Patent ID: 6016381
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
An apparatus for reproducing video data cells from a recording medium having a data area, wherein said data area includes a video object to be reproduced and a program chain information table for defining at least two program chains each of which is specified by a program chain number, whereinsaid video object has an arrangement of video data cells, each cell being composed of video object units, and each video object unit composed of a sequence of data packs, the sequence of the data packs including a combination of at least one video, audio and sub-picture packs and a navigation pack placed at the head of the sequence,each of the video, audio and sub-picture packs includes a pack header and a packet of encoded video, audio or sub-picture data, and the navigation pack includes a pack header, a first packet for storing a first control information of presenting the video object units and second packet for storing a second control information of searching the video object units, andsaid program chain information table includes program chain information items associated with respective said program chains and search pointers corresponding to the program chain numbers, for searching the corresponding program chain items, respectively, said each of said program chain information items comprising:(1) cell playback information specifying a playback order of said video data cells in an associated program chain, each cell being defined by start addresses of the first and last video object units in the corresponding cells,(2) content information describing the number of cells in said associated program chain; and(3) program chain navigational control information comprising:(a) previous program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that precedes said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium,(b) a previous program chain number specifying said program chain preceding said associated program chain, if said program chain preceding said associated program chain exists,(c) next program chain information indicative of whether there exists a program chain that follows said associated program chain during reproduction of said program chains from said recording medium,(d) a next program chain number specifying said program chain following said associated program chain, if said program chain following said associated program chain exists,(e) GoUp program chain information indicative of whether there exists a GoUp program chain that can be reproduced instead of continuing to reproduce said associated program chain; and(f) a GoUp program chain number specifying said GoUp program chain, if said GoUp program chain exists,said apparatus comprising:(A) means for searching said program chain information table for said program chain information item corresponding one of said program chains and acquiring said video data cells constituting said one of said program chains with reference to said cell playback information in said program chain information item;(B) means for storing said program chain information item in said program chain information table;(C) means for transferring said video object units in said acquired video data cells and converting said video audio and sub-picture packs into video, audio and sub-picture signals;(D) means for indicating a link of another one of said program chains; and(E) means for referring said stored program chain navigation control information in said stored program chain information item in response to the link indication, checking the existence of said another one program chain, and linking said one program chain to said another one program chain, if said another one program chain exists.