Basic User interface:
GUI Display:
Basic
1. Title A
2. Title B
3. Title C
4. Previous 5. next
Multi-page Menu
1. Title A 4. Title D 7. Title G
2. Title B 5. Title E 8. Title H
3. Title C 6. Title F 9. Title I
Exit Next Prev Exit Next Prev Exit
Interactivity
Level of functionality
1. simply play
2. interactivity similar to Video-CD
3. Interactivity simular to PC Applications
Seamless play function
Still picture function
There are 6 search functions defined for DVD. Two are present in most of today's VCRs: the linear style Time Search and Scan (Fast forward, rewind). The other 4 are made possible thanks to the non-linear, random-access playback capability of DVD.
User operation (ability to scan through or play) can be prohibited by content. This is signalled by such attributes as the parental control level. For example, certain Part_of_Title's can be skipped over which contain R-rated (US) scenes.
| Title Search | User can select the exact title to shuttle to. |
| Part_of_Title Search | User can go to specific version (PG-13, R, directors cut, children's version) or camera angle by either title name or number. |
| Program Search | User can go to a specific scene (car chase, opening credits, gun fight, etc.) within a program chain. |
| Time Search | User can go to a specific SMPTE style time code (HH:MM:SS:FF) location within a program chain. |
| Scan: | Scan (linearly) forward or backwards in time. |
| GoUp: | Within the current program chain, jump to the next program chain. This command traverses the DVD control information hierarchy. |
For Time Searches, all DVD players are required to arrive to the nearest I picture. It is optional that DVD players be capable of arriving at the exact picture (regardless of its picturing coding type).
The author (content provider) is given the freedom of creating an arbitrary branching structure for a given title. Of course some restraint should be exercised since, thanks to interframe MPEG coding dependencies and physical servo mechanism limitations, a program chain cannot be constructed of 30 pictures/sec of totally randomly located information on the disc.
However, the constant DVD transfer rate of 11 Mbit/sec provides some flexibility when the average program rate is kept lower. For example, if the average bit rate is only 5 Mbit/sec, then the player can waste 6 Mbit/sec of potential transfer rate in random access overhead.
There are 24 system parameters for player setting:
| SPRM | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Menu Description Language Code |
| 1 | Audio stream number |
| 2 | Sub-picture Stream number |
| 3 | Angle Number |
| 4 | Title Number |
| 5 | VTS title Number |
| 6 | Title PGC Number |
| 7 | Part of title number for one sequential_PGC_Title |
| 8 | Highlighed Buttom number |
| 9 | Navigation Timer |
| 10 | Title PGC number for Navigation Timer |
| 11 | Audio Mixing Mode for Karaoke |
| 12 | Country Code for Parental Management |
| 13 | Parental Level |
| 14 | Player Configuration for Video |
| 15 | Player Configuration for Audio |
| 16 | Initial Language Code for Audio |
| 17 | Initial Language Code for Sub-picture |
| 18 | Initial Language Code Extension for Sub-picture |
| 19 | Initial Language Code for Sub-picture |
| 20 | Reserved |
| 21 | Reserved |
| 22 | Reserved |
| 23 | Reserved |
Used for interactive operation of titles, such as quizzes, or games.
16 general parameters for navigation. These are RAM variables in the DVD players for use as, e.g., arithmetic scratch pads, counters, etc. Arithmetical operations are available (add, compare, etc.)
Each command consists of a single instruction or a combination of two or three instructions.
Instruction Groups:
| Goto | branch between command |
| Link | transfer between same Domain |
| Jump | transfer between each Domain |
| Compare | recognition of parameter value |
| SetSystem | player system setting |
| Set | calculate GPRM values |