data, packet data of linear audio data, packet data of sub-picture data, or packet data of computer data.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/224,354, filed on Aug. 21, 2002, and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §121. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/224,354 is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/785,161, filed on Feb. 20, 2001, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/392,788, filed Sep. 9, 1999, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/005,027, filed on Jan. 12, 1998, now abandoned, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/630,250, filed on Apr. 10, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,383, and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §121 & 35 U.S.C. §120. This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 07-085693, filed on Apr. 11, 1995.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• This invention relates to a recording medium, such as an optical disk, for recording data items of different classifications used for different purposes, for example, compressed moving picture data and audio data, a recording apparatus for recording data into the recording medium, are cording method for recording data into the recording medium, a reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from the recording medium, and reproducing method for reproducing data from the recording medium.
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• Conventionally, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system is internationally standardized as a system for compressing (coding) digital moving picture image data and audio data. The MPEG compression system is a system for subjecting digital moving picture image data and audio data to the variable-length compression.
• Further, the system format system corresponding to the MPEG compression system is defined as an MPEG system layer.
• The MPEG system layer is defined so as to be easily dealt with in a communication system, and transfer starting time and reproduction starting time represented by using reference time are defined for moving picture data, audio data and other data so that the above data items can be transferred and reproduced in synchronism with one another.
• Further, in the MPEG system layer, the data classifications of moving picture compressed data stream (MPEG moving picture data) and audio compressed data stream (MPEG audio data) are defined by use of stream ID, and the other data classifications can be defined by the user as a private stream.
• However, in this case, the user can add but two kinds of data classification, and the expandability is limited.
• As a result, it becomes impossible to deal with various classifications of data items and cope with a variety of conditions in the multimedia age.
• Further, if a maximum data length is set for packets of data other than MPEG audio data and if the data length of the packet cannot be divided by the number of data items of a completed frame data block, the preceding data block will enter the packet and there occurs a possibility that the starting address of the frame data block cannot be determined, and when data is reproduced halfway, it may be impossible to reproduce the data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• An object of this invention is to make it possible to deal with various classifications of data items.
• Further, another object of this invention is to make it possible to reproduce data halfway when data to be dealt with is linear audio data, and to make it possible to easily detect the environment in which data can be used when data to be dealt with is computer data.
• According to this invention, there is provided a recording medium comprising a management area; and a data area, wherein data is divided into a plurality of program chains and recorded in the data area in a hierarchical structure in which each of the program chains is constructed by a plurality of programs, one program is constructed by a plurality of cells, and one cell is constructed by a plurality of packs, each pack is constructed-by-a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having a data stream recorded therein, and the packet is constructed by a picket header having data indicating at least a private stream, data indicating the classification of the private stream, and packet data corresponding to the classification. Management data for managing the connection between the program chains, programs, cells and packs in the data area is recorded in the management area.
• According to this invention, there is provided a recording medium comprising a management area and a data area, wherein a plurality of programs are recorded in the data area in a hierarchical structure in which one program is constructed by a plurality of packs, each pack is constructed by a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having a data stream recorded therein, and the packet is constructed by a packet header having data indicating at least a private stream, data indicating the classification of the private stream, and packet data corresponding to the classification. Management data for managing the connection between the programs and packs in the data area is recorded in the management area.
• According to this invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium which includes a management area and a data area in which data is divided into a plurality of program chains and recorded in the data area in a hierarchical structure in which each of the program chains is constructed by a plurality of programs, one program is constructed by a plurality of cells, and one cell is constructed by a plurality of packs, each pack includes a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having data recorded therein. The recording apparatus includes a reception means for receiving audio data or sub-picture data; first creating means for creating a pack by adding a pack header for identifying the pack to a packet which includes packet data constructed by frame data of part of audio data received by the reception means, a start address of the frame data, a stream number of the audio data and data indicating the audio data, and a packet header having a packet length and data indicating that the packet data is a private stream; second creating means for creating a pack by adding a pack header for identifying the pack to a packet which includes packet data constructed by part of sub-picture data received by the reception means, a stream number of the sub-picture data and data indicating the sub-picture data, and a packet header having a packet length and data indicating that the packet data is a private stream; and recording means for recording the pack created by the first and second creating means on the recording medium.
• According to this invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium which includes a management area and a data area and in which data is divided into a plurality of program chains and recorded in the data area in a hierarchical structure in which each of the program chains is constructed by a plurality of programs, one program is constructed by a plurality of cells, and one cell is constructed by a plurality of packs, each pack includes a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having data recorded therein. The recording apparatus includes a reception means for receiving Dolby AC3 audio data, linear audio data, computer data or sub-picture data; first creating means for creating a pack by adding a pack header for identifying the pack to a packet which includes packet data constructed by frame data of part of Dolby AC3 audio data received by the reception means, a start address of the frame data, a stream number of the Dolby AC3 audio data and data indicating the Dolby AC3, audio data, and a packet header having a packet length and data indicating that the packet data is a private stream; second creating means for creating a pack by adding a pack header for identifying the pack to a packet which includes packet data constructed by frame data of part of linear audio data received by the reception means, a start address of the frame data, a stream number of the linear audio data and data indicating the linear audio data, and a packet header having a packet length and data indicating that the packet data is a private stream; third creating means for creating a pack by adding a pack header for identifying the pack to a packet which includes packet data constructed by part of computer data received by the reception means, environmental data of an application CPU and application OS of the computer data and data indicating the computer data, and a packet header having a packet length and data indicating that the packet data is a private stream; fourth creating means for creating a pack by adding a pack header for identifying the pack to a packet, which includes, packet data constructed by part of sub-picture data received by the reception means, a stream number of the sub-picture data and data indicating the sub-picture data, and a packet header having a packet length and data indicating that the packet data is a private stream; constructed by part of sub-picture data received by the first to fourth creating means on the recording medium.
• According to this invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded data for each pack from a recording medium which includes a management area formed in part of an area, and a data area formed in another area and in which data is divided into a plurality of program chains and recorded in the data area in a hierarchical structure in which each of the program chains is constructed by a plurality of programs, one program is constructed by a plurality of cells, and one cell is constructed by a plurality of packs, each pack includes a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having data recorded therein. The reproducing apparatus includes a reading means for reading data for each pack on the recording medium; first determining means for determining whether or not data indicating a private stream is present in a packet header of a pack read by the reading means and determining data length; second determining means for determining whether data is audio data or sub-picture data according to classification data of a stream which is successively read when the first determining means has determined the private stream; first extraction means for extracting audio data in the pack data read by the reading means by an amount corresponding to the data length determined by the first determining means according to a start address of frame data which is successively read after the classification data of the stream when the second determining means has determined the audio data; second extraction means for extracting data in the pack data successively read by the reading means after the classification data of the stream by an amount corresponding to the data length determined by the first determining means when the second determining means has determined the sub-picture data; demodulating means for subjecting data extracted by the first or second extraction means to a demodulation process corresponding to classification of data determined by the second determining means; and output means for outputting data demodulated by the demodulating means.
• According to this invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded data for each pack from a recording medium which includes a management area formed in part of an area, and a data area formed in another area and in which data is divided into a plurality of program chains and recorded in the data area in a hierarchical structure in which each of the program chains is constructed by a plurality of programs, one program is constructed by a plurality of cells, and one cell is constructed by a plurality of packs, each pack includes a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having data recorded therein. The reproducing apparatus includes a reading means for reading data for each pack on the recording medium; first determining means for determining whether or not data indicating a private stream is present in a packet header of a pack read by the reading means and determining data length; second determining means for determining whether data is Dolby AC3 audio data, linear audio data, computer data or sub-picture data according to classification data of a stream which is successively read when the first determining means has determined the private stream; first extraction means for extracting Dolby AC3 audio data or linear audio data in the pack data read by the reading means by an amount corresponding to the data length determined by the first determining means according to a start address of frame data which is successively read after the classification data of the stream when the second determining means has determined the Dolby AC3 audio data or linear audio data; second extraction means for extracting environmental data of application CPU and application OS successively read after the classification data of the stream and extracting data in the pack data successively read by the reading means after the environmental data by an amount corresponding to the data length determined by the first determining means when the second determining means has determined the computer data; third extraction means for extracting data in the pack data successively read by the reading means after the classification data of the stream by an amount corresponding to the data length determined by the, first determining means when the second determining means has determined the sub-picture data; demodulating means for subjecting data extracted by the first or third extraction means to a demodulation process corresponding to the classification of data determined by the second determining means; first output-means for outputting data demodulated by the demodulating means; and second output means for outputting program data extracted by the second extraction means and environmental data thereof.
• Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of, the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The accompanying drawings, which reincorporated and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an optical disk apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the mechanical section of the disk drive unit ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the structure of an optical disk loaded in the disk drive unit ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 shows the structure of the logic format of the optical disk ofFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 shows the structure of the video manager ofFIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of the video object set (VOBS) shownFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a diagram to help explain the structure of the video object unit ofFIG. 6;
• FIG. 8 shows the parameters and contents of the video manger information management table (VMGI_MAT) in the video manager (VMGI) ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 9 shows the structure of the title search pointer table (TT_SRPT) in the video manager (VMGI) ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 10 shows the parameters and contents of the title search pointer table information (TT-SRPTI) in the title search pointer table (TSPT) ofFIG. 9;
• FIG. 11 shows the parameters and contents of the title search pointer (TT_SRP) corresponding to the input number in the title search pointer table (TSPT) ofFIG. 9;
• FIG. 12 illustrates the structure of the video title set ofFIG. 4;
• FIG. 13 shows the parameters and contents of the4video title set information management table (VTSI_NAT) the video title set information (VTSI) ofFIG. 12;
• FIG. 14 illustrates the structure of the video title set program chain information table (VTS_PGCT) of the video title set information (VTSI) ofFIG. 12;
• FIG. 15 shows the parameters and contents of the information (VTS_PGCIT_I) in the video title set program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT) ofFIG. 14;
• FIG. 16 shows the parameters and contents of the search pointer (VTS_PGCIT_SRP) corresponding to the program chain in the video title set program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT) ofFIG. 14;
• FIG. 17 illustrates the structure of the program chain information (VTS_PGCI) in the video set corresponding to the program chain in the video title set program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT) ofFIG. 14;
• FIG. 18 shows the parameters and contents of the program chain general information (PGC_GI) in the program chain information (VTS_PGCI) ofFIG. 17;
• FIG. 19 illustrates the structure of a program chain map (PGC_PGMAP) of the program chain information (VTS_PGCI) ofFIG. 17;
• FIG. 20 shows the parameters and contents of the entry cell numbers (ECELLN) corresponding to the programs written in the program chain map (PGC_PGMAP) ofFIG. 19;
• FIG. 21 illustrate the structure of the cell playback information table (C_PBIT) of the program chain information (VTS_PGCI) ofFIG. 17;
• FIG. 22 shows the parameters and contents of the cell playback information table (C_PBIT) ofFIG. 21;
• FIG. 23 illustrates the structure of the cell position information (C_POSI) in the program chain information (VTS_PGCI) ofFIG. 18;
• FIG. 24 shows the parameters and contents of the cell position information (C_POSI) ofFIG. 23;
• FIG. 25 illustrates the structure of the navigation pack ofFIG. 6;
• FIG. 26 illustrates the structure of the video, audio, sub-picture, or VBI pack ofFIG. 6;
• FIG. 27 shows the parameters and contents of the playback control information (PCI) in the navigation pack ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 28 shows the parameters and contents of the general information (PCI_GI) in the playback control information (PCI) ofFIG. 27;
• FIG. 29 shows the parameters and contents of the disk search information (DSI) in the navigation pack ofFIG. 26;
• FIG. 30 shows the parameters and contents of the DSI general information (DSI_GI) in the disk search information ofFIG. 29;
• FIG. 31 shows the parameters and content of the synchronizing playback information (SYNCI) on the video object (VOB) ofFIG. 29;
• FIGS. 32, 33 are diagrams for illustrating the structure of a pack;
• FIG. 34 is a diagram for illustrating an example of adjustment in a case where the adjustment data length is seven bytes or more;
• FIG. 35 is a diagram for illustrating an example of adjustment in a case where the adjustment data length is six bytes or less;
• FIGS. 36A, 36B are diagrams for illustrating the structure of a video pack;
• FIGS. 37A, 37B are diagrams for illustrating the structure of an audio pack;
• FIG. 38 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of a sub-picture pack;
• FIG. 39 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of a computer data pack;
• FIG. 40 is a diagram for illustrating the environmental classification of computer data;
• FIG. 41 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of stream ID;
• FIG. 42 is a diagram for illustrating the content of sub-stream ID forprivate stream1;
• FIG. 43 is a diagram for illustrating the content of sub-stream ID forprivate stream2;
• FIG. 44 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of an audio pack and packet;
• FIG. 45 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of a computer data pack and packet;
• FIG. 46 is a diagram for illustrating the structure of a sub-picture pack and packet;
• FIG. 47 is a block diagram for illustrating the construction of a packet transfer processing section;
• FIG. 48 is a flowchart for illustrating the procedure of a reproduction process for video data, audio data, sub-picture data, and computer data;
• FIG. 49 is a flowchart for illustrating the packet transferring process;
• FIG. 50 is a block diagram of an encoder system that encodes the video data and generates a video file;
• FIG. 51 is a flowchart for an encoding process ofFIG. 50;
• FIG. 52 is a flowchart for combining the main video data, audio data, and sup-picture data all encoded according to the flow ofFIG. 51 to create a video data file;
• FIG. 53 is a block diagram of a disk formatter system that records the formatted video files on an optical disk;
• FIG. 54 is a flowchart for creating logic data to be recorded on a disk in the disk formatter ofFIG. 53;
• FIG. 55 is a flowchart for creating from the logic data the physical data to be recorded on a disk; and
• FIG. 56 is a schematic diagram of a system that transfers the video title set ofFIG. 4 via a communication route.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, an optical disk reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical disk reproducing apparatus that reproduces the data from an optical disk associated with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a, block diagram of the, disk drive section that drives the optical disk shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3 shows the structure of the optical disk shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.
• As shown inFIG. 1, the optical disk reproducing apparatus comprises a key/display section4, amonitor section6, and a speaker,section8. When the user operates the key/display section4, this causes the recorded data to be reproduced from anoptical disk10. The recorded data contains video data, sub-picture data, and audio data, which are converted into video signals and audio signals. Themonitor section6 displays images according to the video signals and thespeaker section8 generates sound according to the audio signals.
• It is known that theoptical disk10 can have various structures. For instance, one type of theoptical disk10 is a read-only disk on which data is recorded with a high density as shown inFIG. 3. Theoptical disk10, as shown inFIG. 3, is made up of a pair ofcomposite layers18 and anadhesive layer20 sandwiched between the composite disk layers18. Each of the composite disk layers18 is composed of atransparent substrate14 and a recording layer or a light-reflectinglayer16. Thedisk layer18 is arranged so that the light-reflectinglayer16 may be in contact with the surface of theadhesive layer20. Acenter hole22 is made in theoptical disk10. On the periphery of thecenter hole22 on both sides, clampingareas24 are provided which are used to clamp theoptical disk10 during its rotation. When thedisk10 is loaded in the optical disk apparatus, the spindle of aspindle motor12 shown inFIG. 2 is inserted into thecenter hole22. As long as the disk is being rotated, it continues clamped at the clampingareas24.
• As shown inFIG. 3, theoptical disk10 has aninformation zone25 around the clampingzone24 on each side, the information zones allowing the information to be recorded on theoptical disk10. In eachinformation area25, its outer circumference area is determined to be a lead-out area26 in which no information is normally recorded, its inner circumference area adjoining the clampingarea24 is determined to be a lead-inarea27 in which no information is normally recorded, and the area between the lead-out area26 and the lead-inarea27 is determined to be adata recording area28.
• At therecording layer16 in theinformation area25, a continuous spiral track is normally formed as an area in which data is to be recorded. The continuous track is divided into a plurality of physical sectors, which are assigned serial numbers. On the basis of the sectors, data is recorded. Thedata recording area28 in theinformation recording area25 is an actual data recording area, in which management data, main video data, sub-picture data, and audio data are recorded in the form of pits (that is, in the form of changes in the physical state) as explained later. With the read-onlyoptical disk10, a train of pits is previously formed in thetransparent substrate14 by a stamper, a reflecting layer is formed by evaporation on the surface of thetransparent substrate14 in which the pit train is formed, and the reflecting layer serves as therecording layer16. In the read-onlyoptical disk10, a groove is normally not provided as a track and the pit train in the surface of thetransparent substrate14 serves as a track.
• Theoptical disk apparatus12, as shown inFIG. 1, further comprises adisk drive section30, asystem CPU section50, a system ROM/RAM section52, asystem processor section54, adata RAM section60, avideo decoder58, anaudio decoder section60, asub-picture decoder section62, and a D/A anddata reproducing section64. Thesystem processor section54 is provided with a system time clock (STC)54A and a register54B. Thevideo decoder section58,audio decoder section60, andsub-picture decoder section62 are also provided with system time clocks (STC)58A,60A,62A, respectively.
• As shown inFIG. 2, thedisk drive section30 contains a motor driving circuit11, aspindle motor12, an optical head32 (i.e., an optical pickup), afeed motor33, afocus circuit36, a feedmotor driving circuit37, atracking circuit38, ahead amplifier40, and aservo processing circuit44. Theoptical disk10 is placed on thespindle motor12 driven by the motor driving circuit11 and is rotated by thespindle motor12. Theoptical head32 that projects a laser beam on theoptical disk10 is located under theoptical disk10. Theoptical head32 is placed on a guide mechanism (not shown). The feedmotor driving circuit37 is provided to supply a driving signal to thefeed motor33. Themotor33 is driven by the driving signal and moves in and out theoptical head32 across the radius of theoptical disk10. Theoptical head32 is provided with anobject lens34 positioned so as to face theoptical disk10. Theobject lens34 is moved according to the driving signal supplied from thefocus circuit36 so as to move along its optical axis.
• To reproduce the data from the above optical disk, theoptical head32 projects a laser beam on theoptical disk10 via theobject lens34. Theobject lens34 is moved little by little across the radius of theoptical disk10 according to the driving signal supplied from thetracking circuit38. Furthermore, theobject lens34 is moved along its optical axis according to the driving signal supplied from the focusingcircuit36 so that its focal point maybe positioned on therecording layer16 of theoptical disk10. This causes the laser beam to form the smallest beam spot on the spiral track (i.e., the pit train), enabling the beam spot to trace the track. The laser beam is reflected from therecording layer16 and returned to theoptical head32. Theoptical head32 converts the beam reflected from theoptical disk10 into an electric signal, which is supplied from theoptical head32 to theservo processing circuit44 via thehead amplifier40. From the electric signal, theservo processing circuit44 produces a focus signal, a tracking signal, and, a motor control signal and supplies these signals to thefocus circuit36, trackingcircuit38, and motor driving circuit11, respectively.
• Therefore, theobject lens34 is moved along its optical axis and across the radius of theoptical disk10, its focal point is positioned on therecording layer16 of theoptical disk10, and the laser beam forms the smallest beam spot on the spiral track. Furthermore, thespindle motor12 is rotated by the motor driving circuit11 at a specific rotating speed. This allows the beam to track at, for example, a constant linear speed.
• Thesystem CPU section50 ofFIG. 1 supplies to the servo processing circuit44 a control signal serving as an access signal. In response to the control signal, theservo processing circuit44 supplies a head-moving signal to the feedmotor driving circuit37, which supplies a driving signal to thefeed motor33. Then, thefeed motor33 is driven, causing theoptical head32 to move across the radius of theoptical disk10. Then, theoptical head32 accesses a specific sector formed at therecording layer16 of theoptical disk10. The data is reproduced from the specific sector by theoptical head32, which then supplies it to thehead amplifier40. Thehead amplifier40 amplifies the reproduced data, which is outputted at thedisk drive section30.
• The reproduced data is transferred and stored in adata RAM section56 by thesystem processor section54 which is controlled by thesystem CPU section50, which is operated in accordance with the programs stored in the system ROM/RAM section52. The stored reproduced data is processed at thesystem processor section54, which sorts the data into video data, audio data, and sub-picture data, which are supplied to thevideo decoder section58,audio decoder section60, andsub-picture decoder section62, respectively, and are decoded at the respective decoders. The D/A and data-reproducingsection64 converts the decoded video data, audio data, and sub-picture data into an analog video signal, an analog audio signal, and an analog sub-picture signal, subjects these signal to a mixing process, and supplies the resulting video signal and sub-picture signal to themonitor section6 and the resulting audio signal to thespeaker section8. Then, on the basis of the video signal and sup-picture signal, an image is displayed on themonitor section6 and according to the audio signal; sound is simultaneously reproduced from thespeaker section8.
• The detailed operation of the optical disk apparatus ofFIG. 1 will be described later with reference to the logic format of the optical disk explained below.
• Thedata recording area28 between the lead-inarea27 and the lead-out area26 on the optical disk ofFIG. 1 has a volume and file structure as shown inFIG. 4. The structure has been determined in conformity to specific logic format standards, such as Micro UDF or ISO 9660. Thedata recording area28 is physically divided into a plurality of sectors as described earlier. These physical sectors are assigned serial numbers. In the following explanation, a logical address corresponds to a logical sector number (LSN) as determined in Micro UDF or ISO 9660. Like a physical sector, a logical sector contains 2048 bytes. The numbers (LSN) of logical sectors are assigned consecutively in ascending order as the physical sector number increments.
• As shown inFIG. 4, the volume and file structure is a hierarchic structure and contains a volume andfile structure area70, avideo manager71, at least one video title set # i72, and another recordedarea73. Theseareas70,71,72,73 are aligned with the boundaries between logical sectors. As with a conventional CD, a logical sector is defined as a set of 2048 bytes. Accordingly, one logical sector corresponds to one logical block.
• The volume andfile structure area70 corresponds to a management area determined in Micro UDF or ISO 9660. According to the description in the management area, thevideo manager71 is stored in the system ROM/RAM section52. As explained with reference toFIG. 5, the information used to manage video title sets72 is written in thevideo manager71, which is composed of a plurality of files, starting withfile #0. In each video title set72, compressed video data, compressed audio data, compressed sub-picture data, and the reproducing information about these data items are stored as explained later. Each video title set is composed of a plurality ofpiles74. The number of video title sets72 is limited to a maximum of99. Furthermore, the number of files74 (from file #j to file #j+9) constituting each video title set72 is determined to be a maximum of10. Thesefiles72 are also aligned with the boundaries between logical sectors.
• In the other recordedarea73, the information capable of utilizing the aforementioned video title sets72 is recorded. The other recordedareas73 are not necessarily provided.
• As shown inFIG. 5, thevideo manager71 contains at least three items each corresponding toindividual files74. Specifically, thevideo manager71 is made up of video manager information (VMGI)75, a video object set for video manager menu (VMGM_VOBS)76, and backup of video manager information (VMGI_BUP)77. Here, the video manager information (VMGI)75 and the backup of video manager information (VMGI_BUP)77 are indispensable items, and the video object set forvideo manager menu76 is an optional item. In the video object set76 for the VMGM, the video data, audio data, and sup-picture data about a menu of the volumes of the optical disk managed by thevideo manager71 are stored.
• By the video object set76 for VMGM (VMGM_VOBS), the volume name of theoptical disk10, the sound accompanying the volume name representation and the description of the sub-picture are displayed and at the same time, selectable items are provided in the form of sub-pictures as in video reproduction explained later. For example, the video object set76 for the VMGM (VMGM_VOBS) indicates that theoptical disk10 contains video data representing the matches a boxer played until he won a world championship. Specifically, a fighting pose of boxer X, together with a volume name, such as the glorious history of boxer X, is reproduced in the form of video data and at the same time, his theme song is reproduced and his chronological table is provided in a sub-picture. Furthermore, the user is asked which language option to select, English or Japanese, for example, in doing the narration of the matches. At the same time, the user is asked whether a caption in another language should be provided in a sub-picture or which language option should be selected for such a caption. Thus, for example, the VMGM video object set76 (VMGM_VOBS) provides the user with preparations to watch a video of a match of boxer X in English speech with a sub-picture using Japanese captions.
• Here, the structure of a video object set (VOBS)82 will be described with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6 shows an example of a video object set (VOBS)82. The video object set (VOBS)82 comes in three types for two menus and a title. Specifically, the video object set (VOBS)82 contains the video title set for video manager menu (VMGM_VOBS)76, a video object set (VTGM_VOBS)95 for a menu in the video title sets72 and a video object set (VTSTT_VOBS)82 for the titles of at least one video title set72 in a video title set (VTS)72 as explained later. Each video object set82 has the same structure except that their uses differ.
• As shown inFIG. 6, a video object set (VOBS)82 is defined as a set of one or more video object (VOB)83. The video objects83 in a video object set (VOBS)82 are used for the same application. A video object set (VOBS)82 for menus is usually made up of one video object (VOB)83 and stores the data used, to display a plurality of menu screens. In contrast, a video object set (VTSTT_VOBS)82 for title sets is usually composed of a plurality of video objects (VOB)83.
• When the aforesaid video of a boxing match is taken as an example, a video object (VOB)83 corresponds to the video data of each match played by boxer X. Specifying a particular video object (VOB)83 enables, for example, boxer X's eleventh match for a world championship to be reproduced on a video. The video object set (VTSM_VOBS)95 for a menu of the video title sets72 contains the menu data for the matches played by boxer X. According to the presentation of the menu, a particular match, for example, boxer X's eleventh match for a world championship, can be specified. In the case of a usual single story movie, one video object (VOB)83 corresponds to one video object set (VOBS)82. One video stream is completed with one video object set (VOBS)82. In the case of a collection of animated cartoons or an omnibus movie, a plurality of video streams each corresponding to individual stories are provided in a single video object set (VOBS)82. Each video stream is stored in thecorresponding video object83. Accordingly, the audio stream and sub-picture stream related to the video stream are also completed with each video object (VOB)83.
• An identification number (IDN#j) is assigned to a video object (VOB)83. By the identification number (ID#j), the video object (VOB)83 can be identified. A video object (VOB)83 further comprises one or moresuch cells84. Although a usual video stream is made up of a plurality ofcells84, a menu video stream, or a video object (VOB)83 maybe composed of onecell84. Acell84 is likewise assigned an identification number (C_IDN#j). By the identification number (C_IDN#j), thecell84 is identified.
• As shown inFIG. 6, eachcell84 is composed of one or more video object units (VOBU)85, normally a plurality of video object units (VOBU)85. Here, a video object unit (VOBU)85 is defined as a pack train having a navigation pack (NAV pack)86 at its head. Specifically, a video object unit (VOBU)85 is defined as a set of all the packs recorded, starting at a navigation pack (NAV pack)86 to immediately in front of the next navigation pack. The reproducing time of the video object unit (VOBU)85 corresponds to there producing time of the video data made up of one or more GOP (Group of Pictures) contained in the video object unit (VOBU)85 as shown inFIG. 6. The maximum reproducing time is determined to be 0.4 or more second and less than one second. In MPEG, one GOP is defined as compressed image data which corresponds to about 15 frames to be played back for, usually, 0.5 seconds.
• In the case where the video data includes a video object unit as illustrated inFIG. 6, GOPs each composed of a video pack (V pack)87, a sub-picture pack (SP pack)90, an audio pack (A pack)91 and a computer data pack (C pack)88, all complying to the MPEG standards, are arranged, producing a video data stream. Regardless of the number of GOPs, a video object (VOB)83 is determined based on the time required for producing a GOP. The video object (VOB)83 has a navigation pack (NAV)pack86 arranged at its head. Any reproduced data, whether audio data, sub-picture data, or audio/sub-picture data, consists of one more video object units. Thus, even if a video object unit is composed of only audio packs only, theseaudio packs91 will be reproduced within the time for reproducing the video object unit. The procedure of reproducing these packs will be explained later in detail, along with the procedure of reproducing the navigation pack (NAV pack)86.
• Thevideo manager71 will be explained with reference toFIG. 5. Thevideo management information75 placed at the head of thevideo manager71 contains the information used to search for titles and the information used to manage the video title sets (VTS)72, such as the information used for reproduction of a video manager menu. Thevideo management information75 contains at least three tables78,79,80 in the order shown inFIG. 5. Each of these tables78,79,80 is aligned with the boundaries between logical sectors. A first table78, a video manger information management table (VMGI_MAT)78 is a mandatory table, in which the size of thevideo manager71, the starting address of each piece of the information in thevideo manger71, and the attribute information about the video object set (VMGM_VOBS)76 for a video manager menu are written.
• Written in a second table of thevideo manager71, i.e., a title search pointer table79 (TT_SRPT), is an entry program chain (EPGC) of the video titles (VTS)72 contained in theoptical disk10 that are selectable according to the entry of a title number from the key/display section4 on the apparatus.
• Here, aprogram chain187 is a set ofprograms189 that reproduce the story of a title as shown inFIG. 7. Continuous reproduction of aprogram chain87 completes the movie of a title. Therefore, the user can start to see the movie from a particular scene of the movie by specifying the program89.
• In a third table of thevideo manager71, i.e., a video title set attribution table (VTS_ATRT)80, the attribute information associated with the video title set72 in the volume of theoptical disk10 is written. Specifically, in this table72, the following items are written as attribute information: the number of video title sets, video title set numbers, video attributes, such as a video data compression scheme, audio stream attributes, such as an audio coding mode, and sub-picture attributes, such as the type of sub-picture display.
• The contents of the video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT)78 and the title search pointer table (TT_SRPT)79 will be explained in detail with reference toFIGS. 8, 9,10, and11.
• As shown inFIG. 8, written in the video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT)78 are a video manager identifier (VMG_ID), the size of video manager information (VMGI_SZ) in logical blocks (one logical block contains 2048 bytes as mentioned above), the version number (VERN) of theoptical disk10 complying with the digital versatile disk video specification, and the category of video manager71 (VMG_CAT).
• In the category of video manager71 (VMG_CAT), a flag indicating whether or not the DVD video directory prohibits copying is written. Further written in the table (VMGI_MAT) are a volume set identifier (VLMS_ID), the number of video title sets (VTS_Ns), the identifier for a person supplying the data to be recorded on the disk (Provider Unique ID: PVR_ID), a video manager menu video object set start address (VNGM_VOBS_SA), the end address (VMGI_MAT_EA) of a video manager information management table (VMGI-MAT)78, and the start address (TT_SRPT_SA) of a title search pointer table (TT_SRPT)79. The end address of VMG_MAT78 (VMGI_MAT_EA) and the start address of TT_SRPT (TT_SRPT_SA)79 are represented by the number of logical blocks, relative to the first logical block.
• Furthermore, in the table78, the start address (VTS_ATRT_SA) of the attribute table (VTS_ATRT)80 of video title sets (VTS)72 is represented by the number of bytes, relative to the first byte in the VMGI manager table (VMGI_MAT)71, and the video attribute (VMGM_V_AST) of the video manager menu (VMGM) is written. Further written in the table78 are the number of audio streams (VMGM_AST_Ns) in the video manager menu (VMGM), the attributes of audio streams (VMGM_AST_ATR) in the video manager menu (VMGM), the number of sub-picture streams (VMGM_SPST_Ns) in the video manager menu (VMGM), and the attributes of sub-picture streams (VMGM_SPST_ATR) in the video manager menu (VMGM).
• In the title search pointer table (TT_SRPT)79, as shown inFIG. 9, the title search pointer table information (TT_SRPTI)92 is first written and then as many title search pointers forinput numbers 1 to n(n≦99) as are needed are written consecutively. When the reproducing data for only one title exists, for example, only the video data for one title is stored in the volume of the optical disk, only one title search pointer (TT_SRP)93 is written in the table (TT_SRPT)79.
• The title search pointer table information (TT_SRPTI)92 contains the number of entry program chains (EN_PGC_Ns) and the end address (TT_SRPT_EA) of thetitle search pointer93 as shown inFIG. 10. The address (TT_SRPT_EA) is represented by the number of bytes, relative to the first byte in the title search pointer table (TT_SRPT)79. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 11, each title search pointer (TT_SRP)93 contains the video title set number (VTSN), the program chain number (PGCN), and the start address (VTS_SA) of the video title set72. The contents of the title search pointer (TT_SRP)93 specifies a video title set72 to be reproduced and a program chain (PGC)87 as well as a location in which the video title set72 is to be stored. The start address (VTS_SA) of the video title set72 is represented by the number of logical blocks in connection with the title set72 specified by the video title set number (VTSN).
• The structure of the logic format of the video title set72 shown inFIG. 4 will be described with reference toFIG. 12. In each video title set (VTS)72, four items are written in the order shown inFIG. 12. Each video title set (VTS)72 is made up of one or more video titles having common attributes. The video title set information (VTSI)94 contains the management information on the video titles, including the information on entry search points, the information on playback of video object sets72, the information on playback of title set menus (VTSM), and the attribute information on video object sets72.
• Each video title set72 is provided with the backup of the video title set information (VTSI_BUP)97. Between the video title set information (VTSI) and the backup of the information (VTSI_BUP)97, a video object set for video title set menus (VTSM_VOBS)95 and a video object set for video title set titles (VTSTT_VOBS)96 are arranged. Both of the video object sets (VTSM_VOBS and VTSTT_VOBS)95,96 have the structure shown inFIG. 6, as explained earlier.
• The video title set information (VTSI)94, the backup of the information (VTSI_BUP)97, and the video object set (VTSM_VOBS)96 for video title set titles are items indispensable to the video title set72. The video object set (VTSM_VOBS)96 for video title set menus is an option provided as the need arises.
• The video title set information (VTSI)94 consists of four tables as shown inFIG. 12. The four tables are forced to align with the boundaries between logical sectors. The video title set information management table (VTSI_MAT)98, a first table, is a mandatory table, in which the size of the video title set (VTS)72, the start addresses of each piece of information in the video title set (VTS)72, and the attributes of the video object sets (VOBS)96 in the video title set (VTS)72 are written.
• The video title set direct access pointer table (VTS_DAPT)99, a second table, is an optional-table provided as the need arises. Written in the table99 are the program chains (PGC)87 and/or programs (PG)89 contained in the video title set72 that are selectable according to the entry of a title number from the key/display section4 of the apparatus.
• The video title set program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT)100, a third table, is a mandatory table, in which the VTS program chain information (VTS_PGCI)104 is written. The video title set time search map table (VTS_MAPT)101, a fourth table, is an optional table provided as the need arises, in which the information on the recording location, for a specific period of time of display, of the video data in, each program chain (PGC)87 in the title set72 to which the map table (VTS_MAPT)101 belongs is written.
• Next, the video title information management table (VTSI_MAT)98 and video title, set program chain information table (VTSI_PGCIT)100 shown inFIG. 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.13 to20.
• FIG. 13 shows the contents of the video title information management table (VTSI_MAT)98, in which the video title set identifier (VTS_ID),the size of the video title set72 (VTS_SZ), the version number of the DVD video specification (VERN), and the video title set category (VTS_CAT) are written in that order. Furthermore, in the table (VTSI_MAT)98, the start address of the video object set (VTSM_VOBS) for VTS menus is expressed by a logical block relative to the first logical block in the video title set (VTS)72. The start address (VTSTT_VOB_SA) of thevideo object83 for titles in the video title set (VTS)72 is expressed by a logical block (RLBN) relative to the first logical block in the video title set (VTS)72.
• Furthermore, in the table (VTSI_MAT)98, the end address (VTI_MAT_EA) of the video title set information management table (VTI_MAT)98 is represented by the number of blocks, relative to the first byte in the table (VTI_MAT),98 and the start address of the video title set direct access pointer table (VTS_DAPT)99 is represented by the number of blocks, relative to the first byte in the video title set information (VTSI)94.
• Still furthermore, in the table (VTSI_MAT)98, the start address (VTS_PGCIT_SA) of the video title set program chain information table (PGCIT)100 is expressed by the number of blocks, relative to the first byte of the video title set information (VTSI)94, and the start address (VTS_MAPT_SA) of the time search map (VTS_DAPT)101 in the video title set (VTS)72 is expressed by a logical sector relative to the first logical sector in the video title set (VTS)72. Written in the table (VTSI_MAT)98 are the video object set (VTSM_VOBS)95 for the video title set menu (VTSM) in the video title set (VTS)72, the video attributes (VTS_V_ATR) of the video object set (VTST_VOBS)96 for the titles. (VTSTT) in the video title set72, and the number of audio streams(VTS_AST_Ns) in the video object set (VTSTT_VOBS)82 for the titles (VTSTT) for the video title sets72. Here, the video attributes (VTS_V_ATR) include a video compression mode, a frame rate of the TV system, and an aspect ratio for displaying an image on a display unit.
• Written in the table (VTSI_MAT)98 are the audio stream attributes (VTS_AST_ATR) of the video object set (VTST_VOBS) for the titles (VTSTT) in the video title set (VTS). The attributes (VTS_AST_ATR) include, an audio encoding mode indicating how audio is encoded, the number of bits used to quantize audio, and the number of audio channels.
• Furthermore, written in the table (VTSI_MAT)98 are the number (VTS_SPST_Ns) of sub-picture streams in the video object set82 for the titles (VTSTT) in the video title set (VTS)72 and the attributes (VTS_SPST_ATR) of each sub-picture stream. The attributes (VTR_SPST_ATR) for each sub-picture stream, include a sub-picture coding mode and a sub-picture display type.
• Furthermore, in the table (VTSI_MAT)98, written are the number (VTSM_AST_Ns) of audio streams in the video title set menu (VTSM), the audiostream4attributes (VTSM_AST_ATR), the number (VTSM_SPST_Ns) of sup-picture streams, and the sub-picture stream attributes (VISM_SPST_ATR).
• The VTS program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT)100 has a structure as shown inFIG. 14. In the information table (VTS_PGCIT)100, information on the VTS program chain (VTS_PGC) is written, starting with information (VTS_PGCIT_I)102 on the information table (VTS_PGCIT)100 related to the VTS program chain (VTS_PGC). In the information table (VTS_PGCIT)100, the information (VTS_PGCIT_I)102 is followed by as many VTS_PGCI search pointer (VTS_PGCIT_SRP)103 used to search for VTS program chains (VTS_PGC) as then number (#1 to #n) of VTS program chains in the information table (VTS_PGCIT). At the end of the table, there are provided as many pieces of information (VTS_PGCI)104 on the respective VTS program chains (VTS_PGC) as the number (from #1 to #n) of the VTS program chains (VTS_PGC).
• The information (VTS_PGCIT_I)102 in the VTS program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT)100 contains the number (VTS_PGC_Ns) of VTS program chains (VTS_PGC) as shown inFIG. 15. The end address (VTS_PGCIT_EA) of the table information (VTS_PGCIT_I)102 is expressed by the number of bytes, relative to the first byte in the information table (VTS_PGCIT)100.
• Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 16, the VTS_PGCIT search pointer (VTS_PGCIT_SRP)103 contains the attributes (VTS_PGC_CAT) of the program chains (VTS_PGC) in the video title set (VTS)72 and the start address (VTS_PGCIT_A) of the VTS_PGC information (VTS_PGCI)104 expressed by the number of bytes, relative to the first byte in the VTS_PGC information table (VTS_PGCIT)100. Here, the VTS_PGC attribute (VTS_PGC_CAT) is, for example, an attribute indicating whether an entry program chain (Entry PGC) is the first one to be reproduced. Usually, an entry program chain (PGC) is written before program chains (PGC) that are not entry program chains (PGC). Generally, program chains (PGC) are reproduced in the description order of VTS_PGCIs as shown inFIG. 14.
• The PGC information (VTS_PGCI)104, in the video title set72 contains four items as shown inFIG. 17. In the PGC information (VTS_PGCI)104, the program, chain general information (PGC_GI)105 which is a mandatory item is first arranged, followed by at least three items that are only required when there is avideo object83. These three items in the PGC information (VTS_PGCI)104 area program chain program map (PGC_PGMAP)106, a cell playback information table (C_PBIT)107, and a cell position information table (C_POSIT)108.
• As shown inFIG. 18, the program chain general information (PGC_GI)105 contains the category (PGCI_CAT) of theprogram chain187, the contents (PGC_CNT) of the program chain (PGC)87, and the playback time (PGC_PB_TIME) of the program chain (PGC)187. Written in the category of PGC (PGCI_CAT) are whether the PGC can be copied or not and whether the programs89 in the PGC are played back continuously or at random. The contents of PGC (PGC_CNT) contains the description of the program chain structure, that is, the number of programs89, the number ofcells84, and the number of angles in theprogram chain87. The playback time of PGC (PGC_PB_TIME) contains the total playback time of the programs89 in the PGC. The playback time is the time required to continuously play back the programs89 in the PGC, regardless of the playback procedure.
• Furthermore, the program chain general information (PGC_GI)105 contains PGC sub-picture stream control (PGC_SPST_CTL) PGC audio stream control (PGC_AST_CTL), and PGC sub-picture pallet (PGC_SP_PLT). The PGC sub-picture stream control (PGC_SPST_CTL) contains the number of sub-pictures usable in the PGC89 and the PGC audio stream control (PGC_AST_CTL) likewise contains the number of audio streams usable in the PGC89. The PGC sub-picture palette (PGC_SP_PLT) contains a set of a specific number of color pallets used in all of the sub-picture streams in the PGC89.
• Furthermore, the PGC general information (PGC_GI)105 contains the start address (C_PBIT_SA) of the cell playback information table (C_PBIT) and the start address (C_POSIT_SA) of the cell position information table (C_POSIT)108. Both of the start addresses (C_PBIT_SA and C_POSIT_SA) are represented by the number of logical blocks, relative to the first byte in the VTS_PGC information (VTS_PGCI)105.
• The program chain program map (PGC_PGMAP)108 is a map showing the arrangement of the programs89 in thePGC187 ofFIG. 19. In the map (PGC_PGMAP)106, the entry cell numbers (ECELLN), the start cell numbers of the individual programs89, are written in ascending order as shown inFIGS. 19 and 20. In addition, program numbers are allocated, starting at 1, in the order in which the entry cell numbers are written. Consequently, the first entry number in the map (PGC_PGMAP)106 must be #1.
• The cell playback information table (C_PBIT) defines the order in which thecells84 in thePGC187 are played back. In the cell playback information table (C_PBIT)107, pieces of the cell playback information (C_PBI) are written consecutively as shown inFIG. 21. Basically,cells84 are played back in the order of cell number. The cell playback information (C_PBIT)108 contains a cell category (C_CAT) as shown inFIG. 22. Written in the cell category (C_CAT) area cell block mode indicating whether a cell is in the block and if it is in the block, whether the cell is the first one, a cell block type indicating whether acell84 is not part of the block or is in an angle block, and an STC discontinuity flag indicating whether the system time clock (STC) must be set again.
• Further written in the cell category (C_CAT) area cell playback mode indicating whether the video object units (VOBU)85 in thecell84 are played back continuously or a picture is made still at one video object unit (VOBU)85 to another in thecell84, and cell navigation control indicating whether the picture is made still after the playback of the cell or indicating the rest time.
• As shown inFIG. 22, the cell playback information table (C_PBIT)107 contains the cell playback time (C_PBTM) representing the total playback time of thePGC187. When thePGC187 has an angle cell block, the playback time of theangle cell number1 represents the playback time of the angle block. Further written in the cell playback information table (C_PBIT)107 are the start address (C_FVOBU_SA) of the first video object unit (VOBS)85 in thecell84 expressed by the number of logical sectors, relative to the first logical sector in the video object unit (VOBS)85 in which thecell84 is written and the start address (C_LVOBU_SA) of the end video object unit (VOBS)85 in thecell84 expressed by the number of logical sectors, relative to the first logical sector in the video object unit (VOBS)85 in which thecell84 is written.
• The cell position information table (C_POSI)108 specifies the identification number (C_VOB_IDN) of the video object (VOB)85 in the cell used in thePGC187 and the identification number (IDN) of thecell84. In the cell position information table (C_POSI)108, pieces of the cell position information (C_POSI) corresponding to the cell numbers written in the cell playback information table107 as shown inFIG. 23 are written in the same order as in the cell playback information table (C_PBIT)107. The cell position information (C_POSI) contains the identification number (C_VOB_IDN) of the video object unit (VOBS)85 in thecell84 and the cell identification number (C_IDN) as shown inFIG. 24.
• As explained with reference toFIG. 6, acell84 is a set of video object units (VOBU)85. Avideo object unit85 is defined as a pack train starting with a navigation (NAV)pack86. Therefore, the start address (C_FVOBU_SA) of the first video object unit (VOBU)85 in acell84 is the start address of theNAV pack86. As shown inFIG. 25, theNAV pack86 consists of apack header110, asystem header111, and twopackets116,117 of navigation data; namely, playback control information (PCI)packet116 and a data search, information (DSI)packet117. As many bytes as shown inFIG. 25 are allocated to the respective sections so that one pack may contain 2048 bytes corresponding to one logical sector. The NAV pack is provided immediately before thevideo pack88 which contains the first data item in the group of pictures (GOP). Even if theobject unit85 contains novideo pack88, theNAV pack86 is positioned at the head of theobject unit85, provided that theobject unit85 contains anaudio pack91 and/or asub-picture pack90. Thus, even ifobject unit85 contains no video pack, its playback time is determined on the basis of the time required for playing back avideo pack88, exactly in the same way as in the case where theunit85 contains avideo pack88.
• Here, a GOP is defined as a data train constituting a screen determined in the MPEG-standards. In other words, a GOP is equivalent to compressed data which maybe expanded into image data representing a plurality of frames of a moving picture. Thepack header110 contains a pack starting code, a system clock reference (SCR), and a multiplex rate. Thesystem header111 contains a bit rate and a stream ID. Thepacket header112,114 of each of thePCI packet116 andDCI packet117 contains a packet starting code, a packet length, and a stream ID as determined in the MPEG2.
• As shown inFIG. 26, anothervideo pack87, audio15pack91sub-picture pack90 or computer data pack88 consists of apack header120,packet header121, and apacket122 containing the corresponding data as in thesystem layer24MPEG 2. Its pack length is determined to be 2048 bytes. Each of these packs is aligned with the boundaries between logical blocks.
• The PCI data (PCI)113 in thePCI packet116 is navigation data used to make a presentation, or to change the contents of the display, in synchronization with the playback of the video data in the VOB unit (VOBU)85. Specifically, the PCI data (PCI)113 contains PCI general information (PCI_GI) as information on theentire PCI data113 change as shown inFIG. 27. The PCI general information (PCI_GI) contains the address (NV_PCK_LBN) of theNAV pack86 in which the PCI data is recorded as shown inFIG. 28, the address being expressed in the number of blocks, relative to the VOBU logical sector in which the PCI data is recorded. The PCI general information (PCI_GI) contains the category of VOBU (VOBU_CAT), the start PTS of VOBU85 (VOBU_SPTS), and the end PTS of VOBU85 (VOBU_EPTS). Here, the start PTS of VOBU85 (VOBU_SPTS) indicates the playback start time (start presentation time stamp (SPTS)) of the video data in theVOBU85 containing the PCI data. The playback start time is the playback start time of the first picture in the first GOP in theVOBU85. Normally, the first picture corresponds to I picture (intra-picture) data in the MPEG standards. The end PTS (VOBU_EPTS) in theVOBU85 indicates the playback end time (end presentation time stamp (EPTS)) of the video data in theVOBU85 containing the PCI data. The playback end time is the playback start time of the last picture in the last GOP in theVOBU85.
• The DSI data (DSI)115 in theDSI packet117 shown inFIG. 25 is the navigation data used to search for a VOB unit (VOBU)85. The DSI data (DSI)115 contains the DSI general information (DSI_GI), VOBU search information (VOBU_SI), and the synchronizing playback information (SYNCI) as shown inFIG. 29.
• The DSI information (DSI_GI) contains information about theentire DSI data115. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 30, the DSI general information (DSI_GI) contains the system clock reference for the NAV pack (NV_PCK_SCR)86. The system clock reference is stored in the system time clock (STC)54A,58A,60A or62A built in each section ofFIG. 1. On the basis, of theSTC54A,58A,60A,62A, video, audio, and sub-picture packs are decoded at the video, audio, andsub-picture decoders58,60, and62 and themonitor6 and thespeaker8 reproduce images and sound, respectively. The DSI general information (DSI_GI) contains the start address (NV_PCKLBN) of theNAV pack86 containing the DSI data expressed by the number of logical sectors (RLSN), relative to the first logical sector in the VOB set (VOBS)82 containing the DSI, and the address (VOBU_EA) of the last pack in the VOB unit (VOBU)85 containing the DSI data expressed by the number of logical sectors (RLSN), relative to the first logical sector in the, VOB unit (VOBU)85.
• Furthermore, the DSI general information (DSI_GI) contains the end address (VOBU_IP_EA) of thevideo pack88 containing the last data item for the first I picture in the VOB unit (VOBU) expressed by the number of logical sectors (RLSN), relative to the first logical sector in the VOB unit (VOBU)85 containing the DSI data, and the identification number (VOBU_IP_EA) of theVOB83 containing the DSI and the identification number (VOBU_C_IDN) of thecell84 in which the DSI data is recorded.
• The search information (VOBU_SI) inVOBU85 contains information used to identify the first address in acell84.
• The synchronizing information (SYNCI) contains address information on the sub-pictures and audio data reproduced in synchronization with the playback start time of the video data in the VOB unit (VOBU)85 containing the DSI data. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 31, the start address (A_SYNCA) of the target, audio pack is expressed by the number of logical sectors (RLSN), relative to theNAV pack86 in whichDSI data115 is recorded. When there are more than one audio stream (8 audio streams maximum), as many pieces of the synchronizing information (SYNCI) as there are audio streams are written. Furthermore, the synchronizing information (SYNCI) contains the address (SP_SYNCA) of theNAV pack86 of the VOB unit (VOBU)85 containing thetarget audio pack91, the address being expressed by the number of logical sectors (RLSN), relative to theNAV pack86 in whichDSI115 is recorded. When there are more than one sub-picture stream (32 sub-picture streams maximum), as many pieces of the synchronizing information (SYNCI) as there are sub-picture streams are written.
• The pack length of the above pack is adjusted to 2048 bytes (one logical sector). If the pack length is less than 2048 bytes and when the number of bytes necessary for attaining the above value is six bytes or less, the pack length is adjusted by adding stuffing bytes in the pack header, and when the necessary number of bytes is seven bytes or more, the packet length is adjusted by adding one byte of stuffing byte and adding a padding packet corresponding to the necessary number of bytes to the packet.
• The pack header is constructed by a 4-byte pack start code (000001BAh), 6-byte SCR (System Clock Reference, system time standard reference value), 3-byte multiplexing rate (MUX rate; 0468A8h), and 1-byte to 7-byte stuffing bytes (00h). The packet is constructed by 2034 bytes as a reference and a padding packet (effective data 00h which has no significance as data is recorded in the unit of byte) for pack length adjustment is inserted into the packet as required.
• That is, as shown inFIG. 32, in a case where the length of data constructing the packet is 2034 bytes to 2028 bytes, one or more stuffing bytes corresponding to a deficient number of byte or bytes are added to (inserted into) the pack header.
• Further, as shown inFIG. 33, in a case where the length of data constructing the packet is 2027 bytes or less, a padding packet of bytes of a number corresponding to the deficient number is added.
• For example, a case wherein video data is formed in a pack form is explained.
• That is, as shown inFIG. 34, in a case where video data having a data length of 2015 bytes is formed in a pack form, the reference byte number (2034 bytes) of one packet is compared with a byte number (2021 bytes) obtained by adding six bytes of the packet header to the number of bytes (2015 bytes) of the video data, and as the result of comparison, it is determined that a deficient number of bytes is 13 and it is necessary to add a padding packet of 13 bytes, and a pack of 2048 bytes is formed by a normal 14-byte pack header including a 1-byte stuffing byte and a packet of 2034 bytes constructed by adding a 13-byte padding packet to the video packet of 2021 bytes.
• Further, as shown inFIG. 35, in a case where video data having a data length of 2025 bytes is formed in a pack form, the reference byte number (2034 bytes) of one packet is compared with a byte number (2031 bytes) obtained by adding six bytes of the packet header to the number of bytes (2025 bytes) of the video data, and as the result of comparison, it is determined that a deficient number of bytes is 3 and it is necessary to add 3-byte stuffing bytes, and a pack of 2048 bytes is formed by a 17-byte pack header including 3-byte stuffing bytes in addition to a 1-byte stuffing byte and a video packet of 2031 bytes.
• Next, the above pack is explained in detail.
• As shown inFIG. 25, anNAV pack86 is arranged just before a video pack containing head data of one GOP and constructed by a 14-byte pack header110, 24-byte system header111,PCI packet116 of 980, bytes or less, andDSI packet117 of 1024 bytes or less. ThePCI packet116 is constructed by a 6-byte packet header112, 1-byte sub-stream ID118, and adata area113 in which 979-byte PCI data can be stored, and theDSI packet117 is constructed by a 6-byte packet header114, 1-byte sub-stream ID119 and adata area115 in which 1017-byte DSI data can be stored.
• As described before, thepack header110 is constructed by a 4-byte pack start code (000001Bah) 6-byte SCR (System Clock Reference, system time standard reference value), 3-byte multiplexing rate (MUX rate; 0468A8h), and 1-byte to 7-byte stuffing bytes (00h).
• Thesystem header111 is constructed by a 4-byte system header start code (000001BBh), 2-byte header length and the like.
• Thepacket headers112,114 are each constructed by a 3-byte packet start code (000001h), 1-byte stream ID (10111111b: private stream2), 2-byte PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) packet length.
• A code (00000000b) indicating the PCI stream is given to thesub-stream ID118.
• A code (00000001b) indicating the DSI stream is given to the sub-stream ID119.
• As shown inFIGS. 36A, 36B, in avideo pack87, one pack is constructed by a 14-byte pack header120 and a video packet which is constructed by a 9-byte packet header121aand adata area122 in which video data of up to 2025 bytes can be stored (FIG. 36A) or a video packet constructed by a 19-byte packet header121band adata area122 in which video data of up to 2015 bytes can be stored (FIG. 36B). Thepack header120 has the same structure as that used in the case of theNAV pack86.
• If thepacket header121bis a 9-byte packet header, it is constructed by a 3-byte packet start code (000001h), 1-byte stream ID (11100000b: MPEG video stream), 2-byte PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) packet length, and 3-byte data relating to PES.
• If thepacket header121 is a 19-byte packet header, it contains a 5-byte PTS (Presentation Time Stamp; time management information for reproduction output) and a 5-byte DTS (Decoding Time Stamp; time management information for decoding) in addition to the above 9 bytes. The PTS and DTS are described only in a video packet containing head data of I picture of the video stream.
• If anaudio pack91 is compressed coding data which conforms to the Dolby AC3, as shown inFIG. 37A, one pack is constructed by a 14-byte pack header120 and an audio packet which is constructed by a 14-byte packet header121c, 1-byte sub-stream ID131, aframe number132 of one-byte configuration indicating the number of audio frames in the-packet data, a firstaccess unit pointer133 of two-byte configuration indicating the head position of the first audio frame in the packet data, and adata area134 in which audio data of up to 2016 bytes can be stored. Thepack header120 has the same structure as that used in the case of theNAV pack86. If no PTS is contained in thepacket header121c, thepacket header121cis constructed by 9 bytes and the capacity of thedata area134 in which audio data can be stored is expanded to 2021 bytes.
• If theaudio pack91 is linear PCM coding data, as shown inFIG. 37B, one pack is constructed by a 14-byte pack header120 and an audio packet which is constructed by a 14-byte packet header121d, 1-byte sub-stream ID131, aframe number132 of one-byte configuration indicating the number of audio frames in the packet data, a firstaccess unit pointer133 of two-byte configuration indicating the head position of the audio frame in the packet data,audio data information135 of three-byte configuration in which information of audio data in the packet data is described, and adata area134 in which audio data of up to 2013 bytes can be stored. Thepack header120 has, the same structure as that used in the case of theNAV pack86. If no PTS is contained in thepacket header121d, thepacket header121dis constructed by 9 bytes and the capacity of thedata area134 in which audio data can be stored is expanded to 2018 bytes.
• As information of audio data of the audio data information, a frame number, a processing unit indicating that one data length is 16-bit length, 20-bit length or 24-bit length, a sampling frequency, and the like are described.
• Thepacket header121 is constructed by a 3-byte packet start code (000001h), 1-byte streamed (10111101b: private stream1), 2-byte PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) packet length, 3-byte content of PES, and 5-byte PTS (Presentation Time Stamp; time management information for reproduction output).
• In thesub-stream ID131 given in a case where audio data is compressed coding data which conforms to the Dolby AC3, a code (10000xxxb:xxx is a stream number) indicating an AC3 stream is provided.
• In thesub-stream ID131 given in a case where audio data is linear PCM, a code (10100xxxb: xxx is a stream number) indicating a linear PCM stream is provided.
• One frame of the audio data is constructed by, for example, 772-byte audio data containing a 4-byte frame header and four bytes on the right and left sides of “0” to “191”.
• As shown inFIG. 38, in asub-picture pack90, one pack is constructed by a 14-byte pack header120 and a sub-picture packet which is constructed by a 14-byte packet header121, 1-byte sub-stream ID141 and adata area142 in which sub-picture data of up to 2019 bytes can be stored. If no PTS is contained in thepacket header121, thepacket header121 is constructed by 9 bytes and the capacity of thedata area142 in which sub-picture data can be stored is expanded to 2024 bytes. Thepack header120 has the same structure as that used in the case of theNAV pack86.
• A code (001xxxxxb: xxxxx stream number) indicating a sub-picture stream is given to thesub-stream ID141.
• Thepacket header121 is constructed by 3-byte packet start code (000001h), 1-byte stream ID (10111101b: private stream1), 2-byte PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) packet length, 3-byte data relating to PES, and 5-byte PTS (Presentation Time Stamp; time management information for reproduction output). The PTS is described only in a sub-picture packet containing head data of each sub-picture unit.
• As shown inFIG. 39, in acomputer data pack88, one pack is constructed by a 14-byte pack header120 and a packet which is constructed by a 14-byte packet header121, 1-byte sub-stream ID151, 2-byte computerenvironmental data152 and adata area153, in which computer data of up to 2017 bytes can be stored. If no PTS is contained in thepacket header121, thepacket header121 is constructed by 9 bytes and the capacity of thedata area153 in which computer data can be stored is expanded to 2022 bytes. Thepack header120 has the same structure as that used in the case of theNV pack86.
• As the computerenvironmental data152, an application CPU and application OS are described. For example, as shown inFIG. 40, four different classifications can be selected, and if the application CPU is “CPU1” and the application OSIs “OS1”, 0110(h) is described, if the application is “CPU1” and the 2025 application OS is “OS2”, “0111(h)” is described, if the application CPU is “CPU2” and the application OS is “OS3”, “1002(h)” is described, and if the application CPU is “CPUs” and the application OS is “OS3”, “0102(h)” is described.
• A code (11000000b) indicating a computer stream is given to the sub-stream ID.
• Thepacket header121 is constructed by a 3-byte packet start code (000001h), 1-byte stream ID (10111101b: private stream1), 2-byte PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) packet length, 3-byte data relating to PES, and 5-byte PTS (Presentation Time Stamp; time management information for reproduction output). PTS is described only in a computer data packet. The containing head data of each computer data stream.
• In an SCR described in each of the above packs, the value of ahead pack for each video title set is set to “0” and increased in an ascending order according to the order of recording of data into theoptical disk10.
• As shown inFIG. 41, the stream ID described in thepacket header121 of each pack indicates the program stream map in the case of “10111100”, theprivate stream1 in the case of “10111101”, the padding stream (dummy data) in the case of “10111110”, theprivate stream2 in the case of “10111111”, the MPEG audio stream (xxxxx; stream number) in the case of “110xxxxx”, the MPEG video stream (xxxx; stream number) in the case of “1110xxxx”, the entitlement (permission) control message in the case of “11110000”, the entitlement (permission) management message in the case of “111110010”, the DSM control command in the case of “11110010”, and the program stream directory in the case of “11111111”.
• Thesub-stream IDs131,141,151 respectively described in the packs of theaudio pack91,sub-picture pack90, computer data pack88 correspond to theprivate stream1, and as shown inFIG. 42, the stream ID indicates the linear PCM audio stream in the case of “10100xxx” in which “xxx” indicates the stream number, indicates the sub-picture stream in the case of “001xxxxx” in which “xxxxx” indicates the stream number, indicates the computer data stream in the case of “11000000”, and indicates the Dolby AC3 audio stream in the case of “10000xxx” in which “xxx” indicates the stream number.
• Thesub-stream IDs118,119 respectively described in the PCI packet and DSI packet in theNV pack87 correspond to theprivate stream2, and as shown inFIG. 43, the sub-stream ID indicates the PCI stream in the case of “00000000”, and indicates the DSI stream in the case of “00000001”.
• Next, a concrete example of the structure of thepack91 of linear audio data is explained with reference toFIG. 44.
• As the stream ID in thepacket header121, “10111101” indicating theprivate stream1 is described, as thesub-stream ID131 in thepacket header121, “10100011” indicating the linear PCM audio stream is described and “3” is described as the stream number thereof, and as the firstaccess unit pointer133, “O1DB(h)” is described. In thedata area134 of the packet, remaining data (472 bytes) in the preceding frame and two frame data items (772-byte configuration for one frame) are stored.
• Next, a concrete example of the structure of thepack88 of computer data is explained with reference toFIG. 45.
• As the stream ID in thepacket header121, “10111101” indicating theprivate stream1 is described, as thesub-stream ID151, “11000000” indicating the computer data stream is described, and as the computerenvironmental data152, “0111(h)” indicating that the application CPU is “CPU1” and the application OS is “OS2” is described. In thedata area153 of the packet, computer data is stored.
• Next, a concrete example of the structure of thepack90 of sub-picture data is explained with reference toFIG. 46.
• As the stream ID in thepacket header121, “10111101” indicating theprivate stream1 is described, as thesub-stream ID141, “00100101” indicating the sub-picture stream is described and “5” is described as the stream number thereof. In thedata area142 of the packet, sub-picture data of up to 2019 bytes is stored.
• Thesystem processor section54 includes a packettransfer processing section200 for determining the classification of the packet and transferring data in the packet to each decoder. As shown inFIG. 47, the packettransfer processing section200 includes a memory interface section (memory I/F section)201, stuffinglength detecting section202, pack header endaddress calculating section203, packclassification judgment section204, packet data transfercontrol section205 and decoder interface section (decoder I/F section)206.
• The memory I/F section201 outputs pack data from thedata RAM section56 to the stuffinglength detecting section202, packclassification judgment section204, packet data transfercontrol section205 and decoder I/F section206 via a data bus.
• The stuffinglength detecting section202 detects the number of bytes of the stuffing length in thepack header120 in pack data supplied from the memory I/F section201 and the result of detection is output to the pack header endaddress calculating section203.
• The pack header endaddress calculating section203 calculates a pack header end address based on the stuffing length supplied from the stuffinglength detecting section202 and the result of calculation is output to the packclassification judgment section204 and packet data transfercontrol section205.
• The packclassification judgment section204 determines one of thevideo pack87,audio pack91,sub-picture pack90,NV pack86 and computer data pack88 based on the content of 4-byte data which comes after an address included in pack data supplied from the memory I/F section201 according to the pack header end address supplied from the pack header endaddress calculating section203 and the result of determination is output to the packet datatransfer control section205.
• When a 1-byte stream ID indicating theprivate stream2 is supplied, theNV pack86 is identified. When a stream ID indicating a video stream is supplied, thevideo pack87 is identified. When a 1-byte stream ID indicating aprivate stream1 is supplied, theaudio pack81, thesub-picture pack90 or thecomputer data pack88 is identified.
• When theaudio pack91,sub-picture pack90 or computer data pack88 is determined, the Dolby AC3 audio stream, linear audio stream, sub-picture stream or computer data stream is determined according to thesub-stream ID131,141, or151 which follows thepacket header121.
• For example, as shown inFIG. 42, the linear audio stream is determined in the case of “10100xxx” (xxx; stream number), the Dolby AC3 audio stream is determined in the case of “10000xxx” (xxx; stream number), the sub-picture stream is determined in the case of “001xxxxx” (xxxxx; stream number), and the computer data stream is determined in the case of “11000000”.
• The packet datatransfer control section205 determines the transfer destination and packet start address according to the pack header end address supplied from the pack header endaddress calculating section203 and the result of judgment of pack classification supplied from the pack classification,judgment section204 and determines the packet length in thepacket header121 of the supplied pack data. Further, the packet datatransfer control section205 supplies a signal indicating the transfer destination as a transfer control signal to the decoder I/F section206 and the packet end address based on the packet start address is supplied to the memory I/F section201.
• The decoder I/F section206 outputs video data, audio data, sub-picture data to correspondingdecoder sections58,60,62 as packet data containing thepacket header121 supplied from the memory I/F section201 to the packet datatransfer control section205 in response to a transfer control signal supplied from the packet datatransfer control section205 and outputs navigation data and computer data as packet data to thedata RAM56.
• Next, the operation of reproducing movie data from theoptical disk10 having the logic format shown in FIGS.4 to24 is explained with reference toFIG. 1. InFIG. 1, arrows indicated by solid lines between the blocks indicate data buses and arrows indicated by broken lines indicate control buses.
• In the optical disk device shown inFIG. 1, when the power supply is turned ON, thesystem CPU section50 reads out an initial operation program from the system ROM andRAM52 and operates thedisk drive section30. Therefore, thedisk drive section30 starts the readout operation for the lead-inarea27 and then the readout operation is effected for the volume andfile structure area70 which follows the lead-inarea27 and defines the volume and file structure in conformity to ISO-9660 or the like. TheCPU section50 supplies a read instruction to thedisk drive section30 to read out data from the volume andfile structure area70 recorded in a preset position of theoptical disk10 set in thedisk drive section30, reads out the content of the volume andfile structure area70 and temporarily stores the read out content into thedata RAM section56 via thesystem processor section54. Thesystem CPU section50 extracts management information as information necessary for the management and information of the recording position, recording capacity, size and the like of each file by use of a pass table and directory record stored in thedata RAM section56, transfers the same to a preset location of the system ROM &RAM52 and stores the same therein.
• Next, thesystem CPU section50 acquires thevideo manager71 constructed by a plurality of files starting from the file number “0” from the system ROM &RAM section52 by referring to information of the recording position and recording capacity of each file. That is, thesystem CPU section50 supplies a read instruction to thedisk drive section30 by referring to information of the recording position and recording capacity of each file acquired from the system ROM &RAM section52, acquires the position and size of a plurality of files constructing thevideo manager71 lying on the route directory, reads out thevideo manager71, and stores the same into thedata RAM section56 via thesystem processor section54. The video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT)78 which is the first table of thevideo manager71 is searched. A start address (VMGM_VOBS_SA) of the video object set (VMGM_VOBS)76 for the video manager menu (VMGM) is acquired by the searching operation and the video object set (VMGM_VOBS)76 is reproduced. The operation of reproducing the video object set (VMGM_VOB)76 is the same as the reproducing operation for the video object set (VTSM_VOBS) for the title in the video title set (VTS), and therefore, explanation for the reproducing procedure is omitted. When the language is set by use of the video object set (VTGM_VOBS)76 or when no video manager menu (VMGM) is present, the video manager information management table (VMGI_MAT) is searched to search for the start address (TT_SRPT_SA) of the title set search pointer table (TT_SRPT)79.
• By the searching operation, the title set search pointer table (TT_SRPT)79 is transferred to a preset location of the system ROM &RAM section52 and stored therein. Next, thesystem CPU section50 acquires a last address of the title search pointer table (TT_SRPT)79 from the title search pointer table information (TSPTI)92 and acquires a start address (VTS_SA) of the video title set, program chain number (PGCN) and video title set number (VTSN) corresponding to an entry number from the title search pointer (TT_SRP)93 corresponding to the entry number from the key operation/display section4. When only one title set is present, one title search pointer (TT_SRP)93 is searched irrespective whether the entry number from the key operation/display section4 is present or not and the start address (VTS_SA) of the title set is acquired. Thesystem CPU section50 acquires an object title set based on the start address (VTS_SA) of the title set.
• Thesystem CPU section50 acquires the stream number of video, audio, sub-picture for video manager menu and attribute information items described in the information management table (VMGI_MAT)78 of the video manager information (VMGI)75 and sets parameters for reproduction of video manager menu in thevideo recorder section58,audio recorder section60 andsub-picture decoder section62 based on the attribute information.
• Next, as shown inFIG. 12, the video title set information (VTSI)94 of the title set is acquired from the start address (VTS_SA) of the video title set72 shown inFIG. 11. The end address (VTI_MAT_EA) of the video title set information management table (VTSI_MAT)98 shown inFIG. 13 is acquired from the management table (VTSI_MAT)98 of video title set information of the video title set information (VTSI)94 and respective portions of the reproducing apparatus shown inFIG. 1 are set according to the attributes thereof based on the numbers of streams (VTS_AST_Ns, VTS_SPST_Ns) of audio and sub-picture data items and attribute information items (VTS_V_ATR, VTS_A_ATR, VTS_SPST_ATR) of video, audio and sub-picture data items.
• When the menu (VTSM) for the video title set (VTS) is simple in structure, the start address (VTSM_VOB_SA) of the video object set (VTSM_VOB)95 for menu in the video title set is acquired from the video title set information management table (VTSI_MAT)98 shown inFIG. 13 and the menu of the video title set is displayed by the video object set (VTSM_VOB)95. When the video object set (VTT_VOBS)96 for the title (VTST) in the tile set (VTS) is simply reproduced by referring to the menu without selecting the program chain (PGC), the video object set96 is reproduced from the start address (VTSTT_VOB_SA) shown inFIG. 13.
• When the program chain (PGC) is specified by the key operation/display section4, an object program chain is searched for in the following procedure. The procedure of searching for the program chain is not limited to the operation of searching for a program chain for the title in the video title set and the same procedure can be used for searching for a program chain for a relatively complicated menu constructed by program chains. The start address of the program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT)100 in the video title set (VTS) shown inFIG. 13 and described in the management table (VTSI_MAT)98 of the video title set information (VTSI)94 is acquired and information (VTS_PGCIT_I)102 of the VTS program chain information table shown inFIG. 14 is fetched. The number of program chains (VTS_PGC_Ns) and the end address (VTS_PGCIT_EA) shown inFIG. 15 are acquired from the information (VTS_PGCIT_I)102.
• When the program chain number is specified by the key operation/display section4, the category of the program chain shown inFIG. 16 from the VTS_PGCIT search pointer (VTS_PGCIT_SRP)103 shown inFIG. 14 and corresponding to the specified number and the start address ofVTS_PGC information104 corresponding to the search pointer (VTS_PGCIT_SRP)103 are acquired. The program chain general information (PGC_GI) shown inFIG. 17 is read out by use of the start address (VTS_PGCI_SA). The category of the program chain (PGC) and reproducing time (PGC_CAT, PGC_PB_TIME) are acquired by use of the general information (PGC_GI) and the start addresses (C_PBIT_SA, C_POSIT_SA) of the cell reproduction information table (C_PBIT) and cell position information table (C_POSIT)108 described in the general information (PGC_GI) are acquired. The identifier (C_VOB_IDN) of the video object and the identifier (C_IDN) of the cell as shown inFIG. 24 are acquired as the cell position information (C_POSI) shown inFIG. 23 by use of the start address (C_PBIT_SA).
• Further, cell reproduction information (C_PBI) shown inFIG. 21 is acquired by use of the start address (C_POSIT_SA), the start address (C_FVOBU_SA) of thefirst VOBU85 in the cell shown inFIG. 22 and described in the reproduction information (C_PBI) and the start address (C_LVOBU_SA) of the last VOBU are acquired, and the target cell is searched for. The cell reproduction order is determined by referring to the map of the program shown inFIG. 19 in the PGC program map (PGC_PGMAP)106 shown inFIG. 17 to sequentially determine thereproduction cell84. The thus determineddata cells84 of the program chain are sequentially read out from the video object144 and input to thedata RAM section56 via thesystem processor section54. Thedata cell84 is supplied to thevideo decoder section58,audio decoder section60 andsub-picture decoder section62 according to the reproduction time information and decoded, converted by the D/A andreproduction processing section64, and an image is reproduced on themonitor section6 and a sound is reproduced from thespeaker section8.
• Next, the normal operation of reproducing video data by using thenavigation pack86 is explained in detail with reference to the flowchart.
• In the normal reproduction of video data, when the normal reproduction is started as shown inFIG. 48, the video manager information (VMGI)75 is searched for by thesystem CPU section50 as explained before after the starting step indicated by the step S11 is effected and then it is stored into the system ROM/RAM section52 by the steps S12. Likewise, the video title set information (VTSI)94 of the video title set (VTS)72 is fetched based on the video manager information (VMGI)75 and the video title set menu is displayed on themonitor section6 by use of the video object set (VTSM_VOBS)95. Based on the display, the user determines the title set72 to be reproduced and the reproduction condition as indicated by the step S13. If the determined title set72 is selected by the key operation/display section4, data of the cell reproducing information table (C_PBIT)107 shown inFIGS. 17, 21,22 are fetched from the program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT)100 shown inFIG. 12 in the selected title set72 by thesystem CPU section50 as indicated by the step S14 and stored into the system ROM/RAM section52.
• Thesystem CPU section50 determines the program chain number (VTS_PGC_Ns), angle number (ANGNs), audio stream number and sub-picture stream number for starting the reproduction according to the reproducing condition input from the key operation/display section4 by the step S15. For example, the program chain is determined such that the Eleventh World Champion Match of Boxing is selected as the title and the Japanese-caption is used as the sub-picture under the English narration. Further, the user may determine a video image which can always provide favorable observation of the fight between the two boxers as the angle. The thus determined sub-picture number and audio stream number are set in the register54B of theprocessor section54 in the step S16. Likewise, the reproduction start time is set in the system time clock (STC)54A,58A,60A,62A of thesystem processor section54,video decoder section58,audio decoder section60 andsub-picture decoder section62. Further, the start address of first VOBU in the cell used as the start address and the PGC number, that is, cell number are stored in the system ROM/RAM section52.
• A read command is supplied from thesystem CPU section50 to thedisk drive section30 when the preparation on for reading the video title set is made as shown in the step S17 and a seek process is effected for theoptical disk10 by thedisk drive section30 based on the received start address. Cells associated with the specified program chain (PGC) are sequentially read out from theoptical disk10 in response to the read command and supplied to thedata RAM section56 via thesystem CPU section50 andsystem processing section54. The supplied cell data is stored as a pack into thedata RAM section56 from thenavigation pack86 which is the head pack of the video object unit (VOBU)85 as shown inFIG. 6. After this, thevideo pack87,audio pack91,sub-picture pack90 and computer data pack88 of the video object unit (VOBU)85 are respectively supplied to thevideo decoder section58,audio decoder section60,sub-picture decoder section62 anddata RAM section56, decoded by the respective decoders and then supplied to the D/A anddata reproducing section64. As a result, a video signal is supplied to themonitor section6, an audio signal is supplied to thespeaker section8, and display of the video image with the sub-picture is started and voice reproduction is started.
• The content of thecomputer data pack88 is stored into the work area of thedata RAM section56 for thesystem CPU section50.
• Then, thesystem CPU section50 executes another process by using program data as the computer data or starts another program in the system ROM/RAM section52.
• For example, when Japanese pachisi game is played in the course of video operation, the simple program for the Japanese pachisi game is not recorded in the system ROM/RAM section52 and is readout as the computer data as described above.
• Further, by causing the program to be read out as the computer data, a preset program stored in the system ROM/RAM section52 is started.
• If an interruption from the key operation/display section4 occurs during the reproduction of video and audio signals, key data obtained at this time is stored into the system RAM/ROM section52. If no key data is obtained, whether an interruption of the end of reproduction from the drive section is present or not is checked. If the interruption of the end of reproduction is not present, a stand by state for transfer of thenavigation pack86 is set. If transfer of thenavigation pack86 is completed, the logical sector number (NV_PCK_LSN) in thenavigation pack86 is stored into the system RAM/ROM section52 as the present logical block number (NOWLBN).
• When transfer of theNV pack86 is completed, whether it is thelast NV pack86 in the cell or not is checked. That is, whether it is thelast navigation pack86 in thecell84 or not is checked. The checking operation is effected by comparing the start address (C_LVOBU_SA) of C_LVOBU of the cell reproduction information table (C_PBI)107 shown inFIG. 22 with the address (V_PCK_LBN) of thenavigation pack86. If theNV pack86 is the last one in the cell, whether a change of the angle is made or not is checked. The change of angle is determined based on whether or not a change of angle is entered from the key operation/display section4 to thesystem CPU section50. If no change of angle is made, whether or not the cell is the last cell of the program chain (PGC) to which thecell84 belongs is checked. The checking operation is effected based on whether or not thecell84 shown inFIGS. 17 and 21 is the last cell of the cell reproduction information table (C_PBIT)107. That is, the checking operation is effected based on the number of cells constituting the program chain and the identification number of the reproduced cell. If the end of playback has been specified, or if there is no program chain, the end PTS (VOBU_EPTS) contained in the PCI general information (PCI_GI) is referred to in step S18. When the end PTS (VOBU_EPTS) coincides with the system time clock (STC), themonitor6 will stop displaying on the screen as shown in step S19, then the system CPU will supply a data transfer stop command to thedisk drive section30, which thereby stops the data transfer terminating the playback operation (step S20).
• Next, the pack transfer process is explained with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 49.
• Thesystem CPU section50 transfers a read command and the logical sector address of a to-be-reproduced pack to the disk drive section30 (step S31).
• Then, thedisk drive section30 seeks a target address (step S32).
• Thedisk drive section30 corrects an error of data of the target address and transfers main data portion of the logical sector data to the system processor section54 (step S33).
• Thesystem processor section54 stores data of the readout logical sector in the data RAM section56 (step S34).
• Thesystem processor section54 reads outpack headers110,120 from the head portion of data of the logical sector stored in thedata RAM section56 and stores the SCR (system time standard reference value) thereof (step S35).
• At this time, since the head of the logical sector coincides with the head of the pack data, data can be easily fetched.
• Then, thesystem processor section54 compares the PTS thereof with the SCR of the stored pack, determines a pack corresponding to the SCR which has reached the PTS, that is, to-be-reproduced pack, reads out the determined pack data from thedata RAM section56, determines the classification of data by the packettransfer processing section200, and transfers data to thedecoder section58,60,62 ordata RAM section56 according to the determined classification (step S36).
• Thedecoder sections58,60,62 decode data according to the respective data formats and the set coding system and supplies the decoded data to the D/A &reproduction processing section64. After a digital signal obtained as the result of decoding of video data is converted into an analog signal by the D/A &reproduction processing section64, the signal is subjected to the frame rate processing, aspect process, pan-scan process and the like according to the set condition and then output to themonitor section6. After a digital signal obtained as the result of decoding of audio data is converted into an analog signal by the D/A &reproduction processing section64, the signal is subjected to the mixing process according to the set condition by the D/A &reproduction processing section64 and then output to thespeaker section8. After the D/A &reproduction processing section64 converts a digital signal obtained as the result of decoding of sub-picture data into an analog signal, the signal is output to the monitor section6 (step S37).
• When thedata RAM section56 is supplied with program data as computer data, it stores the data together with the computer environmental classification indicating the application OS and the CPU classification and outputs the computer environmental classification and data thereof to thesystem CPU section50.
• The above steps S33 to S37 are repeatedly affected until reproduction is completed.
• Next, the operation of the packettransfer processing section200 is explained.
• Pack data read out from thedata RAM section56 is supplied to the stuffinglength detecting section202, packclassification judgment section204, packet data transfercontrol section205 and decoder I/F section206 via the memory I/F section201 (step S41).
• Then, the stuffing length is detected by the stuffinglength detecting section202 and data indicating the stuffing length is output to the pack header end address calculating section203 (step S42).
• The pack header endaddress calculating section203 calculates the pack header end address based on the supplied stuffing length and the pack header end address is supplied to the packclassification judgment section204 and packet data transfer control section205 (step S43).
• The packclassification judgment section204 determines theNV pack86,video pack87, DoblyAC3 audio pack91, linearPCM audio pack91,sub-picture pack90, or computer data pack88 based on the content of 4-byte to 6-byte data supplied after the pack header end address according to the pack header end address and the result of determination is supplied to the packet data transfer control section205 (step S44).
• That is, when a 1-byte stream ID indicating theprivate stream2 is supplied, the NV pack786 is identified; when a stream ID indicating a video stream is supplied, thevideo pack87 is identified; and when a 1-byte stream ID indicating aprivate stream1 is supplied, theaudio pack81 of the Dobly AC3, theaudio pack91 of the linear PCM, theaudio pack91, thesub-picture pack90, or thecomputer data pack88 is identified.
• In a case where the stream ID is theprivate stream1, the linear PCM audio pack is determined if the sub-stream ID (131,141,151) following thepacket header121 is “10000xxx”, and the stream number is determined by “xxx”.
• In a case where the stream ID is theprivate stream1, the Dolby AC3 audio pack is determined if the sub-stream ID (131,141,151) following thepacket header121 is “10000xxx”, and the stream number is determined by “xxx”.
• In a case where the stream ID is theprivate stream1, the sub-picture stream is determined if the sub-stream ID (131,141,151) following thepacket header121 is “001xxxxx”, and the stream number is determined by “xxxxx”.
• In a case where the stream ID is theprivate stream1, the computer data stream is determined if the sub-stream ID (131,141,151) following thepacket header121 is “11000000”.
• When the linearPCM audio pack91 or DolbyAC3 audio pack91 is determined, an offset byte number indicating the head position of the first frame is determined by the 2-byte firstaccess unit pointer133 following theframe header number132 which is set after thesub-stream ID131.
• Then, the packet datatransfer control section205 determines the transfer destination and packet start address according to the supplied result of determination of the pack classification, pack headed end address and firstaccess unit pointer133 and determines the packet length in thepacket header121 of the supplied pack data. As a result, the packet datatransfer control section205 supplies a signal indicating the transfer destination as a transfer control signal to the decoder I/F section206 and the packet end address based on the packet start address is supplied to the memory I/F section201 (step S45).
• Thus, substantially effective data is supplied from the memory I/F section201 to the decoder I/F section206 via the data bus, and then, transferred to thedecoder58,60,62 ordata RAM section56 as the transfer destination corresponding to the classification (step S46).
• That is, the packet data of video data is transferred to thedecoder58, the packet data of audio data is transferred to thedecoder60, the packet data of sub-picture data is transferred to thedecoder62, and the packet data of computer data is transferred to thedate RAM section56.
• In this case, since the pack data has a constant length and the storage state in thedata RAM section56 is made uniform, that is, the start addresses are set at regular intervals, the heads of the pack data items in thedata RAM section56 are always stored at the addresses set at regular intervals, and therefore, the management of the pack data can be attained only by managing the pack number without managing the address.
• In a case where data is DSI data and PCI data as NV data indicating the reproduction position of video data, the NV data is not transferred to the decoder in the process of determination of the classification of data, and the NV data is stored in thedata RAM section56. The NV data is referred to by thesystem CPU section50 when required and used to reproduce video data in a special way. At this time, the PCI data and DSI data are identified by the sub-stream ID attached thereto.
• Further, when reproduction of one cell is completed, cell information to be next reproduced is acquired from cell reproduction order information in the program chain data and the reproducing process is affected in the same manner as described above.
• Next, the video data in the logic formats shown in FIGS.4 to31, a method of recording data on theoptical disk10 to reproduce the video data, and a recording system to which the recording method is applied will be explained with reference to, FIGS.50 to55.
• FIG. 50 shows an encoder system that creates a video file of a title set84 in which the video data is encoded. In the system ofFIG. 50, for example, a videotape recorder (VTR)201, an audiotape recorder (ATR)202, asub-picture source203 and acomputer data source204 are used as sources of the main video data, the audio data, the sub-picture data and computer data. Under the control of a system controller (Sys con)205, they create the main video data, audio data, and sup-picture data, which are supplied to a video encoder (VENC)206, an audio encoder (AENC)207, a sub-picture encoder (SPENC)208, and a computer data encoder (CENC)209, respectively. Under the control of the system controller (Sys con)205, theseencoders206,207,208, and209 perform A/D conversion of the main video data, audio data, and sup-picture data and encode them by the respective compression schemes. The encoded main video data, audio data, and sub-picture data (Comp Video, Comp Audio, Com Sub-pict, Comp Computer) are stored inmemories210,211,212, and213. The main video data, audio data, and sub-picture data (Comp Video, comp Audio, Com Sub-pict) are outputted to a file formatter (FFMT)214 under the control of the system controller (Sys con)205, which converts them so that they may have a file structure of video data for the system as explained earlier. Then, under the control of the system controller (Sys con)205, the setting conditions for each data item and the management information including attributes are stored in amemory216 in the form of files.
• Explained next will be a standard flow of an encoding process sin the system controller (Sys con)205 that creates a file from video data.
• According to the flow ofFIG. 51, the main video data and the audio data are encoded and the encoded main video data and audio data (Comp Video, Comp Audio) are supplied. Specifically, when the encoding process is started, as shown in step S50 ofFIG. 51, the parameters necessary for encoding the main video data and audio data are set. Part of the set parameters are stored in the system controller (Sys con)205 and at the same time, are used at the file formatter (FFMT)214. As shown in step S51, the main video data is pre-encoded using the parameters and the optimum distribution of the amount of codes is calculated. Then, on the basis of the code amount distribution obtained in the pre-encoding, the main video data is encoded as shown in step552. At the same time, the audio data is also encoded at step S52. As shown in step S53, if necessary, the main video data is partially encoded again and the reencoded portion of the main video data is replaced with the old one. Through the series of steps, the main video data and audio data are encoded. Furthermore, as shown in steps S54 and S55, the sub-picture data is encoded and the encoded sub-picture data (Comp Sub-pict) is supplied. Namely, the parameters necessary for encoding the sub-picture data is set. As shown in step S54, part of the parameters are stored in the system controller (Sys con)205 and used in the file formatter (FFMT)1214. On the basis of the parameters, the sub-picture data is encoded. By the process, the sup-picture data is encoded.
• Furthermore, as shown in steps S56 and S57, the computer data is encoded and the encoded computer data (Comp Computer) is supplied. Namely, the parameters necessary for encoding the computer data is set. As shown in step S56, part of the parameters are stored in the system controller (Sys con)205 and used in the file formatter (FFMT)214. On the basis of the parameters, the computer data is encoded. By the process, the computer data is encoded.
• According to the flow ofFIG. 52, the encoded main video data, audio data, sup-picture data, and computer data (Com Video, Com Audio, Comp Sub-pict, Comp Computer) are combined and converted so as to form a video data title set structure as explained inFIGS. 4 and 12. Specifically, as shown in step S61, a cell is set as the smallest unit of the video data and cell playback information on a cell (C_PBI) is created. Then, as shown in step S62, the structure of the cells constituting a program chain and the main video, sub-picture, and audio attributes (the information obtained in encoding the respective data items are used part of these attributes) are set and the video title set information management table information (VTSI_MAT)98 containing information on a program chain and a video title set time search map table (VTS_MAPT)101 are created. At this time, as the need arises, a video title set direct access pointer table (VTS_DAPT) is also created. Then, as shown in step S63, the encoded main video data, audio data, sup-picture data, and computer data (Com Video, Comp Audio, Comp Sup-pict, Comp Computer) are subdivided into specific packs. AnNAV pack86 is placed at the head of each VOBU unit so that playback can be affected in the order of time code of each data item. With the NV packs86 arranged this way, each data cell is positioned so that a video object (VOB) may be composed of a plurality of cells as shown inFIG. 6. A set of such video objects is formatted into the title set structure.
• In the flow ofFIG. 52, the program chain information (PGI) is obtained in the process of step S62 by using the database in the system controller (Sys con)205 or entering data again as the need arises.
• FIG. 53 shows a disk formatter system that records on an optical disk the title set formatted as described above. In the disk formatter system ofFIG. 53, thememories220,222 in which the created title set is stored supply these file data items to a volume formatter (VFMT)226. In the volume formatter (VFMT)226 extracts the management information from the title sets84,86, produces avideo manager71, and create the logic data to be recorded on thedisk10 in the arrangement ofFIG. 4. A disk formatter (DFMT)228 adds error correction data to the logic data created at the volume formatter (VFMT)226, thereby reconverting the logic data into physical data to be recorded on the disk. Amodulator230 converts the physical data created at the disk formatter (DFMT)228 into the recording data to be recorded actually on the disk. Then, arecorder232 records the modulated recording data on thedisk10.
• A standard flow for creating the aforementioned disk will be described with reference toFIGS. 54 and 55.FIG. 54 shows the flow for creating the logic data to be recorded on thedisk10. Specifically, as shown in step S80, parameter data items, including the number of video data files, their arrangement, and the size of each video data file, are set first. Next, in stepS81 video manager71 is generated from the parameters set and the video title setinformation94 of each video title set72. In step S82, thevideo manager71 and the video tile set71 are arranged in the order mentioned, according to their logic block numbers, thereby generating logic data which is to be recorded on thedisk10.
• Thereafter, the flow for creating the physical data to be recorded on the disk as shown inFIG. 55 is executed. Specifically, as shown in step S83 the logic data is divided into units of a specific number of bytes, thereby forming error correction data. Next, as shown in step S84, the logic data divided into units of a specific number of bytes are combined with the created error correction data to form physical sectors. Thereafter, as shown in step S85, physical data is created by combining physical sectors. In this way, the modulating process based on certain rules is performed on the physical data created in the flow ofFIG. 55, thereby forming the recording data. Thereafter, the recording data is recorded on thedisk10.
• The above-described data structure can be applied not only to a case where the data is recorded on recording mediums, such as optical disks, and then the disks are distributed to the users, but also to a communication system as shown inFIG. 56. Specifically, according to the procedure shown in FIGS.50 to53, anoptical disk10 in which avideo manager71 and video title set72 as shown inFIG. 4 may be loaded into a reproducingunit300, from whosesystem CPU section50 the encoded data is taken out digitally and transmitted by the modulator/transmitter310 to the users or the cable subscribers by radio or via a cable. Furthermore, theencoding system320 shown inFIGS. 50 and 53 may create the data encoded on the provider side, such as a broadcasting station and the encoded data may be transmitted by the modulator/transmitter310 to the users or the cable subscribers by radio or via a cable. In such a communication system, the information in thevideo manager71 is modulated at the modulator/transmitter310 and then supplied to or is directly supplied to the users free of charge. When a user is interested in the title, the modulator/transmitter310 transmits the title set72 at the user's or subscriber's request by radio or via a cable. Under the control of thevideo manager71, the video title setinformation94 is first transferred and then thetitle video object95 in the video title set reproduced according to the title setinformation94 is transferred. At this time, if necessary, the video title setmenu video object95 is also transmitted. The transferred data is received by a receiver/demodulator400 on the user side and is processed as encoded data at thesystem CPU section50 of the reproducing unit on the user or subscriber side ofFIG. 1 in the same manner as in the above-described reproducing process, whereby the video data is reproduced.
• In transferring the video title set72, the video object sets95,96 are transferred using thevideo object unit85 ofFIG. 6 as a unit. At the head of thevideo object unit85, anNAV pack86 containing video playback and search information is arranged. Furthermore, because the NAV pack contains the addresses of the video object units to be reproduced immediately before and after thevideo object unit85 to which theNAV pack86 belongs, even if thevideo object unit85 is lost during transfer for some reason, the video object can be reproduced reliably on the user side by requesting the lostvideo object unit85 to be transmitted again. Furthermore, even if transfer is not carried out in the order of playback of video object units, because the system ROM/RAM section52 on the user side holds the accurate playback information on program chains, thesystem CPU section50 can specify the order of playback referring to the address data in its NAV pack.
• While in the above explanation, the video object unit is a data train containing video data, audio data, and sub-picture data, the video object unit may be composed of audio packs only or sup-picture packs only, because the video object unit has only to contain any one of video data, audio data, sub picture data, and computer data.
• As described above, data is stored in the data area of the disk in the hierarchical structure of program chains, programs, cells and packs, each pack is constructed by a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having a data stream recorded therein, and the packet is constructed by a packet header having data indicating at least a private stream, data indicating the classification of the private stream, and packet data corresponding to the classification.
• Thus, a plurality of various classification data items can be dealt with.
• Further, when data to be dealt with is Dolby AC3 audio data or linear PCM audio data, reproduction started halfway can be smoothly effected, and when the data is computer data, the environment in which the data can be used can be easily detected. In the above embodiment, a case wherein the optical disk of high-density recording type is used as the recording medium is explained, but this invention can be applied to another recording medium other than the optical disk, for example, a magnetic disk or another recording medium physically recordable with high density.
• Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices, and illustrated examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (8)

1. A machine-readable recording medium, encoded with machine readable data to be read by a reproducing application executed by a processing mechanism, said recording medium having a hierarchical data structure, comprising:

a title set area on which said package of data is recorded, said package of data comprising,

a plurality of data units representing a playback object when said recording medium is read, said data units containing an MPEG audio stream and a predetermined audio stream other than the MPEG audio stream, the MPEG audio stream comprising a plurality of audio data frames having an MPEG coding format and the predetermined audio stream comprising a plurality of audio data frames having a predetermined coding format different from the MPEG coding format, each of said data units including a data pack train containing a first audio pack and a second audio pack corresponding to the MPEG and predetermined audio streams respectively, each of the first and second audio packs have a same pack size and include a pack header and an audio data packet containing an audio packet header and audio packet data corresponding to a part of the audio data frame or frames,

wherein the first audio pack is configured with a first identifier in the packet header for identifying that the audio packet data corresponds to the MPEG audio stream, the second audio pack is configured with a second identifier in the packet header for identifying that the audio packet data corresponds to a private stream1 defined in the MPEG standard, a third identifier disposed between the packet header and the audio packet data for indicating that the audio packet data in the private stream1 corresponds to the predetermined audio stream, a first access pointer disposed between the third identifier and the audio packet data for indicating a first access point of the audio data frame in the audio packet data, and a number of frame headers disposed between the third identifier and the audio packet data for indicating the number of audio frames in the audio packet data; and

a management area containing recorded management information, said management information including attribute information of the MPEG and predetermined audio streams.

2. The recording medium ofclaim 1, wherein the predetermined coding format corresponds to linear PCM coding and the audio packet of the predetermined pack further includes audio data information specifying an audio word length and an audio sampling frequency.

3. The recording medium ofclaim 1, wherein the audio data packet further comprises numbers of frame headers arranged between the first identifier and the access pointer, the numbers of frame headers indicating numbers of the audio frames in the audio packet data.

4. A machine-readable recording medium, encoded with machine readable data to be read by a reproducing application executed by a processing mechanism, said recording medium having a hierarchical data structure, comprising:

a title set area on which a title set information and said package of data are recorded, said package of data comprising,

a predetermined audio stream, other than MPEG audio streams, to be presented as a playback object, the predetermined audio stream comprising a plurality of audio data frames having a predetermined coding format different from the MPEG coding format, said playback object including a data pack train containing audio packs corresponding to the predetermined audio stream, each of the audio packs have a same pack size and include a pack header and an audio data packet containing an audio packet header and audio packet data corresponding to a part of the audio data frame or frames,

wherein the audio pack is configured with a first identifier in the packet header for identifying that the audio packet data corresponds to a private stream1 defined in the MPEG standard, a second identifier disposed between the packet header and the audio packet data for indicating that the audio packet data in the private stream1 corresponds to the predetermined audio stream, a first access pointer disposed between the second identifier and the audio packet data for indicating a first access point of the audio data frame in the audio packet data, and

said title set information including attribute information of the predetermined audio stream which corresponds to the predetermined audio coding format.

5. The machine-readable recording medium ofclaim 4, wherein the predetermined audio stream is linear PCM coded audio data stream.

6. A recording medium having a hierarchical data structure and encoded with machine readable data for access by an application mechanism, said package comprising:

a video title set including a video object to be produced by the application mechanism and a management table for said video title set,

said video object having an arrangement of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and said video object unit including a MPEG video stream, MPEG and specific audio streams, and sub-pictures streams,

wherein said management table includes a video attribution, number of the audio streams in said video object, audio attributes for the respective MPEG and specific audio streams, number of the sub-picture streams in said video object and sub-picture attributes for the respective sub-picture streams, and

wherein each video object unit is comprised of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of data packs includes a combination of at least one video, MPEG audio, specific audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence, the video data pack constituting a part of the MPG video stream, the MPEG audio data pack constituting a part of the MPEG audio streams, the specific audio data pack constituting a part of the specific audio streams, and the sub-picture pack constituting a part of the sub-picture streams,

said video data pack is configured to be of a predetermined size and essentially consists of one pack header and one video packet, said video packet having a video packet header and video packet data corresponding to a video data segment of the MPEG video stream, said video packet header includes a first stream identifier for identifying that said video data in said video data packet belongs to the MPEG video stream, the first identifier provided with a video stream number for specifying the video stream,

said MPEG audio data pack is configured to have the same size that of video data pack and essentially consists of one pack header and one audio packet, said audio packet having an audio packet header, and an audio packet data corresponding to an audio data segment of the MPEG audio stream, said audio packet includes a second stream identifier for indicating that said audio packet data belongs to the MPEG audio stream, the second stream identifier provided with an audio stream number for specifying the specific audio stream,

said specific audio data pack is configured to have the same size that of video data pack and essentially consists of one pack header and one audio packet, said specific audio packet having an audio packet header, a first sub-stream identifier, and an audio packet data corresponding to an audio data segment of the specific audio stream, said audio packet includes a third stream identifier for indicating that said audio packet data belongs to a private stream1 other than the MPEG video and audio streams, and said first sub-stream identifier indicating that said audio packet data belongs to the specific audio stream, said first sub-stream identifier provided with an audio stream number for specifying the specific audio stream,

said sub-picture data pack is configured to have the sane size that of video data pack and essentially consists of one pack header, a second sub-stream identifier, and one sub-picture packet, said sub picture packet having a sub-picture packet header and an sub-picture packet data corresponding to an sub-picture data segment of said sub-picture data stream, said sub-picture packet includes the third stream identifier for indicating that said sub-picture packet data belongs to the private stream1, and said second sub-stream identifier indicating that said sub-picture packet data belongs to the sub-picture stream, said second sub-stream identifier provided with an sub-picture stream number for specifying the sub-picture stream, and

said navigation data pack is configured to have the same size that of video data pack and essentially consists of a pack header, a system header, first and second control data packets, the first control packet having a first control packet header, a third sub-stream identifier, and first control packet data, said first control packet header includes a fourth stream identifier for indicating that the first control packet data belongs to a private stream2 other than the MPEG video and audio streams and the private stream1, and

the second control packet having a second control packet header, a fourth sub-stream identifier, and second control packet data, and said second control packet header includes the fourth stream identifier for indicating that the second control packet data belongs to the private stream2 other than said MPEG video and audio streams and the private stream1, and

wherein a combination of said fourth stream identifier and said third sub-stream identifier indicates that the first control packet data corresponds to presentation data for controlling a presentation of said data units including a playback start time data and a playback end time data, and a combination of said fourth stream identifier and said fourth sub-stream identifier indicates that said second control packet data corresponds to search data for searching the data unit wherein said search data includes search address of said data units and an end address of last pack in each of said data unit.

7. The recording medium according toclaim 6, wherein the specific audio stream comprises a plurality of audio data frames having a predetermined coding format, the audio packet data corresponds to a part of the audio data frame or frames, and the audio packet further includes a first access pointer, disposed between the first sub stream identifier and the audio packet data, configured to indicate a first access point of the audio data frame in the audio data packet.

8. The recording medium according toclaim 7, wherein the audio packet further comprises number of frame headers arranged between the first sub-stream identifier and the access pointer, the number of frame headers indicating number of audio frames in the audio packet data.

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