JP2007142596A - Recorder and controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple method for creating a specific folder when a controller (such as PC) records set files into a detachable recording medium (such as a memory card). <P>SOLUTION: The recorder 100 having a network interface used for transmitting/receiving digital data has a function of recording the digital data into the recording medium, and a function of recording the specific information into a specific folder on the recording medium. The recorder 100 receives a control signal for operating the recording medium from an external device connected to the network interface, determines whether the specific folder exists in the recording medium after receiving the control signal, generates a specific folder in the recording medium if the specific folder does not exist, and transmits the information of the specific folder as a response signal to the control signal to the external device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as a digital video camera and a digital camera, and a control apparatus that controls the recording apparatus.

  Some recent imaging apparatuses such as digital video cameras and digital cameras can adjust the image quality of recorded images by adjusting parameters such as white balance (see Patent Document 1).

  The parameter adjusted by the user may be recorded in a memory in the imaging apparatus or may be stored in a memory card. In this case, it is generally considered that the parameter information is recorded as a setting file in a specific folder on the memory card. This is because if the information is recorded in a specific folder, it becomes easy to manage the setting file storing the adjusted parameters. When a plurality of setting files are recorded in a specific folder, selection of a desired setting file is performed by, for example, a menu of the imaging apparatus. When displaying the setting file list, the imaging apparatus can reduce processing by searching only in a predetermined folder.

  The imaging device usually has a network interface for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer PC. An example of such a network interface is an IEEE1394 interface. The IEEE1394 interface is a network interface conforming to IEEE Std 1394-1995. IEEE Std 1394-1995 is a standard for high-performance serial buses.

  As one of file transfer methods using the IEEE1394 interface, the Camera Storage (Camera Storage) subunit standard is known (see Non-Patent Document 1). The Camera Storage subunit standard is one of the AV / C subunit standards established by the 1394 Trade Association. According to this standard, a controller (PC or the like) can transmit a control signal (command frame) to a Camera Storage subunit (an imaging device such as a digital video camera or a digital camera) via an IEEE1394 interface.

  Further, the Camera Storage subunit can transmit information held by the subunit according to the command frame as a response frame to the controller. The file transmitted from the controller can be recorded on a removable recording medium (memory card or the like). Further, a file designated by the controller can be read from a removable recording medium and transferred to the controller.

  If the Camera Storage subunit standard is used, a setting file on the PC side can be recorded in a specific folder on a recording medium on the imaging apparatus side.

JP-A-7-14396 TA Document 2003005, AV / C Camera Storage Subunit 2.1, February 4, 2004

  In a state where the memory card immediately after formatting is inserted into the imaging device, there is a case where a specific folder does not exist in the memory card. In this case, even if the controller attempts to record the setting file in the specific folder, there is a problem that the specific file cannot be recorded on the memory card because the specific folder does not exist. This problem similarly occurs even when a removable recording medium other than a memory card is used.

  Further, when the setting file is recorded in a location other than a specific folder, there is a problem that the imaging device cannot recognize the recorded setting file.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and creates a specific folder when a controller (such as a PC) records a setting file on a removable recording medium (such as a memory card). It aims at providing the simple method for this.

A recording apparatus according to the present invention is a recording apparatus having a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data, and records digital data on a recording medium and specific information in a specific folder on the recording medium. Whether or not the specific folder exists in the recording medium after receiving the control signal for operating the recording medium from an external device connected to the network interface. If the specific folder does not exist, the specific folder is generated on the recording medium, and information on the specific folder is transmitted to the external device as a response signal to the control signal. Features.
A control device according to the present invention is a control device having a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data, and starts an operation of a recording medium included in the external device with respect to an external device connected to the network interface. The control signal is transmitted, a response signal to the control signal is received from the external device, and the recording medium is controlled based on folder information included in the response signal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to unify the processing performed by the controller depending on whether or not the specific folder exists in the memory card. In addition, even when the specific folder has different settings for each imaging device, the controller does not need to change the processing content and can perform unified processing.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a network system to which the present invention can be applied. The recording apparatus 100 in this embodiment is an apparatus that operates as a Camera Storage subunit. An imaging apparatus such as a digital video camera or a digital camera can be configured as a recording apparatus in the present embodiment.

  The recording apparatus 100 has a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data. The recording control unit 101 records digital data on a memory card 400 that is a recording medium, and records specific information in a specific folder on the memory card 400. The control signal receiving unit 102 receives a control signal for operating the memory card 400 from the control device 200 which is an external device connected to the network interface. The folder determining unit 103 determines whether or not the specific folder exists in the memory card 400 after receiving the control signal. The folder generation unit 104 generates the specific folder in the memory card 400 when the specific folder does not exist. The response signal transmission unit 105 transmits information on the specific folder to the control device 200 as a response signal to the control signal. When the specific folder is changed, the notification unit 106 notifies the control device 200 that the state of the memory card 400 has been changed.

  In addition, the control device 200 in this embodiment is a device that operates as a controller that controls the Camera Storage subunit. A computer such as a personal computer can be configured as the control device in the present embodiment.

  The control device 200 has a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data. The control signal transmission unit 201 transmits a control signal for starting the operation of the memory card 400 to the recording device 100 which is an external device connected to the network interface. The response signal receiving unit 202 receives a response signal for the control signal from the recording apparatus 100. The control unit 203 controls the memory card 400 based on the folder information included in the response signal.

  In the present embodiment, the control device (controller) 200 controls the recording device (Camera Storage subunit) 100 via the network 300 such as an IEEE1394 serial bus.

  In this embodiment, the Camera Storage subunit has only one memory card slot into which the memory card 400 can be removably mounted. However, the Camera Storage subunit has two or more memory card slots. May be. For details on the Camera Storage subunit standard, see Non-Patent Document 1.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a format example of a command frame and a response frame of the PREPARE MEDIA command in the present embodiment. The operation of the controller and the Camera Storage subunit using this command will be described later.

  The opcode field indicates the command type of the Camera Storage subunit, and a value indicating the PREPARE MEDIA command is set.

  The subfunction field is a field for specifying a command execution mode. The values set in the subfunction field are shown in FIG. Execute the command by specifying execute.

  In the Camera Storage subunit, volumes are defined to correspond to a plurality of recording media and a plurality of logical areas on the recording media. A volume is specified by a combination of a physical volume and a logical volume. A physical volume indicates a memory card itself, which is a physical recording medium, and a logical volume indicates a partition area existing in the physical volume. A Camera Storage subunit that can hold multiple memory cards has multiple physical volumes, and each physical volume can have multiple logical volumes. In physical_volume_number and logical_volume_number, the numbers of the physical volume and logical volume targeted by the PREPARE MEDIA control command are set, respectively.

  In accordance with the value set in each field, the Camera Storage subunit performs the processing described later on the partition of the designated memory card, and transmits a response frame to the controller. In the response frame format of FIG. 6, the same value as the value set in the command frame is set in the portion indicated by “<=”.

  The result field of the response frame is a field for setting an execution result for the control command. The values set in the result field are shown in FIG.

  In the media_generation_count field, the above-mentioned generation count value held by the Camera Storage subunit is set. The generation count is a counter that counts up when a memory card is inserted, and this counter is updated when the memory card is inserted into the device. There is a media_generation_count field in the control command frame such as the FILE LIST command that is a command for acquiring the file list defined in the Camera Storage subunit, the SEND FILE command for transferring files, and the RECEIVE FILE command. When transmitting the control command, the controller sets the counter value acquired from the media_generation_count field of the response frame. When receiving the command frame, the Camera Storage subunit compares the media_generation_count value in the command frame with the counter value held by the subunit. As a result, if they do not match, the command is rejected because the physical volume specified in the command frame may be exchanged.

  In the folder_path_length field, the data size set in the variable-length folder_path field is set.

  In the folder_path field, the name of the folder on the memory card that records the setting file of the digital video camera or digital camera is set.

  Next, the operation of the controller using the PREPARE MEDIA command will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 201, a MEDIA INFO command for detecting the presence of a memory card is transmitted to the Camera Storage subunit connected by IEEE1394.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the format of the command frame and response frame of the MEDIA INFO command.

  The opcode field indicates the command type of the Camera Storage subunit, and a value indicating the MEDIA INFO command is set.

  The subfunction field is a field for specifying a command execution mode, and the command is executed by specifying execute in FIG.

  When the MEDIA INFO command is received, the Camera Storage subunit sets information on the recording medium included in the subunit in a response frame and transmits it to the controller. The same value as the value set in the command frame is set in the portion indicated by “<=” in the response frame format of FIG.

  The result field of the response frame is a field for setting an execution result for the control command, and one of the values shown in FIG. 8 is set according to the execution result.

  In the number_of_physical_volume field, the maximum number of recording media that can be held by the Camera Storage subunit is set. For example, in the case of a Camera Storage subunit having two memory card slots, 2 is set in the number_of_physical_volume field.

  The number_of_logical_volume [x] field is set with the number of partitions of the xth recording medium held by the Camera Storage subunit. For example, in the case of a Camera Storage subunit having two memory card slots, the response frame has a number_of_logical_volume [0] field and a number_of_logical_volume [1] field, and the number of partitions existing in the memory card set in each memory slot is Set in the field. If no memory card is inserted, the corresponding number_of_logical_volume field is set to zero.

  Since the Camera Storage subunit in this embodiment has only one memory card slot, 1 is set in number_of_physical_volume, and only the number_of_logical_volume [0] field exists in the response frame.

  The controller that has transmitted the MEDIA INFO command in step 201 in FIG. 2 receives the response frame from the Camera Storage subunit, and in step 202, determines whether or not a memory card exists in the Camera Storage subunit. This can be determined by whether or not the value of number_of_logical_volume [0] in the response frame is zero. If no memory card is detected in step 202, the process returns to step 201 and the process is repeated.

  In the following description of this embodiment, it is assumed that the controller performs processing on the first partition (logical volume number = 0) of the 0th memory card (physical volume number = 0) of the Camera Storage subunit. However, it can also support multiple memory cards and multiple partitions. In that case, it is possible to cope with this by determining the values of all the number_of_logical_volume fields detected from the response frame of the MEDIA INFO command and applying the same processing to all the logical volumes of each physical volume.

  If a memory card is detected in step 202, a PREPARE MEDIA command shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted in step 203 to the volume corresponding to the detected memory card.

  When a response frame for the PREPARE MEDIA command is received, it is determined in step 204 whether the command has been successfully executed. If the command execution has failed, an appropriate error display is performed in step 205 according to the value of the result field of the response frame, and the process ends.

  If the command has been successfully executed, in step 206, the path name of the folder in which the setting file is recorded is acquired from the values of the folder_path_length field and folder_path field of the response frame. Further, the setting file is read and recorded by transmitting a Camera Storage subunit command for the folder.

  Next, the operation of the Camera Storage subunit in this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 401, it is determined whether a command frame for the Camera Storage subunit is received. If not received, the process returns to step 401 and waits for reception of a command.

  If a command frame has been received, step 402 determines whether the command frame is a PREPARE MEDIA command. If it is not a PREPARE MEDIA command, the received command frame is processed in step 403, and the process returns to step 401 to wait for reception of the next command frame.

  If the PREPARE MEDIA command has been received, it is determined in step 404 whether or not a memory card for the volume specified in the command frame exists in the Camera Storage subunit. If it does not exist, the “no media” code in FIG. 8 is set in the result field of the response frame, and a REJECTED response frame is transmitted to the controller in step 405.

  If there is a memory card, it is determined in step 406 whether there is a folder for recording the setting file on the memory card. The folder is determined in advance, and in this embodiment, it is assumed that it is a “PRESET” folder (hereinafter referred to as “¥ PRESET”) on the root folder of the memory card.

  If the “\ PRESET” folder already exists on the memory card, the process proceeds to step 410. If it does not exist, a “\ PRESET” folder is created in step 407. In step 408, it is determined whether or not the creation of the “\ PRESET” folder has succeeded. If the folder has failed, an error code corresponding to the result field of the response frame is set in step 409, and the REJECTED response frame is converted to the controller. Send to. If the folder has been successfully created, the process proceeds to step 410.

  If the "\ PRESET" folder already exists on the memory card or if the "\ PRESET" folder has been successfully created, set "\ PRESET" in the folder_path field and 6 in the folder_path_length field of the response frame. In step 410, an ACCEPTED response frame is transmitted to the controller.

  As described above, by performing processing according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the controller executes the PREPARE MEDIA command regardless of whether or not the folder for recording the setting file exists in the memory card 400. By transmitting to the digital video camera or the digital camera, the controller can process the folder on the memory card 400.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment that is a modification of the first embodiment will be described. Since the second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, description of common parts is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a case where the folder for recording the setting file can be changed will be described. The Camera Storage subunit has an area for storing the path name of the setting file folder in the internal memory, and processes the setting file by referring to the area. In the area, “\ PRESET” is stored in advance as a path name. However, if the area exists in a rewritable memory, the user designates an arbitrary folder by a menu operation, for example, and the designated folder The setting file folder can be changed by recording the path name in the area.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the Camera Storage subunit in this embodiment. In FIG. 4, steps that perform the same processing as in FIG. 3 are given the same numbers, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  When the AV / C command is not being processed, the user can change the setting folder using a menu or the like. In step 501, it is determined whether or not the folder has been changed. If the folder has been changed by the user, the value of generation count is incremented in step 502.

  When the controller sends a command frame for requesting file reading or recording to the memory card of the Camera Storage subunit, the media_generation_count value obtained in the PREAPRE MEDIA response frame is set in the media_generation_count field of the command frame. Set and send. However, if the user changes the folder for the configuration file as described above, the generation count of the Camera Storage subunit is counted up, so a REJECTED response frame is sent from the Camera Storage subunit for the command frame. Is done.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controller in the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, steps that perform the same processing as in FIG. 2 are given the same numbers, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  After acquiring the path name of the setting folder in step 206, in step 601, the controller performs processing of the setting file by transmitting a command frame for a file read request or recording request to the folder. After transmitting the command frame, in step 602, the contents of the result field of the response frame are determined to determine whether the value of the result is “invalid generation count”. If it is not “invalid generation count”, the process returns to step 601 to continue the processing.

  If the result for the command frame is “invalid generation count”, the recording medium has been replaced or the path name of the setting folder has been changed, so the process returns to step 201 and the process is repeated.

  As described above, by performing processing according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, even when the user can freely change the setting file recording folder by, for example, a menu operation, the response frame of the PREPARE MEDIA command is used. The path name of the folder can be acquired, and the controller can process the setting file.

(Other embodiments)
In the first and second embodiments, the case where the Camera Storage subunit standard is used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the Camera Storage subunit as long as the same function as that of the present embodiment can be realized. Absent.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the controller and the Camera Storage subunit are connected via the IEEE1394 serial bus has been described. However, the controller and the Camera Storage subunit may be connected via another network. For example, instead of the IEEE1394 serial bus, it is possible to use a network conforming to IEEE802.11a / b / g, USB (Universal Serial Bus), or the like.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the network system which can apply this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the controller in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the Camera Storage subunit in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the Camera Storage subunit in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the controller in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the frame format example of the PREPARE MEDIA command in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the value set to the subfunction field of the command frame of a Camera Storage subunit. It is a figure which shows the value set to the result field of the response frame of a Camera Storage subunit. It is a figure which shows the frame format of the MEDIA INFO command of a Camera Storage subunit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Recording apparatus 101 Recording control part 102 Control signal receiving part 103 Folder discrimination | determination part 104 Folder production | generation part 105 Response signal transmission part 106 Notification part 200 Control apparatus 201 Control signal transmission part 202 Response signal reception part 203 Control part 300 Network 400 Memory card

Claims (10)

A recording device having a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data,
A function of recording digital data on a recording medium, and a function of recording specific information in a specific folder on the recording medium,
Receiving a control signal for operating the recording medium from an external device connected to the network interface, and determining whether or not the specific folder exists in the recording medium after receiving the control signal; If the specific folder does not exist, the specific folder is generated on the recording medium, and information on the specific folder is transmitted to the external device as a response signal to the control signal.   After receiving the control signal, it is determined whether or not the specific folder exists on the recording medium. If the specific folder exists, information on the specific folder is used as a response signal to the control signal. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus transmits to the external apparatus.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal for operating the recording medium is a control signal for preparing to write data.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal for operating the recording medium is a control signal for preparing for data reading.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is detachable.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific folder is changeable.   The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the specific folder is changed, the recording apparatus has a function of notifying the external apparatus that the state of the recording medium has been changed. A control device having a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data,
A control signal for starting an operation of a recording medium included in the external device is transmitted to an external device connected to the network interface, a response signal to the control signal is received from the external device, and the response signal A control apparatus that controls the recording medium based on folder information included in the recording medium.   9. The control device according to claim 8, wherein the control signal is transmitted when it is detected that a recording medium exists in the external device.   9. The control device according to claim 8, wherein the control signal is transmitted when it is detected that the state of the recording medium in the external device has been changed.

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