JP2001307395A - Magnetic recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic recording and reproducing device which enables a broadcast program, etc., having been interrupted during its reproduction to be viewed immediately from the stop position. SOLUTION: This magnetic recording and reproducing device 5, equipped with a control head 9 which records a control signal regarding recording information of a magnetic tape 1 in a control signal recording area 1a of the magnetic tape 1 and also detects the control signal in the recording area 1a, is provided with a bookmark signal input means 4 which outputs a bookmark signal indicating a point of time when the reproduction of recording information of the magnetic tape 1 ends and a control means 15 which starts the reproduction of the recording information of the magnetic tape 1 from the place where number information is detected after recording the number information at an arbitrary position in the control signal recording area 1a by the control head 9 when the book mark command signal is sent from the bookmark signal input means 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus such as a video tape recorder (VTR) having a function of recording information for retrieval on a magnetic tape, and more particularly to a broadcast recorded on a video tape. The present invention relates to a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing a program or the like from a desired location.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to facilitate retrieval during reproduction of a broadcast program recorded on a video tape, a cue signal is usually recorded on the video tape. As an example of this, a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which enables repeated reproduction of data recorded on a magnetic tape has been proposed (JP-A-3-6904).
No. 3). According to this control means, control signal detecting means for setting first and second control signal areas for recording a numerical value at an arbitrary position in a repeated portion of a magnetic tape and reading out first and second control signals at the time of repetitive reproduction. Is provided. Further, it is provided with means for writing a numerical value stored in the memory in advance in the control signal area when the first and second control signals are detected, a display unit for displaying the numerical value held in the memory, and the like. When the first control signal is read from the control signal detecting means at the time of repetitive reproduction, this magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus increments the value, stores the value in the memory, and displays the value on the display unit. Therefore, the frequency of use of the magnetic tape can be confirmed, and a failure of the VTR due to deterioration of the magnetic tape or the like can be prevented beforehand.

[0003] However, this type of magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is configured to record a numerical value at an arbitrary position in a control signal area set on a magnetic tape. When programs are continuously recorded, it is impossible to determine where and what is recorded, and therefore, it has not been possible to reproduce the program from a desired location. In addition, another magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus has been proposed which can continuously reproduce a continuous broadcast program or the like recorded on one magnetic tape in a batch (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 2-90).
No. 60927).

In this apparatus, when a plurality of programs are fragmentarily distributed and recorded on one magnetic tape, the recording means records number data specifying each program on a control track of the magnetic tape. Also, when a program for which continuous playback is desired is designated, the skip playback means uses the number data recorded on the control track as an index,
By selectively reproducing only the number-designated portion, the program recorded fragmentarily is skipped and reproduced. For this reason, for example, when a plurality of programs that are broadcast every day every 15 minutes or 30 minutes are recorded on a single magnetic tape in the order of broadcast, the programs must be normally reproduced in the order of recording. By performing skip reproduction by relying on the designated number data each time, only the same program can be continuously and collectively reproduced, and continuous broadcast programs can be continuously and continuously reproduced for one week.

[0005]

The above-mentioned conventional magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus reproduces a program by using index data recorded on a control track of a magnetic tape as an index. The program can be played back and played back, but it is not configured to record number data in the middle of the program. Therefore, when a broadcast program recorded on a magnetic tape is reproduced and viewed, and the user wants to see the same place again, or when the user wants to stop at some point during playback and want to play back this stop location after a while, The user does not know where to start playback from the magnetic tape because it is in the middle of the process, and the user rewinds the magnetic tape to the beginning by the index search operation or rewinds to the beginning of the broadcast program to find the beginning. Then, it is necessary to search for the place where the program stopped before while watching the broadcast program by the automatic reproduction or the reproduction operation.
The problem remains that users have to spend wasted and inefficient time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus capable of immediately viewing a broadcast program or the like whose viewing has been stopped during reproduction from the stop point. The purpose is.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a control signal relating to information recorded on a magnetic tape is recorded in a control signal recording area of the magnetic tape. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a control head for detecting a control signal of the recording area; a bookmark signal input means for outputting a bookmark signal indicating the end of reproduction of the recording information on the magnetic tape; When a bookmark command signal is transmitted from the means, the control head records the number information at an arbitrary position of the control signal recording area, and then, when the recorded information on the magnetic tape is reproduced next, the number is recorded. And control means for starting reproduction from the information detection position. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the control means receives a bookmark command signal from the bookmark signal input means, adds a new number for each recording of the number information, and Is characterized in that the reproduction is started from the detection position of the maximum number at the time of reproduction. Also,
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the bookmark command signal is transmitted from the bookmark signal input means, the control means records date information indicating an information reproduction date of the magnetic tape together with the number information. It is characterized by.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means stores the number information and date information detected by the control head in an attached memory when retrieving the recording information of the magnetic tape, and terminates the search. Later, the information held in the memory is recorded in the control signal recording area at the head of the magnetic tape, and when the recorded information on the magnetic tape is reproduced next, the number information and date information detected by the control head are displayed. It is characterized in that it is displayed by means.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. This magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is applied to a popular VTR 5, and is bidirectionally connected to a TV via input / output terminals. Note that this VTR 5
It has a VASS (VHS address search system) function of recording number data and the like in a control signal area (CTL area) 1a of the cassette type video tape 1 and searching for this number data during a search.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a remote control transmitter, and REC, PLAY, FF, REW,
Basic function keys such as SEARCH and STOP are provided. The key input section 3 is provided with a bookmark signal input key 4. This bookmark signal input key 4
Is for outputting a bookmark signal indicating the end point of the reproduction of the recorded information of the video tape 1 by a pressing operation, and may be provided independently as a dedicated key, but is also used as the PLAY key or another key, and is used as a fixed key. A configuration may be employed in which a bookmark signal is output when the button is pressed a predetermined number of times, for example, twice. When any one of the key input units 3 is pressed, the remote control transmitter 2 transmits a remote control signal corresponding to the input operation from the transmission unit to the VTR 5 as an infrared signal.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a receiving unit which receives an infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 2 and sends a transmission signal to the control unit 15. Reference numeral 7 denotes a mechanical control circuit that controls a servo circuit, a recording / reproducing mechanism, and the like in accordance with a command signal from the control unit 15, and performs operations such as recording and reproduction. Reference numeral 8 denotes a tape control circuit which receives a command signal from the control unit 15 and controls the running of the video tape 1. Reference numeral 9 denotes a control head, which is attached to a mechanical chassis together with a cylinder head (not shown) and writes data to the CTL area 1a of the video tape 1, and detects the written data. 10 is a control signal recording / reproducing unit (C
TL signal recording / reproducing unit) and the control head 7
And the control unit 15.

The CTL signal recording / reproducing section 10 receives an output signal from the control section 15 and causes the control head 9 to write number data, date data, and the like into the CTL area 1a as analog control signals. on the other hand,
When a control signal detected by the control head 9 is received, the control signal is transmitted to the decoder 11 side. When the input data is number data, the decoder 11 sends digital numerical data indicating the number to the control unit 15 side, and when the input data is date data, the numerical data indicating the date is sent to the control unit 15 side. Send out.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a reproduction processing unit, which is connected to the synthesizing unit 14 and the control unit 15, processes a video signal reproduced from the video tape 1 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 15, and Output. 13 is an OSD circuit (ON SCREEN
N DISPLAY circuit), which is connected to the synthesizing unit 14 and the control unit 15, and converts display data stored in the ROM in advance into a signal and outputs the signal to the synthesizing unit 14 based on a command from the control unit 15. . The display data includes Arabic numeral number data displayed on the TV screen, calendar data for displaying the year, month, day, and character data such as a description of the number and the date, and a guide for prompting the user to perform an input operation. And so on. The synthesizing unit 14 includes the reproduction processing unit 1
2 is combined with the output signal of the OSD circuit 13 and subjected to predetermined image processing, and then sent to the TV side to display the reproduced image of the video tape 1 and the date and additional number at the time of reproduction on the screen. It has become.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a control unit, which includes a CPU, a ROM,
It consists of a RAM and a built-in timer, and is connected unidirectionally or bidirectionally in accordance with each part of the circuit and its function.
The ROM stores character data for display, calendar data, and the like, together with the operation program of the VTR 5. The RAM is used as a memory 15a for storing number data, date data, and the like.
The control unit 15 controls the operation of the entire VTR 5 based on a command signal from the remote control
The control signal is written into the CTL area 1a in accordance with the recording or the reproduction of the video signal with respect to, while the reproduction processing is executed in accordance with the detected content of this signal. Also, for each reproduction, a description about the number record and guidance for prompting the next operation are provided by T.
The display is appropriately displayed on the V screen.

Next, the operation of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Here, a case will be described in which a user plays and listens to a broadcast program recorded on a commercially available video tape 1. When the user sets the video tape 1 on the VTR 5 and performs a reproduction operation with the remote control transmitter 3, the control unit 15
Starts the reproduction operation of the video information (step S11).
As a result, the video is displayed on the screen of the TV, so that the user can view the broadcast program. After the reproduction, the control unit 15 determines whether or not a reproduction stop signal has been input (step S12).

During the viewing, if the user considers an important part in the middle of the broadcast program or has to stop the viewing due to errands, the user operates the STOP key of the remote control transmitter 3 to play back. A stop command is sent. When this command signal is input, the control unit 15 stops the reproducing operation (Step S13). Therefore, the broadcast program displayed on the screen disappears on the way. At this time, the control unit 15 displays PAUSE on the screen of the TV, reads out display data from the ROM and sends it to the OSD circuit 13, and causes the screen of the TV to display the text "Do you want to record the bookmark number?" S14). Here, if the user determines that there is no need to record the bookmark number and leaves it as it is, the control unit 1
Reference numeral 5 turns off the characters displayed on the screen after a certain period of time, and ends a series of reproduction operations.

On the other hand, when the user looks at the characters displayed on the screen,
To record the bookmark number when the reproduction is stopped, the user operates the bookmark signal input key 4 of the remote control transmitter 3 within a predetermined time. When the control unit 15 receives the bookmark number recording instruction, it immediately shifts to a bookmark signal recording mode (step S15). Note that the control unit 15 continuously counts the bookmark signal recording command, and outputs the number to the CTL signal recording / reproducing unit 10 as number data each time the recording command is input. Further, based on the calendar data in the ROM, the date and time at the time of input of the recording command is output to the CTL signal recording / reproducing unit 10 as date data. This C
When the data is input, the TL signal recording / reproducing unit 10
The signal is converted into an analog control signal and sent to the control head 9. Therefore, the number information and the date information are written in the CTL area 1a of the video tape 1. When this writing process is completed, the bookmark signal recording operation when the video reproduction is stopped halfway is completed.

After that, when the video tape 1 on which the bookmark signal is recorded is taken out and another video tape is set on the VTR 5 for reproduction, an operation according to the user's selection is executed. When a bookmark signal is recorded on another video tape, a new number is added to the CTL area 1a, and date information at the time of reproduction is written. When such writing is repeated, V
On the latest video tape set in TR5, number information having the largest numerical value is recorded. Also, even with the same video tape, the maximum number information is recorded at the reproduction stop point at the latest reproduction end time.

When the user wants to listen to the continuation of the video tape 1 after a lapse of time, after setting the tape on the VTR 5, the PLAY key of the remote control transmitter 3 is reproduced. When the control unit 15 receives this reproduction command, it first reads out the display data from the ROM and displays the character "Do you want to play back bookmarks" on the TV screen (step S21). Here, instead of playing the bookmark,
If you want to perform normal playback, just wait. Then
The control unit 15 immediately shifts to the reproduction mode, and proceeds to step S2.
By proceeding to step 9 to start the reproduction, the reproduced video of the video tape 1 is displayed on the screen of the TV.

On the other hand, when the user operates the PLAY key again at the time when the "Bookmark playback" character is displayed on the TV screen, the control unit 15 issues a playback command signal to be continuously input within a predetermined time. The mode shifts to the detection mode of the received bookmark signal. At this time, the control unit 15
Is started (step S22), and it is determined whether or not a bookmark signal is detected (step S23).
If no bookmark signal is detected during the rewinding, the TV is re-started when the rewinding is completed (step S24).
Is displayed on the screen (step S25), and the bookmark signal detection operation is terminated.

During the rewinding, when a bookmark signal is detected,
The control unit 15 receives this detection signal and sequentially stores it in the memory 15a, and compares it with the number data of the previous bookmark signal to determine whether the new input number is the maximum (step S2).
6). Even if the video tape 1 is reproduced several times, if the bookmark signal is not recorded at the end of the reproduction, the bookmark number assigned to the previous reproduction end is still recorded at the maximum value. When TV is detected,
Display the bookmark number and the previous reproduction date on the screen (step S27). Then, after stopping the rewinding operation, the control unit 15 immediately starts the reproduction (Step S28). Thus, the video is displayed on the TV screen from the previous reproduction stop position, so that the user can watch the continuation of the broadcast program. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not to end the reproduction (step S30), and the user performs a stop operation with the remote control transmitter 3 or ends a series of reproduction operations when a tape end detection signal is input.

In the above embodiment, when a bookmark signal is detected during the rewinding of the video tape 1, it is sequentially stored in the memory 15a and compared with the number data of the previous bookmark signal to determine the maximum number input time. , But all the bookmark numbers can be displayed when the tape is rewound to the head portion. In this case, the user operates the SERCH key of the remote control transmitter 3 continuously, for example, twice within a predetermined time. When the control unit 15 receives this search command signal, it determines that it is not a normal search command and shifts to the special search mode. In this special search mode, after the rewinding is started, the data of the number information and date information detected by the control head 9 are sequentially stored in the memory 15a, and the tape is rewound to the head of the tape.

Thereafter, when a tape end detection signal is input, the rewinding search is terminated, and all data stored in the memory 15a is transferred to the C in the head portion of the video tape 1.
The TL area 1a is recorded. Therefore, each time the reproduction is completed, the video tape 1 records the number information indicating the position and the date information. And this video tape 1
Is played next, after the tape is set on the VTR 5, the PLAY key of the remote control transmitter 3 is played.
Then, the control head 9 detects the number information and date information of the CTL area 1a, and the data is transmitted to the control unit 15.
Sent to The control unit 15 transmits all data to a TV and displays a plurality of numbers and dates on a screen.

The display data is read from the ROM, and characters such as "Please select a bookmark number" are displayed on the screen of the TV. When the user looks at the bookmark number or date and operates the up / down key or the like of the remote control transmitter 3 to select a desired number, the control unit 15 shifts to a number search mode based on the number data.
Then, the video tape 1 is fast-forwarded, and when the selection number is detected, the fast-forwarding is stopped and then the reproduction is started immediately.
As a result, the reproduced video is displayed on the TV screen, so that the broadcast program can be viewed from a place desired by the user. In the above embodiment, the VTR
Has been described, but the present invention can be widely applied to a cassette tape recorder and other magnetic recording / reproducing apparatuses using a magnetic tape.

[0024]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the next time the recorded information on the magnetic tape is reproduced, the reproduction is started from the position where the number information is detected. Unlike the case of starting playback from the beginning of a tape or the beginning of a broadcast program, as in, the user can immediately start playback from the point he / she wants to listen to, so the user has to waste unnecessary and unnecessary time. This has the effect of eliminating inconveniences that have occurred. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a new number is added every time the number information is recorded, and when the recorded information on the magnetic tape is reproduced, the reproduction is started from the position where the maximum number is detected. Even when new number information is recorded, there is an advantage that the magnetic tape to be reproduced next can be immediately reproduced from a desired position. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since date information indicating the information reproduction date of the magnetic tape is recorded together with the number information, the date information is displayed at the next reproduction so that the magnetic tape can be reproduced before. There is an advantage that the contents of the record information can be determined by looking at the date. Further, according to the present invention, the next time the recorded information on the magnetic tape is reproduced, the number information and date information detected by the control head are displayed on the display means. There is an advantage that the situation in which the magnetic tape has been reproduced before can be known, and a desired information recording location can be easily found.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a reproducing operation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a next reproduction operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic tape 1a Control signal recording area 4 Bookmark signal input means 5 Magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 9 Control head 15 Control means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a control head for recording a control signal relating to information recorded on a magnetic tape in a control signal recording area of the magnetic tape and detecting a control signal of the recording area. A bookmark signal input means for outputting a bookmark signal indicating the end point of reproduction of the recorded information on the magnetic tape; and when a bookmark command signal is transmitted from the bookmark signal input means, the control head can control any of the control signal recording areas by the control head. After recording the number information at the position, the next time the recorded information on the magnetic tape is reproduced,
A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a control unit for starting reproduction from a position where the number information is detected. 2. The control means receives a bookmark command signal from the bookmark signal input means, adds a new number every time the number information is recorded, and sets a maximum number when reproducing the recorded information on the magnetic tape. 2. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reproduction is started from the detected point. 3. The control means, when a bookmark command signal is transmitted from the bookmark signal input means, records date information indicating a date of reproduction of information on the magnetic tape, together with the number information. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The control means stores the number information and the date information detected by the control head in an attached memory when retrieving recording information of the magnetic tape,
After the search is completed, the information held in the memory is recorded in a control signal recording area at the head of the magnetic tape, and when the recorded information on the magnetic tape is reproduced next, the number information and date detected by the control head are read. 4. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on a display unit.