JP2000268477A - Autochanger system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage the contents of information recorded on an information recording medium in the best format when the autochanger system replaces the information recording medium. SOLUTION: A magazine 30 loaded replaceably in an information reproducing device is provided with a nonvolatile memory IC. This memory is provided with a system area for storing management information and a data area for storing contents information. The data area have more than one format and format discrimination information for discriminating the formats is stored as the management information. When the power source is turned on or when the magazine 30 is loaded, the management information is read out of the main body side, necessary settings are made, and the format of the data area is decided from the format discrimination information to write and read contents information in conformity with the format. When the power source is turned off or when the magazine 30 is unloaded, updated management information and contents information in use are written to the memory IC of the magazine 30.

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, as a jukebox or the like, a reproducing apparatus main body for setting a large number of optical disks on which music information, video information, etc. are recorded, and a music selection operation is performed from an operation section of the reproducing apparatus main body. There has been provided an autochanger system in which one optical disk is selected from a large number of optical disks by an autochanger, and is conveyed to a disk 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. When setting management information or the like on such an optical disk, it is convenient to provide a function of simply displaying the contents of information recorded on the optical disk. In this case, it is preferable to write the contents in an optimum format or read the contents and display the contents in accordance with the use of the optical disk and the use environment.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the trouble of setting or updating the management information when exchanging the information recording medium, and to facilitate the exchange of the information recording medium.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an autochanger system capable of managing the contents of information recorded on an information recording medium in an optimal format.

[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 content information indicating the content of information recorded in the magazine, the playback device body,
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 through the connection unit; Management means for reading and writing content information, wherein the content information stored in the nonvolatile memory means is stored in one of a plurality of types of formats prepared in advance, and the management information Contains format identification information indicating the type of format of the content information, and the management unit identifies the format of the content information based on the format identification information of the management information, thereby enabling the content to be formatted in a suitable format. It is characterized by reading and writing information.

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 management information and content information of the magazine. By reading the management information and content information of the non-volatile memory means, it is possible to actually reproduce the information recording medium. Instead, the contents can be grasped. 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 The management unit of the playback apparatus reads and writes management information and content information from and to the nonvolatile memory unit, and manages the magazine and the information recording medium.

The content information stored in the non-volatile memory means has a plurality of types of formats, and can be selected according to the use of the magazine and the information recording medium and the use environment. For example, when specific information is written and used in a magazine unit (for example, when an owner or a category is divided in a magazine unit), a format in which an area for writing the contents of a magazine and an area for writing the contents of an information storage medium are provided. Becomes In addition, when writing and using specific information in units of information storage media regardless of the unit of the magazine, only an area for writing the content of the information storage medium is provided, and as much information as possible is stored as the content of the information storage medium. Be able to write.

In addition, when used for writing arbitrary information of a user irrespective of the unit of a magazine or an information storage medium, only an area in which the user can write arbitrary information is provided, and this area is set to an arbitrary area. To be able to read quickly by address, and to be able to use it arbitrarily and conveniently by the user. 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.
With this, if this magazine is mounted again,
It is possible to easily and accurately reproduce the past use results and the like, and effectively perform new management.

Further, since the management information and the content information of each magazine are stored in the non-volatile memory means, even when the respective magazines are detached from the main unit of the reproducing apparatus, they are held by the non-volatile memory means. Therefore, the magazine can continuously possess the management information and the content information unique to the magazine. On the other hand, on the playback device body side, management information of a large number of magazines used in the playback device body can be collectively managed, for example, in the form of a unified database, and further managed while being appropriately rewritten according to the usage status of each magazine. And an extremely effective system can be constructed. In addition, the content information of the magazine can be appropriately read and displayed according to the format, and a convenient system can be provided.

[0010]

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.

As shown in FIG. 3, the magazine 30 of the present embodiment
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 (in this example, 20). 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.
The magazine case 32 stores a plurality of trays 42 in a vertically stacked state.
A guide rail portion (not shown) for guiding insertion / removal of the sheet is formed. A grip 36 is formed on the surface of the magazine case 32 opposite to the opening 34 so that the magazine 30 can be attached to the information reproducing apparatus main body case 10 from the opening 34 side with the grip 36. It has become.

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 of the memory IC board 38 has a storage area for storing management information for managing the magazine 30 on the information reproducing apparatus side, and content information indicating the content of the information recorded in the magazine 30. And a storage area for storing Here, the storage area of the management information includes a storage area of a chassis number unique to the information reproducing apparatus, a storage area of a magazine number allocated to the magazine 30 by the information reproducing apparatus, and a storage format of content information in the memory IC. And a storage area for storing the number of accesses to the magazine 30. In the storage area for the content information, a format corresponding to the storage format that is the management information is used.
The content information of the memory IC is stored. The detailed configuration and function of the IC memory mounted on the memory IC board 38 will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information reproducing apparatus according to 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-1A
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 provided 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 described above. The information reproducing apparatus is controlled by an instruction from the host computer 100, and includes a main control board 110 provided with a main control circuit, a mechanical control board 120 for controlling a drive system of the autochanger 20, a main control board 120, Substrate 110 and mechanical control substrate 12
0 and a magazine storage unit 12
It has a port unit 140 and an interface board 142 for monitoring various states.

The main control board 110 includes a CPU 152 for controlling the entire apparatus based on an instruction 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 shows a storage area of a chassis number unique to the information reproducing apparatus, a storage area for incrementing a serial number for allocating a number to the magazine 30, and a storage format of content information in a memory IC of the magazine 30. A storage area for storing codes, a storage area for storing test results (indicating the presence or absence of a magazine) of read / write of a memory IC of the magazine 30, and a magazine 3
A storage area for storing the number of accesses of 0, a storage area for storing (copying) the content information stored in the memory IC of the magazine 30, and the like are provided. The chassis number is stored in advance in the storage area of the backup SRAM 166 during the production process, and the other storage areas are
In the initial state, it shall be initialized to 0. Incidentally, such a storage area is stored in the backup SRAM 16.
The number is not limited to 6, 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 is driven by the drive motor 170 mounted on the carrier 24. , 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, clock, data, etc. 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.

FIG. 5 shows a memory IC provided in the magazine 30.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control circuit of a relay board for controlling a board 38 and a main control board. The CPU 152 of the main control board 110
The / O port controls four memory ICs (MICs) mounted on the memory IC boards 38 of a plurality of magazines 30 (five in the illustrated example). On the other hand, each magazine 30
The memory ICs (MIC1 to MIC5) of FIG. 1 show an example configured by an EEPROM of a type which performs serial data transfer. Data (DATA) is transmitted on both sides.

In the CPU 152, MIC-DATA
Is data exchanged between the CPU 152 and each memory IC, and includes the management information and the content information described above. The MIC-DATA-DIR is the CPU 152
Data (D) exchanged between the memory and each memory IC
ATA), which indicates the direction of MIC-DATA-
CLK is a synchronous clock signal for data exchanged between the CPU 152 and each memory IC.

These MIC-DATA and MIC-DA
The TA-DIR and the MIC-DATA-CLK are transmitted as differential signals between the main control board 110 and the relay board 130 in order to make them resistant to noise and the like. Also, MIC-IDs 0 to 2 correspond to five memory ICs.
This is a code signal which is a source of the chip select signal of (MIC1 to 5). MIC-DATA is the MIC-I
Data of the chip selected in D0 to D2 is exchanged. MIC-DATA is the main control board 11
0, the driver / receiver 210 and the relay board 130
Driver / receiver 310 provided in each device and each memory IC
Three-state bus transceivers 411 to 411 provided on substrate 38
415 and each memory IC (MIC1)
~ 5).

The MIC-DATA-DIR includes a three-state bus transceiver 41 provided on each memory IC board 38 via a driver 220 provided on the main control board 110 and a receiver 320 provided on the relay board 130.
1 to 415. Also, MIC-DATA-CL
K is sent to each of the memory ICs (MIC1 to MIC5) via a driver 220 provided on the main control board 110 and a receiver 320 provided on the relay board 130. Also, M
The IC-IDs 0 to 2 are transmitted to the 3to8 demultiplexer 330 provided on the relay board 130 via the buffer 230 provided on the main control board 110.

Based on the MIC-IDs 0 to 2 from the buffer 230, the 3to8 demultiplexer 330
The enable signals EN1 to EN5 are output to the state bus transceivers 411 to 415. With the above configuration, the CPU
152 is EN1-5 according to MIC-ID0-2 and M1
Each of the three-state bus transceivers 411 to 415 is controlled by IC-DATA-DIR, and each memory IC (MI
Data reading and writing are controlled for C1-5).

Next, the function of the memory IC provided in the magazine 30 in the information reproducing apparatus having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the storage area of the memory IC. As shown in the figure, the storage area of the memory IC in this example has a capacity of 512 bytes in total, of which 92 bytes of addresses 0 to 91 store the management information described above (a magazine IC system area; magazine IC system are
a), where 420 bytes of addresses 92 to 511 store the above-described content information (magazine IC data area; magazine IC data area)
It is. In this example, the data stored in the magazine IC data area has four types of formats.
The assignment of addresses in the C data area is changed in four ways.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of management information stored in the magazine IC system area in this example. As shown, addresses 0 to 3 (bytes) of the magazine IC system area are storage areas of magazine numbers allocated by the information reproducing apparatus of the magazine 30, and addresses 4 to 7 are unique to the information reproducing apparatus. Is a storage area of the chassis number. Address 8
9 and addresses 10 to 11 are areas for storing the number of times of writing to the memory IC of the magazine 30, and an address 12 is an area indicating a format in the magazine IC data area of the memory IC of the magazine 30. Numbers 0 to 3 are written in accordance with the above four types of formats.

The address 13 is an area for checksums of data at addresses 0 to 7. Address 14,
Reference numeral 15 denotes a read / write test area, which is used as an access area for judging the presence or absence of a magazine from the information generating apparatus. Addresses 16 to 55 are areas for recording the number of times the magazine 30 accesses the optical disk, and are provided with 20 areas of 2 bytes each according to the number of optical disks (20). Information on these areas is used to detect the life of the guide of the tray, that is, the life of the magazine. Addresses 56 to 91 are reserved (reserved) areas for 36 bytes.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the content information stored in the magazine IC data area in this embodiment for each format. As described above, the magazine IC data area is an area from addresses 92 to 511,
With this configuration, four formats 0 to 3 are provided. First, format 0 shown in FIG. 8 (A) is a format in which the user arbitrarily defines and uses the entire magazine IC data area. That is, when the user uses the magazine, regardless of the magazine number or the number of the optical disk, various data can be written to and read from the magazine IC data area by an arbitrary use method.

When this format 0 is selected, the reading and writing of the content information are performed by using an offset address indicating an arbitrary position in the magazine IC data area and length data indicating the length of the information. That is, the offset address and length data of the magazine IC data area are designated by input from the operation buttons of the information reproducing apparatus or input from the keyboard of the host computer 100, and data desired by the user is written and read as content information. be able to. Further, when such a format 0 is selected, the address 1 of the magazine IC system area is set by the initial setting or the like.
Write data indicating format 0 to 2,
Each data is written by designating the address of the memory IC data area from the information reproducing apparatus and the host computer 100.

Next, the format 1 shown in FIG.
Is a magazine IC data area composed of magazine data and optical disk data. More specifically, addresses 92 to 17 are used as magazine data.
1 is the magazine data area (magazine volume)
address 172 to 51
1 is the optical disk data area (media volume)
e area). In the optical disk data area, 20 areas of 17 bytes are provided according to the number of optical disks (20).

In the format 1, for example, an owner is determined for each magazine, and when an optical disk owned by the owner is put in the magazine and managed, the title of each optical disk and the like are written in the disk data (media volume). Insert the magazine data (magazine
(volume) is used to include the name of the magazine owner. It should be noted that even when such a format 1 is selected, the above-described magazine IC
It is assumed that data indicating the format 1 is written to the address 12 of the system area, and each data is written by specifying the address of the memory IC data area from the information reproducing apparatus and the host computer 100.

Next, the format 2 shown in FIG.
Is a magazine IC data area composed of only magazine data. That is, addresses 92 to 511 are allocated to a magazine data area (magazine volume area) as a magazine IC area. In the format 2, for example, when it is desired to manage an optical disk containing the same type of data for each magazine, the data type, the last update date, the last access date, and the like of the magazine are described in a magazine data (magazine volume).
me)). Note that when such a format 2 is selected, the address 1 of the magazine IC system area described above is also determined by initial setting or the like.
2, data indicating the format 2 is written, and each data is written by specifying the address of the memory IC data area from the information reproducing apparatus and the host computer 100.

Next, format 3 shown in FIG.
Is a magazine IC data area composed of only data for an optical disk (media). That is,
As a magazine IC area, addresses 92 to 511 are stored in an optical disk data area (media volume a).
area). That is, 20 areas are provided for each 21 bytes according to the number of optical disks (20). In this format 3, for example, when managing different types of optical disks without managing the optical disks for each magazine, it is possible to insert the titles of those optical disks. It should be noted that even when such a format 3 is selected, the above-described magazine I
It is assumed that data indicating the format 3 is written to the address 12 of the C system area, and each data is written by specifying the address of the memory IC data area from the information reproducing apparatus and the host computer 100.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are explanatory diagrams showing details of data area address assignment in the formats 1 to 3 described above. As shown in FIG. 9A, in the format 1, 79 bytes are used as a data area in a magazine data area (magazine volume area) of 80 bytes, and 1 byte is used as an area of its checksum. Also, 2
0 17-byte optical disk data area (media
In the a volume area, 16 bytes are used as a data area, and 1 byte is used as a checksum area.

As shown in FIG. 9B, in the format 2, a 420-byte magazine data area (m
agazine volume area)
Bytes are used as an area indicating the data length, and one byte is used as an area for the checksum. Also, the remaining 4
17 bytes are used as a data area. FIG.
As shown in (C), in format 3, 20 2
1-byte optical disk data area (media vo
20 bytes are used as a data area, and 1 byte is used as a checksum area.

Next, a description will be given of an operation example in the case where the magazine 30 having the above configuration is set and used in the information reproducing apparatus. First, the CPU 152 of the information reproducing apparatus detects the memory I 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.
The contents of the management information described above are decrypted with reference to the memory IC system area of C. Here, when the magazine 30 is newly mounted, the management information is in the initial state, and thus the CPU 152 writes information necessary for initial setting such as a magazine number and a chassis number in the memory IC system area. At the same time, an area for managing the magazine 30 is secured in a memory (for example, a backup SRAM 166) of the information reproducing apparatus, and necessary management information is set. At this point, initial values are set for the number of accesses, the format number of the data area, and the like.

Next, when writing content information into the new magazine 30 by input from the host computer 100, for example, the format of the memory IC data area is determined. This provides, for example, guidance on the format of the memory IC data area to the host computer 100,
A message prompting which format to select is displayed, and the user inputs one of formats 0 to 3 in response to the display. Further, the same operation may be performed using the operation unit and the display unit of the information reproducing apparatus. The CPU 152 of the information reproducing apparatus writes the information of the format number of the memory IC data area thus selected into the format number setting area (address 12) of the memory IC system area, and also stores the information reproducing apparatus memory (for example, the backup SRAM 166). Also remember.

Next, when there is an input operation of content information from the host computer 100, the input information is stored in the memory IC data area according to the set format. In this operation, for example, in response to an input request from the host computer 100, input items such as a magazine data area, an optical disk data area, and an address are sequentially displayed, and in response to the display of the input items, the user inputs a title or user name. And the like are input as appropriate. Further, the same operation may be performed using the operation unit and the display unit of the information reproducing apparatus.

The input operation of such content information is as follows.
Not only at the time of initial setting of the magazine 30, but also
It can be performed at any time according to the use of. It is also possible to appropriately update the content information once input. Further, the format once set in the memory IC data area can be changed. In this case, all the content information already input is cleared. In any operation, a specific function selection input is performed from the host computer 100 or the operation unit of the information reproducing apparatus, and an input mode is performed by selecting an operation mode such as input, update, or format change of a memory IC data area. I do.

Next, the CPU 152 refers to the memory IC system area of the memory IC of each magazine 30 after the power is turned on or when the magazine 30 is replaced. If the memory IC system area is not in the initial state, the currently used magazine is used. 30, the initial setting for the magazine 30 is not performed, but the management information of the magazine 30 is stored in the memory of the information reproducing apparatus (for example, the backup SRAM 1).
66), and if the management information of the magazine 30 is stored, the management of the magazine 30 is performed using the management information.

When the management information of the magazine 30 is stored, the information in the memory IC system area of the magazine 30 is read and the necessary management information is stored in the memory of the information reproducing apparatus. When the management information of the magazine 30 thus exchanged is newly stored in the memory of the information reproducing apparatus, the original management information is deleted in this example, and the memory area of the information reproducing apparatus is saved. Shall be. However, information such as a management number, which is the minimum necessary for grasping each magazine 30 belonging to the information reproducing apparatus, is stored in a nonvolatile memory (for example, a backup SRAM 166) of the information reproducing apparatus. Then, the address 12 of the memory IC system area
From the memory IC data area in accordance with the format number,
The information is stored in the memory of the information reproducing apparatus. The data in the memory IC data area is used for display and the like, and manages and controls each data according to the format number at the time of the display and the like.

When the magazine 30 is used, the number of accesses described above is appropriately updated, and the updated information is sequentially stored in the memory of the information reproducing apparatus. Further, the update information is transferred to the memory IC of the magazine 30 at an appropriate timing, and is written in a predetermined area. Also, when the input or change of the content information in the memory IC data area described above is selected, similarly to the management information,
The information is sequentially stored in the memory of the information reproducing apparatus, and transferred to the memory IC of the magazine 30 at an appropriate timing.
Write in the data area.

When the magazine 30 is removed from the information reproducing apparatus or when the power is turned off, the management information and the content information of the memory IC of the magazine 30 are rewritten to the latest management information and the content information. 30 is detached or the power is turned off. As a result, the latest management information and content information can be held in the memory IC of the magazine 30, and when the magazine 30 is used again, reliable management can be easily performed based on appropriate management information. Also, it is possible to ensure the use of appropriate content information. It should be noted that the exchange of various types of information between the information reproducing apparatus and the magazine 30 as described above should be performed within a range that does not complicate the control for traffic and information transfer between them. Operation.

With the above system configuration, it is possible to easily select and use the format of the memory IC data area of the magazine 30, and to use the magazine for a limited memory capacity, the usage environment of the magazine and the user's preference. A convenient method of use can be provided according to the conditions. Further, based on the management information of the magazines 30, the format can be automatically detected and handled on the information reproducing apparatus side, and even when a large number of magazines 30 are exchanged and used, the format of each magazine 30 can be easily changed. Can be managed.

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. Further, in the above example, the example has been described in which the management information and the content information of each magazine 30 are managed in the memory of the information reproducing apparatus. However, a similar function may be provided on the host computer side. 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 playback device main body includes a device that reproduces information from an information recording medium, and further includes a device that performs both recording and reproduction of information on an information recording medium.

[0048]

As described above, in the autochanger system according to the present invention, the magazine which is exchangeably mounted on the main body of the reproducing apparatus is provided with the nonvolatile memory means, and the management information and the information recording medium of the magazine are provided in the nonvolatile memory means. By storing the content information, and by allowing the format type of the content information to be identified by the format identification information of the management information, and by identifying the format of the content information based on the format identification information in the playback device itself, Reading and writing of content information is performed in a compatible format. Therefore, when exchanging the information recording medium, it is not necessary to set or update the management information, so that the information recording medium can be easily exchanged and the information recorded on the information recording medium can be exchanged. There is an effect that an autochanger system capable of managing contents in an optimal format can be provided.

[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.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a relay board for controlling a memory IC board provided in a magazine used in the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and a control circuit of a main control board.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of a storage area of a memory IC of a magazine used in the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of management information stored in a magazine IC system area of the memory IC shown in FIG.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of content information stored in a magazine IC data area of the memory IC shown in FIG. 6 for each format.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing details of address assignment of a data area in the format of the magazine IC data area shown in FIG. 8;

[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.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5D057 AA22 BC04 BE05 CB06 CB08 EB17 5D066 AA02 BA03 BA05 DA12 5D072 AB22 BE05 BG03 BH05 BH15 CA11 CA17 CA20 CB01 CB08 EB18

Claims (18)

[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 main body of the reproducing apparatus and the information is reproduced by being mounted in a replaceable manner. A non-volatile memory unit for storing information and content information indicating the content of the information recorded in the magazine; wherein the main body of the reproducing apparatus includes the non-volatile memory unit in a state where the magazine is mounted on the magazine mounting unit. Connecting means connected to the non-volatile memory means via the connecting means; Reading of the management information and the contents information to the memory unit, and a management means for writing the contents information stored in the nonvolatile memory means,
The management information is stored in one of a plurality of types of formats prepared in advance, and the management information includes format identification information indicating a type of a format of the content information. An automatic changer system, wherein the content information is read and written in a suitable format by identifying a format of the content information based on the information. 2. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the format of the content information includes a first format in which a user freely writes in all areas. 3. A format according to claim 1, wherein the format of the content information includes a second format including an area for writing the content of the information recording medium and an area for writing the content of the magazine. Autochanger system. 4. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the format of the content information includes a third format including an area for writing the content of the magazine. 5. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the format of the content information includes a fourth format including an area for writing the content of the information recording medium. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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 reproducing apparatus. 9. The management means identifies that the magazine mounted on the magazine mounting portion of the playback apparatus 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. 10. 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. 11. The non-volatile memory means according to claim 10, 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. 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said management means allocates magazine identification information by a serial number to each magazine when said magazine is first mounted on said reproducing apparatus main body. Autochanger system. 13. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the magazine stores a plurality of information recording media in a housing. 14. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium is an optical disk medium, and the magazine stores a plurality of optical disk media in a stacked state. 15. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein the magazine storage section of the playback apparatus main body stores a plurality of magazines. 16. The autochanger system according to claim 1, wherein said nonvolatile memory means is a semiconductor memory. 17. The non-volatile memory means includes an EEPROM (EEPR).
17. The autochanger system according to claim 16, wherein the system is an OM. 18. The autochanger system according to claim 16, wherein said nonvolatile memory means is an SRAM backed up by a battery.