JP4994779B2 - Recording / reproducing apparatus and removable recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording medium, and more particularly to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording medium that can record and use a reproduction start point for a recorded moving image.

  Recently, as a recording medium for recording digital broadcast signals such as CS broadcasts and BS broadcasts, a video recording / playback apparatus using a hard disk or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) optical disk or the like having a large recording capacity instead of a conventional video tape. Is provided.

  When video data such as a digital broadcast signal is recorded on such a large-capacity recording medium (hereinafter referred to as recording in this specification), much more video data than when recording on a conventional video tape is recorded. You can record. For this reason, there are many cases in which a user views halfway without viewing all desired video data at once.

At this time, the video recording / playback apparatus using the hard disk, the optical disk or the like has a playback start point mainly indicating that the recorded video has been viewed and starting playback from that point at the next playback. There are many cases. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-182884 (released July 7, 2005)

  However, when the playback start point is recorded on the medium, if it is a removable medium, the playback start point remains when another user views the same content (for example, for rental use), which is inconvenient. May occur.

  At this time, it is almost the case that the user selects a playback start point, but this gives an extra effort to the user to use and prevents smooth viewing.

  That is, when information such as a playback start point is recorded on a removable medium, when playback is performed in an environment different from that of the device or user that has been playing up to that point, it often depends on the environment such as the playback start point and the user. Information is rarely used as it is, and the user has to set the playback start position by himself / herself.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its purpose is to be recorded on a recording medium using information recorded on the medium or the apparatus when the user or application to be used is different. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording medium that can invalidate or erase a reproduction start point and reproduce a moving image from the beginning.

  (1) In order to solve the above problems, the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention provides information to a removable recording medium capable of recording a moving image and recording management information related to the moving image. A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of writing and reading data, wherein the management information of the removable recording medium can be compared with the information of the own apparatus, and the contents of the management information can be rewritten.

  In this configuration, the management data of the medium has information about the usage environment such as the device and user ID, and the processing operation is changed by comparing the information of the device actually used with the recorded information. .

  According to the above configuration, when the environment to be used or the user is changed, the unique information such as the playback start point is deleted without making the user aware of it, so that the convenience is improved.

  (2) A removable recording medium according to the present invention is a removable recording medium according to the present invention, wherein a reproduction start point can be recorded as a component of management information, and the recorded reproduction start point can be arbitrarily set. It can be erased at the timing.

  (3) A removable recording medium according to the present invention is a removable recording medium that can record the device ID assigned to the recording / reproducing device as a component of the management information in order to solve the above-described problem. Features.

  (4) A removable recording medium according to the present invention includes the removable recording medium and the recording / reproducing apparatus, and has a plurality of user IDs as management information recorded on the recording medium in order to solve the above problems. The playback start point is deleted when the user ID is different from the user ID when the recording / playback apparatus is used.

  (5) A recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that information of the recording medium can be read and written in order to solve the above-described problems.

  (6) A removable recording medium according to the present invention comprises the removable recording medium and the recording / reproducing device in order to solve the above problems, and has a device ID for each device to be used as management information of the recording medium, The playback start point is erased when the device ID is different from the device ID when the recording / playback device is used.

  (7) In order to solve the above problems, the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is capable of reading and writing information on the recording medium.

  (8) The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising erasing means for erasing the reproduction start point of the connected removable recording medium in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

  (9) Further, in addition to the above configuration, the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that after the reproduction start point is erased, the connection of the removable recording medium is released.

  As described above, the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is capable of recording moving images and writing and reading information to and from a removable recording medium capable of recording management information related to the moving images. The recording / reproducing apparatus is characterized in that the management information of the removable recording medium can be compared with the information of the own apparatus and the contents of the management information can be rewritten.

  Therefore, when the use environment or the user is changed, the unique information such as the playback start point is deleted without making the user aware of it, so that the convenience is improved.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

<Configuration of recording / reproducing apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration example of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, dotted arrows indicate the flow of control signals, and solid arrows indicate the flow of data signals.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 101 includes an external input / output interface (I / F) 102 for detachably connecting a removable recording medium 109, a user I / F 104 for inputting an operation signal from the operation input unit 107, and the recording / reproducing apparatus 101. The control unit 103 includes a CPU and a memory to be controlled, a playback unit 105 that plays back video information, and a playback start point control unit 106 that reads and writes playback start point information.

  The operation input unit 107 and the display unit 108 are arranged integrally or externally connected to the information recording / reproducing apparatus 101.

  The removable recording medium 109 is detachably disposed on the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 independently of the recording / reproducing apparatus 101.

  This example is an example of the configuration, and for example, there may be a receiving unit (not shown) for inputting video information, a buffer (not shown) for temporarily holding the video information, The recording medium may be built in.

<Details of configuration>
Each part will be described in more detail.

  The external input / output I / F 102 is an interface for connecting the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 and the removable recording medium 109. The external input / output I / F 102 also holds an attachment / detachment mechanism for the removable recording medium 109 and an interface for reading / writing data. There are interfaces such as ATA (AT Attachment), USB (Universal Serial Bus), and IEEE 1394 as interfaces for reading and writing data with the removable recording medium 109 in the external input / output I / F 102. Good.

  The user I / F 104 is a part for selecting an operation in the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 such as a recording / reproducing operation.

  The control unit 103 is a part that controls each component based on an input from the user I / F 104 or the like.

  The reproduction unit 105 is a part that reproduces video information.

  The operation input unit 107 is a means for a user to operate the recording / reproducing apparatus 101. The operation input unit 107 is typically an operation remote controller or a button provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 101.

  The reproduction start point control unit 106 reads and writes reproduction start point information acquired from the removable recording medium 109 and the like, and discriminates reading and writing.

  The display unit 108 is for displaying video information and OSD (On Screen Display) created by the operation of the user I / F 104. The display unit 108 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or an organic EL display.

  The removable recording medium 109 records moving image data and management data. The removable recording medium 109 is assumed to be a removable hard disk or DVD.

  In this embodiment, the recording medium is a removable recording medium. However, the recording medium may be a recording medium incorporated in the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 instead of a removable medium.

  The recording medium can record moving image data 110 and management data 111 including reproduction start point information related to the moving image data 110.

<Procedure for recording the playback start point>
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of typical processing for recording the playback start point in the configuration of FIG.

  The control unit 105 reads moving image data and management data from the removable recording medium 109 via the external input / output I / F 102 (step 201, hereinafter abbreviated as S201).

  Next, the playback start point control unit 106 reads the playback start point (S202), works the playback unit 105 to start playback from a point corresponding to the read playback start point, and starts playback (S203).

  At this time, if there is no information about the reproduction start point, the moving image data is reproduced from the beginning.

  However, in this case, it may be handled as data that cannot be reproduced by the system, or the reproduction start position may be set at an arbitrary position.

  Next, when the reproduction is ended by an instruction from the operation unit 107 or the like, the reproduction unit 105 performs a reproduction end process (S204). At this time, the reproduction start point for starting the next reproduction is the position where the reproduction is ended. Is written in the management data (S205), and the management data is written in the removable recording medium 109 (S206), so that the playback start point is read and written, and at the next playback, playback can be started from the end of playback. .

<Procedure for deleting start point and starting playback>
Next, based on the processing procedure shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of typical processing when the start point is deleted and reproduction is started.

  The control unit 105 reads moving image data and management data from the removable recording medium 109 via the external input / output I / F 102 (S301).

  Next, the reproduction start point control unit 106 reads the reproduction start point (S302).

  The playback start point control unit 106 executes a process of determining whether to use the read start point as it is or delete it (S303), and by using this process, the playback start point is used without being deleted. If playback is to be started, the playback unit 105 is actuated to start playback from a point corresponding to the read playback start point, and playback is started (S304).

  If erasing is to be performed, the process proceeds to S308, the recorded reproduction start point is erased, and then the process proceeds to S304.

  At this time, if there is no information on the reproduction start point, the data is reproduced from the very beginning.

  However, in this case, it may be handled as data that cannot be reproduced by the system, or the reproduction start position may be set at an arbitrary position.

  Next, when the reproduction is terminated by an instruction from the operation unit 107 or the like, the reproduction unit 105 performs a reproduction end process (S305). At this time, the reproduction start point for starting the next reproduction is the position where the reproduction is completed. Is written in the management data (S306), and the management data is written in the removable recording medium 109 (S307), so that the playback start point is read and written, and at the next playback, playback can be started from the end of playback. .

<About the timing to erase the playback start point>
The playback start point is erased before the start of playback in the example of FIG. 3, but the timing for erasing is not limited to the start of playback, and may be performed after the end of playback or during playback. Change according to the application and intended use of the device.

  Also, when the removable recording medium 109 is connected to the recording / playback apparatus 101, or at any timing desired by the user, corresponding management data is read for all recorded titles or any title specified by the user, The writing process may be performed after deleting the reproduction start point. At this time, in addition to the playback start point, for example, a process of rewriting arbitrary data in the management data may be performed, such as clearing a flag indicating whether or not viewing has been performed and setting it to an unviewed state.

<Modification of configuration>
As a modification of the configuration of the recording / playback apparatus 101, when a removable recording medium 109 is connected, the playback start point in the corresponding management data is automatically set for all recorded titles or any title specified by the user. It is also possible to rewrite arbitrary data such as erasing data, then disconnecting the removable recording medium 109 and ejecting the removable recording medium 109.

<Determination of whether or not to erase the playback start point>
Next, an example of the process of S303 for determining whether or not to delete the reproduction start point will be described.

  For the determination of erasure, for example, a management data structure having a playback device ID 401 is provided as a component of management data as shown in FIG. 4, and the playback recorded in the management data as shown in the flowchart of FIG. If the device ID is compared with the device ID of the device that actually performs the playback, it is determined that the playback is performed in a different environment, and the recorded playback start point information is deleted and playback is started. You can do it.

  At this time, instead of deleting the playback start point, playback may be started without using it.

  In FIG. 4, information such as the reproduction user ID 402 and the start point deletion flag 403 is given as an example of a management element as another example, and the processing can be changed in comparison with the device ID.

  In addition, when recording the playback start point, information on the date and time when the playback start point was recorded may be recorded at the same time, and the playback start point may be deleted when a certain number of days have elapsed at the start of playback. .

<Supplementary items>
Further, in the present embodiment, processing relating to deletion of the reproduction start point is particularly taken as an example. However, not only the deletion of the playback start point but also the processing performed by comparing the information related to the playback environment and the user recorded on the recording medium with the information of the recording / playback apparatus and the user actually used is the operation of the playback operation. It is assumed that the present invention is applied to the entire processing of the recording / reproducing apparatus such as control and management information rewriting.

  In addition, since there is a case where it is not desired to automatically change the information as described above depending on the user or the device environment to be used, when using the information, the information or information is stored in the device or the recording medium. A flag or the like indicating whether or not to use the comparison process is provided so that the user can change it arbitrarily, or the playback start point is not automatically erased and is executed by the user's operation. Good.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of the recording / reproducing apparatus 101, in particular, the control unit 103, the reproduction unit 105, and the reproduction start point control unit 106 may be configured by hardware logic, or by software using a CPU as follows. It may be realized.

  That is, the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a read only memory (ROM) that stores the program, and a random access memory (RAM) that expands the program. And a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is a recording medium on which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the recording / playback apparatus 101, which is software that realizes the functions described above, is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying to the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. In addition, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of wired communication such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control device, It is also possible to use wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  When the use environment or the user changes, unique information such as the playback start point is erased without the user's awareness, so that the present invention can be widely applied to recording / playback devices using a removable recording medium.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a recording / reproducing apparatus 101 and a recording medium 109 in the present embodiment. It is a flowchart of the typical process for recording the reproduction | regeneration start point in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart of a typical process in the case of erasing the start point and starting reproduction in the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a management data component. It is a flowchart of the discrimination | determination process whether the reproduction | regeneration start point is erase | eliminated in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 Recording / reproducing apparatus 102 External input / output I / F
103 Control unit 104 User I / F
105 Playback Unit 106 Playback Start Point Control Unit 107 Operation Input Unit 108 Display Unit 109 Removable Recording Medium 110 Moving Image Data 111 Management Data 401 Device ID
402 User ID
403 Start point erase flag

Claims (5)

A recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording and reading information to and from a removable recording medium capable of recording a moving image and capable of recording management information related to the moving image,
Compare the management information of the above removable recording medium with the information of its own device,
Ri rewritable der the contents of the above-mentioned management information,
As a component of the management information, it is possible to record information on the playback start point and the date and time when the playback start point was recorded,
The recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein, when a certain number of days have passed since the date and time when the reproduction start point was recorded at the start of reproduction, the reproduction start point is deleted . The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
As a component of the management information, characterized in that the device ID assigned to the recording and reproducing apparatus can be recorded on the removable recording medium, the recording and reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The removable recording medium has a device ID for each device to be used as management information of the recording medium , and the recording / reproducing device erases the reproduction start point when the device ID is different from the device ID when the recording / reproducing device is used. And a recording / reproducing apparatus . The recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The removable recording medium as management information of the recording medium has a plurality of user ID, the recording and reproducing apparatus, that the user ID is deleted the playback start point is different from the user ID at the time of recording and reproducing apparatus using A characteristic recording / reproducing apparatus . 5. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the reproduction start point is erased, the connection of the removable recording medium is released.

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