JP2009054203A - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device and a recording method for recording an image with high quality while suppressing an increase in the number of optical disks required for recording. <P>SOLUTION: The recording device includes: an information reading means 105 reading content data recorded on a recording medium; a calculation means 107 calculating the number of optical disks required for recording the content data read by the information reading means at a prescribed bit rate; a recording bit rate setting means 109 setting a recording bit rate higher than the prescribed bit rate so that the content data are stored in optical disks whose quantity has been calculated by the calculation means; and a recording means 111 recording the content data on the optical disks at the recording bit rate set by the recording bit rate setting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method for recording content data recorded on a recording medium onto an optical disc.

  Generally, a technique called re-encoding processing is known as a recording means for recording content recorded on a recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) on an optical disk or the like. In this method, video / audio information of content recorded on a recording medium is once decoded, and then re-encoded and compressed based on a desired bit rate and recorded on another recording medium.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when dubbing a plurality of data from a certain recording medium to a single disk, prioritization of data is given, and high priority data is determined according to the capacity of the dubbing destination disk. There has been disclosed a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of efficiently dubbing to a single disk having a limited capacity by a simple operation by automatically adjusting the encoding rate with other data.
JP 2006-318593 A

  However, the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus as shown in Patent Document 1 is a user who places importance on the convenience of management and wants to store content data on one recording medium in order to avoid the complexity of managing a plurality of recording media. Made on the basis of demand. For this reason, even if the image quality deteriorates, only a method of reducing the bit rate and adjusting so as to always fit in one recording medium is considered.

  In general, when recording desired content data on an optical disc, the determination of how much importance is placed on the number of required optical discs and how much importance is placed on the image quality of the content data can vary for each individual user. is there. Therefore, it is necessary to realize a new mechanism that responds not only to the demand of users who place importance on management convenience, but also to other demands of users who want to record content on multiple recording media with as high image quality as possible. .

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and provides a recording apparatus and a recording method capable of performing recording with high image quality while suppressing an increase in the number of optical disks required for recording. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the recording apparatus of the present invention is configured to read information data read from content data recorded on a recording medium, and to record the content data read by the information reading means at a predetermined bit rate. And a recording bit rate setting for setting a recording bit rate higher than the predetermined bit rate so that the content data is stored in the number of optical disks calculated by the calculating unit. And recording means for recording the content data on the optical disc at the recording bit rate set by the recording bit rate setting means.

  The present invention is also a recording method for recording content data recorded on a recording medium onto an optical disc, wherein the content data recorded on the recording medium is read and the read content data is recorded at a predetermined bit rate. The number of optical discs required for the recording is calculated, a recording bit rate higher than the predetermined bit rate is set so that the content data is stored in the calculated number of optical discs, and the set recording bit rate is set. The content data is recorded on the optical disc.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus and a recording method capable of recording with high image quality while suppressing an increase in the number of optical disks required for recording.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, with reference to FIG. 1, a configuration of a system in which a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used will be described. In the present embodiment, for example, content data such as broadcast program data broadcast on a television broadcast recorded in an HDD built in the recording apparatus main body is recorded on an optical disk such as a removable DVD or HD DVD. It is realized from the device.

  Further, in this recording apparatus, two or more image quality levels selected by the user and a bit rate corresponding to the image quality level are determined in advance. As a result, the number of optical disks required for recording with the image quality selected by the user can be obtained. Therefore, when recording content data so as to fit on the number of optical discs, a recording bit rate higher than a predetermined bit rate is set, and an increase in the number of optical discs required for recording is suppressed as much as possible. It can be recorded with image quality.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 101, an optical disk 102, a connector 103, a content reading unit 105, a decryption unit 106, an information processing unit 107, a GUI control unit 108, and a bit rate setting unit 109. A coding unit 110, a recording unit 111, an output device 200, and an input device 201.

  In the present embodiment, both the HDD 101 and the optical disk 102 are recording media, but the HDD 101 stores a recording source in which content data 104 such as broadcast program data broadcast by a television broadcast acquired from the outside via the connector 103 is stored. Used as a recording medium. On the other hand, the optical disc 102 is a removable recording medium having portability, and is used as a recording medium to which the content data 104 is recorded.

The content reading unit 105 reads the content data 104 recorded on the HDD 101 from the HDD 101 and outputs it to the decryption unit 106 and the information processing unit 107.
The decoding unit 106 is content composed of video information output from the content reading unit 105 and encoded and compressed using, for example, the MPEG-2 system, and audio information encoded and compressed using, for example, the AC-3 system. Data 104 is decoded and output to encoding section 110.

  The GUI control unit 108 receives a user operation input from the input device 201 and controls the information processing unit 107 and the bit rate setting unit 109. In addition, the GUI control unit 108 receives the information output from the information processing unit 107 and controls the output device 200. Further, the GUI control unit 108 causes the output device 200 to display image quality options when starting recording with the present recording apparatus. In the present embodiment, the input device 201 is used as a user input means. For example, if the user can input or operate a main body key (not shown) provided in the recording apparatus, It can function as the input means of the embodiment. Further, in the present embodiment, the output device 200 is used as an output means to the user. For example, a display screen or a speaker (not shown) provided in the main body or the like is notified or displayed to the user. If there is, it can function as the output means of this embodiment.

  The information processing unit 107 performs processing based on the operation input received from the input device 201 on the content data 104 output from the content reading unit 105 under the control of the GUI control unit 108, and obtains information obtained as a result thereof. The data is output to the GUI control unit 108. The processing performed here includes, for example, detection of the reproduction time of the content data 104, calculation of the number of optical disks 102 required when the content data 104 is recorded at a bit rate corresponding to the image quality level selected by the user, For example, calculation of a free time generated in the optical disk 102 to be recorded last.

  The bit rate setting unit 109 sets a recording bit rate value when the content data 104 is recorded on the optical disc 102 based on the information output from the GUI control unit 108.

  The encoding unit 110 re-encodes the content data 104 output after being decoded by the decoding unit 106 based on the recording bit rate set by the bit rate setting unit 109 and outputs the content data 104 to the recording unit 111.

The recording unit 111 writes the content data 104 re-encoded by the encoding unit 110 to the optical disc 102.
Next, the image quality level and the predetermined bit rate will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 2A, for example, the image quality level is set in three stages: high image quality, standard image quality, and low image quality. When the content data 104 is recorded on a DVD (here, a DVD having a capacity of 4.7 GB is used) at the image quality level, an initial bit rate corresponding to each image quality level (hereinafter referred to as an initial bit rate). The time that can be recorded when recording on one DVD at each initial bit rate is shown. In the present embodiment, for example, as an initial bit rate corresponding to each of three levels of image quality: high image quality, standard image quality, and low image quality, for example, high image quality is 10 Mbps, standard image quality is 5 Mbps, and low image quality is 3.3 Mbps. And set. Since the capacity of a DVD is usually 4.7 GB, if recording is performed at 10 Mbps, which is an initial bit rate with high image quality, it can be recorded on one DVD for about 1 hour. In addition, since the initial bit rate of the standard image quality is set to half the value of the high image quality, the recording time is doubled, and when recording on one DVD with the standard image quality, recording can be performed for about 2 hours. Similarly, since the initial bit rate for low image quality is set to about one third of the high image quality, the recording time is tripled, and when recording on a single DVD with low image quality, it takes about 3 hours. Can record.

  Generally, in terrestrial digital broadcasting, broadcast program data is broadcast at a bit rate of about 15 Mbps. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), when recording the broadcast program data as content data 104 on a DVD, the higher the recording bit rate, the closer to the original image quality of digital terrestrial broadcasting, keeping the image quality clean. Can be recorded. However, the recording time is shortened accordingly. For example, when it is desired to store long-time content data 104 such as a movie or sport for more than one hour, or a long drama, with high image quality, it is necessary to use a plurality of DVDs.

  FIG. 2B shows the number of DVDs necessary for recording the content data 104 of 2 hours and 30 minutes on the DVD at the three image quality levels shown in FIG. The ratio of the content data 104 when recording at each initial bit rate occupying the capacity (the ratio of the time that can be recorded on the number of DVDs and the total playback time of the content data 104), and the recording so as to fit on the number of DVDs The upper limit value of the recording bit rate is shown.

  When the content data 104 is recorded on one DVD at the initial bit rate of each image quality, it can be stored for about 1 hour for high image quality, about 2 hours for standard image quality, and about 3 hours for low image quality. Therefore, when recording all the content data 104 for 2 hours and 30 minutes, the required number of DVDs is 3 for a high image quality of 3 hours, 2 for a standard image quality of 4 hours, In terms of image quality, the recording time is 3 hours. The ratio of the content data 104 to the capacity that can be recorded on the DVDs required for each image quality is 83% for the high image quality, 63% for the standard image quality, and 83% for the low image quality. Here, the remaining time (hereinafter referred to as idle time) in which the content data 104 is not recorded is about 30 minutes (17% of the capacity that can be recorded on the required number of DVDs) for high image quality and low image quality. Then, it takes about 1 hour 30 minutes (37% of the capacity that can be recorded on the required number of DVDs).

  Since this empty time is not intended by the user in advance, it may be unnecessary for the user. Therefore, consider setting the recording bit rate higher than the initial bit rate using the recording capacity of the idle time.

  For example, as shown in the third column of FIG. 2B, when data is recorded at an initial bit rate with high image quality, the content data 104 is written up to 83% of the recording capacity of three DVDs. Here, when the remaining 17% capacity is recorded and the content data 104 is written to the recording capacity of the three DVDs as much as possible, the recording bit rate is set to 1.2 times the initial bit rate (about 12 Mbps). Since it can be set, the image quality is improved. That is, the image quality can be improved while suppressing an increase in the number of DVDs necessary for recording. Similarly, in the standard image quality, the content data 104 occupies 83% of the recording capacity of two DVDs when recording at the initial bit rate, so the recording bit rate is 1.6 times the initial bit rate (about 8Mbps), the recording range can be expanded to the remaining 37% capacity. In the case of low image quality, the recording bit rate can be expanded to the remaining 17% capacity by setting the recording bit rate to about 4 Mbps, which is 1.2 times the initial bit rate. .

  Also, here, the recording bit rate value when the recording capacity of the free time is used is shown, but it is possible to leave the free time as much as the user wants to secure. For example, if there is a user's desire to improve the image quality by using an idle time of one hour (25% of the recordable capacity) with the standard image quality and using the other idle time, content data up to 75% of the entire content data Since 104 may be recorded, the recording bit rate at this time is 6 Mbps which is 1.2 times the initial bit rate.

  Next, a flow until the recording bit rate is set will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a case where terrestrial digital broadcast program data recorded on the HDD 101 for 3 hours and 15 minutes is recorded on a DVD will be described as an example.

  FIG. 3A shows an example in which icons of high image quality, standard image quality, and low image quality are displayed on the output device 200 as options of three image quality levels. The display is output when recording of the content data 104 onto the optical disc 102 is started in the embodiment. In this embodiment, the image quality level that can be selected by the user is shown in three stages of high image quality, standard image quality, and low image quality in advance. However, the image quality level is not limited to this, and the user's desired image quality can be set. Any configuration is acceptable. For example, as a level of image quality of the content data 104 when recorded in the HDD 101, the bit rate of the level is displayed, and a function that allows the user to operate a desired bit rate value may be provided. good.

  Next, for example, when the user intends to record at the standard image quality, the user uses the input device 201 to align the cursor 3a with the icon of the standard image quality and confirm the selection. This selection instruction is transmitted to the information processing unit 107 via the GUI control unit 108 as operation input information. The information processing unit 107 that has acquired the operation input information calculates the number of DVDs necessary for recording the content data 104 on a DVD having a capacity of 4.7 GB at 5 Mbps, which is an initial bit rate of standard image quality. . Here, a DVD having a capacity of 4.7 GB is adopted as the optical disk 102 where the content data 104 is recorded. However, any removable optical disk 102 such as an HD DVD can be used instead.

  The number of DVDs obtained by the information processing unit 107 is transmitted to the output device 200 via the GUI control unit 108. As a result, the display of the output device 200 is updated as shown in FIG. Here, together with the required number of DVDs, program title, playback time, selected image quality level, free time generated when content data 104 is recorded at the initial bit rate of the image quality level, and “free time” An icon 3b1 "Use image quality to improve" and an icon 3b2 "Record leaving free time" are displayed.

  When the user selects the icon 3b1, the selection instruction is transmitted as operation input information to the bit rate setting unit 109 via the GUI control unit 108. The bit rate setting unit 109 that has acquired the operation input information sets the recording bit rate higher than the initial bit rate by using the remaining capacity in which the content data 104 is not recorded. When the icon 3b2 is selected, the recording bit rate is set to the initial bit rate.

  In addition, the present embodiment has a function of recording the content data 104 on the DVD so as to secure the free time specified by the user. Hereinafter, the flow until the recording bit rate is set using this function will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

  In the present embodiment, for example, when this function is activated, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, the icon 3b1 “Improve image quality using idle time” shown in FIG. Instead, it is assumed that an icon 4a1 “designate and record a free time” is provided. First, when it is desired to record the content data 104 on a DVD so as to secure the free time specified by the user, the input device 201 is operated to select the icon 4a1. This selection instruction is transmitted to the GUI control unit 108 as operation input information. The GUI control unit 108 that has acquired the operation input information updates the display of the output device 200 as shown in FIG. 4B so that the user can designate the time that the user wants to secure.

  Here, an example is shown in which the user selects the standard image quality and designates to reserve 30 minutes of free time. This instruction is transmitted to the bit rate setting unit 109 as operation input information, and the bit rate setting unit 109 secures a capacity corresponding to a specified time and initializes the recording bit rate using a recording capacity other than the secured capacity. Set higher than the bit rate.

  In the embodiment, the flow until the user designates the free time as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the free time designated by the user is secured. In this way, any format that can realize the function of recording the content data 104 on the DVD may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the user has a function of designating points (hereinafter referred to as division points) at which the content data 104 generated when recording on a plurality of DVDs is divided. Hereinafter, the flow until the recording bit rate is set using this function will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c).

  In this embodiment, for example, when this function is activated, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, an icon 5a1 “designate a point to be divided” is added to the display shown in FIG. 3B. Assume that. This icon 5a1 is displayed when the number of DVDs necessary for recording the content data 104 is two or more. First, when the user wants to designate a division point of the content data 104, the user selects and confirms the icon 5a1 before selecting the icons 3c1 and 3c2. This selection instruction is transmitted to the GUI control unit 108 as operation input information. The GUI control unit 108 that has acquired the operation input information updates the display of the output device 200 as shown in FIG. 5B so that the user can specify the division point.

  Here, for example, a horizontal axis 5b1 indicating the total playback time of the content data 104 and a cursor 5b2 for designating a division point are displayed, and the user designates that the content data 104 is to be divided in the first half hour 1 hour 30 minutes. An example of the case is shown. This selection instruction is transmitted to the GUI control unit 108 as operation input information. The GUI control unit 108 that has acquired the operation input information updates the display of the output device 200 as shown in FIG.

  Further, here, for example, a restriction is set so that the division in which the state of recording on the DVD at a value lower than the initial bit rate of the image quality selected by the user cannot be set. For example, when the division point is determined with the user selecting the standard image quality, even one of the plurality of optical disks 102 cannot be set to record at a value lower than the bit rate of 5 Mbps. That is, it is impossible to specify that the time allocated to one DVD of 4.7 GB, for example, exceeds 2 hours with the standard image quality selected.

  In FIG. 5C, division points are displayed in addition to the icons 3c1 and 3c2 displayed on the display screen 203 shown in FIG. Here, when the user selects the icon 3 c 1, this selection instruction is transmitted to the bit rate setting unit 109 via the GUI control unit 108. The bit rate setting unit 109 is generated when the content data 104 of 1 hour 30 minutes is stored in the first image and the free time of 30 minutes generated when the content data 104 of 1 hour 45 minutes is stored in the second image. Using the 15 minutes free time, the recording bit rate is set higher than the initial bit rate for the first and second DVDs. When the user selects the icon 3c2, the recording bit rate is set to the initial bit rate.

  In this embodiment, the flow until the user designates the division point as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and occurs when recording on a plurality of DVDs. Any format that can realize a function for a user to specify a division point of the content data 104 is acceptable.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the user sets a low image quality and the number of DVDs necessary for recording the content data 104 is two or more, the number of sheets is one less than that number. It has a function of setting a recording bit rate so as to fit in a DVD. Hereinafter, the flow until the recording bit rate is set using this function will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b).

  In the present embodiment, for example, the activation of this function starts when the user selects a low image quality as shown in FIG. 6A and the required number of DVDs determined by the user is two or more. In this case, an icon 6b3 “record one reduced” is added to the display of FIG.

  When the user selects the icon 6b3, this selection instruction is transmitted as operation input information to the bit rate setting unit 109 via the GUI control unit 108. The bit rate setting unit 109 that has acquired the operation input information sets the recording bit rate to be lower than the initial bit rate so as to fit in the number of DVDs that is reduced by one from the required number of DVDs.

  In this embodiment, the user sets a low image quality as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and the number of DVDs necessary for recording the content data 104 is two or more. In this case, the flow up to realizing the function of setting the recording bit rate so that it fits in one DVD less than the number of sheets is shown. Be good.

  In the present embodiment, the functions described above can be used individually or in combination. In the following, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, a procedure of processing for setting a recording bit rate when all these functions are combined will be described.

  First, the GUI control unit 108 displays image quality options on the output device 200 (step S101). Next, the GUI control unit 108 transmits operation input information of image quality selected by the user to the information processing unit 107. The information processing unit 107 calculates the number of optical disks 102 necessary for recording the desired content data 104 at the initial bit rate of the image quality selected by the user (step S102). The number calculated here is displayed on the output device 200 via the GUI control unit 108.

  When the image quality selected by the user is low image quality and the number of optical disks 102 calculated by the information processing unit 107 is two or more (YES in step S103), the GUI control unit 108 sends the output device 200 to the optical disk 102. An option to record with the number of sheets reduced by one is displayed. When the user selects the option (YES in step S104), the GUI control unit 108 determines the number of DVDs used for recording (105 in step S). When the number of required optical disks 102 is two or more at the time when the processing so far is completed (YES in step S106), the GUI control unit 108 selects an option for designating a content division point in the output device 200 Is displayed. If the user designates a division point (YES in step S107), the GUI control unit 108 determines the division point (step S108). Next, the GUI control unit 108 displays an option for designating a free time to be secured in the output device 200. Here, when the user designates a free time (YES in step S109), the GUI control unit 108 determines a free time to be secured (step S110). Then, the GUI control unit 108 outputs the operation input information obtained by the processing from step S101 to step S110 to the bit rate setting unit 109. Based on the operation input information, the bit rate setting unit 109 sets a bit rate (step S111).

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to perform recording with high image quality while suppressing an increase in the number of optical disks necessary for recording. If the user gives priority to saving the number of optical disks 102 over the image quality, the number of optical disks 102 can be reduced for recording. In addition, the user can designate and secure a free time that remains when the content data 104 generated when recording on the optical disc 102 is not recorded.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when content data 104 is recorded on a plurality of optical discs, recording can be performed after setting the recording bit rate higher than the initial bit rate using the recording capacity of free time. As a result, the content data 104 is recorded on each optical disc so as to have substantially the same playback time, so that writing to the optical disc to be recorded last becomes extremely short, or a climax located at the end of the content data 104. It is possible to avoid a situation where an important scene such as is divided.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the content data 104 is recorded on a plurality of optical disks in the same manner, it is important for the middle part of the content data 104 by the function that the user specifies the point at which the content data 104 is divided. Even when a scene is located, it can be divided while avoiding the scene.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine a component suitably in different embodiment.

1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the level setting of the image quality in embodiment of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the image quality selection menu screen in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen which sets the division | segmentation point in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen which sets the free time to ensure in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen of the process in which it sets so that the number of required DVDs in the same embodiment may be reduced by one. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the recording bit rate setting performed by the recording device of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Recording Device Body 101 Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Optical disk 103 Connector 104 Content data 105 Content reading part 106 Decoding part 107 Information processing part 108 GUI control part 109 Bit rate setting part 110 Encoding part 111 Recording part 200 Output device 201 Input device

Claims (6)

Information reading means for reading content data recorded on a recording medium;
Calculating means for calculating the number of optical discs required when recording the content data read by the information reading means at a predetermined bit rate;
Recording bit rate setting means for setting a recording bit rate higher than the predetermined bit rate so that the content data is stored in the number of optical disks calculated by the calculating means;
A recording apparatus comprising: recording means for recording the content data on the optical disc at the recording bit rate set by the recording bit rate setting means.   2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined bit rate is provided in correspondence with an image quality level when the content data is recorded on the optical disc, and the image quality level is 2 or more. The recording apparatus includes input means for receiving an operation input from a user;
Image quality setting means for setting the image quality level based on an operation input from the user received by the input means;
The number of optical discs required when the content data is recorded at the predetermined bit rate corresponding to the image quality level set by the image quality setting means, calculated by the calculation means, and the number is determined. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the recording capacity of the optical disc to a display device.   The recording bit rate setting means is the case where the number of optical disks calculated by the calculating means is two or more, and the image quality level set by the image quality setting means is a specific level. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a recording bit rate lower than the predetermined bit rate is set so that the number of optical disks is one less than the number of optical disks calculated by the means. The recording apparatus further includes input means for receiving an operation input from a user,
The point at which the content data is divided is set when the number of optical disks calculated by the calculation means is two or more based on an operation input from a user received by the input means. The recording device described. A recording method for recording content data recorded on a recording medium on an optical disc,
Read the content data recorded on the recording medium,
Calculating the number of optical discs required for recording the read content data at a predetermined bit rate;
A recording bit rate higher than the predetermined bit rate is set so that the content data is stored in the calculated number of optical discs;
A recording method comprising: recording the content data on the optical disc at the set recording bit rate.

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