JP2001167564A - Digital recorder-reproducer using random accessible recording medium and recording-reproducing method of digital data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital recorder-reproducer with which the recorded data is easily managed. SOLUTION: A system controller 120 records information 705 attached to title on the basis of the information acquired from a user interface 122 or the information given from a real time clock module 127 when the reserved image recording is set by a user or the start of image recording is manually instructed. The controller 120 also sets a character string consisting of the channel information including the date of its generation as the initial value of the detailed title information that can be rewritten by the user. The detailed title information is used for displaying the title contents on a monitor 126 when the display of data recorded on an HDD 19 is requested by the user.

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]

Due to the increase in the capacity of the recording medium and the development of compression techniques for video data and the like, a huge amount of recording media are recorded on a digital recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording a large number of television programs. It is easy to guess that a number of files will be generated.

[0004] When managing an enormous number of titles generated as described above and performing processing such as search, unique and unified information is required. In addition, it is necessary that the title information is easy for the user to understand when displaying the information.

For example, when a user starts recording or makes a reservation, the user can input information such as a program name to record information for displaying the contents of the title in an easily understandable manner. Each time a recording instruction is issued, an input is required, and the user is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to obtain information for managing a title without increasing the user's time and effort, and to record the information of the title together with the title, and to provide the user with the information when necessary. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital recording / reproducing apparatus in which title management is easy by displaying the title on the display.

[0007]

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 to / from a digital camera comprises an input means for externally inputting a command, a writing / reading means for writing / reading digital data to / from a recording medium, and a digital A display unit for displaying information attached to the data; and a control unit for controlling the writing and reading unit in accordance with the command. The control means, when the command is a recording command for recording a video / audio signal, generates a character string by synthesizing date, time, and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal, and generates management information indicating the content of the video / audio signal. When the command is a list display command for displaying a list of video and audio signals, a character string corresponding to the video and audio signals is displayed on the display means.

[0010] Preferably, when the recording command is a reserved recording, the control means receives date, time and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal from the input means, and generates a character string.

[0009] More preferably, the digital recording / reproducing apparatus further comprises a clock means for clocking the current time. When the recording command is a recording start command, the control unit receives the current date and time from the clock unit and generates a character string.

[0010] More preferably, when the command is a title name change command, the control means rewrites the attached information to the character string input from the input means.

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 recording / reproducing data by externally inputting a command, writing / reading digital data to / from a recording medium, and additional information of the digital data recorded on the recording medium Displaying a; and
When the command is a recording command for recording a video / audio signal,
Generates a character string by synthesizing the date, time and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal, records it on a recording medium as management information indicating the content of the video / audio signal, and displays a list of the video / audio signal according to the instruction. And controlling the display device to display a character string corresponding to the video / audio signal when the command is a command.

[0012] Preferably, the step of controlling, when the recording command is reserved recording, receives date, time and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal from the inputting step, and generates a character string.

[0013] More preferably, the digital data recording / reproducing method further comprises a step of measuring a current time. When the recording command is a recording start command, the control step receives the current date and time from the clocking step and generates a character string.

[0014] More preferably, in the step of controlling, when the command is a title name change command, the attached information is rewritten to the character string input from the input step.

[0015]

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 wave of one channel designated by the user from the signal waves received by the antenna 100, demodulates the signal wave into an analog television signal composed of a video signal and an audio signal, and selects the selector 1
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 the output from the tuner 102 or the 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 performs a
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 performs
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.

Furthermore, digital data from another device externally connected via a 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. 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).

A user interface 122, a memory 121, and a real-time clock module 127 are connected to the system controller 120.

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, the 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.
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 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 the 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.

Writing of data 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, the 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 transmits the first data bus including the buffer memory 116 to the first data bus including the buffer memory 116. 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 transmitted to the selector 104, the A / D converter 105, the MPEG2 video encoder 107, the audio encoder 109, and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 111.
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 amount of data in 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 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 is determined by 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 is described.
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 Reproduction Function] FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining a so-called chase reproduction function of the digital recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

The so-called “chase 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 9:00 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 recording start is instructed, the recording processing 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 reading of data 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 the channel 1 and the reproduction of the title of the 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 input 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 unit block transfers. This will be described later in detail.

When N = 3, the multiplexer / demultiplexer 11 in the configuration of 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, when each connected player has a bus for 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 provided to tuner 202. 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 externally connected player (FIG. 1) 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.

Furthermore, 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, assuming that 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, it indicates that the container is referenced by at least one of the title files (MPEG2 data is stored) and 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 when 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 a termination 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 is terminated (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 having 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 a termination 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 in 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 0 descriptor is deleted from the title set file. Thus, the erasing operation ends.

[Ease of Title Management] Hereinafter, video signals, audio signals, and signals including video and audio are collectively referred to as video / audio signals. This video / audio signal is HD
This is recorded as a title in D119.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which an OPF is generated when a title is generated.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of management information added as a title file 304 conforming to.

Referring to FIG. 11, title file 30
4 includes a header area 701 and a pointer area 702.

A header area 701 contains a title ID 703 which is information necessary for the system to identify a title.
And detailed title information 704 used for displaying a list of titles and the like, and additional title information 705 that is additional information for the title.

[0149] The detailed title information 704 is information that can be rewritten by the user as needed.

The title attachment information 705 includes a title creation time 702, a last access time 703, a recording time 7
14, channel information 715, day of the week information 716, and the number of pointers and other information. However, the day information 71
6 can be calculated from the title generation time, and thus need not be added. These title attached information is set so that the user cannot manually rewrite the information.

The pointer area 702 includes a pointer 706,
707... The pointers 706 and 707 are pointers indicating the real-time extent areas to be recorded and reproduced out of the real-time extents 708 to 711 in which the containers, which are the contents of the video and audio signals of the title, are recorded.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state where a list of titles is displayed. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the total number of recorded titles “4” is displayed from the top of the screen.
The contents of the detailed title information 704 corresponding to the four titles are displayed in order. On the right side, the status of each title is displayed. The title detailed information 704 includes the date, time, and date obtained from the title creation time 712 included in the title attached information 705.
A character string that identifies these based on the day of the week information and the channel information 715 is automatically held as title detailed information 704, and this is displayed on the screen.

For example, it is known that the title No. 1 is a program of channel 8 recorded from 20:00 on Sunday, September 20, 1999, and that it is currently being reproduced.
Also, it can be seen that the title No. 3 is a program of channel 10 recorded at 13:57 on Monday, October 4, 1999, and that the status is currently being recorded.

As described above, when a list of titles is displayed, it is easy for the user to understand when and which channel the title is recorded.

However, the field of the detailed title information 704 is also an area where the user can manually rewrite. Therefore, it is also possible for the user to input an arbitrary character string by himself and to add a title name that is most easily identifiable to the user. Further, even after the user overwrites the title name, the date, time, day of the week information, and channel information are stored in the title attached information 705, so that the area of the title detailed information 704 can be restored to an automatically generated state. It is possible.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the automatic addition of the detailed title information 704 when manual recording is performed in response to a request from the user.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 13, step S71 is performed.
Then, a recording start command is input via the user interface 122.

In step S72, the current time information is read from the real-time clock module 127 to the system controller 120, and the system controller 120
0 causes the information of the current time to be stored in the memory 121.

In step S73, a recording process is performed. This recording process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S74, the system controller 120 is operated to allow the user to manually determine whether to add a title name to the detailed title information 704.
Instructs the graphic controller 124 to output a display to that effect to the television monitor 126.
If the user has manually selected to add a title name, the process proceeds to step S77. On the other hand, when the title name is automatically added, the process proceeds to step S75.

However, step S74 and step S74
The processing of 75 may be performed while the recording processing is being executed in the background after the recording processing of step S73 is started.

In step S75, each parameter obtained in step S72 is converted into a title, which is character string information as shown in FIG. In step S76, the created title file 304 is recorded in the HDD 119, and the process of automatically adding a title name during manual recording ends.

On the other hand, in step S77, characters that can be input are displayed on the television monitor 126, and the characters input from the user interface 122 are stored as the title detailed information 704.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the automatic addition of the detailed title information 704 when performing the scheduled recording.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 14, step S81
Then, an instruction for setting the scheduled recording is input via the user interface 122.

In step S 82, information such as the date and time concerning the setting of the scheduled recording is input via the user interface 122.

Next, in step S83, an area for reserved recording is secured. The processing in step S83 is
The processing shown in steps S2 and S3 in the recording flow shown in FIG. 8 is performed.

In step S84, the system controller 1 prompts the user to determine whether to manually add a title to the detailed title information 704.
20 instructs the graphic controller 124. Then, the user makes a selection between manually adding a title name and automatically adding a title name. If the user selects to manually add a title name, step S
The process advances to step S85, if it is determined that automatic addition of a title name has been selected.

In step S85, the values of the date, time information, and channel information obtained in step S82 are converted into character string information for displaying the title shown in FIG. Thus, for example, “1999/09/20 (Sun) 20:
A character string such as “00Ch8” is given as the title name. In step S86, the created title file 3
04 is recorded in the HDD 119, and the process ends.

On the other hand, in step S 87, characters that can be input are displayed on television monitor 126, and the input characters input via user interface 122 are stored as title detailed information 704.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart when the title name, that is, the title detailed information 704 is changed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 15, step S91 will be described.
Then, a command to change the title name is input from outside via the user interface 122. Accordingly, in step S92, title file 304 stored in HDD 119 is read and read by system controller 120.

In step S93, a display is displayed on the television monitor 126 for asking the user whether to input a title name. If the user has manually selected to add a title, the process proceeds to step S96. If the user has automatically selected to add a title, the process proceeds to step S94.

In step S94, the title creation time 712, last access time 713, and recording time 71 shown in FIG. 11 in the title attachment information 705 in the title file 304 read in step S92.
4. The necessary parts of the channel information 715 and the day information 716 are converted into title names. Then, the title name is stored as title detailed information 704.

In step S95, the changed title file 304 is recorded in HDD 119, and the title name change process ends.

On the other hand, in step S96, characters that can be input are displayed on television monitor 126. And
The user selects a character from the characters that can be input and inputs the input character via the user interface 122, and this is stored as the detailed title information 704.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for displaying a list of title names, that is, title detailed information 704.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 16, step S10
In step 1, a title list display command is input via the user interface 122.

In response, in step S102, the HDD 1
The title set file 303 stored in the file 19 is read by the system controller 120, and the system controller 120 stores the title set file 303 on the memory 121.

In step S103, the read title set file 303 is stored in the system controller 120.
Analyzes. Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the title recorded on the HDD 119 exists. If the title exists, the process proceeds to step S104. If the title does not exist on the hard disk, the process proceeds to step S10.
Proceed to 8.

In step S 104, the title file 304 is read from the HDD 119 according to the address pointed to by the title descriptor included in the title set file 303 on the memory 121, and the title file 304 is stored on the memory 121.

In step S105, step S104
The title detailed information 704 included in the title file 304 obtained in the above, that is, the title name is added to the list of title list display.

In step S106, it is determined whether or not the search has been completed for all the title files 304 existing in the title set file 303. If the search is completed, step S10
Proceeding to step S7, if the search has not been completed yet, the process returns to step S104 to continue the search.

In step S107, step S105
Draws a list of title names based on the title list for list display generated in step 1.
20 commands the graphics controller 124. A list of title names is displayed on the television monitor 126.
Will be displayed.

In step S108, the system controller 120 instructs the graphic controller 124 to draw that the recorded title does not exist, and the character string or graphic notifying that the recorded title does not exist is displayed on the television. It is displayed on the John Monitor 126.

As described above, in this embodiment, the OPF (Objective Pool Format)
By adding information called title detailed information 704 and title ancillary information 705 to the title file 304 conforming to the standard, the recorded contents of the title can be easily confirmed. By adding the title detailed information 704, when confirming the recorded contents of the title,
The recorded contents can be easily estimated only by the contents of the detailed title information 704 without the need to visually confirm the reproduced video. In addition, since the title attached information 705 is added, title search processing becomes easy. Therefore, the user can easily manage a large number of titles.

The embodiments disclosed this time are 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.

[0188]

According to the digital recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording / reproducing method of the present invention, information for managing a title can be obtained without increasing the user's trouble, and information of the file can be transferred to the title. In addition, the file management can be performed, and the file management can be easily performed by displaying it to the user when necessary.

[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 is a configuration diagram of management information added as a title file 304 conforming to OPF when a title is generated.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a list of titles is displayed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of automatic addition of title detailed information 704 when manual recording is performed in response to a request from a user.

[FIG. 14] Title detail information 7 when performing scheduled recording
14 is a flowchart of automatic addition of the information No. 04.

FIG. 15 shows a title name, that is, detailed title information 7;
11 is a flowchart when changing the setting of the subroutine No. 04.

FIG. 16 shows a title name, that is, detailed title information 7
14 is a flowchart for displaying a list of 04.

[Description of References] 100, 200 antennas, 101, 201 external input terminals, 102, 103, 202 tuners, 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.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Megumi Makino F-term (reference) in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka 5D077 AA22 CA11 DC11 DE10 HC17 HC21 5D110 AA13 DA05 DA17 DC05 DC06 DE04 DE06 FA08

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 / reading the digital data to / from the recording medium; and reading / writing the digital data recorded on the recording medium. Display means for displaying attached information; and control means for controlling the writing and reading means in accordance with the command. When the command is a recording command for recording the video / audio signal, A character string is generated by synthesizing the date, time and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal, and the character string is recorded as the management information indicating the content of the video / audio signal. Body is recorded, wherein when the instruction is a list display command for displaying a list of the audio-video signal, the display character string corresponding to the video and audio signals to the display unit, a digital recording and reproducing apparatus. 2. The control unit receives the date, time, and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal from the input unit and generates the character string when the recording command is a scheduled recording. 2. The digital recording / reproducing apparatus according to 1. 3. The system further comprises: a timer for measuring a current time, wherein the controller receives the current date and time from the timer when the recording command is a recording start command, and generates the character string. The digital recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The digital recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the command is a title name change command, the control unit rewrites the attached information to a character string input from the input unit. 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 can be randomly accessed. A method for recording and reproducing data, comprising the steps of: inputting a command from outside; writing and reading the digital data to and from the recording medium; and additional information of the digital data recorded on the recording medium And displaying the same on a display device, and when the command is a recording command for recording the video / audio signal, generating a character string by synthesizing date, time and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal, A list in which the management information indicating the content of the video and audio signals is recorded on the recording medium, and the command displays a list of the video and audio signals. When a 示命 old, and a step of controlling to display a character string corresponding to the video and audio signals to the display device, method of recording and reproducing digital data. 6. The step of controlling, when the recording command is reserved recording, receiving the date, time and channel information corresponding to the video / audio signal from the inputting step, and generating the character string. A method for recording and reproducing digital data according to claim 5. 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: clocking a current time, wherein the controlling step receives the current date and time from the clocking step when the recording command is a recording start command; The method for recording and reproducing digital data according to claim 5, wherein 8. The digital data according to claim 5, wherein, in the step of controlling, when the command is a title name change command, the attached information is rewritten to a character string input from the inputting step. Recording and playback method.