JP2006073044A - Information recording and reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recording and reproducing apparatus in which overwriting-recording can be performed for an already reproduced part when storage capacity is deficient. <P>SOLUTION: When it is determined that capacity required for recording video data does not exist in a recordable region (NO in step S104), it is determined whether program data of "no protection" exist or not (step S112). When the program data of "no protection" exist, the program data are erased and allotted to the recordable region (step S114). Further, it is determined whether program data of "partial protection" exist or not (step S116). When the program data of "partial protection" exist, the already reproduced part is erased and the region is allotted to the recordable region based on information of resume point (step S118). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of making an area in which video data is recorded an area that can be overwritten.

  When recording video data on a recording medium, there is a technique for securing the capacity by overwriting the recorded area under certain conditions if the storage capacity is insufficient.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 gives priority to the latest reserved program by deleting data that has been viewed or otherwise judged unnecessary even if the recording medium has insufficient free space. A program recording method capable of recording is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a broadcast receiving apparatus that overwrites in order from a program with a lower priority based on priority information indicating the importance of a recorded program and whether the program has been viewed or not. It is disclosed.

Patent Document 3 discloses a broadcast program recording apparatus that can prevent the disadvantage that a program with a low degree of preference is overwritten with a program with a high degree of preference. In Patent Document 4, when a program is recorded using the repetitive recording function, the recording position of the recording program reserved for recording is automatically changed based on whether or not the user views the recorded program. A digital recording / reproducing apparatus that can be used is disclosed.
JP 2001-167522 A JP 2001-203960 A JP 2003-319304 A JP 2004-88634 A

  However, conventionally, when the storage capacity is insufficient, the unprotected data and the entire viewed data are erased. Therefore, if the capacity cannot be secured even after erasing these data, recording cannot be started.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of overwriting recording on a reproduced part when the storage capacity is insufficient. That is.

  An information recording / reproducing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention stores receiving means for receiving broadcast-based video data, a data storage area for storing video data, and management information for managing the data storage area And a storage means including a management information storage area for recording the program information for managing the video data specified for each broadcast program and the video data for each program information. Recording area specifying information for specifying the area and stop position information for storing the position where the reproduction of the video data specified by the program management information is stopped are included. The data storage area includes the management information. A first area managed as an area where video data is recorded and a second area managed as a recordable area are included.

  Further, for each program information, an attribute storage means for storing attributes selectable by the user, a reproduction means for reading out and reproducing the video data recorded in the data storage area, and a predetermined command signal A reproduction stop unit for stopping reading by the reproduction unit, a stop position recording unit for recording each piece of program information, with the stop position where the reading of the video data is stopped by the reproduction stop unit as stop position information, and reception Control means for controlling recording processing in the data storage area when recording video data received by the means.

  The above-mentioned control means includes a first judgment means for judging whether or not a capacity necessary for recording video data exists in the second area, and a capacity necessary for the first judgment means exists. If it is determined not to be, the second determination means for determining whether or not there is a regenerated area in the first area based on the stop position information, and the second determination means When it is determined that an area exists, the first area releasing means for allocating the released area to the second area and releasing it, and when the attribute of the program information is the second attribute, Of these, a second area releasing means for allocating and releasing the area in which the video data specified by the program information is recorded is assigned to the second area.

  When the attribute of the program information is the first attribute, the first area releasing means releases the reproduced area in order from the old video data of the date information further included in the program information. Further, the process by the second area releasing means is executed with priority over the process by the first area releasing means.

  An information recording / reproducing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention stores receiving means for receiving video data, a data storage area for storing video data, and management information for managing the data storage area Storage information including a management information storage area, and the management information includes title information for specifying each video data, and a recording area for specifying the area in which the video data is recorded for each title information Specific information and stop position information for storing the position where reproduction of the video data specified by the title information is stopped are included, and the data storage area is an area where the video data is recorded by the management information And a second area managed as a recordable area.

  Furthermore, the reproduction means for reading and reproducing the video data recorded in the data storage area, the reproduction stop means for stopping the reading by the reproduction means in response to a predetermined command signal, and the video data by the reproduction stop means The stop position recording means for recording the stop position where the reading of the video is stopped as stop position information for each title information, and the recording process to the data storage area when recording the video data received by the receiving means And a control means for controlling.

  The above-mentioned control means includes a first judgment means for judging whether or not a capacity necessary for recording video data exists in the second area, and a capacity necessary for the first judgment means exists. If it is determined not to be, the second determination means for determining whether or not there is a regenerated area in the first area based on the stop position information, and the second determination means First area releasing means for allocating and releasing the reproduced area as the second area when it is determined that the area exists.

  Preferably, for each title information, an attribute storage means for storing an attribute that can be selected by the user is further provided, and the first area releasing means is the one that has been reproduced when the attribute of the title information is the first attribute. Free up space.

  More preferably, when the attribute of the title information is the second attribute, the control unit allocates and releases the area in which the video data specified by the title information is recorded in the first area. The second area releasing means is further executed, and the processing by the second area opening means is executed in preference to the processing by the first area opening means.

  Further, the title information further includes date information on which the video data is recorded, and it is desirable that the first area releasing means release the reproduced area in order from the oldest video data of the date information.

  Further, the title information further includes genre information of the video data, and the first area releasing means selects the reproduced areas in order from the video data of the genre having a low genre priority set in advance by the user. It is desirable to open it.

  According to the present invention, when video data is recorded in the data storage area, if the capacity required for recording does not exist in the recordable area, the reproduced area can also be made a recordable area. Therefore, it is possible to overwrite-record video data recorded in the reproduced area.

  Further, the user can select an attribute for each title information. Thereby, only when the user selects the first attribute, the reproduced area corresponding to the title information can be set as the recordable area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the viewed video data from being erased against the user's intention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

[Embodiment 1]
With reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the hard disk recorder 100 which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of hard disk recorder 100. The hard disk recorder 100 is an aspect of the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and is not limited to this. For example, it may be a device having a function of recording video data on a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recorder or other removable recording medium.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hard disk recorder 100 receives signals from an operation unit 122 for receiving an instruction input from outside and outputting a signal corresponding to the instruction, and a remote controller (not shown). A light receiving unit 124 for receiving and outputting a command according to the signal, a clock circuit 126 for measuring the time of the hard disk recorder 100 and outputting a signal according to the time, and the operation of the hard disk recorder 100 And a display unit 128 for displaying the state to the outside. Here, the state of operation means, for example, whether the hard disk recorder 100 is reproducing or recording.

  The hard disk recorder 100 is further connected to an antenna 190 for receiving a broadcast signal based on a channel instructed to select a channel, and the video data of the broadcast signal received by the tuner 130 is MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group). 2) MPEG encoder 132 for converting into a format and outputting, and system control circuit 110 for executing a predetermined process based on a signal inputted from outside and data stored in advance in the inside including.

  The hard disk recorder 100 is further output from the hard disk device 140, the MPEG decoder 136 for restoring the data output from the system control circuit 110, which is video data compressed in the MPEG2 format, and the system control circuit 110. An OSD (On Screen Display) image generation circuit 114 for generating an image to be displayed on a video display unit based on information representing an operation state of the hard disk recorder 100 and predetermined data, and an MPEG decoder 136. An output unit 138 that combines the output data and the data output from the OSD image generation circuit 114 and outputs a signal for displaying a video is included.

  The hard disk recorder 100 is connected to the television 150 at the output unit 138 via a cable (not shown). The hard disk device 140 includes a data recording / reproducing head 142 for recording and reproducing data and a hard disk 144 for storing data.

  Here, an example of the contents of the hard disk 144 will be described. Referring to FIG. 2, hard disk 144 includes a management area E1 and a data area E2.

  In the data area E2, video data based on a broadcast signal received by the tuner 130 is stored. Management information for managing the data area E2 is stored in the management area E1.

  In the management information, a title management table 21 for managing video data (hereinafter referred to as “program data”) specified for each title of a broadcast program as title management data, and reserved recording information set by a user are managed. A reserved recording management table 22 is stored.

  The data area E2 includes an area that is managed as an area where program data is recorded and an area that is managed as a recordable area (hereinafter referred to as “recordable area”) according to management information.

  Note that the video data stored in the data area E2 is not limited to video data based on broadcast signals, and may represent a set of moving image data and still image data managed by a title. In this case, these data are stored by being connected to an external device by a user, for example.

  Further, there is no need to specify an area in which video data is recorded for each title as in the title management table 21. For example, information specifying an area in which video data is recorded may be managed separately from information for each title.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the scheduled recording management table 20 includes scheduled recording management data Ai (i = 1, 2, 3,..., N) set by the user. The scheduled recording management data Ai includes a recording date C1, a recording start time C2, a recording time C3, a channel C4, an attribute C5, and the like.

  Here, the attribute C5 is a data attribute of the program data, and is selected by the user from, for example, “partial protection”, “no protection”, and “protection” in the present embodiment. “Partial protection” is attribute 1, “no protection” is attribute 2, and “protection” is attribute 3. In the present embodiment, attribute 3 is recorded as a default. Accordingly, if the user does not select attribute data, attribute C5 is attribute 3.

  Here, “protect” (attribute 3) indicates that the recorded program data cannot be overwritten. “No protection” (attribute 2) indicates that the recorded program data can be overwritten. “Partial protection” (attribute 1) allows video data recorded from the start address to the resume point to be overwritten when there is resume point information to be described later, and is recorded from the resume point to the end address. Indicates that video data cannot be overwritten. The area that can be overwritten indicates a recordable area.

  Next, referring to FIG. 4, the title management table 21 has title management data Bj (j = 1, 2, 3,..., M) corresponding to each program data. This program data indicates that the data is specified by the title.

  The title management data Bj includes title D1, start address D2, end address D3, resume point D4, recording time length D5, recording date D6, genre D7, and attribute D8 for the corresponding program data.

  The title D1 indicates, for example, a broadcast program title name included in EPG (Electric Program Guide) data obtained via the tuner 130, or a title name set by the user. The start address D2 indicates the start position of the program data recorded in the data area E2. The end address D3 indicates the end position of the program data.

  The resume point D4 indicates a position (resume point) where the reproduction is stopped when a predetermined instruction, for example, a reproduction stop command or a menu display command is issued from the user when the program data is read and reproduced. . The resume point indicates, for example, an address of program data decoded by the MPEG decoder 136.

  The recording time length D5 indicates, for example, the time length of the recording data calculated by the start address D2 and the end address D3. The recording date D6 indicates the date when the program data was recorded in the data area E2. The genre D7 indicates, for example, genre data included in the above EPG data. An attribute D8 is a data attribute of program data, and indicates any one of the above-described attributes 1 to 3. Note that the attribute of the recorded program data can be changed by an instruction from the user. For example, when a recorded program data list is displayed, the attribute of program data designated by the user can be changed.

  Next, the procedure of the recording process executed by the system control circuit 110 of the hard disk recorder 100 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is executed when the user has set a recording reservation. Therefore, it is executed based on the reserved recording management data Ai shown in FIG.

  Based on the signal from the timing circuit 126, the system control circuit 110 determines whether or not the current time is a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) before the recording start time C2 (step S102). Until the current time is a predetermined time before the recording start time C2 (NO in step S102), the recording process is waited.

  If the system control circuit 110 determines that the current time is a predetermined time before the recording start time C2 (YES in step S102), it is determined whether or not a capacity sufficient for recording for the recording time C3 remains in the recordable area. Judgment is made (step S104).

  If the system control circuit 110 determines that there is enough capacity for recording for the recording time C3 in the recordable area of the data area E2 (YES in step S104), the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, based on the signal from the clock circuit 126, it is determined whether or not the current time has passed the recording start time C2. If the current time is recording start time C2 (YES in step S106), recording of video data is started (step S108). Recording of video data is not started until the current time reaches the recording start time C2 (NO in step S106).

  The video data recording process in step S108 is executed until the recording end time is reached (NO in step S110). The recording end time may be acquired, for example, by adding the recording time C3 to the recording start time C2, or may be stored in advance in the reservation management data Aj.

  If the signal from timer circuit 126 indicates the recording end time (YES in step S110), this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the system control circuit 110 determines in step S104 that there is not enough recording capacity for the recording time C3 (NO in step S104), it searches the attribute D8 of the title management data B1 to Bm, and “protects”. It is determined whether there is program data of “none” (attribute 2) (step S112). If it is determined that there is program data with attribute 2 (YES in step S112), the data is deleted (step S114). For example, the title management data Bj having attribute 2 is deleted from the title management table 21. Thereby, the area where the program data specified by the title management data Bj is recorded can be set as a recordable area.

  In the present embodiment, for example, among the program data having the attribute 2, it is possible to delete the data in the order of the oldest recording date D6 of the title management data B1 to Bm.

  If the title management data Bj of attribute 2 is deleted in step S114, the process proceeds to step S120.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S112 that there is no program data of “no protection” (attribute 2) (NO in step S112), it is determined whether or not there is program data of “partial protection” (attribute 1). Judgment is made (step S116). If it is determined that there is program data with attribute 1 (YES in step S116), the data up to resume point D4 of the corresponding title management data Bj is deleted (step S118). That is, the corresponding title data Bj is rewritten to release the area recorded from the start address D3 to the resume point D4 and assign it to the recordable area. For example, the start address D3 is rewritten to the address indicated by the resume point D4. Further, the resume point D4 is reset, and the recording time length D5 is rewritten to a time obtained by subtracting the playback time from the original time.

  In step S118, for example, among the program data with the attribute 1, the oldest recording date D6 of the title management data B1 to Bm is deleted in order.

  Moreover, it is good also as deleting from the program data with the low priority of the genre which the genre D7 of title management data B1-Bm among the program data of the attribute 1 shows. In this case, for example, the management area E1 and the memory 112 have an area for storing the priority order of genres predetermined by the user.

  Also, in the data erasure process shown in step S114, the program data having a low genre priority may be erased.

  When the rewriting process in step S118 is completed, the process proceeds to step S120. The rewriting process of the title management data Bj in step S118 will be described in detail later.

  If it is determined in step S116 that there is no program data of attribute 1 (NO in step S116), the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, it is determined whether or not the signal from the timing circuit 126 indicates the recording end time. If the recording end time has not come (NO in step S120), it is next determined whether or not the current time has passed the recording start time C2 (step S122). If recording start time C2 has not passed (NO in step S122), the process returns to step S104. On the other hand, if recording start time C2 has passed (NO in step S122), system control circuit 110 displays a message on display unit 128 (step S124). For example, a message indicating that recording cannot be started due to insufficient capacity is displayed on the display unit 128. Thereafter, the process returns to step S104 again.

  Thus, by displaying the message in step S124, it is possible to notify the user that the capacity is insufficient. Thus, when the user changes the attribute D8 of the recorded program data from, for example, attribute 3 to attribute 1 or attribute 2, it is possible to secure a capacity for recording.

  Note that the processing in steps S122 and S124 may be omitted.

  As described above, the remaining amount is detected in step S104 until it is detected in step S120 that the recording end time has come. On the other hand, when it is detected in step S120 that the recording end time has come (YES in step S120), this recording process is ended.

  According to the recording process as described above, for the program data for which the attribute of “partial protection” is set by the user, the reproduced area can be assigned to the recordable area. Therefore, only the program data that is determined not to require the video viewed by the user can be recorded over the already viewed video data. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the viewed video data from being erased against the user's intention.

  Next, the rewriting process of the title management table 21 in step S118 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram conceptually showing an area for specifying program data before rewriting processing, and FIG. 6B specifies program data after rewriting processing. It is a figure for expressing the field to do notionally. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the title management data Bj before the rewriting process is performed, and FIG. 7B is an example of the contents of the title management data Bj after the rewriting process is performed. FIG.

  First, the program data of the title “AA” (hereinafter referred to as “program data AA”) managed by the title management data Bj will be described with reference to FIG. The title D1 indicates “AA”, the start address D2 indicates “a0001”, the end address D3 indicates “a0120”, and the resume point D4 indicates “a0041”. Further, the recording time length D5 indicates “120 minutes”, the recording date D6 indicates “xx year ×× monthxx date”, the genre D7 indicates “drama”, and the data attribute D8 indicates “partial protection” ( Indicates attribute 1).

  Referring to FIG. 6A, this program data AA is managed as being stored in the area from address a0001 to a0120 in title management data Bj. The program data AA has been reproduced up to the address a0041 as indicated by the resume point D4 in FIG.

  Here, when the rewriting process in step S118 is executed, the area indicated by the oblique lines in FIG. 6A is released as a recordable area.

  Then, referring to FIG. 7B, the start address D2 is rewritten from “a0001” to “a0041”, and the resume point D4 resets “a0041”. Further, for example, if the recordable time in the area from address a0001 to a0041 is 40 minutes, the recording time length D5 is rewritten from “120 minutes” to “80 minutes” (120 minutes−40 minutes).

  The rewritten program data AA is managed as being stored in the area from address a0041 to a0120 with reference to FIG. 6B.

  By rewriting in this way, overwriting can be performed in the area indicated by the oblique lines in FIG.

  In this embodiment, only the program data whose attribute is “partial protection” is performed to release the reproduced area (step S118). It is good.

  Further, although the video data recording process based on the broadcast program for which the reserved recording is set has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a recording process of video data downloaded by an external network such as the Internet.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a block diagram showing the hardware constitutions of the hard-disk recorder in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of the hard disk in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of a reservation video recording management table. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of a title management table. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the video recording process which the system control circuit of the hard-disk recorder in embodiment of this invention performs. (A) is a figure which shows notionally the area | region which specifies the program data before performing the rewriting process of title management data, (b) specifies the program data after the rewriting process of title management data is performed. It is a figure which shows the area | region to carry out notionally. (A) is a figure which shows the example of the content of the title management data before a rewriting process is performed, (b) is a figure which shows the example of the content of the title management data after a rewriting process is performed.

Explanation of symbols

  20 reserved recording management table, 21 title management table, 22 reserved recording management table, 100 hard disk recorder, 110 system control circuit, 112 memory, 114 OSD image generation circuit, 122 operation unit, 124 light receiving unit, 126 timing circuit, 128 display unit , 130 tuner, 132 MPEG encoder, 136 MPEG decoder, 138 output unit, 140 hard disk device, 142 data recording / reproducing head, 144 hard disk, 150 TV, 190 antenna.

Claims (6)

Receiving means for receiving video data based on broadcast;
A storage unit including a data storage area for storing the video data and a management information storage area for storing management information for managing the data storage area;
The management information includes program information for managing video data specified for each broadcast program, recording area specifying information for specifying an area in which video data is recorded for each program information, and the program And stop position information for storing the position where the reproduction of the video data specified by the management information is stopped,
The data storage area includes a first area managed as an area where video data is recorded and a second area managed as a recordable area according to the management information,
Attribute storage means for storing attributes selectable by the user for each program information;
Reproduction means for reading and reproducing the video data recorded in the data storage area;
In response to a predetermined command signal, reproduction stop means for stopping reading by the reproduction means;
Stop position recording means for recording the stop position where reading of the video data is stopped by the reproduction stop means as the stop position information for each program information;
Control means for controlling recording processing in the data storage area when recording video data received by the receiving means;
The control means includes
First determination means for determining whether or not a capacity necessary for recording the video data exists in the second area;
When the first determining means determines that the necessary capacity does not exist, a first for determining whether or not a regenerated area exists in the first area based on the stop position information. 2 judgment means;
First area releasing means for allocating and releasing the reproduced area to the second area when the second judging means determines that the reproduced area exists,
When the attribute of the program information is the first attribute, the first area releasing means releases the reproduced area in order from the old video data of the date information further included in the program information,
When the attribute of the program information is the second attribute, a second area for allocating and releasing the area in which the video data specified by the program information is recorded in the first area is allocated to the second area. Further comprising a region opening means,
The information recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the process by the second area releasing unit is executed in preference to the process by the first area releasing unit. Receiving means for receiving video data;
A storage unit including a data storage area for storing the video data and a management information storage area for storing management information for managing the data storage area;
The management information includes title information for specifying video data, recording area specifying information for specifying an area in which video data is recorded for each title information, and video specified by the title information And stop position information for storing the position where data reproduction was stopped,
The data storage area includes a first area managed as an area where video data is recorded and a second area managed as a recordable area according to the management information,
Reproduction means for reading and reproducing the video data recorded in the data storage area;
In response to a predetermined command signal, reproduction stop means for stopping reading by the reproduction means;
Stop position recording means for recording the stop position where reading of the video data is stopped by the reproduction stop means as the stop position information for each title information;
Control means for controlling recording processing in the data storage area when recording video data received by the receiving means;
The control means includes
First determination means for determining whether or not a capacity necessary for recording the video data exists in the second area;
When the first determining means determines that the necessary capacity does not exist, a first for determining whether or not a regenerated area exists in the first area based on the stop position information. 2 judgment means;
An information recording unit that includes first area releasing means for allocating and releasing the reproduced area to the second area when the second judging means determines that the reproduced area exists; Playback device. Attribute storage means for storing attributes selectable by the user for each title information,
3. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first area releasing unit releases the reproduced area when the attribute of the title information is the first attribute. When the attribute of the title information is the second attribute, the control unit allocates an area in which the video data specified by the title information is recorded in the first area and releases the area. Further comprising second area opening means for
The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the process by the second area releasing unit is executed in preference to the process by the first area releasing unit. The title information further includes date information on which the video data is recorded,
The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first area releasing unit releases the reproduced area in order from the old video data of the date information. The title information further includes genre information of the video data,
The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first area releasing unit releases the reproduced area in order from video data of a genre having a low genre priority preset by a user.

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