JP2002208265A - Recording and reproducing device, method of controlling recording and reproducing device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording and reproducing device which facilitates time input of the recording and reproducing device and permits setting of intricate and many timer operations, a control method for the recording and reproducing device and a recording medium. SOLUTION: An information processor 200 connected by a connection cable 300 to an audio device 100 executes a timer setting program and a time setting screen is displayed on a display section 240. A user inputs the desired timer time and timer operation by operating an input section 230 from the displayed time setting screen. The inputted information is stored in a memory section 250 of the information processor 200. A control section 220 of the information processor 200 at any time acquires the present time, forms a control signal to instruct the corresponding timer operation and delivers the signal to the audio device 100 when the present time coincides with the timer time stored in the memory section 250.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus which can be timer-controlled by an external computer, a control method for the recording / reproducing apparatus, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an audio device having a built-in timer function. By using the timer function,
For example, a CD (Compact Disc) is automatically set at a set time.
Players and tuners are operated to play music and receive radio broadcasts.
It is possible to record on a recording medium such as D (Mini Disk). This function is used, for example, to use music playback as an alarm or to record a radio broadcast when not present.

However, audio equipment often has insufficient keys for timer input and the like due to size restrictions and the like. Therefore, the operation for inputting the set time is complicated.

[0004] Audio equipment does not usually require a large-capacity memory function. For this reason, there have been problems in that the number of programs that can be set in the timer is limited, and the settable time is limited only to the start time. Furthermore, in the case of a complicated program such as switching of a reproduction source, necessary information is increased, so that such a program cannot be set.

[0005] These problems also occur when the timer is set by, for example, a remote controller attached to audio equipment.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a recording / reproducing apparatus, a control method for a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a recording / reproducing apparatus which enable complicated and multiple timer settings with easy input. The purpose is to provide a medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an audio signal, wherein a control for controlling a recording / reproducing operation is provided. Means connected to an external computer, a connection means for receiving a control signal generated and output at a predetermined time by a timer operation of the computer, and the control means in response to the control signal received by the connection means And means for operating.

According to such a configuration, a recording / reproducing device such as an audio device is configured to be connectable to a computer such as a personal computer, and the connected computer controls the timer of the recording / reproducing device. Computers usually have input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and storage devices such as a hard disk device.
It is easy to input a timer program such as time information, and a large number of timer programs can be set and stored.

In the above recording / reproducing apparatus, the control signal includes information indicating a type of a recording / reproducing operation, and the control means controls the recording / reproducing operation based on operation type information included in the control signal. Is desirable.

According to such a configuration, by using the high processing capacity and storage capacity of the computer, a complicated timer program such as switching between recording and playback sources is set, and a control signal indicating such a timer program is set. Can be generated, so that the recording / reproducing apparatus can operate according to a complicated timer program.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an audio signal. Connecting to a computer; inputting start time information indicating a time at which the recording / reproducing apparatus starts recording / reproducing operation to the computer; and causing the computer to start at a time indicated by the start time information. Inputting the type of the recording / reproducing operation; transmitting a control signal including the input operation type information to the recording / reproducing apparatus at a time indicated by the start time information; Executing a recording / reproducing operation based on the operation type information.

In the above control method for a recording / reproducing apparatus, a step of inputting end time information indicating a time at which the recording / reproducing operation ends to the computer; Transmitting a control signal for stopping the recording / reproducing operation being performed.

According to the above configuration, the recording / reproducing device such as an audio device is connected to a computer such as a personal computer, and the computer controls the timer operation of the recording / reproducing device. Computers are usually provided with input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and storage devices such as a hard disk device, so that timer programs such as time information can be easily input.
A complicated and large number of timer programs can be set and stored.

[0014] To achieve the above object, a computer-readable recording medium according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
Communication means for transmitting a control signal to a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an audio signal connected to the computer; operation type information indicating a type of recording / reproducing operation to be performed by the recording / reproducing apparatus; Input means for inputting start time information indicating a start time and end time information indicating an end time of the recording / reproducing operation; associating the operation type information, start time information, and end time information input by the input means; Storage means for controlling the communication means at a time indicated by the start time information stored in the storage means, and using the operation type information corresponding to the start time information as a first control signal for the recording / reproduction. First control means for transmitting to the device, controlling the communication means at a time indicated by the end time information stored in the storage means, based on the first control signal; Ku second control means for transmitting a second control signal instructing the end of recording and reproducing operations in the recording and reproducing means, characterized by recording a program to function as a.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An audio timer system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an audio timer system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a diagram schematically showing the audio timer system 10, and FIG.
FIG. 2B is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the audio timer system 10.

As shown in FIG. 1A, an audio timer system 10 includes an audio device 100, an information processing device 200, and a connection cable 300 for connecting these devices.
And is composed of

In the present embodiment, the audio device 100
Is an audio device such as a mini-component equipped with an amplifier, a CD player, a tuner, an MD player, and a speaker. However, the configuration of the audio device 100 is arbitrary. For example, the audio device 100 may be provided with a cassette recorder, a record player, or the like, or the present invention is applicable to a configuration without an external sound emitting device such as a speaker.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the audio device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, a CD player 130, a tuner 140, an MD player 150, an amplifier 160, and a speaker 170.

The communication section 110 is, for example, an RS232C connector, and has a connection cable 300 (in this case, RS23C).
It is connected to a communication unit 210 of the information processing device 200 described below via a 2C cable) and receives a signal transmitted from the information processing device 200.

The control unit 120 has a CPU (Central Processes).
sing unit) and the audio device 100
And controls based on a signal received via the communication unit 110.

The CD player 130 is a CD (Compact Dis
c) Play. The tuner 140 selects and receives audio of a radio broadcast or a television broadcast via an antenna (not shown). The MD player 150 reproduces and records an MD (Mini Disk).

The amplifier 160 amplifies the reproduction signal of the CD player 130, the tuner 140, and the MD player 150 and sends the amplified signal to a speaker 170 described later.

The speaker 170 reproduces a sound signal from the amplifier 160 and emits a sound.

The information processing apparatus 200 is a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer, and as shown in FIG. 1B, a communication unit 210, a control unit 220, and an input unit 23.
0, a display unit 240, and a storage unit 250.

The communication unit 210 is, for example, an RS232C connector, is connected to the communication unit 110 of the audio device 100 via the connection cable 300, and sends out a control signal to the audio device 100.

The control unit 220 has a CPU (Central Process
ng Unit), and controls each unit of the information processing apparatus 200.

The input section 230 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and inputs various information to the information processing apparatus 200.

The display unit 240 is, for example, a CRT (Cathode
Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, and the like.
20 and the like are displayed.

The storage section 250 includes a main storage device 250a (not shown) composed of a semiconductor memory device and the like, and an auxiliary storage device 250b (not shown) composed of a hard disk device and the like. Main storage device 250
a is used as a work area of the control unit 220.
The auxiliary storage device 250b stores a program for implementing the information processing device 200 as the audio timer system of the present embodiment.

Next, the operation of the audio timer system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a program for realizing the audio timer system according to the present embodiment, which is stored in the auxiliary storage device 250b, is started, and a timer setting screen 400 shown in FIG. It is displayed (step S101).

The user uses the input unit 230 to input a desired time and operation on the timer setting screen 400 displayed on the display unit 240 (step S102).

Here, referring to FIG. 3, a timer setting screen 4
00 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of input menus 500 are displayed on the timer setting screen 400.

The input menu 500 is prepared for each of a start time, an end time, a playback device and a recording device, and includes a start time menu 510a showing time information of the start time, a start minute menu 510b showing minute information of the start time, and an end time. End time menu 520a indicating the hour information, the end minute menu 520b indicating the end time minute information, the playback device menu 530a indicating the type of the playback device, and the additional information corresponding to the playback device specified by the playback device menu 530a. It comprises an additional information menu 530b and a recording device menu 540 indicating the type of recording device.

Here, the additional information menu 53 of the playback device
The items input to 0b differ for each item input in the playback device menu 530a. For example, when a CD player is input to the playback device menu 530a, a playback start number indicating the number of music to start playback from is input to the additional information menu 530b (when the CD player 130 is a continuous type, a disc number is input). Is input), and “A” indicating the reproduction of the tuner 140 is displayed in the reproduction device menu 530a.
When "M" (or "FM", "TV", etc.) is input, the corresponding frequency is input to the additional information menu 530b.

Each input menu 500 is a pull-down menu. As shown in FIG. 3B, by clicking a button at the right end of the menu with the pointer 600, numerical values or items that can be input to the menu are displayed. A desired numerical value or item is input by clicking the pointer 600 with the pointer.

The cursor 550 indicates an item that is currently being input, and the item indicated by the cursor 550 can be a value directly input from, for example, the keyboard of the input unit 230.

Further, an add button 410, a delete button 420, an OK button 430, and a cancel button 440 are displayed on the timer setting screen 400.

The add button 410 is used to add a timer setting, and when the pointer 600 is clicked, an input menu 500 that can be newly input is additionally displayed. The delete button 420 is used to delete unnecessary timer settings, and the input menu 500 indicated by the cursor 550 is deleted by clicking with the pointer 600.

An OK button 430 is used for registering each input item. When the pointer is clicked with the pointer 600, input data is registered.
The display of 0 ends. A cancel button 440 is used when the input item is not registered, and the pointer 600
By clicking on, the display of the timer setting screen 400 ends without registering the input data.

In step S103, an OK button 430
It is detected whether or not is clicked.

When the OK button 430 is clicked,
The storage unit 25 stores the timer setting input in step S102.
0 in the auxiliary storage device 250b (step S10).
4), a timer process (step S200) described later is executed.

On the other hand, in step S103, the OK button 4
If a click on 30 has not been detected, it is detected whether or not the cancel button 440 has been clicked (step S105).

When the click of the cancel button 440 is detected, the display of the timer setting screen 400 ends (step S106).

In step S105, the cancel button 44
If no click of 0 is detected, step S1
03, and waits for an OK button 430 or a cancel button 440 to be clicked.

The timer process in step S200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether termination of the program has been instructed (step S2).
01). Here, the presence / absence of an instruction input by the user and the presence / absence of an end instruction signal generated when the timer operation is completed in step S205 described later are detected.

If there is no end instruction, the control unit 220
The current time is obtained from the timing function of the OS (Operating System) that controls the basic operation of the information processing apparatus 200 as a general-purpose computer as needed (step S202).

The control unit 220 compares the obtained current time with the start time stored in step S104 (step S203).
At 300, a control signal generation process described later is performed.

If no match between the current time and the start time is detected in step S203, the current time is compared with the end time stored in step S104 (step S206). Here, also when a match is detected, the process proceeds to step S300, and a control signal generation process described later is performed. On the other hand, if no match is detected, the process returns to step S202, and acquisition of the current time is repeated until a match with the start time or end time is detected.

Next, the control signal generation processing in step S300 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether the time that matches the current time is the start time or the end time (step S310).

When the start time coincidence is detected, a reproduction start signal for instructing the audio device 100 to start a reproduction operation is generated (step S302). Here, first, at step S10 corresponding to the coincident start time.
Out of the operation information stored in Step 4, the timer setting screen 400
Playback device menu 530a and additional information menu 5
The item inputted from 30b is referred to. Then, a playback start signal for operating the playback device input to the playback device menu 530a is generated under the conditions input to the additional information menu 530b.

Next, it is determined whether or not a recording operation is set in the timer setting (step S303). That is, among the operation information stored in step S104 corresponding to the start time, the item input from the recording device menu 540 of the timer setting screen 400 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the recording device is designated.

If it is determined in step S303 that the recording operation has been set, a recording start signal for operating the recording device is generated.

A signal including the reproduction start signal generated in step S302 and the recording start signal generated in step S304 is generated as a start signal (step S30).
5).

If it is determined in step S303 that the recording operation has not been set, the reproduction start signal generated in step S302 is generated as a start signal (step S305).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S301 that a match between the current time and the end time has been detected, the audio device 100 generates an end signal for stopping reproduction (recording) based on a timer operation. (Step S
306). Also in this case, a signal for instructing stop of the specified operation is generated with reference to the operation information corresponding to the end time stored in step S104.

When a control signal is generated in step S305 or S306, the flow advances to step S204 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 to send the generated control signal to the audio device 100. That is, the control unit 220 sends the generated control signal to the communication unit 110 of the audio device 100 via the communication unit 210 and the connection cable 300.

Next, the control section 220 determines whether or not the timer operation has been completed by transmitting the control signal in step S204 (step S205). That is, step S
When the control signal transmitted to the audio device 100 in 204 is a start signal indicating the start of operation in the audio device 100, the control unit 220 determines whether the end time corresponding to the start time is stored in step S104. If the end time has been set, it is determined that the timer program has not been completed, and step S2
Return to 02.

Further, as exemplified in the program No. 4 in FIG. 4A, the end time of the timer may not be set. In this case, in step S205, the control unit 220
Determines that the end time is not stored in step S104 for the transmitted control signal, and regards the timer program as completed.

When one timer program is completed,
The control unit 220 determines whether or not another timer program is set in the auxiliary storage device 250b. If another timer program is set, it is determined that the timer operation has not been completed, and the process returns to step S202. On the other hand, if no other timer program is set,
It is considered that all timer operations have been completed, and step S2
Return to 01. In this case, the control unit 220 issues an instruction to end the program by itself, instructs the end of the program in step S201, and ends the program.

Further, when the control signal sent in step S204 is an end signal, control unit 220 considers that the timer program has been completed. In this case, the control unit 220 determines whether another timer program is set in the auxiliary storage device 250b. If another timer program is set, it is determined that the timer operation has not been completed, and the process returns to step S202. On the other hand, if another timer program has not been set, it is considered that all timer operations have been completed, and the process returns to step S201. In this case, the control unit 220 issues an instruction to end the program by itself, instructs the end of the program in step S201, and ends the program.

Next, the processing in the audio device 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the communication unit 110 of the audio device 100 receives from the information processing device 200 (Step S401), and determines whether the received control signal is a start signal or an end signal (Step S402).

When the received control signal is a start signal,
The control unit 120 determines whether or not the power of the audio device 100 is ON (step S403), and if not, turns on the power of the audio device 100 (step S403).
404).

Next, the playback device (in the case of this embodiment, the CD player 130,
Tuner 140 or MD player 150)
The reproduction operation is performed by driving under the operation condition indicated by the start signal (step S405).

If a recording operation is specified in the received control signal (start signal), the specified recording device is driven to perform recording in conjunction with the reproduction operation executed in step S405 (step S406). ), Step S40
Return to 1 and wait for the next control signal.

Next, if the control signal received in step S401 is an end signal (step S408), the control unit 12
0 stops the operation of the playback device and the recording device specified by the end signal (step S409), turns off the power of the audio device 100 (step S410), and ends the process.

As described above, the audio device 10
0 to the information processing apparatus 200,
Through the timer setting screen displayed on the display unit 240, the timer setting of the audio device 100 can be performed using the input unit 230 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

In the above embodiment, when the recording operation is set to the timer operation, the recording operation is performed using the recording device (eg, MD player 150) of the audio device 100. The sound reproduced in the storage unit 250 of the information processing device 200
May be recorded. In this case, the audio device 100
Further includes an A / D converter, converts a reproduction signal of a reproduction device (for example, CD player 130, tuner 140, or the like) driven by a timer operation into a digital signal by the A / D converter, and then transmits the digital signal through the communication unit 110. To the information processing apparatus 200.

In the information processing device 200, the communication unit 210 receives a digital signal indicating audio information transmitted from the audio device 100. In this case, the control unit 2
20 starts an encoding program compliant with audio compression technology such as MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3),
The received digital signal is compressed into, for example, the MP3 format. The control unit 220 records the encoded audio information in, for example, an auxiliary storage device 250b such as a hard disk device.

With such a configuration, the audio device 1
Even if no recording device is provided in 00, voice recording by timer operation is possible.

In the above embodiment, the audio device 10
0 and the interface between the information processing device 200 and RS2
Although the interface is 32C compliant, the interface specifications are arbitrary as long as control signals and digital audio signals can be transmitted and received. For example, a USB (Universal Serial
al Bus) may be adopted.

Also, for example, IrDA
(Infrared Data Association) or Bluetooth may be used to realize wireless connection between the communication units 110 and 120.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the recording / reproducing apparatus is connected to an external computer and the timer operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus is input using an input device of the computer, the timer operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus can be set by an easy input operation.

Further, since the set timer operation is stored in the external computer, the set number of timer operations and the settable operations are not limited by the limitation of the storage capacity. Therefore, many complicated timer operations such as changing the reproduction source can be set and input.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an audio timer system according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a schematic diagram showing an outline of an audio timer system, and (b) is (a).
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the audio timer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a timer setting process executed by the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating examples of a timer setting screen, in which FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the entire timer setting screen, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged view illustrating a menu portion of the timer setting screen illustrated in FIG. It is.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a timer process executed by the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control signal generation process executed in the timer process shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a timer operation executed in the audio device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 audio device 200 information processing device 300 connection cable

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an audio signal, comprising: control means for controlling a recording / reproducing operation; and a computer which is connected to an external computer and which is generated and output at a predetermined time by a timer operation of the computer. A recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: connecting means for receiving a control signal; and means for operating the control means in response to the control signal received by the connecting means. 2. The control signal includes information indicating a type of a recording / reproducing operation, and the control means controls the recording / reproducing operation based on operation type information included in the control signal. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. A method for controlling a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an audio signal, comprising: connecting the recording / reproducing apparatus to an external computer; and starting the recording / reproducing operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus with the computer. Inputting start time information indicating the time to perform, inputting the type of recording / reproducing operation to be started at the time indicated by the start time information to the computer, and controlling the computer including the input operation type information Transmitting a signal to the recording / reproducing apparatus at a time indicated by the start time information; and performing a recording / reproducing operation based on operation type information indicated by the control signal. A method for controlling a recording / reproducing device. 4. A step of inputting, to the computer, end time information indicating a time at which the recording / reproducing operation is to end, wherein at the time indicated by the end time information,
The method according to claim 3, further comprising: transmitting a control signal for stopping the recording / reproducing operation being performed. 5. A communication means for transmitting a control signal to a recording / reproducing device for recording / reproducing an audio signal connected to the computer, operation type information indicating a type of recording / reproducing operation to be executed by the recording / reproducing device, Input means for inputting start time information indicating a start time of the recording / reproducing operation, and end time information indicating an end time of the recording / reproducing operation, operation type information, start time information, and end time input by the input means Storage means for storing information in association with information, at a time indicated by the start time information stored in the storage means, controlling the communication means to perform first control of operation type information corresponding to the start time information First control means for transmitting the signal as a signal to the recording / reproducing apparatus, controlling the communication means at a time indicated by end time information stored in the storage means, And a second control means for transmitting a second control signal for instructing the end of the recording / reproducing operation based on the control signal to the recording / reproducing means. .