JP2007164894A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and properly erase image data when erasing the image data according to a remaining capacity of a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: An image processor is provided which can record the image data in the recording medium using two or more recording modes. The image processor includes: a detection means for detecting a current recording mode; a retrieval means for retrieving image recording files recorded in the same recording mode as the current mode from the recording medium; a presentation means for presenting the retrieved files as erasure file candidates; a user interface for selecting an erasure file from among the presented erasure file candidates; and an erasure means for erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium becomes small during a process of recording a new image data on the recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method.

  In recent years, it has become possible to use a digital video disc (hereinafter referred to as a DVD) or a hard disk as a new video recording medium replacing the magnetic tape. Such video recording devices include a stationary hard disk recorder that incorporates a large hard disk that cannot be removed in addition to a DVD drive, and a hard disk camcorder that uses a small hard disk that has a small recording capacity but can be removed. is there. In both types of recording devices, recorded programs and videos are stored in a file format on a DVD or hard disk. When playing back, select a list displayed on the screen so that the user can view It is possible to call a program instantly. Especially when using a hard disk, in addition to the above features, unnecessary files such as scenes and programs that have been viewed once can be erased instantly, can be played even while recording a program, It has many advantages compared to the device. As described above, hard disk recorders having many advantages are rapidly spreading as next-generation video recording devices that are very user-friendly.

  However, a hard disk as a recording medium is a built-in type that cannot be removed, and even if it is removable, its price is very high compared to a magnetic tape or the like. Therefore, when the remaining capacity of the hard disk is reduced, there is a disadvantage that the user needs to erase unnecessary data or copy it to another media in order to secure the recording capacity. .

  In order to solve such problems, there is a method to ensure the capacity by automatically erasing a program that has been viewed once or a program with an older recorded date when recording when the remaining capacity of the hard disk is low. Have been proposed (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

  Also, in order to continue the current recording even if there is no remaining recording capacity, a file that can be overwritten is designated in advance, and when the recording capacity runs out, overwriting is performed in the recording area of the overwriting specified file. An image recording apparatus for continuing recording has been proposed.

  However, selecting an overwrite designation file from the enormous number of recording files recorded on the recording medium is a very complicated task.

JP 2002-305706 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-66694 JP 2002-112150 A

  However, all of these proposals are to automatically delete old videos and programs once viewed when the remaining capacity of the hard disk is small at the time of recording. When the user inevitably erases during recording, there may be a problem that the user erases the capacity more than necessary.

  An object of the present invention is to easily and appropriately erase image data when erasing image data according to the remaining capacity of a recording medium.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording modes, a detection means for detecting a current recording mode, a current recording mode, Search means for searching for an image recording file recorded in the same recording mode from within the recording medium, presentation means for presenting the searched file as an erasure file candidate, and an erasure file from the presented erasure file candidate A user interface to select; and erasing means for erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the recording process of new image data on the recording medium. To do.
The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording formats, and includes a detecting means for detecting a current recording format, a current recording Search means for searching for an image recording file recorded in the same recording format as the format from within the recording medium, presentation means for presenting the searched file as an erased file candidate, and erasing from the presented erased file candidate A user interface for selecting a file, and an erasing unit for erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the process of recording new image data on the recording medium. Features.
Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention records image data selection means for selecting image data that may be erased from image data recorded on a recording medium, and records new image data on the recording medium. An erasure unit for erasing the selected image data according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium during processing, and new image data is overwritten at the position of the erased image data in the recording medium after the recording process is completed. Overwriting determining means for determining whether or not the image data is overwritten, and restoring means for restoring the erased image data when the new image data is not overwritten.
The image processing method of the present invention is an image processing method capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording modes, the detection step for detecting the current recording mode, and the current recording A search step for searching an image recording file recorded in the same recording mode as the recording mode from within the recording medium, a presentation step for presenting the searched file as an erasure file candidate, and an erasure from the presented erasure file candidate A selection step of selecting a file by a user interface, and an erasure step of erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the process of recording new image data on the recording medium. It is characterized by having.
The image processing method of the present invention is an image processing method capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording formats, the detection step for detecting the current recording format, and the current recording A search step for searching an image recording file recorded in the same recording format as the recording format from the recording medium, a presentation step for presenting the searched file as an erasure file candidate, and an erasure from the presented erasure file candidate A selection step of selecting a file by a user interface, and an erasure step of erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the process of recording new image data on the recording medium. It is characterized by having.
The image processing method of the present invention also includes an image data selection step for selecting image data that may be erased from image data recorded on a recording medium, and recording new image data on the recording medium. An erasing step of erasing the selected image data according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium during processing, and new image data is overwritten at the position of the erased image data in the recording medium after the recording process is completed. An overwriting determination step for determining whether or not the image data is overwritten, and a restoration step for restoring the erased image data when the new image data is not overwritten.

  When erasing image data according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium, the image data can be easily and appropriately erased.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera-integrated hard disk recorder (image processing apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A camera block 101 converts light input from the lens into an electrical digital video (image) signal. Reference numeral 102 denotes a video interface circuit that receives a digital video signal output from the camera block 101, writes it in the SDRAM 103, and outputs it to the LCD 110 at the same time. Reference numeral 103 denotes an SDRAM for storing (signal processing) the digital video signal. Reference numeral 104 denotes an MPEG codec circuit which reads the digital signal from the SDRAM 103, compresses it according to the MPEG system, and writes it back to the SDRAM 103 again. Reference numeral 105 denotes a hard disk, and 106 denotes a hard disk interface circuit for writing MPEG-compressed video data to the hard disk 105. Reference numeral 107 denotes a CPU that controls the entire blocks. A bitmap display circuit 108 displays various user interfaces by writing a bitmap (bitmap) pattern and color setting of the screen display by the CPU 107 and outputting them to the image mix circuit 109. An image Mix circuit 109 mixes (mixes) characters and graphic information output from the Bitmap display circuit 108 and a camera video signal output from the video interface circuit 102. Reference numeral 110 denotes an LCD for displaying a video signal output from the video Mix circuit 109, and 111 denotes an operation key block for operating the camera.

  Although not shown, the operation key block 111 includes the following operation keys. The first operation key is a power switch having three positions of camera / off (OFF) / playback. The second operation key is a start / stop switch for recording / ending video. The third operation key is a group of recorder keys for reproducing video recorded on the hard disk. The fourth operation key is a cross key and a confirmation key for performing a GUI operation. The fifth operation key is a cancel key for canceling the GUI operation. The sixth operation key is a menu key for calling a menu setting screen.

  Next, the mapping structure of the SDRAM 103 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 201 denotes a video memory in which a digital video signal (Y / Cr / Cb format) output from the camera block 101 by the video interface circuit 102 is written. The video memory 201 has a structure of two banks, and has a structure in which writing from the video interface block 102 and reading by the MPEG codec 104 described below access different banks. An MPEG buffer 202 is an area used by the MPEG codec 104 to compress a video signal. Interframe compression by the MPEG method is performed in units of three frame images using the MPEG buffer 202, and the data compressed here is then written as stream data in the VRO buffer 204. The VRO buffer 204 has a ring-like configuration, and when the write address reaches a predetermined address, the VRO buffer 204 returns to the original address and operates to overwrite the data. Next, the stream data written to the VRO buffer 204 is sequentially read by the hard disk drive interface circuit 106 and written to the hard disk drive 105. An IFO buffer 203 is an area for the CPU 107 to edit hard disk management information 301 and automatic erasure file information 307, which will be described later.

  FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the hard disk 105. Three types of data, management information 301, video stream data 302, and automatic deletion file information 307, are written in the hard disk 105. The three types of data 301, 302, and 307 are VR_MOVIE. IFO, VR_MOVIE. VRO, AUTO_DEL. The file structure is named IFO. In the video stream data file (VR_MOVIE.VRO) 302, the captured video data is compressed by the MPEG method and added sequentially as described above. Streams 303 to 306 are sequentially recorded. Management information (VR_MOVIE.IFO) 301 manages this data structure. The management information 301 includes, for each video stream data, address information and video name at the head of the data, date information of the captured images, address information of a typical screen for use in displaying a list of images, etc. Folder information for organizing and storing files is recorded. In the automatic erasure file information (AUTO_DEL.IFO) 307, the stream number corresponding to the automatic erasure candidate video selected by the user using the user interface screen described later is written. This information is referred to when automatic deletion is executed when the remaining capacity of the hard disk is reduced, and an erasure video is determined.

  FIG. 4 shows a window screen that displays a message for prompting registration of a video to be an automatic erasure candidate. Reference numeral 401 denotes an image currently captured by the camera, and reference numeral 402 denotes a message window for allowing the user to select whether or not to display the automatic deletion candidate registration window. When “Yes” is selected in this window, the user can perform an operation of registering video data that may be automatically deleted by continuously displaying the deletion candidate selection window shown in FIG. Can do. If “NO” is selected in the message window, this message disappears and the original state (the recording pause state 403 in this display example) is restored. All user operations as described above can be performed using the operation key block 111. FIG. 5 shows a window for selecting an automatic deletion candidate video. Reference numeral 501 denotes a cursor, which is used to select a video from the list that may be automatically deleted by the user. Reference numeral 502 denotes a check box, reference numeral 503 denotes a representative screen of listed videos, reference numeral 504 denotes a video name, and reference numeral 505 denotes a guide display. When the user first presses the “determine” key while selecting a video with the cursor 501, a check mark is displayed in the check box 502 of the video, and the video is registered as a video that may be automatically deleted. In addition, when a video with a check mark displayed is selected with the cursor 501 and the “OK” key is pressed, the check mark disappears and registration can be canceled. If there are a large number of videos listed, the page can be switched by moving the cursor 501 downward, and the next video can be confirmed and registered. When the “return” key is pressed after registration of all the videos is completed, the video number stored in the video management information (VR_MOVIE.IFO) 301 registered on this screen is changed to the automatic deletion file information (AUTO_DEL. IFO) 307 is written. Then, the original recording pause state is restored.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the procedure from the time of power-on to the registration of the erasure candidate video and the automatic erasure of the video data of the camera-integrated hard disk recorder of this embodiment will be described. All procedures according to this flowchart are executed under the control of the CPU 107.

  When the power is first turned on in the camera mode by the operation of the power switch described above, the apparatus enters a recording pause state. In this state, in step 601, the remaining capacity of the hard disk is checked. This compares the first remaining capacity comparison value R1 set in advance with the actual remaining capacity Rc of the hard disk. When the actual capacity is smaller than the comparison value (R1> Rc) and no auto-erase candidate video is registered in the auto-erase fill information (AUTO_DEL.IFO) 307, the aforementioned As described above, the process of step 602 is performed. That is, a message window (see FIG. 4) for prompting registration of a video to be an automatic deletion candidate is displayed (step 602). In step 603, if the user selects “NO” in the window operation, the message window display is cleared in step 604, and the original recording pause state is restored. If “Yes” is selected in step 603, an automatic deletion candidate list is created in accordance with predetermined conditions in step 605, and then a window for selecting the automatic deletion candidate video as described above in step 606 is displayed. (See FIG. 5) is displayed. Next, in step 607, after the user selects an image that may be automatically deleted by performing the operation described above in this window, when the window is closed in step 608, the process of step 609 is performed. . In step 609, the number of the selected video is stored in the automatic deletion file information (AUTO_DEL.IFO) 307, and the original recording pause state is restored. In the recording pause state, it is checked in step 610 whether the power is turned off or in step 611 whether the recording is started. When the power switch is turned off, the power is turned off as it is. When recording is started by the start / stop key, recording is performed in step 612 (the electrical recording operation has already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2). While recording is in progress, the remaining capacity of the hard disk (HDD) is checked in step 613. This is a comparison between the preset second remaining capacity comparison value R2 and the actual remaining capacity Rc of the hard disk, and when the actual capacity is smaller than the comparison value (R2> Rc). In step 614, the video data is erased. At that time, the automatic deletion file information (AUTO_DEL.IFO) 307 is referred to determine which video is to be deleted. Thereafter, by deleting the information regarding the determined video data from the management information (VR_MOVIE.IFO) 301, the video data is deleted. Such a series of erasing processes is automatically executed during the recording operation started in step 612. If the start / stop key is pressed during recording, the recording is temporarily stopped. In step 615, the check is performed. In this case, if the recording is not completed, the process returns to the hard disk remaining capacity check (step 613). If the recording is completed, it is checked in step 616 whether or not the erased file has been overwritten, a video that has not been erased is displayed, and a window is displayed to determine whether to restore to the user (step 617). If restoration is selected (step 618), the selected video is restored, and VR_MOVIE. IFO, VR_MOVIE. VRO, AUTO_DEL. The IFO file is returned to the original state (step 619), and the recording end process is performed (step 620).

  The example described above relates to restoration of erasure in units of files, but an embodiment in which erasure of data in step 614 is erased not with a file but with a data amount will be described below with reference to FIG.

  Steps 601 to 613 are the same flow as in FIG. If the capacity of the hard disk remaining amount check in step 613 is small, it is checked whether there is currently deleted file data (step 701). If there is no file being erased, an erase file is selected from the erasable files (step 702). If there is a file being erased, it is checked whether there is an erasable data amount (step 703). If there is no erasable data, an erasure file is selected from the erasable files, the amount of data to be erased is secured, and data is erased by the unit data amount (step 704). For this data erasure, the address of the erased data is recorded as management information (VR_MOVIE.IFO) 301. Then, the data is recorded at the place where the data is erased (step 705). In this data recording, the address of the newly recorded data is recorded as management information (VR_MOVIE.IFO) 301 in addition to the video data. This is repeated until the end of recording. When the end of recording is selected (step 615), it is determined whether or not the data recorded in step 616 has been overwritten on the erased file. If the erase file is not overwritten, a recording end process (step 620) is performed and the process ends. If the erased file has been overwritten, a message is issued to the user (step 617), and the user is asked to select whether to restore the file (step 618). If file restoration is selected, the erased data amount is calculated (step 706). Then, data that can be restored from the erased file is restored from the erased data amount, and the management information (VR_MOVIE.IFO) 301 and the stream data file (VR_MOVIE.VRO) 302 are changed (step 707). In the recording end process, when there is overwritten data, a process of rewriting the data recorded in the unit data amount to the continuous data based on the recorded address information may be included.

  FIG. 8 shows an example displayed when a file is not desired to be deleted after the recording is completed. Reference numeral 801 denotes a preview image, and reference numeral 802 denotes a message window for allowing the user to select whether to restore a file. Reference numeral 803 displays a representative image of a video that can be restored. When there are a plurality of videos, it is possible to select whether to restore all in a list display or to restore each video. When “Yes” is selected in this window, the video displayed in the representative image 803 is restored. If “NO” is selected in the message window, this message disappears and the original state (recording paused state in this display example) is restored. Alternatively, a process for deleting a file may be performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, first, in step 605, image data that is a candidate for erasure is selected from a plurality of image data recorded on the recording medium. In step 606, the selected image data is displayed. Next, in step 607, when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced, data that may be deleted from the displayed image data is selected by the user interface. Next, in step 614, the selected image data is erased according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium during the process of recording new image data on the recording medium. Next, in step 616, it is determined whether new image data is overwritten at the position of the erased image data in the recording medium after the recording process is completed. In step 619, if the new image data is not overwritten, the erased image data is restored. The recording medium is a hard disk, and the image data is recorded in a file format.

  In FIG. 7, when recording on the recording medium, overwriting is performed for each designated unit data amount. In step 706, the amount of image data overwritten after the end of recording is calculated. In step 707, the image data is restored in accordance with the erased image data and the calculated data amount.

  During the recording, unit data is sequentially overwritten from the end of the erased image data. The overwritten image data is rearranged as continuous data according to the selection in step 607. The rearranged information is recorded on the recording medium.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the remaining capacity of the hard disk decreases, several video files that are candidates for automatic erasure are automatically selected from a plurality of video files recorded on the hard disk. Pick out. Then, a representative screen of the selected video file is displayed in a list together with the file name, and the user selects a file that may be automatically deleted from the displayed video list. The selected file is automatically deleted during recording thereafter. If the erased file is not overwritten, restore the file.

  In a hard disk (HDD) camcorder, even when the remaining capacity of the hard disk decreases, recording can be continued by automatically erasing unnecessary video. At this time, if the erased file is not overwritten with data, the file is restored. As a result, it is possible to provide a hard disk recording device that erases data by a necessary capacity when a user inevitably erases a video or a program.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a camera-integrated hard disk recorder (image processing apparatus) according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is obtained by adding an SD format codec circuit 112 to FIG.

  A camera block 101 converts light input from the lens into an electrical digital video signal. Reference numeral 102 denotes a video interface circuit that receives a digital video signal output from the camera block 101, writes it in the SDRAM 103, and outputs it to the LCD 110 at the same time. Reference numeral 103 denotes an SDRAM for storing (signal processing) the digital video signal. Reference numeral 104 denotes an MPEG codec circuit which reads the digital signal from the SDRAM 103, compresses it according to the MPEG system, and writes it back to the SDRAM 103 again. Similarly to the MPEG codec circuit 104, an SD format codec circuit 112 reads the digital signal from the SDRAM 103, compresses it as an SD format, and writes it back to the SDRAM 103 again. Reference numeral 105 denotes a hard disk, and reference numeral 106 denotes a hard disk interface circuit for writing MPEG-compressed video data or video data converted into the SD format to the hard disk 105. Reference numeral 107 denotes a CPU that controls the entire blocks. A bitmap display circuit 108 displays various user interfaces by writing a bitmap (bitmap) pattern and color setting of the screen display by the CPU 107 and outputting them to the image mix circuit 109. An image Mix circuit 109 mixes (mixes) characters and graphic information output from the Bitmap display circuit 108 and a camera video signal output from the video interface circuit 102. Reference numeral 110 denotes an LCD for displaying a video signal output from the video Mix circuit 109, and 111 denotes an operation key block for operating the camera.

  Although not shown, the operation key block 111 includes the following operation keys. The first operation key is a power switch having three positions of camera / off (OFF) / playback. The second operation key is a start / stop switch for recording / ending video. The third operation key is a group of recorder keys for reproducing video recorded on the hard disk. The fourth operation key is a cross key and a confirmation key for performing a GUI operation. The fifth operation key is a cancel key for canceling the GUI operation. The sixth operation key is a menu key for calling a menu setting screen.

  Next, the mapping structure of the SDRAM 103 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is obtained by adding an SD format buffer 205 to FIG.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a video memory in which a digital video signal (Y / Cr / Cb format) output from the camera block 101 by the video interface circuit 102 is written. This video memory 201 has a two-bank configuration. The video memory 201 has a structure in which writing from the video interface block 102 and reading by the MPEG codec 104 and the SD format codec 112 described below access different banks. An MPEG buffer 202 is an area used by the MPEG codec 104 to compress a video signal. Interframe compression by the MPEG method is performed in units of three frame images using the MPEG buffer 202, and the data compressed here is then written as stream data in the VRO buffer 204. The VRO buffer 204 has a ring-like configuration, and when the write address reaches a predetermined address, the VRO buffer 204 returns to the original address and operates to overwrite the data. Next, the stream data written to the VRO buffer 204 is sequentially read by the hard disk drive interface circuit 106 and written to the hard disk drive 105. Reference numeral 205 denotes an SD format buffer, which is an area for the SD format codec 112 to compress the video signal. The compression conversion by the SD format is performed in units of video segments, and parity information or the like is added to the compressed information, and then written to the VRO buffer 204 as stream data. The subsequent writing process to the hard disk is the same as in MPEG.

  An IFO buffer 203 is an area for the CPU 107 to edit hard disk management information 301 and automatic erasure file information 307, which will be described later.

  FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the hard disk 105. As in the first embodiment, the hard disk 105 has three types of data written therein: management information 301, video data 302, and automatic deletion file information 307. The three types of data 301, 301, and 307 are VR_FILE. IFO, VR_FILE. VRO, AUTO_DEL. The file structure is named IFO. The file name is different from that of the first embodiment. In the video data file (VR_FILE.VRO) 302, the captured video data is compressed by the MPEG method or the like as described above and sequentially added. Management information (VR_FILE.IFO) 301 manages this data structure. In the management information 301, the following information is recorded. For each video data, the address information and video name at the beginning of the data, the date information of the image taken, the address information of a typical screen for use in displaying a list of images, recording mode information, recording format information, user, etc. Is folder information for organizing and storing videos. In the automatic erasure file information (AUTO_DEL.IFO) 307, the stream number corresponding to the automatic erasure candidate video selected by the user using the user interface screen described later is written. This information is referred to when automatic deletion is executed when the remaining capacity of the hard disk is reduced, and an erasure video is determined.

  FIG. 11 is a user interface screen for selecting an automatic deletion candidate file. This screen is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 110 by the Bitmap display data control unit 108 activated by the CPU 107 described above.

  Reference numeral 1101 denotes a marker portion indicating whether or not to select as an automatic deletion candidate. Reference numeral 1102 displays a representative image of a file presented as a list, making it easy to check the file contents. 1103 indicates the recording mode (moving image) of each file, and 1104 indicates the recording format (SD). Reference numeral 1105 denotes a file name (recording time), 1106 denotes a list scroll bar, and 1107 denotes a guide display for selecting a file or scrolling the list. 1108 displays the total recordable time next time. Reference numeral 1109 denotes the currently selected recording mode and recording format. The file presented at the beginning of the list is a file that matches the recording mode and the recording format, and is easily compatible with the recording time obtained by deleting each file. Files in other recording modes and recording formats are displayed on the screen when the list is scrolled down and can be selected.

  FIG. 12 shows a flowchart for displaying the user interface screen shown in FIG.

  When there is a deletion candidate list window display request, the search for an overwrite candidate file is started. First, the current recording mode information is acquired (step 1201), the recording format information is also acquired (step 1202), and the image file information recorded in the hard disk is searched (step 1203). It is determined whether or not the search result is the same as the current recording mode and format (step 1204). If they are the same, the file is added to the overwrite designation candidate list (step 1205), and it is confirmed whether or not the file recorded on the hard disk ends there (step 1207). Thereafter, the operation of acquiring the information of the other recording file is repeated. On the other hand, if the file is different from the current recording mode and format, the file information is added to the other file list (step 1206). In this way, after all the recording files are classified into the overwrite designation candidate list and the other file list, the drawing process of the overwrite designation selection screen is performed (step 1208), and the process is terminated.

  When drawing processing on the overwrite designation selection screen is performed, the files listed in the overwrite designation candidate list are displayed in order, and then the files classified into other file lists are displayed.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus of this embodiment can record image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording modes. In step 1201, the current recording mode is detected. Next, in steps 1203 and 1204, an image recording file recorded in the same recording mode as the current recording mode is searched from the recording medium. These processes correspond to step 605 in FIG. Next, in step 607 (step 1208), the searched file is presented as an erasure file candidate. Next, in step 607, an erase file is selected from the presented erase file candidates by the user interface. Next, in step 614, if the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the process of recording new image data on the recording medium, the selected erasure file is erased. The recording mode is a mode for recording a still image, a mode for recording a moving image, a mode for determining the image quality of an image to be recorded, or a mode for determining the size of an image to be recorded. The recording medium is a hard disk (HDD) or a digital video disk (HDD).

  Further, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can record image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording formats. In step 1202, the current recording format is detected. Next, in steps 1203 and 1204, an image recording file recorded in the same recording format as the current recording format is searched from the recording medium. These processes correspond to step 605 in FIG. Next, in step 607 (step 1208), the searched file is presented as an erasure file candidate. Next, in step 607, an erase file is selected from the presented erase file candidates by the user interface. Next, in step 614, if the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the process of recording new image data on the recording medium, the selected erasure file is erased. The recording format is an SD format that is a video recording format or an HDV format that is a video recording format. The recording medium is a hard disk (HDD) or a digital video disk (HDD).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, image files recorded in the same recording format as the current recording mode and recording format are preferentially listed as erasure candidate files. This facilitates the compatibility of the recording time and the number of recorded still images obtained by deleting the file, and simplifies the selection of the deletion candidate file.

  In a hard disk (HDD) camcorder, even when the remaining capacity of the hard disk is reduced, it is conceivable that an erasure candidate file is determined in advance when recording is continued by automatically erasing unnecessary video. At that time, an erasure candidate file can be easily selected from a large number of recorded files.

  By preferentially presenting the same file as the recording mode or recording format you are currently recording to the user, it is easy to make compatible the recording time and number of recordings obtained by the overwriting specification file, and it is easy to select the overwriting specification file. become.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

1 is a block diagram of a camera-integrated hard disk recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of SDRAM. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of a hard disk. It is a figure which shows a message window. It is a figure which shows an automatic deletion candidate selection window. It is a flowchart of a 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart of file restoration of unit data erasure. It is a figure which shows a file restoration selection window. It is a block diagram of the camera integrated hard disk recorder by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of SDRAM. It is a figure which shows the deletion candidate selection window. It is a flowchart which shows an erasure candidate window generation process.

Explanation of symbols

101 Camera 102 Video Interface Circuit 103 SDRAM
104 MPEG codec circuit 105 Hard disk drive 106 Hard disk drive interface 107 CPU
108 Bitmap display circuit 109 Image Mix circuit 110 LCD
111 Operation Input Switch 112 SD Format Codec Circuit

Claims (19)

An image processing apparatus capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording modes,
Detection means for detecting the current recording mode;
Search means for searching for an image recording file recorded in the same recording mode as the current recording mode from within the recording medium;
Presenting means for presenting the searched file as an erasure file candidate;
A user interface for selecting an erase file from the proposed erase file candidates;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an erasing unit for erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the recording process of new image data on the recording medium.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the recording modes is a mode for recording a still image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the recording modes is a mode for recording a moving image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording mode includes a mode for determining an image quality of an image to be recorded.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording mode includes a mode for determining a size of an image to be recorded.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a hard disk.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a digital video disc. An image processing apparatus capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording formats,
Detection means for detecting the current recording format;
Search means for searching for an image recording file recorded in the same recording format as the current recording format from within the recording medium;
Presenting means for presenting the searched file as an erasure file candidate;
A user interface for selecting an erase file from the proposed erase file candidates;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an erasing unit for erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced during the recording process of new image data on the recording medium.   9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording format includes an SD format that is a video recording format.   10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording format includes an HDV format that is a video recording format.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording medium is a hard disk.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording medium is a digital video disc. Image data selection means for selecting image data that may be erased from the image data recorded on the recording medium;
Erasing means for erasing the selected image data according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium during the recording process of new image data on the recording medium;
An overwrite determination means for determining whether new image data is overwritten at the position of the erased image data in the recording medium after the recording process is completed;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a restoring unit that restores the erased image data when the new image data is not overwritten.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the recording medium is a hard disk, and the image data is recorded in a file format. Furthermore, when recording on the recording medium, unit data amount overwriting means for overwriting for each specified unit data amount,
Overwriting data calculation means for calculating the amount of image data overwritten after the recording is completed,
15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the restoration unit restores the image data in accordance with the image data erased by the erasing unit and the data amount calculated by the overwrite data calculation unit. . The image data selection means includes
Selecting means for selecting image data that is a candidate for erasure from among a plurality of image data recorded in the recording medium;
Display means for displaying the selected image data;
14. A user interface for selecting data that may be deleted from the image data displayed by the display means when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced. The image processing apparatus according to any one of -15. An image processing method capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording modes,
A detection step for detecting the current recording mode;
A search step for searching an image recording file recorded in the same recording mode as the current recording mode from within the recording medium;
A presenting step of presenting the searched file as an erasure file candidate;
A selection step of selecting an erase file from the presented erase file candidates by a user interface;
An image processing method comprising: an erasing step of erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium decreases during recording processing of new image data on the recording medium. An image processing method capable of recording image data on a recording medium using a plurality of recording formats,
A detection step for detecting the current recording format;
A search step for searching an image recording file recorded in the same recording format as the current recording format from within the recording medium;
A presenting step of presenting the searched file as an erasure file candidate;
A selection step of selecting an erase file from the presented erase file candidates by a user interface;
An image processing method comprising: an erasing step of erasing the selected erasure file when the remaining capacity of the recording medium decreases during recording processing of new image data on the recording medium. An image data selection step for selecting image data that may be erased from the image data recorded on the recording medium;
An erasing step of erasing the selected image data according to a remaining capacity of the recording medium during a process of recording new image data on the recording medium;
An overwrite determination step for determining whether new image data is overwritten at the position of the erased image data in the recording medium after the recording process is completed;
An image processing method comprising: a restoring step of restoring the erased image data when the new image data is not overwritten.

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