JP4232233B2 - Automatic formatting apparatus and automatic formatting method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic formatting apparatus and an automatic formatting method for formatting a disk type recording medium in a disk drive in a data recording apparatus in which disk drives having various recording capacities are exchangeably mounted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to record data on the hard disk, as a premise, a process for securing an area to be used on the hard disk (logical format process) must be performed.
[0003]
For example, when a hard disk drive is used as an external storage device of a personal computer, this logical formatting process (hereinafter also simply referred to as formatting process) is generally performed by the user operating a keyboard or the like while viewing the display. Yes.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, a video tape recorder or the like already exists in an apparatus for recording / reproducing AV data (video data or audio data). However, it is also desired to realize an AV data recording / reproducing apparatus having a larger capacity and a shorter access time than existing ones. As a method for realizing this, recording / reproducing is performed using a hard disk drive. It is also an effective way to do it.
[0005]
In that case, it is desirable that the hard disk drive is replaceable (detachable) as a unit in the recording / reproducing apparatus, just as the video tape can be replaced in the video tape recorder.
[0006]
However, in such a recording / reproducing apparatus in which the hard disk drive is replaceably mounted, it is naturally necessary to perform the formatting process of the hard disk in the replaced hard disk drive every time the hard disk drive is replaced.
[0007]
Since this recording / reproducing apparatus falls within the category of AV-related products as with video tape recorders, etc., if the user is forced to perform operations for this format processing as in a personal computer, the usability as a product becomes very poor. End up.
[0008]
On the other hand, it is possible to cause the recording / reproducing apparatus to automatically perform format processing assuming only a specific recording capacity. However, if you do so, there are hard disk drives with various recording capacities, so the hard disk drive may be replaced with one that has a different recording capacity than the one that was previously installed. In such a case, the formatting process will not be performed correctly.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data recording apparatus in which disk drives having various recording capacities such as this AV data recording / reproducing apparatus are interchangeably mounted, and the recording capacity of the disc drive after replacement is the one before replacement Even if it is different from the above, the disk formatting in the disk drive after replacement can be automatically performed.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, an automatic formatting apparatus relates to a recording capacity of a disk drive in a data recording apparatus in which a disk drive is replaceably mounted, and an apparatus for formatting a disk type recording medium in the disk drive. an acquisition unit configured to acquire information from a disk drive, a detecting means for detecting that there is a possibility that the disk drive is replaced, the disk drive before the disk drive is detected that there may have been replaced recorded based on the recording capacity of the disk drive after being detected that there is a possibility that the capacity and the disk drive has been replaced, comprising determination means for determining the presence or absence of a change in the storage capacity of the disk drive, wherein the determination when the unit determines that the recording capacity is changed, in the disk drive The format processing of disk-type recording medium line of it.
The automatic formatting method is a method of formatting a disk type recording medium in the disk drive in a data recording apparatus in which the disk drive is replaceably mounted. In this method, the computer stores information on the recording capacity of the disk drive. obtaining from the drive, after the computer, and Luz step to detect that the disk drive may have been exchanged, the computer detects that the disk drive may have been exchanged, Obtaining information about the recording capacity of the disk drive from the disk drive, and the possibility that the disk drive has been replaced with the recording capacity of the disk drive before the computer detects that the disk drive may have been replaced. Have sex Based on the recording capacity of the disk drive after being detected, and a step of determining the presence or absence of a change in storage capacity, the computer, when determining the chromatic change in storage capacity, the disk type in the disk drive that it has a performing a formatting process of the recording medium.
[0011]
In this apparatus, when the information about the recording capacity of the disk drive is acquired from the disk drive by the acquisition means, and the disk drive attached to the data recording apparatus is replaced, the detection means may indicate that the disk drive may be replaced. Information regarding the recording capacity of the disk drive after it has been detected and detected that the disk drive may have been replaced is acquired from the disk drive by the acquisition means, and the disk drive may have been replaced Based on the recording capacity of the disk drive before detection and the recording capacity of the disk drive after it is detected that the disk drive may have been replaced, a means for determining whether or not the storage capacity of the disk drive has changed Determined by the determining means that the recording capacity has changed. When the formatting process of the disk-type recording medium in the disk drive is performed.
Also, in this method, when information about the recording capacity of the disk drive is acquired from the disk drive by the computer and the disk drive attached to the data recording device is replaced, the computer may indicate that the disk drive may be replaced. Information about the recording capacity of the disk drive after it is detected and detected that the disk drive may have been replaced is obtained from the disk drive by the computer and it is detected that the disk drive may have been replaced. The computer determines whether the storage capacity of the disk drive has changed based on the recording capacity of the disk drive before the recording and the recording capacity of the disk drive after it is detected that the disk drive may have been replaced. If the recording capacity has changed, When it is judged by computer, formatting the disk type recording medium in the disk drive is performed by a computer.
[0012]
Thus, it is automatically detected that could drive is replaced, the information relating to the recording capacity of the disk drive after the replacement are automatically retrieved, the format processing on the basis of information on the recording capacity since performed, that is different from the previous ones recording capacity of the disk drives after a possibility that the disk drive has been replaced is detected is detected that there is a possibility that the disk drive has been replaced In this case, the formatting process of the disk in the disk drive after it is detected that the disk drive may be replaced is automatically performed.
[0013]
Incidentally, for example, in a notebook personal computer to which a CD-ROM drive is detachably attached, it is described in the manual that the AC adapter should be removed from the main body to prevent accidents when the CD-ROM drive is replaced. Similarly, even if a data recording device is installed so that the disk drive can be replaced, disconnect the AC power outlet by unplugging the power cord of the device from the AC outlet to prevent accidents when replacing the disk drive. Is required.
[0014]
Thus, as an example, it is preferable that the detection means detect that there is a possibility that the disk drive has been replaced by detecting whether or not the data recording device and the AC outlet are connected.
[0015]
Alternatively, as another example, after the disk drive is replaced, the user should operate a predetermined operation switch (for example, a reset switch), and the detection unit detects the operation of this switch to replace the disk drive. It may be made to detect that there was the possibility of having been carried out.
[0016]
Further, when the detection means is configured as in these examples, as an example, the detection means is attached to the data recording device based on the information regarding the recording capacity of the disk drive after it is detected that there is a possibility of replacement. further provided a judging means for judging presence or absence of a change in the recording capacity of the disk drives are, when the determination unit determines that the recording capacity is changed, the disc format process of the disk drives attached to the data recording device It is more preferable to carry out.
[0017]
Thereby, when the recording capacity of the disk drives installed in the data recording device is changed (when being replaced with a different recording capacity from that Sunawa Chi disk drive was attached to it) formatting Will be performed.
[0018]
Therefore, because if the user had or operate the predetermined operation switch or broke off the connection to the AC outlet at the time other than during the replacement of the disk drive by mistake (Sunawa Chi disk drive has not been replaced data (If the recording capacity of the disk drive installed in the recording device has not changed), the formatting process is not performed, and in this case, the recorded data on the disk in the disk drive is prevented from being erased. Will come to be.
[0019]
Note that one of the standards for connection between a hard disk drive and a processor is ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) by ANSI (American National Standards Institute). In this ATA, a command for obtaining a drive ID from a processor is sent to a hard disk. By issuing it to the drive, the processor can acquire information on the recording capacity of the hard disk drive.
[0020]
Therefore, as an example, when the disk drive is an ATA-compliant hard disk drive, by issuing a command for acquiring the drive ID to the acquisition unit, information regarding the recording capacity of the replaced disk drive is obtained. It is suitable to acquire.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example in which the present invention is applied to an apparatus for recording / reproducing AV data using a hard disk drive will be described below.
[0022]
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of an AV data recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
At the time of recording, an analog video signal or audio signal input from the outside to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is converted into a digital signal by an input / output circuit (IN / OUT) 2 and an encoding / decoding circuit (ENC / DEC) 3 After being encoded (compressed), the data is sent to a hard disk drive unit (HDD unit) 4 and recorded on a hard disk in the HDD unit 4 attached to the apparatus main body.
[0023]
The encoding / decoding circuit 3 includes a circuit for encoding / decoding a video signal (or a video signal and an accompanying audio signal) using MPEG2, and a circuit for encoding / decoding only the audio signal using ATRAC. And are included.
[0024]
In the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the recording capacity of the HDD unit attached to the apparatus main body is set according to MPEG2 encoded video data (or video data and accompanying audio data) (hereinafter simply referred to as “video data”) and ATRAC. A constant ratio (for example, 6: 4) is set in advance as a ratio to be distributed to encoded audio data (hereinafter simply referred to as “audio data”).
[0025]
The HDD unit 4 is included in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 as a set in advance, and has a recording capacity of 8 GB as an example. The hard disk in the HDD unit 4 is subjected to the logical format processing so as to reserve the recording area for video data and the recording area for audio data in the above ratio of 6: 4 in advance, thereby Data areas are 4.8 GB and 3.2 GB, respectively.
[0026]
Of the data encoded (compressed) by the encoding / decoding circuit 3 and sent to the HDD unit 4, the video data is recorded in this video data area, and the audio data is recorded in this audio data area. Is done.
[0027]
At the time of reproduction, video data and audio data read from the hard disk by the HDD unit 4 are decoded (expanded) by the encoding / decoding circuit 3, converted into an analog signal by the input / output circuit 2, and then recorded / reproduced. 1 to the outside.
[0028]
The CPU 5 controls the entire recording / reproducing apparatus 1 at the time of recording / reproducing by executing the program stored in the ROM 6 using the RAM 7 as a work area. The program in the ROM 6 includes a program for processing shown in FIG.
[0029]
In the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the HDD unit is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. For example, some existing notebook personal computers have a CD-ROM drive that can be removably attached. Therefore, the HDD unit can be replaced in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 in the same manner. You can do it.
[0030]
As a connection method between the CPU 5 and the hard disk drive, ATA is adopted, and the HDD unit 4 is also compliant with this ATA.
[0031]
For example, as described in pages 44 to 49 of “Tra Tech Computer” published in September 1993, in ATA, ECh (h represents a hexadecimal number display) which is a command for obtaining a drive ID from a processor. ) Is issued to the hard disk drive, the processor can acquire various information relating to the hard disk drive. Among the information, the information of the word 54 is the current number of cylinders (the number of tracks on one recording surface of the disk). The information in word 55 represents the current number of heads (total number of recording surfaces of the disk), the information in word 56 represents the number of sectors per track, and the information in words 57 to 58 represents the number of accessible sectors. Represents.
[0032]
If the number of cylinders × the number of heads × the number of sectors per track is calculated from the information of the words 54 to 56, the total number of sectors of the hard disk drive can be obtained, so the total number of sectors × 512 bytes (recording capacity of one sector) ), The recording capacity of the hard disk drive (recording capacity including an inaccessible area) is obtained.
[0033]
If the number of accessible sectors × 512 bytes is calculated from the information of the words 57 to 58, the recording capacity of the accessible area of the hard disk drive can be obtained.
[0034]
Therefore, the CPU 5 issues the command ECh to the ATA-compliant HDD unit attached to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and performs such calculation based on the information of the words 54 to 58 obtained from the hard disk drive, thereby the HDD unit. Recording capacity can be obtained.
[0035]
The recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is supplied with electric power from an AC outlet via a power cord (not shown). When replacing the HDD unit 4 with another HDD unit, it is required to unplug the power cord from the AC outlet in order to prevent accidents (for example, this is described in a manual (not shown) of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1). ing).
[0036]
Various operation switches (for example, a power switch, a recording start switch, a playback start switch, a numeric key switch, etc.) are recorded on the operation panel (not shown) of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 after the replacement of the HDD unit. A reset switch to be operated before starting is arranged.
[0037]
Next, processing when the HDD unit 4 is replaced with an HDD unit having a different recording capacity in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 will be described.
[0038]
FIG. 2 shows an example of processing executed by the CPU 5 for this replacement.
The CPU 5 always monitors whether the plug of the power cord is plugged in or unplugged from the AC outlet, and determines whether or not there is a change from the latter state to the former state. (Step S1).
[0039]
When this change occurs, the command ECh for obtaining the drive ID is issued to the HDD unit attached to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, and the above-described information on the words 54 to 58 obtained from the hard disk drive is used. By performing such calculation, the recording capacity of the HDD unit is obtained (step S2).
[0040]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the obtained recording capacity is different from the recording capacity of the HDD unit that has been attached to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 (here, the recording capacity 8 GB of the HDD unit 4) (step S3).
[0041]
If they are different, the logical format processing is performed so as to secure the recording area for video data and the recording area for audio data in the above-mentioned 6: 4 ratio on the hard disk in the HDD unit (step S4). Then, the process proceeds to a normal process (for example, a recording process based on an operation of a recording start switch) (step S5).
On the other hand, if they are the same, the process moves directly from step S3 to step S5 without performing the formatting process of step S4.
[0042]
Here, for example, when the user unplugs the power cord from the AC outlet in order to replace the HDD unit 4 with the HDD unit 8 having a recording capacity of 12 GB, and after completing the replacement, the power cord is plugged into the AC outlet again. The process proceeds from step S1 to step S2, and the recording capacity 12GB is obtained in step S2. Since the recording capacity is different from the previous recording capacity 8GB, the process proceeds from step S3 to step S4 and the hard disk in the HDD unit 8 is formatted. As a result, the video data and audio data areas of the hard disk become 7.2 GB and 4.8 GB, respectively.
[0043]
Therefore, after replacing the HDD unit 4 with the HDD unit 8 having a different recording capacity, the formatting process of the hard disk in the HDD unit 8 is automatically performed.
[0044]
On the other hand, when the user accidentally unplugs the power cord plug from the AC outlet when the HDD unit 4 is not replaced, and then plugs the power cord again into the AC outlet, the process goes from step S1 to step S2. However, since the same recording capacity 8 GB as before is obtained in step S2, the process proceeds from step S3 to step S5 without passing through step S4.
[0045]
Therefore, in this case, since the hard disk formatting process in the HDD unit 4 is not performed, it is possible to prevent the recording data of the hard disk from being erased.
[0046]
When the HDD unit 8 is replaced with an HDD unit having a recording capacity other than 12 GB after the HDD unit 4 is replaced with the HDD unit 8, the processing of FIG. 2 is executed again (however, this time in step S3) Then, it is determined whether or not the recording capacity obtained in step S2 is different from the recording capacity 12 GB of the HDD unit 8), and the hard disk formatting process in the replaced HDD unit is also automatically performed. The loss of recorded data due to the user's erroneous operation is prevented.
[0047]
In the process of FIG. 2, it is determined in step S1 whether or not there has been a change from a state where the plug of the power cord is unplugged from the AC outlet to a state where it is plugged into the AC outlet. However, as described above, on the operation panel of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the reset switch to be operated before the recording is started after the replacement of the HDD unit is arranged. It may be determined whether an event has occurred.
[0048]
Even in such a case, the hard disk in the HDD unit is automatically formatted after replacement with an HDD unit having a different recording capacity, and the user erroneously operates the reset switch except when replacing the HDD unit. This prevents the loss of recorded data.
[0049]
The above example has been described on the assumption that the ratio of distributing the recording area of the hard disk to the video data and the audio data is set to be constant. However, as another example, the user may arbitrarily set this ratio by operating a numeric keypad on the operation panel.
[0050]
In that case, in step S4 of FIG. 2, the formatting process may be performed in accordance with the currently set ratio.
[0051]
The above example has been described on the premise that the formatting process is performed so as to secure two areas of the video data area and the audio data area on the hard disk. However, as another example, the formatting process may be performed so as to secure only one area (for example, only the area for video data).
[0052]
In that case, in step S4 of FIG. 2, the formatting process may be performed so as to secure an area having a size corresponding to the recording capacity of the replaced HDD unit as the one area.
[0053]
Alternatively, the formatting process may be performed so as to secure three or more areas on the hard disk.
[0054]
Further, in the above example, the present invention is applied to an apparatus in which a hard disk drive compliant with ATA is replaceably mounted. However, other hard disk drives (for example, hard disk drives compliant with SCSI) are replaceably mounted. The present invention may also be applied to an apparatus or an apparatus in which disk drives other than the hard disk drive and having various recording capacities are attached in a replaceable manner.
[0055]
At that time, as a method of detecting that there is a possibility that the disk drive is replaced, in addition to the method (or a method based on the operation of the reset switch) based on the insertion and removal of the power cord as in step S1 in FIG. 2, the disc An appropriate method according to the type of drive may be employed.
[0056]
If the detection method does not leave room for erroneous operation by the user, such as a method based on plugging / unplugging the power cord or a method based on the operation of the reset switch, by omitting step S3 in FIG. You may make it always perform the format process of step S4.
[0057]
In the above example, the present invention is applied to a recording / reproducing apparatus for AV data. However, the present invention may be applied to a recording apparatus for data other than AV data. Furthermore, by applying the present invention to a personal computer externally attached with a hard disk drive as an external storage device, the hard disk formatting process in the replaced hard disk drive may be automatically performed.
[0058]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other configurations can be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is automatically detected that there is a possibility that the disk drive has been replaced, and information regarding the recording capacity of the disk drive after it is detected that there is a possibility that the disk drive has been replaced. Is automatically acquired and the formatting process is performed based on the information on the recording capacity, so that the recording capacity of the disk drive after it is detected that it may have been replaced may have been replaced. there the case that different from those before being detected, the formatting of the disk in the disk drive after it is detected that there may have been replaced can be automatically performed.
[0060]
Further, when the detection means is configured to detect the presence / absence of connection to an AC outlet or the operation of the reset switch, the disk attached to the data recording device based on the information regarding the recording capacity of the disk drive after replacement When a determination means for determining whether or not the recording capacity of the drive has changed is further provided, and when the determination means determines that the recording capacity has changed , the formatting process of the disk in the disk drive is performed. Prevents the recorded data on the disk drive from being erased if the AC power supply is accidentally disconnected or the specified operation switch is operated when the disk drive is not replaced. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of an AV data recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by a CPU shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording / reproducing apparatus, 2 Input / output circuit, 3 Encoding / decoding circuit, 4,8 Hard disk drive unit, 5 CPU, 6 ROM, 7 RAM

Claims (6)

In a data recording apparatus in which a disk drive is replaceably mounted, in an apparatus that performs formatting processing of a disk type recording medium in the disk drive,
An acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the recording capacity of the disk drive from the disk drive,
Detection means for detecting that the disk drive may have been replaced;
Based on the recording capacity of the disk drive before it was detected that the disk drive might have been replaced and the recording capacity of the disk drive after it was detected that the disk drive might have been replaced, A judging means for judging whether or not the storage capacity of the disk drive has changed,
With
Wherein when the determination unit determines that the recording capacity is changed, the disc-type recording automatic formatting device will row the formatting of the medium in the disk drive. The automatic formatting device according to claim 1, wherein
The acquisition unit is an automatic formatting device that issues a command to a disk drive and acquires information about the recording capacity of the disk drive from the disk drive. The automatic formatting device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The disk drive is a hard disk drive compliant with ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment),
The acquisition unit, automatic formatting device you get information about the recording capacity by issuing a drive ID acquisition command, The automatic formatting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
Said detecting means, said by detecting the presence or absence of connection with the data recording apparatus and the AC outlet, automatic formatting apparatus that detect that the disk drive may have been exchanged. The automatic formatting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
Said detecting means, said by detecting an operation of the predetermined operation switch of the data recording device, automatic formatting apparatus that detect that the disk drive may have been exchanged. In a data recording apparatus in which a disk drive is replaceably mounted, a method for formatting a disk type recording medium in the disk drive,
A computer obtaining information about the recording capacity of the disk drive from the disk drive;
The computer, and Luz step to detect that the disk drive may have been exchanged,
Obtaining information about the recording capacity of the disk drive from the disk drive after the computer detects that the disk drive may have been replaced;
The recording capacity of the disk drive before the computer detects that the disk drive may have been replaced and the recording capacity of the disk drive after it is detected that the disk drive may have been replaced Determining whether there is a change in storage capacity based on
The computer, when determining the chromatic change in storage capacity, automatic formatting how having a performing a formatting process of the disk-type recording medium in the disk drive.

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