JP2006065903A - Storage reproducing device and image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage reproducing device which can improve an access speed to data by optimizing data arrangement on a storage medium when reproducing the data to be reproduced, which are segmented and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium, and to provide an image pickup device. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera 1 mounted with the storage reproducing device relating to this invention reads a FAT stored in a FAT area (23) of a hard disk 20 when an operation part 14 receives designation of video data to be reproduced, and writes the read FAT in a buffer 17. Then, the camera analyzes the FAT written in the buffer 17, and determines whether or not the received video data are segmented and stored in the discontinuous areas. Then, when it is determined that the data are segmented in the discontinuous areas for storage, the camera performs processing of data area change (so-called, defragmentation processing) so as to store the data in continuous areas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an area for storing data such that when data stored in a storage medium is reproduced, the data is divided into discontinuous areas of the storage medium and stored in a continuous area. The present invention relates to a storage / reproduction device capable of optimizing a storage medium by modifying the storage medium and an imaging device equipped with the storage / reproduction device.

  In recent years, digital cameras such as digital still cameras and digital video cameras equipped with an image sensor such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor have become widespread. A digital camera converts an analog video signal photoelectrically converted by an image sensor into a digital format, and stores the converted signal as video data in a storage medium. In recent years, the performance of an image sensor, the storage capacity of a storage medium, and the access speed have been improved, and a digital camera capable of continuous shooting and moving image shooting has been put to practical use, similar to a so-called silver salt camera.

As the storage medium, an optical storage medium such as a DVD or a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory is used. In addition, if a hard disk is installed in a digital camera as a storage medium, a large-capacity image can be stored. Therefore, a digital camera (video camera) equipped with a hard disk has been developed (for example, patents). Reference 1).
JP 2003-309797 A

  In addition, unlike the conventional sequential access type tape-shaped storage medium, each storage medium described above can store data (files) at random, and can erase unnecessary files sequentially. Files can be selected and played instantly.

  However, a storage / playback apparatus such as a digital camera as described above first writes file 1, file 2,..., File 6 continuously in a storage medium (FIG. 6A). In this state, when the files 2, 4, and 5 are erased from the storage medium, the areas in which the files are stored are the free area 1 and the free area 2 so that a new file can be stored (FIG. 6). (B)). When a new file 7 is written to the storage medium, if the data size of the file 7 is larger than the capacity of the free area 1, the file 7 cannot be stored in a continuous area and is divided into the file 7-1 and the file 7-2. Is written (FIG. 6C). Therefore, one file, that is, data as continuous information is stored in the storage medium in a divided state.

  That is, since the storage / reproduction device can randomly store and erase data, fragmentation occurs in the storage medium. Therefore, there is a problem that data continuity is lost due to repeated data storage and erasure, and the access speed to the data is reduced. More specifically, when data is written in a discontinuous area or when data in a divided state is read, the time required to move the writing unit and the reading unit (magnetic head, optical head) (seek time) It increases, and the access speed to the data decreases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. When data is reproduced, when the data to be reproduced is divided and stored in a discontinuous area of the storage medium, the data is stored in a continuous area. Thus, by adopting a configuration in which the area for storing data is changed, the data arrangement on the storage medium is optimized and the access speed to the data can be improved, and the storage / reproduction apparatus is mounted. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus.

  Further, according to the present invention, when area data indicating an area where data is stored is stored in a storage medium, whether the data is divided into discontinuous areas and stored by analyzing the area data. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage / reproduction device capable of grasping an area of a data storage medium with a simple configuration and an imaging device equipped with the storage / reproduction device.

  Further, according to the present invention, when data is reproduced, the data to be reproduced is divided and stored in a discontinuous area of the storage medium, and a continuous free area equal to or larger than the data size of the data exists in the storage medium. The storage / reproduction can optimize the data arrangement on the storage medium and improve the access speed to the data by changing the area for storing the data so that the data is stored in the continuous area. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and an imaging device equipped with the storage / reproduction device.

  Further, the present invention is configured to determine whether or not the data to be reproduced is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium when the designation of the data to be reproduced is received. Can be determined whether or not the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium from the time when the designation is received until the start of playback, and continues in parallel with playback. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage / reproduction device capable of changing a region for storing data so as to store the data in the region, and an imaging device equipped with the storage / reproduction device.

  In the present invention, when area data indicating an area where data is stored is stored in a storage medium, the area data is stored in a buffer, and the stored area data is analyzed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage / reproduction device and an imaging device equipped with the storage / reproduction device in which it is not necessary to access a storage medium when analyzing area data and the time required for the analysis is reduced.

  In a storage / reproduction device that performs storage of data in a storage medium having a plurality of areas and reproduction of data stored in the storage medium, the storage / reproduction device according to the present invention, when performing data reproduction, Determining means for determining whether the data is divided and stored in a discontinuous area of the storage medium; and when the data is divided and stored in the discontinuous area of the storage medium by the determination means. And changing means for changing the area for storing the data so as to be stored in a continuous area when determined.

  In the present invention, when data is reproduced, it is first determined whether or not the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium. When it is determined that the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium, the area for storing the data is changed so that the data is stored in the continuous area. Thereby, the data arrangement in the storage medium can be optimized, and the access speed to the data is improved. Further, if it is performed in parallel with the data reproduction, the data arrangement in the storage medium can be optimized by effectively utilizing the time during which the data reproduction is executed.

  In the storage / reproduction device according to the present invention, area data indicating an area in which the data is stored is stored in the storage medium, and the determination unit performs the determination by analyzing the area data. It is characterized by being.

  In the present invention, when area data indicating an area where data is stored is stored in a storage medium, the data is divided into discontinuous areas and stored by analyzing the area data. It is determined whether or not. Thereby, it is possible to grasp the area of the data storage medium with a simple configuration.

  A storage / reproduction device according to the present invention is a storage / reproduction device for storing data in a storage medium having a plurality of areas and reproducing the data stored in the storage medium, wherein the data is stored in the storage medium. If the area data indicating the area is stored and the data is reproduced, it is determined whether the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium by analyzing the area data. Determining means for determining, calculating means for calculating the data size of the data by analyzing the area data, and detecting whether or not there is a continuous free area equal to or larger than the data size in the storage medium; It is determined by the detection means and the determination means that the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium, and the detection means If the free area of the continuous or Tasaizu is detected to be present, as stored in the free space to the continuous, characterized in that it comprises a changing means for changing an area for storing the data.

  In the present invention, when reproducing data, first, by analyzing the area data indicating the area where the data is stored, whether or not the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium. Determine. Further, by analyzing the area data, the data size of the data is calculated, and it is detected whether or not there is a continuous free area larger than the data size. Then, when it is determined that the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium, and there is a continuous free area that is equal to or larger than the data size, the data is stored in the continuous area. Change the data storage area. Thereby, the data arrangement in the storage medium can be optimized, and the access speed to the data is improved. Further, if it is performed in parallel with the data reproduction, the data arrangement in the storage medium can be optimized by effectively utilizing the time during which the data reproduction is executed.

  The storage / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises receiving means for receiving designation of data to be reproduced, and the determining means is configured to make the determination when the receiving means receives data designation. Features.

  In the present invention, when designation of data to be reproduced is received, it is determined whether or not the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not the data is divided and stored in a discontinuous area of the storage medium from when the specification of the data to be reproduced is received until the reproduction is started. In parallel, the area for storing data can be changed so as to be stored in a continuous area.

  The storage / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a buffer for temporarily storing data read from the storage medium, and the changing means stores the area data in the buffer and analyzes the stored area data. It is made to do so.

  In the present invention, when area data indicating an area where data is stored is stored in a storage medium, the area data is stored in a buffer and the stored area data is analyzed. This eliminates the need to access the storage medium when analyzing the area data, thereby reducing the time required for the analysis.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the above-described storage / reproduction devices and an imaging unit that captures an image, and stores data relating to the image captured by the imaging unit in the storage medium. It is characterized by the above.

  In the present invention, when data related to the image captured by the imaging means is stored in the storage medium, when reproducing the data related to the image, the data arrangement in the storage medium can be optimized, The access speed to the data relating to the image is improved. Thereby, for example, when a moving image is reproduced, once the reproduction is finished, the data arrangement is optimized when the next reproduction is performed, so that it is possible to prevent a frame drop of the moving image.

  According to the present invention, when data is reproduced, an area for storing data so that the data to be reproduced is stored in a continuous area when the data to be reproduced is divided and stored in a discontinuous area of the storage medium. Therefore, the data arrangement on the storage medium can be optimized and the access speed to the data can be improved. Therefore, for example, when a moving image is reproduced, once the reproduction is completed, the data arrangement is optimized when the next reproduction is performed, so that it is possible to prevent a frame drop of the moving image.

  According to the present invention, when area data indicating an area in which data is stored is stored in a storage medium, the data is divided into discontinuous areas and stored by analyzing the area data. Since it is configured to determine whether or not there is, it is possible to grasp the area of the data storage medium with a simple configuration.

  According to the present invention, when data is reproduced, the data to be reproduced is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium, and a continuous free area equal to or larger than the data size of the data is stored in the storage medium. Since the area for storing data is changed so as to be stored in a continuous area when it exists, the data arrangement on the storage medium can be optimized and the access speed to the data can be improved.

  According to the present invention, when the designation of data to be reproduced is received, it is determined whether or not the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium. Can be determined whether or not the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium from the time when the designation is received until the start of playback, and continues in parallel with playback. The area for storing data can be changed to store in the area.

  According to the present invention, when the area data indicating the area where the data is stored is stored in the storage medium, the area data is stored in the buffer, and the stored area data is analyzed. When the area data is analyzed, there is no need to access the storage medium, and the time required for the analysis can be shortened.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera as a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

  The digital camera 1 includes a control unit 10 composed of a CPU. The control unit 10 is connected to the ROM 11, RAM 12, image pickup device 13, operation unit 14, signal processing unit 15, hard disk controller 16, buffer 17, display unit 18, and output unit 19 via the bus, and controls these units. Various functions are executed in accordance with a computer program stored in advance in the ROM 11 and function as various means in the present invention in cooperation with each unit or independently. The digital camera 1 stores a function for encoding an externally input video signal into video data in a predetermined format (hereinafter referred to as MPEG format), a function for storing encoded video data, and the like, as in the past. It has a function of decoding video data into a video signal.

  The RAM 12 stores temporary data generated when the control unit 10 executes the computer program, and is configured by, for example, a DRAM or an SDRAM. The image pickup device 13 is composed of a CCD or a CMOS and photoelectrically converts incident light to generate an analog video signal. The hard disk controller 16 is connected to a hard disk 20 that is a storage medium.

  The signal processing unit 15 includes an ADC (analog / digital converter) 15a, an encoder 15b, a decoder 15c, and a DAC (digital / analog converter) 15d. The ADC 15a digitizes an analog video signal generated by the image sensor 13 at a predetermined sampling frequency and outputs the digitized video signal to the encoder 15b. The encoder 15b encodes the digitized video signal into MPEG format video data. The encoded video data is output to the buffer 17 and stored in the hard disk 20 by the hard disk controller 16. The encoding format may be a DV compression format, a motion JPEG format, or the like, and the video compression standard is not limited.

  On the other hand, MPEG format video data stored in the hard disk 20 is output to the buffer 17 by the hard disk controller 16, decoded into a video signal by the decoder 15c, and output to the DAC 15d. The DAC 15 d converts the video signal into an analog signal and outputs it to the output unit 19. A display device 50 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT display is connected to the output unit 19, and an image related to the video signal output from the output unit 19 is displayed on the display device 50.

  The operation unit 14 includes various function keys for operating the digital camera 1. The function keys are provided with an imaging start key 14a for starting imaging, a reproduction start key 14b for starting reproduction, an end key 14c for ending imaging / reproduction, a numeric keypad, and a cross key. When the user operates a numeric keypad, a cross key or the like, designation of video data to be reproduced is accepted.

  The display unit 18 is configured by a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor or an LED monitor, and displays an operation state of the digital camera 1 and a screen for prompting a user to input an operation. Note that an on-screen display (OSD) may be displayed on the display device 50 to operate the digital camera 1, and various function keys of the operation unit 14 may be provided by using the display unit 18 as a touch panel. It is also possible to substitute a part or all of the above.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hard disk 20 is roughly divided into a system area 21, a directory area 22, a FAT area 23, and a data area 24. The FAT area 23 stores a table (FAT) for managing an area (physical position) where files on the disk are stored. With reference to the FAT, a file stored in the data area 24 is read or a file is stored in the data area 24. The FAT is updated when there is a change in the file status such as file creation and deletion.

Next, an operation performed by the digital camera 1 as the storage / reproduction device according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart.
3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation procedure of the digital camera as the storage / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that the operation procedure is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. Such an operation procedure can be performed by incorporating a computer program in the ROM 11 in advance.

  First, the control unit 10 receives designation of video data to be reproduced by the operation unit 14 (step S1), and reads out the FAT stored in the FAT area 23 of the hard disk 20 via the hard disk controller 16 (step S2). ) The read FAT is written in the system area of the buffer 17 (step S3).

  Then, the control unit 10 analyzes the FAT written in the buffer 17 and determines whether or not the video data received in S1 is divided into discontinuous areas (clusters) of the hard disk 20 and stored. (Step S4). More specifically, the control unit 10 determines from the FAT written in the buffer 17 based on whether or not the area number specifying the area where the video data is stored is discontinuous. Of course, when the video data is stored in one cluster, it is determined that it is not discontinuous. In this way, the control unit 10 refers to the buffer 17 without accessing the hard disk 20 to determine whether or not the video data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the hard disk 20. Can do.

  When it is determined in S4 that the video data is not divided and stored in the discontinuous area of the hard disk 20, that is, stored in one area or stored in a continuous cluster (S4: NO) ), The control unit 10 determines that the video data is stored in the hard disk 20 in an optimized state. Then, the video data is reproduced (step S5), and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S4 that the video data is divided and stored in discontinuous clusters of the hard disk 20 (S4: YES), the control unit 10 analyzes the FAT written in the buffer 17 and analyzes it. The data size of the video data received in S1 is calculated (step S6), and it is detected (determined) whether or not there is a continuous free space equal to or larger than the data size of the video data on the hard disk 20 (step S7).

  In S7, when it is detected (determined) that there is no continuous free space equal to or larger than the data size of the video data in the hard disk 20 (S7: NO), the control unit 10 rearranges the video data in the continuous free space. If it cannot be determined, the process proceeds to S5 to reproduce the video data, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, when it is detected (determined) in S7 that the hard disk 20 has a continuous free space larger than the data size of the video data (S7: YES), the control unit 10 analyzes the FAT written in the buffer 17. Thus, the number N of data constituting the video data is calculated (step S8).

  Then, the control unit 10 sets the variable i (i = 1, 2,...) To 1 (step S9), controls the hard disk controller 16, and controls the i-th data (here, the first data) constituting the video data. ) From the hard disk 20 (step S10), and the read i-th data (here, the first data) is written in the data area of the buffer 17 (step S11).

  Next, the control unit 10 controls the hard disk controller 16 to write the i-th data (here, the first data) from the buffer 17 to the free area of the hard disk 20 (step S12). Here, the free area of the hard disk 20 is a continuous free area that is equal to or larger than the data size of the video data detected in S7. As a result, the i-th data (here, the first data) constituting the video data can be stored from the beginning of a continuous free area equal to or larger than the data size of the video data in the hard disk 20.

  The control unit 10 updates the FAT written in the system area of the buffer 17 (step S13). As a result, the system area of the buffer 17 stores the FAT reflecting the area where the i-th data is stored in the process of S12.

  Then, the control unit 10 controls the hard disk controller 16 to read the FAT stored in the system area of the buffer 17 (step S14) and write the read FAT to the FAT area 23 of the hard disk 20 (step S15). As a result, the FAT area 23 of the hard disk 20 stores the FAT reflecting the area of the hard disk 20 to which the i-th data has been written by the process of S12.

  When the control unit 10 controls the signal processing unit 15 and performs the process of S12, the control unit 10 reads the i-th data (here, the first data) from the buffer 17 and the decoder 15c reads the i-th data (here). Then, the first data) is decoded, and the decoded i-th data (here, the first data) is converted into an analog signal by the DAC 15d. Then, the analogized i-th data (here, the first data) is output from the output unit 19 to the display device 50. As a result, an image related to the i-th data (here, the first data) is displayed on the display device 50.

  In this way, the digital camera 1 performs the change of the area for storing the i-th data (here, the first data) constituting the video data and the reproduction process of the i-th data (here, the first data). Can be done in parallel.

  Then, the control unit 10 determines whether there is data that has not been processed yet, that is, whether the variable i is less than the number of data N (i <N) (step S16). In S16, when it is determined that the variable i is equal to or greater than the number of data N (i ≧ N) (S16: NO), the processing is finished because all the data constituting the video data has been processed. To do.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S16 that the variable i is less than the number of data N (i <N) (S16: YES), there is data that has not been processed yet, so the variable i is incremented. (I = i + 1) (step S17), the process proceeds to S10, and the process related to the next data ((i + 1) th data) is performed. That is, when the number of data constituting the video data is N, the data (first data, second data,..., Nth) constituting the video data is executed by executing the processes of S10 to S15 N times. The change of the area in the hard disk 20 in which the data is stored and the reproduction process of each data (first data, second data,..., Nth data) can be performed in parallel.

  Next, an operation when the number of data constituting the video data is 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the digital camera as the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

  FIG. 5A shows a state in which the video data composed of the first data 30a, the second data 30b, and the third data 30c is stored in the data area 24 of the hard disk 20, and the FAT area 23 has A FAT 31 that manages the physical position of data on the disk in this state is stored.

  In the state shown in FIG. 5A, when the reproduction of the video data is accepted by the user, the video camera 1 performs the above-described processing of S9 to S14 on the first data 30a, and the hard disk 20 is free. The first data 30a is written from the head position of the area 24a, and the FAT 31 changed by the writing is updated (FIG. 5B).

  Next, the video camera 1 performs the above-described processing of S9 to S14 on the second data 30b to obtain the second data 30b from the next position of the empty area 24a in which the first data 30a of the hard disk 20 is written. The FAT 31 changed by the writing is updated (FIG. 5C).

  Then, the video camera 1 performs the above-described processing of S9 to S14 on the third data 30c, and obtains the third data 30c from the next position of the empty area 24a in which the second data 30b of the hard disk 20 is written. The FAT 31 changed by the writing is updated (FIG. 5D).

  As described above, since the video data distributed and stored in the discontinuous areas of the hard disk 20 is continuously stored in the continuous areas, the access speed to the video data is improved. be able to. Further, since the above-described processing is performed in parallel with the video data reproduction processing, the time during which the video data reproduction processing is executed can be effectively used to perform the defragmentation processing.

  In this embodiment, the FAT stored in the FAT area 23 of the hard disk 20 is read and the read FAT is written in the system area of the buffer 17. However, the read FAT is written in the RAM 12. Needless to say.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera as a storage / reproducing apparatus based on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the content of the storage area of a hard disk. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the digital camera as a storage / reproducing apparatus based on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the digital camera as a storage / reproducing apparatus based on this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the mode of operation | movement of the digital camera as a storage / reproducing apparatus based on this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the memory | storage state of a storage medium.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 10 Control Unit 11 ROM
12 RAM
13 Image Sensor 14 Operation Unit 15 Signal Processing Unit 16 Hard Disk Controller 17 Buffer 18 Display Unit 19 Output Unit 20 Hard Disk

Claims (6)

In a storage / reproducing apparatus for storing data in a storage medium having a plurality of areas and reproducing the data stored in the storage medium,
A determination means for determining whether or not the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium when reproducing the data;
Changing means for changing an area for storing the data so that the data is stored in a continuous area when the determination means determines that the data is divided and stored in a discontinuous area of the storage medium. A storage / reproducing apparatus comprising: Area data indicating an area where the data is stored is stored in the storage medium,
The determination means includes
The storage / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed by analyzing the area data. In a storage / reproducing apparatus for storing data in a storage medium having a plurality of areas and reproducing the data stored in the storage medium,
Area data indicating an area where the data is stored is stored in the storage medium,
When performing data reproduction, a determination unit that determines whether the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium by analyzing the area data;
Calculating means for calculating the data size of the data by analyzing the area data;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a continuous free space equal to or larger than the data size in the storage medium;
The determination means determines that the data is divided and stored in discontinuous areas of the storage medium, and the detection means detects that there is a continuous free area equal to or larger than the data size. In this case, a storage / reproducing apparatus comprising: a changing unit that changes an area for storing the data so as to be stored in the continuous empty area. A receiving means for receiving designation of data to be reproduced;
The determination means includes
The storage / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determination is performed when a data specification is received by the reception unit. A buffer for temporarily storing data read from the storage medium;
The changing means is
The storage / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the area data is stored in the buffer and the stored area data is analyzed. A storage / reproduction device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An image pickup means for picking up an image,
An image pickup apparatus, wherein data relating to an image picked up by the image pickup means is stored in the storage medium.

Images