JP4480637B2 - Recording apparatus and recording reservation allocation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording reservation assigning method that allow a user to easily make a recording reservation when receiving a plurality of video signals and recording the received plurality of video signals in parallel. .

  Conventionally, video decks and hard disk recorders that record TV programs are reserved so that users can record TV programs while the user is away by setting the recording start time and end time in advance. It has a recording function. In these recording devices, if the user mistakenly sets a part or all of the recording time, one TV program cannot be recorded for the overlapping time, and the TV program desired by the user cannot always be recorded. There is a problem.

  In Patent Document 1, manual reservation for a user to specify time, repeated reservation for recording a specific time frame repeatedly, keyword reservation for recording a program corresponding to an index including a keyword by specifying a keyword, and There has been proposed a recording apparatus that classifies reservation types into recommended reservations or the like to be recorded based on the usage status of the user, sets priorities for the reservations, and records according to the priorities when reservations overlap.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when a recording device is connected to a home server that can communicate with a mobile terminal via a network and a plurality of users make a reservation for recording a program and a duplicate reservation occurs, the recording device is set to the home server. There has been proposed a program reservation system that can promptly adjust reservation contents between users by notifying that a duplicate reservation has occurred from a server to a mobile terminal possessed by each user.

In recent years, a recording device such as a hard disk or an optical disk that is equipped with two or more tuners and can simultaneously record a plurality of programs has been put into practical use. In these apparatuses, overlapping reservations can be made if the number of programs that can be recorded simultaneously is not exceeded.
JP 2004-153729 A JP 2003-069927 A

  However, in the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, various priorities are set for reservations, and when reservations overlap, recording is performed according to the priorities. However, these priorities are determined for each user or each situation. There is no guarantee that it is optimal, and it is not always possible to record a program desired by the user. In addition, in the program reservation system described in Patent Document 2, notification is made to each user when reservation overlap occurs, and there is a case where the reservation cannot be adjusted between the users who have received the notification. The program desired by the user cannot always be recorded.

  In a recording apparatus having a plurality of tuners, a plurality of programs can be recorded simultaneously, so that it is possible to make a duplicate reservation. However, hardware resources (hereinafter referred to as a recording unit) including a tuner and a recording unit for recording on a recording medium are required. The number of programs that can be recorded simultaneously is defined as the number of recording resources), and conventionally, a user assigns a reservation to a recording resource. For this reason, a plurality of recording resources cannot always be efficiently used, and a program that can be originally recorded cannot be recorded.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of allocation of reservations to recording resources in a conventional recording apparatus, in which the recording apparatus has two recording resources and can record two programs at the same time. For example, reservation 1 for recording from 10:00 to 11:00, and reservation 2 for recording from 10:40 to 11:50 with reservation 2 for recording from 11:30 to 12:10 already set When setting 3, if reservation 1 is assigned to recording resource 1 and reservation 2 is assigned to recording resource 2 as shown in (a), reservation 3 cannot be assigned, but (b) When reservation 1 and reservation 2 are both assigned to recording resource 1, reservation 3 can be assigned to recording resource 2.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to determine whether or not a recording reservation received from a user can be allocated to a recording resource, and a plurality of recording resources By providing a configuration in which recording reservations are assigned to a recording apparatus, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus capable of performing reservation recording of overlapping programs by efficiently using a plurality of recording resources.
In addition, every time a new recording reservation is received from the user, the already allocated recording reservation and the new recording reservation are reassigned to a plurality of recording resources and optimized. It is possible to easily determine whether or not a recording reservation received from a user can be assigned to a recording resource, and it is possible to make a reservation recording of overlapping programs by efficiently using a plurality of recording resources. Is to provide a simple recording apparatus.
In addition, when reallocating a recording reservation to a recording resource, the recording reservation is efficiently and reliably arranged by allocating to the recording resource in order from the earliest start time of the recording among a plurality of recording reservations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of performing the reallocation.
In addition, when reallocating a recording reservation to a recording resource, a recording reservation that has the recording end time closest to the recording start time of the recording reservation to which the recording end time is allocated is allocated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of making a free time in which a recording reservation is not allocated to a recording resource to be a continuous long time by adopting a configuration in which a recording reservation is allocated to a recording resource. .

  Another object of the present invention is that when a recording reservation is assigned to a recording resource, a plurality of recording reservations having overlapping recording times from the recording start time to the end time are assigned to the same recording resource. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that can perform reservation recording of overlapping programs by efficiently using a plurality of recording resources by adopting a configuration that allocates recording reservations.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a warning to the user by adopting a configuration that outputs that the recording reservation received from the user cannot be allocated to the recording resource when it is determined that the recording reservation cannot be allocated to the recording resource. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that can perform the above-described operation.

Another object of the present invention is to determine whether or not a recording reservation received from a user can be allocated to a recording resource, and by assigning a recording reservation to a plurality of recording resources, It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording reservation assigning method capable of performing reservation recording of overlapping programs by efficiently using a plurality of recording resources.
Also, every time a new recording reservation is received from the user, the recording reservation that has already been allocated and the new recording reservation are reassigned to a plurality of recording resources and optimized, and then received from the user. Recording reservation allocation that can easily determine whether or not a recording reservation can be assigned to a recording resource, and that can make a reservation recording of an overlapping program by efficiently using a plurality of recording resources It is to provide a method.
In addition, when reassigning the recording reservation to the recording resource, the recording resource is assigned to the recording resource in the order from the earliest recording start time in the plurality of recording reservations. The recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource to which the recording reservation closest to the recording start time of the recording reservation to which the end time of the recording is assigned is performed, so that the recording reservation is efficiently and reliably reassigned. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording reservation assigning method that can make a free time in which no recording reservation is assigned to a recording resource to be a continuous long time.

The recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of reception recording means for simultaneously receiving and recording different broadcast signals, and a reception means for receiving a recording reservation including a time relating to recording of the broadcast signals by the reception recording means. A recording apparatus that records broadcast signals based on the recording reservation, and determines whether or not the recording reservation received by the receiving means can be assigned to the receiving recording means based on a time related to the recording reservation A determination unit, and an allocation unit that allocates a recording reservation to the reception recording unit, and the allocation unit receives the recording reservation by the receiving unit and determines that the recording reservation can be allocated by the determination unit. the recording reservation which has been already assigned to receiving unit recording reservation and the reception recording unit is accepted, Ri Citea to reassign to the receiving and recording means, the recording reservation unassigned The selection means for selecting the recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording as the recording reservation to be allocated, and among the recording reservations already allocated to the receiving recording means that can be allocated, Search means for searching for the recording reservation closest to the start time of the selected recording reservation, and the recording reservation selected by the selection means is assigned to the receiving recording means to which the recording reservation searched by the searching means is assigned. Allocating and recording reservations are sequentially assigned according to selection by the selection means, and all recording reservations are reassigned .

In the present invention, it is determined whether or not a recording reservation received from a user can be allocated to a recording resource, and recording reservations are allocated to a plurality of recording resources. Since the recording apparatus, not the user, assigns recording reservations to recording resources, a plurality of recording resources can be used efficiently, so that it is possible to reliably reserve recording of overlapping programs.
Also, every time a new recording reservation is received from the user, the already allocated recording reservation and the new recording reservation are reassigned to a plurality of recording resources and optimized. Since reallocation is performed each time a recording reservation is received, it is possible to easily determine whether or not a recording reservation can be allocated to a recording resource when a new recording reservation is received.
Further, when reassigning the recording reservation to the recording resource, the recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource in the order from the earliest start time of the recording among the plurality of recording reservations. Thereby, a plurality of recording reservations can be allocated to recording resources efficiently and reliably.
In addition, when reallocating a recording reservation to a recording resource, a recording reservation that has the recording end time closest to the recording start time of the recording reservation to which the recording end time is allocated is allocated. Allocate a recording reservation to the recording resource. By assigning the end time of the previous recording reservation and the start time of the subsequent recording reservation close to each other, the continuous free time of other recording resources becomes long, and a new recording reservation can be easily assigned.

  In the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the allocating unit may perform recording reservation so that a plurality of recording reservations having overlapping recording times from the recording start time to the ending time are not allocated to the same receiving recording unit. It is characterized by assigning.

  In the present invention, when recording reservations are allocated to recording resources, allocation is performed so that a plurality of recording reservations do not overlap in the same time zone, and reservation recording of programs with overlapping times is ensured.

  Further, the recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising means for outputting a message indicating that allocation cannot be performed when the determination unit determines that recording reservation cannot be allocated.

  In the present invention, when it is determined that the recording reservation received from the user cannot be allocated to the recording resource, a message indicating that the recording reservation cannot be allocated is output and a warning is given to the user. This can prompt the user to delete or modify the recording reservation.

Also, the recording reservation allocation method according to the present invention receives a recording reservation including a plurality of reception recording means for simultaneously receiving and recording different broadcast signals, and a time relating to recording of the broadcast signal by the reception recording means. In a recording reservation assigning method for assigning a recording reservation accepted by the accepting means to the receiving recording means using a recording device comprising accepting means, whether the recording reservation accepted by the accepting means can be assigned to the receiving recording means A determination step for determining whether or not based on the time associated with the recording reservation, and a plurality of recording reservations that overlap the recording time from the recording start time to the end time are not assigned to the same reception recording means, An allocation step of allocating a recording reservation to the reception recording means, wherein the allocation step accepts the recording reservation, and the recording reservation is determined by the determination step. Each time is determined to be assigned in-up, the recording reservation that has already been assigned to the recording reservation and the reception recording unit the reception unit receives, re-assigned to the receiving and recording means, the recording reservation unassigned The step of selecting the recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording as the recording reservation to be allocated, and among the recording reservations already allocated to the receiving recording means that can be allocated, the recording end time is the recording to be allocated A step of searching for a recording reservation closest to the start time of the reservation, and a step of assigning the recording reservation to be allocated to the reception recording means to which the recording reservation searched in the step is assigned. And reallocating all recording reservations .

In the present invention, it is determined whether or not a recording reservation received from a user can be allocated to a recording resource, and recording reservations are allocated to a plurality of recording resources. As a result, it is possible to efficiently use a plurality of recording resources and reliably perform reservation recording of programs with overlapping recording times.
Also, every time a new recording reservation is received from the user, the already allocated recording reservation and the new recording reservation are reassigned to a plurality of recording resources and optimized. Since reallocation is performed each time a recording reservation is received, it is possible to easily determine whether or not a recording reservation can be allocated to a recording resource when a new recording reservation is received.
In addition, when reassigning the recording reservation to the recording resource, the recording resource is assigned to the recording resource in the order from the earliest recording start time in the plurality of recording reservations. The recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource to which the recording reservation closest to the recording start time of the recording reservation to which the end time is assigned is assigned. Thereby, a plurality of recording reservations can be allocated to recording resources efficiently and reliably. Also, by assigning the end time of the previous recording reservation and the start time of the subsequent recording reservation close to each other, a continuous free time of other recording resources becomes long, and a new recording reservation can be easily assigned.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a recording reservation received from a user can be allocated to a recording resource, and a recording reservation is allocated to a plurality of recording resources. Since the recording apparatus, not the user, allocates the program, it is possible to perform reservation recording of overlapping programs by efficiently using a plurality of recording resources, so that the program desired by the user can be reliably reserved. it can.
In addition, every time a new recording reservation is received from the user, the already allocated recording reservation and the new recording reservation are reassigned to a plurality of recording resources and optimized. It is possible to easily determine whether or not a recording reservation received from a user can be assigned to a recording resource, and it is possible to efficiently use a plurality of recording resources and perform reservation recording of overlapping programs. Therefore, the program desired by the user can be reliably reserved.
In addition, when reallocating a recording reservation to a recording resource, the recording reservation is efficiently and reliably arranged by allocating to the recording resource in order from the earliest start time of the recording among a plurality of recording reservations. Can be reassigned.
In addition, when reallocating a recording reservation to a recording resource, a recording reservation that has the recording end time closest to the recording start time of the recording reservation to which the recording end time is allocated is allocated. By assigning a recording reservation to a recording resource that has been recorded, a free time in which no recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource can be made continuous, so a new recording reservation can be assigned. It is possible to optimize the allocation by reallocating the recording reservation efficiently and reliably.

  Also, according to the present invention, when recording reservations are allocated to recording resources, the configuration is such that a plurality of recording reservations are allocated in the same time period so that a plurality of recording resources can be efficiently allocated. Since it is possible to make a reservation recording of overlapping programs, it is possible to reliably make a reservation for a program desired by the user.

  Further, in the case of the present invention, when it is determined that the recording reservation received from the user cannot be allocated to the recording resource, a warning can be given to the user by configuring that the allocation cannot be performed. The user can delete or modify a recording reservation, and can reliably make a reservation for a program desired by the user.

Further, in the case of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the recording reservation received from the user can be allocated to the recording resource, and the recording reservation is allocated to the plurality of recording resources. Since it is possible to make a reservation recording of overlapping programs by efficiently using the, the reservation of the program desired by the user can be reliably performed.
Also, every time a new recording reservation is received from the user, the recording reservation that has already been allocated and the new recording reservation are reassigned to a plurality of recording resources and optimized, and then received from the user. Since it is possible to easily determine whether or not a recording reservation can be assigned to a recording resource, it is possible to perform reservation recording of overlapping programs by efficiently using a plurality of recording resources. Reservation of a desired program can be performed reliably.
In addition, when reassigning the recording reservation to the recording resource, the recording resource is assigned to the recording resource in the order from the earliest recording start time in the plurality of recording reservations. The recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource to which the recording reservation closest to the recording start time of the recording reservation to which the end time of the recording is assigned is performed, so that the recording reservation is efficiently and reliably reassigned. In addition, the free time in which no recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource can be set as a continuous long time, so it is easy to assign a new recording reservation, and the recording reservation is efficiently and reliably reassigned. Allocation can be optimized.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a hard disk recorder according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit of the hard disk recorder. The control unit 1 controls each part of the hard disk recorder to record the program related to the broadcast signal received by the two tuners 2 and 2 on the hard disk 6, or to the hard disk recorder. Processing such as displaying a program on the connected external display device 51 is performed.

  The hard disk recorder has two tuners 2 and 2 for receiving digital broadcast signals, and records two programs in parallel in the same time zone, or records one program in the same time zone and records the other program in the other A function of displaying a program on the display device 51 is provided. The digital broadcast signals received by the tuners 2 and 2 are given to the control unit 1 as program data. When the program data is displayed on the display device 51 such as a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal monitor, the control unit 1 receives from the tuner. Is provided to the decoder 4 and the program data compressed by the decoder 4 is expanded. The expanded program data is given from the decoder 4 to the output unit 3, converted into a monitor output signal by the output unit 3 and given to the display device 51, and the display device 51 displays the program.

  When recording the program data from the tuners 2 and 2 on the hard disk 6, the control unit 1 gives the program data to the hard disk controller 7, and the hard disk controller 7 records the program data. When displaying the program data recorded on the hard disk 6 on the display device 51, the hard disk controller 7 reads the program data from the hard disk 6 and gives it to the control unit 1, and the decoder 4 and the output unit 3 provide the display device 51 with the program data. Program data is displayed.

  The hard disk controller 7 can record the two program data given from the control unit 1 in parallel on the hard disk 6, and in addition to recording the program data on the hard disk 6, It is possible to read program data already recorded. Thereby, the user can record two programs while viewing the recorded programs. However, in reality, the hard disk controller 7 seems to perform a plurality of processes at the same time by alternately reading the program data and recording the two program data in a time-sharing manner.

  The hard disk recorder also includes an operation unit 5 having a plurality of buttons. By operating the buttons of the operation unit 5, the user selects a channel, records a program, plays a program, sets a program recording reservation, and the like. It can be performed. The hard disk recorder also includes a ROM 8 composed of a mask ROM or flash memory, and a RAM 9 composed of DRAM, SRAM, flash memory, or the like. A program executed by the control unit 1 is stored in the ROM 8, and the control unit 1 reads the program from the ROM 8 and starts processing after the hard disk recorder is powered on. The RAM 9 can temporarily store setting values related to the operation of the hard disk recorder, and is particularly used to store recording reservations for programs.

  Since the hard disk recorder according to the present invention can record a plurality of programs in the same time zone, it is possible to set a recording reservation in which a part or all of the recording time overlaps. When the user inputs a new recording reservation from the operation unit 5, limited hardware resources (hereinafter referred to as recording resources) necessary for recording the number of simultaneously recordable items by the tuners 2, 2 and the hard disk controller 7 are as follows. The control unit 1 makes a determination as to whether or not to use a recording reservation that has already been registered and assigns a recording reservation to a vacant recording resource in a recording time zone related to a new recording reservation. is there. In the case of the hard disk recorder of this embodiment, it has two recording resources, and can record two programs in the same time zone, and the control unit 1 has two recording resources (recording resource 1 and recording resource 2). A process for assigning a recording reservation is performed.

  2 and 3 are flowcharts showing a process for assigning a recording reservation to a recording resource performed by the control unit 1 of the hard disk recorder according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The control unit 1 checks whether or not a new recording reservation has been input from the operation unit 5 by the user (step S1). If no new recording reservation has been input (S1: NO), a new recording reservation is made. Wait until is entered.

  When a new recording reservation is input (S1: YES), it is checked whether the new recording reservation can be assigned to two recording resources (step S2). Whether or not allocation is possible can be determined by whether or not there is an overlap in recording time between the new recording reservation and the recording reservation already allocated to both recording resources. If there is no recording reservation with overlapping recording time in at least one of the recording resources, it can be determined that a new recording reservation can be allocated, and there is a recording reservation with overlapping recording time in both recording resources Therefore, it can be determined that a new recording reservation cannot be assigned. As described above, whether or not a new recording reservation can be allocated can be determined simply by whether or not there is a recording reservation with an overlapping recording time. This is because the allocation is always optimized.

  If a new recording reservation cannot be allocated to two recording resources (S2: NO), an error message is displayed to the effect that the program relating to the new recording reservation cannot be recorded (step S3). The process is terminated. If a new recording reservation can be assigned (S2: YES), all the already assigned recording reservations are released (step S4), reassigned including the new recording reservation, and assigned to the recording resource. Optimize recording reservation allocation.

  For reassignment of a recording reservation, first, a recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording is selected from unassigned recording reservations (step S5), and it is checked whether or not the selected recording reservation can be assigned to the recording resource 1. (Step S6). Whether or not allocation is possible is determined by whether or not a recording reservation that overlaps the recording time of the selected recording reservation has already been allocated to the recording resource 1. If the recording resource 1 cannot be allocated (S6: NO), the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 2 (step S7), and if it can be allocated to the recording resource 1 (S6: YES), further recording is performed. It is checked whether the resource 2 can be allocated (step S8). If allocation to the recording resource 2 is impossible (S8: NO), the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 1 (step S9).

  In step S8, if the selected recording reservation can be assigned to the recording resource 2 (S8: YES), since it can be assigned to both the recording resource 1 and the recording resource 2, it is assigned to which recording resource. Judgment is made. First, the recording reservation with the latest recording end time is searched for among the recording reservations already assigned (step S10). Since the recording reservations are assigned in the order from the earliest recording start time, the recording reservation with the latest recording end time is searched for by searching for the recording reservation with the later recording end time. Can do. It is checked whether or not the recording reservation with the latest end time is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S11). If the recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (S11: YES), the selected recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1. (Step S12). When the recording reservation with the latest end time is not assigned to the recording resource 1 (S11: NO), it is checked whether or not the recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 2 (step S13). (S13: YES), the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 2 (step S14).

  If the recording reservation with the latest end time is not assigned to the recording resource 2 in step S13 (S13: NO), the recording reservation is not assigned to both recording resources, so the default processing is selected. The recorded recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S15).

  Since the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 1 or the recording resource 2 by the above flow, the control unit 1 checks whether or not the allocation has been completed for all the recording reservations (step S16), and the unallocated recording reservation Is present (S16: NO), the process returns to step S5 to select the recording reservation with the earliest recording start time from the unallocated recording reservation, and assigns it to the recording resource. If all the recording reservations have been allocated (S16: YES), the process ends.

  4, 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams showing an example of recording reservation allocation to recording resources performed by the control unit 1 of the hard disk recorder according to the present invention, and in order from (a) to (h), the control unit The processing performed by 1 is shown in time series. For example, as an already allocated recording reservation, reservation 1 for recording from 10:00 to 11:00 on recording resource 1, reservation 3 for recording from 11:40 to 12:20, and 12:40 to 13: When reservation 4 for recording up to 00 is assigned and reservation 2 for recording from 10:00 to 10:50 is assigned to the recording resource 2 (see FIG. 4A), a new As a recording reservation, reservation 5 for recording from 11:20 to 12:10 is input.

  First, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the reservation 5 can be allocated to the recording resource 1 or the recording resource 2. Reservation 5 cannot be assigned to recording resource 1 because recording time partially overlaps with reservation 3, but recording reservation with overlapping recording time is not assigned to recording resource 2, but is assigned to recording resource 2. Therefore, it is determined that assignment is possible (see FIG. 4B).

  Since it is determined that the reservation 5 can be assigned, the reservations 1 to 5 are then reassigned to the recording resource 1 and the recording resource 2 to optimize the assignment. First, reservation 1 with the earliest recording start time among reservations 1 to 5 is assigned. (In this example, since the recording start times of reservation 1 and reservation 2 are the same, reservation 2 may be selected in this case.) Reservation 1 can be assigned to both recording resource 1 and recording resource 2. Since there is no other recording reservation that has been allocated, it is allocated to the recording resource 1 (see FIG. 5C). This corresponds to step S15 in the flowchart described above.

  Next, reservation 2 having the earliest start time of recording among unallocated recording reservations is assigned. Reservation 2 is assigned to recording resource 2 because the recording time overlaps with reservation 1 and cannot be assigned to recording resource 1 (see FIG. 5D). This corresponds to step S7 in the flowchart.

  Next, reservation 5 having the earliest start time of recording among unallocated recording reservations is assigned. Reservation 5 can be assigned to both recording resources because there is no recording reservation with overlapping recording times in both recording resource 1 and recording resource 2. In this case, among the recording reservations already assigned to the recording resource 1 and the recording resource 2, the one with the latest recording end time is the reservation 1. Therefore, the reservation 5 is assigned to the recording resource 1 to which the reservation 1 is assigned. Assign (see FIG. 5E). This corresponds to step S12 in the flowchart.

  Next, among the unallocated reservation 3 and reservation 4, the reservation 3 with the earlier recording start time is allocated. Reservation 3 is assigned to recording resource 2 because recording time partially overlaps with reservation 5 and cannot be assigned to recording resource 1 (see FIG. 5F). This corresponds to S7 in the flowchart.

  Finally, an unallocated reservation 4 is allocated. Reservation 4 can be assigned to both recording resources because there is no recording reservation with overlapping recording times in both recording resource 1 and recording resource 2. In this case, among the recording reservations already assigned to the recording resource 1 and the recording resource 2, the one with the latest recording end time is the reservation 3, so the reservation 4 is assigned to the recording resource 2 to which the reservation 3 is assigned. Assign (see FIG. 5G). This corresponds to step S14 in the flowchart.

  As described above, the optimization of the recording reservation to the recording resource is completed. For example, when the reservation 6 for recording from 10:50 to 11:30 is newly input thereafter, the recording resource 2 can be allocated. This can be easily determined (see FIG. 6 (h)). If the recording reservation is not optimized and the reservation 5 is assigned to the recording resource 2 (see FIG. 4B), the reservation 6 includes the reservation 1 of the recording resource 1 and the reservation 5 of the recording resource 2. Therefore, it cannot be easily determined whether or not the reservation 6 can be assigned.

  In the hard disk recorder according to the first embodiment, by optimizing the allocation of recording reservations to recording resources, a new recording reservation can be allocated when a new recording reservation is input. It is possible to easily determine whether or not, and it is possible to efficiently use a plurality of recording resources, so that user convenience can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the hard disk recorder includes the two tuners 2 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tuner 2 can be used when a single tuner 2 can receive a plurality of programs. May be configured to include only one tuner, or may be configured to include three or more tuners 2. Further, the configuration in which the hard disk recorder has a built-in tuner has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same method can be applied even when an external tuner is connected to record a program. The hard disk recorder may be configured to record a program using an internal tuner and an external tuner. Further, the configuration in which one hard disk 6 is provided and the hard disk controller 7 records a plurality of programs in a time-sharing manner is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of hard disks 6 are provided to simultaneously record a plurality of programs. It may be a configuration. Further, the case where two recording resources are provided has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration including three or more recording resources may be used. In this case, the tuner 2, the hard disk 6, and the hard disk controller 7 The configuration is changed as appropriate. Further, the hard disk recorder has been described as an example of the recording device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same configuration can be applied to a recording device that records a program on another recording medium such as a DVD disc or a Blu-ray disc. can do.

(Embodiment 2)
7 and 8 are flowcharts showing a process for assigning a recording reservation to a recording resource performed by the control unit 1 of the hard disk recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 1 checks whether or not a new recording reservation has been input from the operation unit 5 by the user (step S61). If no new recording reservation has been input (S61: NO), a new recording reservation is made. Wait until is entered.

  When a new recording reservation is input (S61: YES), it is checked whether or not the new recording reservation can be assigned to two recording resources (step S62). Whether or not allocation is possible is determined based on whether or not there is an overlap in recording time between the new recording reservation and the recording reservation already allocated to both recording resources. If there is no recording reservation with overlapping recording time in at least one of the recording resources, it is determined that a new recording reservation can be assigned, and there is a recording reservation with overlapping recording time in both recording resources Therefore, it is determined that a new recording reservation cannot be allocated. Judgment whether or not allocation is possible at this stage is tentative. If allocation is impossible, whether or not allocation is possible after relocation of recording reservations and optimization Determine again.

  In step S62, if a new recording reservation can be assigned to at least one of the two recording resources (S62: YES), it is checked whether a new recording reservation can be assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S62). S63). If it can be allocated to the recording resource 1 (S63: YES), a new recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 1 (step S64). If it cannot be allocated to the recording resource 1 (S63: NO), a new recording reservation is allocated. The recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 2 (step S65), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, unlike the case of the first embodiment, the hard disk recorder according to the second embodiment does not perform the optimization of the allocation of the recording reservation every time, but when the recording reservation can be allocated without the optimization. Performs assignment only and ends the process.

  In step S62, when a new recording reservation cannot be allocated to two recording resources (S62: NO), all the allocated recording reservations are canceled (step S66), and the recording reservation is reassigned. To optimize the allocation of recording reservations to recording resources. In this case, unlike the case of the first embodiment, the reassignment of the recording reservation is performed only by the already reserved recording reservation, and the newly input recording reservation is not allocated.

  For reassignment of a recording reservation, first, a recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording is selected from unassigned recording reservations (step S67), and it is checked whether or not the selected recording reservation can be assigned to the recording resource 1. (Step S68). If allocation to the recording resource 1 is impossible (S68: NO), the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 2 (step S69). If allocation to the recording resource 1 is possible (S68: YES), further recording is performed. It is checked whether the resource 2 can be allocated (step S70). If allocation to the recording resource 2 is impossible (S70: NO), the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 1 (step S71).

  If the selected recording reservation can be assigned to the recording resource 2 in step S70 (S70: YES), since it can be assigned to both the recording resource 1 and the recording resource 2, it is assigned to which recording resource. Judgment is made. First, the recording reservation with the latest recording end time is searched for among the recording reservations already assigned (step S72). It is checked whether or not the recording reservation with the latest end time is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S73). If the recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (S73: YES), the selected recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1. (Step S74). When the recording reservation with the latest end time is not assigned to the recording resource 1 (S73: NO), it is checked whether or not the recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 2 (step S75). (S75: YES), the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 2 (step S76).

  If the recording reservation with the latest end time is not assigned to the recording resource 2 in step S75 (S75: NO), the recording reservation is not assigned to both recording resources, so the default processing is selected. The recorded recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S77).

  Since the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 1 or the recording resource 2 by the above flow, the control unit 1 checks whether or not the allocation has been completed for all the recording reservations (step S78), and the unallocated recording reservation. Is present (S78: NO), the process returns to step S67, and the recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording is selected from the unallocated recording reservations, and is allocated to the recording resource.

  If all the recording reservations have been assigned (S78: YES), it is checked whether or not a new recording reservation that has not been reassigned can be assigned (step S79). If a new recording reservation cannot be assigned (S79: NO), an error message indicating that the program relating to the new recording reservation cannot be recorded is displayed to the user (step S80), and the process ends. If a new recording reservation can be allocated (S79: YES), it is checked whether or not a new recording reservation can be allocated to the recording resource 1 (step S81). If it can be allocated to the recording resource 1 (S81: YES), a new recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S82), and if it cannot be assigned to the recording resource 1 (S81: NO), a new recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 2 (step S83), and the process is performed. finish.

  In the hard disk recorder according to the second embodiment, unlike the case of the first embodiment, only when a new recording reservation cannot be assigned, the recording reservation is reassigned, and after optimization, a new one is again created. Since it is configured to determine whether or not a recording reservation can be allocated, the recording reservation is not optimized every time a new recording reservation is input. Even in this case, as in the case of the first embodiment, since a plurality of recording resources can be used efficiently, user convenience can be improved. Further, when there are few recording reservations with overlapping recording times, the number of times of reassigning the recording reservation can be reduced, so that the recording reservation assignment process can be speeded up.

  Since the other configuration of the hard disk recorder according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the hard disk recorder according to the first embodiment, the corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing a process for assigning a recording reservation to a recording resource performed by the control unit 1 of the hard disk recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 1 checks whether or not a new recording reservation has been input from the operation unit 5 by the user (step S91). If no new recording reservation has been input (S91: NO), a new recording reservation is made. Wait until is entered.

  When a new recording reservation is input (S91: YES), the allocation information related to the recording reservation already allocated to the recording resource 1 and the recording resource 2 is stored in the RAM 9 and backed up (step S92). Next, all the allocated recording reservations are canceled (step S93), reassignment including new recording reservations is performed, and the allocation of recording reservations to recording resources is optimized.

  For reassignment of recording reservation, first, a recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording is selected from unassigned recording reservations (step S94), and it is checked whether or not the selected recording reservation can be assigned to the recording resource 1. (Step S95). If the recording resource 1 cannot be allocated (S95: NO), it is further checked whether the recording resource 2 can be allocated (step S97). If the recording resource 2 can be allocated (S97: YES). Then, the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 2 (step S99).

  If the selected recording reservation cannot be assigned to the recording resource 2 in step S97 (S97: NO), the selected recording reservation cannot be assigned to both recording resources, so the allocation information backed up in advance in the RAM 9 is stored. Read and return the recording reservation allocation to the original state (step S100), display an error message to the user that the program related to the new recording reservation cannot be performed (step S101), and terminate the process. To do.

  In step S95, if the selected recording reservation can be allocated to recording resource 1 (S95: YES), it is further checked whether it can be allocated to recording resource 2 (step S96). If it is possible (S96: NO), the selected recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S98).

  In step S96, if the selected recording reservation can be allocated to the recording resource 2 (S96: YES), since it can be allocated to both the recording resource 1 and the recording resource 2, it is allocated to which recording resource. Judgment is made. First, the recording reservation with the latest recording end time is searched for among the recording reservations already assigned (step S102). It is checked whether or not the recording reservation with the latest end time is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S103). If the recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (S103: YES), the selected recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1. (Step S104). When the recording reservation with the latest end time is not assigned to the recording resource 1 (S103: NO), it is checked whether or not the recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 2 (step S105). (S105: YES), the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 2 (step S106).

  If the recording reservation with the latest end time is not assigned to the recording resource 2 in step S105 (S105: NO), the recording reservation is not assigned to both recording resources, so the default processing is selected. The recorded recording reservation is assigned to the recording resource 1 (step S107).

  Since the selected recording reservation is allocated to the recording resource 1 or the recording resource 2 by the above flow, the control unit 1 checks whether or not the allocation has been completed for all the recording reservations (step S108), and the unallocated recording reservation Is present (S108: NO), the process returns to step S94 to select the recording reservation with the earliest recording start time from the unallocated recording reservations, and allocates the recording resource. If all the recording reservations have been allocated (S108: YES), the process ends.

  In the hard disk recorder according to the third embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, whether or not a new recording reservation can be allocated is not determined before the recording reservation is reassigned. Reassignment including a new recording reservation is performed, and when reassignment is impossible, it is determined that a new recording reservation cannot be assigned. Even in this case, as in the case of the first embodiment, since a plurality of recording resources can be used efficiently, user convenience can be improved.

  Since the other configuration of the hard disk recorder according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the hard disk recorder according to the first embodiment, the corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the hard disk recorder which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of allocation of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of allocation of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of allocation of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the allocation process of the recording reservation to the recording resource which the control part of the hard-disk recorder which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of allocation of the reservation to the recording resource in the conventional recording device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Tuner 4 Decoder 5 Operation part 6 Hard disk 7 Hard disk controller

Claims (4)

A plurality of reception recording means for simultaneously receiving and recording different broadcast signals; and a reception means for receiving a recording reservation including a time relating to recording of the broadcast signal by the reception recording means, and based on the recording reservation In a recording device for recording broadcast signals,
Determining means for determining whether or not the recording reservation accepted by the accepting means can be allocated to the receiving recording means based on a time related to the recording reservation;
The reception recording means comprises an assignment means for assigning a recording reservation,
The assigning means is:
Each time the accepting unit accepts a recording reservation and the determination unit determines that the determination unit can assign the recording reservation, the recording reservation accepted by the accepting unit and the recording reservation already assigned to the receiving recording unit Ri Citea to re-assigned to the means,
A selection means for selecting a recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording among unassigned recording reservations as a recording reservation to be allocated;
Search means for searching for a recording reservation whose recording end time is closest to the start time of the recording reservation selected by the selection means among the recording reservations already assigned to the allocable receiving recording means;
Have
The recording reservation selected by the selection means is assigned to the reception recording means to which the recording reservation searched by the search means is assigned,
A recording apparatus, wherein recording reservations are sequentially allocated in accordance with selection by the selection means, and all recording reservations are reassigned .   2. The allocation unit allocates a recording reservation so that a plurality of recording reservations having overlapping recording times from a recording start time to an end time are not allocated to the same reception recording unit. The recording device described in 1. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting a message indicating that allocation cannot be performed when the determination unit determines that the recording reservation cannot be allocated. Using a recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of reception recording means for simultaneously receiving and recording different broadcast signals; and a reception means for receiving a recording reservation including a time relating to recording of the broadcast signal by the reception recording means, In the recording reservation assigning method for assigning the recording reservation accepted by the accepting means to the receiving recording means,
A determination step of determining whether or not the recording reservation received by the receiving unit can be allocated to the reception recording unit based on a time related to the recording reservation;
An allocation step for allocating a recording reservation to the reception recording means so that a plurality of recording reservations with overlapping recording times from the recording start time to the end time are not assigned to the same reception recording means, and
The allocation step includes:
Each time the accepting unit accepts a recording reservation and the recording reservation is determined to be assignable in the determination step, the recording reservation accepted by the accepting unit and the recording reservation already assigned to the receiving recording unit are Reassign to the receipt recording means ,
Selecting the recording reservation with the earliest start time of recording among unassigned recording reservations as the recording reservation to be allocated;
Searching for a recording reservation whose recording end time is closest to the start time of the recording reservation to be allocated among the recording reservations already assigned to the assignable receiving recording means;
Assigning the allocation target recording reservation to the reception recording means to which the recording reservation retrieved in the step is allocated;
Is executed for all the recording reservations, and the reallocation of all the recording reservations is performed .

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