JP2006092665A - Recorder, recording and reproducing device, program,and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder which does not give an unpleasant feeling to a user by presenting information of a reception impossible period to the user even when there is reception impossible packet information when contents which include image and/or audio information which are made packets by being subjected to compression processing are recorded on a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: The recorder is equipped with; an input means 1 which inputs a stream of contents; a decoding means 2 which decodes the inputted information: a recording means 3 which records the decoded information; and a control means 6. Each packet contains time information. The control means 6 temporarily stops the recording processing of the recording means 3 when packets become not to be inputted during the recording processing in the recording means 3 and resumes the recording processing by releasing the temporary stoppage when the packets are inputted again. The control means 6 performs such control as to add link information for linking pieces of information with each other divided by the temporary stoppage to information before the temporary stoppage and also as to make the recording means 3 record the time of the period when the temporary stoppage is performed on the recording medium together with the information based on the time information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a recording / reproducing apparatus, a program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, a recording apparatus for inputting and recording compressed and packetized content, and a recording / reproducing provided with the recording apparatus The present invention relates to apparatuses, control programs in these apparatuses, and computer-readable recording media on which the programs are recorded.

  There has been proposed a recording apparatus that performs a recording interruption process when a broadcast signal cannot be received during recording (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 stops timer recording when a period during which no synchronization signal is detected continues for a certain period, and re-activates timer recording mode when a synchronization signal is detected again during the set timer recording period. The timer recording control method is used.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the recording process in the conventional image recording apparatus, and FIG. 12 is an actual recording result when a reception failure period exists when the recording process of FIG. 11 is executed. It is a figure which shows the example of.

  First, after the recording is started in step S51, the reception state is confirmed (step S52). If the result of the confirmation is good, recording in the recording memory is sequentially executed (step S53). On the other hand, if the reception state is not good, the video recording is paused (step S56) and waits until the reception state is restored (step S57). Then, the recording pause is canceled by the return of the reception state (step S58), and the recording process to the recording memory in step S53 is continued. After step S53, the end of recording is determined (step S54). When it is determined that the recording is ended as a result of the determination, the recording is finally stopped (step S55). If it is determined that the recording is to be continued, the process returns to step S52.

The control in the recording process described with reference to FIG. 11 results in recording with the actual recording period being omitted while the period during which recording was possible in the memory is generated. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, recording periods A, B, and C are set such that two reception failure periods J ₁ and J ₂ are inserted as shown by reference numeral 51 within a certain recording period (recording period TR). If it is assigned, the periods recorded in the memory are A, B, and C in order as indicated by reference numeral 52.

  In addition, as a format of video information to be superimposed on recent broadcast signals, a video format called MPEG (Moving Picture Image Coding Experts Group) using image compression technology has been researched and developed. Widely used as a compression technology. When the compressed video / audio information is multiplexed, each of the video data and the audio data is time-divided into a bit stream of a predetermined data length called a packet, and additional information such as header information is attached to each packet. .

When this data is received on the recording device or playback device side, the time-divided packets are appropriately time-sequentially arranged based on the continuity information written in the header information for recording processing and playback. Processing is in progress. In other words, when decoding the time-division data, the time-division data is converted to a time axis based on data called continuity information added to the header information of each packet to recognize the permutation of each packet. The process of rearranging them in the proper order is performed.
Japanese Patent No. 2667701

  However, when handling information formats such as content that has been compressed and packetized and added with continuity information using a compression technique based on the MPEG standard, some of the time-divided packets are missing due to reception failure However, since it becomes impossible to manage continuity for a packet that is missed at the time of decoding, there may be a problem that a bug occurs in the arrangement processing of subsequent packets following the missing packet. Even if a bug does not occur, for example, if the reception failure period is 10 minutes, the user may have to wait for viewing for the time corresponding to the 10 minutes when playing the recorded content.

Even when recording control or playback control that does not cause the user to wait for viewing as described above is executed by any means, the period that can be recorded in the memory with respect to the actual recording period is As a result, recording is performed by omitting only the portion of the reception failure period, and since the portion of the reception failure period could not be recorded, the possibility of blurring between images becomes very high. In the example described above, the blur between images caused by the fact that the reception failure periods J ₁ and J ₂ could not be recorded between A and B and B and C corresponds to that.

  In other words, when the recorded content is played back and displayed, packets that cannot be received are not recorded, and the correlation between the front and rear screens of the packets that are not recorded is lacking (for example, image blurring), so that the user can withstand viewing. There are a lot of cases where you can't. Furthermore, when any of the packets cannot be received, it is sufficiently conceivable that the reproduction apparatus cannot reproduce after the portion corresponding to the packet due to the blur between the images.

  Further, in the case where recording is partially disabled during such recording processing, such quality problems are caused by the recording apparatus or the recording / reproducing apparatus itself for the user who is reproducing and viewing the content. Or whether it is caused by the reception environment of the device, it may be a factor that makes the user uncomfortable if it is not possible to recognize at least when and how much it has become impossible to record. .

  Even when the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied, in this technique, it is determined whether to interrupt or restart the recording process being executed by detecting the presence or absence of a synchronization signal. Because there was no information indicating that the interrupted period existed, even if the recorded video or audio information is interrupted, there is no way to recognize the interrupt processing other than the video or audio information itself, and playback is performed. The user who was watching the recorded information had to feel uncomfortable. At the same time, the user who sees it may misrecognize that the uncomfortable feeling may cause a trouble such as a defect in the recording / reproducing apparatus itself.

  The problem described above becomes particularly serious in the case of a portable receiving terminal device (for example, a receiving terminal device for mobile broadcast) in which the recording device can be used not only indoors but also outdoors. In other words, in a portable receiving terminal, reception often becomes impossible in places where radio waves do not reach, etc., so that it may not be sufficiently received and noise may be recorded. Some problems are even unavoidable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when recording compressed and packetized content, even if there was packet information that could not be received, it was not received and could not be recorded A recording device capable of recording information related to the content of the user to the user so as not to cause discomfort to the user, a recording / reproducing device including the recording device, a control program to be incorporated in these devices, And it aims at providing the computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program.

  In addition, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and cannot be received even if there is packet information that could not be received when recording and reproducing the content that was compressed and packetized. Recording / reproducing apparatus, control program for incorporation in the recording / reproducing apparatus, and computer recording the program, which presents the user with information related to the contents during the period that could not be recorded, and does not cause discomfort to the user Another object is to provide a readable recording medium.

The present invention is constituted by the following technical means in order to solve the above-described problems.
The first technical means includes input means for inputting a stream of content, which includes compressed and packetized image information and / or audio information, and image information and / or audio information input by the input means. And a recording device for recording image information and / or audio information decoded by the decoding means, wherein each packet in the content stream includes time information, During the recording process in the recording unit, the recording process is paused when a packet is not input, and the recording process is performed to cancel the pause and restart the recording process when a packet is input again. The recording control unit further includes a control unit, and the recording control unit links the image information and / or audio information separated by the temporary stop. It is added to the image information and / or audio information before the pause, and the time of the pause period based on the time information is recorded together with the image information and / or audio information by the recording means. It is characterized by performing control.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the content is a digital broadcast content, and the input means has a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal of the digital broadcast content. .

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, the user performs a reservation operation or a start / end operation for recording processing in the recording means for the image information and / or audio information input by the input means. And a recording operation means for executing the recording, and each packet is input for recording based on the recording operation in the recording operation means.

  A fourth technical means is the first technical means according to any one of the first to third technical means, wherein the recording control means reproduces and displays the content recorded by the recording means when the image is divided by the pause. Control for recording the information and / or audio information by the recording means so as to reproduce and display the information based on the link information and to output the time of the paused period based on the reading of the link information. It is characterized by doing.

  A fifth technical means is a recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects; and an output apparatus that reproduces and displays content recorded by the recording apparatus. When reproducing and displaying the content recorded by the recording means, the apparatus reproduces and displays the image information and / or audio information divided by the temporary stop based on the link information, and the link information Based on the readout, the time of the period in which the pause is made is output together.

  The sixth technical means includes: input means for inputting a stream of content including image information and / or audio information that has been compressed and packetized; and image information and / or audio information input by the input means Is a program for incorporating into a recording device comprising decoding means for decoding the image information and / or audio information decoded by the decoding means, wherein each packet in the content stream is: Including the time information, the program includes a process for temporarily stopping the recording process when a packet is not input during a recording process in the recording unit to an arithmetic device that controls each unit in the recording apparatus; When the packet is input again, the pause is canceled and the recording process is resumed, and the pause is divided. A process of adding link information for linking image information and / or audio information to the image information and / or audio information before the pause, and a period of the pause period based on the time information. The processing for recording the time by the recording means together with the image information and / or the sound information is performed.

  A seventh technical means is the sixth technical means, wherein the content is a digital broadcast content, and the input means has a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal of the digital broadcast content. .

  The eighth technical means is the sixth or seventh technical means, wherein the recording device reserves a recording process in the recording means for the image information and / or audio information input by the input means to a user. The program further includes a recording operation unit that is executed by operating or starting / ending the operation, and the program causes the arithmetic device to execute a process of inputting each packet for recording based on the recording operation in the recording operation unit. It is a feature.

  A ninth technical means is the technical means according to any one of the sixth to eighth technical means, wherein the program is divided by the pause when the content recorded by the recording means is reproduced and displayed on the arithmetic unit. The recorded image information and / or audio information is recorded by the recording means so as to reproduce and display based on the link information and to output the time of the paused period based on the reading of the link information. It is characterized in that the processing to be executed is executed.

  A tenth technical means is a program that includes the program according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, and that includes the recording device and an output device that reproduces and displays the content recorded by the recording device. A program to be incorporated into a playback device, wherein the program stores image information and / or divided by the pause when the content recorded by the recording means is played back and displayed on the output device. Alternatively, a process of reproducing and displaying audio information based on the link information and a process of outputting the time of the paused period based on the reading of the link information together with the reproduction display are performed. It is a feature.

  The eleventh technical means is a computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to any one of the sixth to tenth aspects is recorded.

  According to the present invention, when recording packetized content that has been compressed, even if there is packet information that could not be received, information related to the content that could not be received and recorded could be presented to the user. Can be recorded so as not to cause discomfort.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when recording and playing back content that has been compressed and packetized, even if there is packet information that could not be received, information related to the content during the period that could not be received and recorded cannot be received by the user. It is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of recording processing in the recording apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is an input means, 2 is a decoding means, 3 is a recording means, 4 is a determination means, 5 is a recording operation means, and 6 is a control means.

  The recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an input unit 1, a decoding unit 2, a recording unit 3, and a control unit 6. The recording apparatus according to the present invention is naturally applicable to a recording / reproducing apparatus that is provided with a reproducing apparatus that reproduces recorded content.

  The input means 1 is a means for inputting a content stream (for example, an MPEG transport stream) in which continuity information indicating the output order of each packet is added to the compressed and packetized image information and / or audio information. is there. In order to cope with the case where the content is digital broadcast content, the input means 1 is a broadcast signal in which continuity information indicating the output order of each packet is added to image information and / or audio information that has been compressed and packetized A tuner for receiving the. However, in the present invention, the input means 1 is not limited to means for inputting a stream of content to which continuity information is added, but includes image information and / or audio information that has been compressed and packetized. Any means for inputting a stream of content may be used. In the present invention, it is assumed that each packet in the content stream includes time information. However, in the case of a stream in which each packet does not include time information, the time information from the time measuring means in the apparatus is used. Just get it.

  The decoding unit 2 is a decoding unit that decodes image information and / or audio information input by the input unit 1, and corresponds to a decoder whose hardware or a part thereof is software. The recording unit 3 is a unit that records the image information and / or the audio information decoded by the decoding unit 2 and includes a recording medium that is a recording destination and a form that does not include the recording medium (form that performs recording processing on the recording medium) Either of these can be employed. Thus, in the recording apparatus (and the recording / reproducing apparatus provided with the recording apparatus) according to the present invention, the recording means does not need to have a recording memory built in the apparatus in advance, and means for recording in the external memory In this case, for example, even if there is only a slot for inserting an external memory, information can be recorded by inserting the memory, so that it is not necessary for the recording means to constitute the memory itself. Rather, it can be said that it is preferable that the recording means 3 for recording content such as a broadcast program is composed of slots excluding the memory in consideration of the portability of the portable video display device.

  As a feature of the present invention, the control means 6 has the following recording control means. This recording control means pauses the recording process when a packet is not input during the recording process in the recording means 3, and cancels the pause and resumes the recording process when a packet is input again. To process. The recording control means further converts link information for linking image information and / or audio information divided by the pause into image information and / or audio information before the pause for each pause process. In addition, control is performed so that the recording unit 3 records the time of a period in which the suspension is made based on the time information (a part of the packets are not input) together with the image information and / or the audio information.

  Then, when recording content that has been compressed and packetized (such as program data) by such recording processing, the user can easily recognize on the screen a series of information that the recording processing has been interrupted. (It is even better to display “Reception failure period” at the same time), so even if you feel the blur itself, you can immediately understand the cause. As described above, according to the present invention, even if there is packet information that could not be received, information related to contents during a period when the packet could not be received and could not be recorded is presented to the user. Information can be easily recognized by the user (when and to what extent it was impossible to record), so that the user does not feel uncomfortable, and the device is not suspected of having a problem. It becomes possible to. In particular, when a portable receiving terminal having a battery or the like is equipped with a recording function, useless video and audio (video and audio corresponding to packets received intermittently) are not stored in the memory. In addition, there is a merit that the extra power consumption of the battery is not consumed.

  Further, in the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 1, a recording operation unit 5 is provided so that a recording operation can be performed by a user. The recording operation means 5 is means for executing recording processing in the recording means 3 for the image information and / or audio information input by the input means 1 by causing the user to perform a reservation operation or start / end operation. In this recording apparatus, each packet is input for recording based on the recording operation in the recording operation means 5.

  Further, in the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 1, a determination unit 4 is provided for determining the input state (reception state) in the input unit 1. The determination unit 4 may be configured to be incorporated in the control unit 6, or may be configured by comparing the count and reception rate in the counting unit 5 with the time included as information in each packet.

  As another embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the recording control means displays the image information and / or audio information divided by the pause when reproducing and displaying the content recorded by the recording means 3, The recording means 3 may perform control so that the recording means 3 outputs and displays the time of the paused period based on the link information and the reproduction and display based on the link information.

  A recording process in the recording apparatus having the configuration described above with reference to FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, content recording (recording) is started by a recording start operation in the recording operation unit 5 or by arrival of a time reserved by the reservation operation (step S1). When recording is started, the reception state is first determined by the determination means 4 (step S2). If the reception state is good, the process proceeds to step S8, and if not, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, a pause process is performed, and then in step S4, the pause time is recorded, and in step S5, link information is added. The order of steps S4 and S5 does not matter. The addition of link information may be performed by giving the number of the next content in advance to the end of the currently stopped content. In step S6, the process waits for the reception state to return. When the reception state is restored, the pause is canceled, the pause release time is recorded (step S7), the content is recorded on the recording medium (memory) for recording (step S8), and the recording end determination is made. Perform (step S9). If it is determined in step S9 that the scheduled time has ended or the recording is ended by the user's recording end operation, the recording is stopped (step S10). Conversely, if it is determined that the recording is to be continued, the process returns to step S2, and the recording process continues. Continue. Recording of the recording pause time and pause release time (also referred to as time stamp processing) in the present embodiment is performed in association with the content and performed together with the content. Further, the recording control means described in the other embodiments is performed. It is preferable that any playback apparatus be provided since the content can be played back together with the time information.

  In addition, among the recording apparatuses according to the present invention, a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with the recording apparatus having the recording control unit described as another embodiment together with a reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded content (output apparatus for reproducing and displaying). In the case of application, the output device may simply reproduce and display the content recorded by the recording means 3, and in this output device, when the content recorded by the recording means 3 is reproduced and displayed, The divided image information and / or audio information is reproduced and displayed based on the link information, and the time of the period in which the pause is made based on the reading of the link information is also output.

  Moreover, the control means 6 mentioned above records arithmetic programs, such as CPU with which the recording apparatus (or recording / reproducing apparatus) was equipped, the program which makes the arithmetic apparatus control each means 1-4, and this program are recorded. It is also possible to configure with a memory or a memory to be read out in an executable manner. This program may be any program that causes the arithmetic unit to execute the recording process according to the present invention, such as the process illustrated in FIG. 2. For controlling a part of each means 1 to 4, for example, each means 1 to 3. It may be a program.

  It is possible to apply the idea of the present invention to a recording / reproducing apparatus without considering reproduction on a general reproducing apparatus. Next, an embodiment of such a recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In other words, even when recording control is not performed by the recording control means described as another embodiment, means for outputting to the output device side the time of the period during which suspension was made based on reading of link information Should be provided.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the input unit 1, the decoding unit 2, the recording unit 3, the determination unit 4, and the recording operation unit 5 are The same processes as those in FIG. 1 are executed, and the control in the control means 6 is different from that in FIG.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a display unit 7 and a switching unit 8 that perform reproduction display in addition to the input unit 1, the decoding unit 2, the recording unit 3, and the control unit 6. The display means 7 is an output means for reproducing and displaying the content recorded by the recording means 3, and can also output audio information.

  In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the control unit 6 uses the output unit (corresponding to the display unit 7) to reproduce and display the content recorded by the recording unit 3, and the image information divided by the pause. And / or audio information is reproduced and displayed based on the link information, and control is performed so as to output the time of the paused period based on the reading of the link information.

  Then, the processing when recording and reproducing the content (program data, etc.) compressed and packetized by such recording / reproducing processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG. If the time is recorded in any place, it is possible to output the time together with the content reproduction display during reproduction without providing the recording control means described as another embodiment. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when recording and reproducing content that has been compressed and packetized, even if there is packet information that could not be received, the content related to the content that could not be received and could not be recorded. Information can be presented to the user, and the user does not feel uncomfortable.

  The control means 6 described above includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus, a program for causing the arithmetic device to control each of the means 1 to 4, 7, and 8, and a memory for storing the program. It is also possible to configure with a memory that reads out in an executable manner. This program only needs to be a program that causes the arithmetic unit to execute the recording / reproducing process according to the present invention. It may be a program.

  Next, an example of recording processing of broadcast program information and recording time information by time stamp processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with the recording apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a flow at the time of recording processing in the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. . 6 is a diagram showing an example of a file management table used in the recording process of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the concept of link information added in the recording process of FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a reproduction process for reproducing the content recorded by the recording process of FIG. 5, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of interruption history information displayed in the reproduction process of FIG. These are figures which show the other example of the interruption history information displayed in the reproduction | regeneration processing of FIG.

  5 includes an input means 11, a start / end operation means 12, a reservation setting means 13, a decoding means 14, a determination means 15, a control means 16, a display means 17, a switching means 18, a counter 19, and information. A storage unit 20, an image generation unit 21, a recording unit 22, and a time measuring unit 23 are provided. Here, the input means 11, the decoding means 14, the determination means 15, the control means 16, and the recording means 22 correspond to the input means 1, the decoding means 2, the determination means 4, the control means 6, and the recording means 3 in FIG. The start / end operation means 12 and the reservation setting means 13 correspond to the recording operation means 5 in FIG. Further, the display unit 17 is a unit provided for executing reproduction display, and can be said to be a unit corresponding to the display unit 7 in FIG. Further, the switching unit 18 is a unit necessary for providing the display unit 17, and can be said to be a unit corresponding to the switching unit 8 in FIG.

  The input means 11 is a tuner or the like that selects an appropriate channel from various broadcast signals including a synchronization signal received by an antenna and compressed video / audio information. The decoding unit 14 is a unit for decoding compressed video or audio information from the selected broadcast signal. The switching unit 18 is a unit for switching the output of whether the video or audio information decoded according to the operation from the user is recorded on a recording medium or output to a display screen or a speaker. The recording means 22 is means for recording the decoded video / audio information on a recording medium (memory).

  The display unit 17 is a unit for displaying and reproducing the decoded video / audio information on the screen, and various displays such as an LCD, a PDP, an organic EL, and a CRT correspond thereto. The information storage unit 20 is a storage unit for storing various setting values related to display processing and video recording processing. Here, the information storage unit 20 also stores data (data to be inserted) for recording a predetermined video in the memory. ing. The start / end operation means 12 is a means for causing the user to start and end the recording process, and also functions as a means for performing the above-described operation for changing and saving the set value. The control means 16 is a means for performing various controls in accordance with operations for display and recording performed in the start / end operation means 12 and the reservation setting means 13. Then, the control means 16 pauses the recording when the broadcast signal cannot be received during the recording process in the recording means 22, and pauses the recording when the broadcast signal can be received again. If there is a period during which recording is interrupted during playback processing of a series of broadcast signals that have been recorded, the recording process is canceled before the next broadcast signal is output to the output unit. The video information and / or the audio information is controlled to be output for a certain period.

  Further, the control means 16 arranges the output order of the packets input by the input means 11, decoded by the decoding means 14 and output to the recording means 22 based on the continuity information, and some packets are input. If not, it is preferable to provide means for rewriting the continuity information based on the ordinal number counted by the counter 19 for the continuity information after the packet. By this rewriting means, the recording process in the recording means 22 can be performed while rewriting the continuity information as necessary. Here, the counter 19 is a counting unit that counts each packet input by the input unit 1. It can be said that the counter 19 counts the output order of each input packet. In addition, the counter 19 can adopt a form included in the above-described control means 16 (control means 6).

  The reservation setting means 13 is a means for setting and saving information related to recording start time, end time, and channel in order to perform reservation recording processing, and receives EPG (electronic program guide) information and sets reservation based on it. The form which performs can also be employ | adopted. The determination unit 15 is a unit for determining whether the reception state of the antenna provided in the input unit 11 is good or bad, and the time measuring unit 23 is a unit for measuring and managing the current time at regular intervals.

  In the time stamp processing according to the present invention, as data to be recorded in the memory, broadcast image / audio information and information regarding the recorded time or not recorded time are written and stored in a file format. Then, the file relating to the broadcasted audio / video information is stored in a state where the file is divided according to the number of times recording is interrupted.

  In order to explain these functions, an example of the control flow will be described with reference to the control flow diagram of FIG. First, the reservation setting means 13 sets the start time, channel, and end time of a program to be reserved in advance by a reservation setting operation using an EPG (electronic program guide) or the like. The control means 16 performs control processing so that recording starts when the corresponding start time comes for the program set in this way.

  Prior to the start of recording or immediately after the start of recording, a file management table for recording the reception time history of the broadcast signal is initialized (step S11), a file for stream recording is created and the management table is created. Update (step S12). In the file management table, link information is recorded in addition to the start time (start time) and end time (end time) in association with the stream name, as illustrated in FIG. The process of step S12 is a process of creating a stream recording file, updating a file management table, and preparing for recording start in order to record the decoded video or audio information stream data. . Here, the link information is information that is linked and played back in the order of “stream file A → stream file B → stream file C → end” as illustrated in FIG.

  When the recording process is started in step S13, playback output time management information PTS (Present Time Stamp) or decoding time management information DTS (Decoding Time Stamp) configured in a packet multiplexed with MPEG video data received simultaneously. The current time information managed by the time measuring means 23 is rewritten with respect to any of the time information. By rewriting the current time information, the time in the recording / reproducing apparatus (or in the recording apparatus) can be automatically corrected at the start of the recording process, and input signals such as broadcast signals cannot be received. Even in such a case, accurate time management can be performed. For example, it is possible to record a time zone that could not be recorded or to display the time zone by displaying or outputting it. In addition, since the time is corrected at the same time as the recording is started, the correction is automatically performed on the basis of the time information multiplexed on the broadcast signal when a slight deviation occurs in the time managed by the time measuring means 23. It also has the advantage that Further, since the recording is performed after correcting the time difference managed by the time measuring means 23, the time at the end of the recording can be surely ended together with the program end time. Due to such an effect, it is more preferable to execute the processing of steps S11 and S12 after this rewriting because the time stamp processing can be executed at an accurate time.

  When the recording process of step S13 is started, a recording pause flag is prepared in advance for determining whether or not a pause process for the recording process has been performed during the recording, and this flag is initially cleared. Set to. This recording pause flag is a setting value for rewriting the continuity information after the packet when there is even one packet that could not be received when time-aligning a plurality of received packet information. . That is, this setting value is determined by the control means 16 so that the continuity data is not rewritten if the flag is kept clear, and the continuity data is rewritten if the flag is ON. Information for execution.

  Then, the determination unit 15 determines whether the reception state is good or bad based on the reception level information in the input unit 11 or the decoding unit 14 (step S14), and transmits the result to the control unit 16 formed of a microcomputer or the like. To do. As a result, if it is determined that the reception state is not good, the recording pause flag is turned on, and simultaneously with the recording pause process (step S15), the time counting means 23 to the recording means 22 are used to record the interrupted time. Time stamp processing (also referred to as time stamp recording processing) is performed (step S16). In step S16, the control means 16 such as a microcomputer reads out and records the temporary stop time in the stream management information area in the memory being recorded as the time stamp process. At the same time, the stream file being recorded is closed and the management table is updated (step S17).

  Further, regarding step S17, FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of the file management table in the memory, but here, various information (streams) related to each file that has been closed as a result of being incapable of receiving. A name, a recording start time and a recording end time of each file, link information designating a subsequent file, and the like are provided. Thereby, for example, the recording start time and end time of the file named stream name A and link information are sequentially recorded and updated, and then file management is performed in preparation for the start of recording of the file named stream name B.

  On the other hand, if YES in step S14, recording to the stream recording file is performed (step S23), until the end of recording (until YES in step S24), the process returns to step S14, and when recording ends. The recording is stopped (step S25), the file being recorded is bound, the management table is updated (step S26), and the process is terminated.

  After step S17, the determination means 15 again determines whether or not the reception state is restored (step S18). When it is determined that the reception state is restored, the recording pause process is canceled (step S19), and the recording process is continued again. Therefore, this time, the next stream management area in the memory is secured and the suspension release time (that is, the recording start time of the next stream) is recorded (step S20), and the next stream recording file is created and managed. The table is updated (step S21). In this way, recording of a new stream is resumed (step S22), and recording is performed in a file for recording the stream until recording ends in step S23. Thereafter, when it is determined that the recording is finished by comparing the current time measured by the time measuring means 23 with the end time set by the reservation setting means 13 (YES in step S24), that is, when it is judged that the recording is finished. Then, the recording is stopped (step S25), and the file being recorded and the updated management table are closed (step S26).

  Further, when the recording pause process in step S19 is canceled, the control means 16 uses data (intermediate data) consisting of predetermined image information and / or audio information stored in advance in order to prevent blurring of video and the like. Data (intermediate data) is read from the storage means 20 or average data of content before and after the pause process, and the process proceeds to a continuity information rewriting process to continue the recording process again. At this time, a time stamp recording process from the time measuring means 23 to the recording means 22 is performed in order to record the time when the recording was resumed (step S20). Further, regarding the rewriting process of continuity information, the process of reading intermediate data composed of predetermined image information and / or audio information stored in advance is not limited to the process in this order.

  Here, the continuity information rewriting process will be described. In this process, the counting means 19 always counts the continuity information of the received packet so that it follows the continuity information number assigned to the packet immediately before the recording is paused, and records it first after the pause. The continuity information number to be recorded for the packet to be recorded is read from the number managed by the counting means 19, and the continuity information of each packet is rewritten sequentially after the reception state is restored. In addition, if even one packet is missing during recording, this continuity information causes a discrepancy in the management of the number of subsequent packets. Therefore, it is necessary to rewrite all the continuity information after the reception state is restored. In addition, rewriting of continuity information may be performed only on intermediate data. In this case, continuity information corresponding to a packet that could not be received may be added to the intermediate data. For this reason, even if the reception state is good as a result of the determination in step S14, it is determined whether or not the recording pause flag is set to ON, and a pause operation has been performed once in the past. In such a case, it may be controlled to execute a process for rewriting subsequent continuity information.

  Thus, each packet information received reliably is recorded in the recording memory regardless of whether or not the continuity information is rewritten (step S23, etc.). The read or generated intermediate data may be inserted and recorded at the corresponding location in step S23, or the intermediate data may be handled and recorded as one stream, or simply as content for insertion. You may make it record with it.

By rewriting continuity information and inserting intermediate data, the format of the recorded data obtained in the memory was successfully recorded in the memory from the data format in which a series of program data to be input was arranged in time order The program data is arranged in time order and the dummy data is stored in a data format inserted between them. For example, data in a period in which recording in the memory is successful is divided into A, B, and C, respectively, and data in a period that cannot be recorded in the memory to be input and recorded is between AB (X ₁ ) and BC Assuming that (X ₂ ), dummy data is inserted between data A and data B so that the continuity of each other's data is not impaired.

The dummy data is inserted by the image generating means 21 between the video of the packet having the last continuity information of the data A and the packet of the data having the first continuity information of the data B and the video. And an intermediate video Z ₁ generated from the first video of data B and an intermediate video composed of continuity information Y ₁ between the last continuity information of data A and the first continuity information of data B Packet is formed and inserted by the control means 16. The control unit 16 may include the image generation unit 21. Further, instead of the intermediate image Z _1, it may be employed a predetermined image that has been stored in advance in the information storage unit 20. Further, the intermediate video packet inserted between the data B and the data C is also recorded with the same configuration (Y ₂ and Z ₂ ). By having such a data configuration, it is possible to reproduce video based on appropriate continuity information while maintaining continuity of video information as much as possible for a series of broadcast programs.

Further, between the video of the packet having the last continuity information of data A and the packet and video having the first continuity information of data B, the last video of data A is stored in advance in the information storage means 20 and the microcomputer. The intermediate video generated by the predetermined video information (for example, black screen) read from the control means 16 and the first video of the data B, the last continuity information of the data A, and the first continuity information of the data B constitute an image generation means 21 for forming an intermediate image packet Z ₁ comprised of a continuity information between, may be inserted to this packet between the data AB. In this way, a packet whose data has been edited so that the scene change is gradually performed from the last video of data A to the black screen, and then the first video screen of data B is changed from the black screen to the data AB. By interposing them, it is possible to reproduce the video based on the appropriate continuity information while maintaining the continuity of the video information as much as possible for a series of broadcast programs.

  Also, combining these, when the number of packets that could not be recorded continuously is a certain number or more, inserted image data with a scene change with black or white screen inserted, while the packets that could not be recorded continuously If the number is less than a certain value, image processing may be performed so as to give continuity to the video before and after the interrupted video.

  Next, after performing the recording process as described above, the process of reproducing the recorded broadcast program will be described below. As the data recorded in the memory, image / sound information divided into a plurality of files and file management information for associating these divided files and managing the time are stored. The display flow will be described with reference to the control flow chart of FIG.

  First, playback processing is started by a playback key or the like of the recording / playback apparatus main body (step S31), and a microcomputer that reads a file storing the file management table recorded during the recording processing is performed (step S32). Then, the first stream file (for example, a file called stream name A) is opened, each packet information is sequentially decoded based on the continuity information, and display reproduction is performed (step S33). Then, it is determined whether or not the stream file to be decoded or reproduced has reached the last packet, that is, whether or not the end of the file has been reached (step S34). The stream file is closed (step S35), and this time, based on the link information (information indicating whether or not there is a stream to be reproduced next) in the file management table, whether or not the reproduction of all the files has been completed. Judgment is made (step S36). If it is determined that all the files are not completed, the next stream file (for example, corresponding to the file B following the stream file A) is opened, and decoding and reproduction are performed again based on the continuity information. Then, the stream is read (step S38). Finally, it is confirmed that the reproduction of all files has been completed, and the reproduction is finished (step S39).

  As a result of passing through the above flow, the reproduced file is reproduced in the order of “stream file A → stream file B → stream file C → end” based on the link information as shown in FIG.

  In addition, through such a series of broadcast program recording processing, a configuration can be applied in which a file management table obtained in addition to the data of the broadcast program itself can be displayed on the screen to notify the user of the result of the unreceived history. One example will be described below.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen display on the display means of the data output based on the data of the file management table in the recording / reproducing apparatus (recording display apparatus) according to the present invention. Regarding the display of FIG. 9, in FIG. 6, the recording start time and the recording end time of each file are stored based on the time stamp written at the time of recording. In view of the fact that the information corresponding to the period is to be recognized, a history of the interruption time is displayed by writing the last time of the previous file and the first time of the next file. That is, in FIG. 6, “10:18” that is the end time of the stream A and “10:32” that is the recording start time of the next stream B are written together to constitute one history of the interruption time history. As a result of the display on the screen, a display of “10:18 to 10:32” is made.

  More specifically, as an operation for composing one history of interruption time history as in the display example of FIG. 9, for example, an OSD menu display item selection operation is performed when a corresponding series of stream files is being reproduced. The microcomputer reads the end time information of the previous stream and the start time information of the next stream, and selects the necessary character generator from the read data. The OSD menu signal is reconstructed by selecting the character to be displayed on the screen. Here, the OSD data to be displayed on the screen includes an arbitrary number (<1>, <2>, etc.) assigned to each interruption history, and interruption start and interruption end times. Then, display processing is performed on the screen through image processing that is superimposed on the currently reproduced video. This makes it possible for the user to accurately recognize the reception interruption history of the video currently being reproduced. In addition to this interruption time history, it is also possible to easily recognize the interruption history situation before and after the currently reproduced video by simultaneously displaying the corresponding time at the time of recording processing of the currently reproduced video data. .

  FIG. 10 also shows another screen display example. On the screen, a bar display in which the recording period is standardized, a recording start time (10:00) and an end time (11:30) read from the management data are displayed, and each interruption period is set to the recording period described above. A bar display with a relative length, an arbitrary number corresponding to each interruption history period (<1>, <2>, etc.), and an interruption and return time indicating the interruption history period are displayed. ing. The progress of the currently played video is displayed on the left side of the bar with an arrow or the like.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to make the user of the interruption history data recognize, and at the same time, it is possible to easily recognize the time difference between the period during which the interruption was not received and the current reproduction time.

  Finally, a supplementary description will be given of an embodiment of a recording medium storing a program and data for realizing the recording processing or recording / reproducing processing function according to the present invention. Specifically, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD-ROM, an FD, a flash memory, and other various ROMs and RAMs can be assumed as the recording medium, and the recording process or recording / reproducing process of the present invention described above can be assumed. This function is facilitated by recording and distributing the control program on these recording media. A recording medium as described above is attached to an information processing apparatus such as a general-purpose computer (if it is a portable terminal, it is read via a general-purpose computer or a network and stored as software or firmware) and stored and incorporated. By reading in response, the function of the recording process or recording / reproducing process according to the present invention can be executed.

It is a figure which shows one structural example of the recording device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of recording processing in the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the recording / reproducing apparatus provided with the recording device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a flow during a recording process in the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows an example of the file management table used in the video recording process of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the concept of the link information added in the recording process of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a reproduction process for reproducing the content recorded by the recording process of FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows an example of the interruption history information displayed in the reproduction | regeneration processing of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the interruption history information displayed in the reproduction | regeneration processing of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the video recording process in the image recording device of a prior art. It is a figure which shows the example of the actual recording result when a reception failure period exists when the recording process of FIG. 11 is performed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 ... Input means, 2,14 ... Decoding means, 3,22 ... Recording means, 4,15 ... Determination means, 5 ... Recording operation means, 6,16 ... Control means, 7,17 ... Display means, 8, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Switching means, 12 ... Start / end operation means, 13 ... Reservation setting means, 19 ... Counter, 20 ... Information storage means, 21 ... Image generation means, 23 ... Time measuring means

Claims (11)

  Input means for inputting a stream of content including image information and / or audio information compressed and packetized; and decoding means for decoding image information and / or audio information input by the input means; And a recording device for recording the image information and / or audio information decoded by the decoding device, wherein each packet in the content stream includes time information and is being recorded by the recording device. And further comprising a recording control means for processing to temporarily stop the recording process when a packet is not input, and to cancel the temporary stop and restart the recording process when a packet is input again, The recording control means displays link information for linking image information and / or audio information separated by the pause before the pause. It is added to image information and / or audio information, and control is performed to record the time of the pause period based on the time information by the recording means together with the image information and / or audio information. A recording device.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content is digital broadcast content, and the input unit includes a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal of the digital broadcast content.   In the recording operation means, the recording operation means further executes recording processing in the recording means for the image information and / or audio information input by the input means by causing a user to perform a reservation operation or start / end operation. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each packet is input for recording based on a recording operation.   The recording control means reproduces and displays the image information and / or audio information divided by the temporary stop based on the link information when reproducing and displaying the content recorded by the recording means, and the link information. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording is performed by the recording unit so that the time of the period in which the temporary stop is performed is output based on reading of the recording unit. 5. .   A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and an output apparatus that reproduces and displays content recorded by the recording apparatus, wherein the output apparatus includes the recording unit. When reproducing and displaying the content recorded in the above, the image information and / or audio information divided by the pause is reproduced and displayed based on the link information, and the temporary information is read based on the reading of the link information. A recording / reproducing apparatus that outputs the time of a period during which the stop is performed.   Input means for inputting a stream of content including image information and / or audio information compressed and packetized; and decoding means for decoding image information and / or audio information input by the input means; A program for incorporation into a recording apparatus comprising recording means for recording image information and / or audio information decoded by the decoding means, wherein each packet in the content stream includes time information, and the program The processing unit that controls each unit in the recording apparatus was subjected to the process of pausing the recording process when the packet is not input during the recording process in the recording unit, and the input of the packet again. Sometimes the process of releasing the pause and restarting the recording process, the image information divided by the pause and / or Is a process of adding link information for linking audio information to image information and / or audio information before the pause, and based on the time information, the time of the pause period is set as image information. And / or a program for causing the recording means to perform recording together with audio information.   7. The program according to claim 6, wherein the content is digital broadcast content, and the input means includes a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal of the digital broadcast content.   The recording apparatus further includes recording operation means for performing recording processing in the recording means for image information and / or audio information input by the input means by causing a user to perform a reservation operation or start / end operation, 8. The program according to claim 6, wherein the program causes the arithmetic device to execute a process of inputting each packet for recording based on a recording operation in the recording operation unit.   The program reproduces and displays the image information and / or audio information divided by the pause based on the link information when the content recorded by the recording means is reproduced and displayed on the arithmetic device. 9. The process according to claim 6, wherein a process of recording by the recording unit is executed so as to output a time of a period in which the pause is made based on reading of the link information. The program described.   A program that includes the program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, and that is incorporated into a recording / reproducing apparatus including the recording apparatus and an output device that reproduces and displays content recorded by the recording apparatus. The program, when the content recorded by the recording means is played back and displayed on the output device on the arithmetic device, the image information and / or audio information divided by the pause is A program for executing reproduction and display processing based on link information and processing for outputting the time of the paused period based on reading of the link information together with the reproduction display time.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of any one of Claims 6 thru | or 10.

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