JPH09247597A - Magnetic recording method and magnetic recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily retrieve the contents of plural video files such as television programs recorded on a magnetic tape in a short time. SOLUTION: This magnetic recording and reproducing device is provided with a video memory 7 and an audio memory 8 and records the contents of the first fixed time after starting the recording of the video file received by a tuner 1. Further, a recording control circuit 9 for recording the contents of the memories 7 and 8 in the first part of the magnetic tape secured beforehand after the recording of the video file is ended is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic recording method for recording a plurality of video files on one magnetic tape, and selecting and reproducing a predetermined video file from the magnetic tape on which the plurality of video files are recorded. Magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit portion related to recording in a conventional magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. In the figure, 1 is a tuner, 2 is a video signal processing circuit, 3 is a video signal recording circuit, 4 is an audio signal processing circuit, 5 is an audio signal recording circuit, and 6 is a magnetic tape for recording video signals and audio signals. A tape head control circuit that controls the motor drive system and servo system.

In such a conventional magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus,
In order to record a television program and create a video file, the video signal and the audio signal from the tuner 1 are processed by the respective signal processing circuits 2 and 4, and the tape signals are processed through the respective signal recording circuits 3 and 5. The head control circuit 6 operates the video head to record a video at a predetermined position on the magnetic tape.

[0004]

When a plurality of television programs are recorded on one magnetic tape by the above magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, each video file is recorded as a sequential file. In such cases, the magnetic tape must be played back (or fast-forwarded) from the beginning to the end in order to check the contents of the program recorded on the magnetic tape or to locate the specific program later. .

Further, the joint between the programs recorded on the magnetic tape is difficult to understand, and it is very troublesome to run the tape to confirm how many programs having what contents have been recorded. There was a problem that it took time.

Further, if a plurality of video files photographed by a video camera are recorded on one magnetic tape, the same problem arises when any one of them is to be reproduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. A first object of the present invention is to provide a predetermined video file when a plurality of video files are recorded on the same magnetic tape. A magnetic recording method for recording a search image for a search is provided.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for recording a search image on such a magnetic tape and selecting and reproducing a predetermined video file.

[0009]

A magnetic recording method according to the present invention is a magnetic recording method for recording a plurality of video files on a single magnetic tape, and records a search image indicating the recording contents of the video files. A certain area for this is secured in advance at a predetermined position on the magnetic tape, and when recording a video file, a part of it is stored as a search image in a memory means other than the magnetic tape, and after recording the video file, the search image is stored in a certain area. It is characterized in that the search image is reproduced from a predetermined position on the magnetic tape by recording it so that it can be used for selecting a video file.

Further, the magnetic recording method according to the present invention stores the video signal at the beginning of the video file for a certain period of time as a search image of the video file.

Further, the magnetic recording method according to the present invention stores one or a plurality of still images extracted from a video file as a search image of the video file.

Further, in the magnetic recording method according to the present invention, the search image includes the audio signal of the video file.

In the magnetic recording method according to the present invention, after the video signal of a part of the video file is data-compressed,
It is stored as a search image in another memory means.

Further, the magnetic recording method according to the present invention records one or several still search images which simultaneously display a plurality of still images.

Further, in the magnetic recording method according to the present invention, a fixed area for recording the search image is secured at the head portion of the magnetic tape.

Further, in the magnetic recording method according to the present invention, the fixed area for recording the search image is secured in the final portion of the magnetic tape.

Further, in the magnetic recording method according to the present invention, the search image includes index information regarding recording of the video file.

In the magnetic recording method according to the present invention, the index information includes at least a video file number,
Either the recording start date and time or the recording time is included.

Further, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for selecting and reproducing a predetermined video file from a magnetic tape on which a plurality of video files are recorded. Memory means for extracting a part of the data and storing it as a search image, and recording control means for recording the contents stored in the memory means at a predetermined position on the magnetic tape.

Further, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a switching circuit for extracting a plurality of still images from the video file at predetermined time intervals and supplying the still images to the memory means, and a timer for setting the time intervals in the switching circuit. Be prepared.

Further, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a video compression circuit for compressing the recording contents extracted as the retrieval image and recording them in the memory means.

Further, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a digital video processing circuit for digitally processing a plurality of still images and recording it on a magnetic tape as one search image.

Further, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a timer circuit for determining the length of the stored contents of the memory means and the recording position of the magnetic tape.

Further, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an index circuit for creating information on recording for each video file as an index image and recording it on a magnetic tape.

Further, in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, when the index image and the head portion of each video file recorded on the magnetic tape are recorded with the corresponding discrimination signals and the index image is selected, It is characterized in that a reproduction control circuit for reproducing a specific video file on the basis of the discrimination signal is provided, and the video file is automatically reproduced on the basis of the index image.

[0026]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
The present invention will be specifically described.

Embodiment 1. 1 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to recording in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a tuner, 2 is a video signal processing circuit for processing a video signal, 3 is a video signal recording circuit for recording a video signal, 4 is an audio signal processing circuit for processing an audio signal, and 5 is an audio signal. An audio signal recording circuit for recording, 6 is a tape head control circuit for controlling a motor drive system and a servo system for actually recording on a magnetic tape. The configuration so far is the same as that of the conventional device (FIG. 10).

The video signal processing circuit 2 is connected to a video memory 7 composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory device. In the video memory 7, the video signal from the tuner 1 is A / D-converted for the first fixed time at the same time when the recording is started, and stored as a search digital image (hereinafter referred to as a search image). Similarly, the voice signal processing circuit 4 includes a voice memory 8
The audio signal from the tuner 1 is stored for a fixed time corresponding to the search image at the same time when the recording is started.
The recording control circuit 9 is connected to the video signal recording circuit 3, the audio signal recording circuit 5, the tape head control circuit 6, the video memory 7, and the audio memory 8, and together with the recording control of the program selected by the tuner 1, Recording control of the search image stored in the video memory 7 and the audio memory 8 is performed.

When recording a plurality of programs in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the video signal and the audio signal from the tuner 1 are sent to the video signal processing circuit 2 and the audio signal processing circuit 4, respectively, and processed. , To the video signal recording circuit 3 and the audio signal recording circuit 5. Here, the program contents at the beginning of the first selected program for a certain period of time are simultaneously sent from the processing circuits 2 and 4 to the video memory 7 and the audio memory 8, respectively, and temporarily stored therein. The video signal and the audio signal sent to the video signal recording circuit 3 and the audio signal recording circuit 5 are recorded on the magnetic tape from the tape head control circuit 6. At this time, the recording start position of the first program recorded on the magnetic tape is controlled by the recording control circuit 9, and the search image to be stored in the memories 7 and 8 later is recorded on this magnetic tape. Recording starts immediately after a certain area at the beginning of the tape.

When the recording of one program is completed,
The recording control circuit 9 rewinds to the recording area secured in the head portion of the magnetic tape, and the analog image D / A-converted from the search image stored in the memories 7 and 8 is recorded therein. When the recording of this search image is completed, the magnetic tape is fast-forwarded to the recording end position of the first program by the recording control circuit 9. When recording the second and subsequent programs, the work of recording the search images in the memories 7 and 8 on a magnetic tape is performed in the same procedure. In this way, a plurality of search images are recorded in the recording area of the program in the area at the beginning of the magnetic tape and adjacent to the preceding search image.
Since the search images are sequentially written onto the magnetic tape at the time of recording each program, the video memory 7 can be constructed with a small capacity.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a magnetic tape recorded by the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 20 is a magnetic tape and 2 is a magnetic tape.
1 is a recording portion of the recording content of the program 1 at a first fixed time, 2
2 is a recording part of the recording content of the program 2 in the first fixed time, 2
3 is a recording part of the recording content of the program 3 for the first fixed time, 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a memory that sequentially stores the same search images as the recorded contents of the recording portions 21, 22, and 23, and corresponds to the video memory 7 and the audio memory 8 in FIG. Reference numeral 25 is a head recording portion which is secured in advance for sequentially recording the search images from the memory 24.

The programs 1, 2, and 3 recorded on the magnetic tape 20 are temporarily stored in the memory 24 at the same time when the respective recordings are started. After that, when the recording of each program is completed, the memory 2
The stored contents of No. 4 are sequentially recorded on the recording portion 25 of the magnetic tape 20 as a search image for each predetermined time. These search images are reproduced when searching for a program recorded on the magnetic tape 20 and used for selecting a specific program or the like.

In this way, when a plurality of programs are recorded on one magnetic tape 20, the recording contents of the first fixed time for each program are duplicately recorded as a search image, thereby Only by reproducing the recording portion 25 at the head of the tape 20, information about the program contents and the number of programs can be surely obtained. Therefore, it is possible to search the contents of the recorded program and easily select and reproduce the desired specific program.

The present invention has been described above as a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for recording a television program.
The same can be applied to the magnetic recording method when a plurality of video files photographed by the video camera are recorded on one magnetic tape. That is, if the search image for each video file is simultaneously recorded on the magnetic tape at the time of shooting, the search image is played back from a predetermined portion of the magnetic tape when the video file is subsequently selected and played back. It can be used for searching.

It is also possible to create a search image later on the recorded magnetic tape. In such a case, the head portion of the magnetic tape may be left in advance or the margin of the last portion of the magnetic tape may be left blank. You can record the search image on.

The video memory 7 may be composed of another recording medium such as a magnetic tape, and the video signal can be recorded in the video memory as analog information.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing only the circuit portion relating to the video signal of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a tuner, 2 is a video signal processing circuit, 3 is a video signal recording circuit, 6 is a tape head control circuit, 7 is a video memory, and 9 is a video memory.
Is a recording control circuit. The configuration up to this point is the same as that of the device of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).

Here, the video signal processing circuit 2 and the video memory 7 are connected via the switching circuit 10,
Further, the recording control circuit 9 is provided with a timer 11 for setting an arbitrary time interval. This switching circuit 10
Is turned on after the time set by the timer 11 has elapsed from the start of recording, and one or several still images extracted after an arbitrary time has elapsed from the start of recording are stored in the video memory 7 for each program.

In the first embodiment, the recording contents for the first fixed time of the program are stored in the memory 7 as a search image. However, since the search image of the recorded contents is intended to confirm the contents of the program recorded on the magnetic tape, for example, the commercial (C
When M) is inserted, the program content cannot be known from the recorded search image.

Therefore, depending on the program to be recorded, a still image extracted after a lapse of an arbitrary time from the start of recording is extracted as a search image by the switching circuit 10 controlled at a time interval set in the timer 11 among them. It is preferable. It is also possible to take out a plurality of still images from one program at time intervals set by the timer 11 and store them in the video memory 7, and use a still image group for each program as a search image. Then, such a search image is recorded on the first recording portion of the magnetic tape secured in advance every time one program is recorded or after recording of a plurality of programs is completed.

As for the audio signal for a predetermined time corresponding to the still image, as in the first embodiment, the audio signals before and after the still image are taken into the audio memory and recorded on the magnetic tape together with the retrieved image. It is also possible.

Embodiment 3. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to recording in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, tuner 1
To the tape head control circuit 6 and the video memory 7,
The audio memory 8 and the recording control circuit 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Device (FIG. 1). Here, the video signal processing circuit 2 is connected to the video memory 7 via the video signal compression circuit 12. The video signal compression circuit 12 digitally compresses the image information, which is taken as a search image by the recording control circuit 9 into the video memory 7 and temporarily stored therein.

In the first embodiment, the recording contents for the first fixed time of the program are stored in the video memory 7 as they are. However, in the case where the recorded programs are similar to each other, to a certain extent. In some cases, it is not possible to confirm the program content recorded on the magnetic tape unless the long recording content is used as the search image. Therefore, the video signal from the video signal processing circuit 2 is compressed and stored in the video memory 7 as a search image.

Unlike the actual program recording, the image quality of the search image of the program reproduced at the time of retrieval may be of a level that allows understanding of the contents. In addition, if the digitally compressed video signal is converted into an analog signal again and the compressed video is used as a search image, no problem will occur. Moreover, the capacity of the video memory 7 required for storing one program can be reduced without reducing the amount of information required for searching for one program. Further, when the memory having the same capacity is used, longer storage can be achieved.

As described above, when the program contents for the first fixed time of the program recorded in the video memory 7 are stored, the video signal is compressed so that the video memory 7 having the same capacity can be stored.
However, the image information for a longer time can be stored. Then, each time the recording of one program is completed, the compressed image information is sent to the video signal recording circuit 3, and the tape head control circuit 6 is controlled by the recording control circuit 9, whereby the memory 7, The video signal and audio signal of 8 can be recorded as a search image on the first recording portion of the magnetic tape secured in advance.

Further, when data is compressed by the video signal compression circuit 12 and temporarily stored in the video memory 7, the same can be done by thinning out an image in frame units from the analog video signal and outputting it to the video memory 7. The effect of is obtained.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, the recorded contents of a recorded program for a certain long time can be referred to as a search image only by reproducing the first recorded portion of the magnetic tape, and a plurality of similar images can be referred to. Even if the programs are recorded on the same magnetic tape, it is possible to reliably search the recorded program contents. In this case, the quality of the search image is slightly deteriorated, but since the image is for searching, the deterioration of the image quality itself does not cause any inconvenience.

As in the apparatus of the second embodiment, it is possible to further provide the switching circuit 10 and the timer 11 to compress a still image and use it as a search image.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing only the circuit portion relating to the video signal of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a tuner, 2 is a video signal processing circuit, 3 is a video signal recording circuit, 6 is a tape head control circuit, 7 is a video memory, and 9 is a video memory.
Is a recording control circuit, 10 is a switching circuit, and 11 is a timer. The configuration so far is the same as that of the device of the second embodiment (FIG. 3). Here, the video memory 7 and the video signal recording circuit 3 are connected via a digital video processing circuit 13. This digital video processing circuit 13 is
One or a plurality of still images captured in the video memory 7 are digitally processed and then output to the video signal recording circuit 3 as an analog image by a D / A converter (not shown).

In the second embodiment, the switching circuit 10 controlled by the timer 11 is selected from the recorded programs.
The still image is taken out at an arbitrary time interval and temporarily stored in the video memory 7. However, when a large number of still images are taken out for each program to create a search image, it is difficult to quickly reproduce them and search for the program.

Therefore, when the still image group stored in the image memory 7 is recorded as a search image on the first recording portion of the magnetic tape, a plurality of still image groups are digitally processed by the digital image processing circuit 13 and compressed. A single still search image is created and recorded, for example, on the first recording portion of a magnetic tape that is secured in advance. As a result, even when a plurality of programs are recorded on the same magnetic tape, the still image group A to I for each program can be reproduced by only reproducing the head recording portion of the magnetic tape as shown in FIG. 6, for example.
By displaying a search image as one still image 30, the contents of the program recorded on the magnetic tape can be quickly searched.

Depending on the type of program to be recorded,
By converting the search image into several still search images in the digital video processing circuit 13 and recording them, the program can be searched more accurately.

Embodiment 5 FIG . FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to recording in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, tuner 1
To the tape head control circuit 6 and the video memory 7,
The audio memory 8 and the recording control circuit 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Device (FIG. 1). Here, the recording control circuit 9
A timer circuit 14 is connected to. The timer circuit 14 defines the timing at which a video signal serving as a search image is taken into the video memory 7 for the recording control circuit 9 and at the same time defines the length of the video signal, and the search image thus taken in. Is defined by the recording control circuit 9 at which recording position on the magnetic tape.

In the first embodiment, the recording position of the retrieval image for retrieving the recorded contents of the program recorded on the magnetic tape is secured only in the first portion of the magnetic tape. Here, a plurality of times are set by the timer circuit 14 on the basis of the recording start time, and the operation time of the recording control circuit 9 is controlled by this, so that recording is performed at any recording position of the magnetic tape. Is possible. For example, the search image may be recorded in the last part of the magnetic tape, or the same search image may be recorded between the recording areas of the programs. In that case, the contents of the program can be confirmed by rewinding or fast-forwarding the magnetic tape to the closest recording position of the search image, and a desired specific program can be selected and reproduced.

Further, in the first embodiment, the recording contents for the first fixed time of the program are stored in the memory 7, but the recording control circuit 9 is controlled based on the time x set in the timer circuit 14. Then, for example, image information when x minutes have elapsed from the start of recording can be automatically taken into the video memory 7. That is, the search image recorded by the recording control circuit 9 can be extracted in any length from any part of the program. This intentionally removes commercial images that are sent immediately after the start of a television broadcast program or at predetermined time intervals thereafter, so that only image information that is effective as a search image is magnetized within the capacity of the video memory 7. It is also possible to record on tape.

Sixth Embodiment FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to recording of a magnetic recording / reproducing circuit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, tuner 1
To the tape head control circuit 6 and the video memory 7,
The audio memory 8 and the recording control circuit 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Device (FIG. 1). Here, the recording control circuit 9
An index creating circuit 15 is connected to the. The index creating circuit 15 is connected to the video signal recording circuit 3 and a part of the search image created in the video memory 7 is
The index information of the recorded program is written.

In the first embodiment, the search image is composed of only a part of the recorded program.
Further, when recording the search image, the index creating circuit 15 automatically inserts an index image including index information such as a program number, a recording date and time, and a recording time at the beginning or the end of the search image. It can be a search image. In this way, if the index information is recorded together with the search image at a predetermined recording position on the magnetic tape, the image information including the index information is referred to as the search image at the time of reproduction, and the desired program can be quickly reproduced from a plurality of recorded programs more easily. .

If a program title or the like is written as a part of the search image as the index information, the reproduced search image becomes even easier to use.

Embodiment 7 FIG . FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing only the circuit portion related to recording in the magnetic recording / reproducing circuit according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, tuner 1
To the tape head control circuit 6 and the video memory 7,
The audio memory 8, the recording control circuit 9, and the index creation circuit 15 are the same as those of the device (FIG. 8) of the sixth embodiment. Here, the recording control circuit 9 is connected to a reproduction control circuit 16 in addition to the index creating circuit 15.

The reproduction control circuit 16 is provided with a discrimination signal composed of a plurality of types of digital signals, and when recording a plurality of programs on a magnetic tape, at the same time when those recordings are started, the beginning of each program is started. Different discrimination signals are inserted in the respective portions. Then, when the index information of the recorded program is written in a part of the search image created in the video memory 7 from the index creating circuit 15, for example, the program number and the determination signal of the index information shown in the sixth embodiment And correspond. As a result, the reproduction control circuit 16 automatically searches for a cue of a recorded program or cue-reproduction based on the discrimination signal only by selecting the program number with reference to only the index image including the index information. be able to.

The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to each of the first to seventh embodiments uses a digital signal if it is a DVTR (digital VTR) that records and reproduces image information based on digital signal processing. Since the processing and recording of the video signal are performed, the temporary storage in the video memory can be performed more easily.

[0063]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

According to the magnetic recording method of the first aspect, the search image can be recorded in a certain area of the magnetic tape. Therefore, there is an effect that the recorded video file can be searched by using the file.

According to the magnetic recording method of the second aspect, the recorded video file can be easily searched by using the video recorded at the beginning of the video file for a certain period of time.

In the magnetic recording method according to the third aspect, the recorded video file can be surely searched by using one or a plurality of still images extracted from the video file.

According to the magnetic recording method of the fourth aspect, the search image including the audio signal of the video file can be recorded.

In the magnetic recording method according to the fifth aspect, since the data signal compressed video signal is stored as the search image,
The effect of reducing the capacity of the memory means is obtained.

In the magnetic recording method according to the sixth aspect, the efficiency of retrieval can be improved by simultaneously displaying a plurality of still images.

In the magnetic recording method according to the seventh aspect, the recorded video file can be searched by always reproducing the search image from the head portion of the magnetic tape.

In the magnetic recording method according to the eighth aspect, since the retrieval images are recorded at the beginning and the end of the magnetic tape, the retrieval can be quickly performed by selecting either tape rewinding or fast-forwarding. Images can be played.

In the magnetic recording method according to the ninth aspect, the required recorded program can be searched more easily by inserting the index information into the search image.

In the magnetic recording method according to the tenth aspect, it is possible to surely retrieve the required recorded program by using the video file number, the recording start date and time, the recording time and the like.

In the apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, when recording and reproducing a plurality of programs on the same magnetic tape, the contents of the recorded programs on the magnetic tape are reproduced or fast-forwarded from the beginning to the end to be searched. Instead, there is an effect that a video file can be searched by simply playing a search image recorded at a predetermined position on the magnetic tape.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of programs are recorded on the same magnetic tape, still images extracted at arbitrary time intervals for each program are recorded in the memory means, and the memory is used. By sequentially recording the contents at a predetermined position on the magnetic tape secured in advance, it is possible to search the video file by simply playing the search image recorded first on the magnetic tape.

In the apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, when a part of each video file is stored in the memory means, the video signal is compressed by the compression circuit, so that the memory capacity can be reduced.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of video files are recorded on the same magnetic tape, still images extracted at arbitrary time intervals for each video file are stored in the memory means, By recording multiple still images into one or several still images when recording the contents at a predetermined position on a magnetic tape secured in advance, the video file recorded on the magnetic tape can be searched in a short time. Has the effect.

In the apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, the recording position of the search image can be set to an arbitrary portion of the magnetic tape, and further to a plurality of portions. This makes it easier to search the video file on the magnetic tape.

In the apparatus according to the sixteenth aspect, by inserting the index image when recording the search image for each video file on the magnetic tape, it is possible to obtain the effect that the necessary recorded video file can be searched more easily.

In the apparatus according to the seventeenth aspect, only by selecting the inserted index image, the selected video file is automatically cueed and reproduced, thereby selecting the necessary recorded video file, and Playback can be performed consistently, and the required video files can be played back in a short time with simple operations.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion relating to recording in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a magnetic tape recorded by the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion relating to a video signal of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which is Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to recording of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion relating to a video signal of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which is Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a digitally processed search image according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to video recording of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which is Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to recording of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which is Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing only a circuit portion related to recording in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which is Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit portion related to recording in a conventional magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tuner, 2 video signal processing circuit, 3 video signal recording circuit, 4 audio signal processing circuit, 5 audio signal recording circuit, 6 tape head control circuit, 7 video memory, 8 audio memory, 9 recording control circuit, 10
Switching circuit, 11 timer, 12 video signal compression circuit, 13 digital video processing circuit, 14
Timer circuit, 15 Index creation circuit, 16
Playback control circuit.

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic recording method for recording a plurality of video files on one magnetic tape, wherein a certain area for recording a search image showing the recorded contents of the video files is secured in advance at a predetermined position on the magnetic tape. However, at the time of recording the video file, a part of the video file is stored as a search image in a memory means different from the magnetic tape, and the search image is recorded in the certain area after the video file is recorded, A magnetic recording method characterized in that the search image is reproduced from a predetermined position on a magnetic tape and can be used for selecting the video file. 2. The magnetic recording method according to claim 1, wherein a video signal at the beginning of the video file for a certain period of time is stored as a search image of the video file. 3. The magnetic recording method according to claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of still images extracted from the video file are stored as a search image of the video file. 4. The magnetic recording method according to claim 1, wherein the search image includes an audio signal of the video file. 5. The magnetic recording method according to claim 1, wherein a video signal of a part of the video file is data-compressed and then stored as a search image in the another memory means. . 6. A single image that simultaneously displays a plurality of still images,
4. The magnetic recording method according to claim 1, further comprising recording several still search images. 7. The magnetic recording method according to claim 1, wherein a fixed area for recording the search image is secured at a head portion of the magnetic tape. 8. The magnetic recording method according to claim 7, wherein the certain area for recording the search image is also secured in the final portion of the magnetic tape. 9. The magnetic recording method according to claim 1, wherein the search image includes index information regarding recording of the video file. 10. The magnetic recording method according to claim 9, wherein the index information includes at least a video file number, a recording start date and time, or a recording time. 11. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for selecting and reproducing a predetermined video file from a magnetic tape on which a plurality of video files are recorded, in which a part of the recorded contents of the video file is extracted and stored as a search image. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a recording unit and a recording control unit that records the content stored in the memory unit at a predetermined position on the magnetic tape. 12. A switching circuit for extracting a plurality of still images from the video file at predetermined time intervals and supplying the still images to the memory means, and a timer for setting the time intervals in the switching circuit. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 11. 13. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a video compression circuit for compressing the recording content extracted as the search image and recording the compressed content in the memory means. 14. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a digital video processing circuit for digitally processing the plurality of still images to record one search image on a magnetic tape. 15. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a timer circuit for determining the length of the stored contents of said memory means and the recording position of said magnetic tape. . 16. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an index circuit that creates information about recording for each video file as an index image and records the information on the magnetic tape. . 17. An index signal and a head portion of each video file recorded on a magnetic tape are recorded with a corresponding determination signal, and when the index image is selected, a specific signal is specified based on the determination signal. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a reproduction control circuit for reproducing the video file, wherein the video file is automatically reproduced based on the index image.