GB2208959A

GB2208959A - Magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2208959A
Application number: GB8819187A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kazuyuki Sugiyama
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 1987-08-19
Filing date: 1988-08-12
Publication date: 1989-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-12
Also published as: DE3827970A1; GB8819187D0; GB2208959B; DE3827970C2

Description

2208959 MAGNETIC RECORDING AND/OR REPRODUCING APPARATUS The present

invention generally relates to a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus and, more particularly, to a magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus of a type having a capability of storing and reproducing index data of a tape cassette for recording or reproducing video information and also capability of enabling and disabling an overwriting of information on a desired portion of the length of magnetic recording tape in the tape cassette.

-he tez-::; "o-jerwri ting" hereinabo--ve ard hereinafter used for the purpose of the present invention is to be understood as meaning a process of recording video information on a portion of or the entire length of magnetic recording tape while erasing the information previously recorded on the same portion or length of magnetic tape.

No magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a capability of automatically indexing the contents recorded on a length of magnetic recording tape contained in the tape cassette has yet been available rn in the market. Therefore, index data such as, for example, the title or titles of the recorded contents, the date or dates of recording of the contents, the TV channel number or numbers constituting the source or sources of the recorded contents, a starting address or addresses (in terms of the starting count of the tape counter) providing the position of the length of magnetic recording tape from which the recording has been made, the ending address or addresses (in terms of the ending count of the tape counter) providing the position of the length of the magnetic recording tape at which the recording has been terminated, and so on have been hitherto written down on an oblong of index memorandum which is in turn glued to the tapc cassette.

As a means'for preventing the length of magnetic recording tape in tle tape cassette from being recorded while erasing the previously recorded video information on such length of magnetic recording tape, that is, as a means for avoiding any possible overwriting, the tape cassette is provided with an easy-to-remove overwrite preventive pawl which is an integral part of the cassette, but is adapted to be removed when and af ter the video information desired not to be erased has been- recorded. Once the overwrite preventive pawl has been removed, an enabling mechanism built in the magnetic tape recording 17 t -b 3 and/or reproducing apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of the pawl and for enabling an information recording circuit to work on the length of magnetic recording tape in the event of the detection of the presence of the pawl in the tape cassette is disabled to avoid the information overwriting on the same length of magnetic recording tape.

Under these circumstances, in the event that the video information recorded on the length of magnetic recording tape in the tape cassette is updated, that is, erased in favor of different video information overwritten on the same length of magnetic recording tape, some or all of the particulars written down on the oblong of index memorandum have t_- be revised, oz an,_'..Lie-k- oblong of index memorandum has to be substituted for the old one. This is really time-consuming and requires the owner or user of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus to be painstaking with the management of recorded tape cassettes.

Moreover, the removal of the overwrite preventive pawl from the tape cassette means that the entire length of magnetic recording tape is no longer available for overwriting video information. No part of the length of magnetic recording tape which the previously recorded information is desired to be erased from can be overwri t ten un I ess the owner or user of the magnet i c tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus fills up a cavity, left by the removed pawl, with a piece of padding material. The greater the number of those parts of the length of magnetic recording tape from which the previously recorded information is desired to be erased, the more often the piece of padding material has to be f illed in the cavity, and this might not be the way most owners or users of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus are willing to follow.

Therefore, the present invention has been devised with a view to substantially eliminating the above For. ts pri!pnry Qk.j-;ct to aiscussed problems and haF provide a novel magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having at least a' capabi I ity of selectively recording and reproducing the index data.

The present invention also has for its another important object to provide a novel magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the type ref erred to above, which al so has a capabi I i ty o f selectively enabling and disabling the overwriting of information on a desired portion of the length of magnetic recording tape.

A further important object of the present 4 invention is to provide a novel magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the type referred to above, which has both of the above described capabilities.

In order to achieve the above described objects, there is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic recording a.nd/or reproducing apparatus for selectively recording on and reproducing from a video information from a length of magnetic tape, which apparatus comprises a text memory for storing an index data descriptive of information associated with a recorded content inputted, a write-in means for writing the index data into the text memory, and a read-out means for reading out the content, stored in the texL trom the text memory an(,, or corivertlri.c, it into an index data display signal of a predetermined format, which read-out means is capable of outputting the index data display signal after the conversion.

in any event, the present invention will become more clearly understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments and the drawings are given only for the purpose of illustration and explanation, and are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way

1 whatsoever, which scope is to be determined solely by the appended claims. In the drawings:

- Fi g. I i s a b I ock c ircui t d i agram showing a relevant portion of a magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram similar to Fig. 1, showing that according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a table showing statuses of overwrite disabling flag information and addresses; and Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the manner in which overwrite disabling and enabling functions are p;arformed.

Referring first to Fig. I showing a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus is shown as having a recording and/or reproducing magnetic head assembly 30 for reproducing information from or recording information on a length of magnetic recording tape 20 of a type contained in a tape ca'ssette (not shown). The magnetic head assembly 30 is electrically connected with an address code recording and reproducing circuit 1 operable to selectively record on and reproduce from the 1 length of magnetic recording which signifies the positi measured from the leading end direction of movement of the tape 20. This address code circuit I is coupled through bus 2 with a microprocessor entire circuitry. The address a line through which the microprocessor 3 and the address code recording and reproducing circuit I interrogate with each other. The microprocessor 3 is in turn connected with other circuits (not shown) through an input/output interrogating bus 4 and also with a source of horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals (hereinafter referred to as a synchronizing signal for the sake of brevity), contained in a video signal, through a synchronizing signal supply line 5.

R e f e r e n c e n u m e r a 1 6 r e p r e s e n t s a character/command input circuit operable in response to a command issued from a remote control unit (not shown) or a keyboard installed in the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus to supply, to the microprocessor 3 through a code input bus 7, a series of key codes including a command code descriptive of contents of a job such as recording, reproducing, cassette number and so on, tape 20 an absolute address on of the magnetic tape 20 thereof with respect to the length of magnetic recording recording and reproducing an address data input/output 3 operable to control the data input/output bus 2 is 1 and a character code descriptive of index data.

A timing controller 9 is also connected with the microprocessor 3 through a timing controller control input/output bus 8 through which the microprocessor 3 and the timing controller 9 interrogate with each other. Connected to the timing controller 9 is a character generator 10, a text memory 1.2 employed in the form of an involatile memory such as, for example,EARAM or EEPROM and the synchron izing signal supply line S. The connection between the timing controller 9 and the character generator 10 is made through a character generator control input/output bus 11 through which the timing controller 9 and the character generator 10 interrogate with each -other, while ihe --onnc-zti,_- b4c.0--een the timing cop. 7c i - 0.1, 1 e -. 9 and the text memory 12 is made through a text memory control input/output bus 13 through which the timing controller 9 and the text memory 12 interrogate with each other.

The timing controller 9 is capable of outputting an index data display signal through an index data display signal output line 14.

The circuitry of the construction shown in and described with reference to Fig. I operates in the following manner.

The operation of the illustrated circuitry in C, which, while the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus is operated in a recording mode during which information is recorded on the length of magnetic tape 20, the absolute address data code is recorded on the length of magnetic tape 20 by the microprocessor 3 and the address code recording and/or reproducing circuit I by and/or reproducing head absolute address data code is, during a reproducing mode in which the recorded information is reproduced, reproduced on a display such as a digital tape-counter by the head assembly 30 by way of the address code recording and/or reproducing circuit I and the microprocessor 3, is substantialiy,imilar --,j that performed by the conventional magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus and is not, therefore, reiterated herein for the sake of brevity.

However, the operation for writing the index data on the text memory 12 which is one of the essential features of the present invention will now be described in detail.

When a wr i te- i n command necessary t o i n i t i a te a wri ting and a command descriptive of the cassette number are input ted to the character/command input circui t 6 by manipulating the remote control unit or by keying through way of the magnetic recording assembly 30 and the recorded f 0 the keyboard of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and when characters, such as alphanumeric characters and/or graphic characters, descriptive of the index data are further inputted to the character/command input circuit 6 by manipulating the remote control unit or by keying through the keyboard of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, both of a command key code representative of such command and a character key code representative of such characters are applied to the microprocessor 3 through the code input bus 7.

Upon receipt of both of the command key code and the character key code, the microprocessor 3 supplies both a character code corresponLiing Lo L.-. zt cnaracter key code and a control signal corresponding to the command key code to the timing controller 9 through the timing controller control input/output bus 8 so that the timing controller 9 can write the character code at a predetermined address location in the text memory 12 in dependence on the control signal.

The content, that is, the index data, written in the text memory 12 in the manner described above can be rewritten at any time when the owner or user of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus so des i res.

4 When a command necessary to effectuate a reproduction and a command descriptive of the cassette number whose index data are desired to be displayed are inputted to the charac ter/ command input circuit 6, a command key code corresponding to the commands so inputted to the character/command input circuit 6 is supplied from the character/command input circuit 6 to the microprocessor 3 through the code input bus 7, wherefore the microprocessor 33 applies a control signal based on the command key code so supplied thereto to the timing controller 9 through the timing controller control input/output bus 8.

The timing controller 9 operates to read out irom the text memory 12 the index data (chai-actz=i code) corresponding to the cassette number represented by the control signal supplied to the timing controller 9 and also to read out from the character generator 10 characters corresponding to the character code so read out from the text memory 12, and converts into an index display Ignal in the form of, for example, R, G and B signals or a video composite signal, of a signal format similar to the video signal being reproduced by the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, which index display signal is synchronized with the synchronizing signal supplied through the synchronizing 1 1 1)- signal supply line 5 and is subsequently outputted from the timing controller 9 through the index display signal output line 14. The index display signal outputted through the output line 14 can be displayed on a screen of a cathode ray tube, particularly at a lower portion of the CRT screen, in the form as superimposed on a picture being reproduced by the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus on the same CRT screen.

It is to be noted that an essential cursor function, a REVISE (erasure and insert) function, a paging function and a control function necessary to control input and output of the index data and to store it, all of which are utilized during the above described operation are well Known to thosse skilled in the art an%A, therefore, Lhe details of each of them are not herein reiterated for the sake of brevity.

The magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the foregoing embodiment of the present -invention is provided with the involatile index memory for the storage of the index data associated with the tape cassette to be used while the index data can be permitted to be updated, and also with means for reading the content out from the index memory and operable to convert the content, read out from the index memory, into the output signal of a signal format substantially S 1 " -1 identical with that of the video information being reproduced by the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus. Therefore, the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus capable of managing the video, tape cassettes can be obtained.

Fig. 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present inventionThe magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus shown therein comprises the recording and/or reproducing magnetic head assembly 30 for reproducing information from or recording information on the length of magnetic recording tape 20 of a type contained in a tape cassette (not shown). The magnetic head assembly 30 is electrically connected with an address code recoraing and reproducing circuit' 101 operable to selectively record on and reproduce from the length of magnetic recording tape 20 an absolute address. This address code recording and reproducing circuit 101 is coupled through an address data input/output bus 102 with a microprocessor 103 operable to control the entire circuitry. The address data input/output bus 102 is a line through which the microprocessor 103 and the address code recording and reproducing circuit 101 interrogate with each other. The microprocessor 103 is in turn connected with other circuits (not shown) through an input/output interrogating bus 104 and also with a source 1 of horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals (hereinafter referred to as a synchronizing signal for the sake of brevity), contained in a video signal, through a synchronizing signal supply line 105.

Reference numeral 106 represents a charac ter/ command input circuit operable in response to a command issued from a remote control unit (not shown) or a keyboard installed in the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus to supply a character code descriptive of the index data and a key code representative of an overwrite disabling flag to the microprocessor 103 through a code input bus 107. A timing controller 109 is also connected with the microprocessor 'pu-, bus 103 through a timing controller control input/ou.

108 through which the microprocessor 103 and the timing controller 109 interrogate with each other. Connected to the timing controller 109 is a character generator 110, a text memory 112 employed in the form of an involatile memory and the synchronizing signal supply line 105. The connection between the timing controller 109 and the character generator 110 is made through a character generator control input/output bus 113 through which the timing controller 109 and the character generator 110 interrogate with each other, while the connection between the timing controller 109 and the text memory 112 is made 1 1 -1 through a text memory control input/output bus III through which the timing controller 109 and the text memory 112 interrogate with each other.

The timing control ler 109 is capable of outputting an index data display signal through an index data display signal output line 114.

The circuitry of the construction shown in and described with reference to Fig. 2 operates in the following manner.

The operation of the illustrated circuitry in which, while the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus is operated in a recording mode during which information is recorded on the length of magnetic tape 20, -h the abso lute addi ess tiata;ode i s recorded on the I engll of magnetic tape 20 by the microprocessor 103 and the address code recording and/or reproducing circuit 101 by way of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing head assembly 30 and the recorded absolute address data code is, during a reproducing mode in which the recorded information is reproduced, reproduced on a display such as a digi tal tape-counter by the head assembly 30 by way of the address code reco rd i ng and / o r reproduc i ng c i rcu i t 101 and the microprocessor 103, is substantially similar to that performed by the conventional magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus and is not, therefore, 16 reiterated herein for the sake of brevity.

However, the operation for writing the index data on the text memory 112 wi I I now be described in detail.

When a write-in command necessary to initiate a writing and a command descriptive of the cassette number are inputted to the character/command input circuit 106 by manipulating the remote control unit or by keying through the keyboard of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and when characters, such as alphanumeric characters and/or graphic characters, descriptive of the index data, overwrite disabling flag information and an overwrite disabling address data representative G! a particular ieRg".L. if tne magnetic tape 20 over which no- information overwriting is permitted are further inputted to the character/command input circuit 106 by manipulating the remote control unit or by keying through the keyboard of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, both of a command key code representative of such command and a character key code representative of such characters are applied to the microprocessor 103 through the code input bus 107.

Upon receipt of both of the command key code and the character key code,the microprocessor 103 supplies both a character code corresponding to the character key h 1 code and a control signal corresponding to the command key code to the timing controller 109 through the timing controller control input/output bus 108 so that the timing controller 109 can write the character code at predetermined address locations, shown in Fig. 3, in the text memory 112 in dependence on the control signal.

The content, that is, all of the index data, overwrite disabling flag information and an overwrite disabling address data representative of a particular length of the magnetic tape 20 over which no information overwriting is permitted, written in the text memory 112 in the manner described above can be rewritten at any time when the owner or user of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus so desires.

Hereinafter, the operation necessitated to reproduce and display the index data, overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data (all of which are hereinafter referred to as the index data group) will described.

When a command necessary to effectuate a reproduction and a command descriptive of the cassette number whose index data are desired to be displayed are inputted to the character/command input circuit 106, a command key code corresponding to the commands so inputted to the charac ter/ command input circuit 106 is supplied to 1 the microprocessor 103 through the code input bus 107, wherefore -the microprocessor 103 applies a control signal based on the command key code so supplied thereto to the timing controller 109 through the timing controller control input/output bus 108.

The timing controller 109 operates to read out from the text memory 112 the index data (character code) corresponding to the cassette number represented by the control signal supplied to the timing controller 109 and also to read out from the character generator 110 characters corresponding to the character code so read out from the text memory 112, and converts into an index display signal in the form of, for example, R, G and B signals or a video composite signal, of zz signal format Cb similar to the video signal being reproduced by the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, which index display signal is synchronized with the synchronizing signal supplied through the synchronizing signal supply line 105 and is subsequently outputted from the timing controller 109 through the index display signal output line 114.

The overwrite disabling and enabling operations will now be described with particular reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 4. It is, however, assumed that the index data group written in the text memory 112 are 311 n lq such as shown in Fig. 3 wherein No.1 represents the absence of an overwrite disabling flag and No.2 represents the presence of the overwrite disabling flag and that the information reproduction by means of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus is carried out from the beginning of the magnetic tape 20, which beginning is allocated an address location of "0000".

ikhen a tape cassette is loaded in the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a command descriptive of the cassette number of such tape cassette is inputted from the ch arac ter/ command input circuit 106 to the microprocessor 103. The index data group shown in Fig. 3 is then read out f rom the text memory 112 and is Subsequently stored in tho microprocessor 103.

When a command to ef f ectuate a recording i s subsequently issued, the microprocessor 103 controls the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the sequence of operation shown in Fig. 4. Referring to the flowchart, at step S1, a decision is made to determine if the address data detected by the address code recording and/or reproducing circuit 101 from the length of magnetic tape 20 represents an address having the overwrite disabling flag, in reference to the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data shown in Fig. 3. If the result of o decision at step SI indicates "No" signifying that address data in question does not fall within overwrite disabling zone, the next subsequent step takes place at which a recording initiating signal outputted to the input/output bus 104 to permit the the $2 is the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus to perform the recording mode. However, the result of decision at step S1 indicates "Yes" signifying that the address data in question 'falls within the overwrite disabling zone (address location within the range of 11010111 to "0200"), a recording inhibiting signal is outputted to the input/output bus 104 at step S3 to inhibit the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus frrom perforriiing -Lhe rt.-cording mode.

As hereinbefore described, if the result of decision at step S1 indicates "No", the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus performs the recording mode at step S2 in response to the recording initiating signal outputted from the microprocessor 103 to the input/output bus 104.

During the recording mode being performed, another decision is made at step S4 to check an address data recorded on the magnetic tape 20 against the address having the overwrite disabling flag of the index data. Accordingly, should the address data on the magnetic tape X 1 1 happens to fall within the overwrite disabling zone, t h a t i s, s h a u I d the result of decision at step S5 indicates "Yes", a recording terminating signal i s outputted to the input/output bus 104 to terminate the recording mode performed by the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus at step S5. So long as the address data on the magnetic tape 20 does not fall within the overwrite disabling zone, decision at step S4 indicates "No" continued.

In the event that the operator of the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus wishes to continue the recording notwithstanding the apparatus is once brought to a ha'-t i-,. vi,2z-: of. ';.he address data on The magnetic tape 20 falling within the overwrite disabling zone at step S5, the operator while viewing the display of the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data reproduced on the CRT screen should follow a procedure to advance a length of magnetic tape 20 until the display of the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data disappears from the CRT screen, that is, to a position where no overwrite disabling flag is recorded an the magnetic tape 20.

7 that is, the result of the recording mode is :? 2 The magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with the index memory for the storage of the index data group associated with the tape cassette to be used, means for reading the content out from the index memory and operable to convert the content, read out from the index memory, into the index data display signal, and a disabling means operable during the recording mode of the apparatus to inhibit the overwriting on a address location of- the magnetic tape where the overwrite disabling flat is set up. Therefore, not only can the management of the tape cassettes be facilitated, but also the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which an infofmar-ior. overwriting can be disabled or enabled can be obtained.

Although the present invention has fully been described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings used only for the purpose of illustration, those skilled in the art will readily conceive numerous changes and modifications within theframework of obviousness upon the reading of the specification herein presented of the present invention. For example, although in any one of the foregoing embodiments the index data has been described as converted into, and outputted in the form of,

11, the video signal by the timing controller, the present invention is not always limited to that described and shown, but the index data may be converted into any suitabte output signal, for example, LCD drive signal, of a format appropriate to a display device to be used in association with the magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention.

Also,a character generator,and a timing controller a c u r r e n t I y u s e d i n a c o I o r t e I e v 1 s i o n r e c e i v e r s e t designed to receive a TELETEXT signal broadcasted in some European countries including England and West Germany may be concurrently utilized for the character generator and the t i m i n g c o n t r o I I e r u s e i n a n y o n e o f t h e f o r e g o i n g embodiments of the present invention.

Accordingly,such changes and modifications ar unless they depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention as delivered from the claims annexed hereto,to be construed as included therein.

e, 2\

Claims

I. A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus for selectively recording and reproducing a video information on and from a length of magnetic medium, which apparatus comprises:

a text memory for storing an index data descriptive of information associated with a recorded content inputted; a write-in means for writing the index data into the text memory; and a read-out means for reading out the content, stored in the text memory, from the text memory and for converting it into an index data display signal of a format, said,ead-n!,-.t mears -,apable il outputting the index data display signal after the conversion.
2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising:

an input device to which characters, which may be alphanumeric character ai.d/or graphic characters, descriptive of the index data, and also a command representative of a job to be performed are applied by an external manipulation; an involatile memory for storing a character code representative of the characters; z W a character generator for synthesizing characters corresponding to the character code; a controller operable to write the character code in the involatile memory and read the character code from the involatile memory and also operable to read from the character generator the characters corresponding to the character code so read out and to convert the characters into the index data display signal of the predetermined format, said index data display signal being subsequently outputted from the controller and a processor operable in response to a command and a signal descriptive of the index data which command and signal are supplied from the input device t.:: control the controller to accomplish the write-in operation, the read-out operation and the outputting of the index data display signal, and wherein said text memory includes the involatile memory, the write-in means includes both of the processor and the controller. and the read-out means includes the processor the controller and the character generator
3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the index data display signal is synchronized wi th a synchronizing signal contained in the video information.
4. A magnetic recording and/orreproducing apparatus for selectively recording and reproducing a video information on and from a length of magnetic medium, which apparatus comprises:

a text memory for storing both overwrite disabling flag information inputted and an overwrite disabling address data indicative of an overwrite disabling region of the magnetic medium; a write-in means for writing the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data into the text memory; and a disabling means for disabling an overwriting operation with respect to the overwrite disabling region oi the magnetic medium accordin.g tn- the overwr disabling fl-ag information.
5. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, further comprising:

an address code recording and/or reproducing circuit for selectively recording and reproducing on and from the magnetic tape respectively, an address data code descriptive of the position of the magnetic tape with respect to the direction of travel of the length of the magnetic tape an input device to which the overwrite disabling flag information, the overwrite disabling -1 1 :,, 7 address data indicative of the overwrite disabling region of the magnetic tape and a command representative of a job to be performed are applied by an external manipulation; an involatile memory for storing the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data; a controller operable to write the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data in the involatile memory and read the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data from the involatile memory and a pro,_essvr operable in response to signals descriptive of the command, the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data, which signals are supplied from the input device to control the controller to cause the controller to perform the write-in and read-out operations one at a time and also operable to output a recording terminating signal for inhibiting information from being recorded on a portion of the magnetic tape falling within the overwrite disabling region according to an address data code reproducing signal, supplied from the address code recording and/or reproducing circuit _. and both of 9 the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data stored in the involatile memory and wherein said text memory includes the involatile memory said write-in means includes the processor and the controller. and said read-out means includes the processor - and the controller
6. A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus for selectively recording and reproducing a video information on and from a length of magnetic medium, which Apparatus comprises:

a text memory for storing an index data descriptive of information associated with a recorded content - f lag information inj?dtte%A'.

inputted, overwrit-2 dlsabiin... and an overwrite disabling address data indicative of an overwrite disabling region of the magnetic medium; a write-in means for writing all of the index data, the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data into the text memory; a read-out means for reading out from the text memory all of the index data, the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data and for converting them into a display signal of a predetermined format, said display signal being subsequently outputted from the read-out means; and 11 :Dc a disabling means for disabling an overwriting operation with respect to the overwrite disabling region of the magnetic medium according to the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data.
7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, further comprising:

an address code recording and/or reproducing circuit for selectively recording and reproducing on and from the magnetic tape, respectively, an address data code descriptive of the position of the magnetic tape with respect to the direction of travel of the length of the magnetic tape an input device tc whi--'i which may be alphanumeric character and/or graphic characters, descriptive of the index data, the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data, and also a command representative of a job to be performed are applied by an external manipulation; an involatile memory for storing a character code representative of the characters; a character generator for synthesizing characters corresponding to the character code; a controller operable to write the character code into the involatile memory and read the i i I ,.50 character code out from the involati le memory and also operable to read out from the character generator characters corresponding to the character code read out from the involatile memory for conversion into a display signal of a predetermined format, said display signal being subsequently outputted from the controller and a processor operable in response to signals descriptive of the command, the index data,the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data, which signal are supplied from the input device to control the controller to cause the I to perform the write-in and read-out o'verations one at a time:.,nU also operable --c jatput a recording terminating signal for inhibiting information controller from being recorded on a portion of the magnetic tape falling . within the overwrite disabling region according to a address data code reproducing signal, supplied from the address code recording and/or reproducing circuit and both of the overwrite disabling flag information and the overwrite disabling address data both stored in the involatile memory and wherein said text memory includes the involatile memory. said write-in means includes the processor 103 and the controller and said read-out means z k includes the processor character generator The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the display signal is synchronized with a synchronizing signal contained in the video information.

the controller and the 8 9. A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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