JP2010182240A - Recording device and memory check method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device, capable of reducing the time between start-up and use start by selectively performing memory check to only a memory to be used from now. <P>SOLUTION: The recording and reproduction device 10 includes a recording medium 14 composed of a plurality of memories, a recording medium control part 13 which controls recording of data to the recording medium 14, and a system control part 15 which stores management information related to the device 10. The recording medium control part 13 selects, based on the management information stored in the system control part 15, a memory to be used from the plurality of memories constituting the recording medium 14, and performs memory check only to the selected memory. For example, the recording medium control part 13 checks for no record or not with respect to the plurality of memories based on the management information, and selects a memory determined to have no record as the memory to be used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording device and a memory check method, and more particularly to a recording device capable of recording recording data in a memory such as a volatile memory and a memory check method using the recording device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording device that records recording data in a memory typified by a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), a memory check is performed on the installed memory at startup. It is confirmed whether or not it works normally.

  In the recording device as described above, with the increase in resolution of the recording data, the installed memory is also increasing in capacity, and if all memory checks are performed on the installed memory at startup, the memory check time is, for example, There were cases where it took several tens of seconds to several minutes. During this time, the user will wait without being able to operate the recording device.

  On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 includes storage means for designating at least one memory area among a plurality of memory areas individualized for each function, and whether or not there is an abnormality only in the designated memory area A data processing apparatus for determining the above is described.

  Further, Patent Document 2 has a non-volatile storage unit in which area information of a volatile memory area required at the time of system startup is stored, and only a volatile memory area required for starting a system program after power-on. In contrast, an image forming apparatus that performs a memory check is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-171349 JP 2007-140920 A

  However, it is preferable to perform the memory check with priority on the memory to be used at the time of startup from the viewpoint of the efficiency of the memory check time and the reliability of the memory. The memory check is performed only for a predetermined memory, and the memory check is not configured from the above viewpoint.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by selectively performing a memory check only on the memory to be used in the future, it is possible to reduce the time taken from the start to the start of use. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device and a memory check method using the recording device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first technical means is a recording device that includes a first memory means including a plurality of memories, and records recording data in the first memory means, Based on the second memory means for storing the management information related to the device and the management information stored in the second memory means, the use is scheduled from among the plurality of memories constituting the first memory means. And a memory check means for performing a memory check only on the selected memory.

  The second technical means is the first technical means, wherein the second memory means is a setting indicating whether or not the management information is unrecorded in a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means. Information is stored, and the memory selection means selects a memory determined to be unrecorded by the setting information as a memory to be used.

  According to a third technical means, in the first technical means, the second memory means records or performs a recording operation or reproduction of the recording device with respect to a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means as the management information. Setting information indicating whether or not to be used for an operation is stored, and the memory selecting unit uses a memory determined to be used for a recording operation or a reproduction operation based on the setting information as a memory to be used. It is characterized by selection.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the first technical means, the second memory means stores, as the management information, a time required for a recording operation from start to end of the recording device as operation history information, The memory selection means estimates a recording operation scheduled time required for a recording operation based on the operation history information, calculates a necessary memory capacity from the estimated recording operation scheduled time, and stores a memory corresponding to the calculated memory capacity. Is selected as the memory to be used.

  According to a fifth technical means, in the fourth technical means, the scheduled recording operation time is a time required for a previous recording operation, an average value or a median value of a time required for a past recording operation, and recording within a predetermined period. It is one of the maximum values of time required for operation.

  A sixth technical means is the first technical means, wherein the second memory means stores information relating to recording reservation of the recording device as the management information, and the memory selecting means is information relating to the recording reservation. Based on the above, the memory capacity required for the recording reservation is calculated, and the memory for the calculated memory capacity is selected as the memory scheduled to be used.

  A seventh technical means is the first technical means, wherein the second memory means has, as the management information, error information based on a memory check history of the recording device, or error information at the time of reproducing recorded data. And the memory selection means selects the memory to be used on the basis of the error information.

  An eighth technical means is the first technical means, wherein the second memory means indicates whether or not the management information is unrecorded in a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means. 1 setting information, 2nd setting information indicating whether or not a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means are used for a recording operation or a reproduction operation of the recording device, and the recording device Operation history information indicating the time required for the recording operation from start to end, information on the recording reservation of the recording device, error information based on the memory check history of the recording device or error information at the time of reproduction of already recorded data, At least one of the first setting information, the second setting information, the operation history information, the information related to the recording reservation, and the error information. Based on one, it is obtained by and selects the memory that the use is scheduled.

  A ninth technical means sets priority for the first setting information, the second setting information, the operation history information, the recording reservation information, and the error information in the eighth technical means. The memory selection unit selects the memory to be used according to the priority so that the memory check by the memory check unit is completed within a predetermined time.

  In a tenth technical means according to any one of the first to ninth technical means, when the memory selected by the memory selecting means is unrecorded, the memory checking means The memory check is performed by writing and reading data and determining whether or not the matching portion of the write and read data is equal to or higher than a predetermined ratio.

  In an eleventh technical means according to any one of the first to ninth technical means, when the data has been recorded in the memory selected by the memory selecting means, the memory checking means stores the data in the recorded memory. On the other hand, data is read, and a memory check is performed by determining whether or not the matching portion between the recorded data and the read data is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio.

  A twelfth technical means comprises a first memory means and a second memory means, and is a memory check method by a recording device for recording recorded data in the first memory means, wherein the second memory A memory selection step of selecting a memory to be used from among a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means based on management information relating to the recording device stored in the means; and And a memory check step for performing a memory check only on the memory check step.

  According to the present invention, by performing a memory check selectively only on the memory to be used from now on, it is possible to reduce the time taken from the start to the start of use, and the memory to be used in the near future. Reliability can be ensured.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the video recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the memory disk using SDRAM which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the memory disk using SDRAM which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the memory disk using SDRAM which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the memory disk using SDRAM which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the memory disk using SDRAM which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the memory disk using SDRAM which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the memory selection method by the video recording / reproducing apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the memory selection method by the video recording / reproducing apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the memory selection method by the video recording / reproducing apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the memory selection method by the video recording / reproducing apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the memory selection method by the video recording / reproducing apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the memory selection method by the video recording / reproducing apparatus of this invention. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the memory selection method by the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, and is a continuation of the flow of FIG. 13.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a recording device and a memory check method using the recording device according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, an outline of a recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described by taking a recording / reproducing apparatus having a reproducing function as an example. However, in the present invention, the playback function is not essential, and the configuration as a recording / playback device is not limited to the configuration illustrated below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording / playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a recording / playback device. The recording / playback device 10 includes a data input / output processing unit 11, a recording / playback processing unit 12, a recording medium control unit 13, a recording medium 14, and a system control unit 15. The system control unit 15 includes a recording reservation management unit 15a, an operation history management unit 15b, a memory error management unit 15c, and a control CPU 15d. In the following, a configuration for receiving a digital broadcast will be described as a representative example, but it goes without saying that a configuration for receiving an analog broadcast may be used.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is provided with a recording medium 14 corresponding to the first memory means which is the main feature of the present invention. As the recording medium 14, for example, a plurality of volatile memories or nonvolatile memories can be applied. In the following description, a volatile memory will be described as a representative example. A recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a memory disk) 14 is connected to the recording medium control unit 13 based on, for example, an ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) standard, a SATA (Serial ATA) standard, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) standard, or the like. . The function as the recording medium control unit 13 may be realized by a file system controller in the memory disk 14 to be described later, or may be realized by the system control unit 15. When the function of the recording medium control unit 13 is realized by a file system controller, the recording medium control unit 13 is connected to the system control unit 15 based on the above standard.

  The recording / playback device 10 is, for example, a memory disk recorder with a built-in digital tuner, a memory disk integrated BD recorder or DVD recorder, or a memory disk recorder with an externally connectable digital tuner or a memory disk integrated BD recorder or DVD recorder. It can be configured as appropriate.

  The data input / output processing unit 11 is equipped with a portable recording medium such as a tuner for receiving digital broadcasting, a BD (Blu-ray Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc., and inputs / outputs data (write / read). An input / output interface (input / output I / F) to be performed is included, and data input via the tuner and the input / output I / F is output to the recording / playback processing unit 12. The data input / output processing unit 11 includes a display output unit and an audio output unit, and the display output unit outputs video data input from the recording / playback processing unit 12 to an externally connected display device (not shown). The audio output unit outputs the audio data input from the recording / playback processing unit 12 to an externally connected speaker (not shown).

  The recording / playback processing unit 12 includes a decoder that decodes the data input from the data input / output processing unit 11 or the data read from the recording medium 14 into video data that can be displayed and output and audio data that is synchronized therewith.

  In addition, the recording / playback processing unit 12 dequantizes the compression-encoded data, changes the quantization step (also referred to as a quantization width, a quantization scale, a quantization coefficient, etc.) and re-quantizes it, A transcoder, which is an example of compression means for performing compression processing, is included. This transcoder compresses the data input from the data input / output processing unit 11 or the data read from the memory disk 14 (input bit stream) without changing the standard, and converts the compressed data (output bit stream). Output. The transcoder also converts TS (Transport Stream) data of MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) -2 standard to H.264. It is also possible to convert into TS data of H.264 / AVC (Advanced Video Coding) standard. Since the compression process itself may be executed based on the adopted standard, details thereof will not be described.

  Data input to the transcoder includes broadcast content data received via a tuner or downloaded via a network, content data recorded on a portable recording medium such as a BD input from an input / output I / F, Data of content read from the memory disk 14 can be mentioned. Therefore, the transcoder compresses the broadcast content data received by the tuner included in the data input / output processing unit 11 and outputs the compressed data to the data input / output processing unit 11 for recording on a portable recording medium such as a BD. Alternatively, the data input / output processing unit 11 outputs the data to the memory disk 14 for recording in the storage area of the memory disk 14 or compresses the data read from the memory disk 14 and records the data on a portable recording medium such as a BD. Or data read from a portable recording medium such as a BD can be compressed and output for recording on the memory disk 14.

  As described above, the recording / playback apparatus 10 records the compressed data compressed by the recording / playback processing unit 12 on a portable recording medium such as a BD or the like on the memory disk 14 via the data input / output processing unit 11. Can be.

  An encoder may be provided instead of the above transcoder. According to the encoder, the compression-encoded data can be re-encoded and recorded after decoding. In other words, an encoder capable of variable bit rate control may be provided, and data decoded by the decoder may be re-encoded by the encoder. When the recording / playback device 10 is configured to be able to receive an analog broadcast and the received analog broadcast program is recorded, the encoder capable of variable bit rate control encodes and encodes the analog demodulated signal demodulated by the tuner. Data may be converted into a format suitable for recording (for example, a program stream) and recorded on a portable recording medium such as the memory disk 14 or BD.

  The system control unit 15 includes a control CPU 15d for controlling the entire apparatus, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The system control unit 15 includes second memory means for storing management information related to the recording / playback device 10. The second memory means includes a recording reservation management unit 15a for storing information related to recording reservation of the recording / reproducing device 10, and an operation history management for storing time required for the recording operation from the start of the recording / reproducing device 10 as operation history information. And a memory error management unit 15c that stores at least one of error information based on the memory check history of the recording / playback device 10 or error information when the recorded data is played back.

  Further, the second memory means includes first setting information indicating whether or not recording is performed on a plurality of memories constituting the memory disk 14 and a recording / playback device for the plurality of memories constituting the memory disk 14. And second setting information indicating whether or not to use for 10 recording operations or reproduction operations. That is, the second memory means stores these first setting information, second setting information, operation history information, information related to recording reservation, and error information as management information.

  The memory disk 14 is a device for recording recording data and the like, and more specifically, records not only the recording data but also management data for managing the recording data. This management data usually includes information such as the recording data title and recording time, and information such as the recording data storage area.

  In the following embodiments, an example in which SDRAM is used as a volatile memory will be described. However, other types of DRAM and other volatile memories such as pseudo SRAM (Pseudo Static RAM) can be adopted. Examples of other types of DRAM include various types such as DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, and DDR4 SDRAM.

  In addition, the volatile memories having a common memory controller are all of the same type (the same standard as illustrated in the SDRAM, but the storage capacities may be different), but different volatile memories are of different types. May be adopted. For example, one memory controller may be equipped with DDR2, and the other memory controller may be equipped with DDR3.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a memory disk using the SDRAM according to one embodiment of the present invention. The memory disk 14 shown in FIG. 2 includes a file system controller 141, a memory controller 142, and SDRAMs 143a to 143l. In this example, the SDRAMs 143a to 143l are controlled for one memory controller 142, but a plurality of memory controllers may be used.

  The file system controller 141 controls a file system in which a storage area is configured by all SDRAMs. More specifically, the SDRAMs 143a to 143l are controlled by the memory controller 142 to read and write data (read / write). The memory controller 142 is controlled by the file system controller 141 to read and write data. That is, the memory controller 142 controls reading and writing of data with respect to the SDRAMs 143a to 143l based on the control from the file system controller 141.

  The memory disk 14 is supplied with power from an AC (alternating current) power supply, but in order to prevent data from being lost when the power supply is cut off, such as during a power failure or when the power cord is disconnected, A backup power source such as a storage battery (battery) may be provided.

  The main feature of the present invention is that the time required from the start to the start of use can be shortened by selectively performing a memory check only on the memory to be used. As a configuration for this, the recording / playback device 10 includes a memory selection unit that selects a memory to be used from a plurality of SDRAMs based on management information stored in the system control unit 15, and a selected memory. And a memory check means for performing a memory check only on. These memory selection means and memory check means correspond to the above-described recording medium control unit 13, but the function as the recording medium control unit 13 may be realized by the memory disk file system controller 141, and the system control unit 15 It may be realized by the control CPU 15d.

  That is, the recording / playback device 10 includes setting information in the recording / playback device 10, time (operation history) information required for previous recording operations, information on scheduled recordings in the future, error information based on memory check history, and existing information. Based on the error information at the time of reproducing the recorded data, the memory check is performed only for the selected memory area among the SDRAMs 143a to 143l.

(First embodiment)
Here, the case where the memory check is selectively performed based on the setting information in the recording / playback device 10 will be described separately in the following cases (1) and (2).
(1) The recording / playback device 10 includes first determination means for determining whether or not recording has been performed on the plurality of SDRAMs 143a to 143l based on the first setting information stored in the system control unit 15. This first determination means corresponds to the recording medium control unit 13 or the control CPU 15. The recording medium control unit 13 selects a memory area determined to be unrecorded by the first determination unit as a memory area to be used, and performs a memory check only on the selected memory area.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the SDRAMs 143a to 143f are recorded memory areas, no memory check is performed. Since the SDRAMs 143g to 143l are unrecorded memory areas, they are selected as memory areas to be used for recording in the future, and a memory check is performed. As the memory check, for example, the recording medium control unit 13 writes / reads data to / from an unrecorded memory area, and determines whether or not the coincidence portion between the written and read data is equal to or higher than a predetermined ratio. . At this time, the memory area where the data matching portion is less than the predetermined ratio is stored in the memory error management unit 15c as having an error. Note that the memory determined as an error by this memory check is not used.

  In addition, as a specific method of the memory check, as described above, data writing and reading may be checked, or an unused memory area (a memory area in which no content or the like is recorded) Write a test pattern (for example, in the case of a continuous memory cell in 8-bit units, a pattern in which bits are inverted to 55 (h), AA (h), 55 (h), AA (h),...) Alternatively, a memory check that only reads this test pattern may be performed. As a result, in future recording, it is possible to avoid a recording failure due to a memory failure in advance while shortening the time required from the power activation to the start of use.

(2) The recording / playback device 10 determines whether or not the plurality of SDRAMs 143a to 143l are used for the recording operation or the playback operation based on the second setting information stored in the system control unit 15. Two determination means are provided. This second determination means corresponds to the recording medium control unit 13 or the control CPU 15. The recording medium control unit 13 selects the memory area that is determined to be used for the recording operation or the reproduction operation by the second determination unit as the memory area that is scheduled to be used, and the memory is stored only in the selected memory area. Check.

  Specifically, when the memory usage area is smaller than the memory size that can actually be used, for example, the memory is used for the time shift operation, and the memory capacity used for the time shift operation can be recorded in the memory. When the capacity is smaller than the capacity, the memory check is performed only for the memory area used for the time shift operation. Thereby, in future time-shift recording, it is possible to avoid in advance a recording failure due to a memory failure while shortening the time taken from the start of power supply to the start of use.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the SDRAMs 143a to 143f are recorded memory areas, and the SDRAMs 143i to 143l are unrecorded memory areas. Therefore, no memory check is performed. Further, since the SDRAMs 143g and 143h are memory areas used for time shift recording, they are selected as memory areas to be used for recording in the future, and a memory check is performed.

  In addition, playback after power-on of the recording / playback device 10 is set (for example, repeat playback of recorded content), and only memory required for repeat playback (memory area where playback content is recorded) is stored in memory. A check may be performed. As a result, in repeated playback of recorded content, etc., the user can know in advance whether playback cannot be performed due to memory failure or playback image quality is degraded due to deterioration of recorded data, while shortening the time taken from power activation to start of use. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, since the SDRAMs 143a to 143c are recorded memory areas and the SDRAMs 143h to 143l are unrecorded memory areas, no memory check is performed. Since the SDRAMs 143d to 143g are recorded memory areas in which repeat reproduction is set, they are selected as memory areas to be used for reproduction in the future, and a memory check is performed.

  However, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 5, when the memory check is performed, the recorded memory is the target, so the write check is not performed and only the read check is performed. That is, the recording medium control unit 13 reads data from the recorded memory, and determines whether or not the coincident portion between the recorded data and the read data is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. At this time, in the same manner as described above, the memory area where the data matching portion is less than the predetermined ratio is stored in the memory error management unit 15c as having an error.

(Second Embodiment)
Here, a case will be described in which the memory check is selectively performed based on the time information required for the previous recording operation of the recording / playback device 10.
The recording / playback device 10 includes an operation history management unit 15b that stores, as operation history information, the time required for the recording operation performed by the user from when the power of the recording / playback device 10 is turned on to when the power is turned off. Based on the operation history information stored in the operation history management unit 15b, the recording medium control unit 13 estimates the recording operation scheduled time required for the recording operation by the user at the next power-on, and is necessary from this scheduled recording operation time. A memory area corresponding to the calculated memory capacity is selected as a memory area to be used, and a memory check is performed only on this memory area.

  For example, if the user has been recording for 1 hour after the power is turned on in the last past, the memory check is performed only for the memory area corresponding to the memory capacity necessary for this 1 hour recording. Of course, the memory area for performing the memory check may be set based on the average value, median value of the past recording time, the maximum value within a certain period (for example, the longest recording time in the most recent month), and the like.

(Third embodiment)
Here, a case will be described in which a memory check is selectively performed based on information related to a scheduled recording reservation of the recording / playback device 10 in the future.
The recording / reproducing apparatus 10 includes a recording reservation management unit 15a that stores information related to recording reservation (recording reservation setting information) when recording a program content such as a TV program. The recording medium control unit 13 calculates a memory capacity necessary for the recording reservation based on the recording reservation setting information stored in the recording reservation management unit 15a, and the memory area corresponding to the calculated memory capacity is scheduled to be used. A memory area is selected and a memory check is performed only for this memory area.

  The recording medium control unit 13 determines a memory area to be reserved for recording reservation based on the recording reservation setting information. Specifically, in the case of direct recording in which program content is recorded as it is without converting the bit rate, the memory capacity to be used is calculated based on the bit rate information and recording time of the scheduled recording program, and this memory capacity The memory area corresponding to is determined. In the case of bit rate conversion recording, the recording mode set in the recording / playback device 10 (for example, SXP, XP, SP, LP, long time (2 times, 3 times, 5 times, manual), etc.) The memory capacity to be secured is calculated from the above information and the recording time of the scheduled recording program, and a memory area corresponding to this memory capacity is determined. Then, the recording medium control unit 13 performs a memory check only on the determined memory area. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a reservation failure due to a memory failure in advance while shortening the time taken from the start of power supply to the start of use.

  Note that the recording reservation setting information described above may refer to all information, for example, by referring to information only on the day when the power is turned on or information limited to the last two days or one week. A memory area to be reserved for reservation may be determined.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the SDRAMs 143a to 143f are recorded memory areas, and the SDRAMs 143i to 143l are unrecorded memory areas. Since the SDRAMs 143g and 143h are memory areas used for recording reservation, they are selected as memory areas to be used for recording in the future, and a memory check is performed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, SDRAMs 143a to 143d are recorded memory areas, SDRAMs 143h to 143j are unrecorded memory areas scheduled to be used for scheduled recording from tomorrow, and 143k and 143l are unrecorded memory areas. No check is made. Also, since the SDRAMs 143e to 143g are unrecorded memory areas that are scheduled to be used for scheduled recording today, they are selected as memory areas to be used for future recording and a memory check is performed.

  How to refer to the recording reservation setting information may be a fixed setting, a setting that can be changed by the user's selection, or a history / pattern (day of the week, time) in which the user uses the recording / playback device 10 When the information is stored in the recording reservation management unit 15a, the setting may be automatically changed based on the information. For example, when the user operates the recording / playback device 10 when there are many program reservations on weekdays and there are many opportunities to play back the recorded program on the weekend, there is a possibility that the recording operation will be performed immediately when the power is turned on for the first time on the weekend. Estimated to be relatively low. Therefore, at the beginning of the weekend, the memory area for memory check is reduced or not executed at all, and the recording / playback device 10 is turned on. When the power is turned on near the end of the weekend, In preparation for the recording reservation setting, a memory check may be performed on a memory area reserved for reserved recording.

(Fourth embodiment)
Here, a case will be described in which a memory check is selectively performed based on error information based on a memory check history and error information when reproducing recorded data.
The recording / playback device 10 includes a memory error management unit 15c that stores at least one of error information in a memory check result at the time of power-on in the past or error information at the time of playback of recorded content. Based on the error information stored in the memory error management unit 15c, the recording medium control unit 13 sets a memory area for performing a memory check at the next power-on.

  For example, the memory check may be performed at the next power-on only for the memory area including the memory unit (cell, block, unit) in which the previous error occurred. Conversely, in the memory check at power-on, it is judged that the memory area that repeats the error over the specified number of times (past total or continuous in the latest test) is not reliable, and is subject to memory check. May be removed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, SDRAMs 143a to 143d are recorded and have no error history, SDRAMs 143i to 143k are unrecorded and have no error history, and 143l is an unrecorded and has a large number of errors. There is no memory check. Further, since the SDRAMs 143e and 143f are recorded and have a memory area with an error history, and the SDRAMs 143g and 143h are unrecorded and have an error history, they are selected as memory areas to be used in the future, and a memory check is performed. .

(Fifth embodiment)
Here, in the first to fourth embodiments described above, the first setting information (item 1) indicating whether or not recording has been performed, and the second setting indicating whether or not the recording setting operation or the reproduction operation is used. Setting information (item 2), operation history information (item 3) stored in the operation history management unit 15b, information about recording reservation (item 4) stored in the recording reservation management unit 15a, and memory error management unit 15c A case will be described in which a memory area to be subjected to memory check is selected by appropriately combining the items including the error information (item 5) stored in the memory.

  For example, all memory areas corresponding to each item may be subject to memory check. Further, only memory areas corresponding to items 1 and 3 may be subjected to memory check. Furthermore, after setting the priority for each item, the time required for performing the memory check may be completed within a certain time (for example, within 10 seconds). For example, if the memory check of all the memory areas corresponding to each item is performed and this set time (here 10 seconds) is exceeded, the memory check is performed for the memory area corresponding to the low priority item. It may not be possible. As a result, the memory check can be completed for the minimum required memory area within the set time.

  As a specific example, it is assumed that the recording reservation item 4 has the highest priority and the time-shift recording item 2 has priority at the next point. When a memory check is performed on a memory area corresponding to these two items, the memory check time takes longer than a certain time, and if a memory check is performed only on a memory area corresponding to item 4, the memory check is performed within a certain time. If it is predicted to be completed, when the power is turned on, only the memory area used for item 4 (recording reservation) is checked, and the memory area for item 2 is not checked. .

  In the above description, the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a recording device has been described. However, the present invention may be in the form of a memory check method by a recording device. Specifically, it is a memory check method by a recording device that includes a plurality of memories and records recording data in the plurality of memories, and is scheduled to be used from among the plurality of memories based on management information relating to the recording device. A memory selection step for selecting a memory to be selected, and a memory check step for performing a memory check only on the selected memory. A specific processing example in this memory selection step will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the memory selection method by the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this example, a memory selection method corresponding to the above-described FIG. 3 will be described.

  First, the recording / reproducing device 10 selects a determination target memory area (determination target memory unit) for the memory disk 14 (step S1). In the example of FIG. 3, this determination target memory area may be one SDRAM or a plurality of SDRAMs may be selected as one unit. Then, it is determined whether or not the determination target memory area selected in step S1 has been recorded (step S2). Here, when it is determined that the determination target memory area has been recorded (in the case of YES), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S3). If it is determined in step S2 that the determination target memory area has not been recorded (NO), control is performed so as to be a memory check target (step S4). Then, it is determined whether or not determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (step S5). If it is determined that determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (YES), the processing ends. If it is determined in step S5 that the determination process has not been performed for all determination target memory units (NO), the process returns to step S1 and the process is repeated.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the memory selection method by the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this example, a memory selection method corresponding to the above-described FIG. 4 will be described. Here, the recording reservation setting information relating to the recording operation such as recording reservation and time shift recording is stored in the recording reservation management unit 15a, and the memory capacity necessary for the recording operation is calculated based on this recording reservation setting information. Then, a process of allocating memory for the calculated memory capacity is performed. Based on this recording reservation setting information, it is possible to determine which memory area is to be used for recording.

  First, the recording / playback device 10 selects a determination target memory area (determination target memory unit) for the memory disk 14 (step S11), and determines whether the selected determination target memory area has been recorded (step S11). S12). Here, when it is determined that the determination target memory area has been recorded (in the case of YES), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S13). If it is determined in step S12 that the determination target memory area has not been recorded (in the case of NO), the recording reservation setting information is read from the recording reservation management unit 15a (step S14), and based on this recording reservation setting information. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a recording schedule (reserved recording, time shift recording, etc.) in the determination target memory area (step S15). If it is determined that there is a recording schedule in the determination target memory area (in the case of YES), control is performed so as to be a memory check target (step S16). If it is determined in step S15 that there is no recording schedule in the determination target memory area (NO), the process proceeds to step S13.

  Then, it is determined whether or not determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (step S17). If it is determined that determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (YES), the processing ends. If it is determined in step S17 that determination processing has not been performed for all determination target memory units (NO), the processing returns to step S11 and is repeated.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the memory selection method by the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this example, a memory selection method corresponding to the above-described FIG. 5 will be described. Here, playback setting information related to a playback operation such as repeat playback is stored in the recording reservation management unit 15a and the like, so that it is possible to determine which memory area is to be used for playback. I have to.

  First, the recording / playback device 10 selects a determination target memory area (determination target memory unit) for the memory disk 14 (step S21), and determines whether or not the selected determination target memory area has been recorded (step S21). S22). Here, when it is determined that the determination target memory area has been recorded (in the case of YES), the reproduction setting information is read from the recording reservation management unit 15a (step S23), and the determination target memory area is based on the reproduction setting information. It is determined whether or not there is a reproduction schedule (repeat reproduction or the like) (step S24). When it is determined that there is a playback schedule in the determination target memory area (in the case of YES), control is performed so as to be a memory check target (step S26). In step S24, when it is determined that there is no reproduction plan in the determination target memory area (in the case of NO), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S25). When it is determined in step S22 that the selected determination target memory area has not been recorded (in the case of NO), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S27).

  Then, it is determined whether or not determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (step S28). If it is determined that determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (YES), the processing ends. If it is determined in step S28 that determination processing has not been performed for all determination target memory units (NO), the processing returns to step S21 and is repeated.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the memory selection method by the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this example, a memory selection method corresponding to the above-described FIG. 6 will be described. Here, the recording reservation setting information is stored in the recording reservation management unit 15a. Based on this recording reservation setting information, a memory capacity necessary for the recording operation is calculated, and a process of allocating memory for the calculated memory capacity is performed. Do. Based on this recording reservation setting information, it is possible to determine which memory area is to be used for recording.

  First, the recording / playback device 10 selects a determination target memory area (determination target memory unit) for the memory disk 14 (step S31), and determines whether or not the selected determination target memory area has been recorded (step S31). S32). If it is determined that the determination target memory area has been recorded (YES), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S33). When it is determined in step S32 that the determination target memory area has not been recorded (in the case of NO), the recording reservation setting information is read from the recording reservation management unit 15a (step S34), and based on this recording reservation setting information. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a recording schedule (reserved recording) in the determination target memory area (step S35). When it is determined that there is a recording schedule in the determination target memory area (in the case of YES), based on the recording reservation setting information, it is determined when the most recent date / time is set in the reserved recording setting (step S36). If it is determined in step S35 that there is no recording schedule in the determination target memory area (NO), the process proceeds to step S33.

  Then, in step S36, if the most recent date / time in the scheduled recording setting is today (in the case of today), control is performed so as to be a memory check target (step S37). Further, when the most recent date and time in the reserved recording setting is after tomorrow (in the case of after tomorrow), the process proceeds to step S33.

  Then, it is determined whether or not determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (step S38). If it is determined that determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (YES), the processing ends. If it is determined in step S38 that the determination process has not been performed for all determination target memory units (NO), the process returns to step S31 and the process is repeated.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the memory selection method by the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this example, a memory selection method corresponding to the above-described FIG. 7 will be described. Here, at least one of the error information based on the memory check history or the error information at the time of reproducing the recorded data is stored in the memory error management unit 15c as the error history information, and an error has occurred due to this error history information. It is determined which memory area is the memory area, and the number of error occurrences is known for each memory area.

  First, the recording / playback device 10 selects a determination target memory area (determination target memory unit) for the memory disk 14 (step S41), and reads error history information from the memory error management unit 15c (step S42). Then, based on the error history information, it is determined whether or not there is an error history in the determination target memory area selected in step S41 (step S43). Here, when there is no error history in the determination target memory area (in the case of NO), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S44). If it is determined in step S43 that there is an error history in the determination target memory area (in the case of YES), it is determined whether or not the number of error occurrences is greater than a set value (step S45).

  If it is determined in step S45 that the number of error occurrences is not greater than the set value (in the case of NO), control is performed so that this determination target memory area is subject to memory check (step S46). If it is determined that the number of error occurrences is greater than the set value (in the case of YES), control is performed so that this determination target memory area is not subject to memory check (step S47).

  Then, it is determined whether or not determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (step S48). If it is determined that determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (YES), the processing ends. If it is determined in step S48 that determination processing has not been performed for all determination target memory units (NO), the process returns to step S41 and the processing is repeated.

  13 and 14 are flowcharts for explaining another example of the memory selection method by the recording / reproducing apparatus 10 of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a continuation of the flow of FIG. This flow is a combination of the flows described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the recording / playback device 10 selects a determination target memory area (determination target memory unit) for the memory disk 14 (step S51), and determines whether or not the determination target memory area has been recorded (step S51). S52). Here, when it is determined that the determination target memory area has been recorded (in the case of YES), the reproduction setting information is read from the recording reservation management unit 15a (step S53), and the determination target memory is based on the reproduction setting information. It is determined whether or not there is a reproduction schedule in the area (step S54). When it is determined that there is no reproduction plan in the determination target memory area (NO), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S55). If it is determined in step S54 that the determination target memory area is scheduled for reproduction (in the case of YES), the memory area scheduled for reproduction is set as a memory check target candidate (3) (step S56).

  If it is determined in step S52 that the determination target memory area has not been recorded (in the case of NO), the recording reservation setting information is read from the recording reservation management unit 15a (step S57), and based on this recording reservation setting information. Then, it is determined whether there is a recording schedule (reserved recording, time shift recording) in the determination target memory area (step S58). Here, if it is determined that there is no recording schedule in the determination target memory area (NO), control is performed so that the memory check is not performed (step S59). If it is determined in step S58 that there is a recording schedule in the determination target memory area (YES), it is determined whether or not there is a scheduled recording schedule in the determination target memory area (step S60). Here, when there is a scheduled recording schedule (in the case of YES), it is determined when the most recent date and time is set in the scheduled recording setting (step S61). In step S60, if there is no scheduled recording (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to step S59.

  In step S61, if the most recent date / time in the scheduled recording setting is today (in this case), the area used in the scheduled recording is set as a candidate for memory check (1) (step S62). Further, when the most recent date / time in the reserved recording setting is after tomorrow (after tomorrow), the process proceeds to step S59.

  If it is determined in step S58 that there is a recording schedule in the determination target memory area (YES), it is determined whether or not there is a time shift recording schedule in the determination target memory area (step S63). Here, if there is a schedule for time shift recording (in the case of YES), the area used in time shift recording is set as a candidate for memory check (2) (step S64). If no time shift recording is scheduled in step S63 (NO), the process proceeds to step S59.

  In FIG. 14, it is determined whether or not determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (step S71), and when it is determined that determination processing has been performed for all determination target memory units (in the case of YES), the system control unit The setting information is read from the memory 15 (step S72). If it is determined in step S71 that determination processing has not been performed for all determination target memory units (NO), the process returns to step S51 in FIG. 13 and the processing is repeated. The setting information includes a time required for executing a memory check in units of memory, a maximum memory check time setting value (Tmax), and priority (priority) information of memory check target candidates.

  Then, the information of the memory check target candidates (1), (2), (3) obtained in the previous steps (that is, information indicating which memory area is the target candidate) is read (step S73). Based on the information of the read memory check target candidates (1), (2), (3) and the setting information read in step S72, the memory check target candidates (1), (2), (3) The total value of the memory check time is calculated (step S74).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the memory check time calculated in step S74 is less than or equal to the maximum memory check time set value (Tmax) (step S75), and the memory check time is determined to be less than or equal to the maximum memory check time set value (Tmax). If YES (YES), control is performed so that the current memory check candidate is the memory check candidate (step S76). In step S75, when it is determined that the memory check time is longer than the maximum memory check time set value (Tmax) (in the case of NO), the information on the memory check target candidate is updated (step S77), and the process returns to step S74. repeat. Specifically, the memory target candidate having the lowest priority at the present time (that is, one of the memory check target candidates (1), (2), and (3)) is excluded as a new memory check target. A process of comparing the memory check time calculated as a candidate with the maximum memory check time set value (Tmax) is repeated until the memory check time becomes Tmax or less.

  As described above, in the flow shown in FIG. 14, the memory area to be subjected to the memory check so that the memory check is completed within a certain time (specified maximum time Tmax) from the memory check target candidates obtained in the flow of FIG. 13. To be determined. In the flow shown in FIG. 13, the flow described in FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 is combined to select a memory check target candidate. However, the flow (error history) described in FIG. 12 is used. May be combined.

A specific example of the flow shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 will be described below.
In the flow of FIG. 13, the memory check target candidate (1) is a reserved recording use area, the memory check target candidate (2) is a time shift recording use area, and the memory check target candidate (3) is a playback operation (repeat playback). )).

(Case 1)
As setting information held in the memory in the system control unit 15, for example, the memory check execution time in memory units is “1 second / memory unit”, the maximum memory check time setting value (Tmax) is “10 seconds”, the memory The priority information of the candidate to be checked is “No. 1 (highest priority): Use area in reserved recording, 2nd place (next point): Use area in time-shift recording, 3rd place: Playback operation (including repeat playback) Use area ". That is, the memory check target candidates (1), (2), and (3) are in descending order of priority. The number of memory units selected for each memory check target candidate is 3 memory units for the memory check target candidate (1), 5 memory units for the memory check target candidate (2), and 3 memory units for the memory check target candidate (3). 8 memory units.

  First, when the total value of the memory check time is calculated based on the above condition, it is “16 seconds” (= 3 × 1 second + 5 × 1 second + 8 × 1 second), and the maximum memory check time setting value (Tmax) is 10 Since it is seconds, the total value of the memory check times> Tmax. Therefore, it can be seen that even if a memory check is performed at this time, it is not completed within the set time. Next, the lowest priority (third place) “use area in playback operation (including repeat playback)” is excluded from the memory check target candidates, and a new total value of the memory check time is calculated. Then, “8 seconds” (= 3 × 1 second + 5 × 1 second), and the total value of the memory check times <Tmax, and by performing a memory check on these memory areas, within the set time (10 seconds) You can see that it is completed. Therefore, the memory check target candidate (3), that is, the “use area in the playback operation (including repeat playback)” excluding the initial memory check target candidate is determined as the memory check target memory area.

(Case 2)
The number of memory units of the memory check target candidates is different from the case 1, and the number of memory units selected for each memory check target candidate is 3 memory units for the memory check target candidate (1) and 2 memory check target candidates (2 ) Is 5 memory units, and the memory check target candidate (3) is 2 memory units. In this case, when the total value of the memory check time is calculated, it becomes “10 seconds” (= 3 × 1 second + 5 × 1 second + 2 × 1 second), and the total value of the memory check time = the maximum memory check time setting value (Tmax) Therefore, all memory check target candidates at the present time are set as memory check targets.

(Case 3)
The number of memory units of the memory target candidates is different from the cases 1 and 2, and the number of memory units selected for each memory check target candidate is 3 memory units for the memory check target candidate (1) and the memory check target candidate ( 2) is 9 memory units, and the memory check target candidate (3) is 2 memory units. In this case, when the total value of the memory check time is calculated, it is “14 seconds” (= 3 × 1 second + 9 × 1 second + 2 × 1 second), and the total value of the memory check time> the maximum memory check time set value (Tmax) It becomes. Therefore, even if a memory check is performed at this time, it is not completed within the set time.

  Next, when the priority value of the lowest (third place) “use area in playback operation (including repeat playback)” is excluded from the memory check target candidates, the total value of the memory check time is calculated as “12 seconds. (= 3 × 1 second + 9 × 1 second), and the sum of the memory check times> the maximum memory check time set value (Tmax). Therefore, even if a memory check is performed in this state, it is not completed within the set time.

  Next, when the second lowest priority “use area for time shift recording” is excluded from the candidates for memory check and the total value of the memory check time is calculated, it is “3 seconds” (= 3 × 1 second). Therefore, the sum of the memory check times is smaller than the maximum memory check time set value (Tmax). Accordingly, a memory check target is obtained by removing the memory check target candidates (2) and (3) from the initial memory check target candidate.

  As the memory check target candidates (1) and (3), when the total value of the memory check time is calculated, it becomes “5 seconds” (= 3 × 1 second + 2 × 1 second), and the maximum memory check time setting value (Tmax = 10 seconds), the memory check target may be determined by excluding only the memory check target candidate (2) from the initial memory check target candidate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Recording / reproducing apparatus, 11 ... Data input / output processing part, 12 ... Recording / reproducing processing part, 13 ... Recording medium control part, 14 ... Recording medium (memory disk), 15 ... System control part, 15a ... Recording reservation management part, 15b ... Operation history management unit, 15c ... Memory error management unit, 15d ... Control CPU, 141 ... File system controller, 142 ... Memory controller, 143a to 143l ... SDRAM.

Claims (12)

A recording device comprising a first memory means composed of a plurality of memories, and recording recording data in the first memory means,
Based on the second memory means for storing the management information related to the recording device and the management information stored in the second memory means, the memory device is used from a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means. A recording apparatus comprising: memory selection means for selecting a predetermined memory; and memory check means for performing a memory check only on the selected memory. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory means stores setting information indicating whether or not data is recorded in a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means as the management information. ,
The recording device, wherein the memory selection unit selects a memory determined to be unrecorded by the setting information as the memory to be used. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory means is used as the management information for a recording operation or a reproduction operation of the recording device with respect to a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means. Store setting information indicating whether or not
The recording device, wherein the memory selection unit selects a memory determined to be used for a recording operation or a reproduction operation according to the setting information as a memory to be used. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory means stores, as the management information, a time required for a recording operation from start to end of the recording device as operation history information,
The memory selection means estimates a recording operation scheduled time required for a recording operation based on the operation history information, calculates a necessary memory capacity from the estimated recording operation scheduled time, and stores a memory corresponding to the calculated memory capacity. Is selected as the memory to be used.   5. The recording device according to claim 4, wherein the scheduled recording operation time is a time required for a previous recording operation, an average value or a median value of a time required for a past recording operation, and a recording operation within a certain period. A recording device characterized by being one of the maximum values of time. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory unit stores information related to a recording reservation of the recording device as the management information,
The memory selection unit calculates a memory capacity necessary for the recording reservation based on the information related to the recording reservation, and selects a memory corresponding to the calculated memory capacity as the memory to be used. Recording equipment to do. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory means includes at least one of error information based on a memory check history of the recording device or error information when reproducing recorded data as the management information. Remember
The recording device, wherein the memory selection unit selects the memory to be used based on the error information. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory means includes first setting information indicating whether or not the plurality of memories constituting the first memory means are unrecorded as the management information. Second setting information indicating whether or not a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means are used for a recording operation or a reproduction operation of the recording device, and from start to end of the recording device At least one of the operation history information indicating the time required for the recording operation, the recording reservation information of the recording device, the error information based on the memory check history of the recording device or the error information at the time of reproducing the recorded data Remember
The memory selection unit is configured to store the memory scheduled to be used based on at least one of the first setting information, the second setting information, the operation history information, the recording reservation information, and the error information. Recording equipment characterized by selection. 9. The recording device according to claim 8, wherein priority is set for the first setting information, the second setting information, the operation history information, the information related to the recording reservation, and the error information,
The recording device, wherein the memory selection unit selects the memory to be used according to the priority so that the memory check by the memory check unit is completed within a predetermined time.   10. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein when the memory selected by the memory selection unit is unrecorded, the memory check unit writes data to the unrecorded memory. And recording, and performing a memory check by determining whether or not the matching portion of the write and read data is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio.   10. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein when the data has been recorded in the memory selected by the memory selection unit, the memory check unit stores data on the recorded memory. The video recording device performs a memory check by determining whether or not the coincident portion of the recorded data and the read data is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. A memory check method by a recording device comprising a first memory means and a second memory means, and recording recorded data in the first memory means,
A memory selection step of selecting a memory to be used from among a plurality of memories constituting the first memory means based on management information about the recording device stored in the second memory means; A memory check method comprising: a memory check step for performing a memory check only on the selected memory.

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