Data management apparatus and data management system
Abstract
Problem to be solved.To provide a data management device and a data management system capable of easily managing data distributed and stored in a plurality of electronic devices.
Solution.A server device 10 obtains terminal characteristic information I100 indicating contents related to data processing of client terminals A, B, and C from each of the client terminals A, B, and C, and an I / O unit 12 and I /. The terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 that determines how to allocate server resources based on the terminal characteristic information I100 acquired by the O unit 12, and the client terminals A, B, based on the handling method determined by the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15. It includes a control unit 11 and a recording device unit 14 that transmit and receive data to and from C and process the data. [Selection diagram] Fig. 28
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Projected expiry passed 16 July 2023, 3.2 years ago.
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46 claims: 15 independent, 31 dependent
- 1複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するデータ管理装置であって、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を前記端末機から取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段が取得した前記端末特性情報に基づいて前記データの取り扱い方を決定する決定手段と、 前記決定手段が決定した取り扱い方に基づいて、前記複数の端末機との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理手段と を備えることを特徴とするデータ管理装置。
- 2前記決定手段は、 前記データの取り扱いに用いられる前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源の、前記複数の端末機に対する割り当て方を決定し、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記決定手段が決定した割り当て方に基づいて、前記複数の端末機に前記サーバ資源を割り当てる ことを特徴とする請求項1記載のデータ管理装置。
- 3前記決定手段は、 前記各端末機に対する優先度を特定して、前記優先度に応じて前記割り当て方を決定する ことを特徴とする請求項2記載のデータ管理装置。
- 4前記データ管理装置は、さらに、 所定の事象が生じたか否かを判別する事象判別手段を備え、 前記取得手段は、 前記事象に対応付けられたメッセージを示す内容のメッセージ登録情報を前記端末機から取得し、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記事象判別手段により所定の事象が生じたと判別されたときには、前記取得手段により取得された前記メッセージ登録情報に基づいて、前記事象に対応するメッセージを前記端末機に通知する ことを特徴とする請求項2記載のデータ管理装置。
- 5前記事象判別手段は、 前記データ管理装置における電源環境に変化が生じたか否かを判別し、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記変化を知らしめる内容のメッセージを通知する ことを特徴とする請求項4記載のデータ管理装置。
- 6前記事象判別手段は、 前記データ管理装置における記憶媒体に関する変化が生じたか否かを判別し、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記変化を知らしめる内容のメッセージを通知する ことを特徴とする請求項4記載のデータ管理装置。
- 7前記事象判別手段は、 前記データ管理装置と前記複数の端末機との間の伝送路の状態に変化が生じたか否かを判別し、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記変化を知らしめる内容のメッセージを通知する ことを特徴とする請求項4記載のデータ管理装置。
- 8前記データ管理装置は、さらに、 前記データ処理手段により受信された前記端末機からのデータに基づいて、前記データの作成に関する属性を特定し、特定した属性に基づいて前記データを管理する管理手段を備える ことを特徴とする請求項2記載のデータ管理装置。
- 9前記管理手段は、 前記データ処理手段により受信された前記端末機からのデータに基づいて、前記データのデータフォーマットを特定し、特定したデータフォーマットに基づいて前記データを管理する ことを特徴とする請求項8記載のデータ管理装置。
- 10前記管理手段は、 前記データ処理手段により受信された前記端末機からのデータに基づいて、前記データの作成された日時を特定し、特定した日時に基づいて前記データを管理する ことを特徴とする請求項8記載のデータ管理装置。
- 11前記管理手段は、 前記データ処理手段により受信された前記端末機からのデータに基づいて、前記データのデータフォーマット及び前記データの作成された日時を特定し、特定したデータフォーマット及び日時に基づいて前記データを管理する ことを特徴とする請求項8記載のデータ管理装置。
- 12前記データ管理装置は、さらに、 前記端末機に記憶されているデータの記憶に関する属性を示す内容の属性情報を前記端末機から取得して、前記端末機に記憶されているデータを、前記属性情報に基づいて管理する管理手段を備える ことを特徴とする請求項2記載のデータ管理装置。
- 13前記管理手段は、 前記端末機に記憶されているデータの格納位置を特定するためのパス名情報を示す前記属性情報を取得して、前記端末機に記憶されているデータを、前記パス名情報に基づいて管理する ことを特徴とする請求項12記載のデータ管理装置。
- 14前記データ管理装置は、さらに、 前記データ処理手段により受信された前記端末機からのデータに基づいて、前記データの作成された日時を特定して記憶する日時記憶手段と、 前記日時記憶手段により記憶されている日時に基づいて、前記データ処理手段により受信されたデータを同期して出力する同期手段と を備えることを特徴とする請求項2記載のデータ管理装置。
- 15前記取得手段は、 前記データ処理手段により受信されるデータの作成された日時を示す内容の前記端末特性情報を取得し、 前記決定手段は、 前記端末特性情報により示される日時に基づいて、前記データ処理手段により受信されたデータの出力順を決定し、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記決定された出力順に基づいて前記データを同期して出力する ことを特徴とする請求項1記載のデータ管理装置。
- 16前記データ処理手段は、前記データを画面に表示して出力する ことを特徴とする請求項15記載のデータ管理装置。
- 17複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するデータ管理装置であって、 前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源の前記複数の端末機に対する割り当てのパターンを示す内容の割当パターン情報を記憶するための記憶手段と、 前記記憶手段に記憶されている前記割当パターン情報を前記端末機に送信する送信手段と、 前記割当パターン情報に基づいて所定のパターンを指示する内容の指示情報を前記端末機から取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段により取得された前記指示情報に示されるパターンに基づいて前記サーバ資源を割り当てて、前記複数の端末機との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理手段と を備えることを特徴とするデータ管理装置。
- 18前記割当パターン情報には複数のパターンが示されてあって、 前記取得手段は、 前記割当パターン情報に示される複数のパターンの中から何れかのパターンを選択して指示する内容の前記指示情報を取得する ことを特徴とする請求項17記載のデータ管理装置。
- 19前記データ管理装置は、さらに、 前記記憶手段に記憶されている前記割当パターン情報により示されるパターンを表示し、ユーザによる操作に応じた所定のパターンを特定するユーザインタフェース手段を備え、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記ユーザインタフェース手段により特定された所定のパターンに基づいて、前記複数の端末機との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理する ことを特徴とする請求項18記載のデータ管理装置。
- 20前記ユーザインタフェース手段は、 表示したパターンの中から、ユーザによる操作に応じたパターンを選択して特定する ことを特徴とする請求項19記載のデータ管理装置。
- 21前記ユーザインタフェース手段は、 表示したパターンの中から、ユーザによる操作に応じたパターンを選択し、さらに、選択した前記パターンに対して、ユーザによる操作に応じて内容が変更されたパターンを特定する ことを特徴とする請求項20記載のデータ管理装置。
- 22前記ユーザインタフェース手段は、 前記記憶手段に記憶されている前記割当パターン情報を、前記変更結果に基づいて更新する ことを特徴とする請求項21記載のデータ管理装置。
- 23前記取得手段は、 前記割当パターン情報に示されるパターンに対して内容が変更されたパターンを指示する前記指示情報を取得する ことを特徴とする請求項17記載のデータ管理装置。
- 24前記送信手段は、 前記端末機からの要求に応じ、前記端末機に関連するパターンを示す割当パターン情報を前記記憶手段から読み出して前記端末機に送信する ことを特徴とする請求項17記載のデータ管理装置。
- 25前記割当パターン情報に示されるパターンは、各端末機を識別するために割り当てられた識別情報と、前記識別情報により特定される端末機に対して割り当てられるサーバ資源を示す内容とを含み、 前記送信手段は、 前記端末機からの要求に応じ、前記端末機の識別情報を含むパターンを示す割当パターン情報を前記端末機に送信する ことを特徴とする請求項24記載のデータ管理装置。
- 26前記データ管理装置は、さらに、 前記データの処理環境の変化を検出し、前記指示情報に示されるパターンの内容を、前記検出結果に応じて変更する検出変更手段を備え、 前記データ処理手段は、 前記検出変更手段により変更されたパターンに基づいて前記サーバ資源の割り当てを行う ことを特徴とする請求項17項に記載のデータ管理装置。
- 27前記検出変更手段は、 前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源に関する変化を、前記処理環境の変化として検出する ことを特徴とする請求項26記載のデータ管理装置。
- 28前記検出変更手段は、 前記データ管理装置の電源環境に関する変化を、前記サーバ資源に関する変化として検出する ことを特徴とする請求項27記載のデータ管理装置。
- 29前記検出変更手段は、 前記データ管理装置と前記端末機間の伝送路の状態の変化を、前記処理環境の変化として検出する ことを特徴とする請求項26記載のデータ管理装置。
- 30サーバが有するサーバ資源を用いて前記サーバと通信する端末機であって、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を前記サーバへ送信する送信手段と、 前記送信手段により送信された前記端末特性情報に基づいて前記サーバにより決定された、前記サーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方に応じて、前記サーバとの間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理手段と を備えることを特徴とする端末機。
- 31前記端末機は、さらに、 前記サーバが有するサーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当てのパターンを示す内容の割当パターン情報を、前記サーバから取得するパターン取得手段と、 前記パターン取得手段が取得した割当パターン情報に示される複数のパターンの中から何れかのパターンを選択する選択手段と、 前記選択手段により選択されたパターンに基づいてサーバ資源を割り当てるように指示する内容の選択指示情報を、前記サーバに送信する指示手段と を備えることを特徴とする請求項30記載の端末機。
- 32前記端末機は、さらに、 前記選択手段により選択されたパターンの内容を変更する変更手段を備え、 前記指示手段は、 前記変更手段により変更されたパターンに基づいてサーバ資源を割り当てるように指示する内容の変更指示情報を前記サーバに送信する ことを特徴とする請求項31記載の端末機。
- 33前記端末機は、さらに、 前記割当パターン情報により示されるパターンを表示するユーザインタフェース手段を備え、 前記選択手段は、 前記ユーザインタフェース手段により表示された複数のパターンの中から、ユーザの操作に応じたパターンを選択し、 前記変更手段は、 前記選択手段により選択され、前記ユーザインタフェース手段により表示されるパターンの内容をユーザの操作に応じて変更する ことを特徴とする請求項32記載の端末機。
- 34前記端末機は、さらに、 所定の事象に対応付けられたメッセージを示す内容のメッセージ登録情報を、前記サーバに送信する登録情報送信手段と、 前記メッセージ登録情報に基づいて前記サーバから通知されるメッセージを取得するメッセージ取得手段と、 前記メッセージ取得手段により取得されたメッセージを表示する表示手段と を備えることを特徴とする請求項30記載の端末機。
- 35前記端末機は、さらに、 前記端末機が記憶しているデータの記憶に関する属性を示して、前記データを前記属性に基づいて前記サーバに管理させるための属性情報を送信する属性情報送信手段を備える ことを特徴とする請求項30記載の端末機。
- 36前記属性情報送信手段は、 前記端末機が記憶しているデータの格納位置を特定するためのパス名情報を示す前記属性情報を送信する ことを特徴とする請求項35記載の端末機。
- 37複数の端末機と、前記複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するデータ管理装置とを備えたデータ管理システムであって、 前記データ管理装置は、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を前記端末機から取得する取得手段と、 前記取得手段が取得した前記端末特性情報に基づいて、前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方を決定する決定手段と、 前記決定手段が決定した割り当て方に基づいて、前記複数の端末機との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理手段とを備え、 前記端末機は、 前記端末特性情報を送信する端末送信手段と、 前記決定手段により決定されたサーバ資源の割り当て方に応じて、前記データ管理装置との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理する端末データ処理手段と を備えることを特徴とするデータ管理システム。
- 38複数の端末機とデータ管理装置とを備えたデータ管理システムにおける前記複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するためのデータ管理方法であって、 前記端末機が、自己のデータ処理に関する内容の端末特性情報を前記データ管理装置に送信する端末送信ステップと、 前記データ管理装置が、前記端末特性情報を前記端末機から取得する取得ステップと、 前記データ管理装置が、前記取得ステップで取得された前記端末特性情報に基づいて、前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方を決定する決定ステップと、 前記データ管理装置及び前記端末機が、前記決定ステップで決定された割り当て方に基づいて、相互間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理ステップと を含むことを特徴とするデータ管理方法。
- 39データ管理装置が複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するデータ管理方法であって、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を前記端末機から取得する取得ステップと、 前記取得ステップで取得された前記端末特性情報に基づいて、前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方を決定する決定ステップと、 前記決定ステップで決定された割り当て方に基づいて、前記複数の端末機との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理ステップと を含むことを特徴とするデータ管理方法。
- 40サーバが有するサーバ資源を用いて前記サーバと通信する端末機が、自らによって扱われるデータを前記サーバに対して管理させるためのデータ管理方法であって、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を送信する送信ステップと、 前記送信ステップにより送信された前記端末特性情報に基づいて前記サーバにより決定された、前記サーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方に応じて、前記サーバとの間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理ステップと を含むことを特徴とするデータ管理方法。
- 41データ管理装置が複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するために実行するプログラムであって、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を前記端末機から取得する取得ステップと、 前記取得ステップで取得された前記端末特性情報に基づいて、前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方を決定する決定ステップと、 前記決定ステップで決定された割り当て方に基づいて、前記複数の端末機との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理ステップと を含むことを特徴とするプログラム。
- 42サーバが有するサーバ資源を用いて前記サーバと通信する端末機が、自らによって扱われるデータを前記サーバに対して管理させるために実行するプログラムであって、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を送信する送信ステップと、 前記送信ステップにより送信された前記端末特性情報に基づいて前記サーバにより決定された、前記サーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方に応じて、前記サーバとの間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理ステップと を含むことを特徴とするプログラム。
- 43データ管理装置が複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するために実行するプログラムを格納する記憶媒体であって、 前記プログラムは、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を前記端末機から取得する取得ステップと、 前記取得ステップで取得された前記端末特性情報に基づいて、前記データ管理装置が有するサーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方を決定する決定ステップと、 前記決定ステップで決定された割り当て方に基づいて、前記複数の端末機との間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理ステップと を含むことを特徴とする記憶媒体。
- 44サーバが有するサーバ資源を用いて前記サーバと通信する端末機が、自らによって扱われるデータを前記サーバに対して管理させるために実行するプログラムを格納する記憶媒体であって、 前記プログラムは、 前記端末機のデータ処理に関する内容を示す端末特性情報を送信する送信ステップと、 前記送信ステップにより送信された前記端末特性情報に基づいて前記サーバにより決定された、前記サーバ資源の前記端末機に対する割り当て方に応じて、前記サーバとの間でデータを送受信してこれを処理するデータ処理ステップと を含むことを特徴とする記憶媒体。
- 45データ管理装置が複数の端末機のそれぞれに扱われる各データを管理するために用いる管理情報を格納する記憶媒体であって、 前記管理情報は、 前記端末機から前記データ管理装置に取得された前記データに基づいて、前記データ管理装置によって特定された前記データの作成に関する属性を示す ことを特徴とする記憶媒体。
- 46前記管理情報は前記データのデータフォーマットを示す ことを特徴とする請求項45記載の記憶媒体。
Independent claims46
300 paragraphs, as filed
The present invention relates to a data management device and a data management system that manage the transmission and reception of digital data.
In recent years, with the progress of semiconductor microfabrication technology and the like, electronic devices have become smaller and more sophisticated, and as a result, users have come to carry and use a plurality of electronic devices at the same time. For example, as shown in FIG. 56, in addition to a mobile phone, it is routine to carry a portable audio device (terminal A), a PDA (terminal B) such as an electronic organizer, a notebook PC (terminal C), and the like. It has been. In addition, in specific cases such as business trips and travels, in addition to the electronic devices that are carried around on a daily basis, carry a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as "DSC") and a camcorder (DVC or DVD camcorder) to carry products and landscapes. Etc. are photographed, the contents are converted into data, and the contents are recorded.
FIG. 57 is a diagram showing a general common configuration of the above electronic devices. As shown in FIG. 57, the electronic device 90 generally includes a control unit 91, an I / O unit 92, a UI unit 93, a data processing unit 94, and a recording device unit 95 (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document). See 2.).
The control unit 91 is a part that controls the operation of the entire device. The I / O section 92 is a part that inputs / outputs data to / from the outside of the electronic device 90. For example, the input / output method is ATAPI, SCSI, USB, IEEE1394, bus-type wired LAN, IEEE802.11, or the like. Wireless LAN etc.
The UI unit 93 is mainly an interface unit with the user of the electronic device 90, and can be operated by the user through operations using buttons and sticks, a user interface (GUI) using images displayed on a liquid crystal screen, and the like. It plays a role of transmitting information to the user by transmitting it to the electronic device 90 and, conversely, displaying the output from the electronic device 90 on the screen or the like.
The data processing unit 94 is a part that creates and reproduces data in the electronic device 90. For example, if the electronic device 90 is a DSC, a part that inputs a digital image through a CCD device and performs image compression processing such as JPEG. Is. In addition, the data read from the recording device unit 95, which will be described later, is reproduced, and the reproduction screen is displayed to the user through the UI unit 93.
The recording device unit 95 was created by the control unit 91 and the data processing unit 94 based on the data generated by the electronic device 90 or input from the outside through the I / O unit 92 and the instructions input by the user through the UI unit 93. This is the part that permanently records data. In addition, the recorded data can be output to the outside through the I / O unit 92, or sent to the data processing unit 94 to reproduce the data. Further, when the control unit 91 performs various processes, it temporarily stores data.
For each part shown in FIG. 57, a necessary method and configuration are selected according to the actual purpose and use of the electronic device. As an example, if the electronic device is a DSC, the I / O section will be USB, the UI section will be LCD monitors and switches, the data processing section will be a CCD device and video compression / extension processing section, and the recording device section will be a semiconductor memory card, etc. In addition, if DSC-specific components are required, they are combined to form the whole.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-283295</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>JP 2001-358799</text></patcit>
<p> As described above, each of the plurality of electronic devices carried by one user has a recording device and a recording medium, and stores data in each. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 56, the user has to carry the same function of data recording in duplicate, which causes the following problems.</p><p> That is, data is generated by being photographed by each electronic device, and the data must be managed by the user by being individually stored in the recording device or recording medium in each electronic device. This means that the number of recording devices and recording media will increase, and the time and effort required for data management, such as where and what kind of data was stored and whether backup was performed, will become extremely large.</p><p> For example, when using a DSC and a DVD camcorder device at the same time to shoot and record the same object, data related to each content is input and recorded in different devices in different data formats, and data management is performed. The trouble of is greatly increased.</p><p> Further, in this case, a problem arises regarding reproduction. That is, both the DSC and the DVD camcorder device have an AV data input and recording function, and are used for events and events such as exhibitions, trips, athletic meet, and other daily recordings. When shooting or the like is performed using them, the data of the same subject is recorded by each of the DSC and the DVD camcorder device, and as a result, the information is stored separately in a plurality of recording media. For data taken during travel, the recording order of the shot data itself is also important information, and when the shot video is played back later, it depends on the type of device taken and the data format of the recorded data. Instead, it is desirable to be able to reproduce the shooting order and appreciate it.</p><p> However, it is very troublesome for the user to rearrange and reproduce the video data taken by each device in a plurality of recording media in chronological order. For example, after copying the data from the DSC to the DVD camcorder device, it is necessary for the user to prepare for continuous playback in some form.</p><p> In this way, if the shooting data for the same subject is stored in different recording media, the subsequent arrangement becomes complicated. There are DSC and DVD camcorder devices that can shoot moving images and still images at the same time, but since still images and moving images have different functions and characteristics required for the camera unit, etc., video input devices that simultaneously meet the requirements for both are available. Not realized.</p><p> Therefore, users who want more beautiful video data have no choice but to use both DSC and DVD camcorder devices. In addition, as described in the conventional technology, many recent electronic devices have a network connection function, and when using such a device, not only the data taken by oneself but also the data obtained via the network is obtained. The data will also be saved in each electronic device. After all, there is a problem that data management becomes more difficult due to the increase in electronic devices and the connection to the network.</p><p> Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data management device and a data management system capable of easily managing data distributed and stored in a plurality of electronic devices. To do.</p>
<p> In order to achieve the above object, the data management device according to the present invention is a data management device that manages each data handled by each of a plurality of terminals, and is a terminal characteristic indicating the contents related to the data processing of the terminal. The acquisition means for acquiring information from the terminal, the determination means for determining how to handle the data based on the terminal characteristic information acquired by the acquisition means, and the handling method determined by the determination means. It is characterized by including a data processing means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a plurality of terminals and processing the data.</p><p> As a result, how to handle the data is determined based on the contents shown in the terminal characteristic information of each terminal, and the data is transmitted / received and processed based on the handling method, so that each terminal can be used for each purpose. Even when different data processing is performed depending on the situation, the data handled by each terminal can be appropriately and easily managed.</p><p> Here, the determination means determines how to allocate the server resources of the data management device used for handling the data to the plurality of terminals, and the data processing means allocates the server resources determined by the determination means. The server resource may be allocated to the plurality of terminals based on the above method. For example, the determination means specifies a priority for each terminal and determines the allocation method according to the priority.</p><p> As a result, the server resource allocation method is determined based on the content shown in the terminal characteristic information, and data transmission / reception and processing are performed based on the allocation method, so that the server resource can be effectively utilized.</p><p> Further, the acquisition means acquires the terminal characteristic information having a content indicating the date and time when the data received by the data processing means is created, and the determination means obtains the terminal characteristic information based on the date and time indicated by the terminal characteristic information. The data processing means may be characterized in that the output order of the data received by the data processing means is determined, and the data processing means synchronously outputs the data based on the determined output order.</p><p> As a result, the output order of the data is determined based on the contents shown in the terminal characteristic information, and the data is output synchronously based on the output order. Therefore, the data handled by each terminal is output according to the date and time when it was created. It can be easily managed.</p><p> Further, the data management device according to the present invention is a data management device that manages each data handled by each of the plurality of terminals, and is a pattern of allocation of server resources possessed by the data management device to the plurality of terminals. A storage means for storing the allocation pattern information of the content indicating the above, a transmission means for transmitting the allocation pattern information stored in the storage means to the terminal, and a predetermined pattern based on the allocation pattern information. The server resource is allocated between the acquisition means for acquiring the instruction information of the content to be instructed from the terminal and the pattern shown in the instruction information acquired by the acquisition means, and the plurality of terminals are used. It may be characterized by including a data processing means for transmitting and receiving data and processing the data. For example, a plurality of patterns are shown in the allocation pattern information, and the acquisition unit selects and instructs one of the plurality of patterns shown in the allocation pattern information. Get information.</p><p> As a result, server resources are allocated based on the pattern instructed by the terminal, and data is transmitted / received and processed, so that the data handled by each terminal can be managed appropriately and easily.</p><p> Here, the data management device further includes a user interface means for displaying a pattern indicated by the allocation pattern information stored in the storage means and specifying a predetermined pattern according to an operation by the user. The data processing means may be characterized in that data is transmitted to and received from the plurality of terminals and processed based on a predetermined pattern specified by the user interface means.</p><p> As a result, the server resources are allocated based on a predetermined pattern according to the operation by the user, so that the data can be managed according to the intention of the user.</p><p> Further, the data management system according to the present invention is a data management system including a plurality of terminals and a data management device for managing each data handled by each of the plurality of terminals, and the data management device. Is an acquisition means for acquiring terminal characteristic information indicating the contents related to data processing of the terminal from the terminal, and the server resource of the data management device based on the terminal characteristic information acquired by the acquisition means. The present invention includes a determination means for determining an allocation method for a terminal, and a data processing means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the plurality of terminals based on the allocation method determined by the determination means and processing the data. The terminal is a terminal that transmits and receives data between the terminal transmitting means for transmitting the terminal characteristic information and the data management device according to the method of allocating the server resource determined by the determining means and processes the data. It is characterized by being provided with a data processing means.</p><p> As a result, how to allocate server resources is determined based on the contents shown in the terminal characteristic information of each terminal, and the data is transmitted / received and processed based on the allocation method. Therefore, each terminal has its own purpose. Even when different data processing is performed according to the above, the data handled by each terminal can be appropriately and easily managed. Further, even in an environment where the configuration of a plurality of terminals is changed frequently, for example, even when the number of terminals is changed from two to three or four, the terminals of each terminal are used. Since the method of allocating the server resource is determined according to the characteristic information, the server resource can be effectively used.</p><p> Further, the present invention is realized as a terminal, as a data management method using characteristic components of a data management device, a terminal, and a data management system as steps, or as a program to be executed by a computer. You can also do it. Needless to say, the program can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or distributed via a transmission medium such as the Internet.</p>
<p> Data management apparatus according to the present invention, based on the content shown in the terminal characteristic information of each of the terminals for better handling of data Zui is determined, the reception and processing of the data is performed based on the Handling, each Even when the terminal processes different data according to each application, the effect is that the data handled by each terminal can be appropriately and easily managed.</p>
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments showing the data management device and the data management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) First, the operation of some electronic devices according to the present embodiment will be described. Examples of electronic devices include a DVD recorder device that records AV information encoded by MPEG (MPEG2), which is a standard for encoding digital AV data, on a DVD-RAM disc, which is a rewritable optical disc with a capacity of several GB. There is a DVD cam recorder device that combines a DVD recorder with a camera device.
Hereinafter, the DVD recorder device, the DVD disc, and the DVD player will be described in the following order. 1. System overview of DVD recorder device 2. Function overview of DVD recorder device 3. Overview of DVD disc 4. Overview of AV information to be played 5. Overview of AV information management information and playback control 6. Basic operation of playback function 7. Basic operation of recording function
(1. System Overview of DVD Recorder Device) Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the appearance of the DVD recorder device and the interface with related devices. As shown in FIG. 1, the DVD recorder device is loaded with a DVD, which is an optical disk, and records and reproduces video information. The operation of the DVD recorder device is generally performed by a remote controller or a switch on the device.
The video information input to the DVD recorder device includes both an analog signal and a digital signal, the analog signal includes analog broadcasting, and the digital signal includes digital broadcasting. Generally, analog broadcasting is received and demodulated by a receiver built in a television device, and is input to a DVD recorder device as an analog video signal of the NTSC system or the like. In addition, the digital broadcast is demodulated into a digital signal by the receiver STB (Set Top Box), input to the DVD recorder device, and recorded.
On the other hand, the video information recorded on the DVD disc is reproduced by the DVD recorder device and output to the outside. Like the input signal, the output signal has both an analog signal and a digital signal. If it is an analog signal, it is directly input to the television device, and if it is a digital signal, it is converted to an analog signal via STB. After that, it is input to the television device and displayed as an image on the television device.
Further, there is a DVD camcorder device as a device that uses a DVD disc. The DVD camcorder device is a device that combines a DVD recorder device with a camera device composed of a lens and a CCD, and encodes and records captured moving image information.
In addition to the DVD recorder device and the DVD camcorder device, the DVD disc may record and play back video information on a personal computer or the like. Even if it is a DVD disc on which video information is recorded by a personal computer or the like, if it is loaded into the DVD recorder device, the DVD recorder device reproduces the DVD disc.
The video information of the analog broadcasting and the digital broadcasting described above is usually accompanied by audio information. The accompanying audio information is also recorded and played back by the DVD recorder device in the same manner as the video information. Further, the video information is generally a moving image, but may be a still image. For example, the case where a still image is recorded by the photo function of the DVD camcorder device is applicable.
The digital I / F between the DVD recorder device and an external device such as an STB includes IEEE1394, ATAPI, SCSI, USB, a bus-type wired LAN, and a wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11.
In the above, the NTSC analog (composite) video signal is illustrated as the signal between the DVD recorder device and the television device, but it may be a component signal that separately transmits a luminance signal and a color difference signal. Furthermore, as for the video transmission I / F between the AV device and the television device, research and development are underway to replace the analog I / F with a digital I / F, for example, DVI (Digital Visual Interface), and a DVD recorder device. Of course, it is expected that the television device will be connected by digital I / F.
(2. Outline of Functions of DVD Recorder Device) Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of the DVD recorder device. This DVD recorder device includes an optical pickup 101 that reads data from a DVD-RAM disk 100, an ECC (Error Correcting Code) processing unit 102, a track buffer 103, a switch 104 that switches input / output to the track buffer 103, an encoder 105, and a decoder 106. To be equipped. As shown in FIG. 2, data is recorded on the DVD-RAM disk 100 with 1 sector = 2KB as the minimum unit. Further, 16 sectors = 1 ECC block is set, and error correction processing is performed by the ECC processing unit 102 with this ECC block as one unit.
The track buffer 103 is a buffer for recording AV data at a variable bit rate (VBR) in order to record AV data on the DVD-RAM disk 100 more efficiently. While the read / write rate (Va) to the DVD-RAM disk 100 is a fixed rate, the bit rate (Vb) of AV data changes according to the complexity of its contents (image in the case of video). , A buffer for absorbing this difference in bit rate.
If the track buffer 103 is further effectively used, AV data can be discretely arranged on the DVD-RAM disk 100. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the address space on the DVD-RAM disk 100 and the state when continuous playback of AV data is possible by supplying the data stored in the track buffer to the decoder. Is.
As shown in (a) of Fig. 3, when AV data is recorded separately in the continuous area of [a1, a2] and the continuous area of [a3, a4], seeking is performed from a2 to a3. Meanwhile, by supplying the data stored in the track buffer to the decoder 106, continuous playback of AV data becomes possible. The state at this time is shown in Fig. 3 (b). The AV data whose reading is started at the position a1 is input to the track buffer 103 from time t1, and the data output is started from the track buffer 103. As a result, data is accumulated in the track buffer 103 by the rate difference (Va-Vb) between the input rate (Va) to the track buffer 103 and the output rate (Vb) from the track buffer 103. This state continues until the continuous region reaches a2, that is, the time t2. Assuming that the amount of data stored in the track buffer 103 during this period is B (t2), the amount of data B (stored in the track buffer 103) is stored from the time t2 to the time t3 when the reading of the data in the area a3 is started. It suffices if t2) is consumed and continues to be supplied to the decoder 106. In other words, if the amount of data to be read before seeking ([a1, a2]) is secured to a certain amount or more, AV data can be continuously supplied even if a seek occurs. The size of the continuous area where AV data can be continuously supplied is expressed by the following formula when converted to the number of ECC blocks (N # ecc). In this equation, N # sec is the number of sectors that make up the ECC block, S # size is the sector size, and Tj is the seek performance (maximum seek time). N # ecc = Vb Tj / ((N # sec 8 S # size) (1-Vb / Va))
In addition, defective sectors may occur in the continuous region. Considering this case as well, the continuous region is expressed by the following equation. In the formula below, dN # ecc is the acceptable size of the defective sector, and Ts is the time required to skip the defective sector in the continuous region. This size is also represented by the number of ECC blocks. N # ecc = dN # ecc + Vb (Tj + Ts) / ((N # sec 8 S # size) (1-Vb / Va))
Here, an example in the case of reading data from a DVD-RAM disc, that is, in the case of playback has been described, but the same can be considered in the case of writing data to a DVD-RAM disc, that is, in the case of recording. As described above, with a DVD-RAM disc, continuous playback / recording is possible even if AV data is distributed and recorded on the disc as long as a certain amount or more of data is continuously recorded. In DVD, this continuous area is called CDA. The DVD recorder device may include a semiconductor memory card or a hard disk drive device in addition to the DVD-RAM disk as a data storage medium.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a DVD recorder device when a semiconductor memory card and a hard disk drive device are provided. One sector may be 512B (Byte), 8KB, or the like. The ECC block may also be 1 sector, 16 sectors, 32 sectors, or the like. As the amount of information that can be recorded increases, the sector size and the number of sectors that make up the ECC block are expected to increase.
(3. Outline of DVD disc) Figures 5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams showing the appearance and physical structure of a DVD-RAM disc, which is a recordable optical disc. The DVD-RAM disc is generally loaded in a DVD recorder device in a state of being housed in a cartridge. The purpose is to protect the recording surface. However, the recording surface may be protected by another configuration, or if acceptable, it may be loaded directly into the DVD recorder device without being stored in the cartridge.
DVD-RAM discs record data by a phase change method. The recorded data on the disk is managed on a sector-by-sector basis and is accompanied by an access address. The 16 sectors are the unit of error correction, are given an error correction code, and are called ECC blocks.
FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a recording area of a DVD-RAM disc, which is a recordable optical disc. As shown in FIG. 5A, a DVD-RAM disc has a read-in area on the innermost circumference, a read-out area on the outermost circumference, and a data area in between. In the lead-in area, a reference signal necessary for stabilizing the servo and an identification signal with other media are recorded when the optical pickup is accessed. In the lead-out area, the same reference signal as in the lead-in area is recorded. The data area is divided into sectors (2048 bytes), which is the smallest access unit. In addition, DVD-RAM discs are Z-CLV (Zone Constant Linear) during recording and playback. The data area is divided into a plurality of zone areas in order to realize rotation control called Velocity). Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the DVD-RAM disc is divided into 24 zone areas of zone 0 to zone 23. The rotation angular velocity of the DVD-RAM disc is set for each zone area so that the zone on the inner peripheral side becomes faster, and is kept constant while the optical pickup accesses within one zone. This increases the recording density of the DVD-RAM disc and facilitates rotation control during recording / playback.
FIG. 5 (b) is an explanatory diagram in which the lead-in region, the lead-out region, and the zone regions 0 to 23 shown concentrically in FIG. 5 (a) are arranged in the horizontal direction. The lead-in area and lead-out area are internal to the defect management area (DMA: Defect Management). Area). The defect management area refers to an area in which position information indicating the position of the sector in which the defect has occurred and alternative position information indicating which of the above alternative areas the sector that substitutes for the defective sector exists are recorded. .. Each zone area has a user area inside thereof, and also has an alternative area and an unused area at the boundary portion. The user area is an area that can be used by the file system as a recording area. The alternative area is an area that is used as an alternative when a defective sector exists. The unused area is an area that is not used for data recording. The unused area is provided for about 2 tracks. The unused area is provided because the sector address is recorded at the same position of the adjacent track in the zone, but in Z-CLV, the sector address is recorded at the same position on the track adjacent to the zone boundary. This is to prevent erroneous determination of the sector address due to the cause.
In this way, there are sectors that are not used for data recording at the zone boundary. Therefore, the DVD-RAM disc assigns a logical sector number (LSN: Logical Sector Number) to the physical sector of the user area in order from the inner circumference so as to continuously indicate only the sectors used for data recording.
6 (a) and 6 (b) are diagrams showing the logical data space of a DVD-RAM disk composed of logical sectors. The logical data space is called the volume space and records user data. In the volume space, the recorded data is managed by the file system. That is, information for managing a group of sectors for storing data as a file and a group of files as a directory is recorded in the partition space in the volume space, and a volume structure for managing the partition space and the like. Information is recorded at the beginning and end of the volume space. The file system used in DVD recorders is called UDF and complies with the ISO 13346 standard.
The sectors of the above group 1 are not necessarily arranged continuously in the volume space, but are arranged partially discretely. Therefore, the file system manages a group of sectors that are continuously arranged in the volume space among the sector groups that compose the file as extents, and manages the file as a set of related extents.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a directory and file structure of moving image data recorded on a DVD-RAM disc. Under the root directory, there is a VIDEO_RT directory, and under this, files of various objects that are data for playback, and VIDEO Manager files as management information indicating the playback order and various attributes of these are stored. The object is data conforming to the MPEG standard, and includes PS_VOB, TS1_VOB, TS2_VOB, AOB, POB, and MNF.
Of these, PS_VOB, AOB and POB are MPEG program streams (PS), and TS1_VOB and TS2_VOB are transport streams (TS). The program stream has a data structure considering storing AV information in the package media, while the transport stream has a data structure considering the communication media.
In general, PS_VOB, TS1_VOB and TS2_VOB are all objects having video information and audio information, and the video information is the main object. Of these, TS1_VOB is an object that is encoded by a DVD recorder device in principle and the internal picture structure is managed in detail, and TS2_VOB is an object encoded outside the DVD recorder device and is an internal picture. It is an object whose data structure such as structure is partially unknown. Typically, the TS1_VOB is an object in which an externally input analog video signal is encoded by a DVD recorder into a transport stream, and the TS2_VOB is directly on the disk without encoding the externally input digital video signal. It is a recorded object. AOB and POB are MPEG program streams, AOB is an object mainly composed of audio information, and POB is an object mainly composed of still images. The MNF is a manufacturer-specific file that stores additional information to assist the operation of the recording / playback device.
It is not always necessary to record all of these PS_VOB, POB, AOB, TS1_VOB, and TS2_VOB. Further, the above-mentioned video information subject and audio information subject mean that the bit rate allocation is large. VOBs are used in applications such as movies, and AOBs are used in music applications.
(4. Outline of AV information to be played back) Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of MPEG data recorded as various AV objects on a DVD disc. As shown in FIG. 8, the video stream and the audio stream are each divided and multiplexed. In the MPEG standard, the stream after multiplexing is called a system stream. In the case of DVD, the system stream in which DVD-specific information is set is called VOB (Video Object). The unit of division is called a pack packet and has a data amount of about 2 KByte.
The video stream is encoded by the MPEG standard, compressed at a variable bit rate, and has a high bit rate for complex images such as those with a lot of movement. In the MPEG standard, each picture of a video is classified into an I picture, a P picture, and a B picture and encoded. Of these, the I picture is spatially compressed and coded to be completed within the frame, and the P and B pictures are temporally compressed and coded using the correlation between the frames. In MPEG, the section including at least I picture is managed as GOP (Group of Picture). GOP becomes an access point for special playback such as fast-forward playback. This is because it has an in-frame compressed I-picture. On the other hand, for the coding of the audio stream, in the case of DVD, in addition to the MPEG audio AAC and MP3, the coding of AC3 and LPCM is used. As shown in FIG. 8, the data unit after multiplexing including the video information constituting the GOP and the audio information accompanying the GOP is referred to as a VOBU (Video Object Unit).
VOBU may include information for managing the video section as header information. The system streams described in FIG. 8 above include a program stream (PS) and a transport stream (TS). The former has a data structure in consideration of package media, and the latter has a data structure in consideration of communication media.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the data structure of the program stream and the transport stream. A program stream consists of a fixed-length pack, which is the smallest unit of transmission and multiplexing, and the pack also has one or more packets. Both packs and packets have a header part and a data part. In MPEG, the data part is called the payload. In the case of DVD, the fixed length of the pack is 2KB, which is consistent with the sector size. A pack can have multiple packets, but since a pack that stores DVD video and audio has only one packet, one pack = 1 packet except in special cases.
On the other hand, the unit of transmission and multiplexing of the transport stream consists of fixed-length TS packets. The size of the TS packet is 188B, which is consistent with ATM transmission, which is a communication standard. One or more TS packets are collected to form a PES packet. PES packets are a concept common to program streams and transport streams, and have a common data structure. Packets stored in a pack of program streams directly compose PES packets, and one or more TS packets of transport stream gather to form PES packets.
A PES packet is the smallest unit of coding, and stores video information and audio information that are commonly coded. That is, video information and audio information having different encoding methods are not mixedly stored in one PES packet. However, if the same coding method is used, the border of the picture boundary and the boundary of the audio frame need not be guaranteed. As shown in FIG. 9, there may be a case where one I picture is stored in one PES packet or a plurality of picture data are stored in one PES packet.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the data structure of the transport stream, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the data structure of the program stream. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a TS packet is composed of a TS packet header, an applicable field, and a payload section. A PID (Packet Identifier) is stored in the TS packet header, which identifies various streams such as a video stream or an audio stream to which the TS packet belongs.
PCR (Program Clock Reference) is stored in the applicable field. PCR is a reference value for the reference clock (STC) of the device that decodes the stream. The instrument typically demultiplexes the system stream at the timing of PCR and reconstructs it into various streams such as video streams.
DTS (Decoding Time Stamp) and PTS (Presentation Time Stamp) are stored in the PES header. DTS indicates the decoding timing of the picture / audio frame stored in the PES packet, and PTS indicates the presentation timing such as video / audio output. It is not necessary to have PTS and DTS in all PES packet headers, and if PTS and DTS are included in the header of the PES packet where the start data of the I picture is started to be stored, there is no problem in decoding and output.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing details of the structure of the TS packet. As shown in FIG. 12, in addition to PCR, the apply field stores a random access display flag, which stores the data that can be the entry point at the beginning of the video / audio frame in the corresponding payload section. Indicates whether or not to do so. Further, in the header part of the TS packet, in addition to the PID described above, a unit start display flag indicating the start of the PES packet and application field control information indicating whether or not the application field follows are also stored.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of packs constituting the program stream. This pack has an SCR and StreamID in the pack header. The SCR is the PCR of the transport stream, and the StreamID is virtually the same as the PID. Also, since the data structure of the PES packet is the same as that of the transport stream, PTS and DTS are stored in the PES header.
One of the major differences between program streams and transport streams is that transport streams allow multiprogramming. That is, although only one program can be transmitted in the unit of a program, the transport stream is assumed to transmit a plurality of programs at the same time. Therefore, in the transport stream, it is necessary for the playback device to identify whether it is a video stream or an audio stream that constitutes a program for each program.
14 (a) to 14 (d) are diagrams showing a PAT table and a PMAP table for transmitting the configuration information of the audio stream and the video stream constituting the program. As shown in FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (d), the information about the combination of the video stream and the audio stream used for each program is stored in the PMAP table, and the information about the combination of the program and the PMAP table is stored in the PAT table. Will be done. The playback device can detect the video stream and the audio stream that compose the program whose output is requested by the PAT table and the PMAP table.
Next, with reference to FIG. 15, the pack of the program stream described above and the arrangement of the TS packet of the transport stream on the disk will be described. As shown in (a) of FIG. 15, 16 sectors constitute an ECC block. The packs (PS Packs) that make up the video object (PS_VOB) in the form of a program stream are arranged in a sector boundary as shown in (b) of FIG. This is because both the pack size and the sector size are 2KB.
On the other hand, a video object (TS1-VOB / TS2-VOB) in the form of a transport stream is contained in an ECC block in a unit called a capsule (Capsule) having a size of 8 KB, as shown in (c) of FIG. Be placed. This capsule has a header area of 18B, and 43 TS packets with ATS information added are arranged in the data area. ATS information (Arrival Time Stamp Information) is information generated and added by the DVD recorder device, and is information indicating the timing when the packet is transmitted to the DVD recorder device from the outside.
In the above explanation, 43 MPEG transport packets are stored in an 8KB Capsule, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one ATS (fixed byte length) and one MPEG transport packet are paired. It may be recorded by a method such as forming TS1-VOB / TS2-VOB in this format.
(5. Overview of AV information management information and playback control) Fig. 16 (a), (b) and Fig. 17 (a), (b) are referred to as video management information (Video Manager) as shown in Fig. 7. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the file to be made. The video management information includes object information indicating management information such as the recording position of various objects on an optical disc, and reproduction control information indicating the reproduction order of the objects.
Figure 16 (a) shows PS-VOB # 1 to PS-VOB # n, TS1-VOB # 1 to TS1-VOB # n, TS2-VOB # 1 to TS2-VOB # n as objects recorded on the disc. Indicates when there is.
As shown in Fig. 16 (a), the information table for PS-VOB, the information table for TS1-VOB, and the information table for TS2-VOB exist separately according to the types of these objects. , Each information table has VOB information for each object. The VOB information has general information of the corresponding object, attribute information of the object, an access map for converting the playback time of the object into an address on the disk, and management information of the access map. The general information includes the identification information of the corresponding object, the recording time of the object, the manufacturer ID, etc., and the attribute information includes the video stream information (V_ATR) including the coding mode of the video stream and the number of audio streams ( It consists of AST_Ns) and audio stream information (A_ATR) including the coding mode of the audio stream.
There are two reasons why you need an access map. The first is to prevent the reproduction path information from directly referring to the recording position of the object on the disk by the sector address or the like, and to indirectly refer to the object by the reproduction time. In the case of RAM media, the recording position of the object may be changed by editing, etc., but if the playback route information directly refers to the recording position of the object by sector address, etc., the playback route information to be updated. This is because there are many. On the other hand, when the reference is indirectly made by the reproduction time, it is not necessary to update the reproduction route information, and only the access map needs to be updated.
The second reason is that AV streams generally have two criteria, a time axis and a data (bit string) axis, and there is no perfect correlation between these two criteria. For example, in the case of MPEG-2 video, which is an international standard for video streams, it is becoming mainstream to use a variable bit rate (a method of changing the bit rate according to the complexity of image quality), and in this case, from the beginning. Since there is no proportional relationship between the amount of data and the playback time, random access based on the time axis is not possible. To solve this problem, the object information has an access map for converting between the time axis and the data (bit string) axis.
As shown in FIG. 16A, the reproduction control information includes a user-defined reproduction route information table, an original reproduction route information table, and a title search pointer.
As shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b), the playback path includes the original playback path information automatically generated by the DVD recorder device to indicate all the objects recorded at the time of object recording, and the user is free to use it. There are two types of user-defined playback route information that can define a playback sequence. The playback path is uniformly called PGC information (Program Chain Information) in DVD, the user-defined playback path information is called U-PGC information, and the original playback path information is called O-PGC information. These O-PGC information and U-PGC information are information that enumerates cell information, which is information indicating a cell that is a reproduction section of an object, in a table format. The reproduction section of the object indicated by the O-PGC information is referred to as an original cell (O-CELL), and the reproduction section of the object indicated by the U-PGC information is referred to as a user cell (U-CELL). The cell indicates the playback section of the object by the playback start time and the playback end time of the object, and the playback start time and the playback end time are converted into the actual recording position information of the object on the disk by the access map described above. As shown in FIG. 17 (b), the cell group indicated by the PGC information constitutes a series of reproduction sequences that are sequentially reproduced according to the entry order of the table.
FIG. 18 is a diagram for specifically explaining the relationship between objects, cells, PGCs, and access maps. As shown in FIG. 18, the original PGC information 50 includes at least one cell information 60, 61, 62, 63. The cell information 60 to 63 specifies the object to be reproduced, and also specifies the object type and the reproduction section of the object. The recording order of the cell information in the original PGC information 50 indicates the reproduction order when the object specified by each cell is reproduced.
One cell information 60 includes type information (Type) 60a indicating the type of the object specified by the cell information 60, object ID (Object ID) 60b which is the identification information of the object, and a start time in the object on the time axis. It contains information (Start_PTM) 60c, end time information (End_PTM) 60d in the object on the time axis, and Entry Point information (EPI) 60e. The EPI60e is defined by time information and plays a role like a bookmark, for example. Although not shown in FIG. 18, the number of Entry Points in the cell is recorded in the cell information. The EPI is composed of the PTM of the Entry Point and the type information of the Entry Point. At the time of data reproduction, the cell information 60 in the original PGC information 50 is sequentially read, and the object specified by each cell is reproduced for the reproduction section specified by the cell. The access map 80c converts the start time information and the end time information indicated by the cell information into the position information on the disk of the object.
Although it is the map information described above, it is generated and recorded together with the recording of the object. In order to generate a map, it is necessary to analyze the picture structure in the object's data. Specifically, it is necessary to detect the position of the I picture shown in FIG. 9 and the time stamp information such as PTS which is the reproduction time of the I picture shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.
Here, the problems that occur when generating the map information of PS-VOB, TS1-VOB, and TS2-VOB will be described below. As described in FIG. 1 above, PS-VOB and TS-VOB1 are mainly generated by encoding a received analog broadcast into an MPEG stream by a DVD recorder device. Therefore, the information of the I picture and various time stamps is generated by itself, the data structure inside the stream is clear for the DVD recorder device, and no problem occurs in the generation of the map information.
Next, regarding the TS2-VOB, as also described in FIG. 1 above, the received digital broadcast is mainly recorded directly on the disc without being encoded by the DVD recorder device. For this reason, unlike the PS-VOB, the position and time stamp information of the I picture is not generated by itself, so the data structure inside the stream is not clear for the DVD recorder device, and this information is detected from the digital stream to be recorded. Is needed. Therefore, the DVD recorder device detects the I picture and the time stamp as shown below for the map information of the TS2-VOB recording the stream encoded outside the recorder.
First, the I picture is detected by detecting the random access display information of the application field of the TS packet shown in FIG. The time stamp is detected by detecting the PTS in the PES header. For the time stamp, PCR in the applicable field or ATS, which is the arrival timing when the TS packet is transmitted to the DVD recorder device, may be used instead of PTS. In any case, the DVD recorder device detects the position of the I picture based on the information of the system layer, which is the upper layer thereof, without analyzing the data structure of the video layer of the MPEG stream. This is because the load on the system is heavy even for the analysis of the video layer in order to generate the map information.
Further, it may be impossible to detect the system layer, but in this case, it is necessary to show that there is no valid map information because the map information cannot be generated. In the DVD recorder device, these are indicated by the map management information shown in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b). As shown in FIG. 16 (b), the map management information has map validity information and a self-encoding flag. The self-encoding flag indicates that the object is encoded by the DVD recorder device itself, the internal picture structure is clear, and the time stamp information of the map information, the position information of the I picture, etc. are accurate. .. In addition, the map validity information indicates whether or not there is a valid access map.
As an example in which the system layer cannot be detected, there may be a case where the applicable field is not set, or a case where the digital stream is not an MPEG transport stream in the first place. Since various methods of digital broadcasting can be established in various countries around the world, it is naturally expected that DVD recorders will record objects for which maps cannot be generated. For example, when a DVD recorder device that assumes digital broadcasting in Japan is used in the United States and digital broadcasting in the United States is recorded, there are cases where objects for which maps cannot be generated are recorded.
However, the DVD recorder device can play back the objects for which map information is not generated in order from the beginning. In this case, the recorded digital stream can be reproduced as a video by outputting it to the STB corresponding to the stream via the digital I / F.
(6. Basic Operation of Playback Function) Next, the playback operation of the DVD recorder player that reproduces the above optical disc will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, this DVD recorder player has an optical pickup 201 that reads data from the DVD-RAM disk 100, an ECC processing unit 202 that corrects errors in the read data, and read data after error correction. A track buffer 203 that temporarily stores a track buffer 203, a PS decoder 205 that plays a program stream such as a video object (PS_VOB), a TS decoder 206 that plays a transport stream of a digital broadcast object (TS1_VOB), and an audio object (AOB). ), An audio decoder 207 that decodes a still image object (POB), a still image decoder 208 that decodes a still image object (POB), a switch 210 that switches data input to each decoder 205 to 208, and a control unit 211 that controls each part of the player. Be prepared.
The data recorded on the DVD-RAM disk 100 is read from the optical pickup 201 and stored in the track buffer 203 through the ECC processing unit 202. The data stored in the track buffer 203 is input to any one of the PS decoder 205, the TS decoder 206, the audio decoder 207, and the still image decoder 208, and is decoded and output.
At this time, the control unit 211 determines the data to be read based on the reproduction sequence shown in the reproduction path information (PGC) of FIG. 17 (b). That is, in the example of FIG. 17 (b), the control unit 211 first reproduces the partial section (CELL # 1) of VOB # 1, and then reproduces the partial section (CELL # 2) of VOB # 3. Finally, control the playback with VOB # 2 (CELL # 3) is performed.
Further, the control unit 211 can acquire the cell type to be reproduced, the corresponding object, the reproduction start time of the object, and the reproduction end time from the cell information of the reproduction route information (PGC) shown in FIG. The control unit 211 inputs the data of the section of the object specified by the cell information to the matching decoder. At this time, the control unit 211 identifies the object to be reproduced by the Object ID of the cell information. Further, the control unit 211 identifies the cell, which is the reproduction section of the specified object, by converting the StartPTM and EndPTM of the cell information into the address of the disk information in the access map of the corresponding VOB information.
Further, the DVD recorder player of the present embodiment further has a digital interface 204 for supplying an AV stream to the outside. This makes it possible to supply the AV stream to the outside via a communication means such as IEEE1394 or IEC958. This is because there may be cases where the corresponding decoder does not exist inside the player, especially for TS2-VOBs that are not encoded by themselves, so they are output directly to an external STB through the digital interface 204 without decoding. It can be played on that STB. When the digital data is directly output to the outside, the control unit 211 determines whether or not random access reproduction is possible based on the map management information shown in FIG. 16 (b). If the access point information flag is valid, the access map has the location information of the I picture.
Therefore, the control unit 211 can output digital data including the I picture to the external device via the digital I / F in response to the request for fast-forward playback or the like from the external device. If the time access information flag is valid, time access is possible. Therefore, the control unit 211 can output digital data including picture data corresponding to the specified playback time to the external device via the digital I / F in response to a time access request from the external device. ..
(7. Basic Operation of Recording Function) Next, the configuration and operation of the DVD recorder according to the present invention for recording and reproducing on the optical disc will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 20, the DVD recorder device receives the user I / F unit 222 that displays to the user and receives the request from the user, the system control unit 212 that manages and controls the entire DVD recorder, and VHF and UHF. Analog broadcasting tuner 213, encoder 214 that converts analog signals into digital signals and encodes them into MPEG program stream, digital broadcasting tuner 215 that receives digital satellite broadcasting, analysis unit 216 that analyzes MPEG transport stream sent by digital satellite, It is equipped with a display unit 217 of a TV and a speaker, and a decoder 218 that decodes an AV stream.
When the recorder is a DVD camcorder device, it includes a camera unit 223 for inputting video and a still image encoder 224 for encoding an AV signal sent from the camera unit 223 into a JPEG stream.
Further, by sending the AV signal from the camera unit 223 to the encoder 214, the moving image is encoded into the MPEG program stream. The decoder 218 includes the first and second decoders shown in FIG. 19 above. Further, the DVD recorder device includes a digital I / F unit 219, a track buffer 220 for temporarily storing write data, and a drive 221 for writing data to the DVD-RAM disk 100. The digital I / F unit 219 is an interface that outputs data to an external device by communication means such as IEEE1394 or USB.
In the DVD recorder configured in this way, the user I / F unit 222 first receives a request from the user. The user I / F unit 222 transmits the request from the user to the system control unit 212, and the system control unit 212 interprets the request from the user and makes a processing request to each module. Recording includes self-encoding, which encodes the input digital data by itself, and outside encoding, which records the encoded digital data on a disk without encoding.
(7.1 Recording operation by self-encoding) First, regarding self-encoding recording, the operation of encoding and recording an analog broadcast on PS-VOB will be described in detail below. The system control unit 212 requests reception to the analog broadcast tuner 213 and encoding to the encoder 214. The encoder 214 video-encodes, audio-encodes, and system-encodes the AV data sent from the analog broadcast tuner 213 and sends it to the track buffer 220.
Immediately after the start of encoding, the encoder 214 sends the time stamp information of the first data of the MPEG program stream being encoded to the system control unit 212 as the playback start time (PS_VOB_V_S_PTM), which is necessary for subsequently creating an access map. Information is sent to the system control unit 212 in parallel with the encoding process. This value is set in Start_PTM of the cell information shown in FIG. 18 which is generated later. The time stamp information is generally PTS, but SCR may be used instead.
Next, the system control unit 212 issues a recording request to the drive 221, and the drive 221 takes out the data stored in the track buffer 220 and records it on the DVD-RAM disk 100. At this time, the above-mentioned continuous area (CDA) is searched from the recordable area on the disk, and the data is recorded in the searched continuous area. The end of recording is instructed by a stop request from the user. The recording stop request from the user is transmitted to the system control unit 212 through the user I / F unit 222, and the system control unit 212 issues a stop request to the analog broadcasting tuner 213 and the encoder 214.
The encoder 214 stops the encoding process in response to the encoding stop request from the system control unit 212, and sets the time stamp information contained in the end data of the last encoded MPEG program stream as the playback end time (PS_VOB_V_E_PTM) in the system control unit 212. Send to. This value is set in End_PTM of the cell information shown in FIG. PTS is usually set for the time stamp information, but SCR may be used instead.
After the encoding process is completed, the system control unit 212 generates VOB information (PS-VOBI) for PS-VOB and playback control information shown in FIG. 16A based on the information received from the encoder 214. Here, the generated VOB information includes an access map and map management information suitable for the object type. The system control unit 212 enables the map validity information of the map management information and turns on the self-encoding flag.
In addition, the original reproduction path (O-PGC information) shown in FIG. 17 (a) above, in which the recorded object is one of the reproduction targets, is generated. The generated O-PGC information is added to the original reproduction route table. The original reproduction path (O-PGC information) has cell information. "PS-VOB" is set for the cell information type information.
Finally, the system control unit 212 requests the drive 221 to finish recording the data stored in the track buffer 220 and to record the VOB information (PS_VOBI) and the reproduction control information for the PS-VOB, and the drive 221. Records the remaining data in the track buffer 220 and this information on the DVD-RAM disk 100, and ends the recording process.
Of course, analog broadcasting may be encoded in TS1-VOB. In this case, the encoder 214 needs to be an encoder that converts an analog signal into a digital signal and encodes it into an MPEG transport stream, and the type information in the cell information is set to "TS1-VOB". In this case, Start_PTM and End_PTM may be PTS or PCR may be used.
Further, even when the AV signal from the camera unit is self-encoded, the above processing is basically the same except that the input to the encoder 214 is changed from the analog broadcasting tuner to the camera unit.
(7.2 Recording operation by outside encoding) Next, the recording by outside encoding will be specifically described below through the operation of recording a digital broadcast. In this case, the recorded object type is TS2-VOB. The digital broadcast recording request by the user is transmitted to the system control unit 212 through the user I / F unit 222. The system control unit 212 requests reception to the digital broadcasting tuner 215 and data analysis to the analysis unit 216.
The MPEG transport stream sent from the digital broadcasting tuner 215 is transferred to the track buffer 220 through the analysis unit 216. The analysis unit 216 uses the time stamp information of the head data of the transport stream as the information necessary for generating the VOB information (TS2_VOBI) of the encoded MPEG transport stream (TS2-VOB) first received as a digital broadcast. Is extracted as start time information (TS2_VOB_V_S_PTM) and sent to the system control unit 212. The start time information is set in Start_PTM of the cell information shown in FIG. 18 which is generated later. This time stamp information becomes PCR or PTS. Alternatively, ATS, which is the timing at which the object is transmitted to the DVD recorder, may be used instead.
The analysis unit 216 further analyzes the system layer of the MPEG transport stream and detects the information necessary for creating the access map. The position of the I picture in the object is detected based on the random access indicator (randam_access_indicator) in the adaptation field in the TS packet header as described above.
Next, the system control unit 212 outputs a recording request to the drive 221, and the drive 221 takes out the data stored in the track buffer 220 and records it on the DVD-RAM disk 100. At this time, the system control unit 212 also instructs the drive 221 where to record on the disk from the allocation information of the file system. At this time, the above-mentioned continuous area (CDA) is searched from the recordable area on the disk, and the data is recorded in the searched continuous area.
The end of recording is instructed by a stop request from the user. The recording stop request from the user is transmitted to the system control unit 212 through the user I / F unit 222, and the system control unit 212 issues a stop request to the digital broadcasting tuner 215 and the analysis unit 216.
The analysis unit 216 stops the analysis process in response to the analysis stop request from the system control unit 212, and displays the time stamp information of the data in the end section of the last analyzed MPEG transport stream as the display end time (TS2_VOB_V_E_PTM). Send to control unit 212. This value is set in End_PTM of the cell information shown in FIG. 18 above. This time stamp information becomes PCR or PTS. Alternatively, ATS, which is the timing at which the object is transmitted to the DVD recorder, may be used instead.
The system control unit 212 generates VOB information (TS2_VOBI) for TS2-VOB and playback control information shown in FIG. 16A based on the information received from the analysis unit 216 after the reception processing of the digital broadcast is completed. Here, the generated VOB information includes an access map and map management information suitable for the object type. When the system control unit 212 generates a valid access map that can detect the position of the I picture in the object, the system control unit 212 effectively sets the map validity information of the map management information.
Also, set the self-encoding flag to OFF. If a valid access map cannot be generated, disable the map validity information. In addition, cases where a valid access map cannot be generated may be a case where an unsupported digital broadcast is received, a case where there is no random access information in the applicable field, or the like. Also, when input directly from the digital I / F, there may be cases where it is not an MPEG transport stream, and in this case, of course, the map validity information is set to invalid.
In addition, the original reproduction path (O-PGC information) shown in FIG. 17 (a) above, in which the recorded object is one of the reproduction targets, is generated. The generated O-PGC information is added to the original reproduction route table. The original reproduction path (O-PGC information) has cell information. "TS2-VOB" is set for the cell information type information.
Finally, the system control unit 212 requests the drive 221 to finish recording the data stored in the track buffer 220 and to record the VOB information (TS2_VOBI) and the reproduction control information for the TS2-VOB, and the drive 221. Records the remaining data in the track buffer 220 and this information on the DVD-RAM disk 100, and ends the recording process.
The operation has been described above based on the recording start and end requests from the user. For example, in the case of timer recording used in a VTR, the system control unit automatically requests the recording start and end instead of the user. The behavior of the DVD recorder is not essentially different.
Next, DSC, which records image information encoded by JPEG, which is a coding standard for digital image data, on a digital still camera (DSC) using a semiconductor memory as a recording medium will be described in the following order. 1. System overview of DSC device 2. Overview of recording medium 3. Overview of AV information to be played 4. Basic operation of playback function 5. Basic operation of recording function
(1. System overview of DSC device) Fig. 21 is a diagram for explaining an example of the appearance of the DSC device and the interface with related devices. As shown in FIG. 21, the DSC is loaded with an optical disk such as a DVD or a semiconductor memory card as a recording medium, and mainly records and reproduces still image information. The operation is generally performed by a switch on the device, a touch panel on the liquid crystal monitor, a remote controller, or the like.
The DSC has a camera unit including a lens and a CCD device, and the AV signal output from the camera unit is encoded in the DSC and recorded on a recording medium. On the other hand, the recording medium on which the still image information is recorded is reproduced by the DSC and output to the outside. For example, it is output as an analog signal, input to a television device, and displayed as a video. Alternatively, digital still image data is sent to a personal computer, a DVD recorder, or the like through a digital I / F.
Further, still image information may be recorded and reproduced on a DVD disc or a semiconductor memory card as a recording medium by a personal computer or a DVD recorder other than the DSC. Even if the recording medium has still image information recorded outside the DSC, the DSC reproduces the recording medium when the DSC is loaded.
The digital I / F between the DSC and an external device such as a personal computer or a DVD recorder may be IEEE1394, ATAPI, SCSI, USB, a bus-type wired LAN, or a wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11.
(2. Outline of recording medium) FIGS. 22 (a) and 22 (b) are diagrams showing the structure of a directory and a file of still image data recorded on a memory card. Here, a directory and a file structure conforming to the DCF standard will be described as an example.
Under the root directory, there is a DCF image root directory (directory name: DCIM), and under that there is a DCF directory for storing images. The DCF object, which is the data for playback, is stored under the DCF directory.
A DCF object is a group of files recorded according to the regulations defined by the DCF, and consists of a DCF basic file, a DCF extended image file, a DCF thumbnail file, and the like.
The DCF basic file is an image file that is recorded directly under the DCF directory, has a DCF file name defined by the DCF standard and an extension "JPG", and has a data structure defined by the DCF standard in compliance with the Exif standard.
The DCF extended image file is an image file that is recorded directly under the DCF directory and has a DCF file name but a different extension and data structure from the DCF basic file. The DCF thumbnail file is a compressed file for recording thumbnails of DCF extended image files.
It is not always necessary to record all of these DCF basic files, DCF extended image files, and DCF thumbnail files. In addition to DCF objects, Motion JPEG files may also be recorded. The DCF basic file and DCF extended image file described above have come to be recorded as extremely high-definition still image data due to the recent development of image input devices such as CCDs.
(3. Outline of AV information to be reproduced) FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the structure of JPEG data recorded as a DCF basic file on a recording medium by DSC. The DCF basic file contains APP1 (application data segment 1). This APP1 contains metadata such as shooting time and aperture value. In addition, a thumbnail image of 160 pixels × 120 pixels is always included. APP1 is also called Exif attached information.
Further, the still image data is encoded and compressed by the JPEG standard and stored in the area indicated by Other Data.
(4. Basic Operation of Playback Function) Next, the playback operation of the DSC that reproduces the recording medium will be described with reference to FIG. 24. As shown in FIG. 24, the DSC includes a data reading unit 1203 that reads data from the recording medium 1100, a still image decoder 1208 that decodes still image data, a digital interface 1205 that digitally outputs the read data, and a still image decoder 1208. It is equipped with a switch 1210 that switches data input to the digital I / F unit 1205 and a control unit 211 that controls each DSC unit.
The data reading unit 1203 includes an ECC processing unit that corrects errors in the read data and a track buffer that temporarily stores the read data after the error correction, if necessary.
The data recorded on the recording medium 1100 is reproduced by the data reading unit 1203, input to the still image decoder 1208, decoded and output. Further, the data read by the data reading unit 1203 is supplied to the outside through the digital interface 1205. This makes it possible to copy or move still image data to a hard disk on a PC or a DVD disc on a DVD recorder.
(5. Basic Operation of Recording Function) Next, the configuration and operation of the DSC that records and reproduces on the recording medium will be described with reference to FIG. 25.
As shown in FIG. 25, the DSC is a user I / F unit 1222 that receives a display to the user and a request from the user, a system control unit 1212 that manages and controls the entire DSC, and a display unit such as an LCD monitor and a speaker. It is equipped with 1217 and a decoder 1218 that decodes still image data. It also has a still image encoder 1224 that encodes the AV signal sent from the camera unit 1223 that inputs video into a JPEG stream.
The data recording / reproducing unit 1221 records / reproduces data on the recording medium 1100. The digital I / F section 1219 is an interface that outputs data to an external device by communication means such as IEEE1394 or USB.
In the DSC configured in this way, the user I / F unit 1222 first receives the request from the user. The user I / F unit 1222 transmits the request from the user to the system control unit 1212, and the system control unit 1212 is the user. Interpret the request from and make a processing request to each module. Recording (shooting) includes self-encoding, which encodes the input digital data by itself, and outside encoding, which records the encoded digital data on a disk without encoding.
(5.1 Still image recording operation by self-encoding) Regarding the recording of still images, the operation of JPEG-encoding and recording the AV data sent from the camera unit 1223 will be described in detail below.
The system control unit 1212 requests AV data output to the camera unit 1223 and encoding to the still image encoder 1224. The still image encoder 1224 JPEG-encodes the AV data sent from the camera unit 1223 and sends it to the data recording / playback unit 1221. The data recording / playback unit 1221 records data on the recording medium 1100 while receiving instructions from the system control unit 1212.
At this time, the system control unit 1212 creates a DCF image root directory or DCF directory from the file system information as needed, and names the already recorded DCF object so that the file name does not overlap. Record the still image file on the recording medium 1100.
Shooting ends when one still image file is recorded. Alternatively, when the user gives an instruction for continuous shooting, the process ends by a stop request from the user, or a predetermined number of still image files are recorded and the process ends. The shooting stop request from the user is transmitted to the system control unit 1212 through the user I / F unit 1222, and the system control unit 1212 issues a stop request to the camera unit 1223 and the still image encoder 1224.
(5.2 Still image recording operation by outside encoding) Regarding the recording of still images, the operation of inputting and recording a still image file from the digital I / F section 1219 will be specifically described below.
The DCF object sent from the digital I / F section 1219 is input to the data recording / playback section 1221. The data recording / playback unit 1221 records data on the recording medium 1100 while receiving instructions from the system control unit 1212. At this time, the system control unit 1212 creates a DCF image root directory or DCF directory from the file system information as needed, and names the already recorded DCF object so that the file name does not overlap. Record the still image file on the recording medium 1100.
When the DSC is connected to the PC via SCSI or ATAPI and a still image is sent from the PC to the DSC, the PC operates the file system information on the recording medium 1100 (creating a DCF directory, setting the DCF object name, etc.) ) May be performed.
Recording ends when one still image file is recorded. When the user gives an instruction for continuous recording, the process ends by a stop request from the user, or a predetermined number of still image files are recorded and the process ends. The recording stop request from the user is transmitted to the system control unit 1212 through the user I / F unit 1222, and the system control unit 1212 issues a stop request to the digital I / F unit 1219.
In addition, camera devices have come to be installed in various devices against the background of miniaturization of video input means using CCDs and the like and price reduction of semiconductor memory cards. For example, cameras have been installed in mobile phones, PDAs, and notebook PCs, making it possible to shoot and store images. The video data is stored in a built-in semiconductor memory, HDD, an external semiconductor memory card, or the like.
In addition, as a feature of electronic devices developed in recent years, those having a function of connecting to a network such as the Internet are increasing. For example, mobile phones, PDAs, notebook PCs, DSCs, etc. may have an Internet connection function. These devices are connected to a network and exchange captured still image data and moving image data by using a transmission means such as e-mail.
Next, the data management system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data management system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 26, the data management system of the present invention includes a server device (data management device) 10 for recording / reproducing digital data, and the server device 10 each of a plurality of client terminals A, B, and C. ing. The server device 10 and each of the client terminals A, B, and C are connected by a network, and bidirectional digital data communication is possible.
Here, the communication path of the network connecting the server device 10 and each of the client terminals A, B, and C is, for example, a wireless system such as IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth (registered trademark of [The Bluetooth SIG Incorporated]), UWB, etc. Alternatively, it is composed of IEEE1394, USB, a bus-type wired LAN, a wired method using a cable such as an optical fiber, or the like.
FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the data management system according to the present embodiment. For example, the client terminal A is a video camera having a camcorder function for capturing a moving image, the client terminal B is a digital still camera (DSC) for capturing a still image, and the client terminal C is capable of capturing a still image. It is a possible mobile phone. Further, as shown in FIG. 27, for example, the server device 10 is formed in a shape that allows it to be carried on the palm, and the above-mentioned client terminals A, B, and C are used on the surface of the server device 10. A liquid crystal display panel that displays the acquired data is attached.
Digital data communicated between the server device 10 and each of the client terminals A, B, and C includes continuous media data such as video and audio, and discrete media data such as text data and still images. The plurality of client terminals A, B, and C are various electronic devices used by the user, and each has a different function.
For example, when the client terminals A, B, and C have a camcorder function, video data encoded by the MPEG2 method is transmitted from the client terminals A, B, and C to the server device 10. If the client terminals A, B, and C have a DSC function, the still image data encoded by the JPEG method is transmitted from the client terminals A, B, and C to the server device 10.
FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a configuration of the server device 10 in the data management system shown in FIG. 26. The server device 10 includes a control unit 11, an I / O unit 12, a UI unit 13, a recording device unit 14, and a terminal characteristic information processing unit 15.
The control unit 11 is a part that controls the operation of the entire server device 10. The I / O unit 12 is a part for inputting / outputting data to / from the outside of the server device 10, and is composed of, for example, USB, IEEE1394, a bus-type wired LAN, a wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11, or a combination thereof. To.
The UI unit 13 transmits the operation by the user to the server device 10 through the operation by the button or stick and the user interface (GUI) by the image displayed on the liquid crystal screen, and conversely, the output from the server device 10. Plays a role in communicating to users.
The recording device unit 14 permanently records data received from client terminals A, B, and C through the I / O unit 12, data created by the control unit 11 based on instructions input by the user through the UI unit 13, and the like. Record. Further, the recording device unit 14 outputs the recorded data to the outside through the I / O unit 12 or sends the recorded data to the control unit 11 for data processing. Further, the recording device unit 14 may temporarily store data when the control unit 11 performs various processes.
Further, the recording device unit 14 is composed of, for example, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a semiconductor memory card device, or a combination thereof.
The terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 holds the terminal characteristic information received from the client terminals A, B, and C, and functions as a determination means for determining the allocation of resources possessed by the server device 10 based on the terminal characteristic information. The configuration of the terminal characteristic information and the operation of the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 will be described in detail later.
FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration of the client terminal A in the data management system shown in FIG. The client terminal A includes a control unit 21, an I / O unit 22, a UI unit 23, a data processing unit 24, a recording device unit 25, and a terminal characteristic information generation unit 26.
The control unit 21 is a part that controls the operation of the entire client terminal A. The I / O unit 22 is a part for inputting / outputting data to / from the outside of the client terminal 20, and is composed of, for example, USB, IEEE1394, a bus-type wired LAN, a wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11, or a combination thereof. , At least one interface capable of connecting to the above-mentioned server device 10 via a network is provided.
The UI unit 23 conveys the user's operation to other units of the client A through the operation with buttons and sticks and the user interface (GUI) with the image displayed on the liquid crystal screen, and conversely, the client terminal A. It plays a role of communicating the contents of the output from other units to the user.
The data processing unit 24 creates and reproduces data on the client terminal A. Further, the data processing unit 24 reproduces the data read from the recording device unit 25, which will be described later, and displays it to the user through the UI unit 23. For example, if the client terminal A has a still camera function, the data processing unit 24 inputs a digital image through a CCD device and performs image compression processing such as JPEG. On the contrary, the data processing unit 24 decodes the JPEG data read from the recording device unit 25.
The recording device unit 25 was created by the control unit 21 and the data processing unit 24 based on the data generated by the client terminal A or input from the outside through the I / O unit 22 and the instructions input by the user through the UI unit 23. Record data permanently.
Further, the recording device unit 25 transmits the recorded data to the I / O unit 22 in order to output the recorded data to the outside of the client terminal A, and sends the data to the data processing unit 24 in order to reproduce the data. Send that data. Further, when the control unit 21 performs various processes, the storage device unit 25 temporarily stores the data used for the processes as needed.
The recording device unit 25 is composed of, for example, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a semiconductor memory card device, or a combination thereof.
The terminal characteristic information generation unit 26 holds or generates terminal characteristic information representing the characteristics of the client terminal A itself, and if necessary, transmits the terminal characteristic information through the I / O unit 22 to an external device such as the server device 10. Send to.
The recording device unit 25 can have a smaller capacity than the conventional configuration. For example, a conventional DVD camcorder device records a large amount of video data, so that a DVD of several GB is recorded. -Although it was provided with a RAM disk, in the present embodiment, since the video data is recorded in the server device 10, it is possible to configure the system by reducing the storage capacity of the client terminal A having a camcorder function.
Similarly to the above-mentioned client terminal A, the client terminals B and C also have the above-mentioned control unit 21, I / O unit 22, UI unit 23, data processing unit 24, recording device unit 25, and terminal characteristic information generation unit, respectively. It has 26 and.
As described above, in the client terminals A, B, and C of the present embodiment, the storage capacity of the recording device unit 25 is smaller than that of the conventional one, so that the terminal itself can be miniaturized and the drive time during battery operation can be extended. It will be possible.
In addition, even when looking at the client terminal group carried by one user and the server device 10 as a whole, since the storage capacity is concentrated in the server device 10, functional duplication between terminals is reduced, and the overall system configuration is efficient. Is possible.
Next, the data management system of the present invention will be described in the following order. 1. Overview of data management system 2. Structure of terminal characteristic information 3. Server resource allocation operation 4. Recording operation 5. Playback operation
(1. Outline of Data Management System) In the data management system of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 30, when the network connection between the client terminal A and the server device 10 is established, the client terminal A has terminal characteristics. Information is transmitted to the server device 10.
When the network connection between the client terminal A and the server device 10 is established as shown in FIG. 30 (a), the terminal characteristics from the client terminal A to the server device 10 as shown in FIG. 30 (b). Information I100 is sent. The terminal characteristic information I100 is sent from the terminal characteristic information generation unit 26 shown in FIG. 29 to the server device 10 through the I / O unit 22.
The server device 10 receives the terminal characteristic information I100 through the I / O unit 12 shown in FIG. 28, and the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 processes the terminal characteristic information I100. Further, the terminal characteristic information I100 is stored in the recording device unit 14 as needed.
Next, as shown in (c) of FIG. 30, when the client terminal B is further connected to the server device 10, the terminal characteristic information I100 is similarly sent to the server device 10, and the server device 10 is connected to itself. It holds the terminal characteristic information I100 corresponding to each of the client terminals A and B. In this way, the server device 10 that receives the terminal characteristic information I100 from the client terminals A, B, and C performs the server resource allocation operation that allocates the processing capacity of the entire server device 10 to each of the client terminals A, B, and C. .. For example, when the server device 10 intends to provide a recording function to the client terminal A, a record transfer band that can be used is allocated to each of the client terminals A, B, and C. By allocating the transfer band to each of the client terminals A, B, and C in advance, it is possible to prevent the load of the entire server device 10 from exceeding its maximum processing capacity and enable reliable data transfer. Client terminals A, B, and C to which server resources have been assigned transmit and receive data within the range of the allocated server resources.
(2. Structure of terminal characteristic information) FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a data structure of terminal characteristic information I100. The terminal ID information has information for identifying each client terminal A, B, C in the network composed of the server device 10 of the present invention and the client terminal group.
For the terminal ID information, if the client terminals A, B, and C have an interface such as a bus-type wired LAN or IEEE1394 in the I / O section, the unique ID specified in those standards may be diverted. , The IP address of TCP / IP, which is a network protocol, and other identification information unique to each of the client terminals A, B, and C may be used. Further, the names and explanations of the client terminals A, B, and C may be stored in the terminal ID information in a format (for example, a character string) that the user can understand.
The recording attribute information includes the attribute information in the recording operation of each client terminal A, B, and C. Here, the recording operation refers to an operation of transmitting data from client terminals A, B, and C and causing the server device 10 to receive the data. The server device 10 records the data received from the client terminals A, B, and C in its own recording device unit 14.
The reproduction attribute information includes the attribute information in the reproduction operation possessed by each of the client terminals A, B, and C. Here, the reproduction operation refers to an operation in which the client terminals A, B, and C receive the data transmitted from the server device 10. The client terminals A, B, and C record the received data in their own recording device unit 25, and reproduce and display the received data through the data processing unit 24 and the UI unit 23, if necessary.
The access control information is the control information when another client terminal or the server device 10 accesses the resources and functions of the client terminals A, B, and C, and the data recorded on the client terminals A, B, and C. Has. For example, access control information for data (files and directories) in the recording device unit 25 on client terminals A, B, and C, access control information for specific functions of client terminals A, B, and C, and the like. ..
The terminal-specific information includes attribute information unique to each client terminal A, B, and C other than the above-mentioned information. For example, extended information uniquely defined by the manufacturers of client terminals A, B, and C.
32 (a) and 32 (b) are diagrams showing the data structure of the recorded attribute information in FIG. 31. The general attribute information includes general attribute information regarding the recording operation of the client terminals A, B, and C. For example, the recording buffer information regarding the buffer memory capacity that can be used when recording the client terminals A, B, and C, the maximum data capacity that the client terminals A, B, and C may request from the server device 10, and the allocation of server resources. Priority information indicating the priority of each client terminal A, B, C with respect to.
The application attribute information table is a table of attribute information related to each data requested to be recorded by the client terminals A, B, and C. As shown in FIG. 32 (a), the application attribute information table is composed of a plurality of application attribute information. The application attribute information includes the attribute information of the data that the client terminals A, B, and C request to record in the server device 10. As shown in FIG. 32 (b), the application attribute information includes general application information, a data attribute information table, and extended information.
The application general information includes at least application identification information for identifying an application for which client terminals A, B, and C request recording. Examples of applications include the DCF standard and the DVD video recording standard.
The application identification information need only be shared between the client terminals A, B, and C and the server device 10. For example, a character string such as "DCIM" or an ID number such as "0001". However, other than that, any identification information unique to each application may be used.
In addition, the application general information may include the name and description of the application in a format that can be understood by the user (for example, a character string), or may include attribute information common to the entire application. In addition to that, priority information or the like indicating the priority of the application with respect to the allocation of server resources may be included.
On the other hand, the data attribute information table includes data attribute information having attribute information for each of a plurality of data formats managed by one application. Examples of data attribute information are shown in FIGS. 33 (a) and 33 (b).
As shown in FIG. 33 (a), the data attribute information has data attribute general information and a data individual attribute table. The data attribute general information has at least data identification information for identifying the type of data to be recorded. Examples of data types include MPEG2 and JPEG. The data identification information need only be shared between the client terminals A, B, C and the server device 10, for example, a simple character string such as "MPEG2" or "0001". The ID number, extension when recording data as a file, MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type information, etc. may be used, and other information that can be uniquely identified may be used. In addition, the data attribute general information may include the name and description of the data in a format that can be understood by the user (for example, a character string), or may include attribute information common to the entire data.
The data individual attribute information table is a table of data individual attribute information including individual attribute information possessed by data of a certain data type, and stores data individual attribute information according to required individual attributes.
Figure 33 (b) shows an example of individual data attribute information. For example, the individual data attribute whose attribute item name is "required bandwidth information" is the value of the recording transfer bandwidth of the server device 10 required to record the corresponding data, and is numerical information such as "6" (Mbps). Is stored.
Further, the "continuous media attribute" indicates whether or not the corresponding data is continuous media data. For example, if the value "1" is set, it is continuous media data, and if it is "0", it is not continuous media data. .. Similarly, the non-retransmittable data attribute indicates whether or not the corresponding data is retransmittable data. Non-retransmittable data refers to, for example, the following data.
When the client terminal A has a cam coder function and transmits the video data currently being shot to the server device, there is no copy etc. in the video data, and the server device 10 fails to record and the client Retransmission is not possible even if a resend request is made to the terminal A side. Such data is regarded as non-retransmittable data.
On the contrary, when the file stored in the recording device unit 25 on the client terminal A side is sent to the server device 10, the client terminal A records the file to be transmitted again in response to the retransmission request from the server device 10. Since it can be read from part 25 and transmitted, in such a case, the file does not correspond to non-retransmission data, and in the example of FIG. 33 (b), the value of "non-retransmission data attribute" is set to "0". Set.
Regarding the "replication attribute", when the recording request of the corresponding data requests an operation such as backing up the data by copying the data in the client terminals A, B, and C to the server device 10. , It is assumed that the corresponding data is duplicate data.
The individual data attribute information is determined by the data type, and is not limited to the information shown in FIG. 33 (b). In addition, as an example of data individual attribute information (not shown in FIG. 33 (b)), in the case of continuous media data, information indicating whether or not compression is performed at a variable transfer rate, or compression at a variable transfer rate. There is information indicating the upper limit, lower limit, average value, etc. of the transfer rate in the case of. Alternatively, even in the case of discrete media data such as a still image, a plurality of data may be continuously transmitted. Therefore, as an example of data individual attribute information in this case, for each still image file at the time of transmission. There is information indicating the amount of data, the file transmission interval, the maximum number of files to be transmitted, and the like.
34 (a) and 34 (b) are diagrams showing the data structure of the reproduction attribute information in FIG. 31 above. The information possessed by the reproduction attribute information is the same as the above-mentioned recording attribute information except that the target of the information is related to the reproduction operation of the client terminals A, B, and C. For example, the general attribute information includes general attribute information regarding the playback operation of the client terminals A, B, and C, and the playback buffer information regarding the buffer memory capacity that can be used during playback of the client terminals A, B, and C, and the client terminal. Includes the maximum data capacity that A, B, and C may request from the server device 10. Similarly, the application attribute information table is a table of attribute information related to each data requested to be reproduced by the client terminals A, B, and C.
(3. Server resource allocation operation) Next, the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 which is the determining means of the server device 10 applies a finite server resource (for example, recording transfer band, storage area, etc.) to a plurality of client terminals A and B. The operation assigned to, C will be described.
Conventionally, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-283295, it is stated that information regarding the allocation of transfer bandwidth is shared between a client terminal and a server device, and the client terminal makes a data request so as not to exceed the allocated transfer bandwidth. There is. At this time, the configurations of the client terminals are all the same, and therefore, the server device can allocate the server resources to the client terminals by sequentially allocating the same amount of transfer bands according to the request from the client terminals.
However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of each client terminal is different, and therefore the type, characteristics, and importance of the data requested to be recorded or reproduced by the client terminal are different. The method of allocating server resources is inconvenient. For example, when a client terminal requests recording of MPEG2-compressed moving image data to a server device while shooting with a camcorder function, the data to be recorded is continuous media data and cannot be retransmitted. Therefore, it is not allowed for the server device to interrupt or delay the recording, and it is necessary to allocate a sufficient recording transfer band.
On the other hand, when copying JPEG-compressed still image data from a client terminal to a server device, the data is discrete media data and can be resent, so even if the recording transfer band allocated to this client terminal is low. , Data can be copied.
Since the server device has only a finite number of server resources, it may not be possible to satisfy the resource allocation requests from all client terminals. In such a case, in the present embodiment, the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 of the server device 10 uses the terminal characteristic information I100 received from the client terminals A, B, and C to obtain the optimum server resource allocation pattern. To determine.
That is, the server device 10 considers the attribute information of the data stored in the terminal characteristic information I100, and preferentially allocates the server resource to the allocation request having a higher priority. As a result, optimal server resource allocation becomes possible even in an environment in which client terminals A, B, and C having various configurations are connected to the server device 10.
FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the server resource allocation operation in the present embodiment. When the server device 10 detects the connection of any of the client terminals A, B, and C (S31), it checks whether the client terminals A, B, and C are known client terminals (S32). That is, it is examined whether or not the client terminals A, B, and C have the terminal characteristic information I100. If it is not a known client terminal (No in S32), the server device 10 receives the terminal characteristic information I100 from the client terminals A, B, and C (S33). Then, the server device 10 determines the allocation of server resources from the terminal characteristic information I100 held by the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 (S34).
When allocating server resources, the priority of allocation is determined by the attribute value in the terminal characteristic information I100. For example, the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 of the server device 10 refers to the priority information for the server resource allocation in the recording attribute information and the playback attribute information, and gives priority to the client terminal having a high priority and its application as the server resource. To assign.
That is, the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 specifies the priority for each client terminal A, B, C based on the contents such as the recording attribute information and the playback attribute information included in the terminal characteristic information I100, and the priority is given. Determine how to allocate server resources to each client terminal A, B, C and application according to the above.
The value of the priority information included in the recording attribute information and the reproduction attribute information may be fixedly set depending on the type of the client terminal or application, or may be set individually by the user.
Further, as an example of different priority determination methods, a case where the priority for the allocation of server resources is determined in relation to the value of the data individual attribute information will be described. Here, a rule for determining the priority is specified as in 1 to 5 below, and the terminal characteristic information processing unit 15 of the server device 10 allocates server resources according to this rule (in this example, 1 has the highest priority). high). 1: The individual data attributes are "continuous media data" and "non-retransmissionable data". 2: The individual data attributes are "discrete media data" and "non-retransmissionable data". 3: The individual data attribute is "continuous media data". 4: The individual data attribute is "discrete media data". 5: Data individual attribute is "replication attribute".
According to the above-mentioned priority determination rule, there are client terminals having various configurations by sequentially allocating server resources from the client terminal having the highest priority among the maximum processing capacity of the server device I100. Appropriate server resource allocation can be performed even in a network environment.
Next, a specific server resource allocation operation will be described. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the buffer memory allocation operation of the server device 10. The server device 10 shown in FIG. 28 has a buffer memory in the recording device unit 14. For example, the track buffer 103 shown in FIG. 2 is a portion having the same function as the buffer memory.
In the server device 10 of the present invention, the area on the buffer memory is divided and allocated to each client terminal.
In FIG. 36, buffer memory is allocated to two applications, DCF and DVD. The priority and the allocation amount at the time of allocation are determined from the information stored in the terminal characteristic information I100 as described above. For example, when recording continuous media data such as MPEG2 on an optical disc such as a DVD, as shown in FIG. 3 above, if the writing rate to the recording medium and the bit rate of the continuous media data to be written are given, The required amount of track buffer (value corresponding to B (t2) in FIG. 3) and the size of CDA (value corresponding to continuous region A1 in FIG. 3) can be determined.
Next, FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an area allocation operation in the recording device unit 14 of the server device 10. The server device 10 shown in FIG. 28 has an HDD, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory card, or the like as the recording device unit 14. In particular, when a seek operation is required when accessing data such as HDDs and optical disks, as described in Fig. 3 above, the data is transferred to the CDA for continuous recording and playback of continuous media data such as video data. Must be placed.
Further, when the recording device unit 14 is shared by a plurality of client terminals A, B, and C as in the server device 10 of the present embodiment, the area in the recording device unit 14 is occupied by a specific client terminal or application. If this happens, other data cannot be recorded, which is inconvenient. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, the partition space on the recording device unit 14 is further divided into subregions, and a plurality of subregions are allocated to each application. Hereinafter, the set of subregions allocated for each application is referred to as a virtual partition space.
The partial area is composed of a logical sector unit, an ECC block unit, a plurality of continuous logical blocks, a collection of ECC blocks, and the like. By arranging the data in the virtual partition space in each of the client terminals A, B, and C, the data can be recorded without occupying the storage area by a specific application.
In addition, when recording continuous media data, a partial area will be allocated in consideration of its size so that a CDA can be secured when allocating the virtual partition space. The priority and the allocation amount at the time of allocation are determined from the information stored in the terminal characteristic information I100, as in the case of the buffer memory allocation operation. For example, the storage area required by each client terminal A, B, C may be included in the general attribute information of the recording attribute information, or in the case of continuous media data such as MPEG2 of DVD, the size information of CDA. May be included in the application attribute information.
FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an operation during loop recording in each virtual partition space allocated in FIG. 37. A recording method called loop recording may be performed for the purpose of efficient data arrangement in the virtual partition space, access to data, leveling of the frequency of use of the recording area, and the like. In loop recording, for example, in the address space in the partition space, the free area is always searched and recorded in the direction in which the address value increases from the position where the address value is small, and when the end in the partition space is reached, the address value is the highest again. This is a way to return to a smaller position. Even if the recording is interrupted once, the position (corresponding to the loop recording start position in FIG. 38) is memorized, and the next recording is restarted from that position.
When loop recording is performed in the present embodiment, the loop recording start position is held for each virtual partition space. As a result, loop recording is possible even when the recording device unit 14 in the server device 10 is shared and used.
(4. Recording operation) Next, the recording operation will be described. Here, the recording operation is an operation of transmitting data from the client terminals A, B, and C to the server device 10 and recording the data in the recording device unit 14 in the server device 10. At the start of recording, each of the client terminals A, B, and C transmits the identification information of the client terminal itself and the data identification information for identifying the data to be transmitted to the server device 10 prior to the transmission of the data. .. This data identification information includes the application identification information, data identification information, and the like described in (2. Structure of terminal characteristic information) above.
In addition, information on the location of the directory in which the data is stored and the name of the file may be included in the above-mentioned data identification information. As explained in DCF and DVD, if the directory name and file name are known, the type of data can be known, so this information can also be used as data identification information. After that, the client terminals A, B, and C transmit data to the server device 10.
(5. Playback operation) Next, the playback operation will be described. Here, the reproduction operation is an operation in which the client terminals A, B, and C receive data from the server device 10. During the playback operation, the server device 10 reads data from the recording device unit 14 and transmits the data to the client terminals A, B, and C.
At the start of playback, the client terminals A, B, and C transmit their own identification information and data identification information for identifying the data to be received to the server device 10 prior to receiving the data. This data identification information includes the application identification information, data identification information, and the like described in (2. Structure of terminal characteristic information) above.
The server device 10 refers to the terminal characteristic information I100 of the client terminals A, B, and C to which data is transmitted, and considers the buffer memory capacity and the like that can be used during playback of the client terminals A, B, and C as necessary. And send the data.
Further, when the server device 10 has a plurality of data that can be transmitted, the data suitable for the client terminals A, B, and C may be selected and transmitted by referring to the terminal characteristic information I100. For example, when the data that can be transmitted is a video image of the same content with different resolutions, it depends on the size of the display that is the UI part 23 of the client terminal A and the type of decoding device (MPEG2, MPEG4, etc.) that the client terminal A has. By selecting and transmitting an appropriate video image, the video image that is most easily viewed on the client terminal A side can be obtained.
The server device 10 may have a drive device dedicated to playing a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. By allocating the playback transfer band even in the playback-only drive device, the data and contents in the ROM can be shared.
In the present embodiment, the client terminals A, B, and C transmit the terminal characteristic information I100 to the server device 10, but prior to the transmission of the terminal characteristic information I100 from the client terminals A, B, and C, the server The device 10 may transmit the characteristic information of the server device 10 itself to the client terminals A, B, and C.
As a result, the client terminals A, B, and C can know in advance whether or not the server device 10 has the server resources requested by the client terminals A, B, and C, and if it is found that the server device 10 does not have sufficient resources, the server It is not necessary to request the allocation of resources, and extra trouble can be avoided. The configuration of the terminal characteristic information I100 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 31, and may be a data structure having a tree structure such as XML.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the terminal characteristic information I100 is transmitted from the client terminals A, B, C to the server device 10 in advance, so that the client terminals A, B, C having different performances and characteristics are transmitted. Optimal server resources can be allocated to record and play back various data from.
Further, in the network composed of the client terminal group and the server device 10, duplication of the recording function and the like can be eliminated, so that overall efficiency, miniaturization, and long drive time can be realized.
(Embodiment 2) Next, the data management system of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, a case where the priority is determined by using the terminal characteristic information I100 and the server resources are allocated using this priority has been described.
By the way, since the resources possessed by the server device 10 are finite, it is expected that the server resources will be insufficient when a plurality of client terminals are connected. If the user appropriately sets the priority information for the server resource allocation in the record attribute information and the playback attribute information in advance, the server resource can be allocated accordingly, but the number of client terminals and applications increases. Then, it may be difficult to set priority information for all server resource allocations in advance without any contradiction.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, when allocating the server resource, the server device 10 presents to the user some patterns of the recommended allocation method, and the user selects one of the presented patterns. By doing so, it is possible to allocate server resources that reflect the intentions of the users.
The data management system in the present embodiment is composed of the server device 10 and the client terminals A, B, and C as in the first embodiment.
The server device 10 includes a control unit 11, an I / O unit 12, a UI unit 13, a recording device unit 14, and a terminal characteristic information processing unit 15, and the client terminals A, B, and C are It includes a control unit 21, an I / O unit 22, a UI unit 23, a data processing unit 24, a recording device unit 25, and a terminal characteristic information generation unit 26.
Here, the recording device unit 14 of the server device 10 functions as a storage means for storing the allocation pattern information of the content indicating the above-mentioned pattern. Further, the I / O unit 12 of the server device 10 functions as a transmission means for transmitting the allocation pattern information stored in the recording device unit 14 to the client terminals A, B, and C, and is based on the allocation pattern information. It functions as an acquisition means for acquiring instruction information of the content instructing a predetermined pattern from each of the client terminals A, B, and C.
39 (a) and 39 (b) are diagrams showing the contents of the above allocation pattern information, and there are a plurality of patterns of server resource allocation for the client terminals A, B, and C connected to the server device 10. It is a figure which shows the example of the case. As shown in FIG. 39 (a), for each of the client terminals A, B, and C, for example, in pattern 1, the client terminal A is assigned a recording transfer band of 80 Mbps, and the client terminal B is assigned a recording transfer band of 80 Mbps. It means that the recording transfer band is not allocated and the recording transfer band 20 Mbps is allocated to the client terminal C. Such a pattern is determined by a method such as giving priority to data whose individual data attributes are "continuous media data" and "non-retransmissionable data", as described in the first embodiment.
Similarly, pattern 2 has a different allocation. The server device 10 is, for example, a display device which is a UI unit 12 provided on the server device 10 or a UI unit 23 of any of the client terminals A, B, and C connected to the server device 10. These patterns are presented on a display device or the like. The user selects a pattern that suits his / her intention from the presented patterns and returns the result to the server device 10, so that the server device 10 has a pattern of server resource allocation according to the user's intention. Can be determined.
In FIG. 39 (a), the recording transfer band assigned to the client terminal A differs between the pattern 1 and the pattern 2 when the client terminal A has a plurality of recording modes. For example, if the client terminal A has a camcorder function and it is possible to change the compression rate of the AV data recorded in the server device 10, even if the server resource allocation pattern suitable for each compression rate is presented. Good.
The fact that the client terminals A, B, and C have a plurality of recording modes is notified to the server device 10 by including a plurality of data individual attribute information corresponding to each recording mode in the terminal characteristic information I100.
In FIG. 39 (a), by lowering the recording transfer band of the client terminal A, the server resource could not be allocated to the client terminal B in the pattern 1, but it can be allocated in the pattern 2. By obtaining information indicating a plurality of patterns as shown in FIGS. 39 (a) and 39 (b), the user can easily determine his / her intended server resource allocation pattern.
Further, when the pattern intended by the user does not exist among the plurality of patterns presented by the server device 10, the user may be able to change or add the pattern by himself / herself. For example, in FIG. 39 (b), pattern 3 is a pattern defined by the user, and if the user does not intentionally allocate to the client terminal A regardless of the priority or the like, the client terminal B will be assigned. Furthermore, the recording transfer band can be allocated.
Such changes / additions of the pattern by the user are transmitted to the server device 10, and if the pattern does not exceed the limit of all server resources of the server device 10, the actual server resource allocation is performed according to the pattern. Can be done. The server resource allocation pattern once obtained is stored in the server device 10.
FIG. 40 is a diagram showing the contents of allocation pattern information including a plurality of patterns according to the client terminal connected to the server device 10. The pattern selected as described above is stored in the server device 10 in association with the client terminals A, B, and C.
In addition, the pattern defined by the user is also stored in the server device 10 in the same manner, and when the pattern is saved, the attribute information indicating that the pattern is defined by the user is also saved.
As described above, by saving the server resource allocation pattern according to the configuration of the client terminal group, the saved pattern can be saved even if the configuration of the client terminal group connected to the server device 10 changes. If it is used, it is not necessary to recreate the allocation pattern each time the change occurs, and the processing efficiency of the server device 10 and the user's operation can be simplified.
(Embodiment 3) In the second embodiment, the case where the server resource allocation pattern is determined when any of the client terminals A, B, and C connects to the server device 10 has been described. That is, server resources were allocated according to the status of the constituent members of the client terminal group.
In the present embodiment, a case where the allocation of server resources is changed according to the state of the server device 10 and the states of the client terminals A, B, and C in the same network configuration as that of the second embodiment will be described.
The control unit 11 of the server device 10 in the present embodiment detects a change in the processing environment of the data transmitted and received between the client terminals A, B, and C, and sets the contents of the pattern shown in the above instruction information. , Has a function as a detection changing means that changes according to the detection result.
FIGS. 41 (a) and 41 (b) are diagrams for explaining the operation in which the allocation of server resources is changed according to the state change of the client terminals A and B. As shown in FIG. 41 (a), the client terminal A and the client terminal B are connected to the server device 10 and perform data transfer at a recording transfer band of 10 Mbps and a playback transfer band of 5 Mbps, respectively. Here, when the data transfer of the client terminal A is stopped, the total data transfer band of the server device 10 has a margin. Therefore, the control unit 11 of the server device 10 detects the stop of the data transfer, and FIG. 41 (b) shows. As shown, the server resource allocation pattern selected by the user is changed so that the playback transfer band of the client terminal B is increased to 15 Mbps. Then, when the server device 10 receives the recording request from the client terminal A again, the control unit 11 detects the change and changes the pattern to the original content. As a result, the operating state of this system returns to the state shown in Fig. 41 (a), and server resources are preferentially allocated to client terminal A.
In addition to the above, the pattern may be changed according to the change in the power supply state of the server device 10. For example, when the server device 10 is battery-powered and the remaining battery level is low, the server resources are allocated more preferentially to the client terminal having a higher priority, while the client terminal having a lower priority is assigned. Avoid allocating server resources or reduce the amount allocated.
By such an operation, it is possible to complete the data transfer of high importance with the remaining battery power remaining. For the client terminal whose server resource allocation amount is reduced, the information is transmitted from the server device 10 to the client terminal, and the client terminal changes the transfer mode so as not to exceed the newly allocated server resource and data. To transfer. Then, when there is no problem with the power supply of the server device 10 such as when the server device 10 is AC-connected, the server resources are allocated to the client terminal having a low priority again.
Further, the amount of all server resources possessed by the server device 10 may be changed according to the power supply state of the server device 10. For example, when the server device 10 is battery-powered, the performance of the recording device unit 14 is lowered (seek speed, rotation speed of the recording medium, etc.) in order to prolong the driving time.
On the other hand, when the server device 10 is connected to the AC power supply, the server device 10 does not need to suppress its performance because there is no risk of operation stop due to the battery running out. Therefore, since the total amount of server resources allocated differs between battery-powered and AC-powered, the server resource allocation pattern also changes.
In the above case, the server device 10 has a means for detecting a change in its own power supply state, and changes the server resource allocation pattern when the power supply state changes. As a result, appropriate server resources can be allocated according to the power supply status of the server device 10.
Further, the pattern may be changed according to the change of the client terminals A, B, and C. For example, when the client terminal A is battery-powered and the remaining battery level is low, or when the remaining buffer memory of the client terminal A is low, the information is transmitted from the client terminal A to the server device 10. Then, the server device 10 allocates more server resources to the client terminal A. As a result, the server device 10 can complete the transfer of necessary data to, for example, the client terminal A having a low battery level remaining.
Further, the allocation pattern may be changed according to the change in the execution speed of the data transfer between the client terminals A, B, C and the server device 10. For example, when the client terminal A and the server device 10 are connected by a wireless digital network, the data transfer speed between the client terminal A and the server device 10 may decrease depending on the radio wave condition.
In such a case, if the data transfer rate is lower than the data rate generated at the data source, the data to be transmitted will be lost. In order not to lose the data, it is effective that the data source has a buffer memory and holds the data that could not be transmitted temporarily. This buffer memory is realized by temporarily recording data in the memory provided in the I / O units 12 and 22 in FIGS. 28 and 29 and in the recording device units 14 and 25, and the data transfer speed is increased. The data that could not be transmitted due to the decrease is retained in the buffer memory. Then, when the data transfer rate between the client terminal A and the server device 10 is restored to a predetermined speed, the data in the buffer memory is transmitted.
However, when the data to be transmitted is continuous media data, new data may be generated even during data transmission in the buffer memory, and the decrease in data transfer execution speed may reoccur. Since the capacity of the buffer memory is finite, if the execution speed of data transfer slows down when there is not enough free space in the buffer memory, it becomes impossible to hold any more data and data is lost. .. Therefore, if the execution speed of the data transfer recovers after the execution speed of the data transfer decreases, the data in the buffer memory on the transmitting side is sent out as quickly as possible, and the free space of the buffer memory should be made as large as possible. Is desirable. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the server resource allocation is temporarily changed after the execution speed of the data transfer between the client terminals A, B, and C and the server device 10 is reduced.
Specifically, as an example, when the client terminal A has the function of the DVD camcorder device and becomes the data transmission source, the server device 10 relates to the data recording band which is a server resource and the allocation of the buffer memory of the server device 10. We will raise the priority and allocate more server resources to client terminal A as a result. For example, as shown in FIG. 36 (a), in normal operation, the server device 10 reserves a spare area in addition to the buffer memory allocated to each application (application A, application B). Then, after the data transfer speed is reduced, the server resource allocation is temporarily changed, and the above-mentioned spare area is additionally allocated to the application B as shown in FIG. 36 (b).
In addition, the server device 10 additionally allocates the recording transfer band to the client terminal that requests the recording of the data of the application B. Then, the client terminal records data in the server device 10 at a data transfer rate higher than usual. As a result, more data will be received on the server device 10 side, but since a large amount of buffer memory is temporarily allocated, it is possible to receive such data and prevent data recording failure. It becomes possible.
Although the spare area is provided in FIG. 36, the additional server resources may be allocated to another client terminal by reducing the server resources allocated to the other client terminal.
(Embodiment 4) In the present embodiment, a method for improving the reliability of data transfer in the data management system according to the present invention will be described.
The data management system in the present embodiment has the same configuration as that in the first embodiment. FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a data structure of the terminal characteristic information I101 different from the terminal characteristic information I100 of FIG. 31. The terminal ID information, the recording attribute information, the reproduction attribute information, and the access control information included in the terminal characteristic information I101 are the terminal ID information, the recording attribute information, the reproduction attribute information, and the access control information included in the terminal characteristic information I100, respectively. It has the same structure as the access control information.
The message registration information includes information regarding the message information that the client terminals A, B, and C having the terminal characteristic information I101 want to receive from the server device 10.
FIGS. 43 (a) and 43 (b) are diagrams showing the data structure of the message registration information in FIG. 42. The general attribute information includes general attribute information related to the message registration information. For example, ID information for identifying message registration information. The individual message information table is a table of individual message information registered in the server device 10 by the client terminals A, B, and C.
As shown in FIG. 43 (a), the individual message information table is composed of a plurality of individual message information. The individual message information includes individual message information registered in the server device 10 by the client terminals A, B, and C.
As shown in FIG. 43 (b), the individual message information includes individual message general information, transmission trigger information, and message information. The individual message general information includes information for identifying the individual message information to be registered by the client terminals A, B, and C, for example, an ID number such as "0001". The transmission trigger information includes information regarding conditions for starting transmission of message information described later from the server device 10 to the client terminals A, B, and C. The condition for starting transmission is, for example, the case where the power supply voltage of the server device 10 falls below a predetermined voltage. The message information is message information transmitted from the server device 10 to the client terminals A, B, and C when the conditions stored in the transmission trigger information are satisfied. For example, "the battery level of the server device is low. It includes a character string such as "Is it" and a message agreed in advance between the server device 10 and the client terminals A, B, and C.
Here, the control unit 11 of the server device 10 has a function as an event determination means for determining whether or not a specific event such as a decrease in the power supply voltage has occurred, and the I / O unit 12 has the terminal characteristics described above. By acquiring information I101 from each client terminal A, B, C, message registration information indicating a message associated with a specific event is acquired. Further, when the control unit 11 determines that a specific event has occurred, the control unit 11 sets the message corresponding to the event as the acquisition destination of the terminal characteristic information I101 based on the message registration information acquired by the I / O unit 12. Notify the client terminal.
As a result, for example, if message information is registered from a certain client terminal A, B, C to the server device 10 with the power supply voltage of the server device 10 as a condition of the transmission trigger information, a specific client terminal intended by the user can be registered. A, B, and C can be used to know the decrease in the power supply voltage of the server device 10, and it is possible to prevent data transfer failure due to an unintended stop of the server device 10.
As an example of the operation of this system in which message information different from the above is registered, a case where the server device 10 has a commutative recording medium such as a DVD as the recording device unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 44.
In the client terminal A, if the condition of the transmission trigger information of the individual message information is the exchange of the recording medium on the server device 10, and the message information is the message "disk has been exchanged", the message on the server device 10 When the recording medium is exchanged in, the above-mentioned message information is transmitted to the client terminal A. As a result, it is possible to record data on an unintended recording medium or avoid failure of the recording itself due to carelessness of the user.
Further, by including the unique identification ID of the convertible medium in the transmission trigger information, the exchange of the recording medium can be detected more reliably. Further, as an example of the operation of this system in which message information different from the above is registered, a case relating to a network connection between the server device 10 and the client terminal A will be described with reference to FIG. 45.
When the server device 10 and the client terminal A are connected by a wireless digital network connection, the network connection may be interrupted or the data transfer speed may decrease depending on the radio wave condition between the server device 10 and the client terminal A. .. For example, in FIG. 45, when the client terminal A has a camcorder function and records AV data, the AV data is continuous media data as described in the first embodiment. It is also "non-retransmissionable data". In this case, since data cannot be retransmitted, failure of data recording due to network interruption or decrease in data transfer speed causes a great loss for the user.
Therefore, the client terminal A smell Te, condition of the transmission trigger information of the message registration information, network connection status between the server device 10 and the client terminal A (e.g., Ya execution speed of data transfer between the client terminal A and the server device 10 , The distance information between the client terminal A and the server device 10), the user can know the network status, and take measures in advance, for example, to bring the distance between the server device 10 and the client terminal A closer. be able to. As a result, it is not necessary to lose valuable data such as data that cannot be resent.
In addition to the above, the individual message information may include attribute information indicating the type of message information, for example, information such as "urgent", "caution", and "reference" as the warning level. Further, when it is desired to send a message to a client terminal different from the client terminal on which the message is registered, information for identifying the terminal may be included. At this time, the server device 10 transmits message information to the designated client terminal.
Furthermore, for important messages such as the power supply voltage drop of the server device 10 and the connection status of the wireless network, the server device 10 automatically automatically handles the message information without registering the message information on the client terminals A, B, and C. May be sent to client terminals A, B, and C. This is the same as the message information being implicitly registered in advance, which is one of the present embodiments.
(Embodiment 5) In the present embodiment, an operation when data according to different application formats are recorded in the server device from a plurality of client terminals will be described. Here, the application format is, for example, the above-mentioned DVD standard or DCF standard. The application data is MPEG2 AV stream data in the DVD standard, and a DCF object in the DCF standard.
Further, the management data is the video management information file described with reference to FIGS. 16A and 17A in the case of the DVD standard. In the DCF standard, there is no management data, but all directory names and file names must comply with the DCF standard, and these are managed using the functions of the file system.
FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server device according to the present embodiment. Similar to the server device 10 described above, the server device 40 includes an I / O unit 12, a UI unit 13, a recording device unit 14, and a terminal characteristic information processing unit 15, and further includes a control unit 41. The control unit 41 includes a management data processing unit 41a, has a function of the control unit 11 of the server device 10, and also has a function based on the management data processing unit 41a.
Further, the data management system of the present embodiment includes the above-mentioned server device 40 and client terminals A, B, and C.
The management data processing unit 41a is a part that processes management data for managing application data transferred from client terminals A, B, and C. That is, for the DVD standard, the video management information file is processed, and for the DCF standard, the directory name and the file name are managed.
FIG. 47 is a diagram for explaining the operation between the server device 40 and the client terminals A and B in the present embodiment. In FIG. 47, the client terminal A has a function of a DVD camcorder device, and records MPEG2 data and the like as described in FIG. 8 as application data in the server device 40. Further, the client terminal B has a DSC function, and records a DCF object or the like as described in FIG. 23 above in the server device 40 as application data.
As described in the first embodiment, when the client terminals A and B connect to the server device 40, the client terminals A and B transmit the terminal characteristic information I100 to the server device 40, receive the allocation of server resources, and then make a data recording request. Do it. As described above, since the client terminals A and B try to record different application data in the server device 40, the server device 40 has the terminal characteristic information I100 of the client terminals A and B, and the client terminals A and B have the application data. The application format is determined by referring to the data identification information transmitted together with. Then, the management data processing unit 41a processes the management data according to the application format. As a result, as shown in FIG. 47, management data and application data conforming to the DVD standard and the DCF standard are recorded in the recording device unit 14 of the server device 40.
By recording the data as described above, the data generated by the client terminals A and B will not be stored individually in the separate recording devices and recording media, and the recording must be managed by the user. It is possible to reduce the number of devices and recording media. As a result, the time and effort for data management, such as where and what kind of data was stored and whether backup was performed, is greatly reduced.
Further, as in the present embodiment, when the DSC and the camcorder are used at the same time to shoot and record the same object, the user only sequentially reproduces the data in the recording device unit 14 of the server device 40. Therefore, the situation at the time of shooting and the shooting order can be reproduced and reproduced, which greatly improves convenience.
FIG. 48 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the client terminal C is further connected to the state of FIG. 47. The client terminal C has a camcorder function like the client terminal A. In the recording operation, a client terminal having two camcorder functions is connected to the server device 40. The MPEG2 data transferred from the client terminals A and B is managed by one management data on the server device 40. At this time, the AV stream data recorded in the server device 40 is a mixture of the AV stream data generated by the client terminal A and the client terminal C.
The management data processing unit 41a of the server device 40 stores, for example, in the video management information shown in FIG. 16A above, which part of the AV stream data is generated by which client terminal. As the information for identifying the client terminal, for example, the terminal ID information of the terminal characteristic information I100 may be used. As a result, when the user reproduces the data on the server device 40, it is possible to know which client terminal generated the reproduced video, and the data management becomes easy.
FIG. 49 is a diagram for explaining an operation in a data storage method different from that in FIG. 47. In FIG. 49, the client terminals A and B do not transfer the application data to the server device.
Each application data is recorded in the recording device unit 25 provided in each of the client terminals A and B. Then, each of the client terminals A and B has link information indicating a link destination to each application data recorded in its own recording device unit 25 for the server device 40, and management data for managing the application data. Send the information needed to generate. For example, in the case of the DCF standard, the link information includes path name information consisting of a file name or directory name of a DCF object.
The server device 40 generates management data based on the information received from the client terminals A and B, and records the link information to each application data.
Regarding the management data, the information may be collectively transmitted. For example, in the client terminal A of FIG. 49, the entire management file VIDEO_Manager may be transmitted (copied). After such recording, the user refers to the management data in the server device 40 and reproduces the application data. However, since the application data does not actually exist in the server device 40, the server device 40 refers to the link information to the application data and requests the corresponding client terminal to transmit the application data.
The client terminals A and B that have received the data transmission request from the server device 40 transmit the application data to the server device 40. The server device 40 receives the application data from the client terminals A and B and displays the application data to the user.
From the above, in FIG. 49, the user can read the application data stored in the plurality of client terminals A, B, and C by referring only to the server device 40, and the convenience in data reproduction is improved. To do.
FIG. 50 is a diagram for explaining an operation in a data storage method different from that in FIG. 47. In FIG. 50, client terminals A and B similar to those in FIG. 47 are connected to the server device 40. The server device 40 of FIG. 50 records MPEG2 data from the client terminal A and its management data. Similarly, the DCF data (DCF object) from the client terminal B and its management data are recorded. Further, the server device 40 of FIG. 50 records a third management data including the generation time information of the application data from the client terminal A and the application data from the client terminal B.
In Figure 50, this third management data is shown in a file called ABCD0001.XML under the SCRIPT directory under the root directory. Hereinafter, this third management data will be referred to as a script file.
As described above, this script file is a file containing information related to the time when the application data was generated on each of the client terminals A and B, its data format, and the like. For example, the reference information to the application data is the generation thereof. The files are recorded in the order in which they were recorded. Figure 51 shows an example of the display when the script file is referenced and played back by this system. In FIG. 51, application data A and application data B captured at the same time are reproduced on the same screen. This is a state in which the situation at the time of recording is reproduced as it is by reproducing and displaying each application data in synchronization with the generation time information recorded in the script file. As a result, the data generated by the plurality of client terminals can be played back at once, and the convenience in using the data is improved.
The data format for the script file may be, for example, a format in which reference information to application data and generation time information in which the data is generated are recorded in association with each other. Further, the format as shown in the reproduction route information table shown in FIG. 17 (a) may be used. Further, the format may be such that the timing of playback synchronization between each application data is recorded. Furthermore, in addition to the application data generation time information and the reproduction synchronization timing, the script file may include the arrangement information on the screen at the time of reproduction of each application data and other additional information. For example, in FIG. 51, information for designating the position and size on the display of the UI units 13 and 23 on which the MPEG2 data of the application A is displayed may be included. In addition, the script file is composed of, for example, a description language format according to the W3C standard XML, a description language such as the SMIL standard, and a Quick Time format which is a multimedia format specified by Apple Computer, Inc. You may.
FIG. 52 is a file content display diagram showing an example of the above-mentioned script file configured according to the SMIL standard. For example, as shown in FIG. 52, the script file contains information indicating the display range of the image on the display screen of the UI unit 13 of the server device 40, and further, the data file name 1 of the application data ( 1000ABCD.MPG), data file name 2 (2000ABCD.MPG), data file name 3 (2001ABCD.JPG), and data file name 4 (3000ABCD.MPG) are the generation times of them. They are arranged in order. Further, the data file name 2 and the data file name 3 are arranged assuming that the respective application data are generated at the same time.
Further, a plurality of script files as described above may be recorded in the server device 40 for each date. This enables, for example, data management by date. Further, the relationship between the application formats may be stored in the terminal characteristic information I100 (for example, in the application general information). That is, in the client terminal A having the terminal characteristic information whose application identification information is, for example, "DCIM", the identification information "DVD-VR" indicating the DVD video recording standard as the related application identification information related to the application identification information. Is stored. When the server device 40 that receives such terminal characteristic information from the client terminal A receives the data of the DVD video recording standard from another client terminal B, it receives the application data of the client terminal A and the application data of the client terminal B. To generate the script file. Furthermore, when the related application identification information between different applications is received from another client terminal C, a script file for that application is generated.
This makes it possible to generate a script file corresponding to a specific application set, and facilitates data management.
Next, the basic operation of the server device 40 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 53 is a diagram for explaining the basic operation of the management data processing unit 41a. The management data processing unit 41a includes an overall management unit that manages the entire management data of a plurality of application data, and an application management unit that manages the management data of each application. An application management unit is provided for each application. The general management department and the application management department exchange instructions and responses through a common abstract interface that does not depend on the details of the application standard.
With this configuration, for example, even if another application C is added to the state shown in FIG. 53, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the entire system by simply adding the application management unit corresponding to the application C.
Each application management unit records / reproduces data from the recording device unit 14 through the virtual partition space shown in FIG. 37. In addition, the control of recording / playback of data transmitted / received to / from the client terminals A, B, and C through the I / O unit 12 is also controlled based on the address information of the virtual partition space.
As shown in FIG. 53, each virtual partition space is managed by the control unit 41 (management data processing unit 41a). Access to the virtual partition space is done through a predetermined interface. In the interface of this embodiment, when the data in the virtual partition is viewed, only the directories and files related to the corresponding applications can be seen. Further, the control unit 41 generates a script file and records the script file in the recording device unit 14, as described with reference to FIG. 50.
With the above configuration, the application management unit only needs to implement the application considering only the application managed by itself, and it is easier than the case where a plurality of applications are mixed in one partition space. It can be implemented. In addition, as described above, even if a new application is added, its influence can be minimized.
Further, even when a plurality of applications are mixed, it is not necessary to consider duplication of directory names and file names when viewed from the application management unit. In this case, the control unit 41 manages duplication of directory names and file names in the partition space, and makes the directory name / file name in the partition space different from the directory name / file name in the virtual partition space. You can manage the association of.
Next, the reproduction operation of the server device 40 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining the reproduction operation of the management data processing unit 41a. The overall management unit of the control unit 41 reads the script file from the recording device unit 14 and interprets the contents. By interpreting the script file, the playback timing of each application data and the display position on the display are determined.
The overall management unit issues instructions regarding playback timing, display position, etc. to each application management unit. Upon receiving the instruction, the application management unit issues an instruction to the recording device unit 14, the UI unit 13, and the like so that the data is displayed at the playback timing and display position instructed by the overall management unit.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 51, different application data are displayed on the same display, and the user does not have to play back a plurality of client terminals separately, which improves convenience.
FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the server device 10 when the script file shown in FIG. 52 described above is read by the overall management unit of the management data processing unit 41a. For example, when the overall management unit of the management data processing unit 41a reads the script file shown in FIG. 52, it interprets the contents of the script file. That is, the general management unit identifies the image display ranges rA and rB on the display of the UI unit 13 as shown in FIG. 55 (a) based on the information indicating the display range included in the script file. As shown in (b) of Fig. 55, the data file name 1 (1000ABCD.MPG), the data file name 2 (2000ABCD.MPG), and the data file name 3 (2001ABCD.JPG) included in the script file. ), And the data file name 4 (3000ABCD.MPG), the application files indicated by these data file names are displayed in the above display ranges rA and rB. Here, since the data file name 2 and the data file name 3 are arranged in the script file assuming that the respective application data are generated at the same time, they are indicated by the data file name 2 and the data file name 3. Each application data is played back simultaneously during time T2. That is, first, in the display range rA, the application data indicated by the data file name 1, the application data indicated by the data file name 2, and the application data indicated by the data file name 4 are sequentially displayed as moving images. At the same time, in the display range rB, the application data indicated by the data file name 3 is displayed as a still image for the time T2 together with the display of the application data indicated by the data file name 2.
With the above configuration, the application management unit only needs to consider the applications that it manages, and it can be implemented more easily than when multiple applications are mixed in one partition space. Become. In addition, as described above, even if a new application is added, its influence can be minimized.
In the above embodiments 1 to 5, the recording transfer band is mainly described as the server resource allocated to the client terminals A, B, and C, but the server resource is not limited to the recording transfer band, for example. , The playback transfer band, the storage capacity on the recording device unit 14, and the like may be used.
Further, the specific forms of the server devices 10 and 40 may be a small form that the user can wear and walk, or a form that is mounted on an automobile. In addition, by connecting the server devices 10 and 40 to a digital network capable of long-distance communication such as a mobile phone, the server devices 10 and 40 can be placed in the user's home, and this data management system can be used as an Internet service provider. It may be configured as a form in which (ISP) or the like provides a service to each terminal.
The data management device according to the present invention can appropriately and easily manage the data handled by each terminal even when each terminal performs different data processing according to each application. It is effective and can be applied to servers, mobile terminals, etc. that manage the transmission / reception and storage of digital data such as images and sounds.
<figref num="1">It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the appearance of a DVD recorder apparatus and the interface with related equipment.</figref><figref num="2">It is a block diagram which shows the function of a DVD recorder apparatus.</figref><figref num="3">It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the address space on a DVD-RAM disk 100, and the state when continuous reproduction of AV data becomes possible by supplying the data stored in a track buffer to a decoder.</figref><figref num="4">It is a block diagram of the DVD recorder apparatus in the case of having a semiconductor memory card and a hard disk drive apparatus.</figref><figref num="5">(a) is a diagram showing a recording area of a DVD-RAM disk, which is a recordable optical disc, and (b) is a read-in area, a read-out area, and a zone area 0 shown concentrically in (a). It is explanatory drawing which arranged ~ 23 in the horizontal direction.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure which shows the logical data space of the DVD-RAM disk which is composed of a logical sector.</figref><figref num="7">It is a figure which shows the directory and the file structure of the moving image data recorded on a DVD-RAM disk.</figref><figref num="8">It is a figure which shows the structure of the MPEG data recorded as various AV objects on a DVD disc.</figref><figref num="9">It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the data structure of a program stream and a transport stream.</figref><figref num="10">It is a figure which showed the data structure of a transport stream.</figref><figref num="11">It is a figure which showed the data structure of a program stream.</figref><figref num="12">It is a figure which shows the detail of the structure of a TS packet.</figref><figref num="13">It is a figure which shows the structure of the pack which constitutes a program stream.</figref><figref num="14">It is a figure which shows the PAT table and the PMAP table which transmit the composition information of the audio stream and the video stream which make up a program.</figref><figref num="15">It is a figure for demonstrating the pack of a program stream, and the arrangement on disk of the TS packet of a transport stream.</figref><figref num="16">It is a figure which shows the data structure of the video management information.</figref><figref num="17">It is another figure which shows the data structure of the video management information.</figref><figref num="18">It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between an object, a cell, a PGC, and an access map concretely.</figref><figref num="19">It is a figure for demonstrating the reproduction operation of a DVD recorder player.</figref><figref num="20">It is a figure for demonstrating the recording operation of a DVD recorder player.</figref><figref num="21">It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the appearance of a DSC apparatus and an interface with related equipment.</figref><figref num="22">It is a figure which shows the structure of the directory and the file of the still image data recorded in a memory card.</figref><figref num="23">It is a figure which shows the structure of the JPEG data which is recorded as a DCF basic file on a recording medium by DSC.</figref><figref num="24">It is a figure for demonstrating the reproduction operation of DSC which reproduces a recording medium.</figref><figref num="25">It is a figure for demonstrating the structure and operation of the DSC which performs recording and reproduction with respect to a recording medium.</figref><figref num="26">It is a figure which shows the structure of the data management system in Embodiment 1 of this invention.</figref><figref num="27">It is a block diagram which shows an example of the concrete structure of the above.</figref><figref num="28">It is a figure which shows the structure of the server apparatus in the data management system shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="29">It is a figure which shows the common configuration of the client terminal in the data management system shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="30">It is a figure which shows the state of the network connection between a client terminal and a server device.</figref><figref num="31">It is a figure which shows the data structure of the terminal characteristic information.</figref><figref num="32">It is a figure which shows the data structure of the record attribute information in FIG.</figref><figref num="33">It is a figure which shows the example of the data individual attribute information included in the data attribute information.</figref><figref num="34">It is a figure which shows the data structure of the reproduction attribute information in FIG. 31.</figref><figref num="35">It is a flowchart which shows the allocation operation of a server resource.</figref><figref num="36">It is a figure which shows the allocation operation of the buffer memory which a server device has.</figref><figref num="37">It is a figure which shows the area allocation operation in the recording apparatus which a server apparatus has.</figref><figref num="38">It is a figure which shows the operation at the time of loop recording in each virtual partition space allocated in FIG. 37.</figref><figref num="39">It is an information content display diagram which shows the content of the allocation pattern information in Embodiment 2.</figref><figref num="40">It is an information content display diagram which shows the content of the allocation pattern information including a plurality of patterns corresponding to a client terminal connected to a server device.</figref><figref num="41">It is a figure explaining the operation which the allocation of a server resource is changed according to the state change of a client terminal in Embodiment 3. FIG.</figref><figref num="42">It is a figure which shows the data structure of the terminal characteristic information in Embodiment 4.</figref><figref num="43">It is a figure which shows the data structure of the message registration information in FIG. 42.</figref><figref num="44">It is a figure which shows the registration example of a message information.</figref><figref num="45">It is a figure which shows the example of the transmission operation of message information.</figref><figref num="46">It is a figure which shows the structure of the server apparatus in Embodiment 5.</figref><figref num="47">It is a figure for demonstrating operation between a server device and a client terminal.</figref><figref num="48">It is a figure for demonstrating the operation when the client terminal C is further connected to the state of FIG. 47.</figref><figref num="49">It is a figure for demonstrating the operation with the data storage method different from FIG. 47.</figref><figref num="50">It is a figure for demonstrating the operation with the data storage method different from FIG. 47.</figref><figref num="51">It is a figure which shows the display example when a user refers to a script file and plays it.</figref><figref num="52">It is a file content display diagram which shows an example of the script file configured by the SMIL standard in Embodiment 5.</figref><figref num="53">It is a figure for demonstrating the basic operation of a management data processing part.</figref><figref num="54">It is a figure for demonstrating the reproduction operation of a management data processing part.</figref><figref num="55">It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the operation of the server apparatus when the script file in Embodiment 5 is read by the management data processing unit.</figref><figref num="56">It is a figure which shows a mode that a user carries a plurality of electronic devices (terminals).</figref><figref num="57">It is a figure which shows the general common structure which a conventional electronic device has.</figref>
Code description
10 Server device 11 Control unit 12 I / O unit 13 UI unit 14 Recording device unit 15 Terminal characteristics Information processing unit I100 Terminal characteristic information
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2 members in 2 offices
Priority claims2
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002212948 | Japan | – | |
| 2002212948 | Japan | A |
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|---|---|---|---|
| US2004019681A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP2004088766AThis record | Japan | A |
Numbers
- Publication
- 2004088766
- Application
- 275650
Titles2
- Japanese
- データ管理装置及びデータ管理システム
- English
- Data management device and data management system
Classification
- IPC, 7
- G06F3 06
- G06F12 00
- G11B20 10
- G11B27 00
- H04N5 76
- H04N5 765
- H04N5 92