Patent Application
20080002939
In a video (recording apparatus), a television, and so on having so-called a loop recording function, it is possible for a user to perform a reproduction (playback) from a position where a television viewing is interrupted by performing a start-up operation of a loop recording when the user interrupts the television viewing for a while to leave in the middle or the like, and after that, by performing a start-up operation of a “chasing playback operation” and so on when the user restarts the television viewing.
Various styles are conceivable as for when to start and complete the loop recording, namely how long time the loop recording is performed, because they depend on how to use functions of the loop recording. For example,the loop recording is performed within a relatively limited period of time while the user is away, when the loop recording is used such that a viewing program is temporary held at the time when the user leaves during the television viewing, and the viewing is restarted later from a subsequent position where the program is interrupted by the user's leaving. On the other hand, for example, when the loop recording is used such that the loop recording is performed while the user is unaware of the loop recording by housing a recording apparatus within a television and activating the loop recording function automatically when a power of the television is turned on, the loop recording is performed for a relatively long time during the time while the power of the television is turned on.
In the latter case, the loop recording is performed for the relatively long time, and therefore, there is a case when not only necessary scenes for the user but also unnecessary scenes are mixed together within contents recorded by the loop recording. It is also the same in the former case, and there is a case when the necessary scenes and unnecessary scenes for the user are mixed together even if a time length of the contents is relatively short.
In order to leave only the necessary scenes and delete the unnecessary scenes for the user in the loop recording, the loop recording is once stopped to save picture contents, and an edit process is performed for the saved picture contents to thereby leave only the necessary scenes. Accordingly, complicated operations are required for the user, and usability thereof may not be good. Besides, the loop recording has to be once stopped to save and perform the edit process of the picture contents. Accordingly, for example, in the usage in which the loop recording is activated automatically when the power of the television is turned on, a convenience for the user significantly deteriorates because it is necessary to stop the loop recording for a certain degree of times for the edit process to leave the necessary scenes although it assumes that the loop recording is performed constantly while basically being unaware of the user.
In embodiments of the present invention described in the following, a recording apparatus capable of saving desired picture contents without stopping the loop recording as much as possible, is provided.
Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
The recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment includes an analog tuner 11, a PS encoder 12, a data processor 13, an HDD 14, a PS decoder 15, a selector 16, a D/A converter 17, a digital tuner 21, a stream processor 22, a TS decoder 25, a processor (CPU) 31 having an edit management information controller 32 and a record management information controller 33, a display unit 34, and a keyboard unit 35.
The analog tuner 11 receives an analog broadcast wave mainly broadcasted by a ground wave via the analog antenna A1. The analog tuner 11 performs a station selection/demodulation of the broadcast wave based on a predetermined broadcast system such as an NTSC, and the analog broadcast wave is converted into an analog picture signal and audio signal to be inputted to the PS encoder 12.
The PS encoder 12 is an encoder including an A/D converter digitalizing inputted analog video signal and analog audio signal, a video encoder, and an audio encoder, and it may include a sub-picture encoder. The PS encoder 12 converts the digitalized video signal into a compressed digital video signal with a variable bit rate based on a MPEG2 or MPEG1 standard. Besides, the PS encoder 12 converts the digitalized audio signal into a compressed digital audio signal with a fixed bit rate or a digital audio signal of a linear PCM based on an MPEG or AC-3 standard. When the analog video signal and analog audio signal from the analog tuner 11 are inputted, the PS encoder 12 performs a predetermined encoding process. Specifically, the PS encoder 12 converts the video signal and audio signal into the digital signals and then encodes them, thereafter they are packed to be converted into a video pack, an audio pack, and a sub-picture pack. Further, they are combined and converted into a format suitable for a record to the HDD 14. The signal converted by the PS encoder 12 is sent to the data processor 13. Incidentally, the PS encoder 12 may directory send the A/D converted digital video signal and audio signal to the selector 16 without encoding them.
The data processor 13 receives the digital video signal and audio signal encoded by the PS encoder 12, and performs a data process to write to the subsequent HDD 14. Specifically, the data processor 13 respectively receives data in GOP units from a formatter included in the PS encoder 12 when contents of analog broadcast are recorded, and from a stream processor 22 when contents of digital broadcast are recorded, and records to the HDD 14. In addition, the data processor 13 also has a function to read a predetermined reproduction signal from the HDD 14. The data processor 13 includes a buffer circuit, a modulation/demodulation circuit, an error correction circuit, and so on, and performs a data process by each record or reproduction unit.
The HDD 14 is a recording apparatus which records and reproduces data by driving a storage medium such as, for example, a hard disk. The HDD 14 is not limited to the hard disk, but it may be the one capable of record/reproduction of the digital data.
The PS decoder 15 is a decoder including a separator separating and retrieving each pack such as picture and audio from a multiple signal recorded on the HDD 14 in a packed structure, a memory used at a time of performing a pack separation and other signal processes, a video decoder decoding main-picture data (contents of video pack) separated by the separator, a sub-picture decoder decoding the sub-picture data (contents of sub-picture pack) separated by the separator, and an audio decoder decoding audio data (contents of audio pack) separated by the separator. The PS decoder 15 may includes a video processor accordingly combining the decoded sub-picture to the decoded main-picture, and outputting the main-picture while lapping a menu, a highlight button, a closed-caption, and other sub-pictures on the main-picture. The PS decoder 15 decodes the video/audio signal of the analog broadcast wave basically A/D converted and recorded on the HDD 14.
The selector 16 is a signal switcher which selects an output signal from the PS decoder 15, an output signal from the TS decoder 25, an output signal from the PS encoder 12, and an output signal from the stream processor 22, and outputs to the D/A converter 17. Namely, the selector 16 selects any one of the analog broadcast wave signal recorded on the HDD 14, the digital broadcast wave signal similarly recorded on it, the analog broadcast wave signal digitalized by the PS encoder 12, or the digital broadcast wave signal from the stream processor 22. The selector 16 performs the selection based on a select signal from the CPU 31.
The D/A converter 17 converts the digital video signal and audio signal selected by the selector 16 into analog video signal and audio signal. The D/A converter 17 respectively outputs the analog converted video signal and audio signal to the display D and the speaker SP.
The digital tuner 21 corresponds to the analog tuner 11, and receives digital broadcast waves such as the terrestrial wave, BS, CS via the digital antenna A2. The digital tuner 21 extracts a TS packet such as picture and audio of the program selected by the user from among MPEG2-TS signals to input to the stream processor 22.
The stream processor 22 is a data converter performing a conversion process such that the picture data and audio data, extracted by the digital tuner 21 and divided into small TS packets, are processed into a large-sized packet suitable for the record to the HDD 14. Converted information is recorded to the HDD 14 via the data processor 13.
The TS decoder 25 corresponds to the PS decoder 15, and it is a decoder decoding a record signal of the digital broadcast wave read from the HDD 14 via the data processor 13. The TS decoder 25 includes a separator separating and retrieving the picture, audio, and so on from the recorded multiple signal, a video decoder decoding the separated picture data, and an audio decoder similarly decoding the separated audio data. The TS decoder 25 inputs the decoded digital video signal and audio signal to the selector 16.
The CPU 31 executes processes such as a defect position detection, an unrecorded area detection, a recording information record position setting, a UDF record, an AV address setting based on the control program. Besides, the CPU 31 has an information processor required for controlling all over the system, and includes a not-shown work RAM, a video management information creation unit, a copy related information detecting unit, a copy and scrambling information processor, a packet header processor, a sequence header processor, an aspect ratio information processor, and so on.
Besides, the CPU 31 also includes the edit management information controller 32 performing a control of management information when an edition is performed, and the record management information controller 33 performing a control of management information when the recording is performed. Further, the CPU 31 creates management information required for a reproduce of the recorded data, and transmits the management information created when the record of data is completed to the data processor 13. Accordingly, the management information is recorded to the HDD 14. Consequently, the CPU 31 receives information by a data unit (cut information and so on) from the PS encoder 12 when the data is encoded and from the stream processor 22 when the record of the MPEG2-TS signal is performed. The CPU 31 has functions to recognize management information of a file system read from a hard disk, recognize an unrecorded area of the hard disk, and set a data record area on the hard disk via the data processor 13 at the time when the record is started.
The edit management information controller 32 is a management data control processor editing management information corresponding to the video signal and audio signal recorded on the HDD 14.
The record management information controller 33 is a management data control processor controlling the record of the video signal and audio signal to the HDD 14 and performing the setting and so on of the management information.
The display unit 34 is a display device showing operation states and so on at the CPU 31 to the user, and it is composed of, for example, LCD elements and so on. The keyboard unit 35 is an input device inputting user's instructions to the CPU 31, and for example, it is a keyboard, a remote control unit, and so on.
Here, record and reproduction (playback) operations of the TV system 1 including the recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment are described.
In case of the analog broadcast signal, the analog tuner 11 receives radio waves of the analog broadcast waves from the analog antenna A1, performs a station selection and demodulation of the radio waves, converts into the analog video signal and audio signal, and outputs to the PS encoder 12. When the analog video signal and audio signal are received, the PS encoder 12 performs an A/D conversion of the video signal and audio signal, performs a packing (formatting) to output to the data processor 13. At this time, the CPU 31 creates the management information to send to the data processor 13. The data processor 13 records the received video signal and audio signal to the HDD 14 together with the management information.
Whereas, the video signal and audio signal recorded to the HDD 14 are read by the data processor 13 and passed to the PS decoder 15. The PS decoder 15 separates and decodes the packed signals of the read video signal and audio signal, and outputs to the selector 16. The selector 16 passes the received signal to the D/A converter 17. The D/A converter 17 performs the D/A conversion of the received digital video signal and audio signal to output to the display D and the speaker SP.
In case of the digital broadcast signal, the digital tuner 21 receives the radio waves of the digital broadcast waves from the digital antenna A2, performs the station section and demodulation of the radio waves, and extracts the digital video signal and audio signal. In case of the digital broadcast, the picture and audio are encoded at a broadcast station side, and they have a format of the MPEG2-TS signal. The stream processor 22 selects required packets from the received MPEG2-TS signal, converts from the TS packet to a packet for recording, and sends to the data processor 13. The data processor 13 records the received data to the HDD 14.
The video signal and audio signal of the digital broadcast wave recorded on the HDD 14 are read by the data processor 13 and sent to the TS decoder 25. The TS decoder 25 separates and decodes the packed signal of the read video signal and audio signal, to output to the selector 16. The selector 16 sends the received signal to the D/A converter 17. The D/A converter 17 performs the D/A conversion of the received digital video signal and audio signal to output to the display D and the speaker SP.
Next, a data configuration recorded to the HDD 14 by the recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment is described in detail with reference to
As shown in
The management information 41 is information to manage position information, an attribute, and so on of the record data recorded on the HDD 14. The management information 41 has program group information 42 and AV file information 43.
The program group information 42 (original title group information) is information for managing a reproduction sequence (playback sequence information) of the recorded contents (program), and information concerning individual programs are organized by each program unit. The individual program information has reference information which is linked to AV file information being the information concerning the AV data stream (aggregate of the picture and audio data by the program unit) to be an object of the reproduction.
The AV file information 43 is a table associating the program group information 42 to be a management object of the user and the record data being an actual record data. The AV file information 43 has time map information in which logical address information of the corresponding AV data stream on the HDD 14 is described.
The first to third AV stream files 44 to 46 are data files composed of AV data streams respectively corresponding to programs (title: a unit in which the user records at one time). The individual AV data streams composing the first to third AV stream files 44 to 46 are composed of an information pack, a picture pack, an audio pack, a sub-picture pack, and so on. The information pack is an information package for the attribute and identification of the AV data stream, and includes information showing a start time when a first field of a GOP to which the information pack is belonging is reproduced, information showing a record time of the corresponding GOP, copy control information, and so on. The picture pack is an information package in which the video data is compressed by the MPEG2 system, and composed of a pack header, a packet header, and a video data portion. The audio pack is an information package in which the audio data is processed by, for example, the systems of the linear PCM, the MPEG, the AC-3, and so on, and composed of the pack header, the packet header, and an audio data portion.
The first AV stream file 44 is a data file prepared for the record and playback of a normal recording, and the second and third AV stream files 45 and 46 are data files prepared for a loop recording. Here, the “normal recording” means the record of which object is a saving, and the “loop recording” means the record in which a saving only for a certain period of time is enabled by overwrite recording within a predetermined area repeatedly.
The file system management information 40 is management information of, for example, a UDF (Universal Disk Format) standard, and it is the management information to manage the file of the management information 41, and the first to third AV stream files 44 to 46.
Incidentally, play list information composed of only information managing a reproduction sequence of the programs (playback sequence information) may be provided in addition to the program group information 42. The play list information does not have an AV data stream of its own, and it is generated by editing (deleting, adding) reference information which links to AV file information of an original title. Namely, it becomes possible to generate a program composed of only necessary scenes, and to generate a program in which unnecessary scenes are removed, by not processing the AV data stream directly but editing only the reference information. Besides, in an example shown in
Subsequently, the record management information controller 33 in the recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment is described in detail with reference to
As shown in
The management information managing unit 51 is an information processor managing the program group information 42 and the AV file information 43 shown in
The FS management unit 52 is an information processor managing the file system management information 40 based on, for example, the UDF (Universal Disk Format) standard. In the recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the record data by each program continues to constitute the AV stream file. FS management information is identification information of this AV stream file, and the FS management unit 52 manages the AV stream file via the FS management information.
The recording system identifying unit 53 is a recording system management processor identifying the recording system of instruction contents from the user inputted from the keyboard unit 35. As the recording systems managed by the recording system identifying unit 53, there are two recording systems of the normal recording performing the normal recording, and the loop recording performing the recording while overwriting the predetermined area repeatedly. The instruction from the user may be an explicit one, or it may be the one understood to be instructed as long as it is not released. For example, it may be constituted such that the loop recording is started simultaneously with the power on.
The record area formatting unit 54 is a management processor securing and managing the record area of the HDD 14. The record area formatting unit 54 has a function securing or releasing the record areas of the first to third AV stream files 44 to 46 for the HDD 14 beforehand.
The record area monitoring unit 55 is a monitoring processor monitoring the record area prepared by the record area formatting unit 54. The record area monitoring unit 55 has functions to monitor the record area prepared by the record area formatting unit 54, and to notify the monitored result to the normal recording unit 56 or the loop recording unit 57.
The normal recording unit 56 is a processor performing the normal recording process, and has a function to instruct the data processor 13 to perform the normal recording of the video data and audio data transmitted from the PS encoder 12 or the stream processor 22 to the HDD 14.
The loop recording unit 57 is a processor performing the loop recording process. The loop recording unit 57 has a function to instruct the data processor 13 to perform the loop recording of the video data and audio data transmitted from the PS encoder 12 or the stream processor 22 to the HDD 14.
The record area transfer unit 58 is a data transfer processor logically transferring the data recorded as the AV data stream between the AV stream files. The record area transfer unit 58 has a function to transfer an area between later-described predetermined chapters from the recorded second and third AV stream files 45 and 46 to the first AV stream file 44. The transfer between the AV stream files is realized by a change of the logical addresses, and therefore, the transfer of actual recorded positions is not performed. Accordingly, a high-speed processing becomes possible compared to a case when the AV data stream is just processed to transfer.
Next, operations of the recording apparatus 10 according to this embodiment are described with reference to
At first, states of the management information 41, the first AV stream file 44, the second AV stream file 45, and the third AV stream file 46 in initial states are shown in
When the keyboard unit 35 receives the instruction of the user, the recording system identifying unit 53 judges whether the user's instruction is the loop recording or not (step 100 in
When the first record area is not prepared (“No” in S101) as the result of the judgment, the normal recording unit 56 instructs the record area formatting unit 54 to prepare the first record area. The record area formatting unit 54 forms the first record area on the first AV stream file 44 of the HDD 14, and returns logical addresses of a start point and end point to the normal recording unit 56 (S102).
When the first record area is already prepared (“Yes” in S101) as the result of the judgment, or when the first record area is prepared by the record area formatting unit 54, the normal recording unit 56 generates management information at an initial state at a recording start time, to hold on an internal memory (S103). Specifically, the normal recording unit 56 instructs the management information managing unit 51 to generate the management information 41 concerning a whole contents to be recorded from among the program group information 42, the reference information, and the AV file information 43. When the instruction is received, the management information managing unit 51 receives the logical addresses of the start point and end point of the first record area returned by the record area formatting unit 54 from the normal recording unit 56, and sets as the time map information of the AV file information 43.
When the management information 41 is generated, the normal recording unit 56 records the video data and audio data transmitted from the PS encoder 12 or the stream processor 22 to the first record area prepared at the first AV data stream 44 on the HDD 14 (S104). Incidentally, during the recording to the first record area, the management information managing unit 51 momentarily generates the time map information reflecting a progress portion of the record of the AV data stream to record to the AV file information 43 on a memory (S105).
The record area monitoring unit 55 monitors a state of the first record area recorded by the normal recording unit 56 while the recording process of the normal recording unit 56, to notify to the normal recording unit 56 (S106). Specifically, the record area monitoring unit 55 asks a position on a recording medium up to where the AV data stream is recorded (position on the first AV stream file 44) from the time map information generated by the management information managing unit 51, and judges arrival at the end point of the first record area by comparing with the held position of the end point of the first record area (logical address on the recording medium).
When the record position of the normal recording unit 56 is not the end point of the first record area (“No” in S106), the normal recording unit 56 judges whether the recording is completed or not, and continues the recording process as it is (S104) if the recording is not completed (“No” in S107).
When the record position of the normal recording unit 56 is the end point of the first record area (“Yes” in S106) or the normal recording unit 56 judges that the recording is completed (“Yes” in S107), the normal recording unit 56 instructs the management information managing unit 51 to complete the recording. When the instruction is received, the management information managing unit 51 records the management information 41 recorded until that time to the HDD 14 as the management information file (S108), the normal recording unit 56 completes the recording process, and the management information managing unit 51 closes the first AV stream file (S109).
After that, the record area formatting unit 54 forms a new first record area, and sends the logical addresses of the start point and the end point thereof to the management information managing unit 51 (S110). Accordingly, the preparing of the record area in the step S102 becomes unnecessary at the time of next normal recording.
When the user's instruction received from the keyboard unit 35 is the loop recording (“Yes” in S100), the recording system identifying unit 53 instructs the loop recording unit 57 to perform the loop recording process. When the loop recording instruction is received, the loop recording unit 57 inquires of the record area monitoring unit 55 whether the record area for the loop recording is prepared or not (S111). When the inquiry is received, the record area monitoring unit 55 inquires of the FS management unit 52 about where the record area for the loop recording is prepared from among the first to third AV stream files 44 to 46. In this example, the loop recording is assigned to the second and third AV stream files 45 and 46, and therefore, the FS management unit 52 replies the file system where the second AV stream file 45 of the first is existing as the file system for the loop recording. The record area monitoring unit 55 judges whether the record area for the loop recording (hereinafter referred to as a “second record area”) is prepared or not on the second AV stream file 45 on the file system which is replied by the FS management unit 52, and returns the judged result to the loop recording unit 57.
When the second record area is not prepared (“No” in S111) as the result of the judgment, the loop recording unit 57 instructs the record area formatting unit 54 to prepare the second record area. The record area formatting unit 54 forms the second record area at the second AV stream file 45 of the HDD 14, and returns the logical addresses of the start point and end point thereof to the loop recording unit 57 (S112). Incidentally, at the time of this step S112, a process to form a third record area at the third AV stream file 46 in addition to the second record area may be performed simultaneously.
When the second record area is already prepared as the result of the judgment (“Yes” in S111) or when the second record area is prepared by the record area formatting unit 54, the loop recording unit 57 generates the management information 41 at an initial state at the recording start time, to hold on an internal memory (S113). Specifically, the loop recording unit 57 instructs the management information managing unit 51 to generate the management information 41 concerning a whole contents to be recorded from among the program group information 42, the reference information, and the AV file information 43. When the instruction is received, the management information managing unit 51 receives the logical addresses of the start point and end point of the second record area returned by the record area formatting unit 54 from the loop recording unit 57, and sets as the time map information of the AV file information 43.
When the management information 41 is generated, the loop recording unit 57 records the video data and audio data transmitted from the PS encoder 12 or the stream processor 22 to the second record area prepared at the second AV data stream on the HDD 14 (S114). Incidentally, during the record to the second record area, the management information managing unit 51 momentarily generates the time map information reflecting a progress portion of the record of the AV data stream to record to the AV file information 43 on the memory (S115).
During the record process of the loop recording unit 57, the record area monitoring unit 55 monitors a state of the second record area recorded by the loop recording unit 57 to notify to the loop recording unit 57 (S116). Namely, the record area monitoring unit 55 calculates a position on the recording medium up to where the AV data stream is recorded (which position on the second AV stream file 45) base on the time map information generated by the management information managing unit 51, and judges arrival at the end point of the second record area by comparing the held position of the end point of the second-record area (logical address on the recording medium).
When a record position of the loop recording unit 57 is not the end point of the second record area (“No” in S116), the loop recording unit 57 continues the loop recording process as it is.
When the record position of the loop recording unit 57 is the end point of the second record area (“Yes” in S116), the loop recording unit 57 transfers a file pointer (record point) of the second AV stream file 45 to the held position of the start point of the second record area (logical address on the recording medium) (S117). Accordingly, the record of a subsequent AV data stream is performed as an overwrite record from the start point of the second record area, and the overwrite record in which inside of the prepared second record area is used repeatedly, namely the loop recording is executed.
Here, when a fold-back is occurred at the second record area, it is necessary to adjust the start point position starting the record of the second AV data stream 45 in the time map information. The management information managing unit 51 shifts the start point position starting the record of the subsequent AV data stream backward in terms of time by the overwrite recording.
Incidentally, in
During the execution of the loop recording process, the loop recording unit 57 is constantly in a state capable of receiving a chapter dividing instruction. For example, the loop recording unit 57 adds a chapter boundary (for example, a mark showing a cut line of a program and so on) to the data during the loop recording to set a partial area called as a chapter within the title (S119), when the chapter dividing instruction is inputted from the keyboard unit 35 and conditions of rules which are set in advance (specific elapsed time, change of data attributes such as sub-voice, and so on) are satisfied (“Yes” in S118). The chapter division may be performed automatically by detecting the cut line of the program, as the rule to perform the chapter division. Besides, the user may perform the chapter division manually after a positioning is performed by executing the chasing playback during the loop recording, or these two methods may be combined. The set chapter is formed within the record data as a specific area surrounded by two chapters of the start point and end point.
Subsequently, the loop recording unit 57 sets marks such as “save” and “discard” for the chapter set in the step 119 (S120). Specifically, words such as the “save” and “discard” are added as a chapter name or as a part of the chapter name, or a flag is provided in addition to the chapter name, and values having meanings of the “save” and “discard” maybe set to the flag. Here, a mark to identify whether it is the chapter to be saved or not is to be given, and therefore, various means can be adopted other than the above as long as it is along a purpose thereof. A reference symbol “c” in
The loop recording is continued even if the mark is set, and therefore, it is necessary for the loop recording unit 57 to perform a process to switch a record object file to another AV stream file at an appropriate timing before the chapter having the “save” mark is disappeared by the overwrite recording. The timing to switch the record object file is not particularly limited as long as it is before the chapter having the “save” mark is disappeared by the overwrite record. However, there is a possibility that some lack of pictures may occur when the record object file is switched, and therefore, for example, a means is conceivable in which the record object file is switched at the timing when the cut line of the program is detected after the latest chapter having the “save” mark in a recorded time sequence.
Specifically, at a predetermined switch timing (“Yes” in S121), the loop recording unit 57 inquires of the record area monitoring unit 55 whether the record area for the loop recording is prepared or not (S122). When the inquiry is received, the record area monitoring unit 55 inquires of the FS management unit 52 about where the record area for the loop recording is prepared from among the first to third AV stream files 44 to 46. In this example, the loop recording is assigned to the second and third AV stream files 45 and 46, and the FS management unit 52 replies the file system in which the third AV stream file 46 is existing as a secondary file system for the loop recording because the second AV stream file 45 is already selected. The record area monitoring unit 55 judges whether the record area for the loop recoding (hereinafter, referred to as a “third record area”) is prepared on the third AV stream file 46 on the file system replied by the FS management unit 52 or not, and returns the judged result to the loop recording unit 57.
When the third record area is not prepared as the result of the judgment, the loop recording unit 57 instructs the record area formatting unit 54 to prepare the third record area. The record area formatting unit 54 forms the third record area on the third AV stream file 46 of the HDD 14, and returns logical addresses of the start point and end point thereof to the loop recording unit 57. When the third record area is already prepared as the result of the judgment, or the third record area is prepared by the record area formatting unit 54, the loop recording unit 57 generates the management information 41 at an initial state at the recording start time, to hold on an internal memory (S122). Specifically, the loop recording unit 57 instructs the management information managing unit 51 to generate the management information 41 concerning a whole contents to be recorded from among the program group information 42, the reference information, and the AV file information 43. When the instruction is received, the management information managing unit 51 receives the logical addresses of the start point and end point of the third record area returned from the record area formatting unit 54 from the loop recording unit 57, and set the addresses as the time map information of the AV file information 43.
When the management information 41 is generated, the loop recording unit 57 stops the loop recording for the second record area on the second AV stream file 45, and starts the record of the video data and audio data transmitted from the PS encoder 12 or the stream processor 22 to the third record area prepared on the third AV stream file 46 on the HDD 14 (S123). Accordingly, the area of the loop recording is changed from the second record area to the third record area, and the loop recording without approximately any cut line is continued.
Incidentally, when the chapter having the “save” mark does not exist, the loop recording may be continuously performed for the same record object file as it is, or the record object file may be switched at an appropriate timing such as after a predetermined time is elapsed even in such a case.
Next, the loop recording unit 57 instructs the management information managing unit 51 to save the data having the “save” mark at a predetermined timing (S124). When the instruction is received, the management information managing unit 51 updates the management information 41 corresponding to the data between the chapters in which the “save” mark are set, as the management information file corresponding to the first record area of the first AV stream file 44 of the HDD 14. Namely, the management information managing unit 51 transfers the area having the “save” mark from among the area in which the AV data streams are recorded within the second record area by the loop recording, from the second AV stream file to the first AV stream file while matching the playback sequence. For example, when the file system based on the UDF (Universal Disk Format) standard is used, a process in which an extent corresponding to the area where the AV data stream is recorded is transferred from a file entry of the second AV stream file to a file entry of the first AV stream file, is performed by the FS management unit 52.
Besides, the management information managing unit 51 records the time map information of the data recorded as the loop recording while changing into the logical address after it is transferred to the first record area of the first AV stream file 44. This means that the record data which is loop recorded and has the “save” mark is logically managed as the record data which is normal recorded. Besides, the fold-back portion occurred on the second AV stream file 45 (divided portion of the AV data stream) is rearranged in sequence and recorded by being integrated into one time map information.
The change process of the loop recording object from the second record area to the third record area, and the save process of the “save” set area on the second record area to the first record area are performed in parallel. Namely, the record object file is switched to the new AV stream file to perform the loop recording, and the process for the save object file is performed in parallel.
Subsequently, the record area transfer unit 58 discards the AV data stream of a portion other than the chapter having the “save” mark (S125). By this process, the area to which the AV data streams not saved to an archive file (here, the first AV stream file 44) are recorded, is made to be an unused state and released as an area to be overwrite recorded for a next recording time.
The record area formatting unit 54 resets the save object file to have a free area with a predetermined amount, and makes it usable as a new record object file for the next loop recording (S126).
As a result that the management information managing unit 51 records the management information file, the already recorded area recorded on the second AV stream file 45 is transferred to the first AV stream file 44, set to the program group information 42 as an already recorded area, and placed under a management in common with the already recorded area of the first AV stream file 44 which is normal recorded.
Incidentally, a simple procedure may be adopted as follows to simplify the configuration: [1] Stop the loop recording for the first record object file; [2] Switch the record object file; [3] Restart the loop recording for the new record object file. On the other hand, for example, buffer capacity of the AV stream data is set more than required, and ingenuity may be exercised such that a lack of pictures when the record object file is switched becomes small as much as possible. Besides, the timing to stop the loop recording for the first record object file is a little delayed, and the loop recording for the new record object file is started in advance. After that, the loop recording for the first record object file is continued for a while in parallel to provide so-called a overlap width area, to thereby prevent the occurrence of the lack of pictures caused by the switching of the record object file.
As stated above, according to the recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the management information managing unit 51 manages the management information of the normal recording and the management information of the loop recording by the common program group information 42 and the AV file information 43, and therefore, it is possible to provide the management information to the user as the program information without any distinction between the normal recording and the loop recording.
Besides, according to the recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment, when the save setting is made between predetermined chapters by the user's instruction or the predetermined rule, the transfer of data between the corresponding chapters to the save area and the change of the loop recording area are performed concurrently, and therefore, it is possible to save a desired area without stopping the loop recording.
Next, a recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to
In the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, the continuous loop recording is enabled by performing the loop recording for the third record area while the “save” mark setting area of the second record area is save processed to the first record area. However, when the setting of the “save” mark is performed by the user's instruction, it is conceivable that the “save” mark setting area does not fall in the second record area, and in such a case, the continuous loop recording becomes impossible.
Accordingly, in the recording apparatus of the second embodiment, the second to a fourth AV stream files 45 to 47 are prepared as the loop recording areas. Namely, when the “save” mark setting area exceeds the second record area, specifically, when it rises to a step in which a whole area of the second record area is loop recorded under a state that a second time chapter setting is not performed after a first time chapter setting, the loop recording unit 57 instructs the record area formatting unit 54 to prepare the third record area as a new loop recording area. Then, an object of the loop recording is changed to the third record area before a current record position reach the chapter position of the first time which is set in advance, and the loop recording is continuously performed.
When the chapter setting of the second time is performed on the third record area, the loop recording unit 57 makes the second record area and the third record area as candidate areas for the “save” mark setting, the loop recording to the third record area is stopped, and a new loop recording is started from a fourth record area. When the “save” mark is set on the second and third record areas, the corresponding setting areas are save processed to the first record area.
It becomes possible to perform the saving of the save area without stopping the loop recording, even when the “save” mark setting area exceeds one record area, owing to the configuration and operations as stated above.
Next, a recording apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to
In the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, the record area transfer unit 58 transfers the “save” mark setting area to the first record area being the normal recording area, but a needs exists that it is managed not as the normal recording but as the semi-permanent saving. In the recording apparatus of the third embodiment, the point as stated above is considered, and the record area transfer unit 58 transfers the “save” marked area not to the first record area but to the fifth record area prepared in advance as for an archive saving.
Incidentally, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and in an implementation stage, it can be embodied by modifying components thereof within a range not departing from the spirit of the invention. Also, the plural components disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined to form various inventions. For example, some of all the components shown in the embodiments may be eliminated. Moreover, components from different embodiments may be combined appropriately. Namely, the AV stream files for the normal recording may be provided two or more, the AV stream files for the loop recording may be provided three or more, the AV stream files for archive may be provided two or more, or those may be combined.
According to the means described in the embodiments, the contents recorded by the loop recording are comprehensively managed by the same one management information with the contents recorded by the normal recording. Accordingly, a means of the loop recording in which the user can playback and view the contents later is realized, and a convenience for the user can be improved. The contents recorded by the loop recording are saved and comprehensively managed as same as the contents recorded by the normal recording. Accordingly, the means of the loop recording which enables the reproduction and view of the contents later is realized, and the convenience for the user is improved.
Besides, by the means described in the embodiments, it becomes possible to save a desired area from the loop recorded picture contents without stopping the loop recording as much as possible.
The above-stated embodiments are described based on a hardware configuration, but it may be realized by software such as a computer program. The software may be stored in a storage medium readable by a computer such as a flexible disk, or it may be transmitted as stand-alone software. In this case, the processes in the respective embodiments become possible by reading the software stored in the storage medium by the computer, or downloading and installing from a site (server) on an LAN or Internet.
Namely, the software (program) in the present invention is not limited to the one stored in the storage medium independent of the computer, and the one distributed via transmission media such as the LAN, and Internet may be included.
Incidentally, as the storage medium, a storage format may be in any mode as long as it is the storage medium capable of storing the program and the recode data, and being read by the computer and soon, such as, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, and so on), an optical magnetic disk (MO and so on), a semiconductor memory in addition to the flexible disk.
Besides, an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on instructions of the program installed from the storage medium to the computer and so on, MW (middleware) such as database management software, network software may execute a part of the respective processes to realize the present embodiment.
Further, as the storage medium, the storage medium in which the program transmitted by the LAN, Internet, and so on is downloaded and stored, or temporary stored may be included without limited to the media independent of the computer. Besides, the storage medium is not limited to one, and the case when the processes in the present embodiment are executed from plural media may also be included in the storage medium in the present invention, and a media configuration may have any configurations.
Incidentally, the computer executes the respective processes in the present embodiment based on the program stored in the storage medium, and it may have any configuration such as a device composed of one of a personal computer and so on, a system to which plural devices are connected via network.
Besides, the computer is not limited to the personal computer, but a processor, a microcomputer, and so on included in information processing devices are included, and equipments, devices capable of realizing the functions of the present invention by the program are generically called as the computer.
Additional effects and corrections are easily performed by those in the art. Consequently, the invention with wide range of modes is not limited by the embodiments shown and described as specific detailed contents and a representative thereof. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are to be understood that all the changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and equivalency thereof are to be included therein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-182095 | Jun 2006 | JP | national |
