JP2009266292A - Recording/reproducing device and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of continuously recording a group of files constituting content data on a randomly accessible medium.
Size detecting means for detecting the size of content data to be recorded on an information recording medium, and first empty area for detecting the size of a continuous empty area in order from the top address of the information recording area of the information recording medium Detecting means, comparing means for comparing the size of the content data with the size of the continuous free area, and when the size of the continuous free area is determined to be greater than or equal to the size of the content data by the comparing means; Position information acquisition means for acquiring information related to the head position of the recording medium, and recording means for recording the content data from the head position of the continuous empty area acquired by the position information acquisition means.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method related to a file management method that enables continuous arrangement of contents between files.

  As is well known, in recent years, high-density information recording technology has been promoted, and large-capacity optical discs have been put into practical use.

  Examples of such an optical disk include a read-only DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory), a rewritable DVD-RAM (Random Access Memory), a DVD-RW (Disk-Rewritable), and a recordable DVD. -R (Recordable) etc.

  By the way, in the DVD video standard, new DVD video titles are sequentially recorded from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the optical disc so as to always follow the last recorded DVD video title. In this case, one DVD video title is managed in a continuous area on the optical disc.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a configuration that secures continuity of recording areas by arranging recording areas so as to avoid defective areas that can be grasped in advance.

Patent Document 2 describes a dedicated writing function for detecting a place where a file group of a title set that requires continuous recording is recorded from an empty area of the disc and recording the necessary file group continuously from the location. Yes.
JP 2004-199782 A JP-A-2005-135589

  However, Patent Document 1 does not mention the continuity of the content area of the recorded file group. Further, Patent Document 2 does not describe any continuous recording of a title set file group on a randomly accessible medium.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus that enables continuous recording of a group of files constituting content data on a randomly accessible medium that performs file allocation using a bitmap or the like.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a size detecting unit that detects the size of content data to be recorded on an information recording medium, and a continuous empty area in order from the top address of the information recording area of the information recording medium. First empty area detecting means for detecting the size, comparing means for comparing the size of the content data and the size of the continuous empty area, and the size of the continuous empty area by the comparing means is equal to or larger than the size of the content data. If it is determined, position information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the head position of the continuous empty area, and recording means for recording the content data from the head position of the continuous empty area acquired by the position information acquisition means. Have.

  In the recording / reproducing apparatus, when the content data is composed of a continuous first file and a second file, an empty area in which the second file is recorded after the first file is recorded. The second empty area detecting means for detecting.

  Further, in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the position information acquisition means includes information on the first position of the first file from the extent information of the first file recorded in the file management information of the recording medium, The file size of the first file is acquired, the file size of the first file is added to the head position of the first file, and an address obtained by adding 1 is acquired as the head position of the second file.

  This makes it possible to adjust the recording start position of desired content data in an area that is not disturbed by files recorded on the disc. Therefore, it is possible to ensure continuity between a plurality of files constituting the content data to be recorded on a randomly accessible disk that performs file allocation using a bitmap or the like.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of a broadcast receiving apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus 1 described in this embodiment. This disk recording / reproducing apparatus can handle both an optical disk as a recording medium and a hard disk. However, for example, a semiconductor memory can be used as the recording medium.

  That is, the disc recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is roughly divided into the main block on the recording side on the left side in the figure, the main block on the reproducing side on the right side in the figure, and the control side in the lower part in the figure. The main blocks of exist.

  The disc recording / reproducing apparatus has two types of disc drive units. First, it has a disk drive unit 12 that rotationally drives an optical disk 11 as a first medium, which is an information recording medium that can construct a video file, and executes reading and writing of information. The disk recording / reproducing apparatus includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) unit 13 that drives a hard disk 13a as a second medium.

  A D-PRO (Data-Processor) unit 14 can supply content data to the disk drive unit 12 and the HDD unit 13 and can receive a reproduced signal. The disk drive unit 12 includes a rotation control system, a laser drive system, an optical system, and the like for the optical disk 11. The D-PRO unit 14 handles data in recording or reproduction units, and includes a buffer circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, an error correction unit, and the like.

  In addition, the disc recording / reproducing apparatus includes, as main components, an encoder unit 15 that constitutes a recording side, a decoder unit 16 that constitutes a reproducing side, and a microcomputer block 17 that controls the operation of the apparatus main body.

  The encoder unit 15 includes a video and audio analog-to-digital converter that digitizes an input analog video signal and analog audio signal, a video encoder, and an audio encoder. Furthermore, a sub-picture encoder is also included.

  The output of the encoder unit 15 is converted into a predetermined DVD video format by a formatter 19 including a buffer memory 18 and supplied to the D-PRO unit 14.

  The encoder unit 15 receives an external analog video signal and an external analog audio signal obtained from an A / V (Audio Video) input unit 20, or an analog video signal and an analog audio signal obtained from a TV (Television) tuner unit 21. Is done.

  The encoder unit 15 can also supply the compressed digital video signal and digital audio signal directly to the formatter 19 when the compressed digital video signal and digital audio signal are directly input.

  The encoder unit 15 can also directly supply the digital video signal and audio signal that have been subjected to analog-digital conversion to the V (Video) mixing unit 22 and the audio selector 23.

  In the video encoder included in the encoder unit 15, the digital video signal is converted into a digital video signal compressed at a variable bit rate based on MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 or MPEG1 standard. The digital audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal compressed at a fixed bit rate or a linear PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) digital audio signal based on the MPEG or AC (Audio Compression) -3 standard.

  When a sub video signal is input from the A / V input unit 20 (for example, a signal from a DVD video player with an independent output terminal of a sub video signal) or a DVD video signal having such a data structure is broadcast and Is received by the TV tuner unit 21, the sub-picture signal in the DVD video signal is encoded (run-length encoded) by the sub-picture encoder to become a sub-picture bitmap.

  Here, the disc recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 sends the information (packets of video, audio, sub-picture data, etc.) formatted by the formatter 19 and the created management information via the D-PRO unit 14. It can be supplied to the HDD unit 13 or the disk drive unit 12 and recorded on the hard disk 13 a or the optical disk 11.

  Information recorded on the hard disk 13a or the optical disk 11 can also be recorded on the optical disk 11 or the hard disk 13a via the D-PRO unit 14 and the disk drive unit 12.

  The microcomputer block 17 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 17a, a memory unit 17b, a timer unit 17c, and the like. The memory unit 17b includes a ROM storing a control program executed by the MPU 17a and a RAM for providing the MPU 17a with a work area necessary for executing the program. The timer unit 17c is used for a reservation recording function and the like. The file management unit 17d controls the operation of recording content data on the optical disc 11. The file management unit 17d will be described in detail later.

  Among the execution results of the microcomputer block 17, the contents to be notified to the user are displayed on the display unit 24 built in the disk recording / reproducing apparatus, or the OSD (On Screen Display) is displayed on the externally connected monitor display 25. Is displayed. Further, the microcomputer block 17 has a key input unit 26 for giving an operation signal for operating this apparatus.

  The timing at which the microcomputer block 17 controls the disk drive unit 12, the HDD unit 13, the D-PRO unit 14, the encoder unit 15, the decoder unit 16, and the like is based on time data from an STC (System Time Clock) 27. Can be defined based on. Recording and playback operations are normally executed in synchronization with the time clock from the STC 27, but other processing may be executed at a timing independent of the time clock from the STC 27.

  The decoder unit 16 separates and extracts each pack from a DVD video format signal having a pack structure, a memory used when performing pack separation and other signal processing, and main video data (video pack) separated by the separator. The V decoder that decodes the content), the SP (Sub Picture) decoder that decodes the sub-picture data separated by the separator (the contents of the sub-picture pack), and the audio data (the contents of the audio pack) separated by the separator And an A (Audio) decoder for decoding. In addition, a video processor is provided that appropriately synthesizes the decoded sub-picture with the decoded main picture, and outputs the menu, highlight button, subtitle, and other sub-pictures superimposed on the main picture.

  The output video signal of the decoder unit 16 is input to the V mixing unit 22. The V mixing unit 22 synthesizes text data. The V mixing unit 22 is also connected to a line that directly takes in a signal from the TV tuner unit 21 or the A / V input unit 20.

  A frame memory unit 28 used as a buffer is connected to the V mixing unit 22. When the output of the V mixing unit 22 is an analog output, it is output to the outside via an I / F (Interface) 29, and when it is a digital output, it is externally output via a D / A (Digital / Analog) converter 30. It is output to the monitor display 25.

  The output audio signal of the decoder unit 16 is analog-converted by the D / A converter 31 via the selector 23 and output to the speaker 32 connected externally. The selector 23 is controlled by a select signal from the microcomputer block 17. Thus, the selector 23 can directly select a signal that has passed through the encoder unit 15 when directly monitoring a digital signal from the A / V input unit 20 or the TV tuner unit 21.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the file management unit 17d. The file management unit 17d includes a content data acquisition unit 171, a data size detection unit 172, a first empty area detection unit 173, a size comparison unit 174, a head position information acquisition unit 175, a recording position designation unit 176, a recording processing unit 177, A second empty area detection unit 178 is provided.

  The content data acquisition unit 171 acquires, for example, from the HDD unit 13, content data for which the user has designated recording on the optical disc 11 with the key input unit 26. The data size detection unit 172 detects the data size of the content data for which recording is specified. The first free area detection unit 173 detects a continuous free area that is an unused area in the recording area of the optical disk 11 set in the disk drive unit 12. The size comparison unit 174 compares the data size of the content data designated for recording with the continuous free area in the recording area of the optical disc 11. The start position information acquisition unit 175 acquires information related to the start position of the continuous free area. The recording position designation unit 176 designates the start position in the recording area for recording each of the continuous files constituting the content data. The recording processing unit 177 performs processing for recording the continuous file content on the optical disc 11 of the disc drive unit 12. The second empty area detection unit 178 detects an empty area immediately after the existing file content being recorded.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a file management method for allocating files using a bitmap for a randomly accessible optical disc 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This recording method is performed when content continuity is required between continuous content files. In the bitmap, the area where the content file is recorded for each unit area in the recording area of the optical disc 11 is recorded as 0 (used area), and the unrecorded empty bit area is recorded as 1 (unused area). . This is effective as a file management system for the randomly accessible optical disk 11.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a recording method on the optical disc 11 by the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the optical disc 11 is a medium that can be randomly accessed by the recording processing unit 177 based on the file system, and is a medium that can be randomly accessed on which content data is recorded in the DVD Video Recording Format.

  First, the content data acquisition unit 171 acquires content data to start recording from, for example, the HDD unit 13. Then, the recording processing unit 177 determines whether or not it is the first file (i = 0) in the file group to be continuously recorded (step S101). As shown in FIG. 5, a file group to be continuously recorded as one content data is VTS_01_0. IFO, VTS_01_0. VOB, VTS_01_1. It is assumed that it is composed of VOB. In this case, the first file is VTS_01_0. IFO.

  When the recording processing unit 177 determines that the file to be recorded is the top file (step S101, YES), the top position information acquisition unit 175 is an empty area necessary for continuous recording of a file group of content data to start recording. The information about the head position of the place where the size can be secured is acquired (step S102).

  The head position information acquisition unit 175 acquires information regarding the head position of the empty area by searching for an unused area from the bitmap table shown in FIG. 3 as described below. First, the data size detection unit 172 detects the size of content data to be recorded. The first free area detection unit 173 searches and detects consecutive free areas that are unused areas in the recording area of the optical disk 11 set in the disk drive 12 in order from the first position of the recording area.

  Then, the size comparison unit 174 compares the size of the content data with the size of the continuous free area. When the size of the continuous free area is equal to or larger than the size of the content data, the size comparison unit 174 determines that the content data can be recorded in the continuous free area. When the size of the continuous free area is smaller than the size of the content data, the size comparison unit 174 determines that the content data cannot be recorded in the continuous free area. In this case, the first free area detection unit 173 detects the next continuous free area in the recording area of the optical disc 11 from the recording area.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram when the first free area detection unit 173 detects a continuous free area in which content data can be recorded. The first empty area detection unit 173 detects empty areas in order from the top address of the storage area. First, the first empty area detection unit 173 detects the empty area 1, but is smaller than the size of the content data. Therefore, the size comparison unit 174 determines that the content data cannot be recorded. Next, the first empty area detection unit 173 detects the empty area 2. In this case, since the size of the empty area 2 is equal to or larger than the size of the content data, the size comparison unit 174 determines that the content data can be recorded. When the size comparison unit 174 determines that there is not enough free space (step S104, NO), the content data cannot be recorded on the optical disc 11, and the processing ends. In this case, for example, a message indicating that recording is impossible and the optical disk 11 is to be replaced is displayed on the display unit 24.

  When the size comparison unit 174 determines that there is sufficient free space (step S104, YES), the recording position designating unit 176 determines the content data from the information about the free space start position acquired by the start position information acquisition unit 175. The first file, VTS — 01 — 0. Designated as the head position for recording the IFO. Then, the recording processing unit 177 first records files VTS_01_0. A file i is recorded with an empty area corresponding to the size of the IFO (step S105).

  When the recording processing unit 177 records the file i, the recording processing unit 177 sets i = i + 1 (step S106). Then, the recording processing unit 177 determines whether i ≧ n is satisfied (step S107). Here, n is the number of file groups included in one content data to be recorded. When the recording processing unit 177 determines that i ≧ n is satisfied (step S107, YES), the recording of the content data is ended.

  If the recording processing unit 177 determines that i ≧ n is not satisfied (step S107, NO), the process returns to step S101.

  The first VTS_01_0. Since the recording of the IFO and file (i = 0) is completed, the recording processing unit 177 performs the next VTS_01_0. It is determined that the VOB file (i = 1) is not the first file (step S101, NO).

  When the recording processing unit 177 determines that the file is not the first file (step S101, NO), the head position information acquisition unit 175 acquires the location of the empty area immediately after the file i-1 (step S103). Here, VTS — 01 — 0. IFO, the location of the empty area immediately after the file (i = 0), that is, immediately after the file recorded immediately before the file to be recorded. The recording position designation unit 176 designates the leading position of this empty area as follows.

  Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing file management information of content data recorded on the optical disc 11. The file management information records the file name, the number of extents, the extent position, the file size, and the like of each content data file recorded on the optical disc 11. VTS_01_0. The leading position of the empty area immediately after the IFO file is VTS_01_0. It is obtained from the last extent information of the IFO file. Here, VTS — 01 — 0. The last extent information of the IFO file is recorded as the head position LOC2 and the size SZ2. Therefore, the recording position specifying unit 176 stores the VTS_01_0. The address of the head position of the empty area immediately after the IFO file can be calculated as LOC2 + SZ2 + 1. That is, the head position of the empty area immediately after the recorded file is obtained by adding one to the head position recorded as extent information and adding one more.

  Then, the recording processing unit 177 starts VTS — 01 — 0.0 from the position of LOC2 + SZ2 + 1. A VOB file is recorded (step S105).

  As shown in FIG. 5, VTS — 01 — 0. With respect to the IFO, the recording position designating unit 176 uses the first position of the empty area detected by the first empty area detecting unit 173 as the first file of the content data VTS — 01 — 0. The head position for recording the IFO is used. Then, the recording processing unit 177 first records files VTS_01_0. A free area corresponding to the size of the IFO is secured and recorded. Next, VTS — 01 — 0. For VOB, the recording position designation unit 176 sets VTS_01_0. Specifies the start position of the empty area immediately after the IFO. Then, the recording processing unit 177 starts the file VTS_01_0. An empty area for the size of the VOB is secured and recorded. Finally, VTS_01_1. For VOB, the recording position designation unit 176 sets VTS_01_0. Specifies the start position of the empty area immediately after the VOB. Then, the recording processing unit 177 starts the file VTS_01_1. An empty area for the size of the VOB is secured and recorded. VTS_01_1. When the recording of the VOB ends, the recording processing unit 177 determines that i ≧ n is satisfied (step S107, YES), and thus the recording of the content data is ended.

  In the present embodiment, recording is performed immediately after a file (here, file B) that has already been recorded, as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when another content data (consisting of files of VTS — 02 — 0.IFO, VTS — 02 — 0.VOB, VTS — 02 — 0.VOB) is recorded from the state shown in FIG. 5, the continuity of the content data It may be recorded in the empty area while keeping Therefore, the head position for recording the content data is VTS_01_1. It does not have to be immediately after the VOB file. That is, the position where the content data can be continuously recorded in the empty area 2 can be set as the head position.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing recording of content data on a DVD-R for comparison with recording on content data on the randomly accessible optical disc 11 shown in FIG. 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Further, it is an example showing continuous recording of content data of a file group by a conventional dedicated writing function. In other words, this is the case of a write-once medium such as a DVD-R. The content data is normally recorded sequentially from NWA (Next Writable Address). Therefore, each file constituting one content data is recorded in order, so that the files are continuously recorded.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing recording of content data on a DVD-RW for comparison with recording on content data on the randomly accessible optical disc 11 shown in FIG. 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the case of DVD-RW, normal recording is basically the same as DVD-R, and the recorded area is overwritten again. When the total size of the content data composed of the file group to be additionally recorded is smaller than the size of the recording area that has become unnecessary, the recording area that has become unnecessary is overwritten and the recording area is reused. In this case, the files to be overwritten are recorded in order so that the files are continuously recorded.

  As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 described above, recording of content data in DVD Video Format to DVD-R or DVD-RW is one of the restrictions on the standard. Is required. This limitation is intended to simplify the processing in the playback device, but in order to satisfy this limitation, a dedicated writing function is used in the recording device. Each recording is performed sequentially from the NWA, and by sequentially recording files, it is possible to continuously record between file contents.

  However, unlike the DVD-R or DVD-RW, which is recorded sequentially, the randomly accessible optical disk 11 is recorded in a fragmented state without guaranteeing that only continuous free areas are to be recorded. That is, when there are the empty area 1 and the empty area 2 shown in FIG. 3 and content data having a size larger than the empty area 1 is recorded, the content data is divided into the area 1 and the empty area 2 and recorded. . Therefore, continuity between files constituting the content data cannot be maintained.

  In this embodiment, even when content data is recorded on the randomly accessible optical disc 11, the content data can be recorded in the recording area while maintaining continuity. In the above embodiment, the case of the DVD Video Recording Format has been described. However, the present invention is also effective in the HD DVD Video Recording Format that has the same restrictions on content data according to the standard. When the first vacant area detection unit 173 detects a plurality of vacant areas, it becomes possible to simultaneously record a plurality of types of content data in parallel.

  Furthermore, even when recording in DVD Video Recording Format or DVD Video Format, the common optical disk 11 can be used and managed with a common file system. Further, when the capacity of the optical disc 11 is increased as in the next generation DVD, the DVD Video Recording Format and the DVD Video Format can be mixedly recorded on the single optical disc 11.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the file management part of the recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the file management system in the optical disk which can be accessed randomly according to embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing recording on an optical disc by the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows recording of the content data to the optical disk by the recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the file management information in the optical disk which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows recording of the content data to the optical disk by the recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows recording of the content data with respect to DVD-R. The figure which shows the recording of the content data with respect to DVD-RW.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording / reproducing apparatus, 11 ... Optical disk, 12 ... Disk drive part, 13 ... HDD part, 17 ... Microcomputer, 17a ... MPU, 17b ... Memory part, 17c ... Timer part, 17d ... File management part, 26 ... Key input 171 ... Content data acquisition unit, 172 ... Data size detection unit, 173 ... First empty area detection unit, 174 ... Size comparison unit, 175 ... Start position information acquisition unit, 176 ... Recording position designation unit, 177 ... Recording Processing unit, 178... Second empty area detection unit.

Claims (10)

Size detection means for detecting the size of content data to be recorded on the information recording medium;
First empty area detecting means for detecting the size of continuous empty areas in order from the top address of the information recording area of the information recording medium;
Comparison means for comparing the size of the content data with the size of the continuous free area;
Position information acquisition means for acquiring information on the head position of the continuous empty area when the comparison means determines that the size of the continuous empty area is equal to or larger than the size of the content data;
Recording means for recording the content data from the head position of the continuous free area acquired by the position information acquisition means;
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising:   2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a medium that can be randomly accessed by the recording means.   3. The recording / reproducing according to claim 2, wherein when the comparing means determines that the size of the content data is larger than the size of the continuous free area, the free area detecting means detects another continuous free area. apparatus.   4. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first empty area detecting means detects the continuous empty area based on a bitmap in which an unused area and a used area in the recording area are discriminated.   When the content data is composed of a continuous first file and second file, after the first file is recorded, a second area for detecting a free area in which the second file is recorded is detected. 5. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a vacant area detecting means.   The position information acquisition means acquires information relating to the first position of the first file and the file size of the first file from the extent information of the first file recorded in the file management information of the recording medium. 6. The recording according to claim 5, wherein the file size of the first file is added to the head position of the first file, and an address obtained by adding 1 is obtained as the head position of the second file. Playback device. Detect continuous free areas in order from the top address of the information recording area of the randomly accessible information recording medium,
Compare the size of the content data with the size of the continuous free area,
When it is determined that the size of the continuous free area is equal to or larger than the size of the content data, obtain information on the start position of the continuous free area
Recording the content data from the head position of the continuous free area;
And a recording method.   8. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein when it is determined that the size of the content data is larger than the size of the continuous free area, another continuous free area is detected.   When the content data is composed of a first file and a second file that are continuous, after the first file is recorded, an empty area for recording the second file that follows is detected. The recording method according to claim 8.   The information about the head position of the first file and the file size of the first file are obtained from the extent information of the first file recorded in the file management information of the recording medium, and the file size of the first file is acquired. 10. The recording method according to claim 9, wherein the file size of the first file is added to the head position, and an address obtained by adding 1 is acquired as the head position of the second file.

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