Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-27
2001-06-05
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C386S349000, C386S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243086
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reproduction apparatus for selectively outputting an image signal from a recording medium on which digital data representing image Information is recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to recent development in technologies, optical disks having an information capacity eight times that of a video CD have been developed, and consequently optical disk reproduction apparatuses are attracting attention as new AV (audio-visual) apparatuses. As a result, studies have been conducted on applications of optical disks for allowing a user to select a predetermined image, out of multiple hours of image information, in an interactive manner.
Hereinafter, a method for selecting a predetermined image from a plurality of images by using a menu will be described.
FIG. 5
schematically illustrates an exemplary conventional optical disk reproduction system. The optical disk reproduction system includes an optical disk reproduction apparatus
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and a display
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such as a television set.
The optical disk reproduction apparatus
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is controlled by means of a remote controller
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. The optical disk reproduction apparatus
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reproduces image information recorded on an optical disk (not shown) and the display
52
displays the reproduced image information.
Menu information for allowing the selection of one of a plurality of items is recorded on the optical disk. As the optical disk reproduction apparatus
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reproduces the menu information, a menu is displayed on the display
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. The user selects one of the items contained in the menu by using the remote controller
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. For example, in the case where the menu exhibits a set of numbers correspondingly indicating the respective items, the user may press a key on the remote controller
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that has the same number as the number of one of the indicated items to select the desired item from among the plurality of items in the menu. Alternatively, the user may press up/down/right/left keys on the remote controller
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to cause a corresponding movement of a highlighted region which is displayed over the menu, and then press a decision key on the remote controller
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to select the highlighted item from the items in the menu.
Next, a method for selecting one of a plurality of so-called “angles” (e.g., images respectively corresponding to different perspectives of the same scene or images respectively corresponding to different scenes) will be described. Such a plurality of “angles” are interleaved on the optical disk on which they are recorded, with different numbers being assigned to different “angles”. When the optical disk reproduction apparatus
51
reproduces the data which is recorded in this manner, the motion pictures from only one “angle” are reproduced. During the reproduction of the motion pictures from that “angle”, the user can press a number key on the remote controller to select another “angle” corresponding to that number, whereby the motion pictures from that “angle” will begin to be reproduced.
However, the above-described prior technique of selecting one of a plurality of items contained in a menu by pressing a number key of a remote controller is not very interactive. Similarly, the above-described prior technique of selecting one of a plurality of “angles” during the reproduction of the motion pictures from only one “angle” is not very interactive because the user needs to know in advance when it is possible to select from a plurality of “angles”, i.e., when such “angles” are available. Therefore, a function for allowing an effective selection of menu items or “angles” is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a reproduction apparatus for reproducing stream data recorded on a recording medium, the stream data containing menu item coordinate information representing a display location of a menu item and image information representing an image. The reproduction apparatus includes; a reading section for reading the stream data from the recording medium; an extraction section for extracting the menu item coordinate information contained in the stream data; a reproduction section for reproducing the image information contained in the stream data; a determination section for determining whether or not the menu item has been selected by comparing the extracted menu item coordinate information against a user input in the form of coordinate information; and an execution section for executing a process corresponding to the menu item if the menu item is determined to have been selected.
In one embodiment of the invention, the user input is supplied to the reproduction apparatus via a touch panel.
In another embodiment of the invention, the user input is supplied to the reproduction apparatus via a mouse.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a reproduction apparatus for reproducing stream data recorded on a recording medium, the stream data containing a plurality of selectable image information units. The reproduction apparatus includes: a reading section for reading the stream data from the recording medium; a reproduction section for reproducing the stream data; a detection section for detecting a period during which the plurality of selectable image information units contained in the stream data are reproducible; an image display section for displaying images respectively representing the plurality of selectable image information units during the period; a determination section for determining which one of the images representing the plurality of selectable image information units has been selected by comparing coordinate information fed as a user input via a pointing device and display location information representing display locations of the images; and a control section for executing a process for displaying one of the images that has been determined as selected while not displaying the other images.
In one embodiment of the invention, the pointing device is a mouse.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing a reproduction apparatus which allows the selection of desired image information in an interactive manner, by directly pointing to a menu item or an “angle” on the display with a pointing device, e.g., a touch panel.
This and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5432542 (1995-07-01), Thibadeau et al.
patent: 5640195 (1997-06-01), Chida
patent: 5699106 (1997-12-01), Matsubara et al.
patent: 5832175 (1998-11-01), Hirayama et al.
patent: 5907659 (1999-05-01), Yamauchi et al.
patent: 5963704 (1999-10-01), Mimura et al.
patent: 2718834 (1997-11-01), None
Gotoh Yoshiho
Kawamukai Hitoshi
Bayerl Raymond J.
Hailu Tadesse
Kenner Otto, Boisselle & Sklar
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
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