JPH1055592A - Picture processing device using auto-changer and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the interruption of picture processing even during a period of replacement work of an optical disk. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with an optical disk auto-changer mechanism part 12 incorporating plural optical disk drives 15a and 15b and an auto- changer control part 14 for controlling the optical disk auto-changer mechanism part 12. By this control part 14, the optical disk auto-changer mechanism part 12 is controlled in such a way that recording and reproducing finishing time is predicted by monitoring the recording and reproducing state of a 1st optical disk 18a loaded in the 1st optical drive 15a out of the plural optical disk drives 15a and 15b, and during this time, a 2nd optical disk 18b to be used next time is loaded into the 2nd optical disk drive 15b out of the plural optical disk drives, so as to complete preparations for recording and reproducing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus using an autochanger, and more particularly to a control device and a control method for an autochanger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for processing images such as still images and moving images as digital data.
Image data has a larger amount of data than text and audio data. In particular, moving images are required to be able to process data at a constant rate.

[0005] As a storage medium generally used, there are a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and the like. As a medium having a large capacity, a combination of an optical disk and an optical disk autochanger is often used. This optical disk autochanger is a device that has a large number of optical disks and a plurality of optical disk drives inside, and can read and write necessary optical disks into the drives by an optical disk switching mechanism.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned prior art, there is a problem in that the process of exchanging optical discs is accompanied, so that the reading and writing of data during the exchanging process are interrupted, thereby temporarily interrupting the image processing. there were. As described above, particularly at the time of image processing of a moving image, processing at a constant rate is required, which is a serious problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing method and apparatus using an autochanger which does not interrupt image processing even during an optical disk switching operation in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. It is in.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical disk autochanger mechanism including a plurality of optical disk drives and a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives. By monitoring the recording / reproducing status of the first optical disk, the recording / reproducing end time is predicted, and within this time, the second optical disk to be used next is loaded into the second optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives. An image processing apparatus using an autochanger, comprising an autochanger control unit for controlling the optical disc autochanger mechanism so as to complete preparation for recording and reproduction.

According to such an image processing apparatus of the present invention, the second optical disk to be used next can be loaded and prepared in advance before the end of the recording / reproducing time of the first optical disk. It is possible to realize an image processing apparatus that does not interrupt reproduction processing of images, particularly moving images, due to exchange.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an optical disk autochanger mechanism incorporating a plurality of optical disk drives, and a first optical disk loaded in a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives. By monitoring the recording / reproducing status of the optical disk drive, the recording / reproducing end time is predicted, and within this time, the second optical disk to be used next is set to the second
An autochanger control unit for controlling the optical disc autochanger mechanism so as to start recording and reproduction on the second optical disc as soon as preparation for recording and reproduction is completed. An image processing apparatus using an autochanger is characterized in that the same image information is redundantly recorded in the recording / reproduction end portion of the optical disk and the recording / reproduction start portion of the second optical disk.

According to such an image processing apparatus of the present invention, the second optical disk to be used next can be loaded and prepared before the recording / reproducing time of the first optical disk ends. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein recording and reproduction of an image, particularly a moving image, due to the exchange are not interrupted, and recording and reproduction are started on the optical disk as soon as recording and reproduction preparation of the second optical disk drive is completed.
The occupation time of the first optical disk drive can be made shorter than that of the described device.

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3,
When recording / reproducing on the second optical disk is started at the same time as recording / reproducing on the second optical disk is completed, the first optical disk is placed on a portion before the recording / reproducing start portion on the second optical disk. An image processing apparatus using the above-mentioned autochanger, comprising means for copying and recording the recording / reproduction end portion of the optical disk.

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, similar to the apparatus of the first or second aspect, the image recording processing is not interrupted and the apparatus of the second aspect is not interrupted. It is possible to realize an image processing apparatus that can perform image recording for reproducing to obtain an image and further reduce the occupation time of the second optical disk drive.

Further, according to the present invention described in claim 4,
An optical disk autochanger mechanism including a plurality of optical disk drives, and a first optical disk drive mounted on a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives.
By monitoring the recording / reproducing status of the optical disk, the recording / reproducing end time is predicted, and within this time, the second optical disk to be used next is loaded into the second optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives, Further, there is provided an autochanger control method characterized by controlling the optical disc autochanger mechanism so as to complete preparation for recording and reproduction.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned claim 1 is provided.
Almost the same effects as those of the described invention can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention described in claim 5,
An optical disk autochanger mechanism including a plurality of optical disk drives, and a first optical disk drive mounted on a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives.
By monitoring the recording / reproducing status of the optical disk, the recording / reproducing end time is predicted, and within this time, the second optical disk to be used next is loaded into the second optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives, As soon as the preparation for recording / reproduction is completed, the recording / reproduction on the second optical disk is started, so that the same recording / reproduction end part of the first optical disk and the recording / reproduction start part of the second optical disk have the same image. An autochanger control method is provided, wherein the optical disc autochanger mechanism is controlled so that information is recorded and reproduced in duplicate.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned claim 2 is provided.
Almost the same effects as those of the described invention can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention described in claim 6,
When recording / reproducing on the second optical disk is started at the same time as recording / reproducing on the second optical disk is completed, the first optical disk is placed on a portion before the recording / reproducing start portion on the second optical disk. And a means for copying and recording the recording / reproducing end portion of the optical disk.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned claim 3 is provided.
Almost the same effects as those of the described invention can be obtained.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image processing apparatus using the autochanger of the present invention. The image processing apparatus 11 includes an optical disk autochanger mechanism 12, a data processor 13, and an optical disk autochanger controller 14. The optical disk autochanger mechanism 12 includes a plurality of optical disk drives 15a and 15b, an optical disk medium exchange mechanism 1
6 and a media storage unit 17. A plurality of optical disc media 18a,
18b is stored. A plurality of optical disk drives 15a and 15b and an optical disk medium exchange mechanism 1
6 is monitored and controlled by a data processing unit 13 and an optical disk autochanger control unit 14. The optical disk medium exchange mechanism 16 is controlled by the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 to control the media storage unit 1.
7, a plurality of optical disk media 18a, 1
8b, a plurality of optical disc drives 15
a or 15b, or one of the optical disk media 18a and 18b loaded and used in one of the optical disk drives 15a and 15b is removed and stored in a predetermined position of the media storage unit 17 again.

With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an operation of reproducing image information, in particular, a moving image by such an image processing apparatus will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. In this case, the moving image data to be reproduced does not fit on one optical disk medium.
8b. It is also assumed that it takes tl seconds before the medium 18b is loaded into the optical disk drive 15b and ready for reproduction.

First, the data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 start the operation (START), and the optical disk autochanger mechanism 1
6 is instructed to insert the medium 18a into the optical disk drive 15a. In the mechanism section 16, the medium 18a is loaded into the optical disk drive 15a by the optical disk medium changing mechanism 16 (Step 1). Data processing unit 13 and optical disk autochanger control unit 1
4 reads the data of the medium 18a,
Read the playback time of the moving image recorded on the media 8a and the media name of the media 18b to be used next (Step
2) Perform image reproduction from the medium 18a (Step
3).

The data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 monitor the reproduction time of the medium 18a, predict the end of the medium 18a tl seconds before the end of the reproduction (Step 4), and record a series of moving images. It is checked whether the media is the last one of the media (Step 5). If it is determined that the medium is not the last medium, a process of loading the medium 18b as the next medium into another optical disk drive 15b is performed (Step Ste).
p6). Next, it is determined whether or not the reproduction of the media 18a has been completed (Step 7). At the time of determining that the reproduction has been completed, the media 18b is already ready for reproduction.
Immediately, the reproduction is switched to the reproduction from the medium 18b, the used medium 18a is removed from the optical disk drive 15a (Step 8), and the process returns to (Step 2). If it is determined that the last medium is the last medium among the media on which a series of moving images are recorded (Step 5), it is determined that the medium being read has ended. Then (Step
9) The medium 18a is removed from the optical disk drive 15a (Step 10), and the reproduction operation is terminated (E).
ND).

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a moving image can be reproduced without interruption of the media exchange process. In the above-described embodiment, 2n (n is an integer) optical disk drives, including the optical disk drives 15a and 15b, are used for n media over a plurality of media.
Different kinds of moving images can be reproduced in parallel in time.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a moving image recording operation in the image processing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. Also in this case, it is assumed that moving image data to be recorded does not fit on one medium but extends over the media 18a and 18b. Media 1
It is assumed that a time t1 second is required until the disk 8b is loaded into the optical disk drive 15b and recording is ready, as in the case of FIG.

First, the data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 start operating (S
TART), and instructs the optical disk autochanger mechanism 12 to insert the medium 18a into the optical disk drive 15a. In the mechanism section 16, the medium 18a is loaded into the optical disk drive 15a by the optical disk medium changing mechanism 16 (Step 1). Data processing unit 13 and optical disk autochanger control unit 14
Starts from the free space in the medium 18a.
The recording time of the moving image that can be recorded thereon is read (Step 2), and the images are recorded on the media 18a and 18b (Step 3).

The data processing section 13 and the optical disk autochanger control section 14 confirm that the write request to the medium 18a has not yet been completed (Step 4), monitor the recording time of the medium 18a, and determine the recording end time t1.
Seconds before, the end of the media 18a is predicted (Step 5),
A process of loading the medium 18b, which is the next medium, into another optical disk drive 18b is performed (Step 6). Next, it is confirmed again that the write request to the medium is not completed (Step 7), and the medium 1 being written is
8a is determined to be completed (Step
8). As a result, when it is determined that the recording has been completed, the recording of the media 18b has already been completed.
Switching to recording on the medium 18b, the name of the next medium 18b is recorded on the used medium 18a, and the medium 18b is removed from the optical disk drive 15a (Step 9). Then, the recording time of the moving image that can be recorded on the medium 18b is read from the vacant area of the switched medium 18b (Step 2).
The operation up to step 9 is repeated.

If it is determined in Steps 4 and 7 that the write request has been completed, the media 18
b from the optical disk drive 15b (Step
p10), end the recording operation (END).

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the exchange processing of the optical disk medium is not interrupted,
Video recording can be performed. Also in this case, as described above, n types of optical disk drives can simultaneously record n types of moving images over a plurality of media.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are an operation time chart and an operation flowchart showing another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, as described above, when the moving image is to be reproduced by the image processing apparatus 11, for example, the image data to be reproduced does not fit on one optical disk medium 18a but is stored on a plurality of sheets, for example, the medium 18b. It is assumed that Also,
The media 18b is loaded into the optical disk drive 15b,
It is assumed that it usually takes a time t31 seconds before the reproduction is ready. The optical disk autochanger mechanism 12 and the optical disk drives 15a and 15b may require a retry or the like because of the mechanical operation. When the retry is performed, the process is not completed in t31 seconds. When a retry operation or the like is included in the processing in order to secure the required reliability, the medium 18b is moved to the optical disk drive 15b.
It is assumed that it takes t32 seconds before the device is loaded into the device and ready for reproduction. In other words, the processing that normally requires only t31 seconds takes t32 seconds in the worst case, and generally t31 << t32. Further, as a moving image recorded on the medium, it is assumed that the moving image data for the last t32-t31 seconds of the medium 18a is also redundantly recorded on the medium 18b.

Under such a premise, the image processing apparatus 1
In FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14
At the start of operation (START), instructs the optical disk autochanger mechanism 12 to insert the medium 18a into the optical disk drive 15a. Mechanism 16
Then, the medium 18a is loaded into the optical disk drive 15a by the optical disk medium exchange mechanism 16 (Step 1). The data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 read the data of the medium 18a, read the playback time of the moving image recorded on the medium 18a and the name of the medium 18b to be used next (Step 2), and read the data from the medium 18a. Image reproduction is performed (Step 3).

The data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 monitor the reproduction time of the medium 18a, and predict the end of the medium 18a t32 seconds before the end of the reproduction as shown in FIG. 5 (Step 4). It is checked whether or not the series of moving images is the last one of the recorded media (Step 5). If it is determined that the medium is not the last medium, as shown in FIG. 5, a process of loading the medium 18b, which is the next medium, into another optical disk drive 15b is performed.
6). Next, when the time t31 has usually elapsed, the media 1
8b is determined to be ready for reproduction (Step
7) At the time when it is determined to be completed, the medium 18b is immediately
Switch to playback from. In this case, the moving image data for t32-t31 seconds remains without being reproduced on the medium 18a, but also on the medium 18b, as shown in FIG.
Since the moving image data for the last t32-t31 seconds of the medium 18a is redundantly recorded, the reproduced moving image is not interrupted. In this case, if the preparation for reproduction of the medium 18b is not completed even after the elapse of t31 seconds due to the retry of the optical disk drive 15b, the monitoring is further continued to complete the preparation for reproduction of the medium 18b at worst after the elapse of the time t32 seconds. I do. In this case, the moving image on the medium 18a is continuously reproduced.

The medium 18a whose use has been completed is removed from the optical disk drive 15a (Step 8).
The process of the image processing apparatus 11 returns to (Step 2). In addition, as a result of checking whether or not the series of moving images is the last medium among the recorded media (Step 5), if it is determined that the series of moving images is the last medium, the medium being read is terminated. Is determined (Step
9) The medium 18a is removed from the optical disk drive 15a (Step 10), and the reproduction operation is terminated (E).
ND).

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when the next medium 18b is loaded into another optical disk drive 15b (Step 6), even if it takes t32 seconds, which is the worst case, due to a retry or the like, the medium 18b is not loaded. Since the reproduction time of the medium 18a is left for t32 seconds, after the preparation of the medium 18b is completed, the reproduction source medium
By switching to b, moving image reproduction can be performed without interruption.

In the above embodiment, 2n (n is an integer) optical disk drives are used as the optical disk drives 15a and 15b to reproduce moving images over a plurality of media by simultaneously reproducing n different moving images. Can be.

Further, in this embodiment, as soon as the medium 18b is loaded into the optical disk drive 15b and the preparation for reproduction is completed, the reproduction of the medium 18a is completed and the medium 18b is removed from the optical disk drive 15a. There is an advantage that the occupation time is reduced.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are an operation time chart and an operation flowchart showing still another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment,
The image processing apparatus performs partially overlapping recording of a moving image on a plurality of optical disc media used in the reproduction described with reference to FIGS. That is, in the case where moving images are to be recorded by the image processing apparatus 11, the data to be recorded does not fit on one medium but is recorded over the media 18a and 18b. Here, as in the case of FIGS. 5 and 6, the medium 18b is usually loaded into the optical disk drive 15b and ready for reproduction,
Assume that it takes t41 seconds. Optical disk autochanger mechanism 12 and optical disk drives 15a, 15
b may require a retry or the like because it involves a mechanical operation. When the retry is performed, the process is not completed in t41 seconds. If a retry operation or the like is included in the processing in order to ensure the required reliability, it takes t42 seconds before the medium 18b is loaded into the optical disk drive 15b and ready for reproduction. In other words, the processing that normally requires only t41 seconds takes t42 seconds in the worst case, and generally t41 << t42. Further, the moving image recorded on the medium includes the last t42-t41 of the medium 18a.
It is assumed that moving image data for seconds is also recorded in the media 18b in an overlapping manner.

Under such a premise, the image processing apparatus 1
As shown in FIG. 8, first, the data processing unit 13 and the optical disc autochanger control unit 14 instruct the optical disc autochanger mechanism unit 12 to insert the medium 18a into the optical disc drive 15a when the operation is started (START). In the mechanism section 16, the media 18 is switched by the optical disc medium switching mechanism 16.
a into the optical disk drive 15a (Step
1). The data processing unit 13 and the optical disc autochanger control unit 14
The recording time of a moving image that can be recorded on the medium 18a is read, and first, an image is recorded on the medium 18a (Step 2).

The data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 confirm that the write request to the medium 18a has not yet been completed (Step 3), monitor the recording time of the medium 18a, and perform 2t of recording end.
Predict the end of media 18a 42 seconds ago (Step
4) The loading of the medium 18b as the next medium into another optical disk drive 18b is started (Step 5).
Next, after confirming again that the write request to the medium has not been completed, the recording is continued again (Step 6), and the recording preparation of the medium 18b is completed at the worst time t42 seconds. At this point, it is confirmed that the recordable time of the medium 18a remains for t42 seconds (Step 7), and from this point on, data is also recorded on the medium 18b in duplicate (Step 8).

After confirming that the write request to the medium has not been completed (Step 9), the recording is continued, and after confirming that the use of the medium 18a has been completed after t42 seconds (Step 10), the next medium name Record "media 18b" and remove media 18a (St
ep11). Next, the recording destination medium is changed to the medium 18b.
Switch to only and return to Step 2.

In Step 9, when the write request is completed before the use of the medium 18a is completed and the recording operation is completed, the use of the medium 18b is stopped, and the moving image data recorded in duplicate is deleted (Step 12). The recording operation of the image processing device ends.

When the write request is completed in Step 3 or 6 and the recording operation is completed, the medium 18b and the recorded medium 18a are removed (Step 12), and the recording operation of the image processing apparatus is ended.

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when the next medium 18b is loaded into another optical disk drive 15b (Step 5), even if it takes t42 seconds, which is the worst case, due to a retry, the medium 18b can be used. Since the recording time on the recording medium 18a remains for t42 seconds, the recording destination medium is changed to 1 after the preparation of the medium 18b is completed.
By switching to 8b, the moving image information can be redundantly recorded on both media 18a and 18b for t42 seconds. The media 18a, 1 thus duplicately recorded are
8b enables reproduction by the image processing apparatus of the present invention described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are an operation time chart and an operation flowchart showing still another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment,
The image processing apparatus partially records a moving image on a plurality of optical disc media that are continuously used, as in the case of FIGS. 7 and 8, but it is necessary to minimize the overlapping recording time. It provides a possible recording method. Also in this embodiment, as in the case of FIGS. 7 and 8, it is usually assumed that it takes t41 seconds before the media 18b is loaded into the optical disk drive 15b and ready for reproduction, and a retry is performed. Means that it takes t42 seconds before the medium 18b is loaded into the optical disk drive 15b and ready for reproduction. And generally t
It is assumed that 41 << t42. Furthermore, the moving image recorded on the medium includes the last t42 of the medium 18a.
It is assumed that the moving image data for -t41 seconds is also redundantly recorded on the media 18b.

Under such a premise, the image processing apparatus 1
1, as shown in FIG. 10, first, the data processing unit 13
At the same time as the operation starts (START), the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 instructs the optical disk autochanger mechanism unit 12 to insert the medium 18a into the optical disk drive 15a. In the mechanism 16, the media 1 is changed by the optical disc medium switching mechanism 16.
8a is loaded into the optical disk drive 15a (Step
1). The data processing unit 13 and the optical disc autochanger control unit 14 read the data of the medium 18a, read the recordable time of a moving image that can be recorded on the medium 18a, and then start recording an image on the medium 18a (Step 2).

The data processing unit 13 and the optical disk autochanger control unit 14 confirm that the write request to the medium 18a has not yet been completed (Step 3), monitor the recording time of the medium 18a, and complete the recording at 2t.
Predict the end of media 18a 42 seconds ago (Step
4) The loading of the medium 18b as the next medium into another optical disk drive 18b is started (Step 5).
Next, it is confirmed again that the write request to the medium is not completed (Step 6), and the recording is continued.
It is confirmed that the recording preparation of the medium 18b is completed (Step 7). As described above, it usually takes t41 seconds to load the media 18b into the optical disk drive 15b and prepare for playback. However, if it is confirmed that playback preparation is completed after this time has elapsed, the media 18b is loaded onto the media 18b. The data is also recorded in duplicate (Step 8). In this case, moving image data for t42-t41 seconds is redundantly recorded on the media 18a and 18b. However, when a retry is performed, it takes a time of t42 seconds. When it is confirmed that the preparation for reproduction is completed after the elapse of this time, the recordable time of the medium 18a does not remain.
Since the data cannot be recorded simultaneously and simultaneously, the last t of the medium 18a is stored in the medium 18b during the recording on the medium 18b or after the recording is completed.
Copy and record moving image data for 42-t41 seconds (Step
8).

When the reproduction preparation is completed within the normal reproduction preparation time, it is confirmed that the write request to the medium 18b is not completed (Step 9), the recording is continued, and the recording on the medium 18a is completed. When the confirmation is made (Step 10), the next media name “media 18
b ”and remove the medium 18a (Step
11). Next, the recording medium is switched to only the medium 18b, and the process returns to Step2.

In Step 9, when the write request is completed before the use of the medium 18a is completed and the recording operation is completed, the use of the medium 18b is stopped, and the moving image data recorded in duplicate is deleted (Step 12). The recording operation of the image processing device ends.

When the write request is completed in Step 3 or 6 and the recording operation is completed, the medium 18b and the recorded medium 18a are removed (Step 12), and the recording operation of the image processing apparatus is ended.

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when the next medium 18b is loaded into another optical disk drive 15b (Step 5), when the reproduction preparation is completed within the normal reproduction preparation time, , T42−
The moving image data for t41 seconds can be redundantly recorded.
8 and overlapping recording can be performed in a minimum time as compared with the case of FIG. Note that the worst case t
In the case where it takes 42 seconds, t42−
By separately copying and recording moving image data for t41 seconds, duplicate recording can be performed in a minimum time.

Further, the occupation time of the optical disk drive during the overlap recording can be reduced as compared with the cases of FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0050]

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention described in detail above, the second optical disk to be used next can be loaded and prepared before the recording / reproducing time of the first optical disk ends. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an image processing apparatus which does not interrupt the reproduction of an image, particularly a moving image, due to the exchange of the optical disk medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus using an autochanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a moving image recording operation in the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation time chart showing another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart showing another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation time chart showing still another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart showing still another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation time chart showing still another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart showing still another embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Image processing apparatus 12 Optical disk automatic changer mechanism part 13 Data processing part 14 Optical disk automatic changer control part 15a, 15b Optical disk drive 16 Optical disk medium exchange mechanism 17 Media storage part 18a, 18b Optical disk medium

Claims (6)

[Claims] An optical disk autochanger mechanism including a plurality of optical disk drives, and a recording / reproducing state of a first optical disk loaded in a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives, whereby recording is performed. The optical disk autochanger is configured to predict a reproduction end time, load a second optical disk to be used next into the second optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives within this time, and complete preparation for recording and reproduction. An image processing apparatus using an autochanger, comprising: an autochanger control unit that controls a mechanism unit. 2. An optical disk auto-changer mechanism unit incorporating a plurality of optical disk drives, and recording / reproducing status of a first optical disk loaded into a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives, thereby recording information. A reproduction end time is predicted, and within this time, a second optical disk to be used next is loaded into a second optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives, and as soon as recording / reproduction preparation is completed, the second optical disk is read. And an autochanger control unit for controlling the optical disc autochanger mechanism so as to start recording / reproducing with respect to the first optical disc. The recording / reproducing end part of the first optical disc and the recording / reproducing start part of the second optical disc are the same. Processing using an autochanger, characterized in that multiple pieces of image information are recorded in duplicate apparatus. 3. When recording / reproducing on the second optical disc is started simultaneously with recording / reproducing on the second optical disc, recording / reproducing on the second optical disc is performed before a recording / reproducing start part on the second optical disc. 3. An image processing apparatus using an autochanger according to claim 2, further comprising means for copying and recording a recording / reproducing end portion of said first optical disk in said portion. 4. An optical disk auto-changer mechanism including a plurality of optical disk drives, wherein a recording / reproducing status of a first optical disk loaded in a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives is monitored. Predicting the recording / reproducing end time, loading the second optical disk to be used next in this time into the second optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives,
And controlling the optical disk autochanger mechanism to complete preparation for recording and reproduction. 5. An optical disk auto-changer mechanism including a plurality of optical disk drives, wherein a recording / reproducing status of a first optical disk loaded in a first optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives is monitored. Predicting the recording / reproducing end time, loading the second optical disk to be used next in this time into the second optical disk drive among the plurality of optical disk drives,
As soon as the preparation for recording / reproduction is completed, the recording / reproduction on the second optical disk is started, so that the same recording / reproduction end part of the first optical disk and the recording / reproduction start part of the second optical disk have the same image. An autochanger control method, comprising: controlling the optical disc autochanger mechanism so that information is redundantly recorded. 6. When recording / reproduction on said second optical disk is started simultaneously with recording / reproduction on said second optical disk, said recording / reproduction on said second optical disk is stopped before a recording / reproduction start part. 6. The autochanger control method according to claim 5, further comprising means for copying and recording a recording / reproducing end portion of said second optical disk in said portion.