JP2003346418A - Data recording apparatus, data recording method and data recording program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data recording apparatus, a data recording method, and a data recording program for automatically sharing data in various recording modes to a plurality of recording media and recording the data to them. <P>SOLUTION: The data recording method includes: a step S1 of measuring write/read speeds of each recording medium located to first and second recording sections 16, 18 and updating a characteristic data table by using a measured result; a step S2 of referring to a recording mode table to acquire the write speed of image data being a recording object; a step S3 of referencing the characteristic data table to discriminate whether or not a free capacity of high speed media is sufficient; a step S4 of recording the image data to the high speed media when the free capacity is sufficient; a step S5 of discriminating whether or not low speed media are capable of recording the image data when the free capacity of the high speed media is insufficient on the other had; and a step S7 of recording the image data to the low speed media when the low speed media can record the image data and the free capacity of the low speed media loaded to the second recording section 18 is sufficient. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recording apparatus, a data recording method, and a data recording program mounted on a digital camera or the like capable of recording photographed images on a plurality of recording media.

[0002]

Conventionally, as this type of data recording apparatus,
An imaging recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-322106 is known. This imaging / recording device automatically determines shooting modes (single shooting mode, continuous shooting mode) and shooting parameters (compression rate, minimum number of recorded pixels, frame rate) that can be selected according to the recording speed of the recording medium used. Then, the photographing modes and photographing parameters that can be selected by the user are displayed, and the default photographing modes and photographing parameters are set. When the user tries to select an imaging parameter that cannot be selected, the user is allowed to take an image without failure by displaying a change instruction or displaying a warning.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional imaging and recording apparatus, since a plurality of recording media are manually switched and used, the user can check whether the recording media is full or not.
It was necessary to switch while being aware of the recording speed of the recording medium. In particular, in the case of a moving image that requires high-speed recording compared to a still image, it cannot be used depending on the type of recording medium, and its handling has been a problem.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data recording apparatus, a data recording method, and a data recording program capable of automatically distributing and recording data in various recording modes on a plurality of recording media.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a data recording apparatus according to the present invention records data on any of a plurality of recording media corresponding to a plurality of recording modes and having different recording speeds. A data recording apparatus comprising: a first recording speed acquisition unit that acquires recording speeds of the plurality of recording media; and a second recording speed acquisition that acquires a recording speed necessary for recording in a predetermined recording mode. Means, a capacity detecting means for detecting each free capacity of the plurality of recording media, a recording speed of the recording medium obtained by the first recording speed obtaining means, and the second recording speed obtaining means obtained by the first recording speed obtaining means. The most suitable recording medium is selected from the plurality of recording media based on the recording speed required for recording in a predetermined recording mode and the free capacity of each recording medium detected by the capacity detecting means. With selection means It is equipped with a. Therefore, data in various recording modes can be automatically distributed and recorded on a plurality of recording media. As a result, the user can effectively use a plurality of recording media without being aware of switching of the recording media.

Further, in the data recording apparatus according to the present invention, the selecting means includes the recording speed of the recording medium acquired by the first recording speed acquiring means and the predetermined speed acquired by the second recording speed acquiring means. The recording speed required for recording in this recording mode is compared, and a recording medium with sufficient free space is selected based on the comparison result. Therefore, data that needs to be recorded at a high speed is recorded on a recording medium with a high recording speed, and data that can be recorded at a low recording speed is recorded on a recording medium with a low recording speed. Thus, data can be recorded on an appropriate recording medium.

The data recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a data transfer means for transferring data between the plurality of recording media, and when transferring data from a recording medium having a high recording speed to a recording medium having a low recording speed. And a reading speed determining means for determining whether a reading speed in the low-speed recording medium is higher than a reading speed necessary for reproducing the data to be transferred, and the reading speed determining means in the low-speed recording medium If it is determined that the reading speed is higher than the reading speed necessary for reproducing the data to be transferred, the data transfer means transfers data from a recording medium having a high recording speed to a recording medium having a low recording speed. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a compatible recording mode by reducing as much as possible the free capacity of a recording medium having a high recording speed.

The data recording apparatus according to the present invention further comprises time measuring means for measuring the time required for recording the dummy data on each of the plurality of recording media, and the first recording speed obtaining means comprises the time The recording speeds of the plurality of recording media are acquired from the measurement results obtained by the measuring means.

In the data recording apparatus according to the present invention, the plurality of recording modes include a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a recording mode.

The data recording method according to the present invention is a data recording method for recording data on any of a plurality of recording media corresponding to a plurality of recording modes and having different recording speeds. The first to obtain each recording speed
A recording speed acquisition step, a second recording speed acquisition step for acquiring a recording speed necessary for recording in a predetermined recording mode, a capacity detection step for detecting each free capacity of the plurality of recording media, The recording speed of the recording medium acquired in the first recording speed acquisition step, the recording speed required for recording in the predetermined recording mode acquired in the second recording speed acquisition step, and the capacity detection step And selecting a most suitable recording medium from the plurality of recording media based on the free space of each recording medium detected in (1).

In the data recording method according to the present invention, the selection step is acquired at the recording speed of the recording medium acquired at the first recording speed acquisition step and the second recording speed acquisition step. The recording speed required for recording in the predetermined recording mode is compared, and a recording medium with sufficient free space is selected based on the comparison result.

The data recording method according to the present invention comprises a data transfer step for transferring data between the plurality of recording media, and when transferring data from a recording medium having a high recording speed to a recording medium having a low recording speed. A reading speed determining step for determining whether a reading speed in the low-speed recording medium is higher than a reading speed necessary for reproducing the data to be transferred, and the low-speed recording medium in the reading speed determining step If it is determined that the reading speed is higher than the reading speed necessary for reproducing the data to be transferred, the data is transferred from the recording medium having a high recording speed to the recording medium having a low recording speed in the data transfer step.

The data recording method according to the present invention further comprises a time measuring step for measuring a time required for recording the dummy data in each of the plurality of recording media, wherein the first recording speed obtaining step includes The recording speeds of the plurality of recording media are acquired from the measurement result of the time measurement step.

In the data recording method according to the present invention, the plurality of recording modes include a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a recording mode.

Further, a data recording program according to the present invention is for causing a computer to execute the data recording method according to any one of claims 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the data recording apparatus, data recording method and data recording program of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the data recording apparatus of this embodiment can be applied to a digital camera.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment. The digital camera 1 corresponds to the imaging unit 3, the first recording speed acquisition means, the second recording speed acquisition means, the capacity detection means, the selection means, the data transfer means, and the reading speed determination means in the claims. A system control unit 5, an image memory 8, a time measurement unit 11 corresponding to a time measurement unit,
An operation unit 14, a first recording unit 16, a second recording unit 18, and
The table memory 19 is connected via the bus 6.

The components of the digital camera of this embodiment will be described below. The system control unit 5
Each component connected via the bus 6 is controlled, and includes a known CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. The imaging unit 3 includes a well-known photographic lens, a solid-state imaging device (CCD), an AD conversion unit, a signal processing unit, and the like. Output image data. The image memory 8 temporarily stores image data output from the imaging unit 3. When a microphone unit is provided and recording is performed at the same time as imaging, audio data is output from the imaging unit 3 together with image data and stored in the image memory 8. It is also possible to record only using the microphone unit and output only the audio data from the imaging unit 3 and store it in the image memory 8.

On the first recording unit 16, a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as "high-speed medium") 16a that can be read and written at high speed is replaceably mounted. In addition, a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “low-speed medium”) 18 a that is read and written at low speed is replaceably mounted on the second recording unit 18. In the present embodiment, a compact flash (registered trademark) or the like is used as a high-speed medium that is a recording medium capable of high-speed recording.
A case where SmartMedia (registered trademark) or the like is used as a low-speed medium that is a recording medium for low-speed recording will be described.
Note that the high-speed medium 1 attached to the first recording unit 16
The system controller 5 detects each free space of the low-speed media 18a attached to 6a and the second recording unit 18.

The time measuring unit 11 is used to measure the writing speed and the reading speed of the recording medium mounted on the first and second recording units 18, respectively. The operation unit 14 includes various keys and a display panel, and inputs user operations and displays necessary information.

The table memory 19 includes a first recording unit 16.
In addition, characteristic data such as a writing speed and a reading speed unique to the recording medium mounted on the second recording unit 18 are stored as a table (hereinafter, this table is referred to as a “characteristic data table”). The table memory 19 has
Data of writing speed and reading speed required in each recording mode is stored as a table (hereinafter, this table is referred to as “recording mode table”).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the characteristic data table. Here, a compact flash (C) as a high-speed medium attached to the first recording unit 16 is used.
F) Writing speed and reading speed are 10.0M respectively
bps and 20.0 Mbps. Further, the writing speed and the reading speed of the smart media as the low-speed media attached to the second recording unit 18 are 1.0 respectively.
Mbps and 4.0 Mbps. In this way, compact flash is 10
Has double writing speed and 5 times reading speed.

In this embodiment, as will be described later, when the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the power is turned on, or when the recording medium is loaded, the system controller 5
Uses the time measuring unit 11 to actually write dummy data on the recording medium, and further measure the time for reading to calculate the writing time and the reading time. Then, the characteristic data table is updated with the calculated value. Therefore,
The characteristic data table is updated irregularly. Note that, instead of actually using dummy data for measurement, a fixed value for each recording medium may be used.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the recording mode table. As a recording mode, video (640 × 48
0 pixel), moving image (320 × 240 pixels), still image, and audio modes are shown. Movie (640x4
80 pixels) mode required write / read speed is
4.0 Mbps. Similarly, video (320x240
(Pixel), still image, and audio modes require 1.0 Mbps and 400 kbp, respectively.
s, 96 kbps.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure in the first embodiment. The processing program for realizing the procedure is a ROM in the system control unit 5
(Not shown) and is executed each time image data (image data and / or audio data) is recorded by a CPU (not shown) in the system control unit 5.

First, the first recording unit 16 and the second recording unit 1
8 measures the writing speed and the reading speed of each recording medium, and updates the characteristic data table using the measurement results (step S1). As described above, the writing speed and the reading speed of the recording medium are obtained by measuring the writing time and reading time of the dummy data stored in the memory in advance in the recording medium to be measured by the time measuring unit 11. Calculated. This update process may be performed every time image data is recorded. However, the update process may be performed only once after the power is turned on or once after the recording medium is replaced. In this case, this process is skipped.

Next, the system controller 5 refers to the recording mode table in the table memory 19 and obtains the recording speed (writing speed) of the image data to be recorded (step S2). For example, video (640 x 480 pixels)
Then, a writing speed of 4.0 Mbps is acquired.

Next, referring to the characteristic data table, the first
It is determined whether or not the free space of the high-speed medium (compact flash) attached to the recording unit 16 is sufficient (step S3). If the free space is sufficient, the image data is recorded on the high-speed medium (step S4), and the series of processing ends. On the other hand, if the free space of the high-speed medium is not sufficient in step S3, the recording mode table and the characteristic data table are referred to, and the image data in this recording mode is stored in the low-speed medium (smart media) installed in the second recording unit 18. ) To determine whether or not recording is possible (step S5).

If recording is possible, it is determined whether or not the free space of the low-speed media (smart media) attached to the second recording unit 18 is sufficient (step S).
6). If the free space is sufficient, the image data is recorded on the low-speed medium (step S7), and the series of processing ends. On the other hand, if the free space of the low-speed media is not enough, or if recording is not possible in step S5,
Without recording the image data, a warning to that effect is displayed on the display panel of the operation unit 14 (step S8), and the series of processing ends.

In this way, data such as moving images that need to be recorded at a high speed is recorded on a recording medium (high-speed medium) with a high writing speed, and data such as still images can be written at a low recording speed. By recording on a low-speed recording medium (low-speed medium), data can be recorded on an appropriate recording medium according to the recording mode and the free space.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a data transfer processing procedure in the first embodiment. A processing program for realizing the procedure is R in the system control unit 5.
The data is stored in the OM, and is irregularly executed when an image data recording operation or the like is not performed by the CPU in the system control unit 5.

First, the first recording unit 16 and the second recording unit 1
8 measures the writing speed and the reading speed of each recording medium, and updates the characteristic data table using the measured results (step S11). The update process (step S11) is performed only once after the power is turned on or once after the recording medium is replaced, and is skipped otherwise.

Next, in accordance with an instruction from the user via the operation unit 14, it is determined whether or not image data transfer is set (step S12). If transfer of image data is not set, a series of processing ends. On the other hand, when image data transfer is set, if image data is transferred from high-speed media (compact flash) to low-speed media (smart media), image data transferred from low-speed media can be played back. Whether or not (step S13).

For example, when a moving image (640 × 480 pixels) is recorded on a high-speed medium (compact flash), the necessary reading speed is 4.0 Mbps when referring to the recording mode table, and the characteristic data table is referred to. Then, since the reading speed of the low-speed media (smart media) is 4.0 Mbps, it is determined that playback is possible. In this embodiment, all recording media can be played back at the required reading speed in all recording modes. For example, the recording medium for low-speed recording is a floppy disk or a magneto-optical disk (MO). In such a case, reproduction may not be possible in step S13.
Therefore, when the reproduction is impossible, the series of processing ends.

If it is determined in step S13 that playback is possible, the moving image (640 × 480 pixels) recorded on the high-speed medium (compact flash) is read and copied to the low-speed medium (smart media) (step S14). Then, a series of processing ends. In the process of step S14, it is determined whether or not the low speed medium has free space before actually starting the transfer. If there is no free space, step S14 is skipped (ignored).
Instead of the copying process, a moving process for erasing the transfer source data immediately may be performed. In the case of copy processing, it may be erased when instructed by the user, or may be automatically erased after a predetermined time has elapsed.

In this way, the available recording mode can be maintained by minimizing the free capacity of the recording medium capable of high-speed recording.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure in the second embodiment.
A processing program for realizing the procedure is stored in the ROM in the system control unit 5, and the system control unit 5
It is executed each time image data is recorded by an internal CPU (not shown). Since the configuration of the digital camera is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

First, the first recording unit 16 and the second recording unit 1
8 measures the writing speed and the reading speed of the recording medium loaded, and updates the characteristic data table using the measured results (step S21). This update process may be performed every time image data is recorded, but the power is turned on.
It may be performed only once later or once after the recording medium is replaced. In other cases, the process is skipped.

Next, referring to the recording mode table in the table memory 19, the recording speed (writing speed) of the image data to be recorded is obtained (step S22). For example, with a moving image (640 × 480 pixels), a writing speed of 4.0 Mbps is acquired.

Next, with reference to the recording mode table in the table memory 19, it is determined whether or not the image data to be recorded is required to be recorded at a high speed that cannot be recorded by a low speed medium (step S23). For example, video (640 × 4
80 pixels), high-speed recording at a writing speed of 4.0 Mbps, which cannot be recorded at a low-speed media (smart media) writing speed of 1.0 Mbps, is required. If it is determined that high-speed recording is requested, the characteristic data table in the table memory 19 is referred to, and the free space of the high-speed medium (compact flash) attached to the first recording unit 16 is sufficient. It is determined whether or not there is (step S24). If the free space is sufficient, the image data is recorded on the high-speed medium (step S25), and the series of processes is terminated. On the other hand, if the free space of the high-speed medium is not sufficient in step S24, the image data is not recorded, a warning to that effect is displayed on the display panel of the operation unit 14 (step S26), and the series of processing ends.

In step S23, the image data to be recorded is not required to be recorded at high speed, and can be recorded on a low speed medium, for example, a still image.
Since it is a low-speed recording of kbps, it is determined whether or not the free space of the low-speed media (smart media) attached to the second recording unit 18 is sufficient (step S2).
7). If the free space is sufficient, the image data is recorded on the low-speed medium (step S28), and the series of processing ends. On the other hand, if the free space of the low-speed media is not sufficient in step S27, the image data is not recorded, a warning to that effect is displayed on the display panel of the operation unit 14 (step S29), and the series of processing is terminated.

In this manner, image data in various recording modes can be distributed and recorded on a plurality of recording media without the user being aware of switching of the recording media, and the plurality of recording media can be used effectively. In addition, it is possible to maintain a compatible recording mode by minimizing the free space of high-speed media.

The data recording apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a digital camera and may be applied to an audio recorder.
In this case, a high sound quality mode, a normal mode, and the like exist as recording modes. Moreover, although the case where there are two recording media has been described in the above embodiment, the same applies to the case where there are three or more recording media. For example, although the compact flash and the smart media are shown in the above embodiment, a memory stick (registered trademark), a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk (MO), or the like may be used as the recording medium.

In the above-described embodiment, the image data transfer process is executed when it is not used for recording.
It may be performed in parallel with the recording operation. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the high-speed medium from becoming full during imaging, and to extend the recording time in the high-speed recording mode.

[0044]

As described above, according to the data recording apparatus, data recording method and data recording program of the present invention, data in various recording modes can be automatically distributed and recorded on a plurality of recording media. Can do. In particular,
Data that needs to be recorded at a high speed is recorded on a recording medium with a high recording speed, and data that can be recorded at a low recording speed is recorded on a recording medium with a low recording speed. Data can be recorded on a simple recording medium. As a result, the user can effectively use a plurality of recording media without being aware of switching of the recording media.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a characteristic data table

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a recording mode table

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a data transfer processing procedure in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Digital camera 3 Imaging unit 5 System controller 11 Time measurement part 14 Operation unit 16 First recording section 16a high-speed media 18 Second recording section 18a Low-speed media 19 Table memory

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5C052 AA17 AB00 CC01 DD04 DD06                 5C053 FA10 FA27 GB06 GB21 JA03                       JA21 KA01 KA24 LA01                 5D044 AB07 BC01 BC06 CC04 CC10                       DE03 DE12 DE43 DE44 DE92                       DE96 GK12 HL07                 5D110 AA13 AA19 AA29 BB25 BB27                       DA14 DE04

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A data recording apparatus for recording data on any one of a plurality of recording media corresponding to a plurality of recording modes and having different recording speeds, wherein the first recording speed of each of the plurality of recording media is acquired. Recording speed acquisition means, second recording speed acquisition means for acquiring a recording speed necessary for recording in a predetermined recording mode, capacity detection means for detecting each free capacity of the plurality of recording media, The recording speed of the recording medium acquired by the first recording speed acquisition means, the recording speed required for recording in the predetermined recording mode acquired by the second recording speed acquisition means, and detected by the capacity detection means A data recording apparatus comprising: selection means for selecting a most suitable recording medium from the plurality of recording media based on the free space of each recording medium. 2. The selection unit is necessary for recording in the recording speed of the recording medium acquired by the first recording speed acquisition unit and the predetermined recording mode acquired by the second recording speed acquisition unit. 2. A data recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording medium with sufficient free space is selected on the basis of the comparison result. 3. A data transfer means for transferring data between the plurality of recording media, and when transferring data from a recording medium having a high recording speed to a recording medium having a low recording speed, the reading speed on the low-speed recording medium is Reading speed determining means for determining whether the reading speed is higher than a reading speed necessary for reproducing the data to be transferred, and the reading speed on the low-speed recording medium is reproduced by the reading speed determining means. The data transfer means transfers data from a recording medium having a high recording speed to a recording medium having a low speed if it is determined that the reading speed is higher than the reading speed necessary for the recording. Data recording device. 4. A time measuring unit that measures a time required for recording dummy data in each of the plurality of recording media, wherein the first recording speed acquisition unit is configured to calculate the plurality of the plurality of recording media based on a measurement result by the time measuring unit. 4. The data recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each recording speed of the recording medium is acquired. 5. The data recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of recording modes include a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a recording mode. 6. A data recording method for recording data on any one of a plurality of recording media corresponding to a plurality of recording modes and having different recording speeds, wherein the first recording speed is acquired for each of the plurality of recording media. A recording speed acquisition step, a second recording speed acquisition step for acquiring a recording speed necessary for recording in a predetermined recording mode, a capacity detection step for detecting each free capacity of the plurality of recording media, The recording speed of the recording medium acquired in the first recording speed acquisition step, the recording speed required for recording in the predetermined recording mode acquired in the second recording speed acquisition step, and the capacity detection step And a selection step for selecting a most suitable recording medium from the plurality of recording media based on the free space of each recording medium detected in step (b). Law. 7. The recording step according to claim 1, wherein recording is performed in the predetermined recording mode acquired in the recording speed of the recording medium acquired in the first recording speed acquisition step and the recording speed of the second recording speed. 7. A data recording method according to claim 6, wherein a recording medium having a sufficient free space is selected based on a comparison result obtained in the recording speed comparison step. 8. A data transfer step of transferring data between the plurality of recording media, and when transferring data from a recording medium having a high recording speed to a recording medium having a low recording speed, the reading speed on the low-speed recording medium is: A reading speed determining step for determining whether the reading speed is higher than a reading speed necessary for reproducing the data to be transferred, wherein the reading speed in the low-speed recording medium is the reading speed of the data to be transferred The data transfer step transfers data from a recording medium having a high recording speed to a recording medium having a low speed if it is determined that the reading speed is higher than a reading speed necessary for reproduction.
Or the data recording method of 7. 9. A time measurement step of measuring a time required for recording dummy data in each of the plurality of recording media, wherein the first recording speed acquisition step is based on a measurement result of the time measurement step. The data recording method according to claim 6, wherein each recording speed of the recording medium is acquired. 10. The data recording method according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of recording modes include a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a recording mode. 11. A data recording program for causing a computer to execute the data recording method according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.