WO2007011351A1

WO2007011351A1 - System and apparatus for converting dvd content into vod content

Info

Publication number: WO2007011351A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/025350
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Dillon Rich
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing
Priority date: 2005-07-18
Filing date: 2005-07-18
Publication date: 2007-01-25

Abstract

A video disc file to video-on-demand device includes a modified navigation manager (204) which generates a hierarchical representation (206) of logical data from a disc which permits user interaction. The hierarchical representation includes a video on demand format usable by a video on demand receiver. The device further includes a content encoder (240) which encodes content on the video disc to the video on demand format such that the video on demand format simulates interactivity and features of the optical video disk in the video on demand receiver.

Description

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING DVD CONTENT

INTO VOD CONTENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to video on demand systems and services and, more particularly, to a system and method which converts digital video disk content to video on demand content to provide greater flexibility in services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Currently, the movie industry is moving towards a trend of digitizing the content that it produces. Digital formats for consumers such as digital video disk (DVD) video have been widely adopted, largely because the DVD-Video format allows for an interactivity and added-value for the end-user. Movie studios increasingly include "extras" on DVD-Video discs, such as out-takes, documentaries, music videos, etc. These disc "extras" are accessed by the end-user via colorful and interactive menus which are authored onto the DVD-Video discs.

[0003] In order to produce DVD-Video discs with this level of interactivity, movie studios employ the creative services of individuals who use DVD-authoring tools to design the aesthetics and logic which designate the behavior of the disc when played back with a DVD-Video player, and controlled by an end-user. This process involves, among other things, digitizing and compressing the audio-visual assets to be used (movie, extras, etc.), designing the logical hierarchy of the menuing system for the disc, designing the graphics, audio, and video to be used in the various menus, defining the "usage flow" of the disc - the model of how an end-user will interact with the content.

[0004] The DVD-authoring tool may abstract many of the details of the logical data hierarchy on a DVD, so that the creative individual can focus on higher-order dynamics and aesthetics. The DVD-authoring tool has led to the escalation of complex and interesting menus on DVD-Video discs. [0005] Despite the fact that an increasing amount of the content that the movie industry produces is digital, the assets which are used in producing that content have been slower to adopt the process of digitization. More specifically, the movie industry has not capitalized on the efficiencies to be gained by mastering assets in digital, and subsequently referencing the digital masters in all processing thereafter.

There is a level of redundancy in duplication and re-creation of digital assets that is inefficient. Not only does this apply to new content that is created, but digital masters do not exist for the vast majority of the back-catalogs of movie industry content.

[0006] A new method of movie content distribution to the end-user is emerging. This new distribution channel is that of "Video On Demand" (VOD). Increasingly, network operators are deploying equipment which brings the service of VOD to end- users. VOD is a concept that departs from the existing subscriber/broadcast based business construct. In the subscriber/broadcast based business construct, an end- user watches movie content as it is broadcast at fixed times determined by the network operator. In this scenario, the consumer's viewing habits must conform to the broadcast schedule, which equates to a limiting constraint on demand. In the VOD model, an end-user can view content at will, at any given time, and can pause and resume watching the content at his convenience. This removes the broadcast constraint on demand.

[0007] As network operators are deploying equipment to facilitate VOD services (either via the internet or via localized networks such as cable), they simultaneously recognize that DVD-video discs with their "extras" and interactivity act as a demand- driver for consumption of that format. The technology which enables VOD over either the internet or a cable network would also enable the type of interactivity found on a DVD-video disc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a mechanism and system to automate and generate interactive VOD content which adheres to technologies of the specific network. Authoring this type of content for VOD is currently inefficient because reuse of existing digital resources is non-existent. In accordance with the present invention, a content owner such as a movie studio can re-use the work that went into creating the interactivity of a DVD-video disc, and issue a license to a network operator for that same content to be used in an interactive VOD services, such as via the internet or cable system. The present invention describes systems and methods by which a DVD-video disc which has already been authored for interactivity for playback in a DVD-video player, can be used as a "master" in an automated procedure to produce content suitable for VOD services via the internet, cable networks, satellite or any other such medium.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, a video disc file to video-on- demand converter includes a modified navigation manager which generates a hierarchical representation of logical data from a disc which permits user interaction. The hierarchical representation includes a video on demand format usable by a video on demand receiver. A content encoder which encodes content on the video disc to the video on demand format such that the video on demand format simulates interactivity and features of the optical video disk in the video on demand receiver.

[0010] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a video on demand system includes a video on demand server which stores a plurality of titles for distribution to one or more clients. The titles are stored in a video on demand format that provides a same interactivity of the titles as provided on a digital video disc (DVD) recording of the title. A converter includes a modified navigation manager which generates a hierarchical representation of logical data from a disc which permits user interaction. The hierarchical representation includes the video on demand format usable by a video on demand receiver. A content encoder encodes content on the video disc to the video on demand format such that the video on demand format simulates interactivity and features of the optical video disk in the video on demand receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: |0012] FIG. 1 depicts a high level function block diagram of a conventional DVD player;

[0013] FIG. 2 depicts a high level function block diagram of a device for converting DVD video to a video on demand format in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0014] FIG. 3 depicts a high level a block diagram of a system for converting and delivering video on demand in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] It should be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not necessarily the only possible configuration for illustrating the invention. To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0016] The present invention provides an automated system and methods for using an optical disc or file (e.g., a DVD-video disc) as a master for translating the content of the disc into an interactive presentation suitable for video on demand (VOD) deployment over a network such as the internet, digital subscriber line (DSL)₁ cable networks or any other on demand digital service network. Although the concepts of the present invention are described herein with reference to a video playing system, the present invention is much broader and may include any digital multimedia system, which is capable of content delivery over a network. In addition, the present invention is applicable to any recording method including recording data received by telephone, set top boxes, computer, satellite links, etc. In addition, although the concepts of the present invention are described in terms of a cable or satellite network, the concepts of the present invention may be extended to other wireless and wired network types.

[0017] In various embodiments of the present invention, transforms are created to convert the logical data found on a DVD-video disc into logical data that can be parsed by VOD client devices so as to create the same hierarchical level of interactivity found on the DVD-video disc. Similarly, transforms can be created to convert audio/visual data to formats which are able to be consumed by VOD client devices, in such a way that the audio/video presentation is like that of the original DVD-video disc. These transforms can be integrated with the existing abstract components found in a DVD-video player in such a way that the entire process of converting the DVD-video disc content into VOD content can be automated. This automation provides for the highest level of efficiency in converting existing and back-catalog titles for VOD networks.

[0018] In accordance with the present invention, the VOD-based content would reflect the nuances of DVD-video discs, which may include "extras" and associated menuing systems. The content can be re-generated from master materials that may or may not have been used in creation of the original DVD-video disc.

[0019] A DVD-Video player is provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention which preferably complies with the specifications published by the DVD Consortium in the "DVD Specification for Read-Only Disc", which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, for the purpose of reading the data stored on DVD-video discs and presenting the audio-visual information to an end-user. According to the concepts of the present invention, a DVD-video player could comprise an all-software entity (such as on a PC) or an all-hardware entity or a combination of hardware and software. More specifically, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and informed by the teachings of the present invention that implementation of the described DVD components could be implemented in hardware and/or software, as is the case in current DVD-Video player implementations. The elements depicted in the FIGs. herein may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software or combinations thereof. Preferably, these elements are implemented in a combination of hardware and software on one or more appropriately programmed general-purpose devices, which may include a processor, memory and input/output interfaces.

[0020] DVD-Video discs typically include three data types namely, audio-visual data, which is stored as compressed data per the DVD-video specification; DVD- Video logical data, which assigns a hierarchical format to the audio-visual data, and which designates a playback structure to the audio-visual data (per the DVD-video specification); and author-specific logical data on the disc that does not correspond to playback via the DVD-video specification. It is this logical data and the hierarchical format designated by the logical data that gives the DVD-video disc its interactive interface to the end-user. An example of this type of logical data would be an executable software application targeted for a personal computer (PC), for example. Such an executable software application is typically located outside the directory structure of the DVD-video itself, and no DVD-Video player compliant to the DVD- video specification would be expected to parse and execute such data. However, a PC would be able to access the file structure on such a DVD-video disc, and would be able to parse and execute this logical data (outside the scope of the DVD-Video specification).

[0021] The audio-visual data on a DVD-video disc includes video, which is typically compressed using, for example, an MPEG standard (Main Level/Main Profile, e.g., MPEG-2) or the like. Audio is also included, which can be compressed in various formats as stipulated in the DVD-video specification (e.g., MPEG-1 level 2, PCM, AC-3, DTS). Additionally included sub-picture data may include run-length encoded bitmapped graphics elements which can be overlayed and mixed with the resulting decoded video.

[0022] The audio-visual data is compressed with the appropriate compressor, packetized into the payloads of disc sectors, and these packetized sectors are multiplexed such that each of the elements: audio, video, and subpicture could be recovered and decoded for synchronized rendering to the end user. The sectors which packetize the audio-visual information on the disc are grouped together in terms of which file they are a member, and are arranged physically on the disc such that all sectors within the same file are in sequentially ascending order, as stipulated in the physical specifications for the DVD-video disc format. These files are known as "VOB files" within the DVD-Video specification, a shortened form of Video OBject file.

[0023] The DVD-video logical data on a DVD-video disc includes tables of information which very precisely designate the logical/hierarchical form and structure of the audio-visual data on the disc. The hierarchical framework by which the audiovisual content can be referred can be represented as follows: [0024] Video Title Set - a group of video titles:

[0025] Video Title - a logically coherent grouping of audio-video content. In practice, a title would represent something such as an entire movie, or an interactive menu sequence:

[0026] Program Chain - a group of programs:

[0027] Program - a logical sub-set of a complete video title; in practice, a program might correspond to a specific scene within an entire movie:

[0028] Cell - a cell is a sub-set of a program; the Cell is the first logical data structure in the hierarchy, which maps physical sector addresses of audio-visual data to actual logical constructs within the hierarchy: and

[0029] VOBU - a Video OBject Unit is the most atomic logical grouping of the audio-visual data; a VOBU includes a coherent series of sectors whose video payload corresponds to, e.g., a Group Of Pictures as designated in the MPEG-2 specification. The first sector in every series of sectors that comprises a VOBU is designated as a Navigation Pack, and includes logical data useful to playback of the audio-visual content.

[0030] In addition to the above described logical hierarchy, there are other logical constructs which facilitate the interactivity in the presentation of a DVD-video disc. For example, some logical constructs may include the following:

[0031] System space, menu space, Video ManGer (VMG) space, and Video Title Space (VTS) - the logical constructs described above (for example, Video Title) can be designated as operating in one of these four "spaces" or modes. The DVD-video specification delineates each of these modes of operation, and designates rules on how user activity is to be handled in each of these playback modes. One purpose for designating these playback modes is to account for the modality of user behavior. In some instances an end user may passively view the content of the disc, whereas in other cases the end user may interact with menus on the disc: 10032] Navigation Commands - the DVD-video specification explicitly describes various op-codes which can be embedded at various points in the disc's data; these op-codes are parsed and interpreted, and their execution is what accounts for the interactivity and programmability of the rendering of audio-visual content on a DVD: and

[0033] Buttons - the logical notion of a button is a marriage of bitmap data (sub- picture), navigation commands, and a navigational relationship. A button is a logical entity which designates a segment of sub-picture data which is to be decoded and rendered over decoded video at a specific location on the screen. There can exist at a given time multiple buttons which are rendered onto the end-user display, and there exists in the logical description of the button, a way to designate to a user which button is currently focused. The logical description of a set of buttons describes how focus can shift from one button to the next as the user presses various keys (e.g., up, down, left, right) on an input device. The logical description of a button designates which subpicture should be used to convey to the user that the button is currently focused. Also, the logical description of a button designates which navigation command should be parsed and executed when the user selects the button.

[0034] FIG. 1 depicts a high level function block diagram of a conventional DVD player. Details of the individual block components making up the system architecture are known to skilled artisans, and will only be described in details sufficient for an understanding of the present invention. Utilizing the above described logical hierarchy and constructs, an author can create a DVD-video disc which displays audio-visual data in an interactive manner with menus and extra materials to be perused as determined by the end user in accordance with the present invention.

[0035] Specifically, the primary functional components of a DVD-video player (hardware and/or software) are depicted in FIG. 1. These components of a DVD- video player can be utilized in addition to new components in creating an automated system for translating DVD-video discs (with full menuing systems and interactivity) into content that is of a format suitable for VOD deployment across a network such as the internet, a cable network, a DSL video network, etc. At the front-end of the DVD-Video player 100 exists a DVD optical drive mechanism or controller 101 for reading data from the disc. Disc controller 101 controls the optical drive mechanism 101 such that sector-based data can be read from the disc. The disc controller 101 is able to receive commands 120 which instruct the controller 101 to retrieve sector- based data from the disc. The data stored in the disc falls into the category of either Audio/Visual Data 103a (Disc-Based) or Logical Data 103b (Disc-Based).

[0036] A navigation manager 104 in the DVD-video player 101 is responsible for parsing the logical disc structure, managing user-inputs, and orchestrating the interactive playback of the disc. The navigation manager 104 sends commands to the disc controller 101 to receive the specific sectors which include the logical data 103b. The logical data 103b is communicated to the navigation manager 104 as depicted by Logical Disc Data 122. The logical disc data 122 designates the locations of specific audio/visual content, and designates the playback behavior of the disc that results in interactive presentation to the user.

[0037] Once the navigation manager 104 has retrieved logical data from the disc controller 101 , this information is parsed to determine the interactive behavior of the disc (such as menus). End-user inputs are processed by the navigation manager 104, the resulting playback behavior as dictated by the logical data 122 is determined, and ultimately a range of sectors that correspond to a section of a VOB file are resolved to be retrieved and ultimately rendered to the end-user. After resolving which sectors are to be retrieved, the navigation manager 104 issues commands 120 to the disc controller 101 , and sectors emerge as audio/visual data 124. The series of sectors of audio/visual data include audio, video, and subpicture data that are multiplexed per the DVD-video specification.

[0038] This series of sectors 124 are delivered to the a VOB demultiplexer 106, which extracts video data 126, subpicture data 128 and audio data 130 as serial sectors of those data types, and forwards these respective series of sectors to the appropriate decoder blocks. A video decoder 108 parses and decompresses the sectorized video data per the MPEG-2 and DVD-video specifications to create decoded video 132. A subpicture decoder 110 parses and decompresses the run- length encoded bitmap information of the sectorized subpicture data per the DVD- video specifications to form decoded subpicture data 134. An audio decoder 112 is parses and decompresses the sectorized audio data per the DVD-video specifications to form decoded audio 136. [0039] Decoded video 132 and decoded subpicture 132 are communicated to a video/graphics compositor 114 which is able to overlay the graphics of the subpicture onto the decoded video plane. A mixed video/subpicture 140 and decoded audio 136 are sent to their respective renderers, e.g., a video renderer 116 and an audio renderer 118 to be rendered in a synchronized fashion for consumption by the end user.

[0040] For content to be suitable for transmission via VOD across the Internet, a cable network, a satellite network and/or a DSL network, some aspects of the content need to be transformed to formats compatible with those mediums. As stated above, DVD-video menuing systems are realized by parsing the logical data structures and appropriately rendering the audio/visual content associated with those structures. A VOD client device may include an Internet web-browser, a set- top DSL or cable box. Neither Internet web-browsers, nor DSL or cable set-top boxes are programmed to properly interpret the logical data of a DVD disc. However, Internet web-browsers or DSL or cable set-top boxes do have HTML parsers/renderers which can be used to visually present menuing systems to the end-user. Similarly, Internet web-browsers or DSL set-top boxes might be network- constrained such that it is not feasible to transmit MPEG-2 video or high-quality audio, such as is stored on a DVD-Video disc. In fact, Internet web-browsers and often DSL set-top boxes are equipped to process audio/video formats with a much higher compression than MPEG-2, because of these network constraints.

[0041] FIG. 2 depicts a high level function block diagram of a device for converting DVD video to a video on demand format in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Device 200 of the present invention may include a modified DVD player, a separate device connectable to a DVD player, or a separate device (e.g., module 260) for converting DVD-video content into VOD content.

[0042] A front-end of a DVD-video to VOD converter includes a DVD optical drive mechanism 101 for reading sector-based data from the disc. The disc controller 101 is able to receive commands 220 which instruct the controller 101 to retrieve sector- based data from the disc. The data stored in the disc falls into the category of either audio/visual data (disc-based) 103a or logical data (disc-based) 103b. A modified navigation manager 204 in the DVD-Video to VOD converter is responsible for parsing the logical disc structure, orchestrating navigation of the disc data structures, and converting the logical organization of the disc into a logical format suitable for VOD systems. The modified navigation manager 204 sends commands 220 to the disc controller 101 to receive the specific sectors which include the logical data 222. The logical disc data 222 is communicated to the navigation manager 204. The logical disc data 222 designates the locations of specific audio/visual content, and designates the playback behavior of the disc that results in an interactive presentation to the user.

[0043] While the modified navigation manager 204 shares much of the same core logic as the navigation manager 104 in a DVD-Video player, the core logic of manager 204 is able to parse the hierarchy of logical disc data and ultimately resolve playback to a specific sequence of audio/visual content based upon end-user inputs. The modified navigation manager 204 extends the operational logic to permit addition functionality. The extension of the operational logic of the modified navigation manager serves to simulate all possible end-user inputs, to generate an all-inclusive interactive "navigation path" through the logical data on the disc. A conventional navigation manager found in a DVD-Video player will receive an input from an end-user, parse the logical data structures of the DVD-Video disc, and will resolve that input action down to playing a specific sequence of audio/visual content - be it a menu, a movie, or an "extras" segment.

[0044] The modified navigation manager 204 in accordance with the invention, is pro-active in its parsing of the logical data on the DVD-Video disc, by sequentially resolving the segment of audio/visual content that would result from each possible user input. It is necessary for the modified navigation manager to operate in this way, because there is often no semantic information present in the implementations of DVD-video discs which indicate whether specific audio/visual content is a movie, a menu, or an "extras" segment. However, by sequentially parsing and resolving the outcomes of end-user inputs, the modified navigation manager can construct its own data-structure as represented by hierarchical representation 206, perhaps a tree- node structure, which would represent the logical hierarchy of the disc's interactive materials as presented to the end-user (for example, a menuing system).

[0045] Based upon this newly-generated data structure, the modified navigation manager 204 can construct new logical data structures which are appropriate for consumption by a VOD client device. The example logical data format that is appropriate for Internet VOD consumption includes HTML 212, which is generated by a HTML writer 210. Other languages, formats or tools may be employed, e.g., JAVA™, or JAVASCRIPT™ may be employed. In other embodiments, a network operator may employ a middleware that uses a proprietary language for interactivity, in which case a specific transform may be written. In this example, the resulting HTML files 212, can be stored as VOD data 256. When viewed by a VOD-capable browser (258) device data 256 would result in an interactive experience that is nearly identical to that which the DVD-Video disc offered. VOD device 258 may include a modem, set top box, satellite box, computer with a browser or other software or any other device capable of VOD and rendering VOD format.

[0046] The modified navigation manager 204 resolves all unique audio/visual sequences which would be presented to the end-user given all possible end-user inputs. As the modified navigation manager resolves specific audio/visual sequences corresponding to possible end-user inputs, it delineates a range of sectors that correspond to a section of a VOB file that would ultimately be rendered to the end-user in a DVD-video application. After resolving which sectors are to be retrieved, the modified navigation manager 204 issues commands 220 to the disc controller 101 , and sectors emerge as audio/visual data 124. The series of sectors of audio/visual data 124 include audio, video, and subpicture data that is multiplexed per the DVD-video specification. This series of sectors are delivered to the VOB demultiplexer 106, which extracts video data 126, subpicture data 128, and audio data 130 as serial sectors of those data types, and forwards these respective series of sectors to the appropriate decoder blocks.

[0047] Video decoder 108 parses and decompresses the sectorized video data per the MPEG-2 and DVD-video specifications. Subpicture decoder 110 parses and decompresses the run-length encoded bitmap information of the sectorized subpicture data per the DVD-video specifications. Audio decoder 112 parses and decompresses the sectorized audio data per the DVD-Video specifications.

[0048] Decoded video 230 is communicated to a video encoder 240 which produces VOD video 250, which is a video format that would be acceptable for a VOD-capable browsing device. Alternately, some sequences of decoded video can be fed into a graphics encoder 242, which would encode the video as a single still- image. This method would be most appropriate when the video on the DVD-video disc is a still-image as is often found on a menu. In addition, decoded subpicture 232 is communicated to the graphics encoder 242 which produces VOD graphics 252, which are graphics in a format suitable for a VOD-capable browsing device 258. An example would be to convert the subpicture into a GIF image, which could be associated with a hypertext link in the HTML of a menu, just as the original subpicture depicted a button on a menu of the DVD-Video disc. In addition, decoded audio 234 is sent to an audio encoder to produce VOD Audio 254 which is appropriate for consumption by a VOD-capable browsing device 258. All of the resultant VOD elements: Logical (HTML), Video, Audio, Graphics are combined in VOD data 256, a set of files which are suitable to be placed on a VOD server for consumption by VOD-capable browsing devices.

[0049] FIG. 3 depicts a high level a block diagram of a system for converting and delivering video on demand in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. System 300 includes a video on demand server 302 which stores a plurality of video titles or other content for deliver or distribution to one or more clients 304. Clients 304 each include their own VOD receiver 306, which may include a computer, set top box or DSL modem. Receivers 306 may include a VOD browser 310 for navigating through features in the video or content. A display or other content rendering device 308, such as a monitor or television set, is included.

[0050] A converter 200 or 260 is provided to convert DVD's or other media content to VOD format. Converter 200 may be included in server 302 or may be provided as a separate device. A DVD is loaded in the converter 200 and the content including logic data, video, audio and graphics are converted to the VOD format. The converted VOD data may be stored as a master file 312 in memory of server 302 or stored on a media storage device 314, such as a disc or another hard drive. The master file 312 may include an optical disc or a bit-for-bit image of the optical disc residing on a hard drive. In that case, the access to the various data structures and assets would not come through the optical disc path (as outlined in a physical DVD player). Instead, a "virtual" DVD drive, which "mounts" the disc image on the hard- drive and emulates optical disc accesses for the balance of the system may be employed. An example may include a DVD authoring house that originally created the disk that includes a master image on a hard drive. Such a system could implement the automated system of the present invention to convert that hard-drive image. Note the converting process may be a one-time event or may be performed each time an order is placed. For example, an entire library of titles may be converted to VOD and stored for distribution. In another embodiment, the titles are stored as DVDs or in DVD format and converted when demanded by a client.

[0051] During operations, a user requests a video through an on demand service on a service network 320. Advantageously, the video is provided on-demand with all of the interactive capabilities as though the user were viewing the DVD disc directly on their DVD player. The user may be given a choice between a standard movie (no DVD features or extras) or a DVD version in VOD format having all the features and extras. The latter may be charged at a different rate than the former.

[0052] Having described preferred embodiments for systems and methods for channel surfing which permits recording of preferred channels (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. While the forgoing is directed to various embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. As such, the appropriate scope of the invention is to be determined according to the claims, which follow.

Claims

1. A video disc file to video-on-demand converter, comprising: a modified navigation manager (204) which generates a hierarchical representation (206) of logical data from a disc which permits user interaction, the hierarchical representation (206) including a video on demand format (256) usable by a video on demand receiver; a content encoder (240) which encodes content on the video disc to the video on demand format such that the video on demand format simulates interactivity and features of the optical video disk in the video on demand receiver.

2. The converter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hierarchical representation includes a tree data structure, which may be traversed by a user in selecting viewing options by the video on demand receiver.

3. The converter as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a writer (210) wherein the hierarchical representation is represented in hypertext markup language by the writer.

4. The converter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the encoder includes a video encoder (240), an audio encoder (244) and a graphics encoder (242).

5. The converter as recited in claim 4, wherein the graphics encoder (242) encodes still images of the optical disc to the video on demand format.

6. The converter as recited in claim 4, wherein the video encoder (240) encodes video of the optical disc to the video on demand format.

7. The converter as recited in claim 4, wherein the audio encoder (244) encodes audio of the optical disc to the video on demand format.

8. The converter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the converter produces a video on demand storage device (256) which includes logical data, video data, audio data and graphical data for rendering in the video on demand format.

9. The converter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the converter is implemented in software.

10. A digital video disc (DVD) to video-on-demand converter, comprising: a modified navigation manager (204) which generates a hierarchical representation (206) of logical data from a disc which permits user interaction, the hierarchical representation including a video on demand format (256) usable by a video on demand receiver (258); a video encoder (240) that encodes video of the optical disc to the video on demand format; an audio encoder (244) that encodes audio of the optical disc to the video on demand format; and a graphics encoder (242) that encodes still images of the optical disc to the video on demand format wherein the video on demand format simulates interactivity and features of the optical video disk in the video on demand receiver.

11. The converter as recited in claim 10, wherein the hierarchical representation (206) includes a tree data structure, which may be traversed by a user in selecting viewing options by the video on demand receiver.

12. The converter as recited in claim 10, further comprising a writer (210) wherein the hierarchical representation is represented in hypertext markup language by the writer.

13. The converter as recited in claim 10, wherein the converter produces a video on demand storage device (256) which includes logical data, video data, audio data and graphical data for rendering in the video on demand format.

14. The converter as recited in claim 10, wherein the video on demand receiver (258) includes a set top box.

15. The converter as recited in claim 10, wherein the video on demand receiver (258) includes a modem.

16. The converter as recited in claim 10, wherein the video on demand receiver (258) includes a personal computer.

17. A video on demand system, comprising: a video on demand server (302) which stores a plurality of titles for distribution to one or more clients (304), the titles being stored in a video on demand format that provides a same interactivity of the titles as provided on a digital video disc (DVD) recording of the title; a converter (200) including: a modified navigation manager (204) which generates a hierarchical representation (206) of logical data from a disc which permits user interaction, the hierarchical representation including the video on demand format usable by a video on demand receiver; a content encoder (240) which encodes content on the video disc to the video on demand format such that the video on demand format simulates interactivity and features of the optical video disk in the video on demand receiver.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the hierarchical representation (206) includes a tree data structure, which may be traversed by a user in selecting viewing options by the video on demand receiver.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the encoder includes a video encoder (240) which encodes video of the optical disc to the video on demand format, an audio encoder (244) which encodes audio of the optical disc to the video on demand format and a graphics encoder (242) which encodes still images of the optical disc to the video on demand format.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the converter produces a video on demand storage device (256) which includes logical data, video data, audio data and graphical data for rendering in the video on demand format.

21. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the converter is implemented in software.