Abstract: A video data decoding method and apparatus for high-speed reproduction of variable length encoded video information is provided to realize a more acceptable high-speed reproduced picture within a faster time. Each picture unit of data in the Group Of Pictures (GOP) layer has a picture header which contains user data which specifies the exact encoded length of that picture unit of data. If during high-speed reproduction that particular unit of picture data is to not to be displayed, then the whole unit of data may be skipped according to the user data which specifies how long the data unit is. Otherwise, there would be no way of knowing a priori how long the picture unit of data has been encoded to be and the entire unit must be read to search for the beginning of the next picture unit of data. As a result of the placement of information regarding the picture unit of data in the picture header, P-picture data as well as I-picture data may feasibly be used for high-speed reproduction.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing information for still pictures, and a recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor. A writeable and rewriteable recording medium stores data for a plurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto in one file or a space having a logically one-dimensional order, rather than in each file, and still picture group information for separating the still picture data into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level is then stored on the recording medium. Thus, large-capacity still picture data and audio data added thereto can be recorded and/or reproduced using a minimum amount of information. The still picture group information includes general information for still picture groups, and information for still pictures in each still picture group.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing information for still pictures, and a recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor. A writeable and rewriteable recording medium stores data for a plurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto in one file or a space having a logically one-dimensional order, rather than in each file, and still picture group information for separating the still picture data into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level is then stored on the recording medium. Thus, large-capacity still picture data and audio data added thereto can be recorded and/or reproduced using a minimum amount of information. The still picture group information includes general information for still picture groups, and information for still pictures in each still picture group.

Abstract: A recordable and/or rewriteable recording medium for storing still picture data, and recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor. The recording medium stores still picture group information for grouping a plurality of still pictures in order to manage the still picture at a group level, and stores audio group information for grouping additional audio data added to the still picture data after the still picture data are recorded. Therefore, large-capacity still picture data and additional audio data added thereto can be recorded using a minimum amount of management information. Further, during reproduction, data can be displayed and edited in units of the respective still pictures. Also, it is possible to cope with after-recording of the audio data.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing information for still pictures, and a recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor. A writeable and rewriteable recording medium stores data for a plurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto in one file or a space having a logically one-dimensional order, rather than in each file, and still picture group information for separating the still picture data into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level is then stored on the recording medium. Thus, large-capacity still picture data and audio data added thereto can be recorded and/or reproduced using a minimum amount of information. The still picture group information includes general information for still picture groups, and information for still pictures in each still picture group.

Abstract: A method of assigning a channel identification (ID) of an audio signal by which it is possible to follow up and select the audio channel selected by a user even though a program or an audio data stream is changed in an audio/video (A/V) device for reproducing a program including a plurality of audio data streams, a method of selecting audio channels using the same, and an apparatus suitable therefor.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing information for still pictures, and a recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor. A writeable and rewriteable recording medium stores data for a plurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto in one file or a space having a logically one-dimensional order, rather than in each file, and still picture group information for separating the still picture data into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level is then stored on the recording medium. Thus, large-capacity still picture data and audio data added thereto can be recorded and/or reproduced using a minimum amount of information. The still picture group information includes general information for still picture groups, and information for still pictures in each still picture group.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording and reproducing audio and video data in real time on a rewritable optical disk, and a disk recording medium allowing a user to access recorded data at predetermined intervals. The disk recording medium includes cells having part of predetermined data and set as reproduction and recording units, and information on a position from the start of the cells to a specific position. The method includes forming a cell of part of the recorded audio and video data, forming a program of the one or more cells, forming a part of title (PTT) of a specific portion of the recorded audio and video data, and then forming the information on the cell, the program, and the PTT on the disk.

Abstract: A recording medium and a recording apparatus store manufacturer information to support specific functions for each manufacturer and a method therefore. A reproducing apparatus reproduces the manufacturer information to support specific functions. When the recording apparatus modifies the contents of the recording medium, the manufacturer's identification code is recorded. The recording apparatus and the reproducing apparatus checks the identification code on the recording medium before using its own manufacture information item for some specific function. Also, a time required to determine whether the manufacturer information items are effective is reduced.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing virtual deletion information, and recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor are provided. The recording medium includes a first region having a plurality of still pictures, and a second region having first virtual deletion information for the still pictures, and still picture group information for separating the still pictures in the first region into a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level, wherein the first virtual deletion information is within the still picture group information, and if the first virtual deletion information is set to a virtual delete state, the corresponding still picture is not to be reproduced. Accordingly, file extent information can be prevented from excessively increasing by maximally preventing a recording area from being scattered, when some of a data file are deleted by a user's request.

Abstract: A video data decoding method and apparatus for high-speed reproduction of variable length encoded video information is provided to realize a more acceptable high-speed reproduced picture within a faster time. Each picture unit of data in the Group Of Pictures (GOP) layer has a picture header which contains user data which specifies the exact encoded length of that picture unit of data. If during high-speed reproduction that particular unit of picture data is to not to be displayed, then the whole unit of data may be skipped according to the user data which specifies how long the data unit is. Otherwise, there would be no way of knowing a priori how long the picture unit of data has been encoded to be and the entire unit must be read to search for the beginning of the next picture unit of data. As a result of the placement of information regarding the picture unit of data in the picture header, P-picture data as well as I-picture data may feasibly be used for high-speed reproduction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding closed-caption data into a sub-picture used in a rewritable recording medium is provided. The apparatus includes: a caption decoder for decoding the caption signal in the television signal; and a sub-picture encoder for coding the closed-caption data decoded by the caption decoder into the sub-picture data defined for the rewritable recording medium according to a predetermined format. Therefore, a television signal containing a closed caption can be recorded on a recording medium and such closed-caption data can be reproduced by a video playback system without an extra closed-caption decoder.

Abstract: A method of generating information used for fast searching of packet data, a recording medium for storing the information, and a recording and/or playback apparatus using the same. Packet data is segmented into basic units of a predetermined size and basic unit information is generated for each basic unit. The basic unit information includes information indicating the arrival time of the first packet of each corresponding basic unit. This information is recorded with a data stream and used when quickly searching for a desired position during special playback such as a time search. If a fast search method such as binary searching is adopted, significantly faster searching can be realized.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing virtual deletion information, and recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor are provided. The recording medium includes a first region having a plurality of still pictures, and a second region having first virtual deletion information for the still pictures, and still picture group information for separating the still pictures in the first region into a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level, wherein the first virtual deletion information is within the still picture group information, and if the first virtual deletion information is set to a virtual delete state, the corresponding still picture is not to be reproduced. Accordingly, file extent information can be prevented from excessively increasing by maximally preventing a recording area from being scattered, when some of a data file are deleted by a user's request.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing virtual deletion information, and recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor are provided. The recording medium includes a first region having a plurality of still pictures, and a second region having first virtual deletion information for the still pictures, and still picture group information for separating the still pictures in the first region into a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level, wherein the first virtual deletion information is within the still picture group information, and if the first virtual deletion information is set to a virtual delete state, the corresponding still picture is not to be reproduced. Accordingly, file extent information can be prevented from excessively increasing by maximally preventing a recording area from being scattered, when some of a data file are deleted by a user's request.

Abstract: A sub-picture restoring method and apparatus defined in the specification of a commercialized digital video disk (DVD) system is provided. A bit stream buffer (33) stores the sub-picture data and a color lookup table of the compression-encoded bit stream. A run-length decoder (35) decodes the pixel data in the sub-picture data and outputs two bit data representing a pixel type (e.g., background pixel, character pixel, edge emphasis pixel, etc.). An index generator (36) outputs the color index and contrast value of the corresponding pixel according to the pixel type. A color controller (37) outputs a color of a table position designated by the color index input from the loaded color lookup table.

Abstract: A method for reproducing compression-encoded video data of an MPEG format by: selecting a user level and a multiplexing level as one level among several levels according to kinds of video data for a sequence and GOP (group of picture) unit to be set as a reproducing level for the user data of the MPEG specification when the video data is compression-encoded according to the MPEG specification; checking whether the reproducing level is set in the user data for sequence in the compression-encoded video data; comparing the user level and the multiplexing level of the reproducing level with an assigned level input by a user corresponding to one of the plurality of levels when the reproducing level is set in the corresponding sequence; halting decoding when the assigned level is not suitable for the reproducing level; checking whether the reproducing level is set in the user data for GOP of the corresponding sequence when the reproducing level is not set in the corresponding sequence or the assigned level is suita