Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Specific memory composition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2003-11-11
Sparks, Donald (Department: 2187)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Specific memory composition
C711S113000, C711S133000, C369S030030, C369S030040, C369S030060, C369S030280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06647459
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a record disc, on which reproduction data, such as video image, audio sound, subtitle and the like, and reproduction control data to control the reproduction of the reproduction data are recorded, such as a DVD for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
On a DVD, there are recorded not only reproduction data, such as video image, audio sound, subtitle and the like, but also reproduction control data to control the reproduction of the reproduction data. When the DVD is reproduced, a reproducing apparatus reads the reproduction control data recorded on the DVD, and uses it to specify a record position on the DVD of the reproduction data and set a reproduction order of the reproduction data for example.
The reproducing apparatus usually has a work memory for transiently storing therein a part of the reproduction control data read out from the DVD. The reproduction control data can be quickly used if the reproduction control data frequently required during the reproducing operation is stored in this work memory, in advance of actually reproducing the reproduction data by using this reproduction control data. This is because a reading speed of reading the reproduction control data from the work memory (for example, 0.1 &mgr;sec) is extremely faster than a reading speed of reading the reproduction control data from the DVD (for example, 200 m sec).
By the way, a complex control is required to reproduce the DVD, in order to attain the reproduction of the video image and the audio sound rich in an interactive property. For this reason, the amount of the reproduction control data which is used for the operation for reproducing the reproduction data recorded on the DVD is very large, and is extremely large as compared with a capacity of the work memory (for example, about 1000 times). As a result, the reproduction control data, which is used after reading out from the work area during the reproducing operation, is only a part of the whole reproduction control data. Most of the reproduction control data is used after reading out from the DVD. In this way, in the reproduction of the DVD, there is a problem that the work memory cannot be effectively used. Also, this problem can be solved by increasing the capacity of the work memory. However, the increase of the capacity of the work memory brings about another problem of the increase of a cost of the reproducing apparatus. Thus, this is not desirable.
On the other hand, the usage efficiency of the work memory may be improved if the reproduction control data frequently used during the reproducing operation can be expected in advance. However, the kind or structure of the reproduction control data recorded on the DVD may be significantly changed in accordance with intention of an author or manufacturer of the DVD. Further, how to reproduce the reproduction data recorded on the DVD is variously changed depending upon the condition when a user operates the reproducing apparatus. Thus, it is difficult to expect in advance the reproduction control data frequently used during the reproducing operation.
The number of times of reading out the data from the DVD is increased if the work memory cannot be effectively used. The operation for reading out the data from the DVD involves a physical movement of an optical pickup and the like. Thus, the increase in the number of times of reading out the data from the DVD leads to the increase in a consumption power of the reproducing apparatus, and also results in a problem that a life of an optical pickup movement mechanism for moving the optical pickup is made shorter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is proposed in view of the above mentioned problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a reproducing apparatus, which can efficiently store reproduction control data in a work memory, reduce the number of times of reading out data from a record disc, make a speed of a reproducing operation faster, drop a consumption power and make a life of an optical pickup movement mechanism longer.
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by a first reproducing apparatus provided with (i) a reading device for reading reproduction data and reproduction control data to control a reproduction of the reproduction data from a record disc, on which the reproduction data and the reproduction control data are recorded, (ii) a record medium having a plurality of memory areas, (iii) a data managing device for storing one reproduction control data read by the reading device into one of the memory areas, and (iv) a reproducing device for reproducing the reproduction data in accordance with the reproduction control data stored in the memory areas. In the first reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the data managing device is provided with: a retention priority memory for storing retention priority data, which indicate a retention priority as for each reproduction control data respectively stored in the memory areas; a selecting device for selecting one of the memory areas, into which the one reproduction control data read by the reading device is to be stored, on the basis of the retention priority data stored in the retention priority memory, when the one reproduction control data is read by the reading device; and a storing device for storing the one reproduced control data read by the reading device into the memory area selected by the selecting device.
According to the first reproducing apparatus of the present invention, when newly reading out the reproduction control data from the record disc and storing it into the record medium, the memory area in which the reproduction control data, whose retention priority is relatively low, is stored is selected as the memory area into which the newly read reproduction control data is to be stored. Then, this newly read reproduction control data is actually stored into this selected memory area. As a result, another reproduction control data which has been stored in this memory area is erased as the newly read reproduction control data replaces it. In other words, the memory area in which the reproduction control data, whose retention priority is relatively high, is stored is not selected. This implies that such reproduction control data (whose retention priority is relatively high) is maintained in the record medium as it is. This manner of selecting the memory area is performed on the basis of the retention priority data stored in the retention priority memory.
In this manner, it is possible to select the memory area while considering the usage frequency of the reproduction control data which can be expected in advance, so that it is possible to maintain the reproduction control data efficiently in the record medium.
The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by a second reproducing apparatus provided with (i) a reading device for reading reproduction data and reproduction control data to control a reproduction of the reproduction data from a record disc, on which the reproduction data and the reproduction control data are recorded, (ii) a record medium having a plurality of memory areas, (iii) a data managing device for storing one reproduction control data read by the reading device into one of the memory areas, and (iv) a reproducing device for reproducing the reproduction data in accordance with the reproduction control data stored in the memory areas. In the second reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the data managing device is provided with: a usage frequency memory for storing usage frequency data, which indicate the number of times of usage as for each reproduction control data respectively stored in the memory areas; a selecting device for selecting one of the memory areas, into which the one reproduction control data read by the reading device is to be stored, on the basis of the usage frequency data stored in the usage frequency memory, when
Kono Mutsumi
Morimae Takashi
Namazi Mehdi
Pioneer Corporation
Sparks Donald
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