JPH10301825A - Information reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a processing time at the time of a fast running mode operation in an information reproducing device using a recording medium recorded by using an FAT(file allocation table). SOLUTION: This device is provided with a recording medium 7 in which information is recorded by file units, and the address of the recording area of the file is managed by an FAT, temporary storing means 6a which temporarily stores one part of contents read in the order of the linked structure of the FAT, temporary storage reading means 6b which reads the contents of the FAT stored in the temporary storing means in the reverse order to that at the time of reading, operation mode setting means 19 which sets a prescribed operation mode among operation modes including a fast running mode for returning the present position of the recording medium by following it in the reverse order to that of the linked structure of the FAT, and controlling means 6 for controlling the temporary storage of one part of the contents read in the order of the linked structure of the FAT in the storage means when the fast running mode is set by the operation mode setting means, the reading of the contents of the temporary storing means in the reverse order to that at the time of reading by the temporary reading means, and following in the reverse order to that of the linked structure of the FAT.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus that converts a digital signal recorded on a recording medium into an analog signal and reproduces the signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, audio signals obtained by audio input means such as a microphone have been converted into digital signals.
For example, a so-called IC memory recorder that records on a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, reads a digital audio signal recorded on the semiconductor memory, converts it into an analog signal, and outputs the analog signal to an audio output unit such as a speaker to reproduce the signal. Various information recording / reproducing apparatuses have been proposed.

The audio data digitized by such an information recording / reproducing apparatus and recorded on a recording medium is:
The data may be transferred to an external information processing device such as a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) and used by these external devices.

For this purpose, as a file format of audio data handled by the information recording / reproducing apparatus, a DOS (Disk Operating System) generally used in an ordinary PC or the like is used.
em) is a standard file format that can be handled by FAT
(File Allocation Table).

[0005] The FAT is a list in which the positions of clusters, which are storage units of file contents, are listed. The FAT records where and how files are arranged on a recording medium such as a disk. This is a file recording method to be managed.

That is, on a recording medium using the FAT format, a directory area for recording information such as file names and attributes, and a FAT entry (entry number)
An FAT area for recording information for managing file positions and the like, and a data area for recording cluster positions and the like are formed.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the positional relationship between the above-mentioned areas on a normal recording medium managed by the FAT. Referring to FIG. 6, the flow of reading the corresponding data when a predetermined file name on the recording medium is designated will be briefly described.

[0008] Considering the case where the file name [FILE1] is called, first, a matching file name is searched in the directory area.

When a file name matching the called file name [FILE1] is detected from within the directory area, the FAT entry ([002H] in FIG. 6) in the directory entry is referred to, and FAT
The contents of the cluster corresponding to the entry [002H], that is, data 1 of [FILE1] are read (the FAT and the cluster of the data area correspond to a one-to-one relationship).

The following FAT entry [003H] is written in the FAT entry [002H], and the contents of the cluster (data 2 of [FILE1]) corresponding to the next FAT entry [003H] are successively read. Thus, when the final cluster [FFF] is read, all the contents of [FILE1] have been read.

Therefore, when the FAT format is used as the file format of the recording medium, there is an advantage that the position of the next sector can be easily found during the reading operation of the predetermined file. Here, the sector indicates the minimum unit of use of the disk. For example, one sector is managed in units of 512 bytes, and a plurality of sectors constitute one cluster.

On the other hand, portable small-sized information devices and the like using a 16-bit CPU that executes internal arithmetic processing in 16-bit units have been more commonly used than ever.

[0013]

However, when the FAT format is used as the file format of the recording medium, it is necessary to search for an arbitrary sector position located before the already read sector position in the currently read data file. Has to search again from the head sector of the file to the current sector position again, and there is a problem that the file detection time becomes long.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned portable small information equipment and the like, the capacity of storage means such as a memory which can be mounted inside is limited due to reasons such as storage space and manufacturing cost.

Therefore, when the FAT is used as the file format of the recording medium in the above-mentioned small information equipment or the like, the file detection time becomes longer as the file size to be handled becomes larger. When performing the fast reverse operation for returning the current position on the recording medium by tracing the reverse of the above, there is a problem that the file detection time becomes extremely long.

At the time of a file search operation, there may be a situation where other processing cannot be performed until the processing is completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to reduce the time required in a fast reverse mode in which information such as audio data recorded on a recording medium using FAT is searched retroactively from the current position. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information reproducing apparatus capable of performing faster file retrieval and reproducing desired information quickly.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus in which information is recorded in file units, and an address of a recording area of the file is managed by FAT. Recording medium and the FAT
Temporary storage means for temporarily storing at least a part of the contents of the FAT read out in the order of the connection structure of the FAT, and storing the contents of the FAT stored in the temporary storage means in the FAT.
At least a temporary storage / reading means for reading in the reverse order of the readout, and a fast-return mode for returning the current position of the recording medium by tracing the FAT in the reverse order of the FAT connection structure. Operation mode setting means for setting a predetermined operation mode from among a plurality of operation modes,
When the fast return mode is set by the operation mode setting means, at least a part of the contents of the FAT read in the order of the FAT connection structure is temporarily stored in the temporary storage means, and then the temporary storage read is performed. By reading out the contents of the FAT stored in the temporary storage means in the reverse order to that read out from the FAT by the means,
Control means for controlling T so as to reverse the order of the FAT connection structure.

An information reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
In the information reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the information reproducing apparatus has two temporary storage units, and when the fast reverse mode is set by the operation mode setting unit, the control unit sets the F mode.
An operation of temporarily storing at least a part of the contents of the FAT read out in the order of the connection structure of the ATs in one of the temporary storage means;
The operation of reading the contents of the FAT stored in the other one of the temporary storage means is performed in parallel in the reverse order of the reading from T, and control is performed so that this parallel operation is alternately and exclusively repeated. It is characterized by the following.

Further, an information reproducing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the information reproducing apparatus according to the first and second aspects, further comprising an interruption means for interrupting the operation of the fast reverse mode.

Therefore, in the information reproducing apparatus according to the first invention, when the fast reverse mode is set by the operation mode setting means, the FA read out in the order of the FAT connection structure.
Temporarily storing at least a part of the contents of T in the temporary storage means, and then reading the contents of the FAT stored in the temporary storage means in the reverse order of the reading from the FAT by the temporary storage reading means Accordingly, the control means controls the FAT so that the FAT is traced in the reverse order of the FAT connection structure.

Further, an information reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
In the information reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, by having two temporary storage units, the control unit can further control the F when the fast reverse mode is set by the operation mode setting unit.
The operation of temporarily storing at least a part of the contents of the FAT read out in the order of the connection structure of the AT in one of the temporary storage means is opposite to the operation of reading out the FAT by the temporary storage reading means. The operation of reading out the contents of the FAT stored in the other of the temporary storage means in order is performed in parallel,
This parallel operation is controlled to be alternately and exclusively repeated.

Further, the information reproducing apparatus according to the third invention is the information reproducing apparatus according to the first and second inventions,
The suspending means suspends the operation of the fast reverse mode.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment exemplifies an IC memory recorder that handles audio signals (data) and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment has a microphone 1 as sound input means for converting a sound into an electric signal, and an input amplifier for amplifying a sound signal output from the microphone 1. (AMP) 2
An A / D converter 4 which receives an output from the input amplifier 2 via a low-pass filter (LPF) 3 and converts the input signal (analog signal) into a digital signal;
A digital signal processing unit (DSP) 5 that performs compression conversion (encoding) processing and decompression conversion (decoding) processing of an audio signal (digital signal) into data in a predetermined format, and an output signal (digital signal) from the DSP 5 Signal) into an analog signal, and the D / A converter 9
Amplifier (AMP) 10 that amplifies the audio signal (analog signal) converted by the above, a speaker 11 that is an audio output unit that outputs the audio signal from the output amplifier 10 as audio, and controls the entire information reproducing apparatus. A system control unit (CPU) 6 which is a control unit for performing the operation, and the following members electrically connected to the system control unit 6.

The system control unit 6 includes the DSP 5
A recording medium 7 formed of a semiconductor memory or the like and recording information in file units; a power supply control unit 14 for controlling a battery (not shown) for supplying a power supply voltage to the entire information reproducing apparatus; An operation input unit 19 including operation buttons for performing operations, and a display unit 13 for displaying various information such as the state of the operation mode device and date and time via the drive circuit 12
Are electrically connected to each other.

The operation input section 19 is an operation mode setting means for setting a predetermined operation mode from among a plurality of operation modes in the information reproducing apparatus, and includes a plurality of operation members, for example, a recording button for setting a recording mode. (RE
C), a play button (PLAY) for setting the play mode,
It comprises various operation buttons such as a stop button (STOP) for setting the stop mode, a fast forward button (FF) for setting the fast forward mode, and a fast rewind button (REW) for setting the fast reverse mode.

The fast-return mode refers to an operation mode in which the current position on the recording medium 7 is returned by tracing in the reverse order of the FAT connection structure.

The system control unit 6 includes a recording medium 7
Temporary storage means 6a comprising two buffers for temporarily storing at least a part of the read content in the order of the FAT connection structure when reading the file recorded in the FAT.
And a temporary storage reading means 6b capable of reading out the contents of the FAT stored in the temporary storage means 6a in the reverse order of reading.

The system control unit 6 responds to an input signal generated by the operation of the operation input unit 19 by an operator, in addition to audio data supplied from the DSP 5, date and time information, index information, and the like. Recording on the recording medium 7 based on a predetermined format,
Is read and supplied to the DSP 5.

The operation of the information reproducing apparatus thus configured will be briefly described below.

First, sound information is collected by the microphone 1 and converted into an electric sound signal (analog signal). After this audio signal is amplified by the input amplifier 2, an unnecessary frequency band is cut in the low-pass filter 3 in order to prevent occurrence of aliasing noise. Thereafter, the audio signal (analog signal) is A /
The signal is input to the D converter 4, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 4, and input to the DSP 5.

The above-mentioned DSP 5 operates during the recording operation.
Under the control of the system control unit 6, the digital signal is converted by the A / D converter 4 into a digital signal, and the audio signal input to the DSP 5 is subjected to an encoding process for compressing and converting it into data of a predetermined format. The encoded data is transmitted to the system control unit 6.

Then, the system control section 6 records the date and time information, index information, and the like in the recording medium 7 in addition to the encoded data, that is, audio data, based on a predetermined format.

On the other hand, during the reproducing operation, the system control section 6 reads out the data recorded on the recording medium 7 and transmits it to the DSP 5. The DSP 5 is controlled by the system control unit 6 so that the system control unit 6
Decoding processing for decompressing the encoded data supplied from. Thereafter, the digital signal decoded here is immediately output to the D / A converter 9 and converted into an analog signal.

The audio signal converted into an analog signal in the D / A converter 9 is cut through an unnecessary frequency band via a low-pass filter (not shown) to reduce quantization noise and drive the speaker 11. Output amplifier 1
Output for 0. The audio signal is amplified by the output amplifier 10 and is sounded by the speaker 11.

When the fast-return mode is set by the fast-return button of the operation input unit 19 as the operation mode setting means, the system control unit 6 replaces the FAT recorded on the recording medium 7 with the FAT. The contents are read out in the order of the connection structure, and at least a part of the contents is temporarily stored in the temporary storage means 6a. Thereafter, the contents of the FAT stored in the temporary storage means 6a are read out by the temporary storage reading means 6b in the reverse order of reading. As a result, the system control unit 6 stores the F
The AT is controlled so as to trace the AT in the reverse order of the connection structure.

Next, the basic operation flow of the information reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 shows a case where the information reproducing apparatus is in a state where a power supply voltage is supplied.

First, in step S10, after the system control section 6 is initialized, in the next step S11, a standby state for an input signal from the operation input section 19 is set.

That is, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the operation button of the operation input unit 19 has been pressed. If any one of the plurality of operation buttons has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S12. , Step S1
In the second and subsequent processes, it is determined which operation button is pressed.

That is, in step S12, if the pressed operation button is the recording button, step S1
The [Recording process] sequence of No. 3 is executed, and when this [Recording process] sequence ends, the process returns to the above-described step S11, and a standby state for an input signal from the operation input unit 19 is entered.

If it is determined in step S12 that the pressed operation button is not the record button, the process proceeds to the next step S14.

In step S14, if the pressed operation button is the playback button, the "reproduction process" sequence of step S15 is executed, and the "reproduction process" is executed.
When the sequence ends, the process returns to the above-described step S11, and a state of waiting for an input signal from the operation input unit 19 is set.

If it is determined in step S14 that the pressed operation button is not the playback button, the flow advances to the next step S16.

In step S16, if the pressed operation button is the fast-forward button, the [fast-forward processing] sequence of step S17 is executed, and when this [fast-forward processing] sequence ends, the process proceeds to step S11. Then, the state returns to a state of waiting for an input signal from the operation input unit 19.

In step S16, if the pressed operation button is not the fast forward button, the flow advances to the next step S18.

If it is determined in step S18 that the pressed operation button is the fast rewind button, the "fast rewind process" sequence in step S19 is executed. When the "fast rewind process" sequence ends, the above-described step S11 is executed. Then, the process returns to the step (1), and the input signal from the operation input unit 19 is in a standby state.

In step S18, even if the pressed operation button is not the fast-return button, the process returns to step S11 to be in a state of waiting for an input signal from the operation input unit 19.

Here, the [fast rewind process] sequence executed in step S19 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
The details of the sequences of [recording process], [reproducing process], and [fast-forwarding process] performed in steps S13, S15, and S17 described above are not directly related to the present invention, and will not be described here. I do.

As described above, when it is detected in step S18 in FIG. 2 that the fast-return button has been pressed,
The sequence of the [fast rewind process] shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

First, in step S21, the current sector position is detected. Then, in the next step S22, the detected sector position is set as the rewind start sector. In the next step S23, the file head sector is set. After acquiring and recording this in the buffer, the process proceeds to the next step S24.

In step S24, it is determined whether or not the rewind start sector matches the file start sector. If it is determined that the two sectors match, the current sector position is at the head position of the file, and the process proceeds to step S25, where the buffer "1" is set. After reading out the contents of the buffer B1 (hereinafter referred to as buffer B1), the process exits the [fast-return process] sequence (RET).
URN).

On the other hand, if the two sectors do not match in step S24, step S2
Proceed to step 6. In this step S26, the state of the two buffers, that is, the buffer B1 and the buffer "2" (hereinafter referred to as buffer B2), is set to B = 1 (see Table 1 below. The values shown in Table 1 are the initial setting values). ), That is, the buffer B1 can be written (B1 = 0).
Then, the buffer B2 is set to the readable state (B2 = 1), and the sector numbers of the buffers B1 and B2 are set to N = 1, and then the process proceeds to step S27.

The buffer capacity of the buffers B1 and B2, that is, the number of sectors that can be accommodated in each buffer is 32 sectors.

Table 1 shows the relationship between the two buffers B1 and B2 in each state.

[0056]

[Table 1] In step S27, it is checked whether the status of the buffers B1 and B2 is set to B = 1. Here, when the state of both buffers is B = 1, the process proceeds to step S28 in FIG. 4, and when the state of both buffers is not B = 1, the process proceeds to step S48 in FIG.

In the above step S27, it is confirmed that the state of the buffer is B = 1, and step S2
At step S28, it is confirmed whether or not the contents of the buffer B2 include unread information. If it is determined that there is no unread in the buffer B2, the process proceeds to step S31. In this step S31, the buffer B2 is set to 0 (writable state), and then the process proceeds to step S32. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S28 that there is unread data in the buffer B2, then in step S29 the FA stored in the buffer B2 is read.
The contents of T are read out from the recording medium 7 in the reverse order of reading (here, "the FAT read out in the reverse order" is hereinafter simply referred to as "the FAT in the opposite direction").
In the next step S30, the FAT in the opposite direction of the buffer B2 and the head sector of the file (step S30 in FIG. 3)
23) is confirmed. Here, when the FAT in the opposite direction of the buffer B2 matches the head sector of the file, the process exits from the [fast rewind process] sequence (RETURN).

If it is determined in step S30 that the FAT in the opposite direction of the buffer B2 does not match the head sector of the file, the flow advances to step S32.

In step S32, the buffer B1 =
It is confirmed whether the state is 0 (writable state). If the buffer B1 is not 0, the process proceeds to step S42. If the buffer B1 is 0, the process proceeds to step S33.

After the FAT is read in step S33, in step S34, the read FAT is set to the rewind start sector (step S22 in FIG. 3).
(See Reference). here,
If they match, the process proceeds to step S35, in which the buffer B1 is set to a readable state (B1 = 1), and in the next step S36, the rewind start sector is set to "32". Proceed.

That is, in step S36, the rewind start sector is set to the head sector of the file by advancing the rewind start sector by "32". As described above, since the buffer capacity is set to 32 sectors, the leading sector of the file can be detected by advancing the sector by “32”.

Therefore, when the sector is advanced by "32" in step S36, even if the head sector is passed, the file is advanced to the head sector of the file, and this is set as the rewind start sector, and the next step S3
Proceed to step 7.

In step S34, F
If the AT does not match the rewind start sector, the process immediately proceeds to step S37, and the process proceeds to step S37.
, The sector number N is counted up (N = N + 1), the write position of the buffer B1 is changed, and the process proceeds to the next step S38.

In step S38, the sector number N
Is greater than "32". Here, if N> 32, that is, the buffer B1
Is full, the buffer B1 is shifted in step S39, the sector number is set to N = 32 in step S40, and then the process proceeds to step S41.

If it is determined in step S38 that the sector number N is 32 or less, the process immediately proceeds to step S41.
Proceed to processing.

In step S41, after the storing operation for the sector number N in the buffer B1 is performed, the process proceeds to the next step S42. In this step S42, it is confirmed whether the reading of the buffer B2 has been completed. Here, when it is determined that the reading of the buffer B2 has been completed, in a step S43, the buffer B2 is set to a writable state (B2 = 0), and the process proceeds to a step S44.

If it is determined in step S42 that the reading of the buffer B2 has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S44, and the process proceeds to step S44.
In, the state of the two buffers B1 and B2 is confirmed. Here, when the buffer B1 = 1 (readable state) and the buffer B2 = 0 (writeable state) (B =
0), the process proceeds to step S45, the state of both buffers is set to B = 0, and the sector number is set to N = 0.
After setting, the process proceeds to step S46.

If it is determined in step S44 that the buffer B1 is not 1 and the buffer B2 is not 0, the process immediately proceeds to step S46. In this step S46, the operation of the operation input unit 19 is executed. It is detected whether or not a stop button (STOP), which is an interruption means for interrupting, is pressed. Here, when it is detected that the stop button has been pressed, a series of [fast rewind processing] sequence is terminated (RETURN). If it is determined that the stop button has not been pressed, the process returns to step S27 shown in FIG. 3, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

On the other hand, in step S27, it is determined that the state of the buffer is not B = 1, and the process proceeds to step S48 in FIG. 5. In step S48, the contents of the buffer B1 include unread information. A determination is made whether or not. Here, if it is determined that there is no unread in the buffer B1, the process proceeds to step S51. In this step S51, the buffer B1 is set to 0 (writable state), and then the process proceeds to step S52. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S48 that the buffer B1 has not been read, in step S49, the FA stored in the buffer B1 is read.
T is read out from the recording medium 7 in the reverse order of reading it (here, "the FAT read out in the reverse order" is simply referred to as "the FAT in the opposite direction"), and in the next step S50. , FA in the opposite direction of buffer B1
It is checked whether T matches the head sector of the file (see step S23 in FIG. 3). here,
If the FAT in the buffer B1 in the opposite direction matches the head sector of the file, the process exits this [return process] sequence (RETURN).

If it is determined in step S50 that the FAT in the buffer B1 in the opposite direction does not match the head sector of the file, the flow advances to step S52.

In step S52, the buffer B2 =
It is confirmed whether the state is 0 (writable state).
If the buffer B2 is not equal to 0, the process proceeds to step S62. If the buffer B2 is equal to 0, the process proceeds to step S53.

After reading the FAT in step S53, in step S54 the read FAT is set to the rewind start sector (step S22 in FIG. 3).
(See Reference). here,
If they match, the process proceeds to step S55. In step S55, the buffer B2 is set to a readable state (B2 = 1). In the next step S56, the rewind start sector is set to "32". Proceed.

That is, the rewind start sector is set to the first sector of the file by advancing the rewind start sector by "32" in step S56. As described above, since the buffer capacity is set to 32 sectors, the leading sector of the file can be detected by advancing the sector by “32”.

Therefore, when the sector is advanced by "32" in the above step S56, even if the leading sector is passed, the file is advanced to the leading sector of the file, this is set as the rewind start sector, and the next step S5
Proceed to step 7.

In step S54, F
If the AT does not match the rewind start sector, the process immediately proceeds to step S57. This step S57
, The sector number N is counted up (N = N + 1), the write position of the buffer B2 is changed, and the process proceeds to the next step S58.

In step S58, the sector number N
Is greater than "32". Here, if N> 32, that is, the buffer B2
Is full, the buffer B2 is shifted in step S59, the sector number is set to N = 32 in step S60, and the process proceeds to step S61.

If it is determined in step S58 that the sector number N is 32 or less, the process immediately proceeds to step S61.
Proceed to processing.

In step S61, after performing the storing operation to the Nth sector number of the buffer B2, the process proceeds to the next step S62. In this step S62, it is confirmed whether the reading of the buffer B1 has been completed. Here, when it is determined that the reading of the buffer B1 has been completed, the buffer B1 is set to a writable state (B1 = 0) in step S63, and the process proceeds to step S64.

If it is determined in step S62 that the reading of the buffer B1 has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S64, and the process proceeds to step S64.
In, the state of the two buffers B1 and B2 is confirmed. Here, if the buffer B1 = 0 (writable state) and the buffer B2 = 1 (readable state),
Proceeding to the process in step S65, the state of both buffers is changed to B =
After setting to 0 and setting the sector number to N = 0, the process proceeds to step S66.

If the buffer B1 is not equal to 0 and the buffer B2 is not equal to 1 in step S64, the process immediately proceeds to step S66. In step S66, the stop button (S
TOP) is detected. here,
When it is detected that the stop button has been pressed, the series of [return processing] sequence is terminated (RETURN). When it is determined that the stop button has not been pressed, FIG.
Then, the process returns to step S27 shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the information reproducing apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the two buffers B1 and B2 temporarily store the FATs of about 32 sectors each in the opposite direction. When searching for the temporarily stored FAT, one buffer is used for fast rewind operation, and during this time, the other buffer is controlled to exclusively search for the FAT in the opposite direction. Therefore, the file search time can be reduced.

Considering that it takes a very long time to search to the end of the file due to the large size of the desired file, if the stop button (STOP) of the operation input unit 19 is pressed, Can interrupt the rewind processing at that time.

[0085]

As described above, the time required in the fast reverse mode for searching for information such as audio data recorded on the recording medium using the FAT retroactively from the current position is reduced, and a faster file search is performed. And an information reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing desired information quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a basic operation flow in the information reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a [fast rewind process] sequence in the information reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a [fast rewind process] sequence in the information reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a [fast rewind process] sequence in the information reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between file positions on a recording medium managed by the FAT.

[Description of Signs] 1... Microphone (voice input means) 2... Input amplifier (AMP) 3... Low-pass filter (LPF) 4... A / D converter 5... Digital signal processing unit (DSP) 6. ··· System control unit (CPU; control means) 6a ··· Temporary storage means 6b ··· Temporary storage reading means 7 ··· Recording medium 9 ··· D / A converter 10 ··· Output amplifier (AMP) 11 ··· Speaker (voice Output means 12 Drive circuit 13 Display 14 Power control section 19 Operation input section (operation mode setting means) STOP Stop button (interruption means) REW Fast rewind button

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium in which information is recorded on a file basis and an address of a recording area of the file is managed by an FAT, and at least a content of the FAT read out in the order of the FAT connection structure. Temporary storage means for temporarily storing a part thereof; temporary storage reading means for reading the contents of the FAT stored in the temporary storage means in the reverse order of the reading from the FAT; An operation mode setting means for setting a predetermined operation mode from among a plurality of operation modes including at least a fast-return mode for returning the current position of the recording medium by tracing the FAT connection structure in reverse order; When the fast reverse mode is set by the operation mode setting means, at least a part of the contents of the FAT read out in the order of the FAT connection structure is temporarily stored. After stored in the temporary storage means, by reading the FAT contents stored in said temporary memory means in the reverse order that they were read from the FAT in the temporary storage reading means, the FA
Control means for controlling T to follow the order of the FAT connection structure in reverse order, and an information reproducing apparatus comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising two temporary storage means, wherein when the fast-return mode is set by the operation mode setting means, the control means sets the contents of the FAT read out in the order of the FAT connection structure. An operation of temporarily storing at least a part of the temporary storage means in one of the temporary storage means, and the other of the temporary storage means in a reverse order to the one read from the FAT by the temporary storage reading means. 2. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation of reading out the contents of the FAT stored in the memory is performed in parallel, and the parallel operation is controlled to be alternately and exclusively repeated. 3. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interruption unit for interrupting the operation in the fast reverse mode.