Abstract: An equipment unit having an interactive user interface is controlled by means of a simple apparatus. Data reproduced by a DVD player is decoded. The decoded data is converted into a signal format such as DVC SD or MPEG2-TS along with information about such as a menu. The converted information is transmitted to a simple display device through the 1394 digital interface. When a predetermined item in the menu displayed on the screen of the simple display device is selected by operating a remote commander, a corresponding panel command such as “CURSOR UP” or “EXEC” is transmitted to the DVD player. The selected item is recognized by the DVD player and necessary processing is executed.

Abstract: High-speed access to a multi-layered disk is to be realized. Each layer on a multi-layered disk includes an inside guard area 2, program area 3, and outer guard area 5 which are located in uniform radial positions in all layers. The uppermost layer has the recording direction from the inner side to the outer side of the disk, and the next layer has the recording direction from the outer side to the inner side of the disk such that opposite recording directions appear alternately. The radial position of the recording terminal end on the uppermost first layer coincides with the radial position of the start of record on the next second layer.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus for coding a moving picture and a moving picture decoding apparatus for decoding a coded moving picture are provided. The moving picture coding apparatus is operative to divide a picture signal of a picture frame of N pixels×M lines (horizontal N pixels, vertical M lines) to be coded between a first picture portion serving as the inside picture portion having picture frame of N1 pixels×M1 lines (N1≦N, M1≦M) and a second picture portion serving as picture portion outside the first picture portion to divide the first and second picture portions in independent predetermined divisional units comprised of a plurality of pixels, and to add peculiar discrimination codes to headers of divisional units in transmitting coded information of predetermined divisional units belonging to the second picture portion.

Abstract: Digital video data encoder and decoder operate to enable the low and high speed reproduction of variable rate encoded digital video data by reproducing and decoding intraframe encoded frames that are identified by previously reproduced intraframe encoded frames. In the encoder, digital video data is variable rate encoded, for example, intraframe and interframe encoded, entry points (i.e., beginning positions) of selected encoded video data are identified and which represent video frames that occur at predetermined intervals of time (e.g., 1, 2 and 4 seconds) in the video picture. Entry point data that identify these positions are generated and added to the encoded video data before the video data is recorded on a record medium. When the encoded data is reproduced from the record medium, the entry point data is extracted therefrom and stored, and a successive intraframe encoded frame identified by the extracted entry point data is reproduced and decoded.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus for coding a moving picture and a moving picture decoding apparatus for decoding a coded moving picture are provided. The moving picture coding apparatus is operative to divide a picture signal of a picture frame of N pixels×M lines (horizontal N pixels, vertical M lines) to be coded between a first picture portion serving as the inside picture portion having picture frame of N1 pixels×M1 lines (N1≦N, M1≦M) and a second picture portion serving as picture portion outside the first picture portion to divide the first and second picture portions in independent predetermined divisional units comprised of a plurality of pixels, and to add peculiar discrimination codes to headers of divisional units in transmitting coded information of predetermined divisional units belonging to the second picture portion.

Abstract: An encoder considers a frame representing a picture as comprised of areas. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based orthogonal transformation will be most efficient at reducing spatial redundancy in that area. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based predictive encoding will be most efficient at reducing temporal redundancy in that area. The encoder encodes each area of the picture frame using the most efficient orthogonal transformation technique and using the most efficient predictive encoding technique to produce an encoded signal. A decoder decodes the encoded signal. The encoded signal is recorded on a recording medium, transmitted over a transmission channel, or broadcast.

Abstract: An encoder considers a frame representing a picture as comprised of areas. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based orthogonal transformation will be most efficient at reducing spatial redundancy in that area. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based predictive encoding will be most efficient at reducing temporal redundancy in that area. The encoder encodes each area of the picture frame using the most efficient orthogonal transformation technique and using the most efficient predictive encoding technique to produce an encoded signal. A decoder decodes the encoded signal. The encoded signal is recorded on a recording medium, transmitted over a transmission channel, or broadcast.

Abstract: An encoder considers a frame representing a picture as comprised of areas. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based orthogonal transformation will be most efficient at reducing spatial redundancy in that area. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based predictive encoding will be most efficient at reducing temporal redundancy in that area. The encoder encodes each area of the picture frame using the most efficient orthogonal transformation technique and using the most efficient predictive encoding technique to produce an encoded signal. A decoder decodes the encoded signal. The encoded signal is recorded on a recording medium, transmitted over a transmission channel, or broadcast.

Abstract: An encoder considers a frame representing a picture as comprised of areas. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based orthogonal transformation will be most efficient at reducing spatial redundancy in that area. For each area, the encoder decides which of frame-based or field-based predictive encoding will be most efficient at reducing temporal redundancy in that area. The encoder encodes each area of the picture frame using the most efficient orthogonal transformation technique and using the most efficient predictive encoding technique to produce an encoded signal. A decoder decodes the encoded signal. The encoded signal is recorded on a recording medium, transmitted over a transmission channel, or broadcast.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of encoding a digital signal with which a transmission buffer (an encoder buffer) does not overflow even if recording of a signal on a recording medium is temporarily inhibited attributable to, for example, an external shock or even if transmission of a signal by broadcast or communication is temporarily inhibited because of unsatisfactory state of communication. In a case where recording on an optical disk is temporarily inhibited and an output of data from an encoder is interrupted attributable to, for example, an external shock during an operation for recording a bit stream obtained by encoding a video signal on the optical disk, an encoding bit rate is lowered. Thus, a fact that the encoder buffer overflows can be prevented.

Abstract: Encoded data is reversely reproduced by decoding each picture only once and using only as many frame memory sections as are needed in a normal playback operation. A picture header detector detects a picture header from data read out from a video code buffer to identify the type of picture The picture type information controls a picture data selecting circuit for selecting frames of I and P pictures equal in number to the number of frame memory sections in a frame memory bank. The selected frames are supplied to an inverse VLC circuit to be decoded, starting at the head of a GOP with an I picture. The decoded I and P pictures are stored in the frame memory bank and transmitted to a display unit, starting with the temporally most recent picture and reading backward.

Abstract: The invention provides a a recording data production apparatus and method, a recording medium reproduction apparatus and method and a recording medium by which interruption of data can be prevented even when reproduction of data is performed in a different order from the order in which the data are recorded. When it is intended to allow reproduction of data in an order of a block A, a block B and a block D or in another order of the block A, a block C and the block D, in order to prevent underflow of data from a buffer memory of a reproduction apparatus, the block B is sectioned into sections B.sub.1 to B.sub.3 and the block C is sectioned into sections C.sub.1 to C.sub.3. Then, the lengths of the sections are set to a predetermined value, and the blocks are arranged in an order of the blocks A, B.sub.1, C.sub.1, B.sub.2, C.sub.3, B.sub.3, C.sub.3 and D. In each section, addresses of a jumping start point and a jumping destination are recorded as control information.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus for coding a moving picture and a moving picture decoding apparatus for decoding a coded moving picture are provided. The moving picture coding apparatus is operative to divide a picture signal of a picture frame of N pixels.times.M lines (horizontal N pixels, vertical M lines) to be coded between a first picture portion serving as the inside picture portion having picture frame of N.sub.1 pixels.times.M.sub.1 lines (N.sub.1 .ltoreq.N, M.sub.1 .ltoreq.M) and a second picture portion serving as picture portion outside the first picture portion to divide the first and second picture portions in independent predetermined divisional units comprised of a plurality of pixels, and to add peculiar discrimination codes to headers of divisional units in transmitting coded information of predetermined divisional units belonging to the second picture portion.

Abstract: An information record medium from which only necessary record information can be reproduced as well as an editing apparatus and a reproducing apparatus designed to edit and reproduce the information record medium, respectively, to allow such selective reproduction of necessary record information. Video information, audio information, simple edition information and so forth are recorded in a time division multiplexed condition for each block on each track of the record medium. The simple edition information includes a header, a length or time period and edition data. The edition data includes a jump command, a track end command, a temporary stop command, a fade-in/fade-out command, a repeat command, an insert command, a composition command or the like.

Abstract: A recording medium and a picture display system in which multiplexed data recorded on a recording medium sold only in a specified territory or multiplexed data broadcast for a specified territory can be displayed only on a decoding reproducing system sold or installed only in such territory. Multiplexed data including a territory code are recorded on a recording medium. This territory code is compared to the inner territory code in the decoding device and, if the territory code of the recording medium includes the inner territory code of the decoding unit, the recording medium is decoded and reproduced. In the multiplexed data, allowable period data is stated in association with the territory code. This allowed period is compared to the date of a calendar generator in the decoding unit. If the date of the calendar generator is comprised within the allowed period, the recording medium is decoded and reproduced.

Abstract: A picture series is encoded so that a first type of decoder having only one frame memory and incapable of bi-directional decoding can decode the encoded bitstream, and a second type of decoder having multiple frame memories and capable of bi-directional decoding can decode the encoded bitstream to produce a higher quality decoded picture series. The encoded bitstream comprises three parallel channels of encoded picture data. The first channel includes every other picture and header information common to the second and third channels. The second channel includes the pictures not represented in the first channel and encoded by one of forward and backward predictive coding. The third channel includes the pictures not represented in the first channel and encoded by bi-directional predictive coding. The first type of decoder uses the first and second channels, while the second type of decoder uses the first and third channels.

Abstract: Video signal transmitting system in which digital video signal are divided into groups of predetermined frames. Digital video signals of at least one frame are intraframe coded and then transmitted. Remaining digital video signals are interframe coded with reference to the intraframe coded digital video signals, and intraframe coded digital video signals of a subsequent group of frames and are then transmitted. A motion vector from a predetermined reference frame is detected. Video signals are interframe coded by the motion vector to transmit the video signals. A motion vector from a first frame which is a plurality of frames away from the reference frame is converted to a motion vector for a one frame interval between the reference frame and the first frame. The motion vector is optimized, and is then transmitted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reproducing MPEG-compressed video data and compressed audio data from an optical disk having a diameter less than 140 mm and, a thickness of 1.2 mm±0.1 mm, with a plurality of record tracks having data recorded thereon as embossed pits representing information and exhibiting a track pitch in the range between 0.646 &mgr;m and 1.05 &mgr;m; with the tracks being divided into a lead-in area, a program area and a lead-out area. The data includes table of contents (TOC) information recorded in a plurality of sectors in at least one TOC track and user information recorded in a plurality of sectors in user tracks. The user information is comprised of MPEG-compressed video data, which may exhibit any one of difference MPEG formats, and compressed audio data, which likewise may exhibit an MPEG format, a PCM format or the like.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recording MPEG-compressed video data end compressed audio data on an optical disk having a diameter leas than 140 mm and, a thickness of 1.2 mm±0.1 mm, with a plurality of record tracks having data recorded thereon as embossed pits representing information and exhibiting a track pitch in the range between 0.646 &mgr;m and 1.05 &mgr;m; with the tracks being divided into a lead-in area, a program area and a lead-out area. The data includes table of contents (TOC) information recorded in a plurality of sectors in at least one TOC track and user information recorded in a plurality of sectors in user tracks. The user information is comprised of MPEG-compressed video data, which may exhibit any one of difference MPEG formats, and compressed audio data, which likewise may exhibit an MPEG format, a PCM format or the like. The TOC information includes addresses of a start sectors recorded in the user track.

Abstract: In a method for encoding successive frames of a digital motion video signal in the form of compressed digital data including an intraframe coded signal and a plurality of interframe coded signals, a first frame of the digital motion video signal is encoded to form one of an intraframe coded signal and an interframe coded signal to produce a compressed digital signal; the compressed digital signal is decoded to form a decoded signal; a plurality of predicted video signal frames are produced representing a second frame of the digital motion video signal other than the first frame, at least one of the plurality of predicted video signal frames being produced with the use of the decoded signal and a motion vector representing motion between frames of the digital motion video signal; the plurality of predicted video signal frames are compared with the second frame of the digital motion video signal for producing a plurality of difference data each corresponding with a respective one of the plurality of predicted v