JPH10241348A - Av system control method, av system controller and information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a necessary remembering a VTR(video tape recorder) device in which the reservation of a program is performed when the video recording is performed in a state in which plural VTR devices are connected. SOLUTION: An AV system controller 1 which accepted a reservation checks conditions of respective AV devices 3 at a program stating time and selects a recordable AV device to make it start the video recording of a program. Then, at a program completing time, the controller 1 makes the AV device performing the video recording complete the video recording of the program, Moreover, the controller registers data of the program in a media list 13b incorporated in the controller by confirming that the video recording is normally completed. Then, when a user performs the looking and listening of the program whose reservation video recording is performed, the user can select the program whose video recording is performed by seeing the media list 13b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention enables a plurality of AV (audio / visual) information recording / reproducing apparatuses to make a reservation recording, notify a user of the reserved medium (program), and easily reproduce the medium. The present invention relates to an AV system control method, an AV system control device, and an information recording / reproducing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, VTR (Video Tape Recorder) devices have become widespread, and a plurality of VTRs are provided on one television.
There are many situations where devices are connected. When two or more VTRs are connected in this way, the user can perform dubbing and editing, record different programs being broadcast at the same time, and the like. However, handling a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices at the same time complicates the operation and makes it difficult to operate as desired by the user.

In order to handle such a system more easily, a control device for integrally managing a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices such as a VTR device has been conceived and commercialized. This conventional control device not only combines inputs and outputs of a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices, but also controls input / output switching of each AV information recording / reproducing device using a control terminal or the like. By introducing this control device, a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices have been integrated into one system, and it has become possible to operate the system more conveniently and easily.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-14583, a system is also provided in which a timer function is provided in a control device so that a plurality of AV information recording / reproducing devices can be operated by timer control. On / off and scheduled recording operations can now be performed using the timer function.

[0005]

However, in the system using the conventional control device as described above, when a user performs a reservation recording, it is necessary to remember which VTR device has reserved which program. . If this is forgotten, each VTR device must rewind / reproduce the data in order to find out where the desired program is recorded. Furthermore, when a plurality of programs are recorded by the same VTR device, it is necessary to remember the order in which the programs were recorded, making it even more difficult to find. This is a very cumbersome and time-consuming task for the user.

In order to make a reservation, the user must select a VTR device for recording from a plurality of VTR devices. However, when it is desired to make a scheduled recording of a plurality of programs, the user has to allocate the reserved contents to the plurality of VTR devices while calculating the recordable time of the magnetic tape (recording medium). At this time, when the recording start times overlap or when a recording start time of another program comes while a certain program is being recorded, the situation is further complicated.

The present invention provides an AV system control apparatus provided with a function of notifying a user of a recorded program and a function of automatically selecting a VTR to be recorded. The purpose is to solve.

[0008]

As means for achieving the above object, the following AV system control method, AV
An object is to provide a system control device and an information recording / reproducing device.

1. An AV system control method for controlling a plurality of information recording / reproducing devices by an AV system control device, wherein when recording a program, the AV system control device inquires of the information recording / reproducing devices about the status and is capable of recording. AV system control, wherein the information recording / reproducing device is selected for recording, and information on the recorded program and information on the information recording / reproducing device are stored in association with the AV system control device. Method.

[0010] 2. An AV system control method for controlling a plurality of information recording / reproducing devices by an AV system control device, wherein information relating to reservation recording of a program inputted to the AV system control device is stored, and the information is stored at a program start time. The AV system control device inquires each of the information recording / reproducing devices about the state, selects the recordable information recording / reproducing device and performs recording,
An AV system control method, wherein recording is ended at a program end time, and information on the recorded program and information on the information recording / reproducing device are stored in association with the AV system control device.

3. An AV system control method for controlling a plurality of information recording / reproducing devices by an AV system control device, wherein the AV system control device relates to information on the information recording / reproducing device and a program recorded in the information recording / reproducing device. Information is stored in association with information, and a control signal is output to the information recording / reproducing apparatus in which the program selected from the AV system control apparatus is recorded so as to reproduce the selected program. AV system control method.

4. A program reservation list for storing program data necessary to make a recording reservation, a program reservation unit for registering, updating, and deleting program data in the program reservation list; A timer for outputting recording start and recording end messages at recording start and recording end times by referring to data; a media list for storing program data of programs recorded in the information recording / reproducing apparatus; and a media list for storing the program data in the media list. Media selection unit for outputting a reproduction start and reproduction end message of a program selected with reference to the selected program data, an AV device list for storing device data relating to the information recording / reproducing device to be connected, and the AV device Referring to the list, select an information recording / reproducing apparatus to be operated, and start recording and end recording messages and media from the timer. An AV device control unit that receives a reproduction start and reproduction end message from a selection unit, outputs a control message to the selected information recording / reproducing device, and registers program data in the media list, the program reservation list, and the media A having a display unit for displaying list data.
V system control device.

5. A tuner for receiving a program broadcast, recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing a program received by the tuner, state detecting means for notifying the state of the recording / reproducing means to the outside, and recording / reproducing by a control signal from the outside. Control means for controlling the means.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In an AV system control method according to the present invention, when performing recording, the AV system control device inquires each AV information recording / reproducing device about the state, and selects a recordable AV information recording / reproducing device for recording. Was performed. Then, a media list storing information of the recorded programs is provided in the AV system control device. Thus, the user can view the recorded program by selecting it from the media list.

[0015] Further, the AV system control method of the present invention comprises:
When a user makes a reservation for a program, the user inputs information about the reservation recording to the AV system control device. Then, the AV system control device that has received the reservation
Check the status of each AV information recording / reproducing device at the program start time,
A recordable AV information recording / reproducing apparatus is selected to start recording a program. At the program end time, the AV system control device causes the AV information recording / reproducing device that is recording to end recording of the program. Further, after confirming that the recording has been normally completed, the program data is registered in a media list built in the AV system control device. Then, when the user watches the program that has been reserved for recording, the user can select the recorded program by looking at the media list.
It is possible to view without being conscious of whether or not it is recorded in the V information recording / reproducing device.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An AV system control method according to the present invention,
An embodiment of a system control device and an information recording / reproducing device will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, for simplicity of description, the monitor is a TV (television), and the AV recording / reproducing device is a VTR device.

An AV system control method according to the present invention is shown in FIG.
The connections are made as shown in FIGS. FIG. 4A shows the AV system control device 1
This is an example in which the monitor 2 and the information recording / reproducing devices 3a to 3n are connected, and FIG. 1B shows the devices 1, 2, 3a to 3n connected by a home bus, a home LAN (local area network), or the like. This is an example. In any case, the AV system control device 1 is connected so that operations such as turning on / off the power of the information recording / reproducing devices 3a to 3n and starting / ending recording can be performed. The monitor 2 is also connected so that operations such as power on / off and input switching can be performed. Then, the monitor 2 and the information recording / reproducing device 3a
3 to 3n are provided with control signal transmitting / receiving means (not shown) for transmitting and receiving control signals in order to be operated by the AV system control device 1.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the information recording / reproducing apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as AV apparatus) 3, 3a to 3n, which will be described below. The AV device 3 includes a recording / reproducing unit 31, a state detecting unit 32, a control unit 33, and a tuner. The recording / reproducing means 31 is means for recording and reproducing the contents of the program received by the tuner 34 on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk. It is means for detecting a state such as operation. The control means 33 is a means for controlling operations such as recording / reproduction by the recording / reproduction means 31.

In the AV device 3 having such a configuration, A
When a status report message is received from the V system control device 1, the status of the recording / reproducing unit 31 is detected by the status detection unit 32. Here, the state of the recording / reproducing means 31 means that a recording medium such as a magnetic tape is currently loaded and is in a recordable state, an operation state such as recording / reproduction / stop, a remaining recording time of the recording medium. And so on. Then, the status signal detected by the status detection means 32 is output to the AV system control device 1.

When a control message such as recording start / end or reproduction start / stop is received from the AV system controller 1, the control means 33 controls the operation of the recording / reproduction means 31, and the result is transmitted. Notify the AV system control device 1. FIG. 2 mainly shows the configuration of the main part of the AV system control device 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the AV system control device 1 comprises a program reservation section 11a, a program reservation list 11
b, a program reservation unit 11 composed of a timer 11c, an AV device control unit 12a composed of an AV device list 12b, a media selection unit 13 composed of a media selection unit 13a and a media list 13b, and a display unit 1.
4a.

The program reservation list 11b of the program reservation means 11 stores data required for making a recording reservation, and data is registered, updated, and deleted in the program reservation list 11b by the program reservation device 11a. You. Also,
The timer 11c can count the current time, and refers to the data of the program reservation list 11b to start / stop the reservation.
When the end time comes, a recording start / end message is output to the AV device controller 12a.

The AV device list 1 of the AV device control means 12
2b stores data of the currently connected AV device 3, and the current state is written from the AV device 3.
The AV device control unit 12a starts recording from the timer 11c.
Upon receiving the end message, an appropriate AV device 3 for operation is selected with reference to the AV device list 12b. And A
A control message such as recording start / stop is output to the V-apparatus 3, and after the recording is completed, the program data is registered in the media list 13b. The media selection unit 13a
Receives a playback start / end message, selects an AV device 3 on which a program is recorded, and outputs a control message such as playback start / stop.

Media list 1 of media selection means 13
3b, a list of currently viewable media is registered. Then, the media selection unit 13a receives information on the media (program) desired to be viewed from the user 4, and outputs a playback start / end message to the AV device control unit 12a with reference to the data of the program registered in the media list 13b. I do. In addition, the data of the program registered in the media list 13b can be deleted by an operation from the user 4.

The data of the program reservation list 11b and the media list 13b can be displayed on the display section 14a of the display means 14. The method of recording / reproducing a programmed program using the AV system control device 1 having such a configuration will be described in detail below.

<Program Reservation> The user 4 reserves a program recording for the AV system control device 1 in the same manner as the method conventionally used in the AV information recording / reproducing device 3. That is, when the user makes a reservation for recording a program, the user inputs data relating to the program, such as the channel of the program, the broadcast date (day of the week), the recording start / end time, the recording mode, etc. The user inputs a called number to convert the data into data relating to the program, thereby making a reservation for recording the program.

The program recording reservation is made by operating the program reservation section 11a of the program reservation means 11, and data relating to the program is registered in the program reservation list 11b. Data relating to programs registered in the program reservation list 11b (hereinafter, also referred to as program data) includes a channel ID, a channel ID, and a program ID provided for each program.
The broadcast date, start time, end time, program category (if necessary) and the like are registered.

The program ID is a number provided for the convenience of processing. The program ID has a one-to-one correspondence with the program data, and the program ID does not take the same value in all two different program data. Also,
The program category is a type of program such as news, drama, and sports.
Registered by.

A plurality of program data can be registered in the program reservation list 11b, and the program reservation section 11a has a function of registering, updating, and deleting individual program data in the program reservation list 11b. The user 4 operates these functions while checking the contents of the program reservation list 11b on the display unit 14a. Hereinafter, each function will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[Program Data Registration Term] When the user 4 makes a reservation for program recording (step 101 → yes), the program data registration term is set, and the program reservation section 11a requests the user 4 to input program data. When the user 4 inputs program data such as a channel, a broadcast date, a start time, an end time, and a program category (step 102), the program reservation unit 11a sets a program ID so as not to overlap with other program data and media data described later. After setting, the entered program data is registered in the program reservation list 11b (step 10).
3).

[Program data update term] When the user 4 selects the update of the program data (step 104 → yes)
s) displaying the program reservation list 11b on the display unit 14a,
The user 4 is caused to select program data to be updated (step 105). When the user 4 selects the program data to be updated (step 106), the program reservation unit 11a requests the user to input update data for the data selected by the user 4. When the user 4 finishes inputting the update data (step 107), the program reservation unit 11a
The updated data is registered in place of the previous program data registered in b (step 108).

[Program Data Deletion Term] When the user 4 selects deletion of program data (step 109 → yes)
s) displaying the program reservation list 11b on the display unit 14a,
The user 4 is caused to select program data to be deleted (step 110). When the user 4 selects the program data to be deleted (step 111), the program reservation section 11a deletes the selected program data from the program reservation list 11b (step 112).

The procedure for registering / updating / deleting program data has been described above. The program reservation section 11a displays the program reservation list 11a on the display section 14a in advance, and then registers / updates the program data. -The user 4 may be made to select deletion. In this case, when the user 4 selects the program data on the program reservation list 11a, the user 4 is asked to select whether to update or delete this program, and
The process may move to a process related to deletion.

<Reserved recording> Recording of a reserved program (hereinafter, also referred to as reserved recording) is performed by the AV device control unit 12a receiving a message from the timer 11c,
2b. AV device list 12b
The AV device data registered in the
It consists of a device ID assigned to the AV information recording / reproducing device 3 such as a TR device in a one-to-one correspondence, and a state indicating the state of the AV information recording / reproducing device 3. The device ID does not take the same value in all two different AV information recording / reproducing devices 3. State is a value that changes according to a state signal sent from the AV information recording / reproducing apparatus 3 when the AV apparatus control unit 12a inquires about the state.

[Recording start term] The timer 11c constantly counts the time and checks it against the start time and end time of the program data registered in the program reservation list 11b. Then, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the start time of certain program data comes (step 11).
3 → yes), the timer 11c transmits a recording start message to which the program data is added to the AV device controller 12a (step 114).

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the AV device controller 12a receiving the recording start message (step 121) first sends all the AV devices 3 in order to search for the currently recordable AV device 3. On the other hand, a message is output to report the current state (step 12).
2). Upon receiving the message, the AV device 3 stores its current state in the AV device list 12b.
Record in the state of the corresponding own data of the device data. Here, it is described as if the AV device 3 is directly writing data. However, the AV system control device 1 receives the status of each AV device 3 and
A writing unit for writing to the V device list 12b may be provided. In this case, the AV device 3 needs the ability to report its status, but does not need the ability to write to the AV device list 12b. The status signal transmitted from the AV device 3 not only indicates that a recording medium such as a magnetic tape is currently loaded and is in a recordable state, but also indicates a current operation state such as recording / reproduction / stop. , A signal including the counter position of the recording medium, the remaining recordable time, and the like.

After the states of all the AV devices 3 have been written or after a certain time has elapsed, the AV device control unit 12
“a” refers to the AV device list 12b and selects the AV device 3 that can be currently recorded (step 123). Here, if there is no AV device 3 to be selected, the process is interrupted.

Then, the AV device control section 12a outputs a recording start signal to the selected AV device 3 (step 124). Upon receiving the recording start signal, the AV device 3 starts recording, and notifies the AV device control unit 12a of a counter at the start (hereinafter referred to as a start counter) (step 12).
5). At this time, the AV device control unit 12a holds the data obtained by adding the device ID and the start counter of the AV device 3 that records the program data to the program data until the recording is completed.
(Step 126).

If the above procedure takes a considerable amount of time, the timer 11c first sends a recording start message to the AV device controller 12a before the start time, and the AV device controller 12a The processing until the recording start signal is output before the start time is completed, and the timer 11c outputs a message of the recording start time at the start time,
The AV device control unit 12a may perform the processing procedure of outputting a recording start signal to the AV device 3.

[Recording Term] When the end time of the program data being recorded comes (step 115 → yes), the timer 11c sends a recording end message to which the program ID of the program data is added to the AV device controller 12a. (Step 116) (see FIG. 4). AV device controller 12
a receives the recording end message (step 131).
(Yes), collate with the data held at the time of the recording start term, and acquire the program data corresponding to the recording end message and the device ID of the AV device 3 that is recording (step 132). Then, the AV device control unit 12a
A recording stop signal is transmitted to the AV device 3 indicated by D (step 133).

Upon receiving the recording stop signal, the AV device 3 stops recording the program currently being performed. Then, it notifies the AV device controller 12a of whether or not the recording end has been completed normally. If the recording has been completed normally, a counter at the time of completion (hereinafter referred to as an end counter) is transmitted to the AV device controller 12a. Notice.

When the AV device controller 12a receives a notification from the AV device 3 that the program recording has been completed normally (step 134 → yes), A
The end counter (step 13) notified from the AV device 3 to the data to which the device ID of the V device 3 and the start counter are added.
5) is added to the media list 13b (step 136).
The details of b will be described later). When the AV device control unit 12a receives a notification of abnormal termination of program recording from the AV device 3 (step 134 → no), the process ends immediately. If the recording was not performed normally in the recording start / end terms, the fact is indicated on the display unit 14.
The information is displayed on a and transmitted to the user 4.

<Appreciation of Media> Data relating to a program (hereinafter, also referred to as media) recorded by reservation recording is obtained by adding an apparatus ID, a start counter, and an end counter to the program data as described above (hereinafter referred to as media). The media list 13b is interpreted as a set of the media data. Further, the user 4 can display and view the media data registered in the media list 13b on the display unit 14a. In addition,
The media data displayed on the display unit 14a is displayed in a manner that is easy for the user 4 to see, such as color-coding by category with reference to the program category.

The media selection section 13a can reproduce or delete the media by referring to the media (media data) registered in the media list 13b. User 4
Performs an operation on the media selection unit 13a. Hereinafter, each term will be described with reference to the flowcharts of the AV device controller 12a shown in FIG. 5 and the media selector 13a shown in FIG.

[Media Appreciation Term] When the user 4 operates the media selection section 13a and selects the media appreciation.
(Step 161 → yes), the media selection unit 13a allows the user to select the media to be viewed from the media list 13b (Step 162). Then, the media selection unit 13a
Outputs a playback start message to which the media data to be played has been added to the AV device controller 12a (step 163).

Upon receiving the reproduction start message (step 141 → yes), the AV device control unit 12a transmits a message to notify the AV device 3 indicated by the device ID of the media data of the current state (steps 142 and 143). .
The AV device 3 that has received the notification writes the current state in the AV device list 12b. After that, the AV device control unit 12a
The status of the AV device 3 is confirmed with reference to the V device list 12b. If the corresponding AV device 3 cannot be reproduced (step 144 → no), the user is notified of the fact and the process is terminated.

If reproduction is possible (step 144)
(Yes), a message is output to the corresponding AV device 3 to reproduce the portion from the start counter to the end counter (step 145). At the same time, the AV device controller 12
“a” outputs a message instructing to switch the image / audio input of the monitor 2 to the corresponding AV device 3. Then, the AV device 3 which has received the message seeks the part of the start counter to start the reproduction, and ends the reproduction at the part of the end counter.

[Interruption of Media Appreciation] When the user 4 wants to interrupt the media appreciation during the media appreciation, the reproduction of the media can be interrupted by operating the media selection section 13a. When the media selection unit 13a receives an instruction from the user 4 to interrupt the media viewing,
(Step 164 → yes), a reproduction end message to which the media data being viewed is added is output to the AV device controller 12a (step 165).

Upon receiving the reproduction end message (step 151 → yes), the AV device controller 12a transmits a stop signal to the AV device 3 indicated by the device ID included in the media data (step 152). Then, the AV device 3 that has received the stop signal stops the reproduction, sets the state to a stop state, and ends the processing. At this time, the AV device 3 notifies the AV device control unit 12a of the counter at the time of stopping (interruption) (step 153), and appends and saves it to the media data of the media list 13b so that the next time the user views it. It can be seen from where it was interrupted, further improving operability.

[Media Data Deletion Term] The user 4 can delete media data such as media that has been watched. When the user 4 performs an operation of deleting the media data (step 1).
(66 → yes), the user 4 is made to select the media data of the media to be deleted (step 167), and the selected media data is deleted from the media list 13b (step 168). The processing related to deletion may be performed after the user 4 selects the media data on the media list 13b displayed on the display unit 14a in advance, and then selects the deletion of the media data.

[0051]

The AV system control method and AV of the present invention
When recording a program, the system control device inquires of the information recording / reproducing device from the AV system control device about the status, selects a recordable information recording / reproducing device, performs recording, and records information and information on the recorded program. Since information on the recording / reproducing device is stored in association with the AV system control device, it is not necessary to select an information recording / reproducing device for recording when recording a program (especially recording reservation). It is not necessary to remember on which information recording / reproducing device the recorded program was recorded.

Also, when viewing a program, it is only necessary to select a program from the media list, and it is necessary to search for information in each information recording / reproducing apparatus, which makes it difficult to find the beginning of the program. Nor. Furthermore, the recorded program is registered in the media list and displayed as a list,
By watching this, there is an effect that the recorded individual program is not forgotten.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a state detecting means for notifying the state of the recording / reproducing means to the outside, and a control means for controlling the recording / reproducing means by an external control signal. Therefore, remote control by the AV system control device becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of an AV system control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of an AV system control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a program reservation unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a timer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the AV device control unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a media selection unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of an information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 AV system control device 2 monitor 3, 3 a to 3 n AV device (information recording / reproducing device) 4 user 11 program reservation unit 11 a program reservation unit 11 b program reservation list 11 c timer 12 AV device control unit 12 a AV device control unit 12 b AV device list Reference Signs List 13 media selection means 13a media selection section 13b media list 14 display means 14a display section 31 recording / reproduction means 32 state detection means 33 control means 34 tuner

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An AV system control method for controlling a plurality of information recording / reproducing devices by an AV system control device, wherein when recording a program, a state is transmitted from the AV system control device to each of the information recording / reproducing devices. Inquiry,
The information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording is selected to perform recording, and information on the recorded program and information on the information recording / reproducing apparatus are stored in association with the AV system control apparatus. A
V system control method. 2. An AV system control method for controlling a plurality of information recording / reproducing devices by an AV system control device, wherein information relating to reservation recording of a program input to the AV system control device is stored. At the program start time, the AV system control device inquires of the information recording / reproducing devices about the status, the recordable information recording / reproducing device is selected and recording is performed, and the recording is terminated and the recording is performed at the program end time. An AV system control method, wherein information on a program and information on the information recording / reproducing device are stored in association with the AV system control device. 3. An AV system control method for controlling a plurality of information recording / reproducing devices by an AV system control device, wherein the AV system control device records information on the information recording / reproducing device and records the information in the information recording / reproducing device. Information relating to the selected program is stored in association therewith, and a control signal is transmitted to the information recording / reproducing apparatus in which the program selected from the AV system control apparatus is recorded so as to reproduce the selected program. An AV system control method characterized by outputting. 4. A program reservation list for storing program data required to make a recording reservation, a program reservation unit for registering, updating, and deleting program data in the program reservation list; A timer for outputting a recording start and recording end message at the recording start and recording end times by referring to the program data in the program reservation list, a media list for storing program data of programs recorded in the information recording and reproducing apparatus, A media selection unit for outputting a reproduction start and reproduction end message of a program selected with reference to the program data stored in the media list, and an AV device list for storing device data relating to the connected information recording / reproducing device An information recording / reproducing device to be operated is selected with reference to the AV device list, and a recording start and recording end message from the timer is selected. An AV device control unit for receiving a reproduction start and reproduction end message from a media and media selection unit, outputting a control message to the selected information recording / reproducing device, and registering program data in the media list; An AV system control device, comprising: a list and a display unit for displaying data of the media list. 5. A tuner for receiving a program broadcast; a recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing a program received by the tuner; a state detecting means for notifying the state of the recording / reproducing means to the outside; And a control means for controlling the recording / reproducing means.