Recording medium retaining data for menu control, menu control method and apparatus

Abstract

A recording medium retaining data for menu control, a menu control method and an apparatus are provided for creating a menu highly expressive and attractive to the viewer. When operation of a menu button is determined on a menu created with a moving picture with sound, the menu button turns into action highlighting and the color of the button changes into a highlight color. In order to emphasize action highlighting of the menu button, a specific short moving picture with a sound is automatically replayed. After the replay of the moving picture, the display jumps to a chapter of a title selected with the menu button and a replay is started.

1. A disk recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
 a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object omporisng a plurality of cells;  
 each cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and operations displayed on a page of said menu, the menu display data being determined at least in part on the basis of previously selected operations;  
 response picture data which contains pictures to be displayed when an operation is selected from said menu;  
 response display data which provides instructions for displaying the response picture data in place of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between said menu and the selected operation; and  
 operation instructions for performing the selected operation after the response picture data is displayed.  
 
     
     
       2. A recording medium according to  claim 1  wherein said response picture includes a moving picture. 
     
     
       3. A recording medium according to  claim 1  wherein said response picture includes a picture with sound. 
     
     
       4. A recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said response display data includes data specifying the operation assigned to said menu button and said operation instructions execute the specified operation. 
     
     
       5. A recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein said menu display data includes data for varying the display of said menu button depending on whether said menu button is not selected, or said menu button is provisionally selected or said menu button is selected. 
     
     
       6. A recording medium according to  claim 1  wherein said menu includes a moving picture with sound. 
     
     
       7. A recording medium according to  claim 1  wherein said menu display data and said response picture data is recorded as a series of data. 
     
     
       8. A menu control method for controlling a menu of operation for operating a disk recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, including the steps of:
 defining a display of said menu by a video object comprising a plurality of cells; each cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and operations displayed on a page of said menu;  
 displaying said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said disk recording medium, the displayed menu being determined at least in part on the basis of previously selected operations;  
 displaying response picture data in place of said menu when the operation of said menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between said menu and the selected operation;  
 providing instructions in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture data after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and  
 executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture data is displayed.  
 
     
     
       9. A menu control method according to  claim 8  wherein said response picture includes a moving picture. 
     
     
       10. A menu control method according to  claim 8  wherein said response picture includes a picture with sound. 
     
     
       11. A menu control apparatus for controlling a menu of operations for operating a disk recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, comprising:
 a menu display means for displaying said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said disk recording medium, the displayed menu being determined at least in part on the basis of previously selected operations and being defined by a video object comprising a plurality of cells; each cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and operations displayed on a page of said menu;  
 a response picture display means for displaying response picture data in place of said menu when the operation of said menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between said menu and the selected operation;  
 means for providing instructions in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture data after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and  
 a means for executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture data is displayed by said response picture display means.  
 
     
     
       12. A menu control apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said response picture display means displays said response picture including a moving picture. 
     
     
       13. A menu control apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said response picture display means displays said response picture including a picture with sound. 
     
     
       14. A recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising one or more cells;        at least one of said one or more cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu, the displayed page of said menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the displayed page of said menu;        response display data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the displayed page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        an operation instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       15. The recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein said response picture includes a moving picture. 
     
     
       16. The recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein said response picture includes a picture with sound. 
     
     
       17. The recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein said response display data includes data specifying the operation assigned to said menu button and said operation instruction execute the specified operation. 
     
     
       18. The recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein said menu display data includes data for varying the display of said menu button depending on whether said menu button is not selected, or said menu button is provisionally selected or said menu button is selected. 
     
     
       19. The recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein said menu includes a moving picture with sound. 
     
     
       20. The recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein said menu display data and said response picture data is recorded as a series of data. 
     
     
       21. The recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein said menu control data are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       22. A DVD format recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising one or more cells;        at least one said cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu, the displayed page of said menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the displayed page of said menu;        response display data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the displayed page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        an operation instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       23. The DVD format recording medium according to  claim 22 , wherein said response picture includes a moving picture. 
     
     
       24. The DVD format recording medium according to  claim 22 , wherein said response picture includes a picture with sound. 
     
     
       25. The DVD format recording medium according to  claim 22 , wherein said response display data includes data specifying the operation assigned to said menu button and said operation instruction execute the specified operation. 
     
     
       26. The DVD format recording medium according to  claim 22 , wherein said menu display data includes data for varying the display of said menu button depending on whether said menu button is not selected, or said menu button is provisionally selected or said menu button is selected. 
     
     
       27. The DVD format recording medium according to  claim 22 , wherein said menu includes a moving picture with sound. 
     
     
       28. The DVD format recording medium according to  claim 22 , wherein said menu display data and said response picture data is recorded as a series of data. 
     
     
       29. A recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising a plurality of cells;        at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu, the displayed page of said menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the displayed page of said menu;        response display data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the displayed page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        an operation instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       30. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein a cell other than said at least one of said plurality of cells within the same video object contains said menu display data. 
     
     
       31. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein said response picture includes a moving picture. 
     
     
       32. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein said response picture includes a picture with sound. 
     
     
       33. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein said response display data includes data specifying the operation assigned to said menu button and said operation instruction execute the specified operation. 
     
     
       34. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein said menu display data includes data for varying the display of said menu button depending on whether said menu button is not selected, or said menu button is provisionally selected or said menu button is selected. 
     
     
       35. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein said menu includes a moving picture with sound. 
     
     
       36. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein said menu display data and said response picture data is recorded as a series of data. 
     
     
       37. The recording medium according to  claim 29 , wherein said menu control data are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       38. A recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising a cell;        said cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu, the displayed page of said menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the displayed page of said menu;        response display data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the displayed page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        an operation instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       39. The recording medium according to  claim 38 , wherein said response picture includes a moving picture. 
     
     
       40. The recording medium according to  claim 38 , wherein said response picture includes a picture with sound. 
     
     
       41. The recording medium according to  claim 38 , wherein said response display data includes data specifying the operation assigned to said menu button and said operation instruction execute the specified operation. 
     
     
       42. The recording medium according to  claim 38 , wherein said menu display data includes data for varying the display of said menu button depending on whether said menu button is not selected, or said menu button is provisionally selected or said menu button is selected. 
     
     
       43. The recording medium according to  claim 38 , wherein said menu includes a moving picture with sound. 
     
     
       44. The recording medium according to  claim 38 , wherein said menu display data and said response picture data is recorded as a series of data. 
     
     
       45. The recording medium according to  claim 38 , wherein said menu control data are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       46. A recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   video objects each comprising a cell, at least one of said video objects defining a display of said menu, a cell of said at least one of said video objects containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu, the displayed page of said menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the displayed page of said menu;        response display data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the displayed page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        an operation instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       47. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said response picture data is contained in a cell which belongs to a different video object to which the cell containing the menu display data is included. 
     
     
       48. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said response picture includes a moving picture. 
     
     
       49. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said response picture includes a picture with sound. 
     
     
       50. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said response display data includes data specifying the operation assigned to said menu button and said operation instruction execute the specified operation. 
     
     
       51. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said menu display data includes data for varying the display of said menu button depending on whether said menu button is not selected, or said menu button is provisionally selected or said menu button is selected. 
     
     
       52. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said menu includes a moving picture with sound. 
     
     
       53. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said menu display data and said response picture data is recorded as a series of data. 
     
     
       54. The recording medium according to  claim 46 , wherein said menu control data are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       55. A recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising a plurality of cells;        at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the displayed page of said menu;        response display data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the displayed page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        an operation instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed,        wherein said response picture data is contained in a cell other than said at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data.     
     
     
       56. The recording medium according to  claim 55 , wherein said menu control data are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       57. A recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   first video object defining a display of said menu, said first video object comprising a first cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu;        second video object comprising a second cell;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the displayed page of said menu, said response picture data are contained in said second cell;        response display data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the displayed page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        an operation instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       58. The recording medium according to  claim 57 , wherein said menu control data are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       59. A recording medium retaining menu control data for controlling a menu displayed on a screen, wherein said menu control data has a data structure including:
   a video object comprising one or more cells;        at least one of said one or more cells containing menu display data which determines at least the configuration displayed on a page of said menu;        a program chain containing identification data for a corresponding cell;        response picture data which contains a response picture to be displayed when an operation is selected from the page of said menu; and        command data which provides an instruction for displaying the response picture in place of the page of said menu after the operation is selected and before the operation is performed, thereby indicating a transition between the page of said menu and the selected operation, and provides an instruction for performing the selected operation after the response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       60. A recording medium according to  claim 59  wherein said command data is contained in at least in one of said program chain and said video object. 
     
     
       61. A menu control method for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, including the steps of:
   defining a display of a page of said menu by a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising one or more cells; at least one of said one or more cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu;        displaying the page of said menu including the menu button, the displayed menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed thereby displaying the response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on the page of said menu is selected so as to indicate a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       62. The menu control method according to  claim 61 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       63. A menu control apparatus for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, comprising:
   a menu display means for displaying a page of said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said recording medium, the displayed page of said menu being defined by a video object comprising one or more cells; at least one of said one or more cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        a response picture display means for displaying a response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between the page of said menu and the selected operation;        a means for providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and        a means for executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed by said response picture display means.     
     
     
       64. The menu control apparatus according to  claim 63 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       65. A menu control method for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, including the steps of:
   defining a display of a page of said menu by a video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising a plurality of cells; at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu;        displaying the page of said menu including the menu button, the displayed menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed thereby displaying the response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on the page of said menu is selected so as to indicate a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       66. The menu control apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       67. A menu control apparatus for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, comprising:
   a menu display means for displaying a page of said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said recording medium, the displayed page of said menu being defined by a video object comprising a plurality of cells; at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        a response picture display means for displaying a response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between the page of said menu and the selected operation;        a means for providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and        a means for executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed by said response picture display means.     
     
     
       68. The menu control apparatus according to  claim 67 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       69. A menu control method for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, including the steps of:
   defining a display of a page of said menu by a video object defining a display of said menu, said video object comprising a cell; said cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and a menu button for selecting an operation displayed on a page of said menu;        displaying the page of said menu including the menu button, the displayed menu being determined at least in part on the basis of a previously selected operation;        providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed thereby displaying the response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on the page of said menu is selected so as to indicate a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       70. The menu control method according to  claim 69 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       71. A menu control apparatus for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, comprising:
   a menu display means for displaying a page of said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said recording medium, the displayed page of said menu being defined by a video object comprising a cell; said cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;       a response picture display means for displaying a response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between the page of said menu and the selected operation;        a means for providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and        a means for executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed by said response picture display means.     
     
     
       72. The menu control apparatus according to  claim 71 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       73. A menu control method for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, including the steps of:
   displaying a page of said menu including a menu button for selecting an operation according to a first video object among a plurality of video objects, said first video object defining a display of said menu; said first video object comprising a cell; said cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed thereby displaying the response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on the page of said menu is selected so as to indicate a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed.     
     
     
       74. The menu control method according to  claim 73 , wherein said response picture data is contained in a cell which belongs to a second video object which is different from said first video object. 
     
     
       75. A menu control apparatus for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, comprising:
   a menu display means for displaying a page of said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said recording medium, the displayed page of said menu being defined by video objects each comprising a cell; at least one of said video objects defining a display of said menu, a cell of said at least one of said video objects containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        a response picture display means for displaying a response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between the page of said menu and the selected operation;        a means for providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and        a means for executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed by said response picture display means.     
     
     
       76. The menu control apparatus according to  claim 75 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       77. A menu control method for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, including the steps of:
   displaying a page of said menu including a menu button for selecting an operation according to a video object, said video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising a plurality of cells; at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed thereby displaying the response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on the page of said menu is selected so as to indicate a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed,        wherein said response picture is contained in a cell other than said at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data.     
     
     
       78. The menu control method according to  claim 77 , wherein said recording medium is consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       79. A menu control apparatus for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, comprising:
   a menu display means for displaying a page of said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said recording medium, the displayed page of said menu being defined by a video object comprising a plurality of cells; said video object defining a display of said menu, at least one of said plurality of cells containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        a response picture display means for displaying a response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between the page of said menu and the selected operation;        a means for providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and        a means for executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed by said response picture display means.     
     
     
       80. The menu control apparatus according to  claim 79 , wherein said recording medium are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       81. A menu control method for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, including the steps of:
   displaying a page of said menu including a menu button for selecting an operation according to a first video object, said first video object defining a display of said menu; said video object comprising a first cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed thereby displaying the response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on the page of said menu is selected so as to indicate a transition between the displayed page of said menu and the selected operation; and        executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed,        wherein said response picture is contained in a second cell contained in a second video object.     
     
     
       82. The menu control method according to  claim 81 , wherein said recording medium are consistent with a DVD format. 
     
     
       83. A menu control apparatus for controlling a menu of operations for operating a recording medium, the menu being displayed on a screen, comprising:
   a menu display means for displaying a page of said menu including at least one menu button for selecting an operation of said recording medium, the displayed page of said menu being defined by a first video object comprising a first cell; said video object defining a display of said menu, said first cell containing menu display data which determines the configuration and the menu button;        a response picture display means for displaying a response picture in place of the page of said menu when the menu button on said menu is selected, thereby indicating a transition between the page of said menu and the selected operation, said response picture is contained in a second cell contained in a second video object;        a means for providing an instruction in accordance with response display data for displaying the response picture after the operation is selected and before the operation is executed; and        a means for executing the selected operation of said menu button after said response picture is displayed by said response picture display means.     
     
     
       84. The menu control apparatus according to  claim 83 , wherein said recording medium are consistent with a DVD format.