On-Demand Interactive Graphics Stream for User-Controlled Menu Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multimedia reproduction systems unconditionally display menu screens at designated times, inconveniencing users who do not want to view them during multimedia playback.
Innovation Solution
A storage medium and reproducing apparatus that support an on-demand interactive graphics stream, allowing users to activate and control the display of menu screens only when desired, by differentiating between normal and on-demand interactive graphics streams through specific data structures and decoding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a menu screen is unconditionally displayed at a designated time during multimedia playback, then the system provides automatic navigation and menu information to users, but users who do not want to view the menu are inconvenienced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the menu screen display conditional rather than fixed. The menu screen is displayed only when specific conditions are met (user presses a button on the remote controller or specifies display via system menu), transforming the static unconditional display into a dynamic conditional display that adapts to user needs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the display parameter from unconditional to conditional based on user input. By introducing user-controlled parameters (remote controller button press or system menu setting), the menu display behavior changes from a fixed time-based event to a flexible user-triggered event
2Loss of information
If an interactive graphics stream is always decoded and displayed, then users receive complete menu information, but unnecessary menu screens are displayed when users do not want to view them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-decoding the interactive graphics stream and storing it in memory before playback. The menu screen data is prepared in advance but not displayed until the user triggers it, allowing instant display when needed without compromising information availability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the menu display function from the mandatory playback sequence. By separating the decoding process from the display action and introducing user control as an intermediary, the system takes out the automatic display requirement while preserving the information availability
Data Source
AI summary
A storage medium storing: video data; and graphics data for displaying a menu. The graphics data includes first graphics data displayed on the screen when an activation command is generated by a user and may also include second graphics data displayed on the screen at a designated time.