Dvd system for seamless transfer between titles on a dvd disc which minimizes memory consumption

Abstract

The set up information associated with at least some of a DVD disc's titles are stored in a DVD player's local memory. Items are chosen for storage based upon the likelihood that a title will be played. The likelihood that a title will be played is balanced against the availability of local memory for storing this information. Titles are ranked according to the likelihood they might be played and titles of lower rank may be purged from the local memory, or title cache, set aside for this task. Six basic criteria are used to rank a title as extremely likely, highly likely, likely, or not likely to be played. A title ranked extremely likely to be played has top caching priority, one that is highly likely to be played has the second highest caching priority, and so on. Each time a title's set up information is read, the title is ranked for caching. Additionally, the state of the title cache is stored every time a user plays a DVD. As a result, an initial caching list based on previous usage patterns is established. Items in the initial cache retain the criteria weighting earned in a previous playback session. Title information is retrieved from the title cache for rapid playback when a DVD player transfers from playback of one title to another.