Stereoscopic video recording method, stereoscopic video recording medium, stereoscopic video reproducing method, stereoscopic video recording apparatus, and stereoscopic video reproducing apparatus

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic video recording method, a stereoscopic video recording medium, a stereoscopic video reproducing method, a stereoscopic video recording apparatus, and a stereoscopic video reproducing apparatus that are capable of more optimally performing recording and reproduction of stereoscopic video. According to one solving means of the present invention, a stereoscopic video recording method records, in a recording medium, stereoscopic video including left-eye images (2) and right-eye images (1) utilizing parallax information, by using a stereoscopic video recording apparatus (6). From video content that contains stereoscopic images, the method grasps the amount of variation in parallactic angle having a given or larger value, a variation time that the variation in parallactic angle takes, and the number of times that the variation in parallactic angle occurs. The method then calculates an evaluation value that corresponds to the degree of eye fatigue on the basis of the amount of variation, the variation time, and the number of times of the variation, encodes the video content in such a manner that the evaluation value is within a given range, and records the encoded video content in the recording medium.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a stereoscopic video recording method, a stereoscopic video recording medium, a stereoscopic video reproducing method, a stereoscopic video recording apparatus, and a stereoscopic video reproducing apparatus.[0003]2. Description of the Background Art[0004]With the progress of encoding techniques for compressing digital video signals, it has become possible to implement optical disk apparatuses with excellent searchability and operability by recording compressed video signals to optical disks. Such optical disk apparatuses are free from degradation caused by dubbing, because they record digital video signals instead of analog video signals, and such optical disk apparatuses offer improved reliability because they employ non-contact optical recording and reproduction.[0005]Encoding methods for compressing such digital video signals include the MPEG (Moving Picture coding Experts Group) sta...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a stereoscopic video recording and reproducing method that can better optimize the recording and reproduction of stereoscopic video. The method calculates an evaluation value that corresponds to the degree of eye fatigue caused by the parallax information in the video content, and encodes the video content in a way that reduces the evaluation value. The recorded video content includes both flat and stereoscopic images, and the evaluation value is used to provide users with a more immersive viewing experience. The stereoscopic video reproducing method displays the maximum parallactic angle value when the user views the video content, allowing them to recognize the maximum degree of three-dimensional video. The invention also includes a stereoscopic video recording apparatus and a stereoscopic video reproducing apparatus that can effectively produce and display stereoscopic video.

Problems solved by technology

Viewing stereoscopic (hereinafter referred to also as 3D) video for many hours causes discomforts such as eye fatigue and 3D motion sickness, because the viewer moves the eyes in the focal direction with increased frequency.

Three-dimensional viewing will be problematic especially when the point of attention busily moves in the depth direction.

Also, in particular, the display of subtitles and the like requires continuously switching the eye focus, and may cause more intense discomforts like eye fatigue and 3D motion sickness than the viewing of ordinary 3D video.

Also, as to the recording of stereoscopic video information, when filing a stereoscopic video that employs parallax between right-eye images and left-eye images on an optical disk, it was not possible to handle a video stream including a mixture of flat (hereinafter referred to also as 2D) images and stereoscopic (3D) images.

Particularly, for example, when the display apparatus is switched while the reproducing apparatus is reproducing stereoscopic video, or when a display apparatus is newly connected, information required for 3D display cannot be sent to the display apparatus side in a linked manner, and so the settings in the display apparatus cannot be changed instantaneously.

Also, as to the recording of stereoscopic video information, when filing a stereoscopic video employing parallax between right-eye and left-eye images on an optical disk, there is no video control information that allows recording of broadcasted stereoscopic video and that enables settings in the display apparatus and the reproducing apparatus.

Also, the distribution of stereoscopic video content is affected by the extent of proliferation of compatible display apparatuses, and it is necessary to further set separate regional restrictions for 3D video and for 2D video.

However, conventional systems do not meet such requirements.

Also, it was not possible to superimpose information about the content, copyright information, 3D display scheme information, OSD information, multi-angle information, etc. on a stereoscopic video stream, and therefore it was not possible to instantaneously change the settings on the display apparatus side, not on the reproducing apparatus side.

Also, unlike ordinary 2D video information, 3D video information utilizing parallax includes information for the left-eye and information for the right eye, and the amount of information is doubled and filing efficiency is deteriorated.

Also, while increased eye fatigue occurs during the reproduction of 3D video with an increased degree of three-dimensionality, it was not possible to give a warning to the user in advance according to the degree of three-dimensionality, or to restrict the viewing according to the age of the user.

Also, while increased eye fatigue occurs during the reproduction of 3D video with an increased degree of three-dimensionality, it was not possible to alleviate the three-dimensionality of the content on the reproducing apparatus side.

Images