HK1104873B - Reproducing apparatus and method for use with a storage medium - Google Patents

Description

Reproducing apparatus and method for use with storage medium

Technical Field

Aspects of the present invention relate to audio-visual (AV) data reproduction recorded in a storage medium, and more particularly, to a storage medium including AV data and an application program for providing an additional function using the AV data, an apparatus and a method of reproducing the storage medium.

Background

Audio-visual (AV) data recorded in a storage medium includes compression-encoded AV information and navigation information for reproducing the AV information. In more detail, the AV information includes an AV stream encoded according to a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard. The AV stream includes video, audio, and/or subtitles. In addition, the AV data may further include information such as an encoding attribute of the AV stream or an entry point of random access and a playlist in which AV reproduction order information is defined.

The navigation information includes navigation commands for controlling reproduction of AV information (e.g., a command for reproducing a playlist and a command for switching to another playlist). Accordingly, AV information can be reproduced by referring to navigation information so that a user can view AV data such as a high-quality movie.

In addition to the basic AV data reproduction function, an application program including a programming function for improving interaction with a user is required. However, according to a conventional storage medium including AV data, program data for providing a user with an interactive function (e.g., chatting or playing a game using reproduced AV data) cannot be recorded in the storage medium together with the AV data.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical scheme

An aspect of the present invention provides a storage medium in which a program-based application for providing audio-visual (AV) data and additional functions using the AV data is recorded to provide reproduction of the AV data and an improved programming function, an apparatus and method for reproducing the storage medium.

Advantageous effects

If the storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, a plurality of program-based applications for providing additional functions other than reproduction of AV data can be managed, and when the plurality of applications are executed, the memory can be smoothly managed. That is, for a storage medium including movie mode AV data and program mode data to which a programming function is added, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of applications can be smoothly reproduced using system data and management information for the applications.

Drawings

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 is a diagram of types of data recorded in a storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing movie mode data using system data according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing program mode data using system data according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing program mode data using system data and application management information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a detailed block diagram of a reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing a storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a diagram of system data included in a storage medium in which only movie mode data is recorded according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a diagram of system data included in a storage medium having movie mode data and program mode data recorded thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing a storage medium using system data and application management information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining types of data recorded in a storage medium according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing program mode data using system data and application management information according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing a storage medium according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing a storage medium using system data and application management information according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium including: movie mode data for reproducing audio-visual (AV) data; program mode data including a plurality of application programs for providing additional functions by using the AV data; system data for controlling execution of the movie mode data and the program mode data; and management information for managing execution of the application program in units of titles, wherein the system data includes mode information indicating whether a reproduction mode of a title to be reproduced is a movie mode or a program mode.

According to an aspect of the invention, the program mode data is implemented as JAVA objects.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the JAVA object includes at least one JAVA application included in a title.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the management information is included in a JAVA object.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the management information includes control information and status information for execution of at least one application program to be executed in the title.

According to an aspect of the present invention, mode information is included in each item of title information in system data, and a reproduction mode of an associated title is determined.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus including: a reading unit reading movie mode data for reproducing Audio Visual (AV) data, program mode data including a plurality of applications for providing additional functions using the AV data, system data for controlling execution of the movie mode data and the program mode data, and management information for managing execution of the applications in title units; and a reproducing unit determining a reproducing mode by referring to mode information which is included in the system data and indicates whether a reproducing mode of a title to be reproduced is a movie mode or a program mode, and reproducing the program mode data by referring to the management information if the indicated reproducing mode is the program mode.

According to an aspect of the present invention, if mode information of a title to be reproduced is set to a movie mode, the reproducing unit reproduces each movie object by using reference information of the movie object included in title information corresponding to the title in system data.

According to an aspect of the present invention, if mode information of a title to be reproduced is set to a program mode, a reproducing unit refers to each JAVA object included in title information corresponding to the title in system data and reproduces a JAVA application using management information included in the JAVA object.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reproducing method including: reading movie mode data for reproducing audio-visual (AV) data, program mode data including a plurality of applications providing additional functions using the AV data, system data for controlling execution of the movie mode data and the program mode data, and management information for managing execution of the applications in title units; and

determining a reproduction mode by referring to mode information included in the read system data, the mode information indicating whether a reproduction mode of a title to be reproduced is a movie mode or a program mode; and if the reproduction mode is the program mode, reproducing the program mode data by referring to the management information.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of types of data recorded in a storage medium 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 1, the storage medium 1 includes: movie mode data 110, program mode data 130, system data 120, and application management information 140.

The movie mode data 110 includes audio-visual (AV) information and navigation information, which is a set of commands for reproducing the AV information. The movie mode data 110 is data for basic AV reproduction and is referred to as core mode data. Since the core mode is a mode in which data required for viewing a movie is reproduced to have a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) format, which is a typical video application, the core mode is referred to as a movie mode. Hereinafter, the core mode is referred to as a movie mode. If the data includes movie mode data 110 and data having a programming function for improving interaction with a user (i.e., program mode data 130), the data is referred to as data for full mode or full mode data. Although the movie is described as a core mode, it should be understood that other data (e.g., program mode or audio only mode) may be used as the core mode with the movie used in full data mode.

When a reproducing apparatus (e.g., an apparatus as shown in fig. 5) is initialized, system data 120 is first read, the system data 120 including start information and title information. The start information includes the position of an object to be reproduced first when the reproducing apparatus reproduces the storage medium 1. The title information includes entry point information including a location of each object to be reproduced.

In addition to the AV reproduction, according to an aspect of the present invention, the program mode data 130 may include program data of at least one application for providing additional functions. Examples of the program include a user interaction function, a game function using a video, a function of displaying a director's commentary while reproducing a part of the video, a function of displaying other additional information while reproducing a part of the video, or a function of chatting while reproducing a video. According to an aspect of the present invention, the program mode data 130 may include an Application Program Interface (API) function of a presentation engine for reproducing AV information to execute an application program together with a reproduced video.

The application management information 140 is information for efficiently managing reproduction of the program mode data 130 when an additional function is provided while reproducing AV data recorded in the storage medium (i.e., when reproducing full mode data), which will be described in detail below.

Although not required in all aspects, it is preferable that the storage medium 1 according to the embodiment can be easily loaded to and unloaded from a reproducing apparatus. Although not required in all aspects, it is also preferred that the storage medium be an optical disc from which data can be read using the optical means of the reproducing apparatus. For example, the storage medium may be an optical disk, such as a CD-ROM, DVD, or BD-ROM, or an optical disk to be developed in the future.

The structure of a reproducing apparatus for reproducing a storage medium according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to fig. 5, fig. 5 being a schematic block diagram of a reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 5, the reproducing apparatus is an apparatus for displaying AV data recorded on a storage medium 520 by using specific mode data, and includes a reading unit 540, a buffer unit 560, and a reproducing unit 580. The reading unit 540 reads data to be reproduced from the storage medium 520. If the storage medium 520 is an optical disc, the reading unit 540 comprises optical means for reading data recorded on the optical disc. The buffer unit 560 temporarily stores the data read by the reading unit 540. The reproducing unit 580 reproduces AV data and/or program data according to the system data 120 and the application management information 140 stored in the buffer unit 560. The reproduced data is displayed through a display unit (not shown). Although not required, it is understood that the apparatus may record data in addition to reproducing data.

Fig. 6 is a detailed block diagram of a reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 6, the buffer unit 560 and the reproducing unit 580 shown in fig. 5 are shown in more detail. The buffer unit 560 includes a program data buffer 562, a navigation data buffer 564, an AV data buffer 566, and a system data buffer 568 that temporarily store data input from the reading unit 540 according to data types. The reproducing unit 580 includes a reproducing engine having a reproducing function according to the type of data reproduced: a program engine 582, a navigation engine 584, a presentation engine 586, an application manager 588, and a blender 590. Although not required, it should be understood that other components may also be included in the rendering device.

The program engine 582 reproduces program data input from the program data buffer 562. That is, the program engine 582 executes specific application programs for implementing functions (e.g., games, chat, and director commentary). To this end, the program engine 582 may provide interaction to the user through video. The program engine 582 controls the presentation engine 586 to reproduce video using API functions as indicated by black arrows.

The navigation engine 584 receives navigation data from the navigation data buffer 564 and controls reproduction of AV data. That is, the navigation engine 584 controls the presentation engine 586 for reproducing video, as indicated by a black arrow, using an API function including a command for AV reproduction, as in the program engine 582.

The presentation engine 586 decodes the AV stream, the still image, or the data file input from the AV data buffer 566, and reproduces it. The application manager 588 receives the system data from the system data buffer 568 and controls the reproducing engines 582, 584 and 586 to reproduce AV data and/or program data. The application manager 588 controls the program engine 582 and the navigation engine 584 as indicated by the dashed arrows so that the presentation engine 586 can render the AV data and perform additional functions. The application manager 588 determines the data to be reproduced first based on the entry point specified in the start information in the system data. In addition, during reproduction, the application manager 588 transmits an entry point of each title obtained by referring to the system data and searching for each title to a reproduction engine for reproducing the searched title so that the searched title can be reproduced.

When the full mode for providing the AV reproducing and programming functions is selected, the application manager 588 manages a plurality of applications on a title-by-title basis by referring to the application management information 140. That is, the application manager 588 performs scheduling and manages resources such as memory so that a plurality of applications can be smoothly executed. As another embodiment described below in fig. 11, in the case where the application management information 140A is included in the JAVA object as the program mode data 130A, the program engine 582, instead of the application manager 588, refers to the application management information 140A included in the JAVA object and performs scheduling and resource management so that a plurality of applications included in the JAVA object can be smoothly executed.

In addition, the application manager 588 optionally includes: a user input receiving and processing unit (not shown) processes the user input and sends the user input to the correlation engine.

The blender 590 generates one image by overlaying the graphic image reproduced by the program engine 582 with the video image reproduced by the presentation engine 586 using the API function related to the presentation engine 586 and outputs the generated image. Accordingly, additional functions can be implemented simultaneously with reproducing video using the program-based program mode data 130.

In summary, a reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus that displays AV data recorded on a storage medium according to an appropriate display mode among a movie mode or a program mode using specific mode data. That is, the reproducing apparatus reads the movie mode data 110, the program mode data 130, the system data 120, and the application management information 140 shown in fig. 1 or 11 from the storage medium 1 or 1A using the reading unit 540 and reproduces the data using the associated reproducing engine. Here, the system data 120 is transmitted to the application manager 588, and the data and mode to be first reproduced are determined based on an entry point in the start data of the system data using the system data 120. The reproduction device refers to the system data 120 during reproduction. If the mode is changed or if a title is searched, an entry point of a corresponding object is transmitted to a corresponding reproducing engine that reproduces the object and is reproduced.

In the case where the application management information 140 exists separately from other data as shown in fig. 1, the application management information 140 is also transmitted to the application manager 588, used to manage program mode data 130 such as a plurality of JAVA applications on a title-by-title basis, and the application management information 140 is used to smoothly manage memory when the plurality of JAVA applications are executed.

According to another aspect, in the case where the application management information 140A is included in the program mode data 130A (i.e., JAVA objects), the program engine 582 reads the program mode data 130A and controls the execution of a plurality of applications by referring to the application management information 140A included in the program mode data 130A. Although shown separately, it is understood that the application management information 140, 140A and the mode data 130, 130A may be included together on the general medium 1 or 1A.

In addition, the application manager 588 includes a user input receiving and processing unit that processes the user's input and sends the user's input to the rendering engine of the associated mode. Examples include, but are not limited to, data received via a display, graphical user interface, keyboard, remote control, and other similar input devices.

A method of reproducing a storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail based on the structure of the reproducing apparatus described with respect to fig. 1, 2, 5, and 6. Fig. 2 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing movie mode data 110 using system data 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 2, the system data 120 read by the reading unit 540 when the reproducing apparatus is initialized is transmitted to the application manager 588. The application manager 588 references entry points in the system data 120 for the start data 222, the menu 224, and the titles #1- # 5226, 228, 230, 232, 234. When an entry point of a movie object to be first reproduced, i.e., movie object # 1242, is transmitted to the navigation engine 584 through the system data 120, the navigation engine 584 transmits a navigation command (e.g., PlayPL (#1)) included in the movie object # 1242 to the presentation engine 586, thereby starting movie mode reproduction.

After continuous reproduction by using the navigation command included in the movie object to be reproduced first (i.e., movie object # 1242), reproduction of the next movie object # 2244 is started by the last navigation command in the current movie object. For example, movie object # 2244 corresponding to title #1 is reproduced according to the last navigation command jumpoobject (#2) in movie object # 1242.

If there is no title change requested by the user, each of the movie objects (i.e., movie object # 3246, movie object # 4248, movie object # 5250, movie object # 6252, and movie object # 7254) is sequentially reproduced as described above as indicated by solid arrows of fig. 2, and after the last movie object (i.e., movie object # 7254 of fig. 2), the reproducing apparatus stops or finalizes the last scene according to the last navigation command of the movie object set by the content manufacturer.

In a general movie mode (i.e., when AV data is reproduced), a single title information executes one movie object as shown in fig. 2. Even if a plurality of movie objects can be sequentially executed (i.e., a next movie object is reproduced after one movie object is ended), simultaneous reproduction of two or more movie objects is not allowed. Accordingly, the reproduction range of AV data can be clearly determined as the reproduction period of a specific movie object or the reproduction period of a consecutive movie object.

The title information 226, 228, 230, 232, 234 included in the system data 120 as shown in fig. 2 is a logical concept that allows a user to access a specific reproduction scenario (i.e., random access). Although not required in all aspects, each item of title information may include entry point information, which is a reproduction start position of a movie object corresponding to a related title, and information regarding whether or not there is a title accessed by a user. Accordingly, in addition to continuous reproduction, a specific scene may be searched and then reproduction may be continued from the scene (as indicated by a dotted line of fig. 2).

Fig. 3 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing program mode data 130 using system data 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A method of navigating a JAVA application is described as an example of a program mode in which an additional function is provided when AV data is reproduced. For convenience of description, it is assumed that the program mode refers to a JAVA mode. However, it should be understood that other types of applications and languages may be used.

Referring to fig. 3 and 6, the system data 120 read by the reading unit 540 when the reproducing apparatus is initialized is transmitted to the application manager 588 through the system data buffer 568. The application manager 588 references entry points for start data 322, menu 324, and titles 326, 328, 330. The application manager 588 transmits an entry point in the referenced system data 120, i.e., an entry point of the JAVA application #1 to be first reproduced, to a JAVA engine, i.e., the program engine 582 of fig. 6. The JAVA engine reproduces the JAVA application # 1.

Since a plurality of JAVA applications can be simultaneously executed, the plurality of JAVA applications can correspond to a single title information. As shown in fig. 3, the start data 322 corresponds to the JAVA application # 1. The menu 324 corresponds to the JAVA application # 2. Title #1326 corresponds to JAVA application #3, #4, and # 5. Title # 2328 corresponds to JAVA application #6, #7 and # 8. As also shown in fig. 3, the JAVA application #3 refers to the JAVA application #5, the JAVA application #5 refers to the JAVA application #9, the JAVA application #9 does not exist exclusively within the title #1, and the title #1 is not terminated when it ends. JAVA application #3 and #4 refer to JAVA application #6 in title # 2328. The JAVA application #6 refers to the JAVA application # 7. The JAVA application #7 refers to the JAVA application # 8. Further, JAVA application #3 is referenced directly at the beginning of title #1326, while JAVA application #4 is referenced during the execution of title # 1326. At the beginning of title # 2328, JAVA application #6 is referenced directly.

Each of the JAVA applications shown in fig. 3 (i.e., JAVA App #1, JAVA App #2, JAVA App #3, JAVA App #4, JAVA App #5, JAVA App #6, JAVA App #7, JAVA App #8, JAVA App # 9.) includes commands provided by the JAVA program. Although the commands are executed in the order of recording, the commands are designed such that other commands can be executed during the execution of one command. In addition, even after all the commands are executed, since a command related to termination (e.g., exit ()) must be executed to terminate the JAVA application, the JAVA application does not need to be terminated. Therefore, unless a command related to termination is executed, a plurality of JAVA applications related to a single item of title information continuously perform reproduction according to the life cycle of each JAVA application.

Due to this characteristic, a specific JAVA application is continuously in a reproduction state regardless of the concept of a title, so that the reproduction range of the JAVA application related to a specific title is unspecified. In addition, when the title is changed, it is not determined how a plurality of JAVA applications being reproduced according to a life cycle of each JAVA application are processed.

To address these and other issues, application management information 140 is used. Although not required in all aspects, application management information 140 according to embodiments of the present invention may exist separately from other data, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in fig. 11, application management information 140A according to another embodiment of the present invention may be included in program mode data 130A and may be, for example, binary or text type data.

A case where the application management information 140 independently exists as shown in fig. 1 is described as an embodiment of the present invention, and then a case where the application management information 140 is included in the program mode data 130A as shown in fig. 11 is described as another embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment shown in fig. 1 will now be described in more detail. Fig. 4 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing program mode data 130 using system data 120 and application management information 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 4, in order to execute a JAVA program (application JAVA App. #3) to be started to be reproduced by the title #1 as title information in the system data 120, the application manager 588 reads application management information (JAVA App. #3 management information of the title #1) from the application management information 140 and executes the JAVA program (application JAVAApp. #3) based on the management information. Similarly, JAVA App. #1 within the start data 422 manages execution of the JAVA program (application JAVA App. #1), JAVA App. #2 within the menu 424 manages execution of the JAVA program (application JAVA App. #2), JAVA App. #4 within the title # 1426 manages execution of the JAVA program (application JAVA App. #4), JAVA App. #5 within the title # 1426 manages execution of the JAVA program (application JAVA App. #5), JAVA App 2426 within the title #8 manages execution of the JAVA program (application JAVA. #6), and JAVA App. #7 within the title # 2428 manages execution of the JAVA program (application JAVA App. # 7). The JAVA App. #9 management information that is not within one of the plurality of titles manages execution of a JAVA program (application JAVA App. # 9). By doing so, as described above, the reproduction range of the JAVA application related to a specific title is clear regardless of the characteristics of the JAVA application, and even if there is a title change, the execution of the application can be controlled based on the corresponding management information.

Also, the JAVA application can be reproduced regardless of the execution order of the JAVA application in the JAVA object, more than one application can be simultaneously executed, and the termination time of the application cannot be predicted. Therefore, in order to know the state of the JAVA application at a specific time or in a specific case (e.g., within the range of a specific title), the application management information 140 is necessary.

Preferably, but not required, the application management information 140 includes the following types of information: title information, JAVA application information, and operation and state information of each JAVA application.

The title information is information on a title. A title is a logical unit through which a user can perceive a unit of AV data, and the user can access information stored in a storage medium through the title. The menu provided to the user is also a title.

The JAVA application information belonging to the title is information on the JAVA application to which the title refers. In particular, each title may include a plurality of JAVA applications. This information is related to JAVA programs that can be executed together in one title.

The operation and state information of each JAVA application refers to information specifying the operation and state information of each JAVA application. As an example, the operation and status information may include: a start time, a start method, a stop time, and/or a stop method. In addition, when a specific title is selected as a first executing application designated by a title through a user's input or a navigation command, the information may include information on a JAVA application to be first reproduced in the specific title and memory allocation information of the JAVA application.

A method of reproducing a storage medium including system data 120 and application management information 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to a flowchart shown in fig. 7. Referring to fig. 7, when a storage medium including system data 120 and application management information 140 is loaded into a reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus initializes various types of system parameters and global parameters to predetermined values in operation 701. In addition, in the initialization, a process of reading the system data 120 required for reproduction by the reading unit 540 is included. In operation 702, application management information 140 required for reproduction in the program mode may be read in advance. After the initialization of the reproducing apparatus is completed, a first playback in which an object to be first reproduced is designated is started by referring to start information of the system data 120 in operation 703.

Here, mode information included in the title designated during the first playback is read, thereby determining the mode of the title. If the mode information of the title is the movie mode in operation 704, reproduction of a movie object called a first playback starts in operation 707 (refer to fig. 2). If the mode information of the title is the program mode in operation 704, application management information 140 required to reproduce the JAVA application of the program mode is read in operation 705. Operation 705 may be omitted if the application management information 140 has been read in the initialization 701 of the reproducing apparatus. That is, the application management information 140 may be read in advance in the initialization of the reproducing apparatus or the application management information 140 may be read when the JAVA application is reproduced in the program mode according to the specification of the reproducing apparatus.

In operation 706, the application manager 588 executes the JAVA application belonging to the specific title by referring to the application management information 140.

If the title is changed through a navigation command, an API, or a user input during movie or program mode reproduction, the application manager 588 may control reproduction of the corresponding mode data through the procedure as described above.

The structure of the system data 120 for controlling reproduction according to the movie mode or the program mode will now be described in detail with reference to fig. 8 and 9. Fig. 8 is a diagram of system data 120 included in a storage medium in which only movie mode data is recorded according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 8, the system data 120 includes start information 810, menu information 820, and title information 830, and the start information 810, menu information 820, and title information 830 include reference information 811 for a movie object for first playback, reference information 821 for a movie object for a menu, and reference information 833 for a movie object for a title, respectively, of movie objects that should be executed to reproduce the first playback, the menu, and the title, respectively. Further, the title information 830 includes a title number 831 and information 832 on whether the user accesses. As described above, with the movie mode, there is no case where two or more movie objects are executed simultaneously. Accordingly, even if each of the information 810, 820, and 830 includes only reference information of one movie object, reproduction can be smoothly performed.

However, for a storage medium further including program mode data 130 (i.e., full mode is supported), since a plurality of JAVA applications in one title can be reproduced as described above, reproduction can be performed by referring to separate application management information 140 in which the life cycle of each JAVA application is defined in the application management information 140. Fig. 9 is a diagram of system data 120 included in a storage medium in which movie mode data and program mode data are recorded according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 9, unlike the system data 120 for only the movie mode shown in fig. 8, the system data 120 for reproducing full mode data includes mode information 912, 922, and 934 for respective items of information 910, 920, and 930. Reference information 911, 922, and 933 within each item of the start information 910 (e.g., 422), the menu information 920 (e.g., 424), and the title information 930 (e.g., 426 to 430) generally correspond to the reference information 811, 821, and 833 shown in fig. 8. Further, a title number 931 within the title information 930 and information 932 about whether or not the user has accessed generally correspond to the title number 831 and the information 832 shown in fig. 8. The mode information indicates whether data recorded in an associated storage medium is movie mode data or program mode data, and allows a reproducing apparatus to distinguish between different modes.

If the mode information indicates the movie mode, data is reproduced by referring to the movie object described in fig. 8. If the mode information indicates the program mode, information referring to specific navigation data (e.g., information referring to a movie object) is not used. The application manager 588 reproduces the associated program mode data by referring to the application management information 140 as described above and/or the program engine 582 reproduces the associated JAVA object by referring to the application management information 140A included in the JAVA object.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing a storage medium using system data 120 and application management information 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 10, when the application manager 588, which has read the system data 120 in operation 1001, analyzes the start information 910, the menu information 920, or the title information 930 by using a navigation command, an API, or a user input, the application manager 588 checks mode information 912, 922, or 934 included in the start information 910, the menu information 920, or the title information 930 in operation 1002. If the mode information 912, 922, or 934 indicates the movie mode in operation 1003, reference information of a movie object included in the start information 910, the menu information 920, or the title information 930 is used in operation 1007, and then corresponding AV data is reproduced in operation 1008.

If the mode information 912, 922 or 934 indicates the program mode (i.e., JAVA mode) in operation 1003, the title number 426, 428, 430, the start data 422 and/or the menu 424 are referenced in operation 1004, and the application management information 140 of the JAVA object corresponding to the title number is referenced in operation 1005. Then, a JAVA application (e.g., JAVAApp. #1, JAVAApp. #2, JAVAApp. #3, JAVAApp. #6, or JAVAApp. #9) defined in the corresponding title to be first reproduced is referred to in operation 1006. In operation 1008, the application manager 588 reproduces the corresponding JAVA application by transmitting information on the JAVA application to be first reproduced to the program engine 582 using the operation and state information of the JAVA application belonging to the specific title in the application management information 140 of the JAVA object.

A case where the application management information 140A is included in the JAVA object as another embodiment of the present invention shown in fig. 11 will now be described. Referring to fig. 11, the storage medium includes movie mode data 110, program mode data 130A, and system data 120. Specifically, the application management information 140A is included in the program mode data 130A.

Movie mode data 110, program mode data 130A, system data 120, and application management information 140A are generally the same as shown in fig. 1. However, unlike the case where the application management information 140 exists separately from other data as shown in fig. 1, the application management information 140A is included in the program mode data 130A. That is, the program mode data 130A includes the application management information 140A corresponding to the title and a plurality of applications. The program mode data 130A is implemented as a JAVA object including at least one JAVA application included in one title and application management information 140A. However, it should be understood that other types of objects may be used instead of, or in addition to, JAVA objects.

Fig. 12 is a reference diagram for explaining a method of reproducing program mode data 130A using system data 120 and application management information 140A according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 12, the application manager 588 reads a JAVA object #1, which is program mode data 130A whose reproduction is started by a title #1326, which is title information of the system data 120, and extracts management information of each of JAVA applications #3 to #5 included in the JAVA object # 1. The extracted management information includes operation information and state information required to execute at least one JAVA application included in a corresponding JAVA object. The JAVA application included in the corresponding JAVA object may be executed based on the management information. In order to utilize the JAVA application #1, the JAVA application #2, and/or the JAVA applications #6 to #8, a similar set of operations is performed with respect to the start data 322, the menu 324, the title # 2328, and the title # 3330 with respect to the corresponding JAVA App #1 management information, JAVA App #2 management information, JAVA object #2 management information, and JAVA object #3 management information. Accordingly, regardless of the above-described characteristics of the JAVA application, the reproduction range of the JAVA application related to a specific title is clear, and even if there is a title change, the execution of the application can be controlled based on the corresponding management information.

The details of the application management information 140A are generally the same as those shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing a storage medium according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 13, when a storage medium including system data 120 and application management information 140A is loaded into a reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus initializes various system parameters and global parameters in the reproducing apparatus to predetermined values in operation 1301. In addition, the initialization includes reading the system data 120 required for reproduction by the reading unit 540. At operation 1302, the application manager 588 analyzes schema information included in the system data 120.

If the parsed mode information does not indicate the JAVA mode (i.e., if the parsed mode information indicates the movie mode) in operation 1303, a movie object referenced by the relevant title is accessed in operation 1308. If the mode information of the title indicates the JAVA mode in operation 1303, a JAVA object referenced by the relevant title is accessed in operation 1304, and the application management information 140A included in the JAVA object is extracted in operation 1305. In operation 1306, scheduling and resource management required for executing the JAVA application are performed based on the extracted application management information 140A. In operation 1307, the JAVA application included in the JAVA object is accessed and executed based on the extracted application management information 140A.

If the title is changed through a navigation command, an API, or a user input during the movie or JAVA mode reproduction, the application manager 588 may control the reproduction of the corresponding mode data through the above-described procedure.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a method of reproducing a storage medium using system data 120 and application management information 140A according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 14, when the application manager 588 analyzes start information, menu information, or title information by using a navigation command, an API, or a user input, the application manager 588 refers to mode information included in the system data 120 in operation 1401. If the mode information indicates the movie mode in operation 1402, reference information of a movie object included in the start information, the menu information, or the title information is used in operation 1407 and then corresponding AV data is reproduced.

If the mode information indicates the program mode (i.e., JAVA mode in operation 1402), a JAVA object referenced by an associated title is accessed in operation 1403, and application management information 140A included in the JAVA object is extracted in operation 1404. In operation 1405, scheduling and resource management required for executing the JAVA application are performed based on the extracted application management information 140A. At operation 1406, the application manager 588 accesses the JAVA application included in the JAVA object and executes the JAVA application using the operation information and state information included in the extracted application management information 140A.

As described above, in the program mode, the application manager 588 manages a plurality of JAVA applications by referring to the application management information 140 or 140A according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, scheduling and resource (e.g., memory) management are performed to smoothly execute a plurality of applications. In other words, if the application program that runs in units of titles is determined, the storage space required for each application program can be determined. In addition, by determining the start time and the end time according to the characteristics of the application program, there may be an application program that is not simultaneously executed. Since the application can use the same memory space, the required memory capacity can be reduced, thereby efficiently managing the memory.

Although the embodiments are described using JAVA applications, the same methods may be applied equally to HTML, program languages, and/or other applications.

The embodiments of the present invention can be written as computer programs and can be implemented in general-purpose and/or special-purpose digital computers that execute the programs using a computer readable recording medium. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include magnetic storage media (e.g., ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), optical recording media (e.g., CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.), and storage media such as carrier waves (e.g., transmission through the internet). The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

As described above, if the storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, a plurality of program-based applications for providing additional functions can be managed in addition to managing reproduction of AV data, and a memory can be smoothly managed when the plurality of applications are executed. That is, for a storage medium including movie mode AV data and program mode data to which a programming function is added, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of applications can be smoothly reproduced using system data and management information for the applications.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The above embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims and equivalents thereof, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

Claims (2)

1. A reproducing apparatus for use with a storage medium, comprising:

a reading unit that reads system data from a storage medium, the storage medium including movie mode data for reproducing audio-visual data, program mode data including a plurality of JAVA applications for providing additional functions using the audio-visual data, and management information for controlling execution of the movie mode data and the program mode data, the system data including mode information and entry point information for each title to be reproduced, the mode information indicating whether a reproduction mode of the title to be reproduced is a movie mode or a program mode, and the management information for managing execution of the JAVA applications on a title-by-title basis; and

a reproducing unit determining a reproducing mode for each title to be reproduced by referring to mode information included in the read system data, reproducing the JAVA object indicated by the entry point information included in the read system data if the determined reproducing mode indicates a program mode, reproducing the MOVIE object indicated by the entry point information included in the read system data when the determined reproducing mode is a MOVIE mode,

wherein the JAVA object includes management information for managing execution of the JAVA application,

the management information includes information on at least one JAVA application that can be executed in a corresponding title and information on a termination time of the at least one JAVA application.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the management information comprises control information and status information for the reproducing unit to execute at least one JAVA application to be executed in the corresponding title.