JP2000270287A - Data recording and reproducing device and output method for data with monitor information added thereto - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a monitor to confirm audio/video AV data received/outputted from/to each input output port of a video AV server at any time without the need for provision of monitor output terminals of the equal number to the input output ports. SOLUTION: The data recording and reproducing device is provided with a monitor output means 2 that receives AV data with monitor information added to them from all of a plurality of input output ports 9-12 and outputs the AV data that are displayed on one screen of a monitor and one monitor output terminal M that outputs the AV data outputted from the monitor output means 2 to the outside of an AV server 1, and a monitor 31 confirms the AV data received/outputted at present by the input output ports 9-12 by displaying the AV data outputted through the monitor output terminal M on the monitor 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recording / reproducing apparatus having a plurality of input / output ports, such as an AV server, and more particularly to an apparatus for reducing the number of monitor output terminals. The present invention also relates to a method for outputting data to which the monitor information is added in such a data recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of information provision due to the spread of CATV (cable television) and the like, the conventional V
Unlike a TR (Video Tape Recorder), a single video / audio data recording / reproducing device simultaneously records, reproduces, and records a plurality of video / audio data (hereinafter referred to as “AV data”). Demands for reproduction and the like are increasing. In order to satisfy this demand, a video server (or an AV server) that records and reproduces video and audio using a randomly accessible recording medium such as a hard disk.
(Also referred to as an audio and / or video server) is becoming widespread.

In general, an AV server in a broadcasting station is required to have a high data transfer rate and a large capacity for recording long-time data due to demands for image quality and sound quality. Therefore, an attempt has been made to increase the data transfer rate and increase the capacity by using a data recording / reproducing apparatus including a plurality of hard disks (hereinafter, referred to as “HD”) apparatuses capable of storing AV data and capable of performing parallel processing. Attempts have been made to ensure that even if one of the HD devices breaks down, the reliability can be ensured by recording parity data.

[0004] With this, even when the number of requested channels differs depending on the content of a program to be provided by a broadcasting station or a broadcasting format, material data including a plurality of AV data is recorded in a distributed manner. Various systems such as VOD (video-on-demand) and NVOD (near-video-on-demand) can be constructed by simultaneously transmitting multiple channels or reproducing the same material data on multiple channels with different reproduction times. It is possible to realize a multi-channel AV server that can cope with usage patterns.

A data recording / reproducing apparatus used in such an AV server includes a paper ('A Case for Redundant Array) published by Patterson et al.
s of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) ', ACM SIGMOND Confe
rence, Chicago, III, Jun. 1-3, 1988.), and a hard disk drive composed of a plurality of HDs (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”).
AID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks)
Technology is used.

In the above paper, RAID is RAID-1.
To RAID-5. RAID
-1 is a method of writing the same contents to two HDDs.
RAID-3 divides input data into a certain length and records the data in a plurality of HDDs, and generates parity data which is an exclusive OR of data blocks corresponding to each other in each HDD to generate parity data of another HDD. This is a method of writing to the HDD.
RAID-5 is a data division unit (block).
And one divided data is recorded as a data block in one HDD, and the result (parity data) of the exclusive OR of the data blocks corresponding to each other in each HDD is used as a parity block (parity data) in another HDD.
In this method, the parity blocks are recorded in the HDD and the parity blocks are distributed to other HDDs. For other RAIDs, see the above paper.

In order to record and reproduce a plurality of AV data simultaneously with the AV server, it is necessary to simultaneously input and output AV data through a plurality of channels. Therefore, the AV server is provided with a plurality of input / output ports that operate independently of each other, and one input port and one output port respectively perform input and output for one channel.

However, when each input / output port exchanges AV data with the HDD at exactly the same time, the AV data flows simultaneously on a bus connecting each input / output port and the HDD inside the AV server. Therefore, processing cannot be completed. Therefore, a time slot (= time interval) for permitting use of the bus is sequentially assigned to each input / output port, and each input / output port can communicate with the HDD via the bus only within the assigned time slot. Transmission and reception of AV data are performed. Therefore, strictly speaking, a plurality of AV data is not simultaneously recorded / reproduced, but it is said that simultaneous recording / reproduction of a plurality of AV data is realized at a time interval longer than a time slot. May be.

When such an AV server is used in a broadcasting station, what kind of AV data is currently being recorded / reproduced by the AV server (that is, what kind of AV data is currently input / output at each input / output port) Are you)
Must be able to be checked on a monitor at any time.

[0010] For this reason, the AV server which normally inputs / outputs the input / output ports through the AV server usually includes a time code, character information such as characters indicating an operation mode (recording or reproducing), and the like. The function of adding and outputting is provided. In the present specification, information added to AV data when the AV data is displayed on a monitor, such as the time code and the character information, is collectively referred to as “monitor information”.

Conventionally, A to which such monitor information is added
In an AV server having a function of outputting V data, AV data to which monitoring information for each input / output port is added is output from each input / output port to the outside of the AV server. FIG. 4 shows how a conventional AV server having such a function outputs AV data to which monitor information is added, using an AV server having one input port and three output ports as an example.

When the input port 42 is instructed to start operation by a control signal from outside the AV server 41,
A predetermined process (for example, compression or the like) is performed on AV data input from outside the AV server 41. Then, in the time slot assigned to the input port 42 by the time slot signal, a command indicating an empty area in the recording / reproducing unit 46 transmitted from the controller 47 via the control bus 50 is added to the AV data. Then, the data is transferred to the recording / reproducing unit 46 via the down bus 48. The recording / reproducing unit 46 uses a RAID
Includes HDDs configured using technology.

The input port 42 receives the input AV signal.
Outputs data with monitoring information added. The AV server 41 is provided with a dedicated monitor output terminal M1 corresponding to the input port 42. The AV data (noted as monitor data in the figure) to which the monitor information is added at the input port 42 is provided. It is output to the outside of the AV server 41 through the monitor output terminal M1.

On the other hand, each output port 43, 44, 45
When the start of the operation is instructed by a control signal from outside the AV server 41, the controller 48 is set in a time slot assigned to the output port by a time slot signal.
Indicates a storage area in the recording / reproducing unit 46 (a recording area in the recording / reproducing unit 46 of AV data to be output specified by a control signal from outside the AV server 41) transmitted from the control server 50 via the control bus 50. The command is sent to the recording / reproducing unit 46 via the down bus 48. Then, the AV data reproduced from the recording / reproducing unit 46 based on this command is taken in via the upstream bus 49 into a time slot assigned to the output port by a time slot signal.
Then, after subjecting the AV data to a predetermined process (for example, decompression), the AV data is output to the outside of the AV server 41.

The output ports 43, 44, and 45 add monitoring information to the AV data that has been subjected to the predetermined processing, and output the result. The AV server 41 is also provided with dedicated monitor output terminals M2, M3, and M4 corresponding to the output ports 43, 44, and 45, respectively. Data is output from the monitor output terminals M2 and M, respectively.
3, and output to the outside of the AV server 41 through M4.

[0016]

However, in such a conventional AV server, dedicated monitor output terminals (four monitor output terminals M1 to M4 in the example of FIG. 4) corresponding to each input / output port are provided. Therefore, the same number of monitor output terminals as the number of input / output ports are required. as a result,
As the number of input / output ports increases, the area occupied by the monitor output terminals on the panel of the AV server increases. Therefore, in an AV server having a large number of input / output ports, the size of the AV server itself must be increased in order to increase the panel area. There was an inconvenience of having to do it.

When using such a conventional AV server, in order to be able to check the AV data currently input / output at each input / output port at any time on a monitor,
As shown in FIG. 4, dedicated monitors 51 and 5 for displaying AV data output from the respective monitor output terminals M1, M2, M3 and M4 in the broadcasting station, respectively.
2,53,54 must be installed. as a result,
If an AV server having a large number of input / output ports is used, a large number of monitors must be installed, and there is a disadvantage that these monitors occupy a large space in a broadcasting station.

Further, since each input / output port operates only when the start of operation is instructed by the control signal, not all of the plurality of input / output ports are always operating. When there is no new AV data to be recorded, the input port is not instructed to start operation, and A
When the amount of V data is small, the start of operation may be instructed only to some output ports. Therefore, in practice, there is a considerable amount of time during which only a part of the plurality of input / output ports is operated. Therefore, it is wasteful to provide the same number of monitor output terminals as the number of input / output ports as in the related art. There was also an inconvenience.

According to the present invention, in view of the above points, the AV data currently input / output at each input / output port can be monitored by a monitor without providing the same number of monitor output terminals as the number of input / output ports as in the prior art. It was made to be able to confirm.

[0020]

In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present invention provides a recording apparatus for recording and / or reproducing data using a non-linearly accessible recording medium. A reproducing unit having at least one input unit for inputting data from the outside and transferring the data to the recording and reproducing unit, and at least one output unit for outputting the data transferred from the recording and reproducing unit to the outside; Input / output processing means for transferring data between the recording / reproducing means in the time slot to which the unit and the output unit are respectively assigned, and data to which monitor information is added from the input / output processing means is input and A data recording / reproducing apparatus including a monitor output unit that outputs data displayed on one screen of a monitor is proposed.

In this data recording / reproducing apparatus, data to which monitor information is added is input to the monitor output means from the input / output processing means having the input part and the output part. Then, the data to which the monitor information is added is output as data to be displayed on one screen of the monitor by the monitor output means.

Thus, the data to which the monitoring information for two or more input units and / or output units has been added is
Rather than separately outputting to the outside from each input unit and output unit as in a conventional AV server, it can be output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing apparatus as one system of data displayed on one screen of a monitor. . Therefore, even if the same number of monitor output terminals as the number of input sections and output sections are not provided in this data recording / reproducing apparatus, the data currently input / output at each input section and output section can be checked on a monitor at any time. become able to.

In the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the output means for monitoring may include, for example, one of the input unit and the output unit according to the second aspect. It is preferable to include a selection unit for selecting data to which the monitoring information is added.

This makes it possible to display the data to which the monitor information for any one input section or output section is added on the entire screen of the monitor at any time and confirm the data. Further, the data to which the monitor information for each input unit and output unit has been added can be switched in order and displayed on the monitor for confirmation.

Further, in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, as an example, as described in the third aspect, the monitor output means includes a monitor for two or more input units and / or output units. It is preferable to include a dividing unit that performs processing for dividing the data to which the application information is added and displaying the divided data on one screen of the monitor.

Thus, the data to which the monitor information for all the input units and the output units are added can be displayed on one screen of the monitor at the same time to confirm the data, and two or more arbitrary input units and / or output units can be checked. Can be confirmed by simultaneously displaying the data to which the information for monitoring is added on one screen of the monitor. In addition, data to which monitor information for two or more input units and / or output units has been added can be sequentially switched and displayed on a monitor for confirmation.

In the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first to third aspects, as an example, as described in the fourth aspect,
It is preferable to provide a monitor output terminal for outputting data output from the monitor output means to the outside of the data recording / reproducing device. As a result, the data to which the monitoring information for each input section and output section has been added is output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing apparatus through the monitor output terminals whose number is smaller than the number of input sections and output sections.

In the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the monitor information may include, for example,
As described in claims 5 to 8, a time code, character information indicating an operation mode (recording or reproducing), information indicating the number of the input unit and the output unit,
It is preferable to include information on data recorded in the data recording / reproducing device.

Next, the applicant of the present invention has an input / output processing means having at least one input unit and at least one output unit. In the allocated time slot, data input from outside is recorded on a non-linearly accessible recording medium, and data recorded on this recording medium is reproduced to be output to the outside from a data recording / reproducing apparatus. In the method for outputting data to which monitor information is added, a first step of inputting data to which monitor information is added from an input / output processing means, and a step of: Second output as data displayed on one screen of monitor
Steps are proposed.

According to this method, data to which monitor information is added is input from input / output processing means having an input unit and an output unit, and the data to which monitor information is added is displayed on one screen of the monitor. Output as data. Thus, as in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, data to which monitor information for two or more input units and / or output units is added can be displayed on one screen of a monitor. Can be output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing apparatus, so that the number of monitor output terminals equal to the number of input sections and output sections is not provided in this data recording / reproducing apparatus. The currently input / output data can be checked at any time on the monitor.

In the method according to the ninth aspect, as an example, as in the tenth aspect, in the second step, monitoring information about one of the input unit and the output unit is added. It is preferable that the selected data be selected and output.

As a result, similarly to the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, the data to which the monitor information for any one input unit or output unit is added is displayed on the entire monitor screen at any time. It is possible to sequentially switch the data to which the monitor information for each input unit and output unit is added and display the data on the monitor for confirmation.

In the method according to the ninth aspect, as an example, as described in the eleventh aspect, in the second step, data obtained by adding monitoring information for two or more input units and / or output units is added. Is preferably divided into one screen of the monitor and displayed, and data obtained by this processing is output.

Thus, similarly to the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third aspect, data to which monitor information for all input units and output units are added is simultaneously displayed on one screen of the monitor for confirmation. Or any two
The data to which the monitor information for the input section and / or the output section is added can be displayed on one screen of the monitor at the same time for confirmation, and the monitor information for the two or more input sections and / or output sections can be added. The data can be switched in order and displayed on a monitor for confirmation.

In the method according to the ninth to eleventh aspects, for example, as described in the twelfth aspect, the data displayed on one screen of the monitor is transmitted to the outside of the data recording / reproducing apparatus through the monitor output terminal. It is preferable to output. Thus, as in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, the data to which the monitor information for each input section and output section is added has a smaller number of monitor outputs than the number of input sections and output sections. The data is output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing apparatus through the terminal.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example in which the present invention is applied to an AV server will be described below. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an AV server having one input port and three output ports to which the present invention is applied. The AV server 1 includes a monitor output unit 2,
An input port 9, output ports 10, 11, and 12, a recording / reproducing unit 13, a timing management unit 14, a file system 15, and a controller 16 are provided. On the panel of the AV server 1, only one terminal M is provided as a monitor output terminal, and an operation switch 7 is provided.

The ports 9, 10, 11 and 12 are connected to the recording / reproducing unit 1 via the down bus 17 and the up bus 18, respectively.
3 is connected. In addition, each port 9, 10, 11,
Each 12 is connected to a controller 16 via a control bus 19.

The input port 9 comprises a compressor 9A, a buffer memory 9B, a mixing circuit 9C, and a controller 9D. The compressor 9A and the mixing circuit 9C receive AV data (for example, SDI (Serial Digital Interface: SMPT) from an external device (for example, a VTR or a device connected via a network) of the AV server 1.
E-259M) and SDTI (Se
rial Digital Transfer Interface: SMPTE-30
5M) and ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Moment) which is an asynchronous transmission format.
de) A fiber channel (Fibre Channel) or the like is input through the input terminal D1.

A control signal for instructing the operation of the input port 9 is given to the controller 9D from the outside of the AV server 1 through an input terminal C1 (for example, a host computer issues a serial interface standard RS
-422).

The compressor 9A compresses AV data by a predetermined encoding method (for example, MPEG). The AV data compressed by the compressor 9A is stored in a buffer memory 9
Sent to B. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the AV data is compressed by the compressor 9A, but the AV data may be sent to the buffer memory 9B without being compressed.

The mixing circuit 9C adds SMPTE time codes indicating hours, minutes, seconds, and frames to the input AV data, and REC characters (REC) indicating that AV data is currently being recorded using the input port 9. That is, it mixes monitor information such as character information such as characters indicating the operation mode.

The controller 9D controls the entire input port 9, and is composed of, for example, a microprocessor. When a control signal instructing the start of operation is given, the controller 9D starts mixing in the mixing circuit 9C, and temporarily stores the AV data sent from the compressor 9A to the buffer memory 9B in the buffer memory 9B. Remember. The AV data to which the monitor information has been added by the mixing circuit 9C is sent from the input port 9 to the monitor output unit 2.

The controller 9D is supplied with a time slot signal from the timing management unit 14. This time slot signal is a time slot (time interval for a predetermined frame) that permits use of the down bus 17 and the up bus 18.
Are repeatedly and sequentially assigned to the input port 9 and the output ports 10, 11, and 12 one by one. The timing management unit 14 generates this time slot signal based on a reference video signal (REF signal) supplied from outside the AV server 1 through the input terminal R.

When the input port 9 operates, the controller 16 obtains information indicating a free area in the recording / reproducing unit 13 from the file system 15. Then, a signal indicating the empty area is transmitted from the controller 16 to the controller 9D via the control bus 19.

The controller 16 controls the entire AV server 1, and is composed of, for example, a microprocessor. The file system 15 manages the file name of the AV data currently recorded in the recording / reproducing unit 13 in association with the address of the area where the AV data of the file name is recorded in the recording / reproducing unit 13 and And a control circuit (for example, a CPU) for creating the management information (file system information) of the current vacant area of the recording / reproducing unit 13, and a file system information created by the control circuit. And a storage circuit (for example, RAM) for storing.

The file system information created by the file system 15 is roughly classified into three items: a file entry, a record entry, and a free space list.
Of these, the file entry is 1 for each file.
The file name and pointer information (that is, link information to the first record entry) to the address of the head position of the first record entry for the file are written.

A record entry is created for each continuous area where one file is recorded on the HD in the recording / reproducing unit 13. One file is frequently recorded in a plurality of continuous areas separated from each other on the HD due to the length and location of the free area on the HD, so that a plurality of record entries are usually created. The record entry for the first continuous recording includes head position data indicating the address of the head position of the continuous area (that is, the address of the first recording position of the file on the HD), and the length of the file from the head position. Data indicating whether the data is continuously recorded and pointer information (that is, link information to the next record entry) to the address of the head position of the next record entry are written.

In the record entries for the second and subsequent continuous recordings as well, start position data indicating the address of the start position of the continuous area and how long the file has been continuously recorded from the start position are described. Data to show,
The pointer information to the address of the head position of the next record entry is written. Then, instead of the pointer information, data indicating that the recording of the file has been completed in the continuous area is written in the last record entry.

The free space list is stored in the recording / reproducing unit 13.
The data on the HD inside is for indicating an unrecorded free area, and is created for each free area. In each free space list, start position data indicating the address of the start position of the free area, data indicating how long data from the start position can be written continuously, and data indicating the next Pointer information to the address of the head position of the free space list (that is, link information to the next free space list) is written.

The controller 9D of the input port 9 reads out the AV data stored in the buffer memory 9B from the buffer memory 9B during the time slot assigned to the input port 9 by the time slot signal.
Then, a command instructed to write the AV data into a free space in the recording / reproducing unit 13 transmitted from the controller 16 is added to the AV data, and the AV data is transferred to the recording / reproducing unit 13 via the down bus 17. .

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the recording / reproducing unit 13.
The recording / reproducing unit 13 is constructed using RAID technology, and includes a plurality of HDDs 21 for recording video data,
A disk array controller 22 for controlling these HDDs 21 and a plurality of HDDs 23 for recording audio data
And a disk array controller 24 for controlling these HDDs 23, and a buffer memory 25.

The disk array controller 22 employs, for example, RAID-3. The disk array controller 22 divides input video data into blocks of a fixed length based on a write command added to AV data, and HD
D21 is recorded in an empty area indicated by the command, and parity data which is an exclusive OR of the data blocks corresponding to each other in the HDDs 21 is generated to generate an empty space indicated by the command in another HDD 21. Write to area. In addition, the disk array controller 22 reads video data and parity data from the area indicated by the command in each HDD 21 based on a read instruction command described later, and uses the parity data after unifying those video data. The video data is reproduced by error correction.

On the other hand, the disk array controller 24
Adopts, for example, RAID-1, and writes the input audio data into the free space indicated by the command in the two HDDs 23 based on the write instruction command added to the AV data. The disk array controller 24 also outputs audio data from the area indicated by the command in the two HDDs 23 (if one HDD 23 has a failure, the remaining one HDD 23) based on a read instruction command described later. Reproduce.

The buffer memory 25 stores the AV data transferred from the input port 9 to the recording / reproducing unit 13 via the down bus 17.
It has a role of temporarily storing data. Of AV data read from the buffer memory 25, video data is input to the disk array controller 22, and audio data is input to the disk array controller 24. The buffer memory 25 has a role of temporarily storing the AV data reproduced by the disk array controllers 22 and 24, and the AV data read from the buffer memory 25 is transmitted to the output port via the upstream bus 18. It is transferred to 10, 11, and 12. Note that a buffer memory having the former role and a buffer memory having the latter role may be separately provided.

The AV data transferred from the input port 9 to the recording / reproducing unit 13 via the down bus 17 passes through the buffer memory 25, and is transmitted to the disk array controller 22,
24, the data is recorded in the free space indicated by the command added to the AV data on the HD of the HDDs 21 and 23.

As shown in FIG. 1, the output port 10 comprises a buffer memory 10A, a decoder 10B, a mixing circuit 10C, and a controller 10D. The output ports 11 and 12 have the same configuration as the output port 10, and include buffer memories 11A and 12A, decoders 11B and 12B, mixing circuits 11C and 12C, respectively.
Controllers 11D and 12D are provided.

Controller 1 of each output port 10, 11, 12
0D, 11D, and 12D are also provided with a time slot signal from the timing management unit 7, and the AV server 1
From outside (for example, from a host computer), control signals for instructing the operation of the output port are provided through input terminals C2, C3, and C4, respectively.

During the operation of each of the output ports 10, 11, and 12, a control signal for designating a file name of AV data to be output from the output port is supplied from the outside of the AV server 10 (for example, from the host computer) to the input terminal C5.
To the control unit 16 through This control signal may indicate that a different file name is specified for each of the output ports 10, 11 and 12,
In some cases, the same file name is designated with a staggered time for 1 and 12.

The control section 16 acquires from the file system 15 information on the recording area in the recording / reproducing section 13 corresponding to the file name specified by the control signal. Then, a signal for transmitting the recording area is sent from the controller 16 to the controllers 10D, 11D, and 12D via the control bus 19.

Each of the controllers 10D, 11D, and 12D controls the entire output ports 10, 11, and 12, respectively, and comprises, for example, a microprocessor. When each of the controllers 10D, 11D, and 12D receives a control signal for instructing the start of an operation, the controller 10D, 11D, and 12D controls the control within a time slot assigned to the output port 10, 11, or 12 by a time slot signal from the timing management unit 7. The commands instructed to read the AV data from the recording area transmitted from the device 16 are stored in the buffer memories 10A, 11A, 1A, respectively.
It is sent to the recording / reproducing unit 13 via the 2A and the down bus 17.
Then, the AV data reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 13 based on the command (the AV data reproduced from the HDDs 21 and 23 by the disk array controllers 22 and 24 in FIG. 2 and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 25) is
The time slots assigned to the output ports 10, 11 and 12 are taken in via the upstream bus 18 and temporarily stored in the buffer memories 10A, 11A and 12A.

The controllers 10D, 11D, and 12D sequentially read the AV data stored in the buffer memories 10A, 11A, and 12A, respectively, and read the read AV data into the decoders 10B, 11B, and 12D, respectively.
Sent to B. The decoders 10B, 11B, and 12B use the same encoding method as that of the compressor 9A of the input port 9 to perform AV
It expands data. Each decoder 10B, 11
The AV data expanded in B and 12B are sent to mixing circuits 10C, 11C and 12C, respectively.
It is sent out of the AV server 1 through the output terminals D2, D3, D4.

Mixing circuits 10C, 11C, 12C
Mixes the input AV data with character information such as SMPTE time code and PB (playback) characters (that is, characters indicating an operation mode) indicating that the AV data is currently being reproduced. Things. The controller 10D of each output port 10, 11, 12
11D and 12D are buffer memories 10A and 1D, respectively.
The mixing in the mixing circuits 10C, 11C and 12C is started in response to the start of reading of the AV data from 1A and 12A. Mixing circuits 10C, 11C,
The AV data to which the monitoring information is added in 12C is also sent to the monitoring output unit 2 from the output ports 10, 11, and 12, respectively.

Thus, in this AV server 1,
Simultaneous input / output of AV data on four channels is performed by each of the input / output ports 9 to 12, and the AV data to which the information for monitoring is added by the input / output ports 9 to 12
All are sent to the monitor output unit 2.

The monitor output unit 2 includes a 4-input / 1-output multiplexer (selector) 3, a video split circuit 4, and a 2-input / 1-output multiplexer (selector) 5.
And a controller 6. Each input / output port 9-1
The AV data to which the monitor information from 2 is added is input to separate input terminals of the multiplexer 3 and also to the video split circuit 4.

The video split circuit 4 converts the AV data from all of the mixing circuits 9C to 12C into one of the monitors.
In order to divide and display on a screen, the AV data from the mixing circuits is reduced (decimated) to 1/4 for each frame and combined into one frame of AV data, and the mixing circuits 9C to 12C Any of the two
In order to divide and display the AV data from one of the two
The V data is reduced (decimated) to 1/2 for each frame and combined into one frame of AV data. The configuration and processing of the video split circuit 4 may be the same as the configuration and processing of a circuit for displaying a multi-screen on a television.

The AV data output from the multiplexer 3 is input to one input terminal of the multiplexer 5, and the AV data output from the video split circuit 4 is input to the other input terminal of the multiplexer 5. The AV data output from the multiplexer 5 is output to the outside of the AV server 1 through the monitor output terminal M. One monitor 31 for displaying AV data output from the AV server 1 through the monitor output terminal M is installed at the installation location of the AV server 1 (for example, in a broadcasting station).

The controller 6 controls the entire monitor output unit 2, and is composed of, for example, a microprocessor. The operation switch 7 on the panel of the AV server 1
When the user selects one of the input / output ports 9 to 12
, Two, or all switches. When the user operates the operation switch 7 to designate one, two or all of the input / output ports 9 to 12, a signal indicating the designation result is given to the control unit 16. Then, a signal notifying the specified result is sent to the controller 16.
To the controller 6 of the monitor output unit 2 via the control bus 19.

Even if the operation switch 7 is not operated, a control signal designating one, two or all of the input / output ports is transmitted from the outside of the AV server 1 (for example, a host computer) to the control unit 16 through the input terminal C5. Is transmitted to the controller 16 again.
To the controller 6 via the control bus 19.

If the signal provided from the controller 16 indicates that one of the input / output ports 9 to 12 has been designated, the controller 6
Causes the multiplexer 5 to select the AV data from the one port, and causes the multiplexer 5 to select the output data of the multiplexer 3. As a result, the AV data to which the information for monitoring from the one port is added is output from the AV server 1 through the monitor output terminal M and displayed on the monitor 31.

FIG. 3A shows a display example of the monitor 31 when the input port 9, the output port 10, the output port 11, and the input port 12 are designated as the one port (port 1 in FIG. 3). , 2, 3, and 4 represent the port numbers of the input port 9 and the output ports 10, 11, and 12, respectively). As shown in this figure, in this case, the current input or output is performed on any one of the input / output ports 9 to 12 based on the operation of the operation switch 7 or the operation of the host computer or the like. The present AV data can be displayed on the entire screen of the monitor 31 at any time for confirmation. Also, the AV data currently input or output at each of the input / output ports 9 to 12 is set to one port.
It is also possible to switch the display one by one and display it on the monitor 31 in order to check it.

If the signal supplied from the controller 16 indicates that all of the input / output ports 9 to 12 have been designated, the controller 6 sends all signals to the video split circuit 4 To split the AV data from the input / output ports 9 to 12 into one screen of the monitor and display the same, and cause the multiplexer 5 to select the output data of the video split circuit 4. As a result, the AV data to which the monitor information from all the input / output ports 9 to 12 has been added is output from the AV server 1 through the monitor output terminal M as data to be divided and displayed on one screen of the monitor. 31 is displayed.

FIG. 3B shows a display example of the monitor 31 when all the input / output ports 9 to 12 are designated as described above.
This is shown in correspondence with the example of FIG. As shown in this figure, in this case, based on the operation of the operation switch 7 or the operation of the host computer or the like, the AV data currently input / output at all the input / output ports 9 to 12 is monitored. 31 can be simultaneously displayed on one screen for confirmation.

On the other hand, the signal given from the controller 16 is
If the signal indicates that two of the input / output ports 9 to 12 have been designated, the controller 6 sends the AV data from the two ports to one screen of the monitor to the video split circuit 4. A process for dividing and displaying is performed, and the multiplexer 5 selects output data of the video split circuit 4. As a result, the AV data added with the monitor information from the two ports is output from the AV server 1 through the monitor output terminal M as data to be divided and displayed on one screen of the monitor, and is displayed on the monitor 31. You.

FIG. 3C shows a display example of the monitor 31 when the input port 9 and the output port 10 are designated as these two ports, corresponding to the example of FIG. As shown in this figure, in this case, based on the operation of the operation switch 7 or the operation of the host computer or the like, any two of the input / output ports 9 to 12 are currently input or output. AV data that is
Can be simultaneously displayed on one screen for confirmation. Also, the AV data currently input or output at each of the input / output ports 9 to 12 can be confirmed by displaying the monitor 31 in order by switching one or two ports.

As described above, according to the AV server 1, the input / output port A currently input / output at each of the input / output ports 9-12.
After V information (that is, a plurality of AV data currently recorded / reproduced by the AV server 1) is added with monitor information, the monitor output unit 2 outputs one system of AV data displayed on one screen of the monitor. Output as data. Then, the AV data output from the monitor output unit 2 is output to the outside of the AV server 1 through one monitor output terminal M on the panel of the AV server 1 and displayed on one monitor 31.

As described above, the AV data to which the monitor information from all the input / output ports has been added is output to the outside of the AV server through one monitor output terminal as one system of data displayed on one screen of the monitor. So that
By arranging a large number of monitor output terminals on the panel of the AV server, the size of the AV server itself is prevented from being increased. The AV currently input / output at each input / output port
Since data can be checked at any time with only one monitor, a situation in which a large number of monitors occupy a large space in a broadcasting station or the like is also prevented.

In the above example, the mixing circuit 9C
As an example of the monitor information added in to 12C, only the time code and the character information indicating the operation mode are given. However, besides that, each input / output port 9
12 (for example, ports 1, 2, 3, and 4 as shown in FIG. 3A)
12C to 12C may be added as monitor information. Alternatively, each of the mixing circuits 9C-
At 12C, information on AV data recorded on the recording / reproducing unit 13 such as a list of file names managed by the file system 15 may be added as monitor information.

In the above example, the monitor output unit 2
A multiplexer 3 for selecting AV data from any one of the mixing circuits 9C to 12C, and dividing the AV data from any two or all of the mixing circuits 9C to 12C into one screen of a monitor. And a video splitting circuit 4 for performing a process for displaying the image. However, only one of the multiplexer 3 and the video split circuit 4 is provided in the monitor output unit 2 and the output data is sent to the monitor output terminal M.
May be output to the outside of the AV server 1 through the.

In the above example, one monitor output unit 2 to which the AV data added with the monitor information from all the input / output ports 9 to 12 is input, and the monitor output unit 2 outputs the AV data. One monitor output terminal M for outputting AV data to the outside of the AV server 1 is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
12, a monitor output unit to which AV data added with monitor information from any one or two of the input / output ports 12, and monitors from the remaining three or two of the input / output ports 9 to 12 And a monitor output unit to which AV data to which the application information is added is separately provided, and the AV data output from the two monitor output units is
Two monitor output terminals for outputting to the outside of the V server 1 may be provided. In this case as well, the AV data to which the monitoring information from each of the input / output ports 9 to 12 is added is output to the outside of the AV server 1 through the monitor output terminals of a smaller number than the number of the input / output ports 9 to 12. can do.

Further, the present invention relates to an AV system having the configuration shown in FIG.
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the server, and may be applied to an appropriate type of AV server. For example, the present invention may be applied to an AV server having 2, 3, or 5 or more input / output ports. Also, for example, if an encoding method other than MPEG
The present invention may be applied to an AV server that compresses / decompresses data. Further, for example, the present invention may be applied to an AV server in which one port has both a function as an input port and a function as an output port. Further, for example, the present invention is applied to an AV server that records AV data on an HDD that does not use the RAID technology and an AV server that records AV data on a non-HD non-linearly accessible recording medium (for example, a semiconductor memory or an optical disk). Is also good. Also, for example,
The present invention may be applied to an AV server having a function of editing AV data in addition to a function of recording and reproducing AV data.

The present invention may be applied to an appropriate type of data recording / reproducing apparatus having a plurality of input / output ports other than the AV server. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and it is needless to say that various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0082]

As described above, according to the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the data to which the monitor information for each input section and output section has been added is displayed on one screen of the monitor. Since it is possible to output as one system of data to be displayed to the outside of the data recording / reproducing apparatus, even if this data recording / reproducing apparatus is not provided with the same number of monitor output terminals as the number of the input sections and the output sections, This has the effect that the data currently input and output at the unit and the output unit can be checked at any time on the monitor.

According to the data recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the data added with the monitor information for any one input section or output section can be displayed on the entire monitor screen at any time for confirmation. Also, there is an effect that the data to which the monitor information for each input unit and output unit is added can be sequentially switched and displayed on the monitor for confirmation.

Further, according to the data recording / reproducing apparatus of the third aspect, it is possible to simultaneously display and confirm data to which monitor information for all input sections and output sections is added on one screen of the monitor. It is possible to simultaneously display data on two or more input sections and / or output sections to which monitor information is added on one screen of the monitor for confirmation, and to monitor two or more input sections and / or output sections. An effect is also obtained that the data to which information has been added can be sequentially switched and displayed on a monitor for confirmation.

According to the data recording / reproducing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the data to which the monitoring information for each input section and output section is added has a smaller number of monitor outputs than the number of input sections and output sections. Since the data is output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing device through the terminals, the effect of arranging a large number of monitor output terminals on the panel of the data recording / reproducing device can prevent the data recording / reproducing device itself from being enlarged, The effect of preventing the situation where the monitor occupies a large space can be obtained by installing the monitor.

Next, according to the data output method to which the monitor information is added according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, as in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect,
The data to which the monitor information for each input unit and output unit is added can be output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing device as one system of data displayed on one screen of the monitor. Even if the same number of monitor output terminals are not provided in this data recording / reproducing device, the effect that the data currently input / output at each input section and output section can be confirmed on the monitor at any time can be obtained. Can be

According to the data output method to which the monitor information is added according to the tenth aspect, as in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, any one input section or output section is provided. Check the data with monitor information added on the entire screen of the monitor at any time to check it, or switch the data with monitor information added on each input and output section in order and display it on the monitor to check The effect of being able to do so is also obtained.

According to the data output method to which the monitor information is added according to the eleventh aspect, similar to the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third aspect, all the input parts and the output parts are provided. The data to which monitor information has been added can be displayed on one screen of the monitor at the same time for confirmation, and the data to which monitor information has been added for any two or more input units and / or output units can be simultaneously displayed on one screen of the monitor. It is also possible to obtain the effect that the data can be displayed and confirmed, and the data to which the monitoring information for two or more input units and / or output units have been added can be sequentially switched and displayed on the monitor for confirmation.

According to the method for outputting data to which monitor information is added according to the twelfth aspect, a monitor for each input section and output section is provided in the same manner as in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth aspect. Since the data to which the application information is added is output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing apparatus through a smaller number of monitor output terminals than the number of input sections and output sections, a large number of monitor output terminals are provided on the panel of the data recording / reproducing apparatus. The effect that the arrangement of the data recording / reproducing apparatus itself can be prevented from being enlarged and the effect that the monitor occupies a large space by installing a large number of monitors can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an AV server to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording / reproducing unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the monitor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which AV data to which monitor information is added is output from a conventional AV server.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,41 AV server, 2 monitor output unit,
3,5 multiplexer, 4 video split circuit, 6,9D, 10D, 11D, 12D, 16,4
8,47 controller, 7 operation switch, 9,42
Input port, 10, 11, 12, 43, 44, 45
Output port, 9A compressor, 9B, 10A, 11
A, 12A, 25 buffer memory, 10B, 11
B, 12B decoder, 9C, 10C, 11C, 12C
Mixing circuit, 13, 46 recording / reproducing unit, 14
Timing management unit, 15 file system, 1
7,48 down bus, 18,49 up bus, 1
9,50 control bus, 21,23 HDD, 22,
24 disk array controllers, 31, 51, 5
2,53,54 monitor, M, M1, M2, M3
M4 monitor output terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C052 AA01 AB04 CC11 CC20 DD04 EE03 5D087 AA12 AA22 AA24 CC02 CC04 CC12 DA02 DA04 DA05

Claims (12)

[Claims] A recording / reproducing means for recording and / or reproducing data using a non-linearly accessible recording medium; at least one input unit for inputting data from outside and transferring the data to the recording / reproducing means; At least one output unit for outputting data transferred from the recording / reproducing means to the outside, wherein the input unit and the output unit transfer the data to / from the recording / reproducing means within an assigned time slot. Input / output processing means for performing the following, and monitor output means for receiving data to which monitor information is added from the input / output processing means, and outputting the data to which the monitor information is added as data to be displayed on one screen of the monitor A data recording / reproducing device comprising: 2. The data recording / reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the monitor output unit selects data to which one of the input unit and the output unit is added with the monitor information. A data recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by including a selecting means for performing the operation. 3. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitor output unit outputs the data to which the monitor information for two or more of the input units and / or the output units is added. Monitor 1
A data recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a dividing unit for performing a process for dividing and displaying a screen. 4. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor output terminal for outputting data output from said monitor output means to outside of said data recording / reproducing apparatus. A data recording / reproducing device comprising: 5. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitor information includes a time code. 6. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitor information includes character information indicating an operation mode of the input / output port. . 7. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitor information includes information indicating a port number of the input / output port. 8. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitor information includes information on data recorded on the data recording / reproducing apparatus. Playback device. 9. An input / output processing unit having at least one input unit and at least one output unit, wherein the input unit and the output unit allow externally input data to be input into time slots assigned to the respective units. A method for outputting data with monitor information added thereto from a data recording / reproducing apparatus which is recorded on a non-linearly accessible recording medium and which reproduces data recorded on the recording medium for output to the outside, A first step of inputting data to which monitor information has been added from the output processing means; and outputting the data to which the monitor information has been added inputted in the first step as data to be displayed on one screen of a monitor. A method for outputting data to which data for monitoring is added in a data recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: 10. The method for outputting data to which data for monitoring is added in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the second step, one of the input unit and the output unit is output. A method for outputting data to which data for monitoring is added in a data recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the data to which the information for monitoring is added is selected and output. 11. The method for outputting data to which data for monitoring is added in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the monitoring of two or more of the input units and / or the output units is performed in the second step. Data to which monitor information is added in a data recording / reproducing apparatus, which performs processing for dividing the data to which the information is added and displaying the divided data on one screen of a monitor, and outputting the processed data. Output method. 12. The method for outputting data to which data for monitoring is added in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the data displayed on one screen of the monitor is transmitted through a monitor output terminal. A data output method to which data for monitoring is added in a data recording / reproducing device, which is output to the outside of the data recording / reproducing device.