JPH09161461A - Image recording/reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search images and aural signals instantaneously when recording or reproducing the images and aural signals on a first recording medium by controlling a second recording medium for recording or reproducing a signal up to a specified time from starting parts of the images and the aural signals. SOLUTION: When recording an image onto a tape not yet recorded, a portion equivalent to one minute from the starting part of the image desired to be recorded is recorded an HDD2 and the residual portion is recorded the tape. A copy of a Top file recorded in the HDD2 is made following a program recorded on the tape and information within the HDD2 is preserved in the tape. When recording an image on a tape having a recorded part, the head part of the program of the image to be recorded currently is added to the previous Top file recorded in the HDD2 to be recorded in the HDD2 as new Top file. The copy of the Top file recorded in the HDD2 is made following the program recorded on the tape and the version of the newest Top file and a tape position are written into a recording/reproducing MIC 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Technical Field to which the Invention pertains Prior Art Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems Embodiments of the Invention (FIGS. 1 to 6) Effects of the Invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video recording / reproducing apparatus, for example, a VTR (Video Ta) using a hard disk.
pe Recrder) is suitable for high-speed search.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been common for a VTR to store one program in one cassette. When the number of cassettes becomes large, it becomes difficult to select and reproduce a desired program. For this reason, there is a method of using cassettes, but the mechanism is complicated and the outer shape is large. In addition, it takes time to search and reproduce a desired program.

Using the recent image compression technology and high-density digital recording technology, for example, assuming that the tape is 50 [GB] and the compressed video signal is 5 [Mbps],

[Equation 1] You can get 10 to 20 programs on 1 tape in 22.2 hours. Moreover, by combining with a hard disk, instant access is possible.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned digital recording, it takes time to search a recording position of a desired program when the tape is exchanged or when the tape is reproduced, which is not convenient. There's a problem. Also, the above problem should be solved by recording on a medium such as a disk that has a short search time.
It is currently difficult to obtain a recording medium capable of recording for as long as 20 hours.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object thereof is to propose a video recording / reproducing apparatus capable of instantaneously searching for a desired video.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, recording / reproducing means for recording or reproducing a video and / or audio signal on a first recording medium and a recording / reproducing means in comparison with the first recording medium are provided. A second recording medium which has a short access time and records or reproduces a signal from a start portion of the video and / or audio signal to a predetermined time when recording or reproducing a desired video and / or audio signal on the first recording medium. And recording and reproducing means and control means for controlling the second recording medium.

Recording / reproducing means for recording or reproducing a video and / or audio signal on the first recording medium, and a desired video and / or audio on the first recording medium with a shorter access time than the first recording medium. When a signal is recorded or reproduced, a second recording medium for recording or reproducing a signal up to a predetermined time from the start portion of the image and / or audio signal and a control means control the desired image instantaneously. can do

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the present invention. The signal processing system of the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is composed of a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 2, which is a recording medium, a cassette tape processing unit 3, a control unit 4, a switching unit 5, and the like. Incidentally, this signal processing system represents a state in which a cassette tape as a recording medium is inserted into the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and recording or reproduction is possible. The cassette tape processing unit 3 is composed of a tape recording / reproducing unit 6 and a MIC (Memory in Cassette) recording / reproducing unit 7.

The video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is an A / D for converting an input audio / video signal S1 from analog to digital.
The conversion circuit 8, the data compression unit 9, and the HDD 2 are sequentially connected. The HDD 2 includes a control unit 4 and a tape recording / playback unit 6
And the MIC recording / reproducing unit 7 can exchange data with each other. Further, a part of the compressed data S2 sent from the data compression unit 9 is input to the tape recording / playback unit 6.

Further, the signal from the HDD 2 is connected so as to be output to the switching unit 5. The switching unit 5 includes a compression decoding unit 10 for decompressing data,
The D / A conversion circuits 11 are connected in order. Here, the control unit 4 in the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 can control the HDD 2, the tape recording / reproducing unit 6, the MIC recording / reproducing unit 7, and the switching unit 5, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a file structure on a tape used in the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the present invention. Program 1, Program 2, P on this tape
rogram3 ... (hereinafter referred to as P1, P2, P3 ...) is recorded, and each version P1, P2, P3 ..
p version2, Top version3 ... (Hereafter, T1, T
2, T3 ...) is recorded. This top version consists of a file that is the top version of the previous version plus the TOP of the current program. That is, the top version T1 is a file of the TOP of the program P1, and the top version T2 is a file obtained by adding the TOP of the program P2 to the top version T1. The top versions T3, T4 ... Have the same file structure.

FIG. 3 shows a cassette tape which is a recording medium used in the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and a file (track) recorded in the HDD. First, the cassette tape will be described. Recording media of cassette tapes include tapes and MICs. This tape has M
Files of ain Program, SubCode, Cue, and TOP are recorded. "SubCode" represents a program ID (Program ID), copyright information, aspect ratio, etc., and "Cue" represents a position on the tape. "TOP" represents TopID, Contents, and TopSubCode, "TopID" is incremented each time it is rewritten with the ID of the entire TOP, and "Contents" is the first 1 min of Program.
Every minute a new program is recorded, the first minute is added, and “TopSubCode” is related information, that is, Progra
m ID, start date, start time, end time, position on tape, channel, title, copyright information, aspect ratio, etc. are shown.

The MIC has TopID, TPT (Tape P
osition Of TopFile), C-ID, TOS (Tape Opera)
The file of the Motion System) is recorded. The "TopID" is the ID of the entire TOP, like the TopID recorded on the tape, and is incremented each time it is rewritten. "TPT" represents the position on the tape where the TopFile is stored, and "C-ID" represents the cassette ID, title, and the date and time of the first recording.

Next, the HDD will be described. "TOP" is recorded on the track of the HDD. This "TOP" is the "TO" recorded on the tape.
In addition to TopID, Contents, and TopSubCode of P ”, LogFile
Is recorded. This "Log File" is a file for storing the history of recording, and controls which part is recorded when the tape is full (for example, oldest first).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for inserting a cassette tape into the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and recording a video. The processing is started by step SP1, and the cassette tape is inserted into the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 at step SP2. At step SP3, the control section 4 determines whether or not the cassette tape is unrecorded. According to this determination, if a positive result (that is, virgin tape) is obtained, the process proceeds to step SP9, and if a negative result is obtained, the process proceeds to step SP4. At step SP4, the position of the TOP recorded in the MIC is read, and at step SP5, the TOP of the tape is read out. After that, the processing shifts to step SP6, the TOP found at step SP5 is copied to the HDD, and the tape is set to the recording startable position at step SP7. Recording standby is displayed at step SP8.

Next, in step SP9, the record button is turned on. In step SP10, the control unit 4 sets the HD
D is recorded for only 1 minute, and then the tape is recorded at step SP11. When the stop button is pressed to turn it on in step SP12, the process moves to step SP13, and the control unit 4 causes the HDD TOP to be saved on the tape.
At P14, the tape position is recorded on the MIC. Step S
When the Eject button is pressed at P15 and turned on, the cassette tape is ejected from the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 to the outside at step SP16, and the processing ends at step SP17.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for inserting a recorded cassette tape into the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and reproducing the video. The processing is started by step SP20, and the cassette tape is inserted into the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 at step SP21. At step SP22, the control section 4 reads the position of TOP recorded in the MIC of the cassette tape, and at step SP23.
The head of the tape position corresponding to the TOP read in step 3 is read out. After this, the process moves to step SP24, and step SP2
The TOP found at step 3 is copied to the HDD, and the load completion display is made at step SP25.

Next, in step SP26, the HDD is searched for a program, and in step SP27, the tape is read out. At steps SP28 and SP29, the reproduction of the HDD is started and the reproduction is performed for one minute. When 1 minute has passed, the tape is switched to the tape reproduction at step SP30, and step SP3
The process ends with 1.

In the above configuration, when a desired image is recorded on the recording medium by the image recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the present invention, the user inserts the cassette tape which is the recording medium into the cassette tape insertion opening of the image recording / reproducing apparatus 1 ( (Not shown). At this time, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the cassette tape is unrecorded. If the cassette tape is unrecorded, the record button is turned on, the control unit 4 records only the first minute in the HDD, sets it as TOP, and the tape is pressed for one minute until the stop button is pressed. It is recorded and this is referred to as program P1. When the stop button is pressed, the control unit 4 saves the TOP recorded in the HDD after the program P1 on the tape and records the tape position in the MIC. When the Eject button is pressed, the cassette tape is ejected from the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 to the outside. By the way, at this time, the tape is not ejected outside until the storage of TOP is completed.

If the inserted cassette tape is recorded for some reason, the position of the TOP recorded in the MIC of the cassette tape is read and fast-forwarded or rewound to the tape position where the TOP is recorded. After this,
The TOP thus found is copied to the HDD, the tape is set to the recording start position, and the recording standby is displayed. When the user presses the record button, the control unit 4 records only the first minute in the HDD and sets it as TOP, and records the continuation, that is, after the lapse of 1 minute until the top button is pressed on the tape. , And this is program P1.
When the stop button is pressed, the control unit 4 saves the TOP recorded in the HDD after the program P1 on the tape and records the tape position in the MIC. When the Eject button is pressed, the cassette tape is ejected from the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 to the outside.

Next, when the recorded cassette tape is inserted into the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the video is reproduced, the user inserts the cassette tape into the video recording / reproducing apparatus 1. At this time, the control unit 4 reads the position of the TOP recorded in the MIC of the cassette tape and finds the head of the tape position corresponding to the read TOP. H the head that started
Copy to DD and display the completion of loading. After this, HDD
The program is searched at and the tape is cued. The HDD starts to be played, and is played for 1 minute. After that, the tape reproduction is switched to the normal reproduction.

When the contents of the Top File are changed to edit the Top File used in the present invention, the Top on the HDD is
It is designed to change the Top File on the tape after changing the File. Further, the recording is ended after the storage of the Top File on the tape and the rewriting of the Top File ID of the MIC is completed. The same processing is performed when a command such as power off or an ejector is received.

Further, when the processing of saving the Top File is not performed due to a power failure or the processing of saving the Top File is interrupted, the Top File ID is not rewritten, so that the Top File of the previous version is automatically updated. It becomes effective. When the recording on the tape is full, the recording start point on the tape is determined by referring to the log file. This marks the top of the program to be erased.

According to the above configuration, when recording a video on an unrecorded tape, 1 is recorded from the start portion of the video to be recorded.
Minutes Minutes (Top File) is recorded on the HDD, the rest (program) is recorded on the tape, and the Top recorded on the HDD is recorded.
A copy of File is created after the program recorded on the tape, and the information in the HDD is saved on the tape. In addition, when recording a video on a tape having a recording portion, a new Top File is added as a new Top File by adding the head portion of the program of the video to be recorded this time to the previous Top File recorded in the HDD.
Recorded on D, recorded this video on tape, made a copy of TopFile recorded on HDD after the program recorded on tape, saved the information in HDD on tape, and updated it to MIC. Write the version and tape position of Top File.

By doing so, when inserting the cassette, the tape position of the Top File is read from the data of the MIC and the Top File on the tape is copied to the HDD. From this Top File, the video of the beginning of each recorded program and the tape position can be obtained. In the case of reproducing in program units, even if a plurality of programs are recorded, the HDD access time (mS order) can be searched, so that there is no waiting time and usability is good. Also, since it is digital recording, images are displayed at the time of switching between HDD playback and tape playback.
Instant access is possible without disturbing the voice.

When a plurality of programs are recorded on the VTR, while the tape is cued to reproduce the desired program,
Play from the hard disk, and switch to tape playback after you start playing. Therefore, the search for each program can be instantly performed.
In addition, the functions of the library system by cassette player can be compactly integrated with one roll of tape, and instant access is possible. Also, exchange of library units can be done quickly.

In the above embodiment, the one using the Top File is described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
You may make a menu screen using this Top File. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an icon for selecting a program is displayed on the screen and a program is selected from this icon. At this time, adding a program name to each icon makes it easier to understand. In addition, a mode may be provided in which access to the tape is stopped and the tape moves around in the HDD.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the one for processing the audio / video signal is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing for only the audio signal or only the video signal can be applied.

In the above-described embodiment, the first minute of video is recorded in the HDD when the video is recorded, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be longer or shorter than 1 minute as long as it is longer than the required time.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the one used for high speed retrieval of the VTR using the hard disk is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the hard disk, a semiconductor memory, a flash, a DRAM (Dynamic).
It is also suitable to be applied to a recording medium such as a Random Access Memory) that has a relatively short search time and a recording medium that has a relatively long search time such as an optical disk instead of a tape.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, recording / reproducing means for recording or reproducing a video and / or audio signal on the first recording medium, and an access time shorter than that of the first recording medium, When recording or reproducing a desired video and / or audio signal on the first recording medium, the control means controls the second recording medium for recording or reproducing a signal from a start portion of the video and / or audio signal to a predetermined time. By controlling, it is possible to realize a video recording / reproducing apparatus capable of instantly searching for a desired video.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a recording state on a tape which is a recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram and a chart provided for explaining correspondence between a medium and a file used for a recording medium.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure when an image is recorded on a cassette tape in the image recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for reproducing an image from a cassette tape in the image recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a monitor display example of Top File.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... video recording / reproducing device, 2 ... HDD, 3 ... cassette tape processing unit, 4 ... control unit, 5 ... switching unit, 6
…… Tape recording / playback unit, 7 …… Recording / playback unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing means for recording or reproducing a video and / or audio signal on a first recording medium, and an access time shorter than that of the first recording medium, which is desirable for the first recording medium. A second recording medium for recording or reproducing a signal from a start portion of the video and / or audio signal to a predetermined time when recording or reproducing the video and / or audio signal, the recording / reproducing means and the second recording A video recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a medium. 2. The video recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recording medium has memory means for recording the signal recorded in the second recording medium. 3. The first recording medium, wherein a signal from a start portion of a desired video and / or audio signal up to a predetermined time is recorded after a signal after the predetermined time and there is a previously recorded signal history. The video recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a signal from a start portion of a desired video and / or audio signal to a predetermined time is recorded after the signal after the predetermined time together with the signal history. . 4. The control means, when reproducing a video and / or audio signal from a first recording medium, reads the signal history recorded in the memory section and records the signal history in the second recording medium, The video recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a desired signal is reproduced from the signal history, and the desired signal of the first recording medium is cued during the reproduction.