JP2006351052A - Multifunction device for writing data and printing label on a recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction device which is actually a DVD recorder having a function of printing a label and can record data and print a label on a recording medium and help the organizing work of the contents after dubbing the moving image programs recorded on a hard disk. <P>SOLUTION: The device has a data recording section, a controller, a data writing section to write data on a recording medium, and a label printer to print the recording medium. The data recording section has a content data memory area to store the content data and a label information memory area to store the basic label information. The controller reads the content data from the content data memory area and writes this data in the data recording area on a recording medium by using the data writing section. Further, the controller puts together the basic label information read from the label information memory area and the label print information extracted from the content data memory area conforming the predetermined rules, and prints it on the label surface of the recording medium by using the label printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for integrated data writing and label printing on a recording medium.

An example of a device that writes data to a recording medium is a DVD recorder. This DVD recorder has a large-capacity hard disk as a data recording unit, and stores program moving image data distributed using TV radio waves or the like as a medium in the hard disk.
The program moving image data stored in the hard disk can be reproducibly written on a recording medium such as a DVD disk.
When the program moving image data is recorded, the recording history information (recording start / end time, recording format, etc.) is stored in a predetermined storage area.
Recently, an electronic program guide called EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is provided. In this EPG, the contents of the program table (channel, program name, distribution time, etc.) are provided as electronic data to the DVD recorder via the ground wave or the Internet.

When program video data stored on the hard disk of a DVD recorder is copied to a DVD as a recording medium, the contents of the copied program video data (program name, recording start date, etc.) are recorded on the label of the DVD for later retrieval. It is necessary to write on the surface.
Since the conventional DVD recorder could not print on the label side of the DVD, it is necessary to write the content of the program video data by hand or separately print the content using a DVD media printing device. It took time and effort.

Therefore, if the inventor has a label printing function in the DVD recorder, the trouble of organizing the recording medium after copying the contents of the program moving image data stored on the hard disk to the recording medium will be reduced. In view of this, the present invention has been completed.
That is, the data recording part,
Control unit,
A data writing and label printing integrated apparatus including a data writing unit to a recording medium, and a label printing unit to the recording medium,
The data recording unit includes a content data storage area for storing content data and a label template storage area for storing a label template for label printing,
The control unit reads the content data from the content data storage area, writes the content data to the data recording surface of the recording medium by the data writing unit, and reads the label template and the content data read from the label template storage area. Combining the information for label printing extracted corresponding to the label template from the content data stored in the storage area and printing it on the label surface of the recording medium by the label printing unit,
An apparatus for integrated data writing and label printing on a recording medium.

  According to the apparatus configured as described above, the information recorded in the data recording unit, that is, the label template and the label printing information extracted from the content data are read out, and the label surface of the recording medium is printed based on the information. . That is, when program video data stored in a data recording unit such as a hard disk is copied to a recording medium such as a DVD, information related to the program video data and / or the program video data is specified on the label surface of the recording medium. Information necessary to do this will be printed. Thereby, it is possible to save the trouble of separately entering the contents of the program moving image data (program name, recording start date and time) on the label surface of the recording medium for organizing the recording medium.

Hereinafter, the elements constituting the present invention will be described in detail.
(Data recording part)
The data recording unit includes a content data storage area and a label template storage area.
The content data storage area is an area for storing moving image data distributed via TV radio waves or cable (cable, Internet, etc.), moving image data taken at home, and the like. The content data includes the data itself (primary content data) and data generated from the primary content data (secondary content data). Primary content data includes program video data, electronic program guides such as ADAMS-EPG, video data taken at home, and the like. The primary content data is stored in the first area of the content data storage area.
Here, the program moving image data is to be viewed by the user, and may include audio data, character data, and the like. In the following description, program moving image data and an electronic program guide distributed via TV radio waves or wire will be described as examples.

The secondary content data includes the contents of the electronic program guide related to the recorded program video data, the history of recording the program video data (recording start / end time, recording format, etc.), and the recorded program video data. There are title thumbnails and / or chapter thumbnails to be generated.
The contents of the electronic program guide related to the recorded program moving picture data are at least the contents related to the recorded program moving picture data (program name, distribution time, program name) from all the contents of the electronic program guide stored as the primary content data. Explanatory text) is extracted. This content is stored in the second storage area in the content data storage area.
In the recording history of the recorded program moving image data, the recording start / end time is recorded by referring to a clock provided in the control unit. As the recording method, the recording method (image quality etc.) selected by the user is recorded. These contents are stored in the third storage area in the content data storage area.
The title thumbnail is image data symbolizing the content of the program moving image data, and for example, one frame of the program moving image data immediately after the start of recording is adopted. The chapter thumbnail is image data symbolizing the contents of each chapter when the program moving image data is divided into chapters. For example, one frame of the program moving image data immediately after the start of each chapter is adopted. These title thumbnails and chapter thumbnails are stored in the fourth storage area in the content data storage area.

A label template is stored in the label template storage area. This label template includes layout information for label printing. This layout information determines the arrangement of label printing information (contents of electronic program guide, recording history, thumbnails, etc.). The label template can include background information at the time of label printing. As this background information, it is possible to employ the name of a user who recorded on the recording medium, a photograph or other image information.
In the label template storage area, a plurality of types of label templates can be stored as a default. Further, the user can correct and change the label template using the input device. Furthermore, an externally provided label template can be added. The external label template can be distributed via the Internet. Also, it can be distributed together with the EPG via TV radio waves.

  The control unit includes a general-purpose CPU and a computer program that operates the CPU. The computer program is stored in a recording device such as a hard disk (which can be shared with the data recording unit). A data recording unit, a data writing unit, and a label printing unit are connected to the CPU via a bus line and various interfaces.

The data writing unit employs a predetermined writing method according to the method of the recording medium. For example, in the case of a DVD recorder, it is possible to prepare a laser writing apparatus and a driver corresponding to a writing method such as DVD-RW and DVD-RAM.
Any printing method can be adopted for the label printing section. An ink jet method can be adopted from the viewpoint of low impact force on the recording medium, printing speed, and the like.

Examples of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a DVD recorder according to the embodiment.
The DVD recorder 1 includes a control unit 2, a data writing unit 7, a label printing unit 9, and a data recording unit 30.
The control unit 2 includes a CPU 3. Each element to be described later is connected to the CPU 3 through the bus line and is controlled. A computer program for operating the CPU 3 is stored in the program storage area 31 of the data recording unit 30 including a hard disk, and the CPU 3 reads the program and performs a predetermined operation. The program can be stored in the RAM 31. The ROM 23 stores information that should not be deleted, such as a DVD recorder registration number. The CPU 3 refers to the clock 5 and specifies the recording time and the like.

The data writing unit 7 employs a DVD-RW system. The data writing method in the data writing unit can be arbitrarily selected.
The label printing unit 9 employs an inkjet device capable of color printing.
The data writing device 7 and the label printing unit 9 are arranged so as to sandwich the DVD disk.

A receiving unit 11 is connected to the control unit 2. The receiving unit 11 is connected to an antenna or a cable television terminal to receive program moving image data. When the electronic program guide is distributed using TV radio waves (ADAMS-EPG or the like), the contents of the electronic program guide are received by the receiving unit 11.
Similarly, the Internet interface 13 connected to the control unit 2 is connected to the Internet. Program moving image data and electronic program guide distributed via the Internet are received via the Internet interface 13.

The output unit 15 is connected to a television device, a projector, or another recording device, and outputs program moving image data output from the DVD recorder 1 of the embodiment in a predetermined method (analog or digital).
The input unit 17 inputs a command for operating the DVD recorder 1, and the command is input by the main body unit of the DVD recorder 1 and the remote control device.
The display unit 19 is for displaying the operating state of the DVD recorder, and a general-purpose liquid crystal display device can be used.

The data recording unit 30 includes a program storage area 31, a content data storage area 33, and a label template storage area 35.
As described above, the program storage area 31 stores a program necessary for controlling the CPU 3.
The content data storage area 33 includes an area 331 for storing primary content data and an area 333 for storing secondary content data. The primary content data storage area 331 as the first area has a program moving image data storage area 3311 and an area 3313 for storing an electronic program guide (EPG). In the program moving image data storage area 3311, image data, audio data, character data, and the like constituting the distributed program are stored by a predetermined method. The electronic program guide storage area 3313 stores the contents of the electronic program guide carried by the television radio wave. The DVD recorder uses the electronic program guide to record a desired program.

  The area 333 for storing the secondary content data includes second to fourth areas 3331, 3333, 3335. The second area 3331 stores the contents of the electronic program guide (program name, distribution time, program description text, etc.) related to the recorded program video data. The third area 3333 stores a recording history (recording start / end time, recording format, etc.) of the recorded program moving image data. The fourth area 3335 stores title thumbnails and / or chapter thumbnails of recorded program video data.

Predetermined layout information is stored in the layout information storage area 351 of the label template storage area 35. Note that when label printing is performed, information read from the second to fourth areas is printed at the coordinates specified by the layout information.
The label template stored in the label template storage area 35 can have a function of automatically generating information such as the name of the DVD creator, the DVD creation date, and the DVD serial number. In addition, an image or the like can be incorporated as a background pattern in the label template.

Next, the operation of the DVD recorder 1 of the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when recording the distributed program moving image data. Note that the electronic program guide is distributed at a predetermined time using TV radio waves, and this DVD recorder 1 stores the latest electronic program guide contents in the electronic program guide storage area 3313 of the primary content data storage area 331. ing.
In accordance with the command input from the input unit 17, the program moving image data received via the receiving unit 11 is stored in the program moving image data storage area 3311 (step 1). The control unit 2 extracts the contents (program name, distribution time, program description text, etc.) related to the recorded program video data from the electronic program guide stored in the electronic program guide storage area 3313, and the text data Is stored in the second area 3331 (step 2).
Next, in step 3, the control unit 2 refers to the recording time (recording start / end time) of the program video data recorded with reference to the time displayed by the clock 5 and the contents of the recording image quality as text data in the third area. Save to.
In the fourth step, one frame of image data immediately after the start of recording is extracted from the program moving image data, and this is stored in the fourth area as a title thumbnail. When the program moving image data is divided into a plurality of chapters, one frame of image data immediately after the chapter starts is extracted for each chapter and stored as a chapter thumbnail in the fourth area (steps 5 and 6). ).

FIG. 3 shows an operation of writing program moving image data to a DVD disk using the recording contents of the data recording unit 30 and performing label printing on the label surface.
In step 10, the program video data stored in the program video data storage area 3311 is read to form an image file by a general-purpose method, and the contents of the image file are written on the recording surface of the DVD disc.
Next, in step 11, it is determined whether or not label printing is requested by the user. If the label printing mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 12. If the label print mode is not selected, the process in FIG. 3 is terminated.

  In step 12, layout information is read from the layout information storage area 351 of the label template storage area 35. For example, in the layout example shown in FIG. 4, on the label surface 40 of the DVD disc, a text for displaying a program name (title name) is written in a first text box 41, and a title thumbnail is written in a first image box 42. Is filled in. The contents of the electronic program guide are entered in the second text box 43, and the recording history is entered in the third text box 44, respectively. When the program moving image data is divided into chapters, as shown in FIG. 5, a fourth text box 45 for entering a chapter name and a second image box 46 for entering the chapter thumbnail are formed. It will be.

In step 12, the contents of the electronic program guide stored in the second area 3331 as the label printing information, the recording history stored in the third area 3333 and the thumbnail image stored in the fourth area 3335. Is read. The read label printing information is applied to the text box or image box specified by the layout information, and image data to be printed on the label surface is synthesized (step 14). Based on the image data synthesized in this way, printing is performed on the label surface 40 of the DVD disc (step 15).
In the above example, one program video data is copied to a DVD disc. However, when copying a plurality of program video data, the number of text boxes and image boxes increases according to the number of program video data. Will be. When the number of program moving image data or the number of chapters exceeds a predetermined number, the thumbnails can be omitted.

  As described above, in the DVD recorder of the present invention, not only the program moving image data stored in the hard disk (data recording unit 30) is written to the recording surface of the DVD disk, but also the contents copied to the DVD disk are searched later. The information necessary to do this is extracted from the stored contents of the hard disk and automatically printed on the label surface of the DVD disk.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the label template is given from the external server 50. In FIG. 6, the same elements as those in FIG.
The producer of the program moving image data stores the label template for the program moving image data in the external server 50. This external label template includes a title name, a title thumbnail, a delivery time, and the like.
In this embodiment, together with the recording of the program moving image data, the external label template is read from the server 50 via the Internet 60 and stored in the label template storage area 35. Then, in step 12 shown in FIG. 3 for executing label printing, label layout information is read from the external label template and used. In this external label template, a title name and a title thumbnail are given in advance, and it is preferable that the delivery time and recording history information are entered in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

It is also possible to perform label printing using only the label template (label information) stored in the server 50. That is, after recording the program moving image data, the server 50 is accessed, a label template (label information) is downloaded from the server, and label printing is performed on the label surface of the DVD disc based on the label template.
From the standpoint of preventing illegal copying, it is preferable that a label template downloaded from the server has a use frequency limit.

  When the DVD disc is a rewritable method, if data exists on the data recording surface of the DVD disc to which program video data is written, the data writing unit initializes the data recording surface and label printing is performed. The part also initializes the label surface of the DVD disc. The initialization method is not particularly limited, but can be performed by applying a background color (for example, white) of the label surface to the label surface.

  The present invention is not limited to the description of the embodiments and examples of the invention described above. Various modifications may be included in the present invention as long as those skilled in the art can easily conceive without departing from the description of the scope of claims.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when recording the distributed program moving image data. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of writing the program moving image data to the DVD disk using the recording contents of the data recording unit 30 and performing the label printing on the label surface. FIG. 4 shows an example of layout information on the label surface of the DVD disc. FIG. 5 shows an example of layout information on the label surface of the DVD disc. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data writing and label printing integrated apparatus to a recording medium, 2 Control part, 7 Data writing part, 9 Label printing part, 30 Data recording part, 33 Content data storage area, 35 Label information storage area, 331 1st area | region , 3331 2nd area, 3333 3rd area, 3335 4th area, 335 External label information storage area

Claims (5)

Data recording part,
Control unit,
A data writing and label printing integrated apparatus including a data writing unit to a recording medium, and a label printing unit to the recording medium,
The data recording unit includes a content data storage area for storing content data and a label template storage area for storing a label template for label printing,
The control unit reads the content data from the content data storage area, writes the content data to the data recording surface of the recording medium by the data writing unit, and reads the label template and the content data read from the label template storage area. Combining the information for label printing extracted corresponding to the label template from the content data stored in the storage area and printing it on the label surface of the recording medium by the label printing unit,
An apparatus for integrated data writing and label printing on a recording medium. The content data storage area of the data recording unit includes a first area for recording program video data, a second storage area for storing at least the contents of an electronic program guide related to the recorded program video data, A third storage area for storing a recording history of the recorded program video data,
The control unit reads the contents of the electronic program guide related to the recorded program video data from the second storage area as the label printing information, and records the recording history of the program video data in the third storage area And printing either or both information on the label side of the recording medium,
The apparatus according to claim 1. The content data storage area includes a fourth storage area for storing a title thumbnail and / or a chapter thumbnail,
The control unit reads the title thumbnail and / or chapter thumbnail related to the recorded program video data from the fourth storage area as the label printing information, and prints it on the label surface of the recording medium. The apparatus according to claim 2. Means for storing a label template transmitted from outside in the label template storage area;
The apparatus according to claim 1. Data recording part,
Control unit,
A data writing and label printing integrated apparatus including a data writing unit to a recording medium, and a label printing unit to the recording medium,
The data recording unit stores content data and label information,
The data writing unit writes the content data of the data recording unit to the data recording surface of the recording medium, and the label printing unit prints the label information of the data recording unit on the label surface of the recording medium;
An apparatus for integrated data writing and label printing on a recording medium.

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