JP2007184033A - Recording/reproducing unit and recording/reproducing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording/reproducing unit capable of recording data in a recording medium as one data file continuously even if the temporary interruption command of data recording is issued. <P>SOLUTION: The recording/reproducing unit can record data in the recording medium continuously after resuming recording without closing a file by inserting an empty packet even if the temporary interruption command of data recording is issued. In the recording/reproducing unit. By adjusting the number of empty packets inserted at the temporary interruption command or the like of data recording, and by aligning the start position of writing data after resuming recording to the start position of writing physical write units of a recording medium, the data are recorded in the recording medium continuously. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for efficiently recording a file in an external (secondary) recording device such as a hard disk drive or a DVD medium.

In recent years, digital recording products employing HDD (Hard Disk Drive), DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) media, and the like that can randomly access the recording medium have been provided in video cameras and the like. By the way, in such recording on a digital recording medium, as shown in FIG. 19, there is a size difference between a physical writing unit of the recording medium and a predetermined packet unit of data written therein. For example, the physical write unit in the HDD is 512 bytes, and the predetermined packet unit of the mpeg2 video data is 188 bytes. As long as data is continuously written after shooting is started, the data is D ₁ , D _2, D ₃ ... Regardless of the physical writing unit of the recording medium as shown in the figure. Are continuously written in predetermined packet units. However, temporarily interrupted shooting at a stage where D _n is recorded (writing recording data), then the resume shooting data D _x after shooting _resumed writing D _y · · · than immediately after the D _n is Instead, it starts from the write start position of the physical write unit of the recording medium as shown in the figure. Therefore, if there is such temporary suspension of recording in the middle of data recording, its data written closed temporarily as a data file to D _n: so that (EOF end-of-file is written).

As described above, in writing and recording digital data, when a file is closed due to a temporary interruption of recording or the like due to a size difference between a physical writing unit of a recording medium and a predetermined packet unit of data to be written therein. Before and after that, two or more recording data files are created. For this reason, for example, there is a problem in that useless work is required in the management and reproduction of a plurality of created recording data files such as “first type” and “second type” of the athletic meet. Therefore, regarding the handling of such a recording data file, the following techniques are disclosed in the patent literature. For example, in the technique of Patent Document 1, a plurality of recording data files are automatically grouped under specific conditions such as shooting time and shooting location, so that the user can recognize one of the plurality of files without being aware of the existence of the plurality of files. It can be managed and handled as a file. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for suppressing disturbance such as noise generated at a joint portion in a process of automatically connecting a plurality of video data files (so-called “joint shooting”). Yes.
JP 2001-186468 A JP 2003-230092 A

  However, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible for a user to manage a plurality of data files as a single file in a pseudo manner. There is no change in managing the files. Therefore, there is a problem that the processing load of the apparatus has not been reduced after all. Further, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem that noise generation at the joint portion cannot be completely suppressed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention continuously records data on a recording medium after resuming recording without closing a file by inserting an empty packet even if there is a temporary interruption command for data recording. Provided is a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording. Specifically, a recording command input unit for receiving an input of a recording interruption and restart command, a recording unit for receiving data writing only from a writing start position of a physical writing unit, and writing data to the recording unit A packet acquisition unit that acquires a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet, which is a unit to be included, and when a recording interruption command is input, a predetermined empty packet is replenished continuously after the last written packet at the time of recording interruption The recording / reproducing apparatus includes an empty packet supplement recording unit for recording, and a reproducing unit for reproducing data recorded in the recording unit.

  As a second aspect of the invention, the number of empty packets to be inserted in the case of a data recording temporary interruption command is adjusted, and the data writing start position after resuming recording is aligned with the writing start position of the physical writing unit of the recording medium. Thus, a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of continuously recording data on a recording medium is provided. Specifically, after the empty packet supplement recording unit supplements and records a predetermined empty packet so that the first packet to be written after the resumption of recording by the recording resume command is written from the writing start position of the physical writing unit. It is a recording / reproducing apparatus having stop means for stopping recording.

  As a third invention, a file management unit that recognizes, as a file unit, a packet set including a start code read from a recording medium, an end code read from the recording medium, and a continuous predetermined packet sequence written between the two codes. There is also provided a recording / reproducing apparatus having an empty packet discarding processing unit for performing a process of discarding an empty packet included in one file without reproducing it. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when an empty packet determination unit that determines whether an empty packet is included in one file, and when the determination result by the empty packet determination unit is a determination result that an empty packet exists, the file The recording / reproducing apparatus includes a cleanup unit that deletes the empty packet included in the packet and combines the packets sandwiching the empty packet in the physical write area.

  According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, data can be continuously recorded as one data file on a recording medium even if there is a temporary interruption command for data recording. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform recording in a form that can be easily managed for both the user and the file management system of the apparatus, and the management processing load of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the data recording according to the present embodiment does not connect two or more data closed by EOF, there is no connection between the data, and therefore no noise is generated at the connection.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the first embodiment, claims 1 and 5 will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, claims 2 and 6 will be mainly described. In the third embodiment, claims 3 and 7 will be mainly described. In the fourth embodiment, claims 4 and 8 will be mainly described.

Example 1
<Overview of this example>
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of recording of video data by the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the video data of the athletic meet's ball slotting is recorded on a recording medium such as an HDD using the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment from 11:15 on October 10th. Here, since the ball game is over, the user presses the data writing pause button (the conventional device does not have such a button in the first place) of the recording / reproducing device. Then, in order to shoot 100 meters from 12:11, the writing restart button was pressed, and writing of the video data was restarted. Then, in the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus, in addition to the data file indicated by α in the figure, a data file β indicated by a broken line is separately created. However, in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, even when the writing process is temporarily interrupted, the file is not closed by the EOF writing. Can be recorded as one data file α. Of course, this is not managed and displayed as a single data file on an application such as Explorer, but is managed as a single data file on the file management system.

<Functional configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 2 shows an example of functional blocks in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “recording / reproducing apparatus” (0200) of this embodiment includes a “recording command input unit” (0201), a “recording unit” (0202), and a “packet acquisition unit” (0203). , “Empty packet supplement recording unit” (0204) and “Reproducing unit” (0205).

  Note that the functional blocks of the apparatus described below can be realized as hardware, software, or both hardware and software. Specifically, if a computer is used, a CPU, a main memory, a bus, a storage device such as a hard disk or a nonvolatile memory, a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, a read drive for these media, Examples include hardware components such as various communication and transmission / reception ports for printing devices, other peripheral devices, driver programs and other application programs for controlling the hardware, and interfaces used for information input. These hardware and software processes the programs developed on the memory in sequence by the CPU, and processes, stores, and outputs the data stored on the memory and hard disk and the data input via the interface. Or used to control each hardware component. The present invention can be realized not only as an apparatus but also as a method. A part of the invention can be configured as software. Furthermore, a software product used for causing a computer to execute such software and a recording medium in which the product is fixed to a recording medium are naturally included in the technical scope of the present invention (the same applies throughout the present specification). Is).

  The “recording command input unit” (0201) has a function for receiving input of a recording interruption and resumption command. Specifically, for example, a configuration including an operation system such as a button, a jog dial, a touch panel, or a GUI (graphical user interface), and receiving an input of a recording interruption and resumption command according to the operation can be given. Here, “recording interruption” indicates a temporary interruption of the recording / writing process, and is a process different from the recording stop process for writing EOF (end of file) at the end of the data file. “Recording restart” is also a process different from the recording start process in which SOF (start of file) is written at the head of the data file. Therefore, recording interruption (recording restart) and recording stop (recording start) can be arranged in the device as separate buttons, etc., or recording can be stopped by half-pressing the stop button, recording stopped by full-pressing, etc. It is desirable to make it correspond. In addition, by strictly distinguishing between recording interruption (recording restart) and recording stop (recording start) in this way, the recorded data can be made into one data file or a plurality of data files depending on the shooting contents and situation. Alternatively, the configuration can be arbitrarily selected and recorded by the user.

  The details of the recording interruption processing and resumption processing in which EOF or SOF is not written in this data file (the data file is not closed) will be described in the empty packet supplement recording section of the present embodiment and the second embodiment.

  The “recording unit” (0202) is characterized by accepting data writing only from the writing start position of the physical writing unit. For example, a conventional HDD, DVD, next-generation DVD media, flash memory, etc. are randomly accessed. This corresponds to a possible digital data recording medium and a control mechanism for controlling writing of data to the recording medium.

  The “packet acquisition unit” (0203) has a function of acquiring a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet, which is a unit for writing data to the recording unit (0202). Specifically, for example, in the imaging mechanism, the packet sequence includes captured video data, audio data, and the like. Alternatively, a reception tuner (or an A / D converter for a broadcast wave received by the reception tuner), a network connector that acquires a packet string through a network line, and the like can be cited as examples of the packet acquisition unit. The “predetermined packet unit” refers to a writing unit when data is recorded in the recording unit. For example, in the case of Mpeg2 TS (transport stream), the unit is 188 bytes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of recording in the recording unit of the packet sequence acquired by the packet acquisition unit. As shown in this figure, the recording unit is divided by physical writing units. The “physical writing unit” is a minimum unit for dividing the recording medium, and writing of data is started by writing the SOF of the data file at the writing start position corresponding to the head of the physical writing unit. . While data is continuously written, as shown in FIG. 3, D ₁ , D _2, D ₃ ..., Etc. It is continuously written in packets. However, _if photographing (data writing / recording) is temporarily interrupted when D _n is recorded, there is a difference between the predetermined packet unit and the physical writing unit of the recording unit even if data writing is resumed thereafter. As a result, writing from the writing start position cannot always be resumed. For this reason, normally, in the case of a temporary interruption or the like, the write record data is temporarily closed as a data file (EOF: end of file is written). When resuming thereafter photographing, writing of the data after restarting is not immediately after the D _n, starting from based on the physical writing unit of the recording medium "writing start position", and so called.

  However, two or more data files are created before and after the recording interruption. Therefore, in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, when the “recording interruption command” is input from the recording command input unit, the recording interruption process without writing EOF is performed by the processing of the next empty packet supplement recording unit. It is characterized by that.

  The “empty packet supplement recording unit” (0204) has a function of supplementing and recording a predetermined empty packet continuously to the packet written last when the recording is interrupted when a recording interruption command is input. An “empty packet” refers to a packet having the same packet structure and packet size as the packet acquired by the packet acquisition unit, but having a data sequence indicating “NULL” in its data field. Therefore, this empty packet can be identified as an empty packet by reading the data sequence in the data field. In addition, it is possible to identify whether or not it is an empty packet by including identification information indicating that it is an empty packet in the frame header.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of data recording by the empty packet supplement recording unit. As shown in this figure, in this embodiment, for example, when a recording interruption command is input immediately after a packet D _n is recorded by a recording unit, a data file composed of packets D ₁ to D _n is converted to EOF. Is not written and closed, but the recording process is continued by writing empty packets N ₁ , N ₂ , N ₃ ,... Following D _n . The recording by the recording restart command when empty packets Nn is written is input, then the packet sequence acquired _{D n + 1, D N +} 2, D N + 3, writing continues _... to N _n That is, the processing is continued.

  As described above, the data recording can be interrupted without writing EOF or SOF by replenishing recording of empty packets, so that it is possible to prevent two or more data files from being created before and after the writing is interrupted. .

  The “reproducing unit” (0205) has a function of reproducing the data recorded in the recording unit (0202). If this is normal recording data, it may be played back by a normal playback method. For playback of data recorded by supplementing empty packets as described above, for example, “discard empty packets”. It is better to play it using a method such as

<Hardware configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. The operation of each hardware component in the recording / writing process including interruption will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, the recording / reproducing apparatus includes a “CPU (central processing unit)” (0501) and a “main memory” (0502). In addition, an “interface” (0503) which is a recording command input unit, a “recording control circuit” (0506) and “HDD (external recording device)” (0507) which are recording units, and an “imaging mechanism” (0507) which is a packet acquisition unit ( 0504) and “signal processing circuit” (0505), “playback circuit” (0508), “video memory” (0509), “monitor” (0510), and the like. They are connected to each other via a data communication path such as a “system bus” to transmit / receive information and process information.

  In addition, the “main memory” provides a work area which is a work area for the program as well as being read for executing various programs. A plurality of physical addresses are assigned to each of the “main memory”, “HDD”, and “video memory”, and programs executed by the “CPU” specify each physical address to access each other. Data can be exchanged and processed. In this example, “imaging mechanism” or the like is used as the packet acquisition unit. However, for example, a “reception tuner” may be used to record broadcast video data. The recorded data may be other than video data.

  Here, a shooting button as an “interface” is pressed, and a shooting start signal is transmitted. Then, based on the imaging start signal, the “CPU” sends out a control signal for the “imaging mechanism”, and acquisition of RGB video signals by the imaging mechanism is executed. The acquired RGB video signal is converted into digital moving image data by a “signal processing circuit”. The converted digital moving image data is continuously written and recorded in the “HDD” by the “recording control circuit” as a packet sequence of 188 bytes.

  Thereafter, a shooting interruption button, which is an “interface”, is pressed down and a shooting interruption signal is transmitted. Then, upon reception of the photographing interruption signal, the “CPU” generates an empty packet and stores it in the main memory. Then, the data of the empty packet is continuously recorded on the “HDD” by the “recording control circuit” in the same 188-byte unit packet sequence as the last packet written at the time of recording interruption.

  After that, when the photographing button as the “interface” is pressed again and a photographing start signal is sent out, the “CPU” sends out a control signal for the “imaging mechanism” and the photographing process is resumed. Thereby, the writing process of the digital moving image data obtained by the image pickup mechanism and the signal processing circuit to the HDD in units of packets is continuously executed on the last written empty packet. When a shooting stop button as an interface is pressed and a shooting end signal is transmitted, EOF data is written at the end of the data file recorded by the processing of the recording control circuit, and the shooting processing of the shooting data is completed. A data file is created.

  When a file playback signal is sent out by pressing a playback button or the like that is an “interface”, playback processing of digital moving image data recorded on the HDD is executed by the “output circuit”, and “video memory” is executed by the output circuit. The captured image drawn on the screen is displayed on the “monitor”.

<Processing flow of this embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. Note that the steps shown below may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling a computer recorded on a medium. As shown in this figure, first, a packet sequence in a predetermined packet unit is acquired by inputting an imaging start command at the interface (step S0601). And the process which writes the acquired packet sequence continuously in a recording part is performed (step S0602).

  Here, when a shooting end command is input, for example, by pressing the shooting end button (step S0603), EOF is written at the end of the written data, and the recording process ends. In addition, when an imaging interruption command is input in a state where the imaging end command is not input and the packet string writing process is continued (step S0604), it continues to the last packet written at the time of recording interruption. Then, the empty packet is replenished and recorded (step S0605).

  When a recording restart command is input by pressing the shooting button again (step S0606), acquisition of a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet is restarted. If a recording end command is received before the recording resumption command is input, EOF is written at the end of the data, and the recording process may be terminated as it is.

<Simple explanation of the effect of this embodiment>
As described above, the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment can continuously record data as one data file on the recording medium even if there is a data recording temporary interruption command or the like. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform recording in a form that can be easily managed for both the user and the file management system of the apparatus, and the management processing load of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the data recording according to the present embodiment does not connect two or more data closed by EOF, there is no connection between the data, and therefore no noise is generated at the connection.

<< Example 2 >>
<Overview of this example>
In the present embodiment, in the replenishment recording process of the empty packet based on the first embodiment, the first packet to be written after the recording is resumed by the recording resume command is written from the writing start position of the physical writing unit. If only empty packets are supplementally recorded, the supplementary recording process is stopped. This makes it possible to write continuously without closing the file before and after interruption, for example, recording interruption takes a long time and the amount of empty packets occupying one data file becomes useless, which is more than necessary. It is possible to prevent a situation in which a data file having a huge data size is recorded.

<Functional configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 7 shows an example of functional blocks in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “recording / reproducing apparatus” (0700) of the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment, and “recording command input section” (0701), “recording section” (0702), “packet” An “acquiring unit” (0703), an “empty packet supplement recording unit” (0704), and a “reproducing unit” (0705). These “recording command input unit”, “recording unit”, “packet acquisition unit”, “empty packet supplement recording unit”, and “reproducing unit” have already been described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. A feature of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment is that the empty packet supplement recording unit further includes a “stop unit” (0706).

  “Stopping means” (0706) is a function of stopping recording after supplementary recording of a predetermined empty packet so that a packet to be written first after resuming recording by a recording resuming instruction is written from a writing start position of a physical writing unit. Have

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of empty packet supplement recording stop processing by this stopping means. Here, for example, the physical writing unit of the recording unit is 512 bytes, and the predetermined packet unit of the data recorded therein is 188 bytes. Then, when a recording interruption command is input at the time when 100 packet sequences indicated by D ₁ to D _n in FIG. 8 are recorded, 28 empty packets are written, thereby multiplying the physical write unit “512”. (512 × 47 = “24064” bytes) matches the number of write bytes (188 × 100 + 188 × 28 = “24064” bytes) in the predetermined packet unit “188”. Therefore, the packet D _{n + 1 that} is written first after the recording restart command is input can be written from the writing start position of the physical writing unit following the last empty packet N _n . By stopping the supplementary recording of empty packets in this way, even if recording is interrupted for a long time, the data size can be recorded as one data file without becoming larger than necessary.

<Hardware configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. The operation of each hardware component in the empty packet supplement recording stop process will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, the recording / reproducing apparatus includes “CPU (central processing unit)” (0501) and “main memory” (0502) which are stop means. In addition, an “interface” (0503) which is a recording command input unit, a “recording control circuit” (0506) and “HDD (external recording device)” (0507) which are recording units, and an “imaging mechanism” (0507) which is a packet acquisition unit ( 0504) and “signal processing circuit” (0505), “playback circuit” (0508), “video memory” (0509), “monitor” (0510), and the like.

  Here, as described in the first embodiment, when the shooting button which is an “interface” is pressed, for example, digital moving image data acquired by an imaging mechanism or a signal processing circuit is converted into a unit of 188 bytes by the “recording control circuit”. Are continuously written and recorded in the “HDD”. Thereafter, when the shooting interruption button is pressed next time, the same empty packet of 188 bytes is continuously recorded on the “HDD” after the packet written last when the recording is interrupted.

At this time, in this embodiment, first, the number of empty packets to be replenished and recorded by the arithmetic processing of the CPU is calculated. Then, the CPU counts the number of empty packets to be supplementally recorded, and sends a supplementary recording stop signal for empty packets to the recording control circuit when the calculated number of empty packets is supplementally recorded in the HDD. An example of the calculation process of the number of empty packets is a method performed as follows. That is, the number of packets recorded from the recording start to the recording interruption is counted by the recording control circuit, and the numerical value, for example, “100” is stored in a predetermined address of the main memory. A numerical value indicating a predetermined packet unit, for example, “188 (bytes)” and a physical writing unit, for example, “512 (bytes)” are also stored in different predetermined addresses of the main memory. Then, the remainder of “188 × 100/512”, “368”, is calculated by CPU processing, and stored at another predetermined address. Then, 368 (remainder) +512 (physical writing unit) × A = 188 (predetermined packet unit) × X (1) where A and X are natural numbers.
However, X is determined so that both A and X are natural numbers. For this purpose, a natural number 1, 2, 3,... Is sequentially substituted for A, and a natural number X that satisfies the above formula (1) is calculated. Then, when “28” empty packets are replenished and recorded in this way, a replenishment recording stop signal is sent from the CPU, and the replenishment recording of the empty packets is stopped.

<Processing flow of this embodiment>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. Note that the steps shown below may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling a computer recorded on a medium. As shown in this figure, first, a packet sequence in a predetermined packet unit is acquired by inputting an imaging start command at the interface (step S1001). And the process which writes the acquired packet sequence continuously on a recording part is performed (step S1002).

  Here, when a shooting end command is input, for example, by pressing the shooting end button (step S1003), EOF is written at the end of the written data, and the recording process ends. In addition, when a shooting stop command is input in a state where the shooting end command is not input and the packet string writing process is continued (step S1004), a predetermined empty packet is first written after resuming recording. After supplementary recording so that is written from the writing start position of the physical writing unit of the recording unit, supplementary recording of empty packets is stopped (step S1005).

  When a recording restart command is input by pressing the shooting button again (step S0606), acquisition of a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet is restarted. If a recording end command is received before the recording resumption command is input, EOF is written at the end of the data, and the recording process may be terminated as it is.

    <Simple explanation of the effect of the present embodiment> As described above, the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment enables continuous writing without closing the file before and after the interruption of data writing, for example, recording interruption. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the amount of empty packets in one data file increases for a long time and a data file having a data size that is larger than necessary is recorded.

Example 3
<Overview of this example>
The present embodiment is based on the first and second embodiments, and discards and reproduces the empty packet in the reproduction of the data file recorded with the empty packet supplemented, so that the data file does not include the empty packet. This is a recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of reproducing in the same manner as the data file.

<Functional configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “recording / reproducing apparatus” (1100) of the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment and includes a “recording command input unit” (1101), a “recording unit” (1102), and a “packet”. An "acquiring unit" (1103), an "empty packet supplement recording unit" (1104), and a "reproducing unit" (1105). Further, on the basis of the second embodiment, the empty packet supplement recording unit may further include a “stop unit” (not shown). These “recording command input unit”, “recording unit”, “packet acquisition unit”, “empty packet supplement recording unit”, “reproducing unit”, and “stop unit” are the same as those in the first embodiment. Since it has already been described in the second embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The feature of the recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment is that it further includes a “file management unit” (1106), and the reproducing unit further includes “empty packet discard processing means” (1107).

  The “file management unit” (1106) recognizes, as a file unit, a packet set including a start code read from the recording medium, an end code read from the recording medium, and a continuous predetermined packet sequence written between the two codes. It has a function. This file management unit can be realized by a normal file management system (so-called file system) employed in a built-in OS (operation system) of a PC.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a unit file recognized by the file management unit. As shown in this figure, the file management unit includes a header, CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) data, data field (for example, video data) included between the start code (SOF: 1201) and the end code (EOF: 1202). ) As a unit file. As described in the first embodiment, since the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention also executes the empty packet insertion recording process at the time of recording interruption continuously to the packet recording process, it starts before and after the empty packet insertion recording. There is no writing of the code (SOF) or the end code (EOF) to the recording medium. Therefore, even if there is a recording interruption and an empty packet sequence is inserted and recorded between data, the file management unit recognizes it as one data file as shown in this figure.

  The “empty packet discard processing means” (1107) has a function for processing to discard a blank packet included in one file without reproducing it. As described above, the empty packet is indicated as “NULL” by the numerical sequence included in the data field. Alternatively, data indicating an empty packet is included in the header. Therefore, when a data file recognized as one file in the file management unit is reproduced in the reproduction unit, an empty packet indicated as “NULL” by this header information or data sequence is not reproduced. By discarding, it is possible to perform the same reproduction as a file that does not include an empty packet.

<Hardware configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. The operation of each hardware component in the reproduction process of one file including an empty packet will be described using this figure. As shown in this figure, the recording / reproducing apparatus includes a file management unit and a “CPU (central processing unit)” (1301) which is empty packet discard processing means, and a “main memory” (1302). Also, an “interface” (1303) as a recording command input unit, a “recording control circuit” (1306) or “HDD (external recording device)” (1307) as a recording unit, and an “imaging mechanism” (1307) as a packet acquisition unit ( 1304), a “signal processing circuit” (1305), an “output circuit” (1308) as a reproduction unit, a “video memory” (1309), a “monitor” (1310), and the like.

  Here, as described in the first and second embodiments, a data file including an empty packet is started as one file by a shooting start command, a shooting interruption command, a shooting restart command, a shooting end command, etc. input through the “interface”. It is sandwiched between a code (SOF) and an end code (EOF) and recorded on the HDD.

  Subsequently, when the “playback” button or the like that is an “interface” is pressed and a file playback signal is transmitted, the start code (SOF) and end code (EOF) of the file designated to be played back are read and stored in the main memory. Stored at a predetermined address. The CPU recognizes the data sandwiched between the read start code (SOF) and end code (EOF) as one file, and executes a process for reproducing and displaying the one file. For this purpose, first, the data recognized as one file is sequentially transferred to the “output circuit”. During the transfer process, an empty packet indicating “NULL” is identified from the header information of the packet by arithmetic processing of the CPU, the transfer process is not performed for the empty packet (a discard process is executed on the processing), and an empty packet is received. Only video data packets other than packets are transferred to the output circuit. In the “output circuit”, an image is drawn on the “video memory” based on the transferred video data, and the captured image is displayed like the video data not including the empty packet by sequentially outputting the image to the “monitor”. That's it.

<Processing flow of this embodiment>
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a process flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. Note that the steps shown below may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling a computer recorded on a medium. First, as described in the first and second embodiments, one file including an empty packet is recorded on a recording medium such as an HDD. When the file is reproduced, as shown in this figure, first, a start code and an end code are read from the recording medium (step S1401). Subsequently, the packet set written between the two codes is recognized as one file unit (step S1402). Finally, a process for discarding the empty packet included in the recognized one file without reproducing is performed, and the one file is reproduced (step S1403).

<Simple explanation of the effect of this embodiment>
As described above, the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment can reproduce even one file recorded including empty packets in the same manner as a normal data file not including empty packets.

Example 4
<Overview of this example>
This embodiment is based on the first, second, and third embodiments. When a blank packet is supplemented and recorded in one data file, the blank packet is deleted and the packet between which the blank packet is sandwiched is physically written. This is a recording / reproducing apparatus having a so-called recording medium cleanup function, which is coupled within a region. As a result, it is possible to release and secure the recording capacity of the recording medium that is wasted due to the supplementary recording of empty packets.

<Functional configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 15 shows an example of functional blocks in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the “recording / reproducing apparatus” (1500) of the present embodiment is based on the first embodiment and includes a “recording command input section” (1501), a “recording section” (1502), and a “packet”. An "acquiring unit" (1503), an "empty packet supplement recording unit" (1504), and a "reproducing unit" (1505). Further, on the basis of the second and third embodiments, a “stop unit”, “file management unit”, and “empty packet discard processing unit” (all not shown) may be included. These “recording command input unit”, “recording unit”, “packet acquisition unit”, “empty packet supplement recording unit”, “playback unit”, “stop unit”, and “file management unit” ”And“ empty packet discard processing means ”have already been described in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. The feature of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment is that it further includes an “empty packet determination unit” (1506) and a “cleanup unit” (1507).

  The “empty packet determination unit” (1506) has a function of determining whether an empty packet is included in one file. As described above, whether or not a packet included in one data is an empty packet can be identified by a determination process such as a CPU based on identification information included in a packet header or a data sequence of data in a data field. is there.

  If the determination result in the empty packet determination unit (1506) is that the empty packet exists, the “cleanup unit” (1507) deletes the empty packet included in the file and deletes the empty packet. Has a function of combining packets in the physical write area.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an example of deletion processing of empty packets in the cleanup unit and combination processing in the physical write area of packets sandwiching empty packets. As shown in this figure, empty packets N ₁ , N ₂ ,..., N _n are deleted from one file including empty packets recorded in a physical write area such as an HDD, and packets D _n and D _{n + 1} and so on. Note that the “joining” process by the cleanup unit does not mean a physical data joining process, but means joining in such a way as to be recognized as one file in file management.

  In this clean-up process, for example, in the case of a video data file, in addition to deleting and combining empty packets, the header CRC information rewrite process, the header control information rewrite process referred to during playback, or the file It is preferable to perform rewriting processing of the file allocation table in the management system.

<Hardware configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. The operation of each hardware component in the empty packet deletion process in the physical write area and the packet combining process sandwiching the empty packet will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, the recording / reproducing apparatus includes a “CPU (central processing unit)” (1701) and a “main memory” (1702) which are an empty packet determination unit and a cleanup unit. Also, an “interface” (1703) which is a recording command input unit, a “recording control circuit” (1706) and “HDD (external recording device)” (1707) which are recording units, and an “imaging mechanism” (1707) which is a packet acquisition unit ( 1704), a “signal processing circuit” (1705), an “output circuit” (1708), a “video memory” (1709), a “monitor” (1710) and the like as a playback unit.

  Here, as described in the first and second embodiments, a data file including an empty packet is started as one file by a shooting start command, a shooting interruption command, a shooting restart command, a shooting end command, etc. input through the “interface”. It is sandwiched between a code (SOF) and an end code (EOF) and recorded in “HDD”.

  Subsequently, when a cleanup start signal is transmitted via a GUI or the like, a start code (SOF) and an end code (EOF) of a file designated by the GUI or the like as a target of the cleanup process are read out and predetermined in the main memory. Stored in the address. The CPU recognizes the data sandwiched between the read start code (SOF) and end code (EOF) as one file. Then, referring to the identification information of the packet header included in the one file, the CPU executes a process for determining whether there is identification information indicating an empty packet. Then, when a code indicating “empty packet is included (True)” is returned as the determination result, the CPU reads the cleanup program on the work area of the main memory, and according to the program, the empty packet is deleted, combined, Alternatively, cleanup processing such as rewriting processing of the CRC information of the header and rewriting processing of various control information of the header referred at the time of reproduction is executed. In addition, the file allocation table of the recording control circuit is rewritten.

<Processing flow of this embodiment>
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment. Note that the steps shown below may be processing steps that constitute a program for controlling a computer recorded on a medium. First, as described in the first and second embodiments, one file including an empty packet is recorded on a recording medium such as an HDD. When a cleanup start command is sent via the GUI or the like, as shown in this figure, it is first determined whether or not an empty packet is included in one file (step S1801). If the determination result is that the empty file is included in one file, the empty packet included in the file is deleted, and the packet sandwiching the empty packet is stored in the physical write area. (Step S1802).

<Simple explanation of the effect of this embodiment>
As described above, since the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment can delete the empty packet having no meaning in the file without affecting the reproduction processing, the recording medium compressed by the size of the empty packet by the size is recorded. The recording capacity can be released and secured.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of video data recording by the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of recording in the recording unit of the packet sequence acquired by the packet acquisition unit of the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 1. The figure for demonstrating an example of the data recording by the empty packet supplement recording part of the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 1. FIG. Schematic showing an example of a hardware configuration in the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 1 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 2. The figure for demonstrating an example of the empty packet replenishment recording stop process by the stop means of the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 2. FIG. Schematic showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 2. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 3. Schematic diagram for explaining an example of a file of one unit recognized by the file management unit of the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 3 Schematic showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 3. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment. The figure showing an example of the functional block in the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 4. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process of deleting empty packets in the cleanup unit of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment and combining processing in a physical writing area of packets sandwiching empty packets. Schematic showing an example of the hardware constitutions in the recording / reproducing apparatus of Example 4. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. The figure for demonstrating an example of the recording of the packet sequence in the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus

Explanation of symbols

0200 Recording / playback apparatus 0201 Recording command input unit 0202 Recording unit 0203 Packet acquisition unit 0204 Empty packet supplement recording unit 0205 Playback unit

Claims (8)

A recording command input unit for receiving an input of a recording interruption and restart command;
A recording unit that accepts data writing only from the write start position of the physical write unit;
A packet acquisition unit for acquiring a packet sequence in a predetermined packet unit, which is a unit for writing data to the recording unit;
An empty packet supplement recording unit that supplements and records a predetermined empty packet in succession to the last packet written when recording was interrupted when a recording interruption instruction was input;
A playback unit for playing back data recorded in the recording unit;
A recording / reproducing apparatus.   The empty packet supplement recording unit has stop means for stopping recording after supplementary recording of a predetermined empty packet so that a packet to be written first after resuming recording by a recording resume command is written from a writing start position of a physical writing unit. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. A file management unit that recognizes, as a file unit, a packet set including a start code read from the recording medium, an end code read from the recording medium, and a continuous predetermined packet sequence written between the two codes;
The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit includes an empty packet discard processing unit for performing a process of discarding an empty packet included in one file without reproducing. An empty packet determination unit for determining whether an empty packet is included in one file;
If the determination result by the empty packet determination unit is a determination result that there is an empty packet, the empty packet included in the file is deleted, and a clean packet that combines the packets sandwiching the empty packet in the physical write area Up part,
The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: A packet acquisition step of acquiring a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet, which is a unit for writing data to a recording unit that accepts writing of data only from a writing start position of a physical writing unit;
A recording step of recording the acquired packet sequence in a recording unit;
A recording interruption command input step for receiving an input of a recording interruption command;
An empty packet replenishment recording step for replenishing and recording a predetermined empty packet in succession to the last written packet at the time of recording interruption when a recording interruption instruction is input;
A recording restart command input step for receiving an input of a recording restart command;
A packet acquisition restarting step for restarting acquisition of a packet sequence in predetermined packet units;
Resuming recording step of continuously recording the resumed packet sequence in a recording unit in a replenished recorded empty packet;
A reproduction step of reproducing the recorded data;
A recording / reproducing method comprising: A packet acquisition step of acquiring a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet, which is a unit for writing data to a recording unit that accepts writing of data only from a writing start position of a physical writing unit;
A recording step of recording the acquired packet sequence in a recording unit;
A recording interruption command input step for receiving an input of a recording interruption command;
An empty packet replenishment recording step for replenishing and recording a predetermined empty packet in succession to the last written packet at the time of recording interruption when a recording interruption instruction is input;
A stop step of stopping recording after supplementary recording of a predetermined empty packet so that a packet to be written first after restarting recording by a recording restart command is written from a writing start position of a physical writing unit;
A recording restart command input step for receiving an input of a recording restart command;
A packet acquisition restarting step for restarting acquisition of a packet sequence in predetermined packet units;
The resumption recording step of writing the resumed packet sequence from the write start position of the physical writing unit of the recording unit and continuously recording the replenished empty packet;
A reproduction step of reproducing the recorded data;
A recording / reproducing method comprising: A packet acquisition step of acquiring a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet, which is a unit for writing data to a recording unit that accepts writing of data only from a writing start position of a physical writing unit;
A recording step of recording the acquired packet sequence in a recording unit;
A recording interruption command input step for receiving an input of a recording interruption command;
An empty packet replenishment recording step for replenishing and recording a predetermined empty packet in succession to the last written packet at the time of recording interruption when a recording interruption instruction is input;
A recording restart command input step for receiving an input of a recording restart command;
A packet acquisition restarting step for restarting acquisition of a packet sequence in predetermined packet units;
Resuming recording step of continuously recording the resumed packet sequence in a recording unit in a replenished recorded empty packet;
A file that recognizes, as a file unit, a packet set including a start code read from the recording medium of the recording unit in which the data is recorded, an end code read from the recording medium, and a continuous predetermined packet sequence written between the two codes. Administrative steps;
An empty packet discard file reproduction step of discarding the empty packet included in the one file without reproducing it and reproducing the one file;
A recording / reproducing method comprising: A packet acquisition step of acquiring a packet sequence in units of a predetermined packet, which is a unit for writing data to a recording unit that accepts writing of data only from a writing start position of a physical writing unit;
A recording step of recording the acquired packet sequence in a recording unit;
A recording interruption command input step for receiving an input of a recording interruption command;
An empty packet replenishment recording step for replenishing and recording a predetermined empty packet in succession to the last written packet at the time of recording interruption when a recording interruption instruction is input;
A recording restart command input step for receiving an input of a recording restart command;
A packet acquisition restarting step for restarting acquisition of a packet sequence in predetermined packet units;
Resuming recording step of continuously recording the resumed packet sequence in a recording unit in a replenished recorded empty packet;
An empty packet determination step of determining whether an empty packet is included in the recorded one file;
If the determination result is a determination result that there is an empty packet, a cleanup step of deleting the empty packet included in the file and combining the packets sandwiching the empty packet in the physical write area;
A reproduction step of reproducing the cleaned and recorded data;
A recording / reproducing method comprising:

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