JP2001223974A - Video recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a user has to adjust the program searching position of a magnetic tape in addition to operation for reserving video recording in the case of video-recording by a video recorder using a conventional magnetic tape and a problem in terms of handleability that adjusting the program searching position, etc. is required before every video recording even in the case of leaving a past broadcasting part concerning the case of video- recording a consecutive drama, etc. SOLUTION: This video recorder is provided with a randomly accessible recording medium, a means for designating the reservation of video recording, a means for managing a video recording area on the recording medium, a means for converting the designation of the reservation of video recording to a video recording rule to hold it in the device, and a means for performing video recording when a video recording rule condition is formed. Thus, the highly handleable video recorder by which operation for adjusting the program searching position of the recording medium on recording is unnecessitated and the past broadcasting part is automatically kept.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When recording in a video recording apparatus using a magnetic tape such as a VTR as a recording medium, a user operates the tape to set a recording start position of the tape separately from a recording reservation operation. Needed. Also,
In the case of recording a serial drama or the like, it is possible to specify that a broadcast in the same time zone be repeatedly recorded every month, every week, or every day. However, if you want to use the same area of the tape repeatedly for recording the serial drama every time, or if you want to keep the last three broadcasts out of the past broadcasts, separate from the recording reservation operation Before the recording time, one by one,
The user has to operate the tape for setting the recording start position of the tape.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an easy-to-use video recording apparatus which does not require the user to perform only a recording reservation operation and does not have to adjust the recording start position before the recording time. To provide.

[0004] When recording a serial drama or the like, it is necessary to repeatedly use the same area of the tape each time for recording the serial drama, or leave the latest three broadcasts out of the past broadcasts. Also in the case where it is desired to provide a user-friendly video recording device that does not require the user to operate the tape for setting the tape recording start position one by one before the recording time separately from the recording reservation operation. .

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a video recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk as a recording medium which can be randomly accessed; A means for managing the recording area on the medium, a means for converting the recording reservation designation from the user into a recording rule and holding it in the apparatus, and checking whether or not the recording condition is satisfied, and executing the recording when the condition is satisfied. It is provided with means for performing.

As described above, a user-friendly video recording apparatus can be provided by allocating a recording medium that can be randomly accessed as a recording medium and a recording file area when recording is reserved in advance.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific example of an embodiment of a video recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a video recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The video recording device 1a includes an input terminal 1b, an encoding unit 1c, a recording unit 1d, a control unit 1e, a decoding unit 1f, an input unit 1g, a remote control receiving unit 1h, an operation panel unit 1i, a ROM unit 1q, a RAM unit 1j, and a nonvolatile memory. Sex RA
It comprises an M section 1k, an OSD synthesis section 1m, and an output terminal 1n.
A remote control 1p for a user to input an instruction to the apparatus is also provided.

The control section 1e sequentially reads out the programs recorded in the ROM section 1q, and, based on the instructions described in the programs, encode section 1c, recording section 1d, decoding section 1f, OSD synthesizing section 1n, and input section. The unit 1g is controlled to control the entire apparatus.

When the input signal is an analog signal, the encoding section 1c converts the signal into a digital signal. As a digital encoding method of a video signal, for example, MPEG-2 (Moving Pictur)
e Experts Group 2), for example, ISO / IEC 13818-2
It is described in the specifications.

The recording section 1d records the video data digitally encoded by the encoding section 1c on a randomly accessible recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk.

The decoding section 1f decodes the digital signal read from the recording section 1d into an analog signal. As a decoding method, a decoding method corresponding to the method adopted in the encoding is employed. The OSD (On Screen Display) synthesis unit 1m synthesizes the decoded moving image and graphics,
The video signal is output to the output terminal 1n. The video data is transmitted to an external display device via the output terminal 1n and is displayed and reproduced. Examples of the external display device include a television monitor and a liquid crystal display. Although not described in this embodiment, for example, a speaker or a headphone is used for outputting audio data. Although the video recording device 1a in FIG. 1 has an external display device as an external device, it is also possible to incorporate a liquid crystal monitor in the device and display the decoded video data on the liquid crystal monitor, for example.

In this way, the video data input from the input terminal 1b is digitally encoded by the encoding unit 1c and is once recorded in the recording unit 1d. At the time of reproduction, the data is read from the recording unit 1d, decoded, synthesized with the OSD, and then displayed and reproduced.

The input unit 1g receives an instruction from the user using the remote control 1p via the remote control receiving unit 1h. The input unit 1g also receives an instruction from a user performed using the operation panel unit 1i. The received instruction from the user can be read by the control unit 1e.

The ROM 1q stores programs and data used in the programs. The RAM unit 1j is a work area when executing a program. Information related to recording reservation is stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 1k.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a user interface screen for instructing recording reservation. Upon receiving a recording reservation execution instruction from the user, the video recording apparatus displays the screen shown in FIG. 2 on the internal display device when the external device or the internal display device is provided. Here, an example of a weekly reservation is shown. Button 2d corresponding to the day of the week in the day of the week designation area 2a
By turning on / off from to 2j, it is possible to specify on which day of the week to perform recording. FIG. 2 shows an example in which recording is performed from Monday to Friday and not performed on Saturday and Sunday. In the recording channel / time designation area 2b, the recording channel 2k and the recording start time 2m
And the recording end time 2n. Save count designation area 2c
Specifies the number of saves, 2p, for how many broadcasts to keep for the latest broadcasts in the past. In this example, 10 is designated, and the oldest recorded data is sequentially overwritten from the eleventh recorded time.

FIG. 3 shows the concept of managing recorded data on a recording medium. This device employs the concept of a hierarchical directory introduced in disk management of a personal computer. One directory is allocated for each recording reservation. In addition, 1
One file is allocated for each recording. Also, control information necessary for each recording reservation is recorded and managed as one file. This control information file is indicated by 3e. What is shown from 3f to 3h is video data recorded in one recording.

FIG. 4 shows a file area on a disk for recording video data. Initial processing is performed when the user completes the recording reservation operation, and a physical continuous area on the disk is secured in advance. Each file is calculated from the recording bit rate, and a fixed-length file size enough to record the specified time is secured. Even when a variable bit rate is adopted, the size of each file can be determined because the time average bit rate is generally determined. In this way, by securing the file area in advance, it becomes possible to save the broadcast program for the specified number of times, and in addition, the file is secured in the physical continuous area, so the video quality during playback is also secured. There is also an advantage that it is easy to do.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of the file indicated by 3e in FIG. 3, which is control information necessary for making a recording reservation. The recording day of the week for recording is stored in the recording day storage area 5a. In this example, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are designated as recording dates. Further, 0 after “gold” is a symbol indicating the end of the designated content. The recording target channel number is recorded in the recording channel number storage area 5b. The recording start time is recorded in the recording start time storage area 5c. In the recording end time storage area 5d,
Record the recording end time. The effective recording file number storage area 5e records the number of recorded effective files among the recording files prepared in advance shown in FIGS. The total recording file storage area 5f records the total number of files prepared for recording. First file pointer 5
g indicates the oldest file among valid recording files. The last file pointer 5h points to the newest file among the effective recording files. From file 1 information (recording date and time) 5i to file M information (recording date and time) 5k,
Shows the date and time when the content of each corresponding recording file was recorded. The recording processing is controlled using these pieces of control information. Files 1 to 5m to file M to 5q are files for recording recorded data.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a format for holding the contents of a recording reservation instruction from the user internally. Here, a method of converting one recording reservation content into a rule form and holding it will be considered. The rule includes a condition part and a processing part executed when the condition is satisfied. In FIG. 6, lines 6a to 6e are conditional parts,
Lines 6f to 6j are processing units. FIG.
Rows a to 7e are the condition part, and rows 7f to 7j are the processing part.

FIG. 6 shows the rules for the recording start process. Each rule is numbered, and the rule in FIG. It is managed as 1. 6b to 6e
Lines up to the line are the condition part, and lines 6h to 6j describe processing executed when the condition is satisfied. Hereinafter, description will be made for each line. Line 6a describes the system reserved word 'IF' and indicates that the conditional part starts from the next line. Line 6b is
Comment line. Here, the comment is enclosed by '/ *' and '* /'. Lines 6c and 6e describe conditions for establishing this rule. Also, 6d
Since the system reserved word 'and' is described in the line,
This rule is satisfied when both the condition on line 6c and the condition on line 6e are satisfied. Line 6c determines whether today corresponds to the recording day specified by the user.
Here, “＄ day of the week” is a system variable that reads the day of the week from the calendar clock provided in the system and returns it as the value of the system variable. Also, 'Program 1. The “recording day” is a recording day designated by the user regarding program 1. It indicates the designated value stored in the recording day storage area of the control information file of the program 1. Line 6e determines whether the current time corresponds to the recording start time specified by the user. Here, “＄ current time” is a system variable, and the current time is read from the calendar clock provided in the system and returned as the value of the system variable. Also, 'Program 1. “Recording start time” is a recording start time of the program 1 specified by the user. Program 1
Designated in the control information file in the recording start time storage area. Line 6f is the system reserved word 'TH
EN 'is described to indicate that the description of the processing to be executed when the condition is satisfied starts from the next line. Line 6g is a comment line. The processing is described in the portions enclosed in parentheses on lines 6h and 6j. In this example, the processing executed when the condition is satisfied is described in line 6i. Line 6i instructs the system to start the recording process of program 1.
“Recording start (program 1)” is an instruction to execute the process by passing a parameter of program 1 to a recording start process prepared in advance by the system.

FIG. 7 shows the rules for the recording end processing. The rule in FIG. Manage as 2. Lines 7b to 7e represent the condition part, and lines 7h to 7j describe processing executed when the condition is satisfied. Hereinafter, description will be made for each line. Line 7a describes the system reserved word 'IF' and indicates that the conditional part starts from the next line. Line 7b is a comment line. Rows 7c and 7e
The line describes the conditions for the establishment of this rule. In addition, since the system reserved word 'and' is described in line 7d, this rule is satisfied when both the condition in line 7c and the condition in line 7e are satisfied. Line 7c determines whether today corresponds to the recording day specified by the user. Here, “＄ day of the week” is a system variable that reads the day of the week from the calendar clock provided in the system and returns it as the value of the system variable. Also, 'Program 1. The “recording day” is a recording day designated by the user regarding program 1. It indicates the designated value stored in the recording day storage area of the control information file of the program 1. Line 7e determines whether the current time corresponds to the recording end time specified by the user. Here, “＄ current time” is a system variable, and the current time is read from the calendar clock provided in the system and returned as the value of the system variable. Also, 'Program 1. 'Recording end time'
This is the recording end time of the program 1 specified by the user. It indicates the designated value stored in the recording end time storage area of the control information file of the program 1. Line 7f describes the system reserved word 'THEN', and indicates that the description of the process to be executed when the condition is satisfied starts from the next line. Line 7g is a comment line. The processing is described in the portions enclosed in parentheses on lines 7h and 7j. In this example, the processing executed when the condition is satisfied is described in line 7i. Line 7i instructs the system to end the recording process of program 1. “Recording end (program 1)” is an instruction to execute the process by passing a parameter of program 1 to a recording end process prepared in advance by the system. As described above, when the user performs a recording reservation operation of a program, the rule is converted into the rules shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and is held inside the system. When the user performs a recording reservation canceling operation, the corresponding rule is also deleted from the system.

Next, a program for actually performing a recording reservation process will be described. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the main processing program MAIN of the present video recording apparatus. Hereinafter, the flow of this processing will be described.

(8-1) In step 8a, an instruction from the user is waited. If there is an instruction from the user, the process proceeds to step 8b.

(8-2) In step 8b, it is checked whether or not the instruction from the user is a recording reservation. If the recording reservation function is selected, the process proceeds to step 8c, and if a function other than the recording reservation function is selected, the process proceeds to step 8d.

(8-3) In step 8c, a recording reservation process REC_RESERVATION is called. When the recording reservation process is completed, the process returns to step 8a, and the process is continued.

(8-4) In step 8d, a process corresponding to the user's instruction is executed. After the processing, step 8
Returning to a, the processing is continued.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of the recording reservation process REC_RESERVATION. This process is called when the user selects the recording reservation function. Hereinafter, the flow of this processing will be described.

(14-1) In step 14a, a recording reservation screen is displayed and an instruction from the user is accepted.

(14-2) In step 14b, the recording directories and files shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are created.

(14-3) In step 14c, the received user instruction is converted into a rule and stored.

Regarding the rule formation of the recording reservation contents,
This is described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the periodic interrupt processing TIM_INT. This process is a periodic interrupt process.
It is executed in parallel with the main processing MAIN of FIG. It is assumed that a multitask OS is adopted as an operating system of the present apparatus, and such processing is executed in parallel. In this processing, it is checked whether or not the recording reservation rule is satisfied, and if there is a rule that satisfies the condition, a rule interpretation execution interrupter INTERPRETER for executing a processing unit of the rule is activated. This rule interpretation interpreter also performs main processing MAIN and periodic interrupt processing TIM_
Executed in parallel with INT. Hereinafter, the flow of this processing will be described.

(9-1) The rule condition satisfaction check is performed according to the rule No. Perform based on. Therefore, first, in step 9a, in order to start the processing, the search rule No.
Is initialized.

(9-2) In step 9b, it is checked whether all registered rules have been checked. When all the registered rules have been checked, the present process ends.
If the check has not been completed, the process proceeds to step 9c.

(9-3) In step 9c, it is checked whether the conditions of the rule to be checked are satisfied.

(9-4) If the rule condition is satisfied in step 9d, the process proceeds to step 9e. If the rule condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step 9f.

(9-5) In step 9e, the rule No. for which the condition is satisfied Starts the rule interpretation interpreter INTERPRETER as a task with

(9-6) In step 9f, check the rule No. to be checked. And returns to step 9b.

FIG. 10 shows a rule interpretation execution interrupter INTE.
3 shows a flowchart of RPRETER. This processing is performed for the given rule No. Is read out line by line and executed while interpreting the processing contents. Hereinafter, the flow of this processing will be described.

(10-1) In step 10a, one line of the process described in the processing section of the rule is read.

(10-2) In step 10b, it is checked whether or not all processes to be executed have been completed. When all the processes to be executed are completed, the present process is completed. If there is a process to be executed, the process proceeds to step 10c.

(10-3) In step 10c, the process described in the read one line is executed. Upon completion of the process, the process returns to step 10a to continue the process.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show recording start processing REC_ST.
The flowchart of ART is shown. In this process, a recording start process is performed using the control information and the recording file shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the flow of this processing will be described.

(11-1) In step 11a, the control information of the recording reservation is read out to the memory.

(11-2) In step 11b, it is checked whether the number of valid recording files is 0, and it is checked whether this is the first recording reservation. If this is the first recording reservation (if the number of valid recording files is 0), step 1
Proceed to 2a. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step 11c.

(11-3) In step 11c, 1 is added to the final file pointer, and the file pointer is changed to point to the file used in the current recording. The last file pointer is a pointer indicating the most recently used recording file.

(11-4) In step 11d, it is checked whether or not the last file pointer updated in step 11c has exceeded the maximum number M of recorded files. If the value of the last file pointer exceeds the maximum recording file total number M,
Proceed to step 11e. If not, step 1
Proceed to 1f.

(11-5) In step 11e, 1 is set to the last file pointer. As a result of this processing, when the final file pointer exceeds the maximum total number M of recorded files, the contents of the recorded file 1 are overwritten by the current recording processing.

(11-6) In step 11f, it is checked whether the first file pointer and the last file pointer have the same value. Here, the first file pointer is
This is the oldest recorded data. If the first file pointer and the last file pointer have the same value, step 11
Proceed to g. Otherwise, go to step 12a. Here, the case where the first file pointer and the last file pointer have the same value is a case where all the recorded files have been used and the data of the oldest recorded file is overwritten by the current recording processing. Therefore, it is necessary to advance the head file pointer pointing to the oldest recorded file by one.

(11-7) In step 11g, 1 is added to the head file pointer.

(11-8) In step 11h, it is checked whether or not the leading file pointer exceeds the total number of recorded files. If the value of the head file pointer exceeds the maximum total number M of recorded files, the process proceeds to step 12a. If not, the process proceeds to step 11i.

(11-9) In step 11i, 1 is set to the head file pointer.

(11-10) At step 12a, the recording file No. to be used this time is To set the value of the last file pointer.

(11-11) In step 12b, a recording file is initialized.

(11-12) In step 12c, an instruction to start the recording process is issued.

Thus, this processing is completed.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the recording end process REC_STOP. Hereinafter, the flow of this processing will be described.

(13-1) In step 13a, the control information of the recording reservation is read out to the memory.

(13-2) In step 13b, the recording file No. to be operated this time is To set the value of the last file pointer.

(13-3) In step 13c, a recording end process is performed.

(13-4) In step 13d, the recording date and time information of the recording file is written in the file information (recording date and time) area indicated by 5i to 5k in the control information of FIG.

(13-5) In step 13e, it is checked whether or not the total number of recorded files is equal to the maximum total number M of recorded files. If the same, all recorded files have already been used, so there is no need to increment the total number of recorded files. This processing ends as it is. If the total number of recorded files is not the same as the maximum total number M of recorded files, the process proceeds to step 13f.

(13-6) In step 13f, 1 is added to the total number of recorded files.

(13-7) In step 13g, the control information of the recording reservation is written back to the disk, and the process is terminated.

As apparent from the above description, according to the video recording apparatus of this embodiment, the user only has to perform the recording reservation operation, and adjust the recording start position of the recording medium one by one before the recording time. An easy-to-use video recording device that does not need to be performed can be provided. Further, according to the video recording apparatus of the present embodiment, when recording a broadcast in the same time zone broadcasted monthly, weekly, daily, or by specifying a day of the week, such as a serial drama or a series broadcast, It is possible to automatically hold the specified number of times from the latest one among the minutes.

[0067]

According to the present invention, a user can perform only a recording reservation operation, and an easy-to-use video recording apparatus that does not need to adjust the recording start position of the recording medium before recording time. Can be provided. Furthermore, according to the present invention, when recording a broadcast of the same time zone broadcasted on a monthly, weekly, daily, or weekday basis, such as a serial drama or series broadcast, the latest broadcast among past broadcasts is recorded. It can be automatically retained for a specified number of times.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of a video recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a recording reservation screen.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a recording directory and a file structure.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an area of a recording file on a disk.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of control information and a recording file used for recording reservation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a rule for starting recording.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a rule for ending recording.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a main processing procedure of the video recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a periodic interrupt processing procedure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a rule interpretation execution interpreter processing procedure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recording start processing procedure (1/2).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a recording start processing procedure (2/2).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a recording end processing procedure;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a recording reservation processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a: video recording device, 1b: input terminal, 1c: code section,
1d: recording unit, 1e: control unit, 1f: decoding unit, 1g: input unit, 1h: remote control receiving unit, 1i: operation panel unit, 1
j: RAM unit, 1k: Non-volatile RAM unit, 1m: OSD
Synthesizing unit, 1n output terminal, 1p remote control.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/781 H04N 5/781 510J 5/85 G11B 27/02 A F-term (Reference) 5C052 AA03 AB02 CC11 DD04 EE02 5C053 FA23 FA24 GA11 GB06 GB21 GB38 GB40 KA01 LA06 LA07 5D044 BC01 BC02 CC04 DE92 DE96 EF05 GK11 5D110 AA13 AA14 AA29 CA05 CA13 CA16 CA26 CB07 CD02 CD06 CD15 CJ03 CJ04 CJ12 DA12 DA16 DB03 DC05 DC15 DE02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for recording a video, wherein a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk is used as a recording medium which is randomly accessible, and a user designates a recording reservation and a means for managing a recording area on the recording medium. When,
A video recording apparatus comprising: means for converting a recording reservation designation from a user into a recording rule and holding the same in the apparatus; and means for checking whether a recording condition is satisfied and executing recording when the condition is satisfied. 2. A device for recording a video, wherein a recording medium such as an optical disk or a hard disk is used as a recording medium which can be accessed randomly, and a user designates a recording reservation and a means for managing a recording area on the recording medium. When,
A medium storing a program for executing means for converting a recording reservation designation from a user into a recording rule and holding the same in the apparatus, and for checking whether or not a recording condition is satisfied and executing recording when the condition is satisfied.