JP2009163687A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electronic equipment handling a large volume of content. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic equipment handling content data recorded in a magnetic tape 10 is provided with a tape drive 8 for reading the content data from the magnetic tape 10, an HDD 3 arbitrarily accessing the data read from the tape drive 8, and a CPU 2 and a RAM 4 for processing the data stored in the HDD 3. The CPU 2 and the RAM 4 control the content data read from the magnetic tape 10 in the tape drive 8 to be stored in the HDD 3, and process the content data stored in the HDD 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus that can read and handle content data recorded on a magnetic tape.

  Magnetic tape has various uses such as audio tape, video tape, computer tape, etc. Especially in the field of data backup tape, with the increase in capacity of hard disk to be backed up, it has a storage capacity of several TB per volume. In order to cope with further increase in hard disk capacity in the future, it is indispensable to increase the capacity of the backup tape.

Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a configuration used by a magnetic tape drive for archiving and backup from a hard disk drive (HDD), semiconductor memory, or the like.
JP-A-11-306090 JP 2002-366310 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-30397

  Currently, DVD (Digital Versataile Disk) and BD (Blu-ray Disk) are widely used as media for recording data such as video content and game content, but the recordable capacity per disc is DVD (both sides). The maximum disc size is 9.4 GB, and the maximum BD (single-sided dual layer) is 50 GB. However, there is a problem that these discs cannot record a large-capacity content of 50 GB or more. For example, video content conforming to the HDTV standard (HDTV) has a capacity of about 25 GB per hour and can be recorded on a BD for about 2 hours, but can be recorded on a DVD for only about 20 minutes. Can not. In addition, a movie that is a kind of video content includes a work that lasts more than two hours. In such a case, it is difficult to record on one BD. There is a variable bit rate technology that can record video content for more than 2 hours on one BD, but this is a technology that lowers the data rate of all or part of the video content. There is a problem that the image quality of the video is lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can handle a large amount of content.

  An electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device capable of handling content data recorded on a magnetic tape, wherein the reading device reads content data from the magnetic tape, and the data read by the reading device. Storage means capable of arbitrary access, and data processing means for processing the data stored in the storage means, the data processing means, the content data read from the magnetic tape in the reading means Control is made to store in the storage means, and the content data stored in the storage means is processed.

  According to the present invention, a large volume of content can be handled.

  The electronic device of the present invention can take the following aspects based on the above configuration. That is, in the electronic apparatus of the present invention, the data processing means is configured to execute the process of reading the content data from the magnetic tape and the process of the content data stored in the storage means in parallel. Can do. With this configuration, the content data processing is executed without reading all the content data recorded on the magnetic tape, so the time from the processing start command to the actual processing is shortened. can do.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an electronic device in this embodiment. In this embodiment, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) is described as an example of an electronic device. However, the electronic device is not limited to a personal computer as long as it can read at least data recorded on a magnetic tape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a personal computer 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 2, a hard disk drive (HDD) 3, a random access memory (RAM) 4, an operation unit 5, a display control unit 6, a display unit 7, and a tape. A drive 8 is provided. These configurations can transmit and receive data and instructions via the system bus 9. The CPU 2 controls each unit based on a command input by the user in the operation unit 5. The HDD 3 can store various data. The RAM 4 temporarily stores data when the CPU 2 performs data processing. The operation unit 5 is capable of inputting various commands by the user, and is configured by, for example, a keyboard or a mouse. The display control unit 6 controls to display a video on the display unit 7 when a display command from the CPU 2 is output. The display unit 7 can display an image under the control of the display control unit 6, and is composed of, for example, a built-in type or external connection type liquid crystal monitor. The tape drive 8 can be loaded with a magnetic tape 10 and includes a magnetic head and a tape loading mechanism. In the present embodiment, a linear type drive capable of reproducing a magnetic tape compliant with the LTO standard (LTO: Linear Tape Open) is used. The tape drive 8 can transport the magnetic tape 10 to read data recorded on the magnetic tape 10 and record data on the magnetic tape 10 based on a command from the CPU 2.

  In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the audio | voice signal processing circuit and speaker which can output an audio | voice are also provided. Further, the HDD 3 is not necessarily provided, and it is sufficient that it includes at least means for temporarily storing data. The tape drive 8 is an example of a reading unit. The HDD 3 is an example of a storage unit. The CPU 2 and RAM 4 are examples of data processing means.

  The magnetic tape 10 is a medium on which various content data such as video content, music content, and application software are recorded. The magnetic tape 10 is housed in a cartridge and is wound around a reel in the cartridge. Further, the magnetic tape 10 conforms to, for example, the LTO standard, and the recordable capacity is set to 1.6 TB, for example. However, the recordable capacity can be further increased by increasing the number of turns on the reel or making the magnetic tape 10 thinner. Can be enlarged. In the case of a magnetic tape having a capacity of 1.6 TB, MPEG-2 standard digital video can be recorded for about 667 hours, and high-definition video can be recorded for about 64 hours. In the present embodiment, the content data recorded on the magnetic tape 10 is assumed to be content data recorded by an authoring manufacturer. However, content recorded by receiving broadcast waves such as high-definition broadcasts by general users. It may be data.

  The operation will be described below.

  FIG. 2 shows the flow of operations when playing back video content recorded on the magnetic tape 10 using the personal computer 1 of the present embodiment. First, when the magnetic tape 10 is loaded into the tape drive 8 by the user and a reproduction command is input in the operation unit 5 (S1), the CPU 2 outputs a command for reproducing the magnetic tape 10 to the tape drive 8. When the reproduction command is sent from the CPU 2, the tape drive 8 causes the magnetic tape 10 to travel at a predetermined speed and reads the video content data recorded on the magnetic tape 10 with a magnetic head (S2).

  The video content data read from the magnetic tape 10 is stored in the HDD 3 (S3). The data transfer rate from the tape drive 8 to the HDD 3 is about 160 MB / second, which is higher than the data transfer rate of DVD (about 1.35 MB / second), for example. Here, it is monitored whether or not video content data having a predetermined time or a predetermined capacity has been read from the magnetic tape 10 (S4). Transition.

  The video content data stored in the HDD 3 is demodulated based on a command from the CPU 2 and converted into video data. The video data is converted into an analog video signal by the display control unit 6 and output to the display unit 7. The display unit 7 displays an image based on the image signal under the control of the display control unit 6 (S5). Although not shown, audio data is also attached to the video content data read from the magnetic tape 10, and this audio data is temporarily stored in the HDD 3 in the personal computer 1 and then demodulated in the audio signal processing circuit. Is done. The demodulated audio signal is output from audio output means such as a speaker.

  Since the video content data is sequentially read from the magnetic tape 10 while the video is continuously displayed on the display unit 7, the video displayed on the display unit 7 is not interrupted. That is, the tape drive 8 according to the present embodiment is configured by a linear type tape drive that can realize a higher transfer rate than the helical type tape drive (Patent Document 3), and therefore has a large capacity. Data can be stored in the HDD 3 while being read from the magnetic tape 10 and executed up to data processing. Therefore, even if the reading of the video content data from the magnetic tape 10 and the display of the video on the display unit 7 are performed simultaneously, the video displayed on the display unit 7 is not interrupted.

  Even if a fast-forward playback command or a rewind playback command is input through the operation unit 5, the video content data read from the magnetic tape 10 is stored in the HDD 3, so that it can be easily accessed and fast-forwarded. Playback and rewind playback can be realized.

  Further, when a plurality of video content data is recorded on one magnetic tape 10, control is performed so that the next video content data is read when playback is performed up to the end of one video content data.

  In the above embodiment, the video content data playback operation has been described. However, the operation of installing application software such as a game in the personal computer 1 is the same. That is, when the user operates the operation unit 5 to input an installation instruction for application software recorded on the magnetic tape 10, the CPU 2 controls the tape drive 8 to install the application software recorded on the magnetic tape 10. The file is read and written to the HDD 3. Thereafter, application software can be installed in the personal computer 1 by performing a known installation process. The installation process may be started after all installation files are read from the magnetic tape 10 and written to the HDD 3, but the installation process may be executed while reading the installation files from the magnetic tape 10 in the background. Good. With this configuration, the time required for the installation process can be shortened.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since a large volume of content is read from the magnetic tape 10 and is played back while being stored in the HDD 3, large volume content data can be handled. For example, in the case of video content data, a high-definition video of 2 hours or more can be continuously played back, so that a high-quality video can be played back. In the case of application software, it is possible to realize multi-functionality, high-definition graphics, and the like as data capacity increases.

  Also, some disc-shaped media such as DVD and BD have recording layers on both sides of the disc in order to increase the recordable capacity of the data, but the user flips the disc to access the recording layers on both sides. Convenience is bad because it must be done. On the other hand, the magnetic tape is easy to use because the capacity can be increased without increasing the diameter of the reel with respect to the reel or by reducing the thickness of the reel without requiring a reversing operation by the user.

  Further, since the data read from the magnetic tape 10 is stored in the HDD 3 and various processes such as a reproduction process are executed on the HDD 3, the random accessibility is not impaired.

  Further, since the transfer speed between the tape drive 8 and the HDD 3 is higher than that of a DVD or the like, it is possible to reduce the time required to read a large amount of content data from the magnetic tape 10.

  In addition, when the content data read from the magnetic tape 10 is being played back, the content data recorded on the magnetic tape 10 is read out by controlling the content data to be read from the magnetic tape 10 in the background. Compared with the control for starting the reproduction, the time from when the reproduction command is input until the reproduction is actually started can be shortened.

  In addition, since magnetic tape generally has a better error rate and higher data reliability than magnetic disks, optical disks, HDDs, and semiconductor memories, it is possible to record various contents on the magnetic tape 10 so that the content-recorded magnetic field is highly reliable. Tape can be realized.

  In this embodiment, the recordable capacity per volume of the magnetic tape is large (for example, 1.6 TB), and therefore, storage management and portability are superior compared to a disk-shaped medium. For example, the recording capacity of one BD is 50 GB, while the recording capacity of DAT 160 is 160 GB (compressed), and has a capacity of three or more BDs.

  In the present embodiment, the content data read from the magnetic tape 10 is stored in the HDD 3. However, any medium other than the HDD may be used as long as the medium can be accessed at least randomly. For example, there are a buffer memory and a semiconductor memory.

  In the present embodiment, the personal computer 1 has been described as an example of the electronic device. However, an HDD recorder, a commercial amusement device, or the like may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration for reading (reproducing) the content data recorded on the magnetic tape 10 has been described. However, the electronic device has a built-in tuner capable of receiving television broadcasting, and the television received by the tuner. The broadcast content may be recorded on the magnetic tape 10.

  In the present embodiment, the tape drive 8 is built in the personal computer 1, but may be configured to be externally connected to the personal computer 1.

  The present invention is useful for electronic devices that can read and handle content recorded on a magnetic tape. In particular, it is useful for devices capable of playing back large-capacity video content and installing application software.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device in an embodiment Flowchart illustrating operation of electronic device in embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1 PC (electronic equipment)
2 CPU (data processing means)
3 HDD (storage means)
4 RAM (data processing means)
5 Operation part 6 Display control part 7 Display part 8 Tape drive (reading means)
10 Magnetic tape

Claims (2)

An electronic device capable of handling content data recorded on magnetic tape,
Reading means for reading content data from the magnetic tape;
Storage means capable of arbitrary access to the content data read by the reading means;
Data processing means for processing the data stored in the storage means,
The data processing means includes
Controlling the content data read from the magnetic tape in the reading means to be stored in the storage means,
Electronic equipment for processing content data stored in the storage means. The data processing means includes
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a process of reading content data from the magnetic tape and a process of content data stored in the storage unit are executed in parallel.

Images