JPH0660619A - Video tape recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve the enhancement of availability of magnetic tape as well as improvement of retrieval of a large number of recorded programs by managing index information relevant to the content recorded through all VTRs in a plurality of cassette tapes by means of a single VTR. CONSTITUTION:If a control signal record/reproduce circuit 12 detects tape position information recorded with a heading signal during quick feed or rewind process of an inserted cassette 1 through a tape drive circuit 13, a microcomputer 11 stores the tape position information, cassette identification information, and index information obtained through a key input unit 14, in an SRAM 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video tape recorder (to be referred to as a VTR hereinafter) having a recording / playback function, in which a user sets arbitrary index information on the recorded contents of a cassette tape which has already been recorded by a VT.
By inputting to the R main body, it is possible to easily search for the program and find the beginning of the program by using the index information when reproducing the tape, and the operability thereof is dramatically improved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the broadcasting industry has made remarkable progress not only in terrestrial broadcasting but also in satellite broadcasting, and it is expected that it will be further enhanced in the future. Along with that, the chances of recording by VTR increase, and it is difficult and troublesome for the user to immediately search for and find the beginning of the program that he wants to reproduce later. In addition to the need to manage with one VTR main unit, further improvement in operability has been pursued. The conventional VTR will be described below.

As a first means for retrieving recorded information in a conventional VTR, there is a method of duty-modulating a servo control signal at the beginning of information to be taken out from a cassette tape and recording the cueing signal. This is called a VHS standard VISS search function, which is the mainstream of so-called home 1/2 inch VTRs. Abbreviated) is detected and the state is changed to the stop state or the reproduction state. A second means is a linear time counter function for displaying the count value of the servo control signal. When the count value corresponds to the beginning of the information to be taken out from the cassette tape in the FF / REW state, it is stopped or replayed. Is to be transferred to.

[0004]

As a problem in the above method for searching the beginning of recorded information, the first is to search the information recorded on the cassette tape. Since the absolute position is unknown, there is a problem that the magnetic tape must be rewound to the beginning end before searching, and the desired information cannot be obtained quickly. Secondly, in order to remember what was recorded on the magnetic tape, index information such as a title and the count value in the case of the counter search function are stored. Alternatively, it is necessary to write it on a label or the like and attach it to the cassette storing the magnetic tape. In addition, in order to avoid forgetting to view the recorded information and accidental erasure due to the above reasons, 1
Often only one piece of information is recorded on the tape of a book,
The tape usage efficiency was reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video tape recorder capable of easily searching the beginning of a recorded program.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, the VTR of the present invention comprises a cassette identification means for identifying the inserted cassette, and an information acquisition means for inputting or collecting index information regarding information to be recorded. Tape position detection means for detecting the wound position of the tape, information storage means for storing the index information obtained by the information acquisition means and tape position information obtained by the tape position detection means, and information is input or read out from the memory means. Even a cassette tape recorded by another VTR that includes information input / output means and does not include the above means is stored in the information storage means by the cassette identification means by being inserted in the VTR, and is individually recorded from the beginning of the cassette tape. Information for the tape position where the cue signal exists Stores the above means,
The user arbitrarily sets index information such as a title regarding the recording and stores it in the information storage means.

[0007]

In the present invention, due to the above-mentioned configuration, V
In order to improve the function of searching for the beginning of the recorded program, which is a major issue of TR and which has been unable to satisfy the user even though some functions have been proposed, the user can timely perform VTR. If index information representing the program content prepared in advance is added to the program information as the program information, the user automatically selects the program to be reproduced based on the information and specifies the beginning of the program at the time of reproduction. It is a thing.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a video tape recorder of the present invention, in which a cassette 1 for storing a magnetic tape 2 and a rotary head (not shown) for recording / reproducing information on / from the magnetic tape 2 are driven. Rotating drum 3, a supply side reel (hereinafter abbreviated as S reel) 4 that feeds out the magnetic tape 2 at the time of reproduction or fast-forward, and a take-up side reel (hereinafter, referred to as the S-reel) at which the magnetic tape 2 is wound at the time of reproduction or fast-forward. T
Abbreviated as reel. ) 7, a control head 8 for recording / reproducing control signals for servo, a bar code 9 for recognizing the cassette case, a bar code reader 10 for reading the bar code 9, a control signal recording / reproducing circuit 12, and a VTR. A tape drive circuit 13 for driving a capstan motor (not shown) or a reel motor (not shown) for transferring the magnetic tape 2 in accordance with the FF / REW state or the reproduction state of the tape, and timer reservation A key input device for remote control or VTR operation or a remote control device 14, index information relating to information to be recorded together with the bar code information detected by the bar code reader 10 at the time of recording information, tape remaining amount information, and a keyword group set by the user. A status that is stored and backed up by a battery (not shown) in case of power failure -Type random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as SRAM) 15, an on-screen display (hereinafter abbreviated as OSD circuit) 16 for displaying index information stored in the SRAM 15 when necessary, and video signal processing. Circuit 17 and monitor 18 and VTR for controlling the above system
A read-only memory (hereinafter abbreviated as ROM) for a group of keywords that is provided by and represents the preselected program content.
And a microcomputer 11 including the whole.

A method for the microcomputer 11 of the VTR to store the index information regarding the recording contents of the cassette tape in the SRAM 15 with the above configuration will be described below.

First, the user attaches the bar code 9 to the recorded cassette tape 1 which the user wants to store in the SRAM 15 of the VTR main body as index information and inserts it into the main body. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cassette 1 is inserted into the VTR main body 20.
First, the microcomputer 11 reads the barcode 9 attached to the side surface of the cassette 1 when the barcode is inserted into the VTR main body 10 by the barcode reader 10.
Recognizes which cassette was inserted. That is,
Since the barcode 9 that codes the cassette number is attached to the cassette 1, the cassette can be specified by decoding the barcode.

Incidentally, the already recorded cassette tape for which the index information is to be stored in the SRAM 15 is not necessarily limited to the one recorded by the present VTR.

Next, when the VTR is set to a mode in which the index information is registered by the user operating the key input device 14, the microcomputer 11 recognizes that the tape is rewound to the starting end and the VISS search is started. This is to prevent the user from sequentially recognizing the program and preventing registration failure by searching the VISS signal from the beginning regardless of the tape winding position at the time of insertion into the VTR main body 10.

Here, a method of recording a VISS signal in this VTR and a cueing method using the VISS signal (hereinafter referred to as VI
Abbreviated as SS search. ) Will be described. At the start of recording, the microcomputer 11 records on the magnetic tape 2 a cueing signal obtained by duty-modulating the control signal by the control signal recording / reproducing circuit 12 of FIG. 1, that is, a so-called VHS VTR VISS signal. FIG. 4 shows a recording waveform and a reproducing waveform of a control signal and a recording format of the cueing signal for explaining the VISS search function for performing the cueing by duty-modulating the control signal.
When the cycle is 100%, a signal having a high level (hereinafter abbreviated as H level) period of about 60% (FIG. 4A) is a "0" pulse, and an H level period is about 27.5%. Signal (FIG. 4 (B)) is set to "1" pulse, and a cue code as shown in FIG. 4 (C) is recorded at the start of recording, that is, at the beginning of the program to be recorded. In the VISS search, the cue code is detected by measuring the duty of the reproduction control signal at the time of fast-forwarding or rewinding, and the reproduction mode is entered.

When the VISS signal recorded by the above method is detected by starting the VISS search from the beginning of the tape, the microcomputer 11 reproduces the tape and at the same time VI.
By detecting the remaining tape amount at the position where the SS signal is recorded and controlling the OSD circuit 16, the screens of FIGS. 6 and 7 are displayed on the monitor 18, and the user uses the VTR main body or a remote controller. Cassette number recognized as the index information set for the program information being played,
The remaining amount information is stored in the SRAM 15.

The index information is the recording date, day of the week,
Recording start time and RO of the microcomputer 11
The content of information stored such as the keyword group stored in M and the keyword arbitrarily set by the user can be recognized later. The term "keyword group" as used herein is one that is stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 11 and is selected in advance and represents the field to which the program belongs, such as the movie, drama, or sport shown in FIG. (Hereinafter, this keyword is abbreviated as a ready-made keyword). In addition, the user can set S to
As the keywords stored in the RAM 15, for example, a specific program name, title name, user name, etc. can be considered (hereinafter, this keyword is abbreviated as user keyword). In FIG. 6, "USER" is a user keyword set by the user. These user keywords are set on the screen of FIG. 7, and the eight underlined parts in the upper part indicate that the user keywords have not been set yet.
When the above screen display appears, the user sets and selects the most suitable keyword for the program to be registered using the key input device 14, and presses a key (not shown) that signifies the end of the setting. 11 stores the above-mentioned index information set by the user, the cassette number recognized at the time of insertion, and the tape remaining amount information in the SRAM 15 according to the memory map of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a map diagram of the cassette number, index information and tape remaining amount information stored in the SRAM 15, with the horizontal axis representing the lower address (4 bits).
, The space is represented by the upper address (7 bits) on the vertical axis. Then, as indicated by 151, 152, and 153 in FIG. 5, for each program recorded on the tape, the cassette number is 1 byte, the channel is 1 byte, and the recording date is 3 bytes.
Bytes, 2 bytes at the recording start time, 2 bytes at the recording end time, 2 bytes for the remaining time at the recording start, and 5 bytes for the program keyword, and a total of 16 bytes for one program. In the case of FIG. 5, the total memory capacity is 16K.
It is (16384) bits, and it is possible to store up to 128 programs, but 126 programs are provided in order to secure 32 bytes as a storage area for user keywords.

The tape remaining amount information is for storing where on the tape the information to be recorded is recorded, and is obtained by measuring the rotation cycle of the S reel 4 and the rotation cycle of the T reel 5. For example, the tape remaining time from the recording start position to the end of the tape. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cassette 1 of FIG. 1, and an embodiment of the method for detecting the remaining tape time of the microcomputer 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, Vt is the running speed [m / s] of the magnetic tape 2, r is the S reel 4 and T
The hub diameter [m] of the reel 5, Rs and Rt are radii [m] to the outer circumference of the magnetic tape wound around the S reel 4 and the T reel 5, respectively, and Ss and St are wound around the S reel 4 and the T reel 5, respectively. Area including magnetic tape and reel hub [m ² ], ωs and ωt are S reel 4 respectively
And the rotational angular velocity [rad / s] of the T reel 5.

The angular velocities ωs and ωt can be obtained by measuring the cycle of the rotation speed detection signal detected by the S reel rotation speed detector 6 and the T reel rotation speed detector 7. Therefore, the radii Rs and Rt to the outer circumference of the magnetic tape wound around the S reel 4 and the T reel 5 are obtained by the following equations.

[0020]

[Equation 1]

[0021]

[Equation 2]

Therefore, the total area S of the tape including the reel hub, which corresponds to the length of the magnetic tape wound around this cassette, is given by the following equation.

[0023]

[Equation 3]

By the way, there are several kinds of lengths of the magnetic tape wound around the cassette 1. For example, the above-mentioned VH
The S standard includes 120-minute tape, 90-minute tape, 60-minute tape, and 30-minute tape. Therefore, the total tape area S ₁₂₀ , S ₉₀ , S ₆₀ , S
If you ask for ₃₀ , cassette 1 now inserted in the VTR
Can detect how many minutes are tapes. Based on the result, the area Sso including the reel hub on the S reel side is obtained again. If, for example, the detection result is 120 minutes tape, Sso is expressed by the following equation.

[0025]

[Equation 4]

Then, the remaining tape time L [m] is calculated by dividing the net tape area excluding the reel hub area by the tape thickness τ [m] and dividing this by the tape speed. it can. That is,

[0027]

[Equation 5]

[0028]

[Equation 6]

The tape remaining amount information is obtained by calculating. The above series of operations, that is, the operation of recognizing the cassette tape and performing the search by the VISS search for each program recorded on the cassette tape, and storing the index information and the tape remaining amount information in the SRAM 15 are performed up to the end of the tape. When it reaches, the mode for registering the index information is completed, and the registration of one cassette tape is completed.

Next, a method of searching by keywords when searching and reproducing the programs thus registered will be described. When the user presses a key (not shown) provided on the key input device, which means a keyword search, during reproduction,
The microcomputer 11 controls the OSD circuit 16 to display the screen of FIG. 8 on the monitor 18. Next, the user selects one of the keywords from the keyword group, for example "
If you select "Movie", the microcomputer 11
Program information with a movie added as a keyword is read out from AM15 and the screen of FIG. 9 is displayed. Next, when the user selects a program to be played back from the programs displayed in FIG. 9 and inserts the cassette of the corresponding number, the microcomputer 11 determines the remaining tape amount information stored in the SRAM 15 based on the remaining tape amount information. The tape drive circuit 13 is controlled to search the beginning of the selected program and start reproduction.

Here, the SRAM when registering the tape remaining amount information
With regard to the necessity of storing in the No. 15, if only the index information or the like is stored in the VISS signal recording position by the above-mentioned registration method, if a plurality of programs are recorded on one cassette tape, that is, the VISS signal. If the recording position is not one, it is possible for the user to recognize the program by sequentially storing the index information in the SRAM 15 from the beginning of the tape, but since the beginning of each program is not known, the VISS search is performed from the beginning. It is necessary and no different from the conventional program search method, and the index information is just a label. Therefore, in order to search the program by the index information which can be easily recognized by the user thereafter, the microcomputer 11 is made to recognize each VISS signal recording position recorded on the cassette tape in the form of each remaining amount information of the tape position. , SR
It is essential to store it in AM15.

The above-described method for searching the beginning of the program will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of the software program incorporated in the microcomputer 11 shown in FIG.

First, in processing block 111, the remaining tape amount is detected to detect the current tape position. Next, the tape remaining time detected at the time of recording the program selected in the branch 112 and stored in the SRAM 15 is compared with the current tape remaining time detected in the processing block 111, and the result indicates that the current position is the target. If it is 10 minutes or more before the position, processing block 113
To the fast-forward (FF) state of the VTR, and if the current position is 10 minutes or more behind the target position, the process proceeds to the processing block 114 and the VTR is set to the rewind (REW) state,
Each returns to the processing block 111. If the current position is within 10 minutes from the target position, the process proceeds to processing block 115, the VTR is set to the above-mentioned VISS search state, and when the cue code of the selected program is detected, the VTR is set to the reproduction mode in processing block 116. , A series of search operations is completed. In other words, the recorded position of the program is roughly detected by the tape remaining amount detection function, and then VISS
The search function is used for highly accurate detection. Finally, in processing block 117, the played flag set in the index information on the SRAM corresponding to the searched and played program is set. Then, when the recorded program of FIG. 9 described above is displayed, a playback completed mark is displayed according to the flag (not shown), so that the unplayed program can be identified at a glance when the same cassette is inserted later. In addition, it is possible to easily realize that the recorded program is forgotten to be viewed or accidentally erased.

[0034]

As described above, the present invention is applicable to all VTRs.
By storing index information relating to the recorded contents of the cassette tape recorded by the VTR storage device according to the present invention, not only a plurality of cassette tapes can be managed by one VTR, but also individual recorded programs can be searched. It is possible to realize excellent operability for improving the method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a video tape recorder of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a cassette is inserted into the VTR main body of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a cassette portion of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a recording format diagram of a control signal recording waveform and a cueing signal for explaining the VISS search function of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a map diagram of cassette numbers, index information, and tape remaining amount information stored in the SRAM of the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a monitor screen display when setting an established keyword according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a monitor screen display example when setting a user keyword (when inputting a title) according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a monitor screen display example at the time of program search by a keyword of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a monitor screen display example at the time of searching a program by a keyword of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a software program incorporated in the microcomputer of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cassette 2 magnetic tape 3 rotating drum 4 supply side reel 5 winding side reel 6 supply side reel rotation speed detector 7 winding side reel rotation speed detector 8 control head 9 bar code 10 bar code reader 11 microcomputer 12 control signal Recording / reproducing device 13 Tape drive circuit 14 Key input device 15 SRAM 16 On-screen display circuit 17 Video signal processing circuit 18 Monitor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cassette identification means for identifying an inserted cassette, an information acquisition means for inputting or collecting index information relating to information to be recorded, and a tape position detection for detecting a position on a tape where a cueing signal is recorded. Means and
Information is stored in the information storage means and the information storage means for storing the cassette identification information by the cassette identification means, the index information acquired by the information acquisition means, and the tape position information of the cueing signal detected by the tape position detection means. It is provided with an input / output means for writing or reading and a tape transport means for fast-forwarding or rewinding the cassette, and in the process of fast-forwarding or rewinding the inserted cassette by the tape transport means, the tape position detecting means records a cueing signal. When the tape position information is detected, the tape position information, the cassette identification information, and the index information obtained by the information acquisition unit are stored in the information storage unit by the input / output unit. Video tape recorder.