JP2000244866A - Data recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit both compressed image and voice data to a PC and also to prevent missing of these data. SOLUTION: A digital camera 10 includes a microcomputer 26, and a JPEG CODEC 22 compresses the image data by an instruction of the microcomputer 26. Meanwhile, the voice data related to the image data are compressed by the microcomputer 26 and in a time base compression system. These compressed image and voice data are recorded on a memory 24. When the quantity of data stored in the memory 24 reaches 90% of the memory capacity, the microcomputer 26 establishes a protocol with a PC 38. Then both compressed image and voice data recorded on the memory 24 are collectively sent to the PC 38 via a telephone circuit 44 and then stored on a hard disk 38a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recording apparatus, and more particularly to a data recording apparatus applied to, for example, a digital camera and recording data on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional digital camera of this type,
The photographed image data was recorded on a recording medium. When the data amount of the recording medium became full, no further image data could be recorded.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional technique, the number of images that can be taken depends on the capacity of the recording medium, and data is lost when the data amount of the recording medium becomes full. There was a problem. Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a data recording device capable of preventing data from being missed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a recording means for recording data on a recording medium, a first establishing means for establishing a connection state with another data recording apparatus, and a data recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium to another data recording apparatus. Transmitting means for transmitting a signal indicating the recording status of the recording medium to another data recording apparatus, and transmitting the first signal in accordance with the data amount of the recording medium.
First activation means for activating the establishment means, setting means for setting the transmission mode, and second activation means for selectively activating the first transmission means and the second transmission means according to the transmission mode, It is a data recording device.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the recording means records data on a recording medium. The first establishing means establishes a connection state with another data recording device, and the first transmitting means collectively transmits data recorded on the recording medium to another data recording device. Also,
The second transmitting means transmits a signal indicating the recording status of the recording medium to another data recording device. The first activating means activates the first establishing means according to the data amount of the recording medium. The second activating means selectively activates the first transmitting means and the second transmitting means according to the transmission mode set by the setting means.
As described above, data is collectively transmitted to another data recording device according to the data amount of the recording medium.

In one aspect of the present invention, the photographing means photographs a subject image in response to a photographing instruction from a photographing instruction inputting means. The recording unit includes an image recording unit, and the image recording unit records image data corresponding to the subject. That is, image data can be recorded and transmitted to another data recording device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the data recording device is further provided with compression means. The compression means compresses the output of the photographing means to generate compressed image data. The image recording means records the compressed image data. That is, the compressed image data can be recorded and transmitted to another data recording device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the raising means increases the compression ratio of the compression means when the establishment of the connection state has failed. Therefore, the data amount of the compressed image data after the next time is reduced, and an increase in the data amount of the recording medium can be suppressed. In another embodiment of the present invention, the establishment request input means inputs a connection state establishment request from another data recording device. The second establishing means establishes a connection state with another data recording device in response to the establishment request. The third transmitting means transmits the data of the recording medium to another data recording device in a lump in response to the establishment request. In this manner, data can be transmitted in response to a request from another data recording device.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the third activating means activates the first establishing means at predetermined time intervals. In this manner, data can be transmitted every predetermined time. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first activating means activates the first establishing means when the data amount reaches the first threshold value. Therefore, the data amount does not exceed the capacity of the recording medium.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the third establishing means establishes a connection state with another data recording device when the second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value is reached. The fourth transmission means transmits a predetermined amount of data of the recording medium to another data recording device when the connection state is established. As described above, since the data is transmitted collectively in a predetermined amount, the recording medium does not become full. Also, the transmission time can be shortened.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined amount of data is the oldest data on the recording medium. Thus, data can be transmitted in a time series.

[0011]

According to the present invention, data is collectively transmitted to another data recording apparatus according to the data amount of the recording medium, so that data can be prevented from being missed. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a digital camera 10 according to this embodiment includes a lens 12, and a light image of a subject incident through the lens 12 passes through a color filter (not shown) having a primary color Bayer array. Then, the light is irradiated on the light receiving surface of the CCD imager 14. The CCD imager 14 is driven by a progressive scan method, whereby a progressive scan camera signal in which each pixel has any one primary color component is output.

The video signal processing circuit 16 is activated in response to a shooting trigger, and takes in a camera signal of a subject image shot at the time of input of the shooting trigger from the CCD imager 14. Then, well-known noise removal and level adjustment are performed on the captured camera signal, and the camera signal subjected to such processing is converted into digital camera data. The video signal processing circuit 16 further performs well-known processes such as white balance adjustment, gamma correction, color separation, and YUV conversion on the camera data to generate YUV data corresponding to the captured subject image.

The YU output from the video signal processing circuit 16
The V data, that is, the image data, is
It is given to the G codec 22 and subjected to a compression process by the JPEG method. This generates compressed image data,
This compressed image data is stored in a DRAM by the microcomputer 26.
20 are stored in the memory area 20a. The digital camera 10 also includes a microphone 30 for capturing external sound. The audio signal output from the microphone 30 is converted into digital signal audio data by an A / D converter 32 via an amplifier (not shown). The converted audio data is stored in the register 34. Register 34
Has a capacity of only 5 bytes, and the audio data stored in the register 34 is successively updated with subsequent audio data. Such audio data is read out in response to a shooting trigger, and is output to the microcomputer 26 through an interrupt terminal 26a.
Is input to The microcomputer 26 converts the audio data for a predetermined time before and after the shooting trigger is input into the ADPCM (Adapti
ve Differential Pulse Code Modulation) compression. The microcomputer 26 further transmits the compressed audio data generated by the compression process to the DRAM 20 via the bus 18.
Is written to the memory area 20b.

When the related compressed image data and compressed audio data are secured in the DRAM 20 in this way, the microcomputer 26 records these compressed data in the memory 24. The digital camera 10 further includes an interface 36, which is connected to a telephone line 44 via a modem 40. A personal computer (PC) 38 is also connected to a telephone line via a modem 42. When the amount of data recorded in the memory 24 reaches a predetermined threshold (in this embodiment, 90% of the memory capacity), the microcomputer 26 dials up a predetermined telephone number in response to a shooting trigger, and communicates with the PC 38 and the protocol. To establish. Then, the compressed image data and compressed audio data recorded in the memory 24 or the compressed image data and compressed audio data secured in the DRAM 20 and the memory 24
Is transmitted to the PC 38 through the telephone line 44. The PC 38 stores the transmitted compressed image data and compressed audio data on the hard disk 38a.

That is, if the batch transmission mode is set by the mode switch 27, the microcomputer 26 transmits the compressed image data and the compressed audio data recorded in the memory 24 to the PC 38 collectively. When the transmission is completed, the microcomputer 26 clears the memory 24 and
The compressed image data and the compressed audio data stored in “0” are recorded in the memory 24. On the other hand, mode switch 27
When the recording status notification mode is set, the microcomputer 26 sends a control signal indicating that the data amount of the memory 24 has reached a predetermined threshold in addition to the compressed image data and the compressed audio data stored in the DRAM 20. PC38
Send to The PC 38 operates the memory 24 by a control signal.
Recognize that there is not enough free space. PC38
Establishes a protocol by itself when a situation in which a large amount of data can be received is prepared, and transmits a batch transmission request to the digital camera 10. When such a batch transmission request is input, the microcomputer 26 batch-transmits the compressed image data and the compressed audio data recorded in the memory 24 to the PC 38. As a result, the compressed image data and the compressed audio data transmitted to the PC 38 are stored on the hard disk 38a.

A photographing trigger is sent from the sensor 28 to the microcomputer 2.
6 is input. That is, the sensor 26 gives a shooting trigger to the microcomputer 26 when detecting an abnormality,
6 executes the above-described processing in response to the photographing trigger. When the digital camera 10 is provided at the entrance of a hotel lobby and used as a monitoring device, a shooting trigger is output from the sensor 28 when a person enters the lobby. As a result, the image of the person entering the lobby and the sound at that time are recorded in the memory 24, or the video and the sound are transmitted to the PC 38.

The microcomputer 26 processes the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 specifically. First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not a shooting trigger has been input from the sensor 28. If "YES" here, the microcomputer 26 performs image processing and audio processing in steps S3 and S5. As a result, the compressed image data and the compressed audio data
It is stored in the RAM 20. Next, the microcomputer 26 determines whether or not the amount of data recorded in the memory 24 in step S7 is 90% or more of the maximum capacity. If "NO" here, it is determined that there is sufficient free space in the memory 24, and the compressed image data and compressed audio data of the DRAM 20 are recorded in the memory 24 in step S9. Then, the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if "YES" in the step S7, the microcomputer 26 outputs a request for establishing a protocol to the PC 38 in a step S11, and determines whether or not the protocol is successfully established in a step S13. If the establishment of the protocol fails, the microcomputer 26 proceeds to step S13.
Is determined to be "NO", and the compressed image data and compressed audio data of the DRAM 20 are recorded in the memory 24 in step S15. Further, since the free space of the memory 24 is insufficient, in step S17, the compression ratio of the captured image data and the audio data obtained from the next time onward is increased. Then, the process returns to step S1.

If the protocol has been successfully established, the microcomputer 26 proceeds from step S13 to step S19, and determines the transmission mode set by the mode setting switch 27. If the batch transmission mode is set, the microcomputer 26 determines "YES", and transmits all the compressed image data and compressed audio data in the memory 24 to the PC 38 in step S21. When the transmission is completed,
4 releases the protocol in step S23,
At 25, the memory 24 is cleared. Further, step S2
At 7, the compressed image data and compressed audio data of the DRAM 20 are recorded in the memory 24. When the recording is completed, the microcomputer 26 initializes the compression ratio in step S28, and thereafter returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if the recording status notification mode is set, the microcomputer 26 determines "N" in step S19.
O "is determined, and the compressed image data and compressed audio data of the DRAM 20 are transmitted to the PC 38 in step S29.
Further, in step S31, a control signal indicating that the free space of the memory 24 is insufficient is transmitted to the PC 38. When the transmission is completed, the microcomputer 26 releases the protocol in step S33, and thereafter returns to step S1.

When a request for establishing a protocol is given from the PC 38 in response to the control signal transmitted in step S31, the microcomputer 26 determines "YE" in step S34 shown in FIG.
S "and establishes a protocol with the PC 38. In the following step S36, it is determined whether or not a collective transmission request has been given from the PC 38. If" NO ", other processing is executed in step S43 and step S43 is executed. Return to S1.
On the other hand, if the request given from the PC 38 is a batch transmission request, the microcomputer 26 transmits all the compressed image data and compressed audio data in the memory 24 to the PC 38 in step S37. When the transmission is completed, the protocol is released in step S39, the memory 24 is cleared in step S41, and the process returns to step S1.

According to this embodiment, compressed image data and compressed audio data generated in response to a shooting trigger are:
Recording is continued on the memory 24 until the data amount of the memory 24 reaches a predetermined threshold. When the data amount of the memory 24 reaches the threshold value while the batch transmission mode is set, all the compressed image data and compressed audio data recorded in the memory 24 are transmitted to the PC 38. These transmitted data are stored in the hard disk 38a by the PC 38. On the other hand, if the data amount of the memory 24 reaches the threshold while the recording status notification mode is set, the DRA
The compressed image data and compressed audio data stored in M20 and the control signal indicating the recording status of the memory 24 are transmitted to the PC 38.
Sent to. The PC 38 transmits a batch transmission request to the digital camera 10 when the situation for accepting a large amount of data recorded in the memory 24 is completed. The compressed image data and compressed audio data in the memory 24 are transmitted to the PC 38 in response to such a batch transmission request. Therefore, even when the capacity of the memory 24 is small, no data is lost.

In this embodiment, when the data amount of the memory 24 reaches 90% of the capacity but the protocol cannot be established, the compression ratio of the photographed image data and the audio data is reduced.
It is raised every time a shooting trigger is input. Therefore,
Until the data in the memory 24 is transmitted collectively, an increase in the data amount can be suppressed. 4 to 6, a digital camera 10 according to another embodiment differs from the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment in that a timer 46 for counting time is added and the process of step S45 is added to the flowchart. Since common circuits and steps are assigned the same reference numerals, duplicate explanations are omitted.

In step S45, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the value of the timer 46. And "N
If "O", the process proceeds to step S34, and if "YES", the process proceeds to step S11.Therefore, the process of establishing a protocol with the PC 38 is performed when the amount of data recorded in the memory 24 reaches 90% of the capacity. In this embodiment, the compressed image data and the compressed audio data are also transmitted to the PC 3 via the telephone line 44.
8 and stored in the hard disk 38a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent data from being lost regardless of the capacity of the memory 24.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, a digital camera 10 according to another embodiment has a LAN (Local Area Network).
rk) 50 and is connected to the PC 38, and is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 1 except that steps S47 to S57 are added to the flow chart. The explanation given above is omitted. If "NO" is determined in the step S7, the microcomputer 26 proceeds to a step S47 to determine whether the LAN 50 is congested. Since a plurality of electronic devices are connected to the LAN 50 and the traffic changes depending on the communication status between the electronic devices, a process such as step S47 is executed. Here, if it is determined that the traffic is free, the process proceeds to step S49, and if it is determined that the traffic is congested, the process proceeds to step S9.

In the step S49, it is determined whether or not the data amount of the memory 24 is 10% or more of the capacity. If “NO” here, the process proceeds to the step S9, but if “YES”, an attempt is made to establish a protocol with the PC 38 in a step S51. If the establishment of the protocol fails, the microcomputer 26 determines “NO” in step S53, and proceeds to step S53.
Go to 9. On the other hand, if the protocol is successfully established, the microcomputer 26 proceeds from step S53 to step S55,
The compressed image data and compressed audio data recorded in the memory 24 are transmitted to the PC 38 by 10% from the oldest one.
Thereafter, the recording portion of the transmitted data is cleared in step S57, and the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9,
As in the first embodiment, the compressed image data and the compressed audio data held in the DRAM 20 are recorded in the memory 24. When the recording is completed, the microcomputer 26 returns to Step S1.

Therefore, if the data amount of the memory 24 is not less than 10% and less than 90% of the capacity and the traffic is not congested, the protocol is established with the PC 38 and the compressed image data of 10% recorded in the memory 24 is stored. And the compressed audio data is transmitted to the PC 38. Memory 24 is FI
It is used in the same manner as the FO memory, and data is transmitted by a predetermined amount in order from the oldest one. Also in this embodiment, since the compressed image data and the compressed audio data are stored in the hard disk 38a of the PC 38, the data can be prevented from being lost regardless of the capacity of the memory 24.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the photographing process is performed only once each time a photographing trigger is input.
Although only one shot image data is generated, the present invention can be applied to a case where a plurality of shot image data is generated in response to one shooting trigger. In this case, audio data is also generated corresponding to a plurality of captured image data.

In each of the embodiments, the shooting trigger is output from the sensor 28. However, the subject is recognized based on the camera data output from the CCD imager 14, and the shooting trigger is generated according to the recognition result. You may make it output. In this case, the CCD imager 14 and the video signal processing circuit 16 need to be always activated.

Further, in any of the embodiments, when a shooting trigger is input during the batch transmission, the shooting trigger is invalidated. However, the shooting trigger can be validated by temporarily suspending the transmission process in response to the shooting trigger, clearing the transmitted data, and recording new compressed image data and compressed audio data in the memory 24.

Further, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the protocol is attempted to be established every time a predetermined time elapses, but this time may be arbitrarily changed by the PC 38. Further, the change may be arbitrarily performed by the microcomputer 26. Furthermore, in any of the embodiments, when the data amount reaches a predetermined threshold (90%),
Compressed image data and compressed audio data recorded in the memory 24, or compressed image data and compressed audio data secured in the DRAM 20 and a control signal indicating a recording state of the memory 24 are transmitted to the PC 38. The threshold may be arbitrarily changed by the PC 38. Further, the change may be arbitrarily performed by the microcomputer 26. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, if the data amount of the memory 24 is equal to or more than the second threshold value (10%) and less than 90% and the traffic is not congested, the 10 Although the compressed image data and the compressed audio data of% (predetermined amount) are transmitted to the PC 38, the second threshold value and the predetermined amount can be arbitrarily changed in the same manner as described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another portion of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another portion of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another portion of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another portion of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera 14 ... CCD imager 22 ... JPEG codec 26 ... Microcomputer 36 ... Interface 38 ... PC

Claims (9)

[Claims] Recording means for recording data on a recording medium; first establishing means for establishing a connection state with another data recording device; transmitting data of the recording medium to the other data recording device in a lump. A first transmitting unit, a second transmitting unit that transmits a signal indicating a recording state of the recording medium to the another data recording device, a first active unit that activates the first establishing unit according to a data amount of the recording medium. A data recording apparatus comprising: an activation unit; a setting unit that sets a transmission mode; and a second activation unit that selectively activates the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit according to the transmission mode. 2. An image recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a photographing instruction inputting means for inputting a photographing instruction; and photographing means for photographing a subject image in response to said photographing instruction, wherein said recording means records image data corresponding to said subject image. 2. The data recording device according to claim 1, comprising means. 3. The data recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising compression means for compressing an output of said photographing means to generate compressed image data, wherein said image recording means records said compressed image data. 4. The data recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a compression ratio increasing unit that increases a compression ratio of the compression unit when the establishment of the connection state has failed. 5. An establishment request input unit for inputting a connection state establishment request from said another data recording device, a second establishment unit for establishing a connection state with said another data recording device in response to said establishment request, and 5. The data recording device according to claim 1, further comprising a third transmission unit that collectively transmits data of the recording medium to the another data recording device in response to the establishment request. 6. The data recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising third activation means for activating said first establishment means at predetermined time intervals. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first activating means determines that the data amount is the first
7. The data recording device according to claim 1, wherein said first establishing means is activated when a threshold value is reached. 8. A third establishing means for establishing a connection state with said another data recording device when said data amount reaches a second threshold value smaller than said first threshold value. 7. The data recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: fourth transmission means for transmitting a predetermined amount of data of said recording medium to said another data recording apparatus when established. 9. The data recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined amount of data is the oldest data on said recording medium.