JP4366881B2 - Audio information reproduction system and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an audio information reproduction system and method for reproducing audio information, and in particular, when reproducing a plurality of tracks having audio information at random, tracks to be reproduced are managed using track management means. The present invention relates to an audio information reproducing system and method.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
In an audio information reproducing system having a direct access type storage medium such as a disk and a semiconductor memory, audio information to be reproduced can be arbitrarily selected. This is because, unlike an audio information reproducing system having a sequential access type storage medium such as a tape type, fast forward and rewind operations are not required to reproduce an arbitrary track.
[0003]
In an audio information reproducing system having such a disk and semiconductor memory storage medium, the user is usually provided with a reproduction mode such as normal reproduction, repeat reproduction, one-track repeat reproduction, program reproduction, and random reproduction. It is. Among these, in random playback, tracks are played back in an arbitrary order selected by the audio information playback system regardless of the track storage order (regardless of the registration order in TOC: Table Of Contents).
[0004]
In a CD-DA (Compact Disc-Digital Audio) having uncompressed audio information, if this random reproduction is performed, normally there are a dozen or so stored tracks, a list of tracks that have been reproduced once, etc. It is possible to easily prevent the same track from being reproduced more than once during one random reproduction.
[0005]
However, recently, the price of a large-capacity storage medium such as a hard disk has decreased, and audio information has been easily compressed, so that the number of tracks stored in the storage medium exceeds several hundreds. Became. Due to the increase in the number of tracks stored in this storage medium, creating a list of all tracks played during random playback not only requires a large amount of memory, but also manages the list stored in the memory. There is a problem that it takes a lot of time.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. When a plurality of tracks having audio information are randomly reproduced, track identification information is recorded in the track management means in a first-in first-out manner. An object of the present invention is to propose an audio information reproduction system and method for managing tracks to be reproduced using the track management means.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a storage means having a plurality of areas, each storing a plurality of tracks each having audio information, and a plurality of storage means. Area management means in which identification information of the area selected from the area is stored first-in-first-out, and identification of a track selected from a plurality of tracks stored in the selected area Track management means for storing information, playback means for playing back the selected track, and discriminating the track management means when it is determined to continue playing the track stored in the selected area A track for which no information is stored is selected from a plurality of tracks stored in the selected area, and a track stored in the selected area is selected. If it is determined to end the playback of the click provides audio information reproduction system and a control means for selecting from among a plurality of areas of the memory means an area where the identification information is not stored in the area management unit .
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the identification information of the selected area is stored in the area management unit in a first-in-first-out manner, and the identification information of the selected track is stored in the track management unit. For each of the number of areas in which the identification information can be stored in the area management means, the same track is not reproduced during the time in which the number of tracks in which the identification information can be stored in the track management means is reproduced. Further, since the area management means and the track management means having a capacity capable of storing all the areas and track information stored in the storage device are not required, the memory can be saved and the track management means and the area management can be saved. The time required for managing the means can be kept short.
[0009]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the reproduction of the track stored in the selected area is to be finished, an area in which the identification information is not stored in the area management unit is stored in a plurality of storage units. It is determined that information on the selected area is stored in the area management means in a first-in first-out, and the reproduction of the track stored in the selected area is continued. If the track management means does not store the identification information in the track management means, the selected track is selected from the plurality of tracks stored in the selected area, and the identification information of the selected track is selected as the track. Provided is an audio information reproduction method for reproducing a selected track stored in a management means.
[0010]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the identification information of the selected area is stored in the area management means in a first-in-first-out manner, and the identification information of the selected track is stored in the track management means. For each of the number of areas in which the identification information can be stored in the area management means, the same track is not reproduced during the time in which the number of tracks in which the identification information can be stored in the track management means is reproduced. In addition, since the area management unit and the track management unit having a capacity capable of storing the identification information of all the areas and tracks stored in the storage unit are not required, the memory can be saved, and the area management unit and the track can be saved. The time required for managing the management means can be kept short.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A configuration of an audio information reproducing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In the audio information reproduction system 100, a CD-ROM drive 210, a CD-R / RW (CD-Recordable / Rewriteable) drive 212, a hard disk drive 214, a memory card, which are reproduction means for driving storage means, via a bus 170. -Audio information is transmitted and received between the devices of the drive 216.
[0019]
Connected to the bus 170 are a CD-ROM drive interface 130 for outputting digital signals, a CD-R / RW interface 132 for inputting / outputting digital signals, a hard disk drive interface 134, and a memory card drive interface 136. ing. A CD-ROM drive 110, a CD-R / RW drive 112, a hard disk drive 114, and a memory card drive 116 are connected to each interface. Digital signals output from the CD-ROM drive 110 are transmitted to the bus 170 via the CD-ROM drive interface 130, and digital signals input / output from other drives are transmitted to and received from the bus 170 via each interface. The
[0020]
An A / D converter (Analog to Digital Converter) 138 for inputting an analog signal and a D / A converter (Digital to Analog Converter) 140 for outputting an analog signal are connected to the bus 170. An analog input terminal 118 for inputting an analog signal is connected to the A / D converter 138. When an analog signal is input from the analog input terminal 118, the input analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 138 and transmitted to the bus 170.
[0021]
The encoder 156 and the decoder 158 are connected to the bus 170 for compressing and decompressing audio information. For example, the encoder 156 converts WAV data (the most basic audio file format handled by a personal computer) received from the bus 170 into MP3 data (audio file format compressed by the MPEG Audio Layer-3 standard). Transmit to the bus 170. Similarly, the decoder 158 converts MP3 data into WAV data.
[0022]
ROM 150 and RAM 152 are connected to bus 170. The ROM 150 stores a program for controlling the audio information reproduction system 100. The RAM 152 is also used as a track management unit that stores a track management list and an area management unit that stores an area management list. The RAM 152 is also used as a temporary buffer when the audio information signal is converted by the encoder 156 and the decoder 158.
[0023]
An operation panel 160 and a display panel 162 are connected to the bus 170 as an interface with the user. The user can instruct the audio information reproduction system 100 to perform a plurality of operations by operating the operation panel 160 according to the menu displayed on the display panel 162.
[0024]
The controller 154 that is a control means is connected to the bus 170 in order to control all the devices. Control of which device receives the audio information transmitted to the bus 170 and what operation is received is performed by executing a program in the ROM 150 based on a user instruction performed via the operation panel 160. 154 controls.
[0025]
The processing routine of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The process starts at step 210 when the user selects a random playback mode from the menu displayed on the display panel 162 via the operation panel 160. In step 215, the track management list is initialized and cleared as shown in FIG.
[0026]
In step 220, the controller 154 selects an arbitrary track whose identification information is not stored in the track management list. In step 225, it is determined whether or not there is an empty area in the track management list. If it is determined that there is an empty area, that is, the state shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the process proceeds to step 240. In step 240, the identification information of the selected track is stored at the head of the empty area.
[0027]
If it is determined in step 225 that there is no free area in the track management list, that is, the state shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the process proceeds to step 230. In step 230, the information stored first in the track identification information stored in the track management list, TRACK1 in FIG. 3C, is deleted. Next, the track identification information stored in the track management list is shifted one by one. That is, TRACK2 to TRACKn are moved to the positions where TRAK1 to TRACKn-1 are stored, respectively.
[0028]
In step 240, the identification information of the selected track is stored in the free space generated by this shift. The processing performed in steps 230 to 240 is generally called first in first out.
[0029]
When the selected track is played back in step 245 and the playback is finished, it is determined in step 250 whether or not the playback in the random playback mode is finished. If it is determined that the reproduction in the random reproduction mode is to be terminated, the process proceeds to step 255 and is terminated. If it is determined not to end, the process returns to step 220, and the processes of steps 220 to 250 are repeated.
[0030]
In this way, a track whose identification information is not stored in the track management list is selected from a plurality of tracks stored in the storage means, and the selected track information is first-in first-out. Store in the track management list and play back the selected track.
[0031]
Thereby, since the identification information of the selected track is stored in the track management list first-in-first-out, during the time when the number of tracks in which the identification information can be stored in the track management list is played back, The same track is never played. In addition, since a track management list having a capacity capable of storing the identification information of all the tracks stored in the storage means is not required, memory can be saved and the time required for list management can be kept short. it can.
[0032]
Assuming that n track information can be stored in the track management list and the playback time of each track is about m minutes, the same track is not played back for n × m minutes. For example, if 20 tracks of information can be stored in the track management list and the playback time of each track is about 7 minutes, the same track will not be played back for 140 minutes.
[0033]
FIG. 4 shows a processing routine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As in the first embodiment, the process starts at step 410 when the user selects the random playback mode from the menu displayed on the display panel 162 via the operation panel 160. In step 415, the area management list is initialized and cleared as shown in FIG.
[0034]
In step 420, the controller 154 selects an arbitrary area for which identification information is not stored in the area management list. In step 425, it is determined whether or not there is a free area in the area management list. If it is determined that there is an empty area, that is, the state shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the process proceeds to step 440. In step 440, the identification information of the selected area is stored at the head of the free area.
[0035]
If it is determined in step 425 that there is no empty area in the area management list, that is, the state shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the process proceeds to step 430. In step 430, the identification information stored first in the area identification information stored in the area management list, AREA1 in FIG. 5C, is deleted. Next, the area identification information stored in the area management list is shifted one by one. That is, AREA2 to n are moved to the positions where AREA1 to n-1 are stored, respectively. In step 240, the identification information of the selected area is stored in the free area generated by this shift. The processing performed in steps 430 to 440 is generally called first in first out.
[0036]
Since the processing performed in steps 440 to 475 is substantially the same as the processing performed in steps 215 to 245 in FIG. 2, detailed description thereof is omitted. The difference from the processing performed in steps 215 to 245 in FIG. 2 is that the tracks selected in step 450 are limited to the tracks stored in the area selected in step 420.
[0037]
It is determined whether or not the reproduction within the area selected in step 480 is to be ended. If it is determined that the reproduction is not to be ended, the process returns to step 450 and the processes of steps 450 to 480 are repeated. If it is determined to end, the process proceeds to step 485.
[0038]
In step 485, it is determined whether or not to end the playback in the random playback mode. If it is determined that the reproduction in the random reproduction mode is to be terminated, the process proceeds to step 490 and is terminated. If it is determined not to end, the process returns to step 420, and the processes of steps 420 to 485 are repeated.
[0039]
Thus, the identification information of the selected area is stored in the area management list first-in-first-out, and the identification information of the track selected from the selected area is stored in the track management list. For each of the number of areas in which the identification information can be stored in the management list, the same track is not reproduced during the time when the number of tracks in which the identification information can be stored in the track management list is reproduced. Further, since an area management list and a track management list having a capacity capable of storing identification information of all areas and tracks stored in the storage means are not required, it is possible to save memory and to manage the list. Time can be kept short.
[0040]
If the identification information of 1 area can be stored in the area management list, the identification information of n tracks can be stored in the track management list, and the reproduction time of each track is about m minutes, l × n × The same track is not played for m minutes. For example, if 10 area identification information can be stored in the area management list, 10 track identification information can be stored in the track management list, and the playback time of each track is approximately 7 minutes, 700 minutes. Means that the same track will never be played.
[0041]
In this case, it is determined whether or not the reproduction within the selected area in step 480 is to be ended depending on whether or not there is a free area in the track management list.
[0042]
The area may be an arbitrary area selected by the user or set in advance, and may be a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk, or a folder in each storage medium. .
[0043]
In the second embodiment, first-in first-out is not used when storing track identification information in the track management list. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and first-in first-out is not used. -Out may be used.
[0044]
In step 480 of the second embodiment, when determining the end of playback in the area, if first in, first out is not used, playback is performed because there is no free space in the track management list. It is good also as an end. When using first-in, first-out, playback may end when a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0045]
Similarly, in the first and second embodiments, the end of the random playback mode may be determined based on whether there is an instruction from the user via the operation panel or the like, and a predetermined time has elapsed. May be determined.
[0046]
Although the track management list and the area management list are stored in the RAM, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be created in a storage device such as a hard disk. The track identification information described in the track management list may be, for example, a track name, and the area identification information described in the area management list may be a volume number of a storage medium or a folder name.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and third aspects of the invention, the identification information of the selected area is stored in the area management means in a first-in-first-out manner, and the identification information of the track selected from the selected area is the track. For each area whose number of identification information can be stored in the area management unit, the same track is reproduced during the time when the number of tracks whose identification information can be stored in the track management unit is reproduced. It will not be done. In addition, since the area management unit and the track management unit having a capacity capable of storing the identification information of all the areas and tracks stored in the storage unit are not required, the memory can be saved and the area management unit and the track can be saved. The time required for managing the management means can be kept short.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration block diagram of an audio information reproduction system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a track management list according to the first embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows an area management list and a track management list according to the second embodiment of this invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Audio information playback system 152 RAM
154 controller

Claims (4)

Storage means having a plurality of areas and storing a plurality of tracks each having audio information in each of the areas;
Area management means in which identification information of an area selected from the plurality of areas of the storage means is stored in first-in first-out;
Track management means for storing identification information of a track selected from a plurality of tracks stored in the selected area;
Playback means for playing back the selected track;
If it is determined that the reproduction of the track stored in the selected area is to be continued, a plurality of tracks stored in the selected area are stored with no identification information stored in the track management means. If it is determined that the reproduction of the track stored in the selected area is to be terminated, an area in which no identification information is stored in the area management unit is selected. Control means for selecting from a plurality of areas,
An audio information reproduction system having When it is determined that there is no free space in the area management unit, the identification information stored first in the area identification information stored in the area management unit is deleted and stored in the area management unit The area identification information is shifted one by one, and when it is determined that there is no free space in the track management means, the identification information stored first in the track identification information stored in the track management means is changed. Delete and shift the track identification information stored in the track management means one by one
The audio information reproducing system according to claim 1 . When it is determined that the reproduction of the track stored in the selected area is to be finished, an area in which the identification information is not stored in the area management unit is selected from the plurality of areas of the storage unit and selected. Information stored in the area management means on a first-in-first-out basis,
If it is determined that the reproduction of the track stored in the selected area is to be continued, a plurality of tracks stored in the selected area are identified with tracks for which identification information is not stored in the track management means. The selected track is stored in the track management means, and the selected track is played back.
Audio information playback method. When it is determined that there is no free space in the area management unit, the identification information stored first in the area identification information stored in the area management unit is deleted and stored in the area management unit The area identification information is shifted one by one, and when it is determined that there is no free space in the track management means, the identification information stored first in the track identification information stored in the track management means is changed. Delete and shift the track identification information stored in the track management means one by one
The audio information reproducing method according to claim 3 .

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