JP2000123365A - Recording time prolonging system device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable continuously recording even when recording regions are used up by constituting recordable regions to be expandable by reproducing, recompressing and rerecording recording signals on a disk, compressing and recording the signals again. SOLUTION: A microcomputer 16 reproduces a prescribed region of the disk 1 by a pickup 2 and regenerative signals are supplied to a data processor 8 via a reproducing amplifier 3 and ECC/DEC 5. The regenerative data are subjected to a recompression processing by the data processor 8 and are supplied to the pickup 2 again via the ECC/DEC 5 and a recording amplifier 4. The microcomputer 16 controls a servo part 7 and the recompressed signals are recorded again in a regenerative region by the pickup 2. Recording rate of 10 Mbit/s at this time is changed to 5 Mbit/s at the time of recompression- recording. That is, vacant regions can be produced on the disk 1 by recompression-recording. Even when the vacant region on the disk is used up, recording can be done in the produced vacant regions and thereby recording time can be prolonged and the utilization efficiency of the disk 1 can be improved too.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording / reproducing video, audio, and the like on / from a disk-shaped recording medium. The present invention relates to a recording time extension system device capable of extending a recording by generating an area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the progress of image signal processing technology,
A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of arbitrarily recording and reproducing video and audio recording signals on a disk-shaped recording medium, so-called DVD (Di-
A recording / reproducing device called a “gitalVersatile Disk” has attracted attention. Such a DVD is different from a general reproduction / read-only DVD, in which video data (also referred to as a digital stream) according to a video source is arbitrarily recorded / recorded.
Since erasing is possible, there is an advantage that editing in a plurality of types of video sources can be easily performed.

Normally, in such a DVD, when recording, for example, when a recording signal is a digital stream to be continuously input, one digital stream corresponding to a video source is preferably continuously recorded on a disk. It is recorded in the area. As a result, when the recorded signal is reproduced, the recorded signal can be continuously read from one area on the disk, and thus the recorded signal can be continuously reproduced without interruption. Such a recording method is particularly effective when recording is performed using a disk on which nothing is recorded.

[0004] When a disk used for recording has already been recorded in some of the entire storage area, first, an empty area of the disk is searched, and based on the search result. It is controlled so that a recording signal is recorded in a free area on the disk. Therefore, by newly recording a recording signal in the recognized free space on the disk, it is possible to effectively use the storage capacity of the disk.

However, in such a conventional DVD,
If the free space on the disc is completely lost during recording or at the start of recording, or if there is no recording at all from the beginning, recording cannot be performed anymore, that is, recording cannot be stopped. Will occur. In particular, when the recording signal is a digital stream having a large amount of data such as a movie, if the recording is interrupted in the middle, the recording becomes completely and meaningless. Will not be able to be reproduced.

In order to solve this problem, a disk autochanger function is provided for automatically replacing another unused disk for continuous recording.
Further, by using a buffer for buffering, etc., it is possible to perform continuous recording operation by recording data in an unrecorded area of a new disk and at the same time supplement recording data supply at the time of replacement. It is desirable to perform complete recording on a single disc, and such a method is not optimal. In addition, the size of the DVD becomes large in structure, and it is not effective in consideration of a DVD that is strongly required to be downsized.

Therefore, even when the free space on the disk is exhausted, the disk is not replaced without renewing the disk.
Although a recording time extension system device including a DVD capable of recording more than that one disc is desired,
At present, no such proposal has been made.

[0008]

As described above, in a conventional recordable / reproducible DVD, a recordable empty area existing on a disc as a recording medium is searched, and a new recording signal is recorded in this empty area. Recording method, the recording cannot be performed any more if there is no more free space on the disc, and the recording is interrupted especially when recording a recording signal with a large data amount such as a movie. However, there is a problem that continuous recording cannot be performed.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has an arrangement in which a recording signal on a disk is reproduced, re-compressed, and re-recorded so that a recordable area can be expanded.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording time extension system device capable of continuously recording even when the recording area runs out.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording time extension system apparatus for reproducing a signal recorded in a predetermined area of a disk-shaped recording medium in advance,
A recording / reproducing means capable of recording a recording signal for recording in a predetermined area; and a drive of the recording / reproducing means for performing reproduction or recording by the recording / reproducing means on a predetermined area on the disc-shaped recording medium. Driving means for controlling;
Recompression processing means for outputting a recompression signal having a changed recording rate by performing recompression processing on a reproduction signal for each predetermined area from the recording / reproduction means; and controlling the driving means to perform the recompression processing. Control means for controlling the re-compression signal from the means to be re-recorded in the predetermined area on the disk-shaped recording medium.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording / reproducing means reproduces a signal previously recorded in a predetermined area of a disk-shaped recording medium and records a recording signal for recording in the predetermined area. The driving unit controls the driving of the recording / reproducing unit in order to execute reproduction or recording by the recording / reproducing unit on a predetermined area on the disk-shaped recording medium. The recompression processing means outputs a recompression signal having a changed recording rate by performing recompression processing on a reproduction signal for each predetermined area from the recording / reproduction means. The control means controls the driving means to control the recompression signal from the recompression processing means to re-record the signal in the predetermined area on the disk-shaped recording medium. As a result, even when the free area of the disk-shaped recording medium runs out, by performing the recompression recording operation, it is possible to create a recordable area for performing new recording.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording time extension system apparatus which reproduces a recording signal previously recorded in a predetermined area of a disk-shaped recording medium at N times speed (N is an integer of 2 or more) and performs recording. Recording / reproducing means capable of recording a recording signal for performing N-times speed (N is an integer of 2 or more) in a predetermined area; A driving unit for controlling the driving of the recording / reproducing unit, and a recompression signal having a recording rate changed by performing a recompression process on a reproduction signal for each predetermined area from the recording / reproducing unit. Re-compression processing means for outputting, drive control of the recording / reproducing means by the driving means, and variable compression ratio control of re-compression processing by the re-compression processing means; N by controlling the fine said recording and reproducing means
Double-speed reproduction is performed, and the recompression process is performed by changing the compression ratio by the recompression processing means, and the obtained recompressed signal is again recorded at N times speed in the predetermined area. And control means for obtaining a possible area and controlling to record a new input video signal in the obtained recordable area.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the recording / reproducing means reproduces and records a recording signal previously recorded in a predetermined area of a disk-shaped recording medium at N times speed (N is an integer of 2 or more). Can be recorded in a predetermined area at N times speed (N is an integer of 2 or more). The driving means is
The drive of the recording / reproducing means is controlled so that the N-times speed reproduction or N-times recording by the recording / reproducing means is performed on a predetermined area on the disk-shaped recording medium. The recompression processing means outputs a recompression signal having a changed recording rate by performing recompression processing on a reproduction signal for each predetermined area from the recording / reproduction means. The control means is capable of controlling the driving of the recording / reproducing means by the driving means and the compression ratio variable control of the recompression processing by the recompression processing means. Double-speed reproduction is performed, and the recompression process is performed by changing the compression ratio by the recompression processing means, and the obtained recompressed signal is again recorded at N times speed in the predetermined area. A possible area is obtained, and control is performed to record a new input video signal in the obtained recordable area. As a result, a recordable area can be created by a recompression recording operation in the same manner as the above invention, and a new input video signal can be recorded in this recordable area, thereby extending the recording time. be able to. Further, the use efficiency of the recording medium on the disc is improved, and a recording time extension system which has not been provided in the past can be provided.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording time extension system apparatus according to the present invention, and showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus including a recompression recording circuit section necessary for constituting the system apparatus. is there.

The recording time extension system apparatus according to the present embodiment reproduces a recorded signal on the disk, recompresses the reproduced signal and re-compresses the reproduced signal even if the free space on the disk of the recording medium is exhausted. By recording, by generating an empty area, it is possible to continue recording. FIG. 1 shows a basic circuit configuration of an apparatus having a recompression recording circuit section necessary for that.

First, the configuration of the main recompression recording circuit will be described.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the disk 1 is a disk-shaped recording medium on which a recording signal is recorded in advance at a recording rate of, for example, 10 Mbit / s.
The upper recording signal is reproduced by the pickup 2. The pickup 2 reproduces a recording signal on the disk 1 or writes a recording signal in a predetermined recording area of the disk. During playback, pickup 2
Performs a modulation process on a reproduction signal to convert the signal into an electric signal, and provides the electric signal to the reproduction amplifier 3. The pickup 2 can freely move the position in the radial direction of the disc 1 by drive control by the pickup servo unit 7.

The reproduction amplifier 3 amplifies the reproduction signal from the pickup 2 at a predetermined amplification factor necessary for reproducing the signal and supplies the amplified signal to the ECC / DEC 5 as a recording / writing control unit.

The ECC / DEC 5 controls the memory 6 having a function as a buffer memory for buffering, and controls the input / output of data at the time of reproduction and recording. The ECC / DEC 5 converts a reproduction signal into a digital signal at the time of reproduction. At the time of recording, the recording data is converted into an analog signal. During playback, ECC
The digital signal digitally converted by / DEC 5 is provided to data processor 8.

The data processor 8 can perform general data input / output control at the time of reproduction and recording. When performing a re-recording operation at the time of re-compression which is a feature of the present embodiment, the data processor 8 reproduces the data. The obtained digital signal is taken in, and the digital signal is recompressed. For example, the data processor 8 performs a recompression process on the reproduced signal read at 10 Mbit / s so as to have a data rate of 5 Mbit / s, and uses the recompressed data again as ECC data as rerecorded data. / DEC5. That is, the re-compressed data is re-recorded using this data rate as the recording rate.

The ECC / DEC 5 converts the supplied recompressed data into an analog signal again, and supplies the converted recompressed signal as a recording signal to the recording amplifier 4.
Is amplified at an amplification factor necessary for re-recording the recording signal, and is supplied to the pickup 2. Thus, the recompressed recording signal is re-recorded in a vacant area on the disk, which will be described later, by the writing operation of the pickup 2. That is, by reproducing the recorded signal and recompressing the reproduced signal, it is possible to reduce the data amount of the first recorded signal at the time of rerecording the recompressed recording signal. A free area is obtained in the recording area, and re-recording can be performed in this free area.

In the re-recording / compression circuit having such a configuration, the microcomputer 16 controls the overall processing of the system device. In addition, the user can use the microcomputer 1 from a user interface such as a personal computer.
6, direct instruction control such as re-compression recording operation control, recording signal selection control during mere recording, or reproduction control during mere reproduction is also possible.

In the circuit section, a work area (also referred to as a cache area) such as a compression work area necessary for various processes during recompression recording, normal recording, and normal reproduction, which is a feature of the present embodiment. There are provided memories 6, 9, and 11 necessary for use as a memory, and various processes are performed using these memories.

In the present embodiment, in order to save the storage capacity of these memories, it is possible to control to use a free area on the disk as a work area.

At the time of normal recording, data such as video and audio supplied from the user interface 17 is taken into the MPEG2 processing unit 10 via the microcomputer 16, and the MPEG2 processing unit 10 performs a high-efficiency compression encoding process ( The data is then supplied to the data processor 8. At this time, if the data to be encoded is video data such as a moving image due to the temporary storage operation by the memory 11, continuous encoding processing can be performed. Thereafter, the encoded data is transmitted to the data processor 8, E
Pickup 2 via CC / DEC 5 and recording amplifier 4
And is recorded in a free area of the disk 1.

On the other hand, at the time of reproduction, almost the same processing as that at the time of recompression recording is performed. That is, the reproduction signal reproduced by the pickup 2 is reproduced by the reproduction amplifier 3, ECC / DEC 5,
The data is supplied to the MPEG2 processing unit 10 via the data processor 8. At the time of reproduction, the MPEG2 processing unit performs a decoding process (decoding process) on the supplied reproduction data to return the reproduction data to a state before encoding.
6, a display based on the reproduced data is performed by supplying the data to a monitor or the like provided as a display means of the user interface 17.

Next, the main operation of the recording time extension system according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the recompression recording operation of the recording time extension system apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a disk for performing recompression recording and creating an empty area on the disk. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing a recording area, in which concentric areas are changed to rectangles for easy understanding of areas on a disk.

In the recording time extension system apparatus of this embodiment, each area on the disc 1 is regarded as one block.
Re-recording processing including reproduction and normal recording is performed. Therefore, assuming that this processing unit is T, FIG.
, The processing for each time unit can be expressed as T0 / T1 / T2, and these relations are expressed as T0 => T1 => T
2, and various processes are performed in such a relationship. Note that T0−
1, T0-2, T0-3,... Indicate the time obtained by further dividing the processing time for each time unit.

Now, assuming that the recording time extension system apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is started, the microcomputer 16 controls the reproduction mode to be executed in the pickup mode. T as shown
At 0-1, a recording signal in a recording area on the disk 1, for example, a P0 area shown in FIG. At this time, the data rate of the reproduced signal is 10 Mbit / s as described above.

Thereafter, the reproduction signal amplified by the reproduction amplifier 3 is supplied to the data processor 8 via the ECC / DEC 5, and the data processor 8 performs the processing at T0-2.
The PO area is reproduced and digitized reproduction data is recompressed so that the data rate becomes, for example, 5 Mbit / s, and is converted into data to be supplied to the ECC / DEC 5. That is, the recompression process results in recompressed data in which the data amount of the reproduced signal is reduced to, for example, half.
The recompressed data is converted into an analog signal again by the ECC / DEC 5, amplified by the recording amplifier 4, and supplied to the pickup 2.

Thereafter, when the recompression process is completed, the microcomputer 1 controls to execute the recording mode, that is, the pickup 2 transmits the recompression signal to the P01 on the disk 1 shown in FIG. Write to the area. That is, since the data amount becomes, for example, 例 え ば at the time of recompression recording as compared with that at the time of reproduction, it is possible to write all the recording signals only in the area P01 which is half the area PO on the disk 1. . Therefore, as shown in FIG.
As for the PO area on the disk 1, a free area P00 can be created.

Thereafter, the other areas P1, P2 on the disk 1
.. Operate in the same manner as described above, and
0, P10, P20... Are created.

FIG. 4 shows the vicinity of a disc boundary when a disc free area is created after recompression recording of the PO area on the disc 1. Therefore, as described above, by performing recompression recording, it is possible to generate almost all 空 き empty areas, and to write an input signal into these generated empty areas. Servo unit 7
By appropriately controlling the movement of the pickup 2, the use efficiency of the disk 1 can be improved, and continuous writing can be performed even when there is no free space.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the recompression recording circuit section can be configured with a simple configuration, and a free area of a predetermined capacity can be generated by the recompression recording operation. Even if there is no free space on the recording device 1, the recording operation can be continued.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the recording time extension system apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same components as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different portions will be described.

In the present embodiment, the video source is not limited as in the above-described embodiment. For example, a video and a video that can input and output video sources such as digital broadcast reception data and other DVD playback data are provided. An audio input / output device is provided to configure a recording time extension system capable of inputting another video source, thereby enabling continuous recording so that recompression recording operation and normal recording of an input video signal are continuously performed. By that
The difference is that the recording time can be extended.

Specifically, as shown in FIG.
A video input / output unit 14 and an audio input / output unit 15 capable of controlling input / output of video and audio signals from a digital broadcast receiver and other video equipment such as a DVD are newly provided, and are configured as the recording time extension system device. Have been.

The video input / output unit 14 outputs a predetermined video signal to the NTSC ENC 13 when recording is necessary,
In the case of reproduction, a reproduction signal is output to a display means such as a monitor or a television receiver. When recording is required similarly to the video signal, the audio input / output unit 15 outputs a predetermined audio signal in the audio ENC in synchronization with the video signal.
In the case of reproduction, an audio reproduction signal is output to a speaker as an audio reproduction unit or an audio reproduction unit in a television receiver.

Therefore, by providing such video and audio input / output units 14 and 15, it becomes possible to record a wide range of video sources using the recording time extension system device. The video and audio input / output units 14 and 1
5 is, of course, the user interface 20 and the microcomputer 1
The selection of the video source and the input / output of the selected signal are controlled by the selection instruction by the control unit 6.

In the system for extending the recording time according to the present embodiment, a recompression recording operation is performed in the same manner as in the apparatus according to the above-described embodiment to create an empty area.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a signal previously recorded on the disk 1 at a recording rate of, for example, 10 Mbit / s is reproduced by the pickup 2. Pickup 2
The signal reproduced from a predetermined area on the disk 1 is further subjected to a modulation process to be converted into an electric signal, which is provided to the reproduction amplifier 3.

The reproduction amplifier 3 receives a reproduction signal from the pickup 2. The signal is amplified to a level necessary for performing processing in a subsequent stage, and is supplied to an ECC / DEC 5 as a recording / writing control unit. The ECC / DEC 5 converts a reproduction signal into a digital signal at the time of reproduction, and converts the digital signal after the digital conversion. It is given to the data processor 8.

The data processor 8 fetches a reproduced digital signal and performs a recompression process on the digital signal, as in the above embodiment. That is, the data processor 8 recompresses the reproduced signal read at 10 Mbit / s so as to have a data rate of 5 Mbit / s, and again uses the recompressed data as ECC data as rerecorded data. / DEC5. In other words, by performing the recompression processing, it becomes possible to create a free area in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

On the other hand, an input video signal from the video input / output unit 14 is taken into the NTSC ENC 13 and
After being subjected to encoding processing by the SC ENC 13 and converted into a digital signal, the digital signal is supplied to the MPEG2 processing unit 10. At the same time, the corresponding audio signal is also taken in from the audio input / output unit 15 to the audio ENC 19,
After being encoded and converted into a digital signal, it is supplied to the MPEG2 processing unit 10 in the same manner as video data.

The MPEG2 processing section 10 performs high-efficiency compression encoding processing on the input video data and audio data which are taken in, and supplies the data to the data processor 8. The transfer rate in this case is 5 Mbit / s. That is, it is the same as the transfer rate of the recording signal at the time of recompression recording.

The data processor 8 combines the recompressed compressed signal and the MPEG2 compressed signal from the MPEG2 processing section 10 and outputs the combined signal to the ECC / SDEC 5. The transfer rate at this time is 10 Mbi when adding both.
t / s, which is equal to the recording rate recorded on the disk 1.

The ECC / DEC 5 converts the supplied combined compressed data into an analog signal required for recording,
Using the converted synthesized compressed signal as a recording signal,
The recording amplifier 4 amplifies the recording signal with an amplification factor necessary for performing re-recording and supplies the amplified signal to the pickup 2. Thus, by the writing operation by the pickup 2,
This recording signal is recorded in a predetermined area on the disk described later. In other words, in this example, by reproducing the recorded signal and recompressing the reproduced signal, the recompressed data is recorded in a half area of the disk and the free space obtained by the recompression processing is recorded. It becomes possible to record an MPEG2 compressed signal as an input video signal in the area.

In the recording time extension system having such a configuration, the processing operation of the entire system device is controlled by the microcomputer 16 as in the above embodiment. In addition, the user can also directly control the microcomputer 16 from a user interface such as a personal computer by using a user interface such as a re-compression recording operation control, a recording signal selection control at the time of simple recording, or a reproduction control at the time of simple reproduction. You can do it.

Further, it is necessary to use as a work area (also referred to as a cache area) such as a compression work area necessary for various processes during recompression recording, normal recording, and normal reproduction, which are features of the present embodiment. Are provided, and various processes are performed using these memories.

In this embodiment, in order to save the storage capacity of these memories, it is possible to control to use a free area on the disk as a work area.

At the time of reproduction, a predetermined area on the disk 1 is reproduced by the pickup 2 by the movement control of the pickup 2 by the servo unit 7, and the reproduction signal reproduced by the pickup 2 is reproduced by the reproduction amplifier 3, ECC / DEC.
5. MPEG2 processing unit 10 via data processor 8
Supplied to At the time of reproduction, the MPEG2 processing unit 10 performs a decoding process (decoding process) on the supplied reproduction data to return to a state before encoding, and thereafter, provides the video data to the NTSC DEC 12 and demodulates it. After that, the video data is supplied to a television receiver (not shown) via the video input / output unit 14 or a monitor provided as a display unit of the user interface 17 via the microcomputer 16, whereby the display based on the reproduced data is performed. . Similarly, for audio data, audio DE
The signal is demodulated by C18 and supplied to a television receiver or a monitor together with the video data to be reproduced.

Next, the main operation of the recording time extension system apparatus of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the main operation when the recompression recording operation and the new recording operation of the recording time extension system apparatus of the present embodiment are linked, and FIGS. Is an explanatory diagram for explaining a change in the recording area on the disk when a new recording is performed at the same time as re-compression recording.In order to make the area on the disk easier to understand, the concentric area is changed to a rectangle. It was done.

In the recording time extension system apparatus of this embodiment, similarly to the above embodiment, each area on the disk 1 is treated as one block,
A new recording process is performed. Therefore, assuming that the processing unit is T, the processing for each time unit can be represented as T0 / T1 / T2 as shown in FIG. 2, and these relations are represented by the relation T0 => T1 => T2. And various processes are performed in such a relationship. It should be noted that T0-1, T0-2, T0- shown in FIG.
.. Indicate the time obtained by further dividing the processing time for each time unit.

Now, assuming that the recording time extension system apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is started, the microcomputer 16 controls the pickup mode to execute the reproduction mode among the pickup modes. T as shown
At 0-1, a recording signal in a recording area on the disk 1, for example, a P0 area shown in FIG. At this time, the data rate of the reproduced signal is 10 Mbit / s as described above. After that, the reproduction signal P0 reproduced by the reproduction amplifier 3 becomes the ECC / D
The digital signal is converted into a digital signal by the EC 5 and stored in the memory 6, or the data is stored in the memory 9 through the data processor 8.
Is stored.

At the same time, during the period TO-1, the microcomputer 16 takes in the video and audio data R-1 selected based on the selection instruction from the user interface 20, and inputs the NTSC ENC13, audio ENC19, M
After the encoding process using the PEG2 processing unit 10 or the like, the data processor 8 has a data rate of, for example, 5 Mbit.
/ S.

In the next T0-2 period, the data R-1 compressed by the data processor 8 is stored in the ECC / DEC5
After that, the signal is changed to an analog signal, amplified by the recording amplifier 4, supplied to the pickup 2, and written into the area R-1 on the disk shown in FIG. At this time,
The microcomputer 1 controls the speed of the servo unit 7 so that
Double speed recording is performed.

At the same time, during the period T0-2, the reproduced signal P0 reproduced from the area P0 of the disk 1 and converted into a digital signal and stored in the memory 6 or the memory 9 is converted by the data processor 8 to a data rate, for example. Recompression processing is performed so as to be 5 Mbit / s.

In the next T0-3 period, after the recompressed data P0 is converted into an analog signal by the ECC / DEC 5, it is amplified by the recording amplifier 4 and supplied to the pickup 2 to be read on the disk shown in FIG. Is written to the area P0. At this time, the microcomputer 1 performs double speed recording by controlling the speed of the servo unit 7.

The microcomputer 1 controls the pickup servo unit 7 because the pickup 2 can perform recording and reproduction at a double speed of N times or more (N is an integer of 2 or more). Can be processed.

Thereafter, the other areas P1, P2 on the disk 1
Are operated continuously in the same manner as described above, so that the recompressed signal is in the area of P1, P2, and the input video signal is a free area generated by recompression, that is, R
.., R0, R1,...

Further, the microcomputer 16 performs the processing by the data processor 8 efficiently and efficiently without any idle time, as shown in FIG. 6, during reproduction by the pickup 2, for example, during the period of T1-1. The data processor 8 is controlled so as to compress the video signal RO inputted in the previous T0 period, and when the pickup 2 is recording, that is, in the subsequent T1-2 and T1-3 periods, the P1 area The data processor 8 is controlled so as to output the data for continuous recording while performing recompression processing on the reproduced data. Thereby, the processing by the data processor 8 can be performed effectively.

FIG. 8 shows the vicinity of the disk boundary between the storage areas R-1, P0, which are halved after recompression recording of the PO area on the disk 1 and recording of the input video signal, respectively, and the next storage area P1. It is shown. Therefore, as described above,
By performing the recompression recording and the new input video signal recording, it is possible to record the respective storage signals in almost every 1/2 area.
Even when there is no free space, it is possible to write a new input signal in a free space obtained by recompressing and recording already stored data, thereby improving the efficiency of disk use. At the same time, the recording time can be extended.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, in addition to the main operation as described above, various measures are taken for more effective recording. Examples of such applications are shown below.

More specifically, the operation of creating a free area by recompressing recording in the recording time extension system apparatus shown in FIG. 5 will be described. For example, recording on the disk 1 at a recording rate higher than the recording rate required for recording by the user. In such a case, even if the recording is recompressed to the required recording rate, no problem such as a decrease in image quality occurs. Therefore, it is possible to recompress this area to create a free area.

When recording on the disc 1, since the recording rate is fixed, the compression rate is increased when the screen has little movement and there is little change due to the screen and there is little image information, or when there is little information on the image itself such as animation. Even if re-recording is performed, there is almost no deterioration in image quality and the like. For this reason, the difference between the recording rate actually recorded at the time of recording on the disc 1 and the recording rate required for recording is obtained by the microcomputer 16, and the obtained difference information is recorded on the disc 1. Is compressed as a recompressed area on the basis of, and control is performed to create a free area of the disk 1.

In practice, for example, the user inserts the disc 1 and selects the compression mode from the menu screen displayed on the monitor of the user interface 20, and then determines the recording rate difference up to which value or which Sets whether to set the recompression processing area up to the recording rate. Alternatively, the user can set a desired recordable time. The recordable time and the disc 1
Even if the microcomputer 16 controls the microcomputer 16 to automatically set up to which value the recording rate difference is automatically recompressed from the information on the difference between the actually recorded recording rate and the recording rate required for recording. good.

In this case, it is possible to set the minimum value of the compression ratio for ensuring the image quality. If the recording time requested by the user cannot be satisfied at the time of automatic setting of the microcomputer 16 as described above, the microcomputer 16 Warned by
It is also possible to control to prohibit recompression.

When such a setting is completed by the user, the microcomputer 16 recognizes this and at the same time, based on the information on the difference between the recording rate actually recorded on the disk 1 and the recording rate required for recording, is re-created. Control is performed to set a compression area and perform recompression recording.

It is also possible to make settings for performing the above operation periodically. In such a case, the microcomputer 16 controls the recompression operation to be performed when a new disk 1 is inserted or when a new recording is performed and a predetermined time elapses.

As a result, it is possible to improve the use efficiency of the disk 1.

Next, a method of setting an area on the disc to be recompressed and rerecorded will be described.

According to the recording time extension system apparatus of this embodiment, if the recorded area is reproduced and the compression rate is re-recorded, a recordable area is generated and a new recording element is performed. It is possible.

However, the image quality of the already recorded video signal may be degraded by re-compression recording. Therefore, in order to solve such inconveniences, it is necessary to make the area to be recompressed an area on the disk 1 having no practical problem.

For example, if the data is recorded on the disc 1 at a higher recording rate than the recording rate required for recording by the user, even if the recording is re-compressed to the required recording rate, there is no problem such as deterioration of the image quality. It can be set as a compression area.

Specifically, when recording on the disc 1,
Since the recording rate is fixed, if the screen has little movement and there is little change due to the screen and there is little image information, or if there is little information on the image itself such as animation, even if the compression rate is increased and re-recorded, the image quality will deteriorate Is almost none. Therefore, disk 1
The microcomputer 16 calculates the difference between the recording rate actually recorded at the time of recording and the recording rate required for recording by the microcomputer 16, records the obtained difference information on the disk 1, and re-records the information based on the recorded information. The setting is controlled so as to set the compression area.

On the other hand, a method of managing the setting of the area to be recompressed will be described.

In the recording time extension system device, the user can set an area that cannot be recompressed.

For example, the microcomputer 16 displays a list of contents recorded on the disk 1 on a display means such as a monitor on a screen.

The user selects and sets an area that cannot be recompressed using the user interface 20 while viewing the list of contents displayed on the screen. It is also possible to instruct whether recompression is permitted / not permitted when recording on a disk. At the time of recording, the microcomputer 16 controls such information to be recorded on the disk 1. Also,
At the time of recompression, the microcomputer 16 controls to set a non-recompression area based on this information.

In this example, it is also possible to select a region to be recompressed. A method for selecting such a region to be recompressed will be described.

For example, when there are a plurality of recompressible areas, it is necessary to determine from which area the recompression processing is to be performed. In this case, in this example, the user arbitrarily sets or automatically determines the order based on the information recorded at the time of recording, and sets the use of the recompressible area in the determined order.

Further, since the order of the recompressible areas is set based on the above information, it is necessary to classify these base information largely. Therefore, in this example, this classification is diversified, and a certain amount of pattern is prepared for automatic setting, and the pattern is set under the control of the microcomputer 16 based on the classification information recorded on the disk 1.
As the above classification items, for example, information to be recorded is recorded on the disk 1 under the control of the microcomputer 16 when recording on the disk 1, and the recorded content information is used as a classification item. For example, recompression recording is performed from a portion other than a program such as a CM, and then classified according to a program genre such as news, drama, and sports.

The microcomputer 16 stores an area reproduced on the disk 1 as the above-mentioned classification item, and controls so as to recompress and record from the reproduced area. Furthermore, the date and time information recorded on the disk 1 is recorded on the disk 1 as a classification item, and control is performed so that re-compression recording is performed from an area with an earlier recorded date and time.

After that, a recompressed area is designated as the classification item based on externally input information. The input information includes, for example, interactive information and information supplied via a telephone line. The microcomputer 16 sets a recompression area based on the external information.

As an example, the audience rating information may be obtained as interactive information, and the microcomputer 16 may control the re-compression recording of a program with a low audience rating. Alternatively, an external organization that determines the interestingness of the program may be accessed via a telephone line or the like, and the obtained information may be used as area information for performing recompression recording.

In this example, the user may be allowed to select the order of the program to be recompressed. In this case, for example, a list screen based on the recording information at the time of recording is displayed under the control of the microcomputer 16, and the order of the programs to be recompressed is determined while looking at the list screen, or the program is classified by recording information items at the time of recording. May be automatically determined based on predetermined conditions.

For example, the following table shows an example of recorded information stored in advance on the disk 1.

[0091]

[Table 1] Now, assuming that the contents of five types of recording information are recorded on one disk 1 as shown in Table 1 above, a portion that has been reproduced once as a first priority condition and a second priority condition By setting the CM recording area and the third priority condition so that the recording date and time are in the order of oldest, the contents of each program can be set to A to E
In this case, it is also possible to determine the area to be recompressed and recorded in the order of A => E => C => B => D.

Thus, the use efficiency of the disk 1 can be improved.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the main operation of the recording time extension system device is further applied to effectively control the extension of the recording time. You may be comprised so that it may perform.
In this case, for example, recording is always performed at the maximum rate at which the recording time can be secured, and the recording time extension system such as recompression recording according to the present embodiment is used only when the recording time is extended and the recording time needs to be secured. To extend the recording time.

More specifically, when the recording area on the disk 1 becomes insufficient, the recording time can be extended by re-compression, so that the recording time necessary for starting recording on the disk 1 is secured. Start recording at the maximum rate possible. First, recording is performed on the disk 1 at the maximum recording rate, that is, in the high-quality recording mode. When the recording capacity starts to run short, re-compression recording is performed each time. This makes it possible to always record data to the full disk capacity.
Can be used more efficiently.

For example, if the disk 1 is in a non-recording state in which nothing is recorded, recording is performed on the disk 1 at a maximum recording rate of 10 Mbit / s until the disk capacity becomes insufficient. And the recording time becomes longer and 10Mbit
If it becomes difficult to secure the recording time at a recording rate of / s, the recording time may be extended by re-compressing and re-recording at a recording rate of 5 Mbit / s to perform the main operation of the present invention. Further, the recording time becomes longer, and 5 Mbit / s
Then, if it becomes difficult to secure the recording time, 2.5 Mbi
Recompression recording is performed at a recording rate of t / s to extend the recording time. That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, the recording rate on the non-recording disk 1 is the maximum rate of the recording / reproducing apparatus.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the present embodiment can be implemented with a simple configuration, and it is possible to continuously record a video to be recorded on one disc, thereby improving convenience. . In particular, even when the shooting time of a program extension, movie, or the like is extended, recording is possible until the end, which is effective. In addition, recording is performed at the maximum recording rate (high image quality / low compression) at which the recording time can always be secured, and when the recording time needs to be further secured, re-compression recording is performed to improve the image quality of the recorded image and secure the recording time. Can be obtained, and the disk use efficiency can be improved.

[0097]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording area on the disk 1 can be used efficiently by recompressing and recording the part recorded at a high recording rate. It is possible to improve the use efficiency of the system. Also, even if the recording area on the disk is exhausted, recording of a new input video signal becomes possible by reproducing the recorded part, changing the compression rate and re-recording to create a free area on the disk, An unprecedented recording time extension system can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording time extension system apparatus according to the present invention, showing a schematic configuration including a recompression recording unit.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for determining the operation of the system device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a free area of a disk created by a recompression recording operation.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a recording state on a disc during recompression recording.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment and showing a schematic configuration of a recording time extension system capable of continuously performing recompression recording and input video recording.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining main operations of the system device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a recording area on a disc when recompression recording and input video recording are performed.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a recording state of a disc during recompression recording and input video recording.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 disk, 2 pickup, 3 reproduction amplifier, 4
... Recording amplifier, 5 ... ECC / DEC (for pickup), 6, 7, 9, 11 ... Memory, 8 ... Data processor, 10 MPEG2 processing unit, 14 ... Video input / output unit, 1
5. Voice input / output unit, 16 microcomputer, 17 user interface.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 23, 1998 (1998.10.
23)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 6

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 7

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 7

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 8

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 8

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 5C052 AB10 AC05 AC10 CC11 CC20 DD04 5C053 FA02 FA23 FA24 GA11 GB21 HA24 JA30 5D044 BC02 GK02 GK08 GK11 HH02 HH05 HH13 JJ03 5D090 AA01 BB04 CC02 CC05 DD03 EE20 HH01

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing means for reproducing a signal previously recorded in a predetermined area of a disk-shaped recording medium and recording a recording signal for recording in a predetermined area, and reproducing or recording by the recording / reproducing means. Driving means for controlling the driving of the recording / reproducing means in order to execute a predetermined area on the disc-shaped recording medium; and recording by performing re-compression processing on a reproduction signal for each predetermined area from the recording / reproducing means. Recompression processing means for outputting a recompression signal having a changed rate; and controlling the driving means to rerecord the recompression signal from the recompression processing means in the predetermined area on the disk-shaped recording medium. Control means for controlling the recording time extension system to perform the following. 2. The reproducing means according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls the reproduction and reproduction by said recording / reproducing means so that a recordable time obtained by enlarging a recordable area on said disk-shaped recording medium becomes a desired recordable time. 2. The recording time extension system according to claim 1, wherein the recording area on the disk-shaped recording medium is adjusted by controlling the recompression processing by the compression processing means. 3. The control unit automatically performs a re-recording operation of an output signal from the re-compression processing unit after a new disk-shaped recording medium is mounted or after a new input video signal is recorded. The recording time extension system device according to claim 1, wherein the recording time extension system device is controlled. 4. A recording signal previously recorded in a predetermined area of a disk-shaped recording medium is reproduced at N times speed (N is an integer of 2 or more) and a recording signal for recording is reproduced at N times speed (N
A recording / reproducing means capable of recording in a predetermined area with an integer of 2 or more); and the recording / reproducing means for performing N-times reproduction or N-times recording by the recording / reproducing means on a predetermined area on the disc-shaped recording medium. A driving unit that controls the driving of the reproducing unit; a recompression processing unit that outputs a recompressed signal having a changed recording rate by performing a recompression process on the reproduced signal for each predetermined area from the recording / reproducing unit; Means for controlling the drive of the recording / reproducing means, and the compression ratio variable control of the recompression processing by the recompression processing means, and controlling the driving means and the recording / reproducing means to perform N-times speed reproduction. Accordingly, the recompression process is performed by changing the compression ratio by the recompression processing means, and the obtained recompressed signal is recorded again in the predetermined area at N times speed. Region to obtain a recording time extension system apparatus being characterized in that comprises a control means for controlling so as to record the new input video signal into the resultant recordable area. 5. The control means controls the re-recording operation of the output signal from the re-compression processing means and the recording of the input video signal in a possible area obtained by the re-recording simultaneously. 5. The recording time extension system device according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The control means controls the recording rate so as to always perform re-recording at a maximum rate at which the recording time can be secured by changing a compression ratio by the re-compression processing means. The recording time extension system apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording time is extended by controlling the recording operation of the recompressed signal each time the recording operation is performed. 7. A setting means for setting a recording area for inhibiting the recompression recording operation, wherein the control means automatically sets the recording area for the recompression recording operation based on the setting information by the setting means. 5. The recording time extension system device according to claim 4, wherein: 8. The recording / reproducing means records information based on the recorded data together with a recording signal, and the setting means ranks the recompressed recording areas based on the information of the recorded areas. 5. The recording time extension system device according to claim 4, wherein an area for performing the recompression recording operation is set based on the determined ranking information. 9. The ranking information is information for recording a difference between a recording rate at the time of recording and a recording rate required for actual recording at the time of recording, and performing ranking based on the recording rate difference. And information for ranking based on the recorded contents of the recording signal, and information for recording the recorded portion as reproduced information when reproducing the information, and for ranking based on the reproduced information. 9. The information according to claim 8, wherein the recording date and time is recorded at a time, and at least one of information for ranking based on the recording date and time information is used.
2. The recording time extension system device according to item 1. 10. The recording time extension system device according to claim 8, wherein the ranking information is information for performing ranking based on information supplied from an external device.