JPH117408A - Information recording device and method and information reproducting device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain quick and flexible parallel control for plural recording medium pieces of a recording medium for managing information in each unit larger than a rewriting unit and the efficient use of a recording area. SOLUTION: The information recording device has a recording medium 103 capable of writing information, a file management means 104 for managing the information recorded in the medium in each file, a block management means 107 for managing information in each regulated unit (management unit) constituting each file, and a recording medium control means 102 for controlling the medium 103 based on the means 104, 107. The means 102 can write information in each unit (control unit) constituted of the optional number of management units and record file management information and block management information in respective means 104, 107.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus and method for performing information management and write control on a recording medium for managing information in a unit larger than a write unit, and information reproduction for performing information management and read control. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-131371.
JP-A-6-215010 and JP-A-6-301601 disclose audio, images, characters, and the like from an information providing device (information transfer device) to a recording device or a recording / reproducing device incorporating a semiconductor memory or the like. An apparatus that can provide various kinds of information by transferring information such as a program is disclosed.

FIG. 12 is an external view of a conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus proposed in the above publication. This information recording / reproducing device 2
00A is a coupling terminal 201 with an information providing device (not shown).
And information can be copied from the information providing device to the recording medium provided in the information recording / reproducing device 200A via the coupling terminal 201. There is no particular limitation on the type of recording medium, but it is convenient to use a semiconductor memory which can be copied at high speed, is easily accessed at random, and has excellent portability.

[0004] The information recording / reproducing apparatus 200A is provided with a display 202 for displaying characters, images and the like, and a function selecting means 203 comprising a push button switch and the like. Since the information recording / reproducing apparatus 200A displays the contents of the information recorded in the recording medium on the display 202, the user can use the function selecting means 203 to select and reproduce desired information.

[0005] The contents of information provided by the information providing device include text information, audio information, video information, computer programs, and the like, and are not particularly limited. The reproduction of the program means that the program is executed. In this case, the user may input information as needed at the time of execution. When the reproduction signal is text information or a video signal, it can be displayed on a display 202 constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display device. Further, in the case of audio information, the earphone 2
04. Although not shown, a speaker may be provided instead of the earphone 204 or in addition to the earphone 204, or a reproduction signal output terminal may be provided so that the terminal can be connected to an external display device, speaker, or the like. Good.

FIG. 13 is an external view of another conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus disclosed in the above publication. An information recording / reproducing apparatus 200B shown in FIG. 13 is different from the information recording / reproducing apparatus 200A shown in FIG.
20. This information recording / reproducing device 20
0B, by inserting the information recording device 210 into the insertion / ejection port 221 of the information reproducing device 220,
Information from 0 can be transmitted to the information reproducing apparatus 220 and reproduced.

[0007] Since data and control signals need to be transmitted and received between the information recording device 210 and the information reproducing device 220 for reproduction, the information recording device 210 is provided with a coupling terminal 212 with the information reproducing device. This coupling terminal 21
2 is provided on the information reproducing apparatus 220 side,
When the information recording device 210 is mounted on the information reproducing device 220, the two connection terminals are connected to each other.

The information recording device 210 has two coupling terminals, a coupling terminal 211 with the information providing device and a coupling terminal 212 with the information reproducing device. However, a configuration in which one terminal is switched and used may be used. .

[0009] The information recording device 210 can be constituted only by a recording medium. By using only the recording medium, a smaller and lighter portable information recording device can be obtained. In this case, control such as reading from the recording medium or writing to the recording medium is performed by the information reproducing apparatus 220 or the information providing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an external view of a conventional information providing apparatus disclosed in the above publication. This information providing device 230
Display 231 for displaying the content and price of information that can be provided
And output selection means 232 for selecting information desired by the user. The user inserts the information recording device 210 shown in FIG.
33, the desired information can be copied to the information recording device 210 by operating the output selection means 232 and selecting desired information while referring to the information displayed on the display device 231. . The information can be copied by connecting the connection terminal provided in the information providing device 230 to the connection terminal 201 of the information recording / reproducing device 200A shown in FIG.

[0011] The information providing device 230 is for reading a recording medium storing information to be provided, information desired by a user from the recording medium, and writing the read information to the information recording device 210 and the information recording / reproducing device 200A. Information copy control unit (not shown). In addition,
The information providing apparatus 230 may be connected to an information providing center (not shown) via a wired or wireless communication means, and may provide information desired by the user via the communication means. With such a configuration,
It is not necessary to provide a recording medium in the information providing device 230. Further, even when a recording medium is provided in the information providing device 230, it is possible to provide the latest information while suppressing communication costs by updating information stored in the recording medium via the communication unit.

FIG. 15 is an external view of another conventional information providing apparatus disclosed in the above publication. This information providing device 240
Has an insertion port 241 and an ejection port 242 for the information recording device 210 spaced apart from each other. The information providing device 240 includes a moving unit (not shown) that conveys the information recording device 210 inserted from the insertion port 241, and copies information to be provided to the inserted information recording device 210, and then discharges the information from the ejection port 242. I do. Information requesting applicant H,
The user can receive a copy of information while walking in the direction of arrow A in the figure. This information providing device 240 can quickly provide information to many people.

As a recording medium used when the information recording / reproducing apparatus requires portability, a non-volatile memory that does not require backup of information by a battery is used, so that the recorded information is erased. It is convenient because it does not happen. As such a nonvolatile memory, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable) described in “32 Mbit NAND Flash Memory” by Iwata et al. (Electronic Materials, June 1995, pp. 32-37)
and Programmable ROM).

Further, the applicant of the present application has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 8-2289.
In the specification and drawings of No. 66, an erase unit (hereinafter, referred to as a block) is a write unit (hereinafter, referred to as a page).
A file management method using a larger recording medium is proposed. This means that all the files including the divided files are recorded from the start address of the block, and when the recording medium is composed of a plurality of recording medium pieces (for example, semiconductor chips), all the files are logically placed at the beginning. Is a method of recording regularly and longitudinally from a recording medium piece of the above.

FIG. 16 shows, as a specific example, a file recording state and file management means when the recording medium is composed of a plurality of recording medium pieces. Here, the recording medium 403 includes four recording medium pieces 403a, 403b,
403c and 403d, and a recording medium piece composed of four pages per block will be described as an example. A block is a unit for erasing data, and a page is a unit for writing data.

Here, as a method of displaying the physical address of the recording medium 403, "C" (Chip), "B" (Block), "P" (Pag)
Use the three units of e). "C" is a memory chip number c, "B" is a block number b which is a minimum unit of erasure, "
P "corresponds to the page number p, which is the minimum unit of writing, and is expressed as CBP [c: b: p]. Here, as a capacity per page, for example, FAT (File
Allocation Table) In order to facilitate correspondence with a file system or the like, the description will be made assuming that the capacity of one sector is 512 bytes. Also, as a method of identifying recorded data,
Two units of F (File) and S (Sector) are used. F corresponds to the number f of the file, and S corresponds to the number s of the sector constituting the file, and is expressed as FS [f: s].

In this example, each recording medium piece C [0], C
[1], C [2] and C [3] are converted from block B [0] to B
[3] is composed of 4 blocks, each block being a page P
This shows a state where the page is composed of four pages from [0] to P [3].

The file management means 404 stores the recording medium 40
3, the name (File) or number of each file, the size (Size), the start address (Loc), etc. are recorded and managed from M [0] to M [m-1]. It manages the logical order. Here, m is the maximum number of files that can be managed by the file management unit 404.
Note that a value “−1” described in the file management unit 404 in the figure indicates that the file management data is invalid file management data.

Therefore, in the example of FIG. 16, the sector data of each file is 40 bytes starting from the recording medium piece 403a.
3b, 403c, and 403d in the order of four recording medium pieces.
Indicates the following: Three files are recorded in the recording medium 403, and their logical order is F.
[1], F [2] and F [0]. The file F [1] is 23 sectors from the start address CBP [0: 1: 0] of the block B [1], and the file F [2] is from the start address CBP [0: 3: 0] of the block B [3]. File F [0] for 13 sectors is recorded over a capacity of 12 sectors from the start address CBP [0: 0: 0] of block B [0].

Referring to FIG. 16, a case where the file F [1] is rewritten will be described.

First, the file F
It is necessary to recognize the addresses of the blocks constituting [1]. It is known that the recording medium 403 is composed of four recording medium pieces, and that each recording medium piece is composed of four pages per block. The file management unit 404 can recognize that the file F [1] has a capacity of 23 sectors from the start address CBP [0: 1: 0] of the block B [1]. That is, since it is understood that the file F [1] is composed of eight blocks over four recording medium pieces, the blocks CB [0: 1], CB [1: 1], C
B [2: 1], CB [3: 1], CB [0: 2], CB [1: 2],
A block erase operation will be performed on CB [2: 2] and CB [3: 2]. When the erasing operation of the file F [1] is completed, writing of a new file is started. In this example, FS [1: 0], FS [1: 1], FS [1: 2], FS [1:
3], FS [1: 4],... In the order of FS [1:22]
Of the recording medium pieces 403a and 403
b, 403c and 403d.

In the read operation, the read order of the sector data is executed in exactly the same manner as in the write operation. For example, when reading the file F [1], the file F [1] is read from the start address CBP of the block B [1].
Since it is possible to recognize from the file management unit 404 that there is a capacity of 23 sectors from [0: 1: 0], FS [1: 0], FS [1: 1], FS [1: 2] shown in the figure. ], FS [1:
3], FS [1: 4],... In the order of FS [1:22]
Are read longitudinally from the four pieces of recording medium.

When a plurality of files coexist in the same block, it is necessary to save only the files necessary for the rewriting operation to another area. However, in the above method, only one type of file exists in the same block. It is possible to execute a rewriting operation without performing a complicated operation. Further, even when the recording medium is composed of a plurality of recording medium pieces, there is a feature that all files can be managed only by managing files logically for only the first recording medium piece. In other words, the file writing unit is one page, but the management unit is four blocks that regularly span four recording medium pieces, thereby realizing simple file management means and high-speed writing control. .

[0024]

As described above, the file recording state and file management means 404 shown in the example of FIG. 16 require that only one type of file be recorded in a block and that a plurality of recording media be recorded. By implementing the condition that the control order for the pieces is regular, parallel control of the recording medium pieces and simple file management are realized.

Although the file F [1] in FIG. 16 is recorded using eight blocks, the file itself fits in the capacity of 23 sectors, that is, the capacity of six blocks. Things. Similarly, the file F [0] is recorded over four blocks while having a capacity of 12 sectors that fits in three blocks. In such a recording method, there is a tendency that the number of empty blocks decreases even though there are empty pages in the recording medium 103.

This also means that the number of blocks to be erased when the file is rewritten increases, so that the time required for the erasing operation is longer than in the case where the blocks are packed and recorded. On the other hand, considering a recording method in which each sector data of a file is sequentially packed in a block, parallel control of recording medium pieces becomes difficult, and it is not possible to speed up rewrite control.

Therefore, it is an object to execute high-speed rewriting by parallel control of recording medium pieces, and at the same time, to secure an empty area for recording a new file by minimizing the generation of empty pages.

In the above-described technique, a plurality of blocks that are regularly traversed in a plurality of recording medium pieces are used as a management unit in the file management means. When writing or erasing becomes impossible due to the above, naturally, other blocks included in the management unit are treated as invalid blocks even though other blocks are usable. In addition, as the rewriting of the file is repeated, the free area of the file tends to be dispersed in a worm-like state.

However, since the above-mentioned file management means grasps the recording state of the entire file by grasping the head address and the capacity of the file regularly written on a plurality of recording medium pieces, the file management means is dispersed. Inability to manage files recorded in empty areas.

Therefore, it is an object to realize a file management means capable of managing a file recorded in an arbitrary block.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances. High-speed and flexible parallel control and recording of a plurality of recording medium pieces of a recording medium for managing information in a unit larger than a rewriting unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information recording apparatus and method and an information reproducing apparatus and method that enable efficient use of an area.

[0032]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An information recording apparatus and method of the present invention writes information in a recording unit in parallel block units composed of an arbitrary number of blocks and manages the information recorded in the recording unit in file units. File management information to be set in the file management unit, including a flag indicating a delimiter of a parallel block, and setting the block management information for managing the file in a predetermined block unit composed of a plurality of write units in the block management unit. To solve the above-mentioned problem.

Further, the information reproducing apparatus and method of the present invention
Recognizes file management information that manages information recorded in the recording unit on a file basis, includes a flag indicating a delimiter of a parallel block, and stores block management information for managing a file in a predetermined block unit including a plurality of write units. The above-described problem is solved by recognizing and reading information from the recording unit in units of parallel blocks composed of an arbitrary number of blocks.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred 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 information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an information recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a function selecting means 101 for allowing a user of the apparatus 1 to select and input a desired function such as recording or reproduction, and a plurality of recording medium pieces. A recording medium 103; a file management unit 104 that manages files recorded on the recording medium 103; and a block management unit 107 that manages the recording state and validity of data on the recording medium 103.
File management means 104 and block management means 1
07, a recording medium control means 102 for controlling the reading, writing, and erasing operations of a file on the recording medium 103, and data input to the apparatus 1 via the terminal 11 or data from the apparatus 1 It comprises a transfer control means 105 for controlling the output, and a reproduction control means 106 for reproducing the file recorded on the recording medium 103 and outputting it to the terminal 12. Each component as the above means is configured by a circuit by hardware, a physical mechanism, or software processed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like.

In the function selecting means 101, the file transferred and input from the transfer input / output terminal 11 is stored in the recording medium 1.
In the case where the setting is made to write to 03, first, the recording medium control means 102 searches for an empty area in the recording medium 103 by the block management means 107. Then, the transfer control means 105 executes a lower transfer protocol as described later to take in the input data, and then the recording medium control means 102
Executes the higher-level transfer protocol as described later, thereby writing the input data to the recording medium 103 as a file. At this time, the recording medium control unit 102 stores the file management information and the block management information corresponding to the written file in the file management unit 104 as described later.
And setting (recording) in the block management means 107, respectively.
I do.

Here, as the lower transfer protocol, for example, a so-called SCSI (Small Computer System) is used.
m Interface) called ANSI X3.13-1-1
986 standard, IEEE 1394 standard, PCMCI
A (Personal Computer MemoryCard International Ass
Standards including a physical layer, such as the PC Card standard of an association, can be adopted. By adopting such a standardized interface, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1 can realize a more versatile application.

It is preferable that the recording medium control means 102 can control the recording medium 103 without impairing the data transfer capability of the transfer control means 105. That is,
Since the data transfer capability of the entire information recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is affected by the lower of the transfer control capability of the transfer control means 105 or the recording medium control capability of the recording medium control means 102, efficient data transfer is performed. The transfer control means and the recording medium control means for performing are indispensable. As such a file writing method of the upper transfer protocol in the recording medium control means 102, a method disclosed by the present applicant in “Information transfer means and information recording means” of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-200181 is used. This enables high-speed writing of a file to the recording medium 103. That is, the recording medium control unit 102 writes data in parallel to a plurality of recording medium pieces constituting the recording medium 103 as follows.

When the recording medium 103 composed of a plurality of recording medium pieces is composed of, for example, a NAND flash memory, first, a chip select signal is given to a memory chip to which data is written, Input a command indicating a serial data input operation. Next, an address to which data is to be written is input, and the transfer control unit 105 is input.
, Ie, 512 bytes of data are transferred and input to an internal register of the memory chip. Finally, by inputting a command indicating a write operation, 512 bytes of data are stored in the memory from the internal register.
The data is written to the cell, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the write operation for one page is completed.

Here, the recording medium control means 102 sequentially executes the same command, address and data input to another recording medium piece without waiting for a predetermined time to elapse. When the writing of all data constituting one file is completed, the file management unit 104 and the block management unit 107 update the file management information and the block management information.

The above procedure has been described on the premise that the data at the address to be written has been erased in advance, but the case where the data has not been erased will be described later.

On the other hand, if the function selection means 101 is set to read out the file recorded on the recording medium 103 and transfer it to the transfer input / output terminal 11,
First, the user of the device 1 checks the file management unit 104
Display means (not shown) on which management information based on the information is displayed
And specify the file to be transferred and output. Thus, the recording medium control unit 102 searches the file management unit 104 and the block management unit 107 for management information on the file, and recognizes a recording address, a capacity, and the like. Subsequently, the recording medium control means 102 executes the upper transfer protocol and reads out the data constituting the designated file. Then, when the transfer control unit 105 executes the lower transfer protocol, the file is output from the transfer input / output terminal 11.

Also in this case, the recording medium control means 10
2 is preferably capable of controlling the recording medium 103 so as not to impair the data transfer capability of the transfer control means 105. As the upper transfer protocol, parallel data reading similar to the above-described writing operation is performed as follows. And do it.

First, a chip select signal is given to a memory chip from which data is to be read, and then a command indicating a read operation is input. Next, by inputting an address from which data is read, one page, that is, 512 bytes of data is read from the memory cell at the address to an internal register of the memory chip, and reading to the register is completed after a predetermined time has elapsed. I do. Finally, by transferring the data to the transfer control means 105, the read operation for one page is completed.

However, the recording medium control means 102 executes the same command and address input in parallel to another recording medium piece without waiting for the elapse of a predetermined time required for reading data from the register. Accordingly, data can be read at higher speed.

On the other hand, if the function selection means 101 is set to read data recorded on the recording medium 103 and reproduce and output the data to the reproduction output terminal 12,
First, the user of the device 1 checks the file management unit 104
Display means (not shown) on which management information based on the information is displayed
And specify the file to be played and output. Thus, the recording medium control unit 102 searches the file management unit 104 and the block management unit 107 for management information on the file, and recognizes a recording address, a capacity, and the like. Next, as in the transfer output operation described above, the recording medium control unit 102 executes the upper transfer protocol and reads out data constituting the designated file. Next, the reproduction control means 106 performs reproduction processing on the data read by the recording medium control means 102, and then outputs the reproduced data from the reproduction output terminal 12.

However, when a high-speed read operation is not required, power consumption can be suppressed by not performing parallel control of memory chips in the upper transfer protocol.

Here, as the reproduction processing, depending on the type of information recorded on the recording medium, if any encoding processing has been performed, a corresponding decoding processing is executed. For example, if a file on the recording medium 103 is encoded by an algorithm conforming to the so-called MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard, the reproduction control means 106 decodes the file by the algorithm of the standard.

If a random accessible semiconductor memory medium or disk medium is used as the recording medium 103 of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1, a high-speed information transfer effect can be obtained. A power supply for holding is unnecessary, and the device 1 can be further downsized. For example, a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory can be used.

When the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1 has the appearance shown in FIG. 13, the function selecting means 101
The function selecting means 203 provided in the information reproducing apparatus 220 shown in FIG. 13 or the information providing apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
The information selected by the user by the output selection means 232 provided in the
11.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a file recording state for solving the problem in the technique shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining that a recording area is used more flexibly and efficiently. The display method of the physical address of the recording medium 103 includes C (Chip), B (Block), P (Page)
Are used. "C" is a memory chip number c, "B" is a block number b which is a minimum unit of erasure, "
P "corresponds to the page number p, which is the minimum unit of writing, and is expressed as CBP [c: b: p]. Here, as a capacity per page, for example, FAT (File
Allocation Table) In order to facilitate correspondence with a file system or the like, the description will be made assuming that the capacity of one sector is 512 bytes. Also, as a method of identifying recorded data,
Two units of F (File) and S (Sector) are used. F corresponds to the number f of the file, and S corresponds to the number s of the sector constituting the file, and is expressed as FS [f: s]. In this example, each of the recording medium pieces C [0], C [1], C [2] and C [3] is composed of four blocks B [0] to B [3], and each block is a page. The figure shows a state that the page is composed of four pages from P [0] to P [3]. It can be seen that all the files longitudinally recorded on the four recording medium pieces 103a, 103b, 103c and 103d have the same recording contents (sector data) as those in FIG. . Note that the hatched portions of the recording medium pieces 103a and 103c do not write a file for purposes such as an unusable block (invalid block) or a system area or a spare area caused by manufacturing or excessive rewriting of the recording medium piece. This shows a block (system block).

FIG. 3 shows an example of the file management means 104 and the block management means 107 for managing the recording medium 103 shown in FIG. The file name (F
ile), file size (Size), block management means 107
File-based management information such as a pointer (BAT) to the file is recorded.

That is, the file management means 104 in FIG. 3 indicates the following. Three files are recorded in the recording medium 103, and their logical order is F.
[1], F [2] and F [0]. The files F [0], F
[1] and F [2] are 12 sectors, 23 sectors, and 1 sector, respectively.
It has a capacity of three sectors, and the first block is assigned to each of the BAT entries T [1: 0], T [1: 1], and T [0: 3] of the block management unit 107 as described later. The corresponding blocks are CB [1: 0], CB [1: 1], and CB [0: 3]. Here, the file management means 10
The value (−1) in 4 indicates that the file management information is invalid.

On the other hand, the block management means 107 has entries corresponding to all the blocks included in the recording medium 103, and each entry has management information in block units such as a status flag and link information of the corresponding block. Is recorded. Block management means 10
7, a table composed of these entry groups will be referred to as a BAT (Block Allocation Table), and each entry constituting the BAT will be referred to as a BAT entry.

In the example of FIG. 2, the recording medium is composed of four recording medium pieces, and each recording medium piece is composed of four blocks.
Indicates that the BAT has 16 entries. Here, the entry T [0: 0] is the recording medium piece 103a.
The entry T [0: 1] corresponds to the block B [1] of C [0], and the entry T [0: 1] corresponds to the block B [0] of (C [0]). Similarly, the entry T [1: 0] is stored in the recording medium piece 103b (C
In the block B [0] of [1]), the entry T [2: 0] is in the block B [0] of the recording medium piece 103c (C [2]), and the entry T [3: 0] is in the recording medium piece 103d. In block B [0] of (C [3]), entry T [3: 3] is the block B of C [3].
[3] respectively. That is, the BAT entry T [c: b] corresponds to the block CB [c: b].

As a status flag recorded in each BAT entry, a flag indicating that the corresponding block is an empty block (hereinafter, referred to as a valid flag) and a flag indicating that the corresponding block is an invalid block (hereinafter, referred to as in)
a valid flag), a flag indicating that the block is a system block (hereinafter referred to as a system flag), and a flag indicating that the block is the head block of the file (hereinafter, firs)
a flag indicating that the block is an intermediate block of the file (hereinafter, referred to as a next flag), a flag indicating that the block is the last block of the file (hereinafter, referred to as a last flag), and the like. Further details will be described later,
As a characteristic status flag of the present invention, there is a flag (hereinafter, referred to as a loop flag) indicating that it is an intermediate block of a file and is the last block of the parallel control.

The link information recorded in each BAT entry is information for expressing the link state of the blocks constituting the file. Here, if there is a block to be linked next, a pointer to the BAT entry corresponding to the block is recorded in the entry. For example, in the entry T [1: 0], a pointer to the entry T [2: 0] is recorded as link information.
Since a pointer to the entry T [3: 0] is recorded in [2: 0] as link information, the block CB [1:
0], CB [2: 0], and CB [3: 0] in this order. These three entries have status flags of the first flag, the next flag, and the last flag, respectively, so that it can be seen that they constitute one file.

It can be seen that the file is actually managed by the file management means 104 as the third (M [2]) file F [0]. The file F [0] is longitudinally recorded in four blocks in the example of FIG. 16 described above, but is recorded longitudinally in fewer three blocks in this example. Further, in FIG. 16, when block CB [0: 0] is used as a system block, blocks CB [1: 0], CB [2: 0], CB [3: 0]
Could not manage the file recorded in,
By introducing the block management means 107 shown in FIG. 3, only the block CB [0: 0] is identified as a system block, and file management is enabled for the three blocks.

Similarly, it can be seen that the file F [1] is recorded as follows. Since the file management unit 104 knows that the leading BAT entry is T [1: 1], the entry group related to the file F [1] is firs
Starting from the entry T [1: 1] in which the t flag is described, T [2: 2], T [3: 1], and loop in which the next flag is described
The six BAT entries are linked in the order of T [0: 1] with the flag written, T [1: 2] with the next flag written again, and T [3: 2] with the last flag written. This can be determined by the block management means 107.

Therefore, the file F [1] is stored in the block CB
[1: 1], CB [2: 2], CB [3: 1], CB [0: 1], C
It can be seen that B [1: 2] and CB [3: 2] are arranged in this order. Further, when the block group to be subjected to the parallel control as described above is referred to as one parallel block, the file F [1] corresponds to the block CB [1:
1], CB [2: 2], CB [3: 1], CB [0: 1] and a first parallel block consisting of four blocks and block CB [1:
2] and CB [3: 2].

In order for the block management means 107 to indicate that the file F [1] is composed of two parallel blocks, the last block CB in the first parallel block is displayed.
A loop flag is recorded as a status flag in the BAT entry T [0: 1] corresponding to [0: 1]. Also, BA
By recording the last flag as a status flag in the T entry T [3: 2], it is indicated that it is the last block in the second parallel block and also the last block of the file. Repeat, first flag is nex
The flag has the same meaning as the t flag and means the first block in the file, and the loop flag has the same meaning as the next flag and means the last block in the parallel block. Stuff and la
The st flag has the same meaning as the loop flag and means that it is the last block in the file.

The most important feature of the present invention is that a minimum unit of management for a recording medium is called a block and a minimum unit of writing is called a page. If a block is composed of a plurality of pages, an arbitrary block By newly providing a unit called a parallel block composed of numbers, flexible parallel control of a plurality of recording medium pieces is enabled, and efficient use of a recording area is enabled.

That is, the file F [1] is stored in the file
In the example of No. 6, the recording is performed longitudinally in eight blocks, but here, the recording is performed longitudinally in fewer six blocks. Further, in FIG. 16, when the block CB [2: 1] is an invalid block, the blocks CB [0: 1] and CB [1 ::
1] and CB [3: 1] could not be managed, but by introducing the block management means 107 shown in FIG. 3, CB [2: 1] was replaced with CB [2: 1]. : 2] can be made parallel blocks.

FIG. 4 shows the file management means 104 and the block management means 107 in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1.
This is for explaining another example. File management means 10
4 stores management information in file units such as a file name (File), a file size (Size), and a pointer (BLT) to the block management unit 107.

That is, the file management means 104 in FIG. 4 indicates the following. Three files are recorded in the recording medium 103, and their logical order is F.
[1], F [2] and F [0]. The files F [0], F
[1] and F [2] are 12 sectors, 23 sectors, and 1 sector, respectively.
It has a capacity of three sectors, and the first block is a block CB [described in each of the BLT entries L [0], L [3] and L [9] of the block management unit 107, as described later. 1: 0], CB [1: 1], and CB [0: 3]. Here, the value (−1) in the file management unit 104 indicates that the file management information is invalid.

On the other hand, the block management means 107 describes the link state of the blocks making up each file in a method different from the example in FIG. That is, the block management unit 1
07 has the same number of entries as all the blocks included in the recording medium 103. Each entry directly describes the block address CB [c: b] as address information, and successive entries are directly linked to the link state. Is represented. Then, the management is performed on a block basis together with the status flag described in each entry. In the block management means 107, a table composed of these entry groups will be referred to as a BLT (Block Link Table), and each entry constituting the BLT will be referred to as a BLT entry. In the example of FIG. 2, since the recording medium is composed of four recording medium pieces and each recording medium piece is composed of four blocks, the BLT of the block management means 107 may have 16 entries. This is shown in FIG.

As in the example of FIG. 3, the status flags recorded in each BLT entry are a valid flag indicating that the corresponding block is an empty block, an invalid flag indicating that the corresponding block is an invalid block, and a system flag. A system flag indicating a block, a first flag indicating a first block of a file, a next flag indicating a middle block of a file, a last flag indicating a last block of the file, a middle block of the file, and For example, a loop flag indicating the last block of the parallel control is included.

The address information recorded in each BLT entry is information for expressing the link state of the blocks constituting the file. For example, entry L [0]
Has a block address CB [1: 0] recorded therein.
The following entry L [1] has CB [2: 0] and the next entry L
Since CB [3: 0] is recorded in [2], it is understood that the blocks are linked in the order of blocks CB [1: 0], CB [2: 0], and CB [3: 0]. . Since these three entries have status flags of a first flag, a next flag, and a last flag, respectively, it can be understood that they constitute one file. Actually, the file is the third (M [2]) in the file management unit 104.
It is understood that the file is managed as the file F [0].

Similarly, it can be seen that the file F [1] is recorded as follows. Since the first BLT entry is L [3] from the file management unit 104, the entry group related to the file F [1] is first
Starting with entry L [3] in which the flag is described, ne
L [4] and L [5] in which the xt flag is described, L [6] in which the loop flag is described, L [7] in which the next flag is described again, and L [8] in which the last flag is described 6 BLTs linked in order
The block management unit 107 can determine that the entry is an entry.

Therefore, the file F [1] is stored in the block CB
[1: 1], CB [2: 2], CB [3: 1], CB [0: 1], C
It can be seen that B [1: 2] and CB [3: 2] are arranged in this order. Further, the file F
[1] includes blocks CB [1: 1], CB [2: 2], and CB [3:
1] and CB [0: 1], and a second parallel block consisting of two blocks CB [1: 2] and CB [3: 2]. I understand.

That is, in order to indicate that the file F [1] is composed of two parallel blocks, the block management means 107 corresponds to the last block CB [0: 1] in the first parallel block. A loop flag is recorded as a status flag in the BLT entry L [6]. Also, la is set as a status flag in the BLT entry L [8].
By recording the st flag, it is indicated that it is the last block in the second parallel block as well as the last block of the file.

Block management information such as a system block and an invalid block can be recorded in an arbitrary entry.
Its attribute can be determined by a flag or the like.

The advantage of using the block management means 107 shown in FIG. 4 is that the link states of the blocks constituting the file are the first flag and the last flag which are status flags.
Since it is described by a continuous group of BLT entries separated by flags, control of random access in a file and the like is facilitated. That is, by using the address values L [0] to L [15] of the BLT entry,
For example, it is possible to directly calculate the relative position from the block being reproduced to the block to which the reproduction control is to be shifted.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1 when the function selecting means 101 designates a file transfer input operation.

First, the recording medium control means 102 recognizes that an operation of writing data transmitted from the transfer control means 105 to the recording medium 103 is performed in step S101 of FIG. In the next step S102, information about a file to be written according to the operation of the user of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1, for example, designation information such as a file name and a capacity is input. The items to be specified here are performed based on the information transmitted in advance by the information providing device described above, but can also be performed in the information providing device to which the transfer input / output terminal 11 of the device 1 is connected.

In the next step S103, the free area of the recording medium 103 is searched using the block management means 107, and if it is determined in the following step S104 that there is enough free area to write the file (Yes),
The file writing process to the recording medium 103 is started from the next step S105 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that there is not enough free space to write the file (No), a free space is secured by executing a block erasing operation to be described later, and then the process of FIG. The writing process is started from S105. Since the total capacity of the files recorded on the recording medium 103 can be calculated by the file management means 104, it is easy to determine whether there is a free area. Here, the file to be erased in order to secure a free area can be the oldest temporally or logically, but can also be selected by the user of the device 1 by the function selecting means 101. .

In step S105 of FIG. 6, a parallel block is formed using the empty area searched in step S103 of FIG. However, in order to take advantage of the characteristics of the above-described parallel control, it is desirable that one parallel block is formed of recording medium pieces as different as possible as shown in FIG. Of course, the order of the recording medium pieces is arbitrary as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S106, a chip select signal is input to a recording medium piece to be written. Here, the writing operation is executed by regularly selecting the recording medium pieces in an order corresponding to the block order in the parallel block selected in step S105. In the next step S107, the ready / busy state is checked as the status information of the recording medium piece selected in the previous step S106, and the process stands by until the ready state (Ready) is reached. The recording medium piece selected for the first time after the start of the file write operation is normally in a ready state (Ready). However, in the above-mentioned step S104, when the operation branches to the erase operation (N
In the case of o), there is a case where the device is not in the ready state due to the erasing operation (Busy).

If it is determined in step S107 that the recording medium piece is in the ready state (Ready),
In the next step S108, the writing of the sector data is executed by the write procedure described in detail above. In this case, writing must be started from the head address of the block. This is the same when a file is divided by a plurality of parallel blocks. Of course, as described above, during the writing time from the internal register of the memory chip to the memory cell, it is possible to proceed to the next step without waiting for the completion.

In the next step S109, it is determined whether or not the writing of all the sector data to the parallel block selected in the above step S105 has been completed. The same processing is repeated for another recording medium piece. On the other hand, when it is determined that the writing of the parallel block is completed (Yes), the management information of the written parallel block is updated and recorded in the block management unit 107 in the next step S110.

In the next step S111, it is determined whether or not writing has been completed for all the parallel blocks constituting the file, and if not completed (No),
The same processing is repeated for another parallel block from step S105. On the other hand, if it is determined that the writing of the file has been completed (Yes), the next step S112
Then, the management information of the written file is updated and recorded in the file management unit 104, and the file transfer input operation ends.

Of course, by updating the block management information in step S110 at the same time as step S112, it is possible to cope with faster data transfer.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the function selecting means 101.
6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1 when a file erasing operation is designated in FIG.

First, in step S201 in FIG. 7, the recording medium control means 102 recognizes that an erasing operation is performed on the file specified in the next step S202. In the next step S202, information on a file to be deleted according to a user operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1, for example, designation information such as a file name is input. In the next step S203, the recording medium control unit 102
Means file management means 104 and block management means 10
7 to search for the specified file.

In the next step S204 in FIG. 8, a parallel block is recognized based on the block management information retrieved in step S203. Next, in step S205, a chip select signal is input to a recording medium piece to be subjected to block erasure. Here, the erasing operation is executed by regularly selecting the recording medium pieces in an order corresponding to the block order in the parallel block recognized in step S204. Also, when it is determined in step S104 of the write operation shown in FIG. 5 that there is no free area for writing a file (No), the step S104 is also performed.
The process proceeds to 204 to execute an erasing operation.

In the next step S206, the ready / busy state is checked as status information of the recording medium piece selected in the previous step S205, and the ready state (Read) is checked.
Wait in this step until y). However, the recording medium piece selected for the first time after the start of the file erasing operation is normally in a ready state (Ready).

If it is determined in step S206 that the recording medium piece is in the ready state (Ready),
In the next step S207, block erasure is executed. First, a block erase setup command, an address of a block to be erased, and an erase execution command are sequentially input to the memory chip selected in step S205. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the erasure of the specified block is completed. Of course, as described above, during the block erasing time, it is possible to proceed to the next step without waiting for this to end.

In the next step S208, it is determined whether the erasure of all the blocks constituting the parallel block selected in the above step S204 has been completed, and if not completed (No), another step from the above step S205 is performed. The same processing is repeated for the recording medium pieces. On the other hand, if it is determined that the erasure of the parallel blocks has been completed (Yes), the management information of the erased parallel blocks is updated and recorded in the block management means 107 in the next step S209. That is, the block management means 10 corresponding to the erased block
7 is updated to the valid flag.

In the next step S210, it is determined whether or not erasure of all the parallel blocks constituting the file has been completed. If it has not been completed (No), the above-mentioned step S204 is repeated for another parallel block. Is repeated. On the other hand, the deletion of the file is completed (Yes)
If it is determined that the file has been deleted, the management information of the file on which the deletion operation has been performed is deleted from the file management unit 104 in the next step S211 and the file deletion operation ends. However, if the process branches to step S204 during the write operation of FIG. 5, the process returns to step S211 in the write operation shown in FIG.
The process returns to step 105 and continues.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1 when a file reading operation is designated by the function selecting means 101.

First, in step S301 of FIG. 9, the recording medium control means 102 recognizes that the reading process for the file specified in the next step S302 is to be executed. In the next step S302, information on a file to be read out for transfer output or reproduction output according to the operation of the user of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 1, for example,
The designated information such as the file name is input, and the next step S3
In step 03, the management information of the specified file, for example, the address and the capacity of the recording medium 103 are searched from the file management unit 104 and the block management unit 107, and the file reading process is performed in step S304 and subsequent steps based on the management information. Execute

In the next step S304, when the transfer output is designated by the function selecting means 101, the recording medium control means 102 branches to step S401 in FIG. If the output is designated, the flow branches to step 501 in FIG.

In the case of a read operation for transfer output,
The process shifts from step S304 to step S401 in FIG. 10, and first, a parallel block is recognized from the block management information searched in step S303.

In the next step S402, a chip select signal is input to a recording medium piece to be read. Here, the reading process is executed by regularly selecting the recording medium pieces in the order corresponding to the block order in the parallel block recognized in step S401. In subsequent steps S403 and S404, a command indicating page reading and an address for reading are sequentially input to the recording medium piece selected in the previous step S402.
In the next step S405, it is determined whether or not the input of the command and the address has been completed for all the recording medium pieces constituting the parallel block. Step S
If it is determined in 405 that the input of the command and the address has not been completed (No), the input of the command and the address to another recording medium piece from step S402 is performed again for all the recording medium pieces constituting the parallel block. Repeat until completed (Yes).

By repeating the processing of steps S402 to S405, after a predetermined time, in all the recording medium pieces constituting the parallel block, the sector data read from the memory cell is stored in the internal register. Will be retained. Therefore, in and after step S406, these sector data can be continuously read from the internal register. In this manner, a sector transfer from a memory cell to an internal register in each recording medium piece is performed.
Data reading time can be effectively used, and a reading operation with small overhead can be performed.

Next, in step S406, the recording medium piece first selected in step S402 is selected again, and in the next step S407, the ready / busy state is checked as status information of the already selected recording medium piece. I do. In step S407, while the recording medium piece is in the busy state (Busy), the process stands by in this step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the recording medium piece is in the ready state (Ready), in the next step S408, the recording medium piece is The sector data stored in the internal register is read and transmitted to the transfer control means 105.

The processing of steps S406 to S408 is executed on all the recording medium pieces that have been subjected to the processing of steps S402 to S404 in the same recording medium piece order as the command input. The next step S409 controls this flow, and it is determined whether or not the transfer output of all the sector data recorded in the parallel block has been completed. If the transfer output has not been completed (No), the same processing is repeated from the above step S406 for the next recording medium piece, while if the transfer output has been completed (Yes), the next step S410 The processing shifts to.

In step S410, it is determined whether or not the process of reading the sector data from all the parallel blocks constituting the file has been completed. If not, the process returns to step S401 to return to step S401. Similar processing is repeated for the block. On the other hand, in step S410, the reading of the file is completed (Ye
If it is determined to be s), the above-described file read operation ends.

On the other hand, in the case of a read operation for reproduction output, the processing shifts from step S304 in FIG. 9 to step S501 in FIG.
The parallel block is recognized from the block management information retrieved in step 3.

In the next step S502, a chip select signal is input to a recording medium piece to be read. Here, the read operation is executed by regularly selecting the recording medium pieces in the order corresponding to the block order in the parallel block recognized in step S501. In subsequent steps S503 and S504, a command indicating page reading and an address for reading are sequentially input to the recording medium piece selected in the previous step S502.
In the next step S505, the ready / busy state is checked as status information of the already selected recording medium piece, and when the recording medium piece is busy (Busy), the process waits in this step, while the recording medium piece is ready. State (Re
ady), the next step S506
Then, the sector data held in the internal register of the recording medium piece is read and transmitted to the reproduction control means 106.

In the next step S507, it is determined whether or not the reproduction and output of all the sector data recorded in the parallel block have been completed. If the reproduction output has not been completed (No), the same processing is repeated from the step S502 on the next recording medium, while if the reproduction output has been completed (Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S508. Processing shifts.

In step S508, it is determined whether or not the process of reading the sector data from all the parallel blocks constituting the file has been completed. If the process has not been completed (No), the process returns to step S501 to return to the next parallel block. Similar processing is repeated for the block. On the other hand, in step S508, the reading of the file is completed (Ye
If it is determined to be s), the above-described file read operation ends.

In the reproduction output processing, when compared with the transfer output processing in steps S401 to S410 in which command and address input and data output are executed separately, the processing in steps S502 to S506 is executed for each recording medium piece. Therefore, the total read time becomes longer.
However, since multiple recording media pieces are not operated at the same time,
In the case of real-time reproduction of audio or the like that does not require high-speed reading speed, power consumption can be reduced, which is convenient.

In the above embodiment, the recording medium 10
Although the semiconductor memory has been described as 3, it may be constituted by a magneto-optical disk or a magnetic disk. In this case, the recording medium control unit 102 is a drive device for driving each disk.

When the user uses the recording medium 103 for reproduction only, the recording medium 103 may be constituted by a read-only memory such as an optical disk or a ROM.

[0108]

As is apparent from the above description, an information recording apparatus and method using a recording medium in which an erase unit is composed of a plurality of write units, such as a flash memory, In the information reproducing apparatus and method, information recorded on a recordable information recording medium is managed in file units, information is managed in predetermined units (management units) constituting each file, and based on these managements, The recording medium is controlled. In controlling the recording medium, information is read / written in units (control units) composed of an arbitrary number of the management units, and the file management information and the block management information are respectively recorded. This makes it possible to effectively use the memory area while executing high-speed and flexible parallel control.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram (memory map) for explaining a file recording method in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a file management method in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another method of managing files in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process flow of a first half of a file writing operation in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when there is an empty area in a file writing operation in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process flow of a first half of a file erasing operation in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a latter half of a file erasing operation in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a flow of processing when there is no free space in the writing operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process flow of a first half of a file reading operation in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when a transfer output is designated in a file reading operation in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when a reproduction output is specified in a file reading operation in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an external view of a conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an external view of another conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an external view of a conventional information providing apparatus.

FIG. 15 is an external view of another conventional information providing apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a diagram (memory map) for explaining an example of file recording in a conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,200 information recording / reproducing device, 11 transfer input / output terminal, 12 reproduction output terminal, 101, 203 function selection means, 102 recording medium control means, 103 recording medium, 104 file management means, 105 transfer control means, 106 reproduction control means , 107 block management means, 201, 211, 212 connecting terminals, 20
2,231 display device, 204 earphone, 210
Information recording device, 220 information reproducing device, 230,
240 information providing device, 232 output selecting means, 2
33,221 insertion / ejection port, 241 insertion port, 24
2 outlet

Claims (56)

[Claims] 1. A recording unit that can write information, a file management unit that manages information recorded in the recording unit in file units, and a block that manages files in a predetermined block unit including a plurality of writing units. A management unit, and a block management unit that writes information to the recording unit in a parallel block unit including an arbitrary number of the blocks, sets file management information in the file management unit, and includes a flag indicating a delimitation of the parallel block. Control means for setting information in the block management unit. 2. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transfer terminal connected to an external device; and transfer means for transferring a file input from the transfer terminal to the control means. 3. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file management unit manages a pointer to the block management unit in addition to the file management information including at least a file name and a file capacity. . 4. The block management unit has an entry corresponding to each block of the recording unit, and manages block management information including at least the attribute information of the block and the address information of the block in the entry. The information recording device according to claim 3. 5. The block management unit has an entry corresponding to each block of the recording unit, and manages block management information including at least attribute information of the block and link information between the entries in the entry. The information recording device according to claim 3, wherein 6. The attribute information according to claim 4, wherein the flag indicating the partition of the parallel block is included in the attribute information.
Information recording device according to the above. 7. The attribute information according to claim 5, wherein the flag indicating the delimiter of the parallel block is included in the attribute information.
Information recording device according to the above. 8. The information recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is valid. 9. The information recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is valid. 10. The information recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is rewritable. 11. The information recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is rewritable. 12. The recording unit is composed of a plurality of recording medium pieces, the parallel block is composed of blocks of separate recording medium pieces, and the control means executes writing to the parallel blocks in parallel. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 13. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said block is an erasing unit in said recording section. 14. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording unit is a semiconductor memory. 15. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is a magneto-optical disk or a magnetic disk. 16. An information recording step of writing information to a recording unit in parallel block units composed of an arbitrary number of blocks, and file management information for managing information recorded in the recording unit in file units is set in the file management unit. And a block management step including a flag indicating a delimiter of the parallel block and setting block management information for managing a file in a predetermined block unit including a plurality of write units in the block management unit. An information recording method, characterized in that: 17. The information recording method according to claim 16, wherein said file management step sets a pointer to a block management unit in addition to said file management information including at least a file name and a file capacity. 18. The block management step is characterized in that block management information including at least block attribute information and block address information is set in an entry of the block management unit corresponding to each block of the recording unit. The information recording method according to claim 17. 19. The block management step is characterized in that block management information including at least block attribute information and link information between entries is set in an entry of a block management unit corresponding to each block of the recording unit. The information recording method according to claim 17, wherein 20. The information recording method according to claim 18, wherein a flag indicating a break of the parallel block is included in the attribute information. 21. The information recording method according to claim 19, wherein the flag indicating the partition of the parallel block is included in the attribute information. 22. The information recording method according to claim 18, wherein said attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to said entry is valid. 23. The information recording method according to claim 19, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is valid. 24. The information recording method according to claim 18, wherein said attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to said entry is rewritable. 25. The information recording method according to claim 19, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is rewritable. 26. The parallel block is composed of blocks of separate recording medium pieces for the storage unit composed of a plurality of recording medium pieces, and the information recording step is to write data in parallel to the parallel blocks. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein
Information recording method described. 27. The information recording method according to claim 16, wherein said block is an erasing unit in a recording unit. 28. A recording unit that records information, a file management unit that manages information recorded in the recording unit on a file basis, and a block management that manages a file on a predetermined block basis consisting of a plurality of read units. An information reproducing apparatus comprising: a control unit that reads information to the recording unit in units of a parallel block including an arbitrary number of blocks based on the file management unit and the block management unit. . 29. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising: reproducing means for reproducing the information read from said recording unit by said control means; and an output terminal for externally outputting data of the reproduced file. Information playback device. 30. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the file management unit manages a pointer to the block management unit in addition to the file management information including at least a file name and a file capacity. . 31. The block management unit has an entry corresponding to each block of the recording unit, and manages block management information including at least the attribute information of the block and the address information of the block in the entry. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 30. 32. The block management unit has an entry corresponding to each block of the recording unit, and manages block management information including at least the attribute information of the block and the link information between the entries in the entry. 31. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein 33. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein a flag indicating a break of the parallel block is included in the attribute information. 34. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the flag indicating the partition of the parallel block is included in the attribute information. 35. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is valid. 36. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is valid. 37. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is rewritable. 38. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is rewritable. 39. The recording unit is composed of a plurality of recording medium pieces, the parallel block is composed of blocks of separate recording medium pieces, and the control means executes reading of the parallel blocks in parallel. 29. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein: 40. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the block is an erasing unit in the recording unit. 41. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said recording section is a read-only recording medium. 42. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said recording section is a semiconductor memory. 43. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said recording unit is a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. 44. A predetermined block including a file management step for recognizing file management information for managing information recorded in a recording unit on a file-by-file basis and a flag indicating a delimiter of the parallel block, and comprising a plurality of write units. An information reproducing method comprising: a block management step of recognizing block management information for managing files in units; and an information reading step of reading information from a recording unit in units of parallel blocks composed of an arbitrary number of blocks. . 45. The apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising: a reproducing step of reproducing the information read from the recording unit in the information reading step; and an output step of outputting data of the reproduced file to the outside. Information reproduction method. 46. The information reproducing method according to claim 44, wherein the file management step recognizes a pointer to a block management unit in addition to the file management information including at least a file name and a file capacity. 47. The information reproducing method according to claim 46, wherein said block management step recognizes block management information including at least block attribute information and block address information. 48. The information reproducing method according to claim 46, wherein the block management step recognizes block management information including at least block attribute information and link information between entries. 49. The information reproducing method according to claim 47, wherein the flag indicating the break of the parallel block is included in the attribute information. 50. The information reproducing method according to claim 48, wherein the flag indicating the break of the parallel block is included in the attribute information. 51. The information reproducing method according to claim 47, wherein said attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to said entry is valid. 52. The information reproducing method according to claim 48, wherein said attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to said entry is valid. 53. The information reproducing method according to claim 47, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is rewritable. 54. The information reproducing method according to claim 48, wherein the attribute information includes a flag indicating whether data of a block corresponding to the entry is rewritable. 55. The parallel block includes blocks of separate recording medium pieces for the storage unit including a plurality of recording medium pieces, and the information recording step includes reading the parallel blocks in parallel. 44. The method according to claim 44, wherein
Information reproduction method described. 56. The information reproducing method according to claim 44, wherein said block is an erasing unit in a recording unit.