JP2010273025A - Electronic device, system and method of transferring contents and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To instantaneously secure the storage capacity of contents and to surely record the contents desired by a user. <P>SOLUTION: When a residual storage capacity becomes lower than a prescribed threshold while recording contents in a flash memory 25, a CPU 11 of a camcorder 100 divides the recorded contents into prescribed transfer units (blocks) and successively transfers the respective blocks to a PVR 200. During the transfer, a check sum is added to the respective blocks, and check sum calculation is executed on the side of the PVR 200. When there is no error in transfer by the check sum, the data of the transferred blocks are erased from the flash memory 25 and a free capacity is secured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, a content transfer system, a content transfer method, and a program capable of recording content such as moving images.

  A portable electronic device such as a digital video camera (camcorder) can record contents such as moving images and sounds on a recording medium such as a memory card or a built-in flash memory. However, the storage capacity of the recording medium must be smaller than the storage capacity of stationary electronic devices. Therefore, when such a portable electronic device records content in an environment such as outdoors, it may not be possible to secure sufficient free space for recording, and content of a length desired by the user cannot be recorded. is there.

  In order to secure the recording capacity, it is possible for the user to carry a backup PC (Personal Computer) or a storage device separately, but this is not inconvenient.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a content input device that deletes only the content transmitted (backed up) to an external device among the content stored in the storage unit when the free space of the storage unit is tight.

JP 2006-350606 A

  However, the content input device described in Patent Document 1 cannot record new content unless the storage capacity of the storage unit is tight, unless the transmission processing of the content stored in the storage unit to the external device is completed. . Therefore, even if there is content that the user wants to record on the spot, the user must wait for the transmission processing of the content in the storage unit to the external device to be completed, resulting in missed recording opportunities. . Similarly, when the free space becomes tight during content recording, the content recording is interrupted by performing transmission processing to the external device.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, a content transfer system, a content transfer method, and a program capable of immediately securing a storage capacity of content and reliably recording a user's desired content. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The communication unit communicates with an external device. The control unit records content in the storage unit, and divides the recorded content into a plurality of blocks during the recording. Further, the control unit controls the communication unit to transfer the blocks to the external device, and erases the transferred blocks from the storage unit.
With this configuration, the electronic device divides the recorded content into a plurality of blocks and sequentially deletes the recorded content while recording the content. Can be secured immediately. Therefore, the electronic device can reliably complete the recording without giving the user a waiting time in advance to secure the storage capacity before recording the content and without interrupting the recording process of the content being recorded. . Further, the electronic device can reproduce the content in the external device almost in real time by transferring the content to the external device in units of blocks. The user can record content without worrying about the free space in the storage unit.
Here, the electronic device is typically a portable device such as a camcorder, a digital still camera, or a mobile phone, but is not limited thereto. The external device is typically a stationary recording / reproducing apparatus, a PC, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The control unit may add an error detection code to each transferred block. In this case, the control unit may control the communication unit so as to receive detection result information based on the error detection code from the external device. In this case, the control unit may erase each transferred block from the storage unit when it is determined that there is no error in each transferred block based on the detection result information.
As a result, the electronic device confirms that there are no errors in the transferred block, and deletes the block, so that normal content does not remain in the electronic device or the external device, and playback cannot be performed. Can be prevented. Also, the electronic device can reduce the load associated with the processing by causing the external device to perform the error detection processing itself.

The control unit may transfer each block to the external device every time the content corresponding to each block is recorded.
Accordingly, the electronic device can easily transfer the content recorded on the assumption that it is finally recorded to the external device to the external device during recording of the content without forcing the user to perform complicated operations. .

The electronic device may further include an output unit and an input unit. The output unit outputs selection information for allowing the user to select whether or not to execute the transfer when the remaining storage capacity of the storage unit falls below a predetermined threshold during recording of the content. The input unit inputs selection information of the user based on the selection information. In this case, the control unit may transfer the blocks to the external device when the selection information for selecting execution of the transfer is input from the input unit.
Accordingly, the electronic device can prevent the user from deleting content that the user wants to leave in the electronic device by causing the user to select whether or not transfer to the external device is necessary.

The control unit transmits transfer enable / disable confirmation information for confirming whether or not the transferred block can be stored in the external device to the external device, and transmits transfer enable / disable response information in response to the transfer enable / disable check information to the external device. You may control the said communication part so that it may receive from. In this case, if the control unit determines that the block cannot be stored in the external device based on the transfer enable / disable response information, the control unit transfers the block to another external device. The communication unit may be controlled.
As a result, even if the block cannot be stored in the transfer destination external device, the electronic device transfers the block to another external device, thereby ensuring the free space in the storage unit and recording. While continuing, the content can be stored in another external device.

A content transfer system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device includes a first storage unit, a first communication unit, and a first control unit. The first control unit records content in the first storage unit, and divides the recorded content into a plurality of blocks during the recording. Furthermore, the first control unit controls the first communication unit to transfer the blocks to the second electronic device, and erases the transferred blocks from the first storage unit. . The second electronic device includes a second storage unit, a second communication unit, and a second control unit. The second control unit controls the second communication unit so as to receive the transferred blocks. Further, the second control unit records the received blocks in the second storage unit, and reproduces the recorded blocks.
With this configuration, the content transfer system divides the content recorded by the first electronic device into block units during the recording and transfers the content to the second electronic device for reproduction. The recorded content can be played back on the second electronic device almost in real time.

  A content transfer method according to another aspect of the present invention is a content transfer method in an electronic apparatus having a storage unit and a communication unit, and includes recording content in the storage unit. The recorded content is divided into a plurality of blocks and transferred to an external device during the recording. Each transferred block is erased from the storage unit.

  A program according to still another aspect of the present invention causes an electronic device having a storage unit and a communication unit to execute a recording step, a transfer step, and an erasing step. In the recording step, the content is recorded in the storage unit. The transfer step divides the recorded content into a plurality of blocks during the recording, and transfers the blocks to an external device. In the erasing step, the transferred blocks are erased from the storage unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to immediately secure a storage capacity for content and reliably record the content desired by the user.

It is the figure which showed the outline | summary of the content transfer system in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the camcorder which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of PVR in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the content transfer process by the camcorder which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the flow of operation | movement of the content transfer system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Outline of content transfer system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a content transfer system including a camcorder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the content transfer system according to the present embodiment includes a camcorder 100 and a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) 200, which are connected via a network 50. The network 50 is, for example, the Internet, but may be another network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The connection from the camcorder 100 to the network 50 is performed according to standards such as WLAN (Wireless LAN) and WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network). The connection from the PVR 200 to the network 50 is performed according to standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), WLAN, and WLAN.

  The camcorder 100 is carried outdoors by a user, for example, records content such as moving images, still images, and audio, and transfers the content to the PVR 200 via the network 50. The PVR 200 is installed indoors, for example, and records and reproduces content transferred from the camcorder 100.

[Hardware configuration of camcorder]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the camcorder 100. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, a camcorder 100 includes a CPU 11, a lens 12, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 13, a video signal processing circuit 14, a recording / playback processing circuit 15, an operation input unit 17, an OSD (On Screen Display) circuit 18, A superimposing circuit 19, an LCD 20, a microphone 21, an audio signal processing circuit 22, a speaker 23, a communication unit 24, a flash memory 25 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 26 are provided. The camcorder 100 can be loaded with a recording medium 16.

  The CPU 11 accesses the RAM 26 and the like as necessary, and comprehensively controls each block of the camcorder 100. For example, the CPU 11 controls transfer processing, erasure processing, and the like for each content transfer unit (block) described later.

  The lens 12 is driven by the CPU 11 and forms an image of a subject image on the light receiving portion of the CCD 13.

  The CCD 13 is composed of a CCD sensor, and converts the light imaged by the lens 12 into an analog electrical signal by photoelectrically converting the light. The CCD 13 supplies the converted analog image signal to the video signal processing circuit 14. Note that another imaging element such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor may be used instead of the CCD 13.

  The video signal processing circuit 14 is configured by, for example, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The video signal processing circuit 14 converts an analog video signal supplied from the CCD 13 into digital video data under the control of the CPU 11. The video signal processing circuit 14 performs predetermined processing on the digital video data and supplies the digital video data to the recording / playback processing circuit 15. As the predetermined processing, for example, correction processing for deterioration caused by the lens 12, the CCD 13, or the like, or white balance or gamma correction processing for video data, resolution conversion processing, or the like is performed.

  The recording / playback processing circuit 15 records the content in the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 and plays back the content recorded in the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16. When recording the content, the recording / playback processing circuit 15 records the video data supplied from the video signal processing circuit 14 and the audio data supplied from the audio signal processing circuit 22 in the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16. Processing such as encoding into a suitable system (for example, MPEG system) is performed.

  The recording medium 16 is, for example, a memory card, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a magnetic tape, or the like, and is attached to the camcorder 100 as necessary. In the camcorder 100, for example, the photographed or recorded content can be recorded in either the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 according to user settings.

  When the video data of the content recorded in the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 is displayed on the LCD 20, the recording / playback processing circuit 15 decodes the video data read from the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 according to, for example, the MPEG system. Then, processing such as conversion to an analog video signal is performed, and the result is supplied to the superimposing circuit 19.

  The recording / playback processing circuit 15 supplies video data recorded in the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 to the communication unit 24 when the content is transferred to the PVR 200.

  In addition, when the audio data of the content recorded in the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 is reproduced from the speaker 23, the recording / reproduction processing circuit 15 decodes the audio data, converts it into an analog audio signal, Are adjusted and output to the speaker 23.

  Further, when the content is transferred to the PVR 200, the recording / playback processing circuit 15 outputs the audio data read from the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 to the communication unit 24.

  The operation input unit 17 inputs an operation signal corresponding to a user operation to the CPU 11. The operation input unit 17 is, for example, a button, a key, a lever, or the like. The CPU 11 executes various processes based on the signal input from the operation input unit 17.

  The superimposing circuit 19 receives the video data supplied from the recording / playback processing circuit 15 and the image data supplied from the OSD circuit 18 for displaying various GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) such as icons on the LCD 20. Superimpose. Then, the superimposing circuit 19 outputs the video data obtained by superimposing to the LCD 20 or the communication unit 24.

  The LCD 20 displays the video data supplied from the superimposing circuit 19. The LCD 20 has a touch panel, and can input an operation signal corresponding to a user operation to the CPU 11, as with the operation input unit 17.

  The microphone 21 collects sound, converts the sound into an analog audio signal as an electrical signal, and outputs the analog audio signal to the audio signal processing circuit 22. The audio signal processing circuit 22 converts an analog audio signal supplied from the microphone 21 into digital audio data under the control of the CPU 11, performs necessary audio processing, and outputs the digital audio data to the recording / reproduction processing circuit 15. . The speaker 23 outputs audio data supplied from the recording / playback processing circuit 15.

  The communication unit 24 includes, for example, a module for WLAN, connects the camcorder 100 to the network 50 according to a standard such as 802.11n, and transmits / receives content and other data to / from the PVR 200. The communication unit 24 may be configured with a WWAN module. The communication unit 24 can be set to ON / OFF of the function based on a user operation, for example.

  The flash memory 25 is, for example, a NAND type, and stores various programs such as an OS (Operating System) and applications necessary for content transfer processing in the present embodiment, in addition to the above contents.

  The RAM 26 is a memory that is used as a work area of the CPU 11 and temporarily holds an OS, a program, processing data, and the like.

[Hardware configuration of PVR]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the PVR 200 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the PVR 200 includes a digital tuner 31, a demodulator 32, a demultiplexer 33, a codec 34, a recording / playback unit 35, an HDD 38, an optical disk drive 39, a communication unit 41, a CPU 42, a flash memory 43, a RAM 44, and an operation input. A unit 45, a video control circuit 46, a video D / A (Digital / Analog) converter 47, an audio control circuit 48, and an audio D / A converter 49.

  Under the control of the CPU 42, the digital tuner 31 selects a specific channel for digital broadcasting via an antenna (not shown) and receives a broadcast signal including broadcast program data. This broadcast signal is, for example, an MPEG stream encoded in the MPEG-2 TS format, but is not limited to this format. The demodulator 32 demodulates the modulated broadcast signal.

  The demultiplexer 33 separates the multiplexed broadcast signal into a video signal and an audio signal. The codec 34 decodes the compressed video signal and audio signal separated by the demultiplexer 33, respectively. The codec 34 can also transcode the format of each signal to another format according to the output destination of the video signal and the audio signal.

  The recording / reproducing unit 35 includes a recording unit 36 and a reproducing unit 37. The recording unit 36 temporarily accumulates the video signal and the audio signal decoded by the codec 34, and outputs and records them on the HDD 38 and the optical disc drive 39 while controlling the timing and the data amount. The reproduction unit 37 reads the video signal and audio signal of the content recorded on the HDD 38 or the optical disc, and outputs them to the codec 34 for reproduction while controlling the timing and the data amount.

  The HDD 38 stores the content received from the camcorder 100 via the network 50 in addition to the broadcast program data received via the digital tuner 31 in a built-in hard disk. Further, the HDD 38 stores various programs such as an OS (Operating System) and other applications, other data, and the like. When these stored data are reproduced, the HDD 38 reads these data from the hard disk and outputs them to the recording / reproducing unit 35.

  The optical disc drive 39 has an insertion portion (not shown) into which an optical disc can be inserted (mounted). The optical disk drive 39 writes data to a write-compatible optical disk such as BD-R (Recordable) and BD-RE (Rewritable) inserted in the insertion section, and data recorded on a read-compatible optical disk such as the BD-ROM 40 Can be read out. As the optical disk, in addition to the above, a DVD, a CD, and the like can be given.

  The communication unit 41 includes a module conforming to a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), WLAN, or WWAN, and is connected to the network 50 to transmit / receive content and data to / from the camcorder 100.

  The CPU 42 accesses the RAM 44 and the like as necessary, and comprehensively controls each block of the PVR 200. For example, the CPU 42 controls content reception processing from the camcorder 100, checksum processing described later, content recording processing, and the like.

  The flash memory 43 is a non-volatile memory in which an OS to be executed by the CPU 42, firmware such as programs and various parameters are fixedly stored. The RAM 44 is a memory that is used as a work area for the CPU 42 and temporarily holds an OS, a program, processing data, and the like.

  The operation input unit 45 inputs, for example, various setting values and commands by user operations from a remote controller (not shown) having a plurality of keys, and outputs them to the CPU 42. The operation input unit 45 may be configured with a keyboard or mouse connected to the PVR 200, a switch mounted on the PVR 200, or the like without using a remote controller.

  The video control circuit 46 performs graphic processing such as OSD processing on the video signal output from the codec 34 and the data output from the CPU 42, and generates a video signal to be output to an external display device (not shown) such as a TV. To do. The video D / A converter 47 converts the digital video signal input from the video control circuit 46 into an analog video signal and outputs the analog video signal to an external display device.

  The audio control circuit 48 performs amplification processing and volume adjustment processing of the digital audio signal generated by the CPU 42, and outputs the processed audio signal to the audio D / A converter 49. The audio D / A converter 49 converts the digital audio signal input from the codec 34 into an analog audio signal, and outputs the analog audio signal to an output device such as an external TV or speaker.

[Operation of content transfer system]
Next, the operation of the content transfer system configured as described above will be described. In the following description, the CPU 11 of the camcorder 100 and the CPU 42 of the PVR 200 will be described as main operating subjects. However, this operation is performed in cooperation with a program executed under the control of the CPU 11 and the CPU 42.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of content transfer processing by the camcorder 100 in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an operation flow of the content transfer system in the present embodiment.

  Prior to the operations shown in both figures, it is assumed that the CPU 11 of the camcorder 100 has previously set ON / OFF of the network function executed by the communication unit 24. The network function is turned on / off based on a user operation on a setting screen displayed on the LCD 20, for example. When the network function is set to ON, various network settings such as the IP address setting of the camcorder 100 are performed. When the network function is set to ON, the CPU 11 connects to the network 50 through the communication unit 24. If authentication is required for this connection, authentication processing is also performed. Once the network function is turned on, the network connection is automatically executed when the camcorder 100 is next powered on.

  The CPU 11 also sets automatic transfer of content along with ON / OFF setting of the network function. Here, “automatic transfer” refers to automatically transferring the content recorded on the camcorder 100 to an external device (regardless of a user operation). When the automatic transfer is set to ON, the CPU 11 designates the transfer destination of the content recorded in the flash memory 25 or the like. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the transfer destination is set in the PVR 200. When there are a plurality of devices on the network including the PVR 200, the device to be connected with the highest priority (for example, the PVR 200) is designated. When the automatic transfer is set to OFF, the content transfer to the PVR 200 is executed based on the remaining storage capacity of the flash memory 25 and the user's operation (selection) as will be described later.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the content shot by the camcorder 100 is set to be recorded in the flash memory 25.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 11 of the camcorder 100 starts recording (capturing) content such as a moving image based on, for example, a user operation (step 51). When content recording is started, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the automatic transfer of the content is set to ON (step 52).

  When the automatic transfer is set to OFF (No), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the network function is set to ON (step 53). If the network function is set to OFF (No), the CPU 11 ends the content transfer process and continues to record the content.

  When the network function is set to ON (Yes), the CPU 11 determines whether or not content is being recorded (step 54). If the content is not being recorded (No), that is, if the recording of the content has ended, the CPU 11 also ends the content transfer process.

  If it is determined that the content is being recorded (Yes), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the remaining storage capacity of the flash memory 25 that is the content recording destination is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step 55). If it is determined that the remaining storage capacity of the flash memory 25 is equal to or greater than the threshold (Yes), the CPU 11 continues the content recording process.

  If it is determined that the remaining storage capacity of the flash memory 25 has fallen below the threshold (No), the CPU 11 warns the user that the remaining storage capacity is low (step 56). That is, the CPU 11 displays, for example, image information and character information indicating that on the LCD 20 or outputs audio information indicating that from the speaker 23.

  Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a content transfer destination is set (step 57). When determining that there is no transfer destination setting (No), the CPU 11 ends the content transfer process.

  If it is determined that the content transfer destination (PVR 200) is set (Yes), the CPU 11 displays on the LCD 20 a screen for allowing the user to select whether or not to transfer the content. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not execution of content transfer is selected on the screen by a user's touch operation or the like (step 58). If execution of content transfer is not selected (No), the CPU 11 ends the content transfer process.

  When execution of content transfer is selected (Yes), the CPU 11 determines whether or not data for a transfer unit (block) is stored in the flash memory 25 (step 59). If it is determined that the data for the transfer unit is not accumulated (No), the CPU 11 waits until the data for the transfer unit is accumulated.

  When determining that the data for the transfer unit is accumulated (Yes), the CPU 11 determines whether the data for the transfer unit can be transferred to the set transfer destination (PVR 200) (step 60). At this time, the CPU 11 transmits the information for confirming whether or not the content can be transferred to the transfer destination device (PVR 200) and receives a response from the transfer destination device to make the above determination. Examples of cases where transfer to the transfer destination device is not possible include, for example, if the transfer destination device is recording a program at that time, and if a recording reservation is set after a predetermined time (several minutes), the transfer destination If the remaining storage medium (HDD, etc.) of the device is small (is not present), the device that should have been set as the transfer destination may not exist on the network. In these cases, the device set as the transfer destination responds to the camcorder 100 that the content cannot be received.

  If the CPU 11 determines from the response information (non-response) received from the transfer destination device that transfer to the transfer destination device is impossible (No), for example, another transfer destination existing on the network 50 A screen for allowing the user to select whether or not to specify the device is displayed. Then, when the user selects designation of another transfer destination on the screen (Yes in Step 65), the CPU 11 sets another transfer destination based on the user operation or the like (Step 66).

  If the CPU 11 determines from the response information received from the transfer destination device that transfer to the transfer destination device is possible (Yes), the CPU 11 transfers the data corresponding to the transfer unit among the recorded contents (the transfer destination device ( To PVR 200) (step 61).

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the remaining storage capacity falls below the threshold during recording of the content in the flash memory 25, the CPU 11 stores the content data stored so far. The data is divided into a plurality of transfer units (blocks), and the data for the blocks is transferred to the PVR 200. The data amount of the block is 2 MB, for example, but is not limited thereto. If the amount of data in this block is too large, the time required for calculating the checksum, which will be described later, becomes long. If it is too small, the number of times the checksum results are exchanged increases. It is set in a range where inconveniences are minimized. The flash memory 25 may be divided into partitions in units of blocks.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the content recorded in the flash memory 25 is divided into predetermined units of blocks A to E during the recording, and transfer is started from the block A. . Each block transferred to the PVR 200 is first temporarily stored in the RAM 44 and then written to the HDD 38.

  At the time of block transfer, the CPU 11 adds a checksum for detecting an error in the data of each block to the block. When receiving the block, the CPU 42 of the PVR 200 that is the transfer destination device first calculates a checksum, and returns the checksum result (presence of error) to the camcorder 100. If there is an error in the block, a retransmission request is transmitted as a response to the checksum result. Since the CPU 42 of the PVR 200 performs the checksum calculation, the load on the CPU 11 of the camcorder 100 that places a load on the content recording process can be minimized.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the CPU 11 determines from the checksum result received from the PVR 200 whether or not there is an error in the transferred block (step 62). If it is determined that there is an error (No), the block is retransmitted to the PVR 200.

  If it is determined that there is no error (Yes), the CPU 11 erases the transferred block from the flash memory 25 as shown in FIG. 5C (step 63). As a result, a free space for the erased block is secured in the flash memory 25.

  Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a block to be transferred subsequently (step 64), and if there is, repeats the processing from step 59 onward. The CPU 11 executes the above transfer process until the content recording process ends. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, during recording of content, block B following the top block A of the content is transferred to PVR 200, and an error is detected in block B based on the checksum result. If not, the data in block B is erased from the flash memory 25. In the area where the block B is erased, content data to be taken after that is recorded. Similarly, the data of subsequent blocks C, D,..., Block I are sequentially transferred and sequentially erased according to the checksum result. If an error is detected in the block based on the checksum result, retransmission processing is executed as appropriate. Data of contents to be photographed thereafter is sequentially recorded using an area freed by erasing these transferred blocks. This ensures that the content recording process is executed without interruption.

  If the automatic transfer of content is set to ON in step 52 (Yes), the CPU 11 accepts a selection of processing from the user regardless of whether or not the remaining storage capacity of the flash memory 25 falls below the threshold value. Instead, the processing after step 59 is automatically executed. That is, the CPU 11 sequentially transfers the block to the PVR 200 every time the data for the block is recorded in the flash memory 43.

  Here, the recording rate of the content to the flash memory 25 is 25 Mbps even in the high-definition image quality, whereas the transfer capacity of the block on the network 50 is 100 Mbps according to the LAN standard, and a minimum rate of 60 Mbps or more is guaranteed. ing. Therefore, even if the transmission rate (delay) of the checksum result is combined, a sufficient transfer rate of blocks to the PVR 200 is ensured with respect to the content recording rate to the flash memory 25. That is, the transfer process from the camcorder 100 to the PVR 200 and the block erasure process are not in time, and the recording of the content in the flash memory 25 is not interrupted.

  The CPU 42 of the PVR 200 can not only record each block of the transferred content on the HDD 38 but also reproduce it sequentially. In this case, the CPU 42 can reproduce the content being recorded almost in real time, although a delay corresponding to the time required for the block transfer time and checksum calculation and response occurs.

[Summary]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the content recorded on the camcorder 100 is divided into a plurality of transfer units (blocks), and the blocks are sequentially transferred to the PVR 200 during the recording of the content. The camcorder 100 adds a checksum to the block at the time of transferring the block, confirms that there is no error based on the checksum result received from the PVR 200, and then erases the transferred block. Therefore, the camcorder 100 can start recording content when the user wants to start recording without waiting for the user while securing a free space for recording the content, and without interrupting the recording. You can continue. Therefore, the user can record (photograph) any amount of content (long time) without worrying about the free space and without carrying another extra recording medium. Furthermore, since the camcorder 100 deletes the block after confirming that the transfer of the content to the PVR 200 has been successfully completed by the checksum, the transferred content can be reliably played back by the PVR 200.

  In addition, when the camcorder 100 transfers the content to the PVR 200 for each block during the recording of the content, the PVR 200 can reproduce the content being recorded by the camcorder 100 almost in real time.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, a checksum is used as an error detection code added to a block transferred from the camcorder 100 to the PVR 200. However, other error detection codes such as parity, FEC (Forward Error Correction), a cyclic code, and a hash function may be added.

  In the above-described embodiment, the flash memory 25 is designated as the content storage unit in the camcorder 100. Of course, the same processing is performed when another recording medium 16 is designated. Further, when the camcorder 100 has a specification of switching to either one of the flash memory 25 and the recording medium 16 when the storage capacity of the flash memory 25 or the recording medium 16 becomes full, the block is used when the remaining remaining storage capacity falls below the threshold value. Every transfer may be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, whether or not to execute block transfer from the camcorder 100 to the PVR 200 is selected by the user on the selection screen displayed on the LCD 20. However, instead of the selection screen, voice information that prompts the selection may be output from the speaker 23, and the user's voice is input from the microphone 21 as selection information for receiving the voice information and selecting whether transfer is necessary. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, the camcorder is cited as an example of the electronic device that is the content transfer source. However, the transfer source electronic device may be another device such as a digital still camera, a mobile phone, a portable AV player, or a PC. In the above-described embodiment, PVR is cited as an example of an external device that is a content transfer destination. However, the transfer destination external device may be another stationary device such as a PC, a server device, or a storage device. In addition, the external device of the transfer destination is not limited to a stationary device, and may be a portable or in-vehicle device such as a mobile phone, a portable AV player, a notebook PC, and a car navigation device.

  The system in the above embodiment can also be applied to a relay broadcast system. In this system, content shot by a camcorder or video camera as a transfer source electronic device is transmitted to a broadcast station computer in blocks and broadcasted. In this case, it is not necessary for the crew at the relay destination to carry a large-capacity storage device, and it is easy to move, so further efficiency of the broadcasting system can be expected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the content to be transferred is a moving image, but the present invention can be similarly applied to other content such as a still image and audio.

11 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Video signal processing circuit 15 ... Recording / reproduction processing circuit 16 ... Recording medium 17 ... Operation input part 20 ... LCD
24 ... Communication unit 25 ... Flash memory 35 ... Recording / reproducing unit 38 ... HDD
41 ... Communication unit 42 ... CPU
44 ... RAM
50 ... Network 100 ... Camcorder 200 ... PVR

Claims (8)

A storage unit;
A communication unit that communicates with an external device;
The content is recorded in the storage unit, and during the recording, the recorded content is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the communication unit is controlled to transfer each block to the external device. An electronic device comprising: a control unit that erases each block from the storage unit. The electronic device according to claim 1,
The controller is
An error detection code is added to each transferred block,
Controlling the communication unit to receive detection result information by the error detection code from the external device;
An electronic apparatus that erases each transferred block from the storage unit when it is determined that there is no error in each transferred block based on the detection result information. The electronic device according to claim 2,
The control unit is an electronic device that transfers each block to the external device each time the content corresponding to the block is recorded. The electronic device according to claim 2,
An output unit that outputs selection information for allowing a user to select whether or not to execute the transfer when the remaining storage capacity of the storage unit falls below a predetermined threshold during recording of the content;
An input unit for inputting selection information of the user based on the selection information; and
The control unit is an electronic device that transfers the blocks to the external device when the selection information for selecting execution of the transfer is input from the input unit. The electronic device according to claim 2,
The controller is
The transfer propriety confirmation information for confirming whether the block to be transferred can be stored in the external device is transmitted to the external device, and the transfer propriety response information responding to the transfer propriety confirmation information is received from the external device. Control the communication unit;
An electronic device that controls the communication unit to transfer the block to another external device when it is determined that the block cannot be stored in the external device based on the transfer enable / disable response information. A content transfer system comprising a first electronic device and a second electronic device,
The first electronic device includes:
A first storage unit;
A first communication unit;
Recording the content into the first storage unit, dividing the recorded content into a plurality of blocks during the recording, and transferring the blocks to the second electronic device. And a first control unit that controls each of the transferred blocks from the first storage unit,
The second electronic device is
A second storage unit;
A second communication unit;
Controlling the second communication unit to receive the transferred blocks, recording the received blocks in the second storage unit, and reproducing the recorded blocks; A content transfer system having a control unit. A content transfer method in an electronic device having a storage unit and a communication unit,
Record the content in the storage unit,
During the recording, the recorded content is divided into a plurality of blocks, each block is transferred to an external device,
A content transfer method for erasing each transferred block from the storage unit. Recording content in the storage unit in an electronic device having a storage unit and a communication unit;
Dividing the recorded content into a plurality of blocks during the recording, and transferring the blocks to an external device;
Erasing each transferred block from the storage unit.

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