JP2001238174A - Electronic apparatus and recording-reproducing system using the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously record the recording data obtained via a master unit by processing input signals to slave units from the master unit and also to attain two-way editing of the recording data between the master unit and slave units. SOLUTION: Slave units 30A and 30B are connected to a master unit 20 via serial buses 40A and 40B. The unit 20 has an HDD and records the recording data obtained by decoding the video or audio signals as input signals on a hard disk in a recording mode. When no recordable areas of the hard disk are available, the recording data are sent to the units 30A and 30B via the buses 40A and 40B and recorded continuously on the hard disks of both units 30A and 30B. Furthermore, the recording data are transferred in two ways between the unit 20 and units 30A and 30B via the buses 40A and 40B and then edited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device for recording and reproducing video signals and audio signals, and a recording and reproducing system using the same. More specifically, recording data obtained by processing input signals (video signals and audio signals) and recording data reproduced from a data recording medium can be transmitted to an external electronic device through a communication interface, and the external By enabling recording data from the electronic device to be received by the communication interface, the recording data obtained by processing the input signal can be recorded by the external electronic device, and can be connected to the external electronic device. The present invention relates to an electronic device or the like which enables bidirectional editing of recording data between the devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally known VCR (Video Cassette Rec)
In (order), after the recording is completed to the mounted tape cassette, the recording is stopped until a new tape cassette is mounted.

Conventionally, a tape editing operation can be performed by using a recording / reproduction VCR and a reproduction-only VCR.

[0004]

As described above, if the recording is stopped until a new tape cassette is mounted, there is a problem that a part of the recording signal is not recorded. Further, as described above, in the editing operation using the recording / reproduction VCR and the reproduction-only VCR, the reproduction-only VCR is used.
This is a one-way editing operation performed by supplying a reproduction signal from the VCR to the recording / reproduction VCR, and thus the editing efficiency is poor.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the recording data obtained by processing the input signal can be recorded by an external electronic device, and the recording data can be bidirectionally exchanged with the external electronic device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device or the like that enables editing of a document.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus (parent device) for inputting at least a video signal or an audio signal as an input signal, and an input terminal input to the input terminal. An encoder that obtains recording data from a signal, a communication interface for performing data communication between the electronic device and an external electronic device, and selectively outputs the recording data obtained by the encoder or the recording data received by the communication interface. A data recording unit for recording on the data recording medium, a data reproducing unit for reproducing the recording data from the data recording medium, and selectively recording data reproduced by the data reproducing unit or recording data received by the communication interface. A decoder for processing to obtain at least a video signal or an audio signal as an output signal;
An output terminal for outputting an output signal obtained by the decoder; and a communication interface for transmitting the recording data obtained by the encoder or the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means to an external electronic device and to an external device. Communication control means for controlling reception of recording data from the electronic device.

[0007] An electronic device (child device) according to the invention of claim 6
A communication interface for performing data communication with an external electronic device, and a data recording unit that records on a data recording medium at least recording data relating to a video signal or an audio signal received through the communication interface, A data reproducing unit for reproducing the recording data from the data recording medium; and selectively processing the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing unit or the recording data received by the communication interface to convert at least a video signal or an audio signal. A decoder for obtaining an output signal, an output terminal for outputting an output signal obtained by the decoder, and a communication interface for transmitting recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means to an external electronic device and for transmitting the recording data from the external electronic device. Communication control means for controlling reception of the recording data. .

A recording / reproducing system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes the electronic device (parent device) according to the first aspect of the invention and one or more electronic devices (child devices) according to the sixth aspect of the invention. Things.

In the present invention, in the master unit, an input signal input to the input terminal section is supplied to the encoder to obtain recording data. When the input signal is a video signal, data compression processing is performed on the video signal to obtain recording data. The recording data is recorded on a data recording medium such as a hard disk or transmitted to an external electronic device via a communication interface such as an IEEE 1394 communication interface. Also, the recording data reproduced from the data recording medium or the recording data received by the communication interface from the external electronic device is processed by the decoder to obtain an output signal,
This output signal is output to the output terminal unit. The recording data reproduced from the data recording medium is transmitted to an external electronic device via the communication interface.

[0010] In the slave unit, the recording data received by the communication interface is recorded on a data recording medium. The recording data reproduced from the data recording medium is transmitted to an external electronic device via the communication interface. The recording data reproduced from the data recording medium or the recording data received by the communication interface is processed by a decoder to obtain an output signal, and the output signal is output to an output terminal.

Thus, the recording data obtained by the encoder of the master unit can be transmitted to the slave unit via the communication interface, and can be recorded on the data recording medium of the slave unit.
Therefore, by transmitting the recording data that cannot be recorded on the data recording medium of the master unit to the slave unit, it is possible to continue recording on the data recording medium of the slave unit and prevent a part of the recording data from being lost. Further, recording data can be communicated between the master unit and the slave unit via the communication interface. Therefore, bidirectional editing of the recording data becomes possible, and the editing operation can be performed efficiently.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a recording and reproducing system 10 capable of recording and reproducing video signals and audio signals. The recording / reproducing system 10 includes one master unit 20.
And two slave units 30A and 30B.

On the front panel of the base unit 20, a power button 21 for turning on and off the power, and a remote control signal (hereinafter, referred to as a "remote control signal") by, for example, infrared rays from a remote control transmitter (not shown) are received. Signal receiving section 22, a light-emitting element group 23 for displaying input and output switching states, a display section 24 for displaying the state of the device and the like, and a plurality of input keys and the like. The arranged operation unit 25 is arranged. The base unit 20 has a plurality of input terminals and output terminals for connecting video equipment and audio equipment. In the illustrated example, the television receiver 50, C
S (Communication Satellite) tuner 60 and V
CR70 is connected.

A power button 31 for turning on / off the power is provided on a front panel of each of the slave units 30A and 30B, and a remote control signal receiving unit for receiving a remote control signal, for example, by infrared rays from a remote control transmitter (not shown). 32,
A display unit 33 configured by a liquid crystal display device or the like and displaying the state of the device and the like, and an operation unit 34 provided with a plurality of input keys and the like are arranged. The slave unit 30A includes a TFT liquid crystal monitor 35 as a monitor.
B does not have such a monitor. These slaves 30
A and 30B are serial buses (IEEE139), respectively.
4 buses) 40A and 40B are connected to the base unit 20.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the master unit 20. The base unit 20 includes a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a controller) for controlling the operation of the entire device.
(Referred to as a “microcomputer”) 201. The display unit 24 (here, including the light emitting element group 23), the operation unit 25, and the remote control signal receiving unit 22 are connected to the microcomputer 201.

Base unit 20 has three analog video signal input terminals 202a to 202c, a changeover switch 203 for selectively extracting video signals input to these input terminals 202a to 202c, A / A for converting the analog video signal taken out by the switch 203 into a digital signal to obtain video data VD
And a D converter 204.

Base unit 20 has three analog audio signal input terminals 205a-205c, a changeover switch 206 for selectively extracting video signals input to these input terminals 205a-205c, An A / D converter 207 for converting an analog audio signal taken out by the switch 206 into a digital signal to obtain audio data AD is provided. The changeover switches 203 and 206 are switched in conjunction with each other.

Master device 20 has encoder / decoder 208. This encoder / decoder 208
Performs encoding processing on the data VD and AD output from the A / D converters 204 and 207 to obtain recording data, and is reproduced from a hard disk or received via a serial communication interface as described later. The data VD and AD are obtained by decoding the recorded data.

For example, the video data VD is converted into, for example, MPEG2 (digital recording) recording data by an encoding process. In this case, the user can select a recording mode with a different compression ratio by operating the remote control transmitter or the operation unit 25. The higher the compression ratio is, the lower the image quality is, but the longer the recording time can be. The audio data AD is encoded, for example, by MPEG1 Layer.
The recording data is r2 (digital recording).

Master device 20 also outputs video data V obtained by the decoding process of encoder / decoder 208.
D / A converter 209 for converting D into an analog signal to obtain an analog video signal, output terminals 211a to 211c for three analog video signals, and output terminal 21 for outputting the analog video signal obtained from D / A converter 209
And a changeover switch 210 for selectively outputting the signals to 1a to 211c.

Base unit 20 also includes a D / A converter 212 that converts audio data AD obtained by the decoding processing of encoder / decoder 208 into an analog signal to obtain an analog audio signal, and a three-system analog audio signal The output terminals 214a to 214c and D /
A changeover switch 213 for selectively outputting an analog audio signal obtained from the A converter 212 to the output terminals 214a to 214c. The changeover switches 210 and 213 are switched in conjunction with each other.

Master unit 20 has serial communication interfaces 215A and 215B for performing high-speed serial communication with slave units 30A and 30B, and terminals 216A and 215 connected to these interfaces 215A and 215B.
6B. In the present embodiment, an IEEE 1394 communication interface is used as the interfaces 215A and 215B. Terminals 216A, 2
16B is used to connect the slave units 30A and 30B, respectively. The operation of transmitting and receiving data in the interfaces 215A and 215B is performed by the microcomputer 201.
Is controlled by

Master device 20 records the recording data obtained by the encoding process of encoder / decoder 208 or the recording data received by interfaces 215A and 215b on a hard disk, and also outputs the recording data from the hard disk. It has a hard disk drive (HDD) 217 for reproduction. The recording / reproducing operation of the drive 217 is performed by the microcomputer 201.
Is controlled through the HD controller 218.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of the slave unit 30A. The slave 30A has a microcomputer 301 as a controller for controlling the operation of the entire device.
The microcomputer 301 is provided with the display unit 33 and the operation unit 3 described above.
4 and the remote control signal receiving unit 32 are connected.

The slave 30A has a decoder 302. The decoder 302 decodes the recording data reproduced from the hard disk or received via the serial communication interface (see the description of the parent device 20) as described later, and decodes the data VD,
It is for obtaining AD.

The slave unit 30A converts a video data VD obtained by the decoding process of the decoder 302 into an analog signal to obtain an analog video signal, and an output terminal for outputting the analog video signal. 304 and a D / A converter 3 for converting audio data AD obtained by the decoding process of the decoder 302 into an analog signal to obtain an analog audio signal
05, and an output terminal 306 for outputting the analog audio signal. The D / A converter 30
The video signal and audio signal from 3,305 are also supplied to the TFT liquid crystal monitor 35 described above.

The slave 30A has a serial communication interface 307 for performing high-speed serial communication with the master 20, and a terminal 308 connected to the interface 307. In the present embodiment, an IEEE 1394 communication interface is used as the interface 307. Terminal 308 is used to connect to master device 20. The operation of transmitting and receiving data in the interface 307 is performed by the microcomputer 301.
Is controlled by

The slave 30A is connected to the interface 30
7, a hard disk drive (HDD) 309 for recording the recording data received on the hard disk and reproducing the recording data from the hard disk. The recording / reproducing operation of the drive 309 is as follows.
It is controlled by the microcomputer 301 through the HD controller 310.

Although a detailed description is omitted, the circuit configuration of the slave unit 30B is the same as that of the slave unit 30A described above except that the TFT liquid crystal monitor 35 is not provided. Hereinafter, when referring to both the slaves 30A and 30B, it is described as “slave 30”.

The operation of the recording / reproducing system 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

An operation when recording is instructed by an operation of the remote control transmitter or the operation unit 25 (hereinafter, referred to as "user operation") will be described.

Encoder / decoder 208 of master unit 20
The video data VD corresponding to the analog video signal extracted by the changeover switch 203 is supplied to the A / D converter 2.
The audio data AD supplied from the A / D converter 207 is supplied from the A / D converter 207.
In the encoder / decoder 208, the data VD,
An encoding process is performed on the AD to generate recording data. Then, the recording data is transferred to the hard disk drive 217 and recorded on the hard disk.

Here, an operation in the case where recording data is recorded on the hard disk by the drive 217 and the recordable recording area on the hard disk runs out will be described.

When the slave unit continuous recording mode is set in advance by a user operation, if the hard disk drive 217 of the base unit 20 runs out of recording areas that can be recorded on the hard disk, the recording / reproducing generated by the encoder / decoder 208 is performed. The data is transmitted from the interface 215A to the slave 30A. In the slave unit 30A, the recording data is received by the serial interface 307, transferred to the hard disk drive 309, and recorded on the hard disk.

When the recording data is recorded on the hard disk by the slave unit 30A as described above and the recording area that can be recorded on the hard disk runs out,
Further, the recording data is transmitted from the parent device 20 to the child device 30B, and the recording data is recorded on the hard disk by the child device 30B.

When the slave unit continuous recording mode is not set in advance by the user operation, the recording is immediately stopped when the hard disk drive 217 of the master unit 20 runs out of recordable areas on the hard disk.

As described above, by connecting the slave unit 30 to the master unit 20 and setting the slave unit continuous recording mode, the recording data is continuously transferred from the hard disk of the master unit 20 to the hard disk of the slave unit 30. Since recording is performed, recording can be performed for a long time without causing recording data to be lost.

In the above-described recording operation, first,
Has been described, the recording data generated by the encoder / decoder 208 of the master unit 20 is transferred to the slave unit 3 by a user operation.
0 can be set to be recorded only on the hard disk.

In this case, the recording data generated by the encoder / decoder 208 of the master unit 20 is transmitted to the slave unit 30 from the interface 215A (215B). In the slave unit 30, the data for recording is received by the interface 307, transferred to the hard disk drive 309, and recorded on the hard disk.

As described above, even if the slave unit 30 does not have the encoding function, the recording data corresponding to the input signal relating to the video signal and the audio signal can be recorded on the hard disk. Since these slave units 30 do not require an encoding function, the circuit scale can be reduced as compared with the master unit 20.
It can be constructed at low cost.

Next, the operation when the reproduction is instructed by a user operation will be described.

Hard disk drive 217 of master device 20
In, the data for recording is reproduced from the hard disk,
This recording data is transferred to the encoder / decoder 208. In the encoder / decoder 208, decoding processing is performed on the recording data to generate video data VD and audio data AD. Then, an analog video signal corresponding to the video data VD is output to the output terminal selected by the changeover switch 210. Similarly, an analog audio signal corresponding to the audio data AD is output to the output terminal selected by the changeover switch 213. As a result, it becomes possible to monitor audio and images corresponding to the recording data reproduced from the hard disk.

Here, the operation in the case where the reproduction of the recording data from the hard disk of the master unit 20 has been completed and the continuation is recorded on the hard disk of the slave unit 30A will be described.

When the continuous playback mode has been set in advance by a user operation, the drive 21
7, when the reproduction from the hard disk is completed, the slave unit 30A reproduces the subsequent recording data from the hard disk by the drive 309, and the recording data is transmitted from the interface 307 to the parent device 20. In the base unit 20, the recording data is transferred to the interface 215A.
, And transferred to the encoder / decoder 208 for decoding.

When the reproduction of the recording data from the hard disk of the slave 30A has been completed and the continuation is recorded on the hard disk of the slave 30B, the recording data continued from the hard disk of the slave 30B. Is reproduced and transmitted to the base unit 20.

When the slave unit continuous playback mode has not been set in advance by a user operation, the drive 2 of the master unit 20
When the reproduction of the recording data from the hard disk ends at 17, the reproduction is immediately stopped.

As described above, by connecting the slave unit 30 to the master unit 20 and setting the slave unit continuous playback mode, after the reproduction from the hard disk of the master unit 20 is completed, Since reproduction is performed continuously, smooth reproduction for a long time is possible.

In the above-described reproducing operation, first, the master unit 20
The case where the recording data is reproduced from the hard disk of the slave unit 30 has been described, but it is possible to set so that only the reproduction from the hard disk of the slave unit 30 is performed by the user operation. In this case, for example, the recording data reproduced from the hard disk by the drive 309 of the child device 30A is
7 is transmitted to the base unit 20. In the base unit 20, the recording data is received by the interface 215A, transferred to the encoder / decoder 208, and decoded.

In the above-described reproduction operation, the decoding process is performed by the encoder / decoder 208 of the parent device 20, but there is also a reproduction operation in which the decoding process is performed by the decoder 302 of the child device 30.

First, the operation in the case where the recording data is reproduced from the hard disk of the slave 30 will be described. In this case, the reproduced recording data is transferred to the decoder 302. The decoder 302 performs a decoding process on the recording data to generate video data VD and audio data AD. And the video data V
An analog video signal corresponding to D is output to an output terminal 304, and an analog audio signal corresponding to audio data AD is output to an output terminal 306. T
In the case of the slave unit 30A including the FT liquid crystal monitor 35, the TFT liquid crystal monitor 35 enables monitoring of audio and images corresponding to the reproduced recording data. During such a reproducing operation, the slave 30 is connected to the serial bus 40A.
It is not necessary to connect to the parent device 20 in (40B). That is, the reproduction operation can be performed only by the child device 30.

Next, the operation when the recording data is reproduced from the hard disk of the master unit 20 will be described. In this case, the recording data is reproduced from the hard disk by the drive 217 of the parent device 20, and the recording data is transmitted to the child device 30 from the interface 215A (215B).
In the slave 30, the recording data is transmitted to the interface 30.
7 and transferred to the decoder 302 for decoding.

Next, the operation when dubbing is instructed by a user operation will be described. From the parent device 20 to the child device 30
In the case of dubbing, the recording data for dubbing is reproduced from the hard disk by the drive 217 of the master unit 20, and the recording data is transmitted to the interface 215A (2
15B). In the slave 30, the recording data is received by the interface 307, and is recorded on the hard disk by the drive 309. Conversely, in the case of dubbing from the child device 30 to the parent device 20, recording data for dubbing is reproduced from the hard disk by the drive 309 of the child device 30, and the recording data is transmitted from the interface 307 to the parent device 20. You. In master device 20, the data for recording is transferred to interface 215A (21
5B) and recorded on the hard disk by the drive 217.

As described above, since the dubbing from the master unit 20 to the slave unit 30 and the dubbing from the slave unit 30 to the master unit 20 are possible, bidirectional editing is possible, and the editing work is performed efficiently. Can be.

In the above embodiment, the master unit 2
Although a description has been given of a case where two slaves 30A and 30B can be connected to 0, the number of slaves connected to the master 20 is not limited to this. Further, the child device 30A,
Although the case where both of the devices 30B are connected by the serial buses 40A and 40B is shown, for example, a configuration in which the child device 30A is connected to the parent device 20 and the child device 30B is connected to the child device 30A may be adopted.

[0056]

According to the present invention, the recording data obtained by the encoder of the master unit (electronic device) can be transmitted to the slave unit (electronic device) via the communication interface and recorded on the data recording medium of the slave unit. By transmitting recording data that cannot be recorded on the data recording medium of the master unit to the slave unit, it is possible to continue recording on the data recording medium of the slave unit and to prevent a part of the recording data from being recorded. Can be prevented. Further, according to the present invention, the recording data can be transferred between the master unit and the slave unit via the communication interface, so that the recording data can be bidirectionally edited, and the editing operation can be performed efficiently. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording / reproducing system as an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a master unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the slave unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 recording / reproducing system 20 master unit 22, 32 remote control signal receiving unit 24, 33 display unit 25, 34 operation unit 30A, 30B slave unit 35 TFT liquid crystal monitor 40A, 40B serial bus 201, 301 microcomputers 202a to 202c, 205a to 205c Input terminals 203, 206, 210, 213 Changeover switches 204, 207 A / D converters 208 Encoder / decoders 209, 212, 303, 305 D / A converters 211a to 211c, 214a to 214c, 304, 3
06 Output terminal 215A, 215B, 307 Serial communication interface 217, 309 Hard disk drive 302 Decoder

Claims (10)

[Claims] An input terminal for inputting at least a video signal or an audio signal as an input signal, an encoder for obtaining recording data from the input signal input to the input terminal, and an external electronic device A communication interface for performing data communication, data recording means for selectively recording the recording data obtained by the encoder or the recording data received by the communication interface on a data recording medium, and the data recording Data reproducing means for reproducing the recording data from the medium, selectively processing the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means or the recording data received by the communication interface, at least a video signal or A decoder for obtaining an audio signal as an output signal; An output terminal unit for outputting an output signal, and in the communication interface, transmitting the recording data obtained by the encoder or the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means to the external electronic device and An electronic device comprising: a communication control unit that controls reception of the recording data from an external electronic device. 2. When the input signal input to the input terminal unit is a video signal, the encoder performs a data compression process on the video signal to obtain the recording data. The electronic device according to claim 1. 3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a compression ratio selection unit for selecting a compression ratio in said data compression processing. 4. The communication interface according to claim 1, wherein:
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a 394 communication interface. 5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the data recording medium is a hard disk. 6. A communication interface for performing data communication with an external electronic device, and data recording for recording at least data for recording of a video signal or an audio signal received by the communication interface on a data recording medium. Means, data reproducing means for reproducing the recording data from the data recording medium, and selectively processing the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means or the recording data received by the communication interface. A decoder for outputting at least a video signal or an audio signal as an output signal; an output terminal for outputting the output signal obtained by the decoder; and the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means in the communication interface. Transmission to the external electronic device and the external electronic device An electronic apparatus comprising: a communication control means for controlling the reception of al of the recording data. 7. The communication interface according to claim 1, wherein:
The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the electronic device is a 394 communication interface. 8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the data recording medium is a hard disk. 9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a monitor for monitoring the output signal obtained by the decoder. 10. A master unit and one or more slave units, wherein the master unit has at least an input terminal section for inputting at least a video signal or an audio signal as an input signal, and the input terminal input to the input terminal section. An encoder for obtaining recording data from a signal; a communication interface for performing data communication with the slave unit; and the recording data obtained by the encoder or the recording data received by the communication interface. Data recording means for selectively recording on a data recording medium; data reproducing means for reproducing the recording data from the data recording medium; and the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means or received by the communication interface. And selectively processing the recording data to output at least a video signal or an audio signal. And an output terminal unit for outputting the output signal obtained by the decoder; and the recording data reproduced by the encoder or the recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means in the communication interface. Communication control means for controlling transmission of data to the slave unit and reception of the recording data from the slave unit, wherein the slave unit has a communication interface for performing data communication with the master unit. A data recording unit that records at least a recording signal relating to a video signal or an audio signal received by the communication interface on a data recording medium; a data reproducing unit that reproduces the recording data from the data recording medium; The recording data reproduced by the data reproducing means or the recording data received by the communication interface. A decoder for selectively processing data for use to obtain at least a video signal or an audio signal as an output signal; an output terminal for outputting the output signal obtained by the decoder; and the data reproducing means in the communication interface A communication control means for controlling transmission of the recording data reproduced in the step (a) to the master unit and reception of the recording data from the master unit.