JPH10304303A - Data edit device and data edit method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the processing time of an edit device and to improve an edit work efficiency. SOLUTION: A data edit device is provided with a plurality of coding means 11-13 that code a received image and/or audio signal, a storage means 14 that stores a plurality of produced coded data, a multiplexer means 15 that reads a plurality of coded data from the storage means 14 and multiplexes the data to generate multiplexed data and stores the multiplexed data to the storage means 14 as recording data, and a control means 16 that controls the operation of each means. Then the control means 16 controls each of the coding means 11-13 in a way that when there are recording data to be generated next, regardless of a processing state by other coding means 11-13 at the end point of time for coding processing with respect to recording data by any of the coding means 11-13, the coding of the recording data to be generated next is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data editing apparatus and a data editing method, for example, a DVD (Digital Video).
o It is suitable for application to an authoring apparatus that edits and creates recording data composed of video and audio to be recorded on an optical disc called Disc / Digital Versatile Disc).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an optical disk called a DVD has been put to practical use as a device for compressing and recording images and sounds. In this DVD, the compression encoding method is I
SO (International Standardization Organization)
MPEG (Moving Picture Exp) standardized by
(erts Group) method, whereby high-efficiency compression encoding is performed to efficiently record images and sounds.

[0003] In the above-mentioned MPEG system, a compression coding system is separately defined for each of an image and a sound. For an image, motion compensation prediction and two-dimensional DCT (Disc) are used.
Rete Cosine Transform (discrete cosine transform) is defined by a method combined with the method, and voice is defined by a method using a sub-band coding method.

[0004] Recording data to be recorded on such a DVD is obtained by digitally encoding a moving image, audio, or a still image such as subtitles to be recorded based on the MPEG system or the like. It is generated by multiplexing in a format conforming to the standard. Such editing work is generally called authoring, and a device used for the editing work is called an authoring device.

The authoring apparatus includes a plurality of encoders for digitally encoding the above-described moving image, audio, or still image based on the MPEG system or the like, and multiplexes various data encoded by each of the encoders. A multiplexer for storing the coded various data and the multiplexed data; a viewer for reading and multiplexing the data multiplexed by the multiplexer from the hard disk; And a tape streamer for reading out the data multiplexed by the multiplexer from the hard disk after downloading by the multiplexer and downloading the data to a tape-shaped recording medium, a control unit for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, and the like.

[0006]

In such an authoring apparatus, each of the encoders encodes a video signal, an audio signal, a still image signal, or the like according to the MPEG system or the like, and obtains the resulting encoded data. Data is sequentially stored on the hard disk.

[0007] The multiplexer in the authoring device uses the image, audio, and video data stored in the hard disk.
Interleave encoded data such as subtitles,
A multiplexing process for creating recording data called disk image data is performed together with various format files of VD. And the created recording data is
It is stored in the hard disk.

The recording data is read out from the hard disk by the tape streamer and downloaded as a cutting master onto the tape-shaped recording medium in order to create a disk stamper in a step following the authoring (mastering step). The Rukoto.

However, in the conventional authoring apparatus, when the authoring process is performed a plurality of times, for example, after the authoring process for one movie (one DVD disc) is completed, another movie (one DVD) is completed. The authoring process for another disc).
As described above, since the work is performed sequentially for each authoring unit, a very long processing time is required as a whole, and there is a problem that the working efficiency per apparatus is poor.

[0010] The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a data editing apparatus and a data editing method capable of shortening the overall processing time and improving the work efficiency. With the goal.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a data editing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of encoding means for encoding an input image and / or audio signal; Storage means for storing the plurality of coded data, and multiplexed data is generated by reading and multiplexing the plurality of coded data from the storage means,
A multiplexing unit that stores the multiplexed data as recording data in a storage unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of each unit.

[0012] According to the data editing apparatus, when the control unit completes the encoding process for the recording data by any of the encoding units, regardless of the processing status of the other encoding units, If there is recording data to be recorded, each encoding unit is controlled so as to start encoding of the recording data.

[0013] Further, a data editing method according to the present invention that achieves the above object has an encoding step of encoding an input image and / or audio signal by a plurality of encoding means, and an encoding step that is generated in the encoding step. Multiplexed data is generated by a storage step of storing the plurality of coded data in the storage means, and multiplexing means for reading and multiplexing the plurality of coded data from the storage means, and using the multiplexed data as recording data. Multiplexing step of storing in a storage means.

According to the data editing method, in the encoding step, when the encoding process for the recording data by one of the encoding units is completed, regardless of the processing status of the other encoding unit, If there is recording data to be generated, each encoding unit operates so that encoding processing for the recording data is started.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an authoring apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. This authoring apparatus generates recording data to be recorded on an optical disc of the DVD standard by compressing and encoding images and sounds and multiplexing them, and performs a plurality of authoring processes in parallel. I have.

As shown in FIG. 1, the authoring device 10 includes a plurality of encoding devices 11 to 13 for encoding a signal such as a moving image, a still image, or a sound, and a storage device for storing encoded data. 14, a multiplexing device 15 for generating recording data by multiplexing the encoded data, a decoding device 17 for inspecting the generated recording data, and managing the operation of the entire device. And a supervisor 16. In addition, the authoring apparatus 10 includes a recording device 18 that records the generated recording data on a predetermined recording medium such as a tape-shaped recording medium.

An encoding device 11 includes a video encoder 11a for encoding a moving image signal and the video encoder 1a.
It comprises a video encoder controller 11b for controlling the operation of 1a. The encoding device 11 sequentially compresses and encodes the video signal input to the video encoder 11a based on the MPEG method, and encodes the resulting video encoded data into a multiplexing device 15 to be described later.
Via the storage device 14 in a predetermined storage area of the storage device 14 sequentially.

The encoding device 11 transmits various information necessary for encoding, for example, the number of moving images to be encoded and address information of a storage area for storing encoded data from the supervisor 16 via the network 19. received,
An encoding process is performed based on these pieces of information, and the resulting video encoded data is stored in a designated storage area of the storage device 14.

The above-mentioned various information required for encoding is described in an order file, which will be described later in detail, supplied from the supervisor 16. In addition, the encoding device 11 outputs a status file, which will be described in detail later, to the supervisor 16 according to the operation state.

The encoding device 12 includes an audio encoder 12a for encoding an audio signal and an audio encoder controller 12b for controlling the operation of the audio encoder 12a. The encoding device 12 sequentially converts the audio signal input to the audio encoder 12a based on the MPEG audio system or the AC-3 system (a compression encoding system in which modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) and spectrum envelope encoding are combined). The compression encoding is performed, and the audio encoded data obtained as a result is sequentially stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage device 14 via a multiplexer 15 described later.

The encoding device 12 also transmits an order file in which various information necessary for encoding, for example, the number of voices to be encoded and address information of a storage area for storing encoded data, to the network 19. The information is received from the supervisor 16 via the information processing unit, an encoding process is performed based on the information, and the resulting audio encoded data is stored in the designated storage area of the storage device. The encoding device 12 also outputs a status file, which will be described in detail later, to the supervisor 16 in accordance with the operation state.

An encoding device 13 includes a picture encoder 13a for encoding a signal such as a still image called a sub-picture such as a subtitle and a picture encoder controller 13 for controlling the operation of the picture encoder 13a.
b. In the encoding device 13, picture signals formed from subtitles and the like are sequentially encoded by the MPEG system or another encoding system, and the resulting picture encoded data is stored in a storage device 14 via a multiplexer 15 described later. Are sequentially stored in a predetermined storage area.

Similarly, the encoding device 13 stores an order file in which various information necessary for encoding, for example, the number of sub-pictures to be encoded and address information of a storage area for storing encoded data are described. The coded data is received from the supervisor 16 via the network 19 and stored in the designated storage area of the storage device 14 based on the information. The encoding device 13 similarly outputs a status file to be described later to the supervisor 16 according to the operation state.

As a transmission line connecting each of the encoding devices 11 to 13 and the storage device 14, a transmission line such as SCSI capable of high-speed transmission is used.

The storage device 14 is a so-called server, and includes a hard disk array. The storage device 14 includes a hard disk array having a storage capacity of, for example, 30 gigabytes or more, which is sufficient for storing various data generated when a plurality of authoring processes are performed in parallel. Then, the storage area is divided for each authoring unit. Further, the storage device 14 stores the respective coded data input by one-time authoring in different storage areas in the divided storage areas. Further, in each of the divided storage areas of the storage device 14, multiplexed data generated by the multiplexing device 15 which will be described in detail later is stored in addition to the storage areas where the respective encoded data are stored. A storage area is secured, and the multiplexed data can be stored in the storage area.

FIG. 2 shows an example of allocation of storage areas of a hard disk array (hereinafter, referred to as a server) of the storage device 14. As described above, the storage area of the server is divided for each authoring unit. In this example, for example, three D
In order to perform the authoring process three times to produce a VD standard disc, the entire server is divided into areas A, B, and C.
Divided into two areas.

Further, each area of the divided server is:
It is divided into two areas: an elementary area for encoding and a multiplexed data storage area for multiplexing processing. FIG. 2 shows a case where half the storage capacity of the area B is allocated to the elementary area and the other half is allocated to the multiplexed data storage area. The same applies to the areas A and B.

Here, the encoded data from the video encoder 11a, the audio encoder 12a, and the picture encoder 13a are stored in different storage areas in the encoding elementary area as shown in FIG. It is written as a data stream, an audio data stream, and a picture data stream such as subtitles. In FIG. 2, one video data stream, two audio data streams,
A case where two subtitle data streams are written in this order is shown. On the other hand, multiplexed data from the multiplexing device 15 described below is written in the multiplexed data storage area for the multiplexing process.

The multiplexing device 15 is provided with a so-called multiplexer, and sequentially reads out the video coded data, audio coded data, and picture coded data from the above-described elementary area of the storage device 14 as data to be processed. These data are multiplexed in an order conforming to the DVD standard, and the resulting multiplexed data is sequentially stored as recording data in the multiplexed data storage area in the same divided area of the storage device 14. . That is, the multiplexing device 15 stores the generated multiplexed data in the multiplexed data storage area of the area A when the processing target data is read from the elementary area of the area A of the storage device 14.

The multiplexing device 15 (hereinafter also referred to as a multiplexer 15) also stores information necessary for multiplexing, for example, video encoded data, audio encoded data, and picture encoded data. An order file in which address information of a mental area, address information of a multiplexed data storage area for storing multiplexed data, and the like are described from the supervisor 16 via the network 19, and multiplex processing is performed based on the information. After execution, the multiplexed data is stored in the designated multiplexed data storage area of the storage device 14. Similarly, the multiplexer 15 outputs a status file to the supervisor 16 according to the operation state.

The decoding device 17 is what is called a viewer, and is for checking whether the encoding process of each of the encoding devices 11 to 13 and the multiplexing process of the multiplexer 15 have been performed normally. is there. This decoding device 1
7 (hereinafter, also referred to as a viewer 17) is the storage device 1
The multiplexed data stored in the multiplexed data storage area of No. 4 is sequentially read out through the multiplexer 15 and decoded, and the decoded data is output to the monitor screen and the speaker in the monitor unit 17a. By providing such a viewer 17, the authoring apparatus 1
In the case of 0, it is possible to immediately and easily check whether or not the encoding process and the multiplexing process have been performed normally.

The viewer 17 also superimposes, via the network 19, information necessary for decoding, for example, an order file in which address information of a storage area in which multiplexed data is stored and information of an encoding method are described. Receiving from the visor 16, a decoding process is executed based on the information. The viewer 17 also outputs a status file to the supervisor 16 according to the operation state.

The recording device 18 includes a tape streamer 18.
a and a streamer controller 18b for controlling the operation of the tape streamer 18a.
The tape streamer 18a in the recording device 18 is for recording the recording data on a predetermined tape-shaped recording medium in order to transfer the recording data to a mastering process for manufacturing an optical disc.

The streamer controller 18b of the recording device 18 also stores an order file in which information necessary for a recording operation, for example, address information of a multiplexed data storage area in which multiplexed data is stored, information of a recording method, and the like are described. The multiplexed data is received from the supervisor 16 via the network 19, and the tape streamer 16a is operated based on the information to sequentially multiplex from the multiplexed data storage area of the storage device 14 via the multiplexer 15. The data is read out and recorded on a predetermined tape-shaped recording medium.

The streamer controller 1
8b also outputs a status file to the supervisor 16 according to the operation state of the tape streamer 18a. Such a recording device 18
In this authoring device 10, by providing
The recording data to be passed to the mastering step can be immediately and easily recorded on a predetermined recording medium.

The multiplexer 15 and the viewer 1
7, or a transmission line such as SCSI capable of high-speed transmission is also used as a transmission line connecting the recording device 18 and the storage device 14.

The supervisor 16 is provided for each encoding device 1
1 to 13, the multiplexer 15, or the viewer 1
7 and the operation of the recording device 18 and the storage device 1
4 data recording areas. Specifically, the supervisor 16 manages each device by reading the contents of the status file output from each device and sending an order file described below corresponding to the contents to each device.

Here, the order file is a file that triggers the operation of each device, and is defined with a different name for each device. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, “VIDEO.ORD”, “AUDIO.OR
D ”,“ SUBPIC.ORD ”,“ MUX.OR
D "," VIEWER. ORD "," STREAME "
R. ORD "are used. Of course, the name of the order file is not particularly limited.

Of these, "VIDEO.ORD" and "A
UDIO. ORD "and" SUBPIC.ORD "
Is that the supervisor 16 is the video encoder controller 11b and the encoding device 12 of the encoding device 11, respectively.
Is an order file to be sent to the audio encoder controller 12b and the picture encoder controller 13b of the encoding device 13. Also, "MU
X. ORD "," VIEWER.ORD ", and" ST
REAMER. “ORD” is an order file sent by the supervisor 16 to the multiplexer 15, the viewer 17, and the streamer controller 18 of the recording device 18, respectively.

In each of these order files, the above-described various information necessary for each device to perform processing is described as its contents.

The supervisor 16 has a so-called scheduling function, and manages the number and order of authoring processes when there are a plurality of authoring projects. Note that the number of times and order of the authoring process are set by a key input operation or the like from the operator.

On the other hand, the controller 11b, 12b, 13b, the multiplexer 15, the viewer 17, and the streamer controller 18b of the recording device 18 of the encoding devices 11 to 13 indicate the operation state of each device as described above. A status file is output.
This status file is defined with a different name for each device, similarly to the order file described above. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A "," AUDIO.STA "," SUBPIC.ST "
A "," MUX.STA "," VIEWER.ST "
A "and" STREAMER.STA ". It is needless to say that the name of the status file is not particularly limited.

Of these, "VIDEO.STA" and "A
UDIO. STA "and" SUBPIC.STA "
Are status files output by the video encoder controller 11b, the audio encoder controller 12b, and the picture encoder controller 13b to indicate the operation states of the respective encoders 11a, 12a, 13a. Also, “MUX.ST
“A” and “VIEWER.STA” are status files output by the multiplexer 15 and the viewer 17 to indicate the respective operating states. further,
“STREAMER.STA” indicates that the streamer controller 18 b of the recording device 18 has the tape streamer 18.
6 is a status file output to indicate the operation state of FIG.

Each of these status files has the format shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), one of “InProgress” indicating that the component is being processed and “Done” indicating that the process has been completed is described.

At the start of the authoring, the supervisor 16 sends “VIDEO.ORD”, “AU” to give an instruction to each of the encoding devices 11 to 13 to start the encoding process.
DIO. ORD ”and“ SUBPIC.ORD ”order files. Also Supervisor 1
6 are “VIDEO.STA” and “AUDIO.S”.
TA ”and“ SUBPIC.STA ”are read out, and it is determined whether or not each process in each device is completed. When determining that the encoding process of each of the encoding devices 11 to 13 has been completed, the supervisor 16 sends an order file of “MUX.ORD” to give an instruction to the multiplexer 15 to start the multiplexing process. Also, the supervisor 16
When it is determined that the multiplexing process of the multiplexer 15 has been completed, an order file of “VIEWER.ORD” is sent to give an instruction to start the decoding process to the viewer 17. Further, when determining that the decoding process by the viewer 17 has been completed, the supervisor 16 sends out an order file of “STREAMER.ORD” to give an instruction to start the recording process to the recording device 18.

The supervisor 16 is provided for each encoding device 1
The storage area of the storage device 14 for the encoded data generated by 1 to 13 and the multiplexed data generated by the multiplexer 15 is managed. Specifically, the supervisor 16 instructs each of the encoding devices 11 to 13 to a different storage area as a data storage destination, and instructs the multiplexer 15 to use a storage area different from the encoded data as a data storage destination. To instruct. Further, the supervisor 16 also instructs the multiplexer 15 to read the encoded data, and also to specify a storage area for the encoded data. These instructions are described as the contents of each order file described above.

The order file in which the operation command of each device and the instruction such as the data storage destination are described are sent from the supervisor 16 to the devices 11 to 13, 15, 17, and 18 via the network 19, respectively. Supplied. The repeaters 20 to 26 shown in FIG.
Is equivalent to an interface for connecting each of the above devices to the network 19.

Therefore, each of the devices 11 to 13, 15,
Each of the devices 17 and 18 can execute the work assigned to itself by reading the contents of the order file addressed to itself, and store the storage device 14 between the devices so that the storage locations of the generated data do not overlap. Can be shared at

Here, the processing performed by the encoding devices 11 to 13, the multiplexer 15, the viewer 17, and the recording device 18 (hereinafter, each of these devices is referred to as a component for convenience) is referred to the flowchart shown in FIG. I will explain.

Each component determines in step S1 whether there is an order file addressed to itself.
If NO, that is, if it is determined that there is no order file, the process waits until an order file addressed to itself is sent from the supervisor 16, and if YES, that is, if it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step S2.

Each component reads out the contents of the order file in step S2, and starts processing in accordance with the contents in step S3. Accordingly, the component sends a status file in which “InProgress” indicating that the process is being performed in step S4 to the supervisor 16 and proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, each component manages whether or not the processing in step S3 has been completed, waits in step S5 until this processing is completed, and proceeds to step S6 when the processing is completed.

In step S 6, each component sends a status file in which “Done” indicating the end of the process is described to the supervisor 16, and returns to step 1. Each component repeats the above-described processes from step S1 to step S6 in the same manner.

Next, the control performed by the supervisor 16 on each of the above components will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The supervisor 16 initializes each component at the start of the processing, generates each order file relating to the encoding of the first authoring project, and transmits it to each encoder controller 11b to 13b of each of the encoding devices 11 to 13.

As a result, in the authoring apparatus 10, encoding processing in the first authoring project is performed. More specifically, in the authoring apparatus 10, a video signal, an audio signal, and a picture signal are input to the encoding apparatuses 11 to 13, respectively, and these signals are converted into the encoders 11a to 13 respectively.
By performing the encoding process in a, encoded video data, encoded audio data, and encoded picture data are generated. These encoded data are input to the storage device 14 via the multiplexer 15 and stored in, for example, a predetermined storage area of the elementary area for the area A shown in FIG. Then, in the authoring apparatus 10, the supervisor 16 performs a series of control processes in the following steps S11 to S29.

In step S11 shown in FIG. 6, the supervisor 16
1b, which is a status file output by VIDEO.
The contents of the STA are read, and it is determined whether or not the video encoding processing has been completed. If it is determined that the process is completed, the process proceeds to step S12. If NO, that is, if it is determined that the process is currently being performed, step S12 described later is performed.
Proceed to 14.

In step S12, the supervisor 16 determines whether or not there is a video encoding process scheduled for the next authoring project by the above-described scheduling function. If it is determined that there is such a schedule, the process proceeds to step S13, and NO
That is, when it is determined that there is no schedule, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S13, the supervisor 16 sends the VIDEO. ORD is generated, and this order file is sent to the video encoder controller 11b of the encoding device 11. Thereby, in the authoring device 10, the video encoder controller 11b
Is determined by steps S2 and S3 described above.
IDEO. The contents of the ORD are read, and the video encoding process for the next project is started. In addition,
Refer to FIG. 9 for the authoring state in step S13.

In the following step S14, the supervisor 16 sets the audio encoder controller 12
AUDIO.b, which is the status file output by b. S
The contents of the TA are read, and it is determined whether or not the audio encoding process has been completed. If it is determined that the processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S15,
If NO, that is, if it is determined that the process is currently being performed, the process proceeds to step S17 described below.

In step S15, the supervisor 16 determines by its scheduling function whether or not there is a schedule for audio encoding processing for the next authoring project. If it is determined that there is such a plan, the process proceeds to step S16, and NO
That is, when it is determined that there is no schedule, the process proceeds to step S17 described later.

In step S16, the supervisor 16 sets the AUDIO. ORD is generated, and this order file is sent to the audio encoder controller 12b of the encoding device 12. As a result, in the authoring device 10, the audio encoder controller 12b performs the AUDIO. The contents of the ORD are read, and the audio encoding process for the next authoring project is started. Also, refer to FIG. 9 for the authoring state in step S16.

In the next step S17 shown in FIG.
The supervisor 16 includes a SUB, which is a status file output by the picture encoder controller 13b.
PIC. The contents of the STA are read out, and it is determined whether or not the picture encoding processing for the subtitles or the like has been completed. If it is determined that such processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S18. If NO, that is, if it is determined that the process is currently being performed, the process proceeds to step S20 described below.

In step S18, the supervisor 16 determines by its scheduling function whether or not there is a picture encoding process scheduled for the next authoring project. If it is determined that there is such a schedule, the process proceeds to step S19. If NO, that is, if it is determined that there is no schedule, step S19 described later is performed.
Go to 20.

In step S19, the supervisor 16 sends the SUBPIC. ORD is generated, and this order file is sent to the picture encoder controller 13b of the encoding device 13. Thereby, in the authoring device 10, the picture encoder controller 13b performs the above-described steps S2 and S3.
This SUBPIC. The contents of the ORD are read, and the picture encoding process for the next project is started. Also, refer to FIG. 9 for the authoring state in step S19.

In step S20, the supervisor 16 transmits the status file MUX. The contents of the STA are read, and it is determined whether or not the multiplexing processing has been completed. If it is determined that the process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S11.
If NO, that is, if it is determined that the process is currently being performed, the process proceeds to step S23 described below.

In step S21, the supervisor 16 uses the scheduling function to execute
It is determined whether there is a project in which all encoding of audio and pictures has been completed. When it is determined that there is such a project, the process proceeds to step S22, and when it is determined that the project does not exist, the process proceeds to step S23 described later.

In step S22, the supervisor 16 sets the MUX. ORD is generated, and this order file is sent to the multiplexer 15. Thus, in the authoring apparatus 10, the multiplexer 15 performs this MU by the above-described steps S2 and S3.
X. The contents of the ORD are read out, and multiplexing processing is started for a project in which all encoding of video, audio, and picture has been completed. It should be noted that the authoring state in step S22 is also referred to FIG.

In step S23 shown in FIG. 8, the supervisor 16 displays the status file VIEWER. The contents of the STA are read, and it is determined whether or not the decoding process (hereinafter, referred to as a view wing) by the viewer 17 has been completed. If it is determined that such processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S24. If NO, that is, if it is determined that the process is currently being performed, the process proceeds to step S26 described below.

In step S24, the supervisor 16 determines by the scheduling function whether or not there is a project for which the multiplexing process by the multiplexer 15 has been completed. If it is determined that there is such a project, the process proceeds to step S25.
Proceed to.

In step S25, the supervisor 16 sets the VIEWER. ORD is generated, and this order file is sent to the viewer 17. This allows
In the authoring apparatus 10, the viewer 17 performs this VIE in steps S2 and S3 described above.
WER. The contents of the ORD are read, and the view wing of the data of the project for which the multiplexing process has been completed is started. Also, refer to FIG. 9 for the authoring state in step S25.

In step S 26, the supervisor 16 sends the streamer controller 1 of the recording device 18
STREAM which is the status file output by 8b
ER. The contents of the STA are read, and it is determined whether or not the stream processing has been completed. If it is determined that such processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S27, and N
If O, that is, if it is determined that the processing is currently being performed, the process proceeds to step S29 described below.

In step S27, the supervisor 16 determines by the scheduling function whether or not there is a project whose view wing has been completed. If it is determined that there is such a project, the process proceeds to step S28. If NO, that is, if there is no project, the process proceeds to step S29.

In step S28, the supervisor 16 sets the STREAM. ORD is generated, and this order file is sent to the streamer controller 18b of the recording device 18. Thereby, the authoring device 10
In step ST2, the streamer controller 18b performs this STREA by performing steps S2 and S3 described above.
M. ORD is read, and stream processing is started for the project for which the view wing has been completed.
For the authoring state in step S28, see FIG.

In step S29, the supervisor 16 determines whether or not the authoring process for all the projects has been completed by using the scheduling function. If the determination is YES, that is, if it is determined that the authoring process has been completed for all the projects, the control process is terminated. Is repeated.

By performing such control, in the authoring apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of authoring processes are performed in parallel, and high authoring efficiency can be obtained. That is, according to the authoring apparatus 10, instead of waiting for the completion of the first authoring processing and performing the next authoring processing, in the encoding processing in each of the encoding apparatuses 11 to 13,
By independently processing video for video, audio for audio, and subtitles for subtitles and the like, wasteful time caused by waiting for the end of encoding processing of another encoder can be eliminated. Therefore, according to the authoring apparatus 10, the efficiency of the entire authoring is improved.

The parallel processing of each authoring project as described above can be realized by controlling it by a pipeline processing method.

In this embodiment, the supervisor 16 sends out various order files to each component, and each component outputs a status file to the supervisor 16. It is not limited to this mode. That is, in the authoring apparatus 10, for example, a specific directory that can be commonly used by the supervisor 16 and each component is set on the network 19, and the various order files and each status file described above are stored in the directory. Is also good. In this case, the supervisor 16 and each component may search the status directory or order file at any time as to whether or not the status file or the order file is addressed to the specific directory, and read out the content if found. .

In this embodiment, the entire hard disk array of the storage device 14 is divided into three areas as shown in FIG. 2, but the number of divisions is not particularly limited. Instead, it may be set appropriately according to the storage capacity of the storage device 14. Further, in this embodiment, for the fourth and subsequent authoring processes, for example, if the area A for the first authoring process is overwritten after the end of the first authoring process, the n times of the authoring process shown in FIG. The value of n for the authoring project is also not particularly limited.

Further, in this embodiment, the storage device 1
Although a device having one input / output port is used as 4 and various data are read and written via the multiplexer 15, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a so-called multi-port type having a plurality of input / output ports may be used as the storage device 14, and a configuration may be adopted in which each component is directly connected to each input / output port. The speed of each process can be further increased.

[0081]

As described above in detail, according to the data editing apparatus of the present invention, when the control means completes the encoding process for the recording data by one of the encoding means, the other encoding is performed. Regardless of the processing state of the means, if there is recording data to be generated next, each encoding means is controlled so as to start encoding of the recording data. By independently proceeding with the encoding process, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary time due to waiting for the end of the process of the other encoding means, shorten the entire processing time, and improve the data editing efficiency.

According to the data editing method of the present invention, in the encoding step, when the encoding process for the recording data by one of the encoding units is completed, the processing status of the other encoding unit is determined. Regardless of this, if there is recording data to be generated next, each encoding means operates so that encoding processing for the recording data is started, so that each encoding means independently performs encoding processing. , It is possible to save unnecessary time caused by waiting for the end of the processing of another encoding unit, and to shorten the entire processing time and improve the efficiency of data editing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing an example of storage area allocation in a storage device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining types and contents of an order file.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining types and contents of a status file.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of each of the encoding device, the decoding device, and the recording device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the supervisor.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the supervisor.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the supervisor.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a state of authoring performed by the authoring apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

References 10 Authoring device, 11, 12, 13 Encoding device, 14 Storage device, 15 Multiplexing device, 16 Control device, 17 Decoding device, 18 Recording device

Claims (22)

[Claims] A data editing apparatus for encoding a plurality of image and / or audio signals and multiplexing the plurality of encoded data to generate recording data to be recorded on a recording medium. A plurality of encoding means for encoding an image and / or audio signal, a storage means for storing the plurality of encoded data generated by the encoding means, and the plurality of encoded data from the storage means. Multiplexing means for generating multiplexed data by reading and multiplexing the data, storing the multiplexed data in the storage means as the recording data, and control means for controlling the operation of each of these means. The above-mentioned control means, at the time when the encoding processing for the recording data by any of the encoding means is completed, regardless of the processing status by the other encoding means, Data editing apparatus characterized by recording data to form controls each encoding means to initiate the encoding related to the recorded data, if any. 2. A reproducing means for performing a reproducing process of reading and reproducing the recording data stored in the storage means by the multiplexing means, and transmitting the recording data stored in the storage means to a predetermined recording medium. Recording means for performing recording processing for recording, the control means for generating multiplexed data by the multiplexing means and recording the multiplexed data by the multiplexing means when the encoding processing by the plurality of encoding means is completed. A multiplexing process to be stored in the storage unit as data is started, and when the multiplexing process is completed, the reproducing process by the reproducing unit is started. When the reproducing process is completed, the recording by the recording unit is performed. 2. The data editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to start processing. 3. Each of the encoding means generates a file indicating that the encoding processing has been completed with the end of the encoding processing, and the control means has a function of generating the file generated by each of the encoding means. 2. The data editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end of the encoding process for the recording data by any of the encoding units is determined by referring to. 4. The above-mentioned control means, upon completion of the encoding process for the recording data by one of the encoding means,
If there is recording data to be generated next for the encoding unit that has completed the encoding process, a file describing an instruction to start the encoding process is generated, and the encoding unit refers to the file. 2. The data editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an encoding process for the recording data is started. 5. The multiplexing means generates a file indicating that the multiplexing process has been completed with the completion of the multiplexing process, and the control means refers to the file to execute the multiplexing. 2. The data editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end of the multiplexing processing by the means is determined. 6. When the multiplexing processing is completed by the multiplexing means, the control means, if there is multiplexed data to be generated next, instructs the multiplexing means to start the multiplexing processing. 2. The data editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexing means starts multiplexing processing on the multiplexed data by referring to the file while generating the generated file. 7. The reading means generates a file indicating that the reading processing has been completed with the end of the reading processing, and the control means refers to the file to execute the reading processing by the reading means. The data editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end of the data editing is determined. 8. The control means, upon completion of the read processing by the read means, generates a file describing an instruction to start the read processing to the read means if there is recording data to be read next. 3. The data editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reading unit starts reading processing on the recording data by referring to the file. 4. 9. The recording means generates a file indicating that the recording processing has ended with the end of the recording processing, and the control means refers to the file to execute the recording processing by the recording means. The data editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end of the data editing is determined. 10. The control means, upon completion of the recording processing by the recording means, instructs the recording means to start recording processing if there is recording data to be recorded next on a predetermined recording medium. 3. The data editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording unit generates a file describing the recording data and starts a recording process regarding the recording data by referring to the file. 11. When creating a plurality of recording data, the storage means includes a storage area for storing a plurality of encoded data generated by the plurality of encoding means for each recording data, and The data editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording area for storing the multiplexed data generated by the multiplexing means as the recording data is secured for each recording data. 12. A data editing method for encoding a plurality of image and / or audio signals and multiplexing the plurality of encoded data to generate recording data to be recorded on a recording medium. An encoding step of encoding an image and / or audio signal by a plurality of encoding means; a storage step of storing a plurality of encoded data generated in the encoding step in a storage means; Multiplexing means for generating multiplexed data by multiplexing means for reading and multiplexing the plurality of encoded data, and storing the multiplexed data in the storage means as the recording data. In the process, when the encoding process for the recording data by one of the encoding units is completed, it should be generated next regardless of the processing status of the other encoding unit. Data editing method in which each coding unit so that if there is recorded data encoding process related to the recording data is started, characterized in that the operating. 13. A reproducing step of performing a reproducing process of reading and reproducing the recording data stored in said storage means in said multiplexing step, and a recording process in which said recording data stored in said storage means is read out by said multiplexing step. 13. The data editing method according to claim 12, further comprising a recording step of recording on a recording medium. 14. In the encoding step, each encoding means generates a file indicating that the encoding processing has been completed with the end of the encoding processing, and each file generated by each of the encoding means. 13. The data editing method according to claim 12, wherein the end of the encoding process for the recording data by any one of the encoding units is determined by referring to. 15. In the above-mentioned encoding step, in accordance with the end of the encoding process for the recording data by any encoding unit, the recording unit to be generated next for the encoding unit that has completed the encoding process. If there is data, a file describing an instruction to start an encoding process is generated, and the encoding unit starts the encoding process for the recording data by referring to the file. Item 13. The data editing method according to Item 12. 16. In the multiplexing step, a file indicating that the multiplexing process has been completed is generated with the completion of the multiplexing process, and the multiplexing process is terminated by referring to the file. The data editing method according to claim 12, wherein the determination is made. 17. In the multiplexing step, when the multiplexing process is completed, if there is multiplexed data to be generated next, a file describing an instruction to start the multiplexing process is generated, and the file is referred to. 13. The data editing method according to claim 12, wherein a multiplexing process for the multiplexed data is started by the operation. 18. A method according to claim 18, wherein in the reproducing step, a file indicating that the reproducing processing has been completed is generated with the end of the reproducing processing, and the termination of the reproducing processing is determined by referring to the file. The data editing method according to claim 13, wherein: 19. In the reproducing step, when there is recording data to be read out and reproduced next with the end of the reproducing processing, a file describing an instruction to start the reproducing processing is generated, and the file is referred to. 14. The data editing method according to claim 13, wherein a reproduction process for the recording data is started. 20. In the recording step, a file indicating that the recording processing has been completed is generated with the termination of the recording processing, and the termination of the recording processing is determined by referring to the file. The data editing method according to claim 13, wherein: 21. In the recording step, when there is recording data to be recorded on a predetermined recording medium next to the end of the recording processing, a file describing a recording processing start command is generated. 14. The data editing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a recording process for the recording data is started by referring to the data. 22. When creating a plurality of recording data, the storage means includes a storage area for storing a plurality of encoded data generated by the plurality of encoding means for each recording data, and 13. The data editing method according to claim 12, wherein a recording area for storing the multiplexed data generated by the multiplexing means as the recording data is secured for each recording data.