JP2005092983A - Recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable enlarging residual capacity when the residual capacity of a recording medium becomes less, and to enable reproducing an original file so far as a margin is left in the residual capacity of the recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: Copied information is set to a HDD 108 when data of a HDD 108 is copied to an external device from an IEEE 1394 part 116, when it is discriminated by an overwriting discriminating part 114 that residual capacity of the HDD 108 is a previously set capacity threshold value or less while new data is being recorded in the HDD 108, the propriety of overwriting in a recording region of data in which copied information is set is displayed on a display 110 with residual capacity after enlargement calculated by a recordable time calculating part 115, when a user specifies erasure of the data by an erasing switch 111, new data can be overwritten in the recording region of the data. The capacity threshold value can be set to an arbitrary value other than a fixed default value from a user setting part 113 by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a means for increasing a recordable remaining capacity during data recording. In particular, it can be suitably applied as a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a video camera with a built-in HDD.

  In the prior art, when a magnetic tape is used as a recording medium, if an unnecessary part on the magnetic tape is to be erased during a recording operation, the recording operation is stopped once and the leading position of the unnecessary part is reached. It was necessary to resume the recording operation after rewinding the magnetic tape. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143777 shown in Patent Document 1, “disc device and video camera device using the disc device” uses a disc-shaped recording medium as a recording medium and records a video signal on the disc-shaped recording medium. In each case, the user sets whether or not the video signal needs to be stored, and reaches a predetermined threshold for the remaining recordable capacity or the remaining recordable time during the video signal recording operation, When it is detected that the recording capacity is insufficient, a recordable remaining capacity warning is displayed, and if the user instructs that the recording operation should continue, it is preset as unnecessary. There is described a means for extending the recordable time by detecting an area where a recorded video signal is recorded and overwriting the detected recording area with the video signal.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-218157 “Information Processing Device and Method, and Program Storage Medium” disclosed in Patent Document 2, and in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-314924 “Recording Device” disclosed in Patent Document 3, recording is performed on a recording device. A technique is described in which when an original file that has been copy-restricted is copied to another apparatus, that is, an external apparatus, the original file can be deleted from the recording apparatus. Patent Document 2 describes a technique in which when a copy operation is performed on an external device, the user sets in advance whether or not to delete the original file after the copy is completed. 3, when the original file has copyright information “copying is no longer possible” as the copy restriction information, the original file corresponds to the packet each time the original file is divided into packets and transmitted to the copy destination. A technique for deleting a part from a data storage unit is described.

  The original file copy operation in the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 3 will be further described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the copying operation of the original file to the external device in the prior art described in Patent Document 3.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, the copyright information acquisition unit reads copyright information indicating restriction information regarding copying of the data file to be copied stored in the data storage unit (step S51). Next, it is checked whether or not copy restriction information indicating “copying freedom” is described in the copyright information of the data file to be copied (step S52). If copy restriction information indicating “copying freedom” is described (YES in step S52), the process proceeds to step S53, the deletion flag is set to “FALSE”, and it is not necessary to delete even if the copy operation ends. It is set to a state indicating that there is not (step S53). On the other hand, when the copy restriction information indicating “copy free” is not described (NO in step S52), the copy restriction information indicating “no more copies are possible” is described in the copyright information of the data file to be copied. It is checked whether or not there is (step S54). When copy restriction information indicating “no more copies are possible” is described (YES in step S54), it is necessary to set the deletion flag to “TRUE” and delete it when the copy operation is completed. A state indicating that is set (step S55).

  Here, a case is shown in which there is no data file having copyright information in which copy restriction information indicating “copy only once” or “copy not possible” is described. That is, the copy restriction information indicating “copying only once” is rewritten to copy restriction information indicating “no more copies” at the time of recording, and the data file of copy restriction information indicating “not copyable” is recorded at the time of recording. It is not stored as a data file. Accordingly, when neither copy restriction information indicating “copying freedom” nor copy restriction information indicating “no more copies” is described as copyright information (NO in step S54), such copy restriction information is described. Since no data file having copyright information exists, the process ends as an error without performing subsequent processing.

  In addition, when the deletion flag is set to either “FALSE” or “TRUE”, it is cut out as a packet as an output unit of the data file, and the first packet is first sent to another external device via the I / O unit. A transmission operation for outputting in units is performed (step S56). Then, it is monitored whether or not a reception completion command returned from the external device has been received (step S57). If the reception completion command has not been received (NO in step S57), it is confirmed whether a preset time has elapsed (step S58). If not (NO in step S58), the process returns to step S57. If the reception completion command cannot be received even after a preset time has elapsed (YES in step S58), the copy process is terminated as a timeout.

  If a reception completion command is received (YES in step S57), the previously set deletion flag is confirmed (step S59). When the deletion flag is set to “TRUE” indicating that deletion should be performed at the end of the copy operation (YES in step S59), this indicates that the data file cannot be copied any more, and has already been recorded. The packet of the data file stored in the data storage unit has already been copied to the external device, and cannot overlap with the external device and have a plurality of copies. In step S60, the deletion unit deletes a portion of the data file stored in the data storage unit of the recording device corresponding to the packet that has been transmitted to the external device (step S60).

  On the other hand, when the deletion flag is set to “FALSE” (NO in step S59), since there is no copy restriction on the data file, the data file stored in the data storage unit of the recording device is deleted. The part does not need to be operated. That is, the deletion step of step S60 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S61. Thus, in the case of a data file set to “FALSE” with no data file copy restriction (NO in step S59), the original data file in the recording device is left and copied to the external device. Can be performed.

Finally, it is determined whether or not the copying operation of the data file to the external device has been completed (step S61). If all the data file copy operations have been completed (YES in step S61), the copy operation is terminated. On the other hand, if the data file copy operation has not been completed (NO in step S61), the process proceeds to the next packet of the data file (step S62), and returns to step S56 to send the next packet to the external device. Repeat the output operation. Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated until all the data file copying operations are completed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143777 JP 2001-218157 A JP 2002-314924 A

However, in the prior art, when trying to expand the recordable remaining capacity of the recording medium, there are the following problems. That is, when the recording medium is a magnetic tape, as described above, it is necessary to stop the recording operation once and to rewind the magnetic tape to an unnecessary portion, so that the recording operation cannot be performed during that time. is there.
Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when there is no remaining recordable capacity during the recording operation on the disk-shaped recording medium, an unnecessary video signal portion of the disk-shaped recording medium is detected, and the recording head Until the position is moved to the head position of the unnecessary signal portion, the video signal to be subsequently recorded is stored in the buffer memory, so that the recordable remaining capacity, that is, the remaining recordable time can be increased without interrupting the recording operation. It is devised so that it can be expanded.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the “unnecessary video signal portion” used for detection must be set by checking whether the user is necessary or unnecessary in advance when recording on the disk-shaped recording medium. There is a problem that must be. Even when a video signal is copied to a recording medium of an external device, the disc-shaped recording medium does not have a means for detecting the recording area of the copied video signal. There is also a problem that the settable “unnecessary video signal” disappears, and the recordable time cannot be extended even though the copied video signal portion exists. Furthermore, there is a problem that the user cannot arbitrarily set the threshold of the remaining recordable capacity or the remaining recordable time used for displaying the recordable remaining capacity warning.

  In the technologies described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, from the viewpoint of copyright protection, as described above, when a copy-restricted data file is copied to another external device, the original file is automatically On the other hand, when a data file that is not copy-restricted is copied to an external device, it is possible not to delete the original file.

  However, in the techniques described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, when the original file is not deleted, the copied data file is stored even if the copied data file exists in the external device. Since new data cannot be overwritten in the recording area of the file, there is a problem that when the remaining recordable capacity is insufficient, no further recording is possible. In addition, when deleting an original file, even if there is room in the recordable remaining capacity, the original file is automatically deleted when it is copied to the external device. The recording / reproducing apparatus has a problem that the original file cannot be reproduced. Furthermore, even if a data file can be duplicated over a plurality of predetermined times, it cannot be identified whether or not such a copy has been made more than once. There is a problem that the original file is automatically deleted only by the operation, or conversely, it is set in a state where it can be freely copied any number of times.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and in the case where the remaining recordable capacity is insufficient during the recording operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus on the recording medium, it has already been transferred to another external apparatus. When a copied data file exists on the recording medium, it is possible to extend the recordable time on the recording medium by enabling overwriting the recording area of the copied data file. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus that does not lose subsequent data files that are important to the user.

  The first technical means is a recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a copy means for copying a data file recorded on a recording medium to another external apparatus, wherein the data file recorded on the recording medium is transferred to the external apparatus When the data is copied, the recording / reproducing apparatus includes a copied information setting unit that sets copied information indicating that the data file has been copied to the recording medium.

  A second technical means is a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a copy means for copying a data file recorded on a recording medium to another external device, and is set for each data file recorded on the recording medium. A recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a discriminating unit that reads out copied information and discriminates a copied data file and an uncopied data file with respect to the external device based on the copied information. It is characterized by.

  A third technical means is a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a copying means for copying a data file recorded on a recording medium to another external device, and when a data file is newly recorded on the recording medium, When it is detected that a data file copied from the recording medium to the external device exists, the copied data file to be overwritten is erased, and the recording area of the copied data file The recording / reproducing apparatus includes an overwrite recording unit capable of overwriting a new data file.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first to third technical means, a recordable remaining capacity of the recording medium is set in advance during a data file recording operation on the recording medium. When it is detected that the capacity has fallen below the capacity threshold, the overwrite recording unit erases the copied data file and overwrites the recorded area of the copied data file to be overwritten. It is possible to do that.

  According to a fifth technical means, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first to third technical means, a recordable remaining capacity of the recording medium is set in advance during a data file recording operation on the recording medium. When it is detected that the number of copied data files is plural on the recording medium, it is determined that the overwrite recording unit Copied data file located in the nearest vicinity, copied data file with the oldest recording date / time, or copied data file with the recording start address of the recording medium at the youngest recording position Or select one of the copied data files with the largest recording capacity as the copied data file to be overwritten, and the selected overwrite And erasing the copied data files elephant, characterized in that it makes it possible to overwrite the recording region of the copied data files are erased.

  The sixth technical means performs the operation of overwriting the recording area of the copied data file to be overwritten selected and erased in the recording / reproducing apparatus described in the fifth technical means. When it is detected that the recordable remaining capacity of the recording area has decreased below the capacity threshold, and there is a copied data file that has not yet been selected as the copied data file to be overwritten. In this case, the overwrite recording unit is further copied data file located closest to the recording area currently being overwritten, or the copied data file having the oldest recording date or time, or A copied data file with the recording start address of the recording medium at the lowest recording position, or copied data with the largest recording capacity Select one of the files as a copied data file to be overwritten, erase the selected copied data file to be overwritten, and overwrite the recording area of the erased copied data file It is characterized by repeating an operation that makes it possible.

  According to a seventh technical means, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the fourth to sixth technical means, a default threshold value setting means capable of presetting a default value indicating an initial state as the capacity threshold value. It is characterized by having.

  According to an eighth technical means, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the fourth to seventh technical means, a designated threshold value that can be designated and set in advance by a user as an arbitrary value as the capacity threshold value. A setting means is provided.

  According to a ninth technical means, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the fourth to eighth technical means, the overwrite recording means erases the copied data file to be overwritten. In addition, prior to the operation of overwriting the recording area of the copied data file, it is provided with notification means for inquiring the user whether or not the overwrite operation is possible, and is used in response to the inquiry about whether or not the overwrite operation is possible by the notification means. A deletion instructing unit for instructing a user to delete the copied data file and whether or not to overwrite the recording area of the copied data file.

  According to a tenth technical means, in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the ninth technical means, when the user instructs not to overwrite by the erasure instruction means, a plurality of the copied data files are recorded on the recording medium. If it exists and there is a copied data file that has not yet been selected as the copied data file to be overwritten, another different copied data file is overwritten. Selected as the copied data file, the informing means inquires of the user whether or not the overwriting operation is possible, and the erasure instructing means determines the copy of the copied data file to be overwritten by the user. It is possible to instruct whether to erase and overwrite the recording area of the erased copied data file. It is characterized in.

  The eleventh technical means is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the ninth or tenth technical means, when the user instructs that the overwriting is not performed by the erasing instruction means, and the copy target to be overwritten When no copied data file that has not yet been selected as the data file exists in the recording medium, data is recorded only in the remaining recordable remaining capacity indicated by the capacity threshold value.

  A twelfth technical means is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the ninth to eleventh technical means, wherein the recordable remaining capacity of the recording medium including a recording area of the copied data file to be overwritten And / or remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining recordable time, wherein the notifying means indicates the recordable remaining capacity and / or remaining recordable time calculated by the remaining capacity calculating means as to whether or not the overwriting operation is possible. The user is notified together with the inquiry.

  The thirteenth technical means is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth technical means, wherein the number of times the data file recorded on the recording medium can be copied to another external device. Is provided with copy allowable frequency information setting means for setting the copy allowable frequency information indicating the above to the recording medium.

  The fourteenth technical means provides the copy allowable number information every time an operation for copying a data file recorded on the recording medium to the external device is started in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the thirteenth technical means. It is determined whether or not copying has been performed up to the number of copying times indicated, and if the number of copying times indicated by the allowable copying number information has been reached, the copying operation to the external device is executed prior to the execution of the copying operation. In this case, a warning display means for outputting a warning display to the user to delete the data file from the recording medium when the copying operation is completed is provided.

  A fifteenth technical means is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourteenth technical means, in the case where a user instructs execution of a copying operation in response to the warning display output by the warning display means, to the external device. When the copying operation is completed, the data file that has reached the allowable copy count information is erased from the recording medium.

  According to the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprising the technical means as described above, even when the remaining recordable capacity of the recording medium is reduced below a preset capacity threshold during the recording operation, the external apparatus It is possible to overwrite the recording area of the data file that has already been copied to the external device, and it is possible to continue the recording operation of the subsequent data. It is possible to prevent the data file that has not been copied and saved from being deleted. Furthermore, even after copying and saving to an external device, for example, when multiple copy operations are allowed, the recorded recording / reproducing device can record the original data as long as the remaining recordable capacity of the recording medium is sufficient. Since the file is not erased, it is possible to reproduce the original file using the recorded recording / reproducing apparatus as it is.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention sets a copied information indicating that the data file has been copied to the recording medium when the data file recorded on the recording medium is copied to another external device. Read information setting means, and read the copied information set for each data file recorded on the recording medium, and based on the copied information, to other external devices And a discriminating means for discriminating between a copied data file and an uncopied data file. When a new data file is recorded on the recording medium, if it is detected that a copied data file exists from the recording medium to another external device, the copied data file is deleted. In addition, an overwriting recording means capable of overwriting a new data file in the recording area of the copied data file is provided.

  Furthermore, when the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention detects that the recordable remaining capacity of the recording medium is less than a preset capacity threshold during the recording operation of the data file on the recording medium, The overwrite recording means can erase the copied data file from the recording medium, and overwrite the recording area of the copied data file that has been erased. Default threshold setting means that can set in advance a default value, or designated threshold setting means that allows the user to specify and set an arbitrary value in advance.

  Thus, according to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to automatically determine whether or not the data file needs to be stored in the recording medium depending on whether or not the data is copied to the external device. If the remaining recordable capacity is insufficient, new data can be overwritten and recorded in the recording area where the copied data file is recorded. It is not necessary to designate whether or not the data file does not need to be stored, and the remaining recordable capacity, that is, the remaining recordable time can be expanded. Furthermore, as a capacity threshold value for determining whether or not to extend the recordable time, not only a preset default value but also a user can arbitrarily set it according to the application.

An example of a specific embodiment of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a video camera with a built-in HDD (hard disk) as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and any recording / reproducing apparatus that performs recording / reproduction of a data file that can be copied, including still images, texts, etc., is not limited to moving images. The present invention can be applied to a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a recording medium for recording a data file is not limited to a built-in drive HDD, but various memory cards including a flash memory and an external HDD. Alternatively, it may be an optical recording medium represented by DVD or CD, or a magneto-optical recording medium such as MO.

  1 includes an image input unit 101, a signal processing unit 102, a control unit 103, a DMA controller 104, a memory 105, an image compression / decompression unit 106, a recording / reading unit 107, an HDD (hard disk) 108, and a display interface. 109, a display 110, an erase switch 111, a default value storage unit 112, a user setting unit 113, an overwrite determination unit 114, a recordable time calculation unit 115, and an IEEE 1394 unit 116.

  Here, the image input unit 101 inputs image information including an optical signal obtained by photographing a subject and performs photoelectric conversion. The signal processing unit 102 performs signal processing on the input image information to generate a digital image signal. The memory 105 temporarily stores the signal-processed digital image signal as image data, and records various data and programs for the operation of the control unit 103. The image compression / decompression unit 106 The image data temporarily stored in the memory 105 is compressed, and conversely, the compressed image data recorded in the HDD (hard disk) 108 is expanded. The HDD 108 converts the compressed image data into a data file. A recording medium to be recorded and a removable (replaceable) recording medium is shown as an example. The recording / reading unit 107 records or reads compressed image data as a data file on the HDD 108. The DMA controller 104 includes a signal processing unit 102, a memory 105, a display interface 109, a recording / reading unit 107, and the like. It controls information transfer between the image compression / decompression unit 106 and the control unit 103.

  The display 110 displays various types of information including image data and the like to the user, and the display interface 109 assembles information to be displayed on the display 110 into a display image. The unit 113 is for a user to set various conditions for the control unit 103. The IEEE 1394 unit 116 is connected to an external device different from the recording / reproducing device, and is connected to the external device. It controls information transfer operations such as image data.

  The erase switch 111 is a switch for the user to set whether or not to erase the copied data file (copied compressed image data file) recorded in the HDD 108, and the overwrite determination unit 114 is used for the HDD 108. The default value storage unit 112 determines whether or not there is a state in which new data should be overwritten in the recording area of the copied data file recorded in the file. A threshold for the remaining capacity of the HDD 108, that is, an initial setting value of the capacity threshold (default) that identifies the occurrence of a state in which new data should be overwritten in the area and gives the user an indication that the recordable remaining capacity is insufficient. The recordable time calculation unit 115 stores the remaining recordable capacity of the HDD 108 and the recordable time Or it calculates a remaining recordable time, the control unit 103 controls the operation of each circuit portion controls the entire recording and reproducing apparatus 100.

Next, the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail using a video camera with a built-in HDD as an example.
First, the operation before the start of photographing will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation before photographing in the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention. During the recording operation after the photographing starts, a new data area is recorded in the copied data file. Of an operation for identifying the occurrence of a state in which data should be overwritten and setting a capacity threshold value of the HDD 108 in advance to start shooting, which triggers a warning display for the user that the recordable remaining capacity is insufficient It is. That is, when the remaining capacity of the HDD 108 as a data file recording medium is reduced, it is possible to display a dialog for inquiring whether the user can overwrite the recorded area of the copied data file. Therefore, an operation for presetting a capacity threshold value that gives an opportunity to display the dialog display will be described.

First, the user checks whether or not to set the remaining capacity A and / or the remaining recordable time in advance using the user setting unit 113 as a capacity threshold (step S11). Here, if the user has instructed to set the remaining capacity A and / or the remaining recordable time (YES in step S11), the remaining capacity A and the user set through the user setting unit 113 / Or the remaining recordable time is taken in (step S12). Next, the recordable remaining capacity B is calculated from the remaining recordable time and the recording bit rate for the HDD 108 of the currently loaded recording medium based on the following equation (step S13).
Remaining recordable capacity B [Byte] = (Remaining recordable time [seconds])
× {(Recording bit rate [bit / second]) / 8}

  Next, the remaining capacity A set by the user is compared with the recordable remaining capacity B calculated in step S13, and the larger value is designated as the capacity threshold T (step S14). That is, steps S12 to S14 realize designated threshold setting means that allows the user to designate and set an arbitrary value as the capacity threshold T in advance according to the application.

  Here, as described above, the capacity threshold T is used during the data file recording operation, and when the remaining capacity of the HDD 108 decreases and reaches the capacity threshold T, copying to another external device is performed. It is checked whether or not a data file that has already been stored exists in the HDD 108, and if it exists, the user is inquired whether or not new data is to be overwritten in the recording area of the copied data file. This is used to display a dialog on the display 110.

  In step S11, if the user has not instructed the user setting unit 113 to set the remaining recordable capacity A and / or the remaining recordable time (NO in step S11), the default value is stored. The remaining capacity D stored as a default value in the unit 112 in advance is used as the capacity threshold T (step S15). That is, step S15 realizes a default threshold setting means for presetting a fixed default value indicating the initial state as the capacity threshold T.

Next, an actual photographing operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, that is, a data file recording operation to the HDD 108 will be described.
First, an optical signal of a photographed subject is input to the image input unit 101, photoelectrically converted into an analog image signal, subjected to processing such as AGC (Automatic Gain Control), and output to the signal processing unit 102. The image signal input to the signal processing unit 102 is A / D converted and converted into a digital signal, and image signal processing such as gamma correction, filtering, and edge enhancement processing is performed, and Y (luminance), U (Red color difference) and V (blue color difference) signals are generated. The control unit 103 temporarily stores the Y, U, and V signals generated by the signal processing unit 102 in the memory 105 via the DMA controller 104 based on the operation of the image processing program stored in the memory 105. .

  Next, the digital image signals once stored in the memory 105, that is, Y, U, and V signals are read from the memory 105 to the image compression / decompression unit 106 via the DMA controller 104, and subjected to compression processing to an appropriate compression size. Applied. The compressed image data that has been compressed is temporarily stored in the memory 105, and then, based on the operation of the image processing program stored in the memory 105 by the control unit 103, the shooting start time and shooting location are determined according to a predetermined format. The header information including various information such as the above is added and generated as a data file related to the compressed image data, and then recorded on the HDD 108 via the recording / reading unit 107.

  When performing a moving image recording operation by shooting for a long time, the image compression / decompression unit 106 performs compression processing in several times. When recording to the HDD 108, one data file (moving image data file) is used. Is recorded in the HDD. Accordingly, header information for recording the shooting start time and the like is attached only to the first compressed image data when the recording operation to the HDD 108 is started.

  Here, an example of the file structure of a plurality of data files (moving image data files) recorded in the HDD 108 which is a recording medium of the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be further described. FIG. 3 is a file conceptual diagram showing an example of the file structure of a plurality of data files recorded in the HDD 108 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention. First, a management area 108a for storing management information for managing a plurality of recorded data files is allocated in the head area of the HDD 108, and a header for each compressed image data is allocated behind the management area 108a. Each data file to which information is assigned, that is, data file A 108A, data file B 108B, data file C 108C,. In the management area 108a, the storage location, file capacity, recording bit rate, recording time of each data file A 108A, data file B 108B, data file C 108C,... The copied information indicating is recorded.

  In the file conceptual diagram shown in FIG. 3, the recordable capacity excluding the management area 108a of the HDD 108 is 20 GB, and the copied information of each data file recorded in the management area 108a of the HDD 108 includes a file capacity of 10 GB. It is assumed that the data file A 108A has already been copied to another external device, and the data file B 108B having a file capacity of 4 GB and the data file C 108C having a 2 GB have not yet been copied. Actually, by repeating the recording and erasing operations on the HDD 108, one data file (moving image data file) itself is divided into pieces and recorded in a plurality of recording areas of the HDD 108. However, here, for simplicity, one data file is shown as being recorded in a continuous recording area of the HDD 108.

  Next, the operation when the remaining capacity of the HDD 108 becomes equal to or smaller than the capacity threshold T that is set in advance in FIG. This will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation when the remaining capacity of the HDD 108 reaches the capacity threshold T or less during the recording operation in the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 4, first, during the data file recording operation, every time data is written to the HDD 108 (step S21), the overwrite determination unit 114 shown in FIG. The capacity threshold value T is compared (step S22). If it is determined that the remaining capacity has not yet reached the preset capacity threshold T or less (NO in step S23), the process returns to step S21 to return to the next data recording operation. On the other hand, when it is determined that the remaining capacity of the HDD 108 has decreased and reached the capacity threshold T or less (YES in step S23), an overwrite start signal is transmitted from the overwrite determination unit 114 to the control unit 103 (step S24). .

  When detecting the overwrite start signal from the overwrite determination unit 114, the control unit 103 confirms whether or not a data file that has been copied to another external device exists in the HDD 108 (step S25). That is, in step S25, the copied information set in the management area 108a for each data file recorded in the HDD 108 as a recording medium is read and copied to the external device based on the copied information. The discrimination means for discriminating between the data file and the uncopied data file is realized.

  If there is a copied data file (YES in step S25), the recordable time calculation unit 115 is notified of the file size of the copied data file that can be erased and the recording bit currently being recorded. The rate, that is, the data recording speed is transmitted (step S26). The recordable time calculation unit 115 calculates the remaining recordable capacity and / or the remaining recordable time when the copied data file is deleted and the data currently being recorded is overwritten (step S27). In other words, steps S26 and S27 realize a remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining recordable capacity and / or remaining recordable time of the HDD 108 including the recording area of the copied data file to be overwritten.

In step S27, for example, when the data recording operation is being performed at a data recording speed of a recording bit rate of 10 [Mbit / sec], and 0.5 GB is preset as the capacity threshold T, the example shown in FIG. As described above, when the data file A108A having a file capacity of 10 GB is recorded as the copied data file, the calculated recordable remaining capacity is
10 + 0.5 = 10.5 [GB]
The remaining recordable time is
{(10 + 0.5) × 1,024 × 8} [Mbit] / (10 [Mbit / sec])
≒ 8,602 [seconds] ≒ 143 [minutes]
It becomes.

  When receiving the recordable remaining capacity 10.5 [GB] and / or the remaining recordable time 143 minutes when the copied data file A108A is deleted from the recordable time calculation unit 115, the control unit 103 receives the display interface 109. The display 110 displays the remaining recordable capacity 10.5 [GB] and / or the remaining recordable time 143 minutes when overwritten, and overwrites the recorded area of the copied data file A 108A. An inquiry dialog for inquiring the user whether or not to record is displayed (step S28). That is, in step S28, prior to the operation of erasing the copied data file A 108A to be overwritten and overwriting the recording area of the copied data file A 108A, the user is asked whether the overwriting operation is possible. The informing means for inquiring is realized, and the recordable remaining capacity 10.5 GB and / or the remaining recordable time 143 minutes calculated in steps S26 and S27 are notified to the user together with an inquiry as to whether or not overwriting is possible It is to inform.

  Here, when the user depresses the erasure switch 111 for instructing overwriting (YES in step S29), it is assumed that the user has instructed to erase the copied data file A 108A, and the copied data The setting for erasing the file A 108A is performed in the management area 108a, and the data can be overwritten in the recording area of the copied data file A 108A. .5 [GB], that is, it is possible to further record data up to the remaining recordable time 143 minutes (step S30). That is, in step S29, the user erases the copied data file A108A to be overwritten and writes it to the recording area of the erased data file A108A in response to the inquiry about whether or not the overwriting operation can be performed by the notification unit in step S28. An erasure instruction means for instructing whether or not overwriting is possible is realized. Steps S26 to S30 determine a copied data file A 108A to be overwritten, erase the copied data file A 108A, and An overwrite recording unit is realized that can overwritely record new data in the recording area of the copied data file A108A.

  In step S25, if there are a plurality of data files in the copied state in the HDD 108, when selecting a candidate of the copied data file to be erased as an overwriting target, the recording area in the current recording operation is selected. The copied data file located closest may be selected, the copied data file having the oldest recording date and time may be selected, or the innermost circumference of the HDD 108, that is, the recording data file may be selected. You can select the copied data file that has the start address at the youngest recording position, or you can select the copied data file that has the largest recording capacity, and select one to overwrite. Delete the copied data file and record the copied data file. It may be overwritten in the area. Alternatively, in some cases, all copied data files may be immediately deleted and overwritten.

  Here, when there are a plurality of data files in the copied state in the HDD 108, in step S25, as described above, one of the copied data files is selected, and in steps S26 to S30. When performing the overwrite recording operation, the process returns to step S21 to perform the overwrite recording operation. In step S23, the remaining capacity of the recording area currently being overwritten has also reached a preset capacity threshold T or less. In this case (YES in step S23), in step S25, if there is still a copied data file to be overwritten (YES in step S25), the remaining copied data file is determined. , Perform selection according to any of the selection criteria described above, and overwrite The recording area of the selected copied data files, further operation is repeated to perform overwrite recording.

  On the other hand, if the user does not press the delete switch 111 in step S29 (NO in step S29), it is instructed not to delete the copied data file A108A selected as the overwriting target. Recording is performed up to the remaining recordable time determined from the preset capacity threshold T and recording bit rate without overwriting the recording area of the data file A 108A (step S31).

For example, as described above, when a data recording operation is being performed at a data recording speed of a recording bit rate of 10 [Mbit / sec] and the capacity threshold T is set to 0.5 GB,
(0.5 × 1,024 × 8) [Mbit] / (10 [Mbit / sec])
≒ 410 [seconds] ≒ 7 [minutes]
Thus, after continuing the data recording operation for about 7 minutes, the recording capacity of the HDD 108 becomes full, and the data recording operation is interrupted.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the case where only one data file A 108A exists in the HDD 108 as a copied data file has been described. However, as described above, a plurality of copies are stored in the HDD 108. There may be a data file that has already been created. As described above, when there are a plurality of copied data files in the HDD 108, if the user does not press the delete switch 111 for the first selected copied data file (NO in step S29). ) As long as there is a copied data file that has not yet been selected as the copied data file to be overwritten, another different copied data file is further selected as the copied data file to be overwritten. Then, the notification means in step S28 inquires the user whether or not the overwriting operation is possible, and further, the erase instruction means in step S29 allows the user to erase the copied data file and erase the copied data file. Re-instruct whether to overwrite the data file recording area. It is possible.

  On the other hand, when the user instructs not to overwrite by the erasure instruction means in step S29 (NO in step S29), other copied data that has not yet been selected as the copied data file to be overwritten. When the file does not exist in the HDD 108, the operation of recording data only in the remaining recordable remaining capacity indicated by the preset capacity threshold T is performed as in step S31 described above. Done.

  If there is no data file in the copied state in the HDD 108 in step S25 (NO in step S25), the process immediately proceeds to step S31 without displaying the inquiry dialog as described above. After recording until the remaining recordable time obtained from the capacity threshold T and the recording bit rate, that is, in the above example, after continuing the data recording operation for about 7 minutes, the recording capacity of the HDD 108 becomes full. Thus, the data recording operation is interrupted.

  Next, an operation when copying a data file (for example, a moving image data file) recorded on the HDD 108 to another external device via the external connection interface, that is, the IEEE 1394 unit 116 shown in FIG. This will be described based on a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation when the data file recorded on the HDD 108 is copied to another external apparatus in the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present invention.

  First, the user setting unit 113 is used to connect the external device that is the copy destination to the IEEE 1394 unit 116, and the user sets the data file recorded on the HDD 108 via the IEEE 1394 unit 116. A data file to be copied to the external device is selected (step S41). The control unit 103 reads the data file selected by the user from the HDD 108 via the recording / reading unit 107, and sends the data file to the external device via the IEEE 1394 unit 116, thereby copying the data file to the external device (step S42). ). That is, steps S41 and S42 realize a copy unit that copies a specified data file among the data files recorded in the HDD 108 as a recording medium to an external device via the IEEE 1394 unit 116.

  At the same time, the copied data file is set to the copied information related to the data file in the management area 108a of the HDD 108 without performing an operation of erasing the HDD 108 immediately (step S43). That is, in step S43, when the data file of the HDD 108 as a recording medium is copied to the external device, the copied information setting for setting the copied information indicating that the data file has been copied to the management area 108a of the HDD 108 is performed. Realize the means.

  Thus, even if a data file is already copied to another external device, the data file is recorded as an original file unless overwriting is performed in the recording area of the data file. The data is stored as it is in the playback apparatus 100 and can be played back in the recording / playback apparatus 100.

  It should be noted that the data file cannot be copied from the external device to another external device in the management area of the recording medium in the copy destination external device, that is, “copy not possible” or “no more copies”. It is possible to reproduce only when the data file HDD 108 is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 that has performed the recording operation as an original file, even if the recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is different from the recording / reproducing apparatus. Even if the HDD 108 is installed, it may be set in the management area 108a so that it cannot be reproduced. By making such settings, the occurrence of an inadvertent copy operation for the data file can be prevented. Is possible.

  Further, in order to prevent an illegal copy operation from occurring, a data file set in a copied state is stored as it is in the HDD 108 only when a plurality of allowable copy times are permitted. You may do it. In such a case, the allowable number of copies that can be set in the management information 108a of the HDD 108 as the allowable number of copies information that can copy the data file recorded in the HDD 108 to another external device via the IEEE 1394 unit 116. Each time an operation for copying a data file recorded in the HDD 108 to an external device is started, it is determined whether or not copying has been performed up to the number of copies indicated by the allowable copy number information. Until the number of times of copying indicated by the permitted number of times of copying information is reached, the number of times of copying is counted each time copying is performed on the external device, and further copying operation of the copied data file is performed on the external device. In order to prohibit this, “copying is impossible” or “copying is impossible” is set.

  On the other hand, if it is detected that the number of copies indicated by the copy allowable number information is reached, the copy operation is executed when the current copy operation to the external device is executed as it is prior to the execution of the copy operation to the external device. A warning display means for outputting to the user a warning display to the effect that the data file will be deleted from the HDD 108 when the operation is completed is provided, and the user executes a copy operation in response to the warning display. When instructed, when the copying operation to the external device is completed, the data file that has reached the copy allowable number information is forcibly deleted from the HDD 108, and the recording area of the data file can be recorded. This is an area.

  Thus, it is stored in the HDD 108 as it is until the permitted multiple copy operations are performed, and at the time when the multiple copy operations are about to be performed, even if the recording is performed. Even if there is a large remaining recordable capacity in the HDD 108 of the playback apparatus 100, a warning display to the effect that the data file is to be deleted is displayed along with the copy operation to the user, and the user It is possible to delete data from the HDD 108 based on the copy instruction, thereby preventing unauthorized copying.

  On the other hand, if the remaining recordable capacity of the HDD 108 is reduced to a value equal to or less than a preset capacity threshold T before the permitted multiple copy operations are performed, even if the copy Even if the copy operation has not been performed until the number of copies indicated by the allowable number information, it is erased as a copied data file and designated as a data file recording area that can be overwritten as described above. Therefore, the remaining recordable capacity of the HDD 108, that is, the remaining recordable time can be automatically extended.

It is a block block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation before photographing in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a file conceptual diagram which shows an example of the file structure of the some data file recorded on HDD of the recording / reproducing apparatus based on this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation when the remaining capacity of the HDD reaches a capacity threshold value or less during a recording operation in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation when a data file recorded in an HDD is copied to another external device in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of copying an original file to an external device in the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Recording / reproducing apparatus, 101 ... Image input part, 102 ... Signal processing part, 103 ... Control part, 104 ... DMA controller, 105 ... Memory, 106 ... Image compression / decompression part, 107 ... Recording / reading part, 108 ... HDD, 108a ... management area 108A ... data file A 108B ... data file B 108C ... data file C 109 ... display interface 110 ... display 111 ... delete switch 112 ... default value storage unit 113 ... user setting unit 114 ... overwrite determining unit, 115 ... recordable time calculating unit, 116 ... IEEE1394 unit.

Claims (15)

  A recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a copy means for copying a data file recorded on a recording medium to another external device, and when the data file recorded on the recording medium is copied to the external device, A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising copy information setting means for setting copied information indicating that a data file has been copied to the recording medium.   A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a copying means for copying a data file recorded on a recording medium to another external device, and reads copied information set for each data file recorded on the recording medium. And a discriminating means for discriminating between the copied data file and the uncopied data file based on the copied information.   A recording / reproducing apparatus provided with a copy unit that copies a data file recorded on a recording medium to another external apparatus, and when the data file is newly recorded on the recording medium, from the recording medium to the external apparatus When it is detected that a copied data file exists, the copied data file to be overwritten is erased, and a new data file is overwritten in the recording area of the copied data file. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising overwriting recording means capable of performing the above.   4. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recordable remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced to a preset capacity threshold or less during a data file recording operation on the recording medium. When the recording is detected, the overwriting recording unit can erase the copied data file and overwrite the recorded data area of the copied data file to be overwritten. Playback device.   4. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recordable remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced to a preset capacity threshold or less during a data file recording operation on the recording medium. If there are a plurality of the copied data files on the recording medium, the overwriting recording means has copied data located closest to the recording area currently being recorded. The file or the copied data file with the oldest recording date or time, the copied data file with the recording start address of the recording medium at the youngest recording position, or the copied data file with the largest recording capacity Select one of the data files as the copied data file to be overwritten, and the selected copied data file to be overwritten. Clear the yl, recording and reproducing apparatus, characterized in that to be able to overwrite the recording region of the copied data files are erased.   6. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when a recording area of the copied data file to be overwritten selected and erased is overwritten, the remaining recordable capacity of the recording area is the capacity. When it is detected that the data has decreased below the threshold, and there is a copied data file that has not yet been selected as the copied data file to be overwritten, the overwrite recording means Further, the copied data file located closest to the recording area currently being overwritten or the copied data file with the oldest recording date or time, or the recording start address of the recording medium is the youngest Overwrites either the copied data file at the recording position on the side or the copied data file with the largest recording capacity An operation that enables the selected data file to be overwritten to be erased and overwritten in the recording area of the copied data file that has been erased The recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by repeating.   7. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a default threshold value setting means capable of presetting a default value indicating an initial state as the capacity threshold value. .   8. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a designated threshold setting unit that allows a user to designate and set an arbitrary value as the capacity threshold. Recording / playback device.   9. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the overwrite recording unit erases the copied data file to be overwritten and stores the erased copied data file in a recording area. Prior to the overwriting operation, it is provided with notifying means for inquiring the user whether or not the overwriting operation is possible, and in response to the inquiry about whether or not the overwriting operation is possible by the notifying means, the user can erase the copied data file and A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising an erasure instruction means for instructing whether or not the erasure of the copied data file can be overwritten in the recording area.   10. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the user instructs not to overwrite by the erasure instruction means, and there are a plurality of copied data files on the recording medium, and overwriting If there is a copied data file that has not yet been selected as the target copied data file, select another different copied data file as the target data file to be overwritten. The informing means inquires of the user whether the overwriting operation is possible, and the erase instruction means erases the copied data file to be overwritten by the user and erases the copied data. Recording / reproducing apparatus capable of instructing whether or not to overwrite a recording area of a file   11. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the user has instructed not to overwrite by the erasure instruction means, and has not been selected as the copied data file to be overwritten yet If the data file does not exist on the recording medium, the data is recorded only on the remaining recordable capacity indicated by the capacity threshold.   12. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a remaining recordable capacity and / or remaining recordable time of the recording medium including a recording area of the copied data file to be overwritten is calculated. Capacity calculating means, and the notifying means notifies the user of the recordable remaining capacity and / or remaining recordable time calculated by the remaining capacity calculating means together with an inquiry about whether or not the overwriting operation is possible. A recording / reproducing apparatus.   13. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein copy allowable number information indicating the number of times a data file recorded on the recording medium can be copied to another external device is stored in the recording medium. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a copy allowable frequency information setting means for setting.   14. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each time an operation of copying a data file recorded on the recording medium to the external apparatus is started, whether or not copying has been performed up to the number of copies indicated by the copy allowable number information. When the copy number indicated by the copy allowable number information has been reached, the copy operation to the external device is executed prior to the execution of the copy operation. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising warning display means for outputting a warning display to the user to erase the data file from the recording medium.   15. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when a user instructs execution of a copy operation to the warning display output by the warning display unit, the copy operation to the external device is completed. A recording / reproducing apparatus for erasing the data file that has reached the allowable copy count information from the recording medium.

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