JP2008182568A - Recording and reproducing compound machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording and reproducing complex machine in which the operating condition of each recording and reproducing compound machine and an image being processed are visible with the operative mode remaining unchanged in a recording and reproducing compound machine, equipped with a plurality of recording and reproducing compound machines. <P>SOLUTION: There is provided the recording and reproducing compound machine equipped with an OSD processor and a PIP processor. In the recording and reproducing compound machine, when having detected instructions for checking the operating condition of each recording and reproducing compound machine, confirmation result of the operating condition is converted into an image by the OSD processor to be displayed. An image signal for implementing, as an auxiliary image simultaneously or sequentially reduced display of image information being output by each recording and reproducing compound machine is produced by the PIP processor to be output to a display unit. In addition, the image information that is output by each recording and reproducing compound machine means image information, or the like, which has been read out of a DVD medium and is being reproduced by a DVD reproducing unit, and the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / playback multi-function peripheral having a plurality of devices capable of performing video and audio recording processing and playback processing in parallel, and in particular, operating states of a plurality of processing performed in parallel for each device. The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing multifunction device having a function indicating

  In recent years, digital recording / reproducing devices such as DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recorders or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) recorders have been widely used as devices for recording moving images and audio processed in image devices such as televisions. ing. In addition, a recording / reproducing multifunction device in which the plurality of recording / reproducing devices are combined into one is widely used.

  The recording / reproducing multifunction device includes a plurality of recording / reproducing apparatuses capable of recording / reproducing images and sounds on a recording medium. Therefore, for example, a so-called dubbing operation is possible in which one recording / reproducing device reproduces the image and sound recorded on the recording medium, and the other recording / reproducing device records the reproduced image and sound on the recording medium. It is. Note that the plurality of recording / reproducing apparatuses included in the recording / reproducing multifunction device may be individually provided with a recording medium or a tuner, or may be configured to share a recording medium or a tuner. .

  As typical recording / playback multifunction devices, there are, for example, HDD built-in DVD recorders and VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) / DVD / HDD multifunction devices. These multifunction devices usually have a plurality of operation modes for switching the recording / reproducing apparatus to be used. For example, there are operation modes for each recording / playback apparatus, such as a VCR mode for recording / playback using a VCR and a DVD mode for recording / playback using a DVD drive.

  When the user uses each recording / reproducing apparatus, the user selects and switches the operation mode corresponding to the recording / reproducing apparatus to be used. However, even when the operation mode is switched, the mode before switching and the mode after switching can be performed in parallel as long as the devices used in each mode (for example, a reproduction IC) do not compete.

  For example, suppose that recording of terrestrial digital broadcasting is started in the HDD mode, and then switching to the DVD mode is performed to reproduce the DVD medium. In this case, the user can only visually recognize the reproduction process in the DVD mode, but on the back, the recording process in the HDD mode can be continuously performed.

  However, when the operation mode is changed, the devices used in the operation mode before switching and the operation mode after switching may conflict. For example, there is a case where one playback IC is used in both the VCR mode before switching and the DVD mode after switching. In this case, there is a problem that some or all of various processes (for example, reproduction process, recording process, etc.) performed by the device operating in the operation mode before switching are forcibly stopped.

  For this reason, there is a problem that the user may not be able to confirm the state of the process being executed in the non-selected operation mode unless the process being executed in the current operation mode is interrupted. Specifically, for example, it is assumed that playback processing in the selected DVD mode and recording processing in the non-selected VCR mode are performed in parallel. In this case, when the user wants to know which channel is recording in the VCR mode, it is necessary to switch from the DVD mode to the VCR mode. However, when this switching process is performed, the reproduction process in the DVD mode is forcibly interrupted. For this reason, there is a possibility that the user may feel that the usability is poor.

  In relation to the above, Patent Document 1 discloses a recorded image display method in which when recording is started while viewing a television, the recorded image is inserted into the currently viewed image for a few seconds from the start of recording and displayed. It is disclosed.

  In the recorded image display method of Patent Document 1, when recording is started with the record button, the recorded image is displayed in a reduced size for confirming the recorded image on the sub screen. It doesn't disappear, you can see most of the image. After a few seconds, the screen disappears and the original screen is displayed.

  In relation to the above, Patent Document 2 displays a menu screen for selecting various operations and functions of an external device connected through an IEEE 1394 interface in a high-functional digital image device such as a digital television. A remote control method for requesting an external device to execute an operation and a function selected and designated through the displayed menu screen is disclosed.

The remote operation method of Patent Document 2 includes a step of displaying a menu screen for selecting an externally connected device, a step of requesting a menu screen for selecting an operation of a specific externally connected device selected through the menu screen, and It is characterized by comprising three steps of receiving menu data for menu screen configuration provided without data conversion from a specific externally connected device in response to the request and displaying it.
JP-A-5-41838 JP 2001-228953 A

  However, the above-mentioned patent document 1 does not fully show a specific embodiment for carrying out the invention, and when a plurality of recording means are present, a reduced display of recorded images and the operation of each recording means There is no disclosure or suggestion of the status indication.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 described above, a method for remotely operating a plurality of recording / reproducing apparatuses is disclosed, but these recording / reproducing apparatuses need to have an IEEE 1394 interface. IEEE 1394 is a standard based on the assumption that a plurality of external devices are usually connected. Accordingly, when used inside a recording / reproducing multifunction device having a plurality of recording / reproducing apparatuses therein, there is a problem that the apparatus configuration becomes complicated and the cost is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a recording / playback multifunction device including a plurality of recording / playback devices, without changing the operation mode for specifying the recording / playback device to be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing multifunction device capable of visually recognizing the operating state of each recording / reproducing device and the image information being processed by each recording / reproducing device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording / reproducing multifunction device of the present invention includes a plurality of recording devices, reproducing devices, or recording / reproducing devices capable of recording and / or reproducing information, and images indicating information held by the respective devices. And a PIP processing unit that generates an image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of images on one screen of the display device by performing reduction processing or overlay processing on the plurality of images. An operation state confirmation unit that confirms an operation state of each device, a reception unit that receives a display instruction for the operation state of each device, and a reception unit that receives the display instruction The operation state confirmation unit is used to confirm the operation state of each device, an image indicating the confirmation result is created using the OSD processing unit, and the confirmation result image created by the OSD processing unit is displayed as an image. An operation state output unit that converts the signal into a signal and outputs it for a predetermined time, and the operation state output unit uses the PIP processing unit, and all the devices included in the recording / playback multifunction device are connected to the display device. Then, an image signal for displaying an image being output on a part of the screen of the display device simultaneously or sequentially in a reduced size is generated and output for a predetermined time.

  According to this, the recording / reproducing multifunction apparatus of the present invention includes any one of a plurality of recording devices, reproducing devices, or recording / reproducing devices capable of recording / reproducing image information and audio information input by a tuner or the like, for example. It is configured. Note that which device the user uses is determined by selecting an operation mode. In addition, an OSD processing unit is provided that creates image data indicating various types of information held by the recording / playback multifunction peripheral, for example, recording reservation information. In addition, a PIP (Picture in Picture) processing unit that outputs an image signal for displaying a plurality of images superimposed on one screen is provided. If the PIP processing unit is used, for example, an image signal for displaying an auxiliary image (a small image displayed on a part of the main screen) on a main image (a large image displayed on the entire main screen) is generated. be able to. In addition, an operation state confirmation unit for confirming the operation state of each device, for example, a state such as recording or reproduction is provided. When the reception unit receives an instruction to display the operation state, the operation state confirmation unit confirms each operation state. Then, the operation state output unit converts the confirmation result into an image by the OSD processing unit, and outputs an image signal for displaying the converted image on a display device such as a television device for a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds. In addition, when the operation state output unit outputs an image signal indicating the operation state of each device, the image information for simultaneously displaying the image information being output by each device as an auxiliary image or sequentially reducing the image information is subjected to PIP processing. Generated by the part. The generated image signal is output to the television apparatus. Note that the image information being output by each device refers to, for example, the image information being read and read from the DVD medium by the DVD playback device. Also, for example, even if a recording device does not have a playback function, if image information being recorded using a tuner is output to an external monitor or the like using an output terminal, the image information being recorded is being output. It becomes image information. The auxiliary image generated by the PIP processing unit is displayed superimposed on the main image output from the device selected by the mode selection, for example, the VCR.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording / reproducing multifunction device of the present invention includes a plurality of recording devices, reproducing devices, or recording / reproducing devices capable of recording and / or reproducing information, and information held by the devices. An image creation unit that creates an image to be displayed, an operation state confirmation unit that confirms an operation state of each device, a reception unit that receives a display instruction of the operation state of each device, When the accepting unit accepts the display instruction, the operation state confirming unit is used to confirm the operation state of each device, and an image showing a confirmation result is created using the image creating unit, and the image creating unit It is characterized by comprising an operation state output means for converting the confirmation result image created by the above into an image signal and outputting it for a predetermined time.

  According to this, the recording / reproducing multifunction apparatus of the present invention includes any one of a plurality of recording devices, reproducing devices, or recording / reproducing devices capable of recording / reproducing image information and audio information input by a tuner or the like, for example. It is configured. Note that which device the user uses is determined by selecting an operation mode. In addition, an OSD processing unit (= image creating means) that creates image data indicating various types of information held by the recording / playback multifunction peripheral, for example, recording reservation information, is provided. In addition, an operation state confirmation unit (= operation state confirmation unit) is provided for confirming the operation state of each device, for example, the state of recording or reproduction. When the reception unit receives an instruction to display the operation state, the operation state confirmation unit confirms each operation state. Then, the operation state output unit (= operation state output means) converts the confirmation result into an image by the OSD processing unit, and displays an image signal for displaying the converted image on a display device such as a television device for a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds. Only output.

  In order to achieve the above object, the multi-function recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention performs an image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of images on one screen of a display device by performing a reduction process or a superposition process on the plurality of images. A plurality of image processing means for generating the image, and the operation state output means uses the plurality of image processing means to display an image that each of the devices included in the recording / reproducing multifunction peripheral is outputting to the display device. An image signal to be reduced and displayed simultaneously on a part of the screen is generated and output for a predetermined time.

  According to this, when the operation state output unit outputs an image signal indicating the operation state of each device, the recording / playback multifunction device according to the present invention simultaneously reduces and displays the image information being output by each device as an auxiliary image. Are generated by a PIP processing unit (= multiple image processing means). The generated image signal is output to a television device (= display device). Note that the image information being output by each device refers to, for example, the image information being read and read from the DVD medium by the DVD playback device. Also, for example, even if a recording device does not have a playback function, if image information being recorded using a tuner is output to an external monitor or the like using an output terminal, the image information being recorded is being output. It becomes image information. The auxiliary image generated by the PIP processing unit is displayed superimposed on the main image output from the device selected by the mode selection, for example, the VCR.

  In order to achieve the above object, the multi-function recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention performs an image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of images on one screen of a display device by performing a reduction process or a superposition process on the plurality of images. A plurality of image processing means for generating the image, and the operation state output means uses the plurality of image processing means to display an image that each of the devices included in the recording / reproducing multifunction peripheral is outputting to the display device. An image signal for reducing and displaying in order on a part of the screen is generated and output for a predetermined time.

  According to this, when the operation state output unit outputs an image signal indicating the operation state of each device, the recording / playback multifunction device of the present invention sequentially reduces and displays the image information being output by each device as an auxiliary image. Are generated by the PIP processing unit. The generated image signal is output to the television apparatus. For example, the image information being played back by the DVD recording device is first reduced and displayed as an auxiliary image for 5 seconds and then disappeared, and then the image information of the program being received and recorded by the VCR recorder is reduced and displayed as an auxiliary image for 5 seconds. Is done. The auxiliary image generated by the PIP processing unit is displayed superimposed on the main image output from the device selected by the mode selection, for example, the VCR.

  According to the present invention, a recording / reproducing multifunction device including a plurality of devices includes an operation state confirmation unit for confirming the operation state of each device. Then, by receiving an operation state display instruction from the user, the operation state output unit outputs an image indicating the operation state of each device created by the OSD processing unit for a predetermined time. For this reason, the user can easily visually recognize the operation state of each device included in the multifunction peripheral without switching the operation mode of the multifunction peripheral. Further, since there is no need to perform mode switching, for example, devices used in the operation mode before switching and the operation mode after switching conflict, and part or all of the processing is not forcibly stopped. Therefore, convenience for the user is improved.

  According to the present invention, in a recording / reproducing multifunction device including a plurality of devices, when outputting an image signal indicating an operation state of each device, image information being output by each device is simultaneously reduced and displayed as an auxiliary image. An image signal is generated and output using a PIP processing unit. For this reason, the user can visually recognize an image that each device included in the multifunction peripheral is outputting to the display device without switching the operation mode of the multifunction peripheral. For this reason, the user can confirm the processing status of each apparatus more intuitively. In addition, since there is no need to perform mode switching, part or all of the processing of each device is not forcibly stopped, so that convenience for the user is improved. Further, since the processing image of each device is displayed in a reduced size, viewing of the currently displayed screen in the operation mode is not hindered.

  According to the present invention, in a recording / reproducing multifunction device including a plurality of devices, when outputting an image signal indicating an operation state of each device, image information being output by each device is sequentially reduced and displayed as an auxiliary image. An image signal is generated and output using a PIP processing unit. For this reason, compared with the case where image information is reduced and displayed at the same time, it is possible to prevent the viewing of the currently displayed screen in the operation mode from being hindered.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment shown here is an example and this invention is not limited to embodiment shown here.

[Embodiment 1]
<1-1. Internal configuration>
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the VCR / HDD / DVD complex machine 1 (= recording / reproducing multifunction machine) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1 includes at least a control unit 11, a memory 12, a hard disk 13, a data input unit 14, an image signal processing unit 15, a television device 16, an optical disk drive 17, a VCR 18, a PIP processing unit 19, and an OSD process. The unit 20 includes an operation button group 21 and a front panel 22.

  The control unit 11 controls the drive of each member of the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1 to control overall image information processing, for example, recording or reproduction of content, and for example, from a plurality of microprocessors. It is configured. The control unit 11 is a central part that controls each device (for example, the hard disk 13), calculates data, processes, and the like. Details of each functional unit (accepting unit 11a to operating state output unit 11c) included in the control unit 11 will be described later.

  The memory 12 is a medium for temporarily recording various data held by the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1, and is configured by, for example, a writable RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 12 has a role as a buffer memory for temporarily recording, for example, processing data when various kinds of information processing are performed by the control unit 11 and instruction commands received from the user.

  The hard disk 13 (= part of the recording / reproducing apparatus) is a magnetic recording medium for recording management information such as recording data recorded by the hard disk recorder function provided in the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 or recording reservation information. . It can also be used for so-called dubbing processing in which image data output by a DVD player function or the like provided in the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1 is recorded. Note that the hard disk 13 is divided into a plurality of areas (= partitions), and it is more desirable to record by area according to the type of data to be recorded.

  The data input unit 14 is, for example, a digital tuner that is connected to an external digital antenna and receives a digital broadcast, an RCA input terminal that inputs a composite video signal, and the like, and has a role of inputting image data and audio data. When inputting analog data, analog image data and audio data can be converted into digital data and input using an A / D converter (Analog Digital Converter) (not shown).

  The image signal processing unit 15 converts the image data input by the data input unit 14 into an image signal for display using the television device 16. The image data to be converted into the image signal may be image data recorded on the hard disk 13 or image data output from the VCR 18 other than the data input from the data input unit 14.

  The television device 16 (= display device) is a display device including, for example, a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal monitor. The image signal processing unit 15 receives an image signal indicating an image input by the VCR / HDD / DVD complex machine 1 or an image reproduced by the VCR / HDD / DVD complex machine 1 from a DVD medium or the like, and displays the image.

  The optical disk drive 17 (= a part of the recording / reproducing apparatus) is an optical apparatus for recording an optical disk such as a CD medium or a DVD medium and optically reading or writing various data on the optical disk. Since there are a plurality of standards for optical disks, various processes (recording, reproduction, etc.) cannot be performed unless an optical disk corresponding to the standards of the optical disk drive 17 is used.

  The VCR 18 (= part of the recording / reproducing apparatus) is a recording / reproducing apparatus that records and reproduces image information or audio information on an analog or digital video cassette tape. The data reproduced by the VCR 18 is sent to the image signal processing unit, converted into an image signal, and displayed on the television device 16. It is also possible to exchange image information with other recording / reproducing apparatuses provided in the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1.

  The PIP processing unit 19 (= multiple image processing means) creates a PIP signal and gives it to the television device 16 when the user activates the PIP mode, for example. The PIP signal is a signal representing a main image (a large image displayed on the entire main screen) and an auxiliary image (a small image displayed on a part of the main screen) inserted therein. When the PIP mode is not activated, the PIP signal includes only the main image signal and the auxiliary image signal is not included in the PIP signal. Further, when receiving an instruction to output an auxiliary image signal from an operation state output unit 11c, which will be described later, the PIP processing unit 19 reduces and converts the image signal being input / output processed by each recording / reproducing apparatus into an auxiliary image signal. Have a role to play.

  An OSD (on-screen display) processing unit 20 (= image creation means) is an image signal generation unit. The OSD processing unit 20 converts information to be output by the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1 into image information that can be visually recognized by the user, and generates an image signal for displaying the converted image information on a television device or the like. The generated image signal is sent to the television device 16 for display.

  The operation button group 21 is an input interface for the user to perform various instructions such as program recording and recording reservation to the VCR / HDD / DVD combined machine 1. The instruction output from the operation button group 21 is received by the control unit 11. Upon receiving the instruction, the control unit 11 performs various processes based on the content of the instruction. The operation button group 21 is configured to include an operation state confirmation button (not shown) that instructs execution of an operation state display process described later. The front panel 22 displays various information of the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1 to the user.

<1-2. About the configuration of the function section>

  Here, the relationship between the functional units constituting the operation state display function provided in the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation state display function of the present invention includes at least a reception unit 11a (= accepting unit), an operation state confirmation unit 11b (= operation state confirmation unit), and an operation state output unit 11c ( = Operating state output means), hard disk 13, television device 16, optical disk drive 17, VCR 18, PIP processing unit 19, and OSD processing unit 20.

  The accepting unit 11a accepts an operation state display instruction of each recording / reproducing apparatus from the outside in a state where the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1 is activated. When the operation state display instruction is received, the reception unit 11a instructs the operation state confirmation unit 11b to confirm the operation state of the members constituting each recording / reproducing apparatus. And the confirmation result notified from the operation state confirmation part 11b is given with respect to the operation state output part 11c.

  The operation state confirmation unit 11b confirms the operation states of members constituting each recording / reproducing device included in the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1, in this case, the hard disk 13, the DVD disk drive 17, and the VCR 18. Specifically, an operation state related to recording / reproduction of image information such as recording, reproduction, or stop is confirmed. When recording or playback is in progress, the recording target or playback target is also confirmed. Information indicating the operation state obtained by the confirmation is given to the reception unit 11a.

  When the operation state output unit 11c receives the confirmation result of the operation state of each device from the reception unit 11a, the operation state output unit 11c converts the confirmation result into image information using the OSD processing unit 20 and the television device 16 and outputs the image information. Specifically, the OSD processing unit 20 creates character information indicating the operation state of each device. At the same time, the PIP processing unit 19 is instructed to create a PIP signal for displaying an auxiliary image obtained by reducing an image being processed by each recording / playback apparatus (for example, an image of a program being recorded).

<1-3. Operation status display screen>
Here, an operation state display screen created by the PIP processing unit 19 and the OSD processing unit 20 included in the VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and displayed on the television device 16 will be described with reference to FIG. This will be described with reference to the screen diagram.

  FIG. 5 is an example of an operation state display screen of the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the operation status display screen of the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 of the present invention is configured to include at least a mode display section 51, a tuner information display section 52, and a PIP display section 53. ing. In the area excluding each component (= main screen), image information (= main image) being processed in the currently selected operation mode is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 5, since the VCR mode is selected, an analog 2-channel drama program received by the VCR 18 using an analog tuner is displayed as a main image.

  The mode display unit 51 represents character information indicating the currently selected operation mode using the OSD processing unit 20. The tuner information display unit 52 uses the OSD processing unit 20 to represent character information indicating the reception status of the tuner used in the currently selected operation mode, specifically the channel of the received program. It is.

  The PIP display unit 53 displays an image signal that is being input / output processed by each recording / reproducing apparatus in each operation mode as an auxiliary image after being reduced by the PIP processing unit 19. Further, the PIP display unit 53 transparently overlaps each operation mode created by the OSD processing unit 20 and image information indicating tuner information of each operation mode (for example, image information indicating “analog 2ch” and characters performed). Displayed. The recording icon 54 is an icon indicating whether recording processing is being performed in each operation mode. When the recording process is in progress, the OSD processing unit 20 displays the recording icon 54 on the PIP display unit 53 in a transparent manner.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the PIP display unit 53a shows the operating state of the VCR mode. In the VCR mode, the VCR 18 receives an analog 2-channel drama program using an analog tuner. For this reason, a reduced image of the drama program being received is displayed. Further, the PIP display unit 53b shows the operation state in the DVD mode. In the DVD mode, the DVD recorder receives and records a digital 2-channel race program using a digital tuner. For this reason, a reduced image of the race program being received and recorded is displayed. Further, the PIP display unit 53c shows the operation state of the HDD mode. In the HDD mode, the HDD recorder uses the BS tuner to receive and record a BS7 channel golf program. For this reason, a reduced image of the golf program being received and recorded is displayed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the mode display unit 51 and the tuner information display unit 52 are displayed at the upper left of the screen, and the PIP display unit 53 is displayed at the lower right of the screen, but these are the PIP processing unit 19 and the OSD processing unit 20. The display position can be changed by the function.

<1-4. Operation status display processing by PIP>
Here, the operation state display processing in each operation mode using the PIP processing unit by the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in the block diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. The flowchart will be described with reference to the screen diagram of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the operation state display process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, this process is started when the control unit 11 detects an operation start instruction in any of the operation modes. The operation start instruction is issued, for example, when a power activation button or a mode switching button included in the operation button group 21 is pressed. After this processing is started, the control unit 11 starts image signal output processing by the recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to the designated operation mode in step S110. For example, in the VCR mode, the VCR 18 performs a display process of a television broadcast input from a tuner.

  Next, in step S120, the reception unit 11a determines whether or not the control unit has detected an operation state display instruction in each operation mode. The operation state display instruction is issued, for example, when an operation state confirmation button button included in the operation button group 21 is pressed. When the operation state display instruction is not detected, the process proceeds to step S110 again. Conversely, when an operation state display instruction is detected, the receiving unit 11a gives an operation state confirmation instruction for each recording / reproducing device to the operation state confirmation unit 11b.

  The operation state confirmation unit 11b given the operation state confirmation instruction from the reception unit 11a confirms the operation state of each recording / reproducing apparatus operating in each operation mode, and the obtained confirmation result is sent to the reception unit 11a. To notify. Specifically, the recording / playback state, the tuner in use, reception channel information, etc. of the VCR 18 operating in the VCR mode, the optical disk drive 17 operating in the DVD mode, etc. are confirmed. The receiving unit 11a that has received the confirmation result from the operation state confirmation unit 11b gives the confirmation result to the operation state output unit 11c and also gives an instruction to output the confirmation result.

  The operation state output unit 11c that has received the output instruction from the reception unit 11a uses the OSD processing unit 20 to create image information indicating the confirmation result obtained by the operation state confirmation unit 11b in step S140, and the television apparatus 16 Is displayed. In addition, a signal for displaying on the display device image information being processed by each recording / playback device, for example, an image of a television broadcast being recorded by the VCR 18, is provided to the television device 16 using the PIP processing unit 19.

  As a result, for example, as shown in the screen diagram of FIG. 5, the display processing of the PIP display units 53a to 53c is performed. The PIP display unit 53a displays the operating state of the VCR mode and a reduced image of the television broadcast received in the VCR mode. The PIP display unit 53b displays a DVD mode operation state and a reduced image of a television broadcast recorded in the DVD mode. The PIP display unit 53c displays the operation state of the HDD mode and a reduced image of the television broadcast recorded in the HDD mode.

  The above shows an example in which the number of operation modes and the number of recording / reproducing devices is three. However, if the number of operation modes and the number of recording / reproducing devices changes, the number of PIP display units 53 displayed accordingly increases or decreases. To do. In addition, an instruction to hide the PIP display unit 53 indicating the operation state of a specific operation mode is received from the user and the display is made non-display (for example, PIP indicating the operation state of the DVD mode because there are too many operation modes). For example, the display unit 53 may not be displayed.

  Next, in step S150, the operation state output unit 11c determines whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds has been exceeded after the display on the PIP display unit 53 is started. If it is determined that it has not exceeded, the process proceeds to step S140. On the contrary, if it is determined that it has exceeded, the display processing of the PIP display unit 53, that is, the display processing by the PIP processing unit 19, the OSD processing unit 20, and the television device 16 is stopped in step S160, and this processing ends. To do.

[Embodiment 2]
<2-1. Internal configuration>
Since it is the same content as Embodiment 1, description is abbreviate | omitted here.

<2-2. About the functional configuration>
Since it is the same content as Embodiment 1, description is abbreviate | omitted here.

<2-3. Operation status display screen>
Here, an operation state display screen created by the PIP processing unit 19 and the OSD processing unit 20 included in the VCR / HDD / DVD combined machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention and displayed on the television device 16 is shown in FIG. Description will be made with reference to the screen view of FIG.

  FIG. 6 is an example of an operation state display screen of the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the operation status display screen of the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 of the present invention includes at least a mode display unit 51, a tuner information display unit 52, and a PIP display unit 53. It is configured. Note that the details of each component are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  Unlike the first embodiment, in this embodiment, only one PIP display unit 53 is displayed on the screen. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 6, only the PIP display part 53a indicating the operating state of the VCR mode is displayed. In this state, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the screen state shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, only the PIP display portion 53b indicating the operation state of the DVD mode is displayed. Further, when a predetermined time elapses from this state, the screen changes to the screen state shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, only the PIP display portion 53c indicating the operation state of the HDD mode is displayed.

  Thus, the contents of the PIP display unit 53 displayed with the passage of time change. As a result, the user can check the operation states of all the operation modes in order. Note that the timing at which the display content of the PIP display unit 53 changes is not limited to the elapse of a predetermined time. For example, when the user presses the operation state confirmation button included in the operation button group 21, the display contents are sequentially switched. It may be.

<1-4. Operation status display processing by PIP>
Here, the operation state display processing in each operation mode using the PIP processing unit by the VCR / HDD / DVD composite machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown in the block diagrams of FIGS. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 and the screen diagrams of FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the operation state display process in the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the process of the same content as Embodiment 1, the same step number is added and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Since the processing start and steps S110 to S130 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The operation state output unit 11c that has received the output instruction from the reception unit 11a in step S130 passes the OSD processing unit 20 the image information indicating the confirmation result of one recording / reproducing device obtained by the operation state confirmation unit 11b in step S145. And is displayed on the television device 16. At the same time, image information being processed by one recording / reproducing apparatus, for example, a signal for displaying an image of a television broadcast being received by the VCR 18 is created using the PIP processing unit 19 and is given to the television apparatus 16.

  As a result, for example, the display processing of the PIP display unit 53a is performed as shown in the screen diagram of FIG. The PIP display unit 53a displays image information indicating an operation state in the VCR mode and a reduced image of the television broadcast received in the VCR mode. At this time, the operation state of the DVD mode or the HDD mode is not displayed.

  Next, in step S150, the operation state output unit 11c determines whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds has been exceeded after the display on the PIP display unit 53 is started. If it is determined that it has not exceeded, the process proceeds to step S145. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has been exceeded, in step S155, it is determined whether the operation state display of all operation modes, that is, the PIP display has been completed. If the operation state display of all operation modes has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S145, and the operation state display of an undisplayed operation mode is performed.

  For example, when the operation state display of the VCR mode shown in FIG. 6 is performed but the display of the DVD mode shown in FIG. 7 is not performed, in step S145, one recording / reproducing apparatus obtained by the operation state confirmation unit 11b, here Image information indicating the confirmation result of the DVD recorder is created using the OSD processing unit 20 and given to the television device 16. At the same time, image information being processed by one recording / reproducing apparatus, here a signal for displaying an image of a television broadcast being recorded by the DVD recorder, is created using the PIP processing unit 19 and is provided to the television apparatus 16.

  As described above, by repeating the processes in steps S145 to S155 as many times as the number of operation modes, it is possible to sequentially display the operation states in all operation modes. If it is determined in step S155 that the operation state display of all operation modes has been completed, in step S160, the operation state display process by the PIP display unit 53, that is, the PIP processing unit 19, the OSD processing unit 20, and the television apparatus The display process by 16 is stopped and this process is terminated.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and examples. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea. be able to.

Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to the following embodiments.
(A) In this embodiment, a reduced image and an operation state of the selected operation mode (an operation mode in which an image is displayed on the main screen) are displayed using the PIP processing unit. The reduced image and the operation state of the mode may not be displayed, and only the reduced image and the operation state of the operation mode that is not selected may be displayed using the PIP processing unit.

  (B) In this embodiment, three recording / reproducing apparatuses included in the recording / reproducing multifunction machine 1 are an HDD recording / reproducing apparatus using the hard disk 13, a DVD recording / reproducing apparatus using the DVD disk drive 17, and a VCR 18. Other embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a recording apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, or a recording / reproducing multifunction apparatus including the recording / reproducing apparatus. For example, a form using a DVD player, a BD-R recorder, a CD player, an MD player, a video game device, or a car navigation system may be used.

  (C) In the present embodiment, auxiliary image display processing is performed using the PIP function realized by the PIP processing unit 19, but other auxiliary image display functions such as a POP (Picture on Picture) function are used. In this case, the auxiliary image display process may be performed.

  (D) In this embodiment, various function units related to the operation state display processing are realized by executing a program on an arithmetic processing unit such as a microprocessor, but the various function units are realized by a plurality of circuits. It may be a form.

  (E) In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the control unit 11 and each recording / reproducing device are provided inside the recording / reproducing multifunction device 1 has been described as an example. However, the control unit 11 and each functional unit included in each recording / reproducing device. May be realized by an external device connected through a network. For example, the hard disk 13 included in the HDD recorder is recorded on a shared recording medium (such as a network drive) existing on the network, and recording reservation information recorded on the shared recording medium from a plurality of information processing apparatuses (for example, personal computers) is recorded. It may be in a form that allows reference or editing.

  (F) In the present embodiment, the processing image in each operation mode is reduced and displayed using the PIP processing unit 19 and the PIP display unit 53, but the processing image is not displayed and an image showing the operation state in each mode. Only the OSD processing unit 20 may be used for display. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the state display unit 55 created by the OSD processing unit 20 may display only image information representing characters indicating the operation state of each mode. In this case, the rate of occupying the main screen is smaller than when the PIP display unit 53 is used, and as a result, even when there are many operation modes, it is difficult to prevent viewing of the main screen. I can do it.

These are functional block diagrams which show the structure of the function part with which the recording / reproducing multifunctional device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is provided. These are the block diagrams which show the recording / reproducing multifunctional device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. These are the flowcharts which showed the processing flow of the operation state display process which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. These are the flowcharts which showed the processing flow of the operation state display process which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. These are screen figures which show the operation state display screen which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. These are screen figures which show the operation state display screen which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. These are screen figures which show the operation state display screen which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. These are screen figures which show the operation state display screen which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. These are screen figures which show the operation state display screen which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 VCR / HDD / DVD multifunction device (recording / reproducing multifunction device)
11 Control part 11a Reception part (reception means)
11b Operation state confirmation part (operation state confirmation means)
11c Operation status output unit (operation status output means)
13 Hard disk (recording / playback device)
16 TV equipment (display device)
17 Optical disk drive (recording / reproducing device)
18 VCR (recording and playback device)
19 PIP processing unit (multiple image processing means)
20 OSD processing unit (image creation means)

Claims (4)

A plurality of recording devices, reproducing devices, or recording / reproducing devices capable of recording and / or reproducing information;
An OSD processing unit for creating an image indicating information held by each device;
A PIP processing unit that creates an image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of images on one screen of the display device by performing reduction processing or overlay processing on the plurality of images;
A recording / playback multifunction device comprising:
An operation state confirmation unit for confirming the operation state of each device;
A reception unit that receives a display instruction of an operation state of each device;
When the reception unit receives the display instruction, the operation state check unit is used to check the operation state of each device, and an image indicating a check result is generated using the OSD processing unit, and the OSD processing is performed. An operation state output unit that converts the confirmation result image created by the unit into an image signal and outputs the image signal for a predetermined time;
The operation status output unit uses the PIP processing unit to simultaneously output an image being output to the display device by all the devices included in the recording / playback multifunction peripheral to a part of the screen of the display device, or An image recording / reproducing multifunction device that generates image signals for reduction display in order and outputs them for a predetermined time. A plurality of recording devices, reproducing devices, or recording / reproducing devices capable of recording and / or reproducing information;
Image creating means for creating an image indicating information held by each device;
A recording / playback multifunction device comprising:
An operation state confirmation means for confirming an operation state of each device;
Receiving means for receiving an instruction to display the operating state of each device;
When the accepting unit accepts the display instruction, the operation state confirming unit is used to confirm the operation state of each device, and an image showing a confirmation result is created using the image creating unit, and the image creating unit An operation state output means for converting the confirmation result image created by the method into an image signal and outputting the image signal for a predetermined time;
A multi-function recording / playback apparatus comprising: A plurality of image processing means for generating an image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of images on one screen of the display device by performing a reduction process or an overlay process on the plurality of images;
The operation state output means uses the multiple image processing means to simultaneously reduce and display on the part of the screen of the display device the images being output to the display device by each of the devices included in the recording / playback multifunction peripheral. The recording / reproducing multifunction device according to claim 2, wherein an image signal is generated and output for a predetermined time. A plurality of image processing means for generating an image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of images on one screen of the display device by performing a reduction process or an overlay process on the plurality of images;
The operation state output means uses the multiple image processing means to sequentially reduce and display the images being output to the display device by each of the devices included in the recording / playback multifunction peripheral on a part of the screen of the display device. The recording / reproducing multifunction device according to claim 2, wherein an image signal is generated and output for a predetermined time.

Images