JP2009111501A - Recorder, and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a list of thumbnail images at high speed by minimizing seek operation. <P>SOLUTION: The recorder includes a means for creating thumbnail images, a means for recording the thumbnail images on a recording medium which can be accessed in random, a means for ensuring a continuous area of the recording medium in which a plurality of thumbnail images created by the image creation means can be recorded, and a means for controlling the image creation means, the recording means and the continuous area ensuring means, wherein the control means controls the recording means to record thumbnail images in a continuous area, and controls the continuous area ensuring means to release unused area in a continuous area partially or entirely to provide a free area when the capacity of free area of a recording medium becomes smaller than a threshold. Consequently, thumbnail images can be recorded in a continuous area without wasting the recording capacity of a recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in recording moving image data and thumbnail image data thereof.

  In recent years, video recording / reproducing apparatuses such as video cameras for recording / reproducing images using a randomly accessible recording medium such as a disk or a flash memory have appeared. In particular, the AVCHD standard has been established as a standard for consumer equipment for recording high-definition moving images (HD) on a disk or a memory card, and video cameras compatible with the AVCHD standard have also come to the fore.

  Many of such video recording / playback apparatuses have a function of displaying a list of contents of recording media using thumbnail images by recording thumbnail images of the recorded moving images on the same recording medium. Since the thumbnail image has a smaller data amount than the original moving image, there is an advantage that the list display can be performed at a higher speed than when the original moving image is used.

  However, when a recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a hard disk is used, if the recording positions of the thumbnail images are dispersed, a seek operation or the like occurs frequently for reading them. For this reason, the list display may be slow.

  In order to eliminate such inconvenience, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a technique for displaying a list at high speed by sequentially arranging attribute information such as recording time and title and thumbnail images in a single file. Is disclosed.

JP 2001-189915 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in “Recording device” of Patent Document 1, an area that can record attribute information for the maximum number of moving images that can be recorded on a recording medium is secured in advance. For this reason, when the number of moving images is small and the recording time is long, an area reserved for attribute information is wasted.

  In addition, an area that can record the maximum number of thumbnail images is not secured in advance. Therefore, each time a thumbnail image is recorded, the file is enlarged to ensure a thumbnail image recording area. Therefore, there is a problem that the file is physically discontinuous and the recording positions of the thumbnail images are also dispersed.

In addition to the thumbnail images, it has been unclear as to how the management files necessary for list display are recorded.
In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to record a thumbnail image so that it can be quickly displayed without wasting a recording area of the recording medium.

A recording apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for recording moving image data, comprising: a creating unit that creates thumbnail image data of the moving image data; and the moving image data and the thumbnail image data created by the creating unit. Recording means for recording on a randomly accessible recording medium, continuous area securing means for securing a continuous area in which a plurality of thumbnail image data created by the creating means can be recorded on the recording medium, the creating means, Control means for controlling a recording means and a continuous area securing means, wherein the control means controls the recording means to record the thumbnail image data in the continuous area and When the capacity becomes smaller than the threshold, a part or all of the unused area in the continuous area is released to be a free area. And controlling the serial continuous area securing means.
Another feature of the recording apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for recording moving image data, the creating means for creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data, and the randomly accessible recording medium A recording unit that records moving image data and the thumbnail image data; and a control unit that controls the creating unit and the recording unit. The control unit sequentially thumbnails from the rear end of the recording medium. The recording means is controlled to record image data.

The recording method of the present invention is a method for recording moving image data, comprising: a creation step of creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data; and the moving image data and the thumbnail image data created in the creation step. A recording step for recording in a randomly accessible recording medium, a continuous area securing step for securing a continuous area in which a plurality of thumbnail image data created in the creation step can be recorded on the recording medium, the creation step, A recording step and a control step for controlling a continuous area securing step, wherein the control step controls the recording step so as to record the thumbnail image data in the continuous area, and the free space of the recording medium When the capacity becomes smaller than the threshold value, a part or all of the unused area in the continuous area is released to be a free area. And controlling sales is the continuous area ensured process.
Further, another feature of the recording method of the present invention is a method for recording moving image data, wherein the moving image data includes a creation step of creating thumbnail image data, and a random accessible recording medium. A recording step for recording moving image data and the thumbnail image data, and a control step for controlling the creation step and the recording step, wherein the control step includes thumbnails successively in order from the rear end of the recording medium. The recording process is controlled to record image data.

The program of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute a process of recording moving image data, and is created in a creation step of creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data, the moving image data, and the creation step A recording step of recording thumbnail image data on a randomly accessible recording medium, a continuous area securing step of securing a continuous area in which a plurality of thumbnail image data created in the creation step can be recorded on the recording medium, and A control step for controlling the creation step, the recording step, and the continuous region securing step is executed by a computer, and the control step controls the recording step to record the thumbnail image data in the continuous region. When the capacity of the free area of the recording medium becomes smaller than a threshold value, And controlling the continuous area ensured step to the free space to release some or all of the unused space.
Another feature of the program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a process of recording moving image data, and a creation step of creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data, and random access A recording step of recording the moving image data and the thumbnail image data on a recording medium, and a control step of controlling the creation step and the recording step, the control step comprising: The recording process is controlled so as to record thumbnail image data sequentially from the rear end.

  According to the present invention, a continuous area in which a plurality of thumbnail images can be recorded is secured on a randomly accessible recording medium, and the thumbnail images are recorded in the continuous area. Further, when the capacity of the free area of the recording medium becomes smaller than a threshold value, a part or all of the unused area of the continuous area is released to make a free area and recording is continued in that area. . As a result, it is possible to record the thumbnail image in the continuous area without wasting the recording capacity of the recording medium and to minimize the seek operation. In addition, it is possible to display a list of thumbnail images at high speed.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video recording / playback apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, this video recording / reproducing apparatus will be described as a video camera 130 that records on a disc-type recording medium in accordance with the AVCHD standard.

  The video camera 130 according to this embodiment includes a camera unit 100, an encoder 101, a buffer memory 102 used when accessing a disk, and a disk access unit 103 that performs writing to and reading from a recording medium.

  Also, a decoder 105 is provided that decodes moving image data recorded on a recording medium (a randomly accessible recording disk such as a DVD) 104 to restore the original video. Further, an LCD 108 as a video display device for displaying the video, and an LCD controller 107 for controlling the display of the LCD 108 are provided. Under the control of the LCD controller 107, the video signal can be displayed on the LCD 108 and simultaneously output to the external output terminal 106.

  The CPU 110 is connected to the ROM 111, the RAM 112, the operation unit 113, and other blocks via the CPU bus 109, and can be controlled by the CPU 110. The operation unit 113 can transmit input of various operation keys, knobs, and the like by the user to the CPU 110, and can perform various processes in response to instructions from the user.

Next, an operation when a moving image is recorded by the video camera 130 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The camera unit 100 of the video camera 130 according to this embodiment includes a CCD that converts an input image into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, and can input an optical image as digital data to an internal circuit.

  When a user operation is performed and a video recording start instruction is given from the operation unit 113, the CPU 110 reads video data from the camera unit 100. The read video data is input to the encoder 101 and encoded according to the MPEG4-AVC (H.264) system. The video data encoded by the encoder 101 is formatted according to the standard and stored in the buffer memory 102.

  The disk access unit 103 that functions as a recording unit is controlled by the CPU 110, and the video data stored in the buffer memory 102 is recorded on the recording medium 104. In this way, the video camera 130 can record and record moving image data on the recording medium 104.

  By the way, in the AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) standard, one moving image unit is called a clip. A clip is composed of two types of data: a stream that is moving image data and clip information that is management information of the moving image.

  Stream and clip information exist as independent files, and one file is composed of two files. The same clip number is assigned to each of the stream file and the clip information file so that the correspondence can be understood. When a moving image is created in real time, one clip information file is recorded every time one moving image stream file is recorded.

  In addition, the AVCHD standard is provided with a playlist indicating the playback order of streams. The playlist is composed of a sequence of play items that are a set of IN and OUT points representing a certain range on the clip. For example, moving image data recorded from the start of recording to the end of recording on the recording medium 104 becomes one play item. In this case, one play list file is formed by one play item.

Next, the operation at the time of recording thumbnail images will be described.
In the AVCHD standard, a thumbnail image corresponding to the IN point of a clip is recorded in order to display a list of clips pointed to by each play item before reproduction of the playlist.

  When generating a thumbnail image, data recorded on the recording medium 104 is read, and the data read from the recording medium 104 is decoded by the decoder 105 via the buffer memory 102. Then, the first frame in the decoded video data is extracted. The CPU 110 functions as thumbnail image creation means, and the first resize unit 121 reduces (resizes) the first frame of the video data so that the size of the thumbnail image matches, and the encoder 122 JPEG data having a capacity of 16 Kbytes or less. Is encoded as

  The JPEG data encoded by the encoder 122 is recorded on the recording medium 104 through the buffer memory 102 as a block of thumbnail data files in units of 16 Kbytes. In addition, all thumbnail image data recorded on the recording medium 104 is stored in one thumbnail data file.

  Further, the CPU 110 records the identification information and the thumbnail information file for managing the recording position of each thumbnail image data in the thumbnail data file on the recording medium (disc) 104. The above-described play item includes thumbnail identification information, and the thumbnail image recording position can be obtained from the above-described identification information by a thumbnail information file.

Next, the thumbnail image list display operation will be described.
The CPU 110 reads the above-described thumbnail data file from the recording medium 104 via the buffer memory 102, and sequentially decodes the blocks in which the thumbnail images to be displayed are recorded by the decoder 123. Further, the thumbnail image decoded by the decoder 123 is resized to the display size by the second resizing unit 124, and a plurality of thumbnail images are pasted to the display frame memory secured in the buffer memory 125, and the LCD controller 107 Output.

Next, a user operation example will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the user presses the recording start button, the recording (REC) of the first clip is started in step S201.

  Next, when the user presses the recording end button, the process proceeds to step S202, and the recording of the clip being recorded is interrupted (REC PAUSE). If the user presses the eject button, the process proceeds to step S203, and the recording medium 104 is ejected.

  When the recording medium 104 is set again, the recording medium 104 is set in step S204. Here, when the recording start button is pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S205 to start recording the second clip.

  Next, when the recording end button is pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S206 to interrupt clip recording. In this interrupted state, when the user presses the recording start button, the process proceeds to step S207 to start recording the third clip.

  If the recording end button is pressed by the user during the recording of the third clip, the process proceeds to step S208, and the recording of the clip is interrupted. In this state, when the finalize button is pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S209, and the CPU 110 performs finalization processing of the recording medium 104.

Next, a logical image of contents recorded on the recording medium after the operation shown in FIG. 2 is completed will be described with reference to FIG.
As described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the first clip shot in response to a user operation is recorded in the stream file (Stream 1) 305 and the clip information file (Clip Info 1) 304.

  Similarly, the second clip is recorded in the stream file (Stream 2) 309 and the clip information file (Clip Info 2) 308. The third clip is recorded in the stream file (Stream 3) 311 and the clip information file (Clip Info 3) 310.

  Also, a play list file 303 in which play items indicating the reproduction ranges of these three clips are arranged is recorded. The thumbnail data file 307 stores thumbnail images corresponding to the three play items described above, and the thumbnail information file 306 records the correspondence between the thumbnail image recording position and the thumbnail image identification information.

  Next, in the course of the operation shown in FIG. 2 described above with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, particularly when recording is performed on a write-once recording medium such as a DVD-R, A physical image will be described. For example, when a one-layer recording disk is used, the upper end of FIG. 4 shows data written on the innermost periphery and the lower end on the outermost periphery. In the innermost area, an RMD (Recording Management Data) 401 indicating where the recorded area is, that is, where the next writing starts is arranged.

  First, FIG. 4 shows a state at the end of step S202. The first clip is recorded as a stream file 405 and a clip information file 404, and the thumbnail image of the first frame of the stream file 405 is recorded as the first block of the thumbnail data file 407. A reserved area (Reserve) on the outer periphery of the RMD is reserved as an area where the UDF is written at the time of finalization.

  Here, UDF (Universal Disc Format) is file system information for managing files recorded on a recording medium, and is defined in the UDF standard. UDF is a general file system used in DVDs, BD-ROMs, and the like. The management information, playlist file, and thumbnail information file need to be updated each time a clip is recorded. Therefore, at this stage, it is not physically written on the disk, but is stored in the RAM in the main body as intermediate data.

  FIG. 5 shows a state when the process of step S203 is finished. In order to save the intermediate data for the recording medium 104, the contents are recorded on the recording medium 104 as an intermediate data file (Temporary) 514. When the recording medium 104 is set again, the position of the intermediate data file 514 is specified by the RMD 401, and using this as intermediate data enables recording on the recording medium 104 again.

  FIG. 6 shows a state at the end of step S209. The second clip is recorded as a stream file 609 and a clip information file 608. Also, the thumbnail image of the first frame of the stream file 609 is recorded as the second block of the thumbnail data file 607.

  Here, by recording the second clip, the contents of intermediate data such as UDF and playlist file are different from the intermediate data file 514, so the intermediate data file 514 is changed to an invalid file for UDF management. To do. Further, the third clip is recorded in the same manner as the second clip. As a result, the third block of the stream file 611, the clip information file 610, and the thumbnail data file 607 is recorded.

  Finally, by performing the finalizing process in step S209 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, it is not necessary to update the contents of the intermediate data file 514, and the data is physically written to the recording medium (disk) 104. That is, the UDF 615 is written in the reserved area 402 shown in FIGS. 4 to 5, and the thumbnail information file 606, the playlist file 603, and the other management files 602 and 601 are written in the free area of the storage medium. Thus, the logical image shown in FIG. 3 is recorded on the recording medium 104 as a physical image.

  However, in the recording state shown in FIG. 6, the blocks of the thumbnail data file 607 are recorded in a distributed manner. For this reason, when a storage disk such as a DVD is used as the recording medium 104, there is a problem in that a list display is slow because many seek operations occur in order to read them.

  Next, in the course of the operation shown in FIG. 2 by the video camera 130 of the present embodiment, particularly when recording is performed on the write-once recording medium 104 such as a DVD-R, with reference to FIGS. A physical image of the recorded contents will be described.

  First, FIG. 7 shows a state when the process of step S202 is completed. In FIG. 7, the difference from the conventional recording shown in FIG. 4 is the recording method of the thumbnail data file 707.

  In FIG. 7, a continuous area corresponding to the capacity corresponding to the maximum number of thumbnail images that can be stored in the recording medium 104 is secured in advance. For example, a continuous area of a size capable of recording the maximum number of thumbnail images that can be stored in the recording medium 104 is secured for recording the thumbnail image file. Then, the first block from the rear end is arranged, and the thumbnail image of the first frame of the stream file 405 is recorded. Here, when the recording medium 104 is a DVD in accordance with the AVCHD standard, the maximum number of thumbnail images that can be stored in one recording medium 104 is 2000, and the size of the contiguous area to be secured is 32 Mbytes. The process of securing the continuous area in advance is performed by the CPU 110 functioning as a continuous area securing means.

  FIG. 8 shows a state when the process of step S203 is finished. The intermediate data is stored in the recording medium 104 as the intermediate data file 814 in order to store the intermediate data in the same manner as the conventional recording shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows a state when the process of step S209 is completed. The second clip is recorded as a stream file 909 and a clip information file 908. The thumbnail image of the first frame of the stream file 909 is recorded as the second block from the rear end of the thumbnail data file 907. Similar to the recording according to the prior art shown in FIG. 6, since the intermediate data is different from the intermediate data file 814 described above, the intermediate data file 814 is changed to an invalid file for UDF management.

  Further, the stream file 911 is recorded by recording the third clip. Here, when the remaining capacity of the recording medium 104 becomes smaller than the threshold value during the recording, a part or all of the unused area of the thumbnail data file 707 shown in FIGS. Continue recording in that area.

  The above threshold is larger than the total capacity of the clip information file 910 of at least the third clip, the thumbnail information file 906, the playlist file 903, and the other management files 902 and 901 to be written at the time of finalization. Value. When the remaining capacity of the released area is also smaller than the threshold, it is determined that there is no remaining capacity of the recording medium 104, and the recording of the third clip is forcibly terminated and the clip information file 910 is recorded. At the same time, the correspondence relationship between the thumbnail image recording position and the thumbnail image identification information is updated for the thumbnail information file held as intermediate data.

  From this state, finalization must be performed before the recording medium 104 is ejected. This is because the recording medium 104 does not have enough free space for writing the intermediate data file, and even if it can be written, the intermediate data file cannot be arranged on the outermost periphery of the recorded area. For this reason, when it is set again, its position cannot be specified by RMD.

  Therefore, finally, UDF 915 is written in the reserved area 402 shown in FIGS. 7 to 8 by performing finalization in step S209. Also, the thumbnail information file 906, the playlist file 903, and the other management files 902 and 901 are written in the free space. Thus, the logical image shown in FIG. 3 is recorded on the recording medium 104 as a physical image.

  Since the thumbnail images are recorded from the rear end of the thumbnail data file 707, the unused areas may be released step by step from the beginning instead of releasing all of them at once. This is because when a playlist edited by the user is added, it is necessary to add a thumbnail image for the IN point of the clip indicated by the play item to the thumbnail data file 707. It is possible to add a thumbnail image by editing until the unused area of the thumbnail data file 707 is completely eliminated.

  In the recording state shown in FIG. 9, the thumbnail image data of the data blocks 1 to 3 of the thumbnail data file 907 are recorded in mutually continuous areas. When a recording disk such as a DVD is used as the recording medium 104, a list display can be performed at high speed because a seek operation hardly occurs to read them. Further, since the thumbnail information file 906 and the playlist file 903 are recorded in the vicinity of the thumbnail data file 907, the list display can be performed at a higher speed.

  In order to obtain this effect, in the video camera 130 of the present embodiment, even when the remaining capacity of the recording medium 104 is not smaller than the threshold value, the unused area of the thumbnail data file is actively released when finalizing. Free space. Then, a thumbnail information file, a playlist file, and other management files are recorded in the empty area. As a result, files necessary for thumbnail list display, including thumbnail data files, can be arranged in the vicinity, and list display can be performed at high speed.

The effects of this embodiment are listed below.
Since the thumbnail image is recorded in the continuous area without wasting the recording capacity of the recording medium 104, the seek operation can be minimized and the thumbnail image list can be displayed at high speed.

  The free space can be increased by releasing the continuous area step by step, and the recording medium 104 can be used efficiently.

  Further, according to another feature of the present embodiment, the management file necessary for displaying the thumbnail image list is recorded in the vicinity of the thumbnail image, so that the thumbnail image list can be displayed at higher speed. .

Further, according to another feature of the present embodiment, recording of moving images can be continued until the recording capacity of the recording medium 104 is not wasted and the free capacity is exhausted.
In addition, according to another feature of the present embodiment, the management file necessary for displaying a list of thumbnail images is recorded in the vicinity of the thumbnail image even when finalized in a state where an empty area remains. A list of thumbnail images can be displayed at higher speed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a video camera according to the second embodiment will be described.
The video camera of the second embodiment differs from the video camera 130 of the first embodiment in the recording method of the thumbnail data file, but the functional block configuration of the video camera is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. This will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  10 to 12, when recording is performed in the course of the operation shown in FIG. 2 by the video camera 130 of this embodiment, particularly when recording is performed on a write-once recording medium 104 such as a DVD-R. Next, the physical image of the recorded contents will be described.

  First, FIG. 10 shows a state when the process of step S202 is completed. The difference from the recording according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is the recording method of the thumbnail data file 707. The first block of the thumbnail data file 1007 is arranged from the last part of the recording medium 104, and the thumbnail image of the first frame of the stream file 405 is recorded.

  FIG. 11 shows a state when the process of step S203 is completed. Also in this embodiment, the intermediate data is stored in the recording medium 104 as the intermediate data file 1114 in order to store the intermediate data as in the recording according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 shows a state when the process of step S209 is completed. The second clip is recorded as a stream file 1209 and a clip information file 1208, and the thumbnail image of the first frame of the stream file 1209 is recorded as the second block from the last part of the thumbnail data file 1207. Similarly to the recording according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9, since the intermediate data is different from the intermediate data file 1114 described above, the intermediate data file 1114 is changed to an invalid file for UDF management.

  Further, since the third clip is recorded in the same manner as the second clip, the stream file 1211 and the clip information file 1210 are recorded. Also, the thumbnail image of the first frame of the stream file 1211 is recorded as the third block from the last part of the thumbnail data file 1207.

  Finally, by performing finalization in step S209, the UDF 1215 is written in the reserved area 402 shown in FIGS. Also, the thumbnail information file 1206, the playlist file 1203, and the other management files 1202 and 1201 are written from the outer periphery of the above-described empty area. Thus, the logical image shown in FIG. 3 is recorded on the recording medium 104 as a physical image.

  In the recording state shown in FIG. 12, the thumbnail data file 1207 is recorded in one place. As a result, when a recording disk such as a DVD is used as the recording medium 104, a seek operation is hardly generated to read them, so that the list display can be performed at high speed. Since the thumbnail information file 1206 and the playlist file 1203 are recorded in the vicinity of the thumbnail data file 1207, the list display can be performed at a higher speed.

(Another embodiment according to the present invention)
Each means constituting the video recording / reproducing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM, a ROM, or the like of a computer. This program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like, and can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices. Moreover, you may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2) for executing each step in the above-described video recording / playback method is directly or remotely supplied to a system or apparatus. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Various recording media can be used as a recording medium for supplying the program. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD- R).

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing. Also, the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the process sequence performed corresponding to operation by a user. It is a figure explaining the logical image of the recording medium after complete | finishing the process demonstrated with the flowchart of FIG. In a prior art, it is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S202 is complete | finished. In a prior art, it is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S203 is complete | finished. In a prior art, it is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S209 is complete | finished. It is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S202 in 1st Embodiment is complete | finished. It is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S203 in 1st Embodiment is complete | finished. It is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S209 in 1st Embodiment is complete | finished. It is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S202 in 2nd Embodiment is complete | finished. It is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S203 in 2nd Embodiment is complete | finished. It is a figure explaining the physical image of a recording medium when the process of step S209 in 2nd Embodiment is complete | finished.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera part 101 Encoder 102 Buffer memory 103 Disk access part 104 Recording medium 105 Decoder 106 External output terminal 107 LCD controller 108 LCD
109 CPU bus 110 CPU
111 ROM
112 RAM
113 Operation Unit 121 Resize Unit 122 Encoder 123 Decoder 124 Resize Unit 125 Buffer Memory 130 Video Camera Body

Claims (13)

An apparatus for recording moving image data,
Creating means for creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data;
Recording means for recording the moving image data and the thumbnail image data created by the creating means on a randomly accessible recording medium;
Continuous area securing means for securing a continuous area in which a plurality of thumbnail image data created by the creating means can be recorded on the recording medium;
Control means for controlling the creating means, the recording means, and a continuous area securing means,
The control means controls the recording means to record the thumbnail image data in the continuous area,
When the capacity of the free area of the recording medium becomes smaller than a threshold value, the continuous area securing means is controlled to release a part or all of the unused area of the continuous area as a free area. A recording apparatus.   2. The recording according to claim 1, wherein the continuous area securing unit secures the continuous area in a size capable of recording a maximum number of thumbnail images that may be stored in the recording medium. apparatus.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the recording unit to record the thumbnail images in order from the rear end of the continuous area. Provided with display control means for controlling the video display device,
The control means controls the display control means to display a list of a plurality of thumbnail images recorded on the recording medium on the video display device,
4. The recording unit according to claim 1, wherein the continuous area securing unit controls the recording unit to record a management file storing information necessary for displaying a list of thumbnail images in a free area from which the continuous area has been released. The recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the threshold is a capacity of the management file.   6. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the recording medium is finalized, a part or all of the unused area in the continuous area is released to be a free area. The recording device according to item. An apparatus for recording moving image data,
Creating means for creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data;
Recording means for recording the moving image data and the thumbnail image data on a randomly accessible recording medium;
Control means for controlling the creating means and the recording means,
The recording apparatus controls the recording means to record thumbnail image data sequentially from the rear end of the recording medium. Provided with display control means for controlling the video display device,
The control means controls the display control means to display a list of a plurality of thumbnail images recorded on the recording medium on the video display device;
The control unit controls the recording unit to record a management file necessary for displaying a list of thumbnail images in the vicinity of the thumbnail images continuously recorded in order from the rear end of the recording medium. The recording apparatus according to claim 7. A method for recording moving image data,
A creation step of creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data;
A recording step of recording the moving image data and the thumbnail image data created in the creation step on a randomly accessible recording medium;
A continuous area securing step for securing a continuous area in which the plurality of thumbnail image data created in the creating step can be recorded on the recording medium;
A control step for controlling the creation step, the recording step, and a continuous area securing step;
The control step controls the recording step to record the thumbnail image data in the continuous area,
When the capacity of the free area of the recording medium becomes smaller than a threshold, the continuous area securing step is controlled so that a part or all of the unused area of the continuous area is released to be a free area. A characteristic recording method. A method for recording moving image data,
A creation step of creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data;
A recording step of recording the moving image data and the thumbnail image data on a randomly accessible recording medium;
A control step for controlling the creation step and the recording step,
The recording method, wherein the control step controls the recording step so that thumbnail image data is continuously recorded in order from the rear end of the recording medium. A program for causing a computer to execute a process of recording moving image data,
A creation step of creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data;
A recording step of recording the moving image data and the thumbnail image data created in the creation step on a randomly accessible recording medium;
A continuous area securing step for securing a continuous area in which the plurality of thumbnail image data created in the creating step can be recorded on the recording medium;
Causing the computer to execute a control step for controlling the creation step, the recording step, and the continuous area securing step;
The control step controls the recording step to record the thumbnail image data in the continuous area,
When the capacity of the free area of the recording medium becomes smaller than a threshold, the continuous area securing step is controlled so that a part or all of the unused area of the continuous area is released to be a free area. A featured program. A program for causing a computer to execute a process of recording moving image data,
A creation step of creating thumbnail image data of the moving image data;
A recording step of recording the moving image data and the thumbnail image data on a randomly accessible recording medium;
Causing the computer to execute a control step for controlling the creation step and the recording step;
The control step controls the recording step so that thumbnail image data is continuously recorded in order from the rear end of the recording medium.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 11 or 12.

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