JP2003331522A - Information recording control apparatus and information recording control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely perform succeeding reservation recording even when for example a recording end time for preceding reservation setting is partly overlapped with a recording start time for the succeeding reservation setting. <P>SOLUTION: Even when an external recording apparatus 3 rejects the reception of a reservation recording start request signal (control signal) from a reservation recording control apparatus 4, the reservation recording control apparatus 4 keeps transmitting the reservation recording start request signal until the external recording apparatus 3 accepts the reservation recording start request signal. Even when a succeeding reservation recording control apparatus 4 transmits the reservation recording start request signal to the external recording apparatus 3 at a time earlier than a reserved actual recording start time by about 20 seconds to 30 seconds in order to prevent 'program head missing', when the external recording apparatus 3 completes the recording processing by the preceding reservation setting, the external recording apparatus 3 accepts the reservation recording start request signal to start the recording processing by the succeeding reservation setting to thereby surely make reservation recording as desired by a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external recording device having a recording / reproducing function such as a video tape recorder (VTR), and at least any one of image information such as a broadcast program, audio information and content for data broadcasting. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording control device and an information recording control method for recording reserved information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as information recording control devices of this kind, receiving devices such as digital satellite broadcast receivers, and recording / reproducing devices such as VTRs as external recording devices, those equipped with a digital interface are increasing. There is. This digital interface can transmit not only moving image (video) signals and audio signals but also control signals (control signals). Therefore, in addition to controlling the operation of the device with its own equipment,
It can also be controlled from an external electronic device via a digital interface.

By using such a digital interface, even for reservation recording of a broadcast program, the reception device performs reservation setting for an external recording device (recording / reproducing device) to execution control such as recording start / recording end. be able to. Therefore, by sharing one recording / reproducing device with a plurality of receiving devices and making reservation settings for the recording / reproducing device from each receiving device,
Each broadcast program received by each receiving device can be reserved and recorded in one recording / reproducing device.

As described above, when one recording / reproducing apparatus is shared by a plurality of receiving apparatuses for reservation recording, reservation setting contents from the plurality of receiving apparatuses are temporally set in the recording / reproducing apparatus. Will be partially overlapped and mixed.

A conventional reservation recording control method will be described below.

When the receiving apparatus controls execution of reserved recording of a broadcast program in the recording / reproducing apparatus, recording start and recording end are controlled according to a clock function mounted in the receiving apparatus.

At this time, in the recording / reproducing device (external recording device) in which the receiving device is going to control the reserved recording,
When some kind of reservation processing has already been executed, for example, when the recording processing reserved by another receiving apparatus has already been executed, the recording / reproducing apparatus receives the received processing in order to give priority to the processing being executed. The reservation recording start request signal (control signal) from the device is not accepted by the recording / reproducing device, and a response signal indicating refusal such as "control disabled" is returned to the receiving device. As described above, in the conventional reservation recording control method, when the reservation times are set to overlap with each other, the processing executed first is prioritized.

When the recording process is executed, generally, the beginning of a broadcast program is lost due to a loss of time until the mechanical system of the recording / reproducing apparatus, which is an external recording device, actually starts operating, or a slight deviation of the clock. In order to prevent a so-called “cut-out” state in which no recording is made, the recording process is started 20 seconds to 30 seconds earlier than the set time.

[0009]

As described above, in the above-described conventional reserved recording control method, the recording / reproducing apparatus, which is an external recording device, executes the recording processing reserved by a certain receiving apparatus A. During this time, a reservation recording start request signal (control signal) from another receiving device B cannot be received.

Here, in the case of continuous recording reservation in which the recording end time reserved by the receiver A and the recording start time reserved by the receiver B theoretically match each other, From the receiving device B, at a time about 20 to 30 seconds earlier than the reserved recording start time,
A reservation recording start request signal (control signal) is transmitted. However, at this point in time, the recording / reproducing apparatus is executing the recording process reserved by the receiving apparatus A, and therefore the reception of the reserved recording start request signal from the receiving apparatus B is rejected, and the receiving apparatus is rejected. There is a problem that the recording process reserved by B cannot be executed.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem. For example, even when the recording end time of the preceding reservation setting partially overlaps the recording start time of the succeeding reservation setting, the succeeding reservation recording is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an information recording control device and an information recording control method capable of surely executing the above.

[0012]

According to an information recording control device of the present invention, information of at least one of image information, audio information and data broadcasting content is stored in an external recording device based on a reservation setting content including a reservation time. In the information recording control device for recording, when the reserved recording is not performed by the external recording device at the time of the reserved recording control, a control means for detecting the reservation recording and controlling the external recording device to repeatedly request the start of the reserved recording. The above object is achieved thereby.

Preferably, the control means in the information recording control device transmits at least one of image information and audio information and a control signal to the external recording device via a digital interface with the external recording device. It is configured to be capable of receiving a response signal indicating that reservation recording is not performed from the external recording device.
That is, the control means can transmit and receive information to and from an external recording device via a digital interface.

Further, preferably, the control means in the information recording control device outputs a control signal for recording reception information or reproduction information to an external recording device at the time of reservation recording control, and outputs the control signal of the output control signal. When the acceptance by the external recording device is rejected, this is detected and the control signal is repeatedly output to the external recording device.

Further, preferably, the recording control means in the information recording control device repeatedly outputs the control signal to the external recording device until the external recording device can accept the control signal.

Further preferably, the control means in the information recording control device repeatedly outputs the control signal to the external recording device for a predetermined time when the external recording device refuses to accept the control signal.

Further, according to the information recording control method of the present invention, the received information or the reproduction information and the information recording control signal of at least one of the image information, the audio information and the data broadcasting content are based on the reservation setting contents including the reservation time. In the information recording control method of transmitting the data to the external recording device through the digital interface to perform the reserved recording, when the reserved recording is not performed by the external recording device during the reserved recording control, this is detected and the information recording control signal is generated. The above-described object is achieved by repeatedly outputting to an external recording device for a predetermined time.

The operation of the present invention will be described below.

According to the present invention, even if a recording control signal (control signal) such as a reserved recording start request signal is rejected by an external recording device, it may be preliminarily advanced in advance to prevent "headache". The control signal such as the reserved recording start request signal is continuously transmitted to the external recording device for a predetermined time period which is equal to or more than the time set in the above. Therefore, when continuous recording reservations in which the recording end time of the preceding reservation setting and the recording start time of the subsequent reservation setting theoretically match are set by different information recording control devices, From the information recording control device for which the reservation setting has been made, a reservation is made at a time that is, for example, 20 to 30 seconds earlier than the recording start time that is set as a reservation (time set in advance to prevent "head cut"). A control signal such as a recording start request signal is output, and even if the acceptance of the control signal is rejected, the output of the control signal is repeated, and when the recording process by the preceding reservation setting is completed, the recording / reproducing apparatus, The control signal for starting the recording process by the subsequent reservation setting can be accepted, and the continuous reservation recording as desired by the user is executed.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A case where an embodiment of an information recording control device of the present invention is applied to a reservation recording system including the same will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the reservation recording system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a reservation recording system 1 has an input means 2 for inputting reservation contents including reservation time and channel number information, an external recording device 3 such as an information recording / reproducing device, and an input side connected to the input means 2. In addition, a reservation recording control device 4 as an information recording control device having an output side connected to the external recording device 3 is provided.

The input means 2 is composed of a remote control device or the like, and is capable of inputting reservation contents such as recording start time and recording end time, and channel information for receiving recorded program information.

The external recording device 3 receives execution control of reservation recording from the reservation recording control device 4 side. The external recording device 3 receives information such as image information and audio information from the reserved recording controller 4 and an information recording control signal (reserved recording start request signal and reserved recording) via a digital interface with the reserved recording controller 4. End request signal, etc.) and a response signal indicating whether “reservation recording is not performed” or “reservation recording is performed” can be transmitted to the reservation recording control device 4.

The reservation recording controller 4 is, for example, a receiver such as a receiver compatible with digital satellite broadcasting, and the input means 2
To the reservation setting unit 41, a clock unit 42 having a clocking function, a reservation management unit 43 connected to the reservation setting unit 41 and the clock unit 42, and a receiving unit 44 capable of receiving a broadcast program, for example. And an external recording device control unit 45 in which each input terminal is connected to the reservation management unit 43 and the receiving unit 44 and an output terminal is connected to the external recording device 3.
And have.

The reservation recording control device 4 uses the external recording device 3 according to the reservation setting information set in the reservation setting section 41.
When the reservation recording is performed according to (1), it is detected by the response signal, and broadcast program information including video / audio / data as the reception information is transmitted to the external recording device 3 via the digital interface for reservation recording. Further, when the reservation recording by the external recording device 3 is not performed, the reservation recording control device 4 detects this by the response signal and outputs the information recording control signal (reservation recording start request signal) to the outside via the digital interface. When the recording is repeatedly output to the recording device 3 and the reserved recording is performed by the external recording device 3, this is detected by the response signal and the broadcast program information including video / audio / data as the reception information is digital interface. The data is transmitted to the external recording device 3 via the and recorded for recording.

The reservation setting section 41 sets reservation contents such as recording start time and recording end time inputted from the input means 2 and channel number information for receiving the program to be recorded, and records the setting contents.

The reservation management unit 43 sorts the reservation contents set in the reservation setting unit 41 in the order of execution based on the recording start time, and executes reservation recording (start and end) based on the time information from the clock unit 42. ) Is instructed to the external recording device control unit 45.

The receiving unit 44 has an antenna and a tuner, and receives broadcast program information (reception information) such as video / audio / data from the reserved channel according to an instruction from the reservation management unit 43. At the same time, the received broadcast program information is output to the external recording device control unit 45 as a digital signal such as a moving image (video) signal, an audio signal and a data signal.

The external recording device control unit 45 includes a digital interface, and according to an instruction from the reservation management unit 43, transmits the received information together with the information recording control signal for controlling the execution of the reserved recording to the external recording device 3, The recording process of the broadcast program by the external recording device 3 is controlled. The external recording device control unit 45 provides the external recording device 3 with reception information such as image information and audio information and an information recording control signal (reservation recording start request signal and reservation recording) via the digital interface with the external recording device 3. End request signal etc.) can be transmitted, and "reservation recording is not performed" or "reservation recording is performed" from the external recording device 3.
It is possible to receive (accept) a response signal indicating that.

The reservation management unit 43 and the external recording device control unit 45 described above constitute a control unit, and the control unit sends broadcast program information (reservation setting contents) to the external recording device 3 during reservation recording control. An information recording control signal (reservation recording start request signal, reservation recording end request signal, etc.) for recording is output, and when the acceptance of the output control signal by the external recording device 3 is rejected, this is transmitted by a response signal. External recording device 3 for detecting and recording information recording control signal
Repeatedly output to.

The information recording control signal (reservation recording start request signal) has a time longer than an early set time (a time of 20 to 30 seconds set to start early in order to prevent "head cut"). (It may be 1 to 2 minutes in consideration of the time lag, or may be, for example, 30 minutes or less if the recording times partially overlap.). Alternatively, it may be repeatedly output until the external recording device 3 becomes ready for reception. If the information recording control signal (reservation recording start request signal) is repeatedly output until the external recording device 3 can accept it, such recording time partially overlaps and the subsequent reservation recording is "cut out". It is particularly effective in the case where it does not matter even if it becomes ", the subsequent reservation recording start request signal is accepted as soon as the preceding reservation processing is completed, and the subsequent reservation recording can be surely executed. .

In the present embodiment, the case where the received information is recorded has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the reproduced information may be used. Specifically, the reservation recording control device 4 is configured by a receiving device having the receiving unit 44, but is not limited to this, and may have an information reproducing unit instead of the receiving unit 44 or together with the receiving unit 44. Good.

With the above configuration, the operation will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the reservation recording control device 4 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, first, the reservation management section 43.
At a predetermined time of the time count obtained from the clock unit 42 and the reservation recording start time (at least hour / minute of year / month / day / hour / minute / second) of the reservation content input from the input means 2 and set in the reservation setting unit 41. It is determined whether or not they match by comparing with an earlier set time (20 seconds to 30 seconds before) set earlier (time set earlier in advance to prevent "head cut") (step S201). .

Next, in step S201, the process waits until the clocked time and the early set time match, and if they match (YES in step S201), the reservation management unit 43 causes the external recording device control unit 45 to perform a recording process. An early recording start instruction is given to start recording (step S202).

Further, the external recording device control unit 45 transmits a reservation recording start request signal (information recording control signal) to the external recording device 3 in accordance with the recording start early instruction from the reservation management unit 43 (step). S203).

At this time, if the external recording device 3 is in a state where the recording process can be executed, the external recording device 3 accepts the reservation recording start request signal transmitted from the external recording device control section 45. When the reservation recording start request signal is accepted by the external recording device 3, a response signal indicating “controllable” is sent from the external recording device 3 to the external recording device control unit 4.
It is returned to the 5 side and detected by the reservation management unit 43 (or the control means) to determine whether or not the reservation recording start cannot be executed (step S204).

If it is determined in step S204 that the reservation recording start is not executable (NO; executable), the reservation content set in the reservation setting section 41 (the broadcast program to be recorded is received). (Channel number information) is given from the reservation management unit 43 to the reception unit 44 via the external recording device control unit 45, and is received (channel selection control) by the reception unit 44 based on the reservation-set channel number information. The broadcast program information is transmitted to the external recording device 3 from the digital interface of the external recording device control unit 45 as a moving image (video) signal, an audio signal and a data signal, and the reservation recording process by the external recording device 3 is started.
(Step S205).

On the other hand, in a state where the recording process cannot be executed in the external recording device 3, for example, when the broadcast program information received by the external recording device 3 has already been recorded, or another reservation recording control device (reception device). When the recording process reserved by the above has already been executed, for example, step S20
In response to the reservation recording start request signal transmitted in 3, the external recording device 3 returns a response signal indicating "control disabled" to the reservation recording control device 4 side. By detecting this, the reservation management unit 43 (or the control unit) determines whether or not the reservation recording start cannot be executed (step S204).

If it is determined in step S204 that the reservation recording start cannot be executed (YES; it cannot be executed), step S203 is performed until the measured time and the early start set time match (for a predetermined time). , S204 is repeated to continuously transmit the reserved recording start request signal to the external recording device 3 and wait for a response signal from the external recording device 3 (step S206).

As the early start set time (constant time), the recording process is generally 2 times longer than the reserved start time.
In addition to starting early for about 0 to 30 seconds, it can be set to about 1 to 2 minutes in consideration of a slight time lag.

If the reservation recording start request signal is received by the external recording device 3 within the fixed time thus set (NO in step S204), the reservation setting set by the external recording device 3 is performed. According to the contents, the recording process of the broadcast program received by the receiving unit 44 is started (step S205).

Thereafter, in the reservation management section 43, the clock section 42
The time obtained from the above is compared with the reservation recording end time of the reservation content input from the input means 2 and set in the reservation setting section 41. When the time measured by the clock unit 42 matches the reservation recording end time, the reservation management unit 43 instructs the external recording device control unit 45 to end the recording process being executed by the external recording device 3. give. The external recording device control unit 45 transmits a reservation recording end request signal (information recording control signal) to the external recording device 3 in accordance with the recording end instruction given from the reservation management unit 43.
When the external recording device 3 receives the reservation recording end request signal, the external recording device 3 controls the end of the recording process of the reserved broadcast program according to the reservation recording end request signal (step S207). If the predetermined time is exceeded in step S206, the reservation recording is not performed and the reservation recording process ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, for one external recording device (recording / reproducing device), for example, two different reservation recording control devices 4 (receiving device in this embodiment), To prevent the program from “breaking” when a continuous reservation is set such that the recording end time of the reservation setting that precedes the reservation time and the recording start time of the reservation setting that follows the reservation time match A reserved recording start request signal is transmitted from the subsequent reserved recording control device 4 at a time about 20 to 30 seconds earlier than the actual recording start time set by reservation, and the reserved recording start request from the reserved recording control device 4 is sent. Even when the external recording device 3 rejects the reception of the signal (control signal), the external recording device 3 accepts the external recording device 3 from the reserved recording control device 4 until the external recording device 3 receives the reserved recording start request signal. Booking record By continuing to transmit the start request signal for a certain period of time, at the time when the recording process by the preceding reservation setting is completed in the external recording device 3, a reservation recording start request signal for starting the recording process by the subsequent reservation setting is generated. It is accepted, and it is possible to reliably perform the reservation recording as desired by the user.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the external recording device rejects the acceptance of the reservation recording start request signal (control signal) due to the reason that the reservation recording process is being performed from another information recording control device, the information recording control device reserves the reservation. The reserved recording start request signal (control signal) is continuously transmitted until the recording start request signal (control signal) is received by the external recording device or for a certain fixed time. As a result, when the reservation settings by different information recording control devices are mixed, even if the recording end time of the preceding reservation setting and the recording start time of the subsequent reservation setting partially overlap, As soon as the reservation process being executed is completed, the subsequent reservation recording start request signal is accepted, and the subsequent reservation recording can be surely executed.

In order to prevent the broadcast program from "being cut off" when continuous recording reservation is set such that the recording end time of the preceding reservation setting and the recording start time of the succeeding reservation setting coincide with each other. From the information recording control device for which the subsequent reservation is set, the recording start time is set to 2 after the reserved recording start time.
Even when the reservation recording start request signal (control signal) is transmitted at an early time (early set time) of about 0 to 30 seconds, only during a certain fixed time set longer than that.
By continuing to transmit the reservation recording start request signal (control signal) from the information recording control device to the external recording device, when the recording process according to the preceding reservation setting is completed, the external recording device performs the recording process according to the subsequent reservation setting. The reservation recording start request signal (control signal) for starting the recording can be received, and the subsequent reservation recording can be surely executed.

As described above, the reservation recording process can be executed according to the reservation setting of the user, and the reservation recording can be surely performed as desired by the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a reservation recording system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the reservation recording control device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Reservation recording system 2 input means 3 External recording device (recording / playback device) 4 Reservation recording controller (information recording controller) 41 Reservation setting section 42 Clock Department 43 Reservation Management Department 44 Receiver 45 External recording device controller

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information recording control device for recording at least any one of image information, audio information, and data broadcasting content in an external recording device based on a reservation setting content including a reservation time. An information recording control device having a control means for detecting, when reservation recording is not performed by the external recording device, and repeatedly controlling the external recording device to start reservation recording. 2. The control means enables transmission of at least one of the image information and the audio information and a control signal to the external recording device via a digital interface with the external recording device. The information recording control device according to claim 1, wherein the external recording device is configured to be capable of receiving a response signal indicating that the reservation recording is not performed. 3. The control means outputs a control signal for recording reception information or reproduction information to the external recording device at the time of the reserved recording control, and outputs the control signal by the external recording device. 3. The information recording control device according to claim 1, wherein when the acceptance is rejected, this is detected and the control signal is repeatedly output to the external recording device. 4. The information recording control device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit repeatedly outputs the control signal to the external recording device until the external recording device can accept the control signal. 5. The information according to claim 3, wherein the control unit repeatedly outputs the control signal to the external recording device for a predetermined time when the external recording device refuses to accept the control signal. Recording control device. 6. An external recording device for receiving received information or reproduction information of at least one of image information, audio information and data broadcasting content and an information recording control signal based on a reservation setting content including a reservation time via a digital interface. In the information recording control method of transmitting the information to the external recording device for reservation recording, when the external recording device does not perform the reservation recording during the reservation recording control, this is detected and an information recording control signal is transmitted to the external recording device for a predetermined time. Information recording control method that repeatedly outputs only.