FORMAT FOR RECORDING AUDIO AND VIDEO ON A HARD DISK DRIVE

Abstract: A format for recording audio and video data onto a hard disk drive (100) includes recording video data (4) onto a storage medium, recording audio data (8) onto the storage medium and recording audio identification (7) onto the storage medium for controlling selective reading of the audio data with the video data. The data structure resulting from the recording includes a video data stream forming part of readable multimedia data recorded on the hard disk drive. The data structure further includes an audio data stream forming part of the readable multimedia data. The audio data stream includes audio data units and audio identification controlling selective reading of the audio data units with the video data.

Description: FORMAT FOR RECORDING AUDIO AND VIDEO ON A HARD DISK DRIVE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to hard disk drives (HDD) and, more particularly, to logical formats for recording audio and video (AV) on a hard disk drive. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Devices for reproducing video signals from a recording or playback device, such as a videocassette recorder (VCR), commonly provide user-controlled playback functions. Among these functions are reverse playback, slow-reverse playback, and frame-by-frame-reverse playback, in addition to standard playback, fast forward, and fast reverse capabilities. With the development of digital video signal recording technology, it is expected that digital video signal reproduction devices will provide playback functionality with improved image quality similar to that provided by VCRs. Current hard disk drive recording formats for audio and video data do not provide the full realm of playback functions that videocassette recorders can. Playback features from hard disk drive recordings of video and audio data under current formats are very limited in both capabilities and quality. There is no logic format standard under which audio and video (AV) data can be recorded on a hard disk drive (HDD). The type of standard under which audio and video data is recorded will affect the playback performance of the recording system. Performance features such as trick play and time shifting, and simultaneous recording or playback of multiple streams of audio and video data depends on the logic format under which the audio and video data were initially recorded. Stream type data formats are not unique and logic formats existing today include DVD, DBS and HDTV. But there is no generic logic format that can be used for all these applications. Accordingly, there is a need for logic format under which audio and video data is recorded onto a hard disk drive so that various playback operations can be performed. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present method for recording multimedia data includes recording video data onto a storage medium, recording audio data onto the storage medium and recording audio identification onto the storage medium for controlling selective reading of at least some of the audio data with the video data. The method can include recording additional audio data and additional audio identification controlling selective reading of at least some of the additional audio data with the video data. Furthermore, the method can include recording user data and user identification controlling selective reading of at least some of the user data with the video data. In an alternative embodiment a hard disk drive recording includes video data, audio data and audio identification data controlling playback of at least part of the audio data with the video data. The audio data is an audio data stream including audio data portions in which the audio identification controls selective playback of part of the audio data with the video data. The hard disk drive can further include user data made up by a user data stream that includes user data portions and user identification controlling playback of the user data portions with the video data. In a further embodiment a data structure for recording multimedia data includes a video data stream forming part of readable multimedia data recorded on the storage medium. The data structure includes an audio data stream forming part of the readable multimedia data, with the audio data stream including audio data units and audio identification controlling selective reading of the audio data units with the video data. The data structure can further include a user data stream forming part of the readable multimedia data, with the user data stream including user data units and user identification controlling selective reading of the user data units. The data structure can further include an additional audio data stream forming part of the readable multimedia data. The additional audio data stream includes additional audio data units and additional audio identification controlling selective reading of the additional audio data units with the video data. The data structure can also include an additional user data stream made up of additional user data units and additional user identification controlling reading of the additional user data units. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram of an entry unit representing a single video bit stream and single audio bit stream recorded on a hard disk drive. FIG. 2 shows an entry unit representing a single video stream and multiple audio streams. Fig. 3 shows the entry unit of Fig. 1 with optional user data. Fig. 4 shows the entry unit of Fig. 3 with optional user data. Fig. 5 shows the data structure of the last sector of video, audio or user data in an entry unit of Figures 1 -4. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the FIGURES of the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present logic format under which audio and video data can be recorded provides a generic logic format that can facilitate different playback operations. A multiplexed audio data stream and video data stream (AV) can be treated as a single data stream. If the video stream and the audio stream are separated, a multiplexer can be used to multiplex the two streams into a single stream as needed. In order to implement trick type playback modes the address of each entry point is obtained before the data is written onto the hard disk. A single multiplex method can be used to record data into an entry unit. The first part of the entry unit contains the video data and the rest contains the audio data and any other data. Both video data and audio data are sector aligned. User data or other useful information can be appended to the audio data as desired, and can also be sector aligned to. Indicators (IDs) are used for audio and user data. The ID is a tag that may contain information of the following or previous data bit streams. The system would check the audio ID and user ID to determine if either the associated audio data or user data should be downloaded into memory together with the video data. In this way, playback operations can be customized for achieving desired playback effects. Multiple audio streams can be recorded with individual audio streams selectively downloaded into memory for playback. For example, one audio stream can be recorded for a listener that understands one particular language and a second audio stream can be recorded for a different listener that understands another language. The entry units or entry units 1 depicted in Figures 1 -4 show, respectively, a video stream with a single audio stream, a video stream with a single audio stream with optional user data, a video stream with 2 audio streams, and a video stream with 2 audio streams and optional user data. The entry units depicted in Figures 1 -4 represent the logic formats under which audio and video data streams are recorded on a hard disk drive to facilitate robust playback operations. In the case of Figures 3-4, optional user data related to the audio data is included. An entry unit can be randomly accessed and read into memory for playback operations. Desired playback operations can be achieved by downloading into memory the necessary entry units of video and related audio information in the bit stream. Referring to the data structure 100 shown in Fig. 1 , recorded audio and video streams are segmented into distinct entry units 1 -3. These entry units can be part of the recorded multimedia made up by audio and video data and can be selectively downloaded into the computer memory for desired playback operations. The entry unit 1 shows the recorded data structure made up of video sectors 4 video data followed by audio sectors 5*, 6* for audio data. The first audio sector 5* shown includes an audio identification ID 7 with an audio data units 8 and the second audio sector 6* includes an audio data units. The last sector for audio data 10* for the entry unit 1 includes an audio data unit 12*. It is noted that the sector of video data and sector of audio data are filled with "..." represent intermediate multiple respective video and audio data sectors not detailed for the purpose keeping the Figures 1 -4 clear. Any additional data sector added to those shown in Fig. 1 would include their respective audio IDs and audio data files. In Fig. 3, the logic format 300 under which the audio and video data is recorded includes the video and audio sectors shown in Fig. 1 and an optional user data sector or stream. Following audio sectors 5 *, 6*, 10*are user data sectors 30, 33 user data which include user data identification ID 31 , and user data units of files 32, 34. This additional user data structure permits particular user data, such as user data 32, 34 to be downloaded into memory when the particular user data ID is matched by the system to the user or viewer. As noted previously, the system can check the user ID before downloading the user data into memory. In Fig. 2 the format for recording multimedia data 200, such as entry unit 1 , includes multiple audio data sectors, audiol ( 5,6) and audio2 (10, 1 1 , 1 5) that can be downloaded selectively with the video data 4. Audio sectors 5,6 include an audio identification ID 7 and audio data units of files 8, 9. The additional audio data stream 10, 1 1 through 1 5 includes an audio identification ID 1 2, and audio data units of files 1 3, 14. It is noted that intermediate audio data sectors indicated by "..." and not shown would include respective audio data files. The multiple audio data files can be selectively downloaded to suit, for example, the particular viewers language preference. The sectors of video data 4 can be downloaded for playback on one occasion together with audio data sectors designated audiol , which includes an audio identification ID and audio data units, to meet the language preference of an Asian viewer or listener. In another instance, different audio data units of files, for example, audio and in and 2 files, can be downloaded with the same sector of video data 4 to meet the language preference of an English-speaking viewer. The format 400 for recording data shown in Fig. 4 includes the sector of video data and sector of audio data and audio data units shown in Fig. 2, and additional sectors of user data 22, 46 and user identification ID 47 and audio data units 48, 49. The additional sector of user data and data units permit a greater flexibility in controlling what audio information is downloaded into memory with the video data. As the audio ID 1 2 permits selective downloading of the audio data and component audio data units into memory, the user data ID allows selective downloading into memory information customized for a particular user. As noted already, a playback system can check for particular audio and user ID matches to customize the viewing experience for both the video and audio to meet the requirements of a particular viewer or user. The logic formats shown in Figures 1 -4 provide a universal logic format under which audio and video data can be recorded on a hard disk drive that can accommodate single streams, separate audio and video streams, and simultaneous recording and playback of multiple streams of audio and video data. The data entry unit structure 100 of Fig.1 is the simplest in that it can provide selective playback of the video data alone or playback of the video data in combination with the audio data. The logic format for the recorded data structure 200 shown in Fig. 2 is more flexible in that downloading of the video data into memory can be effected with different audio data files to suit different listener requirements. One example would be customized audio language to meet a particular listener's needs. The logic format for recorded data 300 shown in Fig. 3 is more adaptable to meet debt by the addition of user data that can be selectively downloaded when a corresponding user data ID 31 matches the user data ID checked by the system commands controlling downloading of the video, audio and user data into memory. The user data can be, for example, caption information for people with hearing impairments. The logic format for recorded data 400 shown in Fig. 4 is the most flexible in that multiple audio data files and user data files can be selectively downloaded in different combinations with the video data. With respect to Figures 1 -4, as shown in Fig. 5, the last sector of video, audio or user data in an entry unit has a different structure from other specters as detailed above. A header block 51 is followed by a number of stuffing bytes 52, ranging from 0 to 6 and being FFh. Stuffing information 53 is followed by a data block 54. A padding header block 55 is then followed by a number of padding bytes 56, which is a two-byte field. A padding byte is FFh 57. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, although the invention has been described in terms of specific examples, modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the essence of the invention. For example, multiple audio data files have been discussed in terms of providing customized downloading into memory and playback to meet language preferences of the viewer and user data files have been discussed as a way of providing captioning with the video information to meet the needs of hearing-impaired individuals. However, the logic formats of Figures 1 -4 are flexible enough that the audio data files and user data files can be selectively downloaded to provide a multitude of customized playback functions.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . A method of recording multimedia data comprising: recording video data onto a storage medium; and recording audio data onto said storage medium, and recording audio identification onto said storage medium for controlling selective reading of said audio data with said video data. 2. A method according to claim 2, further comprising recording user data and user identification controlling selective playback said user data with said video data. 3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising recording additional audio data and additional audio identification controlling reading of said additional audio data with said video data. 4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising recording additional user data and additional user identification controlling selective reading of said additional user data with said video data. 5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said storage medium is a hard disk drive. 6. A data structure for recorded multimedia data comprising: a video data stream forming part of readable multimedia data recorded on a storage medium; and an audio data stream forming part of said readable multimedia data, said audio data stream including: audio data units, and audio identification controlling selective reading of said audio data units with said video data. 7. A data structure according to claim 6, further comprising a user data stream forming part of said readable multimedia data. 8. A data structure according to claim 7, wherein said user data stream comprises user data units and user identification controlling selective reading of said user data units. 9. A data structure according to claim 6, further comprising an additional audio data stream forming part of said readable multimedia data. 10. A data structure according to claim 9, wherein said additional audio data stream includes additional audio data units and additional audio identification controlling selective reading of said additional audio data units with said video data. 1 1 . A data structure according to claim 9, further comprising an additional user data stream forming part of said multimedia data. 12. The data structure according to claim 1 1 , wherein said additional user data stream comprises additional user data units and additional user identification controlling selective reading of said additional user data units with said video data. 13. A data structure according to claim 6, wherein said storage medium is a hard disk drive. 14. A hard disk drive recording comprising: video data; audio data; and audio identification data controlling selective playback of said audio data with said video data. 15. A hard disk drive recording according to claim 14, wherein said audio data is an audio data stream comprising audio data portions and audio identification controlling playback of part of said audio data stream with said video data. 16. A hard disk drive recording according to claim 14, further comprising user data. 17. A hard disk drive recording according to claim 16, wherein said user data is a user data stream comprising user data portions and user identification controlling selective playback of said user data portions with said video. 18. A hard disk drive recording according to claim 14, further comprising additional audio data and additional audio identification controlling selective playback of said additional audio data with said video data. 19. A hard disk drive recording according to claim 18, wherein said additional audio data is an additional audio data stream comprising additional audio data portions, said additional audio identification controlling selective playback of said additional audio data portions with said video data. 20. A hard disk drive recording according to claim 17, further comprising additional user data and additional user data identification controlling selective playback of said additional user data with said video data.

Inventors: LIN SHU, LIN, SHU
Applicants: LIN SHU, THOMSON LICENSING SA, LIN, SHU, THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: G11B
IPC codes: G11B20, G11B27, H04N5