Abstract:
This invention provides a method for creating, updating, and recording information for seamless presentation of moving picture data in a rewritable recording medium. When recording moving picture data on a rewritable recording medium, seamless presentation information, a part of navigation data, is recorded along with the picture data for seamless presentation of the recorded picture data. The method for creating and recording seamless presentation information of the present invention can effectively reduce the amount of created seamless presentation information by omitting some fields of the seamless presentation information when they are unnecessary. If some video objects of recorded picture data are erased, navigation data related to the removed video objects should be erased and seamless presentation information should also needs proper modification. The method for updating and recording seamless presentation information of the present invention enables effective management of seamless presentation information by updating seamless presentation information related to the video object following erased video objects.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a method for creating, updating, and recording seamless presentation information of moving picture data in a rewritable recording medium, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a method for creating seamless presentation information with no unnecessary information fields and for effectively updating seamless presentation information when some video objects are erased. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Optical disks have come into wide use since the advent of compact disc (CD) and the demand for optical disks is expected to grow steadily with popularization of digital versatile disk (DVD). Optical disks include read-only disks such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM, write-once disks such as CD-R and DVD-R, and rewritable disks such as CD-RW and DVD-RAM. The specification of DVD-RTRW, which is standard writing/reading format of a rewritable disc, has not released yet and standardization for the DVD-RTRW is under way. 
     As rewritable optical disks like DVD-RAM are of immensely large capacity, users may store a variety of data such as moving pictures, still pictures, audio data, and the like on a single recording medium. Each time a new data file is recorded on a rewritable recording medium, navigation information for locating the data file after recording is created and recorded along with the data file on the recording medium. The recorded navigation information is referred to whenever the relevant data file is accessed. 
     Navigation information regarding all data files stored on a recording medium is contained in a navigation data table as shown in FIG. 1, which is recorded as a single navigation data file on the recording medium. Accessing the recording medium entails loading the navigation data file into a memory, wherein the navigation data reside all the time. When recording a moving or still picture on the recording medium, the area in which the picture file will be recorded is determined with reference to the navigation information. Recording a picture file always accompanies creating management information regarding the recorded picture file and updating the navigation data file to include the newly created management information. 
     Management data pertaining to moving pictures comprise movie video object information (M_VOBI) and movie video object presentation order information (Cell Information or simply CI). Suppose that a moving picture file is composed of n movie video objects (M_VOBs) M_VOB# 1  ˜M_VOB#n as shown in FIG.  2 . Then, n M_VOBIs (M_VOBI# 1 ˜M_VOBI#n in FIG. 2) and n CIs (CI#l, CI# 2 , CI# 4 , . . . shaded in FIG. 2) corresponding to the n M_VOBs are created in the same order that the n M_VOBs are recorded. The created M_VOBIs and CIs are stored in the movie A/V file information table (M_AVFIT) and the original program chain information table (ORG_PGCIT) of the navigation data shown in FIG. 1, respectively. 
     When the recording medium is accessed, the navigation data file is read from the recording medium and loaded into a memory as mentioned before. If reproduction of a moving picture is requested, M_VOBIs and CIs relevant to the requested moving picture file are read from the M_AVFIT and ORG_PGCIT of the navigation data table, respectively. In reference to the obtained M_VOBIs and CIs, the requested moving picture file can be located from the recording medium and reproduced. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the movie A/V file information table (M_AVFIT) comprises movie A/V file information table information (M_AVFITI) wherein information on the M_AVFIT such as the end address of the M_AVFIT is stored and movie A/V file information (M_AVFI# 1 ). The M_AVFI# 1  further comprises movie A/V file general information (M_AVFGI) wherein general information on the M_AVFI such as the number of M VOBIs contained in the M_AVFI is stored and M_VOBIs, M_VOBI# 1 ˜M_VOBI#n. Each of M_VOBIs comprises movie VOBI general information (M_VOBIGI) wherein the ID code of the relevant VOB is stored, movie VOB stream information (M_VOB_STI) wherein video and audio attributes of the relevant VOB is stored, seamless presentation information (SMLI) wherein information for seamless presentation of successive MOVs (M_VOB#i and M_VOB#i+1, i=1˜n) is stored, and time map information (TMAPI) wherein information for special playback or time search is stored. 
     A moving or still picture file is recorded on the recording medium as a group of video objects (VOBs). For reproducing moving picture data received and recorded as successive data stream, it is necessary to present the relevant VOBs seamlessly. On the other hand, seamless presentation is not always necessary for moving picture data obtained through repeated recording-stop process. If successively inputted picture data contain still pictures as well as moving pictures, the picture data are recorded being classified into movie VOBs (M_VOBs) and still picture VOBs (S_VOBs). In this case, seamless presentation between the group of M_VOBs and the group of S_VOBs is not necessary, either. 
     When recording received picture data on the recording medium, it is therefore necessary to create information on whether to present successive VOBs forming the picture data seamlessly so that the information can be used in the course of data reproduction. Such information is recorded in the SMLI of the navigation data table shown in FIG.  1 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the SMLI comprises a seamless presentation flag (SML_FLG) which indicates how to present the relevant VOB after the preceding VOB is presented (for example  1  indicates seamless presentation is needed, while  0  indicates seamless presentation is not necessary), the presentation start time of the first video field of the relevant VOB (VOB_V_S_PTM), the presentation end time of the last video field of the relevant VOB (VOB_V_E_PTM), system clock reference (SCR) of the first pack of the relevant VOB (VOB_FIRST_SCR), system clock reference of the last pack of the preceding VOB (VOB_LAST_SCR), VOB audio stop time (VOB_A_STP_PTM) which denotes pause time of audio at discontinuity in RTRW&#39;s PTM describing format between the current VOB and the preceding VOB, and VOB audio gap length (VOB_A_GAP_LEN) which denotes the discontinuity period at discontinued point between the current VOB and the preceding VOB. 
     As depicted in FIG. 3, a M_VOB is composed of a plurality of video object units (M_VOBUs), each of which comprises a plurality of video packs (V_PAKs), subpicture packs (SP_PAKs), and audio packs (A_PACKs). 
     The V_PAKs of each M_VOB are coded by MPEG-2 video encoding method. The first V_PAK comprises a pack header, a system header, a packet header, and video data as shown in FIG. 4A, while each of the other V_PAKs comprise a pack header, a packet header, and video data as shown in FIG.  4 B. The system clock reference (SCR) and presentation time stamp (PTS) needed for presentation of the video pack are recorded in the pack header and packet header, respectively. 
     The A_PAKs of each M_VOB are coded by one of the following encoding methods: linear PCM coding as shown in FIG. 5A, Dolby AC-3 coding as shown in FIG. 5B, and MPEG-2 audio coding as shown in FIG.  5 C. Without regard to the adopted encoding method, the SCR and PTS are recorded in the pack header and packet header, respectively. 
     A M_VOB comprises multiple top fields (or even fields) and bottom fields (or odd fields) as shown in FIG. 6, and a pair of top and bottom fields forms a frame. The PTS of the first field of the M_VOB amounts to the presentation start time of the VOB (VOB_V_S_PTM) and the sum of the PTS of the last field and {fraction (1/60)} sec amounts to the presentation end time of the VOB (VOB_V_E_PTM). 
     As mentioned earlier, seamless presentation of audio and video data may not be necessary provided the moving picture is taken through repeated record-stop process or the picture data contain both moving and still picture data. In such cases, therefore, the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR in the SMLI are unnecessary since such fields are utilized only for seamless presentation of successive VOBs. 
     In conventional navigation data structures, whether the fields may be necessary or not, every SMLI contains the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR, which unnecessarily increases the amount of navigation data. Moreover, when some VOBs are erased from picture data, the SMLI of the VOB following the removed VOB should be appropriately dealt with, which has not been sufficiently considered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for creating and recording seamless presentation information needed for seamless presentation of successive video objects of moving picture data, which reduces the amount of resulting seamless presentation information data. 
     It is another object of the present invention to FM provide a method for updating and recording seamless presentation information when some video objects of recorded moving picture data are deleted, which enables effective management of seamless presentation information data by appropriately updating the navigation data related to the video object following the erased video objects. 
     The method for creating and recording seamless presentation information of the present invention comprises the steps of recording picture data being received on the recording medium by grouping the data into video objects; determining whether to specify two successive video objects as a pair of video objects to be presented seamlessly; and setting a seamless presentation flag contained in seamless presentation information of the latter of the two successive video objects depending upon the determination result, and creating optional information fields in the seamless presentation information based on the seamless presentation flag value. 
     The method for updating and recording seamless presentation information of the present invention comprises the steps of erasing video objects asked to be deleted; and updating seamless presentation information of the video object following the erased video objects. 
     These and other objects of the present application will become more readily apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a table showing a structure of conventional navigation data for managing picture data recorded on a rewritable recording medium; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of creating navigation data when recording moving picture data on a rewritable recording medium; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of movie video object shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing the structure of a video pack shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIGS. 5A,  5 B, and  5 C are schematic diagrams showing the structure of an audio pack shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram to explain video presentation start time (VOB_V_S_PTM) and end time (VOB_V_E_PTM) of a video object; 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams showing the structure of seamless presentation information according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the method for creating and recording seamless presentation information of moving picture data in a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the method for updating and recording seamless presentation information of moving picture data in a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B show the seamless presentation information (SMLI) of the navigation data according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7A depicts the SMLI wherein the SML_FLG is  0  indicating that seamless presentation of successive video objects is not needed. Such SMLI can be created when moving picture data are obtained in one place and obtained again in another place after a time interval, or moving picture data and still picture data are received successively. 
     FIG. 7B depicts the SMLI wherein the SML_FLG is  1  indicating that seamless presentation of successive video objects is required. When moving picture data are received and recorded as successive data stream with no additional time gap, the relevant VOBs need seamless presentation. In this case, the SMLI shown in FIG. 7B is created. 
     As depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the method for creating seamless presentation information of moving picture data according to an embodiment of the present invention creates SMLI of a different structure depending on the value of the SML_FLG. If the SML_FLG of SMLI is 0, then the VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR of the SMLI are not needed so such fields are not created. As a result, the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR are created only when the SML_FLG is 1, thereby reducing the amount of seamless presentation information contained in the navigation data. 
     FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention. 
     The apparatus comprises an optical pickup  10  for recording/reproducing information on/from a recording medium OD, an analog signal processing unit  20  for filtering and digitizing high-frequency analog signals reproduced from the recording medium OD and converting digital data to be recorded on the recording medium OD into analog signals, a digital signal processing unit  30  for decoding and encoding digital data and yielding a control signal for data synchronism, an A/V data processing unit  40  for decoding audio/video input data, hereinafter referred to simply as A/V data, and encoding audio/video input signals into A/V data, a control unit  50  for controlling general operation of the apparatus in response to a user&#39;s requests, and a plurality of memories M 1 , M 2 , and M 3  for storing temporary data created in each signal processing phase. All these components are operatively coupled. The navigation data file is loaded into the memory M 1 . 
     When recording a moving picture data on the recording medium OD in the apparatus shown in FIG. 8, first of all the control unit  50  loads the navigation data file recorded on the recording medium OD into the memory M 1 . Referring to the loaded navigation data, the control unit  50  records the picture data on the recording medium OD and creates management information regarding the recorded picture data. The created management information is added to the navigation data file loaded in the memory M 1 . 
     The moving picture data are recorded on the recording medium as a group of video obejcts (M_VOB# 1 ˜M_VOB#n shown in FIG.  2 ). The video object information M_VOBIs (M_VOB# 1 ˜M_VOBI#n shown in FIG. 2) are created in the same order of M_VOBs. Also cell information CIs (Cell# 1 , Cell# 2 , Cell# 4 , . . . shown in FIG. 2) are created also in the same order and the created CIs are recorded sequentially in the original program chain information table (ORG_PGCIT) of the navigation data table shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Suppose that in FIG. 2, Cell#l, Cell# 2 , Cell# 2 , . . . Cell#n are related to moving picture data, while Cell# 3  is related to still picture data. Then VOBIs, M_VOBI# 1  and M_VOBI# 2 , are information on M_VOB# 1  and M VOB# 2  recorded successively on the recording medium. The SML_FLG of the SMLI of VOBI# 2 , therefore, is set as shown in FIG.  7 B and the first SCR of M_VOB# 2  and the last SCR of the preceding VOB, M_VOB# 1  are recorded in the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR of M_VOB# 2 , respectively. 
     In contrast, M_VOB# 2  and M_VOB# 3  are not recorded in succession since there is a still picture video object (not shown in FIG. 2) recorded in between. Hence, M_VOB# 3  does not need to be presented seamless after the preceding still picture video object is presented. As a result, the SML_FLAG of the SMLI of M_VOBI# 3  is cleared and the SMLI does not contain the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR as shown in FIG.  7 A. 
     Provided a user records moving picture data and resumes recording of moving picture data after a time interval, the SMLI of the first M_VOBI of the newly recorded picture data does not include the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR as shown in FIG. 7A since the SML_FLG of the SMLI is 0. Decision about whether to create the fields or whether to set the SML_FLG is made by the control unit  50 . 
     Even though recording of moving picture data is resumed after a time interval, the previously recorded data and newly recorded data can be presented in succession if the user requests seamless presentation. The control unit  50  tests if the user chooses the recording mode which requests seamless presentation of moving picture data when resuming recording. If so, the control unit  50  sets the SML_FLG of the first M_VOBI of newly recorded picture data and creates SMLI with the fields VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB LAST_SCR. The first SCR of the current VOB is recorded in the VOB_FIRST_SCR and the last SCR of the preceding VOB is recorded in the VOB_LAST_SCR. 
     If a request to erase a VOB, say VOB#i, is received, the control unit  50  erases the VOBI and CI corresponding to the VOB and erases the VOB from the recording medium. And then, the control unit  50  updates navigation information of the M_VOB following the removed VOB. More specifically, the SML_FLG of M_VOBI#(i+1) is cleared and the VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR fields are removed from the VOBI. In addition, the fields of VOB_A_STP_PTM and VOB_A_GAP_LEN are updated. 
     The method for creating and recording seamless presentation information of moving picture data in a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention is explained below in detail with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.  9 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9, if recording of moving picture data has been requested, the control unit  50  begins execution of a recording control routine, loading the navigation data file from the recording medium into the memory M 1  (S 31 ). Also, the control unit  50  controls the A/V data processing unit  40 , the digital signal processing unit  30 , and the analog signal processing unit  20 , so that the moving picture obtained from an external device is recorded on the recording medium OD (S 33 ). 
     The input data are recorded on the recording medium OD as a series of M_VOBs. The control unit  50  creates M_VOBIs corresponding to the VOBs and adds the M_VOBIs to the M_AVFIT of the navigation data loaded in the memory M 1 . The SML_FLG of the first M_VOBI is 0 and the SMLI does not contain the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR, because the first VOB needs not to be presented seamlessly with the last M_VOB of the previously recorded picture data. Also, the control unit  50  creates CIs corresponding to the recorded VOBs and adds the CIs to the ORG_PGCIT of the navigation data stored in the memory M 1  (S 35 ). 
     Continuing at step S 37 , the control unit  50  tests if the current operating mode is for recording still picture data (S 37 ). If not, as in step S 33 , the control unit  50  controls each system component so that moving picture input is recorded on the recording medium OD (S 39 ). The received picture data are grouped into M_VOBs, and M_VOBIs regarding the M_VOBs are created and added in the M_AVFIT of the navigation data in the memory M 1 . The M_VOBs need to be presented seamlessly with the preceding M_VOBs because the moving picture data are obtained successively after the previously obtained moving picture data are recorded. Therefore, unlike step S 35 , the SML_FLG of the newly created M_VOBI is 1 and so the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR are created and recorded in the SMLI. Also, the control unit  50  creates CIs regarding the recorded VOBs and adds the CIs to the ORG_PGCIT of the navigation data stored in the memory M 1  (S 41 ). 
     At step S 43 , the control unit  50  tests if end of the recording mode has been requested. If not, program control returns to step S 37  wherein it is tested whether recording of still picture data has been requested. Unless requested, program control returns to step S 39  and the above procedure is repeated. If a request has been received, step S 47  is reached and recording of input still picture data begins. As in case of moving picture data, still picture data are recorded as a series of VOBs. After the first VOB of the input picture data is recorded, the control unit  50  creates a S_VOBI related to the first VOB and adds the S_VOBI to the S_AVFIT of the navigation data loaded in the memory M 1 . Also, the control unit  50  creates a CI regarding the recorded VOB and adds the CI to the ORG_PGCIT of the navigation data stored in the memory M 1  (S 49 ). The control unit  50  examines if end of the recording mode has been requested (S 51 ). If not, program control returns to step S 53  wherein it is tested whether recording of moving picture data has been requested. Unless requested, program control returns to step S 47  and the above procedure is repeated. If a request has been received, program control returns to step S 33  and steps S 33  through S 35  are repeated. In this case, the first VOB of new moving picture data does not need seamless presentation, and so the VOBI relevant to the VOB includes SMLI, SML_FLG of which is 0 as shown in FIG.  7 A. 
     Meanwhile, end of recording mode has been requested at step S 43  or S 51 , the control unit  50  copies the navigation data in the memory M 1  to the recording medium OD and finishes control operation (S 45 ) 
     The method for updating and recording seamless presentation information of moving picture data in a rewritable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention is explained below in detail with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.  10 . 
     In response to a user&#39;s request, the control unit  50  begins execution of an erasing control routine, loading the navigation data file from the recording medium into the memory M 1  (S 61 ). Suppose that VOB#i is to be deleted. The control unit  50  reads navigation information VOBI#i related to VOB#i from the M_AVFIT or S_AVFIT. Referring to the information, the control unit  50  removes VOB#i from the recording medium OD. 
     Subsequently, the control unit  50  removes VOBI#i related to the deleted VOB#i from the M_AVFIT or S_AVFIT and removes CI related to the deleted VOB#i from the ORG_PGCIT. 
     The control unit  50  accesses M_VOBI#(i+1) to clear the SML_FLG of the SMLI, remove the fields of VOB_FIRST_SCR and VOB_LAST_SCR, and update the fields of VOB_A_STP_PTM and VOB_A_GAP_LEN (S 67 ). As M_VOB#i is erased from the recording medium, continuity between M_VOB#(i+l) and M_VOB#(i−1) does not hold and seamless presentation is not needed. This is why the SML_FLAG of M_VOB#(i+1) is cleared. 
     At step  69 , the control unit examines if the erasing mode ends. If not, program control returns to step S 63 . If so, the control unit  50  copies the navigation data in the memory to the recording medium, thereby completing the erasing control routine (S 71 ). 
     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the sprit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.