JP2000285640A - Information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make continuously reproducible data recorded on a recording medium in desired order by holding link data instructing for the reproducing order of respective files. SOLUTION: When a control command of reproduction is inputted in the state of connection to AV equipment 2, regenerating signals obtained from a magnetic head are processed by a read data channel part 10, AV data are reproduced and these AV data are outputted through a hard disk control part 6 and an interface(IF) control part 4 to the AV equipment 2. When it is instructed for reproduction according to link file data while designating a file name, AV data are reproduced concerning this designated file name and the following file name or leading block number of the following file is detected from the link file data. Concerning the files successively continued according to the link file data, in a hard disk device 1, the AV data are repeatedly reproduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus, and can be applied to, for example, a removable hard disk drive for recording a video signal. The present invention is applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus that divides input data into predetermined blocks, allocates addresses to each block, records the data on a recording medium, and manages the input data so that the data can be accessed in file units. By holding the concatenated data indicating the reproduction order, the data recorded on the recording medium can be continuously reproduced in a desired order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for recording a video signal, a video tape recorder using a magnetic tape as a recording medium has been widely used. In such a video tape recorder, a video signal and an audio signal input in a time series are demarcated in units of fields or frames of the video signal and are recorded diagonally on a magnetic tape.

In recent years, an apparatus for recording a video signal and an audio signal using an optical disk has also been proposed.
In an apparatus using such an optical disk, a video signal and an audio signal for about two hours can be recorded.

On the other hand, in a personal computer, an application program or the like is recorded by using a hard disk device. In recent years, a hard disk device has been rapidly increased in density and reduced in size. It has been done.

[0005] In such a hard disk device, the recording area of the hard disk is divided into a system entry area and a data area, and a file input from an external device is recorded in the data area, and necessary for accessing the data area. Record the data in the system entry area.

Therefore, in a hard disk drive,
When the recording of data in the data area is completed, the contents of the system entry area are updated, thereby searching the system entry area so that a desired file can be accessed, and detecting a free area by searching the system entry area. Thus, a desired file can be recorded.

[0007]

By the way, it is considered that a small-sized recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording for a long time can be produced by applying a hard disk device to recording of a video signal. In this case, if a hard disk device is used like a tape cassette of a video tape recorder, it is considered that the hard disk device can be replaced as necessary to ensure the same usability as a video tape recorder.

At this time, if the file management system used in the personal computer is directly applied to the hard disk device, it is considered that the editing system can be easily constructed by connecting to the personal computer.

However, when a video signal or the like is simply recorded by a file management system applied to a personal computer or the like, it is difficult to reproduce sequentially in the order of recording, for example, as in the case of reproducing a video tape recorder. Problem.

That is, in a hard disk device which is a recording / reproducing device capable of random access, when an access command such as reading is input from a host by designating a file name, a corresponding file is read from the system in response to the access command. Search and play from the entry area. Therefore, in the case where the data is reproduced in a time series like a video tape recorder by applying to recording of a video signal or the like, it is necessary to manage the files on the host side and designate the files to be sequentially reproduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus which manages files in an accessible manner on a file-by-file basis so that data recorded on a recording medium can be continuously recorded in a desired order. And an information recording / reproducing apparatus which can reproduce the information.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, input data is divided into predetermined blocks, addresses are assigned to the respective blocks, and the blocks are recorded on a recording medium. Is applied to an information recording / reproducing apparatus that manages the file so that it can be accessed on a file-by-file basis, so that linked data indicating the reproduction order of each file is held.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the data recorded on the recording medium can be stored in the storage medium even if the file is managed so as to be accessible on a file-by-file basis by holding the linked data indicating the reproduction order of each file. By playing back continuously in the order according to the linked data, the same usability as, for example, a video tape recorder can be obtained.

[0014]

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

(1) Configuration of the Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hard disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention. This hard disk device 1
Is mounted on an imaging device, a set-top box, etc.,
The video signal and the audio signal output from these devices are recorded. In addition, in a state of being attached to these devices or being detached from these devices and being attached to another AV device, it reproduces and outputs the recorded video signal and audio signal.

For this reason, the hard disk drive 1 is detachably held in the AV equipment 2 such as an image pickup device and a set-top box, and is data obtained by compressing video data and audio data in a predetermined format (hereinafter referred to as AV data). ) Is input / output to / from these AV devices 2, and control commands, status data, addresses, etc. associated with input / output of these AV data are input / output to / from these devices. Further, the AV data is recorded on the hard disk 3, and the AV data recorded on the hard disk 3 is reproduced and output.

Here, the hard disk 3 is formatted as shown in FIG. That is, the hard disk 3
Divides the information recording surface into an inner peripheral area and an outer peripheral area,
The inner area is allocated to the system entry area. Further, the outer peripheral area is allocated to the data area.

The data area is subdivided into clusters, and AV data is recorded in each cluster of a partial area in units of a data amount of a predetermined number of frames. In this embodiment, when recording the AV data compressed in the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format on the hard disk 3, AV data for one GOP is assigned to one cluster.

In the data area, a block number, which is an address, is assigned to each cluster, and the data area can be accessed in cluster units based on the block number. In this embodiment, the block number is shown in a 4-digit hexadecimal format.

On the other hand, the system entry area further includes a boot area and a FAT (Fail Allocation
ble) area and a directory area, and in the boot area, data necessary for starting up the hard disk 3 is recorded. On the other hand, F
In the AT area and the directory area, address information and the like necessary for accessing the AV data recorded in the data area are recorded.

That is, in the directory area, the file name of each file recorded in the data area, the block number of the first block which is the recording start position of each file, and the like are recorded. On the other hand, in the FAT area, a block number and the like of each block continuous to the head block of each file are recorded. Thereby, the hard disk 3
After detecting the head block number of the desired file name from the directory area, the block numbers following the head block number are sequentially detected from the FAT area so that the addresses of consecutive clusters constituting one file can be detected. It has been done.

In FIG. 3, when the file 1 is recorded in the clusters having the block numbers 1234h to 1240h in the data area, the code indicating the block number 1234h of the first block of the file 1 is changed to the directory area. , And a block number subsequent to the block number 1234h is sequentially recorded in a corresponding area of the FAT area. In FIG. 3, EOF (End Of File) is
This is identification information indicating the last block of one file.

More specifically, the directory area is:
File management data having the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is recorded for each file recorded in the data area. That is, in the file management data, the file name is assigned to the first 8 bytes, and the extension of each file is assigned to the next 3 bytes. Data indicating the attribute of the file is assigned to the next 1 byte, and the next 10 bytes are assigned to the data for reservation. The next two bytes are assigned to the data of the recording start time, the next two bytes are assigned to the data of the recording date and time, and the next two bytes are assigned the cluster number which is the head block number. Note that data of the file length is allocated to the last four bytes.

On the other hand, in the FAT area (FIG. 3), block addresses are allocated in correspondence with the block numbers (cluster numbers) of the data area, and the block numbers of clusters following each block address are recorded. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, among codes not allocated to these block numbers, predetermined codes are allocated to identification information indicating a free area, a defective cluster, and EOF, respectively.

Thus, the hard disk 3 can access the FAT area to detect a free area in the data area.

On the other hand, the data area (FIG. 3) is divided into a concatenated file data area and a user data area. Here, in the user area, AV data is recorded, and when recording AV data compressed by the MPEG format, AV data for one GOP is allocated to one cluster.

On the other hand, in the concatenated file data area, file concatenated data indicating the reproduction order of the files is recorded. As shown in FIG. 6, the concatenated file data is formed by describing the head cluster number, the file name of the following file, or the head cluster number of the following file for each file. As a result, in this embodiment, when reproducing AV data recorded in a time series like a video tape recorder, it is possible to access this file concatenated data and reproduce sequentially sequential files.

In the concatenated file data shown in FIG. 6, the first file (File1) and the second file (File1) are recorded by repeating recording and deletion of AV data on the hard disk 3 and by rearranging by editing. A continuous file is shown in the order of the file (File2), the tenth file (File10), the third file (File3),.... In the linked file data, a code indicating the end, similar to EOF, is recorded for the last file, if necessary, because there is no file to be linked.

Interface control circuit (IF control) 4
(FIG. 2), for example, SCSI (Small Computer System)
Interface) Controller, IDE (Intelligent Driv)
e Electronics) The data, control commands,
Construct an input / output circuit such as an address. Buffer memory 5
Temporarily holds AV data input and output between the hard disk control circuit 6 and the interface control circuit 4.

The servo circuit 7 drives the motor (M) 8 under the control of the hard disk control circuit 6, thereby driving the hard disk 3 to rotate at a predetermined rotation speed.
The servo circuit 7 similarly drives the motor (M) 9 to seek the magnetic head, and further performs tracking control.

Under the control of the hard disk control circuit 6, the read data channel section 10 adds an error correction code to the AV data input from the hard disk control circuit 6 at the time of recording and uses a method suitable for the characteristics of the recording / reproducing system. The encoding process generates bit sequence data, and the magnetic head is driven by the data. At the time of reproduction, the read data channel unit 10 performs signal processing on a reproduction signal obtained from the magnetic head to generate reproduction data, and performs error correction processing on the reproduction data to reproduce AV data and reproduce the AV data. Output to

The hard disk control circuit 6 is a controller for controlling the operation of the hard disk device 1.
The whole operation is controlled by analyzing a control command input from the interface control circuit 4 and executing a predetermined processing procedure according to the analysis result.

That is, when the power is turned on, the hard disk control circuit 6 accesses the directory area and notifies the AV device 2 of the file name recorded on the hard disk 3 based on the access result. Thus, the hard disk control circuit 6 can issue an access command by designating a file name from the AV device 2.

At this time, the hard disk control circuit 6
Notifies the AV device 2 of the data amount of each file and the order of the files based on the concatenated file data, so that the hard disk control circuit 6 determines the AV device 2 based on the data amount of each file recorded on the hard disk 3. In this case, the recording time of the AV data recorded on the hard disk 3 can be ascertained, and a control command as to which part of a continuous file based on the concatenated file data is to be reproduced can be issued based on the ascertained recording time. It has been made like that.

That is, when a reproduction control command specifying a file name is input, the hard disk control circuit 6 searches the directory area of the system entry area by the file name added to the control command, and receives the reproduction instruction. The first block number (first cluster number) is detected for the file. Further, the record of the FAT address corresponding to the block number is searched to detect the block number following the head block, and the search is continued until the EOF corresponding to the end block of the file is detected by the similar search of the FAT area. The block number of the cluster is sequentially detected. The hard disk control circuit 6 controls the entire operation so as to sequentially reproduce the AV data from the corresponding block while detecting the block number in this manner. Plays and outputs AV data.

On the other hand, when a playback command according to the concatenated file data is input by designating a file name,
The hard disk control circuit 6 executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. 1 and reproduces successive files sequentially based on the linked file data.

That is, when this control command is input, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds from step SP1 to step SP2, searches the linked file data area by the file name added to the control command, and stores the linked file data area in the linked file data area. Detect the corresponding concatenated file data recorded. Further, the hard disk control circuit 6 detects the head block number of the file specified by the control command from the linked file data.

Subsequently, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP3, reproduces the cluster of the hard disk 3 specified by the head block number, and in the following step SP4, searches the FAT area and finds the corresponding FAT area.
The code based on the AT address is detected.

Subsequently, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP5, and determines whether or not the code detected in step SP4 is a code (EOF) indicating the end of the file.
If a negative result is obtained here, the process returns to step SP3,
The cluster of the hard disk 3 specified by this code is reproduced.

As a result, the hard disk control circuit 6
The processing procedure of steps SP3-SP4-SP5-SP3 is repeated, and the clusters recorded in the system entry area are sequentially reproduced. When the reproduction of one file is completed, a positive result is obtained in step SP5, and the processing proceeds to step SP6. Move on. Here, the hard disk control circuit 6 determines whether or not a playback stop control command has been input from the AV device 2.

If a negative result is obtained here, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP7 and proceeds to step S7.
After detecting a subsequent file from the linked file data area detected in P2, the process returns to step SP2. Thus, the hard disk control circuit 6 sequentially reproduces the files from the file designated by the AV device 2 in accordance with the linked file data, and then receives a control command to stop the reproduction from the AV device 2, and then proceeds to steps SP6 to SP8.
To end the processing procedure.

On the other hand, when a recording command is input, the hard disk control circuit 6 executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. 7 and updates the system entry area and the linked file data area. That is, when the control command is input, the hard disk control circuit 6 executes step SP1.
From 1 the process proceeds to step SP12, where the FAT area is accessed to detect a free cluster.

Subsequently, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP13, and records one cluster of AV data in the detected free cluster. Subsequently, in step SP14, the hard disk control circuit 6 determines whether or not the recording is completed. If a negative result is obtained here, the process returns to step SP12. Thereby, the hard disk control circuit 6
Corresponds to steps SP12-SP13-SP14-SP12
Is repeated to detect empty clusters from the FAT area and record AV data sequentially.

On the other hand, if the stop of recording is instructed by the control command at the start of recording or by a control command separately output from the AV device 2, the hard disk control circuit 6 returns a positive result in step SP14. Are obtained, the process proceeds to step SP15.

Here, the hard disk control circuit 6 records file management data for one file of the AV data recorded in this manner. Further, in the following step SP16, the hard disk control circuit 6
Concerning the FAT area, a continuous block number is recorded in an area of the FAT area corresponding to the one file, and an EOF is recorded in an area corresponding to the last block, thereby updating the FAT area.

Subsequently, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP17 and updates the linked file data.
Here, the hard disk control circuit 6 records the linked file data for the newly recorded file so as to follow the linked file data sequentially and follow the last linked file data. That is, the hard disk control circuit 6
Updates the content of the linked file data that was the last so far so as to specify the newly recorded file. Further, in the concatenated file data of the newly recorded file, a code indicating the end is set.

When the hard disk control circuit 6 updates the concatenated file data in this way, it proceeds to step SP1
Then, the procedure goes to 8 to end this processing procedure. As a result, the hard disk control circuit 6 also maintains the anteroposterior relationship between the previously recorded file and the AV data additionally recorded on the hard disk 3 as in the case of splicing and recording on the magnetic tape. It can be played continuously.

On the other hand, when a control command for deleting a file is input from the AV device 2, the hard disk control circuit 6 outputs the FAT from the corresponding file management data.
The area is accessed, and the corresponding FAT area is sequentially rewritten with a code indicating a free area. Further, when the rewriting of this code reaches the area where the EOF is set, the file management data is deleted. Further, the hard disk control circuit 6 specifies the file following the file to be deleted or the head block number of the file following the file to be deleted in the linked file data immediately before the file to be deleted. Then, the one previous connected file data is updated.

When the file to be deleted is the first file based on the concatenated file data, the hard disk control circuit 6 sets the contiguous file data to be continuous with the following file at the head. Conversely, when the file to be deleted is the last file, the file management data is updated so that the last file is detected from the concatenated file data in the previous file. become. Thus, the hard disk device 1 can continuously reproduce the remaining files even if some files are deleted.

On the other hand, the hard disk control circuit 6
When connected to an editing device, for example, the AV device is controlled in a file unit by the control of the editing device in the same manner as described above.
It reproduces the data and outputs it to the editing device, and reproduces a continuous file from the specified file according to the recording of the linked file data area and outputs AV data. Further, under the control of the editing device, the AV data output from the editing device is recorded in the same manner as described above.

When a command for reproducing only the first cluster of each file is input from the editing device to the hard disk control circuit 6, the hard disk control circuit 6 sequentially reproduces only the first cluster of each file based on the concatenated file data area and executes AV. The data is output, so that a so-called index search process in which the head image of each file is used as an index image can be executed by selective AV data processing on the editing device side.

Further, when the rearrangement of the file is instructed by the index search processing in the editing apparatus, the processing procedure of FIG. 8 is executed to sequentially update the linked file data. That is, the hard disk control circuit 6
Sets the variable i, which specifies the order of the files after the rearrangement from step SP21 to step SP22, to a value of 1. The order of the rearranged files is instructed by the editing device.

Subsequently, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP23, and here detects the (i + 1) -th successive file name or the (i + 1) -th successive file head block number. Then, the hard disk control circuit 6
Moves to step SP24, updates the i-th linked file data with the detected file name or head block number, and then moves to step SP25.

Here, the hard disk control circuit 6 is connected to the i +
It is determined whether or not the first subsequent file is the last file. If a negative result is obtained here, the process proceeds to step SP26, and after incrementing the variable i, the process proceeds to step SP26.
Return to 23. Thereby, the hard disk control circuit 6
Step SP23-SP24-SP25-SP26-S
The processing procedure of P23 is repeated, and the linked file data is updated so that the files are successively arranged in the order specified by the editing device.

When the connected file data is sequentially updated in this way and the subsequent file reaches the last file, a positive result is obtained in step SP25, and the process proceeds to step SP27. Here, the hard disk control circuit 6 sets a code indicating the end of the linked file data of the last file to update the linked file data, and then proceeds to step SP28 to end the processing procedure.

As a result, the hard disk control circuit 6
Updating of the concatenated file data allows the file to be easily edited in file units while each file is held accessible by file management data.

On the other hand, when a control command for linking files is input from the editing device, the hard disk control circuit 6 executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. The combined file forms one file, and the combined file data is updated so that the combined file can be continuously reproduced with another file.

That is, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds from step SP31 to step SP32 and accesses the FAT area to combine the EOF of the first file.
To the first block number of the last file to be combined. Subsequently, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP33, and updates the file management data so as to specify the combined file.

Further, in the subsequent step SP34, the hard disk control circuit 6 updates the linked file data of the leading file to be combined with the contents indicated by the linked file data of the trailing file to be combined. Further, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP35
In, after deleting the linked file data at the end,
The process moves to step SP36, and this processing procedure ends.

As a result, the hard disk control circuit 6
Even when the editing device instructs to join two files, the linked file data is updated so that the two files can be continuously played back.

On the other hand, when the editing apparatus instructs to divide one file, the hard disk control circuit 6 executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. Enable continuous playback with files.

That is, when the editing device specifies an editing point in units of clusters and instructs to divide the file, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds from step SP41 to step SP42, where the cluster immediately before the editing point is detected. I do. Further, the FAT area is updated so that EOF indicating the end cluster of the file is set in the area of the FAT address corresponding to this cluster.

Subsequently, the hard disk control circuit 6 proceeds to step SP43, and after detecting a cluster number following the edit point, sets the detected cluster number as the first cluster number in the following step SP44 and stores the file management data. Generate. The hard disk control circuit 6
After recording the file management data, step SP
The process proceeds to step 45, where the concatenated file data is updated so as to correspond to this division, and this processing procedure ends.

The hard disk control circuit 6 temporarily loads all or a part of the file management data into a built-in memory, updates the data in this memory, and records it again on the hard disk 3, thereby re-recording the data on the hard disk 3. The area, the file management data, and the connected file data are rewritten.

(2) Operation of Embodiment In the above configuration, the hard disk drive 1 (FIG. 2) is mounted on, for example, an imaging device, a set-top box or the like, and a recording control command is input from these AV devices 2. Then, A which is input following this control command
The V data is input to the read data channel unit 10 via the hard disk control circuit 6, where it is modulated in a format suitable for recording and the magnetic head is driven.
This is recorded on the hard disk 3.

When a playback control command is input while connected to these AV devices or detached from these devices and attached to other AV devices, the playback obtained by the magnetic head is performed. The signal is processed by the read data channel unit 10 to reproduce AV data, and the AV data is output to the AV device 2 via the hard disk control circuit 6 and the interface control circuit 4.

For recording and reproduction in this manner, when the power is turned on in the hard disk device 1, the file name recorded in the directory area is notified to the AV device 2 as the host device. This allows the hard disk device 1 to output a playback command specifying a file name from the AV device 2 of the host.

At this time, the data volume of each file and the order of reproduction based on the concatenated file data (FIG.
, Which enables a continuous file reproduction instruction similar to that of a video tape recorder.

That is, in the hard disk device 1, when a reproduction command is input simply by designating a file name, the corresponding file management data is searched from the directory area. The block number (first cluster number) is detected. Further, the record of the FAT address corresponding to this block number is searched, the block number of the cluster following this head block is detected, and so on until the EOF corresponding to the end block of the file is detected by searching the FAT area in the same manner. Block numbers of consecutive clusters are sequentially detected. The hard disk device 1 reproduces AV data sequentially from the corresponding block while detecting the block number in this manner,
This AV data is output to the AV device 2.

On the other hand, when the reproduction according to the concatenated file data is instructed by specifying the file name (FIG. 1), the reproduction is performed in the same manner as the reproduction by simply specifying the file name.
The AV data is reproduced for the specified file name, and the file name following the linked file data or the head block number of the subsequent file is detected. In the hard disk device 1, the FAT is also used for this file in the same manner as in the case of reproduction by simply designating the file name.
The AV data of each file is reproduced according to the recording of the area, and the reproduction of the AV data is repeated for the successive files in accordance with the connected file data. Thus, even when recording the AV data by file management, the hard disk device 1 can continuously reproduce the AV data, for example, as in the case of operating a video tape recorder.

On the other hand, when AV data is separately recorded (FIG. 7), this AV data is recorded in cluster units, file management data is recorded so that the file can be managed, and a FAT area is set. You. Further, the linked file data of the already recorded file is updated so that the file can be reproduced continuously from the end of the already recorded file. , And can be played back continuously from the already recorded AV data, as in the case of connecting to a video tape recorder for shooting.

To delete a desired file,
For the clusters constituting the file to be deleted, F
The area of the AT address is set to a code indicating a free area, and the file management data is deleted. As a result, this file is deleted from the hard disk 3.
At this time, the linked file data is updated so as to skip the file to be deleted and specify the order.
As a result, even if a file is deleted, the remaining files can be accessed in file units, and can be played back continuously.

At this time, in the hard disk device, the linked file data is updated so that the file to be deleted is skipped and the order is specified, so that the AV file is renewed to the empty area where the file is deleted.
Even in the case of recording data, it is possible to record desired AV data, as in the case of connecting and taking a picture in a video tape recorder, thereby effectively utilizing the characteristics of a randomly accessible recording medium. Usability can be improved.

On the other hand, when connected to an editing device or the like to check a recorded file, for example, the editing device may instruct reproduction of the first scene of each file. In the hard disk device 1, when an instruction from such an editing device is input, the directory area is determined based on the first block number of each file recorded in the concatenated file data or for the subsequent file recorded in the concatenated file data. Is selectively reproduced on the basis of the first block number obtained by searching the user data area and output to the editing device.

As a result, the editing apparatus can selectively display images of a plurality of frames based on the AV data obtained by reproducing each of the head clusters in this manner, and display the index image of each file. By displaying the continuous AV data reproduced in this way, it is possible to easily execute a file confirmation operation similar to a so-called cue review.

On the other hand, when, for example, an instruction to rearrange the files is given by the editing processing in which the index image is displayed, the hard disk device 1
The linked file data area is updated so that the files can be sequentially reproduced in the order specified by the editing device. At this time, in the hard disk device 1, in the linked file of each file, the following file name or the start address number of the following file is rewritten to the file name specified by the editing device or the start address of this file, and the linked file data area is updated. You. As a result, in the hard disk device 1, it is possible to execute an editing operation in units of files by simple processing and to reproduce a plurality of files in a desired order while maintaining accessibility in file units.

On the other hand, in the editing process, a process of combining a plurality of files into one file may be instructed. In this case, in the hard disk device 1, for example, when two files are combined to create one file, the EO of the first file recorded in the FAT area is
F is updated to a code indicating the head block number of the file to be combined, and the file management data of the file to be combined is deleted. Further, the connected file data is updated so that the combined file and another file can be continuously reproduced. As a result, in the hard disk drive 1, even when one file is created by combining a plurality of files, the file can be accessed in file units,
Further, it is possible to continuously play the file.

In the editing process, one file may be divided into a plurality of files, and the files may be rearranged. When the process of dividing one file is instructed in this way, in the hard disk device 1, EOF is set at the editing point, and new file management data is generated. The content of the system entry area is updated so that each file can be managed. Further, the linked file data is updated so that the divided file can be reproduced together with other files in the conventional order. As a result, in the hard disk device 1, even if a file is divided, it is possible to continuously reproduce the file with another file.

(3) Effects of the Embodiment According to the above configuration, the connected file data, which is the data indicating the playback order of each file, is recorded and held on the hard disk, so that the AV data can be stored in a predetermined block unit. Even with a hard disk device that manages the data on the hard disk 3 by allocating addresses to the delimiters and blocks and managing them so that they can be accessed in file units, AV data can be continuously reproduced in a desired order.

At this time, the head file number and the head block number and the file name following the head block number are recorded, or the head block of the following file is recorded and the connection file data is formed. Only the beginning of the file can be played back, so that the AV data recorded on the hard disk 3 can be easily checked.

By updating the linked file data in accordance with recording, deletion, and editing of AV data, A
When recording V data, or when recording AV data after deleting a part of a continuous file, AV data can be recorded with the same usability as in the case of connecting and shooting by a video tape recorder. Editing work can be performed by simple processing.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the case where the file name is recorded for each file or the head address of the following file is recorded to form this concatenated file data However, the present invention is not limited to this. In short, data indicating the order of files to be reproduced can be recorded to obtain the same effect as in the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. This type of data may be constituted by the last cluster number of each file and the first cluster number of the following file.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which connected file data is set only for the order of reproduction in the direction along the time series. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the time series is also retroactively set. As for the order in the direction,
Linked file data may be set. In this way, the file recorded on the hard disk 3 can be played back in the time series backward direction and quickly checked, as in the case of the reverse playback of the video tape recorder.

In the above embodiment, the case where the FAT area and the directory area are arranged in the system entry area and the concatenated file data is recorded in the data area has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present embodiment can be applied to a case where various areas are arranged on a recording medium in accordance with the above, or a case where linked file data is recorded in various areas, and the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In this case, for example, a case where the directory area is managed separately in a root directory and a subdirectory, and a case where the directory area is arranged in a data area are conceivable.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where a plurality of files recorded on the hard disk are continuously reproduced according to a reproduction instruction in accordance with the file name and the concatenated file data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, by specifying a time code or the like which is a method specific to this type of data, the present invention can be widely applied to a case where a plurality of files are continuously reproduced from a corresponding file.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the AV data is edited in units of clusters has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the AV data is edited in units of frames or fields each having a smaller data amount than the cluster. It can be widely applied to cases. In this case, it is necessary to reproduce the AV data of the cluster including the edit points and output the data to the editing device, and then record the AV data based on the edit points. The above-described division and combination processing is repeated in a cluster before and after a cluster including an edit point, a cluster in which new AV data is recorded, and the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where AV data is recorded on the hard disk has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. The present invention can be widely applied to a case where the image data is mixedly recorded, and the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. A
In the case where V data and image data of a still image are recorded together, it is possible to reproduce the moving image and the still image in a desired order.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where one type of linked file data group is recorded on the hard disk has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A group may be recorded. In this case, by selectively using the plurality of linked file data groups, the linked file data groups can be used as an edit list.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the concatenated file data is recorded on the hard disk has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. What is necessary is just to hold | maintain, for example, you may make it incorporate a non-volatile memory and record on this non-volatile memory.

In the above embodiment, the FAT
Although the case where the data area of the hard disk 3 is managed by the file system has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to the case where the data area is managed by various management file systems.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a removable hard disk device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a phase change optical disk device, an optical disk device using thermomagnetic recording, and the like. The present invention can be widely applied to various information recording / reproducing apparatuses such as a recording / reproducing apparatus using a card-shaped recording medium having a memory mounted thereon and various disk devices.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention, input data is divided into predetermined blocks, addresses are assigned to the respective blocks and recorded on a recording medium, and the input data is managed so as to be accessible in file units. By applying the present invention to an information recording / reproducing apparatus and holding linked data indicating a reproduction order of each file, data recorded on a recording medium can be continuously reproduced in a desired order.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure during reproduction of a hard disk control circuit of a hard disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a hard disk device.

FIG. 3 is a table for explaining a recording area of a hard disk in the hard disk device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a table showing file management data recorded in a directory area of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a table showing codes recorded in a FAT area of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data group recorded in a linked file data area in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of recording by the hard disk control circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when rearranging files of the hard disk control circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when files are combined by the hard disk control circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of file division by the hard disk control circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating linked file data applied to a hard disk device according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hard disk device, 2 ... AV equipment, 3 ... Hard disk, 5 ... Buffer memory, 6 ... Hard disk control circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/78 510 H04N 5/78 510A 5/765 5/781 510L 5/781 G11B 27/00 D 27 / 02K 27/10 A F term (reference) 5B065 BA01 CC01 CC04 CH18 5D077 AA22 CA02 DC10 DC14 DC22 DC26 DE05 DE13 EA11 5D110 AA13 AA27 AA29 CA08 CC02 CD26 DA12 DB05 DB11 DC05 DC06 DC16 DE06

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information recording / reproducing apparatus which divides input data into predetermined blocks, allocates addresses to each block, records the data on a recording medium, and manages the input data so as to be accessible in file units. An information recording / reproducing apparatus, which holds linked data indicating a reproduction order. 2. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connection data is recorded and held on said recording medium. 3. The information recording / reproducing apparatus, for one file based on the input data, specifies, by data specifying the address of each block, the continuous blocks constituting the input data, For the block that ends, the identification information indicating the end of the file is recorded, the input data is managed in file units by file management data indicating the first block of the one file, and the linked data is 2. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising data indicating a block. 4. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said linked data is updated in correspondence with recording of each of said files. 5. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linked data is updated in response to the deletion of the file. 6. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reproduction order of the input data recorded on the recording medium is changed by updating the concatenated data. 7. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information recording / reproducing apparatus is detachably held in a predetermined video device, and the input data is video data output from the video device. Recording and playback device.