U.S. patent application number 09/851599 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-14 for apparatus and method for recording and reproducing information.
Invention is credited to Imai, Tsutomu, Isobe, Yukio, Kato, Toshihiro, Yoshida, Susumu.
Application Number | 20020018644 09/851599 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18534654 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020018644 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Isobe, Yukio ; et
al. |
February 14, 2002 |
Apparatus and method for recording and reproducing information
Abstract
When recording operation is stopped due to, for example,
unexpected interruption of electric power supply in the course of
the recording operation on a real time basis, a technique of
repairing a moving picture and sound data recorded on a recording
medium until the recording is stopped, to thereby restore
management information data which enables random access and special
reproduction is provided. A video/audio/management information
multiplexing means is so implemented as to generate data required
for generating management information data for allowing random
access to the recording medium and effectuating special
reproduction of the recording medium, for thereby multiplexing the
data required for generating the management information data,
encoded video data outputted from a video encoding means and
encoded audio data outputted from an audio encoding means.
Inventors: |
Isobe, Yukio; (Yokohama,
JP) ; Yoshida, Susumu; (Kawasaki, JP) ; Imai,
Tsutomu; (Yokohama, JP) ; Kato, Toshihiro;
(Yokohama, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Family ID: |
18534654 |
Appl. No.: |
09/851599 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
386/241 ;
386/248; 386/278; 386/328; 386/337; 386/357; 386/E5.052;
G9B/19.005; G9B/27.021; G9B/27.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 2220/216 20130101;
H04N 9/8042 20130101; G11B 2220/61 20130101; H04N 5/783 20130101;
G11B 27/329 20130101; G11B 2220/218 20130101; G11B 2220/2575
20130101; G11B 27/11 20130101; H04N 9/8205 20130101; G11B 19/04
20130101; G11B 2220/2562 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/95 ; 386/98;
386/125 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/92; H04N
005/781 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2000 |
JP |
2000-006062 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information recording/reproducing apparatus characterized in
that said apparatus comprises recording data multiplexing means for
multiplexing at least encoded video data and encoded audio data,
record data storing means for storing data outputted from said
recording data multiplexing means,
management-information-generation-destined data generating means
for generating data required for generating management information
for reproducing data recorded on said recording medium on the basis
of data obtained from said recording data multiplexing means,
management information storing means for storing said management
information, management information generating means for generating
said management information on the basis of output of said
management-information-generation-destined data generating means
for writing or reading said management information in or from said
management information storing means, recording medium drive
processing means for recording or reading on or from the recording
medium at least information outputted from said recording data
storing means or information outputted from said management
information generating means, recording status storing means for
storing status information indicative of status of recording
processing, and consolidative management means for managing said
recording data multiplexing means, said recording data storing
means, said management-information-generation-destined data
generating means, said management information generating means,
said management information storing means, said recording medium
drive processing means and said recording status storing means,
wherein said consolidative management means is arranged to write or
read out said status information onto or from said recording status
storing means.
2. An information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 1, characterized in that said apparatus comprises said
recording medium drive processing means for recording or reading
out information on or from a recording medium, record data
demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the encoded video data and
the encoded audio data from the information read out from said
recording medium, said management-information-generation-destined
data generating means for generating data required for generating
management information for reproducing data recorded on said
recording medium on the basis of the data obtained from said record
data demultiplexing means, said management information storing
means for storing said management information, said management
information generating means for generating said management
information on the basis of output of said
management-information-generat- ion-destined data generating means
for writing or reading said management information in or from said
management information storing means, management information
reading means for reading out said management information from
information read out from said recording medium for outputting said
management information to said management information storing
means, and consolidative management means for managing said record
data demultiplexing means, said management-information-generation--
destined data generating means, said management information
generating means, said management information storing means, said
recording medium drive processing means, said management
information reading means and said recording status storing means,
wherein said recording medium drive processing means is designed to
record the information outputted from said management information
generating means on said recording medium, and wherein said
consolidative management means is designed to write or read out
said status information onto or from said recording status storing
means.
3. An information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 1, characterized in that said recording status storing means
is implemented as storing means which holds the stored information
even when electric power supply is broken.
4. An information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 2, characterized in that the information recorded on said
recording medium is so processed as to be reproducible information
on the basis of said status information read out from said
recording status storing means.
5. An information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 2, characterized in that the information read out from said
recording medium is checked on the basis of said status information
read out from said recording status storing means to thereby delete
data from a record unit containing unreproducible information up to
an end of a file.
6. An information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 2, characterized in that a group of management units composed
of information read out from said recording medium is checked on
the basis of said status information read out from said recording
status storing means to thereby delete the management unit
including the record unit containing unreproducible information,
and that those management units which include a starting one of
said management unit group up to the record unit containing said
unreproducible information are defined as a first management unit
group while the management units including the record unit
containing said unreproducible information up to the end of said
management unit group are defined as a second management unit
group.
7. In an information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 2, an editor apparatus characterized in that the information
outputted from said recording data storing means is recorded in the
form of a data file on said recording medium with the information
outputted from said management information generating means being
stored on said recording medium as first and second plural sets of
management information files, and that said apparatus comprises
file system manage processing means for managing the files so that
the file can be written or read out on or from said recording
medium in a predetermined file format or a new file can be
generated from two files, first management information file read
processing means for reading said first set of management
information file from said file system manage processing means,
first management information storing means for storing said first
set of management information read out from said first management
information file read processing means as first management
information, management information file write processing means for
reading out said first management information from said first
management information storing means to thereby write said first
management information in said file system manage processing means
as said first set of management information file, second management
information file read processing means for reading out said second
set of management information file from said file system manage
processing means, second management information storing means for
storing said second set of management information read out from
said second management information file read processing means as
second management information, combine processing means for
generating new management information from the information stored
in said first management information storing means and the
information stored in said second management information storing
means to thereby write said new management information in said
first management information storing means, wherein said data file
and said plural sets of management information files are combined
in one set.
8. In an information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 7, an editor apparatus characterized in that plural sets of
said data file and said management information file recorded on
said recording medium include two or more sets of said data file
and said management information file and that said two or more sets
of said data file and said management information file are combined
in one set.
9. An information recording/reproducing apparatus set forth in
claim 7, characterized in that a first set of said data file and
said management information file recorded on said recording medium
are checked on the basis of said status information read out from
said recording status storing means to thereby alter an identifier
of said first set to a second identifier in the case where the
unreproducible information is included in said first set, wherein a
new data file and a new management information file to be recorded
on said recording medium is recorded on said recording medium as a
first set of the new data file and the new management information
file.
10. A recording apparatus for recording video/audio data on a
recording medium, comprising video encoding means for encoding an
analog video signal, audio encoding means for encoding an analog
audio signal, video/audio/management information multiplexing means
for generating data required for generating management information
data for making random access to said recording medium and
effectuating special reproduction of said recording medium for
thereby multiplexing the data required for generating said
management information data, encoded video data outputted from said
video encoding means and encoded audio data outputted from said
audio encoding means, a stream buffer for storing multiplexed data
outputted from said video/audio/management information multiplexing
means by a predetermined amount for writing said multiplexed data
onto said recording medium as a bit stream file, a volatile
management information expansion memory for storing said management
information data, management information generating means for
generating management information data from the data required for
generation of said management information data to thereby write
said management information data in said volatile management
information expansion memory while writing said management
information data onto said recording medium as a management
information file, management information expanding means for
reading out said management information file from said recording
medium to thereby expand said management information file on said
volatile management information expansion memory, recording medium
drive means for directly reading/writing data from/onto said
recording medium, a nonvolatile recording status memory which is a
nonvolatile memory for storing process of recording processing, and
consolidative management means for managing consolidatively said
video encoding means, said audio encoding means, said
video/audio/management information multiplexing means, said stream
buffer, said management information generating means, said
management information expanding means, said volatile management
information expansion memory and said recording medium drive means,
to thereby write/read the status of processings thereof in/from
said nonvolatile recording status memory.
11. A recording information repairing apparatus, characterized in
that said apparatus comprises video/audio/management information
demultiplexing means for reading out a bit stream file recorded on
a recording medium to thereby demultiplex encoded video data,
encoded audio data and data required for generating management
information data, a volatile management information expansion
memory for storing said management information data, management
information generating means for generating management information
data from data required for generation of said management
information data to thereby write said management information data
in said volatile management information expansion memory while
writing said management information data onto said recording medium
as a management information file, management information expanding
means for reading out said management information file from said
recording medium to thereby expand said management information file
on said volatile management information expansion memory, recording
medium drive means for directly reading/writing data from/onto said
recording medium, a nonvolatile recording status memory which is a
nonvolatile memory for storing process of recording processing, and
consolidative management means for managing consolidatively said
video/audio/management information demultiplexing means, said
management information generating means, said management
information expanding means, said volatile management information
expansion memory and said recording medium drive means, to thereby
write/read the status of processings thereof in/from data of said
nonvolatile recording status memory.
12. An editor apparatus, characterized in that said apparatus
comprises a recording medium having an area for recording plural
sets of management information files for managing an encoded
picture data file and a picture data file, recording medium drive
processing means for writing/reading out information onto/from said
recording medium, file system manage processing means for
writing/reading out a file onto/from said recording medium in a
predetermined file format and/or combining two files, management
information file read processing means for commanding reading of
said management information file from said file system manage
processing means, a management information expansion memory for
storing therein said management information file read out from said
management information file read processing means as management
information expansion data, management information file write
processing means for reading out said management information
expansion data from said management information expansion memory to
command writing of said management information expansion data in
the file system manage processing means as said management
information file, backup management information file read
processing means for commanding reading of a backup management
information file from said file system manage processing means,
said backup management information file being a file of a same
format as said management information file but differing from said
management information file, a backup management information
expansion memory for storing therein said backup management
information file read out from said backup management information
file read processing means as backup management information
expansion data, and combine processing means for combining
integrally the information of said management information expansion
memory and the information of said backup management information
expansion memory to write the combined information in said
management information expansion memory, wherein plural sets of
said picture data files and said management information files are
combined together into one set.
13. In an editor apparatus set forth in claim 3, a recording
apparatus characterized in that said apparatus comprises moving
picture compression-encode processing means for performing
compression-encoding of analog moving pictures, sound
compression-encode processing means for performing
compression-encoding of analog sound, moving picture/sound
multiplex processing means for multiplexing compression-encoded
moving picture data outputted from said moving picture
compression-encode processing means and compression-encoded sound
data outputted from said sound compression-encode processing means,
management-information-expansi- on data generate processing means
for acquiring information required for management information file
generation from said moving picture/sound compression-multiplex
processing means to write additionally said information in
management information expansion data expanded on said management
information expansion memory as management information expansion
data, a stream buffer for storing once temporarily a multiplexed
stream outputted from said moving picture/sound
compression-multiplex processing means, stream buffer managing
means for commanding writing of said multiplexed data into said
file system managing means from said stream buffer as a multiplexed
stream file, a nonvolatile status management memory which is a
nonvolatile memory for storing process stage statuses of recording
processing, repair processing means for repairing format of said
management information file or said multiplexed stream file to
restore a normal format thereof when said management information
file or said multiplexed stream file is abnormal, and activate
processing means designed upon activation thereof to supervise said
nonvolatile status management memory, issue a command for expanding
said management information file on said management information
expansion memory in dependence on status, command said repair
processing means to repair the management information file and said
multiplexed stream file, command said repair processing means to
alter names of the management information file and said multiplexed
stream file, and combine plural sets of said picture data files and
said management information files into one set.
14. An information recording/reproducing method for recording
picture/sound data on the basis of said management information,
characterized in that control means is provided for controlling
operations in general inclusive of said recording and reproduction
and storing means is provided for storing statuses, wherein said
control means is so arranged as to store sequentially in said
storing means status discriminating information indicative of
operating statuses such as recording, reproduction, edition and the
like, and wherein upon activation, said control means reads out
said status discriminating information from said storing means to
analyze said picture/sound data in accordance with said status
discriminating information for thereby correcting said management
information and said picture/sound data themselves into information
and data each of proper format.
15. An information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim
14, characterized in that when it is decided on the basis of said
status discriminating information read out from said storing means
that information succeeding to a specific location of said
picture/sound data is not reflected yet in said management
information, analysis is performed for said picture/sound data from
the location where said picture/sound data is not reflected in said
management information by acquiring the information from said
management information.
16. An information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim
14, characterized in that when it is decided on the basis of said
status discriminating information read out from said storing means
that an intermediate portion of said picture/sound data is not
reflected yet in said management information, analysis is performed
for said picture/sound data from a leading location thereof.
17. An information recording/reproducing apparatus in which the
information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim 14 is
adopted.
18. An information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim
14, characterized in that when improperness is detected in an
intermediate portion of said picture/sound data in the course of
picture/sound data analyzing operation performed in dependence on
said status discriminating information, a management-dedicated
subunit of said picture/sound data which contains said improperness
is deleted.
19. An information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim
14, characterized in that when improperness is detected in an
intermediate portion of said picture/sound data in the course of
picture/sound data analyzing operation performed in dependence on
said status discriminating information, said management information
is so updated that a management-dedicated subunit of said
picture/sound data containing said improperness can be handled
independently as a management-dedicated unit of a higher rank, and
that said management-dedicated unit handled independently is
handled as an attribute not to be outputted for reproduction.
20. An information recording/reproducing apparatus in which the
information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim 18 is
adopted.
21. An information recording/reproducing apparatus in which the
information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim 19 is
adopted.
22. An information recording/reproducing method characterized in
that said method comprises a recording data multiplexing step of
multiplexing at least encoded video data and encoded audio data, a
record data storing step of storing data outputted from said
recording data multiplexing step, a
management-information-generation-destined data generating step of
generating data required for generating management information for
reproducing data recorded on said recording medium, a management
information generating step of generating said management
information on the basis of output from said
management-information-generation-destined data generating step, a
management information storing step of storing said management
information, a step of reading out said management information
stored in said management information storing step, a recording
medium drive processing step of recording/reading on/from a
recording medium at least the information stored in said recording
data storing step or the information stored in said management
information storing step, a recording status storing step of
storing status information indicative of statuses of recording
processing, and a step of reading out said status information
stored in said recording status storing step.
23. An information recording/reproducing method set forth in claim
22, characterized in that said method comprises said recording
medium drive processing step of recording information on said
recording medium or rea ding the information from said recording
medium, a record data demultiplexing step of demultiplexing the
encoded video data and the encoded audio data from the information
read out from said recording medium, said
management-information-generation-destined data generating step of
generating data required for generating management information for
reproducing data recorded on said recording medium on the basis of
the data obtained from said record data demultiplexing step, said
management information generation step of generating said
management information on the basis of the output from said
management-information-g- eneration-destined data generating step,
said management information storing step of storing said management
information, a step of outputting said management information to
the management information storing step from said management
information generation step or reading out said management
information stored in said management information storing step, a
management information reading step of reading out said management
information from the information read from said recording medium to
thereby output said management information to said management
information storing step, a step of recording the information
outputted from said management information generation step on said
recording medium, a recording status storing step of storing status
information indicative of statuses of recording processing, and a
step of reading out said status information stored in said
recording status storing step.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for recording
information on a recording medium or a technique for reproducing
information from a recording medium.
[0002] As to the techniques concerning the recording medium and the
recording apparatus for recording pictures and voices or sounds on
a real time basis as well as reproducing apparatus and editors,
description can be found, for example, in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 187354/1999
(JP-A-11-187354).
[0003] More specifically, described in the publication mentioned
above are a technique for recording on a recording medium video
and/or audio data on a real time basis and recording management
information data on the recording medium equally on a real time
basis for making it possible to realize random access and special
reproduction. However, when electric power supply to the apparatus
is, for example, unexpectedly broken with the recording operation
being thereby interrupted, the video and/or audio data and
additionally the management information data will incorrectly be
recorded on the recording medium without meeting predetermined
format-related requirements.
[0004] By way of example, suppose that a battery has come off
suddenly or unexpectedly in the course of taking picture or
photographing with a camera in the field out of door and thereafter
power supply is again turned on. In that case, processing for
repairing or remedying the management information data is executed
in order to enable the random access to the video/audio data and
the special reproduction, which involves consumption of lots of
time as well as power consumption of the battery, making thus it
impossible to perform the video/audio recording as the user
desires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique
of repairing or remedying video and audio data having been recorded
on a recording medium until stoppage of recording operation takes
place due to, for example, unexpected breakage of electric power
supply to thereby repair or restore the management information data
which are used for enabling the random access and the special
reproducing or playback operation.
[0006] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus which is so arranged that when electric power
supply is unexpectedly shut down in the course of recording
operation performed on a real time basis and when the power supply
is subsequently restarted, repair processing of the video/audio
data and the management information data for enabling the random
access and the special reproduction is omitted to thereby avoid
wasteful time and power consumption while allowing the real-time
based recording operation to be restarted immediately and thus
ensuring significantly enhanced user-friendliness of the
apparatus.
[0007] An information recording/reproducing apparatus which present
invention concerns comprises a recording data multiplexing means
for multiplexing at least encoded video data and encoded audio
data, a record data storing means for storing data outputted from
the above-mentioned recording data multiplexing means, a
management-information-generation-de- stined data generating means
for generating data required for generating management information
for reproducing data recorded on the above-mentioned recording
medium on the basis of data obtained from the above-mentioned
recording data multiplexing means, a management information storing
means for storing the above-mentioned management information, a
management information generating means for generating the
above-mentioned management information on the basis of the output
of the above-mentioned management-information-generation-destined
data generating means for writing or reading the above-mentioned
management information in or from the management information
storing means, a recording medium drive processing means for
recording or reading on or from the recording medium at least
information outputted from the above-mentioned recording data
storing means or information outputted from the above-mentioned
management information generating means, a recording status storing
means for storing status information indicative of status of the
recording processing, and a consolidative management means for
managing the above-mentioned recording data multiplexing means, the
recording data storing means, the above-mentioned
management-information-generation-destined data generating means,
the above-mentioned management information generating means, the
above-mentioned management information storing means, the
above-mentioned recording medium drive processing means and the
above-mentioned recording status storing means, wherein the
above-mentioned consolidative management means is arranged to write
or read out the above-mentioned status information onto or from the
above-mentioned recording status storing means.
[0008] Alternatively, an information recording/reproducing
apparatus which the present invention concerns is an information
recording/reproducing apparatus arranged for recording video and
audio data on a recording medium which comprises a video encoding
means for encoding an analog video signal, an audio encoding means
for encoding an analog audio signal, a video/audio/management
information multiplexing means (which may include the
aforementioned recording data multiplexing means and the
aforementioned management-information-generation-destined data
generating means) for generating data required for generating
management information data for making random access to the
recording medium and effectuating special reproduction of the
recording medium for thereby multiplexing the data required for
generating the management information data, the encoded video data
outputted from the video encoding means and encoded audio data
outputted from the audio encoding means, a stream buffer (which may
be constituted by the aforementioned recording data storing means)
for storing multiplexed data outputted from the
video/audio/management information multiplexing means by a
predetermined amount for writing the above-mentioned multiplexed
data onto the recording medium as a bit stream file, a volatile
management information expansion memory (which may be constituted
by the aforementioned management information storing means) for
storing the above-mentioned management information data, a
management information generating means for generating management
information data from the data required for generation of the
management information data to thereby write the management
information data in the volatile management information expansion
memory while writing the management information data onto the
recording medium in the form of a management information file, a
management information expanding means for reading out the
management information file from the recording medium to thereby
expand the management information file on the volatile management
information expansion memory, a recording medium drive means (which
may be constituted by the recording medium drive processing means)
for directly reading or writing data from or onto the recording
medium, a nonvolatile recording status memory (which may be
constituted by the recording status storing means) which is a
nonvolatile memory for storing process of recording processing, and
a consolidative management means for managing consolidatively the
above-mentioned video encoding means, the above-mentioned audio
encoding means, the above-mentioned video/audio/management
information multiplexing means, the above-mentioned stream buffer,
the above-mentioned management information generating means, the
above-mentioned management information expanding means, the
above-mentioned volatile management information expansion memory
and the above-mentioned recording medium drive means, to thereby
write or read the status of processings thereof in or from the
nonvolatile recording status memory. With the structure described
above, it is contemplated that when the electric power supply is
unexpectedly broken in the course of real-time-based recording, the
status of recording in which the electric power supply was broken
in the course of recording on the real time basis is stored in the
nonvolatile memory.
[0009] Parenthetically, it should be added that the aforementioned
video/audio/management information multiplexing means may be so
designed that the data required for generating the management
information data are not necessarily be multiplexed with the
encoded video data and the encoded audio data. However, the
aforementioned video/audio/management information multiplexing
means should be so designed as to generate at least the data
required for generation of the management information data which is
to be outputted or supplied to the management information
generating means.
[0010] Further, the data which are used upon generation of the data
required for generating the management information data are not
restricted to the encoded video data and the encoded audio data but
may be such data which can be used for generating the management
information data required for enabling the random access to the
recorded bit stream file and the reproduce processing such as the
special reproduction.
[0011] Further, an information recording/reproducing apparatus
which the present invention concerns is so arranged that in the
aforementioned information recording/reproducing apparatuses, it
comprises a recording medium drive processing means for recording
or reading out information on or from a recording medium, a record
data demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the encoded video data
and the encoded audio data from the information read out from the
recording medium, a management-information-- generation-destined
data generating means for generating data required for generating
management information for reproducing data recorded on the
aforementioned recording medium on the basis of the data obtained
from the above-mentioned record data demultiplexing means, the
aforementioned management information storing means for storing the
aforementioned management information, the aforementioned
management information generating means for generating the
management information on the basis of output of the
above-mentioned management-information-generation-destin- ed data
generating means for writing or reading out the management
information in or from the above-mentioned management information
storing means, a management information reading means for reading
out the management information from information read out from the
aforementioned recording medium for outputting the management
information to the above-mentioned management information storing
means, and a consolidative management means for managing the
above-mentioned record data demultiplexing means, the
above-mentioned management-information-generati- on-destined data
generating means, the above-mentioned management information
generating means, the above-mentioned management information
storing means, the above-mentioned recording medium drive
processing means, the above-mentioned management information
reading means and the above-mentioned recording status storing
means, wherein the aforementioned recording medium drive processing
means is designed to record the information outputted from the
above-mentioned management information generating means on the
above-mentioned recording medium, and wherein the above-mentioned
consolidative management means is designed to write or read out the
aforementioned status information onto or from the above-mentioned
recording status storing means.
[0012] Alternatively, an information recording/reproducing
apparatus which the present invention concerns comprises a
video/audio/management information demultiplexing means (which may
include the aforementioned recording data demultiplexing means and
the aforementioned management-information-generation-destined data
generating means) for reading out the aforementioned bit stream
file recorded on a recording medium to thereby demultiplex encoded
video data, encoded audio data and data required for generating
management information data, a volatile management information
expansion memory for storing the management information data, a
management information generating means for generating management
information data from data required for generation of the
management information data to thereby write the management
information data in the volatile management information expansion
memory while writing the management information data onto the
recording medium in the form of a management information file, a
management information expanding means (which may be constituted by
the aforementioned management information reading means) for
reading out the management information file from the recording
medium to thereby expand the management information file on the
volatile management information expansion memory, a recording
medium drive means for directly reading or writing data from or
onto the recording medium, a nonvolatile recording status memory
which is a nonvolatile memory for storing process of recording
processing, and a consolidative management means for managing
consolidatively the above-mentioned video/audio/management
information demultiplexing means, the above-mentioned management
information generating means, the above-mentioned management
information expanding means, the above-mentioned volatile
management information expansion memory and the above-mentioned
recording medium drive means, to thereby write or read the status
of processings thereof in or from data of the nonvolatile recording
status memory. With this arrangement, it is contemplated that when
the power supply is unexpectedly broken in the course of recording
on a real time basis and when the power supply is subsequently
restarted, the status of the real time recording in which the power
supply was broken is acquired from the nonvolatile memory for
remedying correspondingly the data written on the recording
medium.
[0013] At this juncture, it should be added that although it has
been described that the above-mentioned video/audio/management
information demultiplexing means is designed to read out the
aforementioned bit stream file recorded on the recording medium for
demultiplexing or separating the data required for generating the
management information data, it is not always necessary to perform
the processing for demultiplexing or separating the data required
for generating the management information. However, it is preferred
that the video/audio/management information demultiplexing means be
so designed as to generate at least the data required for
generating the management information data which is to be supplied
to the management information generation processing.
[0014] Furthermore, the data used by the above-mentioned
video/audio/management information demultiplexing means for
generating the data required for the generation of the management
information data are not restricted to the encoded video data and
the encoded audio data but may be the data capable of being used
for generating the management information data which are required
for making random access to the bit stream file recorded in the
aforementioned recording medium and for the reproduce processing
such as the special reproduction and the like. Incidentally, in the
information recording/reproducing apparatus described above, the
aforementioned recording status storing means may be constituted by
a storing means which is capable of holding the stored information
notwithstanding of breakage of the electric power supply.
[0015] Besides, in the information recording/reproducing apparatus
described above, it is preferred that the information recorded on
the recording medium be so processed that it can be reproduced on
the basis of the status information read out from the recording
status storing means mentioned previously.
[0016] Further, in the information recording/reproducing apparatus
described above, it is preferred that the information read out from
the recording medium be checked on the basis of the aforementioned
status information read out from the aforementioned recording
status storing means to thereby delete data extending from a record
unit or segment containing the unreproducible information up to an
end of a file.
[0017] Moreover, in the information recording/reproducing apparatus
described above, it is preferred that a group of management units
or segments composed of information read out from the
aforementioned recording medium be checked on the basis of the
aforementioned status information read out from the aforementioned
recording status storing means to thereby delete the management
unit or segment including the record unit or segment containing the
unreproducible information, and that those management units or
segments which include a starting one of the management unit or
segment group up to the record unit or segment containing the
aforementioned unreproducible information be defined as a first
management unit or segment group while the management units or
segments including the record unit or segment containing the
aforementioned unreproducible information up to the end of the
above-mentioned management unit or segment group be defined as a
second management unit group.
[0018] Parenthetically, when the present invention is applied to
the case where the stream conforming to the DVD Video Recording
Standards (hereinafter simply referred to as the VR standards), the
aforementioned record unit or segment may be equivalent to the pack
specified in the VR standards, while the management unit or segment
may correspond to VOBU (VOB Unit) with the management unit
(segment) group corresponding to VOB (Video Object).
[0019] Further, an apparatus which the present invention concerns
is arranged such that in the information recording/reproducing
apparatus described above, the information outputted from the
aforementioned recording data storing means is recorded in the form
of a data file on the aforementioned recording medium with the
information outputted from the aforementioned management
information generating means being recorded as first and second
plural sets of management information files, and that the apparatus
comprises a file system manage processing means for managing the
files so that the file can be written or read on or from the
aforementioned recording medium in a predetermined file format or a
new file can be generated from two files, a first management
information file read processing means for reading out the first
set of management information file from the above-mentioned file
system manage processing means, a first management information
storing means for storing the above-mentioned first set of
management information read out from the above-mentioned first
management information file read processing means as first
management information, a management information file write
processing means for reading out the above-mentioned first
management information from the above-mentioned first management
information storing means to thereby write the above-mentioned
first management information in the file system manage processing
means as the above-mentioned first set of management information
file, a second management information file read processing means
for reading out the above-mentioned second set of management
information file from the above-mentioned file system manage
processing means, a second management information storing means for
storing the above-mentioned second set of management information
read out from the above-mentioned second management information
file read processing means as second management information, a
combine processing means for generating new management information
from the information stored in the above-mentioned first management
information storing means and the information stored in the
above-mentioned second management information storing means to
thereby write the new management information in the above-mentioned
first management information storing means, wherein the
above-mentioned data file and the above-mentioned plural sets of
management information files are combined in one set.
[0020] Furthermore, an information recording/reproducing apparatus
which the present invention concerns may be so arranged that in the
information recording/reproducing apparatus described above, a
first set of the data file and the aforementioned management
information file recorded on the aforementioned recording medium
are checked on the basis of the aforementioned status information
read out from the aforementioned recording status storing means to
thereby alter an identifier of the above-mentioned first set to a
second identifier in the case where the unreproducible information
is included in the first set, wherein a new data file and a new
management information file to be recorded on the above-mentioned
recording medium is recorded on the above-mentioned recording
medium as a first set of the new data file and the new management
information file.
[0021] In this conjunction, let's consider, for example, a case
where the present invention is applied to handling of the stream
which conforms to the VR standards. When a file resident in a
DVD_RTAV directory is in the state insusceptible of being normally
reproduced due to interruption of recording because of the
occurrence of unexpected breakage of the power supply in the course
of the recording, there may arise such situation that the recording
can not be started unless the file is repaired or remedied to the
state susceptible of normal reproduction.
[0022] Thus, by applying the teachings of the present invention
described above, the name of the DVD_RTAV directory containing the
file of the state insusceptible of normal reproduction (identifier
of the first set) is altered to e.g. a DVD_RTAV_BAK directory
(identifier of the second set). As a result of this, when the
recording is restarted, information to be renewedly recorded can
newly be recorded internally of the new DVD_RTAV directory as the
file based on the VR standards. This means that the recording can
be started without repairing the file of the state insusceptible of
normal reproduction.
[0023] Incidentally, the present invention can equally be applied
to the case where two or more sets of the aforementioned data files
and the aforementioned management information files recorded on the
aforementioned recording medium are to be recorded on the
aforementioned recording medium in a set.
[0024] Alternatively, an apparatus which the present invention
concerns comprises a recording medium having an area for recording
plural sets of management information files for managing an encoded
picture data file and a picture data file, a recording medium drive
processing means for writing or reading out information onto or
from the recording medium, a file system manage processing means
for writing or reading out a file onto or from the recording medium
in a predetermined file format and/or combining two files, a
management information file read processing means for commanding
reading of the management information file from the file system
manage processing means, a management information expansion memory
for storing therein the management information file read out from
the management information file read processing means as management
information expansion data, a management information file write
processing means for reading out the management information
expansion data from the management information expansion memory to
command writing of the management information expansion data in the
file system manage processing means as the management information
file, a backup management information file read processing means
for commanding reading of a backup management information file from
the file system manage processing means, the backup management
information file being a file of a same format as the management
information file but differing therefrom, a backup management
information expansion memory for storing therein the backup
management information file read out from the backup management
information file read processing means as backup management
information expansion data, and a combine processing means for
combining integrally the information of the management information
expansion memory and the information of the backup management
information expansion memory to write the combined information in
the management information expansion memory, wherein plural sets of
the picture data files and the management information files are
combined together into one set.
[0025] Further, an apparatus which the present invention concerns
is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a moving picture
compression-encode processing means for performing
compression-encoding of analog moving pictures, a sound
compression-encode processing means for performing
compression-encoding of analog sound, a moving picture/sound
multiplex processing means for multiplexing compression-encoded
moving picture data outputted from the moving picture
compression-encode processing means and compression-encoded sound
data outputted from the sound compression-encode processing means,
a management-information-expansion data generate processing means
for acquiring information required for management information file
generation from the moving picture/sound compression-multiplex
processing means to write additionally the information in
management information expansion data expanded on the management
information expansion memory as management information expansion
data, a stream buffer for storing once temporarily a multiplexed
stream outputted from the moving picture/sound
compression-multiplex processing means, a stream buffer managing
means for commanding writing of the multiplexed data into the file
system managing means from the stream buffer as a multiplexed
stream file, a nonvolatile status management memory which is a
nonvolatile memory for storing process stage statuses of recording
processing, and a repair processing means for repairing format of
the management information file or the multiplexed stream file to
restore a normal format thereof when the management information
file or the multiplexed stream file is abnormal, wherein upon
activation, the nonvolatile status management memory is monitored
or supervised, a command is issued for expanding the management
information file on the management information expansion memory in
dependence on the statuses, command is issued to the repair
processing means for repairing the management information file and
the multiplexed stream file and altering names of the management
information file and the multiplexed stream file, whereon plural
sets of the picture data files and the management information files
are combined into one set so that when unexpected breakage of power
supply takes place in the course of real-time picture recording
operation with a recording apparatus such as a camera in the
outdoor field with the recording operation being thus stopped once
and when the power supply is started again, it is possible to
determine selectively whether the processing for repairing the
video data and the audio data recorded on the recording medium as
well as the management information data therefor in respect to
predetermined format(s) is to be executed or not.
[0026] Additionally, for achieving the objects described
previously, the present invention teaches that a status storing
memory arranged for storing finely classified status discriminating
flags is provided, wherein upon repairing operation, the stream
data are sequentially analyzed, stating from a concerned data
location determined in dependence on the status discriminating
flags, for thereby repairing the management information file and
the audio/video bit stream file (hereinafter also referred to as
the AV data files) themselves. Further, when a defective portion is
found at an intermediate position, the AV data files are repaired
by cutting away an appropriate encode unit which contains the
relevant portion. Alternatively, even when the defective portion is
found at an intermediate location of the stream data, arrangement
may be made such that the relevant portion is not cut away but the
management information is modified to the form suffering no
inappropriateness, to thereby repair the management information
file and the AV data file so that they provide no obstacles to the
succeeding recording/reproduction.
[0027] Furthermore, the present invention provides an information
recording/reproducing method which comprises a recording data
multiplexing step of multiplexing at least encoded video data and
encoded audio data, a record data storing step of storing data
outputted from the above-mentioned recording data multiplexing
step, a management-information-generation-destined data generating
step of generating data required for generating management
information for reproducing data recorded on the recording medium,
a management information generating step of generating the
above-mentioned management information on the basis of output from
the above-mentioned management-information-generation-destined data
generating step, a management information storing step of storing
the management information, a step of reading out the management
information stored in the above-mentioned management information
storing step, a recording medium drive processing step of recording
or reading on or from a recording medium at least the information
stored in the recording data storing step or the information stored
in the management information storing step, a recording status
storing step of storing status information indicative of statuses
of recording processing, and a step of reading out the status
information stored in the recording status storing step.
[0028] Moreover, an information recording/reproducing method which
the present invention concerns resides in that in the information
recording/reproducing method described above, the former comprises
the aforementioned recording medium drive processing step of
recording information on the aforementioned recording medium or
reading the information from the above-mentioned recording medium,
a record data demultiplexing step of demultiplexing or separating
the encoded video data and the encoded audio data from the
information read out from the recording medium, the aforementioned
management-information-generation-de- stined data generating step
of generating data required for generation of management
information for reproducing data recorded on the recording medium
on the basis of the data obtained from the above-mentioned record
data demultiplexing step, the aforementioned management information
generation step of generating the management information on the
basis of the output from the above-mentioned
management-information-generation-des- tined data generating step,
the aforementioned management information storing step of storing
the above-mentioned management information, a step of outputting
the above-mentioned management information to the above-mentioned
management information storing step from the above-mentioned
management information generation step or reading out the
above-mentioned management information stored in the
above-mentioned management information storing step, a management
information reading step of reading out the above-mentioned
management information from the information read from the
aforementioned recording medium to thereby output the management
information to the above-mentioned management information storing
step, a step of recording the information outputted from the
above-mentioned management information generation step on the
above-mentioned recording medium, a recording status storing step
of storing status information indicative of statuses of recording
processing, and a step of reading out the status information stored
in the above-mentioned recording status storing step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a management information
recording system.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram showing an arrangement of
files recorded on a recording medium.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing a data structure in a
management information file recorded on the recording medium.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a structural diagram showing a data structure of
record unit information in the management information file.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a structural diagram showing a data structure of
record-unit general information in the management information
file.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a structural diagram showing a data structure of
unit time information in the management information file.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a structural diagram showing a data structure of
GOP information in the management information file.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a structural diagram showing a data structure of a
record unit in a bit stream file.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a structural diagram showing a data structure of
management information pack in a bit stream file.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a structural diagram showing a data array in a
nonvolatile recording status memory.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a management information
repairing system.
[0040] FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating processings executed by
the management information repairing system.
[0041] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an editor.
[0042] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a structure of files recorded
on a recording medium.
[0043] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a structure of files recorded
on the recording medium.
[0044] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a recording
apparatus.
[0045] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a data structure in a
nonvolatile status management memory.
[0046] FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating an activate processing
in the recording apparatus.
[0047] FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an information
recording/reproducing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of
the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 20 is a diagram for illustrating a directory structure
on a disk.
[0049] FIG. 21 is a view showing typical status flags stored in a
status storing memory.
[0050] FIG. 22 is a view for illustrating schematically and
generally a flow of repair processings executed in accordance with
the status flags.
[0051] FIG. 23 is a view for illustrating a data status on a disk
upon occurrence of power supply breakage in the course of a moving
picture file recording.
[0052] FIG. 24 is a view for illustrating a data status on a disk
upon occurrence of power supply breakage in the course of editing
real data.
[0053] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a data structure of a moving
picture file for management.
[0054] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a pack structure of stream
data.
[0055] FIG. 27 is a view for illustrating an information
recording/reproducing method according to a sixth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0056] FIG. 28 is a view for illustrating an information
recording/reproducing method according to a seventh embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0057] In the following, a first embodiment of the present
invention will be described in detail by reference to the drawings.
Incidentally, in the description which follows, the information
recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention
will be elucidated not only as the information
recording/reproducing apparatus literally but also as a recording
apparatus or a recorded information repairing apparatus.
[0058] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a recording apparatus according
to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] The recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of
the invention shown in FIG. 1 is comprised of an input terminal 10
for analog video data, an input terminal 20 for analog audio data,
a video encode processing module 30, an audio encode processing
module 40, a video/audio/management information multiplex
processing module 50, a stream buffer 60, a management information
generate processing module 70, a recording medium drive processing
module 80, a volatile management information expansion memory 90, a
management information expand processing module 100, a
consolidative management processing module 110, a nonvolatile
recording status memory 120 and a recording medium 130.
[0060] As a compression processing scheme for video and audio data,
there can be mentioned, for example, the MPEG (Motion Picture
Experts Group) scheme. Although the MPEG scheme is adapted to cope
with the random access and the special reproduction, it is not in
the position to realize easily these operations. Such being the
circumstances, in the case where the video and audio data are
compressed and recorded on a recording medium, it is necessary for
realizing the random access and the special reproduction to
generate not only the information of compressed bit streams but
also management information data for the random access and the
special reproduction for recording on the recording medium. FIG. 2
shows, by way of example, a file structure recorded on a recording
medium in the case where video and audio data are compressed and to
be recorded on a recording medium in accordance with the MPEG
scheme.
[0061] It is supposed, for example, that video and audio data are
recorded with the aid of a video camera. In that case, when a
recording start button of the recording apparatus is pushed by a
user, recording on a recording medium is started, while when a
recording end button of the recording apparatus is pressed by the
user, the recording on the recording medium is terminated. In this
conjunction, the period intervening between the start of recording
and the end thereof will be termed the record unit. By conducting
repetitively the recording start operation and the recording end
operation, the bit streams conforming to the MPEG standards
(hereinafter simply referred to as the bit stream) are additively
and sequentially written or recorded on the recording medium. In
that case, the video and audio multiplexing scheme conforms to the
program stream scheme of the MPEG system, and the recording on the
recording medium is performed in accordance with this scheme.
[0062] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the files implemented or
substantiated on the recording medium include a management
information file 200, a bit stream file 210 and a management
information backup file 220. The management information file 200
records therein the management information concerning the bit
streams on a per record unit basis. In the bit stream file 210, bit
stream data are recorded on a per record unit basis continuously in
one file. The management information backup file 220 records
therein utterly same information as those of the management
information file 200 and is put into service when the management
information file 200 can not be read.
[0063] In the following description, the terms used in the MPEG
standards such as GOP, PTS, pack, pack header, system header,
packet header, I-picture, P-picture, B-picture, frame field,
elementary stream, etc. will be used without any special definition
or elucidation.
[0064] Description will be made of a management information file.
The management information file 200 is generated in the form in
which the random access and the special reproduction are taken into
account. An exemplary data structure of the management information
file is shown in FIG. 3. In the management information file 200,
information concerning the bit stream is recorded on a per record
unit basis. As is shown in FIG. 3, the management information file
200 is composed of record unit information #1, record unit
information #2, . . . , record unit information #i, . . . and
record unit information #M.
[0065] In the case of the data structure shown in FIG. 3, the
information containing the record unit information #1, the record
unit information #2, the record unit information #i, . . . and the
record unit information #M is designated as whole record
information 300.
[0066] In the whole record information 300, the record unit
information #i is classified in further detail, an exemplary
structure of which is shown in FIG. 4. As can be seen in FIG. 4,
the record unit information #I is composed of record-unit general
information 400, unit time information #1, unit time information
#2, . . . , unit time information #i, . . . and unit time
information #N, and GOP information #1, GOP information #2, . . . ,
GOP information #i, . . . and GOP information #O.
[0067] At this juncture, the information containing the time
information #1, the time information #2, the time information #i, .
. . and the time information #N is designated as the time
information 410. Similarly, in FIG. 4, the information containing
the GOP information #1, the GOP information #2, . . . , the GOP
information #i, . . . and the GOP information #O is designated as
the GOP information 420.
[0068] The record-unit general information 400 can be classified in
further detail, an exemplary structure of which is shown in FIG.
5.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 5, the record-unit general information 400
is composed of a recording start time 500, a PTS 510 of a leading
picture, a PTS 520 of a trailing end picture, a leading data
address 530, a record unit data size 540, a per unit time
information total number (i.e., total number of per unit time
information) 550 and a GOP total number (total number of GOPs) 560.
The recording start time 500 represents a time point at which
recording of a given record unit was started. The PTS 510 of the
leading picture represents the PTS of the leading frame in display
of a record unit. The PTS 520 of the trailing end picture is
represented by a value resulting from addition of a one-frame
display period to the PTS of the final frame in the display of the
record unit. The leading data address 530 represents the address
allocated to the bit stream file 210 for the leading data of the
bit stream of the record unit #i. One address corresponds to one
pack constituted by 2048 bytes. To say in another way, one address
corresponds to a data length of 2048 bytes. The record unit data
size 540 represents a data size of the record unit #i. Similarly to
the address, one data size corresponds to one pack composed of 2048
bytes. The per unit time information total number (i.e., the total
number of the per unit time information) 550 represents the number
of unit time information contained in the record unit #i. The GOP
total number 560 represents the number of the GOPs contained in the
record unit #i.
[0070] The unit time information #i can be classified in further
detail, an exemplary structure of which is shown in FIG. 6. As can
be seen in FIG. 6, the unit time information #i is composed of a
GOP number 600 and leading address data 610. Parenthetically, the
unit time is of a fixed time length and used in making random
access to an intermediate portion of a given record unit for the
purpose of decreasing the operation overhead involved in the
arithmetic determination of the address allocated to the relevant
bit stream file. By way of example, the value of 10 seconds will be
appropriate for the unit time. The GOP number 600 indicates the
number of GOPs as counted from the start of the record unit #i of
the leading GOP of the record unit information #i. The leading
address data 610 represents a relative address from the leading
data of the record unit #i on the bit stream file.
[0071] The GOP information #i can be classified in further detail,
an exemplary structure of which is shown in FIG. 7. As can be seen
in FIG. 7, the GOP information #i is composed of an I-picture size
710, a GOP reproducing time 720 and a GOP size 730. The I-picture
size 710 represents a size extending from the leading end of the
GOP to a pack which contains the final data of the I picture, as is
shown in FIG. 8. Similarly to the address, one data size
corresponds to one pack constituted by 2048 bytes. The GOP
reproducing time 720 is represented by a value which indicates the
reproducing time of the GOP in terms of a field unit. The GOP size
730 represents the data size of the GOP, as can be seen in FIG. 8.
Similarly to the address, one data size corresponds to one pack
which is composed of 2048 bytes.
[0072] The bit stream file 210 will now be described. In the bit
stream file 210, the bit stream data are continuously recorded in
one file on a per record unit basis. An exemplary structure of a
given record unit in the bit stream file 210 is illustrated in FIG.
8. As can be seen in FIG. 8, a given one of the record units is
composed of several GOPs. In the GOP, a management information pack
800 is disposed in the leading one pack and the information
required for generating the management information file 200 is
recorded therein. In the immediately succeeding pack, the I-picture
or audio data is recorded. In further succeeding packs, there are
recorded the P-pictures, the B-pictures and/or the audio data.
[0073] An exemplary structure of the management information pack
800 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The management information pack 800
is composed of a pack header 900, a system header 910, a packet
header 920, a management information identifier 930, a GOP
recording start time 940, a GOP number 950, a GOP leading picture
PTS 960, a GOP trailing end picture PTS 970, a GOP size 980 and an
I-picture size 990. The pack header 900, the system header 910 and
the packet header 920 are based on the MPEG program stream, wherein
in the packet header 920, neither video pack nor the audio pack is
recorded but recorded is the information that indicates a private
pack which permits user definition.
[0074] The record unit management information identifier 930 is a
unique identifier indicating discriminatively or definitely the
record which has been generated by the recording apparatus
according to the present invention. This identifier may be, for
example, 32 bits in length. In practical applications, "18273645H"
or the like will be appropriate for this identifier.
[0075] The GOP recording start time 940 represents a time point at
which recording of the GOP is started. The GOP number 950 is a
value that indicates the position at which the GOP preceding by one
to the GOP recording the management information pack 800 occupies
in the sequential order of the GOPs, as counted from the start of
the record unit. The GOP leading picture PTS 960 indicates the PTS
of the leading display frame of the GOP preceding by one to the GOP
recording the management information pack 800. The GOP trailing end
picture PTS 970 indicates a PTS which is determined by addition of
one-frame period to the PTS of the trailing display frame of the
GOP preceding by one to the GOP recording the management
information pack 800. The GOP size 980 indicates the data size of
the GOP which precedes by one to the GOP recording the management
information pack 800. The I-picture size 990 indicates the
I-picture size of the GOP which precedes by one to the GOP which
records therein the management information pack. In this manner,
there is recorded the information concerning the GOP which precedes
by one to the GOP recording therein the management information pack
800. Recorded in the GOP recording start time 940 and the GOP
number 950 of the leading management information pack 800 of the
leading GOP of a given record unit record are valid data, wherein
the value of the GOP number is "0". The values of the GOP leading
picture PTS 960, the GOP trailing end picture PTS 970, the GOP size
980 and the I-picture size 990 are not particularly specified and
handled as invalid data.
[0076] The recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus
designed for recording on a recording medium the management
information file 200, the stream data file 210 and the management
information backup file 220 described above.
[0077] In the following, the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1
will be described in detail.
[0078] Analog video data is inputted through the input terminal 10
for the analog video data to be subsequently transferred to the
video encode processing module 30 which is designed to encode the
analog video data in conformance with a predetermined encoding
scheme. In the case of the instant embodiment of the invention, it
is presumed, by way of example, that the MPEG scheme or system is
adopted. The video data undergone compression encoding in
conformance with the MPEG standards is transferred to the
video/audio/management information multiplex processing module 50
as a video elementary stream. On the other hand, analog audio data
is inputted through the analog audio data input terminal 20 to be
subsequently transferred to the audio encode processing module
40.
[0079] The audio encode processing module 40 is designed to encode
the analog audio data in accordance with a predetermined encoding
scheme. In this conjunction, it is presumed, by way of example,
that in the case of the instant embodiment of the invention, the
MPEG scheme or standards is adopted, similarly to the case of the
video data. Thus, the audio data undergone compression encoding in
conformance with the MPEG standards is transferred to the
video/audio/management information multiplex processing module 50
as an audio elementary stream. The video elementary stream and the
audio elementary stream inputted to the video/audio/management
information multiplex processing module 50 are used for generating
a video packetized elementary stream (video PES) and an audio
packetized elementary stream (audio PES) each packetized with 2048
bytes for the purpose of generating an MPEG program stream.
[0080] Further, the management information pack 800 of the data
structure shown in FIG. 9 is also generated. The video PES, the
audio PES and the management information pack 800 are disposed in
the stream buffer 60 in accordance with the pack array shown in
FIG. 8. Furthermore, in the data structure shown in FIG. 9, the GOP
recording start time 940, the GOP number 950, the GOP leading
picture PTS 960, the GOP trailing end picture PTS 970, the GOP size
980 and the I-picture size 990 are transferred to the management
information generate processing module 70 every time the GOP is
generated.
[0081] The bit streams stored accumulatively in the stream buffer
60 are written onto the recording medium 130 through the medium of
the recording medium drive processing module 80 every time the
stored bit stream has reached a predetermined amount. This bit
stream is written on the recording medium 130 in the form of the
bit stream file 210 shown in FIG. 2.
[0082] The management information expand processing module 100 is
designed to read out the management information file 200 written on
the recording medium 130, as shown in FIG. 2, through the medium of
the recording medium drive processing module 80, whereby the
management information file is developed or expanded on the
volatile management information expansion memory 90. The volatile
management information expansion memory 90 is a memory whose
contents as stored are initialized upon interruption of electric
power supply to the memory. Parenthetically, the management
information data may equally be processed straightforwardly from
the recording medium 130. However, higher access speed can be
ensured by resorting to the processing with the aid of the volatile
management information expansion memory 90.
[0083] When the recording apparatus according to the instant
embodiment of the invention is powered on, then the management
information file 200 on the recording medium 130 is firstly
expanded on the volatile management information expansion memory
90. The management information generate processing module 70 is
designed to update from the start of recording up to the end
thereof the management information shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
on the basis of the data transferred from the
video/audio/management information multiplex processing module 50
and the data expanded on the volatile management information
expansion memory 90, to thereby rewrite the information on the
volatile management information expansion memory 90. At the end of
the recording, the data of the volatile management information
expansion memory 90 are overwritten on the recording medium 130 in
the form of the management information file 200 through the medium
of the recording medium drive processing module 80. Moreover, a
copy of the management information file is overwritten on the
management information backup file 220.
[0084] The consolidative management processing module 110 is
designed to manage consolidatively or integrally the states or
statuses of the video encode processing module 30, the audio encode
processing module 40, the video/audio/management information
multiplex processing module 50, the stream buffer 60, the
management information generate processing module 70, the recording
medium drive processing module 80, the volatile management
information expansion memory 90 and the management information
expand processing module 100, respectively. The processing stages
in the system according to the instant embodiment of the present
invention are classified to such statuses as illustrated in FIG.
10, wherein codes are allocated to those statuses, respectively.
More specifically, the status prevailing from a time point at which
the management file of the recording medium 130 is expanded on the
volatile management information expansion memory 90 up to a time
point at which the recording is started is defined as a management
information expansion status 1000 to which a code "1" is assigned.
In succession, the status where the recording has not yet been
started and the status prevailing from the time point of the start
of the recording up to a time point at which the data of the
volatile management information expansion memory 90 has completely
been updated after the end of the recording are defined as a stream
information recording status 1010 to which a code "2" is assigned.
In succession, the status prevailing from the time point at which
the data of the volatile management information expansion memory 90
has completely been updated up to the time point at which the
management file on the recording medium 130 has completely been
overwritten is defined as a management information expansion memory
update status 1020 to which a code "3" is assigned. In succession,
the status prevailing from the time point at which the management
file on the recording medium 130 has completely been overwritten up
to a time point at which the above-mentioned management file is
copied to the management information backup file is defined as a
recording medium management information update status 1030 to which
a code "4" is allocated. In succession, the stage at which where
the above-mentioned management file has been copied thoroughly to
the management information backup file 220 is defined as a normal
end status 1040 to which the code "1" is assigned. To say in
another way, the normal end status is equivalent to the management
information expansion status 1000. Upon every transition of the
statuses mentioned above, the consolidative management processing
module 110 records the corresponding codes in the nonvolatile
recording status memory 120, which is a memory whose contents
stored therein are not initialized regardless of breakage of
electric power supply thereto.
[0085] As can be seen from the foregoing, by reading out the code
from the nonvolatile recording status memory 120, checking the
status corresponding to that code and performing the processing
corresponding to the status as checked, the data written up to the
time point at which the recording was interrupted due to unexpected
breakage of the electric power supply can be remedied or repaired.
A repairing method to this end will be described below as a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0086] In the following, the second embodiment of the present
invention will be described in detail by reference to the
drawings.
[0087] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a recorded information
repairing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0088] The recorded information repairing apparatus shown in FIG.
11 is comprised of a management information generate processing
module 70, a recording medium drive processing module 80, a
volatile management information expansion memory 90, a management
information expand processing module 100, an consolidative
management processing module 110, a nonvolatile recording status
memory 120, a recording medium 130 and a video/audio/management
information demultiplex processing module 140.
[0089] In execution of the processing procedure for repairing the
information recorded on the recording medium 130, the processing
flow is branched in such manner as illustrated in FIG. 12 in
dependence on the codes stored in the nonvolatile recording status
memory 120 described previously in conjunction with the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0090] When the code is found "1" in a step 1210, this indicates
the normal state. Accordingly, a state waiting for an ordinary
recording processing is set in a step 1280.
[0091] When the code is "2" or "3" in a step 1220 or a step 1230,
this indicates the statuses where the recording has not been
completed normally. Thus, the processing for repairing the
information on the recording medium 130 is performed. The repair
processing to this end will be described below.
[0092] On the recording medium 130, there exist the management
information file 200 corresponding to the record units recorded in
precedence to the record unit for which the recording has been
interrupted. In the bit stream file 210, there is recorded the bit
stream up to the time point at which the recording was interrupted.
The management information file is read out from the recording
medium 130 by way of the recording medium drive processing module
80 to be subsequently transferred to the management information
expand processing module 100.
[0093] The management information expand processing module 100
develops or expands the management information file 200 onto the
volatile management information expansion memory 90. On the other
hand, the bit stream file 210 is read out from the recording medium
130 through the medium of the recording medium drive processing
module 80 to be subsequently transferred to the
video/audio/management information demultiplex processing module
140. In this conjunction, it will be noted that lots of time is
taken to read out wholly the bit stream file, which is not
preferable. Accordingly, only the pack as required is read out with
a view to shortening the reading time. The header is searched from
the trailing end portion of the bit stream file to thereby retrieve
the management information pack 800. Subsequently, the management
information of the management information pack 800 as retrieved is
transferred to the management information generate processing
module 70.
[0094] In succession, jump is made to the management information
pack 800 which precedes by one to the retrieved management
information pack 800 in the bit stream file 210 on the basis of the
value of the GOP size 980 contained in the management information
pack as illustrated in FIG. 9, whereon the information of the
preceding management information pack is transferred to the
management information generate processing module 70. In
succession, the same processing is repeated until the GOP number
950 of the management information pack 800 shown in FIG. 9 becomes
"0". The management information generate processing module 70 is
designed to update the data of the volatile management information
expansion memory 90.
[0095] Subsequently, the bit stream file 210 on the recording
medium 130 is searched or checked from the trailing end portion of
the file, the data extending from the management information pack
found first through the search to the trailing end of the file is
deleted. In succession, data of the volatile management information
expansion memory 90 is written onto the recording medium 130.
Additionally, a copy of the data written onto the recording medium
is written in the management information backup file 220.
[0096] Thereafter, the code "1" is written in the nonvolatile
recording status memory through the consolidative management
processing module 110 in a step 1270, whereupon the state 1280 for
waiting the ordinary recording processing is established.
[0097] When the code is "4" in a step 1240, this indicates the
status in which the management information file 200 has normally
been written on the recording medium 130 and in which the copy
thereof has not been written in the management information backup
file yet. Accordingly, the copy of the management information file
200 on the recording medium 130 is written in the management
information backup file 220 in a step 1260. In succession, the code
"1" is written in the nonvolatile recording status memory 120 by
means of the consolidative management processing module 110,
whereupon the state 1280 in which the ordinary recording processing
is waited for is established.
[0098] When the code does not coincide with any one of codes "1",
"2", "3" and "4" in the steps 1210 to 1240, respectively, this
means that the nonvolatile recording status memory 120 is in the
state remaining to be initialized. Consequently, the code is set to
"1" in a step 1250. Needless to say, when the recording apparatus
is used for the first time, the code must naturally be set to
"1".
[0099] In the following, description will be made in detail of a
third embodiment of the present invention by referring to the
drawings.
[0100] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an editor apparatus
according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0101] The editor apparatus according to the third embodiment shown
in FIG. 13 is comprised of a recording medium 2010, a recording
medium drive processing module 2020, a file system manage
processing module 2030, a management information file read
processing module 2040, a management information file write
processing module 2050, a management information expansion memory
2060, a combine processing module 2070, a backup management
information file read processing module 2080 and a backup
management information expansion memory 2090.
[0102] In the following description, it is presumed, by way of
example, that the stream which conforms to the DVD Video Recording
standards (hereinafter referred to simply as VR standards) is
handled.
[0103] As can be seen in FIG. 14, according to the VR standards, a
DVD_RTAV directory 2200 exists on the recording medium, wherein at
a hierarchically lower level of this DVD_RTAV directory, there
exist a VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210, a VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220, a
VR_STILL.VRO file 2230, a VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240 and a VR_MANGR.BUP
file 2250. The VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220 serves as a moving picture
stream data file, the VR_STILL.VRO file 2230 serves as a sill
picture stream data file or a sound-accompanying still picture
stream data file, and the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240 serves as an audio
stream data file for adding an audio stream to the VR_STILL.VRO
file 2230. Recorded in the VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210 are a relation
establish table for establishing relations in respect to the time
codes and the file locations as required for performing random
access, special reproducing operations such as fast-feed, rewind
and the like operations among the VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220, the
VR_STILL.VRO file 2230 and the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240 as well as
the text information to be displayed to the user via the user
interface and the time information therefor. The VR_MANGR.BUP file
2250 has utterly the same data contents as those of the
VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210.
[0104] Existing on the recording medium 2010 in the apparatus
according to the instant embodiment of the invention is a
DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 in addition to the DVD_RTAV directory
2200, as shown in FIG. 15. At a hierarchically lower level of the
DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300, there exist a VR_MANGR.IFO file 2310,
a VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2320, a VR_STILL.VRO file 2330, a VR_AUDIO.VRO
file 2340 and a VR_MANGR.BUP file 2350, similarly to the case of
the DVD_RTAV directory 2200. These files located at the
hierarchically lower level of or belonging to the DVD_RTAV_BAK
directory 2300 conform to the VR standards.
[0105] The VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210 in the DVD_RTAV directory 2200
recorded on the recording medium 2010 is read out by means of the
recording medium drive processing module 2020 to be recognized as a
file by the file system manage processing module 2030.
[0106] The management information file read processing module 2040
reads out from the file system manage processing module 2030 the
VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210 which exists at the hierarchically lower
level of or belonging to the DVD_RTAV directory 2200, to thereby
interpret the data described in this file, the results of which are
written onto the management information expansion memory 2060 as
the management information expansion data.
[0107] The VR_MANGR.IFO file 2310 which exists at the
hierarchically lower level of or belonging to the DVD_RTAV_BAK
directory 2300 recorded on the recording medium 2010 is read out
through the medium of the recording medium drive processing module
2020 to be recognized as a file by the file system manage
processing module 2030.
[0108] The backup management information read processing module
2080 reads out from the file system manage processing module 2030
the VR_MANGR.IFO file 2310 which exists at the hierarchically lower
level of (or belonging to) the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300, to
thereby interpret the data described in this file, the results of
which are written onto the backup management information expansion
memory 2090 as the backup management information expansion
data.
[0109] The combine processing module 2070 combines consolidatively
the management information expansion data stored in the management
information expansion memory 2060 and the backup management
information expansion data stored in the backup management
information expansion memory 2090 to thereby generate newly
integrated or consolidated management information expansion data,
whereon the data as generated are written onto the management
information expansion memory 2060.
[0110] The VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220, the VR_STILL.VRO file 2230 and
the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240 which exist at the hierarchically lower
level of the DVD_RTAV directory 2200 and the VR_MOVIE.VRO file
2320, the VR_STILL.VRO file 2330 and the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2340
which exist at the hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV_BAK
directory 2300, respectively, are consolidated into a single file
without changing the physical layout of the relevant data recorded
on the recording medium but by altering only the information
concerning the file system. As the result of the consolidation of
the files as described above, the VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2320, the
VR_STILL.VRO file 2330, the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2340, the
VR_MANGR.IFO file 2310 and the VR_MANGR.BUP file 2350 which exist
at the hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory
2300 are deleted together with the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 by
issuing a relevant command to the file system manage processing
module 2030. Alternatively, the above-mentioned files belonging to
the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 may be set invalid for the file
system manage processing module 2030.
[0111] The management information file write processing module 2050
reads out the management information expansion data placed on the
management information expansion memory 2060 for thereby commanding
the file system manage processing module 2030 to write the
above-mentioned data as the VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210 at the
hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV directory 2200, whereon
this write command is executed by the file system manage processing
module. The VR_MANGR.BUP file 2250 is also written in the similar
way.
[0112] Upon reception of the command for combination of the files,
deletion of the files and writing of the files, the file system
manage processing module 2030 activates the recording medium drive
processing module 2020 to thereby cause the information of the
files to be written onto the recording medium 2010.
[0113] Through the procedure described above, the files of the VR
standards recorded at the hierarchically lower level of the
DVD_RTAV directory 2200 are combined with those of the VR standards
recorded at the hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV_BAK
directory 2300, whereby these files can be combined together into
one file.
[0114] Parenthetically, the directory name of the DVD_RTAV_BAK
directory 2300 and the names of the files located at the
hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory are never
restricted to those mentioned above in conjunction with the
description of the instant embodiment of the invention. In other
words, the instant embodiment of the invention can be carried out
regardless of what names the directory and/or the files have and
which directory the files exist in or belong to.
[0115] In the following, description will be made in detail of a
fourth embodiment of the present invention by referring to the
drawings. The fourth embodiment corresponds to the third embodiment
of the invention except that further processings are additionally
provided.
[0116] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a recording apparatus
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0117] The recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment
shown in FIG. 16 is comprised of a recording medium 2010, a
recording medium drive processing module 2020, a file system manage
processing module 2030, a management information file read
processing module 2040, a management information file write
processing module 2050, a management information expansion memory
2060, a combine processing module 2070, a backup management
information file read processing module 2080, a backup management
information expansion memory 2090, a moving picture
compression-encode processing module 2100, a sound
compression-encode processing module 2110, a moving picture/sound
multiplex processing module 2120, a managing-information-expanded
data generate processing module 2130, a stream buffer 2140, a
stream buffer manage processing module 2150, an activate processing
module 2160, a nonvolatile status management memory 2170 and a
repair processing module 2180.
[0118] In the following description, it is presumed, by way of
example, that the stream which conforms to the DVD Video Recording
standards (hereinafter referred to simply as VR standards) is
handled.
[0119] As can be seen in FIG. 14, according to the VR standards,
there is prepared a DVD_RTAV directory 2200 recorded on a recording
medium, wherein at a hierarchically lower level thereof, there are
prepared a VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210, a VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220, a
VR_STILL.VRO file 2230, a VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240 and a VR_MANGR.BUP
file 2250. The VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220 serves as a moving picture
stream data file, the VR_STILL.VRO file 2230 serves as a sill
picture stream data file or alternatively as a sound-accompanying
still picture stream data file, and the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240
serves as an audio stream data file for adding an audio stream to
the VR_STILL.VRO file 2230. Recorded in the VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210
are a relation establish table for establishing relations in
respect to the time codes and the file locations as required for
performing random access, special reproducing operations such as
fast-feed, rewind and the like operations among the VR_MOVIE.VRO
file 2220, the VR_STILL.VRO file 2230 and the VR_AUDIO.VRO file
2240 as well as the text information to be displayed to the user
via the user interface and the time information therefor. The
VR_MANGR.BUP file 2250 has utterly the same data contents as those
of the VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210.
[0120] At first, description will be made of the processings for
recording.
[0121] The moving picture compression-encode processing module 2100
compresses and encodes an analog moving picture signal to thereby
transfer resultant moving picture stream data to the moving
picture/sound multiplex processing module 2120.
[0122] The sound compression-encode processing module 2110
compresses and encodes an analog audio signal to thereby transfer
resultant sound stream data to the moving picture/sound multiplex
processing module 2120.
[0123] The moving picture/sound multiplex processing module 2120
multiplexes the encoded moving picture stream data and the encoded
sound stream data to transfer the multiplexed stream data to the
stream buffer 2140 on one hand. On the other hand, the moving
picture/sound multiplex processing module 2120 transfers to the
management-information-expansion data generate processing module
2130 the information required for generating the VR_MANGR.IFO 2210
which conforms to the VR standards. In this manner, generation of
the multiplexed stream and generation of the management information
expansion data are carried out.
[0124] The stream buffer manage processing module 2150 issues
commands to the file system manage processing module 2030 to
monitor the amount of the data stored accumulatively in the stream
buffer 2140, extract the multiplexed stream data from the stream
buffer every time the stored data reaches a predetermined amount
and write the data as extracted onto the recording medium 2010 in
the form of a file. The management information file write
processing module 2050 selects the VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220, the
VR_STILL.VRO file 2230 or the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240 in conformance
to the type of the record to thereby write the multiplexed stream
data.
[0125] The management-information-expansion data generate
processing module 2130 generates the management information
expansion data in the management information expansion memory 2060
on the basis of the information transferred from the moving
picture/sound multiplex processing module 2120 in the course of
recording operation.
[0126] After completion of recording, the management information
file write processing module 2050 reads out the management
information expansion data placed on the management information
expansion memory 2060 to thereby issue a command to the file system
manage processing module 2030 for writing the above-mentioned read
data in the form of the VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210 at the
hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV directory 2200. The
VR_MANGR.BUP file 2250 is also written through the similar
processing.
[0127] Defined on the nonvolatile status management memory 2170 is
such statuses as shown in FIG. 17. By way of example, the state of
normal termination of recording is defined as "normal end status"
2500 to which a code "0" is assigned. The status prevailing from
the time point at which the stream buffer manage processing module
2150 starts to write the data of the stream buffer 2140 in the form
of a file up to the time point at which the recording is completed
is defined as "stream write status" 2510 to which a code "1" is
assigned. The status where the VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210 is being
written after completion of the recording is defined as "IFO write
status" 2520 to which a code "2" is assigned. Further, the status
where the VR_MANGR.BUP file 2250 is being written is defined as
"BUP write status" 2530 to which a code "3" is assigned.
[0128] The stream buffer manage processing module 2150 is designed
to write in the nonvolatile status management memory 2170 the
"stream write status" 2510 at a predetermining timing while the
management information file write processing module 2050 is
designed to write the "normal end status" 2500, "IFO write status"
2520 and "BUP write status" 2530 in the nonvolatile status
management memory 2170, respectively, at predetermined timings. In
response to the reception of a file write command, the file system
manage processing module 2030 activates the recording medium drive
processing module 2020 to thereby allow the information of the file
to be written onto the recording medium 2010.
[0129] At this juncture, let's suppose that the electric power
supply to the recording apparatus according to the present
invention is unexpectedly broken. In that case, the status of the
processing performed at the time of shutdown of the power supply
will be written in the nonvolatile status management memory 2170.
By way of example, in the case where the electric power supply is
unexpectedly broken when the status "stream write status" is
prevailing, the code "1" defining as the "stream write status" 2510
will be written in the nonvolatile status management memory
2170.
[0130] Accordingly, at the time point the power supply is restored,
it is possible to know the status of the processing which was being
executed by the recording apparatus upon occurrence of the
unexpected breakage of power supply by referencing the information
written in the nonvolatile status management memory 2170. More
specifically, when the information written in the nonvolatile
status management memory 2170 is "1", it can be determined that the
power supply was unexpectedly broken when the recording apparatus
was operating in "stream write status" 2510.
[0131] Upon activation, the activate processing module 2160
monitors or supervises the data of the nonvolatile status
management memory 2170 to thereby perform processing operations in
such a manner as illustrated in a flow chart of FIG. 18 in
dependence on the data status.
[0132] When the power supply to the recording apparatus is turned
on, the activate processing module 2160 starts the processing from
a step 2600. It is decided in a step 2601 as to whether or not the
status of the nonvolatile status management memory 2170 is "normal
end status". When "normal end status" is decided, the processing
proceeds to a step 2602. By contrast, unless "normal end status" is
decided, the DVD_RTAV directory 2200 is renamed to the DVD_RTAV_BAK
directory 2300, whereon the status of the nonvolatile status
management memory 2170 is recorded on the recording medium 2010 at
an appropriate location thereof as the status management data and
then the status of the nonvolatile status management memory 2170 is
set to "normal end status" 2500 in a step 2603. Subsequently, the
processing proceeds to a step 2604.
[0133] It has been described above that the processing for
recording the status of the nonvolatile status management memory
2170 as the status management data at the appropriate location on
the recording medium 2010 is performed. In this conjunction, it
should however be mentioned that the processing for recording in
advance the state of the nonvolatile status management memory 2170
as the status management data on the recording medium 2010 at an
appropriate location thereof may be performed. In that case, the
state of the nonvolatile status management memory 2170 will have
been recorded as the status management data at the proper location
on the recording medium 2010 when the power supply is turned on
again. Accordingly, in this case, the processing for recording the
state of the nonvolatile status management memory 2170 as the
status management data on the recording medium 2010 at an
appropriate location thereof upon restoration of the power supply
can be spared.
[0134] In a step 2602, it is checked whether or not the
DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 exists on the recording medium 2010.
Unless the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory is present on the recording
medium 2010, the processing makes transition to a step 2611. If it
exists, the processing proceeds to a step 2604. To say in another
way, transition to the step 2604 is made when the DVD_RTAV
directory 2200 has been altered to the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300
without completing normally the recording on the recording medium
2010. In that case, the data of hierarchically lower level for the
DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 for which the processing has not
normally been terminated are repaired or restored to the normally
terminated or completed state, and then a query as to combination
with the existing data of the DVD_RTAV directory 2200 is issued to
the user. If the user selects the repair, the processing makes
transition to the step 2605 while otherwise to the step 2611. In a
step 2605, decision is made as to whether or not the status of the
status management data which corresponds to that of the nonvolatile
status management memory 2170 recorded previously on the recording
medium 2010 at an appropriate location thereof is "stream write
status" 2510. If the data status command is "stream write status"
2510, then one of the VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2320, the VR_STILL.VRO file
2330 and the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2340 which is located at
hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 and
which is broken off at the trailing end portion is found out in a
step 2607, whereon the unwanted portion of the file as found is
deleted with the trailing end portion thereof being newly shaped,
whereon the processing makes transition to a step 2608. On the
other hand, unless the status of the status management data is
"stream write status" 2510, transition is made to a step 2606. In
the step 2606, it is decided whether the status of the status
management data is "IFO write status" 2520. If it is "IFO write
status" 2520, transition is made to a step 2608. Unless it is "IFO
write status" 2520, transition is made to a step 2609 in which the
VR_MANGR.BUP file 2350 which is at hierarchically lower level of
the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 is copied onto the VR_MANGR.IFO
file 2310, whereon transition is made to a step 2610. In the step
2608, information required for the portion of the VR_MANGR.IFO file
2310 where no information has been recorded is extracted from the
VR MOVIE.VRO file 2310 or the VR_STILL.VRO file 2320 or
VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2330 to thereby regenerate the VR_ANGR.IFO file
2310. In a step 2610, the DVD_RTAV directory 2200 and the
DVD_RTAV_BAK directory 2300 are combined integrally to thereby
generate newly a DVD_RTAV directory 2200, as described hereinbefore
in conjunction with the first embodiment of the invention, whereon
the processing procedure makes transition to a step 2611. In the
step 2611, a command is issued to the management information read
processing module 2040 for reading out the VR_ANGR.IFO file 2210
which is located at hierarchically lower level of the DVD_RTAV
directory 2200. Now, the activate processing is terminated in a
step 2612.
[0135] Through the processing procedure described above, the
recording processing can be started without need for necessarily
executing the repair processing upon restarting of the electric
power supply after it has unexpectedly been broken in the course of
recording operation which has thus been stopped.
[0136] As can be seen in FIG. 14, according to the VR standards,
the DVD_RTAV directory 2200 exists on the recording medium, wherein
at a hierarchically lower level thereof, there exist the
VR_MANGR.IFO file 2210, the VR_MOVIE.VRO file 2220, the
VR_STILL.VRO file 2230, the VR_AUDIO.VRO file 2240 and the
VR_MANGR.BUP file 2250. In this conjunction, it is noted that
according to the VR standards, any one of these files is not
allowed to exist in plurality underneath the DVD_RTAV directory
2200 on the recording medium. Accordingly, when the recording
operation is interrupted because of unexpected breakage of the
electric power supply in the course of recording operation and thus
when these files belonging to the DVD_RTAV directory 2200 are in
the state incapable of being normally reproduced, there may arise
such situation that the recording operation can no more be started
so far as these files are not repaired to the state which allow the
normal reproduction to be performed.
[0137] According to the teaching of the invention incarnated in the
embodiment described above, it is possible to record the
information to be newly recorded in a renewed DVD_RTAV directory in
the form of a file conforming to the VR standards when the
recording operation is restarted from the interrupted state by
altering the name of the DVD_RTAV directory containing the file
insusceptible to normal reproduction to the DVD_RTAV_BAK directory.
Thus, it is possible to start the recording operation without
repairing the file which is in the state insusceptible to normal
reproduction.
[0138] Furthermore, in the case of the embodiment of the invention
described above, the file which exists in the name-altered
DVD_RTAV_BAK directory and which can not normally be reproduced can
be combined with the file which exists in the DVD_RTAV directory
and which is based on the VR standards by carrying out the repair
processing as the user desires.
[0139] As will now be apparent from the foregoing description,
according to the invention incarnated in the embodiment described
above, it is possible to determine selectively whether or not the
file repairing is to be executed in the event that power supply is
turned on after it has unexpectedly been broken in the course of
the recording operation. In that case, even when selection is made
such that the repairing is not performed, a succeeding recording
operation can be started. At this juncture, it should also be
mentioned that the repairing takes relatively lots of time.
Consequently, when the electric power supply is unexpectedly
interrupted with the recording operation being stopped in the
course of outdoor photographing performed with a recording
apparatus such as a camera, it has heretofore been impossible to
start a succeeding recording operation on one and the same
recording medium immediately upon restarting of the power supply
with the repairing operation being executed at once. By contrast,
according to the teaching of the invention incarnated in the
embodiment described above, the recording operation can again be
started even for one and the same recording medium immediately upon
restoration of the electric power supply.
[0140] To say in another way, by virtue of the arrangement
described above in conjunction with the embodiment of the
invention, in the event that the power supply is unexpectedly
broken in the course of recording operation which is thus stopped,
it is possible to start speedily the recording operation by
restarting power supply without need for executing any repairing or
remedying processing. Moreover, since the power consumption
involved in executing the processing for repairing can be spared,
the electric power required for the recording processing can be
protected against extraneous consumption.
[0141] By way of example, it is supposed that power supply is
broken unexpectedly during outdoor recording operation with the aid
of a camera which is supplied with electric power from a battery,
as a result of which the recording operation is forced to stop. In
that case, when the power supply is enabled again, the electric
power supplied from the battery can be used for the recording
processing without consuming the electric power of the battery for
the repairing processing. Incidentally, the file which can not
normally be reproduced may be repaired later on by making use of,
for example, the interior wiring power supply at the time point
when the user desires it without resorting to the use of the
electric power supply from the battery.
[0142] In addition, in the case of a fixed-type information
recording/reproducing apparatus which is adapted to operate under
power supply from an interior wiring, by way of example, the
recording processing can speedily be started without carrying out
any repair processing by restarting the power supply in the event
the power supply is broken unexpectedly in the course of recording
operation which is thus stopped. In other words, the concept of the
invention incarnated in the embodiment described above can equally
be applied effectively to the fixed-type information
recording/reproducing apparatus as well.
[0143] In conjunction with the first and second embodiments of the
present invention, description has been made concerning the
technique that when power supply breakage takes place suddenly
during the recording operation, such restoring operation is enabled
upon restarting of the electric power supply that the status flag
written in the nonvolatile memory mentioned hereinbefore is read
out to thereby perform the repairing of the file by extracting the
information required for the repairing and contained in the stream
data on the basis of the status flag as read out. In the following,
description will be made of further improvements taught by the
present invention, i.e., a repairing method which may be carried
out in the restoring operation performed upon interruption of
electric power supply in the course of recording operation for
repairing the management information file and the AV data file
themselves on the basis of the stream data without need for
previously adding the information and then a repairing method of
repairing the management information file and the AV data file such
that no inconvenience is thereby brought about in the succeeding
recording/reproducing operation even in the case where the stream
data is partially injured.
[0144] FIG. 20 is a view for illustrating in more detail the data
structure for the files generated on the disk through the recording
operation described previously. As can be seen, a subdirectory 3201
for a real time basis recording operation is disposed underneath a
root directory 3200, wherein the management information files and
the AV data files as generated are all disposed underneath the
subdirectory 3201. In a management information file 3202,
management information for the recorded AV data is written. The
management information includes address information and attribute
information of the AV data and additionally encoding parameter
information as well as reproduced list information for edition. A
moving picture file 3203 is a file destined for recording as the AV
data the stream data resulting from encoding and multiplexing of
the moving picture data or sound data recorded simultaneously with
the moving picture data. In this conjunction, it should be
mentioned that for newly moving picture data, any additional file
is not generated separately but the moving picture data to be
recorded newly are sequentially written additionally in this moving
picture file. Further, a still picture file 3204 is a file destined
for recording as the AV data the stream data resulting from
encoding and multiplexing of the still picture data or sound data
recorded simultaneously with the still picture data. As in the case
of the moving picture data, the still picture data to be recorded
newly are sequentially written additionally in this file. Further
written in a management information backup file 3205 are the same
contents as the management information file 3202. This management
information backup file is used for backing up the data of the
management information file 3202 when the latter is damaged.
[0145] Reproduction of the AV data from the disk is performed on
the basis of the information such as the reading position,
attributes of the picture data or the like, all obtained from the
management information file 3202. To say in another way, the
contents of the management information file 3202 have to correspond
strictly to the contents of the moving picture file 3203 or the
still picture file 3204. However, when the recording is
interrupted, for example, due to unexpected breakage of power
supply in the course of the real time recording operation, as
mentioned previously, the moving picture file 3203 and the still
picture file 3204 will be recorded without meeting the
predetermined requirements concerning the format. Of course, the
management information file 3202 may also be recorded incorrectly
although it depends on the timing. Thus, there may arise the
possibility of incoincidence or discrepancy among the contents of
these files. In the following, a method of repairing or canceling
out incoincidence or discrepancy in the data between the management
information file and the AV data file without writing additionally
any specific information in the AV data file itself will be
elucidated by reference to the drawings.
[0146] FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an information
recording/reproducing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of
the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 3001
denotes an input unit, 3002 denotes an encoder/decoder module
(hereinafter referred to as the Codec module), 3003 denotes a user
interface (I/F), 3004 denotes a control unit, 3005 denotes a
program memory, 3006 denotes a management information expansion
memory, 3007 denotes a track buffer, 3008 denotes a drive, 3009
denotes an optical disk, 3010 denotes an output unit and numeral
3011 denotes a status storing memory.
[0147] At first, description will be directed to operations
involved in the recording. Picture data and sound data inputted
through the input unit 3001 are encoded in the Codec module 3002 in
accordance with a predetermined encoding scheme, whereby the
information is compressed in the amount while being sequentially
multiplexed. Stream data resulting from the multiplexing is
temporarily stored once in the track buffer 3007 for absorbing or
canceling out difference between the encoding rate and the transfer
rate of the drive 3008, whereon the stream data are recorded
sequentially onto the optical disk 3009 through the drive 3008. In
the recording on the optical disk 3009, the moving picture data is
written additionally in the form of the moving picture file 3203
while the still picture data being written additionally in the
still picture file 3204, as described previously. The control unit
3004 is designed to perform control operations for the individual
components mentioned above on the basis of commands inputted by the
user through the user interface (I/F) 3003, wherein proper control
contents are loaded by performing read/write operation on the
program memory 3005, as occasion requires. Although the Codec
module 3002 is shown generally en bloc, it should be understood
that the Codec module 3002 may be implemented in such a composite
structure that the encoding is partially carried out by means of
hardware with the other part of encoding and the succeeding
multiplexing being realized softwarewise under the control of the
control unit 3004.
[0148] Furthermore, because the management information file
generated upon recording is difficult to be recorded on the optical
disk 3009 concurrently with the AV data file on the real time
basis, the management information file is once expanded for the
purpose of updating on the management information expansion memory
3006 to be subsequently recorded on the optical disk 3009 by
overwriting in the form of the management information file 3202 as
described previously. In the case where the AV data are to be
initially recorded on the optical disk 3009, the management
information is newly generated to be expanded on the management
information expansion memory 3006. However, when the AV data is to
be additionally written on the optical disk which has the AV data
having been recorded in the past, the management information is
read out from the optical disk 3009 to be subsequently expanded on
the management information expansion memory 3006. Additionally, in
succession to the recording of the management information file
3202, the management information of the same contents is
overwritten on the optical disk 3009 as the management information
backup file 3205.
[0149] The status storing memory 3011 is implemented as a
nonvolatile memory in which the information corresponding to the
recording status described above (hereinafter referred to as the
status flag) is stored under the control of the control unit
3004.
[0150] At this juncture, operation involved in the reproducing
operation will also be described. The processings for the
reproducing operation are executed by following reversely the flow
of processings which are involved in the recording operation
described previously by reference to FIG. 19. Namely, the moving
picture file 3203 or the still picture file 3204 is read out from
given data location on the optical disk 3009 by means of the drive
3008 to be subsequently stored once as the stream data in the track
buffer 3007. Thereafter, the stream data is read out from the track
buffer 3007 after the difference between the transfer rate of the
drive and the encoding rate of the picture/sound data having been
absorbed. In the Codec module 3002, the picture data and the sound
data are demultiplexed and decoded to be outputted through the
output unit 3010 in an appropriate signal format.
[0151] As in the case of the recording operation, the control unit
3004 is in charge of controlling the constituents or components
mentioned above by loading appropriate contents from the program
memory 3005. However, in the case of the reproducing operation, the
management information file 3202 is read out from the optical disk
3009 by means of the drive 3008 in precedence to reading the stream
data, whereon the contents of the management information file are
expanded on the management information expansion memory 3006. The
commands of the user inputted through the user interface (I/F) 3003
are interpreted by the control unit 3004. In this manner, the
reproducing operation described above is carried out in conformance
with the management information expanded on the management
information expansion memory 3006.
[0152] At this juncture, description will be made in more detail of
the status flags which are stored in the status storing memory 3011
as mentioned previously.
[0153] FIG. 21 shows, by way of example, contents of several status
flags recorded in the status storing memory 3011. In the recording
operation described above, a flag `1` is assigned to the status
prevailing from the time point at which the recording of the moving
picture file 3203 is started to the time point at which the writing
operation for the optical disk 3009 is completed. Similarly, a flag
`2` is assigned to the status prevailing from the time point at
which recording of the management information file 3202 is started
in succession to the recording of the moving picture file 3203 to
the time point at which the recording of the management information
file is completed. A flag `3` is assigned to the status prevailing
from the time point at which recording of the still picture file
3204 is started to the time point at which the recording of the
still picture file is ended. A flag `4` is assigned to the status
prevailing from the time point at which the recording of the
management information file 3202 is started in succession to the
recording of the still picture file 3204 to the time point at which
the recording of the management information file is completed. A
flag `5` is assigned to the status prevailing from the time point
at which editing operation or edition such as partial deletion of
the moving picture file 3203 or the still picture file 3204 or the
like is started to the time point at which the editing operation of
the above-mentioned file is completed. A flag `6` is assigned to
the status prevailing from the time point at which the editing
operation such as partial rewriting of the management information
file 3202 without being accompanied with manipulation of the AV
data or the like is started to the time point at which the editing
operation described just above is completed. A flag `7` is assigned
to the status prevailing from the start to the end of the recording
operation of the management information backup file 3205. Further,
a flag `0` is assigned to all the other statuses than those
statuses to which the above-mentioned flags are assigned. Such
other statuses may include the status in which reproducing
operation is being carried out and so forth.
[0154] Next, description will be directed to the repairing
operations in consideration of the status flags mentioned above. In
the case where breakage of the power supply to the apparatus takes
place unexpectedly, the status flag must indicate one of the values
`0` to `7` mentioned above, wherein the indicated flag value is
held in the status storing memory 3011. Since the status storing
memory 3011 is a nonvolatile memory, the contents thereof can not
be erased even when the power supply to the memory is interrupted.
When the power supply is restarted after breakage thereof, the
control unit 3004 checks the status flag stored in the status
storing memory 3011 to thereby execute the repair processing while
making decision as to the contents indicated by the status
flags.
[0155] FIG. 22 illustrates in general a series of repair
processings executed, starting from the check of the status flags
by the control unit 3004. In a step S3400, the repair processing
procedure is started. In steps S3401 to S3407, decision is made as
to the relevant status flags, respectively. By way of example, in
the case where the status flag is `0`, decisions in the steps S3401
to S3407 will all result in negation "No". In that case, in a step
S3408, recording/reproduction waiting state is set, whereon the
repair processing procedure comes to an end in a step S3409.
[0156] FIG. 23 shows, by way of example, the state of the
management information file 3202 and that of the moving picture
file 3203 in the case where the status flag is `1`. Because it is
presumed that the power supply breakage occurs in the course of
recording of the moving picture data, only the information recorded
in the moving image file 3203 up to the time point for starting the
recording operation (indicated by a point P3501) is reflected in
the management information file 3202, giving rise to incoincidence
or discrepancy in the contents between the management information
file 3202 and the moving picture file 3203. Accordingly, in a step
S3410 succeeding to the step S3401, the management information file
3202 is expanded on the management information expansion memory
3006 to thereby acquire the information concerning the size of the
moving picture file 3203 from the information recorded in the
expanded management information file 3202. Since the size acquired
in this way represents the very point P3501 in the moving picture
file 3203, the data of the moving picture file 3203 succeeding to
this point P3501 is read out from the optical disk 3009 to analyze
the stream data sequentially in a step S3411 for thereby repairing
the defective portion of the stream data itself while repairing
concurrently the management information file 3202 by adding the
relevant data which the management information file 3202 lacks.
Upon completion of the repairing operation, the result of repairing
is recorded onto the optical disk 3009 in a step 3420. In that
case, not only the management information file 3202 and the moving
picture file 3203 are recorded but also the management information
backup file 3205 which has the same contents as those of the
management information file 3202 is recorded as well. In this
conjunction, such arrangement may equally be adopted that the
moving picture file 3203 is recorded appropriately on the optical
disk 3009 concurrently with the progress of the repairing operation
in the step S3411 instead of being recorded in the step S3420. In a
step S3421, the status flag of the status storing memory 3011 is
reset to `0` because of completion of the repairing operation.
Subsequently, the recording/reproduction waiting state is set in
the step S3408, whereon the repair processing is terminated in the
step S3409.
[0157] When the status flag is `2`, this means that because of the
power supply breakage in the course of recording of the management
information file 3202, it is uncertain whether or not the contents
thereof have been recorded correctly. Thus, in the step S3412
succeeding to the step S3402, the contents of the management
information backup file 3205 are expanded on the management
information expansion memory 3006 instead of expanding the contents
of the management information file 3202. The processings in the
succeeding steps are essentially same as those executed when the
status flag is `1` as described above. Namely, the size of the
moving picture file 3203 is acquired from the management
information expanded in the step S3410, which is followed by the
step S3411 where the contents of the moving picture file 3203 which
succeed to the point P3501 are read out from the optical disk 3009
for analyzing the stream data to thereby execute the repair
processing.
[0158] When the status flag is 131, this means that in contrast to
the case where the status flag `1`, the moving picture file 3203
has been replaced by the still picture file 3204. Similarly to the
operations described above, in a step S3413 succeeding to the step
S3403, the management information file 3202 is expanded on the
management information expansion memory 3006 to thereby acquire the
information concerning the size of the still picture file 3204 from
the information recorded in the expanded management information
file. In succession, in a step S3414, information or data of the
still picture file 3204 which succeeds to the size information
acquired as mentioned above is read out from the optical disk 3009
for analyzing the stream data sequentially to thereby repair
defective portion(s) of the stream data itself while repairing
concurrently the management information file 3202 by adding the
relevant data which the management information file 3202 lacks.
Upon completion of the repairing operation, the result of repairing
is recorded onto the optical disk 3009 in the step 3420 with the
status flag held by the status storing memory 3011 being reset to
101 in the step S3421, and then the recording/reproduction waiting
state is set in the step S3408, whereon the repair processing is
terminated in the step S3409.
[0159] When the status flag is `4`, this means that because of
occurrence of the power supply breakage in the course of recording
of the management information file 3202, it is uncertain whether or
not the contents thereof have been recorded correctly, similarly to
the case where the status flag is `2`. Thus, in a step S3415
succeeding to the step S3404, the contents of the management
information backup file 3205 are expanded on the management
information expansion memory 3006 instead of expanding the contents
of the management information file 3202. The processings in the
succeeding steps are essentially same as those executed when the
status flag is `3`. Namely, the information concerning the size of
the still picture file 3204 is acquired from the management
information expanded in the step S3413, which is followed by the
step S3414 where the contents of the still picture file 3203 which
succeed to the size information acquired as described above are
read out from the optical disk 3009 for analyzing the stream data
to thereby execute the repair processing.
[0160] FIG. 24 shows the states of the management information file
3202, the moving picture file 3203 and the still picture file 3204
in the case where the status flag is `5`. It is presumed, by way of
example, that the power supply is interrupted in the course of
partial deletion of the moving picture file 3203. In the figure,
points P3601 to P3602 indicate the portion which were to be
deleted. However, it is uncertain whether or not the data of this
portion has been deleted correctly. Besides, the result of the
deletion is not reflected in the management information file 3202.
Consequently, incoincidence or discrepancy occurs between the
management information file 3202 and the moving picture file 3203.
On the other hand, no incoincidence or discrepancy is taking place
between the management information file 3202 and the still picture
file 3204. However, this status can not be decided only by checking
simply the management information file 3202. Accordingly, the
management information file 3202 and the management information
backup file 3205 are deleted from the optical disk 3009 in a step
S3416 which succeeds to the step S3405. Subsequently, in a step
S3417, the moving picture file 3203 is firstly read out from the
optical disk 3009 for analyzing sequentially the stream data
thoroughly from the leading portion to the end thereof to thereby
repair defective portion of the stream data itself while executing
concurrently the repair processing by generating newly the
management information file 3202. Further, the still picture file
3204 is read out from the optical disk 3009 for analyzing
sequentially the stream data thoroughly from the leading portion to
the end thereof in a step S3417 to thereby repair defective portion
of the stream data itself while executing the repairing operation
concurrently by adding the relevant data to the management
information file 3202 repaired as mentioned above. Upon completion
of the repairing operation, the result of repairing is recorded
onto the optical disk 3009 in the step 3420. In that case, all the
files inclusive of the management information backup file 3205 are
recorded. In this conjunction, it should be added that such
arrangement may equally be adopted that the moving picture file
3203 and the still picture file 3204 are recorded appropriately on
the optical disk 3009 concurrently with the progress of the
repairing operation in the step S3417 instead of recording them in
the step S3420. In the step S3421, the status flag held by the
status storing memory 3011 is reset to `0` with the
recording/reproduction waiting state being set in the step S3408,
whereupon the repair processing is terminated in the step
S3409.
[0161] When the status flag is `6`, this means that the power
supply is interrupted in the course of carrying out the edition
only for the management information file 3202, without being
accompanied with the edition of the AV data file. Accordingly, the
status will be such that no incoincidence or discrepancy is taking
place between the management information backup file 3205 and the
moving picture file 3202 or alternatively between the management
information backup file 3205 and the still picture file 3203
although it is not clear in what state the management information
file 3202 lies. Such being the circumstances, in a step S3418
succeeding to the step S3406, the contents of the management
information backup file 3205 on the optical disk 3009 are
overwritten in place of the contents of the management information
file 3202. Subsequently, in the step S3421, the status flag of the
status storing memory 3011 is reset to `0` with the
recording/reproduction waiting state being set in the step S3408,
whereon the repair processing comes to an end in the step
S3409.
[0162] When the status flag is `7`, this means that breakage of the
power supply has occurred in the course of recording the management
information backup file 3205. Thus, in a step S3419 succeeding to
the step S3407, the contents of the management information file
3202 on the optical disk 3009 are overwritten in the form of the
management information backup file 3205. The processings in the
succeeding steps are essentially same as those described
previously. Namely, in the step S3421, the status flag held by the
status storing memory 3011 is reset to `0` with the
recording/reproduction waiting state being set in the step S3408,
whereupon the repair processing comes to an end in the step
S3409.
[0163] As will now be understood from the foregoing description,
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention in which
the status storing memory is provided for setting individually and
appropriately the status flags indicating the recording,
reproduction and the edit operations, respectively, it is possible
to repair the management information and the AV data injured due to
unexpected power supply breakage by referencing the status flag
upon restoration of the power supply. Further, because repairing is
performed by analyzing directly the stream data, there is no
necessity of containing in advance the data for repairing in the
stream data. Furthermore, because the repair processing can be
started from the relevant location in the stream data in dependence
on the status flags, extraneous time consumption can be
avoided.
[0164] In conjunction with the instant embodiment of the invention,
description has been made that the repairing operation is carried
out unconditionally in dependence on the status flags. It should
however be appreciated that such arrangement may equally be adopted
in which a step is provided for requesting the user's command input
after determination of the status flag, wherein the repairing
operation is performed in accordance with the user's command as
inputted. In that case, however, it will be necessary to make
available such a mechanism that a message informing the operator of
inadequacy of data on the disk is issued to the operator by
displaying the message or by adopting the like messaging facility
for coping with such situation in which the command for neglecting
the repair is inputted by the user in response to the command
request issued by the apparatus.
[0165] In the repair processing procedure described in the
foregoing, there may arise such a case in which the stream data of
the AV data file contains defective portion because of occurrence
of power supply breakage in the course of recording operation. In
the following, description will be made of an embodiment of the
present invention which is directed to repairing method for
remedying the defective portion contained in the stream data in the
repair processing procedure described above, by illustrating
exemplary contents thereof.
[0166] At first, a recording format of the AV data file will be
elucidated by reference to FIG. 25.
[0167] FIG. 25 is a schematic view for illustrating, by way of
example, a data structure in general of the moving picture file
3203 managed internally of the management information file 3202.
The moving picture file 3203 is constituted by a series of units or
objects for processing, as designated by reference numeral 3701.
They are termed video object or VOB in short. At this juncture, it
should however be mentioned that although one VOB is ordinarily
handled as one record unit generated through a single recording
operation, the invention is never restricted thereto. One VOB 3701
is constituted in such a form that a plurality of units called VOB
Unit or VOBU in short and designated by numeral 3702 are arrayed in
succession. The VOBU 3702 represents a constituent unit required
for performing the special reproduction such as fast-feed
reproduction, the fast-rewind reproduction and the like and serves
as a predetermined encode unit on the basis of which the encoding
is performed. As described hereinbefore, the international
standards "MPEG2 Video Specification (ISO/IEC13818-2)" is generally
adopted as the encoding scheme for the picture data, according to
which the VOBU 3702 is implemented in such a structure which
contains one or more sheets of I-picture(s) which is specified as
the in-plane encoded picture in the standards mentioned above.
Further, the VOBU 3702 is implemented in such a structure in which
appropriate numbers of video packs (indicated by affixing "V")
designated by numeral 3703, audio packs (indicated by affixing "A")
designated by numeral 3704, etc., respectively, are multiplexed in
the form being synchronized with each other. Parenthetically, it
should be added that although the VOBU 3702 may contain other
pack(s) in addition to the two species mentioned above, the
following description of the embodiment of the invention will be
made on the presumption that the VOBU 3702 is composed of the packs
of two species mentioned above because the pack of any other
species does not play any essential role. On the other hand, as the
encoding scheme for the audio data, the MPEG2 audio specifications
(ISO/IEC13818-3) may be adopted as in the case of the picture data.
However, the MPEG1 audio specifications (ISO/ICE11172-3) or the
linear PCM sound system may equally be adopted or employed.
Accordingly, the present invention is not restricted to any
particular audio data encoding scheme, being understood, however,
that the MPEG2 standards (ISO/IECI13818-1) are generally adopted as
the multiplexing schemes for the video packs 3703 and the audio
packs 3704.
[0168] FIG. 26 is a view showing structures of the video pack 3703
and the audio pack 3704. More specifically, shown in FIG. 26 at (a)
is a structure of the pack disposed in the VOBU 3702 at the leading
position, while shown in FIG. 26 at (b) is a structure of the pack
disposed at a position other than the leading position in the VOBU
3702. One pack has a fixed length of 2408 bytes. More specifically,
the leading pack of the VOBU 3702 is comprised of a pack header
3801 of 14 bytes, a system header 3802 of 24 bytes, a packet header
3803 succeeding thereto and additionally real data 3804 concerning
the picture or sound, as illustrated in FIG. 26 at (a). The packet
header 3803 and the real data 3804 have variable lengths in
dependence on the contents of the data. Thus, it can
discriminatively be determined by checking the contents of the
packet header 3803 whether the relevant pack is a video pack or an
audio pack. On the other hand, as can be seen in FIG. 26 at (b),
such a structure is adopted for the packs other than the leading
pack of the VOBU 3702 in which the system header 3802 is absent,
when compared with the leading pack of the VOBU 3702 described
above. At this juncture, it should be added that the units
subjected to the processing such as VOB and VOBU are used only for
performing the data management in the management information file
3202. Accordingly, considering the moving picture file 3203 and the
still picture file 3204 simply as the data, these VOBs and VOBUs
are recognized as series of stream data which are multiplexed in
accordance with the MPEG2 system standards described previously.
Parenthetically, details of the multiplexing scheme itself are
disclosed in the written MPEG2 system standards mentioned
previously. Thus, description thereof in detail will be
unnecessary.
[0169] FIG. 27 is a view illustrating a sixth embodiment of the
present invention, which shows, by way of example, a method
according to which the management information file 3202 and the
moving picture file 3203 themselves are repaired by analyzing the
moving picture file 3203 read out from the optical disk 3009 in the
repairing operation described previously. Parenthetically, "P"
shown in the figure represents a video pack or an audio pack, and
m, n and k represent positive integers, respectively. As described
hereinbefore in conjunction with the fifth embodiment of the
invention, in the case where the analysis is performed from the
leading position of the stream data with the status flag being `5`
upon stating of the repairing operation or in the case where the
analysis is performed from an intermediate position of the stream
data (point P3501 shown in FIG. 23) with the status flag being `1`
or `2`, the starting position is a pack delimiting position. It is
assumed, by way of example, that the stream data analysis for
repairing the m-th VOB (represented by VOB#m, same in the
description which follows) in FIG. 27. In that case, so far as all
the succeeding stream data are normal, delimitation of the VOBU can
be determined by detecting the pack header 3801 mentioned above and
then detecting the system header 3802. Thus, information concerning
the number of packs constituting the VOB and VOBU as well as the
time information of each VOBU can be acquired. Furthermore, by
analyzing a part of the leading portion of the packet header 3803
and a part of a leading portion of the real data 3804, the
information concerning the number of packs constituting the
I-picture internally of the VOBU as well as the time information
for decoding can be acquired. Thus, the information concerning the
stream data which succeed to the VOB#m can be reflected in the
management information file 3202. In that case, the analysis may be
performed successively on a pack-by-pack basis. Thus, there arises
no necessity of analyzing all of the real data 3804.
[0170] At this juncture, it is presumed that the VOB#m shown in
FIG. 27 is composed of k VOBUs and that at the point P3901 of the
n-th VOBU (represented by VOBU#n, same in the description which
follows), a defect of the stream data such as dropout of the pack
header and the system header or improperness of the time
information for decoding is detected. Since generation of the
management information file 3202 with the defective portion being
left as it is will incur the possibility that the reproduction
output display contains defectiveness, needless to say. For this
reason, the VOBU in which the point P3901 is contained is deleted
from the stream data. In that case, when the VOBU of concern is
located at an intermediate 5 position of the VOB, the time
information for each VOBU becomes discontinuous due to the delete
processing. Accordingly, the management information file 3202 is so
processed that the VOB is delimited at the position mentioned
above. As a result of this, the VOB#m is composed of (n-1) VOBUs,
while VOB#(m+1) is composed of (k-1) VOBUs. In succession, the
repairing operation is continued up to the trailing end of the
stream data, wherein the delete processing similar to that
described above is carried out upon every detection of defective
portions.
[0171] As is apparent from the above, according to the sixth
embodiment of the present invention, analysis of the stream data is
performed on a per-pack basis in the repair processing, wherein
upon detection of defect of data, the data delete processing is
performed on a per-VOBU basis and reflected in the management
information. By virtue of this feature, it is possible to correct
or cancel out discrepancy or incoincidence between the management
information file and the AV data file.
[0172] FIG. 28 is a view illustrating a seventh embodiment of the
present invention and shows an example of repairing of the
management information file 3202 and the moving picture file 3203
themselves by analyzing the moving picture file 3203 read out from
the optical disk 3009 as in the case of the example described above
by reference to FIG. 27. Similarly to the case illustrated in FIG.
27, it is supposed that the VOB#m is composed of k VOBUs and that
at the point P3101 of the VOBU#n, a defect of the stream data such
as dropout of the pack header and/or the system header or
improperness of the time information to be decoded is detected.
[0173] Since generation of the management information file 3202
with the defective portion being contained as it is will incur a
possibility that the reproduction output display may contain
defectiveness, as described previously in conjunction with the
sixth embodiment. However, according to the invention incarnated in
the instant embodiment, the VOBU in which the point P3901 is
contained is not deleted from the stream data but handled as the
independent VOB in the ordinary manner internally of the management
information. More specifically, the attribute of the concerned VOB
is set as "A1" internally of the management information. Further,
for the item decided as defective, as mentioned above, a value
which can be accommodated by the Standards is recorded as a dummy.
By way of example, in the case where the time information is
reversed between the leading portion and the trailing end portion
of the VOB, the time information is corrected to appropriate values
internally of the management information so that the reversal
mentioned above makes disappearance.
[0174] When the VOBU of concern is located at an intermediate
position of the VOB, the VOBU is managed independently as a VOB.
Accordingly, the management information file 3202 is so processed
that the VOB is delimited before and after the position mentioned
above. As a result of this, the VOB#m is composed of one VOBU,
while VOB#(m+2) is composed of (k-n) VOBUs. In succession, the
repairing operation is carried out continuously up to the trailing
end of the stream data, and the processing similar to that
described above is executed upon every detection of a defective
portion.
[0175] When the repairing operation of the moving picture file 3203
is performed on the basis of the management information file 3202
updated through the repair processing described above, the
VOB#(n+1) is not reproduced since it is set with the attribute
"temporarily deleted". However, since the operator can recognize
existence of data of the attribute "temporarily deleted" through
the medium of the output unit 3010 and the user interface (I/F)
3003 shown in FIG. 19, it is possible to delete the relevant data
portion afterwards. Furthermore, in the case where the contents on
the optical disk 3009 in the state mentioned above is handled with
a personal computer or PC, it is possible to analyze all the data
since any portion of the moving picture file 3203 is not modified
at all through the repairing operation.
[0176] As is apparent from the above, according to the teaching of
the invention incarnated in the seventh embodiment, the stream data
is analyzed on a per-pack basis for the repairing purpose, wherein
upon detection of a defect in the stream data, the relevant VOBU in
the management information is handled as the VOB to be managed as
the attribute "temporarily deleted" for correcting the discrepancy
or incoincidence between the management information file and the AV
data file. Thus, the reproduction output can be protected against
any improperness.
[0177] In the foregoing, description has been made in conjunction
with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention on the
presumption that eight different values are used as the values for
the status flag. However, the present invention is never restricted
to any specific number of the status flag values. A greater number
of status flag values may be employed for realizing the repair
processing more finely. Alternatively, the repair processing may be
simplified by using a smaller number of status flag values.
Further, in conjunction with the sixth and seventh embodiments of
the invention, description has been made on the assumption that
repairing of the moving picture file 3203 is performed because of
occurrence of the power supply breakage in the course of repairing
the moving picture file. It should however be understood that the
method described previously in this conjunction can equally be
applied to the repair processing for the still picture file 3204
for which the status flag value is `3` or `4` through similar
management procedure such as deletion of VOBU containing the
defective portion, alteration or change of the attribute thereof or
the like. Incidentally, the method of determining the defective
location or position in the stream data has not been described in
detail. It should however be appreciated that the states to be
decided as suffering the defectiveness are not restricted to those
described previously but may include such state in which the amount
of data as recorded is extremely small, etc. In other words, the
level or degree of defectiveness can be altered appropriately as
the case may be.
[0178] Furthermore, although the foregoing description of the
illustrated embodiments has been made on the assumption that the
recording apparatus is constituted by a camera. However, this is
only by way of example and the present invention is never
restricted to the camera. Since the unexpected power supply
breakage will take place even in the fixed type information
recording/reproducing apparatus operating under power supply tapped
from the interior wiring, the present invention can equally be
carried out upon restoration of the power supply in such
application as mentioned just above.
[0179] Additionally, as to the recording medium, optical disk such
as DVD disk or the like has been exemplified. However, the present
invention is never restricted to the recording on such optical disk
but can be carried out equally in the case where the recording
medium on which information is recorded on a real time basis such
as magnetic DVD disks, semiconductor memories or the like are
employed.
[0180] Besides, in the foregoing description of the exemplary
embodiments of the invention, it has been assumed that the volatile
memory is employed as the management information expansion memory
on which the management information is developed pr expanded.
However, the present invention can also be carried out equally in
the case where the nonvolatile memory is employed as well. In that
case, reliability of the information record/reproduce processings
executed upon occurrence of the unexpected power supply breakage
can further be enhanced.
[0181] As is apparent from the foregoing, according to the
teachings of the present invention, even when the recording
operation is suddenly interrupted due to occurrence of breakage of
electric power supply, it is possible to generate the bit stream
file which contains the information for repairing the management
information file and the bit stream file which have been written on
the recording medium until the electric power supply is
stopped.
[0182] Additionally, according to the present invention, even when
the recording is stopped due to unexpected occurrence of electric
power supply breakage, it is possible to repair the management
information file and the bit stream file written on the recording
medium until the electric power supply is broken.
[0183] In addition, according to the teachings of the present
invention, it is possible to decide selectively whether or not
repairing operation is to be carried out when electric power supply
is restored after interruption of the recording operation due to
occurrence of unexpected breakage of the power supply in the course
of the recording operation. Besides, even in the case where it is
determined that the repairing operation is not to be carried out,
the succeeding recording operation can be started. More
specifically, when outdoor video recording is being performed by
using a camera or the like and when the recording operation is
stopped or interrupted due to unexpected shutdown of the power
supply, execution of the repairing operation upon restoration of
the power supply makes it impossible to carry out immediately the
succeeding recording operation on the one and same recording medium
because a lot of time is taken for repairing. However, according to
the teachings of the present invention, the succeeding recording
operation can be instantaneously started upon restoration of the
power supply even for the one and same recording medium. Thus,
wasteful consumption of time and electric power can be avoided
while ensuring significantly improved convenience for the user in
using the recording apparatus.
[0184] Moreover, according to the present invention, detailed
discriminating information concerning the operating states is
stored by providing the status storing memory so that the
management information file and the AV data file can be repaired by
referencing the status discriminating information when the power
supply is restored after unexpected breakage thereof. Since
repairing is realized by analyzing directly the stream data, there
arises no necessity of containing in advance the repairing data in
the stream data, but the repairing operation can be started from
the concerned location in the stream data in accordance with the
status discriminating information mentioned above. Thus, extraneous
time and power consumption can be avoided.
[0185] Furthermore, according to the present invention, analysis of
the stream data is performed on a predetermined unit basis, and
upon detection of defectiveness of data, data delete processing is
executed on an appropriate per-code basis for the relevant data
portion containing the defect, which is then reflected in the
management information. Thus, it is possible to correctively cope
with discrepancy or incoincidence between the management
information file and the AV data file, whereby any adverse
influence to the succeeding recording, reproduction and/or editing
operation can positively be prevented.
[0186] Additionally, according to the present invention, the stream
data is analyzed on a predetermined per-unit basis in the repairing
operation, wherein when a data defect is detected, the relevant
code unit of the management information containing the data defect
is handled as an encode unit of a higher level which can be managed
independently. Thus, by managing it as the attribute such as the
attribute "temporarily deleted" which exerts no influence to the
succeeding recording, reproduction and/or the editing operation,
discrepancy or incoincidence possibly existing between the
management information file and the AV data file can be
correctively avoided. Additionally, since it is not required to
process especially the stream data, it is possible to reference the
whole AV data file on the disk by resorting to other appropriate
procedure.
* * * * *