JP2002324381A - Method of managing recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly manage the recorded contents of the data in each recording medium even when it is required to manage many recording media, and to quickly find out the recording medium in which desired data has been recorded, with little exertion. SOLUTION: In managing the recording medium 1 which is capable of being detached from or attached to an apparatus 3 which includes the function of recording/storing data and which controls the writing and the reading of the data, the recording medium 1 newly mounted on the apparatus 3 is individually provided with an identification mark. The identification mark is recorded on the recording medium 1 which is given this, and the recorded contents of the data in the recording medium 1, which is, as management information, related with the identification mark, is stored in the apparatus 3. The recording media group to be managed is collectively managed on the basis of the management information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of managing a removable recording medium having a data recording and holding function, such as a so-called removable hard disk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use of removable recording media for storing data in personal computers and for storing video and audio data in audiovisual equipment has been widespread. For example, a personal computer generally has a built-in hard disk device having a recording capacity of several tens of gigabytes (GB) for storing an operating system and various data, and the hard disk device has a CPU (Central Processing Unit). ) Based on an instruction from the main memory (main storage unit) to sequentially load and store data and the like in the main memory. However, in recent years, due to a demand for carrying data (including a program group such as an operating system) recorded in a hard disk, a removable storage medium having a large storage capacity called a so-called removable hard disk is being used. In audio-visual equipment, hard disk devices have begun to be used, such as video recorders and television receivers with built-in hard disks. However, in a hard disk device having a recording capacity of about 30 GB, a DVD (Digi
In the case of high-quality recording equivalent to a “tal versatile disc”, only about 8 hours of video can be recorded, and thus, in this field, expectations for a removable recording medium are increasing.

[0003] As a removable recording medium, there is known a so-called removable hard disk, that is, a medium in which a cartridge containing a magnetic disk is inserted into or removed from the drive. Further, recently, there is a disk drive in which a drive incorporating a magnetic disk is easily detachable. Such a drive itself can be detached from a mechanical part including a spindle motor for rotating a magnetic disk and a head assembly, as well as all electric circuits controlling an interface with an external device (a personal computer, an audio / visual device, etc.). Various types have been proposed, from those equipped with a part to those equipped with only a part of them (the other parts are equipped externally). Here, the detachable recording medium using these magnetic disks is generically referred to as a detachable magnetic disk device.

[0004]

By the way, in a recording medium such as a detachable magnetic disk device, a plurality of recording media are generally used selectively. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to manage the contents of the recorded data.

For example, consider a floppy (registered trademark) disk, which is one of magnetic recording media, as an easy-to-understand example. In the case of a floppy disk, a management table of recorded contents is provided for each disk.To check the recorded contents, it is necessary to load the disk into the drive, read the management table, and display the management table on the screen. is there. That is, until the disk is inserted into the drive and the management table is read, the recorded contents of the data on the disk cannot be known. Therefore, when the number of disks to be managed is large, it is necessary to repeatedly attach and detach disks to the drive many times before searching for desired data from the group of disks. In addition, quick response becomes difficult.

Accordingly, the present invention makes it possible to appropriately manage the recorded contents of data on each recording medium even when it is necessary to manage many recording media, and to record the desired data on a recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a management method of a recording medium that can quickly find a medium with a small amount of labor.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a recording medium management method devised to solve the above-mentioned object. That is, a method of managing a recording medium having a data recording and holding function and capable of being attached to and detached from a device that controls writing and reading of the data, wherein a new recording medium is mounted on the device. A unique identification code is assigned to the recording medium in the recording medium group to be managed,
The identification code is recorded on the recording medium to which the identification code is added, and the recorded contents of the data in the recording medium are stored in the device as management information in association with the identification code, and are attached to the device. When there is a change in the recorded content of the data on the recording medium, the management information in the device is also updated, and the recording medium group is collectively managed based on the management information stored in the device.

According to the recording medium management method of the above procedure,
Since the identification code given to each recording medium to be managed and the recorded contents of data in each recording medium are stored in a device that controls writing and reading of data in association with each other, By displaying the management information stored in the storage medium, it is possible to collectively refer to the recorded contents of the data in each recording medium. On the other hand, the identification code assigned to each recording medium is described, for example, on a surface label or the like. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of recording media to be managed, if a group of recording media to which the identification code is assigned is collectively managed based on the management information, it is possible to easily find a recording medium on which desired data is recorded. Moreover, when the recording content of the data is changed when the recording medium is mounted on the device, the management information in the device is also updated, so that even if the recording medium is compatible with data writing, Appropriate management can be performed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A method for managing a recording medium according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, here, the case where the present invention is applied to a method of managing a removable magnetic disk device will be described as an example.

First, a system configuration to which the present invention is applied, that is, a system configuration in which a removable magnetic disk device is used will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, here, as a removable magnetic disk device, a removable hard disk (hereinafter referred to as a “removable medium”) is used.
1) is taken as an example.

The removable medium 1 is of a cartridge type having a built-in magnetic disk. Data can be written or read in the state where the cartridge is inserted into the drive device 2, and can be detached from the drive device 2. ing. Therefore, a plurality of removable media 1 can be selectively inserted into the drive device 2 and used.

The drive device 2 into which the removable medium 1 is inserted is built in a control device 3 such as a personal computer, and the control device 3 controls writing or reading of data to or from the removable medium 1. It has become. However, the drive device 2
The removable medium 1 does not have to be detached, but may have a built-in magnetic disk, a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disk, a head assembly, and the like, and the drive device 2 itself can be detached from the control device 3. .

The control device 3 on which the drive device 2 is mounted includes:
A predetermined process is performed based on data read from the removable medium 1, and data as a processing result is recorded and held in the removable medium 1. More specifically, it has a function of, for example, displaying and outputting video data read from the removable medium 1 and recording video data relating to program contents on the removable medium 1. Therefore, the control device 3 may be an audio-visual device or the like instead of a personal computer.

In the system configured as described above, programs such as an operating system and various data, or video data relating to program contents (hereinafter, these are simply referred to as “data”) are stored in the removable medium 1.
) Are recorded. Then, data is read and written while the removable medium 1 is sequentially inserted into the drive device 2 incorporated in the control device 3. However, at this time, as described above, when the number of the removable media 1 increases, it may take a lot of time to search for desired data.

Therefore, in order to avoid this, the control device 3 stores the data in a predetermined storage area in the control device 3 as shown in FIG.
It has a management table as shown in the figure. This management table includes a medium management table shown in FIG.
The data management table shown in FIG.

The medium management table shown in FIG.
It consists of “Disk #” and “identification code”. "D
For example, a serial number starting from "1" is stored in "isk #", and an identification code such as "abc-##" or "xyz-##" is stored in "identification code". This identification code is not duplicated in the group of removable media 1 to be managed, that is, assigned individually to each removable medium 1. The medium management table forms one record by “Disk #” and the corresponding “identification code”. The identification code individually given to each removable medium 1 is also recorded on a predetermined recording area in each removable medium 1 and its front label, as described later (see FIG. 1). .

On the other hand, the data management table shown in FIG. 2B includes “Disk #” and recorded data information (“data name / program name”, “capacity”, “creation date”, “change date”...).
Term. In “Disk #”, the same serial number or the like as “Disk #” in the medium management table is stored, and this becomes an index of the relational database. In the recording data information, information on the contents of data recorded on each removable medium 1 is stored. However, it is assumed that the storage content in the recording data information is appropriately updated by the control device 3.

Next, a procedure of a method of managing the removable medium 1 in the system configured as described above will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the removable medium 1 is inserted into the drive device 2 (Step 11, hereinafter, the steps are abbreviated as “S”), first, the control device 3 If the identification code is recorded in the predetermined recording area, the identification code is read out, and it is determined whether or not the same identification code as the identification code already exists in the medium management table (S1).
2).

As a result, if the same identification code exists in the medium management table, the control device 3 recognizes that the inserted removable medium 1 is not new. On the other hand, if the identification code is not recorded in the removable medium 1, or if the same identification code does not exist in the medium management table even if the identification code is recorded, the control device 3 Removable medium 1
Is a new one, that is, one that has been inserted into the drive device 2 for the first time.

If the removable medium 1 is a new one, the user of the control device 3 is requested to input a new identification code. When the user manually inputs the identification code (S13), the medium management is performed. A new record is created in the table, and the Disk # and the manually input identification code are written (S14). Specifically, as a new record, Dis
It is conceivable that an identification code “xyz-00” is written in a record in which k # is “35” (see FIG. 2A). Note that the identification code may be automatically given by a preset program instead of being manually input by the user. The assigned identification code (for example, “xyz-00”) is also written in a predetermined recording area in the removable medium 1. These processes are
If the removable medium 1 is not new, it is omitted altogether.

Thereafter, the control device 3 controls the drive device 2
It reads out recorded data, writes new data, and the like to the removable medium 1 inserted in the storage medium 1.

However, in the case of writing (S15), the control device 3 records the recording data information (data name / program name, data amount, data creation date) relating to the writing data by manual input of the user or automatic acquisition from the writing source information. , Writing date, etc.) (S16). When these pieces of recording data information are captured, the contents of the recording data information are written into, for example, a dedicated table in the removable medium 1, and the contents of the recording data information are written into a new record in the data management table (S17).
Specifically, in order to associate with the identification code “xyz-00” in the medium management table, a record such as “Iroha” or the like as a data name / program name is recorded in a record of Disk # “35” in the data management table. It is conceivable to write data information (see FIG. 2B).

At this time, if new data is to be written in the removable medium 1, regardless of whether or not the removable medium 1 is new, the recorded data information relating to the new data is stored in the data management. Stored in a new record in the table. Therefore, for the non-new removable medium 1, for example, when new data is additionally recorded, a plurality of records may exist for the same Disk # (see FIG. 2B). If you delete or overwrite already recorded data instead of writing new data,
In the data management table, existing records are deleted or overwritten correspondingly. That is, when the control device 3 changes the recorded content of the data on the removable medium 1 inserted in the drive device 2, it updates the content of the data management table accordingly.

Then, when the change of the recorded contents of the data is completed and the removable medium 1 is removed from the drive device 2, if the removable medium 1 is new (S18), the removable medium 1 The identification code given to the removable medium 1 is written by the user on the front label 1 (S19).

As described above, according to the method of managing the removable medium 1 described in the present embodiment, the identification code given to each removable medium 1 to be managed and the recorded contents of the data in each removable medium 1 are determined. The information is stored in a management table including a medium management table and a data management table in the control device 3 in association with each other. On the other hand, the identification code assigned to each removable medium 1 is described, for example, on a front label. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of removable media 1 to be managed, a procedure of browsing the data management table, knowing a target identification code from the media management table, and searching for an identification code written on a label on each removable medium 1 is performed. The user can easily find the target removable medium 1 on which desired data is recorded.

That is, according to the management method of this embodiment,
If the contents (recording data information, etc.) stored in the management table in the control device 3 are displayed on the screen or printed out on paper and referred to, the recorded contents of the data in each removable medium 1 are collectively managed. Therefore, the recorded contents are not known until the removable medium 1 is inserted into the drive device 2, and as a result, the user inserts each removable medium 1 one by one into the drive device 2 to obtain desired data. There is no need to search for. Therefore, even when the number of the removable media 1 to be managed is large, it is possible to quickly find out the recording of the desired data from the group of the removable media 1 with little labor.

Moreover, the contents stored in the management table in the control device 3 are controlled when the content of data recorded on the removable medium 1 is changed when the removable medium 1 is mounted on the control device 3. It is updated by the device 3. Therefore, even if the removable medium 1 supports both writing and reading of data, the storage contents of the management table are appropriately updated. Management can be performed appropriately.

In the management method of this embodiment, the management target is the removable medium 1 which is one of the removable magnetic disk devices. Such a detachable magnetic disk device usually has a feature that it has a large recording capacity and can quickly access data (can immediately access desired data). In many cases, video data related to a plurality of program contents is recorded on one magnetic disk device. Moreover, the video data is likely to be appropriately changed such as new writing or deletion. Therefore, particularly when the removable magnetic disk device is to be managed, applying the management method of the present embodiment is very effective in quickly searching for desired data with little labor. This is true not only when the removable medium 1 is managed, but also when the drive device 2 itself is configured to be detachable from the control device 3.

In the management method of the present embodiment, the removable medium 1 to be managed is collectively managed using a management table including a medium management table and a data management table. That is, two tables such as a medium management table and a data management table are used, and these are linked to each other by the item of “Disk #”. This is to prevent the data volume from becoming too large by having an identification code for each record in the media management table, and to change the record in the media management table even if the identification code is changed. It is due to the simplicity that it allows. In other words, this is for facilitating the collective management of removable magnetic disk devices, even if each magnetic disk device has the above-mentioned features.

In this embodiment, the case where the management table for collectively managing the removable medium 1 is provided in the control device 3 has been described as an example. In addition to the memory unit (such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk device other than the removable medium 1) incorporated in the control device 3, the memory in another device (such as a server device) connected to the control device 3 via an electric communication line. It shall include the inside of a department.

[0031]

As described above, according to the recording medium management method of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately manage the recorded contents of data in each recording medium to be managed. The recorded contents of the data can be easily viewed at a glance, and a recording medium on which desired data is recorded can be quickly searched out with a small amount of labor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a system configuration to which a recording medium management method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a management table used in the recording medium management method according to the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a medium management table, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a data management table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a recording medium management method according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Removable medium, 2 ... Drive device, 3 ... Control device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method for managing a recording medium having a data recording and holding function and detachable from a device for controlling writing and reading of the data, wherein a new recording medium is mounted on the device. Then, a unique identification code is assigned to the recording medium in the recording medium group to be managed, the identification code is recorded on the recording medium to which the identification code is assigned, and the recorded contents of the data on the recording medium Is stored in the device as management information in association with the identification code, and when there is a change in the recorded content of data in a recording medium mounted on the device, the management information in the device is also updated, A recording medium management method, wherein the recording medium group is collectively managed based on management information stored in an apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium comprises a removable magnetic disk device.