Apparatus for recording data, method for recording data

Objects and Summary of the Invention

0001It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for recording data to enable a data recording apparatus using mainly a recording medium capable of random access to change flexibly an information recording area to be ensured on a recording medium corresponding to a change in related information on the amount of data of main information when it records information, such as program information of a television broadcast wherein the amount of information to be transmitted is not fixed.

0002It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for recording data to enable a data recording apparatus using mainly a recording medium capable of random access, when it records information such as program information of a television broadcast wherein the amount of information to be transmitted is not fixed, to ensure a recording area for recording the information once, and then, when the recording medium is exchanged before the start of recording, to ensure swiftly a recording area on a new recording medium.

0003It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for recording data to enable a data recording apparatus using mainly a recording medium capable of random access to record flexibly and instantaneously without depending on related information.

0004It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for recording data which enables to reduce successively excess and deficiency of the recording area to be ensured corresponding to the amount of data to be actually received.

0005A data recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises an input means which takes in main information and related information which is related to the main information, an area ensuring means which ensures a vacant area for recording said main information based on said related information on a recording medium, and a recording means which records said inputted main information in the vacant area ensured on said recording medium.

0006A data recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises an input means which takes in main information and related information which is related to the main information, an area ensuring means which ensures a vacant area for recording said main information based on said related information on a recording medium, an area re-ensuring means which re-ensures a vacant area for recording said main information when the vacant area ensured on said recording medium by said area ensuring device becomes such that it is impossible to record said main information, and a recording means which records said main information inputted in the vacant area ensured on said recording medium.

0007A method of recording data of the present invention comprises the steps of taking in main information and related information which is related to the main information, ensuring a vacant area for recording said main information on a recording medium based on said related information, re-ensuring a vacant area for recording said main information when the vacant area, which is ensured on said recording medium, becomes unable to record said main information, and recording said inputted main information in the vacant area which is ensured on said recording medium.

0008Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

0009<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the whole configuration of a data recording apparatus according to an embodiment;</li><li>Fig. 2 shows a program management table and a schematic diagram illustrating recording positions on a recording medium corresponding to this table;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating operation procedures for instantaneous image recording;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process for storing information related to reservation at the time while a recording medium is ejected;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for re-ensuring a recording area at the time when related information is changed;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for changing a recording area in consideration of the amount of data to be actually received;</li><li>Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating operation procedures from program reservation to recording carried out by a data recording apparatus according to an embodiment; and</li><li>Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example of a data recording apparatus according to an embodiment.</li></ul>

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

0010The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

0011Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the whole configuration of a data recording unit 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 shows a program management table and a schematic diagram of a recording medium corresponding to this table.

0012As shown in Fig. 1, the data recording unit 10 receives objective data for recording (main information) such as broadcast programs, packaged software of musical CD, or images prepared by individuals, transmitted through a data transmission path 11 from outside.. The data recording unit 10 also has a data receiving part 12 for receiving data-related information related to objective data for recording, a data-related information analyzing part 13 for analyzing data-related information received at the data receiving part 12, a data recording part 15 for recording transmitted data on a recording medium, such as a disk which is capable of random access, a recording control part 14 for controlling recording operation of the data recording part 15, a timer 16, an interface 17 and a data displaying part 18.

0013The data-related information analyzing part 13, when a broadcast program is objective data for recording, analyzes, out of the data-related information of a received broadcast program, such items as the program's information producer and a program list of a television broadcast. When a user reserves a desired program, the data-related information analyzing part 13 issues reserved information based on the analyzed result of data-related information.

0014The reserved information is supplied to the recording control part 14 through the interface 17. The interface 17 generates display data for a display based on the reserved information and supplies data to the data displaying part 18. The data displaying part 18 gives a display based on the reserved information. The user can reserve referring to the display based on the reserved information. A signal corresponding to the user's reserving operation is given to the interface 17, and the interface 17 issues a demand for a reservation based on the reserving operation and reserved information corresponding to it. The demand for the reservation of a desired program from the interface 17 is supplied to the recording control part 14.

0015The recording control part 14, when it receives a demand for reservation, issues a program identifier for the reserved program. The program identifier is uniquely identifiable in the data recording unit, or in a given physical or logical scope which comprises the data recording unit, or is absolutely identifiable. Some examples of program identifiers are shown in Fig. 2 in a program ID column 21 of a management table 20, "26579", "96156" and "35948".

0016Moreover, the recording control part 14, when it receives a demand for reservation, compares the capacity of the area necessary for recording program information, which is designated for recording by the demand for a reservation, with a capacity of continuous or dispersed recording area on a recording medium which exists in the data recording part 15 at that point of time, and decides possibility for the recording of the program information.

0017At this stage, the capacity of an area required for recording the program information is determined, for example, as resolution or bit capacity per unit time when the information is images. The recording control part 14 can calculate the area capacity necessary for recording the program information using a function of resolution of the reserved program, which is designated by a demand for reservation, in the recording mode or average or maximum value of data transfer rate and the time of duration of the reserved program. Such information is contained in the data-related information of the received broadcast program. The recording control part 14 is given such information by the demand for a reservation and calculates the capacity necessary for recording.

0018Under certain circumstances, data-related information may also contain the total amount of data of the program information to be transmitted, the amount of data in the physical or logical unit, and the time of duration of the program. In this case, the recording control part 14 can directly use such information transmitted.

0019The capacity can also be calculated using a function of the data rate designated by the user at will and the time of duration of the reserved program, or using a function of automatically set conditions and the time of duration of the reserved program.

0020The recording control part 14, when it decides that recording of a reserved program on a recording medium is possible, sends back to the interface 17 information to the effect that recording is possible. When it decides that recording is impossible, it sends back to the interface 17 information that recording is impossible. The interface 17, receiving this information, informs the user of the result by, for example, displaying the result on the data displaying part 18.

0021The recording control part 14, when it decides that a reserved program can be recorded on a recording medium, ensures an area for recording the reserved program temporarily or actually in a continuous or dispersed recording area on one or a plurality of recording media existing in the data recording part 15. When an area for recording a reserved program is temporarily ensured on a recording medium, the user can actually ensure the recording area, which has been temporarily ensured, by carrying out a predetermined operation for confirming reservation, after receiving information that recording is possible. If the user intends to actually ensure an area for recording a reserved program on a recording medium but has not carried out the operation for confirming reservation after receiving information that recording is possible, actual ensuring of the recording area is canceled.

0022Temporary or actual ensuring of a recording area in this stage is virtually carried out by the recording control part 14, which manages the data recording part 15, using variables which show the state of the recording medium existing in the data recording part 15. Or, ensuring of a recording area is also realized by changing attribute of one or a plurality of designators, which indicate the position at which the recording medium exists in the data recording part 15, from "vacant" state to "ensured" state. It can also be realized by writing virtual data expressing an "ensured "state onto one or a plurality of recording media of the data recording part 15. Or, these methods may be used in an assorted manner.

0023The recording control part 14 encloses in a memory, which is not shown, the relation of a program identifier issued at the time of program reservation to a recording area ensured corresponding to it, and the relation of this program identifier to program information corresponding to it as a management table.

0024The recording control part 14 can enclose a management table in an optional managing device in the data recording unit 10. A managing device is a physical or logical functional component and exists in said data recording unit solely or as a plurality of dispersed functional elements. The recording control part 14 may also store the management table in a memory of another unit connected with a network which is not shown.

0025Further, the recording control part 14 may be designed so that, when a recording medium is exchangeable, a management table is transferred to and stored on a recording medium where recording is finished when the recording medium is removed.

0026The management table 20 in a managing device, as shown in Fig. 2, is formed with the following elements, the program ID 21, related information 22 and a recorded position 23. The recording medium 24 is a disk-like recording medium having a data recording track in the form of a concentric circle. A position is indicated using a track number. The recording area corresponding to program ID "26579" (recording track 25) is ensured as an actual area because confirmation of recording has been completed. A recorded position, shown as "01350425", is composed of three elements, a medium number "01", a starting track "350" and an ending track "425". The table of program ID "35948" is in the middle of the course with only issuance of program ID and inspection of the recording area finished. The area ensuring the recording track 26 is in a temporary state and the management table 20 is in an incomplete state. The recording track 27 is one of the vacant areas.

0027Information on confirmed reservation is transmitted to the timer 16. The timer 16 gets ready for starting the recording operation at the time to receive the program data based on reserved information. The timer 16 sets the data recording part 15 as an output destination of the data receiving part 12 at a given time before the starting time of the program so that the data recording part 15 starts recording the program information received by the data receiving part 12 at the time to receive program data based on reserved information. And preparations are made, by a given time before the starting time of a program, for recording data in an area ensured on a recording medium of the data recording part 15 so that recording of data outputted from the data receiving part 12 is started at the starting time of a program.

0028Now, if the time when a program reservation procedure is completed and the time when recording of a reserved program starts are the same, or, if the time when a program reservation procedure is completed is later than the time when recording of the reserved program starts, or when recording of a program is started directly without a program reservation procedure, such recording will be referred to as "instantaneous recording".

0029When this instantaneous recording is carried out, and when the data-related information analyzing part 13 analyzes program-related information such as a producer of program information or a program list of a television broadcast, the recording control part 14, on receiving a demand for reservation based on this program-related information, issues a program identifier for the reserved program and such management information is recorded in a management table. When no program-related information is available, the recording control part 14 generates program-related information, which has a unique meaning physically or logically in said unit, and issues a program identifier for the reserved program. And management information, such as a starting time and a channel, is recorded into management information of the management table.

0030When program-related information is obtained, in a similar manner to that described above, the recording control part 14 compares the capacity of the area necessary for recording the program information indicated by a demand for reservation with the capacity of a continuous or dispersed recording area on a recording medium existing in the data recording part 15 at the point of time, and decides whether the program information can possibly be recorded on the recording medium. When the recording control part 14 decides that recording of the reserved program on the recording medium is possible, it returns to the interface 17 information that recording is possible, and also ensures temporarily or actually an area for recording the reserved program in a continuous or dispersed recording area on one or a plurality of recording media existing in the data recording part 15.

0031Now, a data recording apparatus according to an embodiment is also capable of carrying out instantaneous recording without depending on program-related information. In this case, when the only recording area ensured on a recording medium has a capacity of less than a previously set threshold, it returns information that recording is impossible. For example, when a capacity of dispersed vacant areas is converted into a recording time in a continuous maximum area to show that it is less than 5 %, it deals this state as a case where no vacant area exists. When the only area ensured is dispersed on a recording medium, for some recording medium or a driving unit having limited performance, it is desirable to move an area where other data have been recorded to another area so as to ensure an area as continuous as possible for each program.

0032Next, operation of instantaneous recording will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 3.

0033When an instruction is issued for starting instantaneous recording (60), the recording control part 14 retrieves a vacant area (a continuous vacant area) on a recording medium (6A). When a plurality of vacant areas are retrieved, the recording control part 14 makes a list of these plurality of vacant areas retrieved in order of the area size (6B), and compares the maximum area among them with a value of a previously determined minimum area (threshold) (6C). The recording control part 14, when the maximum area is less than the threshold, decides whether ensuring areas over a plurality of areas is possible or not according to a previously set standard (6D). When ensuring is impossible, the recording control part 14 informs the interface 17 of the decision (6E) and ends the process without recording (6J).

0034When ensuring of an area over a plurality of areas is possible, the recording control part 14 issues a program identifier (6F), assigns one or a plurality of areas as a recording area at the time of instantaneous recording (6G), and starts recording (6H). When an instruction for a stop is issued by the user or from another unit, or when recording of a whole program into an ensured recording area is completed, the operation of instantaneous recording ends (6J).

0035A data recording apparatus according to an embodiment is, when a recording medium exchanged before the recording of a program onto the recording medium is started, and is further capable of re-assigning a recording area on a new recording medium after the exchange. That is, when a recording medium is physically or logically removed from the data recording part 15 after reservation is confirmed, information, which is related to procedures taken at the time of reservation confirmation such as ensuring of recording area for a reserved program or enclosing of program-related information (reservation-related information), is stored in the following manner; in this data recording unit, other managing device, or on one recording media of the data recording part 15 or on a plurality of them. For example, reservation-related information is stored in a memory, which is not shown, in the recording control part 14. Processes such as re-assignment of a recording area or saving of reservation-related information are designed to be carried out by the recording control part 14.

0036Reservation-related information is saved until a reserved program is completed. At this time, if imaginary data showing an ensured recording area exist on a recording medium, the recording control part 14 changes the imaginary data into a vacant area. If a new recording medium is set in the data recording part 15 during this time, re-ensuring an area for this new recording medium is carried out based on saved reservation-related information. In this case, if the newly set recording medium has the same structure, a vacant area of the same size at the same position as the recording medium which was removed before had, the recording control part 14 ensures the same area as that ensured on the former recording medium. In case a newly set recording medium has structure different from that of the recording medium which has already been ejected, or has the same structure but a different vacant area, the recording control part 14 ensures a recording area in a similar manner to ordinary reservation procedures.

0037Now, a description will be given for operation of saving reservation-related information in a data recording unit while a recording medium is removed with reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 4.

0038Detection of the presence/absence of a recording medium is carried out being connected with a driving part of the medium (5A). When a demand for absence of a recording medium is detected (5B), information that program information, recording of which on a recording medium has been scheduled, is unrecorded on the recording medium and the absent recording medium is retained in, for example, a memory, which is not shown, of the recording control part 14, and reservation-related information is also stored (5C). Then, the recording control part 14 cancels one area which has been ensured on the recording medium (5K), and the recording medium is actually ejected (5L).

0039When insertion of a medium is detected (5B), the recording control part 14 examines existence of the recording medium which is in an unrecorded and ejected state (5D). If there is no recording medium which is in an unrecorded and ejected state, the process goes back to detection of presence/absence of a recording medium (5A). When there is a recording medium which is in an unrecorded and ejected state, the recording control part 14 examines whether the inserted recording medium is a medium having the same structure as that of the ejected recording medium (5E). If it has the same structure, a vacant area of the same size at the same position, that is, when it is the ejected recording medium itself (5H), the area ensured on the ejected recording medium is ensured as it is on the newly inserted recording medium (5J). When a recording medium is detected to have structure different from that of the ejected recording medium, or to have the same structure but no vacant area of the same size at the same position as the ejected recording medium had, the recording control part 14 ensures a recording area anew based on retained reservation-related information on the inserted new recording medium (5G).

0040Now, a description will be given for operation, after a program reservation and before the start of recording, where a change occurs in data-related information or in a user's demand for image recording.

0041A likely case is one in which an area ensured through the program reserving procedure becomes insufficient for recording all information due to an increase in total amount of data of program information caused by the prolongation of a broadcast program based on data-related information from the data-related information analyzing part 13, or by a change in a user's demand for recording. In this case, if the change is made before the start of program recording, the recording control part 14 re-ensures a recording area by enlarging the area assigned beforehand on a recording medium of the data recording part 15 or searching for an area to move to in an area other than the recording area ensured beforehand on the recording medium. When the change is made after the start of program recording, the recording control part 14 adds a recording area to be continued after the data recording area assigned before or an independent area, and, when this added area is continuous from the original data recording area, re-defines these areas as one data recording area. If these areas are not continuous, dispersed recording areas are defined as a recording area for dealing with information on one program.

0042Such a new area may also be ensured as continuous as possible by moving existing recording data.

0043If the ensuring of a newly assigned area is impossible, the recording control part 14 may, at the time when a change is made in program-related information, either inform a user or others through the interface 17 that complete recording of a program is impossible, or record a reserved program based on program-related information and discontinue recording at time when the recording area ensured beforehand is filled up.

0044The next description is given on operation when a recording area is re-ensured corresponding to a change in related information, such as the ending time of a program, with reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 5.

0045The data-related information analyzing part 13 confirms received data-related information at every given period of time (4A). The data-related information analyzing part 13 decides whether the received data-related information is that of a program which has been reserved (4B). When the data-related information is of the reserved program but there is a change in its content (4C), the changed content is confirmed (4D). At this time, the data-related information analyzing part 13 decides whether the information is related to the program, recording of which has started (4E), and, if it is, confirms its ending time (4F). The ending time is confirmed (4G). If the ending time is advanced, the data-related information analyzing part 13 informs the recording control part 14 of the result to cause it to reduce the recording area assigned at present corresponding to the reduced time (4H) and to define the assigned recording area after the change as a program recording area (4I).

0046When prolongation of recording time is required, the recording control part 14 decides whether it is possible to assign a recording area for a prolonged time in a recording area continuing to the recording area assigned at present (4J), and, if it is possible, re-ensures an area with a recording area for the prolonged time added (4I). When it is impossible, the recording control part 14 takes steps to assign one or a plurality of recording areas independent of the present recording area (4M). Then, the recording control part 14 decides whether the assignment of the new area has succeeded (4P), and, if it has, re-ensures a series of originally assigned areas and newly assigned areas as recording areas for a reserved program (4I). When the assignment of a new area is unsuccessful, the recording control part 14 informs the user through the interface 17 that re-ensuring of an area is impossible.

0047When a change in the ending time of a program is found before the start of recording, the recording control part 14 decides whether the change can be absorbed within the area assigned at present (4N), and, if it is possible, updates program-related information related to the area assigned at present (4I). If the area assigned at present cannot cope with the change in the program ending time, the recording control part 14 cancels the originally assigned area once (4O) and takes steps to assign a new recording area (4M). Then, the recording control part 14 decides whether assignment of the new recording area is successful (4P), and, if so, re-ensures a series of originally assigned areas and newly assigned areas as recording areas for a reserved program (4I). When assignment of a new area fails, the recording control part 14 informs the user through the interface 17 that re-ensuring of the area is impossible.

0048Now, a description will be given with reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 6 on operation when a recording area is periodically enlarged or reduced during recording of a program corresponding to the amount of received program information per unit time.

0049The recording control part 14, once recording is started, measures the amount of data Ri of recorded data per a short time at every given time (7A) and calculates the average amount of data Rm measured since immediately after the start of recording (7B), then, calculates corrected assigned area Sc using a function of the average amount of data Rm and a time which is scheduled for recording (7C). The recording control part 14 decides whether there is a difference between the area assigned at present Sp and the corrected assigned area Sc (7D), and, if the values are the same, goes back again to detection of data rate (7A). When there is a difference and the corrected assigned area Sc is smaller than the area assigned at present Sp, that is, the area needs reduction, a corrected area is assigned based on a predetermined formula using a value of the corrected assigned area Sc (7F).

0050If there is a difference and the corrected assigned area Sc is larger than the area assigned at present Sp, the recording control part 14 detects whether enlarging an area which is equivalent to the value of the corrected assigned area Sc is possible (7G), and, if it is, assigns, using the value of the corrected assigned area Sc, a corrected area according to a predetermined formula (7F). If it is impossible, the recording control part 14 issues a warning about the impossibility of area correction (7H) and goes back to detection of data rate (7A) again. At this time, the reason why just a warning is issued without more steps is that there is a possibility of an area's being reduced at the time of next area correction. When the warning is received, it depends on the user or other control means of the unit to decide whether area correction is to be carried out or not.

0051The timer 16, at the ending time of a program, directs the data recording part 15 to stop recording and the data receiving part 12 to stop outputting data to the data recording part 15. When a halt is directed, between the starting time of data recording and its ending time based on this program information, by a user or other operating means of the unit through the interface 17, the data recording part 15 stops temporarily recording this data. In this state where recording is temporarily stopped, the state of temporary stop is discontinued and recording is resumed when, for example, a direction for a halt is issued again by the user through the interface 17, when a direction for recording is issued by the user through the interface 17, or when another direction for a halt or a direction for recording is issued because a previously defined limit time of temporary stop is over.

0052Recording of a program is completed by the recording control part 14's directing the data recording part 15 to stop at the ending time of a program based on program information. At this time when recording of a program is completed, a direction is issued so that program-related information, which is represented by information used for program reservation, is recorded in an area succeeding a data recording area or in an independent area on a recording medium. Program-related information may be recorded at an optional time, which does not depend on a program recording time, in so far as it is done after a program reservation procedure was completed.

0053The next description will be given on procedures of operation, from program reservation to recording, by this data recording unit with reference to Fig. 7.

0054First, a control instruction is issued by a user or other unit through the interface 17. Now, suppose that information for setting, information such as a physical or logical unit of data reserving of which is desired, that is, a broadcast program and/or others, is obtained beforehand from different media such as EPG.

0055A description will now be given on a procedure for communication control signals by the interface 17, the recording control part 14, the data recording part 15, the timer 16 and the data receiving part 12, and also on operation for recording reservation data.

0056Through the interface 17, a user or other unit requires the recording control part 14 to examine quality of data to support, and vacant capacity on a recording medium (3A). Examined results on the quality of data to support, vacant capacity on a recording medium are returned to the interface 17 by the recording control part 14 (3B). An identifier for new reservation data, that is, a new program ID is demanded of the recording control part 14 through the interface 17 (3C).

0057The recording control part 14 returns an identifier for new reservation data, that is, a new program ID which is unique in at least this data recording unit (3D). A reservation for a data recording area on a recording medium of the data recording part 15 is demanded, designating an identifier for reservation data and a recording size of reservation data (3E). The recording control part 14 answers whether it has successfully reserved the data recording area on the recording medium (3F). A data recording reservation is made to the timer 16 through the interface 17 (3G). Whether the data recording reservation is made properly or not is returned to the interface 17 (3H). According to the data recording reservation, the timer 16 makes a recording demand of the recording control part 14 and the data receiving part 12 at the staffing time of the recording (3I).

0058The data receiving part 12 transmits data corresponding to the reserved contents to the data transmission path 11, and the recording control part 14 starts recording data in the data transmission path 11 in a recording area of the data recording part 15 (3J). An answer is given on whether the receiving of data was done properly at the recording control part 14 (3K). An answer is given on whether the sending of data was done properly at the data receiving part 12 (3L). According to a reservation for data recording, the timer 16 makes a demand for stopping data recording the recording control part 14 and of the data receiving part 12 at the stopping time of data recording (3M). An answer is given on whether the receiving of data was stopped properly at the recording control part 14 (3N). An answer is given on whether sending of data was stopped properly at the data receiving part 12 (3O). Recording of related information of the reservation data is done to the recording control part 14 (3P). An answer is given on whether recording of information related to the reservation data was done properly (3Q).

0059Fig. 8 shows a modified example of a data recording apparatus according to an embodiment. In this example, each functional module is configured as an independent unit respectively, and each unit is connected mutually by a network. All of content data such as program data or program-related information and control data, which are mutually given and taken among each of functional modules, are communicated either through the network, which connects each module, or through different networks respectively.

0060In this manner, this embodiment enables flexible changes in an information recording area to be ensured on a recording medium corresponding to changes in related-information related to the amount of main information. In addition, it enables flexible changes in an information recording area to be ensured on a recording medium corresponding to changes in related-information related to the amount of main information even after recording was started. Moreover, it enables flexible changes even in a recording area, which is ensured based on related information, corresponding to changes in this related information caused later It also enables flexible changes, even after recording of information has been started, in a recording area, which is ensured based on related information, corresponding to changes in related information caused afterwards. Further, when a recording medium is inserted or ejected after a recording area is ensured and before recording is started, a recording area can be automatically ensured again on the newly inserted recording medium. Still more, the recording area can be effectively adjusted by dynamic adjustment of recording area considering the amount of data to be received actually. Still furthermore, it enables flexible instantaneous recording which does not depend on related information.

0061It is obvious that the present invention is able to become the basis of configuration for different aspects of embodiments in a wide scope without any departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention should not be limited, except by the appended claims, only to these embodiments.