JP2005018952A - Continuous reproduction method for digital information, and digital information recording or reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a waiting time at reproduction operation, in particular, continuous reproduction in an apparatus reproducing digital audio. <P>SOLUTION: A continuous reproduction method for digital information comprises the steps of: transferring information in a hard disk drive 2; reproducing information of a memory 3; storing information at least before or after one piece of information into the memory 3 during reproduction of the one piece of information; and continuously reproducing information before or after the one piece of information 1 and stored in the memory 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for continuously reproducing digital information, particularly digital audio, from a hard disk device, and a digital information recording or reproducing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such a digital information recording or reproducing apparatus is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
This is a device for storing a digital audio signal transferred from a CD player or the like or from a personal computer (5) (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”). The case where the audio signal is transferred from the PC (5) refers to the case where the compressed audio signal downloaded from the music server to the PC (5) is transferred via the Internet, for example.
The input signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter (60), encoded and compressed by the encoder and decoder IC (6), and then passed through the control circuit (4) to the hard disk drive (2). ) (Hereinafter abbreviated as “HDD”). The audio signal transferred from the PC (5) is usually compressed in advance by a method such as MP3 or ATRAC, and does not need to be compressed by the encoder and decoder IC (6). The operation of the HDD (2) is controlled by the control circuit (4), and an operation signal from the user is input to the control circuit (4).
The control circuit (4) is connected to the memory (3), and signals in the HDD (2) are temporarily stored in the memory (3). The reason why the memory (3) is provided will be described later.
[0003]
The signals stored in the HDD (2) and the memory (3) are decompressed and decoded by the encoder and decoder IC (6), converted to an analog signal by the D / A converter (61), and then amplified. Amplified at (62) and output from the speaker (63).
As shown in FIG. 6, the HDD (2) includes a hard disk (20) rotated by a spindle motor (M) and a head lever (22) facing the hard disk (20), and a front end portion of the head lever (22). A magnetic head (21) is provided on the back side. The magnetic head (21) is slightly lifted by the rotation of the hard disk (20) to record or reproduce signals.
[0004]
The reproduction procedure in such an apparatus is shown below. The user stores a plurality of files in the hard disk (20) in advance, and one file corresponds to one song. When the user turns on the power and presses a play button (not shown), the spindle motor (M) rotates and the first file is played in a state of steady rotation. At this time, the file being reproduced is also stored in the memory (3). When the first file has been played, the next file to be played is searched. Thereafter, the files are sequentially played back.
Since the memory (3) is provided, when the same file is reproduced again with the power turned on, the reproduction from the memory (3) does not require the hard disk (20) to be rotated and can be reproduced quickly.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-195031 (FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional apparatus, when the power is turned on, the HDD (2) is operated to search for a file, and when the reproduction of one file is completed, the file to be reproduced next is retrieved. Therefore, it is necessary to move the head lever (22) and wait until the rotation of the spindle motor (M) becomes constant before the reproduction of the next file after the reproduction of one file is completed. Is long.
Further, after the power is turned off and the power is turned on again, it is necessary to rotate the spindle motor (M) again and move the magnetic head (21), so that it takes a long time to start reproduction. As a result, the user may be uncomfortable.
An object of the present invention is to shorten a waiting time during a reproduction operation, particularly continuous reproduction, in an apparatus for reproducing digital audio.
[0007]
[Means for solving the problems]
A method for continuously reproducing digital information includes a step of transferring information in a hard disk drive (2) to a memory (3);
Reproducing the information in the memory (3);
Storing at least one information before or after the one information in the memory (3) during reproduction of the one information;
When the reproduction of one piece of information is completed, a step of continuously reproducing the information before or after the one piece of information stored in the memory (3) is provided.
[0008]
[Action and effect]
During reproduction of one information, at least one information before or after the one information is stored in the memory (3), and during continuous reproduction, the information before and after the one information is stored from the memory (3). Reproduce. When reproducing from the memory (3), there is no need to rotate the hard disk (20), so that information is reproduced without interruption when information is continuously reproduced. Thus, the user has no discomfort due to the long waiting time.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus main body (1) according to this example. A display (40) and a plurality of operation buttons (11) (11) are provided on the apparatus main body (1), and the order or type of songs to be reproduced is displayed on the display (40).
The device body (1) is provided with a cable terminal (10), and one end of the cable (12) can be inserted into the cable terminal (10). The other end of the cable (12) is connected to a PC (5) or other digital audio equipment such as a CD player.
The block diagram in the apparatus main body (1) has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. Connected to the control circuit (4) are an HDD (2) and a memory (3) for storing files as audio signals. The memory (3) is preferably a flash memory that retains the stored contents even when the power is shut off.
[0010]
A plurality of files transferred from the PC (5) or the like are stored in the HDD (2), and one file corresponds to one song. Each file is numbered in the order of playback. Hereinafter, the reproduction operation of this example will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
When the apparatus main body (1) is powered on, the control circuit (4) starts the initial process (S1). The initial processing includes initialization of the control circuit (4), energization of the HDD (2), and the like. The user presses the operation button (11) to select a file to be reproduced first, or presses the reproduction button without selecting a file. If the playback button is pressed without selecting a file, the first file is selected.
[0011]
Next, the control circuit (4) searches whether there is a file to be reproduced in the memory (3) (S2). If it exists, after checking whether or not there is free space in the memory (3) (S6), whether or not the files positioned before and after the file to be played are already written in the memory (3). After confirming (S7, S9), the file to be reproduced in the memory (3) is reproduced (S11).
If there is no file to be reproduced in the memory (3) in step S2, the file to be reproduced is read from the HDD (2) (S3) and stored in the memory (3) (S4). . At this time, the file is reproduced (S11) while being written to the memory (3) (S5). Since the file is in a compressed format, it is written faster than it is read. That is, if the file is played after being written to the memory (3), it takes time until the playback sound is output after the user presses the play button, so the file is being written to the memory (3). Is playing.
When the selected file is written in the memory (3) (S5), that is, when one song is written in the memory (3) to the end, the control circuit (4) has a free space in the memory (3). It is determined whether or not (S6). At this time, the file is still being played. If there is no free space, playback of the selected file is continued (S11). If there is free space, it is determined whether or not a file to be played next to the file being played is stored in the memory (3). Judgment is made (S7).
[0012]
If the file to be reproduced next is not stored in the memory (3), 1 is added to the current file number while reproducing the current file (S8), and the process returns to step S2. The control circuit (4) reads the file to be reproduced next from the HDD (2) (S3).
If the file to be reproduced next is already stored in the memory (3), it is determined whether or not the file before the current file is stored in the memory (3) (S9). The reason for confirming the existence of the previous file will be described later. If the previous file is not stored in the memory (3), 1 is subtracted from the current file number while reproducing the current file (S10), and the process returns to step S2. If the previous file is stored in the memory (3), the reproduction operation is continued as it is (S11).
If the user inputs an instruction to stop the continuous playback (S12), the continuous playback is stopped.
[0013]
As described above, storing the files before and after the file currently being reproduced in the memory (3) is convenient when continuously reproducing a plurality of files. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image in which a file is stored in the memory (3).
For example, in the memory (3), the file No. currently being reproduced is stored. 2 and the previous file No. Assume that 1 is stored. In steps S11 and S5 in the flowchart of FIG. 2 and the next file No. 3 is written to the memory (3). File No. 2 is finished, the file No. 3 is played back. Through steps S11 and S5, the file No. 3 and the next file No. 4 is written to the memory (3). File No. 3 is finished, the file No. 4 is played. File No. 4 is reproduced while the next file No. 4 is reproduced. 5 is written to the memory (3). In this way, the next file can be continuously reproduced with less waiting time.
The reason why the file before the file currently being reproduced is also stored in the memory (3) is to support reverse continuous reproduction. That is, the file No. Next to file No. 3, file No. 2. File No. This is because there is a case in which playback is desired in the reverse order of 1 and the order stored in the HDD (2).
[0014]
In this example, during the reproduction of one information, at least one information before or after the one information is stored in the memory (3), and in the continuous reproduction, the memory (3 ) To play back and forth information. When reproducing from the memory (3), there is no need to rotate the hard disk (20), so that information is reproduced without interruption when information is continuously reproduced. Thus, the user has no discomfort due to the long waiting time.
[0015]
In the above description, the information transferred to the apparatus main body (1) is transferred from the PC (5), but it may be another digital signal, for example, a signal from a CD player or digital radio. The file is not limited to an audio signal, and may be a video signal.
[0016]
The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. In addition, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection state between an apparatus main body and a PC.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for continuously reproducing files.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for continuously reproducing files.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image in which a file is stored in a memory.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hard disk drive.
[Explanation of symbols]
(1) Device body (2) HDD
(3) Memory (4) Control circuit (5) PC

Claims (3)

A hard disk drive (2) for storing digital information; a memory (3) for temporarily storing information from the hard disk drive (2); and a control circuit (4) connected to the hard disk drive (2) and the memory (3). In the continuous reproduction method of digital information in which information is stored in the reproduction order in the hard disk drive (2),
Transferring information in the hard disk drive (2) to the memory (3);
Reproducing the information in the memory (3);
Storing at least one information before or after the one information in the memory (3) during reproduction of the one information;
A method for continuously reproducing digital information, comprising the step of continuously reproducing information before or after the one information stored in the memory (3) at the end of reproduction of the one information. The method for continuously reproducing digital information according to claim 2, wherein the digital information is information in a compressed format from the personal computer (5). A hard disk drive (2) for storing digital information; a memory (3) for temporarily storing information from the hard disk drive (2); and a control circuit (4) connected to the hard disk drive (2) and the memory (3). In the digital information recording or reproducing apparatus in which information is stored in the hard disk drive (2) in the order of reproduction,
The control circuit (4) transfers the information in the hard disk drive (2) to the memory (3), reproduces the information in the memory (3), and reproduces one information before the one information or At least one of the following information is stored in the memory (3), and a program for continuously reproducing the information before or after the one information stored in the memory (3) is stored when the reproduction of the one information is finished. A digital information recording or reproducing apparatus.

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