KR19990082994A - Recording and reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a recording and reproducing apparatus having a simultaneous recording and reproducing function, and an overwrite recording function, which allows a user to easily specify a recording / playing position. The recording and reproducing apparatus has a randomly accessible recording medium such as a magnetic disk. The magnetic disk has a TOC area. Information data such as the recording date and time of the recorded title is recorded in the TOC area. When a magnetic disk is loaded into the device, the information data is read out from the TOC area and stored in the information system memory. When necessary, this information data is supplied to the system controller. When the timer reservation record setting operation is performed, the system controller controls the display output section corresponding to the information data. Thus, a reservation setting screen or the like indicating the recording state of the magnetic disk is displayed on an image output apparatus such as a television receiver. With reference to the recording state, the user can specify data. Data is stored in the information system memory. At a predetermined timing, data is written to the magnetic disk.

Description

Recording and reproducing apparatus

The present invention relates, for example, to a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing image signals and / or audio signals of a television title (or program), and more particularly to a recording and reproducing apparatus having a timer reservation recording function.

Conventional timer reservation recording techniques have been developed for recording and reproducing systems using slow access speed recording media such as magnetic tape. In such a system, since the recording operation and the reproducing operation cannot be performed at the same time, all operations of the system are prohibited in the timer reservation recording standby mode to prevent the recording start position from shifting after the timer reservation recording mode is set. Therefore, it is not necessary to specify the recording start position when the timer reservation recording mode is set.

In a special timer reservation recording operation in which the program is recorded at the same position or the program is reserved at different dates and times, the recording start position is specified. However, the recording time position is specified crudely in limited conditions.

On the other hand, in a recording and reproducing system using a disc shaped recording medium (such as a magnetic disk) or a random access recording medium (such as a semiconductor memory), a synchronous recording and reproducing function is achieved. In other words, while the recorded title is being reproduced from a specific recording position on the recording medium, another title can be recorded at another recording position on this recording medium.

Moreover, an overwrite recording operation starting from the stop position is desired as in the operation using a magnetic tape or the like. Therefore, instead of the conventional recording method of recording the title in the empty area, a recording method of recording the title from the current position will be used.

In this case, even in the timer reservation recording dash mode, the recorded title can be reproduced. However, when the recorded title is reproduced, the current position as the recording start position of the timer reservation recording operation is also moved. Therefore, when the timer reservation recording mode is set, the recording start position must be specified.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a recording and reproducing apparatus having a simultaneous recording and reproducing function, and an overwriting recording function which allows a user to easily specify a recording start position in a timer reservation recording operation.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote controller for use in the apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a reservation setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a reservation confirmation screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a reservation setting screen according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a reservation setting screen according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a recorded title automatic selection process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: Image signal recording processing unit 2: Audio recording processing unit

3: multiplexing processing section 4: recording system buffer

5: disk drive 5a: magnetic disk

6: playback system buffer 7: separation processing unit

8: Image signal reproduction processing unit 9: Audio signal reproduction processing unit

10: system controller 11: control signal input unit

12: display output unit 13: image processing unit

14: tutor processing unit 15: information system memory

16: time processor 19: bus line

A first aspect of the invention provides a recording apparatus comprising: recording means for recording an image signal and / or an audio signal by overwriting the recording medium; Designating means for designating a desired starting position on the recording medium and a same desired starting time; And display control means for controlling the display of the indicator indicative of the recording state of the recording medium and the designated recording start position.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising: recording means for recording an image signal and / or an audio signal by overwriting the recording medium; Designating means for designating a desired starting position on the recording medium and a same desired starting time; And display control means for calculating the remaining recording time when the recording start position is designated to control the display of the calculated remaining recording time.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, with reference to the state of the recording medium, the user can designate a recording start position in a timer reservation recording mode or the like.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, with reference to the remaining recording time, whenever the user sets the recording mode such as the recording start position, the user can designate the recording start position in the timer reservation recording mode in real time.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. First, the recording side of the apparatus is described. An RF (radio frequency) signal is supplied from the antenna to the tuner processor 14. The tuner processor 14 selects a channel from the received signal in response to the command signal received from the system controller 10, demodulates the selected channel signal into, for example, an NTSC image signal and an audio signal, and demodulates the demodulated signal. The image signal and the audio signal are output to the image signal recording processing unit 1 and the audio recording processing unit 2.

The image signal recording processing section 1 performs analog processing such as synchronous separation processing and color difference decoding processing on the received image signal, converts the analog signal into a digital signal, and converts the analog signal into an MPEG video standard or a JPEG standard. Band compression processing corresponding to the above is performed. The resulting compressed digital signal is supplied to the multiplexing processing section 3. The JPEG standard is a compression encoding standard for still pictures recommended by the Joint Photographic Coding Expert Group (JPEG), a joint committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-TS). On the other hand, the MPEG video standard is a compression encoding standard for moving pictures recommended by ISO's MPEG (Movie Standardization Group).

The audio signal recording processing section 2 performs a filtering process on the received audio signal, converts the filtered audio signal into a digital signal, and compresses a band corresponding to the MPEG audio standard or the AC-3 standard for the digital signal. Processing is performed to supply this compressed digital signal to the multiplexing processing section 3. The MPEG audio standard is a compression encoding standard for digital audio signals recommended by the MPEG described above. The AC-3 standard is a compression encoding standard for multichannel digital audio signals proposed for the HDTV standard.

The multiplexing processing section 3 multiplexes the compressed digital signal received from the image signal recording processing section 1 corresponding to the MPEG standard and the digital signal compressed from the audio signal recording processing section 2, and records the multiplexed signal. The buffer 4 is supplied. The MPEG standard is a multiplexing standard for compressed digital signals recommended by the MPEG described above. The recording system buffer 4 temporarily stores the received signal and outputs the signal intermittently to the disk drive 5 via the bus line 19. The recording system buffer 4 is operated by adjusting the amount of the signal received from the multiplexing processing section 3 and the amount of the signal output to the disk drive 5 (to prevent the disk drive from overflowing).

The disk drive 5 has, for example, a magnetic disk 5a as a recording medium. The disk drive 5 has a signal processor and recording / reading means. The signal processing unit records data on the magnetic disk 5a and reproduces the data therefrom. The recording / reading means is for example a magnetic head. The disk drive 5 performs an error correction encoding process and performs a modulation process on a signal received from the recording system buffer 4 during recording, and records the signal at a desired position on the magnetic disk 5a.

Next, the reproduction side of the apparatus will be described. The disk drive 5 performs a decoding process corresponding to the error correction encoding process and an error correction encoding and a modulation process during recording on a signal reproduced from a desired position on the magnetic disk 5a, and outputs the resulting signal to the bus line 19 Feed to the regeneration system. The reproducing system buffer 6 temporarily stores the received signal and outputs the signal intermittently to the separation processing unit 7. The reproduction system buffer 6 is operated by adjusting the amount of the signal received from the disc drive 5 and the amount of the signal output to the separation processing unit 7. The separation processor 7 separates the image compressed digital signal from the audio compressed digital signal. The separation processing unit 7 supplies the image compressed digital signal and the audio compressed digital signal to the image signal reproduction processing unit 8 and the audio signal reproduction processing unit 9, respectively.

The image signal reproduction processing section 8 performs band extension processing corresponding to the MPEG video standard, JPEG standard, etc. on the received signal, converts the resulting digital signal into an analog signal, and adds color difference encoding processing and synchronization to the analog signal. Analog processing, such as processing, is performed, and the resulting analog signal is output to the image processing unit 13. The image processing unit 13 performs a specific process of outputting an analog image signal to an image output apparatus (not shown) such as a television receiver connected to the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the image processing unit 13 receives data (described below) from the display output unit 12. The image processing unit 13 combines the data received from the display output unit 12 with an analog image signal. The output signal of the image processing unit 13 is supplied to the image output unit. On the other hand, the audio signal reproduction processing unit 9 performs a band extension process corresponding to the MPEG audio standard, the AC-3 standard, etc. on the signal received from the separation processing unit 7, converts the resulting digital signal into an analog signal This analog audio signal is output.

In the above-described example, the recording side and the reproduction side operate independently. Alternatively, the write operation and the read operation of the disk drive 5 can be performed by time division. When data is interrupted at the data recording side and the receiving side, the data can be compensated by the recording system buffer 4 and the reproduction system buffer, respectively. Thus, the recording operation and the reproduction operation can be clearly performed simultaneously. Moreover, when the disc drive 5 has a plurality of recording / reading means such as a magnetic head dedicated to the recording operation and the reproduction operation, the recording operation and the reproduction operation can be performed simultaneously.

Next, control data for bringing the entire apparatus into the desired state will be described. The control data causes each processing unit of the device to be activated / deactivated. Alternatively, the control data indicates an operation timing and an operation parameter. The control data is generated by the system controller 10 in response to, for example, a playback start / stop command input by the user through the control signal input unit 11. The control signal input section 11 has an input section including, for example, an operation button, a key panel, an infrared remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) and a mouse.

Data indicative of the processing state of each processing unit is supplied to the system controller 10. The system controller 10 supplies this data and control data to the display output unit 12. The display output unit 12 has a display panel. Data received from the system controller 10 is displayed on the display panel. The display output unit 12 supplies the data received from the system controller 10 to the image processing unit 13. Thus, the data received from the system controller 10 is combined with the image signal. The resulting image is displayed as part of the image output to the image output section.

The time processor 16 having a crystal oscillator generates accurate time information. Time information is supplied from the system controller 10. On the other hand, the system controller 10 sets the clock of the time processor 16 in response to a user's command. In addition, the system controller 10 controls the date and time information of the time processor 16 in response to the time information. When the current date and time coincide with the date and time specified by the user, the recording operation is performed. Thus, the timer reservation recording operation is achieved.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the specific area of the magnetic disk 5a is a TOC (content table) area. Various types of information data are recorded in advance in the TOC area. When the magnetic disk 5a is loaded into the disk drive 5, the system controller 10 controls the disk drive 5 to reproduce data from the TOC area. The reproduced information data is stored in the information system memory 15. Thus, the system controller 10 can quickly access the information data. Moreover, the load applied to the disk drive 5 is reduced.

The information data is, for example, recording start / end data / time information, recording channel information, recording mode, and title name for each title. The system controller 10 reads such information data from the information system memory 15 and supplies this information data to the display output section 12. FIG. Moreover, the system controller 10 controls the display output section 12 to display the information data. With reference to the information data displayed on the display panel of the display output section 12, the user can easily set the timer reservation recording mode and check the title.

After the title is recorded, the system controller 10 updates the contents of the information system memory 15. That is, the system controller 10 attaches and changes various information data to the information system memory 15 together with the title number and the recording position on the recording medium. Then, the changed data is supplied to the disk drive 5 and the information in the TOC area of the magnetic disk 5a is updated.

Next, referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the timer reservation recording mode setting operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The timer reservation record mode setting operation is performed by the remote controller. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit of a remote controller. The operation section has a power key, channel setting keys 21a and 21b, and title setting keys 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d. Further, for the recording and reproducing operation, the operation portion rewind key 24a, playback key 24b, fast forward key 24c, frame reverse key 24d, pause key 24e, frame forward key 24f. , Recording key 24g, and stop key 24h.

Furthermore, for reservation setting screen operation (described below), the operation portion has a reservation setting key 25, a confirmation key 26, and a menu key 27. For reservation setting screen operation, the operation portion has direction keys 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d and an OK key 29. With the direction keys 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, the user can select the desired input field or the like on the reservation setting screen. The OK key allows the user to determine the selected data. For the recording start time setting operation, the operation portion has a plus key 30a and a minus key 30b.

When the user operates the reservation setting key 25, the device enters the reservation setting mode. In fact, the image output, which is a television receiver connected to the apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, displays the reservation setting screen. The user enters desired reservation setting data on the reservation setting screen. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reservation setting screen. In FIG. 3, the title number field 41, the title name field 42, the date field 43, the start time field 44, the end time field 45, the channel field 46, and the recording setting fields are recorded. The mode field 47 is displayed on the upper side of the reservation setting screen. With the plus key 30a and the minus key 30b, the user can enter the recording start time and the recording end time in the format of “HH: MM” (HH is a two-digit time number and MM is a two-digit minute number). have.

With the arrow keys 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d shown in FIG. 2, the user can select a desired field from the reservation setting field. However, in order to prevent the table number from being duplicated, the user cannot enter data into the title number field 41. The title number is automatically assigned whenever the user performs the program reservation recording operation. Moreover, since the contents of the timer reservation record setting operation are unique to the title number, the user can keep the title name field 42 blank.

The small screen 51, the current position title field 52, the counter field 53, and the total free storage field 54 are displayed in the middle portion of the reservation setting screen. The record carrier status field 55 is displayed at the bottom of the reservation setting screen. With the small screen 51, the current position title field 52, the counter field 53, and the total free storage field 54, and the recording medium 55, the user can specify the start position of the timer reservation recording operation. . The current position title field 52 indicates the title number and title name of the title at the current position. Moreover, the small screen 51 displays an image reproduced in the pause state at the current position. The counter field 53 indicates the current position starting from a specific position as time data. The total free storage field 54 represents an overwriteable area and / or an empty area on the magnetic disk 5a.

The record carrier status field 55 indicates the overall state of the record carrier. The grid portion 56a, the horizontal stripe portion 56b, the hatch portion 56c, the vertical stripe portion 56d, and the middle contrast portion 56e represent titles recorded on the recording medium. The remaining part 57 represents an empty part of the recording medium. The thick line surrounding the area 56d indicates that the area 56d is write protected. On the actual output screen, the recorded area, the blank area, and the unrecorded area are distinguished by different colors.

The current position as the recording start position is indicated by a triangular mark 58 at the upper end of the recording medium status field 55. The black line portion 59 of the recording medium status field 55 indicates the recording area of the current timer reservation recording operation starting from the current position. The user can change the current location. In practice, the user has one minute by using the rewind key 24a, the play key 24b, the fast forward key 24c, the reverse frame play key 24d, the pause key 24e, the forward frame play key 24f, and the like. You can change the current position to the desired position with the accuracy of. When the user changes the current position, the triangle mark 58 and the line mark 59 move, so that the user can visually perform the timer reservation record setting operation. The white line portion 60 indicates the area where the timer reservation recording mode is set.

After the user enters data in each reservation setting field on the upper portion of the reservation setting screen and sets the current position, the timer reservation recording setting operation for one title is completed. In this state, the user operates the OK key 29 shown in Fig. 2, the related title is automatically placed in the reservation standby state and the reservation confirmation screen is displayed. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a reservation confirmation screen. The reservation confirmation screen displays a list of reserved titles. In this example, four reserved titles are displayed at one time. However, the number of titles displayed on the reservation confirmation screen is not limited to four. The standby setting fields 62a, 62b, 62c and 62d indicate the recording standby on / off status of the reserved title displayed in each of the reserved title fields 61a, 61b, 61c and 61d.

When there are four or more reserved titles, the user can scroll the screen to see other reserved titles. In FIG. 4, reserved title fields 61a, 61b, 61c, and 61d indicate reserved contents of title numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Thus, when the user scrolls the reservation confirmation screen, the user can view the reserved contents of title numbers 1, 2, and 7 or later.

In this example, the reservation confirmation screen of each reserved title displays the title name, date / day, time, channel, and recording mode. Alternatively, the reservation confirmation screen may display other items.

When the reservation confirmation screen is displayed, the most recent reserved title is distinguished from other reserved titles by color, contrast, or brightness. In FIG. 4, the reserved title (title number 6) shown in FIG. 3 is blurred. With the arrow keys 28b, 28d, and the like shown in Fig. 2, the user can designate another reserved title. In this case, the reserved title is distinguished from other reserved titles.

The record carrier status field 63 is displayed at the bottom of the screen. The recording medium status field 63 is similar to the recording medium status field 55 of the reservation setting screen. However, unlike the recording medium status field 55 on the reservation setting screen, the triangular mark 64 is displayed at the start of the recording area of the other reserved title which is distinguished from the most recently reserved title or another reserved title.

On the reservation confirmation screen, the user can change the reservation standby setting state, cancel the reserved title, and change the contents of the reserved title. When the user changes the standby on / off state of the reserved title, the user selects the standby state setting fields 62a, 62b, 62c, or 62d associated with the arrow keys 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d shown in FIG. do. Thereafter, the user can change the content of the reserved title to the plus key 30a and the minus key 30b.

After the user designates the desired reserved title with the direction keys 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d, the user can delete the designated reserved title with, for example, the minus key 30b. Similarly, after the user designates the desired reserved title, when the user operates the OK key 29 of the remote controller, the reservation setting screen for the designated reserved title shown in Fig. 3 is displayed. Thus, the user can change the content of the reserved title on the reservation setting screen.

After the user confirms all reserved titles on the reservation confirmation screen, when the user operates the OK key 29 shown in Fig. 2, the timer reservation record setting operation is completed, and the regular screen is displayed. The screen change processing for the timer reservation record setting operation is performed by the system controller 10. Data input by the user is supplied from the control signal input section to the information system memory 15 under the control of the system controller 10. Data is stored in the information system memory 15.

Next, a second embodiment and a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second and third embodiments, since the recording start position is provided to the user, the user can easily specify the recording start position. The configuration of the apparatus according to the second and third embodiments is similar to that of the apparatus according to the first embodiment. Therefore, for simplicity, the second and third embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a reservation setting screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Title number field 41, title name field 42, channel field 46, recording mode field 47, counter field 53, and total free storage field 54 on the reservation setting screen shown in FIG. Is the same as that shown in FIG.

The recording medium status field 71 indicates a recorded title in the same manner as the recording medium status field 55 shown in FIG. Further, the recording medium status field 71 shows the output position P, the recording end position R, the start positions 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d of the recorded title, and the start position 73 of the empty area. The user can easily select one of four types of locations. With the arrow keys 28a and 28c shown in Fig. 2, the user can select one of four types of positions as the recording start position.

After the user selects the start position of the recorded title, a typical picture of the recorded title (for example, a still picture at five minute intervals) is displayed. Thus, the user can easily know whether the recorded title has been overwritten by another title. In response to the determination, the user can suitably set the recording start position.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a reservation setting screen according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Title number field 41, title name field 42, date field 43, start time field 44, end time field 45, channel field 46, recording of the reservation setting screen shown in FIG. The mode field 47, the counter field 53, and the total free storage 54 are as shown in FIG.

The recording medium status field 81 on the reservation setting screen shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the recording medium status field 55 on the reservation setting screen shown in FIG. The recording medium status field 81 indicates the start position 82 of the title automatically selected from the plurality of recorded titles and the start position 83 of the empty area together with the current position P and the recording end position R. FIG.

In this example, the automatically selected title is an area in which the user designates the area with a high probability as a recording area for the reserved title. Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the automatic title selection process will be described. First, the first automatic title selection process (steps S1 to S10) is described. In the first automatic selection process, a title which is not recorded, not reproduced, longer than the reserved title, has the oldest time stamp, or is one of consecutive titles is selected.

In step S1, an initial value is set. In other words, the variable n representing the title number is initialized (n = 1). The length of the reserved title is set by the variable Ar. The variable x representing the selected title number is initialized (x = 0). The current time is set to T (0).

In step S2, it is determined whether the variable n is equal to the variable N representing all the recorded title numbers. When the determination result is NO in step S2, the flow advances to step S3. When the determination result is YES at step S2, the flow advances to step S9. In step S3, it is determined whether the nth title has been recorded protected. When the determination result is YES in step S3, the flow advances to step S8 because the nth title cannot be selected. When the determination result is NO in step S3, the flow advances to step S4. In step S4, it is determined whether the nth title has been played. When a title is played half or more, a criterion to be treated as a fully reproduced title may be used.

When the determination result is NO in step S4, the flow advances to step S8 because the nth title cannot be selected. On the other hand, when the determination result is YES in step S4, the flow advances to step S5. In step S5, it is determined whether the length A (n) of the nth title is longer than the length Ar of the reserved title. When the determination result in step S5 is YES, the flow advances to step S6. When the determination result is NO in step S5, the flow advances to step S8.

In step S6, it is determined whether the recording start date and time T (n) of the nth title (as variable x in step s7) is earlier than the recording start date and time T (x) of the selected title. In step S7, n is set as the variable x. On the other hand, when the determination result is NO in step S6, the flow advances to step S8. In step S8, a title that satisfies the conditions of steps S3 to S5 and has the oldest time stamp is selected.

Only when the nth title satisfies all the conditions of steps S3 to S6, the flow advances to step S7. In step S7, since the nth title is selected, n is set as the variable x. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S8.

N is incremented by 1 in step S8. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S2. Thus, the above described processing is performed for the title having the next title number. The value n is updated in the order of n = 1, 2, ..., N. The determination is performed in steps S3 to S6 until the value n becomes equal to the value N.

When the determination result in step S2 is YES, the flow advances to step S9 since the determination in steps S3 to S6 has been completed for all the recorded titles. In step S9, it is determined whether the variable x is a value other than zero. As described above, for the title selected as the determination result in steps S3 to S6, its title number (1, 2, ..., N) is set to the value x (in step S7). When the determination result in step S9 is YES, the flow advances to step S10. In step S10, the x-th recorded title is finally selected.

On the other hand, when the determination result is no in step S9 (i.e., x = 0), since no title is selected as the determination result in steps S3 to S6, the second automatic selection process is performed. In the second automatic selection process, the selection condition is relaxed. In the second automatic selection process, step S12 is an initialization step similar to step S1. In step S13 similar to step S2, it is determined whether the title number n is equal to the number N of all the recorded titles. That is, in step S13, it is determined whether all the conditions of steps S14 to S17 are satisfied. The title is selected in steps S14 to S16. However, in the second automatic selection process, the step of determining whether or not the title has been reproduced is omitted (unlike step S4 in the first automatic selection process), so that the selection condition of the second automatic selection process is relaxed.

In step S18 similar to step S8, the title number n is updated. When the determination result is YES in step S13, the flow advances to step S20. In step S20 similar to step S9, it is determined whether the variable x is any value other than zero. When the determination result is YES in step S20, the variable x is selected as the title number of the recorded title (in step S21). On the other hand, when the determination result is NO in step S20, the flow advances to step S22. In step S22, because a recorded title that satisfies the condition has not been selected, specific processing is performed, and a related message is displayed on the screen.

The automatic selection process described above is merely an example. Thus, other selection conditions may be used. For example, the steps of determining the title having the oldest recording time stamp (steps S6 and S16) may be omitted. In this case, a plurality of variables for storing the selected title number are provided. Therefore, when there are a plurality of titles that satisfy the conditions of steps S3, S4, and S5, all of them can be stored. In this case, since the selected title is displayed on the reservation setting screen, the user can flexibly specify the title.

Next, a method of calculating the free storage amount displayed on the reservation setting screen will be described. The free storage amount is displayed in the free storage field 54 shown in Figs. When the free storage amount is calculated, the storage capacity of the recording area on the magnetic disk 5a is calculated starting from the position designated by the user. Thereafter, the storage capacity of the write-protected area (overwrite prohibition area) is subtracted from the storage capacity of the recording area. Alternatively, the storage capacity of the write protection area may simply be subtracted from the storage capacity of the recording area. Corresponding to the recording mode LP (Long Play) or SP (Short Play) designated by the user, the storage capacity of the overwritable recording area is converted into the remaining recording time.

When the contents such as the designated position and the recording mode are set, the above described calculation is performed. In response to the calculation result, the free storage capacity is changed in real time. Thus, the user can visually know the storage capacity of the free space as the remaining recording time. Thus, the user can easily and accurately set the timer reservation record setting operation.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the recorded title which was set in the reservation setting state can be reproduced. In the reservation standby state, while the recorded title is being played, the system controller 10 always displays the current playback position, the recording start position of the title reserved in the standby state, the current time, and the reservation start time of the title in the reservation standby state. Supervise and compare.

Before the recording start time of the reserved title (e.g., 1 minute ago), when the current playback position is within the designated area, an alarm is visually or audible to the user indicating that the recording operation will be performed soon within the playback area. Is issued. When the area being reproduced is the overwrite prohibited area, after such an alarm is issued, the reproducing operation is forcibly stopped. Thereafter, the reproduction operation for the area where the title is overwritten is prohibited until the reservation recording operation is completed.

The reservation setting screens shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 and the reservation confirmation screen shown in Fig. 4 are merely examples. Thus, it should be noted that such a screen may be modified. For example, on the small screen 51 shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the still picture of the recorded title designated by the user is displayed in reduced size. This still picture may be displayed in actual size as a background picture of the input field. Moreover, various input fields, recording medium status fields, and their positions may be modified in various ways.

Furthermore, the reservation setting screen, the reservation confirmation screen, etc. may be displayed on the dedicated display panel or the like. The arrangement and configuration of the keys of the remote controller may be modified corresponding to the configuration of the reservation setting screen. Moreover, an input such as an operation panel or a mouse may be used instead of the remote control.

In the configuration shown in Fig. 1 according to the first embodiment, the magnetic tape 5a is used as the recording medium. Alternatively, a recordable disc shaped record carrier (self-optical disc, CD-E, or CD-RW), a record carrier read directly after recording (CD-R), or a nonvolatile memory (semiconductor memory) Other recording media capable of randomly recording / reading data may also be used.

According to the present invention, in a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing image signals and / or audio signals, a randomly accessible recording medium such as a magnetic disk is used. The recording start position can be designated as the desired portion on the recording medium or the same desired time position. The device has an overwrite recording function and a simultaneous recording and playback function. Moreover, the desired position on the recording medium or the same desired time position as that can be designated as the recording start position. Moreover, information indicative of the state of the area of the recorded title on the recording medium can be displayed together with the indicator through an image output apparatus such as a television receiver.

Thus, with reference to the state of the recording medium, the user can easily specify the recording start position in the timer reservation recording operation. This function is particularly effective in a device having a synchronous recording and reproducing function, a reproducing function in a reserved recording standby state and an overwrite recording function.

When a title that can be overwritten by another title is automatically selected as an area of a title recorded under a predetermined condition and this selected result is displayed, the user can easily specify a recording start position.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the remaining recording time is calculated corresponding to the recording start position, recording mode, etc., which are set in the timer reservation recording setting operation or the like. The calculated remaining recording time is displayed in real time (i.e. whenever the recording time position etc. is specified).

Thus, with reference to the remaining recording time displayed, the user can easily specify the recording time position, the recording mode, and the like in the timer reservation recording setting operation.

Therefore, since the user can obtain the information of the state of the recording medium quantitatively, the user can easily and accurately specify the recording start position in the timer reservation recording setting operation.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to embodiments of its best mode, it is to be understood that various other modifications, omissions, and additions described above in form and detail thereof may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The skilled will know.

Claims (12)

A recording apparatus for recording an image signal and / or an audio signal, Recording means for recording the image signal and / or the audio signal overwritably on a recording medium; Designation means for designating a desired starting position and the same desired starting time on the recording medium; And display control means for controlling display of a marker indicative of the recording state of the recording medium and the designated recording start position. The method of claim 1, Further comprising timer means for performing a reservation recording operation, The recording start position is an image signal and / or audio signal recording apparatus specified in the reservation recording operation. An image signal and / or audio signal recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display control means includes means for displaying information of a recording area of a recorded title and information of a non-recording area. 2. An image signal and / or audio signal recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display control means comprises means for displaying a portion of the content of a recorded title corresponding to a designated recording start position. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display control means means for displaying an indicator indicating a currently designated recording start position, a previous recording end position, a start position of a non-recording area, and a start position of a recording area of a recorded title. An image signal and / or audio signal recording apparatus comprising a. The image signal and / or audio signal recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display control means includes means for selecting one title or a plurality of titles from all recorded titles corresponding to a predetermined condition. 7. An image signal and / or audio signal recording apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting a recording corresponding to a reproduction history, a recording date and time, and a recording protection state. The method of claim 1, Further comprising timer means for performing the reservation recording function, And said display control means comprises means for displaying all or part of the contents of all reserved titles. The image signal and / or audio signal recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying data for all reserved titles such that a specific operation is performed on each of the reserved titles. 10. An image signal according to claim 9, wherein said specific operation display control means includes means for displaying a reservation recording standby on / off state, a movement of a recording start position, a reservation cancellation, and a change of reservation contents; Audio signal recording device. An apparatus for recording and reproducing image signals and / or audio signals, Recording means for overwriting the image signal and / or the audio signal on a recording medium; Designation means for designating a desired starting position and the same desired starting time on the recording medium; And display control means for calculating the remaining recording time and controlling the display of the calculated remaining recording time when the recording start position is designated. 12. The recording control means according to claim 11, wherein the display control means subtracts the recording capacity of the overwrite prohibited area from the total recording storage capacity ranging from the designated recording start position to the end of the recording area of the recording medium, or the total storage capacity of the recording area. And means for displaying the remaining recording time calculated in correspondence with the recording capacity of the overwritable recording area obtained by subtracting the storage capacity of the overwrite prohibition area.