Recording Medium Region Segmentation for Seamless High-Definition Playback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional DVD and Blu-ray disc technologies face challenges in seamless playback during high-definition video streaming due to discrepancies in data decoding and synchronization, especially when switching between recording layers or angles, leading to buffer size uncertainties and increased drive noise.

Innovation Solution

The recording medium is divided into regions with different read rates, allowing real-time and non-real-time data to be recorded without continuous overlap, enabling seamless playback without high-torque motors by classifying data attributes and optimizing read rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If data is continuously recorded spanning the boundary between first recording region and second recording region, then recording capacity is improved, but playback continuity deteriorates due to read rate switching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording capacityVSAvoidplayback continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The digital stream is segmented into multiple data files, each completely recorded within a single recording region (either first or second), avoiding spanning the boundary between regions with different read rates. This segmentation ensures that each file can be read at a consistent rate without requiring dynamic read rate switching during playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different recording regions are assigned different read rates based on their physical characteristics. The first recording region uses a first read rate while the second recording region uses a second read rate. By ensuring that each data file is completely contained within one region, the system applies the appropriate read rate locally without needing to switch rates during file playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If high-torque motors are used to maintain constant linear velocity during read rate switching, then playback quality is improved, but device complexity and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayback qualityVSAvoidmotor requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the need for high-torque motors and complex read rate switching mechanisms by adopting a different approach: data files are structured to be completely contained within single recording regions, eliminating the need for read rate switching during playback and thereby removing the requirement for complex motor control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical solution (high-torque motors to maintain constant linear velocity during read rate switching) with a data structure solution (files completely recorded within single regions). This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical systems while maintaining playback quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If buffer memory size is increased to accommodate read rate switching, then playback stability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayback stabilityVSAvoidbuffer memory requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for large buffer memory allocations by removing the source of the problem: read rate switching during file playback. By ensuring that each data file is completely contained within a single recording region with a consistent read rate, the system achieves playback stability without requiring excessive buffer memory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If read rate is increased in the second recording region, then recording speed is improved, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates when switching regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording speedVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The data is segmented into files that are completely recorded within single recording regions. This segmentation prevents synchronization issues that would arise from switching read rates mid-file, as each file maintains consistent read rate throughout its duration, preserving synchronization accuracy while allowing different regions to operate at optimized speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3979244B1Recording medium, reproduction device, and reproduction method
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP3979244B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3979244B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3979244B1 patent drawingFigure 3(1)~3(4)

AI summary

A recording medium records data including a digital stream where video information has been encoded. A recording region of the recording medium has a first recording region where reading is performed at a first read rate, and a second recording region where reading is performed at a second read rate that is faster than the first read rate. The data is classified into digital stream data having a real-time attribute and a data file having a non-real-time attribute in a file system of the data. The digital stream is not continuously recorded spanning a boundary between the first recording region and the second recording region. The data file is permitted to be continuously recorded spanning the boundary.