JP2000260097A - Auto-changer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unnecessitate the time and labor for setting, updating, etc., the control information when an information recording medium is exchanged and to easily exchange the information recording medium. SOLUTION: In this auto-changer system, memory IC substrates 38 whereon the memory ICs for storing the control member, etc., are mounted, are provided on a magazine 30 wherein optical disks 40 are housed. By loading the magazine 30 to a magazine housing part 12 of an information reproducing device, connector pins 38A of the memory IC substrate 38 and connector jacks 56 of the magazine housing part 12 are connected to allow the access from the main body side. When a new magazine 30 is loaded, the control members are written into the memory ICs, and also the data base of the new magazine is made out on a host computer 100. Also, when an already registered magazine 30 is utilized, the data base is updated in accordance with the utilizing state, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information recording medium which is selectively taken out of an information recording medium stored in a magazine by an autochanger provided in the reproducing apparatus main body by mounting a magazine in the reproducing apparatus main body in a replaceable manner. The present invention relates to an autochanger system for performing reproduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a jukebox or the like has a reproducing apparatus main body on which a large number of optical discs on which music information and video information are recorded are set. An autochanger system is provided in which one optical disc is selected from among the optical discs by an autochanger, and is conveyed to a disc drive for reproduction. By the way, in such an autochanger system, it is necessary to expand the amount of information that can be reproduced by appropriately replacing the optical disk set in the reproduction apparatus body.

[0003]

However, if the optical disk can be exchanged as described above, it is necessary to manage the contents of the newly set optical disk on the main body of the reproducing apparatus each time the optical disk is exchanged. In the case where the setting of the management information or the like is performed by the operator on the reproduction apparatus main body side by input operation, there is a problem that the operation is extremely complicated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic changer system which can easily exchange information recording media without having to set and update management information when exchanging information recording media. Is to do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a magazine containing an information recording medium and a reproducing apparatus main body for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium. When the magazine is exchangeably mounted in a magazine mounting portion formed in the reproducing apparatus main body, the information recording medium stored in the magazine is selectively taken out by an autochanger provided in the reproducing apparatus main body to reproduce information. In the autochanger system for performing the above, the magazine has nonvolatile memory means for storing management information of the magazine, and the main body of the reproducing apparatus,
A connection unit connected to the non-volatile memory unit in a state where the magazine is mounted on the magazine mounting unit; and accessing the non-volatile memory unit via the connection unit; Management means for performing reading and writing.

In the autochanger system of the present invention,
The information recording medium is exchanged for each magazine by mounting the magazine containing the information recording medium on the magazine mounting portion formed in the main body of the reproducing apparatus. The magazine is provided with non-volatile memory means for storing the management information of the magazine. By reading the management information of the non-volatile memory means, the contents can be grasped without actually reproducing the information recording medium. It can be done. Then, in a state where the magazine provided with such nonvolatile memory means is mounted on the magazine mounting portion of the playback apparatus main body, the nonvolatile memory means on the magazine side can be accessed by the management means via the connection means on the playback apparatus main body side. Becomes

[0007] The management means of the playback apparatus main body reads and writes management information from and to the non-volatile memory means.
Manages magazines and information recording media. For example, when the mounted magazine is in an initial state, information for initial registration is written into both the nonvolatile memory on the magazine side and the storage on the playback apparatus main body side. If the mounted magazine has already been registered, the management information is read from the non-volatile memory means when the magazine is mounted, and the reproduction operation is controlled based on the management information. In addition, when the magazine is removed, management information based on the use results and the like up to that time is written in the nonvolatile memory means. This allows
When the magazine is mounted again, the past use results and the like can be easily and accurately reproduced, and new management can be effectively performed.

Further, since the management information of each magazine is stored in the non-volatile memory means, even if each magazine is detached from the main body of the reproducing apparatus, it is held by the non-volatile memory means. Therefore, the magazine side can continuously own the management information unique to the magazine, while the reproducing apparatus main body stores the management information of a large number of magazines used in the reproducing apparatus main body in, for example, a unified database format. , And can be managed while being appropriately rewritten according to the usage status of each magazine, so that an extremely effective system can be constructed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which an autochanger system according to the present invention is applied to an information reproducing apparatus using an optical disk such as a DVD will be described below. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing the structure of the information reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view, FIG. 2 (A) is a front view (a view A in FIG. 1), and FIG. 2 (B) is a top view (view B in FIG. 1).
Figure). FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a specific example of a magazine containing an optical disk used in the information reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[0010] As shown in FIG.
Has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped magazine case 32. The magazine case 32 has an opening 34 on one surface, and a plurality of trays 4 on which the optical discs 40 are placed from the opening 34.
2 is performed. The optical disk 40 is held in a state of being placed in a circular concave portion provided on the upper surface of a substantially square tray 42. Magazine case 32
Is for accommodating a plurality of trays 42 in a vertically stacked state, and has a guide rail portion (not shown) formed on the inner wall for guiding the insertion and removal of each tray 42. Also,
A grip 36 is formed on the surface of the magazine case 32 opposite to the opening 34, and the magazine 30 is
Of the information reproducing apparatus main body case 10 from the opening 34 side
It is designed to be attached to.

On the side of such a magazine case 32, a semiconductor memory I as a nonvolatile memory means is provided.
A memory IC substrate 38 on which C is mounted is provided. In this example, an EEPROM is used as the nonvolatile memory means.
Alternatively, an SRAM or the like backed up by a battery is used. When the magazine 30 is mounted on the main body case 10 of the information reproducing apparatus, the memory IC board 38 joins the connector pins 38A on the magazine 30 side with the connector jacks on the main body case 10 by the mounting operation. (Connecting means) to be connected to a circuit on the information reproducing apparatus side. The memory IC substrate 38
The detailed functions of the IC memory mounted on the PC will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment has a magazine housing section 12 for housing four magazines 30 in a rectangular parallelepiped main body case 10 and four disk drives 14A. , 14B, 14C, 14D,
And an autochanger 20 for selectively transporting the optical disk in the magazine 30 to the disk drives 14A to 14D. The magazine storage portion 12 of the main body case 10 is for arranging four magazines 30 vertically at equal intervals,
Guide rail 5 for guiding the operation of inserting and removing each magazine 30
2 are provided at equal intervals above and below. Further, the connector pins 3 on the magazine 30 side are provided on the inner wall of the magazine storage unit 12.
A connector jack 56 for joining with 8A is provided. In addition, a lid 54 is provided on the front surface of the magazine storage unit 12. The lid 54 is opened, and the magazine 30 is opened.
Perform the insertion / removal operation of

Further, the four disk drives 14A to 14A-1
4D are arranged vertically below the magazine storage unit 12 at equal intervals. Each of the disk drives 14A to 14D
Each of them incorporates a disk drive device, an optical pickup device, and the like. The autochanger 20 is provided with a carrier 24 on a support shaft 22 provided along the vertical direction, and the carrier 24 is moved up and down by an elevating mechanism 26 to move the carrier 24 along each magazine 30 and each of the disk drives 14A to 14D. It goes up and down. The elevating mechanism 26 has a mechanism for detecting the elevating position of the carrier 24, and controls the elevating of the carrier 24 to a height position corresponding to each magazine 30 and each of the disk drives 14A to 14D.

Each of the magazines 3 is mounted on the carrier 24.
0 and a mechanism for inserting and removing the optical disk 40 and the tray 42 with respect to each of the disk drives 14A to 14D, and selectively taking out the optical disk 40 in each magazine 30,
The disc is selectively set in each of the disc drives 14A to 14D to reproduce the optical disc 40. Further, on the upper surface of the main body case 10, a liquid crystal display unit 60, various operation buttons 62A, 62B, 62C and the like are provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the information reproducing apparatus as described above. This information reproducing apparatus is controlled by an instruction from a host computer (external processing apparatus) 100, and includes a main control board 110 provided with a main control circuit, and a mechanical control board for controlling a drive system of the autochanger 20. 120, a relay board 130 for relaying between the main control board 110 and the mechanical control board 120, and a port section 140 and an interface board 142 for monitoring various states of the magazine storage section 12.

The main control board 110 includes a CPU 152 for controlling the entire apparatus based on instructions from the host computer 100, and a SCSI controller 158 for controlling SCSI interfaces 154 and 156 with the host computer 100 and the disk drives 14A to 14D. An LCD controller 160 for controlling the liquid crystal display unit 60; and an SRAM 16 for storing various data and the like.
2. FLASHROM 164 and backup SRA
M166, motor drivers 174, 176, 178 for controlling various drive motors 168, 170, 172 for controlling the carrier 24, and encoders for managing detection signals from encoders 180, 182, 184 for various position detection Controllers 186 and 188, an interface 190 with the relay board 130, and an interface 192 of a drive system of each of the disk drives 14A to 14D.
Etc.

In the memory (storage means) of the main control board 110, for example, a backup S
The RAM 166 is provided with a storage area for a chassis number unique to the information reproducing apparatus and a storage area for incrementing a serial number for allocating a number to the magazine 30. The chassis number is stored in advance in the storage area of the backup SRAM 166 during the production process, and the storage area for increment is 0.
Shall be initialized. The storage area size may be, for example, 8 bits or 16 bits, but is preferably 32 bits or more. Further, such a storage area is not limited to the backup SRAM 166, and may be provided in another nonvolatile memory.

The mechanical control board 120 is mounted on the carrier 24 and connected to the relay board 130 via the flexible flat cable 122. The mechanical control board 120 is moved up and down together with the carrier 24, and the drive motor 170 mounted on the carrier 24 is mounted. , 172 and the like. The relay board 130 includes a main control board 110, a mechanical control board 120, and an interface board 142.
It relays between and. In addition, the relay board 1 of this example
Reference numeral 30 denotes a connector pin 38A of the magazine 30 described above.
A connector jack 56 is provided to be connected to the memory IC of the magazine 30.

The relay board 130 constitutes an interface for driving the memory IC on the magazine 30 side, and transmits a memory selection signal, a clock, data, and the like between the main control board 110 and the memory IC. It is responsible for the exchange. Also, connector jack 5
The function of detecting whether the magazine 30 is mounted in the state of 6 and notifying the main control board 110 is provided. Next, the function of the memory IC provided in the magazine 30 in the information reproducing apparatus having the above configuration will be described. First, in the storage area of the memory IC, a first storage area for writing the above-mentioned chassis number (main body identification information) and a second storage area for writing an increment number (magazine identification information) are secured.

In the initial state, these first and second storage areas are all initialized to FFh with an 8-bit width. The CPU 152 of the main unit refers to the memory IC of each magazine 30 after the power is turned on or when the replacement operation of the magazine 30 is detected via the relay board 130, and when the first and second storage areas are FFh. Determines that the magazine is a new magazine 30, writes the chassis number stored in the chassis number storage area of the backup SRAM 166 into the first storage area of the memory IC of the magazine 30,
The increment number stored in the increment storage area of the RAM 166 is written to the first storage area of the memory IC of the magazine 30. Then, the number stored in the increment storage area is incremented by one.

By repeatedly performing such initial registration operation on the newly mounted magazine 30, the first and second storage areas of the memory IC of each magazine 30 store each magazine 30 based on the chassis number and the increment number. Is given a unique number. Thereafter, each magazine 30 is identified by using a number unique to the magazine 30 as a management number. Next, the CPU 152 refers to the memory IC of the magazine 30, and if the first and second storage areas are not FFh, the management number is assigned to the registered magazine 30 to which the management number has already been assigned. No, but in this case,
By storing the management number of the magazine 30 in a memory (for example, a backup SRAM 166) of the main body,
The main body can know which position of the magazine 30 has been replaced. Also, this information is stored in the host computer 1
00 can also be known by issuing a command.

The replacement of the magazine when the power is turned on is based on an operation button (eject button) of the main body or an instruction from a command or the like from the host computer 100. At the ready state. The completion of the replacement can be similarly detected by notifying with an operation button or a command or closing the lid 54 of the magazine storage unit 12. If, for example, the management number of the magazine 30 and the information of the optical disk contained in the magazine are managed on the host computer 100 side, a database of optical disk information for each magazine can be created based on the function of the information reproducing apparatus. Then, for example, when there are a plurality of information reproducing apparatuses or extra magazines, every time the magazine is exchanged, the optical disc information in the information reproducing apparatus can be automatically updated based on the database.

Next, a new magazine 30 containing unused optical disks is mounted, and the host computer 10
A specific operation example in the case of creating a database of each optical disk of the magazine 30 at 0 will be described. (1) First, it is detected that the lid 54 has been closed, and the management number stored in the memory IC of the magazine 30 is checked. That is, whether the management number is already registered or FFh
Check if it is. Here, if the management number is already registered, the process proceeds to (10) described later, and if it is FFh, the process proceeds to (2).

(2) If the management number is FFh,
The information reproducing apparatus writes the chassis number and the increment number into the memory IC of the magazine 30. As a result, a new unique management number is assigned to the magazine 30. (3) Next, the host computer 100 issues a command for reading the management number of the magazine 30 to the CPU 152 of the information reproducing apparatus. (4) When the read management number of the magazine 30 is a management number that does not exist in the database in the host computer 100, the host computer 100 executes the following sequence (5). (5) The host computer 100 issues a command to set the optical disk of the magazine 30 in the disk drive, and the autochanger 20 conveys the optical disk of the magazine 30 to the disk drive according to the command.

(6) The host computer 100 issues a data write command to the disk drive.
The disk drive writes management information such as a media number on the optical disk based on the command. (7) The host computer 100 creates a database of the contents of the optical disk in the magazine 30 based on the management information such as the management number of the magazine 30 and the media number written on the optical disk. (8) The host computer 100 issues a command to return the optical disk of the disk drive to the magazine 30,
The autochanger 20 returns the optical disk of the disk drive to the magazine 30 based on the command. (9) Thereafter, the operations (5) to (8) are repeated for the number of optical disks, and a database of a new magazine 30 is created by this series of operations. Further, the management information of the current information reproducing device in the host computer 100 is updated.

Next, a specific operation example in the case where the magazine 30 in which the database is already created is mounted and the management information in the information reproducing apparatus is updated will be described. (1) First, it is detected that the lid 54 has been closed, and the management number stored in the memory IC of the magazine 30 is checked. That is, whether the management number is already registered or FFh
Check if it is. If the management number is already registered, the process proceeds to (10), and if the management number is FFh, the process proceeds to (2). (10) The information reproducing apparatus detects the registered management number, but if the management number is different from the management number of the magazine 30 mounted before that, the management number is stored in the backup SRAM 166, for example. . (11) The host computer 100 issues a command for reading the management number of the magazine 30 to the information reproducing apparatus. (12) If the read management number is a magazine management number in a database in the host computer 100, the host computer 100 updates the current management information of the information reproducing apparatus based on the database.

In the above example, the management number of the chassis and the increment number has been described as an example of the management information of the magazine and the optical disk. However, the management information of the magazine and the optical disk may include other information in the same manner. Is possible. For example, data such as the number of times of access to the magazine and the optical disk and the reproduction time may be managed for each magazine, and the data may be stored as history information in a database together with the above-mentioned management number and date. This history information can be used for billing or as information for researching user preferences. Alternatively, a system may be provided in which titles indicating the contents of the optical disc of each magazine and display information indicating guidance are stored in a database, and the information is appropriately displayed on a liquid crystal display unit or the like. That is, as the management information of the magazine, various information can be assumed according to the form of the system and the like, and various applications are possible using the above-mentioned memory IC of the magazine.

In the above example, the operation when the magazine 30 is mounted has been mainly described. However, when the magazine 30 is removed from the information reproducing apparatus or when the power is turned off,
After the management information of the memory IC of the magazine 30 is rewritten to the latest management information, the magazine 30 is detached or the power is turned off. As a result, the latest management information can be held in the memory IC of the magazine 30, and when the magazine 30 is reused, reliable management can be easily performed based on appropriate management information.

In the above example, the case where an optical disk is used as an information recording medium has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a system using another medium. In the above example, an example in which a database of a magazine is configured in the host computer has been described. However, a similar database may be provided in the information reproducing apparatus, and can be selected according to the configuration of the system. In the above example, an example of a system for reproducing information from an information recording medium has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a system for performing both recording and reproduction. In the present invention, the reproducing apparatus main body not only reproduces the information recorded on the information recording medium, but also performs both the recording of the information on the information recording medium and the reproduction of the information recorded on the information recording medium. Including things.

[0030]

As described above, in the autochanger system according to the present invention, the magazine storing the information recording medium is provided with the non-volatile memory means for storing the management information of the magazine, and the reproduction apparatus main body accesses the magazine. And management means for reading and writing management information to and from the non-volatile memory means. For this reason, when exchanging the information recording medium, there is no need to set or update the management information, and it is possible to provide an autochanger system that can easily exchange the information recording medium. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view showing a structure of an information reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view and a top view showing the structure of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a specific example of a magazine containing an optical disk used in the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 body case, 12 magazine storage part, 14
A, 14B, 14C, 14D: Disk drive, 2
0 ... Auto changer, 30 ... Magazine, 32 ...
Magazine case, 38 Memory IC board, 38A
Connector pins, 40: optical disk, 56: connector jack.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A magazine containing an information recording medium, and a reproducing apparatus main body for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium, wherein the magazine is mounted on a magazine mounting portion formed on the reproducing apparatus main body. An autochanger system in which the information recording medium stored in the magazine is selectively taken out by an autochanger provided in the reproducing apparatus main body and the information is reproduced by being exchangeably mounted, wherein the magazine manages the magazine. A nonvolatile memory unit for storing information, wherein the main body of the reproducing apparatus is connected to the nonvolatile memory unit in a state where the magazine is mounted on the magazine mounting unit; The nonvolatile memory means is accessed to read and write management information from and to the nonvolatile memory means. And a Cormorant management means, autochanger system, characterized in that. 2. The management unit reads management information stored in the nonvolatile memory unit when the magazine is mounted on the magazine mounting unit, and reads the management information when the magazine is detached from the magazine mounting unit. 2. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein management information of the magazine is written in the nonvolatile memory. 3. The management unit according to claim 1, wherein the management unit reads management information stored in a nonvolatile memory unit of a magazine mounted on the magazine mounting unit when the power of the playback apparatus main body is turned on. Autochanger system. 4. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein said management means updates management information read from said nonvolatile memory means in accordance with processing of an information recording medium in said main body of said playback apparatus. 5. The management means identifies that the magazine mounted on the magazine mounting portion of the playback apparatus main body is a magazine in an initial state based on management information read from the nonvolatile memory means, and The necessary information is written into the non-volatile memory means, and the management database of the magazine is set in the storage means of the playback device main body or the external processing device that manages the playback device body, and the subsequent management of the magazine is performed. 2. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed using the management database. 6. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the management information includes main body identification information for identifying the reproduction apparatus main body, and magazine identification information for identifying the magazine. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the main body identification information and the magazine identification information are written into the nonvolatile memory means when the magazine is first mounted on the reproduction apparatus main body. Autochanger system. 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the management means allocates magazine identification information by a serial number to each magazine when the magazine is first mounted on the playback apparatus main body. Autochanger system. 9. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the magazine stores a plurality of information recording media in a housing. 10. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein said information recording medium is an optical disk medium, and said magazine stores a plurality of optical disk media in a stacked state. 11. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the magazine storage section of the playback apparatus main body stores a plurality of magazines. 12. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein said nonvolatile memory means is a semiconductor memory. 13. The non-volatile memory means includes an EEPROM (EEPR).
13. The autochanger system according to claim 12, wherein the system is an OM. 14. The autochanger system according to claim 12, wherein said nonvolatile memory means is an SRAM backed up by a battery.