JP3351044B2 - Tape recorder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape recording apparatus for recording a broadcast signal (video signal, audio signal, etc.) of a predetermined program on a magnetic tape or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when recording a broadcast signal of a predetermined program using a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), it is necessary to operate the recording start after confirming that the remaining time of the normal tape is longer than the scheduled program continuation time. Thus, the entire program can be recorded on a magnetic tape.

[0003]

However, the recording start operation without confirming the remaining time of the tape or the recording in the EP mode (triple mode) is scheduled to be performed by the SP.
In some cases, recording in the mode (standard mode) results in a situation where the entire program cannot be recorded.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a tape recording apparatus which can avoid occurrence of a situation where all programs cannot be recorded.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tape recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a tape remaining time detecting means for detecting a remaining time of a tape at the start of recording of a predetermined program, and is included in a broadcast signal at the start of recording of the predetermined program. Scheduled program continuation time detecting means for detecting a scheduled program continuation time based on the time information of the program, and program continuation detected by the remaining tape time and the scheduled program continuation time detected by the remaining tape time detecting means. A tape recording apparatus comprising: a time comparing unit that compares a scheduled time; and a recording mode control unit that controls a recording mode according to a result of the comparison by the time comparing unit.
And extract information indicating the type of the program contained in the issue.
Whether there is a possibility of program extension based on the information of
Program extension possibility determination means and program extension possibility determination means
When the stage determines that there is a possibility of a program extension,
Program delay prediction time setting to set the
The time comparing means includes a tape remaining time detecting means.
When a program delay is predicted from the remaining tape time detected by the output unit
When the program delay prediction time set by the interval setting means is subtracted
The interval is used as the remaining tape time .

[0006]

According to the present invention , a predetermined program is recorded in a tape recording apparatus which compares a remaining tape time with a scheduled program continuation time and controls a recording mode according to the comparison result .
Information indicating the type of the program contained in the broadcast signal
Information and the possibility of extending the program based on this information
To determine whether there is a possibility of program extension.
When a delay occurs, set the program delay prediction time
The time obtained by subtracting the estimated program delay time from the remaining
Even if the remaining tape time is less than the scheduled program continuation time, the entire program can be recorded, for example, by setting the standard mode for a predetermined time and then recording in the triple mode. And the extension of the program
If there is a possibility, the estimated program delay time is
By deducting the time from the remaining time,
It is possible to cope well.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. This example is an example applied to a closed caption system.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cable box for performing channel selection processing, descrambling processing, and the like for a CATV signal. The CATV signals of a plurality of channels transmitted by a cable (not shown) are supplied to a tuner 12 via an input terminal 11. In the tuner 12, tuning is performed under the control of the tuner control microcomputer 13, and
From the tuner 12, the video signal of the selected channel,
An audio signal is output. Note that the tuner 12 includes a descrambler, and also performs descrambling of the scrambled video signal.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a remote control signal receiving section, to which a remote control signal (infrared signal) output from an infrared light emitting section described later is supplied. Then, information such as channel selection and power on / off is supplied to the microcomputer 13 from the remote control signal receiving unit 14.

A video signal output from the tuner 12,
The audio signal is supplied to an RF modulator 15, converted into a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel, and supplied to a tuner 20 of a VCR (video cassette recorder) 2. Tuner 20
Under the control of the tuner control microcomputer 22, the channel of the broadcast signal output from the RF modulator 15 of the cable box 1 is selected.

An NTSC video signal output from the tuner 20 is supplied to a data decoder 21. At a predetermined line in the vertical blanking period of this video signal,
Caption data (caption data) is inserted.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the caption data has seven periods (5
03 KHz) clock run-in signal and 2 bits (S
(1), a start bit of 1 bit (S3) after a logical level of “0” of S2) and a 16-bit N
It is composed of RZ data (data code). The clock run-in signal is a synchronization signal for decoding the data code, and the phase of the clock run-in signal is synchronized with the phase of the data code. The 16-bit NRZ data is composed of two sets of combinations of 7-bit ASCII codes b1 to b7 and 1-bit parity code. In FIG. 2A, HD is a horizontal synchronization signal, and SC is a color burst signal.

When caption data is multiplexed on a predetermined line in a vertical blanking period of a video signal output from the tuner 20, the data decoder 21
6-bit NRZ data is extracted and decoded from a hexadecimal code to a BCD code, and then supplied to the microcomputer 22 as caption data. In this case, for example, subtitles are displayed on the screen in units of a predetermined frame at each break in the text, so that subtitle data is stored in units of the predetermined frame in a RAM (not shown) in the microcomputer 22.

The caption data is read from the RAM of the microcomputer 22 and supplied to the display control circuit 23, where it is converted into character data (dot data). The display control circuit 23 is also supplied with a control signal indicating the display position from the microcomputer 22. In the display control circuit 23, a superimpose signal corresponding to the character data is formed at the timing of the display position on the screen, and is superimposed on the video signal supplied from the tuner 20 via the recording / reproduction signal processing circuit 24.

The video signal output from the display control circuit 23 is supplied to an RF modulator 25 and converted into a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel, and then supplied to a TV monitor 3. Thus, when the caption data is multiplexed on the video signal output from the tuner 20, the TV monitor 3
Is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen.

The microcomputer 22 has a key operation unit 30
Is connected. The user operates the VCR using the key operation unit 30.
2 can perform various operations. The microcomputer 22 is also connected to a display 31 for displaying a control state of the VCR 2 and the like.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a cable box control driver. A driver 26 is controlled by the microcomputer 22, whereby a predetermined remote control signal is supplied from the infrared light emitting unit 4 to the cable box 1, and the VCR 2 controls power on / off of the cable box 1 and a channel selection operation.

Reference numeral 27 is a mechanical control microcomputer for controlling operations of a head drive system, a reel drive system, a tape running system, and the like.

In the VCR 2, a video signal output from the tuner 20 is recorded by the signal processing circuit 2 during recording.
4 to form a recording signal, which is supplied to a magnetic head 28 and recorded on a magnetic tape 29. At the time of reproduction, a signal reproduced from the magnetic tape 29 by the magnetic head 28 is processed by the signal processing circuit 24 to obtain a reproduced video signal, and this video signal is transmitted to the TV via the display control circuit 23 and the RF modulator 25. It is supplied to the monitor 3, and a reproduction screen is displayed on the TV monitor 3.

Although not shown, the rotation pulse of the supply reel and the take-up reel is supplied to the remaining tape detection circuit 32. The remaining tape detection circuit 32 calculates the remaining tape time using the rotation time of the supply-side reel and the winding-side reel, the tape running speed, and the like. The remaining tape time R calculated by the remaining tape detection circuit 32 is supplied to the microcomputer 22 via the microcomputer 27. Here, various methods of calculating the remaining tape time have been proposed, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-69193, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-179.
No. 92, for example.

When caption data is not multiplexed on a predetermined line in a vertical blanking period of a video signal, for example, predetermined information (hereinafter referred to as "VBI data") may be transmitted using the line. Can be For example, the current time, information on whether or not it is summer time,
The information includes various information related to the program, such as the start time, elapsed time, and contents of the program currently transmitted or to be transmitted from now on, information on a broadcasting station transmitting the program, information on weather and disaster, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2B, VBI data can be defined, for example, in the same signal format as caption data. A series of VBI data is transmitted using a plurality of lines. The VBI data of each line consists of one start bit following one start bit like the caption data.
It is composed of 6-bit NRZ data (two combinations of a 7-bit code b1 to b7 and a 1-bit parity code).

Here, in the first line of a plurality of lines through which a series of VBI data is transmitted, a start code for each class (type) of the VBI data is transmitted using the first half 7-bit code, and the last 7 bits are transmitted. V using code
A code indicating the type of BI data is transmitted. The data of the class and the type specified in the first line are sequentially transmitted using the first and second 7-bit codes in the second and lower lines.

As described above, the VBI data is transmitted when no caption data is transmitted, and when the transmission of the caption data is started before the entire series of VBI data is transmitted, the VBI data is transmitted. The transmission is interrupted, and the transmission of the VBI data is resumed after the transmission of the caption data ends (see FIG. 2B). In the first line after the restart of transmission, a continuation code for each class (type) of VBI data is transmitted using the first half 7-bit code, and a code indicating the type of VBI data is transmitted using the latter 7-bit code. Transmitted.

In the last line of the plurality of lines through which a series of VBI data is transmitted, an end code is transmitted using the first half 7-bit code, and a checksum is transmitted using the second half 7-bit code. You.

Here, examples of classes (kinds) and types will be described.

When the class (type) is “Description of the program currently being sent” or “Description of the program to be sent later”, the types are “Program start time”, “Program scheduled length / “Program elapsed time”, “Program title”, “Program type”, “Target audience of program”, “Contents of main audio and second audio program”, and the like.

When the class is “special information that is not a program related to the currently transmitted channel”, the type is “network name associated with the selected local station”, “station ID”, “local station's Hour and minute numbers for regular tape delay of network program "
And so on. When the class is "explanation of other information", the type is "Greenwich Mean Time", "time lag from standard time and information on whether or not it is summer time" or the like. When the class is “transfer of public service messages and data such as weather forecasts and messages”, the type is “weather forecast service” and the like.

In this example, when the recording operation is operated by the key operation unit 30, the microcomputer 22 of the VCR 2 executes the time length / elapsed time of the currently transmitted program transmitted as VBI data as described above. Extract information. Then, the microcomputer 22 obtains the scheduled program continuation time from the extracted information, compares the scheduled program continuation time with the remaining tape time R, and sets the recording mode (standard mode, triple mode) according to the result. The control is performed so that the entire program can be recorded on the magnetic tape 29.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation when the recording operation is operated by the key operation unit 30.

When the start of recording is operated, step ST1 is executed.
Then, the time length T and the elapsed time t of the currently transmitted program transmitted as VBI data of the VCR 2 are extracted.
Next, in step ST2, the remaining tape time R calculated by the remaining tape detection circuit 32 is extracted.

Next, in step ST3, information indicating the type of the program transmitted as VBI data is extracted, and it is determined whether there is a possibility of extending the program based on this information. For example, when the program is a sports program, it is determined that there is a possibility of extension.

When it is determined in step ST3 that there is no possibility of extension, it is determined in step ST4 whether or not Tt> R is satisfied. Here, Tt indicates a program continuation scheduled time indicating how long the program will continue. When Tt> R is not satisfied in step ST4, that is, when the remaining tape time R is equal to or longer than the scheduled program continuation time Tt, all the programs can be recorded on the magnetic tape 29 in the standard mode. Then, the process proceeds to step ST5 to start recording in the standard mode, and ends the recording operation when the tape end or the program ends in step ST6.

When Tt> R in step ST4,
That is, when the remaining tape time R is less than the scheduled program continuation time Tt, it is impossible to record all the programs on the magnetic tape 29 in the standard mode. Therefore, the process proceeds to step ST7, and the time Ra that can be recorded in the standard mode is calculated by the equation (1).

Ra = {3R− (T−t)} / 2 (1) Next, in step ST8, it is determined whether or not Ra <0. If Ra <0, the scheduled program continuation time Tt
Means more than three times the remaining tape time R, and it is impossible to record the entire program on the magnetic tape 29 even when recording in the triple mode from the beginning. for that reason,
If Ra <0, the process proceeds to step ST9 to display an error message "recording is not possible to the end" on the display 31. Then, the process proceeds to step ST10 to start recording in the triple mode, and to tape end in step ST6. , Or when the program ends, the recording operation ends.

If Ra <0 is not satisfied in step ST8,
By recording in the triple mode after recording for the time Ra in the standard mode, it becomes possible to record all the programs on the magnetic tape 29. Therefore, when Ra <0, recording is started in the standard mode in step ST11, and the elapse of time Ra is determined in step ST12. And the time Ra
After elapse, the process proceeds to step ST10 to start recording in the triple mode, and ends the recording operation when the tape end or the program ends in step ST6.

If it is determined in step ST3 that there is a possibility of extension, the program delay prediction time α is set to D minutes (for example, 30 minutes) in step ST13. Next, in step ST14, it is determined whether or not Tt> R-α is satisfied. Here, by subtracting the predicted program delay time α from the remaining tape time R and comparing it with the predicted program continuation time Tt, when the program is extended, it is possible to cope with the remaining tape time α.

If Tt> R-α is not satisfied in step ST14, that is, if the remaining tape time R-α is longer than the scheduled program continuation time Tt, the entire program is recorded on the magnetic tape 29 in the standard mode. Therefore, the process proceeds to step ST5 to start recording in the standard mode, and ends the recording operation when the tape end or the program ends in step ST6.

If Tt> R-α in step ST14, that is, if the remaining tape time R-α is less than the scheduled program continuation time Tt, all the programs are recorded on the magnetic tape 29 in the standard mode. It is impossible to record. Therefore, the process proceeds to step ST15, and the time Ra that can be recorded in the standard mode is calculated by the equation (2).

Ra = {3 (R−α) − (Tt)} / 2 (2) Next, in step ST16, it is determined whether or not Ra <0. If Ra <0, the scheduled program continuation time T-
It means that t is more than three times the remaining tape time R-α, and it is impossible to record all of the program on the magnetic tape 29 even when recording in the triple mode from the beginning. Therefore, when Ra <0, α = 0 in step ST17.
It is determined whether α is not equal to 0 or not.
Assuming that α = α−5 minutes, the program delay prediction time α set to deal with the extension of the program is reduced by 5 minutes, and the process returns to step ST14 to perform the same operation as described above.

When α = 0 in step ST17,
Even if the program delay prediction time α is set to 0 and recorded in the triple mode from the beginning, it is impossible to record the entire program on the magnetic tape 29. Therefore, when α = 0, the process proceeds to step ST9, and displays an error message “Unable to record to the end” on the display 31, and then proceeds to step ST1.
In step ST6, recording is started in the triple mode.
, The recording operation ends.

If Ra <0 is not satisfied in step ST16, the entire program can be recorded on the magnetic tape 29 by recording for the time Ra in the standard mode and then recording in the triple mode. Therefore, when Ra <0, recording is started in the standard mode in step ST11,
In step ST12, the elapse of the time Ra is determined. Then, after the elapse of the time Ra, the process proceeds to step ST10 and 3
Recording is started in the double mode, and the recording operation ends when the tape end or the program ends in step ST6.

As described above, in this embodiment, the remaining tape time R (or R-α) is compared with the scheduled program continuation time Tt, and the recording mode is changed to the standard mode or the triple mode according to the comparison result. Even if the remaining tape time R (or R-α) is less than the scheduled program continuation time Tt, the standard mode is set only for the time Ra and then recorded in the triple mode so that the entire program can be recorded. Can be recorded on the magnetic tape 29.

In this case, the entire program can be recorded on the magnetic tape 29 even in the triple mode from the beginning instead of the standard mode only for the time Ra.
Is provided, recording can be performed in the standard mode as much as possible, and recording with an emphasis on image quality can be performed.

In this embodiment, when there is a possibility that the program is extended, the processing is performed by subtracting the estimated program delay time α from the actual remaining tape time R. There is a benefit that can be dealt with with the remaining time α.

In the above embodiment, the broadcast signal of the channel selected by the tuner 12 of the cable box 1 is supplied to the tuner 20 of the VCR 2, but the tuner 20 of the VCR 2 is provided with an antenna. The present invention can be similarly applied to a configuration in which a broadcast signal is directly supplied from a cable 5 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) or a cable (not shown), that is, a single VCR 2.

In the above embodiment, information indicating the time length T and the elapsed time t of the currently transmitted program transmitted as VBI data multiplexed in the vertical blanking period of the video signal is used. However, when information for obtaining the scheduled program continuation time, for example, information indicating the program time length T and the elapsed time t is inserted into a portion other than the vertical blanking period of the video signal, the information is May be used. Further, the format of the VBI data may be a format different from the caption data.

Although the above-described embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which the present invention is applied to a closed caption system having a VCR 2, it is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to a tape recording apparatus for recording an audio signal as a broadcast signal.

[0048]

According to the present invention, in a tape recording apparatus for comparing a remaining tape time with a scheduled program continuation time and controlling a recording mode in accordance with the comparison result , a predetermined program is reproduced.
When recording, specify the type of the program contained in the broadcast signal.
Information to be extended, and the program can be extended based on this information.
Judge whether or not there is a possibility of extending the program.
When it is determined, set the estimated program delay time and
When the estimated program delay time is subtracted from the remaining tape time
The remaining time is used as the remaining tape time. Even if the remaining tape time is less than the scheduled program continuation time, the entire program is recorded by, for example, recording in the triple mode after setting the standard mode for a predetermined time. it is possible, when there is the possibility of a program extension, to treat the program delay estimated time by subtracting from the actual tape remaining time, better cope to program extension.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a tape recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexed on a broadcast signal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a recording operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cable box 2 VCR (Video cassette recorder) 3 TV monitor 4 Infrared light emitting part 12,20 Tuner 13,22 Tuner control microcomputer 14 Remote control signal receiving part 15,25 RF modulator 21 Data decoder 23 Display control circuit 24 Recording / playback Signal processing circuit 26 Cable box control driver 28 Magnetic head 29 Magnetic tape 30 Key operation unit 31 Display 32 Tape remaining amount detection circuit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tape remaining time detecting means for detecting a remaining tape time at the start of recording of a predetermined program, and a scheduled program continuation time based on time information of the program included in a broadcast signal at the start of recording of the predetermined program. And a time comparing means for comparing the remaining tape time detected by the remaining tape time detecting means with the scheduled program continuation time detected by the expected program continuation time detecting means. , tape recording apparatus and a recording mode control means for controlling the recording mode according to the comparison result by the time comparison means
Extracts information indicating the type of the program contained in the broadcast signal
Whether the program may be extended based on this information
Program extension possibility judging means for judging program extension possibility, and the program extension possibility judging means has possibility of program extension
Is set, the program delay estimation time is set to the predetermined time.
Program delay prediction time setting means for setting the time, and the time comparing means includes a tape remaining time detecting means.
The program delay prediction time is set based on the detected tape remaining time.
The time obtained by subtracting the program delay prediction time set by the
A tape recording device for use as a remaining tape time . 2. The recording mode control means records a recording mode as a standard mode when the remaining tape time is equal to or longer than the scheduled program continuation time, and records the tape remaining time when the remaining tape time is less than the scheduled program continuation time. 2. The tape recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in some cases, the recording mode is set to a standard mode for a predetermined time and then recorded in a triple mode.