JP2008299883A - Recording medium changer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: when a cartridge storing a first recording medium is loaded on a recording medium changer system which does not have management information on the first recording medium, recording and reproducing operation to the first recording medium stored in the cartridge can not be quickly performed in the recording medium changer system. <P>SOLUTION: Management information on the first recording medium stored in the cartridge is recorded in a second recording medium stored in the cartridge together with the first recording medium. Management information on the second recording medium is recorded in a third recording medium provided in the cartridge. Management software of the recording medium changer system accesses the second recording medium based on the management information on the second recording medium recorded in the third recording medium and updates management information on the first recording medium recorded in a fourth recording medium by the management information on the first recording medium recorded in the second recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium changer system that takes out a recording medium from a cartridge for housing a plurality of recording media such as optical disks, and executes recording and reproduction of information.

  In recent years, in the field of optical disks, it has been required to increase the recording density of optical disks. In order to further increase the density of the optical disc, it is necessary not only to increase the surface density but also to increase the recording density per volume. In order to increase the recording density in a certain volume space, it is one method to increase the number of optical disc recording layers. For example, single-sided dual layering has been standardized for DVDs, and blue laser recording disks called HD DVD (registered trademark) and Blu-Ray (registered trademark) have also been put into practical use. In this case, a substrate having a thickness of 0.6 mm is used in consideration of mechanical characteristics. However, if the mechanical characteristics can be ensured, a thinner optical disk can be realized. Also, an optical disc requires careful handling in order to protect it from dust and dirt. Therefore, in order to handle the optical disk, a casing that protects the optical disk, that is, a cartridge may be used.

  Generally, one optical disk is stored in one cartridge, but if a plurality of optical disks can be stored in one cartridge, it can be handled as a large-capacity recording medium by handling them in units of cartridges. Can be used. Such a cartridge is used, for example, for a backup or archive as a replaceable medium. In Patent Document 1, in an array apparatus having two or more recording / reproducing apparatuses that perform recording / reproducing simultaneously on two or more portable recording media, when the portable recording medium is loaded into or ejected from the recording / reproducing apparatus. A configuration in which two or more portable recording media are stored in one container is disclosed.

JP 2002-334539

  In order to quickly access information on a plurality of optical disks stored in such a cartridge, in a recording medium changer system in which the cartridge is mounted, management of the plurality of optical disks stored in the cartridge before accessing the optical disk is performed. Information needs to be managed. On the other hand, as a feature of the removable medium, it may be necessary to use the cartridge in another recording medium changer system due to a failure of the recording medium changer system in which the cartridge is mounted or the convenience of the user. In this case, the management information of the plurality of optical discs stored in the cartridge needs to be managed in another recording medium changer system. In the medium changer system, there arises a problem that a plurality of optical disks stored in the cartridge cannot be accessed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even in a recording medium changer system that does not have management information of a plurality of optical disks stored in a cartridge or does not have the latest management information, the cartridge is also included in the cartridge. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium changer system capable of quickly recording and reproducing a plurality of stored optical disks.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a changer device having means for recording or reproducing information on a recording medium, an exchange mechanism for exchanging the recording medium to be recorded or reproduced, and control means for controlling the changer device The changer device stores a first recording medium, a second recording medium on which management information of the first recording medium is recorded, a first recording medium, and a second recording medium. A cartridge, and a third recording medium provided on the cartridge, on which management information on the second recording medium including cartridge management information and second recording medium identification information is recorded, and the control means includes the cartridge and the first recording medium. On the fourth recording medium using the fourth recording medium on which the management information is recorded, the management information on the cartridge recorded on the third recording medium, and the management information on the second recording medium. There is provided a recording medium changer system comprising update means for updating management information of a recorded first recording medium with management information of the first recording medium recorded on a second recording medium. .

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the same information is recorded not only on the fourth recording medium but also on the second recording medium stored in the cartridge in the management information of the first recording medium stored in the cartridge. The In addition, since the management information of the second recording medium related to the second recording medium identification information is recorded on the third recording medium, the recording medium changer system records the second recording medium recorded on the third recording medium. By reading the management information, the second recording medium can be easily accessed. Furthermore, the recording medium changer system can update the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium to reflect the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium. it can. Here, the “management information of the first recording medium recorded in the fourth recording medium” does not include the management information of the first recording medium, that is, the management information of the first recording medium is stored in the fourth recording medium. It also includes the case where no exists. Therefore, “update the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium with the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium” means that the fourth recording medium has If the management information of one recording medium does not exist, the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium is recorded as it is on the fourth recording medium, and the first recording medium is recorded on the fourth recording medium. When the management information exists, it means that the management information of the first recording medium existing in the fourth recording medium is updated with the management information of the first recording medium recorded in the second recording medium. Therefore, the cartridge does not have management information of the first recording medium included in the cartridge, or is used in a recording medium changer system in which the management information of the first recording medium is not the latest information. Even so, the recording medium changer system can acquire management information of the second recording medium from the third recording medium provided in the cartridge and access the second recording medium. Furthermore, the management information of the first recording medium can be read from the second recording medium and recorded on the fourth recording medium provided in the recording medium changer system. Accordingly, even in a recording medium changer system that does not have management information of the first recording medium included in the cartridge or does not have the management information of the first recording medium that is held, the cartridge is stored in the cartridge. Recording or reproduction can be executed on the first recording medium.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the cartridge management information recorded on the third recording medium may include identification information of the cartridge provided with the third recording medium and update history information of the cartridge. The cartridge management information recorded on the fourth recording medium may include cartridge identification information managed in the recording medium changer system and update history information of the cartridge. In this case, cartridge identification information is recorded on the third recording medium, and cartridge identification information managed in the recording medium changer system is recorded on the fourth recording medium. Accordingly, the recording medium changer system refers to whether the cartridge identification information recorded on the third recording medium is included in the cartridge identification information recorded on the fourth recording medium. It can be determined whether or not the cartridge is managed in the medium changer system. Further, when it is determined that the cartridge is a cartridge managed in the recording medium changer system, the cartridge update history information recorded on the third recording medium and the cartridge recorded on the fourth recording medium are displayed. By comparing the update history information, the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium is the same as the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium of the cartridge. Or which one is new.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the changer device includes a first recording / reproducing means for recording or reproducing on the first recording medium and the second recording medium, and a third recording / reproducing for recording or reproducing on the third recording medium. And the control means may include fourth recording / reproducing means for performing recording or reproduction on the fourth recording medium. In this case, the recording medium changer system can perform recording or reproduction on the first recording medium, the third recording medium, and the fourth recording medium. The updating means may further comprise comparison means for comparing the cartridge management information recorded on the third recording medium with the cartridge management information recorded on the fourth recording medium. In this case, the comparison unit compares the management information of the cartridge recorded on the third recording medium with the management information of the cartridge recorded on the fourth recording medium, and the cartridge is managed in the recording medium changer system. It can be determined whether or not the cartridge is a cartridge. Further, it is determined whether the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium is the same as or newer than the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium of the cartridge. can do.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, when the comparing means determines that the cartridge identification information recorded on the third recording medium is different from the cartridge identification information recorded on the fourth recording medium. The fourth recording / reproducing unit may record management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium on the fourth recording medium. In this case, the cartridge identification information does not match the cartridge identification information recorded on the fourth recording medium, and it is determined that the cartridge is an unmanaged cartridge in the recording medium changer system. . That is, since the management information of the first recording medium included in the cartridge is not recorded on the fourth recording medium of the recording medium changer system, the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium is the first. 4 recorded on a recording medium. Thus, even in a recording medium changer system that does not have management information for the first recording medium included in the cartridge, recording is performed on the first recording medium based on the management information for the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium. Playback can be performed.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the comparison unit determines that the cartridge update history information recorded on the fourth recording medium is older than the cartridge update history information recorded on the third recording medium. In this case, the fourth recording / reproducing means may rewrite the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium with the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium. In this case, since the management information of the first recording medium contained in the cartridge is newer than the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium of the recording medium changer system, it is recorded on the second recording medium. The fourth recording medium is updated with the management information of the first recording medium. As a result, even in a recording medium changer system having only old management information of the first recording medium included in the cartridge, the first recording medium is stored on the basis of the management information of the first recording medium updated in the fourth recording medium. Recording and playback can be executed.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, when recording is performed on the first recording medium by the first recording / reproducing means, the fourth recording / reproducing means records the update history information of the cartridge and the first recording medium on the fourth recording medium. The management information may be recorded, and the first recording / reproducing unit may record the management information of the first recording medium on the second recording medium. In this case, since the latest management information of the first recording medium is recorded on the fourth recording medium of the recording medium changer system, the recording medium changer system also stores the management information recorded on the fourth recording medium next time. Can be used. In addition, since the latest management information of the first recording medium is also recorded on the second recording medium, even when the cartridge storing the second recording medium is used in another recording medium changer system, The recording medium changer system can perform recording / reproduction on a plurality of first recording media stored in the cartridge by using the latest management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the management information of the second recording medium recorded on the third recording medium may include identification information of the second recording medium and an address of the management information on the second recording medium. The 3 recording / reproducing means records the identification information of the second recording medium in which the management information of the first recording medium is recorded, the address of the management information in the second recording medium, and the cartridge update history information on the third recording medium. May be. In this case, since the recording medium changer system can reproduce the identification information of the second recording medium recorded on the third recording medium and the address of the management information in the second recording medium by the third recording / reproducing means. The management information can be obtained by accessing the second recording medium.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the first recording medium may be an optical disk.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the management information of the first recording medium includes a file ID for identifying a file recorded on a plurality of first recording media, a file name, and a first in which the file is recorded. The identification information of the recording medium, the address in the first recording medium, the cartridge identification information in which the first recording medium is stored, and the history information of the file may be included. In this case, the file name is associated with the identification information of the first recording medium in which the file is recorded, the address in the first recording medium, and the cartridge identification information in which the first recording medium is stored. Yes. Accordingly, the recording medium changer system can execute recording and reproduction of the first recording medium corresponding to the file designated by the user by referring to the management information.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the third recording medium may be a non-contact recording / reproducing semiconductor element, and the third recording / reproducing means may further comprise a communication means capable of communicating with the semiconductor element. In this case, since it is not necessary to electrically connect the third recording medium provided in the cartridge and the third recording / reproducing means, the cartridge can be freely detached from the recording medium changer system.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the third recording medium may be a rewritable recording medium.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, the cartridge may store a plurality of first recording media. In this case, a plurality of first recording media can be used as a large-capacity recording medium by handling them in cartridge units.

  In the recording medium changer system of the present invention, a plurality of the cartridges may be mounted. In this case, the storage capacity of the recording medium changer system itself can be greatly increased.

  According to the present invention, even if the management information of the first recording medium is not recorded on the fourth recording medium or the management information of the recorded first recording medium is not the latest information, the recording medium The changer system accesses the second recording medium based on the management information of the second recording medium recorded on the third recording medium, and uses the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium. 4 Update the recording medium. As a result, the recording medium changer system can perform recording or reproduction on the first recording medium based on the management information of the plurality of first recording media updated in the fourth recording medium. Therefore, even in a recording medium changer system that does not have the management information of the first recording medium stored in the cartridge or the management information of the first recording medium that is held is not the latest information, the information is stored in the cartridge. Recording and reproduction of the first recording medium can be performed.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and it goes without saying that modifications, additions, and substitutions can be made without departing from the essential scope of the present invention.

  First, the overall configuration of the recording medium changer system 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. The recording medium changer system 1 is configured by connecting a host PC 2 having a controller 5 (control means) and a changer device 3 via a general-purpose interface 4. Examples of the general-purpose interface 4 include USB and SCSI. Since the general-purpose interface 4 is used, the changer device 3 can be connected to an arbitrary host PC 2 provided with the controller 5.

  The controller 5 provided in the host PC 2 includes a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 6 and file management software 7 (update means), and controls the changer device 3 via the general-purpose interface 4. The HDD 6 has a recording medium (fourth recording medium) for storing management information and the like of the optical disk 11 described later, and a drive unit (fourth recording / reproducing means) for recording information on the recording medium and reproducing the recorded information. Is provided. Information is recorded on the recording medium of the HDD 6 by the drive unit in accordance with a command from the file management software 7, and the recorded information is read out by the drive unit in accordance with a command from the file management software 7. As will be described later, since the plurality of cartridges 10 can be mounted on the changer device 3, the HDD 6 has a cartridge management table for identifying the plurality of cartridges 10 (see FIG. 10B). The HDD 6 records information on the cartridge identification information for identifying the plurality of cartridges 10 stored in the changer device 3 and the optical disc 11 stored in the cartridge 10 by updating the information in the cartridge management table. It manages cartridge update history information (cartridge management information) indicating the date and time when it was released. On the other hand, the file management software 7 is a program for writing information to and reading information from the HDD 6 and controlling the changer device 3 based on the read information. The file management software 7 further includes a comparison program (comparison means) (not shown). The comparison program includes a cartridge ID managed in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6, cartridge identification information recorded in a storage element 12 (third recording medium) described later, and a cartridge managed in the cartridge management table. And the update history information of the cartridge recorded in the storage element 12 are compared.

  Next, the configuration of the changer device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The changer device 3 is a device for selecting a predetermined optical disk 11 stored in a specific cartridge 10 and executing recording / reproduction under the control of the controller 5, and mainly contains a plurality of optical disks 11. The apparatus includes a cartridge 10, a changer mechanism 9 (exchange mechanism), an optical disk drive 8 (first recording / reproducing means), and an RFID reader / writer 23 (third recording / reproducing means). Furthermore, the changer device 3 includes a data handling unit 31, an index management memory 32, and a cash management memory 33 for performing information processing (see FIG. 9). The Index management memory 32 is a memory for collectively managing management information including attributes of the cartridges 10 in the changer device 3. The cache management memory 33 is a memory used to increase the information processing speed when information is recorded / reproduced by the optical disk drive 8.

  Although only one cartridge 10 is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of explanation, actually, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of cartridges 10 can be mounted on the changer device 3. Further, a plurality of optical disks 11 (first recording media) are respectively supported and stored on a disk support plate 11b in one cartridge 10.

  The changer device 3 is provided with a guide G that extends in a direction in which a plurality of cartridges are stacked (hereinafter, referred to as a vertical direction). The changer mechanism 9 includes a clamp moving base 9c whose one end is slidably attached to the guide G, an electromagnet 9b provided on the lower surface of the clamp moving base 9c, and a cap 9a provided on the lower surface of the electromagnet 9b. The electromagnet 9b and the cap 9a move in the vertical direction along the guide G together with the clamp moving base 9c. The changer mechanism 9 further includes a loading mechanism 9d attached to the guide G so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The loading mechanism 9d has, for example, a hook for hooking on the disk support plate 11b at one end thereof, an arm (not shown) that expands and contracts in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and a motor (not shown) that expands and contracts the arm. ). While the arm hook is hooked on the disk support plate 11b, the arm is extended and contracted by a motor to move the disk support plate 11b stored in the cartridge 10 to the take-out position P, and to move the disk support plate 11b to the take-out position P. The plate 11b is stored in the cartridge 10. The optical disk drive 8 is an apparatus for executing recording and reproduction of the optical disk 11 loaded by the changer mechanism 9. The optical disk drive 8 is mainly coaxial with the moving table 8d, one end of which is slidably attached to the guide G, the optical pickup 8c provided on the upper surface of the moving table 8d, the spindle 8b, and the spindle 8b. It is comprised from the turntable 8a fixed on the top. The turntable 8a, the spindle 8b, and the optical pickup 8c move up and down along the guide G together with the moving table 8d. An optical disk 11 to be recorded / reproduced is held on the turntable 8a. The turntable 8a is rotated by the rotation of the spindle 8b, and the optical disk 11 held on the turntable 8a is recorded and reproduced by the optical pickup 8c. When the changer mechanism 9 and the optical disk drive device 8 move in the vertical direction along the guide G, among the plurality of cartridges 10 stacked on the changer device 3, the changer mechanism 9 and the optical disk drive device 8 are placed at the lowermost stage of the cartridge 10X arranged at the lowermost stage. Recording and reproduction can be performed on the optical disk 11 from the stored optical disk 11x to the optical disk 11y stored in the uppermost stage of the cartridge 10Y disposed in the uppermost stage.

  Next, operations of the changer mechanism 9 and the optical disk drive device 8 will be described. When there is a recording / playback command for the predetermined optical disk 11 from the controller 5, the changer mechanism 9 and the optical disk drive 8 move up and down along the guide G and stop at a position where the predetermined optical disk 11 can be taken out from the cartridge 10. To do. When the changer mechanism 9 and the optical disk drive 8 are stopped, the loading mechanism 9d moves the disk support plate 11b holding the predetermined optical disk 11 to the take-out position P together with the predetermined optical disk 11. Next, the clamp moving base 9c is moved downward, and the cap 9a is brought into contact with the optical disk 11 moved to the take-out position P. Further, the optical disk 11 is peeled from the disk support plate 11b by moving the clamp moving base 9c upward while the optical disk 11 is attracted to the cap 9a by the electromagnet 9b. The disc support plate 11b from which the optical disc 11 has been peeled is stored in the original cartridge 10 by the loading mechanism 9d. Thereafter, with the optical disk 11 sucked into the cap 9a, the clamp moving base 9c is moved downward to a position where the optical disk 11 is placed on the turntable 8a of the optical disk drive 8. When the optical disk 11 is placed on the turntable 8a, the suction by the electromagnet 9b is stopped, and the clamp moving base 9c is moved upward. The predetermined optical disk 11 is loaded into the optical disk drive device 8 by the series of operations described above. The predetermined optical disk 11 held on the turntable 8a of the optical disk drive 8 rotates together with the turntable 8a that rotates by driving the spindle 8b, and information is recorded or reproduced by the optical pickup 8c.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the cartridge 10 used in the changer device 3 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge 10 has a storage unit 10a for storing a plurality of optical disks 11 (first recording media), and a side surface 10b for storing management area specifying information and the like to be described later. An element 12 (third recording medium) is provided.

  Among the plurality of optical disks 11 stored in the cartridge 10, at least a part of the specific optical disk 11 a (second recording medium) is management information (first recording medium) of the plurality of optical disks 11 stored in the cartridge 10. Management information) is used as a management area for managing the management information. Other areas can be used as normal data recording areas. As illustrated in FIG. 10C, the management information of the plurality of optical disks 11 includes file identification information for identifying a file recorded on the optical disk, a file name, and a cartridge of the cartridge in which the file is recorded. Identification information, file size, recording area (address) information in which information included in the file is recorded, and update history information indicating the update date and time of the file are included. The management information of the plurality of optical disks 11 is preferably recorded on the HDD 6 of the controller 5 that controls the changer device 3. This is because the file management software 7 of the controller 5 issues a recording / playback command for the optical disk 11 based on the management information recorded in the HDD 6. The optical disk 11 may be a write-once optical disk, such as a CD-R, which is particularly effective as an archive file and has storability and falsification prevention effects, but may be a record rewritable medium such as a DVD-R or a ROM medium such as a CD.

  In this embodiment, an RFID element is used as the storage element 12 (third recording medium) provided on the cartridge side surface 10b. The RFID element 12 communicates with an RFID reader / writer 23, which will be described later, by electromagnetic coupling, and can perform a recording or reproducing operation without contacting the antenna 15 of the RFID reader / writer 23. The RFID element 12 mainly includes an IC chip 12a, a control unit 12b, and an antenna 12c (see FIG. 4). The IC chip 12a functions as an actual storage area, and the control unit 12b performs encoding and decoding of communication contents with the RFID reader / writer 23. The antenna 12c supplies power to the IC chip 12a and functions as an antenna for transmitting and receiving information. The RFID element 12 is advantageous in terms of reliability as compared with a contact type identification device, and can be embedded in the physical cartridge 10 so that management integrated with the cartridge 10 becomes possible. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of cartridges 10 according to the present embodiment are stacked and mounted on the changer device 3. For this reason, the RFID element 12 is desirably operated in a limited communication range in order to avoid crosstalk with the RFID element 12 installed in another cartridge 10 that overlaps in the vertical direction. If the crosstalk does not occur, the RFID element 12 can be installed at various positions such as a position close to a corner on the side surface 10b of the cartridge 10 or the top surface of the cartridge. As the RFID element 12, for example, a coil-on-chip (registered trademark) manufactured by Hitachi Maxell can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the RFID element 12 includes cartridge identification information of the cartridge 10 in which the RFID element 12 is installed, and update history information (date and time when information was last written to the RFID element 12). Management information), and management area specifying information (management information of the second recording medium), which is information for specifying the area in which the management information of the optical disk 11 is recorded in the specific optical disk 11a of the cartridge 10, is recorded. Yes. Specifically, the management area specifying information includes the identification information (second recording medium identification information) of the specific optical disc 11a in which the management information of the optical disc 11 is recorded, and the management information of the optical disc 11 in the specific optical disc 11a. Information of the management area being used. These pieces of information are used for the file management software 7 of the controller 5 to access the management area of the specific optical disk 11a through the changer device 3.

  The cartridge ID recorded in the RFID element 12 is read out by an RFID reader / writer 23 described later when the cartridge 10 is attached to the changer device 3 and is managed by the file management software 7 in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6. Compared with ID. That is, in order to confirm whether the management information of the plurality of optical disks 11 stored in the cartridge 10 exists in the HDD 6 (whether the cartridge 10 is a management target of the recording medium changer system 1), file management software 7 is used. When the cartridge ID managed in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 matches the cartridge ID recorded in the RFID element 12, the update history information recorded in the RFID element 12 is read by the RFID reader / writer 23, The file management software 7 compares it with the management information of the cartridge recorded in the HDD 6. That is, it is used by the file management software 7 to determine whether the management information recorded in the HDD 6 needs to be updated. If these pieces of information do not match or the management information of the cartridge 10 does not exist in the HDD 6, the management area specifying information of the RFID element 12 is read by the RFID reader / writer 23. The file management software 7 accesses the management area of the optical disc 11a based on the management area specifying information, reads the management information recorded in the management area, and records the file management information in the HDD 6 (recorded in the HDD 6). Update file management information).

  Next, a schematic configuration of the RFID reader / writer (third recording / reproducing unit) 23 that reads / writes information from / to the RFID element 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The RFID reader / writer 23 mainly includes an antenna 15 that communicates with the RFID element 12 and a control unit 20. The antenna 15 supplies power to the RFID element 12 and transmits and receives information. The control unit 20 controls encoding and decoding of communication contents with the RFID element 12 and communication with the host PC 2.

  Control unit 20 further includes an antenna power supply circuit and a detection circuit (not shown). When reading or writing information recorded in the RFID element 12, the RFID reader / writer 23 supplies current to the antenna 15 by the antenna power supply circuit and transmits radio waves including information from the antenna 15. The antenna 12c of the RFID element receives a radio wave from the antenna 15 and generates an electromotive force due to the resonance action of the antenna 12c. The generated power is supplied to the IC chip 12a. Information received by the antenna 12c is decoded by the control unit 12b, and necessary processing is performed on the IC chip 12a. The processing result is encoded by the control unit 12b and transmitted as a radio wave from the antenna 12c. When the antenna 15 of the RFID reader / writer 23 receives the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 12c of the RFID element 12, the control unit 20 performs decoding and transmits it to the host PC 2.

  Next, an installation example of the antenna 15 for reading information recorded in the RFID element 12 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the antenna 15 of the RFID reader / writer is fixed to the cartridge installation frame 13 of the changer device 3. The antenna 15 is connected to the control unit 20 of the RFID reader / writer 23 by a cable 16 such as a coaxial cable. When a plurality of cartridges 10 are installed on the cartridge installation frame 13, the antenna 15 that communicates with the RFID element 12 of each cartridge 10 faces the RFID element 12 and crosstalks with the RFID elements 12 of other cartridges 10. It is necessary to arrange at a position where no occurs.

  Next, an outline of data processing performed in the recording medium changer system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram conceptually showing a data flow in the recording medium changer system 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. For example, when data to be recorded on the optical disc 11 is input to the host PC 2 by the user, the controller 5 of the host PC 2 transmits the data to the data handling unit 31 of the changer device 3 via the general-purpose interface 4. The data handling unit 31 controls the optical disc driving device so as to record the received data on the optical disc 11, and the data is recorded on the optical disc 11 by the optical disc driving device 8. In the reproduction of information, the data on the optical disk 11 reproduced by the optical disk drive device 8 is transferred to the data handling unit 31 and transmitted to the controller 5 of the host PC 2 via the general-purpose interface 4. When data is recorded / reproduced by the optical disk drive 8, the data processing speed can be increased by using the cache management memory 33.

  Next, processing when data is recorded on the RFID element 12 will be described. For example, when management information is updated for a specific optical disk 11 stored in a cartridge 10, it is necessary to record an update history for the RFID element 12 provided in the cartridge 10. When data to be recorded in the RFID element 12 is transmitted from the controller 5 of the host PC 2 to the data handling unit 31 of the changer device 3 via the general-purpose interface 4, the data handling unit 31 stores the data in the index management memory 32. Record. When data is recorded in the index management memory 32, the RFID reader / writer 23 reads the data and records it on the RFID element 12. On the contrary, the data read from the RFID element 12 by the RFID reader / writer 23 is recorded in the index management memory 32 by the RFID reader / writer 23. Data recorded in the Index management memory 32 is read by the data handling unit 31 and transmitted to the controller 5 of the host PC 2 via the general-purpose interface 4.

  Next, when the cartridge 10 used in the recording medium changer system 1 shown in FIG. 11 is used in another recording medium changer system 1 ′ due to, for example, a failure of the host PC 2 or the convenience of the user, recording is performed. An example of the operation of the medium changer system 1 ′ will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, a cartridge 10 that stores a plurality of optical discs 11 that are used in a certain recording medium changer system 1 and on which information has already been recorded is mounted on a changer device 3 ′ of another recording medium changer system 1 ′ by a user. (Step S601). Then, the RFID element 12 and the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ installed on the side surface 10b of the cartridge 10 start communication, and the controller 5 ′ recognizes that the cartridge 10 is mounted on the changer device 3 ′ (step S602). .

  When the controller 5 ′ recognizes that the cartridge 10 is mounted, the controller 5 ′ generates an acquisition command for the cartridge identification information recorded in the RFID element 12 to the RFID reader / writer 23 ′. The RFID reader / writer 23 'acquires cartridge identification information recorded on the RFID element 12 in accordance with a command from the controller 5'. The controller 5 ′ reproduces the cartridge identification information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ (step S603), and searches the cartridge management table for whether the cartridge identification information exists in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′. (Step S604).

  If it is determined that the cartridge identification information does not exist in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′, the management information of the plurality of optical disks stored in the cartridge 10 does not exist in the HDD 6 ′. In this case, an operation for recording the management information of the optical disk 11 recorded on the specific optical disk 11a of the cartridge 10 on the HDD 6 ′ of the controller 5 ′ is performed, and thereafter the management information recorded on the HDD 6 ′ is used. Thus, the recording / reproducing operation of the optical disc 11 is performed. These operations will be described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the cartridge identification information exists in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′, the management information of the plurality of optical disks in the cartridge 10 exists in the HDD 6 ′. In this case, the controller 5 ′ can use the management information present in the HDD 6 ′ as it is, that is, the management information present in the HDD 6 ′ is recorded on the specific optical disk 11 a of the cartridge 10. Determine whether it is necessary to update with information. Specifically, the controller 5 ′ generates an acquisition command for history information recorded in the RFID element 12 for the RFID reader / writer 23 ′. The RFID reader / writer 23 'acquires history information recorded in the RFID element 12 in accordance with a command from the controller 5'. The controller 5 ′ reproduces the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ (step S605), and determines whether the history information matches the history information corresponding to the cartridge identification information existing in the cartridge management table (step S605). S606).

  When the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ matches the history information recorded in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′, the management information of the optical disk recorded in the HDD 6 ′ and the specific optical disk of the cartridge 10 This is consistent with the management information recorded in 11a. Therefore, in this case, the recording / reproducing operation of the optical disc 11 is executed based on the management information recorded in the HDD 6 '. The recording / reproducing operation will be described later. On the other hand, when the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ does not match the history information recorded in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′, the controller 5 ′ has the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′, It is determined which of the history information in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′ is newer (step S607).

  When the history information in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′ is newer than the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′, the HDD 6 ′ is newer than the management information recorded on the specific optical disk 11 a of the cartridge 10. Management information is recorded. Therefore, in this case, the recording / reproducing operation of the optical disc 11 is executed based on the management information recorded in the HDD 6 '.

  On the other hand, when the history information in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′ is older (updated previously) than the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′, the HDD 6 ′ has a specific optical disk 11a in the cartridge 10. The management information older than the management information recorded in is recorded. In this case, an operation for recording the management information of the optical disk 11 recorded on the specific optical disk 11a of the cartridge 10 on the HDD 6 ′ is performed, and then the recording of the optical disk 11 is performed using the management information recorded on the HDD 6 ′. Playback operation is performed.

  Returning to step S604, if the cartridge identification information does not exist in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′, or if the history information of the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′ is acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ in step S607. If it is older, an operation for recording the management information of the optical disk 11 recorded on the specific optical disk 11a of the cartridge 10 on the HDD 6 ′ is performed. This operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the controller 5 ′ generates a management area specifying information acquisition command recorded in the RFID element 12 installed in the cartridge 10 for the RFID reader / writer 23 ′. The RFID reader / writer 23 ′ acquires management area specifying information recorded in the RFID element 12 in accordance with a command from the controller 5 ′. The controller 5 'reproduces the management area specifying information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23' (step S611). The management area specifying information includes identification information of a specific optical disk 11a in which management information of a plurality of optical disks is recorded, and recording area information (address information) in which management information is recorded.

  Subsequently, the controller 5 ′ instructs the changer mechanism 9 ′ of the changer device 3 ′ to select the cartridge 10, select a specific optical disk 11 a from the cartridge 10, and load the optical disk drive device 8 ′. Further, the controller 5 'generates a reproduction command for the management information recorded on the specific optical disk 11a to the optical disk drive 8'. The changer mechanism 9 ′ selects the cartridge 10 in accordance with a command from the controller, selects a specific optical disk 11 a from the cartridge 10, and loads it onto the optical disk drive 8 ′. When the specific optical disk 11a is loaded, the optical disk drive 8 'reproduces the management information recorded on the specific optical disk 11a in accordance with a command from the controller 5' (step S612). The management information reproduced in step S612 is recorded in the HDD 6 '(step S613).

  Next, an operation example when recording / reproduction of the optical disc 11 is performed using the management information recorded in the HDD 6 'will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, after it is determined in step S606 that the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ matches the history information recorded in the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′, the cartridge of the HDD 6 ′ is determined in step S607. After it is determined that the history information of the management table is newer than the history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ', and after the management information is recorded in the HDD 6' of the controller 5 'in step S613, the user's instruction is followed. This is an example of operation when recording / reproducing is performed on an optical disc.

  First, the user designates a file to be recorded / reproduced from a user interface (not shown) of the host PC 2 '(step S621). Then, the file management software 7 'reads out the cartridge identification information, the optical disc identification information, and the recording area (address) information on the optical disc in which the designated file is stored from the management information of the HDD 6' (step S622).

  The file management software 7 ′ selects the optical disc 11 corresponding to the optical disc identification information read in step S622 from the cartridge 10 corresponding to the cartridge identification information read in step S622 to the changer mechanism 9 ′ of the changer device 3 ′. The optical disk drive 8 ′ is instructed to load. Further, the file management software 7 'generates an instruction to reproduce the information recorded in the recording area of the optical disc 11 read in step S622, with respect to the optical disc drive 8' (step S623).

  The changer mechanism 9 'selects the designated optical disk 11 from the designated cartridge 10 in accordance with an instruction from the file management software 7' and loads it onto the optical disk drive 8 '. When the optical disc 11 is loaded, the optical disc driving apparatus executes recording / reproduction on a file existing in the designated recording area of the selected optical disc 11 in accordance with an instruction from the file management software 7 '(step S624). Recording / reproduction is executed until the user inputs a recording / reproduction end instruction to the recording medium changer system 1 'via a user interface (not shown).

  When the user inputs a recording / reproduction end instruction (step S625), the file management software 7 'updates the management information of the HDD 6' and updates the history information of the cartridge management table (step S626). Further, the file management software 7 ′ records the recording area and history information corresponding to the file on which the recording / reproducing operation has been performed in step S624 in a predetermined area of the specific optical disk 11a of the cartridge 10 so as to record it. Command against '. In accordance with an instruction from the file management software 7 ′, the optical disk drive 8 ′ stores a recording area and history information corresponding to the file on which the recording / reproducing operation has been performed in step S624 in a predetermined area of the specific optical disk 11a of the cartridge 10. Recording is performed (step S627).

  Then, the file management software 7 ′ gives the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ the identification information of the specific optical disk 11a in which the management information is recorded in step S627 and the recording area (address) information in which the management information is recorded in the RFID element 12. Order to record. In accordance with a command from the file management software 7 ′, the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ sends the identification information of the optical disc 11a on which the management information is recorded and the recording area information on which the management information is recorded on the optical disc 11a to the RFID element 12. Recording is performed (step S628).

  By executing steps S626 to S628, the management information recorded in the HDD 6 ′ and the management information recorded in a predetermined area of the specific optical disk 11a stored in the cartridge 10 are in the latest state. Yes (can be synchronized). Therefore, the next time the file recorded on the optical disk 11 of the cartridge 10 is recorded and reproduced, the controller 5 'uses the management information recorded in the HDD 6' as it is. In addition, since the latest management information is recorded on the specific optical disk 11 a of the cartridge 10, the cartridge 10 is removed from the recording medium changer system 1 ′ and attached to the original recording medium changer system 1. In addition, the original recording medium changer system 1 can record the latest management information in the HDD 6 by executing steps S611 to S613.

  By the operation described above, management area specifying information recorded in the RFID element 12 even if the management information of the plurality of optical disks 11 is not recorded in the HDD 6 ′ or the recorded management information is old. Can access the management area and update the HDD 6 ′ with the management information recorded in the management area. As a result, the file management software 7 'can read and write commands to a plurality of optical disks based on the management information updated in the HDD 6'. Therefore, even when the cartridge 10 is mounted on the recording medium changer system 1 that does not have management information of the plurality of optical disks 11 stored in the cartridge 10 or has only old management information, it is stored in the cartridge 10. Recording and reproduction of the plurality of optical discs 11 can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the changer device 3 of the recording medium changer system 1 has a configuration example in which only one optical disk drive device is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An optical disk drive device may be provided and configured to be able to drive different optical disks simultaneously. Further, in step S607, the controller 5 ′ shows an example in which the update history information acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ and the update history information of the cartridge management table of the HDD 6 ′ are judged to be newer. When it is determined that the update history of the cartridge management table is older than the update history acquired by the RFID reader / writer 23 ′ by a predetermined period or more, the management information of the plurality of optical disks 11 in the HDD 6 ′ may be updated. In the present embodiment, the specific optical disk 11 a on which the management information of the optical disk 11 is recorded does not have to be the same type of recording medium as the optical disk 11. For example, a write-once medium may be used for the specific optical disk 11a, and a rewritable medium may be used for the other optical disks 11. The management information of the optical disc 11 may include user information. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which wireless communication is performed between the RFID element 12 and the RFID reader / writer 23 to record and reproduce information. However, the wireless communication means is not limited to this, and for example, infrared communication or the like is performed. It may be used.

  As described above, the example in which the present invention is applied to the recording medium changer system has been described. However, the content of information recorded on a plurality of optical disks may be any content. For example, it may be moving image data or music data, or backup data such as a host PC. The present invention is not limited to a recording medium changer system, and any system that requires synchronization between a removable recording medium and an HDD such as a host computer that reproduces information recorded on the removable recording medium. It can be applied to any system.

It is a schematic block diagram of the recording medium changer system of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the changer apparatus of this invention. It is an external appearance block diagram of the cartridge of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of an RFID element and an RFID reader / writer. It is a figure which shows the example of installation of the antenna for reading the management information contained in an RFID element. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of another recording medium changer system when a cartridge used in a certain recording medium changer system is used in another recording medium changer system. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of data processing performed in the recording medium changer system 1; FIG. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of items of information recorded in the RFID element. FIG. 10B shows an example of cartridge management information items managed by the HDD of the host PC. FIG. 10C is a diagram showing an example of management information items recorded in the management area of the optical disc and the HDD of the host PC. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a case where a cartridge used in a certain recording medium changer system is used in another recording medium changer system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium changer system 2 Host PC 3 Changer apparatus 5 Controller 6 HDD 7 File management software 8 Optical disk drive device 9 Changer mechanism 10 Cartridge 11 Optical disk 11a Specific optical disk (optical disk on which management information is recorded) 12 RFID element 23 RFID reader / writer

Claims (14)

In a recording medium changer system comprising means for recording or reproducing information on a recording medium, a changer device having an exchange mechanism for exchanging a recording medium to be recorded or reproduced, and a control means for controlling the changer device.
The changer device includes a first recording medium,
A second recording medium on which management information of the first recording medium is recorded;
A cartridge for storing the first recording medium and the second recording medium;
A third recording medium provided on the cartridge, on which the management information of the second recording medium including the management information of the cartridge and the second recording medium identification information is recorded,
The control means includes a fourth recording medium on which management information of the cartridge and the first recording medium is recorded,
Using the management information of the cartridge and the management information of the second recording medium recorded on the third recording medium, the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium is recorded on the second recording medium. An update means for updating the management information of the first recording medium.   The management information of the cartridge recorded on the third recording medium includes identification information of the cartridge provided with the third recording medium and update history information of the cartridge, and management of the cartridge recorded on the fourth recording medium 2. The recording medium changer system according to claim 1, wherein the information includes cartridge identification information managed in the recording medium changer system and update history information of the cartridge.   The changer device includes a first recording / reproducing unit that performs recording / reproducing on a first recording medium and a second recording medium, and a third recording / reproducing unit that performs recording / reproducing on a third recording medium. The recording medium changer system according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth recording / reproducing unit that performs recording / reproduction on the four recording media.   The update means further comprises comparison means for comparing the management information of the cartridge recorded on the third recording medium with the management information of the cartridge recorded on the fourth recording medium. The recording medium changer system according to one item.   If the comparing means determines that the cartridge identification information recorded on the third recording medium is different from the cartridge identification information recorded on the fourth recording medium, the fourth recording / reproducing means 5. The recording medium changer system according to claim 4, wherein management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium is recorded on the fourth recording medium.   If the comparison means determines that the cartridge update history information recorded on the fourth recording medium is older than the cartridge update history information recorded on the third recording medium, the fourth recording / reproducing means The recording medium changer system according to claim 4, wherein the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the fourth recording medium is rewritten by the management information of the first recording medium recorded on the second recording medium.   When recording is performed on the first recording medium by the first recording / reproducing means, the fourth recording / reproducing means records the cartridge update history information and the management information of the first recording medium on the fourth recording medium. 4. The recording medium changer system according to claim 3, wherein the recording / reproducing means records management information of the first recording medium on the second recording medium.   The management information of the second recording medium recorded on the third recording medium includes the identification information of the second recording medium and the address of the management information in the second recording medium. 4. The recording medium changer system according to claim 3, wherein identification information of the second recording medium in which management information of the first recording medium is recorded, an address of management information in the second recording medium, and cartridge update history information are recorded.   The recording medium changer system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first recording medium is an optical disk.   The management information of the first recording medium includes a file ID for identifying a file recorded on the first recording medium, a file name, identification information of the first recording medium on which the file is recorded, and the first recording medium. 10. The recording medium changer system according to claim 1, comprising: an address in the recording medium, cartridge identification information in which the first recording medium is stored, and history information of the file.   The recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the third recording medium is a non-contact recording / reproducing semiconductor element, and the third recording / reproducing means further includes a communication means capable of communicating with the semiconductor element. Changer system.   The recording medium changer system according to claim 1, wherein the third recording medium is a rewritable recording medium.   The recording medium changer system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of first recording media are stored in the cartridge. The recording medium changer system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the cartridges are mounted.

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