JP4586533B2 - Recording apparatus, address conversion apparatus, recording control method, and recording control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a program using a recording medium managed by a predetermined file system, such as a hard disk, a data rewritable DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or CD (Compact Disc), or a semiconductor memory. .

  For example, in various recording media in which data can be rewritten, such as a hard disk, a rewritable DVD, and a rewritable CD, and the random access is possible, FAT (File Allocation Table) system is often used. In this case, a management area and one or more partition areas are provided in the recording area, and a FAT area, a directory area, and a data area are provided in each partition area.

  The FAT information is used to manage the directory area and the data area. By referring to the FAT information, a free cluster in the data area can be searched and data can be recorded in the free cluster. To be done. Further, in the FAT system, when data is recorded across a plurality of clusters, information indicating the connection of the data is recorded in the FAT information (table information) of the FAT area, and by tracing this information, the data area is recorded. It is possible to read and reproduce the data recorded on the disc properly.

  When recording AV (Audio / video) data such as a so-called MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) stream or DV (Digital Video) stream on a recording medium to which such a file system is applied, PC (Personal Computer) compatible A method for enabling recording in a format (file system interpretable by a PC) is disclosed in Patent Document 1 described later.

By using the method described in Patent Document 1, AV data such as an MPEG stream or a DV stream can be recorded on a recording medium in a PC compatible format, and the use of AV data is facilitated. The range of utilization can be expanded.
JP 10-340533 A

  Incidentally, as described above, in a recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium such as a hard disk using the FAT system as a file system, the software shown in FIG. 24 operates to record data on the recording medium. An address indicating a position is designated, and data is recorded at a position on the recording medium designated by the address.

  In FIG. 24, an application 101 indicates entities of various application programs to be executed. A file system 102 represents the entity of a system for accessing a medium such as a hard disk, and includes a recording control unit 103 and a media control unit 104. The recording control unit 103 has functions as a directory entry control unit 103a, a cluster control unit 103b, and a FAT control unit 103c, and the media control unit 104 has a function of a position calculation unit 104a.

  When the application 101 that records data is executed, various information is transmitted and received between the executed application 101 and the file system 102. An instruction to record data in a predetermined file on the recording medium 106 from the application 101 is notified to the directory entry control unit 103 a of the recording control unit 103. The directory entry control unit 103a refers to the directory entry information recorded on the recording medium 106, and acquires the start cluster number of the designated file.

  The directory entry control unit 103a notifies the FAT control unit 103c of the start cluster number of the acquired file. The FAT control unit 103c follows each cluster from the head of the instructed file, detects a free cluster, and notifies the free cluster number to the cluster control unit 103b through the directory entry control unit 103a. The cluster control unit 103b forms an instruction to calculate an LBA (Logical Block Address) that is a logical block address indicating a data recording position based on the free cluster number instructed through the directory entry control unit 103a. This is supplied to the position calculation unit 104a of the media control unit 104.

  The position calculation unit 104a calculates a logical block address LBA1 corresponding to the cluster number supplied from the cluster control unit 103b, and records the data at the position on the recording medium 106 indicated by the calculated LBA1. 105 is instructed. Here, LBA1 is a logical block address instructed from the position calculation unit 104a to the device driver 105. The device driver 105 records data at a position on the recording medium designated by the LBA 2 by using the LBA 1 from the position calculation unit 104a as a logical physical address LBA2 when actually accessing the recording medium.

  Thus, conventionally, LBA1 calculated by the position calculation unit 104a of the media control unit 104 and LBA2 used when the device driver 105 accesses the recording medium 106 are exactly the same, and the relationship LBA1 = LBA2 is established. It is always true. When the recording medium is a disk recording medium such as a hard disk or a DVD, a management area such as MBR (Master Boot Record) for recording management information used in the file system is from the outermost side of the disk recording medium. Data is also recorded from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side. That is, the position of the management area and the data recording direction (access direction to the recording medium) are uniquely determined.

  A recording medium such as a hard disk is normally used repeatedly by repeatedly formatting (initializing) such as “format → record → format (or all erasure) → record →”. However, since the data recording direction (basic way of searching for a free area) is only the direction from the outer periphery to the inner periphery, there is a problem that the use area in recording differs between the outer periphery side and the inner periphery side. There is.

  That is, each time formatting is performed, various areas such as a management area and a partition area are formed from the outermost circumference to the inner circumference, and data is recorded from the outermost circumference to the inner circumference. Therefore, the outermost recording area is often used, but there are many cases in which no data is recorded in the innermost recording area.

  As described above, it is not preferable that portions having different usage frequencies occur in the recording area of the same recording medium, because a failure may easily occur in a portion having high usage frequencies. If possible, it is desirable to make the frequency of use uniform in any part of the same recording medium.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a method, and a program that make it possible to make the frequency of use of any part of a recording area of a recording medium as uniform as possible.

In order to solve the above problems, a recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A recording device that uses a recording medium capable of rewriting data and managed by a predetermined file system,
A plurality of processing modes in which one or both of a position on the recording medium of a management area for storing management information used in the file system and an access direction to the recording medium are different;
Accepting means for accepting an instruction to initialize the recording medium or an instruction to erase all files on the recording medium;
A selection means for selecting a processing mode to be newly used when an instruction to initialize the recording medium or an instruction to erase all files on the recording medium is accepted through the accepting means;
Calculating means for calculating reference address information indicating a data recording position on the recording medium when a reference processing mode is used when accessing the recording medium;
Conversion means for converting the reference address information calculated by the calculation means into address information corresponding to the newly used processing mode selected by the selection means, and
Access to the recording medium is performed using the address information converted by the converting means.

  According to the recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when an instruction to initialize or erase all files is received through the receiving unit, the processing mode to be newly used is selected by the selecting unit. Then, the calculation means calculates reference address information when the reference processing mode is used, and the calculated reference address information is converted into address information corresponding to the newly used processing mode selected by the selection means. Is done.

  As a result, each time initialization or all erasure of a file is performed, the processing mode is changed to a processing mode in which the position of the management area and the access direction are different without performing complicated processing. Each time initialization or phi erasure is performed, the management area is changed to a different processing mode and access direction, and the recording area of the recording medium used in the previous processing mode is avoided. The frequency of use of each recording area portion of the recording medium is made as uniform as possible, for example, data can be recorded on the recording medium in a new processing mode. In addition, since the management of the file system itself is not changed, there is no large-scale change of the apparatus.

The recording device according to claim 2 is the recording device according to claim 1,
A detection means for detecting the current processing mode;
The selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used based on the current processing mode detected by the detection unit.

  According to the recording apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the selection of the processing mode to be newly used by the selection unit is performed according to the current processing mode detected by the detection unit. As a result, in the current processing mode, it is possible to select a processing mode that can preferentially use a recording area that is unlikely to be used as a processing mode to be newly used. The frequency of use of each recording area portion of the recording medium is made as uniform as possible.

A recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect,
A position acquisition means for acquiring a data recording end position on the recording medium;
The selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of the data recording end position acquired through the position acquisition unit.

  According to the recording apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the selection of the processing mode to be newly used by the selection unit is performed in consideration of the data recording end position acquired by the position acquisition unit. As a result, a management area is formed after the data recording end position, and a processing mode in which data can be recorded in an unused portion of the recording area of the recording medium can be selected. The frequency of use of the parts is made as uniform as possible.

The recording device of the invention according to claim 4
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3,
Comprising a final edge detecting means for detecting a value of the final edge of the recording medium,
The selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of the value of the final edge of the recording medium detected through the final short detection unit.

  According to the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the selection of the processing mode to be newly used by the selection unit is performed in consideration of the value of the final end of the recording medium acquired by the final end detection unit. Is done. Thus, for example, the processing mode can be selected according to the distance from the data recording end position to the final end, and the usage frequency of each recording area portion of the recording medium is made as uniform as possible. Further, it is possible to cope with the case where an address exceeding the final end is designated.

A recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the first aspect,
Provided with a type detecting means for detecting the type of a recording medium used as a data recording destination,
The selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of the type of the recording medium detected through the type detection unit.

  According to the recording apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the selection of the processing mode to be newly used by the selection unit is performed in consideration of the type of the recording medium acquired by the type detection unit. Thus, for example, different processing modes can be selected for a recording medium such as a memory card and a disk recording medium such as a DVD or a hard disk, and the usage frequency of each recording area portion of the recording medium is made as uniform as possible. In addition, the recording process can be performed in consideration of the access efficiency and the like.

  According to this invention, it is possible to eliminate (as much as possible) the variation in the usage frequency in the recording area (recording area) of the recording medium, so that only the area used in a concentrated manner is shorter in time than other areas. It is possible to prevent inconvenience such as deterioration.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an apparatus, method, and program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, an imaging device that can use a removable hard disk as a recording medium and a memory card formed using a semiconductor memory, still image data, moving image data, audio A digital video camera (camera-integrated video tape recorder) that can record information signals such as data on a recording medium and can reproduce still image data, moving image data, and audio data recorded on the recording medium A case where this is applied to will be described as an example.

[Configuration and basic operation of digital video camera]
First, the digital video camera of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a digital video camera according to this embodiment. The digital video camera according to this embodiment captures an image and records an image data obtained by capturing the image on a recording medium, and the image input / output unit 16, the audio input / output unit 17, or the communication unit 19. It has a VTR mode in which supplied data is recorded on a recording medium and data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced.

  In addition, the imaging mode includes a moving image imaging mode in which a moving image is imaged and a sound that is picked up at the same time is recorded on a recording medium, and a still image imaging mode in which a still image is imaged. In the VTR mode, the recording button switch is operated to record data supplied from the outside, and the reproduction button switch is operated to record on the recording medium. Data can be reproduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the digital video camera of this embodiment includes an optical lens unit 11, a photoelectric conversion unit 12, a camera function control unit 13, an image signal processing unit 14, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 15, an image input / output. 16, an audio input / output unit 17, an audio signal processing unit 18, a communication unit 19, a control unit 20, an operation input unit 31, a hard disk drive (hard disk device) 32, and a memory card 34.

  The control unit 20 controls each unit of the digital video camera according to the present embodiment, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, an EEPROM (Electrical Erasable). and Programmable ROM) 24 are connected through a system bus 25 to form a microcomputer.

  Here, the ROM 22 is prerecorded with various processing programs executed by the CPU 21 of the digital video camera, information used for various processing, and the like. The RAM 23 is mainly used as a work area, such as temporarily storing intermediate results in each process. The EEPROM 24 is a so-called nonvolatile memory, and stores and holds data that needs to be held even when the power of the digital video camera is turned off, such as various setting parameters.

  The operation input unit 31 also has a mode switching key for switching operation modes such as a moving image shooting mode, a still image shooting mode, and a VTR mode, a shutter key for shooting a still image, a shooting start key for shooting a movie, a recording Various operation keys and function keys such as a key, a playback key, a stop key, a fast-forward key, and a fast-rewind key are provided. The controller 20 receives an operation input from the user and sends an electric signal corresponding to the received operation input to the control unit 20. It can be supplied.

  Accordingly, the control unit 20 reads out and executes a program for performing a target process from the ROM 22 in accordance with an operation input from the user, and controls each unit, so that the digital video camera of this embodiment can be operated by the user. The processing according to the instruction from can be performed.

  The digital video camera of this embodiment can use the hard disk drive 32 and the memory card 34 as recording media. The hard disk drive 32 is configured to be detachable from the digital video camera, and writes data to the built-in hard disk 33 or reads data from the built-in hard disk 33 under the control of the control unit 20. It is something that can be done.

  The hard disk drive 32 used here employs a ZCAV (Zone Constant Angular Velocity) method as a rotation control method. In the ZCAV method, the recording surface of the disk medium is divided into concentric zones (regions composed of a plurality of sectors), and the number of sectors forming the zones is increased toward the outer periphery, and data writing / reading is performed. By increasing the data transfer speed, the data recording density can be kept high even at the outer periphery.

  Therefore, in the ZCAV method, although the data transfer rate of writing / reading (hereinafter referred to as the transfer rate) is different for each zone, the rotational speed of the disk medium is constant, so as in CLV (Constant Linear Velocity), When accessing, the so-called seek operation that positions the read / write head of the hard disk drive at the desired position on the hard disk does not take time, and as described above, high-density recording of data is also achieved. Is something that can be done.

  Further, in the hard disk drive 32, a file allocation table (FAT) system is used as a file system in order to manage files formed on the hard disk 33, and the recording area of the hard disk 33 is divided into a plurality of partitions. Each partition can be treated like an independent drive. Details of the FAT are described in detail in, for example, “Microsoft Extensible Firmware Initiative FAT32 File System Specification”.

  The memory card 34 is also detachable from the digital video camera, and writes data to the built-in semiconductor memory or reads data from the built-in semiconductor memory according to the control of the control unit 20. It is something that can be done.

  Therefore, the digital video camera of this embodiment has a slot for attaching / detaching the hard disk drive 32 and the memory card 34 so that the hard disk drive 32 and / or the memory card 34 can be easily attached / detached. The hard disk drive and memory card can be used properly.

  The hard disk drive 32 can record moving image data and audio data, and the memory card 34 can record still image data. It is also possible to select whether the data recording destination is the hard disk drive 32 or the memory card 34.

  In this embodiment, ATA / ATAPI (AT Attachment / Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface) is used as an interface between the digital video camera body and the hard disk drive 32. Details of ATA / ATAPI are disclosed through, for example, the American Standards Association Web page (http://www.t13.org/).

  There are various types of ATA / ATAPI, and in recent years, ATA / ATAPI-6 has been provided. In this ATA / ATAPI-6, the correspondence area that can be expressed by LBA (Logical Block Address) is expanded from 28-bit space to 48-bit space, and it can also correspond to a large-capacity hard disk whose LBA exceeds 28 bits. Is.

  In this embodiment, for example, an existing ATA / ATAPI such as ATA / ATAPI-6 is used, but the usable interface is not limited to this. For example, a successor interface of an existing interface such as ATA / ATAPI-7 or other various interfaces can be used.

  When a predetermined operation key of the operation input unit 31 is operated, the digital video camera is set to the moving image shooting mode, and a shooting start key for shooting a moving image is operated, or the still image shooting mode is set. When a shutter key for shooting a still image is operated, the camera function control unit 13 operates each of the optical lens unit 11 and the photoelectric conversion unit 12 according to control from the control unit 20. Drive signals and timing signals to be generated are formed and supplied to the optical lens unit 11 and the photoelectric conversion unit 12 to operate the optical lens unit 11 and the photoelectric conversion unit 12.

  The optical lens unit 11 includes a lens, a focus mechanism, a diaphragm mechanism, a shutter mechanism, a zoom mechanism, and the like, and controls the focus mechanism, the diaphragm mechanism, the shutter mechanism, and the zoom mechanism in accordance with a drive signal from the camera function control unit 13. Then, an image of a target subject is taken in and formed on a predetermined portion of the photoelectric conversion unit 12.

  The photoelectric conversion unit 12 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a preprocessing circuit, and the like. The photoelectric conversion unit 12 converts an image of a subject captured by the optical lens unit 11 into an electrical signal (image signal) by the CCD, and obtains it. The pre-processing necessary for the pre-processing circuit of the photoelectric conversion unit 12 is performed on the obtained image signal.

  In the pre-processing circuit of the photoelectric conversion unit 12, for example, CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) processing is performed to maintain a good S / N ratio, and AGC (Automatic Gain Control) processing is performed to increase the gain. Processes such as control. Then, the image signal that has been subjected to the predetermined preprocessing is A / D (Analog / Digital) converted and supplied to the image signal processing unit 14.

  The image signal processing unit 14 is configured as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and performs AF (Auto Focus), image data from the photoelectric conversion unit 12 in accordance with control from the control unit 20. Camera signal processing such as AE (Auto Exposure) and AWB (Auto White Balance) is performed.

  Then, an analog image signal to be supplied to the LCD 15 is formed from the image data after the camera signal processing, and this is supplied to the LCD 15 so that the image of the subject can be confirmed through the LCD 15. In the case of the digital video camera of this embodiment, simultaneously, an analog image signal from the image signal processing unit 14 is supplied to an external device such as another recording / playback device or a monitor receiver through the image input / output unit 16. You can also do it.

  Then, the image signal processing unit 14 compresses the image data on which the camera signal processing has been performed with a predetermined compression method, and records the compressed data on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32 through the control unit 20. In this way, the photographed subject image can be recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32.

  In the digital video camera of this embodiment, at the time of shooting a movie, the shooting start key is operated again, and the subject images are sequentially captured as described above until a movie shooting stop instruction is given. It is recorded on the hard disk 33 as moving image data. When the shutter key is operated, when the shutter key is operated, the image formed on the photoelectric conversion unit 12 is captured as a still image and recorded as still image data on the hard disk.

  At the time of shooting a moving image, an audio signal obtained by picking up sound through a microphone (not shown) and converting it into an electric signal is converted into a digital signal, and this is compressed with a predetermined compression method, together with the moving image data. Recording on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32 is also possible.

  The digital video camera of this embodiment includes an audio input / output unit 17. For this reason, together with the analog image signal output through the image input / output unit 16, as described above, the audio signal captured at the time of shooting is output through the audio signal processing unit 18 and the audio input terminal 17, and other recording / playback devices. It can also be supplied to speaker devices. In this case, the audio signal processing unit 18 performs D / A conversion processing, compression / decompression processing of audio data compressed by a predetermined compression method, and the like.

  In the digital video camera of this embodiment, the information is supplied from an external device such as a video tape recorder, and is received through the audio input / output unit 17 and the analog image signal received through the image input / output unit 16. An analog audio signal can be recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32.

  That is, when an external device is connected to the image input / output unit 16 and the audio input / output unit 17, a predetermined operation key of the operation input unit 31 is operated, and this digital video camera is in the VTR mode. When an analog image signal and an analog audio signal are supplied from the external device and the recording key of the operation input unit 31 is operated, the analog received through the image input / output unit 16 and the audio input / output unit 17 Record image signals and analog audio signals.

  In this case, the analog image signal received through the image input / output unit 16 is supplied to the image signal processing unit 14, where it is A / D converted and data compressed by a predetermined compression method, and then the control unit 20. To be recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32.

  The analog audio signal received through the audio input / output unit 17 is supplied to the audio signal processing unit 18, where it is A / D converted and data-compressed by a predetermined compression method, and then through the control unit 20. Recording is possible on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32. In this way, analog image signals and analog audio signals supplied from external devices can be recorded on the hard disk of the hard disk drive 32.

  In this case, the supplied analog image signal is also supplied to the LCD 15 via the image signal processing unit 14, and an image based on the supplied analog image signal can be displayed on the display screen of the LCD 15 and viewed. . Also, the supplied analog audio signal is supplied to a speaker (not shown) provided in the digital video camera of this embodiment, and sound corresponding to the analog audio signal supplied from the speaker is emitted, and this is output. You will be able to listen.

  Similarly, in the digital video camera of this embodiment, moving image data, still image data, audio data such as music, and other various data received through the communication unit 19 can be recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32. I am doing so. The communication unit 19 transmits / receives data through a wired interface such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB (Universal Serial Bus), or performs IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a / b / g, Data is transmitted and received through a wireless interface such as BlueTooth.

  Therefore, when the communication unit 19 is connected to the network, a predetermined operation key of the operation input unit 31 is operated, and the digital video camera is in the VTR mode. When the recording key 31 is operated, the digital signal supplied through the communication unit 19 can be recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32.

  Since image data and audio data supplied as digital data through the network are often already compressed, the digital data acquired through the communication unit 19 is recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32 through the control unit 20. Will be.

  In this case, the supplied digital image signal is supplied to, for example, the image signal processing unit 14, where it is compressed and decompressed, converted into an analog video signal, and then supplied to the LCD 15. The corresponding image is displayed on the display screen of the LCD 15 so that it can be viewed.

  The supplied digital audio signal is, for example, compressed and decompressed by the audio signal processing unit 18 and converted into an analog audio signal, and then supplied to a speaker (not shown) provided in the digital video camera of this embodiment. Thus, sound corresponding to the analog sound signal is emitted from the speaker and can be heard.

  In addition, the digital data recorded in the digital video camera of this embodiment, such as the hard disk 33, can be supplied to an external device connected to the network through the communication unit 19.

  Note that when an external device is connected to the image input / output unit 16 and the audio input / output unit 17 and is also connected to a network through the communication unit 19, which input / output terminal is instructed by a user instruction, for example. Whether to input or output information through the unit can be switched.

  Next, as described above, the operation at the time of reproducing image data and audio data recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32 will be described. When the instruction for reproducing the target image data and audio data is input after the VTR mode is set through the operation input unit 31, the control unit 20 receives the target image data and audio data from the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32. read out. The read image data is supplied to the image signal processing unit 14, and the read audio data is supplied to the audio signal processing unit 18.

  The image signal processing unit 14 performs compression / decompression processing on the image data supplied through the control unit 20 in accordance with the compression method used at the time of data compression, restores the image data before the data compression, and performs D / A conversion. Thus, an analog image signal is formed and supplied to the LCD 15 and the image input / output unit 16.

  Also, the audio signal processing unit 18 performs compression / decompression processing on the audio data supplied through the control unit 20 in accordance with the compression method used for the data compression characters, restores the audio data before data compression, The analog audio signal is formed by A / A conversion, and this is supplied to the audio input / output unit 17 or a speaker provided in the digital video camera.

  In this way, the image data and audio data recorded on the hard disk 33 of the hard disk drive 32 can be reproduced and used. Further, as described above, the analog image signal and analog audio signal to be reproduced can be output to the external device connected thereto through the image input / output unit 16 and the audio input / output unit 17. In addition, digital data recorded in the hard disk 33 or the like can be output to the outside through the communication unit 19.

  As described above, the digital video camera of this embodiment can also use the memory card 34. For example, when an instruction to shoot a still image is given through the operation input unit 31, the optical video camera The still image data captured through the lens unit 11 and the photoelectric conversion unit 12 is subjected to the above-described various adjustment processes in the image signal processing unit 14 and then compressed, and this is recorded in the memory card 34 through the control unit 20. Is done.

  In addition, by designating the recording destination through the operation input unit 31 and specifying either the hard disk drive 32 or the memory card 34, still image data can be recorded in the hard disk drive 32 or moving image data. And audio data can be recorded on a memory card.

[Hard disk, memory card initialization processing, all file deletion processing, etc.]
As described above, the digital video camera according to this embodiment has still image data and moving image data obtained by taking an image through a camera unit including the optical lens unit 11 and the photoelectric conversion unit 12, or the image input / output unit 16. Still image data and moving image data supplied from an external device through the communication unit 19, and still image data and moving image data supplied through the communication unit 19 can be recorded as files on the hard disk 33 or the memory card 34. is there.

  Similarly, with respect to audio data obtained by collecting sound with a microphone (not shown), audio data supplied from an external device through the audio input / output unit 17, and audio data supplied through the communication unit 19, the hard disk 33 is also used. And can be recorded as a file on the memory card 34.

  In addition to these still image data, moving image data, and audio data, for example, program data, text data, and the like can be recorded as files on the hard disk 33 or the memory card 34. As described above, the digital video camera according to this embodiment can record various data having different attributes (types) as files on a recording medium.

  Data recorded on the hard disk 33 and the memory card 34 through the digital video camera of this embodiment is usually transferred to another recording medium such as a hard disk or a DVD such as a recorder or a personal computer installed at home and held. Then, the hard disk 33 and the memory card 34 are repeatedly used after the recording medium itself is initialized or all files are erased.

  However, as will be described in detail later, a management area such as MBR (Master Boot Record) is provided at a predetermined position every time the recording medium is initialized or all files are erased. If the data is recorded so that the same access direction as before the erasure becomes the data recording direction, the same recording area used before the initialization or the entire erasure of the file is repeatedly used. This degrades only a part of the recording area that is repeatedly used on the recording medium.

  That is, in the case of a hard disk, a management area is provided from the outermost periphery side of the hard disk, and data is recorded from the outer periphery side toward the inner periphery side. However, every time initialization and all deletion of files are repeated, if data is recorded from the outermost circumference of the hard disk toward the inner circumference, the recording area on the outermost circumference is always used. On the other hand, since the recording area on the innermost side is not used for a long time, the used area and the unused area are uneven on the hard disk.

  Therefore, in the digital video camera of this embodiment, as will be described in detail below, when the recording medium is initialized or the file is completely erased in the hard disk 33 or the memory card 34, the data on the recording medium is recorded. By changing the position where the management area is provided or changing the data recording direction, the entire recording area of the recording medium can be used evenly. In other words, the usage frequency of the entire recording area of the recording medium is made as uniform as possible.

  In the following, taking the case of using the hard disk 33 of the hard disk recorder 32 as an example, the location where the management area is provided on the recording medium and the access direction (specifically) each time the recording medium is initialized or the entire file is erased. Specifically, a process for realizing uniform use of the recording area by properly using a plurality of processing modes (LBA conversion modes) that differ in one or both of the data recording direction) will be described.

[About hard disk drive 32 and hard disk 33]
First, before describing details of the digital video camera of this embodiment in which a plurality of processing modes are selectively used to initialize a hard disk and record data on the hard disk, various data will be recorded. The hard disk 33, which is a recording medium having a capacity and capable of random access, will be described.

  As described above, the hard disk drive 32 of this embodiment uses the FAT system as the file system, and the hard disk 33 is initialized according to the FAT system.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state of the hard disk 33 that can be used by being initialized in accordance with the FAT system. There are FAT systems such as FAT32 and FAT16. Here, a case where FAT32 in which data for managing a file is converted into 32 bits is used will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first sector (LBA = 0 sector) of the hard disk is provided with an MBR (Master Boot Record), which is a system startup area, as will be described in detail later. Next to the MBR, a preliminary free area is provided, and next to the free area, a partition area is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a BPB (BIOS Parameter Block), an FSInfo area, an empty area, FAT1, and a spare FAT2 are provided in the partition area. In FIG. 2, a portion after FAT2 provided as a spare for FAT1 is a data area in which data is actually recorded in cluster units.

  In FIG. 2, only one partition area is shown, but as will be described later, a plurality of MBR partition tables are prepared according to the number of partition areas to be formed. Partition areas are formed so that each can be treated as an independent individual disk (storage area).

  Next, a plurality of partition areas that can be formed on the hard disk 33 will be described. 3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining a partition area formed on the hard disk 33 and a partition table for managing the partition area. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the MBR provided in the first sector (LBA = 0 sector) of the hard disk 33 includes an activation code area 331 and a partition table area 332.

  At the time of activation, first, an activation code (program) is read from the activation code area 331 of the MBR. As shown in FIG. 3, the read activation code of the MBR refers to the partition table of the partition table area 332 formed immediately after the activation code, reads the information of the boot sector of the target partition, An OS (Operating System) is activated by the code (program) of the boot sector.

  A plurality of (for example, four) partition tables can be provided. As described above, each partition table holds information indicating the position (start address) and size (partition size) of each partition area formed by dividing the recording area of the hard disk 33. In FIG. As shown in Fig. 5, the target partition area can be accessed and the information recorded therein can be referred to.

  Next, the partition table formed in the MBR of the head sector will be specifically described. As described above and as shown in FIG. 4A, the MBR of the head sector of the hard disk 33 (an area of 512 bytes from the head of the hard disk 33) includes an activation code area 331 and a partition table area 332.

  In this embodiment, the partition table area 332 is an area having a size capable of storing a partition table having a data length of 16 bytes for four entries, that is, an area for 64 bytes. However, a partition table for four entries is not always formed, and at least one and a maximum of four can be formed according to the number of partitions provided.

  The 2 bytes following the partition table area 332 are signatures (magic numbers) attached to the partition table, and unless it is “55h” and “AAh” in order, it is determined that the partition table does not exist or has been destroyed. Will be. In this specification and drawings, the letter h immediately after the character string represented by a numeral, an alphabet from A to F, and a combination thereof, such as “55h” and “AAh” described above, This indicates that the character string is expressed in hexadecimal.

  The data structure of the partition table having a data length of 16 bytes (128 bits) is as shown in FIG. 4B. The 8-byte area from the 0th byte to the 7th byte is a storage area for information used when the address is specified by the CHS method, and the 8-byte area from the 8th byte to the 15th byte is the LBA method. This is an information storage area used when specifying an address.

  Here, the CHS method is to specify an address (position) on the hard disk 33 by using three parameters of a cylinder, a head, and a sector as one set. In the LBA method, numbers (block addresses (logical addresses)) are assigned in order from, for example, 0 to each accessible unit block (for example, one sector unit) on the recording area of the hard disk. By designating, an address (position) on the recording area of the hard disk is designated.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the storage area for information used when accessing by the CHS method is the 0th byte storage area for active flag information (hereinafter simply referred to as flag information), the 1st byte to the 3rd byte. Storage area of start sector information used when 3 bytes up to 3 bytes are accessed by CHS method, 4th byte is storage area for partition type information (hereinafter simply referred to as type information), 5th byte to 7th byte A storage area of end sector information used when 3 bytes are accessed by the CHS method.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 4B, the information storage area used when accessing by the LBA method is the storage area of the start sector information in which 4 bytes from the 8th byte to the 11th byte are used by the LBA method, 12 bytes The 4 bytes from the first to the 15th byte are a partition size storage area used in the LBA method.

  Note that the CHS method uses the physical structure of the hard disk as it is, and as described above, there are three parameters for addressing: cylinder, head, and sector. Become. On the other hand, in the case of the LBA method, since it is designated by a single parameter called a block address, the address designation at the time of access is very simple.

  For this reason, the LBA method has become the main addressing method for hard disks, and the LBA method is also used for other recording media, for example, various memory cards that are becoming widely used as so-called removable media. More and more addresses can be specified. The hard disk used in the digital video camera of this embodiment also uses the LBA method for addressing.

  In the hard disk drive 32 of this embodiment, an EBR (Extended Boot Record) can also be used. The MBR is for a basic area that always exists in one system, whereas the EBR is for an extended area that is secured in addition to the basic area.

  This EBR is also formed in the same manner as the MBR described above with reference to FIG. 4A, and includes an activation code area and a partition table area, and the data structure of each partition formed in the partition table area is also shown in FIG. 4B. It is configured similarly to the MBR partition table described above. This EBR does not necessarily exist, and is provided according to a partition creation policy by the system or user.

  Thus, in the digital video camera of this embodiment, a plurality of partition areas are formed on the hard disk 33 so that each partition area can be used as an independent storage area.

[About available processing modes]
As described above, the hard disk recorder of the digital video camera of this embodiment is one to which the FAT system is applied. As described above, in the digital video camera according to this embodiment, when the initialization of the hard disk 33 of the hard disk recorder 32 is instructed or the deletion of all files formed on the hard disk 33 is instructed. For example, the location of the management area on the recording medium is changed or the access direction (data recording direction) to the recording medium is changed to initialize the recording medium (format) or record the data. By doing so, the entire recording area of the recording medium can be used evenly. In the following description, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the hard disk 33 has one partition area.

  The digital video camera of this embodiment has a plurality of processing modes (in this embodiment, four processing modes) having different management areas on the recording medium and different data access directions (data recording directions) on the recording medium. Processing mode). 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining processing modes that can be used in the digital video camera of this embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a processing mode in which the position of the management area is fixed, and FIG. 6 shows a management area. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing mode which makes a position of variable.

  In the first processing mode, as shown in FIG. 5A, from the outermost periphery to the inner periphery of the hard disk 33, MBR, free space, BPB, FSInfo, free space, FAT1, FAT2, and a data region consisting of many clusters Thus, each area is formed, and the recording of data basically takes the direction from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side as the access direction (recording direction) as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5A, the area on the inner circumference side from the BPB area is a partition area, and the area on the inner circumference side from the cluster 2 is a data area. Therefore, the outermost circumference is LBA (logical block address) = 0, and the innermost circumference is LBA (logical block address) = MAX (maximum).

  In the second processing mode, as shown in FIG. 5B, from the innermost periphery to the outer periphery of the hard disk 33, MBR, free space, BPB, FSInfo, free space, FAT1, FAT2, and a data region made up of many clusters As shown by the arrows in FIG. 5B, the recording direction is basically the direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side as the access direction (recording direction). In FIG. 5B, the outer area from the BPB area is a partition area, and the outer area from the cluster 2 is a data area. Accordingly, the innermost circumference is LBA (logical block address) = 0, and the outermost circumference is LBA (logical block address) = MAX (maximum).

  As shown in FIG. 6C, the third processing mode avoids an area where data has been recorded and used before initialization or file erasure, and immediately before initialization or file erasure. Also, each area is formed so as to become a data area consisting of MBR, free area, BPB, FSInfo, free area, FAT1, FAT2, and a number of clusters in the inner circumferential direction from the start position of the unused area in FIG. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 6C, the recording is basically the direction from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side as the access direction (recording direction).

  In FIG. 6C, an area extending from the BPB area toward the inner circumference side, up to the cluster n is a partition area, and an area extending from the cluster 2 toward the inner circumference side, up to the cluster n. It is an area. Therefore, in the case of the third processing mode shown in FIG. 6C, the leading position of the unused area immediately before the initialization or the complete erasure of the file is LBA (logical block address) = 0. The end of the area in which data is recorded immediately before initialization or file erasure is set to LBA (logical block address) = MAX (maximum).

  In the fourth processing mode, as shown in FIG. 6D, immediately before the initialization or the entire file is erased, the area where data is recorded and used is avoided, and the initialization or the entire file is erased. Each area is formed so as to be a data area consisting of MBR, empty area, BPB, FSInfo, empty area, FAT1, FAT2, and a large number of clusters in the outer circumferential direction from the head position of the unused area immediately before. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 6D, the recording is basically the direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side as the access direction (recording direction).

  In FIG. 6D, a region extending from the BPB region toward the outer peripheral side, up to cluster n is a partition region, and a region extending from cluster 2 toward the outer peripheral side, and up to cluster n is a data region. It has become. Therefore, in the case of the fourth processing mode shown in FIG. 6D, the leading position of the unused area immediately before the initialization or the entire erasing of the file is LBA (logical block address) = 0. The end of the area in which data is recorded immediately before initialization or file erasure is set to LBA (logical block address) = MAX (maximum).

  As described above, in the first processing mode shown in FIG. 5A and the second processing mode shown in FIG. 5B, the position on the recording medium forming the management area such as the MBR is the outermost or innermost periphery. The final end is the innermost or outermost periphery of the recording medium. On the other hand, in the third processing mode shown in FIG. 6C and the fourth processing mode shown in FIG. 6D, the position on the recording medium forming the management area such as MBR is initialized or the entire file is erased. It becomes the start position of the unused area immediately before being recorded, and it becomes variable according to the area where the data is recorded before initialization or all erasing of the file. It is intended to be used as Therefore, in the third processing mode shown in FIG. 6C and the fourth processing mode shown in FIG. 6D, the position of the final end is also variable.

[Management of information used to change processing mode]
In the digital video camera of this embodiment, it is assumed that the four processing modes from the first to the fourth described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are used. The processing mode is changed every time it is instructed to perform all erasure.

  Information necessary in the digital video camera of this embodiment is separately managed so that complicated processing is not performed when the processing mode is changed. Information necessary for changing the processing mode includes, for example, (1) information indicating the current processing mode in the hard disk 33, (2) information indicating processing modes available in the hard disk 33, and (3) third and fourth information. When the above processing mode is available, information indicating the end position (data recording end position) of the area where data is actually recorded is necessary.

  Here, the information indicating the end position of the area where data is actually recorded in (3) is information indicating the boundary between the used area where data is recorded and the unused area where data is not recorded. A logical block address is used for. Therefore, in the following, information indicating the data recording end position, which is the end position of the area where data is actually recorded, will be referred to as a boundary LBA.

  In this embodiment, (1) information indicating the current processing mode in the hard disk 33, (2) information indicating the processing mode available in the hard disk 33, and (3) the boundary LBA are respectively stored in the hard disk 33. Management is performed using an empty area immediately after the MBR or an empty area immediately after the FSInfo.

  Of course, (1) information indicating the current processing mode in the hard disk 33, (2) information indicating the processing mode available in the hard disk 33, and (3) the boundary LBA are included in the hard disk 33 in the EEPROM 24 provided in the digital video camera, for example. It is also conceivable to store the information in association with the identification information. However, considering that the hard disk 33 is replaced, the management may be complicated. Therefore, the management is performed in the recording medium itself, that is, in an empty area of the hard disk 33.

  7 illustrates (1) information indicating a current processing mode in the hard disk 33, (2) information indicating a processing mode available in the hard disk 33, and (3) a specific example in the case where the boundary LBA is managed in the hard disk 33. It is a figure for doing. As described above, for example, in the free area immediately after the MBR or the free area immediately after FSInfo of the hard disk 33, for example, a case where an information holding area of 512 bytes is provided and managed is described.

  In this embodiment, the first processing mode described using FIG. 5A is represented by a value “0”, the second processing mode described using FIG. 5B is represented by a value “1”, and FIG. It is assumed that the third processing mode described by using the value is represented by a value “2”, and the fourth processing mode described by using FIG. 6D is represented by a value “3”.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a necessary area in units of 1 byte in the first 12 bytes of the 512-byte information holding area can be used for the hard disk 33. The different processing modes are shown. In the example of FIG. 7, the first byte is the value “0”, the second byte is the value “1”, and the third and subsequent bytes are empty areas. It can be seen that the first processing mode described with reference to FIG. 5A and the second processing mode described with reference to FIG. 5B can be used.

  The boundary LBA is stored and held in 4 bytes from the 13th byte to the 16th byte in the 512-byte information holding area. In the area after the 17th byte of the 512-byte information holding area, the processing mode change history so far is managed in units of 1 byte. In the area after the 17th byte, the part containing the values from 0 to 3 is the processing mode change history up to the present. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 7, the processing mode has been changed seven times so far, and the current processing mode is indicated by the value “0”, that is, the first processing mode. ing.

  As described above, (1) information indicating the current processing mode in the hard disk 33, (2) information indicating processing modes available in the hard disk 33, (1) stored in the information holding area formed in the free area of the hard disk 33; 3) The boundary LBA is used to select a processing mode to be newly used and to convert the LBA.

[Software configuration example]
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining software that performs LBA conversion in accordance with the processing mode in the digital video camera of this embodiment. In FIG. 8, an application 201 is application software executed in the control unit 20 of the digital video camera of this embodiment.

  The file system 202 is a part that functions when the hard disk 33 is accessed in response to a request from the application 201. The first processing mode shown in FIG. 5A is set as a reference processing mode, and according to the reference processing mode. This is a part for performing a process of calculating LBA1 (start LBA) indicating the recording position on the hard disk 33.

  The device driver 205 is a part that actually accesses the hard disk 33 in response to a request from the file system 202. As described below, the device driver 205 retains the processing mode to be used and information on the hard disk 33. This is a part that performs processing for converting LBA1 from the file system 202 into LBA2 used when actually accessing the hard disk based on information held in the area.

  When the application 201 that records data is executed, various information is transmitted and received between the executed application 201 and the file system 202. As shown in FIG. 8, the file system 202 includes a recording control unit 203 and a media control unit 204. The recording control unit 203 includes a directory entry control unit 203a, a cluster control unit 203b, and a FAT control unit 203c, and the media control unit 204 has a function of a position calculation unit 204a.

  An instruction to record data in a predetermined file on the hard disk 33 from the application 201 is notified to the directory entry control unit 203 a of the recording control unit 203. The directory entry control unit 203a refers to the information on the designated file of the directory entry recorded on the hard disk 33, and acquires the start cluster number of the designated file.

  The directory entry control unit 203a notifies the FAT control unit 203c of the start cluster number of the acquired file. The FAT control unit 203c follows each cluster from the head of the instructed file, detects a free cluster, and notifies the cluster control unit 203b of this free cluster number through the directory entry control unit 203a.

  The cluster control unit 203b supplies an instruction to calculate the LBA indicating the data recording position to the position calculation unit 204a of the media control unit 204 based on the free cluster number specified through the directory entry control unit 203a.

  The position calculation unit 204a calculates the logical block address LBA1 corresponding to the cluster number supplied from the cluster control unit 203b, and records the data at the position on the hard disk 33 indicated by the calculated LBA1. To instruct. Here, LBA1 is a logical block address instructed from the position calculation unit 204a to the device driver 205.

  As described above, the application 201 and the file system 202 perform the same processing as that of the conventional software application 101 and file system 102 used in the recording apparatus shown in FIG. However, in the case of software executed by the digital video camera of this embodiment, the device driver 205 has a function as the LBA conversion unit 205a, and the LBA1 from the position calculation unit 204a of the media control unit 204 is Based on the selected processing mode and the information held in the information holding area (the area shown in FIG. 7) formed on the hard disk 33, the data is converted into LBA2 used when the hard disk 33 is actually accessed.

  Therefore, the device driver 205 stores LBA1 from the position calculation unit 204a in the information holding area of the hard disk 33 (1) information indicating the current processing mode in the hard disk 33, and (2) available in the hard disk 33. Using the information indicating the processing mode and (3) boundary LBA, the hard disk 33 is converted into a logical physical address LBA2 when actually accessing. Then, an initialization process for accessing the recording area of the hard disk 33 according to the position on the recording medium designated by the LBA 2 and forming a management area so that data can be recorded, or a process for actually recording data. Will do.

[Processing mode change pattern]
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a processing mode change pattern. As described above and as shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the first processing mode (outer periphery → inner periphery (FIG. 5A)) and second processing mode (inner periphery → outer periphery (FIG. 5B)). ), The third processing mode (some position → inner circumference (ring shape) (FIG. 6C)), and the fourth processing mode (some position → outer circumference (ring shape) (FIG. 6D)). It has been made possible.

  For example, as shown in patterns 1 to 4 in FIG. 9, various patterns can be considered for the change order of these four processing modes. In FIG. 9, pattern 1 is to alternately change the first processing mode and the second processing mode every time the hard disk 33 is initialized or all files are erased. The pattern 2 is to alternately change the third processing mode and the fourth processing mode every time the hard disk 33 is initialized or all the files are erased.

  Pattern 3 starts to use the hard disk 33 using the first processing mode first, and thereafter, every time the hard disk 33 is initialized or all files are erased, the third processing mode and the fourth processing are performed. The mode is changed alternately. The pattern 4 starts using the hard disk 33 using the second processing mode first, and thereafter, every time the hard disk 33 is initialized or all files are erased, the fourth processing mode and the third processing mode are used. Are alternately changed.

  In addition to this, when the hard disk 33 is first used using the first processing mode, and the hard disk 33 is initially initialized or all files are erased, the mode is changed to the third processing mode. Thereafter, every time the hard disk 33 is initialized or all the files are erased, the third processing mode is not changed, but the start LBA1 may be changed.

  Similarly, when the hard disk 33 is first used using the second processing mode, and the hard disk 33 is first initialized or all the files are erased, the mode is changed to the fourth processing mode. Thereafter, every time the hard disk 33 is initialized or all files are erased, the fourth processing mode is not changed, but it is also conceivable to change the start LBA1.

  As described above, every time the hard disk 33 is initialized or all files are erased, the processing mode is changed so that the frequency of use of the entire area of the hard disk 33 is made uniform.

  However, there are various processing mode change patterns as shown in FIG. For this reason, a processing mode change order is determined in advance, and a processing mode to be newly used is selected according to the order, or a processing mode to be newly used is selected according to a predetermined processing program. Become.

  When the processing mode change order is determined in advance, for example, in the information holding area of the hard disk 33 shown in FIG. Order). When the processing pattern is changed, first, the current processing mode is grasped from the information after the 17th byte of the information storage area shown in FIG. 7, and the processing mode to be selected next to the current processing mode This can be realized according to the change pattern indicated by the information of the first 12 bytes of the information holding area.

  For example, when the first processing mode, the second processing mode, the third processing mode, and the fourth processing mode are sequentially changed, the fourth byte from the head of the information storage area shown in FIG. The available processing modes and their change patterns (change order) may be shown as “0123” using the above areas.

  Further, for example, when the third processing mode and the fourth processing mode are alternately changed after the first processing mode as in the pattern 3 shown in FIG. Using the area from the beginning of the information storage area to the third byte, the available processing mode and its change pattern (change order) are indicated as “023”, and from the first process mode to the third 7 is used, for example, the area from the beginning to the second byte of the information storage area shown in FIG. 7 is used, and an available processing mode and its change pattern (change By changing the order, the third processing mode and the fourth processing mode can be alternately changed thereafter.

[Specific examples of processing mode change processing]
Next, a specific example when the processing mode is changed by software will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[Example of switching processing between first and second processing modes]
FIG. 10 shows two processing modes that can be used: a first processing mode (outer circumference → inner circumference) and a second processing mode (inner circumference → outer circumference). The change pattern is shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process when it is the pattern 1 (when changing a 1st process mode and a 2nd process mode alternately).

  The processing shown in FIG. 10 is performed when an initialization (format) or all erasure of a file is instructed through the operation unit 31, or between an external device such as a PC (personal computer) connected by wire or wireless. This is executed by the control unit 20 of the digital video camera of this embodiment when there is no data transmission / reception and when an initialization (format) or full deletion of a file is instructed from an external device such as a PC. First, the control unit 20 refers to the information holding area of the hard disk 33 and confirms the current processing mode based on the processing mode change history after the 17th byte (step S101).

  Then, the control unit 20 determines whether the recording pattern 1 (outer circumference → inner circumference) or the recording pattern 2 (inner circumference → outer circumference) is currently used (step S102). When determining in step S102 that the first processing mode is used, the control unit 20 updates the history information in the information holding area of the hard disk 33 to the latest state so as to use the second recording pattern. (Step S103).

  If it is determined in step S102 that the second processing mode is used, the control unit 20 updates the history information in the information holding area of the hard disk 33 so as to use the second recording pattern. Is updated to the state (step S104). After the process in step S103 or the process in step S104, the process shown in FIG.

  The processing mode shown in FIG. 10 changes the first processing mode and the second processing mode alternately each time an instruction is given to initialize the hard disk 33 or erase all files. Accordingly, the initialization and the data recording are performed, so that the hard disk 33 can be used from the outermost side or from the innermost side. As a result, the frequency of use of each part of the recording area of the hard disk 33 can be used as uniform as possible.

  Here, the case where the first processing mode and the second processing mode are alternately changed at the timing of initialization or the like has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the same processing is performed when two different processing modes are used alternately, such as when the third processing mode and the fourth processing mode are alternately changed at a timing such as initialization. Can do.

[Example of switching process of third and fourth processing modes]
FIG. 11 shows that the available processing modes are the third processing mode (from a certain position to the inner circumferential direction (in a ring shape)) and the fourth processing mode (from a certain position to an outer circumferential direction (in a ring shape)). In the case of two modes, when switching between the third processing mode and the fourth processing mode according to the usage status of the hard disk 33 as the recording medium at the timing of initialization or the like It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process of.

  That is, the process shown in FIG. 11 uses the LBA located immediately after the currently used area as the next start point, and manages MBR and the like as described with reference to FIGS. 6C and 6D from this start point. An area or a data area is formed to record data. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 11, based on the position of the boundary LBA on the hard disk 33, whether the LBA is allocated in the inner peripheral direction of the hard disk 33 (whether data is recorded in the inner peripheral direction), It is determined whether LBA is allocated in the outer circumferential direction of the hard disk 33 (whether data is recorded in the outer circumferential direction).

  The process shown in FIG. 11 is the same as the process shown in FIG. 10, when initialization or all deletion of files is instructed through the operation unit 31, or for example a PC (personal computer) connected by wire or wirelessly. ) And the like, and when the initialization (format) or the entire erasure of the file is instructed from an external device such as a PC, the digital video camera of this embodiment It is executed in the control unit 20.

  First, the control unit 20 refers to the information recorded on the hard disk 33 to check the usage status of the hard disk 33 (step S201). Then, the control unit 20 calculates a boundary LBA indicating the boundary between the used area and the unused area based on the usage status of the hard disk 33 confirmed in step S201 (step S202).

  Specifically, in the process of step S201, if the FAT formed on the hard disk 33 is scanned or if the file system used is FAT32, “FSI_Nxt_Free” of FSInfo provided immediately after BPB is used. , Or the boundary LBA is managed by the non-volatile memory of the digital video camera and the managed value is checked to check the usage status of the hard disk 33 in units of clusters. can do.

  Further, in the process of step S202, the outermost periphery of the disk is set as the start LBA, the boundary LBA1 which is the boundary LBA in the standard reference mode for recording data toward the inner periphery, and the third process mode or the fourth process. A boundary LBA2 that is a boundary LBA when the disk driver 205 accesses the hard disk 33 when data is recorded according to the mode is calculated.

  In the digital video camera of this embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the boundary LBA is managed by 4 bytes from the 13th byte to the 16th byte of the information holding area provided in the free area of the hard disk 33. Therefore, in step S202, the boundary LBA managed in the 13th to 16th bytes of the information holding area provided in the free area of the hard disk 33 can be used as the boundary LBA2.

  Then, the control unit 20 determines whether the boundary LBA2 calculated in step S202 is located in the first half portion or the second half portion of the recording area of the hard disk 33 when considering the processing mode used at that time. Is determined (step S203).

  In the determination process of step S203, when considering the processing mode used at that time, if it is determined that the boundary LBA2 is located in the first half of the recording area of the hard disk 33, the boundary LBA2 is the boundary in the reference processing mode. The LBA 1 is selected (set) to use the third processing mode for recording data toward the inner periphery, and information indicating the selected processing mode and the boundary LBA (boundary LBA 2) are shown in FIG. The information holding area is updated to the corresponding area (step S204), and the processing shown in FIG.

  Further, in the determination process of step S203, when it is determined that the boundary LBA2 is located in the latter half of the recording area of the hard disk 33 when considering the processing mode used at that time, the boundary LBA2 is set to the reference processing mode. 7 is selected (set) to use the fourth processing mode in which data is recorded toward the outer circumference, and information indicating the selected processing mode and the boundary LBA (boundary LBA2) are shown in FIG. The corresponding information holding area is updated to the corresponding area (step S205), and the process shown in FIG. 11 is terminated.

  According to the processing of FIG. 11, the third processing mode and the fourth processing mode can be switched and used at the timing of initialization or file erasure. In the case of the processing shown in FIG. 11, depending on whether the position of the boundary LBA in the entire recording area of the hard disk 33 in the processing mode before switching is in the first half or the second half of the area in the processing mode, The processing mode to be used next can be selected.

  The process shown in FIG. 11 switches between the third processing mode and the fourth processing mode according to the usage status of the hard disk every time it is instructed to initialize the hard disk 33 or to erase all files. Therefore, it is possible to change the position where the management area such as the MBR is formed and the access direction, and the usage frequency of each part of the recording area of the hard disk 33 can be used as uniform as possible. To be done.

  That is, it is possible to avoid the use of the same area on the hard disk at every initialization or file erasing timing and to make the frequency of use of each part of the recording area of the hard disk 33 uniform. .

  Note that FIG. 10 shows processing when switching between two different processing modes at the timing of initializing or erasing all files, such as pattern 1 and pattern 2 shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. A mode in which the LBA is variable, and a third processing mode in which the data recording direction is directed toward the inner peripheral side, and a fourth processing mode in which the data recording direction is directed toward the outer peripheral side, The process for switching based on the boundary LBA in the processing mode immediately before switching has been described. However, the processing mode switching processing is not limited to the processing shown in FIGS.

  For example, when the first processing mode is initially used and the hard disk 33 is initialized or all files are deleted, the processing mode is changed to use the third processing mode. Even when it is instructed to initialize the hard disk 33 or delete all files, the processing mode to be used may not be changed.

  However, as described above, since the third processing mode is a mode that can be initialized with the boundary LBA as the start LBA, it is instructed to initialize the hard disk 33 or delete all files. In some cases, initialization is performed with the management area such as the MBR provided from the next cluster of the boundary LBM, thereby avoiding repeated use of the used area in the storage area of the hard disk 33. The entire area is used as uniformly as possible. That is, it is possible to change only the start LBM without changing the processing mode, and such a change of the start LBA can be said to be a narrow change of the processing mode.

  Further, the processing mode is changed at the timing of initialization of the hard disk 33 or the entire erasure of the file. For example, the order of changing the processing mode can be made random by using a random number or the like. Also, the processing pattern change order can be changed in various patterns by various programs.

  In the processing described with reference to FIG. 11, there is a case where so-called loop-back recording in which data is recorded from the opposite direction is performed on an area where data has already been recorded. However, even in the case of loopback recording, data is not recorded in the same cluster unit (recording unit) unless the data size written for each format is exactly the same. This means that efficient use is being made.

[Switching the processing mode considering the type of media (recording medium)]
However, depending on the media, it is more efficient to record data in a ring shape in the same direction with respect to the media without switching the processing mode according to the position of the boundary LBA on the media. It may be good when only efficiency is considered. For example, for various memory cards using a semiconductor memory as a recording medium, the entire memory can be used almost uniformly and efficiently if data is always recorded in the same direction and in a ring shape. it can.

  On the other hand, depending on the media, access efficiency may be reduced by recording data in the same direction and in a ring shape. For example, in a disk recording medium such as a DVD, when a seek operation is performed from the innermost periphery to the outermost periphery or from the outermost periphery to the innermost periphery, the distance of the pickup (write / read head) movement (seek operation) is Therefore, the seek operation takes time, and the access efficiency to the disk recording medium decreases.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to switch the processing mode in consideration of the media type. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining processing mode switching processing (processing mode change processing) in consideration of the disk type.

  The process shown in FIG. 12 is also the same as the process shown in FIG. 10, in the case where the initialization or the total erasure of the file is instructed through the operation unit 31, or for example a PC (personal computer) connected by wire or wirelessly. ) And the like, and when the initialization (format) or the entire erasure of the file is instructed from an external device such as a PC, the digital video camera of this embodiment It is executed in the control unit 20.

  First, as will be described in detail later, the control unit 20 refers to the information of the media type register that manages the used media provided in the RAM 23 or the EEPROM 24, for example, and the type of the media that is used as a data recording destination. Is acquired (step S301). Then, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the data recording destination medium is a disk recording medium (step S302).

  If it is determined in step S302 that the data recording medium is not a disk recording medium, the processing shown in FIG. 12 is terminated without changing the processing mode, and the medium is used in a ring shape. The process of recording data in the same direction is maintained.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S302 that the data recording medium is a disk recording medium, processing mode change processing is executed according to the medium usage status (step S303). The process shown in FIG. In the process of step S303, the processing mode is changed according to the usage status of the disk recording medium, in this embodiment, the hard disk 33.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a threshold for the usage status of the hard disk performed in step S303. The control unit 20 calculates the boundary LBA based on the information in the management information area of the hard disk 33, and grasps the usage status based on this.

  In the hard disk 33, the usage amount from the use start position to the boundary LBA in the processing mode at that time is (1) 1/2 (1/2) of the entire storage capacity (MAX), that is, 5% of the storage capacity of the hard disk. (2) 2/3 of the total storage capacity (MAX) (2/3), that is, when it is used up to nearly 70% of the storage capacity of the hard disk, (3) the entire storage capacity (MAX) 4/5 (4/5), that is, when the storage capacity of the hard disk is used up to 80%, set a threshold for the usage status, and change the processing mode based on this threshold Select whether or not to perform.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining processing mode change processing in accordance with the usage status of the medium (disk recording medium) executed in step S303 shown in FIG.

  First, as in the case of the processing described with reference to FIG. 11, the control unit 20 refers to the information recorded on the hard disk 33 and confirms the usage status of the hard disk 33 (step S401). Then, the control unit 20 calculates a boundary LBA indicating the boundary between the used area and the unused area based on the usage status of the hard disk 33 confirmed in step S401 (step S402).

  Specifically, in the process of step S401, if the FAT formed on the hard disk 33 is scanned or if the file system used is FAT32, “FSI_Nxt_Free” of FSInfo provided immediately after BPB is used. , Or the boundary LBA is managed by the non-volatile memory of the digital video camera and the managed value is checked to check the usage status of the hard disk 33 in units of clusters. can do.

  In the process of step S402, the outermost periphery of the disk is set as the start LBA, and the boundary LBA1, which is the boundary LBA in the standard reference mode for recording data toward the inner periphery, and the third process mode or the fourth process. A boundary LBA2 that is a boundary LBA when the disk driver 205 accesses the hard disk 33 when data is recorded according to the mode is calculated.

  In the digital video camera of this embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the boundary LBA is managed by 4 bytes from the 13th byte to the 16th byte of the information holding area provided in the free area of the hard disk 33. Therefore, in step S202, the boundary LBA managed in the 13th to 16th bytes of the information holding area provided in the free area of the hard disk 33 can be used as the boundary LBA2.

  Then, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the boundary LBA2 calculated in step S202 is less than a predetermined threshold of the recording area of the hard disk 33 when considering the processing mode used at that time (step S403). ). Here, the predetermined threshold value of the recording area is assumed to be 4/5 of the total storage capacity (MAX) (80% of the total storage capacity) in the case of (3) shown in FIG.

  In the determination process of step S403, when it is determined that the boundary LBA2 is located in less than 80% of the recording area of the hard disk 33 when considering the processing mode used at that time, the boundary LBA2 is set in the reference processing mode. As the boundary LBA1, the processing mode is maintained as it is, and the information indicating the processing mode and the boundary LBA (boundary LBA2) are updated to the corresponding area of the information holding area shown in FIG. 7 of the hard disk 33 (step S404). The process shown in FIG.

  Further, in the determination process in step S403, when it is determined that the boundary LBA2 is positioned at 80% or more of the recording area of the hard disk 33 in the processing mode used at that time, the boundary LBA2 is used as the reference process. As the boundary LBA1 in the mode, the processing mode is selected as a processing mode whose recording direction is opposite to the current processing mode, and information indicating the selected processing mode and the boundary LBA (boundary LBA2) are shown in FIG. The information holding area is updated to the corresponding area (step S405), and the processing shown in FIG.

  In the process of step S405, the selection of the processing mode in which the recording direction is opposite to the current state is performed when, for example, the recording direction of the current processing mode is the direction from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side. If the processing mode is a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side and the current processing mode is the recording direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side, the recording direction is from the outer circumference side to the inner circumference. This means that a processing mode that is a direction toward the side is selected.

  In step S405, since the boundary LBA2 is set as the boundary LBA1 in the reference processing mode, the processing mode is changed so that the recording area of the hard disk is folded with reference to the boundary LBA. become.

  When the hard disk 33 is initialized by the processing of FIG. 11, the boundary LBA2 is 80% or more of the recording area of the hard disk 33 when considered in the processing mode used at that time. If it is determined that the recording area is positioned, even if the processing mode in which the hard disk 33 is used in a ring shape is selected, the recording area is folded and recording is performed. In this case, since the seek operation does not occur, the access efficiency to the hard disk 33 can be prevented from being lowered.

  In addition, as described above, when a predetermined process such as initialization is performed on the hard disk 33 at a stage where 80% or more of the recording area of the hard disk 33 is used, recording is performed with the recording area folded back. As a result, it is possible to prevent data from being recorded in the same recording unit in the same cluster unit as the previous time in the same recording area in a short period of time, so that the hard disk 33 can be used efficiently. It becomes possible.

  Note that various values can be used as the threshold value of the usage status of the disk recording medium as described with reference to FIG. However, when determining the threshold value of the usage status, an optimum value can be used according to the media type, the data amount of the management information file, and the like.

  In this case, the amount of data in the management information file is taken into consideration in order to consider the seek time when reading data. That is, if the management information file such as MBR and the actual data are separated from each other on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side, a large seek time is always generated at the time of data reading. This is because it is more efficient to use the data amount of the management information file than to use the data amount of data.

  As a result, since the storage capacity of a hard disk is larger than that of an optical disk such as a DVD, the usage threshold is set to be larger than the threshold of a DVD, and the amount of data in the management information file is large. In this case, it is possible to increase the usage threshold.

  Of course, the threshold value of the usage status may be set in advance, or may be set or changed by the user through the operation input unit 31, for example.

[About discriminating recording media]
In the process of step S301 shown in FIG. 12, the type of media used as a data recording destination is determined. An example of the determination method will be described. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 15, 16, and 17. FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a media type register in which information for the control unit 20 to determine a medium that is a data recording destination is stored. This media type register is provided in the RAM 23 or the EEPROM 24 as described above. The media type register in this example is an 8-bit register, and one bit area from the LSB (Last Significant Bit) side is for a memory stick (MEMORYSTICK (registered trademark)), a compact flash (registered trademark), and a hard disk , For SD memory cards, and so on. Memory Stick (registered trademark), CompactFlash (registered trademark), and SD memory card are so-called memory cards of different types.

  When the above-described medium is inserted (loaded), this is detected by the control unit 20 and the corresponding area of the media type register is set to “on“ 1 ””. When the inserted medium is removed, the corresponding area of the media type register is returned to “off“ 0 ””. Therefore, the corresponding area of the medium not inserted is set to “off“ 0 ””.

  The inserted media can be detected based on the connection state between the media controller side and the media side of the digital video camera into which the media is inserted. For example, in the case of a Memory Stick (registered trademark), the 6th pin among a plurality of connection terminals is used as an insertion / extraction detection terminal. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 16, the 6th pin (XIN) on the media controller side is pulled up (connected state), and the 6th pin (INS) on the Memory Stick (registered trademark) side is internally set to VSS (= GND). )It is connected to the.

  Therefore, in the case of a Memory Stick (registered trademark), the potential of the 6th pin is checked (VCC or GND). If the potential is GND (when the connection state can be confirmed), the corresponding area of the media type register is set. “On“ 1 ””. VCC (supply voltage from the connected device side) is from 2.7 volts to 3.6 volts.

  In the case of CompactFlash (registered trademark), as shown in FIG. 17, the 25th pin (CD2) and 26th pin (CD1) on the media controller side of the digital video camera into which the media is inserted are pulled up, and the compact flash The 25th pin (CD2) and 26th pin (CD1) on the flash (registered trademark) side are internally connected to GND.

  Therefore, in the case of CompactFlash (registered trademark), the potentials of the 25th pin and 26th pin are checked (VCC or GND), and when the potential is GND (when the connection state can be confirmed), the media type The corresponding area of the register is set to “on“ 1 ””. VCC (supply voltage from the connected device side) is from 2.7 volts to 3.6 volts.

  For other media, such as hard disks and SD memory cards, the connection status is checked by checking the connection end where the potential changes when it is connected. Set the corresponding area of “ON” to “1”. When the inserted medium is removed, it can be detected in the same manner, so that the corresponding area of the media type register is set to “off“ 0 ””.

  Then, as described above, the control unit 20 confirms the connection status of the medium to itself, and if a memory stick (registered trademark) is inserted, the contents of the media type register shown in FIG. When the compact flash (registered trademark) is inserted, the content of the media type register is “00000010”. If the hard disk is in a usable state, the media type register is “00000100”. Of course, when a plurality of media are available, the plurality of bits of the media type register are “on“ 1 ””.

  In this way, the connection state of the media can be grasped. If only one medium is inserted (connected), it is possible to specify the media type of the data recording destination only by referring to the media type register shown in FIG. Further, when the memory card 34 and the hard disk 33 can be used as in the digital video camera of this embodiment and both of them are connected, the user determines which is the data recording destination. Since the selection information is stored in the RAM 23 or the EEPROM 24 and used, the media type of the data recording destination can be accurately determined by referring to this information. The

  By using the method described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 17, it is possible to change the processing mode in consideration of the type of the recording medium of the data at the timing of initialization and all erasing of the file. Can be used efficiently.

[Summary of processing mode selection processing]
Next, the processing for switching the processing mode will be summarized with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 17, the switching of the processing mode is a different processing depending on the available processing mode and the like, but can be generally expressed as a flowchart shown in FIG. 18.

  FIG. 18 shows data transmission / reception when an initialization (format) or all deletion of files is instructed through the operation unit 31, or with an external device such as a PC (personal computer) connected by wire or wireless. When the initialization (formatting) or the entire erasing of the file is instructed from an external device such as a PC, the processing mode changing process executed in the control unit 20 of the digital video camera of this embodiment Is a generalized representation.

  When receiving an instruction input for performing initialization, erasing all files, and the like, the control unit 200 executes the process shown in FIG. Information (information storage area information, etc.) is confirmed (step S501), and the processing mode to be used next is selected according to the confirmed information and the program for changing the processing mode (step S502). Then, information indicating the selected processing mode is set in the information storage area of the hard disk 33 (step S503), and the processing shown in FIG.

  As described above, when an instruction to execute initialization, an instruction to execute deletion of all files, or the like is received and the processing mode is changed, an available processing mode and recording can be recorded from a recording medium for recording data. On the medium, information indicating where the data is currently recorded in what processing mode and where the free space is located is confirmed. Then, based on the information indicating the confirmed current recording state, the processing mode to be used next is selected, and the information indicating the newly selected processing mode is updated in the information storage area.

  Then, in the processing of step S502, the processing mode that can be used, the processing mode change logic that is determined to be used in advance, the information that indicates the change order of the available processing mode, and the like are used next. The processing mode to be selected is selected. As described above, the processing mode changing process can be changed based on the current usage status of the recording medium, the predetermined processing mode changing logic, and the changing order of the available processing modes. .

  When the processing mode is changed, initialization processing is performed in accordance with the processing mode newly used, and management areas such as MBR and BPB are formed from the new start LBA. Since LBA1 is converted to LBA2 in accordance with the processing mode newly used, data is recorded at a position corresponding to the processing mode newly used. The data can be recorded in the access direction according to the data.

[Recording process after selecting processing mode]
Next, after the processing mode is selected (changed) at the timing of initializing or erasing all files as described above, the information holding shown in FIG. By confirming the information after the 17th byte of the area, the latest processing mode is known, and data is recorded in accordance with the latest processing mode.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the device driver 205 when data is recorded according to the selected processing mode. The process shown in FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the process of the LBA converting unit 205a of the device driver 205, and is for explaining the process performed immediately before starting the data recording.

  When the device driver 205 receives a notification from the control unit 20 to start the data recording process, the device driver 205 is an area after the 17th byte of the information storage area described with reference to FIG. ) Is confirmed (step S601), the confirmed current processing mode is specified, and LBA conversion information corresponding to the specified processing mode is acquired (loaded) from the EEPROM 24 of the control unit 20, for example. Then, the process shown in FIG. 18 is finished.

  Thus, according to the selected processing mode, LBA1 indicating the recording position from the position calculating unit 204a of the media control unit 204 can be converted into LBA2 corresponding to the recording position corresponding to the selected processing mode. Be made possible. The LBA conversion information acquired by the device driver 205 is information necessary for converting LBA1 from the media control unit 204 into LBA2 that specifies the position of the hard disk 33, as will be described below. Information such as a conversion information table and a conversion formula from LBA to LBA2.

  In this way, in the actual data recording process, LBA1 supplied from the position calculation unit 204a of the media control unit 204 is converted into LBA2 in accordance with the currently selected processing mode of the information storage area of the hard disk 33. The data can be recorded on the hard disk 33 in a manner corresponding to the processing mode.

[Calculation method of LBA1 and conversion method to LBA2]
Next, the calculation method of LBA1 calculated by the position calculation unit 204a of the media control unit 204 shown in FIG. 8 and the processing mode selected by the LBA conversion unit 205a of the device driver 205 shown in FIG. The conversion method from LBA1 to LBA2 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

[LBA1 conversion method]
FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a calculation method of LBA1 performed in the LBA conversion unit 205a of the device driver 205 shown in FIG. As described above, the hard disk drive 32 of the digital video camera of this embodiment uses the FAT 32 as the file system.

  In the case of FAT32, in the standard processing mode (first processing mode) in which a management area such as MBR and a data area are formed in the inner circumferential direction from the outermost circumference and data is recorded in the inner circumferential direction from the outer circumference. LBA1 for designating a position on the hard disk 33 can be calculated based on information in MBR or information in BPB.

  That is, in the case where FAT32 is used, the LBA1 in the first processing mode is “start sector (LBA)” in the partition table in the MBR and “BPB_RsvdSecCnt” in the BPB as shown in FIG. (FAT start sector number) ”,“ BPB_FATSz32 (number of sectors per FAT) ”,“ BPB_NumFATs (number of FATs) ”,“ BPB_RootClus (start directory number of root directory) ”,“ BPB_SecPerClus (per cluster) It can be calculated by using each value such as “the number of sectors)”.

  Specifically, according to the equation (1) in FIG. 20, the partition start LBM, the FAT start sector number, and the sector number (number of sectors) per FAT multiplied by the number of FATs are added. Thus, the start LBA (sector) of the data area is calculated. With respect to the start LBA of the data area obtained by the expression (1) in FIG. 20, as shown in the expression (2) in FIG. 20, the start cluster number for the root directory not used in the FAT32 from the end cluster number n LBA1 (start LBA of cluster n) indicating the next position to be accessed on the hard disk 33 by adding the total number of used clusters minus (number of clusters) multiplied by the number of sectors per cluster Can be requested.

  Thus, LBA1 can be obtained by obtaining the start LBA of the data area and adding the number of sectors up to the current final cluster n of the data area to this. When the selected processing mode is the second processing mode other than the first processing mode (standard processing mode), the third processing mode, or the fourth processing mode, (1 in FIG. 20). ) And LBA1 obtained by equations (2) cannot be used as they are, and are converted to LBA2.

[Conversion method to LBA2]
FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a method of converting LBA1 supplied from the position calculation unit 204a of the media control unit 204 into LBA2. In FIG. 21, MAX is the maximum value of the LBA of the hard disk 33 of this embodiment, and “IDENTIFY” is one of the commands defined by ATA / ATAPI-6 (AT Attachment with Packet Interface-6) or the like. This is a value obtained by subtracting 1 from “Total number of user addressable sectors (60th to 61st words counted from 0)” in the return value when “DEVICE” is executed. The symbol “X” indicates a boundary LBM indicating a boundary between a used area where data is recorded and an unused area where data is not recorded.

  When the selected processing mode is the first processing mode, the hard disk 33 is accessed using LBA1 obtained as described above with reference to FIG. 20 as LBA2. That is, in the first processing mode, the relationship LBA1 = LBA2 is established.

  However, when the selected processing mode is the second processing mode, the hard disk 33 cannot be accessed using the LBA 1 from the position calculation unit 204a as it is, and therefore, according to the equation (3) in FIG. LBA1 is converted to LBA2 used for actual hard disk access. In the second processing mode, the management area and the data area are sequentially created from the innermost circumference of the hard disk 33 by performing conversion to LBA2 according to the expression (3) in FIG. 21, and from the inner circumference to the outer circumference. The data can be recorded by designating the LBA in the direction of going.

  Even when the selected processing mode is the third processing mode, the LBA1 from the position calculation unit 204a cannot be used as it is to access the hard disk 33, so that the LBA2 that uses LBA1 for actual hard disk access is used. Will be converted to In the third processing mode, LBA2 is formed so as to indicate a position where the boundary LBA is shifted to the inner circumference side by LBA1 from the starting point by performing conversion to LBA2 in accordance with equation (4) in FIG. Can do. In this case, if LBA2 obtained by LBA1 + X is greater than the maximum LBA value MAX of the hard disk 33, the final LBA2 is obtained by performing an operation of LBA2 = already obtained LBA2-X-LBA1.

  In this way, by following the equation (4) in FIG. 21, the position where the management area such as MBR is formed is made variable, and the hard disk 33 is used in a so-called ring shape with the data recording direction from the outer periphery toward the inner periphery. can do.

  Even when the selected processing mode is the fourth processing mode, the hard disk 33 cannot be accessed using the LBA 1 from the position calculation unit 204a as it is, so that the LBA 2 that uses LBA 1 for actual hard disk access is used. Will be converted to In the fourth processing mode, LBA2 can be formed so as to indicate a position where the boundary LBA is shifted to the outer peripheral side by LBA1 from the starting point by performing conversion to LBA2 in accordance with equation (5) in FIG. it can. In this case, if LBA2 obtained by X-LBA1 is smaller than the minimum LBA value “0 (zero)” of the hard disk 33, the final LBA2 is obtained by performing the calculation LBA2 = MAX + LBA2 + LBA1.

  In this way, by following the formula (5) in FIG. 21, the position where the management area such as the MBR is formed is made variable, and the hard disk 33 is used in a so-called ring shape with the data recording direction from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference. can do.

  As can be seen from the above description, the LBA1 indicating the access position on the hard disk 33 is obtained as before, but the processing mode used is the second processing mode other than the first processing mode, the third processing mode. In the case of the fourth processing mode, LBA1 from the position calculation unit 204a is converted to LBA22 according to the selected processing mode according to the calculation formula shown in FIG. 21, and the hard disk 33 is converted according to the selected processing mode. Can access and record data.

  Then, by properly using the four processing modes shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6C, and D, control is performed so that the usage frequency of the recording area of the hard disk 33 is uniform, and a part of the recording area of the hard disk 33 is partially controlled. Can be prevented, and the reliability of the hard disk used can be improved.

[When using FAT16]
As described above, the hard disk recorder 32 of the digital video camera of this embodiment has been described as using the FAT 32 as a file system, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where FAT16 is used as the file system.

  The present invention can be applied in the same manner as when a hard disk using FAT32 is used, which is a case where a hard disk using FAT16 is used. However, whether LBA1 is obtained in the same manner as in the first processing mode in which management areas such as MBR and data areas are formed in order from the innermost circumference and data is recorded from the outer circumference to the inner circumference. However, this is different from the case of FAT32. This is because the area structure of FAT32 and the area structure of FAT16 are different.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a recording area of a hard disk using FAT16. As can be seen by comparing the hard disk recording area when using FAT32 shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 2, when using FAT16, the FSInfo area portion in FAT32 is an empty area, A structure is provided in which, for example, two cluster directory areas are provided immediately before the first cluster in the data area, in which directory entries for managing detailed information for each file formed in the data area are stored. For this reason, it is necessary to consider the area for the root directory entry.

  In the hard disk using FAT16 as the file system, LBA1 indicating the address on the hard disk in the standard processing mode, that is, the first processing mode, is in the MBR as in the case of the hard disk using FAT32. It is possible to calculate based on the information in BPB and information in BPB.

That is, in the case where FAT16 is used, the LBA1 in the first processing mode is “start sector (LBA)” in the partition table in the MBR and “BPB_RsvdSecCnt in the BPB, as shown in FIG. (FAT start sector number) ”,“ BPB_FATSz16 (number of sectors per FAT in 16-bit space) ”,“ BPB_FATSz32 (number of sectors per FAT in 32-bit space) ”,“ BPB_NumFATs (number of FATs) ” "," BPB_RootEndCnt (number of sectors in the root directory entry) "," BPB_BytesPerSec (number of bytes per sector) ",
It can be calculated by using values such as “BPB_RootClus (start directory number of root directory)” and “BPB_SecPerClus (number of sectors per cluster)”.

  Specifically, on the hard disk using the FAT32 shown in FIG. 20, except that “BPB_RootEntCnt (number of sectors of the root directory entry)” and “BPB_BytesPerSec (number of bytes per sector)” are taken into consideration. It can be obtained in the same manner as LBA1.

  That is, when the total number of sectors of the hard disk 33 can be accommodated in a 16-bit space, the partition start LBM, the FAT start sector number, and the sector number per FAT (the number of sectors) according to the equation (6) in FIG. ) Multiplied by the number of FATs and the number of sectors in the root directory entry are added to calculate the start LBA (sector) of the data area.

  23, with respect to the start LBA of the data area obtained by the equation (6) in FIG. 23, as shown in the equation (8) in FIG. 23, from the end cluster number n, the start cluster number for the root directory that is not managed by the FAT system ( LBA1 (starting LBA of cluster n) indicating the next position to be accessed on the hard disk 33 is obtained by adding the total number of used clusters minus the number of clusters) multiplied by the number of sectors per cluster. Can be sought.

  When the total number of sectors of the hard disk 33 does not fit in the 16-bit space, the start LBA (sector) of the data area is calculated according to the equation (7) in FIG. In the equation (7) of FIG. 23, “BPB_FATSz16” used in the equation (6) of FIG. 23 is changed to “BPB_FATSz32” and corresponds to the equation (7) of FIG. Then, by using the start LBA of the data area obtained by the equation (7) in FIG. 23 in the equation (8) in FIG. 23, LBA1 (cluster n) indicating the next access position on the hard disk 33 in the 32-bit space. Starting LBA).

  By substituting LBA1 obtained in this way into the conversion formula to LBA2 described with reference to FIG. 21, even in the hard disk 33 using FAT16 as the file system, processing is performed at the timing of initialization and all deletion of files. It is possible to access by changing the mode and specifying the position on the hard disk according to the processing mode.

  Therefore, even when the FAT 16 is used, the recording area on the outermost periphery side is frequently used by always using the hard disk from the outermost periphery to the inner periphery every time initialization or file erasure is performed. The storage area on the innermost peripheral side is not used at all, so it is possible to avoid the uneven state of the use area, such as not being deteriorated, and to prevent the life of the hard disk from being shortened. A highly reliable hard disk driver can be realized.

[Other examples of processing mode change processing]
In the digital video camera of the above-described embodiment, when the processing mode is changed at the timing of initialization of the hard disk 33 or deletion of all files, the current processing mode and the boundary LBA indicating the data recording end position of the recording medium are used. The example of changing the processing mode to be newly used has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, if the distance from the data recording end position to the final end of the recording medium is less than or equal to a predetermined value in consideration of the value at the final end of the recording medium, the processing in which the access direction is the same as the current processing mode Of course, the processing mode to be newly used may be selected in consideration of the value at the end of the recording medium, such as not selecting the mode.

  Therefore, the selection of the processing mode to be newly used performed at the timing of initialization of the hard disk or all erasing of the file is performed by selecting an available processing mode, a processing mode currently used, a data recording end position in the current processing mode, a recording medium Can be performed based on one or more of the information such as the value of the last end of the (the last address on the recording medium). Further, by using information other than these, for example, information indicating a predetermined processing mode change pattern (change order), the type of recording medium to be used, or various information such as random numbers, the processing mode can be changed in various patterns. Can be changed.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operation input unit 31 and the communication unit 19 realize a function as a reception unit that receives an instruction to initialize a recording medium or delete all files, and the control unit 20 changes a processing mode. Functions as selection means for selection, calculation means for calculating the reference address (LBA1), and conversion means for converting the reference address into LBA2 corresponding to the processing mode (LBA conversion mode) are realized.

  Further, the control unit 20 realizes functions as a detection unit that detects the current processing mode, a position acquisition unit that acquires the data recording end position, and a final end detection unit that acquires the value of the final end of the recording medium. ing.

  In this embodiment, the control unit 20 executes software having the functions of the units described with reference to FIG. 8 to perform LBA conversion corresponding to the processing mode (from LBA1 to LBA2 corresponding to the processing mode). Conversion). However, it is not limited to this. A circuit having functions of the file system 202 and the device driver 205 may be configured, and these may be provided between the control unit 20 and the hard disk drive 32.

  Further, the function as the file system 202 is realized by a program executed in the control unit 20, and a device driver apparatus unit (providing the function of the device driver 205 having the LBA conversion function between the control unit 20 and the hard disk driver 32 ( Alternatively, it can be realized by hardware such as a device driver circuit.

  In addition, as described above, a reception step for accepting an instruction input for initialization of a recording medium or all deletion of files, a selection step for selecting a processing mode to be newly used when the instruction input is accepted, and reference address information And a recording control program for executing a conversion step for converting the reference address information calculated in the calculation step into address information corresponding to the processing mode selected in the selection step. The present invention can be easily applied to the recording apparatus by mounting the recording apparatus on the recording apparatus.

  In this case, in the selection step, it is possible to select a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of the current processing mode, the data recording end position, the value of the final end of the recording medium, and the like. Of course, a step for acquiring and calculating information may be provided.

  As described above, conventionally, even when the data rewritable recording medium is not always fully used, the initialization or the entire erasing of the file is performed, and no data is recorded. When the recording medium is repeatedly used, the management area is always formed from the same position on the recording medium and the data is recorded in the same direction. It was.

  However, by applying the present invention, the frequency of use of each part of the recording area can be changed by changing the recording start position on the recording medium and the access direction to the recording medium at the timing when initialization or all erasing of the file is performed. Can be dealt with so as to be uniform. As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that the deterioration speed is remarkably different due to different usage frequency in each part on the rewritable recording medium, and the reliability of the recording medium and the apparatus using the recording medium can be improved. It becomes.

  Further, as described in the digital video camera of the above-described embodiment, there is no change in the process of specifying the upper part of the device driver 205, that is, the LBA1 at the stage of the application software 201 or the file system 202. Since the (calculated) LBA1 is changed to LBA2 according to the selected processing mode (LBA conversion mode), no major change is made to the upper part of the device driver 205.

  Even when the same information is recorded, the recording position on the recording medium can be changed according to the usage state of the recording medium.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking the case where the present invention is applied to a digital video camera using a hard disk as a recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The recording medium is a rewritable recording medium, for example, an optical disc such as a DVD, a CD, a Blu-ray Disc (Blu-ray Disc), or an MD (Mini Disc (registered trademark)). The present invention can be applied to an apparatus using various recording media for managing recorded data using a file system such as a magnetic disk or a semiconductor memory.

  Therefore, in addition to the above-described digital video camera, a recording apparatus, a recording / reproducing apparatus, a personal computer, an information processing terminal, a digital still camera, a video recorder, a portable AV (using a recording medium to which the file system is applied as described above, The present invention can be applied to a player or recorder of (Audio / Visual) information.

  Further, the file system is not limited to FAT32 or FAT16. The present invention can be applied even when various other file systems such as UDF (Universal Disk Format) are used.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the digital video camera to which one embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the state of the hard disk 33 which can be utilized by being initialized according to a file system (FAT32). It is a figure for demonstrating the state of the hard disk 33 which can be utilized by being initialized according to a file system (FAT32). It is a figure for demonstrating the partition area | region formed on the hard disk 33, and the partition table which manages this. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing mode which fixes the position of a management area | region. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing mode which makes the position of a management area | region variable. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an information storage area for managing newly required information, which is an area formed in a free area of the hard disk 33. FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing software that performs LBA conversion according to a processing mode in the digital video camera according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure for demonstrating an available processing mode and its change pattern. It is a flow chart for explaining an example of processing mode change processing. It is a flow chart for explaining an example of processing mode change processing. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing mode switching processing (processing mode change processing) in consideration of a disk type. It is a figure for demonstrating the threshold value about the usage condition of a hard disk. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing mode change process according to the use condition of a medium (disk recording medium). It is a figure for demonstrating the media type register in which the information for discriminating the medium used as the recording destination of data is stored. It is a figure for demonstrating the check method of insertion / extraction of Memory Stick (trademark). It is a figure for demonstrating the check method of insertion / extraction of a memory flash. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the outline | summary of the process in the case of switching processing modes. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the device driver 205 when data is recorded according to a selected processing mode. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation method of LBA1. It is a figure for demonstrating the method to convert LBA1 into LBA2. It is a figure for demonstrating the recording area of the hard disk in which FAT16 was used. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation method of LBA1 in case FAT16 is used. It is a figure for demonstrating the prior art example of the software performed in the recording device using the recording medium in which a file system is used.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Optical lens part, 12 ... Photoelectric conversion part, 13 ... Camera function control part, 14 ... Image signal processing part, 15 ... LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), 16 ... Image input / output part, 17 ... Audio | voice input / output part, 18 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Audio | voice signal processing part, 19 ... Communication part, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 24 ... EEPROM, 25 ... System bus, 31 ... Operation input part, 32 ... Hard disk drive (hard disk device) , 33 ... Hard disk, 34 ... Memory card, 201 ... Application, 202 ... File system, 203 ... Recording control section, 203a ... Directory entry control section, 203b ... Cluster control section, 203c ... FAT control section, 204 ... Media control section , 204a ... position calculation unit, 205 ... device driver, 205a ... LBA conversion unit

Claims (16)

A recording device that uses a recording medium capable of rewriting data and managed by a predetermined file system,
A plurality of processing modes in which both the position on the recording medium of the management area for storing management information used in the file system and the access direction to the recording medium are different;
Accepting means for accepting an instruction to initialize the recording medium or an instruction to erase all files on the recording medium;
Position acquisition means for acquiring a data recording end position on the recording medium immediately before receiving an instruction to initialize or erase all of the files;
The data recording end position acquired by the position acquisition means as a processing mode to be newly used when an initialization instruction input to the recording medium or an instruction to erase all files on the recording medium is received through the reception means. And a selection means for selecting a processing mode in which an access direction is set according to whether the data recording end position is the first half part or the second half part in the recording area .
Calculating means for calculating reference address information indicating a data recording position on the recording medium when a reference processing mode is used when accessing the recording medium;
Conversion means for converting the reference address information calculated by the calculation means into address information corresponding to the newly used processing mode selected by the selection means, and
A recording apparatus for accessing the recording medium using the address information converted by the converting means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
A detection means for detecting the current processing mode;
The recording apparatus, wherein the selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used based on the current processing mode detected by the detection unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein
Comprising a final edge detecting means for detecting a value of the final edge of the recording medium,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of a value of a final end of the recording medium detected through the final short detection unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
Provided with a type detecting means for detecting the type of a recording medium used as a data recording destination,
The recording apparatus, wherein the selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of the type of the recording medium detected through the type detection unit. When using a recording medium that is rewritable and managed by a predetermined file system, the position of the management area on the recording medium for storing management information used by the file system, and the access direction to the recording medium, An address translation device for using a plurality of processing modes in which one or both of them are different,
Position acquisition means for acquiring a data recording end position on the recording medium immediately before receiving an instruction to initialize or erase all of the files;
When performing initialization processing on the recording medium or processing for erasing all files on the recording medium, as a processing mode to be newly used, a position next to the data recording end position acquired by the position acquisition unit is set in the management area. And a selection means for selecting a processing mode in which an access direction is set according to whether the data recording end position is the first half or the second half of the recording area ;
Calculating means for calculating reference address information indicating a data recording position on the recording medium when a reference processing mode is used when accessing the recording medium;
An address conversion device comprising: conversion means for converting the reference address information calculated by the calculation means into address information corresponding to the processing mode selected by the selection means. The address translation device according to claim 5 ,
A detection means for detecting the current processing mode;
The address converting apparatus, wherein the selecting unit selects a processing mode to be newly used based on the current processing mode detected by the detecting unit. The address translation device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein
Comprising a final edge detecting means for detecting a value of the final edge of the recording medium,
The address conversion apparatus, wherein the selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of the value of the final end detected through the final short detection unit. The address translation device according to claim 5 ,
Provided with a type detecting means for detecting the type of a recording medium used as a data recording destination,
The address conversion apparatus, wherein the selection unit selects a processing mode to be newly used in consideration of the type of the recording medium detected through the type detection unit. Using a recording medium that is rewritable and managed by a predetermined file system, a position on the recording medium in a management area for storing management information used in the file system and an access direction to the recording medium A recording control method for selectively using a plurality of processing modes in which one or both are different,
An accepting step of accepting an instruction input for initialization of the recording medium or an instruction input for erasing all files on the recording medium;
A position acquisition step of acquiring a data recording end position on the recording medium immediately before receiving an instruction input for the initialization or all erasure of the file;
The data recording end acquired by the position acquisition unit as a processing mode to be newly used when an input of initialization instruction to the recording medium or an instruction to delete all files on the recording medium is received in the receiving step A selection step of selecting a processing mode in which an access direction is set according to whether the next position of the position is the management area and the data recording end position is the first half or the second half of the recording area ;
A calculation step of calculating reference address information indicating a data recording position on the recording medium when a reference processing mode is used when accessing the recording medium;
A conversion step of converting the reference address information calculated in the calculation step into address information corresponding to the newly used processing mode selected in the selection step;
A recording control method, wherein control is performed to access the recording medium using the address information converted in the converting step. The recording control method according to claim 9 , wherein
Having a detection step to detect the current processing mode;
In the selecting step, a processing mode to be newly used is selected based on the current processing mode detected in the detecting step. The recording control method according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein:
Having a final edge detection step of detecting a value of the final edge of the recording medium;
In the selection step, a processing mode to be newly used is selected in consideration of the value of the final edge of the recording medium detected in the final short detection step. The recording control method according to claim 9 , wherein
Having a type detection step of detecting the type of recording medium used as a data recording destination;
In the selecting step, a recording mode to be newly used is selected in consideration of the type of the recording medium detected in the type detecting step. Using a recording medium that is rewritable and managed by a predetermined file system, a position on the recording medium in a management area for storing management information used in the file system and an access direction to the recording medium In the computer of the recording device that uses one or both different processing modes,
An accepting step of receiving an instruction input for initialization with respect to the recording medium or an instruction input for erasing all files on the recording medium;
A position acquisition step of acquiring a data recording end position on the recording medium immediately before receiving an instruction input of the initialization or all erasure of the file;
In the receiving step, when the initialization instruction input to the recording medium or the instruction to erase all files on the recording medium is received, the data recording end acquired by the position acquisition unit as a newly used processing mode A selection step of selecting a processing mode in which an access direction is set according to whether the next position of the position is the management area and the data recording end position is the first half or the second half of the recording area ;
A calculation step of calculating reference address information indicating a data recording position on the recording medium when a reference processing mode is used when accessing the recording medium;
Converting the reference address information calculated in the calculating step into address information corresponding to the newly used processing mode selected in the selecting step; and
A recording control program for controlling to access the recording medium using the address information converted in the converting step. A recording control program according to claim 13 ,
Having a detection step for detecting the current processing mode;
In the selection step, a processing mode to be newly used is selected based on the current processing mode detected in the detection step. A recording control program according to claim 13 or 14 ,
A final edge detecting step of detecting a value of the final edge of the recording medium,
In the selecting step, a processing mode to be newly used is selected in consideration of the value of the final edge of the recording medium detected in the final edge detecting step. A recording control program according to claim 13 ,
A type detecting step for detecting the type of recording medium used as a data recording destination;
In the selection step, a processing mode to be newly used is selected in consideration of the type of the recording medium detected in the type detection step.

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