JP2001016537A - Information storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recorder which is compatible with the DOS system and is capable of adding a file means without danging the data at the time of exchanging data with another system. SOLUTION: This digital still camera 100 is provided with a CCD 101 for fetching record data, a system controller 107 for preparing a file name corresponding to recorded data of a prescribed unit fetched by the CCD 101, and the memory card 106 in which a prescribed unit of recorded data and a file name are made to correspond to each other and recorded. The controller 107 stores data on a file preparation total number of files prepared by its own device in the past in a nonvolatile memory 108 and at the time of preparing a file name, prepares overlap preventing data based on the file preparation total number data and prepares a file name including the prepared overlap preventing data in at least a part of it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information storage device, and more particularly, to an information storage device for storing file names corresponding to recorded data in a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a digital still camera, various data such as image data, audio data, and control data are recorded as files on a recording medium such as a memory card, a magnetic recording medium, and an optical information recording medium. When data is recorded in a file format on a recording medium such as a memory card, it is desirable that the memory management be performed in a standard DOS format on a personal computer or the like in terms of data compatibility.
In a digital still camera, a memory is managed in a DOS format. The same applies to other information recording devices.

As described above, a conventional information recording apparatus such as a digital still camera employs a memory management system based on the DOS format. However, a file name for recognizing data is required, and the management rules are also limited. , DOS format has a limitation that duplication of names is not allowed.

[0004]

However, if the data interchange of the personal computer is facilitated, the file name of the data recorded in the card may be an unexpected file name of the digital still camera recorded by the personal computer. May be included. Also,
When a data file recorded by a digital camera is used on the personal computer side, the data is transferred to a recording medium on the personal computer side. In this case, if the data has the same file name, the file on one side may be overwritten and destroyed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is an information which can be added with a file name which is not inconsistent with the DOS system and which does not cause data corruption even when exchanging data with another system. It is an object to provide a recording device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information input means for capturing data to be recorded, and a predetermined unit of recording information captured by the information input means. File name creating means for creating a file name corresponding to the data, and storage means for recording the predetermined unit of data to be recorded and the file name created by the file name creating means in association with each other, The file name creation unit stores the total number of file creations of files created by the own device in the past, and includes at least a value calculated based on the total number of file creations when creating the file name. Create a file name.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information input means for taking in the data to be recorded, and a file name creating means for creating a file name corresponding to a predetermined unit of the data to be taken in by the information input means. Storage means for recording the data to be recorded in the predetermined unit and the file name created by the file name creation means in association with each other;
The file name creating means stores the total number of mechanical operations in which a part or each part of the mechanical operation unit of the own device has operated in the past, and based on the total number of mechanical operations when creating the file name This is to create a file name including at least a part of the calculated value.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information input means for capturing data to be recorded, and a file name creating means for creating a file name corresponding to a predetermined unit of data to be captured captured by the information input means. Storage means for recording the data to be recorded in the predetermined unit and the file name created by the file name creation means in association with each other;
The file name creating means stores a total number of operations in which a part or each part of the operation unit of the own device has been operated in the past, and when creating the file name, calculates based on the total number of operations. A file name including at least a part of the calculated value is created.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a first mode in which a file name including at least a part of the calculated value by the file name generating unit is generated, and wherein the file name is calculated by the file name generating unit. And a second mode for creating a file name that does not include a value.

[0010] The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5.
4. The medium according to claim 3, wherein a medium storing at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is different from the storage unit. Things.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to
4. The recording medium according to claim 3, wherein a medium storing at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is the same recording medium. Things.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth or sixth aspect, the medium storing at least one of the total number of files created, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is And a built-in storage medium.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth or sixth aspect, the medium in which at least one of the total number of files created, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations are stored is And an external recording medium such as a memory card.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth or sixth aspect, at least one of the total number of files created, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations and the recorded data are According to the user's selection, the data is stored in one of the built-in recording medium and the external storage medium such as the memory card.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 4.
In the invention described in (1), a user can select the first mode and the second mode.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an information recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital still camera to which the information recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital still camera.
/ D converter 102, frame memory 103, compression / expansion circuit 104, card I / F 105, memory card 106,
A system controller 107 and a nonvolatile memory 108 are provided.

The CCD (charge coupled device) 101 converts a subject image formed via a lens unit (not shown) into an electric signal (analog image data). A / D above
The converter 102 converts analog image data input from the CCD 101 into digital image data. The frame memory 103 temporarily stores image data input from the A / D converter 102.

The compression / expansion circuit 104 includes a frame memory 1
The image data stored in the image data 04 is read out and compressed to create compressed image data. The compressed image data is stored in the memory card 106 via the card I / F 105 under the control of the system controller 107. The file name of the compressed image data is determined based on the total number of created files stored in the nonvolatile memory 108, as described later.

A system controller 107 controls the overall operation of the digital still camera. The system controller 107 controls a CPU for controlling each unit of the apparatus according to a program stored in the ROM, and a program for operating the CPU. It has a stored ROM, a RAM used as a work memory of the CPU, and the like. The nonvolatile memory 109 is composed of, for example, a flash memory, and stores various parameters of the digital still camera. For example, the nonvolatile memory 109 stores total file creation data indicating the total number of past file creations. This file creation total data is incremented each time a file name is created.

In the present embodiment, when a file name is created, the file creation total data of the file created in the past is stored in the non-volatile memory 108, and the file name is created when the file name is created. Create duplicate prevention data based on the total number of created data, create a file name including at least a part of the created duplicate prevention data,
The above-mentioned conventional problems are solved.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an area arrangement in the memory card 106 according to DOS regulations. As shown in FIG. 2, the storage area of the memory card 106 includes a boot selector area 201,
It comprises a FAT area 202, a root directory area 203, and a data file storage area 204. The root directory area 203 has continuous directory entries 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, as shown in FIG. In a digital still camera, frame numbers 1, 2, 3, and 3 are usually assigned to entry areas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,.
4, ... are assigned.

As shown in FIG. 4, the directory entry is divided into areas indicating a file name, an attribute, a reservation, a time, a date, a start cluster, and a file size. The file name is composed of 11 bytes, and consists of a main file name: 8 bytes and a sub file name: 3 bytes. In the following description, the root directory will be described, but the same applies to a subdirectory.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a file name. In the example shown in the figure, the file name is "A00100" in the form of 8 bytes of alphanumeric characters + extension (3 bytes) used in DOS.
01. JPG ”. Top 4 in Figure 2
The byte is a duplication prevention part (duplication prevention data) calculated based on the total file creation data. The last four bytes are a serial number portion that is incremented by “1” each time one sheet is recorded on the memory card 106. The serial number is initialized each time the memory card 106 is inserted (“00”).
01 ").

A process in which the system controller 107 determines a file name based on the total number of created files will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining a file name based on the total number of file creation data.

In FIG. 3, the system controller 10
7, when the memory card 106 is inserted, first, the card management area of the memory card 106 is read out (step S101), and it is determined whether the card format is appropriate and the storage capacity is sufficient to determine whether the recording is possible on the memory card 106. It is determined whether or not it is (step S102). If the system controller 107 determines that recording is not possible, it executes a warning process such as displaying that recording is not possible on a display device such as an LCD (not shown) (step S11).
0).

On the other hand, if the system controller 107 determines in step S102 that recording is possible,
A recording start address is calculated from the read data in the card management area (step S103). Then, a file name used at the time of shooting is created as follows.

First, the system controller 107 initializes the value of the serial number counter (to "0001"),
The serial number part of the file name is determined (step S10
4). Next, the system controller 107 determines a duplication prevention part (duplication prevention data) based on the total file creation data read from the nonvolatile memory 108 (step S105), and creates a file name. For example, when the total number of file creations is “101 times”, the duplication prevention part (duplication prevention data) is “A101”, and when the total number of file creations is “102 times”, the duplication prevention part (duplication prevention data). Is set to “A102” and different duplication preventing portions (duplication preventing data) are generated based on the total number of created files.

Next, duplication avoidance processing shown in the following steps S107 to S109 is performed to prevent duplication of file names. First, the system controller 107
The created file name is compared with all the file names in the directory of the memory card 106 (step S10).
7), determine whether there is the same name (step S1)
08). If the same name does not exist, the system controller 107 ends the process. If the same name exists, the system controller 107 creates a file name with the serial number incremented (step S109), and returns to step S107 to compare the file name again. A determination is made and the same process is repeated until the names are no longer the same (steps S107 to S10).
9).

Next, the processing at the time of recording will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the process at the time of recording.

In FIG. 7, the system controller 10
7 first calculates a recordable capacity and a recording start address from the data in the data management area of the memory card 106 (step S201). Next, the system controller 107 determines whether or not there is enough free space for recording (step S202). If it is determined that there is not enough free space for recording, the system controller 107 displays an image on an LCD (not shown). A warning process such as a display indicating that recording cannot be performed on the device is performed (step S208). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S202 that there is enough free space for recording, the recording operation is permitted, and when the recording start operation (pressing the release key) is performed by the user, the imaging process is performed. After fetching one frame of image data, performing compression / transfer processing, and storing the compressed image data in the data file storage area of the memory card 106 (step S203),
Data such as a file name is written to a directory or FAT of the memory card 106 (step S20).
4). This file name is created after the end of the previous recording process.

Then, the system controller 107
It is determined whether the recording has been completed normally (step S20).
5) If it is determined that recording could not be performed due to insufficient capacity, warning processing such as displaying that recording is not possible on a display device such as an LCD (not shown) is performed (step S209).
On the other hand, if it is determined that the recording has been completed normally, the system controller 107 calculates the recordable capacity of the memory card 106 for the next recording process (step S206). Then, the system controller 107
It is determined whether or not the next recording is possible based on the calculated storable capacity (step S207). If it is determined that the recording cannot be performed due to insufficient capacity, it is determined that the recording cannot be performed on a display device such as an LCD (not shown). Is displayed (step S210).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S207 that recording is possible, the process proceeds to step S211 and
The system controller 107 increments the serial number counter and creates a file name based on the total number of created files (step S212). The method of creating the file name is the same as the method shown in the flowchart of FIG. Then, steps S107 to S10 in FIG.
9 is performed (step S213).
After preventing file name duplication, the file creation total data is incremented (step S214), and the process ends. The created file name is used for the next recording.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the file creation total data of the files created by itself in the past is stored in the non-volatile memory 108, and when creating the file name, the file creation Since the duplication prevention data is created based on the total number data, and a file name including at least a part of the created duplication prevention data is created, it is consistent with the DOS system and is used when exchanging data with another system. It is also possible to create a file name without fear of data destruction.

In the present embodiment, the total file creation data of the files created in the past is stored, and when creating a file name, the duplication prevention data is created based on the total file creation data. Although a file name including at least a part of the created duplication prevention data is created, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of times the shutter has operated (the total number of mechanical operations) is stored. The duplication prevention data may be created based on this number (the total number of mechanical operations).
Alternatively, the number of times the shutter key has been operated in the past (total number of operations) may be stored, and the duplication prevention data may be created based on the number of times (total number of operations). For example, in the continuous shooting mode, a plurality of shootings are performed by pressing the shutter key once, and the shutter operates multiple times. In this case, the number of times the shutter operates and the number of operations of the shutter key are reduced. Will be different.

Also, in the present embodiment, the above-described mode for creating a file name including at least a portion of the duplication prevention data, and a mode in which the user does not create the duplication prevention data and the user does not create the file name except for the serial number portion. And the mode to create
The user may be allowed to make a selection by operating the operation unit.
Thereby, a mode in which a file name including at least a portion of the duplication prevention data is created by a user's selection, and a mode in which the user creates a portion other than the serial number portion of the file name without creating the duplication prevention data. Can be executed, and the usability of the user is improved.

In the present embodiment, the photographed data file is stored in the memory card 106, and the total number of created files is stored in the non-volatile memory 108. Although the photographed data file and the total number of created files are recorded, the data file and the total number of created files may be stored in the same recording medium. For example, the data file and the total number of created files may be stored in either the nonvolatile memory 108 or the memory card 106, and the other recording medium may not be provided. This makes it possible to reduce the size and cost of the device. Also, both the nonvolatile memory 108 and the memory card 106 can be used,
Depending on the user's selection, the data file and the total number of created files may be stored in either the nonvolatile memory 108 or the memory card 106.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a digital still camera has been described as an example of the information recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various information recording apparatuses for storing data files in the DOS format may be used. Applicable to the device. Further, in the present embodiment, image data has been described as an example of data to be recorded, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to the case of storing audio data, character data, and the like. .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be carried out with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the file name creation means stores the total number of file creations of the files created by itself in the past, and when creating the file name, the file creation number Since a file name including at least a part of the value calculated based on is created.
It is possible to add a file name which is not inconsistent with the OS system and which does not cause data destruction even when exchanging data with another system.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the file name creation means stores a part of the past mechanical operation units of the own device or the total number of mechanical operations in which each unit has operated, and creates the file name. When creating a file, a file name containing at least a part of the value calculated based on the total number of mechanical operations is created, so that it is consistent with the DOS system and may be damaged even when exchanging data with another system. It is possible to add a file name without a character.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the file name creating means stores the total number of operations performed on some or all of the past operation units of the own device and creates a file name. At this time, a file name including at least a part of the operation data created based on the total number of operations is created, so that the file name is not inconsistent with the DOS system and may be destroyed even when data is exchanged with another system. It is possible to add a file name without a character.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein:
A first mode for generating a file name including at least a part of the calculated value by a file name generating unit;
A second mode for creating a file name that does not include the calculated value by the file name creating means is provided, so that the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided. In addition to the effects, the first mode and the second mode can be selected by the user's selection, and the user's usability is improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention,
4. A medium in which at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is stored, and a storage unit in which data to be recorded is recorded are separate recording media. In addition to the effects of the first aspect, duplication of file names to be created can be prevented even when the storage unit is replaced.

According to the invention of claim 6, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Since the medium for storing at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is the same as the storage medium for storing the data to be recorded, the size and cost of the device can be reduced. Becomes

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect of the invention, the medium storing at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is Since it is a built-in storage medium, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 5 or 6, it is possible to further reduce the size and cost of the device.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the invention of claim 5 or claim 6, the medium storing at least one of the total number of files created, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is: Since the recording medium is an external recording medium such as a memory card, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 5 or 6, it is possible to further reduce the size and cost of the device.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect, at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is provided.
The invention according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the data and the data to be recorded are stored in one of a built-in recording medium and an external storage medium such as a memory card according to a user's selection. In addition to the effect described above, there is an effect that the usability of the user is further improved.

According to the tenth aspect, in the fourth aspect, the user can select between the first mode and the second mode. In addition to the effects of the invention, the user can select a mode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital still camera to which an information recording device of the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an area layout diagram of the memory card of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a root directory in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a directory entry of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a file name structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a file name creation process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a recording process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 digital still camera 101 CCD 102 A / D converter 103 frame memory 104 compression / expansion circuit 105 card I / F 106 memory card 107 system controller 108 non-volatile memory 201 boot selector area 202 FAT area 203 root directory area 204 data file storage area

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An information input device for capturing data to be recorded, a file name creating device for creating a file name corresponding to a predetermined unit of data to be captured captured by the information input device, Storage means for storing data and a file name created by the file name creation means in association with each other, wherein the file name creation means stores the total number of file creations of files created by the user in the past. In addition, the information storage device is characterized in that when creating the file name, a file name including at least part of a value calculated based on the total number of created files is created. 2. An information input device for capturing data to be recorded, a file name creating device for creating a file name corresponding to a predetermined unit of data to be captured captured by the information input device, and a file to be recorded in the predetermined unit. Storage means for storing the data and the file name created by the file name creation means in association with each other, and wherein the file name creation means is configured such that a part or each part of the mechanical operation unit of its own machine has been used in the past. Memorize the total number of operated mechanical operations,
An information storage device, wherein when creating the file name, a file name including at least a value calculated based on the total number of mechanical operations is created. 3. An information input unit for capturing data to be recorded, a file name creating unit for creating a file name corresponding to a predetermined unit of data to be captured captured by the information input unit, and a record of the predetermined unit of data. Storage means for storing data and the file name created by the file name creation means in association with each other, wherein the file name creation means operates a part or each part of its own operation unit in the past. An information storage device, wherein a total number of operations performed is stored, and a file name including at least a value calculated based on the total number of operations is created when the file name is created. 4. A first mode for creating a file name including at least a part of the calculated value by the file name creating means, and creating a file name not including the calculated value by the file name creating means. The information recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second mode. 5. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is stored, and the storage unit is a separate recording medium. The information recording device according to claim 3. 6. A medium in which at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is stored, and the storage means are the same recording medium. The information recording device according to claim 3. 7. The medium according to claim 5, wherein the medium storing at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is a built-in storage medium. Information recording device according to the above. 8. The medium storing at least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations is an external recording medium such as a memory card. 7. The information recording device according to 6. 9. At least one of the total number of file creations, the total number of mechanical operations, and the total number of operations, and the recorded data, according to a user's selection, may be an external storage such as the built-in recording medium or the memory card. The information recording device according to claim 5, wherein the information recording device is stored in any one of a medium. 10. The information recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a user can select the first mode and the second mode.