Digital Video Reproduction Apparatus and Method

Abstract

The invented apparatus includes a part of measuring the duration of activation of a select button on its control pad. When the select button is activated longer than a predetermined period, the apparatus enters a mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails for selecting a plurality of successive thumbnails. During this mode, after selecting a range of successive thumbnails with a cursor positioning mechanism on the control pad, when the select button is activated, it becomes determinate that the thumbnails in the selected range be selected and the apparatus exits the mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails.

1 . A digital video reproduction apparatus comprising:
 a thumbnail arraying part;   a control pad including a select button to be operated for selecting one or more thumbnails from an array of thumbnails generated by said thumbnail arraying part;   a thumbnail selection control part which controls said thumbnail arraying part and selects one or more thumbnails, according to output from said control pad;   a display unit which displays thumbnails, and   a part of measuring duration of button activation to measure the duration of activation of said select button,   wherein, when said select button is activated longer than a predetermined period, said digital video reproduction apparatus enters a mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails, the mode enabling selection of a plurality of successive thumbnails.   
     
     
         2 . A digital video reproduction apparatus comprising:
 a reproducing part to reproduce compressed data of digital video signals and thumbnail data corresponding to said compressed data stored on a storage medium;   a thumbnail arraying part to generate data for displaying thumbnails in an array on one screen page from the thumbnail data from said reproducing part;   a video signal processor which converts the data for displaying thumbnails in an array from said thumbnail arraying part into analog video signals;   a display unit which displays an array of thumbnails from said analog video signals;   a control pad including a select button to be operated for selecting one or more thumbnails from said array of thumbnails displayed;   an operation control part to handle request from said control pad;   a thumbnail selection control part to exert control of thumbnail selection from the array of thumbnails under control from said operation control part; and   a part of measuring duration of button activation to measure the duration of activation of said select button,   wherein, when said select button is activated longer than a predetermined period, said digital video reproduction apparatus enters a mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails, the mode enabling selection of a plurality of successive thumbnails.   
     
     
         3 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, during said mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails, after selecting a range of successive thumbnails by setting starting and end cells of thumbnails, using a cursor positioning mechanism on said control pad, when said select button is activated again, the selected range is fixed and said digital video reproduction apparatus exits said mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails. 
     
     
         4 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein, during said mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails, after selecting a range of successive thumbnails by setting starting and end cells of thumbnails, using a cursor positioning mechanism on said control pad, when said select button is activated again, it becomes determinate that the thumbnails in the selected range be selected and said digital video reproduction apparatus exits said mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails. 
     
     
         5 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, when said select button is activated longer than a predetermined period with a cursor positioned at a selected thumbnail, said digital video reproduction apparatus enters a mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails for unselecting successive thumbnails that have been selected. 
     
     
         6 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein, when said select button is activated longer than a predetermined period with a cursor positioned at a selected thumbnail, said digital video reproduction apparatus enters a mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails for unselecting successive thumbnails that have been selected. 
     
     
         7 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein, when said select button is activated longer than a predetermined period with a cursor positioned at a selected thumbnail, said digital video reproduction apparatus enters a mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails for unselecting successive thumbnails that have been selected. 
     
     
         8 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein, during said mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails, after selecting a range of successive thumbnails by setting starting and end cells of thumbnails, using a cursor positioning mechanism on said control pad, when said select button is activated again, it becomes determinate that the selected thumbnails in the selected range be unselected and said digital video reproduction apparatus exits said mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails. 
     
     
         9 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein, during said mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails, after selecting a range of successive thumbnails by setting starting and end cells of thumbnails, using a cursor positioning mechanism on said control pad, when said select button is activated again, it becomes determinate that the selected thumbnails in the selected range be unselected and said digital video reproduction apparatus exits said mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails. 
     
     
         10 . A digital video reproduction apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein, during said mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails, after selecting a range of successive thumbnails by setting starting and end cells of thumbnails, using a cursor positioning mechanism on said control pad, when said select button is activated again, it becomes determinate that the selected thumbnails in the selected range be unselected and said digital video reproduction apparatus exits said mode of continuously unselecting thumbnails. 
     
     
         11 . A digital video reproduction method comprising the steps of:
 specifying a first cell of thumbnail to select;   activating a select button longer than a predetermined period;   specifying a last cell of thumbnail to select; and   activating said select button again, thereby making it determinate that successive thumbnails from the first to the last cell be selected and exiting a mode of continuously selecting multiple thumbnails.   
     
     
         12 . A digital video reproduction method according to  claim 11  further comprising the step of activating said select button longer than a predetermined period when a cursor is positioned at a selected thumbnail, thereby unselecting the selected thumbnail and subsequent ones to the last cell of thumbnail to unselect.