JP2004021634A - Hard disk recorder and its file backup system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hard disk recorder and its file backup system capable of easily recovering an image file even if it is broken. <P>SOLUTION: The image file stored in the hard disk of a HD recorder 1 is periodically transmitted to a server 10 via a LAN 30 to be stored as a backup image file in the server 10. If the image file in the hard disk of the HD recorder 1 is broken, a recovery switch is pressed for obtaining the backup image file from the server 10 and storing it in the hard disk of the HD recorder 1. In this way, the broken image file can be recovered easily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hard disk recorder that records image data received from the outside on a hard disk, and also relates to a file backup system of such a hard disk recorder.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a device for recording a television program or the like, a VTR (video tape recorder) has generally been used, but recently, a hard disk recorder having a built-in large-capacity hard disk has appeared. In the case of a VTR, since an analog signal is recorded on a tape, there are disadvantages in that the quality of the image is degraded when the recorded video is reproduced, and the editing operation is very difficult. On the other hand, in the case of a hard disk recorder, since the video signal is digitized and recorded on the hard disk, the reproduced video is extremely clear, the image quality is not deteriorated, and the editing work can be performed freely.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a hard disk recorder, an image file stored in a hard disk may be damaged due to a failure of a file system or the like. If such file corruption occurs, the recorded video cannot be reproduced. However, conventional hard disk recorders do not have a recovery function for restoring damaged files, so if a file is damaged, the user must request a recovery service from the manufacturer's service center, which is very inconvenient. Met.
[0004]
Therefore, it is conceivable to make a backup of the file in case the file is damaged. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 6-83885 and Hei 8-63379 describe techniques related to file backup performed by a personal computer or a workstation. However, to make a backup with a hard disk recorder, a backup recording medium must be prepared and a predetermined operation must be performed every time recording is performed, which is very troublesome. In addition, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-91717, it is conceivable to automatically make a backup by duplicating a hard disk. However, this requires two hard disks and increases the cost.
[0005]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a hard disk recorder that can easily perform recovery even if an image file is damaged, and a file back system for the hard disk recorder. is there.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention transmits an image file stored on a hard disk to a server via a communication line as a backup image file, and stores the backup image file received from the server on the hard disk when the image file stored on the hard disk is damaged. It is intended to be.
[0007]
By doing so, the image file saved on the hard disk is backed up to the server, so even if the image file on the hard disk is damaged, a backup file can be obtained from the server, thereby restoring the damaged file be able to. Since the backup of files is performed automatically, there is no need to back up each time recording is performed, and since backup is performed on the server side, there is no need to duplicate the hard disk on the recorder side, and the cost can be reduced. Can be.
[0008]
In order to obtain a backup file from a server, the hard disk recorder of the present invention includes a recovery switch operated when restoring a damaged image file. When this recovery switch is operated, the server is notified via the communication line that the image file has been damaged, and upon receiving this notification, the server transmits the backup image file stored in advance to the hard disk recorder. The hard disk recorder stores the backup image file on the hard disk. In this way, by simply operating the recovery switch, a backup file can be obtained from the server and the damaged file can be easily restored.
[0009]
In the system of the present invention, it is preferable that, of the image files transmitted from the hard disk recorder, only the image files other than the stored backup image files are stored in the server. According to this, since only necessary files can be stored for backup on the server side, it is possible to suppress an unlimited increase in the capacity of the storage device.
[0010]
Further, in the system of the present invention, the hard disk recorder may transmit only the image file designated for backup to the server via the communication line, and the server may store only the image file designated for backup. Also in this case, since the server only needs to back up the necessary files, it is possible to suppress an unlimited increase in the capacity of the storage device.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which the system is configured in a relatively limited area such as an apartment M. Reference numeral 1 denotes a hard disk recorder (hereinafter, referred to as “HD recorder”), which is provided in each house of the apartment M. Reference numeral 10 denotes a server, which is provided in, for example, a management room of the apartment M. A LAN (Local Area Network) 30 is laid in the apartment M as a communication line, and each HD recorder 1 and the server 10 are connected by the LAN 30.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the HD recorder 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a communication unit which is connected to the LAN 30 and communicates with the server 10, and this communication unit constitutes a transmission unit and a reception unit. A control unit 12 includes a CPU and memories (ROM, RAM), and controls the operation of the HD recorder 1. An error code corresponding to the failure mode is set in the memory of the control unit 12 in advance. An A / D converter 13 converts an analog video signal input from an external receiver into a digital signal. An encoder 14 converts the A / D converted digital signal into a compressed image file in the MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2) format. Reference numeral 15 denotes a hard disk that stores the image file generated by the encoder 14, and has a storage capacity of about 40 GB to 80 GB. A decoder 16 converts an image file in the MPEG2 format read from the hard disk 15 at the time of reproduction into a normal digital video signal. Reference numeral 17 denotes a D / A converter, which converts a digital video signal generated by the decoder 16 into an analog video signal and sends the analog video signal to a television receiver.
[0013]
Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation unit provided on the front panel of the HD recorder 1. The operation unit 18 includes an existing operation switch (not shown) and a recovery switch 19 operated to restore a damaged image file. Is provided. Reference numeral 20 denotes a remote control receiving unit provided on the front panel of the HD recorder 1 and includes a light receiving unit (not shown) for receiving an infrared signal 24 transmitted from a remote control 21 for remote operation. Reference numeral 22 denotes a display unit provided on the front panel of the HD recorder 1 and includes a liquid crystal display, a display lamp, and the like.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the server 10. Reference numeral 31 denotes a communication unit which is connected to the LAN 30 and transmits and receives data to and from the HD recorder 1. A control unit 32 includes a CPU and memories (ROM and RAM), and controls the operation of the server 10. Reference numerals 33 and 34 denote hard disks constituting a large-capacity storage device, which store backup image files of each HD recorder 1. Here, two hard disks 33 and 34 are provided, but three or more hard disks can be provided as necessary.
[0015]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the recorded contents of the hard disks 33 and 34 in a table. The hard disks 33 and 34 are assigned storage areas of a predetermined capacity for each of the users A, B, C,..., And each storage area has a backup image file a1 collected from the HD recorder 1 of each user. , A2, a3 ..., b1, b2, b3 ..., c1, c2, c3 ... are stored. Each HD recorder 1 transmits the image files stored in the hard disk 15 to the server 10 periodically (once / week, once / month, etc.) via the LAN 30, and the server 10 transmits the received image files. The images are stored in the hard disks 33 and 34 as image files for backup. In this case, when the image file is transmitted from the HD recorder 1, the server 10 collates the image file with the backup image file already stored in the hard disks 33 and 34, and stores the stored backup image file. Only the image files other than the files are stored in the hard disks 33 and 34.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the file backup system having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing this operation, and shows a processing procedure at the time of recovery executed by the control units 12 and 32 in the HD recorder 1 and the server 10. In the HD recorder 1, it is monitored whether or not the recovery switch 19 (FIG. 2) is pressed (step S1). When the recovery switch 19 is pressed (step S1: YES), the control unit 12 causes the image file to be damaged. An error code indicating this is read from the memory and sent to the communication unit 11. The error code is transmitted from the communication unit 11 to the server 10 via the LAN 30 (step S2), and the server 10 is notified of the damage of the image file. The user ID set in each HD recorder 1 is transmitted from the communication unit 11 to the server 10 via the LAN 30 together with the error code.
[0017]
The server 10 monitors whether an error code has been received from the HD recorder 1 (step S3). When the error code is received (step S3: YES), the error code is read to diagnose the failure mode (step S4), and it is determined whether or not the image file is damaged (step S5). As a result, if it is determined that the image file of the HD recorder 1 has been damaged (step S5: YES), the backup image file (FIG. 4) is read from the corresponding area of the hard disks 33 and 34 based on the user ID (step S6). Then, the backup image file is transmitted from the communication unit 31 to the HD recorder 1 via the LAN 30 (step S7). When the failure mode diagnosis indicates that the image file is not damaged (step S5: NO), another error process is performed without performing the recovery process.
[0018]
The HD recorder 1 is waiting for the backup image file to be transmitted from the server 10 (step S8), and when the communication unit 11 receives the backup image file via the LAN 30 (step S8: YES), the control unit. 12 stores this image file in the hard disk 15 (step S9). When the storage is completed, the completion of the recovery is displayed on the display unit 22 by a message or lamp lighting, and the process is terminated (step S10).
[0019]
As described above, the image file stored in the hard disk 15 of the HD recorder 1 is periodically transmitted to the server 10 via the LAN 30 as a backup image file, and when the image file of the hard disk 15 is damaged, the recovery switch 19 is turned on. By pressing this button to acquire a backup image file from the server 10 and storing it in the hard disk 15, a damaged image file can be easily restored. Since the backup of the file is automatically performed periodically, it is not necessary to perform the backup every time recording is performed. Further, since the backup is performed on the server 10 side, it is not necessary to duplicate the hard disk on the HD recorder 1 side. . Further, since the server 10 saves only the unsaved image files among the image files transmitted from the HD recorder 1, the capacity of the hard disks 33 and 34 can be prevented from increasing without limit. When the storage area for each user in the hard disks 33 and 34 is full, the server 10 notifies the HD recorder 1 via the LAN 30 of the fact, and a message indicating that the storage area is full is displayed on the display unit 22 of the HD recorder 1. It may be displayed. When the backup is to be continued thereafter, the image files stored in the storage area may be deleted in order from the oldest one.
[0020]
FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing a system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is an example in which a system for providing a file backup service to a wide range of users using the Internet is configured. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes the same HD recorder as that shown in FIG. 1, which has the configuration shown in FIG. Reference numeral 50 denotes a server having a larger capacity than the server 10 shown in FIG. 1, and its configuration is basically the same as that of FIG. Reference numeral 40 denotes a communication line such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). Reference numeral 41 denotes the Internet. Each HD recorder 1 and the server 50 are connected via the communication line 40 and the Internet 41. ing. Note that a dedicated line may be used as the communication line 40.
[0021]
In the system of FIG. 6, each HD recorder 1 is installed at the user's home, and the server 50 is installed at a service company that provides a file backup service. The user concludes a backup service contract with the service company, becomes a member, and receives the backup service by paying a predetermined membership fee to the service company. The operation of the system in FIG. 6 is exactly the same as that described in FIG. 5, and the image file stored in the hard disk 15 of each HD recorder 1 is periodically transmitted to the server 50 through the communication line 40 and the Internet 41, and If the file is damaged, the user presses the recovery switch 19 to obtain a backup image file from the server 50 and stores it in the hard disk 15. According to this system, a file backup service can be provided to a wide range of users using the Internet 41. In addition, the service company can make a profit by recruiting members and collecting membership fees, and can construct a new business form.
[0022]
In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the image file stored in the hard disk 15 of the HD recorder 1 is periodically transmitted to the servers 10 and 50 through the communication line, but the image file does not always need to be transmitted periodically. Alternatively, the data may be transmitted to the servers 10 and 50 at any time by the operation of the HD recorder 1. When the image file is transmitted periodically, the frequency of transmission (once / week, once / month, etc.) may be set by the operation unit 18.
[0023]
Alternatively, of the image files stored on the hard disk of the HD recorder 1, only the image files designated to be backed up may be transmitted to the servers 10 and 50 via the communication line. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, a backup designation switch 25 may be provided on the operation unit 18 of the HD recorder 1 so that the backup of the image file can be designated by pressing the switch 25 during recording.
[0024]
Further, in the above embodiment, the example in which the recovery switch 19 is provided in the HD recorder 1 has been described, but the recovery switch 19 may be provided on the remote controller 21 side. Similarly, the above-described backup designation switch 25 can also be provided on the remote controller 21 side.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the image file stored in the hard disk recorder is backed up by the server, even if the image file is damaged, the backup file can be obtained from the server and the damaged file can be easily restored. In addition, since the backup is automatically performed, it is not necessary to perform the backup every time recording is performed, and there is no need to duplicate the hard disk on the recorder side.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the hard disk recorder.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a server.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing recorded contents of a hard disk on a server side in a table.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the file backup system of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another example of the hard disk recorder.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 hard disk recorder 10 server 11 communication unit (transmission unit, reception unit)
12 control unit 15 hard disk 19 recovery switch 25 backup designation switch 30 LAN (communication line)
31 communication unit 32 control unit 33, 34 hard disk 40 communication line 41 Internet 50 server a1, a2, a3 backup image files b1, b2, b3 backup image files c1, c2, c3 backup image files

Claims (6)

A hard disk recorder having a built-in hard disk and storing image data received from the outside as an image file in the hard disk, and having a function of reading and playing the stored image data,
A recovery switch operated when restoring a damaged image file,
When the recovery switch is operated, a transmission unit that transmits an error code indicating that the image file has been damaged to the server via a communication line,
A receiving unit that receives a backup image file transmitted by the server based on the error code through the communication line,
The image file saved on the hard disk is periodically transmitted from the transmission unit to the server as a backup image file through a communication line,
A hard disk recorder, wherein when the image file stored on the hard disk is damaged, the receiving unit stores the backup image file received from the server on the hard disk. A hard disk recorder having a built-in hard disk and storing image data received from the outside as an image file in the hard disk, and having a function of reading and playing the stored image data,
The image file saved on the hard disk is sent to the server as a backup image file through the communication line,
A hard disk recorder which stores a backup image file received from the server in a hard disk when the image file stored in the hard disk is damaged. The hard disk recorder according to claim 2,
A recovery switch operated when restoring a damaged image file is provided, and when the recovery switch is operated, an error code indicating that the image file has been damaged is transmitted to the server via a communication line. And hard disk recorder. A hard disk recorder having a built-in hard disk, storing image data received from the outside as an image file in the hard disk, and having a function of reading and playing back the stored image data, and a server connected to the hard disk recorder by a communication line A file backup system of a hard disk recorder having
The hard disk recorder transmits the image file stored on the hard disk to the server via a communication line,
The server saves the image file received from the hard disk recorder as a backup image file,
The hard disk recorder notifies the server of the damage of the image file when the image file saved on the hard disk is damaged,
The server transmits the backup image file to the hard disk recorder through a communication line based on the notification of the image file being damaged,
A file backup system for a hard disk recorder, wherein the hard disk recorder stores a backup image file received from the server on a hard disk. The file backup system according to claim 4,
The file backup system for a hard disk recorder, wherein the server stores only image files other than the stored backup image files among the image files transmitted from the hard disk recorder. The file backup system according to claim 4,
The hard disk recorder transmits only the image file designated as backup among the image files stored in the hard disk to the server through a communication line,
A file backup system for a hard disk recorder, wherein the server stores only image files designated for backup.

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