JP2009025899A - MEMORY CONTROLLER, NONVOLATILE STORAGE DEVICE, AND NONVOLATILE STORAGE DEVICE SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

Consistency check between a plurality of related content data can be simplified, and further, a host device does not need to be aware of content management, and a common GUI can be provided to users. To provide a memory controller, a nonvolatile memory device, and a nonvolatile memory device system.
A write status holding unit 211 that holds write status information for identifying a content group that is being written, and a content management unit 204 that manages content data and metadata, the content management unit 204 includes: Based on the write status information (content group ID), inconsistency between a plurality of related content data is eliminated. In addition, a GUI script generation unit 208 that generates a script describing the screen display contents in response to a request process for content data from the host device 101 is provided.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory card provided with a nonvolatile memory, a memory controller for controlling the nonvolatile memory device, and a nonvolatile memory device system in which an access device is added as a component to the nonvolatile memory device.

  In recent years, with the development of technology, content such as images and sounds has been handled as digital data. In order to carry digital data having images and sounds, a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a hard disk is used as a storage medium. Conventionally, management of data stored in an information recording area of a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or a magneto-optical disk has been realized by a file system. In the file system, the information recording area is divided into sectors that are the minimum access unit and clusters that are a set of sectors, and one or more clusters are managed as files. The interrelationship between content data such as title names and artist names related to images and audio contents, time search tables, images and audio is called metadata. In the file system, both the metadata and the content data are handled as files on the file system. Application standards have been defined in order to define the content format and metadata file contents in a storage medium. For example, in the case of an SD (Secure Digital) memory card, standardization and the like are promoted in SDA (SD Association).

Such a non-volatile storage device system that uses a non-volatile storage device mounted on a host device such as a digital still camera or a camcorder is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and the like.
JP 2007-89140 A

  However, content management parts such as the content data format have been developed individually based on various application standards or at the convenience of the host device manufacturer, resulting in differences in content display and operability between host devices. It was.

  Also, in a digital still camera, it is obtained from an image sensor that converts light into an electrical video signal using an element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) in a single photo shoot. Two types of content data: still image called RAW data for recording the received video signal as it is, and still image called JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) data obtained by subjecting the video signal to video processing and image compression When these two still image content data are stored as two files, the first eight characters of the file name must be the same in the DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) standard, which is one of the application standards. For The two contents data are associated with each other. Therefore, when two content data are separately stored as two files in a non-volatile storage device inserted into various host devices, one of the devices such as a PC (personal computer) capable of freely deleting the content data is used. The content data may be deleted, or an error may occur between the two content data due to an error such as a power shutdown when recording the two content data in the nonvolatile storage device. When inconsistency occurs, for example, when displaying an image on a display on a digital camera, there is a problem that a still image is not displayed because there is only RAW data. In addition, in order to confirm the consistency, a long time is required for the consistency check at the time of transition from the photographing mode to the video display mode, and there is a problem that the captured video cannot be displayed immediately.

  Here, the above-described problems related to inconsistency will be described in detail in the conventional nonvolatile memory device system shown in FIG. First, consider a case where the memory card 1230 is used after being installed in the host device 1200 and then installed in the host device 1220. Here, it is assumed that the content management unit 1201 has a function of performing operations such as recording, reproduction, and deletion by associating two related content data, that is, content data A and content data B. On the other hand, it is assumed that the content management unit 1221 can perform operations such as recording, reproduction, and deletion of one piece of content data (for example, content data A).

  When the memory card 1230 is attached to the host device 1200 and the host device 1200 writes content data to the memory card 1230, the content management unit 1201 stores content data A and content in the memory area 1231 and the memory area 1232 in the memory card 1230, respectively. Write data B. At this time, the consistency between the content data A and the content data B is maintained. Thereafter, when the memory card 1230 is inserted into the host device 1220 and the host device 1220 erases the content data in the memory card 1230, only the content data A in the memory area 1231 may be erased by the content management unit 1221. . For this reason, the association between the content data A and the content data B cannot be guaranteed. Thereafter, when the memory card 1230 is mounted on the host device 1200 and used, the host device 1200 records both the content data A and the content data B, that is, whether or not their consistency is maintained. I do n’t know. For this reason, the host device 1200 must always perform a consistency check on the relevance of all content data stored in the memory card 1230, including the case where the consistency is not broken by the host device 1220.

  Next, consider a case where the memory card 1230 is used after being attached to the host device 1200 and then attached to the host device 1210. Here, both content management units 1201 and 1211 have a function of writing content data A and related content data B in pairs to the memory card 1230 when writing content data. However, it is assumed that the content management unit 1201 is implemented so that it can reliably deal with errors such as power interruption, for example, so that no inconsistency between content and metadata occurs even when an error occurs. On the other hand, it is assumed that the content management unit 1211 is mounted so that the error cannot be reliably taken.

  When the memory card 1230 is attached to the host device 1200 and the host device 1200 writes content data to the memory card 1230, the content management unit 1201 stores content data A and content in the memory area 1231 and the memory area 1232 in the memory card 1230, respectively. Write data B. At this time, when an error such as a power interruption occurs, the content management unit 1201 either correctly writes the content data A and the related content data B as valid, or invalidates the pair. Writing is terminated in a state where the above countermeasure is taken, that is, in a state where the consistency of the pair is maintained. After that, when the memory card 1230 is inserted into the host device 1210 and an error such as a power interruption occurs when the content data A and content data B are rewritten, the consistency between the content data A and the content data B is not maintained. There is. Thereafter, when the memory card 1230 is mounted on the host device 1200 and used, the host device 1200 cannot know that a pair of content data that is not consistent exists in the memory card 1230. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a consistency check on the relevance of all the content data stored in the memory card 1230.

  As described above, when the host device has a content management function, the content data recording method and error countermeasure method differ depending on the type of host device, so the time for performing the consistency check even when the consistency check is not required. Is required, and the transition to the video display mode is delayed.

  In the present invention, in view of the above problems, particularly the consistency check time, it is possible to simplify the consistency check between related content data and reduce the time required for the consistency check. Provided are a memory controller, a nonvolatile storage device, and a nonvolatile storage device system that can provide a common GUI to users without having to be aware of different content management methods.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following technical means.

  That is, the technical means in the present invention is a memory controller that is connected to a nonvolatile memory and reads and writes content data in accordance with an access instruction from an external host device, and manages the content data. Management means, wherein the content management means manages a plurality of related content data as a content group, and stores in the write status information identifying the content group being written, which is held in the nonvolatile memory Based on the above, the inconsistency in the content group is resolved.

  The technical means in the present invention is a memory controller that is connected to a nonvolatile memory and reads and writes content data and metadata related to the content data in accordance with an access instruction from an external host device. A content management unit that manages the content data and manages a plurality of related content data as a content group; a write status holding unit that holds write status information that identifies the content group that is being written; The content management means eliminates inconsistencies in the content group based on the write status information.

  If the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, the content management unit may delete the already written content data belonging to the content group.

  If the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, if the host device can retransmit, the content management unit requests retransmission and sends the content group to the retransmitted content group. When the content data to which the content belongs belongs and the host device cannot retransmit, the content data that has already been written and belongs to the content group may be deleted.

  The write status information may include a device ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the host device.

  Note that GUI script generation means for generating a script describing the screen display content may be further provided in response to a request process for content data from the host device.

  The write status information may include a content group ID.

  The technical means in the present invention is a nonvolatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from an external host device, and stores the content data and a plurality of related content data. A non-volatile memory that stores a content group ID that identifies the content group and write status information that identifies the content group that is being written, and a memory controller that reads and writes the content data to and from the non-volatile memory. The controller includes content management means for managing the content data, the content management means manages a plurality of related content data as a content group, and is held in the nonvolatile memory. Based the content group is being included come to write status information for identifying, characterized in that to eliminate the inconsistency in the content group.

  The technical means in the present invention is a non-volatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from an external host device, and stores the content data and a plurality of related content data. A nonvolatile memory that stores a content group ID that is identified as a content group; and a memory controller that reads and writes the content data and the content group ID in the nonvolatile memory, and the memory controller manages the content data. Content management means for managing a plurality of related content data as a content group and write status holding means for holding write status information for identifying the content group being written , Wherein the controller (35) based on the write status information, characterized in that to eliminate the inconsistency in the content group.

  If the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, the content management unit may delete the already written content data belonging to the content group.

  If the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, if the host device can retransmit, the content management unit requests retransmission and sends the content group to the retransmitted content group. When the content data to which the content belongs belongs and the host device cannot retransmit, the content data that has already been written and belongs to the content group may be deleted.

  The write status information may include a device ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the host device.

  Note that GUI script generation means for generating a script describing the screen display content may be further provided in response to a request process for content data from the host device.

  The write status information may include a content group ID.

  The technical means in the present invention is a nonvolatile storage device system comprising a host device and a nonvolatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from the host device, The non-volatile storage device stores the content data, a content group ID that identifies the related content data as a content group, and write status information that identifies the content group that is being written, and A memory controller that reads / writes the content data from / to the non-volatile memory, the memory controller comprising content management means for managing the content data, wherein the content management means includes a plurality of related content data The With managed as Ceiling group, wherein held in the nonvolatile memory based on the write status information for identifying the content group is being written, characterized in that to eliminate the inconsistency in the content group.

  The technical means in the present invention is a nonvolatile storage device system comprising a host device and a nonvolatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from the host device, The nonvolatile storage device stores a content group ID for identifying the content data and a plurality of related content data as a content group, and stores the content data and the content group ID in the nonvolatile memory. A memory controller for reading and writing, the memory controller managing the content data and managing a plurality of related content data as a content group and the content group being written. Comprising a write status holding means for holding the write status information identifying the flop, wherein the controller (35) based on the write status information, characterized in that to eliminate the inconsistency in the content group.

  If the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, the content management unit may delete the already written content data belonging to the content group.

  If the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, if the host device can retransmit, the content management unit requests retransmission and sends the content group to the retransmitted content group. When the content data to which the content belongs belongs and the host device cannot retransmit, the content data that has already been written and belongs to the content group may be deleted.

  The write status information may include a device ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the host device.

  Note that GUI script generation means for generating a script describing the screen display content may be further provided in response to a request process for content data from the host device.

  The write status information may include a content group ID.

  According to the present invention, by including content management means in the memory controller, consistency check that is not necessary originally due to differences in the recording method and error countermeasure method of the content management means provided on the host device side in the past. Can be reduced. Furthermore, based on the content group ID held in the write status holding means, a consistency check between a plurality of pieces of content data associated with the content group ID is performed, so writing was performed when an error such as a power shutdown occurred. The content group to which the content data belongs can be specified, and inconsistencies among the plurality of content data belonging to the content group can be eliminated. Further, it is not necessary to be aware of different content management for each host device, and it is possible to provide a common GUI to the user. It also eliminates the need to develop and implement the content management required for each application on the device side, enabling device development that handles images and audio at a low price.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same constituent elements are given the same numbers.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment of the present invention, content management means for managing content and content management GUI script generation means are provided inside the memory card. These means control the addition and deletion of content and metadata accompanying the content, the rewriting of data in metadata such as UsageRule that defines the operation for the content, and the generation of a content information display script. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the main feature is that an external host device connected to the memory card can be used without being aware of data management related to contents stored in the memory card. To do.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a nonvolatile storage device system according to the present invention, and shows a system for recording and reproducing content data such as still images on a memory card as a recording medium.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a digital still camera which is a host device, 102 is a nonvolatile storage device (here, a memory card), and these are the main components of the nonvolatile storage device system. Here, in one still image shooting, the host device 101 can record and reproduce two still images, a still image compressed in JPEG format and a still image in which the video signal is recorded as it is. Shall. The memory card 102 is a storage medium for storing the still image as content data together with metadata associated therewith.

  The host device 101 can mount the memory card 102 in the memory card slot 105. The host device 101 displays an image capturing unit 220 that converts light into an electrical video signal using an image sensor such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor via a lens, and a still image stored in the memory card 102. A display unit 103 and an input unit 104 for performing a user operation input are included. The user can confirm the content of the content stored in the memory card 102 based on the content displayed on the display means 103.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the nonvolatile memory device system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the memory card 102 includes content data storage means 206 for storing content data such as images and sounds, and the shooting date and time, shooting location, content producer, content playback order, and content data associated with the content data. Metadata storage means 205 that stores information related to the relationship as metadata, and changes to the content data and the metadata associated with the content in response to a request process from the host device 101 for the metadata The content management unit 204 that writes the content group ID to the write status holding unit 211, the content management GUI script generation unit 208 that generates a display script for displaying a list of contents, etc., and the host device 101 is A host device capability storage unit 209 that stores the processing capability that is stored, a protocol control / monitoring unit 203 that converts the command into a command for communicating with the host device 101, and a content data storage unit 206 that writes the content data And a write status holding means 211 for temporarily holding the content group ID to which the content data belongs. The memory controller 210 is a combination of the protocol control / monitoring unit 203, the content management unit 204, and the content management GUI script generation unit 208. The host device capability storage unit 209, the metadata storage unit 205, the content data storage unit 206, and the write status holding unit 211 are storage areas allocated in a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. The write status holding unit 211 may be incorporated in the memory controller 210 as a nonvolatile RAM such as FeRAM (ferroelectric memory).

  The host device 101 stores protocol control / monitoring means 202 that converts commands for communication with the memory card 102, display means 103, input means 104, and information input from the user by the input means 104. The content display / input control means 201 that transmits to the card 102 or notifies the display means 103 of the contents from the memory card 102, the imaging means 220, and the video signal generated by the imaging means 220 are subjected to video processing. The encoding unit 221 encodes the data into a desired compression format, and transfers the encoded result as content data to the protocol control / monitoring unit 202. The protocol control / monitoring unit 202 decompresses the content data read from the memory card 102. Decoding hand output to display means 103 Consisting of 207.

  Although the host device 101 and the memory card 102 have many other components, they are not directly related to the present invention, so that the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is an example showing metadata associated with content data stored in the metadata storage unit 205. Content ID (CID), which is information for specifying content data, content data name (NAME), type information (TYPE) describing the encoding type of content data, and identification information for grouping related content data It consists of a list of a certain content group ID (GID). For example, content data with a content ID of 1 is the same group as content data with a content data name of Photo001, a RAW type, that is, a still image in which a video signal obtained from an image sensor is recorded as it is, and content data with a content ID of 2. The content data with content ID 2 is a still image compressed with the content data name Photo001, JPEG type, that is, JPEG format, and indicates that it is the same group as the content data with content ID 1.

  FIG. 6 shows a screen generated by the content management GUI script generation unit 208 based on the content of the metadata stored in the metadata storage unit 205 shown in FIG. 5 and output to the display unit 103 by the host device 101. An example of a script for displaying contents of content data is described. The script has a hierarchical structure expressed by <tag name attribute = “”> and </ tag name>, and in this example, describes the operation of content whose GID is 1.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the content display / input control unit 201 interprets the content display script shown in FIG. 6 and displays it on the display unit 103. According to the script shown in FIG. 6, it is shown that the content with GID 1 can be deleted, deleted, renamed, renamed, copied, and printed. These operations are displayed as operation buttons 702 through the display means 103. When the user presses the displayed operation button through the input unit 104, the operation described in the onClick attribute is executed. Also, thumbnails 701, file names, and the like of each content data are displayed from the contents of the thumbnail tag and text tag.

  Here, when the Photo001 PRINT button (702) is pressed through the input means 104, a RAW type still image with a content ID (CID) of 1 is selected, and the Photo001 RAW type (FIG. 5) is selected. The still image with the content ID 1) is transferred and printed. On the other hand, when the thumbnail of the Photo001 (701) is pressed and a reproduction request is made, the JPEG type (content ID 2 in FIG. 5) is selected based on the content ID = 2 described in the onClick attribute of the thumbnail tag, and the display means A Photo001 JPEG type still image is displayed at 103.

  FIG. 3 shows the procedure from when the memory card 102 is inserted into the memory card slot 105 of the host device 101 until the user confirms the contents stored in the memory card 102 in a list display.

  In FIG. 3, when the user inserts a card into the memory card slot 105 of the host device 101 (step 301), the protocol control / monitoring means 202 on the host device side detects the insertion (step 302). After detecting the insertion, the content display / input control unit 201 notifies the memory card 102 of the capability (capability: executable function and performance) of the host device 101 (step 303). The memory card 102 stores the capability of the host device 101 in the host device capability storage unit 209 (step 304). Next, the content display / input control means 201 of the host device 101 requests a list display of the content stored in the memory card 102 (step 305). The content management unit 204 of the memory card 102 can reproduce the host device 101 based on the capability on the host device 101 side stored in the host device capability storage unit 209 from the metadata of the content stored in the metadata storage unit 205. The right content. Then, the content management GUI script generation means 208 generates the list display script described in FIG. 6 (step 306), and notifies the host device 101 side of the result of the generated script (step 307). On the host device 101 side, the content display / input control unit 201 performs screen generation processing based on the notified script (step 308), and displays a list screen on the display unit 103 (step 309).

  With the above processing, the host device 101 can display a list of contents stored in the memory card 102 without being aware of the metadata file format.

  FIG. 4 shows a procedure of reproducing the content (Photo001) selected by the user from the list screen display as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the thumbnail of Photo001 is pressed as a user operation, that is, a JPEG type content display is selected.

  In FIG. 4, the user presses a thumbnail 701 of desired content (here, Photo001) from the content list displayed on the display means 103 using the input means 104, and requests display (step 401). . The host device 101 requests the memory card 102 to display the content whose content ID is 2 (Photo001 JPEG type) through the content display / input control means 201 (step 402). The content management unit 204 of the memory card 102 transfers the content data in the content data storage unit 206 to the host device 101 side (step 403). The host device 101 decodes the transferred content data in the decoding unit 207 (step 404), and outputs the result to the display unit 103 (step 405).

  Next, in FIG. 8, when the user takes a picture (step 801), the still image captured from the imaging unit 220 is encoded by the encoding unit 221 (step 802), and the photo is transferred from the host device 101 to the memory card 102. A recording instruction is issued, and first, metadata such as a content group ID is transferred (step 803). It is assumed that the content data name is Photo001.

  The content management unit 204 stores metadata (FIG. 5) such as a content group ID in the metadata storage unit 205 (step 804), and records a video signal obtained from the imaging unit 220 as it is. 5 is transferred to the memory card 102 (step 805) and written to the content data storage unit 206 by the content management unit 204 (step 806). Thereafter, the JPEG type still image compressed in the JPEG format in the encoding unit 221, that is, the content data with the content ID 2 in FIG. 5 is transferred to the memory card 102 (step 807), and the content management unit 204 stores the content data. It is written in the means 206 (step 808). Thereafter, in FIG. 8, JPG is an abbreviation for JPEG.

  As described above, since the content management unit 204 is provided in the memory controller 210 and the above-described processing is performed, a difference in recording method and error countermeasure method of the content management unit provided on the host device side is a factor. It is possible to reduce unnecessary consistency checks.

  Next, for example, content ID 1 and content ID 2 in FIG. 5, that is, RAW type and JPEG type of Photo001, error elimination when power interruption occurs while writing related content data to the memory card 102 The method will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, two names of content data RAW and content data JPG are used as related content data.

  The content management unit 204 performs content data writing processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 9, and performs error solution processing according to the flowchart of FIG. Also, it is assumed that a content group ID for identifying a content group to which the content data belongs is temporarily written in the write status holding unit 211 during the content data write processing.

  In FIG. 9, when a content ID, content data, and metadata including a content group ID are transferred from the host device 101 in accordance with a write command (S900), the content management unit 204 writes the content group ID. Write to the status holding means 211 (S901). Next, the content data RAW is written in the content data storage unit 206, and the metadata RAW transferred from the host device 101 along with the content data RAW is written in the metadata storage unit 205 (S902). Next, the content data JPG is written into the content data storage unit 206, and the metadata JPG transferred from the host device 101 along with the content data JPG is written into the metadata storage unit 205 (S903). Finally, the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211 is deleted (S904), and the process returns to the write command standby state (S900). It is assumed that the content ID held in the write status holding unit 211 takes an integer value other than 0.

  In this way, when the series of content data writing processing is normally completed, the content group ID is deleted in S904, and thus the value is 0. On the other hand, when a series of content data write processing is terminated abnormally due to power interruption or the like, the content group ID remains.

  In the above writing process, when an error such as power interruption occurs, the error elimination process shown in FIG. 10 is performed in the initialization process at the next power-on. In FIG. 10, the content management unit 204 first reads the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211 (S1000). It is determined whether or not the content ID is 0 (S1001). If the content ID is 0 (Yes in S1001), the processing of S904 in FIG. 9 described above has been performed, that is, the content data JPG and the content data RAW. It is determined that both have been written correctly, and the error elimination processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the content group ID is other than 0 (No in S1001), the processing of S904 in FIG. 9 described above was not performed due to power shutdown or the like, that is, the content data JPG and the content data RAW were not written correctly. to decide. In this case, after erasing the content data RAW stored in the content data storage unit 206 and the metadata RAW stored in the metadata storage unit 205 (S1002), the content data JPG and the meta data stored in the content data storage unit 206 are deleted. The metadata JPG stored in the data storage unit 205 is deleted (S1003), and both the content data RAW (and metadata RAW) and the content data JPG (and metadata JPG) are invalidated. Thereafter, the content group ID held in the write status holding means 211 is erased (S1004), and the error elimination process is terminated.

  As described above, the content management unit 204 of the memory card 102 generates an error such as a power shutdown while writing both the content data RAW and the content data JPG based on the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211. If there is an error, it is possible that the consistency between the content data RAW and the content data JPG is not maintained, and the content data already stored in the memory card 102 By deleting (invalidating) both RAW (and metadata RAW) and content data JPG (and metadata JPG), it is possible to maintain consistency between content data RAW and metadata JPG.

(Second Embodiment)
Another embodiment of the nonvolatile memory device system of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the nonvolatile memory device system according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the nonvolatile memory device system according to the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The operation of the nonvolatile memory device system of this embodiment will be described. The basic operation is the same as that of the nonvolatile memory device system according to the first embodiment. Therefore, here, an error solving method when a power interruption occurs during a series of writing of content data, which is a difference from the nonvolatile storage device system of the first embodiment, will be described.

  The nonvolatile storage device system according to the first embodiment erases and invalidates both content data and metadata when an error occurs. On the other hand, in the case of an error, the nonvolatile storage device system according to the present embodiment, when the host device 101 can retransmit, the related content data by the retransmission data, that is, the content data RAW (and metadata RAW). ) And content data JPG (and metadata JPG) are both written and validated. On the other hand, when the host device 101 cannot retransmit, the invalidation process described above is performed.

  The content management unit 204 performs content data writing processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 9, and performs error elimination processing according to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, a content group ID for identifying related content data is temporarily written in the write status holding unit 211 during the content data write process, and at the end of the error elimination process in the initialization process. It is assumed that a device ID for identifying the host device 101 acquired from the host device 101 is temporarily written (in S1109 described later). The content data writing process is the same as that in the flowchart of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In FIG. 11, the content management unit 204 first latches the device ID acquired from the host device 101 in its own register as a new device ID (S1100). Next, the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211 is read (S1101). It is determined whether or not the content group ID is 0 (S1102). If the content group ID is 0 (Yes in S1102), the processing of S904 in FIG. 9 described above has been performed, that is, content data JPG and content data. It is determined that both RAW data have been written correctly, and the process advances to S1109. Note that the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211 takes an integer value other than zero.

  On the other hand, if the content group ID is other than 0 (No in S1102), it is determined that the processing of S904 in FIG. To do. In this case, the content management unit 204 specifies a content group whose error should be resolved based on the read content group ID.

  It is determined whether or not the host device 101 can retransmit the content data and its metadata for which the error should be resolved (S1103). Specifically, (a) the host device 101 is the same as the host device before power-off, (b) the host device 101 has a buffer, and (c) the power state of the host device 101 is OFF. If the buffer that is temporarily stored is stored in the non-volatile storage memory in the host device, or the other content can be generated from one content (if only the content data RAW remains) The content data JPG is generated using the encoding unit 221.), it is determined that the host device 101 can retransmit. More specifically, (a) shows that the content management unit 204 uses the new device ID latched in the register and the device ID of the host device before the power shutdown held in the status holding unit 211 in S1109 described later. Judge by comparison. (B) The content management unit 204 has a buffer (configured by SRAM or the like) for temporarily storing content data already transferred by the host device 101 to the host device 101 via the memory card-side protocol control / monitoring unit 203. Whether or not it is present is determined, and this response is used to determine. In (c), as in (b), it is determined whether or not the content data stored in the buffer of the host device 101 remains without being volatilized after an error such as a power shutdown. Judgment is made based on this response.

  If retransmission is possible (Yes in S1103), the content management unit 204 requests the host device 101 to retransmit the content data RAW and metadata RAW, writes the retransmitted content data RAW to the content data storage unit 206, and retransmits it. The metadata RAW thus written is written in the metadata storage means 205 (S1104). Further, the content management unit 204 requests the host device 101 to retransmit the content data JPG and the metadata JPG, writes the retransmitted content data JPG into the content data storage unit 206, and stores the retransmitted metadata JPG in the metadata. Write to the means 205 (S1105). On the other hand, if retransmission is impossible (No in S1103), the content data RAW stored in the content data storage unit 206 and the metadata RAW stored in the metadata storage unit 205 are deleted (S1106), and then the content data storage The content data JPG stored in the means 206 and the metadata JPG stored in the metadata storage means 205 are deleted (S1107), and both the content data RAW (and metadata RAW) and the content data JPG (and metadata JPG) are deleted. Disable both.

  After the processing of S1105 and S1107, the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211 is deleted (S1108), and the new device ID latched in the register of the content management unit 204 is used as the device ID to write status holding unit. Write to 211 (S1109), and the error elimination processing ends.

  As described above, based on the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211, the content management unit 204 of the memory card 102 determines whether or not an error such as a power shutdown has occurred during the writing of a series of content data. If it is determined that an error has occurred, the consistency between the content data RAW and the content data JPG may not be maintained, and the content data RAW (and metadata RAW) and the content data JPG are stored in the host device 101. (And metadata JPG) is requested to be retransmitted and recorded, or both content data RAW (and metadata RAW) and content data JPG (and metadata JPG) already stored in the memory card 102 are deleted. (Disable) It is possible to maintain consistency between Tsudeta RAW and content data JPG.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the write status holding unit 211 is a storage area allocated in a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, like the content data storage unit 206. A non-volatile memory different from the flash memory may be used. The write status holding unit 211 may be in the memory controller 210.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the content ID held in the write status holding unit 211 takes an integer value other than 0, but the content such as a character string or binary data is uniquely assigned. Any form that can be identified is acceptable.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the content group ID is sent from the host device 101. However, the content group ID is set so that the content management unit 204 is unique in the memory card 102. May be given.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the list display of data in the memory card and the writing, deleting or printing of content data are given as examples. However, content data search based on metadata, etc. The present invention may also be applied to data management that is conventionally supported on the host device side.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the application example is related to a still image, but it can also be applied to moving images and audio.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the system fixed to two types of the JPEG type and the RAW type has been described as an example. However, the system can be applied to other types of compression formats. . Also, the user may select the type of compression format at the time of shooting. Although two types of content have been described above, the same content group ID can be assigned to three or more types, so that it can be applied to three or more types of content. In addition to the type of compression format, a JPEG file and a thumbnail file that is a reduced image thereof, a moving image file and a representative image file thereof may be used. Also, metadata such as a clip management information file that stores a video data file and a time search table for high-speed seek related to the video data as used in the AVCHD standard, the BD-ROM, and the BD-RE standard are stored. It can also be used for files.

  In S1104 and S1105 of the error elimination processing of the second embodiment described above, the content management unit 204 may rewrite all of the retransmitted data from the beginning to the end, or add only abnormal parts. Also good.

  The non-volatile storage device system according to the second embodiment performs an error elimination process for enabling or disabling both the content data JPG and the content data RAW. Further, in S902 and S903 of FIG. 9, the content status JPG and the content data RAW are independently checked by causing the write status holding means 211 to hold a flag for identifying the completion of writing independently in the content data JPG and the content data RAW. It is also possible to eliminate errors. Thereby, the time overhead concerning the retransmission processing from the host device 101 can be further reduced.

  As described above, by providing the content management unit 204 in the memory controller 210, matching that is not necessary originally is caused by a difference in the recording method and error countermeasure method of the content management unit conventionally provided on the host device 101 side. It becomes possible to reduce the sex check. Further, based on the content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211, a consistency check between a plurality of related content data corresponding to the content group ID is performed. As a result, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of an error such as a power shutdown only by reading one content group ID held in the write status holding unit 211. Furthermore, even if an error has occurred, the content group that has been written at the time of the error occurrence and is highly likely to be inconsistent can be identified by the content group ID, so that the error can be eliminated in a short time. As a result, it is possible to shorten the startup time from the start of power supply to the start of shooting. In addition, by holding the device ID in the write status holding unit 211, if an error occurs, the content data can be retransmitted to eliminate the error. Extra work such as rework is not required.

  The nonvolatile memory device system according to the present invention proposes a method that can provide a common GUI to a user with a short time required for consistency check, and uses a nonvolatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory card. This is useful in a still image recording / reproducing apparatus, a moving image recording / reproducing apparatus, or a mobile phone.

1 is an overview diagram showing a configuration of a nonvolatile memory device system according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a nonvolatile memory device system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which showed the procedure until a user confirms the content of the content memorize | stored in the memory card in a list display in the non-volatile storage device system of this invention The flowchart which showed the procedure which reproduces | regenerates the content data which the user selected from the list screen displayed in the non-volatile storage device system of this invention The schematic diagram which shows an example about the metadata accompanying the content stored in the metadata memory | storage means of the non-volatile storage device of this invention Structure diagram showing an example of a script showing a content management GUI generated in the nonvolatile storage device of the present invention Schematic diagram showing an example of a content management GUI in the host device of the present invention Flow chart showing a procedure for recording content data in the nonvolatile storage device system of the present invention The flowchart which shows the write-in process of the content data in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention The flowchart which shows the error solution processing in the 1st Embodiment of this invention The flowchart which shows the error solution processing in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional non-volatile memory | storage device system

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Host apparatus 102 Memory card 103 Display means 104 Input means 105 Memory card slot 201 Content display / input control means 202 Host device side protocol control / monitoring means 203 Memory card side protocol control / monitoring means 204 Content management means 205 Metadata Storage means 206 Content data storage means 207 Decoding means 208 Content management GUI script generation means 209 Host device capability storage means 210 Memory controller 211 Write status holding means 220 Imaging means 221 Encoding means

Claims (21)

A memory controller connected to a non-volatile memory and reading and writing content data in response to an access instruction from an external host device,
Content management means for managing the content data;
The content management means manages a plurality of related content data as a content group, and the content group is stored on the nonvolatile memory based on write status information for identifying the content group being written. A memory controller that eliminates inconsistencies in the memory. A memory controller that is connected to a nonvolatile memory and reads and writes content data and metadata related to the content data in response to an access instruction from an external host device,
Content management means for managing the content data and managing a plurality of related content data as a content group;
Write status holding means for holding write status information for identifying the content group being written,
The memory controller according to claim 1, wherein the content management means resolves inconsistencies in the content group based on the write status information.   The content management unit, based on the write status information, deletes content data belonging to the content group that has already been written when it is determined that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group. The memory controller according to 1 or 2.   When the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, when the host device can retransmit, the content management unit requests retransmission and sends the content group to the retransmitted content group. 3. The memory controller according to claim 1, wherein the content data belonging to the content group is deleted when the content data belonging to the content group is written and the host device cannot retransmit the content data.   The memory controller according to claim 4, wherein the write status information includes a device ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the host device.   3. The memory controller according to claim 1, further comprising a GUI script generation unit configured to generate a script describing a screen display content in response to a request process for content data from the host device.   The memory controller according to claim 1, wherein the write status information includes a content group ID. A non-volatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from an external host device,
A nonvolatile memory for storing the content data, a content group ID for identifying the plurality of related content data as a content group, and write status information for identifying the content group being written;
A memory controller that reads and writes the content data to and from the nonvolatile memory,
The memory controller is
Content management means for managing the content data;
The content management means manages a plurality of related content data as a content group, and the content group is stored on the nonvolatile memory based on write status information for identifying the content group being written. A non-volatile memory device characterized in that inconsistency is eliminated. A non-volatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from an external host device,
A non-volatile memory for storing a content group ID for identifying the content data and a plurality of related content data as a content group;
A memory controller that reads and writes the content data and the content group ID in the nonvolatile memory,
The memory controller is
Content management means for managing the content data and managing a plurality of related content data as a content group;
Write status holding means for holding write status information for identifying the content group being written,
The non-volatile storage device according to claim 1, wherein the content management means resolves inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information.   The content management unit, based on the write status information, deletes content data belonging to the content group that has already been written when it is determined that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group. The nonvolatile memory device according to 8 or 9.   When the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, when the host device can retransmit, the content management unit requests retransmission and sends the content group to the retransmitted content group. 10. The nonvolatile storage device according to claim 8, wherein the content data belonging to the content group is deleted when the content data belonging to the content group is written and the host device cannot retransmit the content data.   The nonvolatile storage device according to claim 11, wherein the write status information includes a device ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the host device.   The nonvolatile storage device according to claim 8, further comprising a GUI script generation unit that generates a script describing a screen display content in response to a request process for content data from the host device.   The nonvolatile storage device according to claim 8, wherein the write status information includes a content group ID. A nonvolatile storage device system comprising: a host device; and a nonvolatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from the host device,
The nonvolatile storage device stores the content data, a content group ID for identifying the plurality of related content data as a content group, and write status information for identifying the content group being written, and A memory controller that reads and writes the content data to and from the nonvolatile memory,
The memory controller is
Content management means for managing the content data;
The content management means manages a plurality of related content data as a content group, and the content group is stored on the nonvolatile memory based on write status information for identifying the content group being written. A non-volatile storage device system that eliminates inconsistencies in A nonvolatile storage device system comprising: a host device; and a nonvolatile storage device that reads and writes content data in response to an access instruction from the host device,
The nonvolatile storage device stores a content group ID for identifying the content data and a plurality of related content data as a content group, and stores the content data and the content group ID in the nonvolatile memory. A memory controller for reading and writing,
The memory controller is
Content management means for managing the content data and managing a plurality of related content data as a content group;
Write status holding means for holding write status information for identifying the content group being written,
The non-volatile storage device system, wherein the content management means eliminates inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information.   The content management unit, based on the write status information, deletes content data belonging to the content group that has already been written when it is determined that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group. The nonvolatile memory device system according to 15 or 16.   When the content management unit determines that there is a possibility of inconsistency in the content group based on the write status information, when the host device can retransmit, the content management unit requests retransmission and sends the content group to the retransmitted content group. The nonvolatile storage device system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the content data belonging to the content group is deleted when the content data to which the content belongs belongs and the host device cannot retransmit the content data.   The nonvolatile storage device system according to claim 18, wherein the write status information includes a device ID that is an identifier for uniquely identifying the host device.   17. The nonvolatile storage device system according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising GUI script generation means for generating a script describing screen display contents in response to a request process for content data from the host device.   The nonvolatile storage device system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the write status information includes a content group ID.

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