JP2000236500A - Recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly reproduce a recorded program when a viewer reproduces the program and to suppress the stress of the user. SOLUTION: In the case of suddenly recording a program whose recording start time is entirely unknown, a program head is stored in a storage device 7 that is quickly accessible and then stored in a storage device that is slowly accessed. In the case that a program whose recording time is known in advance is reserved for video recording, the storage of the storage device 6 whose access is slow is prepared before the start time of the program so as to store the program head to the storage device 7 with a fast access time and the storage device with a slow access time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus, and particularly to a case where an image and a sound are recorded by using a plurality of storage devices having different access times and different storage capacities, by utilizing the characteristics of both the devices and the high-speed operation. The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing without being conscious of the performance and recording medium exchange.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, developments have been made with the aim of improving services such as digitizing broadcast radio waves, improving image quality, improving sound quality, increasing the number of channels, and responding to data broadcasting. For this reason, a device that receives such a broadcast wave needs to newly handle digital data, and further requires a recording device for recording such digital data.

As a storage device for constituting a recording device, a VTR using a magnetic tape or a disk device using an optical disk is generally considered.
Considering that the data to be recorded is digital data, a hard disk drive (HDD) can be used. These storage media have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, a magnetic tape has an advantage of having a large storage capacity, but has a disadvantage that it is difficult to access a desired position. The optical disc has a certain storage capacity and has an advantage that a desired position can be accessed at a relatively high speed, but has a disadvantage that a long time is required for recording. Further, the HDD has an advantage that high-speed access is possible, but has a disadvantage that the storage capacity is small due to the difficulty of medium exchange.

Therefore, by using a plurality of storage devices hierarchically, it is possible to satisfy the conditions relating to the recording speed, storage capacity, and high-speed access by taking advantage of the respective advantages.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-292842 discloses that
An optical disk drive with a low-cost, low-speed, large-capacity automatic media exchange mechanism and a memory, which is composed of high-priced, high-speed, small-capacity semiconductors and acts as an output buffer, have a hard disk with intermediate properties between them. A video server is disclosed.

[0006] As described above, when reproducing images and sounds, the images are reproduced once by a high-speed HDD, and when the reproduction is ready in a VTR, a disk device, or the like, the reproduction is switched to these devices to quickly display the images. Operability is improved.

[0007]

However, when images and sounds are recorded using the above-described recording / reproducing apparatus, there are the following problems.

[0008] As described above, in the recording / reproducing apparatus using a plurality of storage devices in a hierarchical manner, as described above, an improvement in image output speed, a reduction in access time, and a capacity and price of a storage medium are taken into consideration. When recording a program on this recording / reproducing apparatus, large-capacity, low-speed recording is possible, and recording is performed directly on a relatively inexpensive storage medium such as a tape or disk, and a plurality of storage apparatuses are hierarchically used. I never did.

Therefore, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention,
A recording method is devised between a so-called reservation recording in which a broadcast channel of a program to be recorded, a broadcast date of the program, a start time of the program, and a time (length) of the program are specified in advance, and a normal recording, and comfortable operation is performed. The purpose is to provide sexuality.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a high-speed first storage means 7 capable of recording digital data constituting a program and a digital data constituting the program are stored in a memory. A second storage unit 6 which can be recorded and has a lower access speed than the first storage unit 7; and a transfer of the digital data to the first storage unit 7 and / or the second storage unit 6. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a control means 12 for selectively performing recording and a timer means 17 for a viewer to reserve a desired program from among the programs. When the reservation recording is performed, the control means 12 controls so that the recording preparation of the second storage means 6 is completed before the recording start time, and when the recording start time comes, the first storage means 7 is controlled. And controlling the simultaneous recording of the desired program in the second storage means 6 and, when a predetermined time shorter than the time of the desired program has elapsed, recording in the first storage means 7 Is stopped, and when the desired program ends, control is performed so as to end the recording in the second storage means 6. If the viewer suddenly gives a recording instruction of the desired program, The control means 12 controls the first storage means 7 to record the desired program until the recording preparation of the second storage means 6 is completed. After the recording preparation is completed, the recording of the desired program is performed by the second storage means 6.

The storage medium 15 used for the second storage means 6 is replaceable, and the desired program is stored in one storage medium 15 used for the second storage means 6 in time. When the recording is not possible, the recording is performed by the first storage means during the exchange operation of the storage medium in the second storage means for recording the desired program. An apparatus is provided.

Further, when the storage capacity of the first storage means is insufficient, a flag is given to the program recorded in the first storage means in accordance with the deletion priority of the program, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus characterized in that a program having a higher priority is deleted.

Still further, the first storage means 7 capable of recording digital data constituting the program and having a high access speed, and the digital data constituting the program capable of being recorded can be stored in the first storage means. 7, the second storage means 6 having a lower access speed than that of the first storage means 7 and / or
Or a control unit 12 for selectively recording the digital data in the second storage unit 6, wherein the viewer suddenly issues a recording instruction of a desired program currently being broadcast. If so, the control means 12 controls the first storage means 7 to record the beginning of the desired program until the recording preparation of the second storage means 6 is completed, After the preparation for recording in the second storage means 6 is completed, the head of the program recorded in the first storage means 7 and the desired program currently being broadcast are stored in the second storage means 6. Control to record simultaneously with
The second storage means 6 allows the first storage means 7
After the recording of the beginning of the program recorded in step (1) is completed, the second storage means 6 controls the recording so as to record only the desired program currently being broadcast. Is provided.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system including a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. First, a digital broadcast wave from a broadcast satellite 1 (broadcast source) is received by a broadcast antenna 2 and received by a broadcast receiver 3.
At this time, if the data transmitted by the digital broadcast wave is encoded by a method such as MPEG, the broadcast receiver 3 decodes the data and supplies the image and the sound to the TV monitor 4. As a broadcast source, not only the above-mentioned broadcast satellite 1 but also a terrestrial wave, a cable, or the like can be adopted.

A program desired by the viewer is recorded by the recording / reproducing device 5. The recorded program can be viewed on the TV monitor 4, but if the digital broadcast wave is recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus 5 in a state of being encoded by MPEG or the like, the broadcast receiver 3 is not reproduced at the time of reproduction. Need to be decrypted. Recording / reproducing device 5
A storage device such as a DVD device 6 whose storage medium has a large capacity (including replacement) and is inexpensive, and an HDD whose storage medium is smaller and more expensive than this storage device and whose access is quick.
7 and the like. Naturally, a tape-type storage medium such as a VTR, which has a smaller capacity and is more expensive than the HDD 7 and uses a memory that can be quickly accessed, and a VTR or the like that has a larger capacity and is less expensive than a storage device using a disk such as the DVD device 6. The storage devices used may be combined.

Next, an embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Image data and audio data are input from the broadcast receiver 3 in FIG. These data are transferred to the first storage device H via the main controller 12.
It is stored in the DD 7 and is controlled by the HDD controller 19. Similarly, image data and audio data are stored in the second storage device DV via the main controller.
D15, and is controlled by the DVD controller 13. In this embodiment, in order to increase the total storage capacity, a plurality of (here, three) DVDs 1
5 is provided with an autochanger function so that the data can be stored, and the control thereof is performed by the DVD control 14.

A microprocessor 18 for controlling the recording / reproducing apparatus 5 is connected to the main controller 12. In the microprocessor 18,
It manages a reservation memory 16 for storing program recording reservation information and a clock and timer 17 for detecting a recording time.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording operation in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a recording operation when recording of a program is started in response to a recording instruction by the broadcast receiver 3 or a sudden recording instruction by a viewer, and the recording and reproducing apparatus 5 sets the recording start time of the program in advance. If you do not know. First, there is a recording instruction from the broadcast receiver 3 or the viewer, and the data stream is received by the broadcast receiver 3 in accordance with the recording instruction, and the recording operation is started. Here, the DVD device 6 has a rise time of rotation, a time required for servo, and the like.
It is not possible to immediately shift to the memory operation (period 10
1). Therefore, during this period (period 101), the storage operation is performed by the HDD 7, which has high access speed. This period (period 1
01) is a short time, which is not enough to press the capacity of the HDD 7. After the storage preparation in the DVD device 6 is completed, the storage operation in the DVD device 6 is performed (period 10).
2). Accordingly, in the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 3A, the beginning of the data stream is stored in the HDD 7, and thereafter, the DV
This will be stored in D15.

On the other hand, FIG. 3B shows a case where the reservation start time of the program is known in advance by the reservation memory 16 and the clock and the timer 17 provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 5. First, the viewer sets reservation recording of a desired program by using the reservation memory 16 provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 5. DVD device 6
Since there is a rise time of the rotation, a time required for the servo, and the like, and it is not possible to immediately shift to the storage operation, the time (the period 201) in which the storage preparation is performed in the DVD device 6 from the start time of the scheduled recording is performed. The storage preparation is started, and when the scheduled recording start time comes, the data stream is received from the broadcast receiver 3 and the HDD 7 and the DVD device 6 simultaneously start the storage operation. The storage preparation of the DVD device 6 means that the spindle motor is rotated, servo is applied, and the DVD device 6 is temporarily stopped.

After a lapse of a predetermined time (period 202), H
The storage operation in the DD 7 is stopped, but the storage operation in the DVD device 6 is continued until the scheduled recording end time. Therefore,
In the recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 3B, the beginning of the data stream is stored in both the HDD 7 and the DVD 15, and thereafter, is stored only in the DVD 15.

Next, the operation of reproducing the program recorded by the recording / reproducing apparatus 5 will be described. FIG.
As shown in (a), when a program is recorded by a recording method in which recording of a program is started by a recording instruction by a broadcast receiver or a sudden recording instruction by a viewer, the reproduction method of the program is as follows. It becomes street. When a program recorded by the above method is instructed to be reproduced by the viewer, D
Since the VD device 6 does not instantaneously enter the playback state because of the rise time of the rotation and the time required for the servo, the playback is started from the beginning of the program stored in the HDD 7 which can be accessed at a high speed. Upon reaching the stored portion and when the preparation for reproduction of the DVD device 6 is completed, the reproduction of the program is switched to the DVD device 6.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the reservation start time of the program is known in advance by the reservation memory 16 and the timer 17 provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 5, when the program is reserved and recorded, The method of reproducing this program is as shown in FIG. When a program recorded by the above-described method is instructed to be reproduced by the viewer, the DVD device 6 does not instantaneously enter the reproduction state because of the rise time of rotation and the time required for servo operation.
Playback from the beginning of the program stored in the
When the preparation for reproduction of the D device 6 is completed, the reproduction of the program is
Switch to VD device 6. In this case, since the program is recorded on the DVD 15 from the beginning of the program, immediately after the preparation for reproduction of the DVD device 6 is completed, the HDD 7 transfers the DVD device 6
It is possible to switch the playback to. In addition, HDD
Even if the DVD 7 on which the program 7 is broken or the storage content of the HDD 7 is destroyed or the DVD 15 on which the program is recorded is reproduced by another reproducing apparatus, the program can be reproduced although the image output is delayed.

Next, the recording time becomes long, and one D
If the DVD cannot be stored in the VD15,
It is conceivable that storage is performed across (three in this embodiment). At the start of recording, there are two types of methods as described above.

One is a recording operation in the case where recording of a program is started by a recording instruction by the broadcast receiver 3 or a sudden recording instruction by a viewer, as shown in FIG.
This is a case where the recording / reproducing apparatus 5 does not know in advance the recording start time of the program. First, there is a recording instruction from the broadcast receiver 3 or the viewer, and the data stream is received by the broadcast receiver 3 in accordance with the recording instruction, and the recording operation is started. Here, DVD
The device 6 has a rise time of rotation, a time required for servo, and the like, and cannot immediately shift to the storage operation (period 301). Therefore, during this period (period 301), the storage operation is performed by the HDD 7, which has high access speed. This period (period 301) is a short time, and is not enough to press down the capacity of the HDD 7. Then, after the preparation for storage in the DVD device 6 is completed, the DVD device 6 performs storage on the disc 1 (period 302). Program length is disk 1
Is exceeded, the DVD 15 is switched from the disc 1 to the disc 2 by the disc changer. During that time, a period for preparing the disc is necessary, and the recording during that time is performed by the HDD 7 (period 303). . Switching of the disk is completed, and disk 2
When the preparation for storage in the DVD is completed, the recording of the program is switched from the HDD 7 to the DVD device 6, and the storage in the disk 2 is performed (period 304). Similarly, at the time of switching from the disk 2 to the disk 3, the storage in the HDD 7 is performed (period 305). When the preparation of the disk 3 is completed, the recording of the program is switched from the HDD 7 to the DVD device 6, and the recording to the disk 3 is performed. The storage is performed (period 306).

The other is a case where the reservation start time of the program is known in advance by the reservation memory 16 and the clock and the timer 17 provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 5 as shown in FIG. First, the viewer sets reservation recording of a desired program by using the reservation memory 16 provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 5. Since the DVD device 6 has a rise time of rotation, a time required for servo, and the like, it is not possible to immediately shift to the storage operation, the time when the DVD device 6 prepares for storage from the start time of the scheduled recording (period 401). To start the storage preparation, and when the scheduled recording start time comes, the data stream is received from the broadcast receiver 3 and the HDD 7 and the D
The VD device 6 simultaneously starts a storage operation. DVD
The storage preparation of the device 6 means that the spindle motor is rotated, servo is applied, and the device 6 is temporarily stopped.

After a lapse of a predetermined time (period 402), H
The storage operation in the DD 7 is stopped, but the storage operation in the DVD device 6 is continued until the scheduled recording end time. In the DVD device 6, data is stored on the disk 1 (period 403).
However, if the program length exceeds the storage time of the disk 1, the DVD 15 is switched from the disk 1 to the disk 2 by the disk changer. In the meantime, since a period for preparing the disk is required, recording during that period is performed by the HDD 7 (period 404). When the disk switching is completed and the storage preparation for the disk 2 is completed,
The recording of the program is switched from the HDD 7 to the DVD device 6, and the program is stored on the disk 2 (period 305). Similarly, when switching from disk 2 to disk 3, H
The storage in the DD 7 is performed (period 406), and when the preparation of the disk 3 is completed, the recording of the program is switched from the HDD 7 to the DVD device 6, and the storage in the disk 3 is performed (period 307).

By controlling the recording / reproducing apparatus in this manner, long-time programs can be recorded without interruption, and even when the viewer watches a long-time program, he or she does not need to be aware of changing disks. It becomes possible to watch continuously.

In the above-described embodiment, if the recording / reproducing apparatus is continuously used, a large amount of image data and audio data are stored in the HDD 7 as a cache. Become. Therefore, it is necessary to erase the data stored in the HDD 7. For example, a method of providing an attribute to image data and assigning a priority is conceivable. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the data stored in the HDD 7 is provided with an attribute. The recording method shown in FIG. 6A stores the beginning of a program in the HDD 7 and then stores the program in the DVD 15. At this time, HD
The data stored in D7 is flagged with "1". In the recording method shown in FIG. 6B, the beginning of the program is stored in both the HDD 7 and the DVD 15, and then the DVD 1
5, the data stored in the HDD 7 is flagged with "2".
Further, according to the recording method shown in FIG. 6C, when a program is stored continuously on a plurality of (in this case, two) DVDs 15, the beginning and the period at the time of disc change are stored in the HDD 7,
The data in which the beginning of D7 is stored is flagged with "3", and the data stored when the disk is replaced is flagged with "4". When these are compared, the data with the flag “2” is the same data as the DVD.
Since the image is also stored in No. 15, even if the image is erased, the image output becomes slow, but there is no particular problem. Therefore, the priority at the time of erasing can be set higher. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the data with the flag "2" is erased from the data with the flags "1" to "4" in the HDD before erasure, and H is deleted.
Secure the free capacity of DD.

In addition to the above-mentioned conditions, the priority is determined by the number of times of reproduction, the recording time, and the protection by the viewer, and the capacity of the HDD 7 is reduced by erasing data having the highest priority at the time of erasing. Can be secured. Examples of priorities at the time of erasing are summarized in the following order: (1) the same data is stored in another storage medium; (2) the recording time is old and the number of times of reproduction is large; and (3) the recording time is old. (4) The recording time is new and the number of times of reproduction is large. (5) The recording time is new and the number of times of reproduction is 0. (6) Protected by the viewer. If the free space of the HDD 7 cannot be secured even if the data of the HDD 7 is erased based on such a priority order, the viewer selects the data to be erased from the data in the HDD 7 to secure the free space of the HDD 7. .

Next, the recording operation of the second embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the recording / reproducing device is the same as that of FIG. In the above-described embodiment, the first part of the data stream is recorded on the HDD 7 and the subsequent part is recorded on the DVD 15. However, if the HDD 7 fails for some reason,
When the recorded program is reproduced, the beginning of the data stream recorded on the HDD 7 cannot be read, and the beginning of the program is cut off and reproduced. Also,
A similar problem occurs when the DVD 15 on which the program excluding the beginning portion is recorded is reproduced by another reproducing apparatus.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Then, during the recording preparation period (part A in the figure), the head part of the data stream is recorded on the HDD 7 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, and recording on the DVD 15 is started after the DVD device 6 has completed the recording preparation ( B part in the figure). At this time, the portion recorded on the HDD 7 up to immediately before is reproduced, and the DVD device 6 performs recording. At the same time, the DVD device 6 also records the data stream of the program currently being broadcast.

When all the data streams recorded on the HDD 7 have been recorded on the DVD 15, the DVD
Subsequently, the device 6 records the data stream of the program currently being broadcast (portion C in the figure). By performing such an operation, when a program is recorded on the DVD 15,
During the preparation period of the device 6, recording on the DVD 15 is not performed,
The first part of the program will not be missing and recorded,
It becomes possible to record all of the programs.

This recording operation will be described with reference to the graph of FIG. An external stream is recorded on the HDD 7 during the recording preparation period of the DVD device 6 from the start of recording. When the DVD device 6 is ready for recording, the recording to the HDD 7 ends, and then the HDD 7 starts a reproducing operation, and
The D device 6 records both data from the HDD 7 and data from the external stream. Therefore, the transfer rate increases until the reproduction of the HDD 7 ends, and the slope of the graph increases.

When the reproduction of the HDD 7 is completed, the DVD device 6 records only the external stream (the program currently being broadcast), and the inclination of the graph becomes the same as the inclination of the external stream.

In the embodiment described above, the HDD 7 and the D
Although the description has been made using the VD device 6, various other combinations are possible according to conditions such as the access speed and the capacity, the price of the medium, and the like. For example, a memory or the like can be used as a device with a high access speed, and a VTR or the like is a device with a low access speed but a large capacity and a low cost. It goes without saying that three or more of the above-mentioned storage devices may be used in combination.

[0036]

As described in detail above, according to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, when sudden recording of a program is performed without knowing the recording start time of the program in advance, the beginning of the program is recorded at an early time. Storing in a device and then storing in a storage device with slow access allows the viewer to play back the recorded program quickly, thereby eliminating stress.

When preprogrammed recording of a program whose recording time is known in advance, by preparing for storage in a storage device with a slow access before the start time of the program, the beginning of the program can be stored in a storage device with a fast access. When a viewer plays a recorded program, it can be played back quickly, and the storage medium stored by the slow access storage device can be transported to another device. It is possible to do.

Further, by storing data in a fast-access storage device while exchanging a storage medium used for a slow-access storage device, a long-time program can be recorded without interruption. .

Furthermore, by simultaneously storing the beginning part of a program recorded in the storage device with quick access and the program currently being broadcast in the storage device with slow access, the program can be stored even if the storage device with fast access fails. Can be played back, and even if the medium used for the storage device with slow access is moved to another playback device and played back, all the programs can be played back.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system including a recording / reproducing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording operation in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a reproducing operation in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a recording operation of another embodiment in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which an attribute is provided to data stored in the HDD in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a recording operation in a second embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a change in data capacity during recording in a second embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Broadcast satellite 2 Broadcast antenna 3 Broadcast receiver 4 TV monitor 5 Recording / reproducing device 6 DVD device 7 HDD

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/85 H04N 5/782 KZ

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A high-speed first storage unit capable of recording digital data constituting a program, and a digital storage unit capable of recording digital data constituting the program, which are more accessible than the first storage unit. A second storage unit having a low access speed; a control unit for selectively recording the digital data in the first storage unit and / or the second storage unit; A timer means for reserving a desired program, wherein when the timer means has reserved and recorded the desired program, the control means sets the second time before the recording start time.
Is controlled so that the recording preparation of the storage means is completed, and the recording of the desired program is simultaneously performed in the first storage means and the second storage means when the recording start time comes. When a predetermined time shorter than the time of the desired program has elapsed, the recording to the first storage means is stopped, and when the desired program is finished, the recording to the second storage means is stopped. When the viewer suddenly gives an instruction to record a desired program,
The control means controls the first storage means to record the desired program until the recording preparation of the second storage means is completed, and the recording preparation of the second storage means is performed. Recording of the desired program by the second storage means after the completion of the recording. 2. A storage medium used for said second storage means is exchangeable, and said desired program cannot be temporally recorded on one storage medium used for said second storage means. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed by the first storage unit during an exchange operation of a storage medium in the second storage unit that records the desired program. . 3. When a storage capacity of the first storage means is insufficient, a flag is given to a program recorded in the first storage means in accordance with a deletion priority of the program, and the deletion is performed. 3. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein deletion is performed from a program with a high priority. 4. A high-speed first storage device capable of recording digital data constituting a program, and a digital storage device capable of recording digital data constituting the program, and A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a second storage unit having a low access speed; and a control unit configured to selectively record the digital data in the first storage unit and / or the second storage unit. When the viewer suddenly instructs recording of a desired program currently being broadcast, the control means sets the first storage means in the first storage means until the recording preparation of the second storage means is completed. After the start of the desired program is controlled to be recorded, and after the recording preparation of the second storage means is completed, the program stored in the first storage means is read by the second storage means. The beginning and the current broadcast After the recording of the first part of the program recorded in the first storage means is completed by the second storage means, the second Recording / reproducing apparatus for controlling the recording means to record only the desired program currently being broadcast.