System for outputting reproduction data by judging whether a second data group is outputted after first data group is outputted by reproduction point data

Abstract

A data reproduction apparatus comprising: a storage unit for storing element data, and the management data including index data dividing the element data into first and second data groups and channel data indicating a first-data-group reproduction order; a management data readout and save unit for reading out and saving the management data; a first-data-group-readout first direction unit for outputting a first readout direction for the first-data-group element data as per the channel data; an input manipulation unit for accepting instruction input to select a reproduction channel of the first-data-group element data; a first-data-group-readout second direction unit for outputting a second readout direction for the first-data-group element data as per the channel data; a first-data-group readout unit for reading out the element data as per either the first or second readout direction; a first-data-group reproduction unit for converting the readout element data into reproduction data; a first-data-group output unit for converting the reproduction data into output data; a second-data-group output judgment unit for judging adequacy of the second-data-group element data output after the first-data-group element data; a second-data-group readout unit for reading out the second-data-group element data upon adequacy judgment; a second-data-group reproduction unit for converting the readout element data into reproduction data; and a second-data-group output unit for converting the reproduction data into output data.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A data reproduction apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing primary data, management data, channel data, and second-data-group reproduction print group data, said primary data being a plurality of element data, said management data including index data that divide said plurality of element data into a first data group and a second data group, said channel data indicating a reproduction order in said first data group, and said second-data-group reproduction point group data being management data for directing reproduction of the element data of said second data group within a reproduction channel of the element data of said first data group being reproduced, wherein the index data include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying a place in said storage means where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are store, and

wherein the channel data include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier, and a reproduction order identifier identifying individual reproduction order data;

management data readout and save means for reading out and saving the index data, the channel data from said storage means, and the second-data-group reproduction point group data stored in said storage means;

first-data-group-readout first direction means for outputting a first readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group as per the channel data saved in said management data readout and save means, including

a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and

a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means,

input manipulation means for accepting instruction input for directing a selection of a reproduction channel of the element data of said first data group;

first-data-group-readout second direction means for outputting a second readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group from said storage means as per the channel data specified by the instruction input from said input manipulation means, including a second address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit, and a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means;

first-data-group readout means for reading out the element data stored in said storage means as per one of the first and second readout direction;

first-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data readout by said first-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data;

first-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said first-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data;

second-data-group output judgment means for judging whether it is adequate to output the element data of said second data group after the element data of said first data group is reproduced and judging the adequacy when the element data from said first-data-group output means coincide with the second-data-group reproduction point data saved in said management data readout and save means;

second-data-group readout means for reading out the element data of said second data group stored in said storage means when said second-data-group output judgment means judges adequacy of the output of the element data of said second data group;

second-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data read out by said second-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data; and

second-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said second-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data;

second-data-group reproduction history record means for recording the element data outputted from said second-data-group output means by means of an identifier identifying individual element data;

second-data-group selection means for firstly selecting the element data of said second data group whose identifier doe snot coincide with the identifiers stored in said second-data-group reproduction history record means, wherein said second-data group readout means reads out the element data selected by said second-data-group selection means from said storage means, wherein said input manipulation means accepts instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and wherein branch judgment data are attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to said element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by said element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and wherein said branch judgment data include a reproduction order identifier, and screen area data consisting of location coordinates, each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of said plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and wherein said first-data-group readout means includes:

a branch channel judgment unit for judging within of which said screen area data the location coordinate accepted by said input manipulation means exist;

a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by said branched channel judgment unit;

a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted, respectively, by said first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and

an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from said storage means using the address value extracted by said third address value extraction unit.

2. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the second-data-group reproduction point group data include a reproduction order identifier and location data representing a reproduction order for each reproduction point forming a reproduction group, and

wherein said second-data-group output judgment means includes:

a reproduction point judgment unit for judging whether the reproduction order identifier and the reproduction order of the element data outputted from said first-data-group output means coincide with the reproduction order identifier and the corresponding location data of any of the second-data-group reproduction point group data respectively; and

a second-data-group-readout direction unit for outputting a direction to said second-data-group readout means to read out the element data based on judgment of element-data-identifier-coincidence by said reproduction point judgment unit.

3. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 2, wherein

said index data further include a code identifier identifying one of said first data group and said second data group, and

wherein said second-data-group selection means includes:

a not-reproduced-yet element data extraction unit for extracting the element data whose element data identifier does not correspond to the element data identifiers recorded in said second-data-group reproduction history data record means out of element data whose element data identifiers correspond to the code identifier identifying said second data group;

a random selection unit for selecting one element data from a plurality of element data extracted by said not-reproduced-yet element data extraction unit at random;

a fourth address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted respectively by said first, second, third, and fourth address value extraction units being different; and

a third address direction unit for outputting the address value extracted by said fourth address value extraction means to said second-data-group readout means.

4. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the element data of said first data group are scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of said second data group are advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a .reproduction channel of the scene files.

5. A data reproduction apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing primary data and management data, said primary data being a plurality of element data, said management data including index data that divide said plurality of element data into a first data group and a second data group, and channel data that indicate a reproduction order in said first data group;

management data readout and save means for reading out and saving the index data and the channel data from said storage means;

first-data-group-readout first direction means for outputting a first readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group as per the channel data saved in said management data readout and save means;

input manipulation means for accepting instruction input for directing a selection of a reproduction channel of the element data of said first data group;

first-data-group-readout second direction means for outputting a second readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group from said storage means as per the channel data specified by the instruction input from said input manipulation means;

first-data-group readout means for reading out the element data stored in said storage means as per one of the first and second readout direction;

first-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data readout by said first-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data;

first-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said first-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data;

second-data-group output judgment means for judging whether it is adequate to output the element data of said second data group after the element data of said direct data group being reproduced;

second-data-group readout means for reading out the element data of said second data group stored in said storage means when said second-data-group output judgment means judges adequacy of the output of the element data of said second data group;

second-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data read out by said second-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data;

second-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said second-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data,

wherein said storage means further stores second-data-group reproduction point group data and data-group specifying data, said second-data-group reproduction point group data being management data for directing reproduction of the element data of the second data group within a reproduction channel of the element data of said first data group being reproduced, said data-group specifying data specifying the element data of said second data group pto be reproduced at a reproduction point as per certain classification, and

wherein said management data readout and save means further reads out that saves the second-data-group reproduction point group data and data-group specifying data stored in said storage means, and

wherein said second-data-group output judgement means judges adequacy when the element data outputted from said first-data-group output means coincide with the second-data-group reproduction point group data saved in said management data readout and save means, and

wherein said second-data-group readout means reads out the element data of said second data group stored in said storage means as per said data-group specifying data upon adequacy judgment by said second-data-group output judgment means,

wherein the index data include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying a place in said storage means where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are stored, and

wherein the channel data include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier, and a reproduction order identifier identifying individual reproduction order data, and

wherein said first-data-group-readout first direction means includes:

a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and

a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means, and

wherein said first-data-group-readout second direction means includes:

a second address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit; and

a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means, wherein said input manipulation means accepts instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and

wherein branch judgment data are attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to said element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by said element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and

wherein said branch judgment data include a reproduction order identifier, and a screen area data consisting of location coordinates each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of said plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and

wherein said first-data-group readout means includes;

a branched channel judgment unit for judging within of which said screen area data the location coordinate accepted by said input manipulation means exist;

a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by said branched channel judgment unit;

a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted, respectively, by said first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and

an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from said storage means using the address value extracted by said third address value extraction unit.

6. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 5, wherein

said storage means further stores a second-data-group identifier that divides the element data of the second data group by certain classification, and

wherein the second-data-group reproduction point group data include a reproduction point identifier, a reproduction order identifier, and location data representing a reproduction order for each reproduction point, and

wherein the data-group specifying data include a reproduction point identifier and a corresponding second data group identifier, and

wherein said second-data-group output judgment means includes:

a reproduction point judgment unit for judging whether the reproduction order identifier and the reproduction order of the element data outputted from said first-data-group output means coincide with the reproduction order identifier and the location data of any of the second-data-group reproduction point group data respectively, and

wherein said second-data-group readout means includes:

a second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit for extracting a reproduction point identifier coinciding with the second-data-group reproduction point group data when said reproduction point judgment means judges coincidence;

a second-data-group element data identifier selection unit for taking out the second data group identifier corresponding to the reproduction point identifier extracted by said second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit to select an element data identifier having the second data group identifier in the index data;

a second-data-group random selection unit for selecting one element data identifier from the element data identifiers selected by said second-data-group element data identifier selection unit;

a fourth address value extraction unit for extracting the address value corresponding to the element data identifier selected by said second-data-group random selection unit from the index data; and

a second-data-group readout unit for reading out the element data stored in said storage means by accessing to an address identified by the address value extracted by said fourth address value extraction unit.

7. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 6, wherein

the element data of said first data group are scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of said second data group are advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a reproduction channel of the scene files.

8. A data reproduction apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing primary data and management data, said primary data being a plurality of element data, said management data including index data that divide said plurality of element data into a first data group and a second data group, and channel data that indicate a reproduction order in said first data group;

management data readout and save means for reading out and saving the index data and the channel data from said storage means;

first-data-group-readout first direction means for outputting a first readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group as per the channel data saved in said management data readout and save means;

input manipulation means for accepting instruction input for directing a selection of a reproduction channel of the element data of said first data group;

first-data-group-readout second direction means for outputting a second readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group from said storage means as per the channel data specified by the instruction input from said input manipulation means;

first-data-group readout means for reading out the element data stored in said storage means as per one of the first and second readout direction;

first-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data readout by said first-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data;

first-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said first-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data;

second-data-group output judgment means for judging whether it is adequate to output the element data of said second data group after the element data of said direct data group being reproduced;

second-data-group readout means for reading out the element data of said second data group stored in said storage means when said second-data-group output judgment means judges adequacy of the output of the element data of said second data group;

second-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data read out by said second-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data;

second-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said second-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data, wherein

said management data further include second-data-group reproduction point group data and selection condition data, said second-data-group reproduction point group data indicating reproduction of element data of said second data group within a reproduction channel of the element data of said first data group; and

said management data readout and save means further reads out and saves the second-data group reproduction point group data and the selection condition data stored in said storage means, whereby said second-data-group output judgment means judges adequacy when the element data outputted from said first-data-group output means coincide with the element data saved n said management data readout and save means;

second-data-group selection means for selecting the element data as per the selection condition data, said selection condition data being the number of the element data to be read out, and

wherein said second-data-group readout means reads out the element data selected by said second-data-group selection means from said storage means, the index data include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying place in said storage means where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are stored, and

wherein the channel data include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier and a reproduction order identified identifying individual reproduction order data, and

wherein said first-data-group-readout first direction means includes:

a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and

a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means, and

wherein said first-data-group-readout second direction means includes:

a second address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit; and

a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means, wherein said input manipulation means accepts instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and

wherein branch judgment data are attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to said element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by said element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and

wherein said branch judgment data include a reproduction order identifier, and a screen area data consisting of location coordinates each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of said plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and

wherein said first-data-group readout means includes;

a branched channel judgment unit for judging within of which said screen area data the location coordinate accepted by said input manipulation means exist;

a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by said branched channel judgment unit;

a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted, respectively, by said first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and

an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from said storage means using the address value extracted by said third address value extraction unit.

9. The data apparatus of claim 8, wherein

said second-data-group reproduction point group data include a reproduction point identifier, a reproduction order identifier, and location data representing a reproduction order, and

wherein said selection condition data include a reproduction point identifier and the number of element data to be reproduced for individual reproduction point identifiers, and

wherein said second-data-group output judgment means includes:

a reproduction point judgment unit for judging whether the reproduction order identifier and the reproduction order of the element data outputted form said first data group output means coincide with the reproduction order identifier and the location data of any of the second-data-group reproduction point data respectively, and

wherein said second-data-group readout means includes:

a second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit for extracting the reproduction point identifier coinciding with the second-data-group reproduction data when said reproduction point judgment unit judges coincidence;

a second-data-group reproduction number extraction unit for taking out the number of element data to be reproduced corresponding to the reproduction point identifier extracted by said second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit from the selection condition data;

a second-data-group element data identifier random selection unit for selecting a number of element data identifiers of the element data of said second data group in the index data at random, said number matching with the number of element data to be reproduced extracted by said second-data-group reproduction number extraction unit;

a fourth address value extraction unit for successively extracting the address values corresponding to the element data identifiers of said second data group selected by said second-data-group element data identifier random selection unit from the index data, the address values extracted respectively by said first, second, third, and fourth address values extraction units being different, and

a second-data-group readout unit for successively reading out the element data stored in said storage means by accessing to addresses identified by the address values extracted by said fourth address value extraction unit.

10. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the element data of said first data group are scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of said second data group are advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a reproduction channel of the scene files.

11. A data reproduction apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing primary data and management data, said primary data being a plurality of element data, said management data including index data that divide said plurality of element data into a first data group and a second data group, and channel data that indicate a reproduction order in said first data group;

management data readout and save means for reading out and saving the index data and the channel data from said storage means;

first-data-group-readout first direction means for outputting a first readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group as per the channel data saved in said management data readout and save means;

input manipulation means for accepting instruction input for directing a selection of a reproduction channel of the element data of said first data group;

first-data-group-readout second direction means for outputting a second readout direction to readout the element data of said first data group from said storage means as per the channel data specified by the instruction input from said input manipulation means;

first-data-group readout means for reading out the element data stored in said storage means as per one of the first and second readout direction;

first-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data readout by said first-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data;

first-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said first-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data;

second-data-group output judgment means for judging whether it is adequate to output the element data of said second data group after the element data of said direct data group being reproduced;

second-data-group readout means for reading out the element data of said second data group stored in said storage means when said second-data-group output judgment means judges adequacy of the output of the element data of said second data group;

second-data-group reproduction means for converting the element data read out by said second-data-group readout means into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data;

second-data-group output means for converting the reproduction data inputted from said second-data-group reproduction means into output data and outputting resulting output data, wherein said storage means further stores evaluation function data for individual element data of said first data group,

and wherein said data reproduction apparatus further comprises:

evaluation function data readout and save means for reading and saving the evaluation function data stored in said storage means as per one of the first and second readout direction; and

reproduction state detection means for detecting a reproduction time, the reproduction time being a period of time from a start to an end of reproduction for individual element data at said first data group output means;

evaluation value computation means for computing an evaluation value by substituting the reproduction time into the evaluation function data saved in said evaluation function data readout and save means;

evaluation value addition means for computing a total of the evaluation values computed by said evaluation value computation means, whereby said second-data-group output judgment means judges adequacy when the total of the evaluation values becomes greater than a predetermined threshold; and

reset means for resetting the total of the evaluation values computed by said evaluation value addition means when said second-data-group output means outputs output data;

reproduction suspend/resume manipulation means for accepting a manipulation to suspend output of the output data from said first-data-group output means and outputting an output suspend command to said first-data-group output means, and for accepting a manipulation to release the output-data output suspension and outputting an output resume command to said first-data-group output means, and

wherein said reproduction state detection means detects the reproduction time by including a time interval for the output suspension caused by the reproduction suspend/resume manipulation,

wherein the index data include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying place in said storage means where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are stored, and

wherein the channel data include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier and a reproduction order identified identifying individual reproduction order data, and

wherein said first-data-group-readout first direction means includes:

a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and

a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means, and

wherein said first-data-group-readout second direction means includes:

a second address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by said first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit; and

a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by said second address value extraction unit to said first-data-group readout means, wherein said input manipulation means accepts instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and

wherein branch judgment data are attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to said element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by said element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and

wherein said branch judgment data include a reproduction order identifier, and a screen area data consisting of location coordinates each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of said plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and

wherein said first-data-group readout means includes;

a branched channel judgment unit for judging within of which said screen area data the location coordinate accepted by said input manipulation means exist;

a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by said branched channel judgment unit;

a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted, respectively, by said first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and

an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from said storage means using the address value extracted by said third address value extraction unit.

12. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the evaluation function data are selected from a group consisting of an equal-plus-value evaluation function, a converge-plus-value evaluation function, an equal-minus-value evaluation function, and a converge-minus-value evaluation function depending on a content of corresponding element data.

13. The data reproduction apparatus of claim 12, wherein

the element data of said first data group are scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of said second data group are advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a reproduction channel of the scene files.

14. A system for playback of electronic publishing comprising:

a delivery medium for storing primary data and management data, wherein the primary data includes a plurality of pieces of element data including at least picture data, and the management data includes index data, route data, and second data-group reproduction point data, wherein the index data classifies the plurality of pieces of element data into a first data group and a second data group, the route data indicates a reproduction route in which pieces of element data in the first data group are arranged in reproduction order with branch points, and the second-data-group reproduction point data specifies a reproduction point in the reproduction route where a piece of element data in the second data group is reproduced; and

a playback apparatus for reproducing data stored in the delivery medium, wherein the playback apparatus comprises:

extracting means for extracting a certain kind of primary data and a certain kind of management data from the delivery medium;

input manipulation means for receiving a branch destination specification instruction from a user at each of the branch points in the reproduction route;

reproduction means for converting the certain kind of primary data extracted by the extracting means into a reproduction signal and outputting the reproduction signal;

output means for converting the reproduction signal output by the reproduction means into a picture signal and outputting the picture signal;

first-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the first data group to be reproduced according to the route data extracted by the extracting means and the branch destination specification instruction received by the input manipulation means, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined piece of element data;

second-data-group output judgement means for judging based on the management data extracted by the extracting means whether a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means to a position after the piece of element data output by the output means according to the second-data-group reproduction point data; and

second-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the second data group to be output according to the index data in the management data extracted by the extracting means when the second-data-group output judgement means judges that the element data in the second data group should be output, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined element data, wherein the delivery medium stores evaluation function data corresponding to each element data in the first data group, and

wherein the playback apparatus further comprises:

evaluation function data extracting and holding means for extracting the evaluation function data from the delivery medium and holding the evaluation function data;

reproduction state detecting means for detecting a reproduction time for each element data in the first data group output by the output means, the reproduction time being a period from a start to an end of an output by the output means of a piece of element data in the first data group;

evaluation value calculating means for calculating an evaluation value by substituting the reproduction time detected by the reproduction state detecting means into the evaluation function data held by the evaluation function data extracting and holding means;

evaluation value adding means for adding up evaluation values calculated by the evaluation value calculating means to obtain a sum, wherein the second-data-group output judgement means compares the sum to a threshold value and judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means when the sum exceeds the threshold value; and

reset means for resetting the sum calculated by the evaluation value adding means to an initial value when the output means outputs output data of a piece of element data in the second data group.

15. The system for playback of electronic publishing of claim 14 wherein one an equal-plus-value evaluation function, a converge-plus-value evaluation function, an equal-minus value evaluation function, and a converge-minus-value evaluation function is chosen as the evaluation function data according to contents of a corresponding piece of element data.

16. The system for playback of electronic publishing of claim 14, wherein the element data stored in the delivery medium includes scene files classified into the first data group and advertisement data classified into the second data group, wherein the scene files are reproduced according to the reproduction route and the advertisement data is reproduced at the reproduction points in the reproduction route.

17. The system for playback of electronic publishing of claim 14, wherein the delivery medium further stores second-data group reproduction point data, being management data for specifying each reproduction point with a corresponding piece of element data in the first data group in the reproduction route, and data-group specification data which is management data for specifying correspondence between each group, into which the plurality of pieces of element data in the second data group are classified by a certain criteria, and a reproduction point,

wherein the extracting means further reads the second data-group reproduction data and the data-group specification data from the delivery medium,

wherein the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means when the piece of element data in the first data group output by the output means agree with the second-data-group reproduction point data extracted by the extracting means, and

wherein the second-data-group playback control means instructs the extracting means to extract a piece of element data in the second data group stored in the delivery medium according to the index data and the data-group specification data when the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means.

18. The system for playback of electronic publishing of claim 14,

wherein the delivery medium further stores second-data-group reproduction point data, being management data for specifying each reproduction point with a corresponding piece of element data in the first data group in the reproduction route, and identification condition data which is management data for specifying the number of pieces of element data in the second data group to be reproduced at each reproduction point,

wherein the extracting means further reads the second-data-group reproduction data and the identification condition data from the delivery medium,

herein the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means when the piece of element data in the first data group output by the output means agree with the second-data-group reproduction point data extracted by the extracting means, and

wherein the second-data-group playback control means instructs the extracting means to extract a piece of element data in the second data group stored in the delivery medium according to the index data and the identification condition data when the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means.

19. A method for playback of electronic publishing comprising:

a data obtaining step of obtaining primary data and management data from a delivery medium, wherein the primary data includes a plurality of pieces of element data including at least picture data, and the management data includes index data, route data, and second-data-group reproduction point data, wherein the index data classifies the plurality of pieces of element data into a first data group and a second data group, the route data indicates a reproduction route in which pieces of element data in the first data group are arranged in reproduction order with branch points, and the second-data-group reproduction point data specifies a reproduction point in the reproduction route where a piece of element data in the second data group is reproduced, wherein the element data stored in the delivery medium includes scene files classified into the first data group and advertisement data classified into the second data group, wherein the scene files are reproduced according to the reproduction route and the advertisement data is reproduced at the reproduction points in the reproduction route;

an input operation step of receiving a branch destination specification instruction from a user at each of the branch points in the reproduction route;

a reproduction step of converting the certain kind of primary data obtained in the data obtaining step into a reproduction signal and outputting the reproduction signal;

an output step of converting the reproduction signal output in the reproduction step into a picture signal and outputting the picture signal;

a first-data-group playback control step of determining a piece of element data in the first data group to be reproduced according to the route data obtained in the data obtaining step and the branch destination specification instruction received in the input manipulation step, and instructing the data obtaining step to extract the determined piece of element data;

a second-data-group output judgement step of judging based on the management data obtained in the data obtaining step whether a piece of element data in the second data group should be output in the output step to a position after the piece of element data output in the output step according to the second-data-group reproduction point data; and

a second-data-group playback control step of determining a piece of element data in the second data group to be output according to the index data in the management data obtained in the data obtaining step when the second-data-group output judgement step judges that the element data in the second data group should be output, and instructing the data obtaining step to obtain the determined element data.

20. A system for playback of electronic publishing comprising:

a delivery medium for storing primary data and management data, wherein the primary data includes a plurality of pieces of element data including at least picture data, and the management data includes index data, route data, and second data-group reproduction point data, wherein the index data classifies the plurality of pieces of element data into a first data group and a second data group, the route data indicates a reproduction route in which pieces of element data in the first data group are arranged in reproduction order with branch points, and the second-data-group reproduction point data specifies a reproduction point in the reproduction route where a piece of element data in the second data group is reproduced; and

a playback apparatus for reproducing data stored in the delivery medium,

wherein the playback apparatus comprises:

extracting means for extracting a certain kind of primary data and a certain kind of management data from the delivery medium;

input manipulation means for receiving a branch destination specification instruction from a user at each of the branch points in the reproduction route;

reproduction means for converting the certain kind of primary data extracted by the extracting means into a reproduction signal and outputting the reproduction signal;

output means for converting the reproduction signal output by the reproduction means into a picture signal and outputting the picture signal;

first-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the first data group to be reproduced according to the route data extracted by the extracting means and the branch destination specification instruction received by the input manipulation means, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined piece of element data;

second-data-group output judgement means for judging based on the management data extracted by the extracting means whether a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means to a position after the piece of element data output by the output means according to the second-data-group reproduction point data;

second-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the second data group to be output according to the index data in the management data extracted by the extracting means when the second-data-group output judgement means judges that the element data in the second data group should be output, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined element data; and

evaluation function data extracting and holding means for extracting the evaluation function data from the delivery medium and holding the evaluation function data, wherein one of an equal-plus-value evaluation function, a converge-plus-value evaluation function, and a converge-minus-value evaluation function is chosen as the evaluation function data according to contents of a corresponding piece of element data.

21. The system for playback of electronic publishing of claim 20, wherein the playback apparatus further comprises:

reproduction pause/resume manipulation means for outputting an instruction to the reproduction means instructing the reproduction means to stop outputting a piece of element data in the first data group when the output means stops outputting output data of a piece of element data in the first data group according to a user operation, and outputting an instruction to the reproduction means instructing the reproduction means to resume outputting the piece of element data in the first data group when the output means resumes outputting output data of the piece of element data in the first data group according to a user operation, wherein the reproduction state detecting means detects a period during which the output means stops outputting output data of a piece of element data in the first data group according to an operation of the reproduction pause/resume manipulation means and includes the period in the reproduction time.

22. A system for playback of electronic publishing comprising:

a delivery medium for storing primary data and management data, wherein the primary data includes a plurality of pieces of element data including at least picture data, and the management data includes index data, route data, and second data-group reproduction point data, wherein the index data classifies the plurality of pieces of element data into a first data group and a second data group, the route data indicates a reproduction route in which pieces of element data in the first data group are arranged in reproduction order with branch points, and the second-data-group reproduction point data specifies a reproduction point in the reproduction route where a piece of element data in the second data group is reproduced; and

a playback apparatus for reproducing data stored in the delivery medium, wherein the playback apparatus comprises:

extracting means for extracting a certain kind of primary data and a certain kind of management data from the delivery medium;

input manipulation means for receiving a branch destination specification instruction from a user at each of the branch points in the reproduction route;

reproduction means for converting the certain kind of primary data extracted by the extracting means into a reproduction signal and outputting the reproduction signal;

output means for converting the reproduction signal output by the reproduction means into a picture signal and outputting the picture signal;

first-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the first data group to be reproduced according to the route data extracted by the extracting means and the branch destination specification instruction received by the input manipulation means, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined piece of element data;

second-data-group output judgement means for judging based on the management data extracted by the extracting means whether a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means to a position after the piece of element data output by the output means according to the second-data-group reproduction point data; and

second-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the second data group to be output according to the index data in the management data extracted by the extracting means when the second-data-group output judgement means judges that the element data in the second data group should be output, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined element data, wherein the element data stored in the delivery medium includes scene files classified into the first data group and advertisement data classified into the second data group, wherein the scene files are reproduced according to the reproduction route and the advertisement data is reproduced at the reproduction points in the reproduction route.

23. The system for playback of electronic publishing of claim 22, wherein the playback apparatus further comprises:

second-data-group reproduction history record means for recording an element data identifier which is used to identify the piece of element data in the second data group output by the output means; and

second-data-group selection means for taking a priority in selecting a piece of element data except the piece of element data identified by the element data identifier recorded in the second-data-group reproduction history record means, wherein the extracting means extracts from the delivery medium the piece of element data selected by the second-data-group selection means.

24. A system for playback of electronic publishing comprising:

a delivery medium for storing primary data and management data, wherein the primary data includes a plurality of pieces of element data including at least picture data, and the management data includes index data, route data, and second data-group reproduction point data, wherein the index data classifies the plurality of pieces of element data into a first data group and a second data group, the route data indicates a reproduction route in which pieces of element data in the first data group are arranged in reproduction order with branch points, and the second-data-group reproduction point data specifies a reproduction point in the reproduction route where a piece of element data in the second data group is reproduced; and

a playback apparatus for reproducing data stored in the delivery medium, wherein the playback apparatus comprises:

extracting means for extracting a certain kind of primary data and a certain kind of management data from the delivery medium;

input manipulation means for receiving a branch destination specification instruction from a user at each of the branch points in the reproduction route;

reproduction means for converting the certain kind of primary data extracted by the extracting means into a reproduction signal and outputting the reproduction signal;

output means for converting the reproduction signal output by the reproduction means into a picture signal and outputting the picture signal;

first-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the first data group to be reproduced according to the route data extracted by the extracting means and the branch destination specification instruction received by the input manipulation means, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined piece of element data;

second-data-group output judgement means for judging based on the management data extracted by the extracting means whether a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means to a position after the piece of element data output by the output means according to the second-data-group reproduction point data; and

second-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the second data group to be output according to the index data in the management data extracted by the extracting means when the second-data-group output judgement means judges that the element data in the second data group should be output, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined element data, wherein the delivery medium further stores second-data group reproduction point data, being management data for specifying each reproduction point with a corresponding piece of element data in the first data group in the reproduction route and data-group specification data which is management data for specifying correspondence between each group, into which the plurality of pieces of element data in the second data group are classified by a certain criteria, and a reproduction point,

wherein the extracting means further reads the second data-group reproduction data and the data-group specification data from the delivery medium,

wherein the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means when the piece of element data in the first data group output by the output means agrees with the second-data-group reproduction point data extracted by the extracting means, and

wherein the second-data-group playback control means instructs the extracting means to extract a piece of element data in the second data group stored in the delivery medium according to the index data and the data-group specification data when the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means.

25. A system for playback of electronic publishing comprising:

a delivery medium for storing primary data and management data, wherein the primary data includes a plurality of pieces of element data including at least picture data, and the management data includes index data, route data, and second data-group reproduction point data, wherein the index data classifies the plurality of pieces of element data into a first data group and a second data group, the route data indicates a reproduction route in which pieces of element data in the first data group are arranged in reproduction order with branch points, and the second-data-group reproduction point data specifies a reproduction point in the reproduction route where a piece of element data in the second data group is reproduced; and

a playback apparatus for reproducing data stored in the delivery medium, wherein the playback apparatus comprises:

extracting means for extracting a certain kind of primary data and a certain kind of management data from the delivery medium;

input manipulation means for receiving a branch destination specification instruction from a user at each of the branch points in the reproduction route;

reproduction means for converting the certain kind of primary data extracted by the extracting means into a reproduction signal and outputting the reproduction signal;

output means for converting the reproduction signal output by the reproduction means into a picture signal and outputting the picture signal;

first-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the first data group to be reproduced according to the route data extracted by the extracting means and the branch destination specification instruction received by the input manipulation means, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined piece of element data;

second-data-group output judgement means for judging based on the management data extracted by the extracting means whether a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means to a position after the piece of element data output by the output means according to the second-data-group reproduction point data; and

second-data-group playback control means for determining a piece of element data in the second data group to be output according to the index data in the management data extracted by the extracting means when the second-data-group output judgement means judges that the element data in the second data group should be output, and instructing the extracting means to extract the determined element data, wherein the delivery medium further stores second-data-group reproduction point data, being management data for specifying each reproduction point with a corresponding piece of element data in the first data group in the reproduction route, and identification condition data which is management data for specifying the number of pieces of element data in the second data group to be reproduced at each reproduction point,

wherein the extracting means further reads the second-data-group reproduction data and the identification condition data from the delivery medium,

wherein the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means when the piece of element data in the first data group output by the output means agree with the second-data-group reproduction point data extracted by the extracting means, and

wherein the second-data-group playback control means instructs the extracting means to extract a piece of element data in the second data group stored in the delivery medium according to the index data and the identification condition data when the second-data-group output judging means judges that a piece of element data in the second data group should be output by the output means.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data reproduction apparatus for successively reproducing a plurality of scene files composing stored data (including at least sound, still photographs, and texts) as per user's manipulation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Data reproduction apparatuses that reproduce digital data as per user's manipulation use a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) as a data storage medium, which can store a broad range of media including sound, still photographs, moving pictures, texts, characters, program data, etc. Accordingly, applications such that handle the media stored in the CD-ROM as integrated data, or so-called multi-media applications, have been developed and are in practical use in the field of entertainment, presentation, and electronic books.

An electronic book application, one of the multi-media applications, has the same structure as a book in terms of the articles or the table of contents to reproduce books electronically from the digital data including at least three elements: sound, still photographs, and texts. Unlike a music application that reproduces stored data successively through a single channel (no branch channels exit in this application), the electronic application reproduces articles, which are the minimum units of data for reproduction, through a number of channels by means of an electronic book player (data reproduction apparatus). More precisely, the channels are selected by the user where the selection is possible, for example at the table of contents, and the data are reproduced through the selected channels.

The selection of the reproduction channel with the electronic book player will be explained with reference to FIG. 1, which schematically shows stored data having a plurality of reproduction channels (branches).

Once the reproduction operation starts, a scene file Y1 is reproduced first, and then a scene file Y2. Since scene files Y3, Y7, and Y10 are branched from the scene file Y2, the electronic book player waits for a branch command from the user to resume the reproduction of a specified scene file through branching. For example, when the scene file Y7 is specified, the scene files Y7, Y8, Y5 and Y6 are successively reproduced subsequent to the scene file Y2.

As the electronic book players have been used widely, there has been an increasing need for a technique to reproduce the secondary data while the primary data (scene files) are being reproduced; the secondary data referred herein are, for example, advertisement data, which are not directly related to the primary data.

Conventionally, the advertisement data are inserted into the scene files to be reproduced as an integral part thereof. For example, scene files Y4 and Y8 are advertisement data and inserted after scene files Y3 and Y7, respectively.

This means that the advertisement data are reproduced only when the user selects the reproduction channels including the advertisement data among a plurality of reproduction channels, and reproduction process has achieved at individual advertisement data. However, some reproduction channels are frequently reproduced and some are not depending on the user, making it difficult to ensure the same reproduction frequency for individual advertisement data.

For example, assume that the chances for the scene files Y3, Y7, and Y10 to be selected after the scene file Y2 are 1/7, 2/7, and 4/7 respectively, then the chances for the scene files Y4 and Y8 to be reproduced are 1/7 and 2/7 respectively.

Such irregular chances raise the problem of the advertisement rates: the advertisement rates can be set easily for paper media (magazines), but not for the electronic book application. To be more specific, paper media (magazines) contains various kinds of advertisements, and the advertisement rates generally vary depending on their location. Although the more frequently or less frequently turned pages depends on the reader, the reader generally turns the pages from front to back, and thus the publisher and advertiser can specify the most frequently turned pages relatively easy. Thus, the advertisement rates are directly proportional to pages' frequency to be turned: the rates are high if the advertisement is printed on more frequently turned pages such as the first page of the magazine, and low if printed on less frequently turned pages such as the pages around the middle.

In case of the electronic book application, however, having a plurality of reproduction channels makes it difficult to specify more frequently turned pages, and hence to set the rates. For this reason, neither the publisher nor the advertiser benefits as they do with the magazines by inserting the advertisements in the electronic book application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has a first object to provide a data reproduction apparatus for reproducing a plurality of element data of a second data group at an equal frequency while data element of a first data group having a plurality of reproduction channels are being reproduced.

The present invention has a second object to provide a data reproduction apparatus for selectively reproducing the element data of the second data group depending on the contents thereof while the element data of the first data group having a plurality of reproduction channels are being reproduced.

The present invention has a third object to provide a data reproduction apparatus for reproducing a specified number of the element data of the second group while the element data of the first data group having a plurality of reproduction channels are being reproduced.

The present invention has a fourth object to provide a data reproduction apparatus for reproducing the element data of the second group by adjusting their reproduction frequency while the element data of the first data group having a plurality of reproduction channels are being reproduced.

The first object can be fulfilled by a data reproduction apparatus comprising: a storage unit for storing primary data and management data, the primary data being a plurality of element data, the management data including index data that divide the plurality of element data into a first data group and a second data group, and channel data that indicate a reproduction order in the first data group; a management data readout and save unit for reading out and saving the index data and the channel data from the storage unit; a first-data-group-readout first direction unit for outputting a first readout direction to readout the element data of the first data group as per the channel data saved in the management data readout and save unit; an input manipulation unit for accepting instruction input for directing a selection of a reproduction channel of the element data of the first data group; a first-data-group-readout second direction unit for outputting a second readout direction to readout the element data of the first data group from the storage unit as per the channel data specified by the instruction input from the input manipulation unit; a first-data-group readout unit for reading out the element data stored in the storage unit as per one of the first and second readout direction; a first-data-group reproduction unit for converting the element data readout by the first-data-group readout unit into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data; a first-data-group output unit for converting the reproduction data inputted from the first-data-group reproduction unit into output data and outputting resulting output data; a second-data-group output judgment unit for judging whether it is adequate to output the element data of the second data group after the element data of the first data group being reproduced; a second-data-group readout unit for reading out the element data of the second data group stored in the storage unit when the second-data-group output judgment unit judges adequacy of the output of the element data of the second data group; a second-data-group reproduction unit for converting the element data read out by the second-data-group readout unit into reproduction data and outputting resulting reproduction data; and a second-data-group output unit for converting the reproduction data inputted from the second-data-group reproduction unit into output data and outputting resulting output data.

According to the above construction, the reproduction of the element data of the second data group can be ensured without depending on the reproduction channels or branched element data of the first data group.

The storage unit may further store second-data-group reproduction point group data, the second-data-group reproduction point group data being management data for directing reproduction of the element data of the second data group within a reproduction channel of the element data of the first data group being reproduced, and the management data readout and save unit may further read out and save the second-data-group reproduction point group data stored in the storage unit, and the second-data-group output judgment unit may judge adequacy when the element data from the first-data-group output unit coincide with the second-data-group reproduction point group data saved in the management data readout and save unit.

The data reproduction apparatus may further comprise: a second-data-group reproduction history record unit for recording the element data outputted from the second-data-group output unit by means of an identifier identifying individual element data; and a second-data-group selection unit for firstly selecting the element data of the second data group whose identifier does not coincide with the identifiers stored in the second-data-group reproduction history record unit, and the second-data-group readout unit may read out the element data selected by the second-data-group selection unit from the storage unit.

The index data may include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying a place in the storage unit where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are stored, and the channel data may include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier, and a reproduction order identifier identifying individual reproduction order data, and the first-data-group-readout first direction unit may include: a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit, and the first-data-group-readout second direction unit may include: a second address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit; and a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit.

The input manipulation unit may accept instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and branch judgment data may be attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to the element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by the element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and the branch judgment data may include a reproduction order identifier, and screen area data consisting of location coordinates each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of the plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and the first-data-group readout unit may include: a branched channel judgment unit for judging within of which the screen area data the location coordinate accepted by the input manipulation unit exist; a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by the branched channel judgment unit; a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted respectively by the first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from the storage unit using the address value extracted by the third address value extraction unit.

The second-data-group reproduction point group data may include a reproduction order identifier and location data representing a reproduction order for each reproduction point forming a reproduction group, and the second-data-group output judgment unit may include: a reproduction point judgment unit for judging whether the reproduction order identifier and the reproduction order of the element data outputted from the first-data-group output unit coincide with the reproduction order identifier and the corresponding location data of any of the second-data-group reproduction point group data respectively; and a second-data-group-readout direction unit for outputting a direction to the second-data-group readout unit to read out the element data based on judgment of element-data-identifier-coincidence by the reproduction point judgment unit.

The index data may further include a code identifier identifying one of the first data group and the second data group, and the second-data-group selection unit may include: a not-reproduced-yet element data extraction unit for extracting the element data whose element data identifier does not correspond to the element data identifiers recorded in the second-data-group reproduction history data record unit out of element data whose element data identifiers correspond to the code identifier identifying the second data group; a random selection unit for selecting one element data from a plurality of element data extracted by the not-reproduced-yet element data extraction unit at random; a fourth address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted respectively by the first, second, third, and fourth address value extraction units being different; and a third address direction unit for outputting the address value extracted by the fourth address value extraction unit to the second-data-group readout unit.

The element data of the first data group may be scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of the second data group may be advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a reproduction channel of the scene files.

According to the above construction, assuming that articles (scene files) of the electronic book are the element data of the first data group having a plurality of reproduction channels, and advertisement data having no reproduction channels are the element data of the second data group, then each advertisement can be reproduced at an equal frequency without depending on the reproduction channels of the articles.

Also, the reproduction point of the element data of the second data group can be set at any arbitrary point in the reproduction channels of the data element of the first data group. Thus, the editor of the electronic book can place the advertisement in such a way that the user can see the advertisement and the articles continuously.

To fulfill the second object, the storage unit may further store second-data-group reproduction point group data and data-group specifying data, the second-data-group reproduction point group data being management data for directing reproduction of the element data of second data group within a reproduction channel of the element data of the first data group being reproduced, the data-group specifying data specifying the element data of the second data group to be reproduced at a reproduction point as per certain classification, and the management data readout and save unit may further read out and save the second-data-group reproduction point group data and data-group specifying data stored in the storage unit, and the second-data-group output judgment unit may judge adequacy when the element data outputted from the first-data-group output unit coincide with the second-data-group reproduction point group data saved in the management data readout and save unit, and the second-data-group readout unit may read out the element data of the second data group stored in the storage unit as per the data-group specifying data upon adequacy judgment by the second-data-group output judgment unit.

According to the above construction, the kind of the element data of the second data group can be specified for individual reproduction channels of the element data of the first data group.

Also, the index data may include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying a place in the storage unit where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are stored, and the channel data may include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier, and a reproduction order identifier identifying individual reproduction order data, and the first-data-group-readout first direction unit may include: a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit, and the first-data-group-readout second direction unit may include: a second address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit; and a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit.

The input manipulation unit may accept instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and branch judgment data may be attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to the element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by the element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and the branch judgment data may include a reproduction order identifier, and screen area data consisting of location coordinates each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of the plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and the first-data-group readout unit may include: a branched channel judgment unit for judging within of which the screen area data the location coordinate accepted by the input manipulation unit exist; a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by the branched channel judgment unit; a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted respectively by the first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from the storage unit using the address value extracted by the third address value extraction unit.

The storage unit may further store a second-data-group identifier that divides the element data of the second data group by certain classification, and the second-data-group reproduction point group data may include a reproduction point identifier, a reproduction order identifier, and location data representing a reproduction order for each reproduction point, and the data-group specifying data may include a reproduction point identifier and a corresponding second data group identifier, and the second-data-group output judgment unit may include: a reproduction point judgment unit for judging whether the reproduction order identifier and the reproduction order of the element data outputted from the first-data-group output unit coincide with the reproduction order identifier and the location data of any of the second-data-group reproduction point group data respectively, and the second-data-group readout unit may include: a second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit for extracting a reproduction point identifier coinciding with the second-data-group reproduction point group data when the reproduction point judgment unit judges coincidence; a second-data-group element data identifier selection unit for taking out the second data group identifier corresponding to the reproduction point identifier extracted by the second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit to select an element data identifier having the second data group identifier in the index data; a second-data-group random selection unit for selecting one element data identifier from the element data identifiers selected by the second-data-group element data identifier selection unit; a fourth address value extraction unit for extracting the address value corresponding to the element data identifier selected by the second-data-group random selection unit from the index data; and a second-data-group readout unit for reading out the element data stored in the storage unit by accessing to an "address identified by the address value extracted by the fourth address value extraction unit.

The element data of the first data group may be scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of the second data group may be advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a reproduction channel of the scene files.

According to the above construction, a specific advertisement can be reproduced for specific articles (scene files) being reproduced.

To fulfill the third objects, the management data may further include second-data-group reproduction point group data and selection condition data, the second-data-group reproduction point group data indicating reproduction of element data of the second data group within a reproduction channel of the element data of the first data group; and the management data readout and save unit may further read out and save the second-data group reproduction point group data and the selection condition data stored in the storage unit, whereby the second-data-group output judgment unit judges adequacy when the element data outputted from the first-data-group output unit coincide with the element data saved in the management data readout and save unit.

The data reproduction apparatus may further comprise second-data-group selection unit for selecting the element data as per the selection condition data, the selection condition data being the number of the element data to be read out, and the second-data-group readout unit may read out the element data selected by the second-data-group selection unit from the storage unit.

The index data may include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying a place in the storage unit where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are stored, and the channel data may include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier, and a reproduction order identifier identifying individual reproduction order data, and the first-data-group-readout first direction unit may include: a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit, and the first-data-group-readout second direction unit may include: a second address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit; and a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit.

The input manipulation unit may accept instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and branch judgment data may be attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to the element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by the element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and the branch judgment data may include a reproduction order identifier, and screen area data consisting of location coordinates each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of the plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and the first-data-group readout unit may include: a branched channel judgment unit for judging within of which the screen area data the location coordinate accepted by the input manipulation unit exist; a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by the branched channel judgment unit; a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted respectively by the first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from the Storage unit using the address value extracted by the third address value extraction unit.

The second-data-group reproduction point group data may include a reproduction point identifier, a reproduction order identifier, and location data representing a reproduction order, and the selection condition data may include a reproduction point identifier and the number of element data to be reproduced for individual reproduction point identifiers, and the second-data-group output judgment unit may include: a reproduction point judgment unit for judging whether the reproduction order identifier and the reproduction order of the element data outputted form the first data group output unit coincide with the reproduction order identifier and the location data of any of the second-data-group reproduction point data respectively, and the second-data-group readout unit may include: a second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit for extracting the reproduction point identifier coinciding with the second-data-group reproduction data when the reproduction point judgment unit judges coincidence; a second-data-group reproduction number extraction unit for taking out the number of element data to be reproduced corresponding to the reproduction point identifier extracted by the second-data-group reproduction-point-identifier extraction unit from the selection condition data; a second-data-group element data identifier random selection unit for selecting a number of element data identifiers of the element data of the second data group in the index data at random, the number matching with the number of element data to be reproduced extracted by the second-data-group reproduction number extraction unit; a fourth address value extraction unit for successively extracting the address values corresponding to the element data identifiers of the second data group selected by the second-data-group element data identifier random selection unit from the index data, the address values extracted respectively by the first, second, third, and fourth address values extraction units being different, and a second-data-group readout unit for successively reading out the element data stored in the storage unit by accessing to addresses identified by the address values extracted by the fourth address value extraction unit.

The element data of the first data group may be scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of the second data group may be advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a reproduction channel of the scene files.

According to the above construction, the number of the element data of the second data group to be reproduced can be specified for individual reproduction points.

To fulfill the fourth embodiment, the storage unit may further store evaluation function data for individual element data of the first data group, and the data reproduction apparatus may further comprise: an evaluation function data readout and save unit for reading and saving the evaluation function data stored in the storage unit as per one of the first and second readout direction; and a reproduction state detection unit for detecting a reproduction time, the reproduction time being a period of time from a start to an end of reproduction for individual element data at the first data group output unit; an evaluation value computation unit for computing an evaluation value by substituting the reproduction time into the evaluation function data saved in the evaluation function data readout and save unit; an evaluation value addition unit for computing a total of the evaluation values computed by the evaluation value computation unit, whereby the second-data-group output judgment unit judges adequacy when the total of the evaluation values becomes greater than a predetermined threshold; and a reset unit for resetting the total of the evaluation values computed by the evaluation value addition unit when the second-data-group output unit outputs output data.

According to the above construction, the reproduction frequency of the element data of the second data group can be adjusted according to the reproduction state of the element data of the first data group and the reproduction time.

Also, the data reproduction apparatus may further comprise: a reproduction suspend/resume manipulation unit for accepting a manipulation to suspend output of the output data from the first-data-group output unit and outputting an output suspend command to the first-data-group output unit, and for accepting a manipulation to release the output-data output suspension and outputting an output resume command to the first-data-group output unit, and the reproduction state detection unit may detect the reproduction time by including a time interval for the output suspension caused by the reproduction suspend/resume manipulation.

The index data may include an element data identifier identifying individual element data and an address value identifying a place in the storage unit where each element data specified by a respective element data identifier are stored, and the channel data may include reproduction order data formed of a reproduction order and an element data identifier, and a reproduction order identifier identifying individual reproduction order data, and the first-data-group-readout first direction unit may include: a first address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data; and a first address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit, and the first-data-group-readout second direction unit may include: a second address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address value extracted by the first address value extraction unit being different from the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit; and a second address indication unit for outputting the address value extracted by the second address value extraction unit to the first-data-group readout unit.

The input manipulation unit may accept instruction input as to a reproduction channel by means of a location coordinate, and branch judgment data may be attached to the element data identifier in the reproduction order data when the reproduction order corresponding to the element data identifier is placed last in the order and a reproduction channel for the element data identified by the element data identifier has a branching point at an end thereof, and the branch judgment data may include a reproduction order identifier, and screen area data consisting of location coordinates each indicating respective locations of a plurality of video data areas, each of the plurality of video data areas corresponding to the respective reproduction order identifiers, and the first-data-group readout unit may include: a branched channel judgment unit for judging within of which the screen area data the location coordinate accepted by the input manipulation unit exist; a reproduction channel determination unit for determining a reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier corresponding to the screen area data judged by the branched channel judgment unit; a third address value extraction unit for extracting the address value from the index data by referring to the reproduction order in the reproduction order data in the channel data and finding the element data identifier in the index data that coincides with the element data identifier in the reproduction order data, the address values extracted respectively by the first, second, and third address value extraction units being different; and an element data readout unit for reading out the element data from the storage unit using the address value extracted by the third address value extraction unit.

The evaluation function data may be selected from a group consisting of an equal-plus-value evaluation function, a converge-plus-value evaluation function, an equal-minus-value evaluation function, and a converge-minus-value evaluation function depending on a content of corresponding element data.

The element data of the first data group may be scene files of electronic book data, and the element data of the second data group may be advertisement data, the advertisement data being reproduced within a reproduction channel of the scene files.

According to the above construction, the reproduction frequency of the advertisement data can be selected depending on the contents of the scene files being reproduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view showing reproduction channels of element data of a conventional data reproduction apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a structure of a data reproduction apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of data stored in a storage unit in the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view showing index data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the index data in the first embodiment more in detail;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of channel data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a structure of reproduction order data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a structure of branch judgment data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view showing the channel data in the first embodiment more in detail;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a structure of a second-data-group reproduction point data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a detailed structure of the second-data-group reproduction point data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a view showing reproduction of element data in the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a video on display in the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a detailed structure a reproduction control unit in the first embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart detailing an operation of the reproduction control unit in the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is another flowchart detailing an operation of the reproduction control unit in the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a structure of a data reproduction apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a view showing a structure of stored data in a storage unit in the second embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a structure of index data of the second embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a view showing a structure of data-group specifying data in the second embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a detailed view showing a reproduction control unit in the second embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart detailing an operation of the reproduction control unit of the second embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a view showing a structure of a data reproduction apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a view showing a structure of data stored in a storage unit in the third embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a view showing selection condition data in the third embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a detailed view showing a structure of a reproduction control unit in the third embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart detailing an operation of the reproduction control unit in the third embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a view showing a structure of a data reproduction apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a view showing a structure of data stored in a storage unit in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a view showing a structure of element data in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a view explaining evaluation function data in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a graph showing an equal-plus-value evaluation function in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a graph showing a converge-plus-value evaluation function in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 34 is a graph showing an equal-minus-value evaluation function in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a graph showing a converge-minus-value evaluation function in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a view explaining a order how element data are reproduced in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a view explaining the evaluation function data in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 38 is a view showing an evaluation on the element data using the evaluation function data;

FIG. 39 is a flowchart detailing an operation of a reproduction control unit in the fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 40 is a flowchart detailing an operation of the reproduction control unit in the fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, data reproduction apparatus in accordance with four embodiments of the present invention will be explained.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

FIG. 2 is a view showing a structure of a data reproduction apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The data reproduction apparatus comprises a storage unit 21 for storing a plurality element data and management data, a data readout unit 22 for reading out the element data and management data stored in the storage unit 21, a reproduction unit 23 for converting the element data read out by the data readout unit 22 into reproduction data, an output unit 24 for outputting the reproduction data from the reproduction unit 23 in the form of a video output and a sound output, an input operation unit 25 for accepting user's instructions, and a reproduction control unit 26 comprising a microprocessor, a ROM, and a RAM storing an operation program; the output unit 24 includes a display screen 27 and a speaker 28.

More precisely, the storage unit 21 includes a data storage medium, or namely a CD-ROM, and a CD-ROM driving system. The CD-ROM stores two kinds of data in the form of digital data: primary data, or a plurality of element data, and management data related to the primary data. One element data are the minimum unit for reproduction, including sound elements, still photograph elements and text elements, and optionally moving-picture elements and animation. The element data are divided into a first data group and a second data group depending on the contents thereof. Whereas the management data consist of index data, channel data, and second-data-group reproduction point data. The index data are used to divide the element data into the first and second data groups. The channel data shows a plurality of reproduction channels of the first data group. The second-data-group reproduction point data shows a set of reproduction points of the second data group within a reproduction channel of the first data group being reproduced.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of data stored in the storage unit 21. The stored data consist of index data 31, channel data 32, second-data-group reproduction point data 33, and element data 34, 35, . . . .

More precisely, the index data 31 consist of a plurality of entries 41, 42, 43, . . . as shown in FIG. 4; the number of the entries matches with the number of the element data. Each entry stores a first data group or second data group code 45 identifying as being either of the first or second data group, an element data identifier 46 identifying individual element data, and an address value 47 indicating the element data's storage location on the CD-ROM.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the index data 31 shown in FIG. 4, although the first or second data group code 45 is not shown.

The CD-ROM in the storage unit 21 stores the element data 34, 35, . . . of either the first or second data group. The element data 34, 35, . . . , are distinguished one from the others by the element data identifiers Y21, Y22, . . . , Y211, and K21, . . . , K25. The index data 51 of the first data group hold the element data identifiers Y21, Y22, . . . , Y211, and their respective address values of the storage location on the CD-ROM. Similarly, the index data 52 of the second data group hold the element data identifiers K21, . . . , K25 and their respective address values of the storage location on the CD-ROM.

The channel data 32, as is shown in FIG. 6, consist of a plurality of entries 61, 62, 63, . . . ; the number of the entries matches with the number of the reproduction channels of the first data group. Each entry stores a reproduction order identifier 65 and reproduction order data 66.

The reproduction order data 66 show a reproduction order of the element data within one reproduction channel of the element data of the first data group. The reproduction order identifier 65 is a value representing individual reproduction order data 66.

Note that the first entry 61 of the channel data 32 shows channel data to be selected at the initialization of the data reproduction apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the structure of the reproduction order data 66, which consist of a plurality of entries 71, 72, . . . ; the number of the entries matches with the number of the element data contained in one reproduction channel. Each entry excluding the last entry stores a reproduction order 75 and the element data identifier 46. A reproduction order 75 is a value representing the reproduction order of the individual element data identified by the element data identifier 46. For example, if five element data identifiers 46 (a1 through a5) are contained in one reproduction channel indicated by the reproduction order data 66 and the reproduction order 75 of the element data identifier a2 shows "4", the element data identified by the element data identifier a2 are the fourth to be reproduced among the five element data.

Also, if the reproduction order data 66 have a branching point at the end, the reproduction order 75 of the last entry include branch judgment data 77, which determine a reproduction channel, besides the element data identifier 46.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a structure of the branch judgment data 77, which consist of a plurality of entries 81, 82, 83 . . . ; the number of the entries matches with the number of reproduction channels. Each entry stores the reproduction order identifier 65 and screen area data 85. The screen area data 85 correspond to an area where a data video is shown on the display screen 27 of the output unit 24; the data video referred herein is a video such that shows the choices to the user, for example, the table of contents.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the channel data 32 in FIG. 6, reproduction order data 66 in FIG. 7, and branch judgment data 77 in FIG. 8.

The channel data 91 divide eleven element data (Y21 through Y211) of the index data 51 in FIG. 5 into four reproduction channels. Each reproduction channel stores the reproduction order identifiers P21 through P24 and the reproduction order data S21 through S24, respectively.

The reproduction order data S21 hold the element data identified by the element data identifier Y21 placed first in the reproduction order, and the element data identified by the element data identifier Y22 second. The reproduction order data S21 store the branch judgment data B21 besides the element data identifier placed last (herein the element data identifier Y22 placed second). This is because there exists a branching point at the end of the reproduction channel for the reproduction order data S21.

The reproduction order data S22 hold the element data specified by the element data identifiers Y23 through Y26 placed first through fourth respectively. Likewise, the reproduction order data S23 hold the element data specified by the element data identifiers Y27, Y28, Y25, and Y26 placed first through fourth respectively, and the reproduction order data S24 hold the element data specified by the element data identifiers Y210, Y211, Y25, and Y26 placed first through fourth respectively.

The branch judgment data B21 determine to which of the reproduction order data S22, S23, and S24 the user should branch subsequent to the reproduction of the reproduction order data S21. The branch judgment data B21 hold the screen area data G21, G22, and G23 corresponding to the reproduction order data S22, S23, and S24 respectively. The screen area data G21, G22, and G23 are, for example, composed of the location coordinates of two vertices of one diagonal line if the area is displayed as a rectangle.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a structure of the second-data-group reproduction point data 33, which consist of a plurality of entries 101, 102, 103, . . . ; the number of the entries matches with the number of the element data of the second data group to be reproduced after the reproduction of those of the first data group. Each entry stores a reproduction point identifier 104, the reproduction order identifier 65, and location data 105.

The location data 105 show the point where the element data of the second data group are reproduced within the reproduction channel of the element data of the first data group being reproduced. For example, if one entry holds the reproduction order identifier o1 and "5" as the location data 105 (not shown), then there exists the reproduction point of the element data of the second data group between the element data of the first group to be reproduced in the fifth and sixth of the reproduction order data 66 specified by the reproduction order identifier o1.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the second-data-group reproduction point data 33 in FIG. 10; the reproduction point identifier 104 is omitted.

The second-data-group reproduction point data 110 show the reproduction points where the element data 34, 35 . . . of the second data group identified by the element data identifiers K21 through K25 (FIG. 5) are reproduced respectively. Here, the second-data-group reproduction point data 110 hold location data "2" for both the reproduction order identifiers P23 and P24. Thus, one of the element data of the second data group indicated by the element data identifiers K21 through K25 are reproduced after the element data identified by the element data identifier Y28 placed second of the reproduction order data identified by the reproduction order identifier P23. In the same manner, one element data of the second data group are reproduced after the element data identified by the element data identifier Y211 are reproduced.

FIG. 12 schematically shows how the reproduction proceeds using the data shown in FIG. 9 through the reproduction channels.

Upon input of control data to read out the management data from the reproduction control unit 26, the data readout unit 22 reads out the digital data stored in the storage unit 21, or namely, the index data 31, channel data 32, and second data-group reproduction point data 33. Subsequently, the data readout unit 22 inputs the channel data 32 and second-data-group reproduction point data 33 into the reproduction control unit 26, while having the index data 31 be stored in the reproduction control unit 26.

Upon input of the address value from the reproduction control unit 26, the data readout unit 22 reads out the element data stored at the corresponding address on the CD-ROM of the storage unit 21 to output the same to the reproduction unit 23.

Upon input of the digital data of the element data from the data readout unit 22, the reproduction unit 23 separates the sound data, still photograph data, and text data in the element data to output the same to the output unit 24 after predetermined processing through buffering. To be more specific, the text data are developed into a specified font, rendered together with the still photograph data, and converted into video digital data. Whereas the sound data are linear quantalized, and converted into sound digital data.

The output unit 24 converts the video digital data into an video output signal (video analog signal), while converting the sound digital data into the sound output signal (sound analog signal); the former is outputted from the display screen 27 and the latter from the speaker 28.

FIG. 13 shows a video display of the element data when the last reproduction order data 66 have a branching point. The video display areas 131, 132, 133, which are the table of contents showing the choices of branching, are shown on the display screen 27 of the output unit 24. For example, the location coordinates of two vertices 134, 135 of the video display area 131, (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), are stored in the form of the screen area data G21 of the branch judgment data B21 shown in FIG. 9.

The input manipulation unit 25 (herein a mouse) is used to receive the user's instruction to specify the video display area of the data such as the table of contents to be shown on the display screen 27 to output the location coordinate of the input data to the reproduction control unit 26.

When the reproduction has reached at the last entry of the reproduction order data 66 that have the branching point, the video display shown in FIG. 13 appears. Thus, the user can confirm he has reached the branching point, and accordingly moves a mouse cursor 136 to "Chapter I, Animals in Asia" shown within the video display area 131 to select the reproduction channel. By so doing, the location coordinate (x, y) of the mouse cursor 136 is inputted into the reproduction control unit 26 by means of the input manipulation unit 25.

The reproduction control unit 26 consists of the microprocessor, ROM, and RAM storing the operation program as previously mentioned. The ROM stores a boot program, which is automatically activated when the data reproduction apparatus is turned on to load the operation program, or application program stored in a predetermined location on the CD-ROM of the storage unit 21, to the RAM, realizing the structure shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a view showing the structure of the reproduction control unit 26 in detail. The reproduction control unit 26 includes a first-data-group reproduction control unit 141, a second-data-group reproduction control unit 142, a reproduction history storage unit 143, and an index data storage unit 144; the first two components are connected to the reproduction unit 23 and data readout unit 22 by means of a data bus 145.

The first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 initializes the reproduction history storage unit 143 and index data storage unit 144 when the data reproduction apparatus is turned on, while outputting control data to the data read out unit 22 to read out the management data. Accordingly, the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 stores the channel data 32 and second-data-group reproduction point data 33 into a buffer installed therein upon receipt of the same from the data readout unit 22. Further, the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 extracts the entry 61 (FIG. 6) of the reproduction order data 66 identified by the reproduction order identifier for initialization to determine the element data to be reproduced as per the reproduction order 75 (FIG. 7) in the reproduction order data 66 identified by the reproduction order identifier 65.

The first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 reads out the index data 31 stored in the index data storage unit 144 to extract the address value 47, which corresponds to the element data identifier 46 placed first in the determined reproduction order 75.

The first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 outputs the extracted address value 47 to the data readout unit 22, and judges whether or not the data in the reproduction order identifier 65 (FIG. 6) and reproduction order 75 (FIG. 7) coincide respectively with the reproduction order identifier 65 and location data 105 in the entries 101, 102, 103, . . . of the second-data-group reproduction point data 33 stored in the self-installed buffer.

When the data do not coincide, the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 extracts the address value 47, which corresponds to the element data identifier 46 of the following reproduction order 75 from the index data 31, to output the same to the data readout unit 22.

When the data coincide, the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 activates the second-data-group reproduction control unit 142, because such data coincidence means that the current reproduction order is the reproduction point of the element data of the second data group.

Assume that the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 determines the reproduction of the element data identified by the element data identifier Y28 shown in FIG. 12, then the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 outputs the address value 47 corresponding to the element data identifier Y28 to the data readout unit 22.

The element data identified by the element data identifier Y28 are specified by the reproduction order identifier P23 and placed second in the reproduction order (FIG. 9). Thus, the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 judges whether or not the element data identified by the element data identifier Y28 coincide with the entries 111 and 112 of the second-data-group reproduction point data (FIG. 11).

In this case, the element data identified by the element data identifier Y28 coincide with the entry 111, and the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 suspends the reproduction of the element data identified by the element data identifier Y25 to activate the second-data-group reproduction control unit 142. The first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 resumes the reproduction control of the element data identified by the element data identifier Y25 upon receipt of the control data to terminate the reproduction of the element data of the second data group from the second-data-group reproduction control unit 142.

When the element data identified by the last entry of the reproduction order data 66 has been thoroughly reproduced by means of the output unit 24 and the last entry has a branching point (having a plurality of reproduction channels), the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 determines the reproduction channel to the branched element data. Upon receipt of the input data, or the cursor's location coordinate (x, y), from the input manipulation unit 25, the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 reads out the branch judgment data 77 stored in the self-installed buffer to judge in which screen area data 85 the location coordinate exists. When the location coordinate exists in a particular screen area data 85, the first-data-group reproduction control unit 141 controls the reproduction of the element data of the first data group by the reproduction channel as per the reproduction order data 66 identified by the corresponding reproduction order