JP2009253566A - Information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a video camera having two recording media based on conventional techniques that the recording of a decisive scene may be missed since it is uncertain which recording medium is subjected to recording in a mode to be activated upon power-on or it is uncertain whether the recording medium is recordable or not. <P>SOLUTION: The loaded state and the remaining amount of recording media are checked upon activation so that activation can be carried out a the state that video recording can be reliably carried out after power-on. In addition, a dedicated power-on button for carrying out activation after carrying out such a checking process is prepared. Thus, a user can absolutely record decisive scenes, thereby improving usability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

  As an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording / reproducing AV data on a plurality of recording media, for example, there is Patent Document 1.

  For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an information recording apparatus and an information recording method for recording information on a recording medium as soon as possible after power-on. Patent Document 2 shows an example in which information is recorded on the recording medium after the power is turned on until the information can be recorded on the recording medium.

JP 2005-182864 A JP 2003-303472 A

  In recent years, video cameras that employ disc media such as DVD and BD have appeared as recording media, and the recognition of optical disc cameras has increased due to the lack of worries about overwriting and the ease of playback and retrieval of recorded AV data. The market is expanding. In addition, the video / audio information recorded on the optical disc has the advantages that the quality does not deteriorate even when stored for a long period of time and can be easily carried. On the other hand, the recording capacity of an optical disc is not sufficient for recording AV data with a camera, particularly in the case of a DVD. For example, there is a disadvantage that only about 30 minutes of AV data can be recorded per DVD.

  By the way, the recording capacity of small hard disks has been increasing year by year, and so-called hard disk cameras have been introduced that employ hard disks as recording media for AV data. Since the hard disk has a larger recording capacity than the DVD, it has an advantage that it can record AV data for a long time. Furthermore, because of the large recording capacity, there is an advantage that higher quality AV data can be recorded than before. On the other hand, since hard disks are expensive, they are generally built into cameras. Therefore, unlike a DVD camera, it is not easy to carry recorded data. Even if the hard disk has a large capacity, the capacity is limited. Therefore, when the entire capacity is recorded, new AV data is recorded unless unnecessary AV data is deleted. It is not possible. That is, AV data recorded on the hard disk is not suitable for storage purposes.

Thus, a video camera equipped with a DVD, a hard disk, and two recording media can be considered. Such a video camera is often called a hybrid video camera. With this hybrid video camera, data recorded on the hard disk can be dubbed to a DVD or BD, and the advantages of both the maximum capacity of the hard disk and the ease of carrying and storing the DVD or BD are maximized. You can make use of it. On the other hand, since there are two recording media, there are disadvantages such as complicated operations for the user and it is difficult to know which recording medium is in a recordable mode. Particularly for video cameras, it is important how fast and how reliably they can shoot in order to capture unexpected shooting opportunities. At this time, the complexity of the operation as described above and the difficulty in understanding the recording mode were major issues.

In order to solve the above problem, for example, a special power switch different from a normal power switch is provided for a hybrid video camera, and when the power is turned on by the special power switch, Control means for checking the loaded state and the remaining capacity and starting in a mode in which photographed data can be reliably recorded is provided.

  According to the above means, for example, a hybrid video camera provided with a plurality of recording media is activated in a recordable mode among the plurality of recording media after the power is turned on. For this reason, the user does not miss the shooting chance that he or she has visited unexpectedly, which is convenient.

Problems, means, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by examples described later.

  An example of an embodiment suitable for carrying out the present invention will be described. A hybrid digital video camera (hereinafter also simply referred to as a video camera) having a hard disk as a recording / reproducing device and an optical disk drive capable of reading and writing BD (Blu-ray Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) is used. I will explain. The present invention can be applied to children's school events such as entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, athletic events and school performances, celebrations such as birthday parties and weddings, trips to resorts, and homes where there are small children. This is particularly effective in general video camera usage scenes such as daily life.

  In this embodiment, the case where the hard disk is built in the recording / reproducing apparatus will be described. However, the hard disk is not limited to the built-in type and may be detachable. If it is a detachable type, the data recorded on the hard disk can be carried, so it is easy to transfer the data to another device. The same effect can be obtained with a semiconductor memory or the like instead of the hard disk. The types of BD and DVD are not particularly limited. Moreover, it is not limited to BD and DVD, For example, other optical disks, such as HD (High Definition) -DVD, may be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to the combination of a hard disk and an optical disk, and may be a combination of a hard disk and a semiconductor memory, an optical disk and a semiconductor memory, for example. Of course, the number of recording media is not limited to two, and three or more recording media may exist.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an information recording / reproducing apparatus. A system control unit 101 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory and controls the entire system. Reference numeral 102 denotes an imaging element that images a subject, converts imaging information from an optical signal to an electrical signal, and converts an analog electrical signal to a digital signal. Reference numeral 103 denotes a video input / output terminal which inputs and outputs digital video signals compressed and expanded by the video compression / decompression unit 104. An audio input / output terminal 105 inputs / outputs a digital audio signal compressed / expanded by the audio compression / decompression unit 106. A multiplexing / separating unit 107 multiplexes the video compression data and the audio compression data output from the video compression / decompression unit 104 and the audio compression / decompression unit 106 to generate stream data, or converts the stream data into video compression data. Separated into audio compression data, each data is input to the video compression / decompression unit 104 and the audio compression / decompression unit 106.

  Reference numeral 109 denotes an optical disk loading unit which can be loaded in and removed from an optical disk 110 such as a BD or DVD. An optical disk driver unit 108 writes stream data and various information files generated by the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 107 via the system control unit 101 into the optical disk 110 in a predetermined format when recording AV data, or when reproducing AV data. The stream data and various information files recorded on the optical disc 110 are read out. Reference numeral 111 denotes a hard disk driver unit. When recording AV data, the stream data and various information files generated by the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 107 are written to the hard disk 112 in a predetermined format via the system control unit 101, or when reproducing AV data. The stream data and various information files recorded on the hard disk 112 are read out. Here, the video compression / decompression unit 104, the audio compression / decompression unit 106, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 107, the optical disk driver unit 108, and the hard disk driver unit 111 may be configured to execute hardware operations as a circuit. It is good also as a structure which memorize | stores as a program in the control part 101, and performs a process like software. On the optical disc 110 and the hard disc 112, a file obtained by digitally compressing the amount of AV data such as video information and audio information, management information of the AV data, and the like are recorded.

  A communication unit 113 performs communication processing with other devices such as an information processing apparatus via a communication input / output terminal 114.

  Reference numeral 115 denotes a monitor unit, which is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) such as a menu of the recording / reproducing apparatus 100, video information input by the image sensor 102 during recording, or video information reproduced from a DVD or a hard disk during reproduction. Is displayed.

  The power supply unit 116 supplies power for driving the recording / reproducing apparatus such as a battery for driving the apparatus and an AC power supply.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power switch in the hybrid video camera. FIG. 2A shows an example in which there are “OFF” and “ON” as power switches, and there is no power switch for each recording medium. FIG. 3 shows a startup sequence of the hybrid video camera having such a power switch. FIG. 3 shows the operation when the power switch is turned “ON” in FIG.

  First, in step S300, information on the mode that was last activated is called. This information is assumed to be stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) provided in the system control unit 101, for example. For example, when a video camera is used last time, a mode for recording on a hard disk is used, and when the power is turned off in that mode, information indicating that is stored in the RAM. Similarly, when the mode for recording on the optical disk is used last time and the power is turned off in this mode, information indicating that is stored in the RAM. Next, in step S301, if the read mode information is a hard disk, the process proceeds to step S302. If not, the process proceeds to step S303. Steps S302 and S303 perform hard disk and BD / DVD startup processing, respectively. Here, the activation process refers to recording of data on a specified recording medium after confirming execution of various hardware initialization processes, whether or not a recording medium is loaded, whether or not recording is possible, remaining capacity, and the like. The video camera is activated in a possible state and waits for the shooting button to be pressed. As described above, since the power switch has only “OFF” and “ON” in FIG. 2A, the recording medium to be activated is determined based on the information of the previously activated mode as in the flow of FIG. Then, it is determined in which mode to start. Of course, it may always be started on the specific recording medium side regardless of the mode information started last time. In the example of FIG. 2A, the recording medium is switched to the other recording medium by further moving the switch in the arrow direction while the power switch is “ON”. In this case, the video camera remembers which mode it was last activated in, but the user often forgets which mode it was activated in. Furthermore, it is rare that the user remembers how much remaining capacity each recording medium has.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2B is an example in which there is a switch for each recording medium in addition to “OFF” as the power switch. In this case, since which recording medium is to be activated at the time of activation is designated by the switch, the previous activation mode information calling process as in step S300 in FIG. 3 is not required. For this reason, the user can specify which recording medium to start, but even in this case, there are few examples that remember the remaining capacity of each recording medium. Therefore, for example, there is a case where the BD / DVD is started on the optical disc side, but the disc is not loaded, or even if the disc is loaded, there is no remaining capacity and recording is not possible.

  Therefore, in the present invention, a special power switch for starting up in a state where photographing can be performed reliably when the power is turned on is prepared. This switch is referred to as a “certain photographing button” in the following description. In addition, starting the camera while the certain photographing button is pressed is referred to as “certain photographing mode”. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an installation example of the certain photographing button. 4-a is added to FIG. 2-a, and FIG. 4-b is added to FIG. 2-b.

  FIG. 5 is a processing flow example when the hybrid video camera including the power switch of FIG.

  In FIG. 5, when the activation process of the video camera system is started, first, in step S500, it is determined whether or not the sure shooting button has been pressed. In other words, this is a process for determining whether the activation is a normal activation or a certain imaging mode. If it is determined in step S500 that the certain photographing button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S501, and activation processing in the certain photographing mode is executed. Details of this will be described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S500 that the certain photographing button has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S502, and normal startup processing is executed. Since this process is the same as the process shown as step S301 to step S303 in FIG. 3, a detailed description thereof is omitted. As described above, in the hybrid video camera of the present invention, the process of starting in the sure shooting mode or starting normally is switched depending on whether or not the sure shooting button in FIG. 4 is pressed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a startup process flow of the sure photographing mode in step S501. In FIG. 6, first, in step S600, it is determined whether or not recording on the HDD is possible. Judgment of whether recording is possible on the HDD covers all conditions related to recording to the HDD, such as when recording is impossible due to physical destruction or when recording capacity is full. And As a result, if it is determined that recording to the HDD is possible, the HDD activation process in step S302 is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S600 that recording on the HDD is impossible, the process proceeds to step S602, where it is determined whether an optical disk is loaded in the optical disk drive, that is, whether a BD or DVD is loaded. If a BD / DVD is loaded, the process advances to step S603 to determine whether the loaded disk can be recorded. Here, the judgment as to whether or not recording is possible on the BD / DVD is not possible due to physical destruction or due to dirt such as fingerprints attached or when the recording capacity is full and cannot be recorded. In this case, all conditions relating to recording on a BD / DVD will be covered. If it is determined that recording onto the BD / DVD is possible, the process proceeds to step S303, and the BD / DVD activation process is executed. On the other hand, if no BD / DVD is loaded in step S602 and if it is determined in step S603 that recording on a BD / DVD is impossible, the process proceeds to step S604. In step S604, a warning sound is sounded. This warning sound is intended to inform the user that the user has tried to start the camera in the reliable shooting mode but cannot start the camera in the reliable shooting mode because neither HDD nor BD / DVD can be recorded. However, if this purpose can be achieved, it is not always necessary to sound a warning sound. For example, a message indicating that the camera could not be started in the reliable photographing mode may be displayed on the monitor unit 115. After the warning sound is sounded in step S604, it is impossible to start in the reliable photographing mode, so the normal starting process in step S300 is executed. At this time, if you start up on the HDD side, messages such as “Cannot record to this HDD” or “HDD capacity is full” will be displayed. If you start up on the BD / DVD side, “Please insert BD / DVD” If a message such as “Cannot record on BD / DVD. Replace the disc” is displayed, it is convenient.

  As described above, the activation in the certain photographing mode is executed by the processing described above, and the user can perform photographing more reliably than in the past immediately after the power is turned on. For this reason, it is not easy to take a picture even with a shooting opportunity that occurs unexpectedly, which is convenient.

  In the example of FIG. 6, an example is shown in which it is determined in step S600 whether or not recording is possible on the HDD. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and whether or not BD / DVD can be recorded is determined first. good. However, because of the large capacity and the usability of the video camera, the user often records in the HDD. Therefore, it is more convenient to configure so that priority is given to whether or not recording is possible in the HDD.

  Although the combination of the HDD and the BD / DVD has been described here, the present invention is not limited to this as described at the beginning. For example, a combination of a semiconductor memory and a BD / DVD is also conceivable. In this case, the HDD in this embodiment is replaced with a semiconductor memory, and the user may record in the semiconductor memory in terms of capacity and usability of the video camera. For this reason, it is more convenient to use a configuration in which priority is given to checking whether data can be recorded in the semiconductor memory. Further, for example, a combination of an HDD and a semiconductor memory is also conceivable. In this case, either the priority can be checked for recording in the HDD or the priority can be checked for recording in the semiconductor memory. As an example, when the HDD is built-in and the semiconductor memory is detachable, priority is given to the HDD, and when the semiconductor memory is built-in and the HDD is detachable, priority is given to the semiconductor memory. This is because there is a usage method in which the user records the captured video information on a built-in recording medium, and then dubbes and stores it on a removable recording medium.

  In addition, the activation process flow of the reliable photographing mode has been described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. At this time, the video camera may be activated as a certain photographing mode by simply pressing the certain photographing button in FIG. 4-a, or the certain photographing mode can be performed by turning on the upper power switch while depressing the certain photographing button. You may start as. On the other hand, in FIG. 4-b, the video camera may be activated as a certain photographing mode by simply pressing the certain photographing button as in FIG. 4-a. Or BD / DVD may be activated as a sure shooting mode. At this time, even if the power switch is in the HDD or BD / DVD, it is convenient to check the remaining capacity of the recording medium as in FIG. Of course, it may be started on the premise of recording on the HDD side as shown in FIG. 6 regardless of the position of the power switch, or the priority recording medium may be changed depending on the position of the power switch. For example, if the position of the power switch is set to the BD / DVD side while pressing the certain shooting button, the loading status of the BD / DVD is checked first, and if it is loaded, the remaining capacity is checked and recorded. If possible, the BD / DVD activation process may be executed. If the BD / DVD is not loaded or there is no remaining capacity, the HDD activation process may be executed if recording is impossible. .

  As described above, by using the certain shooting button, the user can activate the video camera in a state where recording can be performed reliably without remembering which recording medium was last activated and the remaining capacity of the recording medium. it can. As a result, it is not easy to miss a shooting opportunity that occurs unexpectedly, which is convenient. The unexpected photo opportunity is, for example, a scene where my child has stood up for the first time, or a scene where it is difficult to predict in advance such as an incident or accident.

  Some video cameras have a function of shifting to a recordable state immediately. In many cases, they shift from a state in which the video camera is activated to a sleep state. The sleep state appears to the user as if the power is OFF, but in reality, power is supplied to the user although the power is lower than when the power is ON. The decisive difference between this function and the present invention is that the former is a return operation from the sleep state, while the latter is a start-up operation from the power-off state. The former is effective, for example, for taking pictures of shooting opportunities that come afterwards, such as “Do not miss when my child comes in” at a sports day, etc. Because it is intense, it is not suitable for daily life. On the other hand, the latter is effective when photographing a photographing opportunity that does not know when it occurs, for example, a scene in which my child suddenly grabs and stands for the first time in daily life. In this case, naturally, the power of the video camera is in an OFF state, and it is important that the video camera can be started as soon as possible and that shooting can be performed reliably. The present invention satisfies the requirements.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, an example in which a reliable photographing button is provided in addition to a normal power switch has been described. However, such a button is not necessarily provided, and the same effect as the embodiment of the present invention can be obtained by other methods. For example, a method of pressing in combination with existing buttons is conceivable. That is, a combination of button operations such as turning on the power switch while pressing the selection key or pressing the right of the selection key and the recording button at the same time may be used.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the certain photographing button is provided in the set, or the certain button is activated in the certain photographing mode using the existing button. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be selected from the menu screen whether to start in the reliable shooting mode. That is, when the user has set the certain shooting mode to “ON” from the menu screen, the video camera of this embodiment is controlled to start in the certain shooting mode. At this time, it is not necessary to operate the certain photographing button at all. In addition, when the certain photographing mode is set to “OFF” from the menu screen, for example, it may be controlled to start based on the mode information at the time of starting last time. With the configuration as described above, it is possible to start in the reliable shooting mode without newly providing a button in the set, and it is easy to use.

Further, the embodiment of the present invention has been described that when the camera is activated in the reliable shooting mode, the processing of the flow shown in FIG. 6 is performed to activate the video camera in a state where recording can be performed reliably. However, when the power is turned off, a simulation of the processing of the flow shown in FIG. 6 is performed in advance. If the next activation is a certain imaging mode activation, whether the HDD activation processing in step S302 is executed or whether Whether the BD / DVD start-up process is executed or whether the warning sound in step S604 is sounded can be stored in the RAM. In this way, if the next activation is the activation in the reliable shooting mode, the video camera can be activated in a state where it can be recorded more quickly and reliably by executing the processing stored in the RAM. Easy to use. In addition, while the power is turned off, it is monitored whether the HDD has not been replaced (when the HDD is removable) and whether the DVD or BD has not been replaced. 6 is executed, and if one of them is exchanged, it is more reliable to execute the process of the flow shown in FIG. 6 when the process is started in the reliable photographing mode. .

Block diagram of recording / playback device Diagram showing an example of the power switch of a hybrid video camera Diagram showing an example of the startup flow of a hybrid video camera Diagram showing an installation example of the reliable shooting button of a hybrid video camera A diagram showing an example of the startup flow of a hybrid video camera with a reliable shooting button A diagram showing an example of the startup flow when a certain shooting button is pressed in a hybrid video camera

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Information recording / reproducing apparatus, 101 ... System control part, 102 ... Image pick-up element, 103 ... Video input / output terminal, 104 ... Video compression / expansion part, 105 ... Audio | voice input / output terminal, 106 ... Audio compression / expansion part, 107 ... Multiplex / Separating section 108 ... Optical disk driver section 109 109 Optical disk loading section 110 Optical disk 111 Hard disk driver section 112 Hard disk 113 Communication section 114 Communication input / output terminal 115 Monitor section 116 Power supply section

Claims (15)

An information recording / reproducing apparatus having an image pickup element and audio input means, mounting a plurality of recording media and recording video / audio information on the recording media,
Recording means for recording the video information input from the image sensor and the audio information input from the audio input means as stream data on the first recording medium or the second recording medium;
Reproducing means for reproducing the stream data recorded on the first and second recording media;
Loading state monitoring means for monitoring loading states of the first and second recording media;
Recording capacity monitoring means for monitoring the recording capacity of the first and second recording media;
Based on the information obtained from the loading state monitoring means and the recording capacity monitoring means when the power is turned on, the recording medium is loaded into a plurality of recording media and the remaining capacity of the recording medium is sufficient. Check
An information recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the system is started in a state in which stream data can be recorded on a recording medium determined as a result of the confirmation that the recording medium is loaded and the remaining capacity of the recording medium is sufficient. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
An information recording / reproducing apparatus comprising user operation means for starting a system based on the recording medium determination result. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2,
Operation monitoring means for monitoring that a user operation means for starting the system based on the recording medium determination result is operated;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein when the operation monitoring means detects an operation, the system is activated based on the recording medium determination result. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 3,
A predetermined user operation monitoring means for monitoring that a combination with an operation means other than the user operation means or a combination of a plurality of operation means other than the user operation means is operated;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein when the predetermined user operation monitoring means detects an operation, the system is activated based on the recording medium determination result. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
Having an audio output means for outputting audio;
When performing system startup based on the recording medium determination result,
An information recording / reproducing apparatus that outputs a predetermined warning sound from the audio output means when it is determined that recording is impossible for any of a plurality of recording media mounted on the information recording / reproducing apparatus. Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting video information;
Recording means for recording video information output from the imaging means on any of a plurality of recording media;
First operating means for operating the recording means to start in a state of recording on a recording medium designated by a user among the plurality of recording media;
Confirmation means for confirming to which of the plurality of recording media the recording means can record video information;
Second operating means for operating the recording means to start in a state of recording in a recording medium that is confirmed to be recordable by the confirmation means among the plurality of recording media;
When the first operation means is operated, the recording means starts in a state of recording on a recording medium designated by the user among the plurality of recording media, and when the second operation means is operated, Control means for controlling the recording means to start in a state of recording in a recording medium that is confirmed to be recordable by the confirmation means among the plurality of recording media;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6.
The first operation means can specify a recording medium on which video information is recorded by a user at the time of activation,
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6.
A storage means for storing a recording medium designated by the user and currently selected when the power is turned off;
The control unit is activated in a state of recording in a recording medium stored in the storage unit when the first operation unit is operated;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. In any of claims 6 to 8,
The second operation means is operated by combining the first operation means and the operation means that is not operated at the time of activation by the first operation means but is operated for other than activation after activation. Being manipulated,
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. In any of claims 6 to 9,
The plurality of recording media include a hard disk and an optical disk;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. In any of claims 6 to 9,
The plurality of recording media include a semiconductor memory and an optical disc;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. In any of claims 6 to 9,
The plurality of recording media include a semiconductor memory and a hard disk;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. In any of claims 6 to 12,
The plurality of recording media includes a specific recording medium,
The control means is activated in a state of recording on the specific recording medium when the confirmation means confirms that the recording can be performed on the specific recording medium when the second operating means is operated. And when the confirmation unit confirms that recording on the specific recording medium is impossible, the identification unit confirmed to be recordable by the confirmation unit among the plurality of recording media. Control to start in a state of recording on a recording medium other than the recording medium;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. In claim 13,
The specific recording medium is a hard disk;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus. In claim 13,
The specific recording medium is a semiconductor memory;
An information recording / reproducing apparatus.

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