Method and apparatus for decoding and reproducing text subtitle streams

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for recording/reproducing at least one text subtitle stream. The method includes receiving at least one text subtitle stream from an external source, each text subtitle stream including a style segment defining at least one region style and at least one presentation segment, each presentation segment containing at least one region of text and being linked to at least one region style, wherein the style segment including a player style flag which indicates whether a player is permitted to generate its own player style. Thereafter, the method calls for decoding the text subtitle stream using the style segment defining at least one region style and a player style flag.

1 . A method for reproducing at least one text subtitle stream, the method comprising: 
 receiving at least one text subtitle stream from an external source, each text subtitle stream including a style segment defining at least one region style and at least one presentation segment, each presentation segment containing at least one region of text and being linked to at least one region style, wherein the style segment including a player style flag which indicates whether a player is permitted to generate its own player style; and    decoding the text subtitle stream using the style segment defining at least one region style and a player style flag.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a value of the player style flag is 0 to indicate that the player is prohibited from using its own player style.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a value of the player style flag is 1 to indicate that the player is permitted to use its own player style.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 storing player styles in a local data storage.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each player style represents a region style specifying an independent set of region presentation properties for a region of dialog text.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each player style is configured to redefine at least one of region presentation properties specified by the linked style.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each player style is configured to change at least one of region presentation properties specified by the linked style.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each player style specifies a direction and a magnitude of a change in the at least one of region presentation properties.  
   
   
       9 . A method for reproducing at least one text subtitle stream, the method comprising: 
 selecting at least one text subtitle stream from an external source or from a recording medium, each text subtitle stream including a style segment defining at least one region style and at least one presentation segment, each presentation segment containing at least one region of text and being linked to at least one region style, wherein the style segment including a player style flag which indicates whether a player is permitted to generate its own player styles; and    decoding the text subtitle stream using the style segment defining the region style and the player style flag.    
   
   
       10 . A method for recording at least one text subtitle stream, the method comprising: 
 receiving at least one text subtitle stream from an external source, each text subtitle stream including a style segment defining at least one region style and at least one presentation segment, each presentation segment containing at least one region of text and being linked to at least one region style, wherein the style segment including a player style flag which indicates whether a player is permitted to generate its own player style; and    recording the received text subtitle stream in recording medium.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for decoding at least one text subtitle stream, the method comprising: 
 a receiver configured to receive the text subtitle from an external source;    decoder configured to decode at least one text subtitle stream from an external source, each text subtitle stream including a style segment defining at least one region style and at least one presentation segment, each presentation segment containing at least one region of text and being linked to at least one region style, the style segment including a player style flag which indicates whether a player is permitted to generate its own player styles; and    a controller configured to control operation of the decoder to receive the text subtitle stream from the receiver and to decode the text subtitle stream using the style segment defining the region style and the player style flag.