JP2001167491A - Digital recording/reproducing device using recording medium capable of randomly accessing, and recording/ reproducing method of digital data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital recording/reproducing device capable of automatically recording picture video and audio data to be received by overwriting. SOLUTION: Automatic picture recording settings 511-514 are arranged on the header area 502 inside a title file 304. Each automatic picture recording setting includes the start time and finish time of the video recording, the picture recording time, picture recording channel and the information of day of the week. The picture recording area corresponding to the longest time among the picture recording times of these automatic picture recording settings is secured. On these automatic picture recording exclusive areas 507-510, corresponding programs are recorded from the top for every time any of the picture recording start time among the plural automatic picture recording settings comes up.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital recording / reproducing apparatus and a digital data recording / reproducing method, and more particularly, to a recording medium capable of recording, reproducing and erasing data and enabling random access. The present invention relates to a digital recording / reproducing device and a digital data recording / reproducing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, as a recording and reproducing apparatus for data such as a television signal, a digital recording and reproducing apparatus using a randomly accessible recording medium such as a magneto-optical recording medium and a hard disk has been proposed. Some of these digital recording / reproducing apparatuses include, for example, one system of recording channels, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-138318.
There has been proposed a device which has a function of reproducing a recorded data while performing a recording operation on a recording medium by providing one system of a reproduction channel.

[0003]

A function of recording a program in the same time zone every week, that is, a reservation recording function (hereinafter referred to as an automatic recording function) for automatically recording received video and audio data by overwriting the same area. When a conventional tape medium or the like is used as a recording medium, processing such as cueing a recording start position or the end of a program recording area is required.

On the other hand, in a recording medium on a disk such as a hard disk drive, random access is possible, so that a cueing process such as a recording start position can be easily realized.

[0005] In addition, in the case where news of a specific time zone is to be recorded every day by using the automatic recording function, it is necessary to secure an empty area by opening a watched area and writing again. This is because the capacity of the recording medium is limited, so recording beyond this capacity is not possible, and the area once recorded cannot be overwritten so that the recorded data is not lost by overwriting. Because it is set to Therefore, unless the process of opening the already watched area and making it writable again is performed, the recordable area decreases as the number of files increases.

However, in order to automatically open a recorded area, it is necessary to automatically determine whether or not erasure can be performed based on whether or not the recorded area has been reproduced. There was a problem of accompanying.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital recording / reproducing apparatus capable of performing automatic recording by effectively utilizing a limited capacity of a recording medium when performing automatic recording.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a recording medium capable of writing and reading digital data including a video / audio signal and management information corresponding to the video / audio signal, and enabling random access. A digital recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing data to / from a recording medium; input means for inputting an external command; writing / reading means for writing / reading digital data to / from a recording medium; And control means for controlling the writing and reading means according to the command and the current time. The control means, when the instruction is an automatic recording instruction for recording a program set including at least one designated program which is regularly broadcasted, designates a designated program which requires the most recording area among the designated programs included in the program set. The recording area required for recording the video and audio signals of the program is secured in the recording medium, and when the current time reaches the broadcast time of the specified program, the video and audio signals of the specified program are overwritten on the secured recording area and recorded. Let it.

Preferably, when the control means receives a command for adding a new designated program to the program set from the input means,
When the recording area required for recording a new designated program is larger than the reserved recording area, the recording area in addition to the reserved recording area is further reserved.

[0010] More preferably, when the control means receives from the input means an instruction to delete the first designated program included in the program set, the necessary recording area of the other designated programs remaining in the program set is most frequently used. When the recording area required for the first designated program is larger than the larger second designated program, the difference between the recording area necessary for recording the first designated program and the recording area necessary for recording the second designated program is obtained. Is released from the secured recording area.

[0011] More preferably, the recording medium links the first area for discretely recording digital data for each basic operation unit and the basic operation unit of discretely recorded digital data for each title. It includes a second area for recording title file information, and a third area for recording link count information indicating a use state of each basic operation unit of digital data in the first area. The link count information is set to the first value when the basic unit is not used, set to the second value when the basic unit is used, and when the basic unit is designated to be overwritable, Set to a third value. When receiving the automatic recording instruction, the control means secures a number of basic operation units corresponding to the information amount of the video and audio signals in the first area as an overwrite recording area, and sets a link corresponding to the secured basic operation unit. The count information is replaced with a third value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium capable of writing and reading digital data including a video / audio signal and management information corresponding to the video / audio signal, and performing random access. A digital data recording / reproducing method for performing recording / reproducing by inputting a command from the outside, writing / reading digital data to / from a recording medium, timing a current time, Controlling the step of writing and reading according to the time. The controlling step requires the most recording area of the designated programs included in the program set when the instruction is an automatic recording instruction for recording a program set including at least one designated program that is regularly broadcast. The recording area required for recording the video and audio signals of the designated program is secured in the recording medium, and when the current time reaches the broadcast time of the designated program, the recording area of the designated program is overwritten with the secured recording area. Record.

Preferably, the step of controlling, when receiving a command to add a new designated program to the program set from the inputting step, when a recording area required for recording the new designated program is larger than the secured recording area, Insufficient recording area is further secured in addition to the secured recording area.

More preferably, the controlling step comprises:
When receiving an instruction to delete the first designated program included in the program set from the inputting step, the second designated program having the largest required recording area among the other designated programs remaining in the program set
When the recording area required for the first designated program is larger than that for the designated program, the difference corresponds to the difference between the recording area necessary for recording the first designated program and the recording area necessary for recording the second designated program. The recording area is released from the secured recording area.

More preferably, the recording medium links a first area for discretely recording digital data for each basic operation unit and a basic operation unit for discretely recorded digital data for each title. It includes a second area for recording title file information, and a third area for recording link count information indicating a use state of each basic operation unit of digital data in the first area. The link count information is set to the first value when the basic unit is not used, set to the second value when the basic unit is used, and when the basic unit is designated to be overwritable, Set to a third value. The controlling steps are:
When an automatic recording command is received, the number of basic operation units corresponding to the information amount of the video / audio signal is set as the first overwrite recording area.
And the link count information corresponding to the secured basic operation unit is replaced with a third value.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[Overall Configuration of Digital Recording / Reproducing Apparatus] FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital recording / reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, signal lines indicated by thick lines are signal lines indicating the flow of video and / or audio data, and signal lines indicated by thin lines are signal lines indicating the flow of control signals.

Referring to FIG. 1, a signal wave of a television broadcast, for example, received by antenna 100 is given to tuners 102 and 103 in common.

The tuner 102 selects a signal radio wave of one channel specified by the user from the signal radio waves received by the antenna 100, demodulates the signal radio wave into an analog television signal including a video signal and an audio signal, and selects the signal.
04 to one input. The other input of the selector 104 is connected to an external input terminal 101 to which various external television signal sources such as a video tape recorder (VTR) and a camcorder can be connected.

The selector 104 selects either an output from the tuner 102 or an input from the external input terminal 101 and supplies the selected signal to the A / D converter 105 and also to one input of the graphic controller 124.
Generally, the selector 104 selects the input from the external input terminal 101 when some external signal source is connected to the external input terminal 101, and selects the output of the tuner 102 when not connected.

The A / D converter 105 includes a selector 10
The video signal and the audio signal of the analog television signal output from 4 are converted into digital signals, and the digital video signal is supplied to the MPEG2 video encoder 107 and the digital audio signal is supplied to the audio encoder 109.

The MPEG2 video encoder 107 compresses a given digital video signal and converts it into a multiplexer / demultiplexer.
The signal is supplied to the demultiplexer 111, and the audio encoder 109 compresses the supplied digital audio signal and supplies the compressed digital audio signal to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111. The multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 multiplexes the supplied video signal stream and audio signal stream and converts them into an MPEG2 system stream.

On the other hand, the tuner 103 includes the antenna 100
1 from the signal wave received by
A signal radio wave of one channel is selected, demodulated into an analog television signal composed of a video signal and an audio signal, and A / A
The signal is supplied to the D converter 106 and to another input of the graphic controller 124.

The A / D converter 106 is a tuner 10
The video signal and the audio signal of the analog television signal output from 3 are converted into digital signals, and the digital video signal is supplied to the MPEG2 video encoder 108 and the digital audio signal is supplied to the audio encoder 110.

The MPEG2 video encoder 108 compresses a given digital video signal and converts it into a multiplexer / demultiplexer.
The audio signal is supplied to the demultiplexer 111, and the audio encoder 110 compresses the supplied digital audio signal and supplies the compressed digital audio signal to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111. The multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 multiplexes the supplied video signal stream and audio signal stream and converts them into an MPEG2 system stream.

The digital recording / reproducing apparatus includes a hard disk drive (hereinafter, HDD) 1 having a built-in hard disk as an example of a randomly accessible recording medium.
19 is removably mounted. In the following description, this single HDD 119 itself will be regarded as a writable and readable recording medium for convenience. This HDD 119
Writing data to and reading data from the HDD 119 are executed by the HDD controller module 118 as described later.

Between the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 and the HDD controller module 118, a first data bus including a buffer memory 116 in the middle and a second data bus including a buffer memory 117 in the middle are provided. Are provided.

Further, digital data from another device externally connected via the digital input 128 can be input to the buffer memory 116, while the digital data in the buffer memory 117 is the digital output 1
29, it is possible to output to another device externally connected.

Therefore, as will be described later, the MPEG2 system stream data is transmitted between the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111, the HDD controller module 118, the digital input 128 and the digital output 129 via the buffer memories 116 and 117. Will be exchanged.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 111
Is the M received from buffer memories 116 and 117
The PEG2 system stream is demultiplexed into a video signal stream and an audio signal stream, and the former is supplied to an MPEG2 video decoder 112 and the latter to an audio decoder 113.

The MPEG2 video decoder 112 decodes the supplied video signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 114, and the audio decoder 113 decodes the supplied audio signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 114. give. The D / A converter 114 is
The applied signals are converted into analog signals, respectively, and an analog television signal including a video signal and an audio signal is supplied to another input of the graphic controller 124.

The graphic controller 124 includes a selector 104, a tuner 103, and a D / A converter 1
14 and select one of the analog television signals given to the television monitor 126 connected to the outside of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus.

Multiplexer / demultiplexer 111
The operation of the graphic controller 124 is controlled by a control signal provided from the system controller 120.

The digital recording / reproducing apparatus includes a digital input 128 and a digital output 129.
Control signal from the system controller 120 is connected to a system controller (not shown) of another device via the digital input 128 (thin line) when the external device is connected to the system controller (not shown). Is supplied to the system controller 120 of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus via the digital output 129 (thin line).

The system controller 120 is connected with a user interface 122, a memory 121, and a real-time clock module 127.

The basic operation principle of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1, such as recording, reproducing, erasing, etc., is related to the file format of the recording medium (hard disk in the embodiment) used in the present invention. The characteristic operation of the present invention will be described first with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the timing diagrams of FIGS.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the digital recording / reproducing apparatus has at least two MPEG2 encoding circuits (MPEG2 video encoders 107 and 108) and at least one MPEG2 decoding circuit. System (MPEG2 video decoder 11
2) It is possible to simultaneously operate any two of these systems while maintaining real-time properties.

[Normal Recording Function] First, FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the recording operation of one channel of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

At the time of normal (timer) recording, for example, the user selects the channel of the television program to be recorded, the recording start time,
The recording end time is set by operating the user interface 122. For example, if channel 1 is set to record from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the system controller 120 designates the tuner 103 as channel 1 at 8:00 pm based on information from the real-time clock module 127, The tuner 103 selects and demodulates the signal radio wave of the channel 1 from the signal radio wave received by the antenna 100.

The demodulated signal is supplied to the A / D converter 106, MPEG2 video encoder 108,
Audio encoder 110 and multiplexer /
The data is converted into an MPEG2 system stream via the demultiplexer 111.

The system controller 120 selects the first data bus including the buffer memory 116, and the MPEG2 system stream is transmitted to the HDD controller module 11 via the buffer memory 116 in response to the selection.
8 given. HDD controller module 118
Writes data into the HDD 119 using an interface command with the HDD 119.

In FIG. 2, (a) shows a time axis,
(B) shows the processing time of writing from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to the buffer memory 116, and (c) shows the processing time.
Indicates the processing time for writing from the buffer memory 116 to the HDD 119 via the HDD controller module 118.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 111
Is continuously sent to the buffer memory 116 provided on the first data bus at the bit rate of the system stream.

The amount of data in the buffer memory 116 is H
When the data amount is monitored by the DD controller module 118 and exceeds a certain threshold value, a process of writing the data amount corresponding to the threshold value to the HDD 119 is performed. Since the writing speed to the HDD 119 is higher than the bit rate of the system stream,
The processing time for writing to the HDD 119 by the controller module 118 is short. That is, the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 at the time indicated by the thick line in FIG.
The amount of data transferred from the
The amount of data transmitted from the buffer memory 116 to the HDD 119 at the time indicated by the thick line in (c) is the same.

As described above, the recording of the channel 1 is performed from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and the recording ends at 10:00 pm.

[Normal Playback Function] FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the playback operation of one channel of the digital recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG.

At the time of normal reproduction, for example, the user operates the user interface 122 to instruct reproduction of a desired title. The system controller 120 responds accordingly to the HDD controller module 118 by setting H
An instruction to read data of a desired title from the DD 119 is issued.

At this time, the system controller 120
Selects the first data bus including the buffer memory 116, and the data read from the HDD 119 in response thereto is transferred to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 via the HDD controller module 118 and the buffer memory 116. .

In FIG. 3, (a) shows a time axis,
(B) reads data from the HDD 119 via the HDD controller module 118 and stores the data in the buffer memory 1.
16 shows the processing time for writing to the memory 16, and (c) shows the processing time for writing from the buffer memory 116 to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111.

When reproduction start is instructed by the system controller 120, the HDD controller module 1
Reference numeral 18 performs a process of reading data from the HDD 119 and writing the data to the buffer memory 116. At this time, the HDD controller module 118 monitors the amount of data in the buffer memory 116 and, when the amount of data falls below a certain threshold, reads out a certain amount of data from the HDD 119 and writes it in the buffer memory 116.

Data writing from the buffer memory 116 to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 is performed constantly at the bit rate of the system stream. Since the reading speed from the HDD 119 is higher than the bit rate of the MPEG2 system stream,
The processing time for writing into the buffer memory 116 by the D controller module 118 is short.

That is, the amount of data transferred from the HDD 119 to the buffer memory 116 at the time indicated by the bold line in FIG. 3B, and the amount of data transferred from the buffer memory 116 to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 11 at the time indicated by the bold line in FIG.
1 is the same as the amount of data transferred.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 111
The video signal and the audio signal demultiplexed in are transmitted to the MPEG2 video decoder 112 and the audio decoder 113, respectively.

The video signal decoded by the MPEG2 video decoder 112 and the audio signal decoded by the audio decoder 113 are D / A
The signal is converted into an analog television signal by the converter 114 and is reproduced and displayed on an external television monitor 126 via the graphic controller 124.

[Two-Channel Simultaneous Recording Function] FIG.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining simultaneous recording operation of two channels of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

At the time of two-channel simultaneous recording, the user operates the user interface 122 to set the channel of the television program to be recorded, the recording start time, and the recording end time. For example, if channel 1 is set to record from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm and channel 3 is set to record from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm, the system controller 120 uses the information from the real-time clock module 127 to record. At 8:00 pm, tuner 10
3 is designated as channel 1, and the tuner 103 selects and demodulates the signal radio wave of channel 1 from the signal radio wave received by the antenna 100.

The demodulated signal is supplied to the A / D converter 106, MPEG2 video encoder 108,
Audio encoder 110 and multiplexer /
The data is converted into an MPEG2 system stream via the demultiplexer 111.

At this point, since the first data bus including the buffer memory 116 and the second data bus including the buffer memory 117 are not used, the system controller 120 sets the first data bus including the buffer memory 116 to the first data bus. The bus is selected, and the MPEG2 system stream is transferred from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to the HDD controller module 118 via the buffer memory 116 in response to the selection of the bus. The HDD controller module 118 writes data to the HDD 119 using an interface command with the HDD 119.

The system controller 120, based on information from the real-time clock module 127,
At 9:00 pm, the tuner 102 is designated as the channel 3, and the tuner 102 selects and demodulates the signal radio wave of the channel 3 from the signal radio wave received by the antenna 100.

As described above, the demodulated signal is supplied to the selector 104, the A / D converter 105, the MPEG2 video encoder 107, the audio encoder 109, and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to output the M signal.
It is converted to a PEG2 system stream.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 111
Since the first data bus including the buffer memory 116 is already used for recording channel 1 from 8:00 pm, the system controller 120
A second data bus including the buffer memory 117 is selected, and accordingly, the MPEG2 system stream is
HDD controller module 1 from multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 via buffer memory 117
18 given. HDD controller module 11
8 writes data into the HDD 119 using an interface command with the HDD 119.

At this time, the HDD controller module 118 converts the two MPEG2 system streams into two streams.
The data is alternately written to the HDD 119 in units of a fixed length. That is, the system stream data of channel 1 is read from the buffer memory 116 and the HDD 119
During the period in which the system stream data of channel 3 is accumulated in the buffer memory 117, while the system stream data of channel 3 is read from the buffer memory 117 and written in the HDD 119,
Channel 1 system stream data is stored in the buffer memory 116. As described above, from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, a state in which two channels of channel 1 and channel 3 are simultaneously recorded continues.

In FIG. 4, (a) shows a time axis,
(B) shows the write processing time from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to the buffer memory 116,
(C) shows the write processing time from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to the buffer memory 117,
(D) shows the processing time for writing from the buffer memory 116 to the HDD 119 via the HDD controller module 118, and (e) shows the processing time from the buffer memory 117 to H
HDD1 via the DD controller module 118
19 shows the processing time for writing.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the start of the first recording for channel 1 is instructed, the recording processing described with reference to FIG. 2 is performed. Thereafter, when the start of the second recording for channel 3 is instructed, both the writing process from buffer memory 116 and the writing process from buffer memory 117 are performed on HDD 119. Arbitration of these two writing processes is performed by the HDD controller module 118.

As specifically shown in FIG. 4, when the data amount of the buffer memory 117 exceeds a certain threshold after the start of the second recording, the HDD 119 is in a usable state. Data write processing is performed. While this process is being performed, the data amount in the buffer memory 116 exceeds the threshold value, and writing to the HDD 119 is requested. However, since the HDD 119 is in use, H
The process waits until the writing process of the DD 119 is completed. When the writing from the buffer memory 117 to the HDD 119 is completed, the writing process from the buffer memory 116 is started.

Conversely, after the start of the second recording, when the amount of data in the buffer memory 117 exceeds the threshold, the HDD 1
If 19 is in use, the process of writing from buffer memory 117 to HDD 119 is performed after waiting until it becomes available. After the simultaneous recording of the two channels as described above, the recording of channel 1 ends at 10:00 pm
At 11:00 pm, recording on channel 3 ends.

As described below, data transfer is performed at a high speed between the HDD controller module 118 and the HDD 119, so that the two buffer memories 116 and 11
7, real-time recording of two streams of MPEG2 system stream data can be realized.

The capacity of each buffer memory depends on the unit block length of writing / reading, HDD controller module 118
Data transfer rate between HDD and HDD 119, MPEG2
, And the worst value of the seek time of the HDD 119. This calculation will be described later in detail.

The memory 121 stores a file system for managing a free area of the HDD 119 and managing files. Therefore, the logical address to which the system stream is to be written / read next is determined by the file system
It is specified to the controller module 118. As a result,
Even when recording two channels simultaneously, the file system manages the logical address to be recorded next.
The DD controller module 118 may write / read data to / from the logical address specified by the system controller 120. The management by the file system will be described later in detail.

In the above-described example, simultaneous recording of two channels of television broadcasting has been described, but the external input terminal 101 shown in FIG.
When a VTR, camcorder, or the like is connected to the system, the system controller 120 instructs the selector 104 to select external input. As a result, the television broadcast HDD
It is also possible to simultaneously perform dubbing from the external television signal source to the HDD 119 via the external input terminal 101 while recording to the HDD 119 via the tuner 103.

[Chase Playback Function] FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the so-called chase playback function of the digital recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG.

The so-called “chasing playback” refers to a function of simultaneously playing back a recorded program while recording a television broadcast.

For example, the user sets channel 1 to 8 pm
If you set to record from 10:00 to 10:00 pm,
At 8:00 pm, the system controller 120 designates the tuner 103 as channel 1 based on the information from the real-time clock module 127, and
03 selects and demodulates the signal radio wave of channel 1 from the signal radio wave received by the antenna 100.

As described above, the demodulated signal is A / D
Converter 106, MPEG2 video encoder 10
8, the audio stream is converted into an MPEG2 system stream via the audio encoder 110 and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111.

At this point, since both data buses are not used, the system controller 120
Selects the first data bus including the buffer memory 116, and accordingly, the MPEG2 system stream is transferred from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to the HDD controller module 118 via the buffer memory 116. The HDD controller module 118 writes data to the HDD 119 using an interface command with the HDD 119.

When the user returns home at 9 pm and wants to view the title of channel 1 being recorded from the beginning, the user operates the user interface 122 to instruct reproduction of the title being recorded. In response, the system controller 120
Corresponds to the HDD controller module 118.
Instruct the reading of the title being recorded from D119.

At this time, since the first data bus via the buffer memory 116 is already used between the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 and the HDD controller module 118, the second data bus via the buffer memory 117 is used. The instruction to use is given by the system controller 120.

The data read from HDD 119 is H
DD controller module 118, buffer memory 1
17 through the multiplexer / demultiplexer 11
Transferred to 1.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 111
Demultiplexes the MPEG2 system stream received from the buffer memory 117 into a video signal stream and an audio signal stream, and
2 to the video decoder 112 and the latter to the audio decoder 113.

The MPEG2 video decoder 112 decodes the supplied video signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 114, and the audio decoder 113 decodes the supplied audio signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 114. give. The D / A converter 114 is
The supplied signals are converted into analog signals, respectively, and an analog television signal including a video signal and an audio signal is supplied to one input of the graphic controller 124.

The graphic controller 124 supplies the supplied analog television signal to a television monitor 126 connected to the outside of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus, and reproduces and displays the television signal.

By operating the user interface 122, the television signal output to the external television monitor 126 is converted into the television signal from the tuner 103, or the tuner 102 and the external input terminal 101 are switched by the selector 104. It is also possible to switch to the selected television signal for output display. Furthermore, from these three television signals, optionally, 2
By selecting one or three signals and performing clipping processing by the graphic controller 124, it is also possible to display them at once.

In the case of this chasing playback, the HDD controller module 118 alternately transmits the two MPEG2 system streams to the HDD 1 in units of a fixed length.
19 will be written / read. That is,
While the system stream data of channel 1 is read from the HDD 119 and written to the buffer memory 117, the system stream of channel 1 generated by the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 is accumulated in the buffer memory 116.

On the other hand, the system stream data of channel 1 is read out from buffer
While the data is being written to the MPEG-2 video decoder 112 and the audio decoder 113, the channel 1 system stream data stored in the buffer memory 117 is supplied via the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111.

With reference to the timing chart of FIG. 5, the chase reproduction operation using these two channels will be described in more detail. In FIG. 5, (a) shows a time axis,
(B) shows the write processing time from the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to the buffer memory 116,
(C) shows a processing time for writing data from the buffer memory 116 to the HDD 119 via the HDD controller module 118, and (d) shows a processing for reading data from the HDD 119 via the HDD controller module 118 and writing the data to the buffer memory 117. Indicates time, and (e) indicates
The write processing time from the buffer memory 117 to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 is shown.

When the start of recording is instructed, the recording process described with reference to FIG. 2 is performed. Thereafter, when a reproduction start is instructed, the reproduction processing described with reference to FIG. 3 is performed. At this time, both the writing process from the buffer memory 116 and the reading process for transferring the data to the buffer memory 117 are performed on the HDD 119. Arbitration of these two processes is performed by the HDD controller module 118.

Specifically, in FIG. 5, when the reproduction is started, the HDD 1
Since 19 is in a usable state, a process of reading data from the HDD 119 and writing it to the buffer memory 117 is performed. While this processing is being performed, the amount of data in the buffer memory 116 exceeds the threshold, and the HDD 119
May be required. However, in this case, since the HDD 119 is in use, writing is waited until the processing is completed.

When the data reading from HDD 119 is completed, the writing process from buffer memory 116 is started. Conversely, if the HDD 119 is in use at the start of the reproduction, the data is read from the HDD 119 and written to the buffer memory 117 after waiting until the HDD 119 becomes usable.

As described above, from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the recording of channel 1 and the reproduction of the title of channel 1 being recorded are simultaneously performed. At 10:00 pm, recording of channel 1 ends, and playback of the title recorded at 11:00 pm ends.

In this chasing reproduction, data transfer is performed at a high speed between the HDD controller module 118 and the HDD 119.
Only by providing 16 and 117, real-time recording / reproduction of two MPEG2 system streams can be realized. The capacity of each buffer memory and the unit block length of writing / reading necessary for each buffer memory not to be empty during reproduction are determined by the HDD controller module 118.
Data transfer rate between the HDD and the HDD 119, and the HD
D119 and the worst value of the seek time.

[Other Recording / Reproducing Functions] In the above example,
I explained the chase playback of the title being recorded,
While a certain title is being recorded, another previously recorded title may be reproduced, or while a certain title is being reproduced, timer recording of a certain channel may be started.

Since the buffer memory 117 is also connected to the digital output 129, the HDD 11
9 can be output to the digital output 129 via the buffer memory 117 via the MPEG2 system stream read via the HDD controller module 118. Alternatively, a television signal obtained by selecting either an input television signal from the tuner 103 or an output of the tuner 102 and an input through the external input terminal 101 by the selector 104 is digitally compressed, and then subjected to multiplexer / demultiplexing. MPEG formed by multiplexing by the multiplexer 111
2 can also be output to the digital output 129 via the buffer memory 117.

Similarly, the buffer memory 116 is also connected to the digital input 128, so that the system stream inputted from the digital input 128 can be recorded on the HDD 119 via the buffer memory 116 and further via the HDD controller module 118. On the other hand, the data is demultiplexed by the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 via the buffer memory 116, and the video signal and the audio signal streams are decoded by the MPEG2 video decoder 112 and the audio decoder 113, respectively. It can be reproduced and displayed on the monitor 126. The two input / output buses passing through the buffer memories 116 and 117 can be arbitrarily designated through the user interface 122.

[System Configuration with Multiple Players] FIG.
Two players configured as the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1 are arranged, and the digital output 129 of one player is connected to the digital input 128 of the other player. And 1
Two system streams are simultaneously read from the HDDs 119 of one player, and one system stream is read from the buffer memory 116.
Is transferred to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 via the buffer memory 117, and the other system is output to the digital output 129 via the buffer memory 117.

Multiplexer / Demultiplexer 111
Are demultiplexed into a video signal stream and an audio signal stream, transferred to the MPEG2 video decoder 112 and the audio decoder 113, respectively, decoded, and output to the external television monitor 126. Playback is displayed.

On the other hand, the MPEG2 system stream output from the digital output 129 reaches the digital input 128 of another player by cable or wirelessly. The MPEG2 system stream input to the other player from here can be recorded on the HDD 119 via the buffer memory 116, further via the HDD controller module 118, or via the buffer memory 116. Then, the streams of the video signal and the audio signal are demultiplexed by the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 and decoded by the MPEG2 video decoder 112 and the audio decoder 113, respectively, and the television connected externally to the other player Monitor 1
It is also possible to reproduce and display it on.

When data is recorded in the HDD 119 of another player, the HDD 11 of another player
9 means that the data has been copied to the HDD 119 of another player. Also, the reproduced data is
When the data is decoded by one player and reproduced and displayed on the external television monitor, the HDD 1 of one player
19 data has been reproduced by another player, and 1
This means that the data in the HDD 119 of one player can be shared by a plurality of players.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Two data buses are running between the demultiplexer 111 and the HDD controller module 118. (System stream rate)
× N (N is an integer) is the HDD controller module 1
If the transfer rate of the data between the HDD 18 and the HDD 119 does not exceed, if the parameters such as the unit block length for writing / reading and the capacity of the buffer memory are tuned up, N streams can run simultaneously in real time. is there.

However, it is necessary to consider the worst value of the seek time of the HDD 119 between the transfer of the unit blocks. This will be described later in detail.

If N = 3, the multiplexer / demultiplexer 11 in the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.
Another buffer memory is inserted between the HDD controller module 118 and the HDD controller module 118 so that a total of three data buses run. In this case, in addition to the two-channel simultaneous recording described above, the reproduction of an arbitrary title being recorded or recorded in the HDD 119 can be simultaneously performed.

When a player is connected to one player, and when each connected player has a bus of n streams, M = an streams are provided for all a players. I will run. The number N of buses of one player to which a player is connected is N = M. When N = M, the buffer memory is M between the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 and the HDD controller module 118 in the configuration of FIG.
The configuration is such that M buses each run.

Considering a configuration in which one player has (M-1) digital outputs, connecting this player to another (M-1) player enables the HDD 119 of this player to be connected. Can be shared with other (M-1) players.

[Overall Configuration of Simple Player] FIG.
HDD 1 of digital recording / reproducing apparatus (player) shown in FIG.
It is a block diagram of a client type simple player when 19 is a server.

Referring to FIG. 6, a signal wave of, for example, a television broadcast received by antenna 200 is given to tuner 202, and tuner 202 converts the signal wave of one channel designated by the user from the received signal wave. The radio wave is selected, demodulated into an analog television signal including a video signal and an audio signal, and applied to one input of the selector 204. The other input of the selector 204 has an external input terminal 2 to which various external television signal sources can be connected.
01 is connected.

The selector 204 selects either the output from the tuner 202 or the input from the external input terminal 201 and gives it to one input of the graphic controller 224.

On the other hand, the MPEG2 system stream input from another player (FIG. 1) externally connected via the digital input 228 is transferred to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 211, and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 211 receives the stream. The MPEG2 system stream is demultiplexed into a video signal stream and an audio signal stream.
The latter is given to an audio decoder 213, and the latter to a video decoder 212.

The MPEG2 video decoder 212 decodes the supplied video signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 214. The audio decoder 213 decodes the supplied audio signal stream and supplies it to the D / A converter 214. give. The D / A converter 214
The supplied signals are converted into analog signals, respectively, and an analog television signal including a video signal and an audio signal is supplied to another input of the graphic controller 224.

The graphic controller 224 responds to an operation of the user interface 222 by the user.
As an output television signal to the television monitor 226, a television signal from the D / A converter 214 or an output of the tuner 202 and the external input terminal 201
Can be switched to one of the television signals selected by the selector 204 and displayed, and can be displayed at once by clipping both signals. It is.

The commands such as search, selection, deletion, timer reservation, reproduction start, pause, fast forward, rewind and stop of the title to be reproduced from the server-side HDD 119 (FIG. 1) are transmitted to the system controller 220. Are transmitted as commands to the server-side player via the digital input 228, and are received by the server-side digital output 129 (FIG. 1). The command is transferred to the server-side system controller 120 (FIG. 1), where the command is executed.

As described above, the digital input 128 and the digital output 129 of the player shown in FIG.
Regarding the digital input 228 of the simple player of
“Input” and “output” mean the direction of input and output of MPEG2 system stream data (thick line), respectively. Actually, in addition to these data, control commands such as start and stop of reproduction are also included. The transfer direction of these control commands (thin lines) is opposite to the transfer direction of stream data.

[Capacity of Buffer Memory] Next, as described above, the capacity C of the buffer memory, the unit block length L for writing / reading, and the HDD controller required for simultaneously handling a plurality of stream data in real time. The relationship between the worst case data transfer rate Bhdd between the module 118 and the HDD 119, the rate Bsys of the MPEG2 system stream, and the worst value Tw of the seek time of the HDD 119 will be described in detail.

However, the worst value Tw of the seek time is
It is not only the time required only for head seek, but also the error correction such as seek time, rotation waiting time, head switching time, ECC / EDC, etc., which is required from the start of seek to the start of actual data writing / reading. This is a time that takes into account all the worst values of the group delay such as the time required.

Assuming that the number of streams to be processed simultaneously is N, the following equation must be satisfied in order to maintain the real-time properties of all the streams.

Bhdd × Ts> N × (Tw + Ts) × Bsys (1) where Ts is a time required for writing / reading the unit block length L of writing / reading to / from the HDD 119, and Ts = L / Bhdd.

The above equation (1) is used to read (reproduce) data.
In the case of (1), the amount of data read in a unit block in a certain stream is within the sum of N seek times and N data write / read times required to process N streams. It means that it must be designed so that it is not consumed.

In the case of writing (recording) data,
In the worst case, the amount of data stored in the buffer memory during the time required to process N streams is N ×
(Tw + Ts) × Bsys.

Therefore, the capacity C of the buffer memory is
The following equation must be satisfied. C> N × (Tw + Ts) × Bsys (2) By performing a design that satisfies the above equations (1) and (2), it becomes possible to simultaneously process N streams in real time. However, Bhdd> N ×
N must be set within a range that satisfies Bsys.

[OPF] Next, the file format of the recording medium (the HDD 119 in the embodiment) used in the present invention will be described.

The file format described below is
For convenience, it is called Objective Pool Format (hereinafter, OPF). FIG. 7 is a diagram for schematically explaining the structure of the OPF file.

As shown in FIG. 7, the file format of the OPF is a real-time extent 301, a container information file 302, a title set file 3
03 and a title file 304. The role of each of the above files will be described below with reference to FIG.

(1) Container A container is a basic unit of data operation in OPF. In the system of the present invention, each container is an MP
The data structure of the EG is closed, and data reproduction by the container alone is guaranteed. The size of the container in the system of the present invention is as follows: (Sector size of HDD 119) * 5376 = 512 bytes * 5376 = 2752512 bytes A container of this capacity stores video data and audio data for a certain period of time. . Note that in the system of the present invention, video data (Group
of Pictures (hereinafter, GOP) and audio data corresponding thereto are multiplexed by the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 to form a system stream.

Since the number of pictures in one GOP is set to 15, the reproduction time of one container is as follows.

5 * (15/30) = 2.5 seconds Here, it is verified whether or not these parameters are guaranteed to be reproduced in container units.

In the above definition, if the unit block (container) length of writing / reading is L = 27552512 bytes, the rate Bsys of the MPEG2 system stream
Is Bsys = L / 2.5 = 1110004 bytes / sec.

In the system of the present invention, the number of streams is N = 2, and the worst value of the seek time is T
Assuming that w = 50 ms and the worst case data transfer rate between the HDD controller module 118 and the HDD 119 is Bhdd = 5 MB / sec, Ts = L / Bhdd = 550 ms holds. Therefore, Bhdd * Ts = 5 × 10 ＾ 6 * 550 = 2.7 × 10
＾ 6 N * (Tw + Ts) * Bsys = 2 * (50 + 550)
* 1101004 = 1.32 × 10 ＾ 6 holds, which satisfies the above expression (1). Therefore, the reproduction of data in container units is guaranteed with these defined parameters.

(2) Real-time extent The real-time extent 301 is
MPEG2 created by demultiplexer 111
Is an area of the HDD 119 in which the above-described system stream is stored as the above-described container-based data. Therefore, the total capacity of the real-time extent 301 is
It is always an integral multiple of the capacity of a single container. Further, even in the HDD 119 that performs recording in sector units, the start address of the real-time extent 301 must be from an address corresponding to a container delimiter. This is because the disk space is regarded as an address space in units of containers in the container information file 302 described later.

(3) Container Information File The container information file 302 considers the real-time extent 301 of the recording area of the HDD 119 as an address space in units of containers, and stores container numbers (R0, R1, R
2,...) Are defined in order to manage the recording information of each container. When the number of references (link count) for each container is 0, it indicates that MPEG2 data is not recorded in the container from the beginning or that the user has performed a data erasing operation. Indicates that new data recording is possible. In the example of FIG. 7, containers R8 and R15 correspond to recordable containers. If the number of references (link count) is 1, the container is referenced by at least one of the title files (MPEG2 data is stored), or the container is scheduled to be used for scheduled recording, etc.
This indicates that the container is not recordable.

(4) Title File In the title file 304, link information on the title is recorded. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, header information and address information of the start position of the container to be referenced in the real-time extent 301 are sequentially recorded in each title file. In FIG. 7, the title file (title 0) 304-1 stores the start addresses of the real-time extents R0 to R3 and R6, and the title file (title 1) 304-2 stores the real-time extent R
4, R5, R7, and R9 to R12 are stored in the title file (title 2).
04-3 are real-time extents R13, R14,
The start address of each of R16 is stored.

(5) Title set file The title set file 303 is the title file 3
04 is a file for managing the file. The configuration includes header information and a start address of each title file in the HDD 119. In FIG. 7, the title 0 descriptor is a title file (title 0) 304-
1 is stored, and the title 1 descriptor is a title file (title 1) 304-2.
The title 2 descriptor stores the start address of the title file (title 2) 304-3.

[Recording / Reproducing Operation Using OPF]
The basic operation of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention using the above-described OPF file format will be described in detail.

The above OPF files are all H
Although recorded on the DD 19, when the digital recording / playback apparatus is started, the container information file 302 and the title set file 303 of the OPF are read out to the memory 121 and used for address control by the system controller 120. The updated contents of the file in the memory 121 are written into the file in the HDD 119 at an appropriate timing, and the OPF is updated.

(1) Recording Operation First, the operation for recording MPEG2 system stream data in the HDD 119 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the user operates the user interface 1
When the system controller 120 instructs recording by operating (Step S1), the system controller 120 refers to the container information file 302 read from the HDD 119 to secure a writable area (container) in the real-time extent 301 (Step S1). S2). That is, the container information file 302 is searched for a container whose reference number (link count) is 0. Then, in the case of the two-channel simultaneous recording described above, one is added to the number of the corresponding container for which the reference number of the container information file 302 was 0 so as not to be used by another recording procedure (step S3). Then, data for one container is written to the real-time extent 301 of the HDD 119 corresponding to the searched container number (step S).
4).

When an end instruction is received from the user via the user interface 122 (step S5), the title file 304 is generated, the title set file 303 is updated, and the recording process ends (step S5).
6).

If there is no end instruction, step S2
Steps S5 to S5 are repeated. Note that the recording stop request from the user is instructed at an arbitrary timing after the start of recording, but this instruction request is temporarily stored in the memory 121 and is processed in step S5.

In the state shown in FIG. 7, when a recording instruction is received in step S1, the area (container) initially secured in step S2 is R8 with a reference number of 0. Then, in step S3, 1 is set in the R8 area of the container information file 302. Step S4
HDD1 at the start address of container R8
Multiplexer / demultiplexer 111 in area 19
Of the MPEG2 system stream data for one container. Then, in step S2, a region R15 next to the reference number 0 is secured, and the recording operation is repeated in the same manner. When an instruction to end recording is received in step S5, step S5 is performed.
In step 6, a title file (title 3) is generated.
Stores link information consisting of discretely recorded container numbers. Then, the title set file is updated, and the recording ends.

(2) Reproduction Operation Next, the operation for reproducing the MPEG2 system stream data recorded on the HDD 119 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the user operates the user interface 122 to designate a title to be reproduced (step S1).
1), the system controller 120 initializes a container pointer for reproduction (step S12). The container pointer is a pointer indicating which container is currently pointed in the corresponding title file.

Then, the corresponding title file 304 is selected from the title set file 303, the link information to the container referred to therein is scanned by the value of the container pointer, and the container to be reproduced is searched (step S13). . H corresponding to the searched container number
The data for one container is read from the real-time extent 301 in the disk area of the DD 119 and reproduced (step S14).

Here, when an end instruction is received from the user via the user interface 122 (step S1).
5) The end processing is performed, and the reproduction operation ends (step S18). The reproduction stop request from the user is instructed at an arbitrary timing after the reproduction is started, but the instruction request is temporarily stored in the memory 121 and is processed in step S15. If there is no end instruction, one is added to the container pointer to refer to the container to be reproduced next (step S16). Here, it is checked whether or not the container pointer has reached the end of the corresponding title file 304 (step S17). When the end of the title file has been reached, the process proceeds to the end process (step S18), and the process ends. When the container pointer has not reached the end of the title file 304, steps S13 to S17 are repeated.

A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. When an instruction to reproduce the title number 1 is received in step S11, the start address of the title file (title 1) is searched in step S13, and the container number R4 to be referred to is obtained. In step S14, H
1 from the address corresponding to the container number R4 of DD119
The data for the container is transferred to the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111, and the data is reproduced. Step S
If no reproduction stop command is received in step 15, one is added to the container pointer in step S16.

Returning to step S13, the container number R5 indicated by the container pointer is obtained. Reproduction is performed by repeating the same procedure. Reproduction proceeds and container number R1
When 2 has been reproduced, when 1 is added to the container pointer in step S16, it is determined that the end of the title file has been reached in step S17, so the end processing of step S18 is performed, and the reproduction operation ends.

(3) Erasing Operation Next, the operation for erasing the MPEG2 system stream data recorded on the HDD 119 in units of title files 304 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the user operates the user interface 122 to specify a title file to be deleted (step S21), the system controller 120 sets the HDD 1
The title file 304 to be deleted is searched from the title set file 303 stored in the file No. 19, and the link count of the container information file 302 corresponding to the container number indicated by the title file 304 is decremented by 1 (step S22). As a result, the container having the link count of 0 becomes a free area because it is not referenced in any title file. Next, the designated title file is deleted (step S23), and the title set file is updated (step S24).

For example, assume that an instruction to delete the title file (title 0) has been received from the state shown in FIG. 7 (step S21). Accordingly, in step S22, R0 to R3, R6 in the container information file 302 are set.
The link count of the portion is reduced by 1 to 0. Then, in steps S23 and S24, the title file (title 0) is deleted, and the title zero descriptor is deleted from the title set file. Thus, the erasing operation ends.

[Automatic Recording Function] Hereinafter, video signals, audio signals, and signals including video and audio are collectively referred to as video / audio signals. This video and audio signal is H in FIG.
This is recorded as a title on the DD 119.

In the present invention, an area dedicated to automatic recording is provided in the HDD 119. Overwriting is always permitted for the area, and the function of recording the latest information according to the designated time channel information is realized.

Further, in the digital recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, N channels can be simultaneously recorded, so that a plurality of programs having the same time zone and different channels can be automatically recorded.

In this case, however, a plurality of areas dedicated to automatic recording are required. Further, even when automatic recording is being performed, it is possible to perform recording of another channel in accordance with a user's instruction, and it is also possible to reproduce a stream that has been recorded or is being recorded on a recording medium. is there. However, the number N of streams that can be simultaneously recorded and reproduced is in a range that satisfies the expression (1).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a setting information area for the automatic recording function in the title file 304 compliant with OPF.

Referring to FIG. 11, title file 30
4 includes a header area 502 and pointers 503 to 506. The pointers 503 to 506 are pointers each indicating an automatic recording dedicated area (container) assigned for automatic recording.

The header area 502 includes one or more automatic recording settings 511 to 514. Each of the automatic recording settings 511 to 514 includes a recording start time 51 of the recording.
5, recording end time 516, recording time 517, recording channel 518, and day of the week information 519.

In the field of the day of the week information 519, it is possible to set whether the set condition is executed every day or specified by the day of the week.

When there are a plurality of automatic recording settings 511 to 514, areas corresponding to the recording time of the automatic recording setting having the longest recording time 517 are allocated as pointers 513 to 516.

The areas 507 to 510 dedicated to automatic recording need not be continuous areas on the hard disk drive, and the recording start time 5 of the automatic recording set by the user is set.
When the number 15 comes, the video is written in the order of the automatic recording exclusive area 507, the automatic recording exclusive area 508, the automatic recording exclusive area 509, and the automatic recording exclusive area 510 according to the order of the pointers 503 to 506.

Also, since overwriting is permitted for these areas, when the recording start time 515 of the next automatic recording setting 511 to 514 comes, the start position of the area 5
Recording is performed in the order from 07 onward.

If only one setting for recording the news broadcast every day in the same time zone as the automatic recording setting 511 is set to the automatic recording dedicated area allocated as described above, for example, Recording start time 51
The recording from the time 5 to the recording end time 516 is executed every day.

On the other hand, a plurality of automatic recording settings 511 to 514
Is performed, a plurality of designations can be made for the same automatic recording dedicated area. For example, three channels may be set so that the 7 o'clock news, 12 o'clock news, and 17 o'clock news of a certain channel are always recorded. However, automatic recording setting 5
It is necessary that an area for the maximum recording time among the areas 11 to 514 is secured as an area exclusively for automatic recording.

Further, in the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, since the chase reproduction described above is possible,
For example, the user can start watching the automatically recorded news from 17:00 to 17:30 at 17:05 and end the reproduction at 17:35.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow for securing the automatic recording exclusive areas 507 to 510 in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12, step S71 is performed.
Then, the container information file 302 described with reference to FIG.

In the following step S72, the container information file 302 is searched to determine whether there is a writable container. In this process, the link count is 0
It can be realized by searching for a container that has If there is a writable container, the process proceeds to step S73. On the other hand, if there is no writable container, the process proceeds to step S76.

In step S73, the value of the link count table corresponding to the container secured in step S72 is changed. In the description of FIG. 7, it has been described that the link count is 1 for a normal reservation, and 0 when the link is not used. It is also conceivable to set the value to an appropriate value so that it can be identified that the area is allocated as the area 507 to 510 dedicated to automatic recording.

In step S74, it is determined whether or not the reserved area is sufficient to execute recording.
If sufficient, the process proceeds to step S75. On the other hand, if the reserved area is not enough to execute the recording, step S
Return to 72.

In step S76, the areas occupied by other titles are released and changed to the overwrite-only areas 507-510 which can be overwritten in order to secure the areas 507-510 dedicated to automatic recording shown in FIG. A determination is made as to whether to do so.

For this processing, a method of inquiring the user or a method of automatically deleting the old title by the system can be considered.

By the above processing, the automatic recording exclusive area 50
If 7 to 510 can be secured, the process proceeds to step S73; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S77.

In the step S77, the user is notified that the area cannot be secured, and the process ends.

As described above, processing for securing the automatic recording exclusive areas 507 to 510 is performed according to the procedure according to such a flowchart.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a title file 304 for automatic recording.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 13, step S81
In, the recording start time 515, the recording end time 516, the recording channel 518, and the day of the week information 519 of the scheduled recording are set via the user interface 122.

In the following step S82, the user is notified by a method such as displaying on the television monitor 126 whether or not the reserved recording setting in step S81 is to be the automatic recording function, and the user is requested to make a determination. Here, if an instruction to use the automatic recording function is received from the user interface 122, the process proceeds to step S83. On the other hand, if there is no special instruction to use the automatic recording function, step S8
Proceeding to 5, the reservation is treated as a normal reservation.

In the step S83, the automatic recording exclusive area 5
07 to 510 are secured. This area is secured according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

Subsequently, at step S84, at step S84
The values of the recording start time, end time, channel, and day of the week information obtained in 81 are set in the automatic recording settings 511 to 514, and a title file 304 is created based on the values, and the title file 304 is written to the HDD 119. Be included.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are flowcharts showing the procedure for executing the automatic recording function. 14 and 15, in step S101, the title file 304 for automatic recording is read from the HDD 119 by the system controller 120, and the system controller 120
The automatic recording settings 511 to 514 are recognized.

In step S102, step S101
Recording start time 515 in the automatic recording settings 511 to 514 read by
And if the current time is the recording start time 515, the process proceeds to step S103. If the current time does not match the recording start time 515, the process proceeds to step S104.
Proceed to.

In the step S103, the recording start time 51
5 and the recording end time 516, the recording processing is performed on the automatic recording dedicated areas 507 to 510 secured.

In step S104, it is determined whether or not an instruction to cancel the automatic recording function has been input via the user interface 122. If an instruction to cancel the automatic recording function has been received, the process proceeds to step S107.
If no instruction has been received, the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, it is determined whether or not an additional instruction for automatic recording setting has been input via user interface 122. If the instruction to add the automatic recording setting has been issued, the process proceeds to step S116. If the instruction to add the automatic recording setting has not been issued, the process proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, it is determined whether or not an instruction to delete the automatic recording setting has been input via user interface 122. If the instruction to cancel the automatic recording setting has been received, the process proceeds to step S110. If the instruction to cancel the automatic recording setting has not been received, the process returns to step S101.

In step S 107, a selection of an automatic recording title to be deleted is received via the user interface 122. In the following step S108, the areas 507 to 510 dedicated to automatic recording of the title to be deleted are released.

Furthermore, in step S109, the title file 304 of the title to be deleted is deleted. Since the detailed processing in steps S108 and S109 has been described with reference to FIG. 10, the description will not be repeated.

At step S 110, a title file 304 containing the automatic recording settings to be deleted is selected via the user interface 122. The title file 304 for automatic recording selected from the HDD 119 is read.

In the step S111, the title file 3 for automatic recording is input via the user interface 122.
The user selects an automatic recording setting to be deleted from the automatic recording settings 511 to 514 included in the setting 04.

In step S112, the selected automatic recording setting is deleted from the automatic recording settings 511-514.

Then, in step S113, it is determined whether or not all the automatic recording settings have been deleted by the deletion performed in step S112. If all the automatic recording settings have been deleted, step S108
Proceed to. If there are automatic recording settings that have not been deleted, the process proceeds to step S114.

In step S114, step S112
It is determined whether or not any of the automatic recording settings 511 to 514 is deleted so that an openable area exists. If there is an openable area, the process proceeds to step S115. If there is no openable area, the process returns to step S101.

In step S115, the area that can be opened is opened. Specifically, an operation of reading the container information file 302 from the HDD 119 and setting the value of the link count table corresponding to the container to be released to 0 is performed. FIG. 1 shows the area release processing.
0 follows the procedure of the flowchart at the time of erasure described above.

If the automatic recording setting is to be added, the process proceeds from step S105 to step S116. Step S
At 116, the user selects a title file 304 to which the automatic recording setting is newly added via the user interface 122.

In step S 117, the user is prompted to start recording at the recording start time 51 via the user interface 122.
5. The user is required to input a recording end time 516, a recording channel 518, and day information 519.

In step S118, step S117
Area 507 for automatic recording based on the value input in
It is determined whether .about.510 is sufficient. If it is, the process proceeds to step S121. If not, the process proceeds to step S119.

In step S119, the container information file 302 is read from the HDD 119, and it is determined whether or not there is an area in the hard disk which can be added as an automatic recording dedicated area. If there is an area that can be added as an area for exclusive use of automatic recording, or if it is possible to add an area by deleting and processing other titles for the insufficient area, add the area for exclusive use of automatic recording 507-510 The process proceeds to step S121. If the region cannot be added, the process proceeds to step S120.

In step S120, no automatic recording setting is added. Then, the process proceeds to step S106.

In the step S121, the automatic recording setting 51
1 to 514 are newly added to the header area 502 of the title file 304, and the process proceeds to step S106.

FIG. 16 shows an example in which an automatic recording title is displayed. Referring to FIG. 16, three title files for which recording reservation is set are displayed on the screen, and a recording mode is displayed next to the title name. Here, it can be seen that the first title, always news and always the weather forecast, is automatically recorded. The third title is set for normal scheduled recording.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of the automatic recording setting information in the automatic recording title.

Referring to FIG. 17, description will be made here taking news as an example, which is the first title in FIG. 16 at any time. There are always three automatic recording settings in the news title.

The first is that channel 7 starts at 7:00.
Automatic recording until 10:00, the second is 12 channel 12
Automatic recording from 0:00 to 12:10, the third one is
This is the automatic recording of channel 2 from 17:00 to 7:10.

In these three settings, the time for performing automatic recording is all 10 minutes. Therefore,
As the area for exclusive use of automatic recording permitted to overwrite, an area capable of recording for 10 minutes is secured. Also, in the display of FIG. 17, the current time is 10:35, so the area automatically reserved for news at any time contains the news broadcast between 7:00 and 7:10. This means that the program has been recorded, and this news can be viewed at any time until 12:00 when the next automatic recording starts.

Next, consider a case where one automatic recording setting is added to a news title at any time.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying a state in which the automatic recording setting of FIG. 17 has been added.

Referring to FIG. 18, for example, Friday 21st
If you want to add a week's worth of news digests that will be broadcast on channel 6 from 10:00 to 22:00, record in the 10-minute automatic recording-only area already reserved for news at any time. Impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to newly add an insufficient area for automatic recording. On the screen, the setting of news to be broadcast on channel 6 at 21:00 to 22:00 on Friday is added to the fourth of automatic news recording settings at any time,
This time is 1 hour for 10 minutes of the news time set from the first to the third.

Further, the added setting need only be executed on Friday, so that the day of recording is set to only Friday.

In this way, the added Friday news program can be viewed at any time until 7:00 on Saturday.

In this state, since the automatic recording area is reserved for one hour, the first 10 minutes are overwritten every day, but the remaining 50 minutes are not updated until Friday. Therefore, if there is a request from the user, it is also possible to reproduce only the area that is not overwritten until this Friday.

Next, consider the case where one automatic recording setting is deleted from the news title at any time.

For example, the automatic recording setting of the program added earlier is deleted. Then, the 50-minute area of the reserved automatic recording area for one hour is no longer necessary. Therefore, this area is opened, the area for exclusive use of automatic recording returns to the original area of 10 minutes, and the display screen of the automatic recording setting returns to the state shown in FIG.

As described above, in the present invention,
An area dedicated to automatic recording is provided in the hard disk drive, and overwriting is always permitted in that area. Therefore, it is possible to perform automatic recording such as periodically recording a program in the same time period while effectively using a recording medium such as a hard disk having a limited storage capacity.

The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0210]

According to the digital recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording / reproducing method of the present invention, a program in the same time period is periodically recorded while effectively using a recording medium such as a hard disk having a limited storage capacity. Automatic recording can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining a one-channel recording operation of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining a one-channel reproducing operation of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining a two-channel simultaneous recording operation of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating a chasing playback operation of the digital recording / playback apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a simplified player according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a file format used in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a normal recording operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a normal reproduction operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an erase operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a title file 304 compliant with the OPF.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a setting information area for an automatic recording function in the figure.

FIG. 12 shows an area 507 for automatic recording only in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a flow for securing 510.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a title file 304 for automatic recording.

FIG. 14 is a part of a flowchart showing an execution procedure of an automatic recording function.

FIG. 15 is a part of a flowchart showing an execution procedure of an automatic recording function.

FIG. 16 is an example in which an automatic recording title is displayed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display example of automatic recording setting information in an automatic recording title.

18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displaying a state in which addition to the automatic recording setting of FIG. 17 has been performed;

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 200 antenna, 101, 201 external input terminal, 102, 103, 202 tuner, 104, 2
04 selector, 105,106 A / D converter,
107, 108 MPEG2 video encoder, 10
9,110 audio encoder, 111 multiplexer / demultiplexer, 112,212 MPEG
2 video decoder, 113, 213 audio decoder, 114, 214 D / A converter, 116, 11
7 buffer memory, 118 HDD controller module, 119 HDD, 120, 220 system controller, 121, 221 memory, 122, 222
User interface, 124, 224 graphic controller, 126, 226 television monitor, 127 real-time clock module, 12
8,228 digital inputs, 129 digital outputs, 211 demultiplexers.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/85 H04N 5/92 H 5/92 F term (Reference) 5C052 AB02 AC08 CC01 DD04 5C053 FA23 GB01 GB05 GB06 GB38 HA29 JA22 KA24 LA06 5D044 BC01 CC03 CC04 DE14 DE17 EF10 GK05 JJ01 5D102 AB05 AB12 AC01 AD13 AG02 GA02 GA08 GA32 GA46 GA51

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A digital recording / reproducing apparatus which is capable of writing and reading digital data including a video / audio signal and management information corresponding to the video / audio signal and which is capable of random access to a recording medium. A recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: input means for externally inputting a command; writing / reading means for writing and reading the digital data to and from the recording medium; clocking means for clocking a current time; And control means for controlling the writing / reading means in accordance with the current time, wherein the control means records the program set including at least one designated program on which the command is periodically broadcast. When the instruction is a command, a recording area required for recording the video / audio signal of the designated program requiring the largest recording area among the designated programs included in the program set. A digital recording / reproducing apparatus that secures the video and audio signals of the specified program by overwriting the secured recording area when the current time reaches the broadcast time of the specified program. . 2. When the control unit receives a command to add a new designated program to the program set from the input unit, a recording area necessary for recording the new designated program is larger than the secured recording area. Sometimes, a recording area for the shortage is further secured in addition to the secured recording area,
The digital recording / reproducing device according to claim 1. 3. The control unit receives a command to delete the first designated program included in the program set from the input unit, and stores a necessary recording area of other designated programs remaining in the program set. When the recording area required by the first designated program is larger than the second designated program having the largest value, the recording area necessary for recording the first designated program and the recording area necessary for recording the second designated program are larger. Release from the secured recording area an amount of recording area corresponding to the difference between
The digital recording / reproducing device according to claim 1. 4. The recording medium links a first area for discretely recording the digital data for each basic operation unit and a basic operation unit for the discretely recorded digital data for each title. A second area for recording title file information to be recorded, and a third area for recording link count information indicating a use state of the digital data for each basic operation unit in the first area, The link count information is set to a first value when the basic unit is unused, is set to a second value when the basic unit is used, and the basic unit is designated to be overwritable. When the automatic recording command is received, the control means sets the basic operation units corresponding to the information amount of the video and audio signals to the third value. Secured in the first region as a region, replacing the link count information corresponding to the basic operations unit secured to said third value, the digital recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. A digital recording / reproducing apparatus which is capable of writing and reading digital data including a video / audio signal and management information corresponding to the video / audio signal, and which performs recording / reproduction on a recording medium which is randomly accessible. A data recording / reproducing method, comprising the steps of: inputting a command from outside; writing and reading the digital data to and from the recording medium; clocking a current time; Controlling the step of writing and reading in accordance with time, wherein the step of controlling is an automatic recording command for recording a program set including at least one designated program on which the command is periodically broadcast. At one time, the video and audio signals of a designated program that requires the most recording area among the designated programs included in the program set A recording area required for recording is secured in the recording medium, and when the current time reaches the broadcast time of the designated program, the video and audio signals of the designated program are overwritten on the secured recording area and recorded. A method of recording and reproducing digital data. 6. The controlling step, when receiving a command to add a new designated program to the program set from the inputting step, sets a recording area necessary for recording the new designated program in the secured recording area. If greater,
6. The digital data recording / reproducing method according to claim 5, further comprising securing a shortage recording area in addition to the secured recording area. 7. The controlling step, upon receiving from the inputting step an instruction to delete a first designated program included in the program set, a required one of other designated programs remaining in the program set. Second largest recording area
When the recording area required by the first designated program is larger than the designated program, the difference between the recording area necessary for recording the first designated program and the recording area necessary for recording the second designated program is determined. 6. The digital data recording / reproducing method according to claim 5, wherein a recording area of an amount corresponding to the following is released from the secured recording area. 8. The recording medium links a first area for discretely recording the digital data for each basic operation unit and a basic operation unit for the discretely recorded digital data for each title. A second area for recording title file information to be recorded, and a third area for recording link count information indicating a use state of the digital data for each basic operation unit in the first area, The link count information is set to a first value when the basic unit is unused, is set to a second value when the basic unit is used, and the basic unit is designated to be overwritable. When the automatic recording command is received, the controlling step sets the number of the basic operation units corresponding to the information amount of the video / audio signal to the basic operation unit. Write secured in said first area as a recording area replacing the link count information corresponding to the basic operations unit secured to said third value, method of recording and reproducing digital data according to claim 5.