JP2001257950A - Program recorder, medium and information aggregate - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that the program of recording which has been reserved before the recording reservation of a new program cannot be performed since recording of the new program is reserved. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a medium control part 60 for writing and erasing a program on the recording medium and a micro-controller 40 with built-in clock/graphics function for preserving the program managing information containing the recording conditions of the recording medium and the recording reserving conditions of programs. Concerning such a program recorder, at the time when recording of a program is reserved, the micro- controller 40 with built-in clock/graphics function judges whether the capacity of the recording medium for writing the program of reserved recording exists or not while referring to the program managing information. When such capacity is found to exist, the capacity is reserved but when the capacity does not exist, the program to be erased is determined and the capacity is maintained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program recording device, a medium, and an information aggregate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, the configuration of a program recording apparatus according to the prior art will be described with reference to FIG.

The primary tuner 10 is a device for receiving an analog broadcast channel to be recorded from the antenna 1.

[0004] The sub-tuner 20 is a device for receiving electronic program information provided by a broadcasting station (not shown) from the antenna 1. Data decode processing unit 21
Is a device for inputting a signal from the sub tuner 20 and extracting and decoding electronic program information multiplexed in a vertical retrace interval of a specific channel.

[0005] The video / audio encoding unit 30 is a means for inputting a signal from the primary tuner 10 and encoding a digital video / audio signal by MPEG or the like.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 140 is means for causing the medium control unit 60 to record a program. At the time of recording, the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function determines whether or not there is free space on the recording medium 61 for writing the program, by using the program management information stored in the memory 41. Is a means to determine by referring to However,
When there is no free space in the recording medium 61 for writing the program, the microcontroller 140 with a built-in clock / graphics function records the program in the medium control unit 60.
This is a means that is not executed by

[0007] The memory 41 is a device that holds electronic program information, program management information, and a work memory required for the operation of the microcontroller 140 with a built-in clock / graphics function.

The memory 41 stores, for example, the program management information shown in FIG. In addition, FIG.
It is a list figure of the program management information by 10:00 on November 20, 1999 by the prior art.

[0009] The program management information includes a current time and a maximum recording time. The program management information has a channel, a recording start date and time, a recording time, and a program recording state described for each program.

The maximum recording time is the maximum value of the total recording time of programs that can be recorded on the recording medium 61,
The maximum recording time of the recording medium 61 is 12 hours. The recording start date and time is the date and time when the broadcast of the program starts. The recording time is the broadcast time of the program. The program recording state is a state relating to recording of a program, and is “reserved”, “recorded”,
One of "recording". The programs in the list are arranged in order from the one with the earliest recording start date and time.

The infrared remote controller 150 is used to control power supply, switch channels, reserve program recording, and the like.
1 、 Micro clock with built-in clock and graphics function
The medium control unit 60, which is a device for instructing the controller 140, includes the video / audio encoding processing unit 30,
And means for inputting a signal from the microcontroller 140 with a built-in clock / graphics function to write and erase data in the recording medium 61.

The video / audio / decoding processing unit 70 is a means for receiving a signal from the medium control unit 60 and decoding a digital video / audio signal. Microcontroller 140 with built-in graphics function and video / audio decoding processor 70
This is a means for inputting a signal from and outputting video, audio, and graphics.

The data display section 90 is a means for receiving a signal from the video / audio / graphic switching section 80 and displaying the video and audio on a CRT (cathode-ray tube) 91.

The operation of the conventional program recording apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, a program recording apparatus was introduced in 1999
An operation for making a reservation for recording “Japanese movie XYZ” at 10:00 on January 20 will be described.

The infrared remote controller 150 inputs a signal instructing recording reservation of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” to the microcontroller 140 with a built-in clock / graphics function through the infrared light receiving section 51 in response to a user's recording reservation instruction. The content of the user's recording reservation instruction is that the channel is “6” and the program is “Japanese movie XYZ”.

Clock and graphics function built-in micro
The controller 140 inputs the above-mentioned recording reservation instruction from the infrared remote controller 50 as a signal. Further, the microcontroller 140 with a built-in clock / graphics function refers to the electronic program information held in the memory 41 and sets the recording start date and time of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” on November 21, 1999.
It is recognized that the recording time is 3 hours on day 21:00, and the program management information shown in FIG.
Is rewritten to the program management information shown in. FIG.
1 is a list of the program management information at 10:01 on November 20, 1999. The main difference from FIG. 10 is that the recording reservation of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is accepted. is there.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 140 stores the program management information shown in FIG.

Next, the program recording apparatus is described in
The operation when recording the program "Japanese movie XYZ" at 21:00 on March 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a list of the program management information at 2:00 on November 21, 1999 in the prior art. The programs "Sumo XYZ", "Movie X"
FIG. 1 shows that the program recording state of “YZ” is “recorded” and the program recording state of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is “recording”.
This is the main difference from 1.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
When the time approaches 21:00 on November 21, 1999, the controller 140 refers to the program management information (see FIG. 12) held in the memory 41, and stores a program having a recording time of 3 hours in the recording medium 61. It recognizes that there is just enough free space to record “Japanese movie XYZ”. This is because the maximum recording time of the recording medium 61 is 12 hours, and the total recording time of a program whose program recording state is “recorded” at 15:00 on November 21, 1999 is 9 hours. Because.

The main tuner 10 is a device which is mounted on November 21, 1999.
At 21:00 on the day, a radio wave transmitted from a broadcasting station (not shown) is received from the antenna 1 and the program “Japanese movie XY” is received.
The data having the content “Z” is extracted, and a signal is output to the video / audio encoding unit 30. The medium control unit 60 receives a signal from the video / audio encoding unit 30 and starts writing the program “Japanese movie XYZ” to the recording medium 61.

Next, the program recording apparatus is described in
The operation when the recording of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is completed at 21:00 on March 21 will be described.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 operates at 0:00 on November 22, 1999.
When the number of minutes is reached, an instruction to complete the recording of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is output to the medium control unit 60 by referring to the electronic program information (not shown) held in the memory 41.

The medium control unit 60 receives an instruction from the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, and completes recording of the program "Japanese movie XYZ". Also, the medium control unit 60 notifies the completion of the recording of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” by the microcontroller 4 with a built-in clock / graphics function.
0, and the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function rewrites the program management information as shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 13 shows the time of 0:00 on November 22, 1999.
FIG. 1 is a list of the program management information for each minute, and the point that the program recording state of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is “recorded” in FIG.
This is the main difference from 2.

[0025]

As will be understood from FIG. 13, the total recording time of a program whose program recording status is "recorded" at 0:00 on November 22, 1999 is as follows. 12 hours. Since the maximum recording time of the recording medium 61 is 12 hours, there is no free space in the recording medium 61 at this time.

However, as already explained,
When there is no free space in the recording medium 61 for writing the program, the microcontroller 140 with a built-in clock / graphics function records the program in the medium control unit 60.
Do not run. Therefore, the recording start time is 1999
"Golf XYZ" at 8:00 on November 22, 2008
Is not executed. As can be seen from FIG. 10, this is extremely inconvenient considering that the recording reservation of the program "Golf XYZ" was already made at the time when the recording reservation of the program "Japanese movie XYZ" was made.

As described above, there is a problem that the recording of a program that has been reserved for recording before the recording reservation is not executed because the recording reservation of the program is newly performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a program recording device, a medium, and an information aggregate capable of reliably executing recording of a program for which recording reservation has been made in consideration of the above conventional problems. Things.

[0029]

Means for Solving the Problems The first invention (claim 1)
) Is a program recording reservation means for making a recording reservation of a program, a recording means for writing and erasing the program on a recording medium, and at least a recording condition of the recording medium,
And management means for storing program management information including a recording reservation status of the program, and for recording the program in the recording means by the recording reservation or irrespective of the recording reservation, the management means comprising: At the time when the recording reservation unit has reserved the recording of the program, the recording unit determines whether or not the capacity of the recording medium for writing the program reserved for recording exists at that time by referring to the program management information. If the capacity exists as free space, the capacity should be reserved.If the capacity does not exist as free space, the program should be erased from the already recorded programs based on a predetermined standard. A program recording apparatus characterized by determining a program, causing the recording means to delete the program to be deleted, and reserving the capacity.

A second invention (corresponding to claim 2) is the program recording apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the program to be deleted is notified to one or more users.

According to a third aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 3), the notification is performed by a user who has made the recording reservation and / or a user who has recorded the program to be deleted and / or a user who is connected by a network. A program recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, which is performed for all the users.

A fourth invention (corresponding to claim 4) is characterized in that the notification is made to a user who has at least an access right that guarantees a right to make a recording reservation of a program. 1 is a program recording device of the present invention.

A fifth invention (corresponding to claim 5) is the program recording apparatus according to the second invention, wherein the notification is made by a telephone line.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 6), a program prohibited from being erased by at least one user is:
When the program to be deleted is determined, the determination is rejected, and the user who has prohibited the deletion is notified that the rejection has been performed. Program recording device.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 7), when a predetermined user among the one or a plurality of users requests suspension of erasure of the program to be erased, the program to be erased is deleted. A program recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, wherein erasure is not performed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 8), when a predetermined user among one or a plurality of users is reproducing the program to be deleted, the program to be deleted is not deleted. A first aspect of the present invention is a program recording apparatus according to the present invention.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 9), the predetermined criterion is determined using a reproduction status of a recorded program and / or an order in which the program was recorded. The first aspect of the present invention is a program recording apparatus according to the present invention.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 10), the erased program is moved to a trash can, and the erased program can be restored to a playable state by a predetermined method. A program recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, wherein the determination as to whether or not there is a capacity of the recording medium for writing the program reserved for recording is made except for the program moved to the trash box. It is.

The eleventh present invention (corresponding to claim 11) provides:
When the recording reservation of the program reserved for recording is canceled, the program moved to the trash can due to the reservation of the recording is restored to a reproducible state by being moved from the trash can. A tenth feature of the present invention is a program recording device.

The twelfth invention (corresponding to claim 12) provides:
The reserved capacity is set to be larger than the capacity of the program reserved for recording, and the remaining capacity at the time when the recording is completed or stopped is released from the reserve. 1 is a program recording device of the present invention.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 13),
When the suspension of the broadcast of the program reserved for recording is recognized by the use of the electronic program information, the capacity reserved for the reserved recording is released from the reserve at the time when the suspension is recognized. A first aspect of the present invention is a program recording apparatus according to the present invention.

The fourteenth invention (corresponding to claim 14) is:
The recording means uses the capacity of the recording medium reserved for writing the program reserved for recording for temporary recording of another program until the recording of the program reserved for recording is performed. The program for which the temporary recording has been performed is erased at least before the recording of the program reserved for recording is performed, which is the first program recording apparatus of the present invention.

The fifteenth invention (corresponding to claim 15) is:
A medium carrying a program and / or data for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the functions of all or part of any of the first to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, which can be processed by the computer A medium characterized by the following.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 16) is:
An information aggregate characterized by being a program and / or data for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the functions of all or part of any of the first to fourteenth aspects of the present invention. .

[0045]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the program recording device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the program recording device according to the first embodiment.

The primary tuner 10 is a device for receiving an analog broadcast channel to be recorded from the antenna 1.

The sub-tuner 20 is a device for receiving electronic program information provided by a broadcasting station (not shown) from the antenna 1. Data decode processing unit 21
Is a device for inputting a signal from the sub tuner 20 and extracting and decoding electronic program information multiplexed in a vertical retrace interval of a specific channel.

The video / audio encoding unit 30 is a means for inputting a signal from the main tuner 10 and encoding a digital video / audio signal by MPEG or the like. In addition,
The video / audio encoding unit 30 is unnecessary when receiving a digital broadcast.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 is means for causing the medium control unit 60 to record a program with or without recording reservation. Further, the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, when the recording reservation is made,
The medium controller 60 determines whether or not the capacity of the recording medium 61 for writing the program reserved for recording exists in the memory 4.
This is a means that can be determined by referring to the program management information held in No. 1 and, if the required capacity exists as a free capacity, that capacity can be reserved. However, if the capacity of the recording medium 61 for writing the program reserved for recording does not exist as free space, as described later in detail, the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function has already recorded the program. This is a means for determining a program to be deleted from a set of programs based on a predetermined criterion and causing the medium control unit 60 to delete the program, thereby reserving a necessary capacity.

In the present embodiment, determining a program to be deleted based on a predetermined criterion means to designate a program whose recording start date and time is earlier as a program to be deleted with higher priority.

The microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function is a means capable of transmitting and receiving signals via an interface 42 via a network, as described later.

As will be described later, the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function generates the program management information as a graphic, and displays the information on the data display unit 90 according to the operation of the infrared remote controller 50 by the user. It is a means that can be controlled.

The memory 41 is a device that holds electronic program information, program management information, and a work memory required for the operation of the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function.

The means including the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function and the memory 41 in this embodiment corresponds to the management means of the present invention.

The memory 41 stores, for example, the program management information shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention on November 20, 1999 described in the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a list figure of the program management information at 0:00.

The program management information has a current time and a maximum recording time. The program management information includes a channel, a recording setter, a recording start date and time, a recording time, a current read counter value, and a program recording state described for each program. As will be described later, programs that have been erased and are in the trash can are marked with a trash can, and programs for which temporary recording is performed are marked with a “T”.

Here, the information of the above-mentioned program management information will be described.

The maximum recording time is the maximum value of the total recording time of programs that can be recorded on the recording medium 61, and is 12 hours in the present embodiment.

The channel is a broadcast channel of a program. The channel corresponds to a part of the electronic program information in the present invention.

The recording setter is the registered name of the user who made the recording reservation. In the present embodiment, the recording setter is one of A, B, and C.

The recording start date and time is the date and time when the broadcast of the program starts. Note that the recording start date and time corresponds to a part of the electronic program information in the present invention.

The recording time is the broadcast time of the program. The recording time corresponds to a part of the recording state of the recording medium and the recording reservation state of the program in the present invention.

The current read counter value is the number of users playing the program, which is obtained as the value of the current read counter of the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function.

The program recording state is a state relating to recording of a program, and in this embodiment, “recording reservation”,
Either “recorded” or “recording”. The program recording state is a part of the recording state of the recording medium in the present invention,
And program recording reservation status.

The programs in the list are arranged in the order of earliest recording start date and time.

The infrared remote controller 50 controls the power supply, channel switching, program recording reservation, and the like.
Is a device for instructing the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function through The means including the infrared remote controller 50 and the infrared light receiving unit 51 in the present embodiment corresponds to the program recording reservation means of the present invention.

The medium control unit 60 receives signals from the video / audio encoding processing unit 30 and the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, and
1 means for writing and erasing data. Note that the medium control unit 60 in the present embodiment corresponds to the recording unit of the present invention.

The video / audio / decoding processing section 70 is a means for inputting a signal from the medium control section 60 and decoding a digital video / audio signal. This is a means for inputting a signal from the microcontroller 40 with a built-in graphics function and the video / audio decode processing unit 70 and switching the output between video, audio, and graphics.

The data display section 90 is a means for inputting a signal from the video / audio / graphic switching section 80 and displaying the video and audio on the CRT 91 and the speaker 92. For example, the data display unit 90 is a unit that can display the program management information stored in the memory 41 on the CRT 91 and the speaker 92.

The operation of the program recording apparatus according to the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the operation of the program recording apparatus of the present embodiment when making a recording reservation for the program “Japanese movie XYZ” at 10:00 on November 20, 1999 will be described with reference to FIGS. explain.

The infrared remote controller 50 inputs a signal for instructing recording reservation of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” to the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function through the infrared light receiving section 51 in accordance with the recording reservation instruction of the user A. Note that the user A's recording reservation instruction content is that the recording setter is “A”, the channel is “6”, and the program is “Japanese movie XYZ”.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 inputs the above-described recording reservation instruction from the infrared remote controller 50 as a signal.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 refers to the electronic program information (not shown) held in the memory 41 and refers to the program “Japanese movie XYZ”.
Is a program that is broadcast from 21:00 on November 21, 1999, and that its broadcast time is 3 hours. In addition, micro-
The controller 40 refers to the program management information shown in FIG. 2 and recognizes that the recording medium 61 does not have a capacity for writing the program “Japanese movie XYZ”. Because, as also shown in FIG.
At 10:00 on the 0th day, the total recording time of a program whose program recording state is “recorded” is 3 hours, and the recording medium 61 has a capacity of 9 hours for which recording has not yet been performed. However, the capacity for this 9 hours is based on the program "Sumo XY
This is because the reservation of the recording of the program such as "Z" has already been made, and the program is already reserved.

Clock / Graphics Built-in Micro
The controller 40 reserves the capacity required for recording the program “Japanese movie XYZ” having a broadcast time of 3 hours,
The program “drama XYZ” having a recording time of 2 hours and the program “news XYZ” having a recording time of 1 hour are determined to be programs to be deleted. As described above, a program whose recording start date and time is earlier is designated as a program to be deleted with higher priority.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 determines that it is necessary to notify the user A who is the recording setter of the program “Drama XYZ” that the program “Drama XYZ” has been designated as the program to be deleted, and Is transmitted to the user's PC (not shown).

The user's PC (not shown) receives a signal notifying that the program “Drama XYZ” has been designated as a program to be erased, and sends a signal for accepting the signal to the microcontroller with a built-in clock and graphics function. Transmit to controller 40.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 receives from the user A PC (not shown) a signal to approve the deletion of the program “Drama XYZ”,
The medium control unit 60 is instructed to delete the program “Drama XYZ”.

The medium control unit 60 erases the program “Drama XYZ” in accordance with a command from the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function. By this deletion, the program “Drama XYZ” is moved to the trash box.

Similarly, the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function transmits the program “News XYZ”
Of the program "News XYZ" must be notified that the program has been designated as the program to be deleted, and the user's PC (not shown) transmits the signal through the network. Do for The user B's PC (not shown) receives this signal, transmits a signal to approve the erasure of the program “News XYZ” to the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, Controller 4
0 indicates that the program “news XYZ” is to be erased by the medium control unit 60.
To order. The medium control unit 60 deletes the program “News XYZ” in accordance with this. By this deletion, the program "News XYZ" is moved to the trash box.

However, as will be described later, for example, the program “News XYZ” can be moved from the trash can and reproduced again by canceling the recording reservation of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” for which recording reservation is currently made. Can be resurrected to the state.

Clock / Graphics Built-in Micro
In this way, the controller 40 sets the program “Japanese movie XY
The capacity required for the recording of "Z" is reserved, and the program management information shown in FIG. 2 is rewritten to the program management information shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a list of the program management information at 10:01 on November 20, 1999 described in the embodiment of the present invention. The programs "Drama XYZ" and "News XYZ" moved to the trash can are shown in FIG. Are marked with a trash can, and the recording reservation of the program "Japanese movie XYZ" is accepted, which is the main difference from FIG.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 stores the program management information shown in FIG.

Next, the program recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, after the recording reservation of the program “Japanese movie XYZ”,
The operation for making a recording reservation for the program “Baseball XYZ” at 10:01 on November 20, 1999 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The infrared remote controller 50 inputs a signal for instructing the recording reservation of the program “Baseball XYZ” to the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function according to the recording reservation instruction of the user A. Note that the user A's recording reservation instruction content is such that the recording setter is “A”, the channel is “6”, and the program is “Baseball XYZ”.
It is.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 refers to the electronic program information held in the memory 41 and determines that the program “Baseball XYZ” is 1
It recognizes that the program is to be broadcast from 15:00 on November 21, 999 and that its broadcast time is 2 hours.

The microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function refers to the program management information shown in FIG. 3 and has no capacity for writing the program “Baseball XYZ” in the recording medium 61. Judge. This is because, as shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium 61 has a capacity for 9 hours in which recording has not yet been performed.
This is because it has already been reserved at 10:00 on March 20. The total recording time of a program whose program recording state is "recorded" is 3 hours, but these are moved to the trash and the capacity of the recording medium 61 for writing the program reserved for recording does not exist. This is because the determination as to whether or not to perform is performed excluding the program moved to the trash can.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 determines this determination in the program “Baseball X
In order to notify the user A who has made the recording reservation of “YZ”, the program management table shown in FIG.
Is output to the data display section 90 through the video / audio / graphic switching section 80 as a signal.

The data display section 90 receives a signal from the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, and displays the program management information shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a list view of the program management information at 10:02 on November 20, 1999 described in the embodiment of the present invention, in which information relating to the program "Baseball XYZ" is added. Are the main differences from FIG. However, the program "Baseball XY
Since the recording reservation of "Z" has not been accepted, the recording state of the program is undecided.

The infrared remote controller 50 performs temporary recording of the program “Baseball XYZ” by using a part of the reserved capacity for writing the program “Japanese movie XYZ” in accordance with the instruction of the user A. Input signal.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 receives a signal from the infrared remote controller 50 and uses a part of the three-hour capacity reserved for writing the program “Japanese movie XYZ” to record the program “Japanese movie XYZ”. It is determined that temporary recording of the program “Baseball XYZ” can be performed during the period. Because the program "Japanese movie XY
In the period from 21:00 on November 21, 1999 to 21:00, the program “Japanese movie XYZ” was not recorded in the three hours reserved for this purpose. This is because it is possible to temporarily record a program "Baseball XYZ" broadcasted at 15:00 on March 21 and having a broadcast time of 2 hours.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
Based on the above determination, the controller 40 accepts, as instructed by the user A, a signal instructing recording reservation for performing temporary recording of the program “Baseball XYZ”, and executes the program management shown in FIG. The information is rewritten to the program management information shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation performed on November 20, 1999, 10
FIG. 3 is a list view of the program management information at time 03: FIG. 3 shows that a recording reservation of a program “Baseball XYZ” provided with an inscription “T” indicating that temporary recording is performed is accepted. Is the main difference. In addition, in order to clearly indicate that the recording of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is performed by using the reserved capacity for writing the program “Japanese movie XYZ”, the information on these two programs is indicated by one thick frame. Is surrounded by

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 stores the program management information shown in FIG. The clock / graphics built-in microcontroller 40 is connected to the speaker 9.
Second, the audio display "Recording reservation completed. However, the program" Baseball XYZ "will be deleted when the recording start date of the program" Japanese movie XYZ "becomes 21:00 on November 21, 1999. Command.

The speaker 92 receives a command from the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, and displays a voice message "Recording reservation has been completed. However, the program" Baseball XYZ "is different from the program" Japanese movie XYZ ". It will be deleted when the recording start date and time becomes 21:00 on November 21, 1999. Is output.

Next, at 13:00 on November 20, 1999, the program recording apparatus of this embodiment
The operation for canceling the recording reservation of the program "Japanese movie XYZ" will be described with reference to FIGS.

The infrared remote controller 50 inputs, to the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, a signal instructing to cancel the recording reservation of the program “Japanese movie XYZ” according to the instruction of the user A.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
When the controller 40 receives the signal, the controller 40
1, the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is stored on November 21, 1999, with reference to the program management information (not shown) held in No. 1.
It recognizes that the program is broadcast from 0:00 and its broadcast time is 3 hours. Further, the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function sets the program “Drama XYZ” having a recording time of 2 hours and the program “News XYZ” having a recording time of 1 hour as programs to be erased. It recognizes that the capacity for three hours required for recording the program “Japanese movie XYZ” is reserved. The microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function uses a part of the capacity for three hours to broadcast a program that is broadcast for two hours from 15:00 on November 21, 1999. It recognizes that a recording reservation for performing temporary recording of “baseball XYZ” has been made.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
Based on the above recognition, the controller 40 cancels the recording reservation of the program "Japanese movie XYZ" as instructed by the user A, and sets the program "Drama XYZ" as a program to be deleted, thereby recording the program "Baseball XYZ". Is reserved, and the program "News XYZ" is moved from the trash box and restored to a playable state. This is because temporary recording of the program “Baseball XYZ”, which has a broadcast time of 2 hours, is performed by using a part of the reserved capacity of 3 hours for writing the program “Japanese movie XYZ”. It was, but the program "Japanese movie XY
Z ”, the recording start date and time are earlier than the program“ News XYZ ”and the recording time is 2
This is because only the erasure of the program “Drama XYZ”, which is the time, sufficiently reserves the capacity for two hours for writing the program “Baseball XYZ”.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 rewrites the program management information as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a list of the program management information at 13:01 on November 20, 1999 described in the embodiment of the present invention.
The point that the recording reservation of the program "Z" has been canceled, the mark "T" given to the program "Baseball XYZ" has disappeared, and the mark of the trash can given to the program "News XYZ" has disappeared. This is the main difference from 5.

Next, at 15:00 on November 21, 1999, the program recording apparatus according to the present embodiment
The operation when starting the recording of the program "Baseball XYZ" will be described.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 operates at 15:00 on November 21, 1999.
When 0 minute approaches, a command to overwrite the program “Baseball XYZ” on the program “Drama XYZ” is referred to by referring to the program management information (not shown) held in the memory 41.
A signal is output to the medium control unit 60.

The primary tuner 10 was manufactured on November 21, 1999.
At 15:00 on the day, a radio wave transmitted from a broadcasting station (not shown) is received from the antenna 1, data having contents of the program “Baseball XYZ” is extracted, and the data is transmitted to the video / audio encoding processing unit 30. The video / audio encoding unit 30 encodes the signal input from the main tuner 10 and outputs the signal to the medium control unit 60.

The medium control unit 60 receives a signal from the video / audio encoding unit 30 and outputs the signal “baseball XY”.
Writing of “Z” to the recording medium 61 is started. In addition, the medium control unit 60 outputs a signal to the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function to start writing data having the content of the program “Baseball XYZ” to the recording medium 61.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 rewrites the program management information as shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
Is a list of the program management information at 15:00 on November 21, 2011, except that the program “Drama XYZ” has been deleted and the program recording state of the program “Baseball XYZ” is “Recording”. This is the main difference from 6.

Next, at 16:00 on November 21, 1999, the program recording apparatus according to the present embodiment
The operation of stopping the recording of the program "Baseball XYZ" due to the suspension of the broadcasting of the program "Baseball XYZ" will be described.

The sub-tuner 20 is provided on November 21, 1999.
At 15:55 on the day, a radio wave transmitted from a broadcasting station (not shown) is received from the antenna 1 and the broadcasting of the program “Baseball XYZ” is started at 16:00 on November 21, 1999.
It extracts data having electronic program information including information indicating that the program will be stopped in minutes, and outputs a signal to the data decode processing unit 21.

The data decode processor 21 decodes the signal input from the sub tuner 20 and outputs the signal to the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 inputs a signal from the data decode processing unit 21 and broadcasts the program "Baseball XYZ" for one.
The electronic program information (not shown) including the information that the program is to be canceled at 16:00 on November 21, 999 is stored in the memory 41, and the surplus 1 due to the broadcast of the program “Baseball XYZ” being stopped. Free up reserve for hours. This is because the program “Drama XYZ” having a broadcast time of 2 hours is set as a program to be deleted, and the program “Baseball XY” having a broadcast time of 2 hours is set.
This is because the capacity required for recording “Z” was reserved, but recording of the program “Baseball XYZ” was stopped in one hour.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 operates at 06:00 on November 21, 1999.
At 0 minutes, the program "baseball XYZ" is referred to by referring to the electronic program information (not shown) held in the memory 41.
The command to stop the recording is output to the medium control unit 60 as a signal.

The medium control unit 60 inputs a command from the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function, and stops recording the program “Baseball XYZ”. In addition, the medium control unit 60 outputs a signal to the microcontroller 40 with a built-in clock / graphics function to stop recording the program “Baseball XYZ”.

Clock / graphics built-in micro
The controller 40 rewrites the program management information as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a list diagram of the program management information at 16:00 on November 21, 2011. The point that the program recording state of the program “Baseball XYZ” is “recorded” and the recording time is 1 hour is shown in FIG. Is the main difference.

Here, the total recording time of a program whose program recording status is “recorded” is 8 hours, and the total recording time of a program whose program recording status is “recording reservation” is 3 hours. However, since the maximum recording time of the recording medium 61 is 12 hours, there is a free capacity of one hour in which the reservation is released because the broadcast of the program "Baseball XYZ" has been stopped. The recording of the program "Golf XYZ" is reliably executed unless the recording reservation is canceled, for example.

It should be noted that the program to be deleted in the present invention does not need to be notified only to the user who has reserved the program to be deleted as in the above-described embodiment.
For example, a user who has made a recording reservation and / or a user who has recorded a program to be erased and / or all users connected by a network and / or a user who has an access right that guarantees at least the right to make a reservation for recording a program May be notified. Also,
The notification does not need to be made to the user's PC connected by the network as in the above-described embodiment, and is sent to the user's telephone, particularly a mobile phone by using a telephone line or the like. You may.

Further, the determination of the program to be deleted in the present invention does not need to be performed according to the instruction of the user who makes the recording reservation of the program as in the above-described embodiment. For example, the deletion is performed by at least one user. If a prohibited program is determined to be a program to be deleted, that determination may be rejected. Further, a user who has prohibited the deletion may be notified that the determination has been made.

Further, the value of the current read counter in the present invention does not need to be 0 as in the above-described embodiment, but may be 1 or more. When the value of the current read counter of a program is 1 or more, one or more users are playing the program, but if a predetermined user is playing a program to be deleted, Alternatively, the program to be deleted may not be deleted.

In the present invention, determining a program to be deleted based on a predetermined criterion means that a program whose recording start date and time is earlier is designated as a program to be deleted with higher priority as in the above-described embodiment. This does not have to be the case, for example, a program with a higher number of plays may be designated as a program to be erased with higher priority, or a program which has been partially played should be erased with higher priority. In other words, it may be specified using the reproduction status of the recorded program and / or the order in which the program was recorded.

The reserved capacity in the present invention does not need to be equal to the capacity of the program reserved for recording as in the above-described embodiment, and is larger than the capacity of the program reserved for recording. The reserved capacity at the time when the recording is completed or stopped may be released from the reserve.

The functions of each component of the program recording apparatus of the present invention may be realized by dedicated hardware, or may be realized by software using a computer program.

Further, by creating a medium holding a program and / or data for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the functions of all or a part of the above-described embodiment, and using the medium, The read program and / or data may execute the same operation as described above in cooperation with the computer.

Further, an information aggregate characterized by being a program and / or data for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the functions of all or a part of the above-described embodiment is prepared. By utilizing, the read program and / or data structure may cooperate with a computer to perform the same operation as described above.

Here, the data includes a data structure, a data format, a type of data, and the like. The medium includes a recording medium such as a ROM, a transmission medium such as the Internet, and a transmission medium such as light, radio waves, and sound waves. In addition, the carried medium includes, for example, a recording medium on which a program and / or data is recorded, a transmission medium for transmitting the program and / or data, and the like. In addition, to be able to be processed by a computer means that, for example, in the case of a recording medium such as a ROM, it can be read by a computer. As a result of the transmission,
Including that it can be handled by a computer.
The information aggregate includes, for example, software such as programs and / or data.

[0122]

As is apparent from the above description, the first invention corresponding to claim 1 provides a program recording apparatus characterized in that proper management such as storage and deletion of data is performed. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program recording apparatus for erasing appropriate data.

A sixth aspect of the present invention corresponding to claim 6 can provide a program recording apparatus characterized by performing appropriate data protection in addition to the above effects.

The tenth invention corresponding to claim 10 can provide a program recording apparatus characterized by storing appropriate data in addition to the above effects.

A twelfth invention corresponding to claim 12 is:
In addition to the above effects, it is possible to provide a program recording apparatus characterized by performing appropriate management of a recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a program recording apparatus described in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;
List of program management information at 10:00 on January 20

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
List of program management information at 10:01 on January 20

FIG. 4 illustrates the first embodiment of the present invention.
List of program management information at 10:02 on January 20

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
List of program management information at 10:03 on January 20

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
List of program management information at 13:01 on January 20

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
List of program management information at 15:00 on January 21

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
List of program management information at 16:00 on January 21

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a program recording apparatus according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 10: November 20, 1999 1 according to the prior art
List of program management information at 0:00

FIG. 11: November 20, 1999 1 according to the prior art
List of program management information at 0:01

FIG. 12: November 21, 1999 2 according to the prior art
List of program management information at 1:00

FIG. 13: November 22, 1999 0 according to the prior art
List of program management information at 0:00

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna 10 Primary tuner 20 Secondary tuner 21 Data decode processing part 30 Video / audio encoding processing part 40 Microcontroller with built-in clock / graphics function 41 Memory 42 Interface 50 Infrared remote controller 51 Infrared light receiving part 60 Medium control part 61 Recording medium 70 Video / audio decoding processing unit 80 video / audio / graphic switching unit 90 data display unit 91 CRT 92 speaker 140 microcontroller with built-in clock / graphics function 150 infrared remote control

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/00 H04N 5/00 A 5/445 5/445 Z 5/76 5/76 Z // H04N 7/08 7 / 08 Z 7/081 (72) Inventor Yasushi Yasushi 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Pref.Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Inventor Rei Yanagisawa 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Reference) HA25

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A program recording reservation unit for making a recording reservation of a program, a recording unit for writing and erasing the program on and from a recording medium, at least a recording state of the recording medium, and a recording reservation state of the program And a management unit for storing the program in the recording unit by the recording reservation or irrespective of the recording reservation, wherein the management unit records the program by the program recording reservation unit. At the time of the reservation, the recording means determines whether or not the capacity of the recording medium for writing the program reserved for recording exists at that time by referring to the program management information. If it exists, the capacity is reserved, and if the capacity does not exist as free space, the predetermined Determining a program to be deleted based on the reference, the recording means is erased programs to its erased, the program recording apparatus characterized by reserving the capacity. 2. The program recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program to be deleted is notified to one or more users. 3. The notification is provided to all users who have made the recording reservation and / or users who have recorded the program to be deleted and / or all users connected by a network. Claim 2
The program recording device according to the above. 4. The program recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the notification is given to a user having at least an access right that guarantees a right to make a recording reservation of the program. 5. The program recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said notification is made by a telephone line. 6. When a program whose deletion is prohibited by at least one user is determined to be the program to be deleted, the determination is rejected, and the rejection is made to the user who has performed the deletion prohibition. 3. The program recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the program recording is notified. 7. A program according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined user of said one or more users requests cancellation of said program to be deleted, said program to be deleted is not deleted. 2. The program recording device according to 1. 8. The program recording according to claim 1, wherein when one or more predetermined users are playing back the program to be deleted, the program to be deleted is not deleted. apparatus. 9. The program recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion is determined by using a reproduction status of a recorded program and / or an order in which the program was recorded. . 10. The erased program is moved to a trash can, the erased program can be restored to a playable state by a predetermined method, and the recording medium for writing the program reserved for recording. 2. The program recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination as to whether or not there is a capacity of the program is performed excluding a program moved to the trash box. 11. When the recording reservation of the program reserved for recording is canceled, the program which has been moved to the trash can due to the reservation of the recording is set in a reproducible state by being moved from the trash can. 11. The program recording device according to claim 10, wherein the program recording device is restored. 12. The reserved capacity is larger than the capacity of the program reserved for recording.
2. The program recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reserved capacity at the time when the recording is completed or stopped is released. 13. When use of electronic program information is used to determine that the suspension of the broadcast of a program reserved for recording has been recognized, the capacity reserved due to the reservation of the recording is changed at the time when the suspension is recognized. 2. The program recording device according to claim 1, wherein the reserve is released. 14. The recording means changes the capacity of the recording medium reserved for writing the reserved-for-recording program until the recording of the reserved-for-recording program is performed. 2. The program recording according to claim 1, wherein the program on which the temporary recording has been performed is erased at least before the recording of the program reserved for recording is performed. apparatus. 15. A medium carrying a program and / or data for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the functions of all or a part of the present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 14. A medium which can be processed by a computer. 16. A program and / or data for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the functions of all or part of the present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 14. Information aggregate to do.