U.S. patent application number 10/668635 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for information recording method and apparatus, information reproducing method and apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Fujii, Nobuko, Kanota, Keiji, Yamamoto, Noriyuki.
Application Number | 20040059868 10/668635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 12916220 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040059868 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kanota, Keiji ; et
al. |
March 25, 2004 |
Information recording method and apparatus, information reproducing
method and apparatus
Abstract
An information recording method and apparatus and an information
reproducing method and apparatus in which AV data can be recorded
or reproduced temporally continuously without producing
fragmentation. To this end, the apparatus includes a storage unit 7
at least including a management information region and a user data
region made up of plural logical blocks, and a recording unit 9 for
continuously recording information signals from a recording start
logical block to a recording end logical block in the user data
region of the storage unit 7 and again recording information
signals from the recording start logical block.
Inventors: |
Kanota, Keiji; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Yamamoto, Noriyuki; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
Fujii, Nobuko; (Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG, LLP.
10TH FLOOR
745 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10151
US
|
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
12916220 |
Appl. No.: |
10/668635 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10668635 |
Sep 23, 2003 |
|
|
|
09261335 |
Mar 3, 1999 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
711/112 ;
G9B/20.027; G9B/20.059; G9B/27.012; G9B/27.019 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 27/034 20130101;
G11B 2220/2516 20130101; G11B 20/1217 20130101; G11B 2220/41
20130101; G06F 2003/0697 20130101; G11B 27/105 20130101; G11B
2220/20 20130101; G11B 20/1883 20130101; G06F 3/0601 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
711/112 |
International
Class: |
G06F 012/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 4, 1998 |
JP |
10-052492 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information recording apparatus comprising: a disc-shaped
recording medium at least having a management information region
and a user data region made up of a plurality of logical blocks;
and recording means for continuously recording information signals
in said user data region of said storage means from a recording
start logical block to a recording end logical block and for again
recording the information signals from the recording start logical
block.
2. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein
said recording means includes splitting means for splitting a user
data region of said disc-shaped recording medium into a plurality
of data areas, continuously recording information signals from a
recording start logical block to a recording end logical block from
one data area to another and again recording the information
signals from the recording start logical block.
3. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2 wherein
said recording means includes control means for varying the
frequency of recording of said recording areas to record
information signals.
4. The information recording apparatus according to claim 3 wherein
said control means includes recording means for recording at least
a portion of information signals recorded in a first data area
among said plural data areas in data areas other than said first
data area.
5. The information recording apparatus according to claim 4 wherein
said recording means when recording information signals recorded in
said first data area in certain ones of said plural data areas vary
the compression rate of the information signals for doing the
recording.
6. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2 wherein
there are provided n disc-shaped recording mediums and wherein said
recording means includes means for splitting said data areas as the
capacity of the user data region of said disc-shaped recording
medium is n-tupled responsive to an actuation command of said
actuation input means.
7. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2 wherein
there are provided n disc-shaped recording mediums and wherein said
recording means includes splitting means for splitting the user
data region of each disc-shaped recording medium into m data areas
responsive to an actuation command of said actuation input means
for splitting into n X m data areas.
8. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1
wherein, if the time for one complete revolution of the disc-shaped
recording medium is r, the seek time required for the recording
means to move from the innermost rim to the outermost rim of the
disc-shaped recording medium is t and the angle of rotation for the
seek time t is .theta., the recording start logical block and the
recording end logical block are positioned with a phase offset to
meet the relation .theta.>t/rX360.degree..
9. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2 wherein
said recording means splits each data area into at least two
regions, that is an outer rim side region and an inner rim side
region of said disc-shaped recording medium, and wherein said
recording means records information signals in said outer rim side
region from an outer/inner rim side recording start logical block
to an inner/outer rim side recording end logical block, said
recording means recording information signals in said inner rim
side area from the inner/outer rim side recording start logical
block to an outer/inner rim side recording end logical block.
10. An information recording method for recording information
signals on a disc-shaped recording medium at least having a
management information region and a user data region made up of a
plurality of logical blocks, comprising: continuously recording
information signals in said user data region from a recording start
logical block to a recording end logical block of the disc-shaped
recording medium and for again recording the information signals
from the recording start logical block.
11. The information recording method according to claim 10 wherein
said recording step includes splitting the user data region into a
plurality of data areas; and continuously recording information
signals in each data area as from the recording start logical block
to the recording end logical block of said disc-shaped recording
medium and again recording information signals as from the
recording start logical block.
12. The information recording method according to claim 11 wherein
said recording step includes recording at least a portion of
information signals recorded in a first data area among said plural
data areas in data areas other than said first data area.
13. The information recording method according to claim 11 wherein
said recording step includes controlling the frequency of recording
of the information signals in each data area to hierarchize the
recording durability from one data area to another.
14. The information recording method according to claim 10 wherein
said user area region has a recording start logical block arrayed
at a position corresponding to the time required for movement from
a position of the recording start logical block to a recording end
logical block.
15. The information recording method according to claim 11 wherein,
when recording information signals on n disc-shaped recording
mediums, said recording step includes n-tupling the capacity of the
user data region of said disc-shaped recording medium for doing the
recording.
16. The information recording method according to claim 11 wherein,
when recording information signals on n disc-shaped recording
mediums, said recording step includes splitting the user data
region of each disc-shaped recording medium into m data areas for
splitting into n X m data areas for doing the recording.
17. The information recording method according to claim 10 wherein
said recording step includes splitting each data area into at least
two regions, namely an outer rim side region and an inner rim side
region; and recording information signals in an outer rim side
region from an outer/inner rim side recording start logical block
to an inner/outer rim side recording end logical block and also
recording information signals in an inner rim side region from an
inner/outer rim side recording start logical block to an
outer/inner rim side recording end logical block.
18. An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a
disc-shaped recording medium at least having a management
information region and a user data region made up of a plurality of
logical blocks; recording means for continuously recording
information signals in said user data region of said storage means
from a recording start logical block to a recording end logical
block and for again recording the information signals from the
recording start logical block; and reproducing means for
reproducing information signals stored in said recording means;
said recording means and the reproducing means recording
information signals in the user data region of said disc-shaped
recording medium and reproducing the information signals recorded
in the user data region of the disc-shaped recording medium.
19. The information recording/reproducing apparatus according to
claim 18 wherein said recording means includes splitting means for
splitting the user data region of said disc-shaped recording medium
into a plurality of data areas.
20. An information recording/reproducing method comprising:
continuously recording information signals from a recording start
logical block to a recording end logical block on a disc-shaped
recording medium having a management information region and a user
data region made up of a plurality of logical blocks, and again
recording information from the recording start logical block; and
reproducing the information signals recorded in the user data
region of the disc-shaped recording medium.
21. The information recording/reproducing method according to claim
20 further comprising: splitting the user data region of said
disc-shaped recording medium into a plurality of data areas; and
recording information s in said data area while reproducing
information signals recorded in the user data region of the
disc-shaped recording medium.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an information recording method
and apparatus, and an information reproducing method and apparatus
for recording/reproducing information signals, such as moving
picture data for a recording medium.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a filing system for a personal computer for controlling
e.g., a conventional hard disc drive (HDD), the main theme has been
to handle inherently discrete text data. The result is that, in
such file system, such a file is produced in which, due to the
recording/reproducing operations, logical addresses are constituted
by non-contiguous sectors, thus producing file fragmentation due to
recording/reproducing operations.
[0005] Meanwhile, in recording/reproducing temporally continuous AV
data, such as acoustic or moving picture data, by an HDD, the
continuous data transfer rate is crucial. However, if the file is
recorded/reproduced by the above-described file system, the
overhead indicating the management information such as recorded
sector numbers, is voluminous, due to file fragmentation, thus
consuming a lot of time for recording/reproduction to render it
impossible to assure the minimum continuous data transfer rate. If
it is impossible to assure the continuous data transfer rate, there
may arise an inconvenience that the inherently temporally
continuous AV data cannot be reproduced temporally
continuously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an information recording method and apparatus, and an
information reproducing method and apparatus for
recording/reproducing temporally continuous AV data without
producing the above-mentioned fragmentation.
[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides an information
recording apparatus including a disc-shaped recording medium at
least having a management information region and a user data region
made up of a plurality of logical blocks, and recording means for
continuously recording information signals in the user data region
of the storage means from a recording start logical block to a
recording end logical block and for again recording the information
signals from the recording start logical block.
[0008] With the present information recording apparatus,
information signals are continuously recorded by recording means in
the logical blocks of the disc-shaped recording medium.
[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provides an
information recording method for recording information signals on a
disc-shaped recording medium at least having a management
information region and a user data region made up of a plurality
oflogical blocks, including continuously recording information
signals in the user data region from a recording start logical
block to a recording end logical block of the disc-shaped recording
medium and again recording the information signals from the
recording start logical block.
[0010] With the present information recording method, information
signals are continuously recorded in the logical blocks of the
disc-shaped recording medium.
[0011] In a further aspect, the present invention provides an
information recording/reproducing apparatus including a disc-shaped
recording medium at least having a management information region
and a user data region made up of a plurality of logical blocks,
recording means for continuously recording information signals in
the user data region of the storage means from a recording start
logical block to a recording end logical block and for again
recording the information signals from the recording start logical
block, and reproducing means for reproducing information signals
stored in the recording means. The recording means and the
reproducing means records information signals in the user data
region of the disc-shaped recording medium, while reproducing the
information signals recorded in the user data region of the
disc-shaped recording medium.
[0012] In this information recording/reproducing apparatus,
information signals are continuously recorded in logical blocks of
the disc-shaped recording medium, while continuously recorded
information signals are reproduced.
[0013] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides an
information recording/reproducing method including continuously
recording information signals from a recording start logical block
to a recording end logical block on a disc-shaped recording medium
having a management information region and a user data region made
up of a plurality of logical blocks, and again recording
information signals from the recording start logical block, and
reproducing the information signals recorded in the user data
region of the disc-shaped recording medium.
[0014] In this information recording/reproducing method,
information signals are continuously recorded in logical blocks of
the disc-shaped recording medium, while continuously recorded
information signals are reproduced.
[0015] In the information recording method and apparatus of the
present invention, the information signals are continuously
recorded from the logical block of the leading end logical address
to the trailing end logical block and are again recorded as from
the logical block of the leading end logical address, thus enabling
data to be recorded temporally continuously in the user data
region. Thus, with the present information recording method and
apparatus, continuity of recorded data is assured, there being no
risk of fragmentation of recorded data. Since no data fragmentation
is produced, the data overhead can be reduced to improve the
continuous data transfer rate during reproduction.
[0016] Also, with the information recording/reproducing method and
apparatus of the present invention, information signals are
continuously recorded from the continuously recorded from the
logical block of the leading end logical address to the trailing
end logical block and are again recorded as from the logical block
of the leading end logical address, while the information signals
recorded are reproduced. Thus, with the present information
recording/reproducing method and apparatus, continuity of the
recorded data is assured, while information signals can be
reproduced temporally continuously. Thus, with the present
information recording/reproducing method and apparatus, there is no
risk of fragmentation produced in the recorded information signals.
Also, with the present information recording method and apparatus,
since no data fragmentation is produced, it is possible to reduce
the overhead of the information signals, thereby improving the
continuous data transfer rate during reproduction. In addition,
with the present information recording method and apparatus, the
user data region of the recording medium can be split into plural
regions for recording/reproduction, the frequency of recording can
be hierarchized, thus realizing diversified application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an illustrative structure
of an information recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a file system housed in a
ROM.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic view for illustrating the contents of
a root area of a file system.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the contents of a TOC
area of the file system.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the contents of a defect
list area of the file system.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an illustrative structure
of an AV cluster stored in the user data region.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic view for illustrating the capacity of
an AV cluster in each recording mode.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic view for illustrating audio data
stored in the AV cluster.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic view for illustrating a still picture
cluster stored in audio data.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a conceptual view for illustrating
recording/reproduction with twice the capacity of the AV data area
and the memo data area in the information recording/reproducing
apparatus having two HDDs.
[0027] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing on
startup of an information recording/reproducing apparatus embodying
the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for illustrating the updating
processing for updating a root area in the processing on startup of
an information recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the
present invention.
[0029] FIG. 13 is a flowchart for illustrating the updating
processing for the TOC area and the defect list area in the
processing on startup of an information recording/reproducing
apparatus embodying the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing for
reproducing AV data by an information recording/reproducing
apparatus embodying the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 15 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing for
recording AV data by the information recording/reproducing
apparatus embodying the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be explained in detail.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an illustrative structure
of an information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 embodying the
present invention. The information recording/reproducing apparatus
1, shown in FIG. 1, includes an antenna 2 for receiving digital
data of the Moving Picture Experts Group System (MPEG system), an
antenna 3 for receiving analog signals of, for example, the
National Television System Committee (NTSC) system, a signal
processing circuit 4 for signal-processing digital data and analog
data received over antennas 2, 3, respectively, and a host bus 5 as
a common bus for information transmission. The information
recording/reproducing apparatus 1 also includes an interfacing
buffer 6 for mediating information transmission between the signal
processing circuit 4 and the host bus 5, a hard disc drive (HDD) 7,
having a recording medium for recording the information thereon,
and an AT attachment adapter (ATA) 8 for mediating information
transmission between the host bus 5 and the HDD 7.
[0034] The host bus 5 is a parallel transmission line for
transmission of the information among various parts of the
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1.
[0035] The interfacing buffer 6 mediates transmission of an audio
and/or visual digital data stream, referred to hereinafter simply
as AV data, between the signal processing circuit 4 and the host
bus 5. For example, the interfacing buffer 6 converts the transfer
rate of the AV data or adjusts the transfer timing. This
interfacing buffer 6 has an internal 2-bank RAM which is made up of
two RAMs alternately switched for adjusting information
transmission.
[0036] The HDD 7 is a is a disc apparatus for recording input AV
data. The ATA adapter 8 is interposed between the host bus 5 and
the HDD 7 for conversion between parallel data of the host bus 5
and the data-format data of the HDD 7.
[0037] The HDD 7 includes an internal recording medium for
recording AV data. On this recording medium is recorded AV data
multiplexed by a multiplexer 19 in accordance with a file system
which will be explained subsequently. If loaded with a magnetic
disc as a recording medium, the HDD 7 includes a magnetic head for
recording temporally continuous AV data on the magnetic disc.
[0038] When recording continuous AV data on the magnetic disc, the
HDD 7 causes the magnetic head to scan the magnetic disc from the
outer rim towards the inner rim thereof to follow the tracks formed
on the magnetic disc. When data has been recorded from the
outermost rim to the innermost rim, the HDD 7 causes the magnetic
head to be moved again to the outermost rim to record AV data. At
this time, a routine HDD again records the information from the
outermost rim after lapse of the time during which the magnetic
head is moved from the innermost rim to the outermost rim and the
rotational waiting time until the time of reaching the logical
block address of initiating the recording. However, with this HDD
7, the rotational waiting time until the recording starting logical
block address is set to zero to assure temporal AV data
continuity.
[0039] That is, with the magnetic head in this HDD 7, the
rotational waiting time is set to zero by calculating the position
of the logical block address for recording starting arrayed at the
outermost rim. That is, if the time for one complete revolution of
the magnetic disc is r, the seek time until the magnetic head is
moved from the innermost rim to the outermost rim is t, the angle
through which the magnetic disc is rotated during this skew time t
(skew angle) is .theta., the sector number is n and the number of
sectors for cone complete revolution is n.sub.0,
.theta.>t/rX360.degree. (1)
[0040] and
n=(t/rXn.sub.0)-.alpha. (2)
[0041] In the above equation (2), .alpha. is the number of sectors
of rotation during the time needed for the HDD 7 to construe a
command from a CPU since the inputting of the command and to set
the command in each circuit in the HDD 7. That is, the equation (1)
indicates that, if the seek time t is approximately 5 ms and the
time for one complete revolution r is approximately 10 ms, the skew
angle is approximately 180.degree., meaning that the recording
starting logical block address may be positioned with an offset of
approximately 180.degree. from the recording end logical block
address. The sector number corresponding to the recording starting
logical block address can be calculated by substituting a pre-set
numerical value into the equation (2). Therefore, it is possible
with the present HDD 7 to record non-interrupted data even in case
of temporally continuous recording.
[0042] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 also
includes the CPU 9 as a central processing unit for concentrated
information processing, a RAM 10 as a volatile memory and a ROM 11
as a non-volatile memory.
[0043] The CPU 9 controls a series of operations of the information
recording method by the present information recording/reproducing
apparatus 1, such as data transfer or control operations for the
HDD 7, by software control. The software, starting this series of
operations, is recorded in, for example, a ROM 11, and is
occasionally read out for execution. This CPU 9 operates under the
reduced instruction set computer (RISC) system such that the CPU is
a reduced instruction set computer in which the basic commands are
simplified to reduce the number of commands for improving the
processing speed.
[0044] This CPU 9 is connected to an actuating input unit, such as
a keyboard, not shown, so that it is fed with an actuating input
signal from the user. The CPU 9 is fed with an actuating input
signal for commanding the recording and reproduction of, for
example, AV data, to control the various portions of the
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 responsive to the
actuating input signal.
[0045] In the ROM 11 is stored a file system as a control program
as later explained. The file system, stored in the ROM 11, is read
by the CPU 9. The CPU 9 reading this file system controls the
recording/reproduction for the HDD.
[0046] The RAM 10, connected to the host bus 5, is a volatile
memory for transient data storage. The ROM 11, connected to the
host bus 5, is a non-volatile memory in which pre-set data and the
software are recorded.
[0047] In the RAM 10 are stored a root, stored in the HDD 7 during
startup and recording/reproduction, and the management information
indicating the TOC. This management information is incidentally
updated by the CPU 9 during startup and recording/reproduction.
[0048] The signal processing circuit 4 includes a tuner 15, fed
with signals via antenna 3 receiving video and audio signals of the
analog system, an A/D conversion circuit 16 for converting video
signals entering the tuner 15 into digital data, and an NTSC
decoder 17 fed with digital system video signals from the A/D
conversion circuit 16. The signal processing circuit 4 also
includes an MPEG2 encoder 18 fed with the video signals converted
into baseband signals by the NTSC decoder 17 and a multiplexer 19
of the MPEG system of the digital system.
[0049] This signal processing circuit 4 also includes an A/D
conversion circuit 20 fed with audio signals entering the tuner 15
and an MPEG1 encoder 21 fed with audio signals converted into
digital signals by the A/D conversion circuit 20.
[0050] The tuner 15 is fed with, for example, NTSC signals received
by the antenna 3. The tuner 15 receives and detects the video and
audio signals received by the antenna 3. The tuner 15 outputs the
detected video signals to the A/D conversion circuit 16 while
outputting the audio signals to the A/D conversion circuit 20.
[0051] The A/D conversion circuit 16 A/D converts the video signals
from the video input terminal or the tuner 15 into video data. The
A/D conversion circuit 16 also outputs the video data of, for
example, the NTSC system to the NTSC decoder 17.
[0052] The NTSC decoder 17 is fed with the video data of the NTSC
system from the A/D conversion circuit 16. This NTSC decoder 17
expands the input video data to generate baseband signals. The NTSC
decoder 17 outputs the baseband signals to the MPEG2 encoder 18 via
terminal 1 of a switch 22.
[0053] The MPEG2 encoder 18 compresses the baseband signals from
the NTSC decoder 17. At this time, the MPEG2 encoder compresses the
input baseband signals into digital data of the MPEG2 system. This
MPEG2 encoder 18 encodes the input baseband signals at a
compression rate specified by the CPU 9 so as to be an integer
number multiple of the logical sector of the recording medium. That
is, the MPEG2 encoder 18 performs compression so that the maximum
data value of the input GOP and/or the I-frame will be data volume
equal to an integer number multiple of the logical sector of the
recording medium.
[0054] The MPEG2 encoder 18 is fed with baseband signals from an
MPEG2 decoder 24 via terminal 2 of the switch 22 and terminal 2 of
the switch 26. This MPEG2 encoder 18 encodes the baseband signals
from the MPEG2 decoder 24 at a pre-set compression rate.
[0055] The tuner 15 outputs audio signals, among the input signals
from the antenna 3, to the A/D conversion circuit 20. The A/D
conversion circuit 20 A/D converts the input audio signals to audio
data. This A/D conversion circuit 20 outputs the audio data to the
MPEG1 encoder 21.
[0056] The MPEG1 encoder 21 compresses the audio data from the A/D
conversion circuit 20 to output the compressed data to the
multiplexer 19.
[0057] The multiplexer 19 multiplexes the video data from the MPEG2
encoder 18 and the audio data from the MPEG1 encoder 21. The
multiplexer 19 compresses the MPEG signals along the time axis to
VAVAVA . . . in GOP time units, where V and A are video data and
audio data, respectively. The multiplexer 19 outputs the
multiplexed AV data to the interfacing buffer 6.
[0058] The multiplexer 19 is fed via interfacing buffer 6 with AV
data recorded on a recording medium in the HDD 7. The multiplexer
19 splits the AV data entering from the interfacing buffer 6 into
video data and audio data. This multiplexer 19 outputs the video
data obtained on splitting via terminal 2 to a multiplexer 32 via
terminal 2 of the switch 34 and to the MPEG2 decoder 24 via
terminal 1 of the switch 23. The multiplexer 32 outputs the audio
data obtained on splitting to the multiplexer 32 via a delay
circuit 33 and to an MPEG1 decoder 25.
[0059] The signal processing circuit 4 includes an antenna 2 for
receiving digital data of the MPEG system, a set top box STB 30, a
digital I/F circuit 31, the multiplexer 32 and the delay circuit
33.
[0060] The antenna 2 again receives digital data of, for example,
the MPEG system. This antenna 2 outputs the received digital data
as RF signals to the STB 30.
[0061] The STB 30 receives and detects the digital data from the
antenna 2 at a front end. The STB 30 descrambles the scrambled
digital data to output the resulting descrambled data to the
digital I/F circuit 31.
[0062] The STB 30 is fed from the digital I/F circuit 31 with
digital data. The STB 30 has an MPEG decoder enclosed therein. The
STB 30 decodes the digital data from the digital I/F circuit 31,
using the MPEG decoder to expand the compressed video data and
audio data for conversion to video signals and audio signals.
[0063] The digital I/F circuit 31 has a physical layer/link layer
processing circuit and performs signal processing, such as signal
conversion, on digital data from the STB 30, to output the
processed data to the multiplexer 32.
[0064] The digital I/F circuit 31 is also fed with digital data
multiplexed from the video data and the audio data from the
multiplexer 32. This digital I/F circuit 31 outputs the digital
data to the STB 30.
[0065] The multiplexer 32 splits the digital data from the digital
I/F circuit 31 into video data and audio data. The multiplexer 32
outputs the video data obtained on splitting to the MPEG2 decoder
24 via terminal 1 to the switch 34 and via terminal 2 of the switch
23. This multiplexer 32 outputs the audio data to the delay circuit
33.
[0066] The multiplexer 32 is fed with video data from the
multiplexer 19 via switch 34 and with audio data via the delay
circuit 33. The multiplexer 32 multiplexes the input video and
audio data to output the multiplexed data to the digital I/F
circuit 31.
[0067] The delay circuit 33 adjusts the delay of the audio data
from the multiplexer 32. This delay circuit 33 delays the input
video or audio data to adjust the time difference between the input
video and audio data to output the audio data to the multiplexer
32.
[0068] The delay circuit 33 is fed as input only with audio data
among the video and audio data as split by the multiplexer 19. The
delay circuit 33 adjusts the delay with respect to the video data
to output the audio data to the multiplexer 32.
[0069] The signal processing circuit 4 includes the MPEG2 decoder
24 fed with video data via terminal 2 of the switch 23, the MPEG1
decoder 25 fed with audio data obtained on splitting by the
multiplexer 19, and an NTSC encoder 27 fed with video data decoded
by the MPEG2 decoder 24 via terminal 1 of the switch 26. The signal
processing circuit 4 also includes a D/A conversion circuit 28 fed
with data encoded by the NTSC encoder 27 and a D/A converting
circuit 29 fed with audio data decoded by the MPEG1 decoder 25.
[0070] The MPEG2 decoder 24 is fed via terminal 1 of the switch 23
with video data obtained in such a manner that the AV data recorded
on the HDD 7 is read out by the data transfer software of the CPU 9
and split via ATA adapter 8, host bus 5 and interfacing buffer 6 by
the multiplexer 19. This MPEG2 decoder 24 expands the compressed
input video data. Also, the MPEG2 decoder 24 is fed video data via
terminal 2 of the switch 23 from the multiplexer 32. The MPEG2
decoder 24 outputs to the switch 26 the video data obtained on
expanding the input video data.
[0071] The switch 23 is controlled so that it is coupled to the
terminal 2 or to the terminal 1 when the video data from the
multiplexer 32 is entered to the MPEG2 decoder 24 or when the video
data from the multiplexer is entered to the MPEG2 decoder 24,
respectively.
[0072] Also, the switch 26 is controlled so that it is couped to
the terminal 2 or to the terminal 1 when video data from the MPEG2
decoder 24 is outputted to the switch 22 or to the NTSC encoder 27,
respectively.
[0073] The NTSC encoder 27 is fed via terminal 1 of the switch 26
with video data decoded by the MPEG2 decoder 24. This NTSC encoder
27 compresses the input video data by the NTSC system to output the
compressed data to the D/A conversion circuit 28.
[0074] The D/A conversion circuit 28 D/A converts the video data
from the NTSC encoder 27 into video signals. This D/A conversion
circuit 28 outputs the video signals to a video output
terminal.
[0075] The MPEG1 decoder 25 is fed with audio data obtained on
splitting by the multiplexer 19. This MPEG1 decoder 25 expands the
input audio data. This MPEG1 decoder 25 outputs the expanded audio
data to the D/A converting circuit 29.
[0076] The D/A converting circuit 29 D/A converts the audio data
from the MPEG1 decoder 25 into audio signals. This D/A converting
circuit 29 outputs the audio signals to an audio output
terminal.
[0077] When recording the digital data of the MPEG system received
by the antenna 2 on the recording medium in the HDD 7, the signal
processing circuit 4 outputs the digital data via STB 30 and
digital I/F circuit 31 to the multiplexer 32.
[0078] The multiplexer 32 separates the input digital data into
video data and audio data. The multiplexer 32 outputs the audio
data to the delay circuit 33.
[0079] Also, the multiplexer 32 outputs the video data via switch
34 and switch 23 to the MPEG2 decoder 24. At this time, control is
made so that the movable contacts of the switches 34, 23 are set to
the terminals 1 and 2, respectively.
[0080] The MPEG2 decoder 24 expands the compressed video data to
output the expanded data via switches 26, 22 to the MPEG2 encoder
18. At this time, control is made so that the switches 26, 22 are
connected to the terminal 2.
[0081] The MPEG2 encoder 18 compresses video data entered at a
pre-set compression rate. At this time, the MPEG2 encoder 18
compresses the GOP and/or the I-picture at a compression rate which
is equal to an integer number times the logical sector of the
recording medium in the HDD 7.
[0082] The audio data delayed by the delay circuit 33 is outputted
to the multiplexer 19 under timing control, while the video data
from the m18 is outputted to the multiplexer 19.
[0083] The multiplexer 19 multiplexes the input video and audio
data to generate AV data to record the generated AV data on the
recording medium in the HDD 7 via ATA adapter 8. Thus, with the
present recording/reproducing apparatus 1, MPEG data is recorded in
terms of logical sectors of the recording medium asa unit.
[0084] Also, when recording analog signals of the NTSC system
received via antenna 3 on the recording medium in the HDD 7, analog
signals of the NTSC system are outputted to the tuner 15.
[0085] The tuner 15 detects analog signals from the antenna 3 to
output video signals and audio signals to the A/D conversion
circuit 16 and to the A/D conversion circuit 20, respectively. At
this time, the A/D conversion circuit 16 may be fed with video
signals from a video input terminal, while the A/D conversion
circuit 20 may be fed with audio signals from the audio input
terminal.
[0086] The AID conversion circuit 16 A/D converts the input video
signals into video data which is outputted to the NTSC decoder
17.
[0087] The NTSC decoder 17 expands the video data from the A/D
conversion circuit 16 to convert the video data into baseband
signals which are outputted to the MPEG2 encoder 18. At this time,
the switch 22 is controlled to be connected to the terminal 1.
[0088] The MPEG2 encoder 18 is fed via switch 22 with baseband
signals. The MPEG2 encoder 18 encodes the input baseband signals
into MPEG data at a compression rate specified by the CPU 9 to form
video data of the MPEG2 system. The MPEG2 encoder 18 performs
encoding so that the GOP and/or the I-frame will be compressed at a
rate of an integer number multiple of the logical sector of the
recording medium in the HDD 7. The MPEG2 encoder 18 outputs the
video to the multiplexer 19.
[0089] On the other hand, the A/D conversion circuit 20, fed with
audio signals from the tuner 15, A/D converts the audio signals
into audio data which is outputted as audio data to the MPEG1
encoder 21.
[0090] The MPEG1 encoder 21 encodes the audio data from the A/D
conversion circuit 20 in accordance with the MPEG1 system to output
the encoded data to the multiplexer 19.
[0091] The multiplexer 19 multiplexes the video data fed from the
MPEG2 encoder 18 and the audio data fed from the MPEG1 encoder 21
to generate AV data.
[0092] The multiplexer 19 records the generated AV data via
interfacing buffer 6, host bus 5 and the ATA adapter 8 on a
recording medium in the HDD 7. Thus, with the present
recording/reproducing apparatus 1, AV data of the MPEG system are
recorded in terms of the logical sectors of the recording medium
asa unit.
[0093] When reproducing the AV data recorded on the recording
medium in the HDD 7, the AV data stored in the HDD 7 is read out by
a data transfer software started by the CPU 9 in terms of the
logical sectors of the recording medium asa unit. It is possible
for the CPU 9 to read out AV data stored in the HDD 7 by, for
example, various variable speed reproducing modes under software
control.
[0094] In the present recording/reproducing apparatus 1, AV data
read out from the HDD 7 is entered to the multiplexer 19 via ATA
adapter 8, host bus 5 and interfacing buffer 6. This multiplexer 19
splits the input AV data into video data and audio data.
[0095] When reproducing the AV data recorded on the recording
medium as digital data, the signal processing circuit 4 outputs the
video data from the multiplexer 19 via switch 34 to the multiplexer
32, while delay-adjusting the audio data in the delay circuit 33 to
output the delay-adjusted data to the multiplexer 32.
[0096] The multiplexer 32 multiplexes the input audio and video
data to output the multiplexed data to the digital I/F circuit 31.
The audio data and the video data are entered to the STB 30 and
converted by the MPEG decoder in the STB 30 into audio and video
signals which may be reproduced by variable-speed reproduction,
seamless reproduction and non-linear edit reproduction under
software control by the CPU 9.
[0097] If the AV data recorded on the recording medium by the
signal processing circuit 4 is to be reproduced as analog signals,
video data is outputted from the multiplexer 19 via terminal 1 of
the switch 23 to the MPEG2 decoder 24.
[0098] The MPEG2 decoder 24 decodes the video data from the
multiplexer 19 to output the decoded data via terminal 1 of the
switch 26 to the NTSC encoder 27.
[0099] The NTSC encoder 27 converts the digital data from the MPEG2
decoder 24 into NTSC system video data. The NTSC encoder 27 outputs
the NTSC system video data to the D/A conversion circuit 28.
[0100] The D/A conversion circuit 28 D/A converts video data from
the NTSC encoder 27 into NTSC system video signals which are
outputted to a video output terminal.
[0101] The multiplexer 19 outputs the audio data to the MPEG1
decoder 25, which then decodes the audio data from the multiplexer
19 to output the decoded data to the D/A converting circuit 29.
[0102] The D/A converting circuit 29 D/A converts audio signals
from the MPEG1 decoder 25 to output the converted signals to an
audio output terminal.
[0103] Thus, when recording digital signals compressed in
accordance with the MPEG system, the information
recording/reproducing apparatus 1 causes the MPEG2 decoder 24 to
decode the data while causing the MPEG2 encoder 18 to encode the
data at a pre-set compression rate equal to an integer number
multiple of the logical sectors of the hard disc for recording. On
the other hand, if fed with the NTSC system signals, the
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 causes the MPEG2
encoder 18 to encode the signals for recording. Therefore, in
reproducing recorded digital data, recorded digital data can be
reproduced simply by specifying the address information of the hard
disc using, for example, the data transfer hardware, thus assuring
facilitated accessing to the hard disc. Thus, with the present
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, variable readout
speeds can be used for reproduction, thus allowing to use a variety
of reproducing systems.
[0104] In the above-described information recording/reproducing
apparatus 1, a compression rate corresponding to an integer number
multiple of the logical sector of the hard disc is used for
compression by the MPEG2 encoder 18. It is however possible with
the MPEG2 encoder 18 to compress data at a plurality of fixed
rates. That is, if AV data compressed and recorded on a hard disc
is used for editing, the compression rate of 8 Mbps may be used,
whereas, it the data is used for SP (standard playing) or LP (long
playing), the compression rates of 4 Mbps or 2 Mbps may be used,
respectively. If the AV data recorded on the hard disc on the
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 is to be reproduced,
the data transfer software may be controlled in the CPU 9 to vary
the reading capacity in order to perform reproduction as described
above.
[0105] The file system stored in the ROM 11 is explained. FIG. 2
shows an illustrative structure of the file system 40. In this file
system 40, the capacity of approximately 14 GB from the leading end
LBA 0 up to the trailing end LBA N constitutes an information
area.
[0106] The file system 40 has its information area made up of a
lead-in region, a first system region, a user data region, a second
system region and a back-up area.
[0107] The lead-in region is two sectors from the leading end LBA 0
and represents a rot area. Referring to FIG. 3, this root area
stores a start LBA of a table-of-contents (TOC) area, a start LBA
for a defect list area, a start LBA for the user data region and a
start LBA for a backup region. In this root area, there are also
stored a start LBA of an AV data area of the user data region
(referred to hereinafter as a recording start LBA), a memo data
area start LBA and a start LBA for the audio data area. Thus, the
root area stores the split position information specifying the
overall structure of the file system 40.
[0108] This root area is made up a root 1 and a root 2 and, as
fail-safe measure, the same contents are stated therein.
[0109] At the trailing end of the root area is stored an A P count
which is data incremented each time the root area is rewritten.
This A P count is arranged at a position sub-dividing the lead-in
region from the system region.
[0110] The first system region is made up of a TOC area of 1534
sectors and a defect list area of 2560 sectors. In the TOC area and
in the defect list area, there are stored the management
information for AV data recorded in the user data region and a
table for managing second-order defects produced in the user data
region, respectively.
[0111] The TOC area may be configured similarly to that of a
mini-disc (MD) and is composed of PTOC0 to 2 used for moving
picture data, PTOC0 to 2 used for audio data, STOC for moving
pictures, an STOC for audio, MTOC and TOC reserved as a reservation
area for TOC.
[0112] Referring to FIG. 4, the A P count is stored in the leading
end LBA of the TOC area, and the split position information and the
recording mode information on the information stored in the user
data region are stored at back of the A P count. This recording
mode information is the information specifying the compression
rate, such as the compression rate in the compression system.
[0113] In this TOC area, there are recorded, for every information
portion stored in the user data region, the split position
information specifying the 4-byte start address LBA and the end LBA
and the 1-byte recording mode information.
[0114] Referring to FIG. 5, the A P count is stored in the leading
end LBA and a table for managing the second-order defect is stored
at back of the A P count.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 2 the user data region is made up of
27249542 sectors and includes an AV data area, a memo data area and
an audio data area. The size of the respective areas of the user
data region corresponds to the split position information stored in
the above-mentioned root area.
[0116] In this user data region, the AV data area, memo data area
and the audio data area are arrayed in this sequence from the outer
rim side of the disc-shaped recording medium. In the AV data area,
memo data area and the audio data area, addresses indicating the
leading end LBA is recorded in the root area.
[0117] In the AV data area is recorded compressed AV data. Among
data recorded in the AV data area, there are moving picture data
compressed in accordance with the MPEG2 system, and data compressed
in accordance with the wavelet compression system. Also, in this AV
data area, the data are recorded with respective recording modes
which will give the compression rate of the MPEG2 compression
system equal to, for example, 8 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 4 Mbps and 2 Mbps. In
the wavelet compression system, the data are recorded with
respective recording modes which will give the compression rate
equal to, for example, 8 Mbps and 6 Mbps.
[0118] In the AV data area, mainly the moving picture data and
audio data ancillary to the moving picture data are recorded in
temporal continuation to its recording start LBA. In this AV data
area, data are sequentially recorded as from the recording start
LBA and, when the AV data has been recorded in the total area, the
AV data is again recorded by overwriting as from the recording
start LBA, by way of recording by a so-called ring storage
structure. When reproducing the AV data recorded in this AV data
area, it is reproduced by temporally continuous reproduction.
[0119] In the AV data area, moving picture data and audio data are
recorded with an AV cluster shown in FIG. 6 as a recording unit.
This AV cluster is made up of a sequence header code (SH),
indicating the sequence layer start synchronization code, a
group-of-pictures (GOP) and a sequence end code (SE), and an audio
cluster.
[0120] In the AV data area, the compression rate is selected by the
CPU 9 so that the compression rate of the video cluster and the
audio cluster will be an integer number times the sector unit, and
the video cluster and the audio cluster are compressed by this
compression rate and recorded on the recording medium in the HDD 7.
This AV data area has 2.sup.n sectors subject to selection of the
compression rate.
[0121] Each GOP is made up of an I-picture, obtained on encoding
using an intra-frame prediction, a P-picture, obtained on encoding
using an inter-frame forward prediction, and a B-picture obtained
using bi-directional coding. In the present embodiment, GOP
parameters are set so that M=3 and N=15. That is, in the present
embodiment, each GOP is made up of 15 pictures, with the period of
the I- or P-pictures being 3. The I-picture has the maximum size of
a fixed capacity, with the GOP size also being of a fixed
capacity.
[0122] In the audio cluster, audio data corresponding to the GOP is
stored. This audio data is compressed and recorded in accordance
with the MPEG Audio system or the ATRAC system. The audio cluster
is of a fixed size in meeting with a GOP. In the present
embodiment, this audio cluster is compressed so that the audio
cluster is made up of 24 sectors or 12.288 kB or made up of 36
sectors or 18.432 kB if the cluster is compressed in the MPEG audio
system or in the ATRAC system, respectively. The video cluster is
compressed with the compression rate being varied in meeting with
variation in the audio cluster capacity in order to provide for a
fixed capacity of the AV cluster in its entirety.
[0123] The AV data area is recorded in the HDD 7 with a variable
size depending on the compression rate in association with the
recording mode. If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is
8.184/8.086 Mbps (edit mode), the AV data area in its entirety is
524.288 kB (1024 sectors), with the I-picture being 124.928 kB and
the GOP being 512 kB/524.288 kB, as shown in FIG. 7a.
[0124] If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is 6.089/5.991
Mbps (HP mode), the AV data area in its entirety is 393.216 kB (768
sectors), with the I-picture being 104.448 kB and the GOP being
380.928 KB/374.784 kB, as shown in FIG. 7b.
[0125] If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is 3.994/3.895
Mbps (SP mode), the AV data area in its entirety is 262.144 kB (512
sectors), with the I-picture being 83.968 kB and the GOP being
249.856 KB/243.712 KB, as shown in FIG. 7c.
[0126] If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is 1.899/1.800
Mbps (LP mode), the AV data area in its entirety is 131.072 kB (256
sectors), with the I-picture being 43.008 kB and the GOP being
118.784 KB/112.640 KB, as shown in FIG. 7d.
[0127] Of the AV data recorded in the above-mentioned AV data area,
only specified AV data selected by an actuating input signal by the
user is recorded. The recording format etc of the memo data area is
similar to that of the AV data area and is of the ring storage
structure in which the data is recorded temporally continuously.
The memo data area is usually smaller in capacity than the AV data
area.
[0128] In the audio data area, audio data, such as still picture
data, is recorded in the memo data area. In distinction from the
above-mentioned AV data area or memo data area, the audio data is
not recorded temporally continuously and are recorded/reproduced by
random accessing.
[0129] FIG. 8 shows an example of the audio data compression system
in which the ATRAC system is used as a compression system for audio
data stored in the audio data area. The audio data recorded in this
audio data area is compressed/expanded in terms of a sound group as
a unit and is recorded as a 424 byte data. Since the data is
recorded on the HDD 7 in terms of 512 bytes as a sector as a unit,
the audio data is recorded with the least common multiple of the
424 bytes and 512 bytes as a recording unit. In the present
embodiment, the least common multiple of 424 bytes and 512 bytes is
27136, so that the audio data area is made up of 27.136 KB, made up
of 53 sectors and 64 sound groups.
[0130] The still picture data stored in the audio data area is
compressed in accordance with the Joint Photographic Coding Experts
Group (JPEG) system, and is made up of 212 sectors, as shown in
FIG. 9, with four audio clusters being stored as still picture
clusters. This still picture cluster has a recording unit of 27.136
KB.
[0131] The second system region is constituted as a reserve area
and is made up of a CD data area of 20480 sectors and a system
reserve area.
[0132] The backup region has the contents similar to those of the
above-mentioned lead-in region and first system region, as shown in
FIG. 2. This backup area is utilized for fail-safe measures, for
example, by directly copying the contents of the lead-in region and
the system region.
[0133] In distinction from the lead-in region and the system
region, this backup region is designed so that the root area will
be the trailing end LBA. That is, in this backup region, the
capacity from LBA 0 to LBA N, for example, is fixed, so that, even
if the lead-in region cannot be reproduced by malfunctions, the
backup region can be accessed to reproduce the split position
information in the recording medium.
[0134] The CPU 9 stores AV data etc in the recording medium in the
HDD 7 in accordance with this file system 40. Also, the CPU 9 is
responsive to an actuating input signal from the user to split the
above-mentioned AV data area. At this time, the CPU splits the AV
data area and the memo data area responsive to the actuating input
signal via the ATA adapter 8. The recording format of the AV data
area and the memo data area split by the CPU 9 is of the ring
storage structure, similarly to the above-described structure, such
that, if the data is sequentially recorded from the leading end LBA
until the AV data is recorded in the entire area, the AV data is
again recorded by overwriting beginning from the leading end LBA.
The AV data recorded in this AV data area is reproduced temporally
continuously.
[0135] Therefore, in tis information recording/reproducing
apparatus, plural memo data areas can be provided responsive to the
actuating input signal from the user. The recording frequency can
be hierarchically arranged by the provision of the plural
rings.
[0136] As embodiments of the use of the information
recording/reproducing apparatus 1, an AV data area is set as an
area for perpetually recording the analog and digital broadcasting
programs. Since the AV data area is of the ring storage structure,
as described above, it is determined by the recording capacity as
set and by the compression rate of recorded AV data, such that
overwrite recording occurs after lapse of a pre-set time. For
example, if the capacity of the AV data area is for 7 hours of the
AV data volume, overwriting recording occurs after seven hours. In
the AV data area having the ring storage structure, the AV data
which the user desired to keep is erased after lapse of seven
hours. However, this inconvenience is evaded by providing a memo
data area separately from the AV data area. That is, in the present
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, only AV data which
the user desires to keep, among the AV data recorded in the AV data
area, is recorded in the memo data area, thus assuring longer
recoding than is possible with the AV data area. The reason is that
it is possible to reduce the frequency of recording for the memo
data area significantly as compared to that for the AV data
area.
[0137] For example, in the present information
recording/reproducing apparatus 1, the AV data area, the first memo
data area smaller in capacity than the AV data area and the second
memo data area smaller in capacity than the second memo data area
are set by an actuating input signal from the user. If an actuating
input signal for recording at least part of the AV data in the AV
data area is sent, the CPU 9 copies and records the AV data in the
first memo data area. If an actuating input signal for recording at
least part of the AV data recorded in the first memo data area is
supplied, the CPU 9 copies and records the AV data in the second
memo data area.
[0138] By hierarchically setting the memo data area, it is possible
to reduce the frequency of recording for the second memo data area
as compared to that for the first memo data.
[0139] Also, when AV data from the multiplexer 19 is recorded on
the HDD 7 by generating and outputting an ATA command, the CPU 9
outputs a control signal to the MPEG2 decoder 24 to control the
compression rate, as a result of which AV data recorded on the HDD
7 is encoded for compression at a specified compression rate. At
this time, the compressed Av data is of such a data volume in which
the maximum value of the GOP and/or the I-frame is equal to a data
volume equal to an integer number times the logical sector of the
recording medium of the HDD 7, as discussed above. This compression
rate is determined depending on the recording mode specified by the
actuating input signal from the user.
[0140] If the CPU 9 has N HDDs 7, the capacity of the AV data area
and the memo data area may be N-tupled depending on the actuating
input signal from the user. Thus, with the present information
recording/reproducing apparatus 1, AV data can be recorded
temporally continuously not only on a sole HDD 7 but also on plural
HDDs 7. If the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 has
two HDDs 7a, 7b, as shown in FIG. 10, the capacity of the AV data
area 7c and that of the memory data area 7d can be doubled, as
shown in FIG. 10.
[0141] Also, with the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1
having N HDDs 7, as described above, the number of the memo data
areas can be N-tupled depending on the actuating input signal. By
N-tupling the number of the memo data areas, it is possible to
increase the depth of the hierarchical structure of the file
system.
[0142] Moreover, in this information recording/reproducing
apparatus 1, the AV data area can be split into an inner rim
portion and an outer rim portion of the recording medium in order
to effect recording/reproduction in the shape of a letter eight on
a sole HDD 7. That is, in this HDD 7, the recording in the shape of
the letter eight can be realized by recording the AV data in the
outer rim portion beginning from the outer rim side recording start
LBA towards the inner rim side recording end LBA, by recording in
the inner rim portion beginning from the inner rim side recording
start LBA towards the outer rim side recording end LBA and by again
recording from the outer rim side on the outer rim side towards the
inner rim side LBA. By recording in the shape of the letter eight,
it is possible with the present information recording/reproducing
apparatus 1 to reduce the seek time of, for example, a magnetic
head, to record the AV data temporally continuously without
interruptions.
[0143] An illustrative operation of the above-described information
recording/reproducing apparatus 1 is hereinafter explained.
[0144] If fed with the power from a power source, an initializing
operation as shown in FIG. 11 is initiated. That is, in the
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, the CPU 9 manages
control at step ST11 to read the A P count along with the split
position information stored in a root area in a lead-in region of
the HDD 7.
[0145] The CPU 9 also manages control to read the contents of the
root area from the leading end LBA 0 and LBA 1 and to reproduce the
data beginning from the trailing end LBS to read the contents of
the root area in the backup region. The CPU 9 thus proceeds to the
updating processing at step ST12 and thence to the processing at
step ST13. This updating processing will be explained
subsequently.
[0146] At step ST13, the CPU 9 finds addresses of the TOC area,
defect list area and the backup region based on the split position
information stored in the root area selected by the above-mentioned
updating processing, before proceeding to step ST14.
[0147] At step ST14, the CPU 9 reproduces the TOC area, based on
the TOC area of the system region and the TOC area of the backup
region, as found at step ST 13, to reproduce the TOC area. At step
ST 15, the CPU 9 performs updating processing to update the TOC
area before proceeding toe step ST16. This updating processing will
be explained subsequently.
[0148] At step ST16, the CPU 9 reproduces the defect list area of
the system region and the backup region, based on the splitting
position information of the root area updated by the processing at
step ST12, before proceeding toe step ST17.
[0149] At step ST17, the CPU performs the updating processing, now
explained with reference to FIG. 12, to terminate the startup
processing. The CPU 9 is then in a standby state.
[0150] Referring to FIG. 12, the updating processing at step ST12
is explained. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for illustrating the updating
processing of the root area. First, at step ST21, the CPU 9
compares the A P count of the two root areas in the lead-in region
and the A P count of two root areas in the backup region, before
proceeding to step ST22.
[0151] At step ST22, of the A P counts of the root area in the
lead-in region and the A P counts in the root area in the backup
region, totalling four A p counts, those having the difference
equal to three or more is disregarded, before the CPU proceeds to
step ST23. That is, at step ST22, the four A P counts are compared
to one another and, if a given A P count differs by three or more
from the remaining A P counts, this A P count is excluded.
[0152] At step ST23, it is verified whether or not the A P count in
the lead-in region is larger than the A P count in the backup
region. If the result is YES, the CPU proceeds to step ST24 and, if
otherwise, the CPU proceeds to step ST25. That is, at this step
ST23, the root area having the largest one of the A P counts of the
plural root areas is selected.
[0153] At step ST24, the larger A P count selected at step ST23 is
recorded in the remaining area in a RAM 10 before the CPU proceeds
to step ST25.
[0154] At step ST25, only one data updated in the RAM 10 is left
while the remaining data are cleared to terminate the updating
processing in the root area. The CPU then proceeds to step
ST13.
[0155] Referring to FIG. 13, the updating processing at step ST15
and at step ST17 is explained. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the
updating processing for the TOC area and the defect list area. The
processing shown in this flowchart is similar to that shown in FIG.
12. At step ST31, the A P count of the TOC area or the defect list
area in the first system region reproduced at step ST14 is compared
to the A P count of the TOC area or the defect list area in the
backup region before the CPU proceeds to step ST32.
[0156] At step ST32, the processing similar to that of step ST23 is
performed. That is, the A P count stored in the first system region
is compared to the A P count stored in the backup region. If the A
P count stored in the first system region is larger than the A P
count stored in the backup region, the CPU proceeds to step ST 33
and, if otherwise, the CPU proceeds to step ST34.
[0157] At step ST33, the information of the TOC area or the
information of the defect list area having the larger A P count is
stored in the RAM 10. At step ST34, the information of the TOC area
or the information of the defect list area for which the A P count
has been verified to be smaller at the above step ST32 is erased
from the RAM 10. The result is that only one information of the TOC
area or the defect list area is stored in the RAM 10.
[0158] By updating the data stored in the lead-in region, system
region and the backup region at the startup time, reliability in
these regions is maintained.
[0159] For reproducing the AV data recorded on the recording medium
in the HDD 7 in the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1,
an operating input signal is sent at step ST41 from the user to the
CPU 9. The CPU is responsive to this actuating input signal to
interpret the sorts of the AV data before proceeding to step ST42.
Among the sorts of the AV data, there are, for example, the
contents of a picture stored in the user data region.
[0160] At step ST42, the TOC area is reproduced from the
information stored in the root area acquired in the startup
operation, depending on the sort of the AV data acquired at step ST
41 to select the management information of the contents for
reproduction depending on the actuating input signal. The CPU 9
then proceeds to step ST43.
[0161] At step ST43, the start LBA of the AV data indicating the
contents for reproduction and the LBAs reproduced in continuation
to this start LBA are acquired, from the management information of
the TOC area selected at step ST42 by the CPU 9, before the CPU 9
proceeds to step ST44.
[0162] At step ST44, the recording mode is acquired from the
management information of the TOC area selected at step ST42,
before the CPU 9 proceeds to step ST45. As the recording mode,
there is, for example, the information such as the compression
system and the compression rate in the compression system.
[0163] At step ST45, the CPU 9 is responsive to the recording mode
acquired at step ST44 to send the ATA playback command at a length
and an interval in meeting with the recording mode to the ATA
adapter 8 to start the reproduction before the CPU proceeds to step
ST46. The ATA adapter 8 is responsive to the playback command from
the CPU 9 to reproduce the AV data stored in the HDD 7 to send the
reproduced AV data via host bus 5 and the interfacing buffer 6 to
the multiplexer 19. The multiplexer splits the input AV data into
video data and audio data which are reproduced.
[0164] At step ST46, the CPU 9 verifies whether or not the totality
of the information corresponding to the actuating input signal has
bee reproduced. If it is verified that the AV data corresponding to
the actuating input signal has not been reproduced, the CPU reverts
to step ST45 and, if otherwise, the CPU terminates the playback
processing to enter the stand-by state.
[0165] When the AV data is to be recorded on a recording medium in
the HDD 7 in the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, an
actuating input signal is sent from the user to the CPU 9 at step
ST51. The CPU 9 is responsive to this actuating input signal to
interpret the sort of the AV data for recording and the recording
mode before proceeding to step ST52. Among the sorts of the AV
data, there are, for example, the contents of a picture. The
recording mode may be exemplified by, for example, the information
on the compression system and the information on the compression
rate deo the compression system.
[0166] At step ST52, the CPU 9 reproduces the TOC area from the
information stored in the root area acquired in the startup
operation, responsive tot the sort of the AV data acquired at step
ST51 to select the management information depending on the
recording contents responsive to the actuating input signal. The
CPU then proceeds to step ST53.
[0167] At step ST53, the CPU 9 acquires the recording start LBA
from the management information of the TOC area obtained on
selection at step ST52, before proceeding to step ST54.
[0168] At step ST54, the CPU 9 generates and outputs an ATA
recording command corresponding to the recording mode obtained at
step ST51 before proceeding to step ST55.
[0169] At this time, the ATA adapter 8 is fed with the ATA
recording command from the CPU 9 and with the AV data for recording
from the multiplexer 19. The ATA adapter 8 outputs to the HDD 7 the
signals and AV data in meeting with the ATA recording command.
[0170] It is also possible for the CPU 19 to generate control
signals for controlling the compression rate at the time of
compressing the information signals by the MPEG2 encoder 18,
responsive to the recoding mode obtained at step ST51 to send the
generated control signals via host bus 5, interfacing buffer 6 and
multiplexer 19 to the multiplexer 19.
[0171] At step ST55, the CPU 9 updates the file system 40 stored in
the RAM 10 responsive to the contents newly recorded in the user
data region of the recording medium of the HDD 7 at the above step
ST54. That is, at this step ST55, the TOC area, stating the
contents of the AV data recorded in the user data region, the
recording mode at the time the contents are recorded, the recording
start LBA and the recording end LBA, is updated, before the CPU
proceeds to step ST56.
[0172] At step ST56, the CPU 9 verifies whether or not the totality
of the AV data supplied from the multiplexer 19 has been recorded
on the recording medium of the HDD 7. If the result at step ST56 is
NO, the CPU reverts to step ST44 to record the remaining AV data.
If the result at step ST56 is YES, the CPU proceeds to step
ST57.
[0173] Since the CPU 9 has updated the contents of the TOC area at
step ST55, the CPU 9 at step ST57 increments the A P count stored
in the TOC area stored in the RAM 10. The CPU 9 then proceeds to
step ST58.
[0174] At step ST58, the CPU 9 records the information of the TOC
area stored in the RAM 10 in the TOC area in the system region of
the HDD 7 before proceeding to step ST59.
[0175] At step ST59, the CPU 9 records the information in the TOC
area stored in the in the system region recorded at step ST58
directly in the TOC area in the backup region to terminate the
recording operation to enter the stand-by state.
[0176] Thus, with the above-described recoding processing, the AV
data is recorded in the user data region, while the information of
the TOC area, varied by recording the AV data, is recorded in the
RAM 10 and in the TOC area in the system region and in the backup
region. It is possible with the above-described information
recording/reproducing apparatus 1 to record and reproduce the AV
data simultaneously. Thus, it is possible with the present
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 to record AV data in
both the AV data area and in the memo data area, as the AV data
recorded in the AV data area is reproduced, if the the AV data area
and the memo data area are set in recording and/or reproduction.
Also, in this information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, the AV
data may be recorded in the AV data area or in the memo data area
as the AV data recorded in the AV data area is reproduced.
Moreover, in the present information recording/reproducing
apparatus 1, AV data may be recorded only in the AV data area, as
the AV data area recorded in the memo data area is reproduced, the
AV data may be recorded only in the AV data area, or the AV data
may be recorded only in the memo data area. That is, in the
information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, plural memo data
areas may be set responsive to the actuating input signal from the
user, and the AV data area and the memo data areas may be recorded
or reproduced optionally.
* * * * *