JPH117678A - Ejection of tape recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eject a tape type recording medium in a desired position by adjusting a physical position of a tape type recording medium in data recording or reproducing operation to a logical position of the tape type recording medium in data processing, and ejecting the tape type recording medium from a recording or reproducing device at a position at which the both positions almost coincide. SOLUTION: A system controller 25 of a data streamer device 21 judges whether a physical position of a magnetic tape TAPE is larger (at more advanced position) than a logical value of the magnetic tape TAPE or not. The physical position of the magnetic tape TAPE indicates the present position of the magnetic tape TAPE at which read-out of a rotary drum is actually performed from the magnetic tape TAPE. Also, the logical position indicates a recording position of reproduced data transferred to a host computer 11 on the magnetic tape TAPE. Reproduced data read out from the magnetic tape TAPE at high speed is transferred to the computer 11 after storing in a buffer 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Embodiments of the Invention (1) Configuration of Data Streamer (FIGS. 1 to 3) (2) Recording Medium (FIG. 4) (3) Operation and Effect of Embodiment (4) Other Embodiment Effect of the Invention

[0003]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for sweeping a tape-shaped recording medium, for example, a tape-shaped recording device for recording and / or reproducing music (audio) data on a magnetic tape housed in a cassette housing. It is suitable for application to a medium sweeping (ejection) method.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for recording and reproducing audio data on and from a magnetic tape stored in a loaded cassette tape, for example, a DAT (Digital Audio Taperec) is used.
order). This DAT device uses a rotating magnetic head to record audio data in a DAT audio-off format on a recording track formed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of a magnetic tape.

[0005]

In such a conventional DAT apparatus, when a loaded tape cassette is ejected (ejected), the magnetic tape is moved to a leading position regardless of a stop position of the magnetic tape in the tape cassette. After rewinding, it is swept out.

As described above, in the DAT apparatus, the magnetic tape is rewound to the head position every time the magnetic tape is ejected. , The time required for the sweeping process is not constant. In particular, when the rewind amount is large, the sweeping process requires a relatively long time, and there is a problem that the usability is poor for the user.

In addition, in such a DAT device, since the sweep operation is always performed after rewinding to the head position of the magnetic tape, the number of uses of the head portion of the magnetic tape is extremely increased, and the tape life is shortened. There was a problem.

Further, in such a DAT apparatus, a magnetic tape which has been recorded or reproduced halfway is rewound to the head position when the tape is ejected. Is loaded into the DAT device again, and a new recording or reproducing operation is performed subsequently to the recorded area or the reproduced area, but the operation of searching for the end position of the recorded area or the reproduced area becomes complicated. There was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a method of sweeping a tape-shaped recording medium at a desired tape position.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a physical position of a tape-shaped recording medium in recording or reproducing data on or from a tape-shaped recording medium is recorded or recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium. Eliminating the tape-shaped recording medium from the recording and / or reproducing apparatus at a position where the physical position and the logical position of the tape-shaped recording medium are substantially matched with the logical position of the tape-shaped recording medium in the data processing of the data to be reproduced. Thereby, the recording or reproducing operation of new data can be restarted following the recording or reproducing interruption position in the data processing.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Configuration of Data Streamer Device In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a data recording / reproducing system as a whole, and a SCSI (Small C
The data streamer device 21 is connected via a bus BUS. The data streamer device 21 has a data mode for recording and reproducing digital data for a computer at high density on a magnetic tape of a DAT tape cassette in a recording format called a DDS format, and a DAT audio recording format (hereinafter referred to as a DAT format). An audio mode for recording and reproducing audio data on and from a magnetic tape of a DAT tape cassette, and sub-code information (format identification code of the format: Sub-I
The mode can be switched based on D).

When recording an audio signal S _IN input from the outside to the host computer 11 on a magnetic tape loaded in the data streamer device 21, the host computer 11 outputs a recording audio signal (recording audio signal) S _IN. Is converted into a digital signal through the A / D and D / A converters 12 and then converted into a data controller 13.
Through the buffer RAM 15 once for each frame. One frame of the recorded audio data is composed of data for two tracks when recording on a magnetic tape via a rotating head.

The recording audio data stored in the buffer RAM 15 is read out frame by frame under the control of the system controller 16, sent out to the SCSI bus BUS via the data controller 13 and the interface controller 14, and sent to the data streamer. Device 2
Transferred to 1.

The recorded audio data transferred to the data streamer device 21 is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 28 in frame units through the interface controller 22, the data compression engine 23 and the data controller 24 under the control of the system controller 25. Is done. Incidentally, the data compression engine 23 compresses the data to be recorded when the data to be recorded is DDS format digital data (during the data mode), and compresses the recorded audio data when the data is in the audio mode. Has been made to not work.

As shown in FIG. 2, the buffer RAM 28 stores "0" to "N-1" as storage areas in frame units.
, And the recording audio data transferred from the host computer 11 is transferred from the storage area “0” to the storage areas “1”, “2”,. It is stored in the order of “N−1”. When the recording audio data is stored up to the storage area "N-1", the subsequent recording audio data is again stored in frame units in the order of the storage area "0" to the storage areas "1",..., "N-1". Going stored.

The recorded audio data in frame units stored in the buffer RAM 28 is stored by the data controller 24 in the order of storage ("0", "1",...).
.., "N-1") and sent to the signal processing circuit 29.

Here, the data streamer device 21 is capable of recording digital data on a magnetic tape at high density and high speed in the data mode. As a result, in either the data mode or the audio mode, the data streamer device 21 can record the digital data. The recording and reproducing speed on the magnetic tape is several times faster than when recording and reproducing audio data on the magnetic tape using a dedicated DAT device.

Therefore, in the data streamer device 21, the audio mode (DAT audio off audio) is used.
When recording audio data on a magnetic tape, the data streamer device 21 records the audio data on the magnetic tape at a higher speed than a DAT device dedicated to audio data. In this case, under the control of the system controller 25, the data controller 24 of the data streamer device 21 sequentially records the data sequentially stored in the buffer RAM 28 via the host computer 11 while continuously maintaining the transfer rate for DAT from the outside. The amount of audio data stored in the buffer RAM 28 is monitored,
When a predetermined amount (at least one frame) is secured, the data is read out by the data controller 24 and subjected to ECC encoding, recording modulation processing and the like in the signal processing circuit 29, and then to the recording amplification circuit 33. Through the magnetic head provided on the rotating drum device 36 of the mechanism section 35 via the.

The mechanism section 35 has a capstan for running the magnetic tape TAPE of the loaded tape cassette CAS, a rotating drum 36 provided with a magnetic head, and the like. And servo & motor drive circuit 32
Driven by the The mechanism controller 31
Under the control of the system controller 25, control information is exchanged with the data controller 24, and when the recording audio data is read out from the buffer RAM 28, the drive of the mechanism unit 35 is controlled to control the recording audio data. On a magnetic tape.

In this case, the mechanism section 35 has a buffer R
Only when the recorded audio data is read from the AM 28, so-called link recording for executing the recording operation of the recorded audio data on the magnetic tape is performed. In this splicing recording, a new recording audio data can be spliced and recorded accurately at a position following the last recorded track by a splicing recording preparation operation called a repositioning operation.

That is, the system controller 25 executes a repositioning operation when a predetermined amount of recording audio data is not secured in the buffer RAM 28 during the operation of recording the recording audio data on the magnetic tape,
As shown in FIG. 3B, the magnetic tape TAPE (FIG.
(A)), the recording operation is stopped at the tape position P2, and among the recorded tracks formed on the magnetic tape TAPE, the magnetic tape is moved to the tape position P1 which is a predetermined length earlier than the last recording track forming position. The TAPE is made to run in reverse (reverse running), and waits at that position (FIG. 3).
(C)). In this case, in the recording operation before starting the repositioning operation, the system controller 25 outputs a capstan FG (Frequency) output from the capstan of the mechanism unit 35 via the mechanism controller 31.
Generator) The count value and the absolute time (Absol.) Recorded in the subcode area of the recording track in the recording operation.
ute Time), a frame address (Frame Address), and a checksum of audio data recorded in the main data area of the recording track in the recording operation for a predetermined number of frames in the RAM 26 (FIG. 1) in advance. During operation, the position of the magnetic tape is searched based on these data.

Incidentally, in this repositioning operation,
The tape length APP that is reversely run from the last recording track forming position P2 (FIG. 3) to the standby position P1 is a length necessary for the run-up when restarting recording on the magnetic tape TAPE. Thus, when recording on the magnetic tape TAPE is resumed when a predetermined amount of recording audio data is stored in the buffer RAM 28, the data controller 24 (FIG. 1) transfers the recording audio data stored in the buffer RAM 28 to the frame. The data is read out in units and sent to the rotating head of the mechanism unit 35, and the mechanism controller 31 restarts the recording operation of the mechanism unit 35. As a result, the magnetic tape loaded in the mechanism section 35 starts running from the standby position P1 (FIG. 3D), and the position where the last track recorded is formed after the rotating head and the capstan are stabilized. At P2, the recorded audio data read from the buffer RAM 28 is recorded in new recording areas P2 to P4 following the last recorded track. Even in this case,
Capstan FG stored in RAM 26 (FIG. 1)
The position of the magnetic tape is searched based on the count value, the absolute time, the frame address, and the checksum.

Similarly, when the amount of audio data recorded in the buffer RAM 28 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, FIG.
As shown in (D), (E) and (F), the repositioning operation and the link recording are executed again.

As described above, the data streamer device 21 which records and reproduces data at a higher speed than the recording / reproducing device (DAT device) dedicated to audio data has the recording audio data inputted while maintaining the data transfer speed for DAT continuously. On the magnetic tape, the discrepancy between the transfer speed of the recording audio data and the recording speed on the magnetic tape is absorbed, and the audio data is continuously recorded on the magnetic tape after the splicing recording. Will be.

When reproducing the audio data from the magnetic tape on which the audio data is recorded, the system controller 25 of the data streamer device 21
The mechanism unit 35 via the mechanism controller 31
Playback control. At this time, the mechanism section 35 reproduces the audio data from the magnetic tape TAPE at a higher speed than the reproduction speed of the DAT device dedicated to audio, as in the above-described recording.

Accordingly, the reproduced audio data input from the mechanism section 35 to the signal processing circuit 29 via the reproduction amplifying circuit 34 is subjected to reproduction demodulation, error correction processing and the like in the signal processing circuit 29, The data is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 28 in frame units via the controller 24 and is read out at the DAT data transfer speed, so that the difference between the reproduction speed of the mechanism section 35 and the DAT data transfer speed can be absorbed. .

Therefore, at the time of the reproduction, similarly to the case described above with reference to FIG.
5 monitors the storage amount of the reproduced audio data stored in the buffer RAM 28 while monitoring the buffer RAM 2.
In the case where there is room in the data storage amount of No. 8, the reproducing operation from the magnetic tape is executed, and when there is no more room in the data storing amount, the magnetic tape of the mechanism section 35 is repositioned and the reproducing operation is interrupted. I do.

That is, during the operation of reproducing audio data from a magnetic tape, the system controller 25 executes a repositioning operation when the storage amount of the reproduced audio data in the buffer RAM 28 becomes full, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the magnetic tape TAPE (FIG. 3)
The reproduction operation from (A)) is stopped at the tape position P2, and the magnetic tape TAPE is moved to the tape position P1 which is a predetermined length before the recording track reproduced at the end of the reproduction operation.
Is run reversely (reverse running), and waits at that position (FIG. 3C). In this case, the system controller 25
Is a capstan FG (F) output from the capstan of the mechanism section 35 via the mechanism controller 31 in the reproducing operation before the repositioning operation is started.
(requency generator) count value, absolute time (Absolute Time) and frame address (Frame Adr) reproduced from the subcode area of the recording track in the reproducing operation.
ess) and a checksum of audio data reproduced from the main data area of the recording track in the reproduction operation are stored in the RAM 26 (FIG. 1) for a predetermined number of frames in advance, and based on these data during the repositioning operation. Find the position of the magnetic tape.

By the way, in this repositioning operation,
From the last reproduction track position P2 (FIG. 3) to the standby position P1
The tape length APP that is reverse-run until the start is a length necessary for the run-up when resuming reproduction from the magnetic tape TAPE. Thus, when a new storage area for the playback audio data is secured in the buffer RAM 28, the mechanism controller 31 (FIG. 1) restarts the playback operation of the mechanism section 35 and simultaneously operates the data controller 24.
Receives from the signal processing circuit 29 the reproduced audio data reproduced via the rotating magnetic head of the mechanism section 35, and stores it in the buffer RAM 28 in frame units.

Thus, the magnetic tape loaded in the mechanism section 35 starts running from the standby position P1 (FIG. 3D), and the last track that has been reproduced is formed after the rotating head and the capstan are stabilized. New areas P2 to P2 that arrive at the position P2
The reproduction of the audio data is resumed from the recording track No. 4. Also in this case, the position of the magnetic tape is searched based on the capstan FG count value, the absolute time, the frame address, and the checksum stored in the RAM 26 (FIG. 1).

Similarly, when the reproduction audio data in the buffer RAM 28 becomes full, the data in FIG.
As shown in (E) and (F), the repositioning operation and the restart of the reproduction are performed again.

At the time of reproduction, the buffer RAM 28 sequentially stores the reproduced audio data in the storage areas "0" to "N-1" in frame units in the same manner as in the recording described above with reference to FIG. When the playback audio data is stored in the storage area unit “N−1”, the subsequent playback audio data is again changed from the storage area “0” to the storage area “1”.
.., "N-1" are stored in that order.

The reproduced audio data in frame units stored in the buffer RAM 28 in this manner is stored by the data controller 24 in the storage order (“0”,
,..., “N−1”), and via the data compression engine 23, the interface controller 2
2 is sent.

Incidentally, the data compression engine 23 expands the compressed and recorded data when the reproduced data is DDS format digital data (in the data mode), and in the case of the audio mode. Does not execute the decompression process on the reproduced audio data. Whether the data reproduced from the magnetic tape at the time of reproduction is DDS format digital data or DAT audio off format audio data is determined by the identification code (Sub-code) of the subcode information recorded on the magnetic tape. ID), and can be identified by the system controller 2.
5 executes a reproducing operation in either the data mode or the audio mode according to the identification code.

The playback audio data sent to the interface controller 22 is transferred to the host computer 11 via the SCSI bus BUS at a data transfer rate of DAT. The playback audio data transferred to the host computer 11 is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 15 through the interface controller 14 and the data controller 13 in frame units, and then converted into an analog signal through the A / D and D / A converters 12. The signal is converted and output to the outside as a reproduced audio signal S _OUT .

As described above, the data streamer device 21, which records and reproduces data at a higher speed than the recording / reproducing device (DAT device) dedicated to audio data, intermittently reproduces the audio data recorded on the magnetic tape while performing the repositioning operation. As a result, the read audio data stored in the buffer RAM 28 in frame units is read out while maintaining the data transfer rate for DAT continuously, so that the host computer 11 outputs the reproduced audio signal S.
_OUT is output continuously at the playback speed for DAT.

(2) Recording Media Sweep Processing The data streamer 21 reproduces the DAT audio data from the magnetic tape TAPE of the DAT tape cassette CAS loaded in the mechanism section 35 (FIG. 1). When a stop and sweep (ejection) command is input from the controller, the sweep processing shown in FIG. 4 is executed.

That is, the system controller 25 of the data streamer 21 enters the processing procedure from step SP1 in FIG. 4, and in step SP2, the physical position of the magnetic tape TAPE is larger than the logical position of the magnetic tape TAPE (advanced). Position). Here, the physical position of the magnetic tape TAPE is the current magnetic tape TAP from which the magnetic head of the rotating drum 36 (FIG. 1) is actually reading from the magnetic tape TAPE.
The position of E is shown. The logical position of the magnetic tape TAPE indicates a recording position of the reproduced data transferred to the host computer 11 on the magnetic tape TAPE. These positions are detected by reading position information such as absolute time information from each subcode information of the data reproduced from the magnetic tape TAPE and the data read through the buffer RAM 28.

That is, the reproduced data read out from the magnetic tape TAPE at a high speed is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 28 and then transferred to the host computer 11 at a relatively low transfer rate for DAT. Tape TA of reproduced data transferred to
The recording position on the PE is a position ahead of the tape position actually being reproduced by the magnetic head at this time. Thus, in the data streamer device 21, the buffer RAM 2
8, the read position of the magnetic tape TAPE recognized by the host computer 11 and the actual magnetic tape T
A predetermined difference occurs between the APE playback position.

Accordingly, the system controller 25 can recognize the present actual position (physical position) of the magnetic tape TAPE by judging in step SP2 whether or not there is a difference between the reproduction positions. This step S
If a positive result is obtained in P2, this indicates that the current physical position of the magnetic tape TAPE is located ahead of the logical position, and at this time, the system controller 25 moves to step SP3 and moves to the magnetic tape. TA
Returning to step SP2, the physical position and the logical position are compared again while the PE is running in reverse.

Here, the magnetic tape TAP which has been run in reverse.
When the position of E returns to the logical position, a negative result is obtained in step SP2.
In step SP4, the tape cassette CAS (FIG. 1) having the magnetic tape TAPE is ejected from the mechanism section 35 to the outside in a state where the physical position and the logical position match.

Thus, the tape cassette C which has been swept out
AS's magnetic tape TAPE is a host computer 11
At step SP5, the system controller 25 ends the sweeping process.

(3) Operation and Effect of the Embodiment In the above configuration, the data streamer device 21 reproduces the DAT format audio data from the magnetic tape TAPE loaded in the mechanism section 35. Performs reproduction at a speed higher than the transfer rate of DAT audio-off matte, and temporarily stores it in the buffer RAM 28. At this time, while monitoring the storage capacity of the buffer RAM 28, the system controller 25 performs the repositioning operation described above with reference to FIG. 3 to reproduce the audio data from the magnetic tape TAPE.

The host computer 11 operates as a buffer RAM.
The transfer speed at which the playback audio data is read out from 28 and transferred to the outside is a transfer speed specific to DAT audio-off matrices, which is lower than the playback speed in the mechanism section 35. Therefore, compared to the playback audio data recognized by the host computer 11, the playback operation from the magnetic tape TAPE in the mechanism section 35 is always pre-reading.

In this state, for example, when the user inputs an instruction to stop reproduction and to eject (eject), the system controller 25 responds to this and the magnetic tape TAPE.
Is returned to the tape position where the playback audio data recognized by the host computer 11 at this time is recorded, and when the tape position recognized by the host computer 11 matches the actual tape position, the magnetic tape T
APE (tape cassette CAS) is swept out (ejected) from the mechanism section 35.

Here, the tape position recognized by the host computer 11 can be regarded as the recording position on the magnetic tape TAPE of the audio signal output from the host computer 11 to the outside. Therefore, at the time of the sweep,
Magnetic tape TAP of playback music that the user actually listened to
When the recording position on E and the actual position of the magnetic tape TAPE coincide, the magnetic tape TAPE (tape cassette CAS) is swept out.

Thus, when the user loads the tape cassette CAS whose reproduction has been stopped into the data streamer device 21 again and resumes reproduction again, the data streamer device 21 resumes reproduction from the position of the loaded magnetic tape TAPE. By doing so, the music part that is continuous with the music part at the time of the reproduction stop recognized by the user at this time is restarted.

According to the above configuration, the actual position of the magnetic tape TAPE is adjusted to the position of the magnetic tape TAPE recognized by the user as having stopped the reproduction, and the actual tape TAPE is discharged (ejected) at the reproduction stop position. By doing,
The reproduction can be resumed from the resume position expected by the user without storing the physical position of the magnetic tape TAPE where the reproduction was interrupted.

Further, by performing the sweeping without rewinding the magnetic tape TAPE to the head position every time the sweeping is performed as in the related art, the sweeping process is required regardless of the tape position at the time of the sweeping of the magnetic tape TAPE. The time can be fixed, and the usability of the user can be improved.

Further, by performing the sweeping without rewinding the magnetic tape TAPE to the leading position every time the sweeping is performed as in the prior art, it is possible to avoid an excessive increase in the number of times the tape leading portion is used, This can avoid shortening the life of the tape.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the magnetic tape TAPE
Although the case where the data recorded above is reproduced has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to the case where data is recorded on the magnetic tape TAPE.

Also in this case, the magnetic tape TAPE
By flushing the physical position and the logical position with the same position, the data recording can be resumed in a new area following the recorded area without storing the position where the recording was interrupted.

In the above embodiment, the case where the physical position is ahead of the logical position has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this. Even when the logical position is ahead of the physical position, the present invention can be applied by setting the tape running direction in the above-described step SP3 (FIG. 4) to the forward direction.

In the above embodiment, DAT
Although the case of reproducing audio data of audio-off format has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to the case of reproducing or recording various other data such as, for example, data for DDS format computer. .

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the data streamer device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the DAT audio-off-format audio data is recorded and / or reproduced exclusively. It can be widely applied to other recording and reproducing devices such as a DAT device.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case of recording and reproducing data on and from the magnetic tape TAPE has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the present invention can be applied to the case where a tape-shaped recording medium is used, for example, when recording is performed using the same.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the tape-shaped recording medium is swept out, the physical position of the tape-shaped recording medium in the recording or reproducing operation is determined based on the logical position of the tape-shaped recording medium in data processing. Since the tape is swept in accordance with the position, the tape can be swept at a tape position desired by the user.

In this way, when data is recorded or reproduced again on the tape-shaped recording medium thus ejected, new recording or reproduction is restarted from the logical position at the time of ejection of the tape-shaped recording medium. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data recording / reproducing system to which a tape-shaped recording medium sweeping method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a buffer RAM of the data streamer device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a repositioning operation of a magnetic tape;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a magnetic tape sweeping process according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 data recording / reproducing system, 11 host computer, 21 data streamer device, 24 data controller, 25 system controller, 2
8 Buffer RAM, 31 Mechanism controller, 35 Mechanism part, TAPE Magnetic tape.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Yamada 6-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] A method for sweeping a tape-shaped recording medium loaded in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus, wherein the tape-shaped recording medium is used for recording or reproducing data on or from the tape-shaped recording medium. The physical position of the medium is adjusted to the logical position of the tape-shaped recording medium in the data processing of the data recorded or reproduced on the tape-shaped recording medium, and the physical position and the logical position substantially match. A method for sweeping a tape-shaped recording medium, comprising sweeping the tape-shaped recording medium from the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data recorded or reproduced on the tape-shaped recording medium is audio data.