Disk recording medium and reproducing device therefor

Abstract: An information recording medium and a reproducing device therefor are disclosed which can realize varied reproduction from data (V, A, S) recorded with plural channels and improve the operability. TOC information is recorded at a start point (START) of a disk (1), and in succession thereto plural kinds of information are recorded on tracks #1 to #5. Video data (V), audio data (A) and superimpose data (S) each having plural channels are time-division multiplexed and recorded on each track. A default value relating to a synthesis method for the plural channels is recorded as one of the TOC information or at a header portion of each block of the video data, the audio data and the superimpose data. In another aspect, data in each of plural channels recorded in the disk (1) is supplied through decoders (8) to (10) to a synthesizer (11) or (12). A default corresponding to a predetermined channels is stored in a nonvolatile memory (16), and the default channel is automatically selected by the synthesizer (11) or (12).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information recording disk medium such as a compact disk, video disk and magneto-optical disk, and also relates to a reproducing device for reproducing information recorded in such an information recording medium. In a conventional optical video disk as an example of an information recording medium, video signals of one channel and audio signals of two channels or four channels are recorded. As to the audio signals, the two channels are recorded as FM audio signals, and the other two channels are recorded as PCM audio signals. In reproduction, the video signals and the FM audio signals are reproduced, or the video signals and the PCM audio signals are reproduced. As mentioned above, with regard to the video signals, only one channel is recorded in the conventional video disk. Accordingly, varied images cannot be reproduced. On the other hand, with regard to the audio signals, either the FM audio signals or the PCM audio signals may be selected; one of the two channels of the selected audio signals may be muted; and the two channels may be synthesized to be output as monophonic audio signals. Thus, a variation in sound to be reproduced is limited. Meanwhile, a video disk includes various categories of software such as movie, music, karaoke (accompaniment for singing), etc. In case of movie, video signals for the movie and audio signals associated therewith are recorded; in case of music, audio signals for the music and video signals for images associated therewith are recorded; and in case of karaoke, stereophonic (L and R) accompaniment, model vocal sound, images containing words associated therewith, etc. are recorded. A user must operate a switch or the like as required according to the contents of the software to select a desired signal. In the prior art information reproducing device, the user must manually check and select a desired one of audio signals of plural kinds, for example. Accordingly, the user must preliminarily reproduce the disk on trial and operate the switch many times, so as to check what audio signals are recorded in the disk. As a result, the operability of the reproducing device becomes bad. EP-A-0 381 807 discloses a disk reproducing device where the plural channels are selected on the basis of a default value stored in a non-volatile memory of the reproducing device, unless a different selection is made by the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to realize varied reproduction from data recorded with plural channels. It is another object of the present invention to improve the operability. A disk medium according to the present invention is reflected by claim 1. An information reproducing device according to the present invention is reflected by claim 4. In the information reproducing device according to the present invention, a synthesis method for each channel in the synthesizing means can be set to a default synthesis method previously recorded in an information recording medium. Furthermore, the synthesis method for each channel in the synthesizing means can be changed into a synthesis method different from the default synthesis method by the changing means. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a reproduced image corresponding to not only a preset pattern but also various patterns changed from the present pattern. According to the disk medium of the present invention, a default synthesis method for plural channels is recorded ata start point of the information recording medium or at a header portion of a track. Accordingly, a synthesis method according to a preset pattern can be realized quickly and reliably. Furthermore, the present pattern can be changed as required to thereby effect varied reproduction. Further, according to the information reproducing device of the present invention, information of each channel can be synthesized by a default synthesis method previously recorded in an information recording medium. Furthermore, the default synthesis method can be changed as required. Accordingly, an image can be reproduced with not only a preset pattern but also varied patterns. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a first preferred embodiment of the information reproducing device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example of a format of a disk as the information recording medium in the first preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of another example of the format of the disk; Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of deciding a synthesis method in the first preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a construction of a second preferred embodiment of the information reproducing device according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of deciding a synthesis method in the second preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 5; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a first preferred embodiment of the information reproducing device according to the present invention. A disk 1 is driven by a driver 2, and a reproduced signal is supplied from the driver 2 to a decoder 3. An output from the decoder 3 is supplied to a decoder 4. Audio data, video data and superimpose data are digitally multiplexed and recorded on the disk 1. The decoder 4 separates data received from the decoder 3 into these three kinds of data and supplies them to three decoders 5, 6 and 7. The decoder 5 separates the audio data input thereto into audio data of three channels and supplies them to three audio decoders 8a, 8b and 8c. Outputs from the audio decoders 8a to 8c are supplied to a synthesizer 11. The decoder 6 separates the video data input thereto into video data of three channels and supplies them to three video decoders 9a, 9b and 9c. Outputs from the video decoders 9a to 9c are supplied to a synthesizer 12. The decoder 7 separates the superimpose data input thereto into superimpose data of three channels and supplies them to three data decoders 10a, 10b and 10c. Outputs from the data decoders 10a to 10c are supplied to the synthesizer 12. A controller 13 controls the decoder 3, the decoders 4 to 7, the audio decoders 8a to 8c, the video decoders 9a to 9c, the data decoders 10a to 10c, and the synthesizers 11 and 12. Further, the controller 13 receives output signals from them. An input device 14 such as a keyboard or a remote controller is operated when a desired command is input into the controller 13. A display 15 performs display corresponding to the command input from the input device 14. Fig. 2 shows a format of the disk 1. TOC information is recorded at a start point of the disk 1 (i.e., an innermost track of the disk 1), and in succession thereto five kinds of information are recorded on a track #1 (information #1) to a track #5 (information #5) in this preferred embodiment. On each of these tracks #1 to #5, there are recorded so as to be time-division multiplexed the video data (V), the audio data (A) and the superimpose data (S). The video data is composed of time-division multiplexed data of N channels (e.g., three channels). Similarly, the audio data is composed of time-division multiplexed data of M channels (e.g., three channels). Although not shown, the superimpose data is also composed of time-division multiplexed data of P channels (e.g., three channels). The TOC information contains address positions of a start point and an end point of each of the tracks #1 to #5 and also contains a reproduction time of each track. Further, the TOC information contains a default value of a synthesis method how the data of the plural channels in each track are to be synthesized. For example, the synthesis method is a method of obtaining a desired image on a screen by displaying an image of a channel #0 as a background on the screen and displaying images of channels #1 and #2 at a left upper portion and a right lower portion of the screen in a picture-in-picture fashion, or by selecting an image of a desired channel only. The default synthesis method may be recorded at a header portion of each of video, audio and and superimpose blocks on each track as shown in Fig. 3. That is, in this preferred embodiment, video synthesis command data is recorded at the header portion of the video block where the video data of each of the N channels is recorded. Similarly, audio synthesis command data is recorded at the header portion of the audio block where the audio data of each of the M channels is recorded. Although not shown, superimpose synthesis command data is also recorded at the header portion of the superimpose block where the superimpose data of each of the P channels is recorded. Now, the operation of the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 will now be described. When the disk 1 is loaded into the drive 2, the drive 2 reproduces the TOC information from the disk 1 and outputs the same to the decoder 3. The decoder 3 reads the TOC information in the disk 1 and outputs the same to the controller 13. When the input device 14 is operated to input a command of reproduction, the drive 2 starts reproduction of the disk 1. The decoder 3 supplies data reproduced from each track to the decoder 4. The decoder 4 separates the data input thereto into audio data, video data and superimpose data, and respectively supplies them to the decoders 5 to 7. The decoder 7 separates the audio data input thereto into audio data of three channels, and respectively supplies them to the audio decoders 8a to 8c. The audio decoders 8a to 8c decode the audio data input thereto and output the decoded audio data to the synthesizer 11. Thus, the audio data of three channels are input to the synthesizer 11. On the other hand, the decoder 6 separates the video data input thereto into video data of three channels, and respectively supplies them to the video decoders 9a to 9c. The video decoders 9a to 9c decode the video data input thereto and output the decoded video data to the synthesizer 12. Similarly, the decoder 7 separates the superimpose data input thereto into superimpose data of three channels, and respectively supplies them to the data decoders 10a to 10c. The data decoders 10a to 10c decode the superimpose data input thereto and output the decoded superimpose data to the synthesizer 12. Thus, the video data of three channels and the superimpose data of three channels are input to the synthesizer 12. The synthesizer 11 synthesizes the audio data input thereto according to a synthesis method designated by the controller 13, and outputs the synthesized audio data. Similarly, the synthesizer 12 synthesizes the video data and the superimpose data input thereto according to the synthesis method designated by the controller 13. The synthesis method is decided by the controller 13 according to the flowchart as shown in Fig. 4, for example. Referring to Fig. 4, it is determined in step S1 whether or not synthesis command change into is present. If it is determined in step S1 that the synthesis command change information is present, the program proceeds to step S2, and it is determined in step S2 whether or not the synthesis command has been designated by a user. If the input device 14 is operated by the user to command the controller 13 to designate the synthesis method for each channel, the program proceeds to step S4, and this designation by the user is preferentially selected. In other words, the synthesizers 11 and 12 perform synthesis of data according to the command from the input device 14. In step S2, if it is determined that the designation by the user is not present, the program proceeds to step S3, and it is determined in step S3 whether or not the designation of the synthesis command has been derived from the TOC information. That is, the controller 13 determines whether or not synthesis command change information is present, from the TOC information supplied from the decoder 3, and if the controller 13 determines that the synthesis command change information is present, the program proceeds to step S5, and the designation by the TOC information is selected. Then, the synthesis method designated by the TOC information is set in the synthesizers 11 and 12. In step S3, if the synthesis command change information is not contained in the TOC information, the program proceeds to step S6. In this case, the synthesis method designated in each track as shown in Fig. 3 is selected, and it is set in the synthesizers 11 and 12. In this way, if the designation by the user is present, the synthesis method designated by the user is preferentially set, while if the designation by the user is not present, the synthesis method is set according to the TOC information or the track in this priority order. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a construction of a second preferred embodiment of the information reproducing device according to the present invention, in which the same reference numerals as those shown in Fig. 1 designate the same or like parts, and the explanation thereof to be repeated will be omitted hereinafter. In the second preferred embodiment, an audio decoder 8, a video decoder 9 and a data decoder 10 each for one channel are provided. One of audio data of three channels output from the decoder 5 is selected by a switch 21, and is supplied to the audio decoder 8. Similarly, one of video data of three channels output from the decoder 6 is selected by a switch 22, and is supplied to the video decoder 9. Similarly, one of superimpose data of three channels output from the decoder 7 is selected by a switch 23, and is supplied to the data decoder 10. The construction of the other parts is the same as that shown in Fig. 1. In this manner, each of the decoders 8, 9 and 10 for respectively decoding the audio data, the video data and the superimpose data is provided for one channel only. Accordingly, these data of a desired channel are selected by the switches 21, 22 and 23 from the data of three channels output from the decoders 5, 6 and 7, and are supplied to the decoders 8, 9 and 10, respectively. In other words, each of the switches 21 to 23 function as a kind of synthesizer. In the second preferred embodiment, the synthesis method is decided according to the flowchart as shown in Fig. 6. That is, in step S11, it is determined whether or not synthesis command change information is present. If it is determined that the synthesis command change information is present, the program proceeds to step S12. In step S12, it is determined whether or not this information has been designated by the user through the input device 14. If a desired synthesis method is designated by the user, the program proceeds to step S13, and this designated synthesis method is selected. Then, the controller 13 controls the switches 21 to 23 and the synthesizers 11 and 12 according to the designation by the user. If it is determined in step 512 that the designation by the user is not present, the program proceeds to step S14. In step S14, a channel previously designated to be processed most preferentially is selected. Then, the synthesis for this selected channel only is performed by a predetermined method. The designation of the priority channel is previously recorded as the TOC information or the control information at the header portion of each block of each track, and the TOC information or the control information is read from an output from the decoder 3 or outputs from the decoder 5 to 7.

Claims: A disk medium (1) having a track on which digital data (V, A, S) of plural channels are multiplexedly recorded wherein a default value for a reproduction synthesis method, indicative of how said plural channels are to be reproduced in case of no instruction from an operator, is recorded at a start point (START) of said disk medium (1) or on said track, characterized in that said digital data (V, A, S) comprises at least one kind of video data (V), audio data (A) and superimpose data (S), each having said plural channels, and said default value is recorded to designate said synthesis method for each of said plural channels of each of said video data (V), said audio data (A) and said superimpose data (S). The disk medium (1) as defined in claim 1, wherein said default value is recorded at a TOC information recording portion provided at said start point (START) of said disk medium (1). The disk medium (1) as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said disk medium (1) has a plurality of tracks each recording said digital data (V, A, S) of said plural channels, and said default value is recorded at a track header portion of each of said tracks. An information reproducing device for reproducing a disk medium (1) recording digital data (V, A, S) of plural channels multiplexed on a track and further recording a default value for designating a reproduction synthesis method for said plural channels at a start point (START) of said disk medium (1) or on said track; the device comprising: decoding means (3-7, 8a-c, 9a-c, 10a-c) for decoding said digital data of each of said plural channels; reproduction synthesizing means (11, 12) for synthesizing said digital data of said each channel decoded by said decoding means; and setting means (13) for setting said reproduction synthesis method for said each channel in said reproduction synthesizing means on the basis of said default value reproduced from said disk medium (1), wherein said setting means (13) selects said default value reproduced from a TOC information recording portion provided at said start point (START) of said disk medium (1) in preference to said default value reproduced from said track of said disk medium (1), and sets said reproduction synthesis method for said each channel in said reproduction synthesizing means (11, 12) on the basis of said default value selected above, further comprising changing means (14) for changing said synthesis method for said each channel in said synthesizing means (11, 12) into a reproduction synthesis method different from said default reproduction synthesis method set by said setting means (13), wherein said changing means (14) preferentially selects contents of operation by an operator, and changes said reproduction synthesis method for said each channel in said reproduction synthesizing means (11, 12) into said reproduction synthesis method different from said default reproduction synthesis method set by said setting means (13), on the basis of said contents of operation selected above.

Inventors: YASUSHI FUJINAMI, YASUSHI, FUJINAMI, Yasushi, Fujinami, c/o Sony Corporation
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: G11B19, H04N5, G11B7, H04N7, G11B11, G11B27, G11B20, G10H1