JP2006318016A - Information processor, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor for shortening a time to be spent on deletion. <P>SOLUTION: The parent directory of a directory to be deleted is read from a memory, and the entry of the directory to be deleted is deleted. The start cluster of the deleted directory is registered in a deletion table. The parent directory of the deleted directory is written in media. Then, a cluster chain is deleted from the start cluster registered in the deletion table. Finally, an FAT is written in the media so that the deletion of the designated directory can be executed. This invention may be applied to a digital still camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, method, and program that are suitable for application when deleting data recorded on a predetermined medium.

Devices that record images as digital data, such as digital still cameras, are in widespread use. The performance of such devices has also improved, and more images can be recorded. Therefore, it is desired that image management (recording method and the like) be performed efficiently. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes to efficiently delete recorded image data.
JP 2001-325135 A

  As one of the functions of the digital still camera, there is a function called continuous shooting for continuously shooting a plurality of images. In continuous shooting, many files (image data) are created in a short time. In order to facilitate management of many files, the files created during continuous shooting are usually stored in one directory.

  However, when a file created in this way is deleted for each directory, the time required for the deletion increases as the number of files included in the directory increases. This is a problem that may occur even with the technique described in Patent Document 1.

  For example, when deleting unnecessary files in order to free up a recording capacity for recording a new file, the time required for the deletion increases, so that it is impossible to record a file to be recorded because a photo opportunity is missed. It is conceivable that this will occur.

  Therefore, it is desired to shorten the time required for deletion.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and allows a file to be deleted at a higher speed.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that manages files on a predetermined medium in a predetermined file system, and includes a first directory and a second directory whose parent directory is the first directory. When a file exists under the second directory, when the second directory and the file are deleted, the second directory is not written to a predetermined medium.

  When deletion of only the second directory and its subordinate files is instructed, writing of the second directory to a predetermined medium can be prevented.

  When the third directory exists under the second directory, the information regarding the third directory can be prevented from being changed.

  A table related to the second directory can be created, and the second directory can be deleted based on the table.

  The table may be a table relating to a start cluster relating to the second directory.

  The information processing method according to the present invention is the information processing method of the information processing apparatus that manages files on a predetermined medium in a predetermined file system, and includes a first directory and a second directory whose parent directory is the first directory. When a directory exists and a file exists under the second directory, when the second directory and the file are deleted, the second directory is not written to a predetermined medium. .

  A program according to the present invention is a computer program for controlling an information processing apparatus that manages a file on a predetermined medium in a predetermined file system, and includes a first directory and a first directory having the first directory as a parent directory. When there are two directories and a file exists under the second directory, when the second directory and the file are deleted, the second directory is not written to a predetermined medium. And

  In the information processing apparatus and method and the program according to the present invention, when a predetermined directory is deleted, writing is not performed on the medium in which the directory exists.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to delete files such as image data.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to delete a file in a shorter time.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided in, for example, a digital still camera, and manages captured image data. In particular, in the following description, an image processing apparatus that executes processing related to deletion of image data (file) will be described.

  The medium 11 is a recording medium on which image data (hereinafter described as a file as appropriate) is recorded, and is composed of, for example, a Memory Stick (trademark) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). The media controller 12 controls management of files recorded on the media 11, in particular, processing related to deletion here. The operation processing unit 13 is a part that processes an instruction from the user, and is configured to output a signal indicating that to the media controller 12 when there is an instruction regarding deletion.

  The media controller 12 has a work area for executing processing such as file deletion. Specifically, the media controller 12 includes a storage unit (not shown) such as a memory.

  Processing related to deletion of a file recorded on the medium 11 performed by the media controller 12 will be described below. First, a file recorded on the medium 11 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a FAT (File Allocation Table) file system. Files are recorded (managed) on the medium 11 using the FAT file system. In the FAT system, recorded data is handled as a file and stored in a hierarchical structure (directory structure). The FAT system includes an Initial Program loader (hereinafter referred to as an IPL area), a File Allocation Table (hereinafter referred to as a FAT area), a root directory (hereinafter referred to as a root directory area), a date area (hereinafter referred to as a data area). ).

  In the IPL area, parameters relating to the structure of the first program and the recording medium are stored. The FAT area 1 and the FAT area 2 store the same data. The FAT area 2 has a backup function of the FAT area 1. Hereinafter, the FAT area 1 and the FAT area 2 will be simply referred to as a FAT area when it is not necessary to distinguish them.

  Data stored in the FAT area is assumed to be FAT data. In the FAT area, the usage status of each cluster in the data area is stored using a 16-bit usage status code (which may be another number of bits, but will be described here as 16 bits). One or more directory entries are stored in the root directory area. A subdirectory may be created under the root directory. A plurality of subdirectories and files may be created in the root directory.

  A directory entry is information (file name, extension, attribute, reserved area, update time, update date, start cluster number, file size) related to a subdirectory or file.

  In the data area, the contents of subdirectories and files are stored in cluster units. A cluster is composed of a set of a plurality of sectors. Data reading and writing are performed in cluster units. With a 16-bit usage status code shown in the FAT area, a cluster chain can be configured, and files larger than one cluster and directory entries exceeding one cluster can be managed as a series of files and subdirectories. .

  Here, since the root directory area is fixed, the number of entries of files and subdirectories that can be registered in the root directory area is also limited. Since the subdirectory is recorded in the data area, the number of entries can be increased as long as the data area is free. To delete a file or subdirectory, after rewriting the first byte of the file name of the file entry or subdirectory entry to “0E5h”, the usage status code of the corresponding FAT area is set to “0000h (unused cluster)”. This can be done by changing.

  Further, in the file entry and the subdirectory entry, if the first byte of the file name is “00h”, it is regarded as an unused entry and indicates that all subsequent entries are unused.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a directory structure. A digital still camera or the like is provided with the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and a directory structure created when the digital still camera is provided with a normal shooting mode and a continuous shooting mode is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, when images 1 to 9 are taken, the files of these images are managed under the camera image directory under the root directory.

  Images 4 to 6 taken in the continuous shooting mode (continuous shooting mode) are managed under the continuous shooting directory under the camera image directory. As described above, the image files (for example, images 1 to 3 and images 7 to 9) shot in the normal shooting mode are managed under the camera image directory, but were shot in the continuous shooting mode. Image files (for example, images 4 to 6) are managed under the continuous shooting directory under the camera image directory.

  If the media 11 (FIG. 1) has a large capacity and the number of continuous shots increases, for example, if 100 frames are shot at 10 frames per second, 1000 files are recorded (managed) under the continuous shooting directory. Will be. In such a case, since the size of the continuous shooting directory itself becomes large, when performing a process such as deletion, if the process is not performed efficiently, the process takes time. Hereinafter, a method for efficiently deleting a file, that is, a process related to file deletion executed in the media controller 12 will be described.

  With reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 9, processing related to deletion of files managed by the media 11 by the media controller 12 will be described. In step 11, the media controller 12 analyzes the signal supplied from the operation processing unit 13 and determines whether or not the user has issued a command to delete the file recorded on the media 11. In step S11, the standby state is maintained until it is determined that there is a deletion command. When it is determined that there is a deletion command, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the contents of the deletion command are analyzed, and it is determined whether or not deletion of only a directory and its subordinate files has been commanded. “Deleting only the directory and its subordinate files” means that referring to FIG. 3, the continuous shooting directory and images 4 to 6 are deleted, that is, the continuous shooting directory itself (all of the continuous shooting directories) is deleted. Means that it was ordered.

  When it is not determined that “deletion of only the directory and its subordinate files has been instructed”, referring to FIG. 3, for example, when deletion of the continuous shooting directory and deletion of the image 1 are instructed.

  If it is determined in step S12 that the deletion of only the directory and its subordinate files is not instructed, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is determined that the deletion of only the directory and its subordinate files is instructed. If so, the process proceeds to step S14.

  That is, when it is not instructed to delete only the predetermined directory and its subordinate files, the process proceeds to step S13, and the deletion method 1 is executed to delete only the predetermined directory and its subordinate files. Is instructed, the process proceeds to step S14, and the process of the deletion method 2 is executed.

  The processing of the deletion method 1 in step S13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S31, data in the FAT area, which is a cluster management table, is read from the medium 11. In step S32, the directory in which the file instructed to be deleted is read from the medium 11. In step S33, the process 1 related to the valid entry is executed.

  Processing 1 related to the valid entry in step S33 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S51, a valid entry of the directory entry is searched. The result is used, and it is determined in step S52 whether or not there is a valid entry. If it is determined in step S52 that there is a valid entry, the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S53, it is determined whether or not the valid entry indicates a directory. If it is determined in step S53 that the valid entry indicates a directory, the process proceeds to step S54, and the indicated directory is read from the medium 11 and set as a directory to be deleted. Then, the process returns to step 51, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  That is, by repeating the processing of steps S51 to S54, the directory to be deleted is set (reading from the medium 11).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the valid entry indicates that it is not a directory, in other words, if it is determined that the valid entry indicates a file, the process proceeds to step S55. In step S55, the file entry is deleted. In step S56, the cluster chain of the file is further deleted. When the process in step 56 is completed, the process returns to step S51, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  That is, by repeating the processes of steps S51, S52, S55, and S56, the file that is the object of deletion is deleted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S52 that there is no valid entry, the process proceeds to step S57. In step S57, the deletion directory is written to the medium 11. In step S58, the entry of the deleted directory is deleted. In step S59, the cluster chain of the deleted directory is deleted. In step S60, it is determined whether it is the first directory.

  If it is determined in step S60 that the directory is not the first directory, the process proceeds to step S61. For example, referring to FIG. 3, if the continuous shooting directory is the processing target, it is determined in step S60 that it is not the first directory, and the process proceeds to step S61. In step S61, in the case of the parent directory, that is, as shown in FIG. 3, the processing target is changed to the camera image directory. Then, the process returns to step S51, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  If such a process is repeated to return to the starting directory, that is, if it is determined in step S60 that it is the first directory, the process proceeds to step S62. In step S62, a writing process is performed. The writing process executed in step S62 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  In step S81, the parent directory of the deleted directory is read from the medium 11. In step S82, the entry of the deleted directory is deleted from the parent directory. Further, in step 83, the cluster chain of the deletion directory is deleted. When the entry and cluster chain are deleted in this way, the parent directory of the deleted directory is written in the medium 11 in step S84, and FAT is written in the step S85.

  In this way, predetermined directories and files recorded on the medium 11 and designated by the user are deleted.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 4, if it is determined in step S12 that the user has instructed to delete only the directory and its subordinate files, for example, the continuous shooting directory in FIG. 3 and images under the continuous shooting directory are displayed. If it is determined that the deletion of 4 to 6 is instructed, the process of the deletion method 2 is executed in step S14.

  The process of the deletion method 2 executed in step S14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S101, the FAT is read from the medium 11, and in step S102, the deletion directory is read from the medium 11. The processes in steps S101 and S102 are performed in the same manner as steps S31 and S32 in FIG.

  In step S103, process 2 related to the valid entry is executed. The process 2 related to the valid entry in step S103 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processes in steps S121 to S126 are the same as the processes in steps S51 to S56 in FIG. Further, the processing of steps S127 to S131 is the same as the processing of steps S58 to S62 of FIG. The writing process executed in step S131 is the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, the process 2 related to the valid entry (process based on the flowchart of FIG. 9) is compared with the process 1 related to the valid entry (process based on the flowchart of FIG. 6) and the process in step S57 is omitted. Yes. In the process 2 related to the valid entry, the process of writing the deletion directory to the medium 11 is omitted.

  This means that when deleting a directory to be deleted, the deletion process is executed without writing the directory to the medium 11. Also, if there are more subdirectories in the directory that is the target of deletion, the deletion process is executed without performing the process of changing the information related to the subdirectory (that is, the target of deletion). The deletion process is executed by changing only the information related to the directory.

  In this way, by omitting the process of writing the deleted directory to the medium 11, the total number of writes required for deleting the directory can be reduced. Therefore, the time required for the process of deleting the directory is reduced. Can be shortened. That is, the directory can be deleted at high speed.

  When processing related to deletion is being performed, the user is prompted to display a message such as “Deleting a continuous shooting file” or “Deleting a continuously shot file” on a display unit (not shown). Anyway.

  Next, another embodiment related to the processing of the deletion method 2 will be described. Here, the deletion method 2 'will be described. The processing of the deletion method 2 'will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10, but is basically performed in the same manner as the processing of the deletion method 2 described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, the point that the process 2 'relating to the valid entry is performed in step S163 is different from the process of the deletion method 2.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11, the process 2 'related to the valid entry executed in step S163 will be described. Steps S181 to S185, steps S187, S189, and S190 are the same processes as steps S121 to S125 and steps S127, S129, and S130 of FIG. 9, respectively, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. In other words, when the process 2 ′ related to the valid entry shown in FIG. 11 and the process 2 related to the valid entry shown in FIG. 9 are compared, the processes performed in step S <b> 186 and step S <b> 188 are different.

  By repeating the processes of steps S181 to S184, a directory to be deleted is set. If it is determined in step S183 that the valid entry is not a directory, the process proceeds to step S185, and the file entry is deleted. In step S186, the start cluster is registered in the deletion table.

  In the process 2 related to the valid entry described above, as described with reference to FIG. 9, the cluster chain of the file is deleted in step S126. Instead of the process of deleting the cluster chain of the file, in the process 2 'related to the valid entry, a process of registering the start cluster in the deletion table is performed in step S186.

  In the process 2 related to the valid entry described above, as described with reference to FIG. 9, the cluster chain of the deletion directory is deleted in step S128. Instead of the process of deleting the cluster chain of the deleted directory, in the process 2 'related to the valid entry, a process of registering the start cluster of the deleted directory in the deletion table is performed in step S188.

  In this way, a deletion table is provided, information about the cluster chain is written in the deletion table, and the actual cluster chain is deleted in a later process (step S191). The writing process 2 'executed in step S191 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S211, the parent directory of the deleted directory is read from the medium 11. In step S212, the entry of the deleted directory is deleted from the parent directory. When the process related to the parent directory of the directory to be deleted is completed in this way, in step S213, the start cluster of the deleted directory is registered in the deletion table.

  When the start cluster is registered in the deletion table, the parent directory of the deletion directory is written in the medium 11 in step S214. In step S215, the cluster chains are sequentially deleted from the start cluster registered in the deletion table.

  In step S216, the FAT is written to the medium 11 to complete the deletion of the instructed directory.

  In this way, the table of the start cluster (deletion table) is created without deleting the cluster chain every time. The time taken to create this table is shorter than the time taken to delete the cluster chain performed in step S126 (FIG. 9), for example. For this reason, it is considered that the time taken to create the table does not become a problem.

  When the table is created, the entry related to the directory to be deleted is first deleted and written to the medium 11, and then the table related to the start cluster is used to delete the deleted file and the deleted directory cluster. The

  In this way, by deleting using a table, for example, a new file can be created even when a cluster chain deletion process is being executed. Therefore, when the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is provided in a digital still camera or the like, the instruction is issued even when the directory is being deleted when the shutter is operated (when shooting is instructed). It can be accepted.

  As described above, according to the deletion method 2 and the deletion method 2 ′, it is possible to reduce the number of times of writing to the medium 11 related to the deletion process. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required for deletion. In particular, for example, when deleting a directory in which a plurality of files (a large number of files) are managed, such as a continuous shooting directory, if the number of times of writing is large, it takes much time. According to this, since the number of times of writing can be reduced, the time can be further shortened.

  Note that the above-described embodiment relating to deletion is not limited to image data (files), and can be applied to other data such as audio data and video data (these files). It is.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware having respective functions, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, various functions can be executed by installing a computer in which the programs that make up the software are installed in dedicated hardware, or by installing various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like. Before describing the recording medium, the personal computer will be briefly described.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a general-purpose personal computer. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 of the personal computer executes various processes in accordance with programs stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 appropriately stores data and programs necessary for the CPU 101 to execute various processes. The input / output interface 105 is connected to an input unit 106 including a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs a signal input to the input unit 106 to the CPU 101. The input / output interface 105 is also connected to an output unit 107 including a display and a speaker.

  Further, a storage unit 108 configured by a hard disk or the like and a communication unit 109 that exchanges data with other devices via a network such as the Internet are connected to the input / output interface 105. The drive 110 is used when reading data from or writing data to a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 121, the optical disk 122, the magneto-optical disk 123, and the semiconductor memory 124.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the personal computer, and includes a magnetic disk 121 (including a flexible disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk 122 (CD- Consists of package media including ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD (including Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disk 123 (including MD (Mini-Disc) (registered trademark)), or semiconductor memory 124 In addition, it is configured by a ROM 102 storing a program and a hard disk including a storage unit 108 provided to the user in a state of being pre-installed in a computer.

  In this specification, the steps for describing the program provided by the medium are performed in parallel or individually in accordance with the described order, as well as the processing performed in time series, not necessarily in time series. The process to be executed is also included.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining a FAT system. It is a figure explaining a directory structure. It is a flowchart explaining a deletion process. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a deletion method 1; It is a flowchart explaining the process 1 regarding a valid entry. It is a flowchart explaining a writing process. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a deletion method 2; It is a flowchart explaining the process 2 regarding a valid entry. It is a flowchart explaining the deletion process 2 '. It is a flowchart explaining the process 2 'regarding a valid entry. It is a flowchart explaining the writing process 2 '. It is a figure explaining a medium.

Explanation of symbols

  11 Media, 12 Media Controller, 13 Operation Processing Unit

Claims (7)

In an information processing apparatus that manages a file with a predetermined medium in a predetermined file system,
When there is a first directory and a second directory having the first directory as a parent directory, and a file exists under the second directory, the second directory and the file are deleted. The information processing apparatus, wherein the second directory is not written to the predetermined medium. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when an instruction to delete only the second directory and a file under the second directory is issued, the second directory is not written to the predetermined medium. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a third directory exists under the second directory, information on the third directory is not changed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a table related to the second directory is created, and the second directory is deleted based on the table. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the table is a table related to a start cluster related to the second directory. In an information processing method of an information processing apparatus for managing a file with a predetermined medium in a predetermined file system,
When there is a first directory and a second directory having the first directory as a parent directory, and a file exists under the second directory, the second directory and the file are deleted. An information processing method characterized by not writing the second directory to the predetermined medium. A computer program for controlling an information processing apparatus that manages a file with a predetermined medium in a predetermined file system,
When there is a first directory and a second directory having the first directory as a parent directory, and a file exists under the second directory, the second directory and the file are deleted. A program that does not write the second directory to the predetermined medium.

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