JPH07200189A - Large-capacity storage device and information signal sending-out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily perform a double-speed reproduction by making a gathering and distribution control means gather necessary reproduced data from a small- scale storage means according to a requested reproduction speed and supply them to a switching selection means. CONSTITUTION:Respective device controllers 211-2130 perform input/output control over respective disk devices 101-1030 at a request made by a memory control part 5. Respective gathering and distribution controllers 221-2230 distribute and gather video signals of respective files to and from the respective disk devices 101-1030. Respective division/composition parts 231-2330 divide and compose the video signals, and interpolate a defective part generated when a video signal sending-out request from a requester exceeds the reproduction capability of a disk device constituting a disk array part 10 and a deficient video signal when a disk device can not reproduce the video signal. A selector 24 selects the outputs of the respective division/composition parts 231-2330 and distributes data, passed through a device interface 2, to the respective division/composition parts 2312330.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mass storage device and an information signal transmission device, and more particularly to a mass storage device for storing information signals such as video signals of a plurality of titles or a plurality of files, and a mass storage device from the mass storage device. The present invention relates to an information signal transmitting device for transmitting the information signal of

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an information signal transmitting apparatus for transmitting an information signal such as a video signal, an audio signal or a character signal has been
In order to improve the storage capacity for recording the information signal and the transfer rate performance, application of a disk array device in which a plurality of disk-shaped recording media such as a magneto-optical disk and a hard disk are connected in parallel is being studied. What is characteristic of recording in this disk array device is that the input information signal is distributed, interleaved, and stored in a plurality of disk devices connected in parallel.

Since this disk array device can improve the recording capacity and transfer rate performance as described above, it has higher reliability than a single disk device,
Suitable as a mass storage medium. This disk array device is a RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive D
iskes), and is divided into five levels from RAID1 to RAID5 as shown in Table 1 below, based on reliability, interleaving, error correction code storage, and operational characteristics.

[0004]

[Table 1]

RAID 1 is intended to improve reliability by recording the information data shown in FIG. 13A on the duplicated disks D1 and D2 as shown in FIG. 13B. This duplicated disc is called a mirrored disc, and is not interleaved and has no error correction code.

The RAID 2 interleaves the information data shown in FIG. 13A in bit units as shown in FIG. 13C to form four disks D1, D2, D3 and D4. Is stored. Also, an error correction code which is a Hamming code is stored in a dedicated disk. The error correction code is stored in a plurality of disks such as the dedicated disks D5 and D6 because the error correction code is a Hamming code.

The RAID3 interleaves the information data shown in FIG. 13A in bit units as shown in FIG. 13D, and makes four disks D1, D2, D3 and D4. Is stored. An error correction code, which is a parity code, is stored in the dedicated disk D5. This RAID3 is RA
Together with ID2, it improves reliability and data transfer rate.

The RAID4 interleaves the data shown in FIG. 13A in sector units as shown in FIG. 13E, and the disks D1, D2 and D3 are interleaved.
And disc D4. An error correction code, which is a parity code, is stored in the dedicated disk D5. The RAID 4 stores data by performing interleaving on a sector-by-sector basis, so that high-speed reading can be performed by random access.

In RAID 5, the data shown in FIG. 13A is interleaved in sector units as shown in FIG. 13F, and the disks D1, D2 and D are interleaved.
3, the disk D4 and the disk D5 are stored in five disks, and the error correction code which is a parity code is distributed and stored in each disk. This RAID5
Also, since data is stored by performing interleaving on a sector-by-sector basis, high-speed reading is possible by random access.

Therefore, the information signal transmitting device using the disk array devices of RAID 2 and 3 is
Since the disk array devices 3 and 3 interleave the information data in bit units, the disk array device is suitable for normal reproduction such that continuous data is read at high speed.

On the other hand, the information signal transmitting device using the disk array devices of RAID 4 and 5 is
Since the disk array device described above interleaves information data in sector units, it is suitable for double-speed reproduction in which discrete data is read at high speed.

[0012]

However, RAID 2 and RAID 3 are not suitable for double speed reproduction because they do not have a random access function for reading continuous data intermittently. Further, in RAID 4 and 5, there are problems that the sector size cannot be determined depending on the double speed number of double speed reproduction, or that access concentrates on a specific disk.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mass storage device and an information signal transmitting device which can easily perform special reproduction represented by double speed reproduction.

[0014]

A mass storage device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of small-scale storage means for storing information signals,
A plurality of collection / delivery control means respectively connected to all of the plurality of small-scale storage means, and a switching selection means connected to the plurality of collection / delivery control means for switching and selecting information signals input / output. The collection and delivery control means solves the above problem by collecting and delivering the reproduction data from the small-scale storage means required according to the required reproduction speed and supplying the reproduction data to the switching selection means.

A dividing / combining means for dividing / combining the information signals of a plurality of files is provided with a buffer memory for inputting / outputting the information signals from / to the small-scale recording means via the collecting / delivery controlling means. It is preferably provided.

Further, it is preferable that the dividing / combining means is provided with an interpolating means for interpolating the insufficient data obtained from the small scale storage means. The interpolation means interpolates insufficient data when reproduction is performed beyond the reproduction capacity of the small-scale storage means, or reproduces data when reproduction data cannot be obtained due to a failure of the small-scale storage means. It is possible to perform interpolation.

It is preferable that the collecting and delivering control means collects the reproduction signals for every n-1 units to produce the n-times speed reproduction signal when the n-times speed reproduction is requested.

The information signal may be a video signal, an audio signal, a character information signal or a combination thereof.

It is preferable that the plurality of small-scale storage means constitute a disk array section for recording / reproducing in parallel with respect to a plurality of disk devices.

Next, the information signal transmitting apparatus according to the present invention is
A plurality of small-scale storage means for storing information signals, a plurality of pickup / delivery control means connected to all of the plurality of small-scale storage means, and an information signal input / output connected to the plurality of pickup / delivery control means And a switching selection means for switching and selecting, and the collection and delivery control means collects and delivers the reproduction data from the small-scale storage means required according to the requested reproduction speed and supplies it to the switching and selection means. A storage device, an input / output unit having an input / output buffer memory for inputting / outputting an information signal of the mass storage device, and a process of writing an information signal from the mass storage device to the input / output unit from a requester The above problem is solved by having a control means for controlling according to a request.

[0021]

In the mass storage device according to the present invention, the information signals stored in the small-scale storage means are collected and delivered by the collection / delivery control means in accordance with the required reproduction speed, so that the reproduction speed can be easily changed.

The information signal transmitting apparatus according to the present invention is
Since the control means controls the writing process of the information signal supplied from the mass storage device to the input / output means, the special reproduction represented by the double speed reproduction can be easily performed. .

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments to which the mass storage device and information signal transmitting device according to the present invention can be applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is a video signal transmitting apparatus for transmitting video signals of a plurality of files in response to independent individual video information providing requests. As shown in FIG. 1, the video signal transmitting apparatus of this embodiment has a large-capacity storage unit 1 for storing information signals of a plurality of files, and a video signal of each file read from the large-capacity storage unit 1 and formatted. Device interface 2 that performs conversion and timing adjustment,
An input / output buffer memory for data rate conversion that adjusts the input / output transfer rate in order to supply the video signal of each file supplied from the mass storage unit 1 via the device interface 2 to the requester. A user memory unit 3 which is an output means and a device interface 2
Cue memory section 4 for storing a file top part information signal which is information of the beginning part of the file through the file, video signals of each file output from the user memory section 3, and a file output from the cue memory section 4. A selection unit 7 for selectively switching the head portion information signal and supplying it to the requester, a mass storage device unit 1, a device interface 2, a user memory unit 3 as an input / output unit 3, and a cue memory unit 4 data input. A memory controller 5 that controls output and selects data in the selector 7, and a device controller 6 that receives request information from each requester and instructs the memory controller 5 to create / update an input / output schedule table described later. And are equipped with.

As shown in FIG. 2, the large-capacity storage unit 1 is a disk unit 1 which is a small-scale storage unit for 30 units.
The disk array unit 10 is composed of 0 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 _3, ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ , and a disk array control unit 20 for controlling the disk array unit 10. The disk array unit 10 stores the video data distributed under the control of the disk array control unit 20, interleaved, and input. The disk array unit 10 can perform recording / reproduction in parallel with respect to a plurality of disk devices to improve the storage capacity and transfer rate, and can obtain higher reliability than a single disk device.

When there are a plurality of units (hereinafter referred to as files) of input video signals or collective video signals called titles, the disk array unit 10 transfers the file video to the disk devices 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 _3.・ ・
It is divided into 10 ₂₉ and 10 ₃₀ and stored. Then, the disk array control unit 20 reads out a part of the plurality of file videos from the disk array unit 10 every unit time in response to a command from the memory control unit 5, so that each file video is sent to the requester. .

The disk array control unit 20 is connected to the disk controllers 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 _{30 so as} to correspond to the device controllers 21 ₁ , 2 respectively.
1 ₂ , 21 ₃ ... 21 ₂₉ , 21 ₃₀ and each disk device 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... Via each device controller 21 ₁ , 21 ₂ , 21 ₃ ... 21 ₂₉ , 21 ₃₀・ 10 ₂₉ ,
10 ₃₀ Pickup / delivery controllers 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , 22 ₃ ... 22 ₂₉ , 22 ₃₀ for picking up and delivering video signals with each other, and division / combining units 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ connected so as to correspond to each pickup / delivery controller. , 23 ₃ ... 23 ₂₉ , 23 ₃₀ and each division / combination unit 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ ... 23 ₂₉ , 23 _30.
And a selector 24 provided between the device interface 2 and the device interface 2 for switching and selecting a video signal.

Each device controller 21 ₁ , 21 ₂ , 2
1 ₃ ... 21 ₂₉ , 21 ₃₀ each of the disk devices 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... 10 according to the request of the memory control unit 5.
₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ input / output control is performed.

Each collection / delivery controller 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , 22 ₃
... 22 ₂₉ , 22 ₃₀ distributes or collects the video signal of each file to each disk device 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ . Pickup / delivery controller 22 ₁ , 2
Each of 2 ₂ , 22 ₃ ... 22 ₂₉ , 22 ₃₀ is connected to all the disk devices 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ by a data line, and is connected from the memory control unit 5. One required data line is selected from each data line based on the data selection signal of (1) and the video signal is collected and delivered. Further, the video signal input via the device interface 2 is divided and sent to each of the disk devices 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ .

Each division / synthesis unit 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ ...
Numerals 23 ₂₉ and 23 ₃₀ indicate a defective portion or some cause that occurs when the video signal is divided / combined or the video signal transmission request from the requester exceeds the reproduction capability of the disk device constituting the disk array unit 10. Then, the insufficient video signal when the disk device constituting the disk array unit 10 cannot reproduce the video signal is interpolated. Splitting / combining video signals
All disk devices 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ...
The video signals of 10 ₂₉ and 10 ₃₀ may be used in some cases, and in some cases, the data of one disk device may be used in other cases. This depends on the speed of playback.
For example, in the case of normal reproduction, frame data is collected from all 30 disk devices and continuous data for normal reproduction is combined. Also, for example, in the case of double speed reproduction, 30
Every other 15 units are selected from the units and the continuous data of the double speed reproduction is synthesized. The amount of data read from the 15 disk devices is twice that of normal reproduction. This doubling does not mean doubling the reading speed, but the reading frequency when reading a certain amount of data corresponding to the request of many requesters per unit time is set to a double speed reproduction requester. This means double the number of normal playback requesters. For example, in the case of 30 × speed reproduction, a video signal is read from one disk device 30 times more frequently than in normal reproduction. In this way, this division / synthesis unit 23
₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ ... 23 ₂₉ , 23 ₃₀ are arranged according to the speed of reproduction requested by the requester.
The frequency of video signal readout is increased by flexible data selection at ₁ , 22, ₂ , 22 ₃ ... 22 ₂₉ , 22 ₃₀ and their synthesis.

The dividing / combining units 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ ...
Any dividing and synthesizing portion of the ... 23 _29, 23 _30, for example, dividing and synthesizing portion 23 _1, as shown in FIG. 3, a buffer memory 31 and 32, the address generator 33 and 34, the interpolation section 35 It is configured.

The two buffer memories 31 and 32 form a double buffer memory. The two address generators 33 and 34 respectively generate an input / output address on the data collection / delivery controller 22 ₁ side and an input / output address on the selector 24 side. The interpolator 35 interpolates the insufficient data in the preceding and following frames. That is, an address is supplied from the interpolating unit 35 to the buffer memories 31 and 32 as indicated by a broken line, the preceding and following frame data are read out, interpolation data is created, and the interpolation data is stored in the buffer memory 3.
1 and 32. A timing signal, an address generation control signal, a buffer memory control signal, and an interpolation control signal are supplied from the memory control unit 5 to the interpolation unit 35.

In the interpolation by the interpolating unit 35, the video signal transmission request from the requester is transmitted to the disk array unit 1 as described above.
The defective portion that occurs when the reproduction capacity of the disk device constituting 0 is exceeded is interpolated. For example, when high-speed reproduction is performed, access concentrates on a certain disk device. For example,
In the case of 30 × speed reproduction, a video signal of 30 times the frequency of normal reproduction, that is, 30 frames / second is read from one disk device. Therefore, since there is a reproduction request from another requester, the reading of the disk device exceeds the maximum transfer rate, which is the performance limit, and the video signal cannot be supplied to the requester. It is the interpolating unit 35 that prevents such a situation from occurring. The interpolation in the interpolation unit 35 is performed by interpolating the insufficient frame from the temporally preceding and following frames as described above. In this embodiment, the interpolation is performed in frame units, but it may be performed in field units. This interpolation is effective for a video signal having a strong data correlation between frames or fields. If the video signal is a compressed video and cannot be interpolated as it is, the interpolation unit 35 may temporarily expand the compressed data and interpolate it, and then compress and send the generated video.

This interpolation is not only for compensating for insufficient data due to access concentration, but when a disk device fails, the data of that disk device is interpolated with the data of another disk device to be generated. It can be used as a so-called error data correction function or correction function.

The selector 24 includes the dividing / combining units 23 ₁ and 2 2.
3 ₂ , 23 ₃ ... 23 ₂₉ , 23 ₃₀ output can be selected,
On the contrary, each division / synthesis unit 23 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ ... 2
The data via the device interface 2 is distributed to 3 ₂₉ and 23 ₃₀ .

The user memory unit 3 is for data rate conversion for adjusting the input / output transfer rate in order to supply the video signal supplied from the mass storage device 1 via the device interface 2 to the requester as described above. I / O buffer memory. The video signal supplied from the mass storage device 1 via the device interface 2 has a high transfer rate because a plurality of files are accessed in a unit time. On the other hand, since the transfer speed of the video signal output to the requester is slow, this user memory unit 3 is required as an input / output buffer in order to adjust this transfer speed.

The user memory unit 3 has a number of user memories 3 ₁ , 3 _2, ... 3 _n corresponding to the number of requesters. For example, one user memory 3 ₁ is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the user memory 3
₁ is a memory 10 and a memory 11 having a double buffer structure so that the other can output the data while the data is written in the one, and the memory 10 and the memory 11.
And a user memory address control unit 12 for generating write and read addresses. Then, the user memory address control unit 12 according to the instruction of the memory control unit 5 adjusts the transfer speed of the video signal supplied from the mass storage device unit 1 via the device interface 2 or the memory 10. Input / output to / from the memory 11. The video signal output from the memory 10 or the memory 11 is supplied to the selection unit 7.

The selection unit 7 is provided with the requesters H ₁ , H _2, ... H.
_{It has} selectors 7 ₁ , 7 ₂ ... 7 _n according to the number of _n ,
The requesters H ₁ , H _2, ... H _n according to the control of the memory control unit 5
The video signal of each file from the user memory unit 3 or the file head portion information signal of each file from the cue memory unit 4 is output. Of course, the file head portion information signal is output for a predetermined time, for example, several tens of seconds, and then the video signal following the file head portion information signal is output from the user memory unit 3.

The cue memory section 4 stores the file head portion information signal which is the head portion of the video signal through the device interface 2 as described above. The cue memory unit 4 is configured as shown in FIG.
That is, the cue memory unit 4 reads the file head part information signal via the device interface 2 and reads the cue memory 14, and writes / reads the file head part information signal to the cue memory 14.
It is composed of a cue memory address control unit 13 which controls reading and generates an address.

The cue memory address control unit 13 samples the video signal read address supplied from the user memory unit 3 at a frequency n times as high as the timing signal.
The double sampling unit 15, the write address generation unit 16 that generates the write address of the file head portion information signal at the instruction timing from the memory control unit 5, and the read address of the file head portion information signal that is supplied from the n times sampling unit 15. Or the write address supplied from the write address generation unit 16 is selected based on an instruction from the memory control unit 5, and the cue memory 1 is selected.
4 and an address selector 17 which supplies the data to the address selector 4.

[0041] From the user read address of the video signal supplied from the memory 3 _1, file beginning address address arithmetic unit 41 ₁ is supplied from the memory controller 5 1
Is added by the adder 42 ₁ . The output signal of the adder 42 ₁ is the address data sequential reading unit 4
3 are sequentially read so as to be sampled at a clock n times as high as the timing signal supplied from the memory controller 5, and are supplied to the address selector 17 as a read address of the file head portion information signal. The read address of the video signal supplied from the user memory 3 ₂ is also the signal supplied from the address calculation unit 41 ₂ and the adder 4
2 ₂ is added and supplied to the address data sequential reading unit 43, which is sequentially read so as to be sampled at a clock that is n times the timing signal supplied from the memory control unit 5, and the address selector 17 receives the file head portion information. It is supplied as a signal read address. The read address of the video signal supplied from the user memory 3 _n is also
It is processed in the same way.

Thus, the read address from the user memory 3 ₁ as shown in FIG. 5A, the read address from the user memory 3 ₂ as shown in FIG. 5B, and the read address shown in FIG. User memory 3 _n as shown in (C) of
The read address from is supplied to the cue memory address control unit 13. Then, when there is a requester who needs to send the file head part information signal from the cue memory 14, the corresponding read address is added to the value obtained by subtracting 1 from the memory address of the file, and n
N times sampling is performed with a double clock, and the read address of the file head portion information signal as shown in FIG.
4 is supplied.

This cue memory address control unit 13
The read address from each user memory 3 ₁ , 3 _2, ..., 3 _{n is} sampled n times by the n times sampling section 15, but the address from the user memory that is not requested by the instruction from the memory control section 5 is invalid. Address.

Further, this cue memory address control unit 1
Under the control of the memory control unit 5, the address selector 7 of No. 3 selects the write address from the write address generation unit 16 and supplies it to the cue memory 14, and the file head portion information signal from the device interface 2
That is, the head portion of the video signal is written. The writing of the file head part information signal is performed in advance for all files.

The device control unit 6 accepts the requests from the requesters as described above, instructs the memory control unit 5 to create / update the input / output schedule table as shown in Table 2, and makes a new request or reproduction. The control corresponding to the change request (jump request), the reproduction speed change request, and the stop request is performed. The memory control unit 5 inputs / outputs data to / from the mass storage device unit 1, the device interface 2, the user memory unit 3, and the cue memory unit 4 based on the input / output schedule table created and updated by itself and the reproduction speed change request instruction. And the data selection of the selector 7.

[0046]

[Table 2]

Next, a series of operations of the video signal transmitting apparatus of the present embodiment, that is, control from the requester's file request to video transmission and the flow of the video signal will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the device control section 6, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are flow charts showing the operation of the memory control section 5.

First, the device control section 6 creates a request list in which the requester and its files are described in step S1 of FIG.
Read with. Then, the device control section 6 executes the step S2.
Then, communication of the new request read in step S1 is started.

Next, in step S3, the device control section 6 determines whether or not the preparation for reception of the memory control section 5 is completed. If it is determined that the memory controller 5 is ready for acceptance, the device controller 6 proceeds to step S4.
If it is determined that the reception preparation is not completed, the determination in step S3 is repeated until it is determined that the reception preparation is completed.

Next, the device control section 6 which has proceeded to step S4.
Determines whether there is a new request, that is, a change request, in the request list read in step S1. If it is determined that there is a new request, the device control section 6 proceeds to step S5, and if it is determined that there is no new request, the processing proceeds to step S13.

Next, the device control section 6 which has proceeded to step S5.
Determines whether the request determined to be a new request in step S4 is a reproduction speed change request. If it is determined that the request is a reproduction speed change request, the process proceeds to step S6. If it is determined that the request is not a new request, the process proceeds to step S7.

The device controller 6 having proceeded to step S6 notifies the memory controller 5 of the requester and the reproduction speed.

The device control unit 6 having proceeded to step S7 determines whether the request determined to be a new request in step S4 is a new request, a jump request, or an abort request. If the device control unit 6 determines that the request is a new request, the process proceeds to step S8. If the device control unit 6 determines that the request is a jump request, the process proceeds to step S9, and if the request is an abort request, the process proceeds to step S10.

Next, the device control section 6 which has proceeded to step S8.
Informs the memory controller 5 of the contents of the new request, that is, the requester and the file. Further, the device control unit 6 having proceeded to step S9 notifies the memory control unit 5 of the jump request, that is, the requester and the change sending position. Further, the device control unit 6 having proceeded to step S10 informs the memory control unit 5 of the content of the cancellation request, that is, the deletion of the requester.

Next, the device control section 6 determines in step S11 and step S12 whether or not there is another request. That is, the device control unit 6 determines whether or not the number n obtained by subtracting 1 from the number N of the request list read in step S1 is greater than 0, and whether or not there is another request. is doing. If it is determined that n is greater than 0, it means that there is another request, and step S5
Repeat the process from. On the other hand, if it is determined that n is not greater than 0, it means that there is no other request, and the process proceeds to step S13.

Next, in step S13, the device controller 6
In response to the determination result of the above step S4 or S12, notifies the end of the change processing to the memory control unit 5, and determines whether or not the completion confirmation is performed by the memory control unit 5 in step S14. Here, if there is a completion confirmation from the memory control unit 5, the processing from step S1 is newly repeated.
The completion confirmation determination in step S14 is repeated until the completion confirmation is obtained, and the processing from the new step S1 is stopped during this period.

For example, when the device control unit 6 notifies the memory control unit 5 of the request by the above-described processing, the memory control unit 5 performs the processing shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 below.

First, the memory controller 5 waits for communication from the device controller 6 in step S21 of FIG. This is Figure 6
This is the process corresponding to step S2. Next, the memory control unit 5 notifies the device control unit 6 of the completion of preparation for accepting the change in step S22. This corresponds to step S3 in FIG. Then, the memory control unit 6 returns the user pointer of the input / output schedule table shown in Table 2 to the head in step S23.

Next, the memory control unit 5 determines whether or not there is a change request from the device control unit 6 in step S24. If it is determined that there is a change request, the memory control unit 5 proceeds to step S25, and if it is determined that there is no change request, the memory control unit 5 proceeds to step S29.

Next, in step S25, the memory control unit 5 determines whether the change request is a new request, a jump request, a delete request, or a reproduction speed change request. If it is determined that the request is a new request, the memory control unit 5 proceeds to step S26,
For example, a new request for file T _A of requester H ₈ is shown in Table 2.
Add it to the last part of the I / O schedule table as shown in. If it is determined here that the request is a jump request / reproduction speed change request, the process proceeds to step S27 and the table is changed. This table change is performed by changing the address to change the order to the fastest read position or when there is no requester number in the remaining part in one cycle. Furthermore, this is done by adding the reading of the next block to the end of the table. If it is determined that the request is a deletion request, the process advances to step S28 to delete the request corresponding to the deletion request from the input / output schedule table.

When the processing of the above step S26, step S27 or step S28 is completed, the memory control unit 5 advances to step S29 to notify the device control unit 6 of the completion of the table preparation. If there is no requester in the table created here, the memory control unit 5 returns to step S21 via step S30.

Next, the memory controller 5 proceeds to step S31.
Table 2 created by the processing up to step S30 above
The mass storage unit 1 is instructed to read the block of the requested file based on the input / output schedule table shown in FIG. In addition, in step S31, the memory control unit 5 instructs the user memory unit 3 to load the block output from the mass storage device unit 1 via the device interface 2.

The user memory address controller 12 writes a block of a file in the memory 10 according to the content of the request. When the memory 10 is full, writing is switched to the memory 11. Then, the writing is switched alternately until all the blocks of the file image are exhausted.

Next, the memory controller 5 proceeds to step S31.
In step S32 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether the instruction issued in step S32 is a new request for the file of the new requester. If it is a new request, the process proceeds to step S33 and Notify new file. Then, the memory control unit 5 switches the selector in the selection unit 7 for the new requester to the cue memory unit 4 side.

Next, in step S34, the memory control unit 5 increases the read address of the block of the mass storage device unit 1 by the block. After the processing for the new requester, the presence / absence of a block remaining is confirmed in step S35. If there is a block remaining, the process proceeds to step S36 to increment the user pointer by one. On the other hand, when there is no block remaining, the process proceeds to step S37 and the change request is deleted from the table.

When the process of step S36 or step S37 is completed, the process returns to step S24 of FIG.

As described above, the video signal transmitting apparatus of this embodiment is controlled by the apparatus control unit 6 and the memory control unit 5 to request a new request, a jump request, a reproduction speed change request, and a stop request from the requester. The operation according to is performed.

The video signal recording operation of this embodiment will be described below.
The reproduction operation for the reproduction speed change request will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the recording operation will be described. The mass storage device unit 1 receives the video signal supplied from the device interface 2 via the selector 24 from the address generator 3.
According to the write address generated in 4, the data is written in the buffer memory 31. When a certain amount of data such as 30 frames is stored in the buffer memory 31, the video signal supplied from the device interface 2 is similarly written in the buffer memory 32. During this time,
The video signal is read from the buffer memory 31 according to the read address generated by the address generator 33. The write / read operations of the two buffer memories 31 and 32 are alternately repeated. In the case of recording such data, the address generator 33 generates a read address and the address generator 34 generates a write address. Note that writing is performed in a frame or field order, and reading is performed in a corresponding pixel order of 30 frames. Then, 30 pixels from 30 frames are collected and delivered by the collection / delivery controllers 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , 22 ₃ ... 2
2 ₂₉ , 22 ₃₀ are taken in by ₃₀ and distributed to ₃₀ disk devices 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ , and the recording operation is completed.

Next, the reproducing operation will be described. The following describes a case where there is a request for normal reproduction, 2 × speed reproduction, 3 × speed reproduction and 30 × reproduction.

First, when the reproduction speed requested by the requester to the device control unit 6 is normal, 30 disk devices 1
Video signals from 0 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 _3, ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ are collected and delivered by 30 pixels in units of 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ , 22.
₃ ... 22 ₂₉ , 22 ₃₀ are taken in and the division / synthesis unit 2
3 ₁ , 23 ₂ , 23 ₃ ... 23 ₂₉ , 23 ₃₀ are written in the buffer memories. For example, in the case of the division / synthesis unit 23 ₁ , the data is written in the buffer memory 31. Writing
According to the address of the address generator 33, the image is reconstructed into 30 frames. If you can make 30 frames of video,
Writing is performed in the buffer memory 32, and data is read from the buffer memory 31. The write / read operations of the two buffer memories 31 and 32 are
Repeated alternately. In the case of such data reproduction, the address generator 33 generates a write address and the address generator 34 generates a read address. Here, when the data is reconstructed in the buffer memories 31 and 32, if some data causes insufficient data, the interpolating unit 35 reads the frames before and after the insufficient data from the buffer memories 31 and 32 to extract the insufficient data. Interpolation is performed to generate interpolation data, and the interpolation data is returned to the buffer memories 31 and 32. The memory control unit 5 supplies a timing signal, an address generation control signal, a buffer memory control signal, and an interpolation control signal to the interpolation unit 35, and performs interpolation control of interpolation control on the division / synthesis unit 23 ₁ . As described above, in the case of normal reproduction, as shown in FIG. 9, 30 disk devices 10 ₁ , 1
From 0 ₂ , 10 ₃ ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ to buffer memory 3
1 and 32 are frame data (F1, F2, F in the figure)
3, F4, F5 ... F27, F28, F29 and F3
(Denoted as 0) are read out in the same amount to generate continuous data of 30 frames / sec. In FIG. 9, “1” shown between each disk device and the buffer memory indicates a normalized transfer rate with 1 in the normal case.

Next, a case where the reproduction speed requested by the requester to the device control section 6 is double speed will be described with reference to FIG. When this request for double-speed reproduction is supplied to the device control unit 6, the disk array unit 10 causes every other disk device, for example, the disk devices 10 ₁ , 10 ₃ , 1.
From the total of 15 units of 0 ₅ ... 10 ₂₇ , 10 ₂₉ , double the frame data at the time of normal reproduction is read and 30 frames / second continuous data is generated.

Next, when the device controller 6 is requested to perform the 3 × speed reproduction, the disk array unit 10 causes every two disk devices, for example, one disk device to be read, as shown in FIG.
0 ₁ reads three times the frame data when the normal reproduction from 10 _4, 10 ₇ total ten ... 10 _28, to produce a continuous data 30 frames / sec.

Next, when the device control section 6 is requested to perform 30 × speed reproduction, the disk array section 10 causes the disk array section 10, for example, every 29 disk apparatus, as shown in FIG.
Only one unit of 0 ₁ is read, and 30 times as many frame data as in normal reproduction are read out to generate continuous data of 30 frames / sec.

Generally, at the time of n-times speed reproduction, every n-1 disk units are used. The n-1th disk device is a device in which the nth disk device is sequentially selected from the arbitrary disk devices.

In practice, as described above, the disk device 1
Access to 0 ₁ , 10 ₂ , 10 _3, ... 10 ₂₉ , 10 ₃₀ may be concentrated. The specific operation of this embodiment when access is concentrated will be described below.

For example, the number of users for the video signal transmitting apparatus of this embodiment is 30, and the transfer rate of 1 file video is 3.
0 Mbps, the maximum transfer rate of one disk device is 40
Assume Mbps.

Here, when one user requests 30x speed and the remaining 29 request normal reproduction, the data transfer rate required in this embodiment is 29 people × 1 Mbps + 1.
The number of persons (30 times speed request) × 30 Mbps = 59 Mbps, and data for 19 persons or 19 Mbps is insufficient. For this reason, the division / composition unit of this embodiment is 19 Mbp.
The missing data of s is generated by interpolation.

Two users requesting 15x speed and the remaining 2
When 8 persons request normal reproduction, the data transfer rate required by this embodiment is 28 persons × 1 Mbps + 1 person (15 times speed request) × 15 Mbps = 43 Mbps, and data for 3 persons or 3 Mbps is insufficient. . Therefore, the division / synthesis unit of the present embodiment generates the insufficient data of 3 Mbps by interpolation.

Also, there are 12 users who request triple speed, and the remaining 1
When 8 persons request normal reproduction, the data transfer rate required by this embodiment is 18 persons × 1 Mbps + 4 persons (three times speed request) × 3 Mbps = 30 Mbps, which is 4
Since it is 0 Mbps or less, interpolation is unnecessary.

If the number of users requesting 30 times speed is 30, the data transfer rate required by this embodiment is 1 person (3
0x speed request) × 30 Mbps = 30 Mbps and 4
Since it is 0 Mbps, interpolation is unnecessary.

As described above, in the video signal transmitting apparatus of the present embodiment, even when the requester requests the apparatus control section to change the reproduction speed, for example, n times speed reproduction, the video signal of 30 frames / second is transmitted at n frame intervals. It can be played as continuous video.

The information signal transmitting apparatus according to the present invention is
The present invention is not limited to the video signal transmitting device of the above-described embodiment, and can be applied to a video signal transmitting device having 30 or more disk devices, for example. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a video signal sending device that sends a video signal, but also to an audio signal sending device that sends audio data and a character information sending device that sends character information data. Further, when the reproducible double speed exceeds 30 times, for example, it becomes 15 frames / second at 60 times speed and 10 frames / second at 90 times speed.

[0085]

In the mass storage device according to the present invention, the switching and selecting means is connected to the plurality of pickup and delivery control means which are respectively connected to all of the plurality of small scale storage means for storing information signals, and the pickup and delivery control means is provided. According to this, since the reproduction data from the small-scale storage means required according to the requested reproduction speed is collected and supplied to the switching selection means, a plurality of special reproduction requests can be met and the reproduction speed can be simplified. Can be changed to

The information signal transmitting apparatus according to the present invention is
A switching selection means is connected to a plurality of pickup / delivery control means respectively connected to all of a plurality of small-scale storage means for storing information signals, and the pickup / delivery control means is required to have a small scale required in accordance with a required reproduction speed. A mass storage device for collecting and delivering reproduction data from the storage device and supplying it to the switching selection device, an input / output device having an input / output buffer memory for inputting and outputting an information signal of the mass storage device, and the mass storage device Since it has a control means for controlling the writing process of the information signal from the device to the input / output means in response to the request from the requester, the reproduction speed can be easily changed, and is representative of double speed reproduction. The special playback that is performed can be easily performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a preferred embodiment of an information signal transmitting apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a mass storage device section 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a division / synthesis unit of the mass storage device unit 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a user memory unit and a cue memory unit of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the cue memory unit shown in the figure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of a device control unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a memory control unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of a memory control unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment during normal reproduction.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment during double speed reproduction.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment during 3 × speed reproduction.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment during 30 × speed reproduction.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of reading data from the disk array unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Large-capacity storage unit 2-Device interface 3-User memory unit 4-Finding memory unit 5-Memory control unit 6 ...・ ・ ・ Device control section 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Selection section 10 ・ ・ ・ Disk array section 20 ・ ・ ・ Disk array control section

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of small scale storage means for storing information signals, a plurality of pickup / delivery control means respectively connected to all of the plurality of small scale storage means, and an input / output connected to the plurality of pickup / delivery control means. And a switching selection means for switching and selecting the output information signal, wherein the collection and delivery control means collects and delivers the reproduction data from the small-scale storage means required in accordance with the requested reproduction speed. A mass storage device characterized by being supplied to. 2. A dividing / combining means for dividing / combining information signals of a plurality of files is provided with a buffer memory for inputting / outputting information signals from / to the small-scale recording means via the collecting / delivery controlling means. The mass storage device according to claim 1, wherein the mass storage device comprises: 3. The large-capacity storage device according to claim 2, wherein the dividing / combining means has an interpolation means for interpolating the insufficient data obtained from the small-scale storage means. 4. The interpolating means of the dividing / synthesizing means interpolates insufficient data when reproduction is performed beyond the reproduction capacity of the small-scale storage means. Capacitive storage. 5. The large-capacity storage device according to claim 3, wherein the interpolation means of the division / synthesis means performs data interpolation when reproduction data cannot be obtained due to a failure of the small-scale storage means. . 6. The large-capacity storage device according to claim 1, wherein said collection and delivery control means collects reproduction signals for every n-1 units to produce an n-times speed reproduction signal when n-times speed reproduction is requested. Storage device. 7. The mass storage device according to claim 1, wherein the information signal is a video signal. 8. The mass storage device according to claim 1, wherein the information signal is an audio signal. 9. The mass storage device according to claim 1, wherein the information signal is a character information signal. 10. The large-capacity storage device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of small-scale storage means constitute a disk array unit that performs recording and reproduction in parallel with respect to a plurality of disk devices. 11. A plurality of small scale storage means for storing information signals, a plurality of pickup / delivery control means respectively connected to all of the plurality of small scale storage means, and an input / output connected to the plurality of pickup / delivery control means. And a switching selection means for switching and selecting the output information signal, wherein the collection and delivery control means collects and delivers the reproduction data from the small-scale storage means required according to the required reproduction speed, and the switching and selection means. A mass storage device to be supplied to the mass storage device, an input / output means having an input / output buffer memory for inputting / outputting an information signal of the mass storage device, and a writing process of an information signal from the mass storage device to the input / output means And a control means for controlling the above according to a request from a requester.