Abstract:
A reproducing apparatus is disclosed, that has at least one record medium on which contents data and related information thereof are recorded, for handling the contents data and the related information, the record medium being attachable to and detachable from the reproducing apparatus and that comprises a reading means for reading the related information from the record medium, a storing means for storing the related information that is read from the record medium, and a graphical user interface means having a displaying means for displaying the related information stored in the storing means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method that allow contents data to be searched from a disc accommodated in a disc changer or reproduced therefrom with an improved operability. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A disc changer having many disc loading slots that allow one selected from discs accommodated therein and contents data to be reproduced from the selected disc is known. As such discs, CDs (Compact Discs: registered trademark), video CDs, DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs or Digital Video Discs) are used. When the number of discs that are accommodated to the disc changer amounts to several tens or several hundreds, it will be difficult for the user to search his or her desired video contents or audio contents. Thus, when each disc contains data text information that represents the contents thereof as well as contents, the user can search a desired disc using the text information. When each disc does not contain such text information, the user inputs text information and stores it in a memory of a reproducing apparatus so that the input text information correlates with the disc and the slot number. 
   In reality, information such as a disc title is read from an accommodated disc or text information that the user has input is displayed on a displaying unit. While watching the text information on the displaying unit, the user searches a desired disc and selects it. As an example of such a displaying unit, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or a light emission diode that displays a character string of one line or several lines has been used. 
   However, with such insufficient information, it is difficult for the user to distinguish a desired one from many discs. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method that allow the user to easily search a proper disc that contains his or her desired contents from many discs accommodated in for example a disc changer. 
   To solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a reproducing apparatus, having at least one record medium on which contents data and related information thereof are recorded, for handling the contents data and the related information, the record medium being attachable to and detachable from the reproducing apparatus, comprising a reading means for reading the related information from the record medium, a storing means for storing the related information that is read from the record medium, and a graphical user interface means having a displaying means for displaying the related information stored in the storing means. 
   A second aspect of the present invention is a reproducing method of a reproducing apparatus, having at least one record medium on which contents data and related information thereof are recorded, for handling the contents data and the related information, the record medium being attachable to and detachable from the reproducing apparatus, the reproducing method comprising the steps of reading the related information from the record medium, storing the related information that is read from the record medium, and displaying the stored related information with a graphical user interface. 
   Since information of accommodated record mediums is presented to the user through a graphical user interface with improved visibility, the record mediums can be easily managed. Thus, the operability of the reproducing operation for the record mediums can be improved. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the overall structure of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of an AV decoder shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram for explaining the data structure of a DVD according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart for explaining a screen displaying process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for accomplishing a GUI according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for accomplishing the GUI according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart for explaining a jacket picture displaying process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart for explaining a disc reproducing process on the GUI according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart for explaining a sorting process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for explaining the sorting process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart for explaining an edit information inputting process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for explaining a text information inputting process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for explaining a genre setting process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a flow chart for explaining a slot registering process for a filing process according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for explaining the filing process according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 16  is a flow chart for explaining a slot deleting process for the filing process according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 1  shows an outline of the overall structure of a disc changer according to the embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  1  is a disc. The disc  1  is an optical disc such as a DVD video disc, a CD, or a video CD. 
   Reference numeral  2  is a disc accommodating portion. The disc accommodating portion  2  has many numbered-slots that accommodate discs (for example, DVDs) one by one. The disc accommodating portion  2  is controlled by a changer driving portion  3 . One disc (disc  1 ) with a designated slot number is loaded from the disc accommodating portion  2  to a disc driving portion  4  in such a manner that the disc  1  is rotated by the disc driving portion  4 . 
   Information recorded on the disc  1  is optically read by an optical head  5 . Pits corresponding to record information are formed on spiral tracks of the disc  1 . The optical head  5  radiates a laser beam to the disc  1 . The reflected light is detected by an optical detector. Thus, the information recorded on the disc  1  is read. When the disc  1  is a DVD video disc, video information that has been compressed corresponding to variable bit rate MPEG 2 (Moving Picture Experts Group Phase 2) format, audio information that has been compressed corresponding to linear PCM or AC-3 compression data format, and auxiliary information such as a sub picture (sub title information) or control information are recorded. 
   The driving portion  4  has a spindle motor and a feed motor. The spindle motor rotates the disc at CLV (Constant Linear Velocity). The feed motor radially feeds the disc. A servo portion  6  controls the spindle motor and the feed motor of the driving portion  4 . In addition, the servo portion  6  controls the tracking operation and the focusing operation of the optical head  5 . 
   Information (reproduction signal) that is read from the disc  1  by the optical head  5  is supplied to a reproduction signal processing portion  7  that is a circuit block surrounded by dotted lines. The reproduction signal is supplied to an RF portion  8 . The RF portion  8  has a pre-amplifier, an equalizer, and so forth. An output signal of the RF portion  8  is supplied to a PLL (Phase Locked Loop)  9 . The PLL  9  performs a synchronous detecting process and an A/D converting process for the signal received from the RF portion  8 . An output signal of the PLL  9  is supplied to an EFM+ (plus) demodulating portion  10 . The EFM+ plus demodulating portion  10  demodulates a signal that has been modulated corresponding to EFM+ system. The EFM+ system is a digital modulating system of which data of eight bits is converted into a code of 16 bits corresponding to a predetermined rule. 
   The EFM+ demodulating portion  10  is connected to a CLV detector  16 . The CLV detector  16  extracts a signal necessary for performing a CLV controlling process. The extracted signal is supplied to a disc driving portion  4 . An error detecting process, an error correcting process, and a CD-ROM decoding process are performed for the demodulated data by a microcomputer  11 , an error detecting portion  12 , an error correcting portion  13 , and a CD-ROM decoder  14 . The error detecting portion  12 , the error correcting portion  13 , and the CD-ROM decoder  14  are controlled by the microcomputer  11 . The microcomputer  11  is connected to a DRAM  15  as a large storage memory. In this example, the disc changer can reproduce contents data from a CD, a CD extra disc, a CD-ROM, and so forth as well as a DVD video disc. Thus, the disc changer according to the embodiment has a CD-ROM decoder  14 . 
   The reproduction data that is output from the reproduction signal processing portion  7  is supplied to an AV (video and audio) decoder  16 . As will be described later, the AV decoder  16  decodes the reproduction data and generates a digital audio signal. In addition, the AV decoder  16  decodes the reproduction data and generates digital video data. The digital audio data is supplied to a D/A converter  17 . The D/A converter  17  converts the digital audio data into an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal is reproduced by a speaker (not shown) through an audio amplifier (not shown). The digital video data is supplied to an encoder  18 . The encoder  18  converts the digital video data into for example an analog NTSC video signal. The analog video signal is supplied to and reproduced by a monitor (not shown). 
   Reference numeral  19  is a controller that controls the overall disc reproducing system. The controller  19  controls the changer driving portion  3 , the servo portion  6 , and the reproduction signal processing portion  7 . The controller  19  is connected to a user interface  20 . In reality, the user interface  20  is composed of a remote controller, a keyboard, and a mouse. 
   Reference numeral  21  is a storing portion. The storing portion  21  is controlled by the controller  19 . The storing portion  21  is a non-volatile memory. The storing portion  21  stores a still picture that represents the contents of each disc accommodated in the disc accommodating portion  2 . For example, a picture of a jacket of each DVD video disc is stored in the storing portion  21  (this picture is referred to as jacket picture). One type of DVD video discs has a dedicated area for the jacket picture along with a video contents record area for a movie or the like. The jacket picture data is written from the reproduction signal processing portion  7  to the storing portion  21  under the control of the controller  19 . The jacket picture data that is read from the storing portion  21  is supplied to the AV decoder  16  through the reproduction signal processing portion  7 . 
   In addition, the controller  19  controls a jacket picture (JP) displaying controller  22  so as to control a displaying process for the jacket picture. The controller  19  controls an OSD (On Screen Display) displaying portion  23  so as to generate display data that is displayed on the monitor. The AV decoder  16  superimposes the display data on the reproduction video data. As will be described later, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) is accomplished by the user interface  20  and display data displayed on the monitor. 
     FIG. 2  shows an example of the structure of the AV decoder  16  in the case that the disc  1  is a DVD video disc. The reproduction digital data that is output from the reproduction signal processing portion  7  is supplied to a demultiplexer  24 . The demultiplexer  24  demultiplexes the reproduction digital data into a video stream, an audio stream, a sub picture stream, a jacket picture stream, and so forth. The audio stream is supplied to an audio decoder  16 . The audio decoder  16  decodes the audio stream. When the disc  1  is a DVD, the audio decoder  25  decodes the audio stream corresponding to AC3 method. The digital audio data that is output from the audio decoder  25  is supplied to the D/A converter  17  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
   A control information detecting portion  26  detects control information necessary for processing the video stream, the sub picture stream, and so forth. A video decoder  27  decodes the video stream that has been encoded corresponding to the MPEG 2 method. As with the video stream, the video decoder  27  decodes the jacket stream. A picture size converting portion  28  converts the aspect ratio of the video stream. For example, the picture size converting portion  28  converts a picture having an aspect ratio of 16:9 into a picture having an aspect ratio of 4:3. A sub picture decoder  29  decodes the sub picture stream and outputs sub title information. A closed caption processing portion  30  processes closed caption information contained in the video stream. 
   The above-described processing portion that processes pictures is connected to a microcomputer  32  through a CPU bus  31 . The microcomputer  32  controls a process for a picture using a DRAM that is a buffer memory. The digital video data decoded by the video decoder  27 , the sub picture decoded by the sub picture decoder  29 , and the closed caption that is output from the closed caption processing portion  30  are supplied to an OSD portion  34 . The OSD displaying portion  23  (see  FIG. 1 ) supplies display information to the OSD portion  34 . 
   According to the embodiment, the controller  19  obtains disc ID information as information for identifying individual discs. When the disc  1  is a DVD, as the disc ID information, VMGI/VMGI_MAT/VMG_EA and VSTI/VSTI_MAT/VTS_EA of VTS#1 are used. When the disc  1  is a video CD or a CD-extra disc, the maximum track number and read-out start time (sector number) are used. When the disc  1  is a CD, the total of program times (minute, second, and frame) may be used. This is because the program time varies in each CD. A CD extra disc is a multi-session disc having an audio CD area and a CD-ROM area. 
   Next, the data structure of a DVD video disc will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . A set of video objects composed of video data, audio data, sub picture data, and so fourth is referred to as VOBS. VOBS is recorded to adjacent blocks or interleaved blocks. VOBS is composed of at least one VOB.  FIG. 3  shows an example of which all VOBs are recorded to adjacent blocks. 
   VOBS is composed of at least one cell. C_IDN (cell ID number) is assigned to each cell of VOBS in the ascending order. Each cell of each VOB is identified with VOB_IDN (VOBID number) and C_IDN. 
   VMG is composed of a control data file VMGI, a menu-added file VMGM_VOBS, and a backup file of VMGI. VMGI_MAT is added at the beginning of VMGI. VMGI_MAT contains VMGI_ID and VMGI_EA (end addresses) (not shown). 
   VTS is composed of control data VTSI, a menu-added file VTSM_VOBS, a title VTSTT_VOBS of VOBS, and a backup file of VTSI. VTSI_MAT (not shown) is added at the beginning of VTSI. VTSI_MAT contains VTS_ID and VTS_EA (end address). 
   The disc ID information is read from the disc  1  and stored to the storing portion  21  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) under the control of the controller  19 . Whenever contents data is reproduced from the disc, the controller  19  determines whether or not the disc is a new disc corresponding to the disc ID information. 
   When the controller  19  determines that the disc is a new disc corresponding to the disc ID information, the controller  19  reads the following information from the disc and stores the obtained information to the storing portion  21 . 
   When the disc  1  is a DVD video disc, the controller  19  obtains a jacket picture and a title name of the DVD text from the disc. 
   When the disc  1  is a video CD, the controller  19  obtains a jacket picture and a disc title of a CD-text information from the disc. 
   The jacket picture is stored corresponding to the slot of the disc accommodating portion  2 . Thus, a number of jacket pictures corresponding to the number of slots of the disc accommodating portion  2  are stored to the storing portion  21 . 
   According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the storing portion  21  is a non-volatile memory, after the power of the reproducing apparatus is turned on, it is not necessary to read information of all discs accommodated in the disc accommodating portion  2 . In addition to the information of discs, another information for structuring a GUI environment for allowing the user to search his or her desired disc and to reproduce it on a screen of the monitor is stored to the storing portion  21 . This information is referred to as changer disc information. The changer disc information is composed of information of each disc and folder setup information. 
   The information of discs can be stored for the number of discs that can be accommodated to the disc changer. The information of disc is composed of: 
   Disc type information (for identifying a DVD, a CD, or a video CD), 
   Presence/absence of jacket picture, 
   Presence/absence of text information and memo information, 
   Genre setup, and 
   Folder information (for identifying a folder to which a disc is filed). Each disc can be filed to a plurality of folders. 
   The folder setup information is composed of: 
   Folder name information (the user can assign a name to a folder), and 
   Sorting mode. (The last sorting mode displayed with the GUI is stored for each folder. There are three types of sorting modes that are a disc number sorting mode, a text sorting mode, and a genre sorting mode.) 
   When the power of the reproducing apparatus is turned on, the controller  19  reads the changer disc information from the storing portion  21  and copies it to the RAM of the controller  19 . In a process for displaying the GUI, the information stored in the RAM is used. 
   For example, when a disc is accommodated to or removed from the disc accommodating portion  2  or when the user inputs a memo, the changer disc information may be updated. Whenever the changer disc information is updated, if the information stored in the storing portion is rewritten, the load of the process of the controller  19  increases. To solve such a problem, while the power is turned on, only the information stored in the RAM is updated, not information stored in the storing portion  21 . When the controller  19  receives a turn off request from the user interface  20 , the latest disc changer information stored in the RAM is written to the storing portion  21 . 
   Next, the GUI according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.  FIGS. 4 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  14 , and  16  are flow charts showing controlling operations of the controlling portion mainly composed of the controller  19 .  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  10 ,  12 ,  13 , and  15  are schematic diagrams showing screens corresponding to the controlling operations of the controlling portion. 
   First of all, with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a displaying process for a GUI screen will be described. At step S 1  shown in  FIG. 4 , when a displaying request takes place through the user interface  20 , the user interface  20  supplies screen information and the displaying request to the controller  19 . The screen information is composed of: 
   Folder information: ALL, DVD, CD, A, B, C, and D 
   Start slot number. 
   The display contents vary corresponding to folder information as follows: 
   ALL: Displays all discs that are accommodated. 
   DVD: Displays a DVD disc. 
   CD: Displays a video CD or a CD. 
   A/B/C/D: Displays discs filed in individual folders. 
   “A” to “D” are folders designated with buttons of the user interface  20  (for example, remote controller). 
   There are three types of sorting modes: 
   Slot number: Displays slot numbers in the ascending order. 
   Text: Displays texts in the alphabetical order. 
   Genre: Displays genres in the alphabetical order. 
   The user designates a desired sorting mode with the user interface  20 . When two discs have the same text and the same genre, they are displayed in the order of slot numbers. 
   The controller  19  decides a slot number to be displayed corresponding to the screen information and the sorting mode of each folder (at step S 2 ). 
   The controller  19  retrieves display information corresponding to the decided slot number from the memory (at step S 3 ). As was described above, the disc type information, the genre setup, and the text information of each disc are display information. 
   The controller  19  supplies the display information to the OSD displaying portion  23 . In addition, the controller  19  supplies both a slot number to be displayed and a jacket picture displaying request to the jacket picture displaying controller  22 . 
   At step S 4 , the OSD displaying portion  23  supplies a display signal corresponding to the display information to the OSD displaying portion  23  so that the OSD portion  34  displays a frame, a disc type, a genre setup, text information, a highlighted area, and so forth. At step S 5 , a jacket picture is displayed. 
   The data of the jacket picture is read from the storing portion  21  and supplied to the AV decoder  16  through the reproduction signal processing portion  17 . The data of the jacket picture is decoded by the video decoder  27  and then supplied to the OSD portion  34 . The controller  19  and the jacket picture displaying controller  32  control the OSD portion  34  so as to display a jacket picture corresponding to the designated slot number. 
     FIG. 5  is an example of the OSD screen that takes place at step S 4 . The OSD screen has the following areas that are framed. 
   A folder displaying area  41  is placed as a bar at an upper portion of the OSD screen. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the “ALL” folder has been selected. The “ALL” folder is highlighted in such a manner that the color and brightness of the “ALL” folder are different from those of the other folders. 
   A displaying area  42  has slot numbers arranged in the vertical direction. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , five slot numbers can be displayed at a time. With a scrolling operation, slot numbers can be scrolled. 
   A jacket picture displaying area  43 , a text displaying area  44 , a genre/disc type information displaying area  45  are displayed corresponding to slot numbers. The genre/disc type information area  45  is placed at a right vertical area. The genre/disc type information displaying area  45  is composed of a genre displaying area (as an upper area) and a disc type displaying area (as a lower area). When a disc accommodated in each slot is blank, no information is displayed in the displaying areas  43 ,  44 , and  45  except for their frames. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , information corresponding to the slot number “ 53 ” is highlighted. 
     FIG. 6  shows an example of a jacket picture displayed at step S 5 . For example, in the highlighted slot “ 53 ”, a DVD having related information of (genre: classic, type: DVD, text: MOZART, OPERA FIGARO) is accommodated. A jacket picture recorded on the DVD is displayed. On the other hand, in the slot number “ 57 ”, a video CD having related information of (genre: none, type: video CD, text: TRAIN VIEW) is accommodated. A jacket picture recorded on the video CD is displayed. Since jacket pictures are not recorded on discs accommodated in the other slots, the jacket pictures are not displayed. 
   To move a highlighted area, an operation corresponding to a flow chart shown in  FIG. 7  is performed. Since a highlighted area represents a disc for which a reproducing operation or an editing operation is performed, by moving a highlighted area, a disc selecting operation is performed. At step S 11 , the user interface  20  (for example, the commander of the remote controller) generates a highlighted area moving request. 
   At step S 12 , it is determined whether or not the highlighted area is at the upper edge or the lower edge of the displaying area. When the determined result at step S 12  is No, the flow advances to step S 13 . At step S 13 , the highlighted area is moved up or down. The highlighted area is moved by the user with a move key of the user interface  20 . Corresponding to the operation of the move key, the controller  19  controls the OSD portion  30  through the OSD displaying portion  23  so as to move the highlighted area on the screen. 
   When the highlighted area moving request is issued, if the highlighted area is at the upper edge (lower edge) (namely, the determined result at step S 12  is Yes), the flow advances to step S 14 . At step S 14 , the user interface supplies a scrolling request to the controller  19 . The scrolling operation is performed at step S 15  (deciding a scroll number to be displayed), step S 16  (retrieving display information), step S 17  (displaying OSD), and step S 18  (displaying a jacket picture). Steps S 16  to S 18  shown in  FIG. 6  correspond to steps S 2  to S 5  shown in  FIG. 4 , respectively. In other words, display information shown in  FIG. 6  is substituted with that of an earlier slot number or a later slot number. 
   By moving a highlighted area, the user can select his or her desired disc from which contents data is reproduced. After selecting a disc, the user presses an enter key of the user interface  20 . Thus, the flow advances to step S 21  (supplying a reproduction request for a selected disc). 
   When the controller  19  has received the reproduction request, the flow advances to step S 22 . At step S 22 , the controller  19  supplies a display off request to the OSD displaying portion  23 . In addition, the controller  19  controls the servo portion  6  and so forth so as to reproduce contents data from the selected disc. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S 23 . At step S 23 , the controller  19  supplies a command that causes a jacket picture to disappear to the jacket picture displaying portion  23 . Thus, the jacket picture disappears. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S 24 . At step S 24 , contents data is reproduced from the selected disc. 
   Next, with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a sorting function according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the state that the GUI screen shown in  FIG. 6  is displayed, the user interface  20  generates a sorting request (at step S 31  shown in  FIG. 9 ). When the controller  19  has received the sorting request, the controller  19  controls the OSD portion  23  so as to display a disc sorting screen as shown in  FIG. 10 . When the disc sorting screen is displayed, the mode area  46  represents the sorting mode. In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , a highlighted area  47  represents a slot number “ 103 ”, whereas the other areas are masked. 
   As was described above, there are three types of sorting modes that are slot number sorting mode, text sorting mode, and genre sorting mode. In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , the slot number sorting mode is selected. At step S 33 , the user inputs a sorting mode changing request with the user interface  20 . At step S 34 , it is determined whether or not the sorting mode is the text sorting mode. When the determined result at step S 34  is Yes (namely, the sorting mode is the text sorting mode), the flow advances to step S 34 . At step S 34 , the controller  19  retrieves text information from the memory (at step S 35 ). 
   At step S 36 , the controller  19  decides slot numbers to be displayed corresponding to the current folder information and the selected sorting mode. The controller  19  retrieves display information corresponding to the decided slot numbers from the memory (at step S 37 ). 
   The controller  19  controls the memory portion  21 , the jacket picture displaying controller  22 , and the OSD displaying portion  23  corresponding to the decided slot numbers and the retrieved display information. The OSD displaying portion  23  displays frames, disc types, genre setup, text information, and a highlighted area as an OSD (at step S 38 ). The OSD corresponds to the changed sorting mode. In addition, a jacket picture corresponding to jacket picture data retrieved from the memory portion  21  is displayed (at step S 39 ). 
   Next, with reference to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 , a memo editing function according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The memo editing function allows the user to input a text and a genre of a disc even if text information has not been recorded thereon. In the state that the GUI screen shown in  FIG. 6  is displayed, the user interface  20  generates an editing request (at step S 41  shown in  FIG. 11 ). When the controller  19  has received the editing request, the controller  19  supplies an editing mode and a disc information inputting screen displaying request. There are three types of editing modes that are a text information editing mode, a genre editing mode, and a folder name editing mode. 
     FIG. 12  shows an edit information inputting screen that is a text information inputting screen.  FIG. 13  shows a genre setting screen. With one of these inputting screens or another inputting screen, the user can input a folder name (that is a name of each folder denoted by A to D). 
   On the text information inputting screen shown in  FIG. 12 , as a disc to which a text is input, the selected slot number is for example “ 30 ” and the mode displaying area  46  represents the editing mode. In addition, a text information inputting field  48  is displayed. Below the text information inputting field  48 , an alphanumeric character inputting soft keyboard  49  is displayed. With the move key and the enter key, the user inputs characters on the soft keyboard  49  so as to input text information of a desired disc. Alternatively, the user can input a text with a real keyboard connected to the reproducing apparatus instead of the soft keyboard. 
   On the genre setting screen shown in  FIG. 13 , a genre list  51  is displayed. By moving a cursor to a desired genre in the genre list  51  and operating the enter key, a genre setting operation is performed. 
   At step S 43  shown in  FIG. 11 , after the text inputting operation, the genre setting operation, and the folder name inputting operation have been completed, the user interface  20  supplies an edit information storing request to the controller  19 . Thereafter, the flow advances to step S 44 . At step S 44 , the controller  19  determines whether or not a text has been input. When the determined result at step S 44  is Yes (namely, a text has been input), the flow advances to step S 45 . At step S 45 , the input text is stored. 
   When the determined result at step S 44  is No (namely, the genre setting operation has been performed instead of the text inputting operation), genre information is stored (at step S 46 ). In the case that the genre setting operation is performed, if a jacket picture has not been recorded to the selected disc, the flow advances to step S 47 . At step S 47 , a jacket picture corresponding to the genre that has been set is stored. In the reproducing system shown in  FIG. 1 , for example 16 types of picture data corresponding to genres that have been categorized have been stored to the memory portion  21 . One picture is selected corresponding to the genre that has been set and stored as a jacket picture of the selected disc. In this case, if the selected disc is for example a DVD or a video CD on which picture contents data has been recorded, a part of the picture contents data thereof may be recorded as a jacket picture. 
   Next, with reference to  FIGS. 14 ,  15 , and  16 , a filing function for correlating the discs will be described. The filtering function is performed for easily managing all discs accommodated in the disc accommodating portion  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . In the state that the GUI screen shown in  FIG. 6  is displayed, the user interface  20  generates a filing request (at step S 51  shown in  FIG. 14 ). When the controller  19  receives the filing request, the controller  19  supplies a disc filing mode displaying request to the OSD displaying portion  23 . Thus, the OSD displaying portion  23  displays a disc filing mode screen as shown in  FIG. 15 . In  FIG. 15 , a selected folder (for example, folder A) is highlighted in the folder area  41 . 
   At step S 53 , a slot number to be filed is stored. For example, on the screen shown in  FIG. 15 , with the move key, the user moves the highlighted slot number. At a desired slot number, the user presses the enter key as the slot number decision key. Thus, the slot number is stored. For example, the highlighted portion is displayed in yellow, whereas the stored slot number is displayed in gray. When the user repeats the filing operation, slot numbers are successively stored to individual folders. 
   At step S 54 , when the user presses the enter key, a slot number to be filed is decided. In addition, a filing request is generated. The filing request causes filing information composed of a slot number and folder information to be stored. The controller  19  stores the filing information to the memory (at step S 55 ). In such a manner, a slot number to be filed to a folder (for example, folder A) is registered. 
   Next, with reference to a flow chart shown in  FIG. 16 , a process for deleting a registered slot number will be described. As with the above-described slot number registering process, in the state that the GUI screen shown in  FIG. 6  is displayed, the use interface  20  generates a filing request (at step S 61  shown in  FIG. 16 ). Thus, a disc filing mode screen as shown in  FIG. 15  is displayed. In the example shown in  FIG. 15 , a process for deleting a slot number from the folder A is performed. 
   At step S 63 , with the move key and the enter key, the user selects a slot number to be deleted. The selected slot number is stored. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S 64 . At step S 64 , a storing request for filing information is generated. The filing information is composed of a folder and a slot number to be deleted. When the controller  19  receives the storing request, the controller  19  updates the filing information so that the selected filing information is deleted from the stored filing information (at step S 65 ). 
   With the above-described filing function, the filing information is stored. Thus, only information of a disc correlated with a particular folder can be displayed. For the folders A to D, discs can be filed corresponding to slot numbers. However, for the other folders “ALL”, “DVD”, and “CD”, discs are automatically filed corresponding to the disc type information. 
   According to the present invention, not only a text (including a memo that is input by the user), but picture information such as a jacket picture and a picture corresponding to a genre are used and presented to the user through a GUI. Thus, the visibility of information of many discs accommodated to the reproducing apparatus can be remarkably improved. 
   In addition, according to the present invention, by combining the text inputting function, the genre setting function, the sorting function, and the filing function, to the GUI, the managing function for discs accommodated in the reproducing apparatus is improved. Thus, the user can much easily perform for example operations for searching what disc is accommodated to what slot and searching a disc for which he or she wants to watch and/or listen to contents data than the conventional changer players. 
   In addition, the GUI is not a simple state displaying function, but a function that allows the user to select his or her desired disc. Thus, a user-friendly operation environment can be accomplished. 
   It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Instead, within the scope of the present invention, various modifications and changes of the present invention are available. As a displaying portion that displays for example a GUI screen, a displaying unit such as an LCD integrated with a reproducing apparatus may be used instead of a monitor that displays information reproduced from a disc. In addition, the present invention is not limited to a reproducing apparatus. Instead, the present invention can be applied to a searching apparatus having a searching function for searching a desired one from many discs. Moreover, the present invention can be applied to recordable discs as well as reproduction only discs. In this case, recorded information can be handled in the above-described manner. 
   Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to a best mode embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions, and additions in the form and detail thereof may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.