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Information storage medium, information reproducing apparatus, and information reproducing methodRelated Patent Categories: Television Signal Processing For Dynamic Recording Or Reproducing, Processing Of Television Signal For Dynamic Recording Or Reproducing, Having Another SignalInformation storage medium, information reproducing apparatus, and information reproducing method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070172201, Information storage medium, information reproducing apparatus, and information reproducing method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2005-260702 filed on Sep. 8, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a playback apparatus and method for playing back data recorded on a recording medium, and a program executed by the playback apparatus. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Image-capturing apparatuses, such as video cameras and digital still cameras, configured to store information on captured images, such as static images or moving images, onto a recording medium have been widely used. In addition, since the cost of producing high-capacity recording media has significantly decreased, the capacity of recording media used in such image-capturing apparatuses has been increasing. [0006] In a situation in which recording media have a small storage capacity, when the storage capacity of a recording medium runs out, the recording medium is replaced with another recording medium or data is often copied to a high-capacity recording medium, such as a hard disk drive (HDD). However, with the use of such increased-capacity recording media, exchange of recording media or data copying to another recording medium is not often performed. A usage pattern in which captured image information is recorded by being accumulated on the increased-capacity recording medium is considered. [0007] In such a usage pattern, the number of pieces of image information recorded on a recording medium significantly increases. Thus, for an image-capturing apparatus to display image information recorded on a recording medium for the purpose of browsing, a playback function called a "slide-show function" is effective. Generally, for static images, the slide-show function sequentially displays captured image information automatically at predetermined intervals. Thus, it is unnecessary for users to perform operations for selecting captured image information to be displayed. The use of this function becomes more advantageous in accordance with an increase in the number of pieces of captured image information recorded on a recording medium. [0008] A known technology is described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-336566. [0009] In practice, however, when captured image information is recorded on a recording medium by video cameras or digital still cameras, the captured image information is normally managed in accordance with the order in which images were photographed. Thus, when such captured image information that is managed in accordance with the order in which images were photographed is sequentially displayed using the slide-show function, it is natural to display the captured image information in accordance with the order in which the images were photographed. That is, when the slide-show function is implemented, display of the captured image information starts from the most recently photographed image or from the first photographed image. [0010] In practice, even when the slide-show function is implemented, a user does not necessarily view all the captured image information recorded on a recording medium. Thus, every time a slide show is presented, a user may view only captured image information whose capture time is relatively recent or only captured image information whose capture time is relatively old. It is difficult to view captured image information that is captured at an intermediate photographing time. [0011] That is, for example, when sequential playback using the slide-show function is performed so as to correspond to a management system of recorded data on a recorded medium, playback is performed only in accordance with a predetermined order corresponding to the management system. Thus, there is a variation in the frequency of recorded data viewed, in terms of capture time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] As an image-capturing apparatus, a playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes classified region selecting means for selecting a classified region at random from among a plurality of classified regions on a recording medium, the recording medium including recorded data managed such that a plurality of pieces of unit data belong to corresponding classified regions serving as data storage logical regions generated in accordance with a predetermined classification rule; unit data selecting means for selecting a piece of unit data from among the pieces of unit data that belong to the selected classified region; reading means for reading from the recording medium the selected piece of unit data in order to play back the selected piece of unit data; and execution control means for controlling the repeated execution of a series of selecting and reading operations including selection of a classified region by the classified region selecting means, selection of a piece of unit data by the unit data selecting means, and reading of the selected piece of unit data by the reading means. [0013] With the above-described arrangement, recorded data is recorded on a recording medium such that pieces of unit data belong to a corresponding classified region. Thus, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in order to sequentially play back a plurality of pieces of unit data, as an operation for selecting and playing back a piece of unit data, a classified region is selected at random and the piece of unit data is selected from the selected classified region and is played back. [0014] With this arrangement, for a playback order of unit data, randomness is introduced into the selection of a classified region. That is, the influence of a storage management system in which a plurality of pieces of unit data are classified into classified regions in the playback order of unit data is eliminated. [0015] Accordingly, for sequential playback of recorded data using a slide-show function, a randomness is introduced into the playback order such that a variation in the frequency of recorded data played back, the variation being caused by a record management system of the recorded data, can be eliminated as much as possible. Thus, for example, more uniformity is achieved in the appearance of recorded data output by sequential playback. Thus, users are able to utilize a sequential playback function more effectively. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of a management state of image files recorded on a medium; [0018] FIG. 3 shows a case where event numbers are assigned to events constituting an event group in the management state shown in FIG. 2; [0019] FIG. 4 shows a case where file numbers within an event are assigned to files constituting a file group within an event in the management state shown in FIG. 2; [0020] FIG. 5 shows an example of a file playback order in the first round of event selection in the management state shown in FIG. 2; Continue reading about Information storage medium, information reproducing apparatus, and information reproducing method... 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