WO2006132110A1

WO2006132110A1 - Method for storing file in storage medium which can be detachably attached to mobile telephone

Info

Publication number: WO2006132110A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/310769
Authority: WO
Inventors: Motoyasu Tanaka; Takashi Matsutani; Noritaka Takeuchi; Yusuke Nara
Original assignee: Megachips Corporation
Priority date: 2005-06-06
Filing date: 2006-05-30
Publication date: 2006-12-14
Also published as: JP2007018463A

Abstract

There is provided a technique for easily accessing a file stored in a flash memory even by using a mobile telephone of a different carrier. In a flash memory, a folder for storing original files (101-103) and unique folders of a carrier (A) and a carrier (B). Alias files (101A-103A, 101B-103B) having link information to the original files (101-103) are recorded in the unique folders. By mounting a flash memory in a mobile telephone of each carrier, an alias file is displayed in a default folder and when a user operates the alias file, an access is made to the original file.

Description

Specification

File storage method for storage medium detachable from mobile phone

Technical field

The present invention relates to a file storage technique for a storage medium such as a flash memory mounted on a mobile phone.

Background art

[0002] Recent mobile phones can detach a storage medium such as a mini SD card, and can store images and audio files in a mini SD card for carrying. In addition, it is possible to store an image or video file taken with a camera included in the mobile phone, or an image, video or audio file downloaded from the Internet in a storage medium.

[0003] In general, each mobile phone carrier creates its own folder in the storage medium when storing images, videos, and audio files, and stores the files in the folder. Yes. For example, one carrier X creates a folder “image” as a folder for storing image files, and another carrier Y creates a folder “picture” as a folder for storing image files. For this reason, when a user who uses a mobile phone supplied from Carrier X tries to refer to an image by performing a menu operation, the “image” folder is referred to as the default folder, and other folders are referred to. Not. Conversely, when a user using a mobile phone supplied from Carrier Y tries to refer to an image by performing a menu operation, the “Pictures” folder is referenced, and the other folders are not referenced.

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] As described above, each carrier of a mobile phone creates its own folder when storing each file. Therefore, there is a problem that even if an image file is stored in a storage medium using a carrier X mobile phone, the carrier Y mobile phone cannot refer to it. Of course, it is possible to refer to it by operating the folder structure using a computer, but you can easily exchange memory cards between mobile phones with different carriers. In other words, you cannot view images or view audio.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention makes it easy for a user to access a file recorded on a memory card regardless of whether the memory card is mounted on a mobile phone of any carrier. Provide technology.

Means for solving the problem

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first invention is a method for storing a file in a storage medium detachable from a mobile phone, the mobile phone being supplied by a plurality of mobile phone carriers, Storing a content file in a predetermined folder of the storage medium and a unique folder defined when storing the content file in the plurality of mobile phone carriers. Creating in the storage medium, and stored in the predetermined folder in the unique folder that is referred to when a mobile phone supplied from the plurality of mobile phone carriers accesses the content file. Storing a link file to the content file.

[0007] A second invention is a method of storing a file in a storage medium detachable from a mobile phone, wherein the first content file is a file format adopted in the first mobile phone carrier. The second content file is a file format adopted by the second mobile phone carrier, and the first and second content files include a common data part having the same content, and the first and second content files The first content file stores information in the FAT of the storage medium so that the second content file shares the common data portion, and then stores the first and second content files in a predetermined folder of the storage medium. And each of the first and second mobile phone carriers has a unique folder defined when storing the first and second content files, respectively. In the original folder that is referred to when the mobile phone supplied from the first mobile phone carrier accesses the first content file. The link file to the first content file stored in the folder is stored, and the mobile phone to which the second mobile phone carrier power is supplied accesses the second content file, and refers to the second content file. In the original folder, the predetermined And a third step of storing a link file to the second content file stored in the folder.

[0008] A third invention is a file storage method for a storage medium detachably attachable to a mobile phone according to the second invention, wherein in the first step, the first and second content files are stored. In the FAT in which the storage cluster position is recorded, a different cluster position is designated at the start position of the file, and a common cluster position is designated in the common data portion.

[0009] A fourth invention is a file storage method for a storage medium detachable from the mobile phone according to the second or third invention, wherein the first and second content files are audio data and moving images. If the file format is a multimedia file including data and the audio data or moving image data included in the first and second content files has the same file format! /, The data is used as the common data section. The first step is performed.

The invention's effect

The present invention relates to a method for storing a file in a storage medium to be attached to a mobile phone. This method records the file entity on the storage medium, creates a unique folder specified by each mobile phone carrier, and records link information to the file entity in the unique folder.

[0011] For this reason, even when the mobile phone supplied from any mobile phone carrier is used, the file in the storage medium can be easily accessed.

[0012] Further, since only one file entity is stored, it is possible to save the capacity of the storage medium.

[0013] Objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a file recording device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a folder to be created and the types of files to be stored.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the file format of multimedia files that differ between carriers. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a file structure that also serves as a common part of data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a folder to be created and types of files to be stored.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] {First embodiment}

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a file recording apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. The file recording apparatus 1 includes an image input unit 11, an audio input unit 12, an image'audio data storage unit 13, a file creation unit 14, a file storage unit 15, and a memory card writing unit 16. In addition, the flash memory 2 can be attached to and detached from the memory card slot of the file recording device 1.

The image'audio data storage unit 13 is a storage unit that stores the image data input from the image input unit 11 and the audio data input from the audio input unit 12. For example, the image input unit 11 is connected to an imaging device such as a CCD and inputs image data output from the imaging device, and the audio input unit 12 is connected to a microphone and inputs audio data output from the microphone. To do.

The file creation unit 14 creates a multimedia file using the image data and sound data stored in the image / sound data storage unit 13. The created multimedia file is stored in the file storage unit 15. Here, the multimedia file is a so-called movie file that also has moving images and sound power. For example, a mobile phone made by NTT Docomo is a file in a format such as i-motion ASF, a file format is AMC in KDDI, and Nancy and! Media file exists. Each company also supports multimedia files in a file format that conforms to 3GPP or 3GPP2, which is the standard for 3G mobile phones.

[0018] The file creation unit 14 also has a function of creating an image file (hereinafter simply referred to as a still image file when referred to simply as an image file) and an audio file. The file is also stored in the file storage unit 15.

The multimedia file, the image file, and the audio file stored in the file storage unit 15 are recorded in the flash memory 2 by the memory card writing unit 16. Note that multimedia input, image files, and audio files are stored in the image input unit 11 as described above. And a file generated by the file creation unit 14 based on the data input by the voice input unit 12, for example, a file downloaded from the Internet, or another recording medium You can even get it through! / ,.

[0020] In this way, the flash memory 2 in which the multimedia file, the image file, and the audio file are recorded is mounted in the memory card slot of the mobile phone supplied from each mobile phone carrier. Figure 1 shows how the flash memory 2 is installed in three types of mobile phones 3A, 3B, and 3C supplied from three carriers A, B, and C. In the present embodiment, the memory card writing unit 16 executes processing characteristic of the present invention, which will be described later, so that multimedia files, image files, and audio files stored in the flash memory 2 are Even mobile phones 3A, 3B, and 3C can be easily accessed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a folder structure and file types written to the flash memory 2 by the memory card writing unit 16. The memory card writing unit 16 performs the following processing on the flash memory 2.

[0022] (P1) Create a folder to store the original file.

[0023] (P2) Recording of the original file for the folder created in (P1).

[0024] (P3) Create a unique folder for each carrier.

[0025] (P4) Record alias files for custom folders.

First, the processes (Pl) and (P2) will be described. First, the memory card writing unit 16 creates a folder for writing an original file, which is an entity of the multimedia file, and records the original file in the folder. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, three folders, “Movie”, “Soundj, and rimagej”, are created under the “root” folder as the storage folder for the original file.

Then, the original file 101 is recorded in the “Movie” folder. The original file 101 is an entity of a multimedia file composed of moving images and audio. The original file 102 is recorded in the “Sound” folder. The original file 102 is an audio file entity. The original file 103 is recorded in the “l _mage ” folder. The original file 103 is an image file entity. In this way, the processing of (Pl) and (P2) In this case, a folder for recording an entity file is created and an entity file is recorded for that folder. Since this folder is different from the original folder defined by the mobile phone carrier, it is generally recorded by the processes (Pl) and (P2) using the mobile phone supplied from each mobile phone carrier. You cannot refer to the file directly.

Next, the processes (P3) and (P4) will be described. The memory card writing unit 16 creates a unique folder specified by each mobile phone carrier. This unique folder is a folder where data files are stored by default when various data files are saved using the mobile phone of each mobile phone carrier. In the example shown in Fig. 2, a folder named “Career—A” is first created under the “root” folder as a unique folder for Carrier A. Under this “Career—A” folder, “ Three folders are created: “Mov—data”, “Sound—data”, and “Img—data”. The folders “Mov-data”, “Sound-data”, and “Img-data” are default folders for storing multimedia files, audio files, and image files in the carrier A mobile phone, respectively. Similarly, a folder called “Career—B” is created under the “root” folder, and three folders called “Mov”, “Music”, and “Img” are created under this “Career—B” folder. ing. The folders “Mov”, “Music”, and “Img” are the default folders for storing multimedia files, audio files, and image files on the mobile phone of Carrier B, respectively.

[0029] Then, the memory card writing unit 16 records an alias file 101A having link information to the original file 101 in the folder "Mov-data", and stores in the folder "Sound-dataj" The alias file 102A having the link information to the original file 102 is recorded, and the alias file 103A having the link information to the original file 103 is recorded in the folder “Img-data”. Alias files 101A, 102A, and 103A are files that have only link information to the original file and do not have an actual data portion, and are therefore very small in data size. When a user accesses these alias files, the system functions to access the original file. This alias file is a shortcut file for Windows (registered trademark), a symbolic link file for UNIX (registered trademark), etc. This file has the same function as.

Similarly, the memory card writing unit 16 records the alias file 101B having link information to the original file 101 in the folder “Mov”, and stores the original file in the folder “Music”. An alias file 102B having link information to 102 is recorded, and an alias file 103B having link information to the original file 103 is recorded in the folder “Img”.

[0031] By performing the above writing process by the memory card writing unit 16, for example, when the flash memory 2 is mounted on the mobile phone 3A of the carrier A, the user performs a normal operation. Thus, it is possible to access the original files 101, 102, and 103. Specifically, when the user performs an operation to refer to the file using the mobile phone 3A, the files in the folder specified by default are displayed. The alias file 101A is displayed in the folder. 102A and 103A are displayed. Then, the user accesses the original files 101 to 103 by performing an operation specifying these alias files as in the normal file operation. Similarly, when the mobile phone of carrier B or carrier C is used, the user can access the original files 101 to 103 via the alias file by performing a normal file access operation. is there.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the file recording device 1 writes the folder structure corresponding to each mobile phone carrier, and the alias file to the original file is recorded in this folder. Therefore, when using a mobile phone of any carrier, various files can be accessed with the same operation as usual. Therefore, even when a memory card is exchanged with a friend who owns a mobile phone with a different carrier, various files stored in the exchanged memory card can be easily referenced. It is.

[0033] In addition, this embodiment records only one common original file, unlike the method of recording the original file in the unique folder of each carrier. Also, the alias file stored in the original folder is a file with only link information, so it is a very small file. Therefore, multiple carriers Consideration should be given so that the data capacity of the file stored in the flash memory 2 does not increase while being easily accessible by the mobile phone.

[0034] {Second embodiment}

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that each mobile phone carrier adopts the same format file. On the other hand, the file format used may differ depending on the carrier, but this is the case in the second embodiment. Also in the second embodiment, various files are recorded in the flash memory 2 by the file recording device 1 in FIG. However, the processing in the memory card writing unit 16 is different from that in the first embodiment.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the multimedia file 20 OA employed in the carrier A has the audio data format XI format and the moving image data format Y1 format. At the beginning of the file, carrier A format header data is recorded. On the other hand, the multimedia file 200B adopted by Carrier B has the X2 format for audio data and the Y1 format for video data. At the beginning of the file, carrier B format header data is recorded. The header data is information added to identify the file format more reliably. For example, information related to video / audio compression, number of streams, sequence width / height, audio / video synchronization information, sampling rate, and the like are included.

[0036] As described above, regarding the multimedia files 200A and 200B shown in FIG. 3, the format of the moving image data is different from that of the common audio data. If the file formats of multimedia files are different, it will be necessary to create two different files and store these files in flash memory 2 in order to support both carriers. However, when this method is used, a plurality of files corresponding to each carrier must be stored, so that there is a problem that a large capacity of the flash memory 2 is used.

Accordingly, the memory card writing unit 16 converts the multimedia files 200A and 2 OOB shown in FIG. 3 into multimedia files 210A and 210B, and the file format shown in FIG. To store in flash memory 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the memory card writer 16 has the ability to store multimedia files 210A and 21 OB based on the FAT (File Allocation Tables) file system, which has been used so far in ordinary FAT file systems. Record these two files 210A and 210B in a non-existent manner.

[0038] First, cluster chain information is recorded in the FAT area. In the figure, the first line of the FAT area is the next cluster position information for cluster numbers 0 to 29, the second line is the next cluster information for cluster numbers 30 to 59, and the third line is the cluster numbers 60 to 89. The next cluster information in ············ The chain information in each cluster number is recorded. However, the data area starts from cluster number 2. For example, the FAT of cluster number 3 (the fourth box from the left end of the first line) records that it is chained to cluster number 4, and the cluster number 4 (the fifth box from the left end of the first line) ) Indicates that data is stored in the order of cluster number 3 → 4 → 5 → ···.

In the root directory area, attribute information of “Movie”, “Career-A”, and “Carrier-B” folders is recorded. The attribute information includes the file Z folder name, time stamp, size, flag information for distinguishing the file car folder, the first cluster position, etc. In FIG. 4, only the folder name and the first cluster position are shown. Show. In other words, the “Movie” folder starts at cluster number 2, the “Career—A” folder starts at cluster number 200, and the “Career—B” folder starts at cluster number 400. And

Cluster number 2 is a directory area as a “Movie” folder, in which attribute information of multimedia file 210A and multimedia file 210B is recorded. That is, information that the multimedia file 21 OA starts from the cluster number 3 and the multimedia file 210B starts from the cluster number 60 is recorded. By referring to the start cluster number in the FAT area, it is possible to obtain subsequent chain information. That is, the data constituting the multimedia file 210A starts from the cluster number 3 and is stored in the clusters of the cluster numbers 4, 5,. In the data area, actual data of images and sounds are stored in each cluster area. In this example, the clusters with cluster numbers 3 through 15 are not included in the header file of multimedia file 210A. The audio data of the multimedia file 210 A is recorded in the clusters with cluster numbers 16 to 30. The start position of audio data is recorded in the header data.

[0041] Similarly, the data constituting the multimedia file 210B starts from the cluster number 60, and information indicating that the data is stored in the clusters of the cluster numbers 61, 62,... Has been. The header data of the multimedia file 210B is recorded in the clusters with cluster numbers 60 to 75, and the audio data of the multimedia file 210B is recorded in the clusters with the cluster numbers 76 to 90. Similarly, the start position of audio data is recorded in the header data.

[0042] Referring to the FAT area in the figure, the final cluster 30 in which the audio data of the multimedia file 210A is recorded is designated as 100 as the next cluster number, and the audio data of the multimedia file 210B is Even in the last recorded cluster 90, 100 is designated as the next cluster number. The clusters from cluster number 100 to cluster number 124 store common video data (Y1 format shown in Fig. 3). In other words, in the multimedia files 210A and 210B, the first half of the file is data that starts with different cluster numbers, and audio data in different data formats is supported. The video data recorded in the number is shared.

As shown in FIG. 5, the memory card writing unit 16 creates a “Movie” folder under the “root” folder of the flash memory 2, and the above-described multimedia is created in this “Movie” folder. Store file 210A and 210B. Since these files have different starting cluster positions, they are recognized as two different files. As described above, some of the files are shared. Further, the memory card writing unit 16 creates a folder structure similar to that shown in FIG. 2 defined by carrier A and carrier B. Then, an alias file 220A having link information for the multimedia file 210A is stored in the “Mov-data” folder, and an alias file 220B having link information for the multimedia file 210B is stored under the “Mov” folder. Store it.

[0044] By performing the above writing process by the memory card writing unit 16, for example, When the flash memory 2 is mounted on the mobile phone 3A of the carrier A, the user can access the multimedia file 210A by performing a normal operation. Specifically, when the user performs an operation for referring to a file using the mobile phone 3A, a default folder is displayed. The alias file 220A is displayed in the folder. Then, the user accesses the multimedia file 21 OA by performing an operation designating these alias files 220A as in a normal file operation. Similarly, when the mobile phone of carrier B or carrier C is used, the user can access the multimedia file by performing a normal file access operation.

[0045] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the file recording apparatus 1 writes the folder structure corresponding to each mobile phone carrier, and the alias file to the original file is recorded in this folder. Therefore, when using a mobile phone of any carrier, various files can be accessed with the same operation as usual. If there is a common part in the data that composes the two files, it is possible to share the data by manipulating the FAT chain information. This makes it possible to reduce the file size.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the file storage unit 15 has two multimedia files 2ΟΟΑ, 200β force S, and the memory card, 16 forces. The case where the multimedia files 210A and 210B are written in the flash memory 2 has been described, but such processing is an example. As another processing method, the multimedia files 210A and 210B may be directly written in the flash memory 2 by using the image data and the sound data stored in the image / sound data storage unit 13, or otherwise. This method may be used.

[0047] In addition, in this embodiment, when the moving image data included in the multimedia file has a common data format, the ability to share the storage cluster position of the moving image data is the common data format. If this is the case, the location of the voice data storage cluster may be shared. However, in that case, it is necessary to use a file format in which audio data is followed by video data. In other words, career Α and career マ If only the audio data is different for the multimedia file format, the audio data should be placed in the first half of the multimedia file and the start position of the audio data written in the header data management table. Conversely, if only the video data is different, the video data should be placed in the first half of the multimedia file, and similarly the start position of the video data should be written in the header data. By adopting such a method, it is possible to cope with the case where the format of any one of the audio and video is different between carriers.

[0048] In addition, according to this embodiment, the power to make the storage cluster position of the common data part included in the multimedia file common is not limited to the multimedia file. Applicable to any file containing a common data part.

[0049] Although the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is illustrative in all aspects, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Innumerable variations not illustrated The power of the scope of the present invention It is understood that the power can be assumed without departing.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A method of storing a file in a storage medium (2) that is removable from a mobile phone (3A, 3B, 3C),

A step of storing content files (101 to 103) to be referred to in a mobile phone supplied by a plurality of mobile phone carriers (A, B, C) in a predetermined folder of the storage medium (P2) When,

A step (P3) of creating a unique folder defined in each of the plurality of mobile phone carriers when the content file is stored in the storage medium; and a mobile phone supplied from the plurality of mobile phone carriers The link files (101A to 103A, 101B to 103B) stored in the predetermined folder are stored in the unique folder that is referred to when the telephone accesses the content file (P4). Process,

A file storage method for a storage medium detachably attachable to a mobile phone.

[2] A method of storing a file in a storage medium (2) that is removable from a mobile phone (3A, 3B, 3C),

The first content file (200A) is the file format adopted by the first mobile phone carrier (A), and the second content file (200B) is adopted by the second mobile phone carrier 7 (B). The first and second content files include a common data part having a common content, and the first and second content files have the storage capacity to share the common data part. A first step of recording information in the FAT of the medium and storing the first and second content files in a predetermined folder of the storage medium;

A second step of creating, in the first and second mobile phone carriers, a unique folder defined in the storage medium when storing the first and second content files, respectively;

In the original folder that is referred to when the mobile phone (3A) to which the first mobile phone carrier power is also supplied accesses the first content file, the predetermined folder When the mobile phone (3B) that stores the link file (220A) to the first content file stored in the mobile phone and is also supplied with the second mobile phone carrier power accesses the second content file A third step of storing a link file (220B) to the second content file stored in the predetermined folder in the unique folder referred to in FIG.

[3] A file storage method for a storage medium detachable from the mobile phone according to claim 2,

The first and second content files are multimedia files including audio data and video data, and the file format of either audio data or video data included in the first and second content files is common. A file storage method for a storage medium detachably attached to a mobile phone, wherein the first step is performed using the data as the common data portion.

[4] A file storage method for a storage medium removable from the mobile phone according to claim 2,

In the first step, a different cluster position is designated at the start position of the file in the FAT in which the storage cluster positions of the first and second content files are recorded, and a common cluster position in the common data portion. A file storage method for a storage medium that can be attached to and detached from a mobile phone.

[5] A file storage method for a storage medium removable from the mobile phone according to claim 4,