Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2001-12-11
Dinh, Tan (Department: 2651)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330211
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for playing back information digitally stored on an optical record carrier, comprising
a control circuit by means of which the display and/or reproduction of information, particularly video and/or audio information, is selectable and/or controllable,
a parameter memory for storing navigation parameters during playback of a record carrier.
An apparatus of this type is known from, for example, WO 98/09290. This known apparatus is provided for playing back digital video record carriers. To control the display of the audio and/or video program, the known apparatus has navigation commands and navigation parameters. Generally, those parameters are understood to be navigation parameters whose information is stored by the playback apparatus during the playback process. The navigation parameters comprise, for example, parameters to which a predetermined function is assigned and also parameters which can be freely used by the provider and are, for example, usable for modifying the behavior of the playback apparatus or for storing the user-performed operations, decisions and/or wishes. Navigation commands and navigation parameters are the basis for providers of record carriers for creating different title structures. The providers can use the navigation commands and navigation parameters for adjusting or changing the status of the playback apparatus, for example, for implementing a parental control system which denies children access to predeterminable video programs.
The provider can define simple and complex branch structures in a title by means of the navigation commands and the navigation parameters.
The navigation parameters of record carriers based on the DVD standard are set to zero at the start and the end of a playback process of a record carrier. The navigation parameters of record carriers in accordance with the HQ-Video CD (High Quality Video Compact Disc) standard are undefined at the start and at the end of the playback process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type described in the opening paragraph, which provides the possibility of evaluating the playback processes of record carriers.
According to the invention, this object is solved in that the apparatus comprises a first non-volatile memory which is controllable by means of the control circuit, and in that the first non-volatile memory is provided for storing temporal sequences of the navigation parameters.
The non-volatile storage of the temporal sequences of the navigation parameters provides the possibility of making the temporal history of the change of the navigation parameters of one or more playback processes electronically available to the user of the apparatus. This allows a simple evaluation and analysis of one or more playback processes of record carriers with reference to the temporal change of the navigation parameters. By means of the recorded navigation parameters, the behavior of the user during the playback process of the record carrier can thus be analyzed.
In accordance with the advantageous embodiment of the invention as defined in claim
2
, the apparatus has an interface by means of which the navigation parameters stored in the first non-volatile memory can be read from the apparatus. An example of an interface is an RS-232 interface. The navigation parameters read by means of the interface can then be further processed and analyzed, for example, by means of a computer.
The advantageous embodiment of the invention as defined in claim
3
provides a particularly simple possibility of realizing the first non-volatile memory, because the individual memory fields of the first non-volatile memory no longer need to be provided with an individual address. The navigation parameters are temporally and serially written into the first non-volatile memory. With each new writing operation, the navigation parameters already stored are shifted one memory location further down, while the new navigation parameters to be stored are stored in the upper memory field of the first non-volatile memory. The navigation parameters which are present in the lower memory field of the first non-volatile memory are preferably erased at the next writing operation. In a first non-volatile memory with N memory locations for navigation parameters, the last N navigation parameters are thus stored.
In accordance with the advantageous embodiment of the invention as defined in claim
4
, the individual memory fields of the first non-volatile memory are individually addressable. In such a memory, the navigation parameters can be stored by means of address indicators in the memory fields provided with addresses. The storage of new navigation parameters and the erasure of old navigation parameters can be implemented by means of a software algorithm. Such a memory has the advantage that, when storing new navigation parameters, only one memory field of the first non-volatile memory has to be changed.
The temporal sequence of storing the navigation parameters in the first nonvolatile memory may be preferably realized as defined in claim
5
. Dependent on the application and wishes of the user, other instants or results for which the navigation parameters are stored may also be defined.
In accordance with the advantageous embodiment of the invention as defined in claim
6
, a second non-volatile memory, in which navigation parameters can also be stored, is provided in addition to the first non-volatile memory. In the second non-volatile memory, the navigation parameters are provided with record carrier identification information, for example, a record carrier identification number which allows an unambiguous assignment of the navigation parameters to the associated record carrier. The second non-volatile memory is preferably provided to store final results, i.e. the last current navigation parameters of a playback process. This provides the possibility of exchanging information between different playback process. The exchange of information may be realized both between different playback processes of one and the same record carrier. It is also possible to utilize the playback navigation parameters of a first record carrier for playback of a second record carrier. This is particularly advantageous for series of record carriers, for example for a training course comprising several record carriers.
At the start of a playback process, it can be checked by means of the control circuit whether the relevant record carrier is provided with record carrier identification information. If the relevant record carrier is provided with record carrier identification information, the control circuit checks whether navigation parameters corresponding to this record carrier identification information are stored in the first non-volatile memory. If this is the case, the navigation parameters can be read from the second non-volatile memory, written into the parameter memory, and used for the subsequent playback process of the record carrier. Both a RAM memory and a register memory may be used as a parameter memory.
The invention as defined in claim
7
is particularly suitable for apparatuses based on the DVD (Digital Video Disc) standard. In accordance with the DVD standard,
16
general parameters are provided as navigation parameters which have a length of 2 bytes each. These general parameters are available for the providers of record carriers so as to store the operation behavior of the user and to influence or control the behavior of the playback apparatus. The general parameters can be accessed by means of navigation commands. By storing the general parameters in the first and/or second non-volatile memory, information about a playback process of a record carrier can be stored. This information may be loaded from the second non-volatile memory for playback at a later stage of the same record carrier or for playback at a later stage of another record carrier and used as a basis for the later playback process.
As d
Belk Michael E.
Dinh Tan
U.S. Philips Corporation
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